As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 26, 2014
Registration No. 333-199190
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
(Registrant)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
6799
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
c/o ETF Managers Capital LLC
35 Beechwood Road
Suite 2B
Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: (908) 897-0518
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Samuel Masucci III
Chief Executive Officer
ETF Managers Capital LLC
35 Beechwood Road
Suite 2B
Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: (908) 897-0518
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
W. Thomas Conner, Esq.
Reed Smith LLP
1301 K Street, N.W.
Suite 1100, East Tower
Washington, DC 20005-3317
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. S
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If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. £
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. £
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. £
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company under Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer £ | Accelerated filer £ | |
Non-accelerated filer £ | Smaller reporting company S |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of Securities
to be Registered |
Amount
to be Registered |
Proposed
Maximum Offering Price Per Share* |
Proposed
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price* |
Amount of
Registration Fee* |
||||||||||||
Common shares of Sit Rising Rate ETF, a series of the Registrant | 20,000,000 shares | $25 | $500,000,000 | $58,100.00 | ||||||||||||
* | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(d) under the Securities Act of 1933. |
The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
Preliminary Prospectus Subject to Change Dated November 26, 2014
PROSPECTUS
SIT RISING RATE ETF
20,000,000 Shares
*Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.
The Sit Rising Rate ETF (the “Fund”), a series of the ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I (the “Trust”), is an exchange traded fund that issues shares that trade on the NYSE Arca stock exchange (“NYSE Arca”). The Fund’s investment objective is to profit from rising interest rates by tracking the performance of a portfolio (the “Benchmark Portfolio”) consisting of exchange traded futures contracts and options on futures on 2, 5 and 10-year U.S. Treasury securities (“Treasury Instruments”) weighted to achieve a targeted negative 10 year average effective portfolio duration (the “Benchmark Component Instruments”). The Benchmark Portfolio is maintained by Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC.
The Fund and the Trust are managed and controlled by their sponsor and investment manager, ETF Managers Capital LLC (the “Sponsor”). The Fund pays the Sponsor a management fee (the “Management Fee”), calculated daily and paid monthly, equal to 0.50% annually. The Fund is also responsible for paying all of the routine operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses of the Fund, (collectively, “Other Expenses”). The Sponsor has contractually agreed to waive its receipt of the Management Fee and/or reimburse the Fund for its expenses (excluding brokerage fees, interest expenses, and extraordinary expenses) to cap the Fund’s total annual expenses (“Total Expenses”) (i.e., the Management Fee plus Other Expenses) at 1.50% per annum through February 1, 2016. The Fund may also be responsible for certain non-recurring or extraordinary fees and expenses.
In order for a hypothetical investment in shares to break even over the next 12 months, assuming a selling price of $25.00 (the price at which the Fund expects to initially offer shares), the investment would have to generate 1.68% return or $0.42.
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The Fund is an exchange traded fund. This means that most investors who decide to buy or sell shares of the Fund shares place their trade orders through their brokers and may incur customary brokerage commissions and charges. Shares trade on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “RISE” and are bought and sold throughout the trading day at bid and ask prices like other publicly traded securities.
Shares trade on the NYSE Arca after they are initially purchased by “Authorized Participants,” institutional firms that purchase shares in blocks of 25,000 shares called “baskets” through the Fund’s distributor, Esposito Securities, LLC (the “Distributor”). JP Morgan Securities LLC is expected to be the initial Authorized Participant. The price of a basket is equal to the net asset value of 25,000 shares on the day that the order to purchase the basket is accepted by the Distributor. The offering of the Fund’s shares is a “best efforts” offering, which means that neither the Distributor nor any Authorized Participant is required to purchase a specific number or dollar amount of shares. The Fund pays the Distributor a distribution fee consisting of a fixed annual amount plus an incentive fee based on the amount of shares sold. Authorized Participants will not receive from the Fund, the Sponsor or any of their affiliates any fee or other compensation in connection with the sale of shares. Aggregate compensation paid to the Distributor and any affiliate of the Sponsor for distribution-related services in connection with this offering of shares will not exceed 10% of the gross proceeds of the offering.
Investors who buy or sell shares during the day from their broker may do so at a premium or discount relative to the Net Asset Value (as defined below) of the Fund’s total net assets due to supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for shares that are closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the futures and options on U.S. Treasury securities in which the Fund invests and the U.S. Treasury securities and other cash equivalents that the Fund holds. Investing in the Fund involves significant risks. See “ Risk Factors Involved with an Investment in the Fund ” beginning on page 4.
The offering of the Fund’s shares is registered with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”). The offering is intended to be a continuous offering and is not expected to terminate until all of the registered shares have been sold or three years from the date of the original offering, whichever is earlier, although the offering may be temporarily suspended if and when no suitable investments for the Fund are available or practicable. The Fund is not a mutual fund registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) and is not subject to regulation under such act.
NEITHER THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR
DISAPPROVED OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, OR
DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL
OR COMPLETE. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The Fund is a commodity pool and the Sponsor is a commodity pool operator subject to regulation by the CFTC and the NFA under the Commodity Exchange Act of 1976. The Sponsor is registered with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator and is a member of the NFA.
THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION
HAS NOT PASSED UPON THE
MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THIS POOL NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED ON
THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS
DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT.
The date of this prospectus is November 26, 2014.
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COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION
RISK DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION PERMITS YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN A COMMODITY POOL. IN SO DOING, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT COMMODITY INTEREST TRADING CAN QUICKLY LEAD TO LARGE LOSSES AS WELL AS GAINS. SUCH TRADING LOSSES CAN SHARPLY REDUCE THE NET ASSET VALUE OF THE POOL AND CONSEQUENTLY THE VALUE OF YOUR INTEREST IN THE POOL. IN ADDITION, RESTRICTIONS ON REDEMPTIONS MAY AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO WITHDRAW YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE POOL.
FURTHER, COMMODITY POOLS MAY BE SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIAL CHARGES FOR MANAGEMENT, AND ADVISORY AND BROKERAGE FEES. IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THOSE POOLS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THESE CHARGES TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL TRADING PROFITS TO AVOID DEPLETION OR EXHAUSTION OF THEIR ASSETS. THIS DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF EACH EXPENSE TO BE CHARGED THIS POOL AT PAGE 19 AND A STATEMENT OF THE PERCENTAGE RETURN NECESSARY TO BREAK EVEN, THAT IS, TO RECOVER THE AMOUNT OF YOUR INITIAL INVESTMENT, AT PAGE 19.
THIS BRIEF STATEMENT CANNOT DISCLOSE ALL THE RISKS AND OTHER FACTORS NECESSARY TO EVALUATE YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS COMMODITY POOL. THEREFORE, BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMMODITY POOL, YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY STUDY THIS DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT, INCLUDING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS OF THIS INVESTMENT, AT PAGE 4.
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Table of Contents
This prospectus is in two parts: a disclosure
document and a Statement of Additional Information.
These parts are bound together, and both parts contain important information.
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This is only a summary of the prospectus and, while it contains material information about the Fund and its shares, it does not contain or summarize all of the information about the Fund and the shares contained in this prospectus that is material and/or which may be important to you. You should read this entire prospectus, including “Risk Factors Involved with an Investment in the Fund” beginning on page 4, before making an investment decision about the shares. For a glossary of defined terms, see Appendix A.
The ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I (the “Trust”) is a Delaware statutory trust formed on July 23, 2014. The Trust is a series trust formed pursuant to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, of which the Fund is currently the sole series. The Fund is a commodity pool that continuously issues common shares of beneficial interest that may be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca stock exchange (“NYSE Arca”). The Fund is managed and controlled by ETF Managers Capital LLC (the “Sponsor”), a Delaware limited liability company. The Sponsor is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) and is a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”). Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC (“Sit”) is registered as a “commodity trading advisor” (“CTA”) and will act as such for the Fund.
The principal office of the Trust and Fund is located at 35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B, Summit, NJ 07901. The telephone number is (844) 383-6477. The Sponsors principal office is also located at 35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B, Summit, NJ 07901, and its telephone number is also (844) 383-6477.
The Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategy
The Fund’s investment objective is to profit from rising interest rates by tracking the performance of a portfolio (the “Benchmark Portfolio”) consisting of exchange traded futures contracts and options on futures on 2, 5 and 10-year U.S. Treasury securities (“Treasury Instruments”) weighted to achieve a targeted negative 10 year average effective portfolio duration (the “Benchmark Component Instruments”). The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in the Benchmark Component Instruments currently constituting the Benchmark Portfolio. The Benchmark Portfolio is maintained by Sit and will be rebalanced, reconstituted, or both, monthly (typically on the 15th of each month and on the next business day if the 15th is a holiday, weekend, or other day on which the national exchanges are closed) to maintain a negative 10 year average effective duration. The Benchmark Portfolio and the Fund will each maintain a short position in Treasury Instruments. The Fund does not use futures contracts or options to obtain leveraged investment results. The Benchmark Component Instruments currently constituting the Benchmark Portfolio and anticipated rebalancing dates, as well as the daily holdings of the Fund, are available on the Fund’s website at www.risingratefund.com.
The weighting of the Treasury Instruments constituting the Benchmark Component Instruments will be based on each maturity’s duration contribution. The expected range for the duration weighted percentage of the 2 year and 5 year maturity Treasury Instruments will be from 30% to 70%. The expected range for the duration weighted percentage of the 10 year maturity Treasury Instruments will be from 5% to 25%. The relative weightings of the Benchmark Component Instruments will be shifted between maturities when there are material changes in the shape of the yield curve, for example, if the Federal Reserve began raising short term interest rates more than long term interest rates. In such an
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instance, Sit, which maintains the Benchmark Portfolio, will increase the weightings of the 2 year and reduce the weighting in the 10 year maturity Treasury Instruments. Conversely, Sit will do the opposite if the Federal Reserve began raising long term interest rates more than short term interest rates. Reconstitution and rebalancing each will occur monthly, on the 15th, except for as noted above or if there are radical changes in the yield curve such that effective duration is outside of a range from negative nine to negative 11-year average effective duration, in which case Sit will adjust the maturities of the Treasury Instruments before the next expected monthly reconstitution.
The Sponsor anticipates that approximately 5% to 15% of the Fund’s assets will be used as payment for or collateral for Treasury Instruments. In order to collateralize its Treasury Instrument positions the Fund will hold such assets, from which it will post margin to its futures commission merchant (“FCM”), in an amount equal to the margin required by the relevant exchange, and transfer to its FCM any additional amounts that may be separately required by the FCM. When establishing positions in Treasury Instruments, the Fund will be required to deposit initial margin with a value of approximately 3% to 10% of the value of each Treasury Instrument position at the time it is established. These margin requirements are subject to change from time to time by the exchange or the FCM. On a daily basis, the Fund will be obligated to pay, or entitled to receive, variation margin in an amount equal to the change in the daily settlement level of its Treasury Instruments positions. Any assets not required to be posted as margin with the FCM will be held at the Fund’s administrator in cash or cash equivalents as discussed below.
The Benchmark Portfolio will be invested in Benchmark Component Instruments and rebalanced, as noted above, to maintain a negative average effective portfolio duration of approximately 10 years. Duration is a measure of estimated price sensitivity relative to changes in interest rates. Portfolios with longer durations are typically more sensitive to changes in interest rates. For example, if interest rates rise by 1%, the market value of a security with an effective duration of 5 years would decrease by 5%, with all other factors being constant, and likewise the market value of a security with an effective duration of negative 5 years would increase by 5%, with all other factors being constant. Duration estimates are based on assumptions by Sit and are subject to a number of limitations. Duration is a more accurate estimate of price sensitivity provided interest rate changes are small and occur equally in short-term and long-term securities. Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise. The risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities.
The Fund will incur certain expenses in connection with its operations. The Fund will hold cash or cash equivalents such as U.S. Treasuries or other high credit quality, short-term fixed-income or similar securities for direct investment or as collateral for the Treasury Instruments and for other liquidity purposes and to meet redemptions that may be necessary on an ongoing basis. These expenses and income from the cash and cash equivalent holdings may cause imperfect correlation between changes in the Fund’s NAV and changes in the Benchmark Portfolio, because the Benchmark Portfolio does not reflect expenses or income.
Principal Investment Risks of an Investment in the Fund
An investment in the Fund involves risk. As with any investment, you could lose all or part of your investment in the Fund, and the Fund’s performance could trail that of other investments. The Fund is subject to the principal risks noted below which may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value per share (“NAV”), trading price, yield, total return and ability to meet its investment objective. Some of the risks you may face are summarized below. A more extensive discussion of these risks appears beginning on page 4.
Interest Rate Risk
Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise. However, the Fund attempts to maintain a negative effective duration and therefore anticipates that an increase in interest rates will increase the Fund’s net asset value, and a decrease in rates will reduce the Fund’s net asset value.
Political and Governmental Action Risk
Interest rate movements are heavily influenced by the action of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and other central banks. Their actions are based on judgments and policies that involve numerous political and economic factors which are unpredictable. Recent interest rate and monetary policies have been unprecedented and may continue to be so. Interest rates have been at historic lows since the 2008 market disruptions and may continue to be low.
Yield Curve Risk
The Fund will invest in U.S. Treasuries and Treasury Instruments with exposure to different maturity dates. Generally, the Fund’s exposure to securities with maturities of 2 and 5 years will be greater than its exposure to securities with maturities of 10 years. Interest rates do not change uniformly for U.S. Treasuries of different maturities and therefore if interest rates rise, the investment performance of the Fund will be impacted by the Fund’s current maturity exposure, which may be different from the expectations of the Sponsor and investors in the Fund.
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Tracking Risk
As with all funds that track a benchmark, the performance of the Fund may not closely track the performance of the benchmark for a variety of reasons.
Short Sale Risk
The risk of loss of a short futures position is potentially unlimited. While that risk is somewhat mitigated by the current low interest rate environment, the potential for loss will increase if rates rise and then fall.
Futures and Options Market Risk
Futures and options contracts have expiration dates. Before or upon the expiration of a contract, the Fund may be required to enter into a replacement contract that is priced higher or that have less favorable terms than the contract being replaced.
Tax Risk
The Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust, but taxed as a partnership in accordance with the provisions of the governing trust agreement and applicable state law and, therefore, has a more complex tax treatment than conventional mutual funds. The Fund will furnish shareholders each year with tax information on IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) and each U.S. shareholder is required to report on its U.S. federal income tax return its allocable share of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Fund. The tax reporting of a partnership interest can be complex and shareholders may be advised to consult a tax expert.
Market Trading Risk
Market trading risks faced by the Fund include, but are not limited to, the potential lack of an active market for Fund shares, losses from trading in secondary markets, periods of high volatility and disruption in the process through which shares of the Fund are sold and redeemed. Any of these factors may lead to the Fund’s shares trading at a premium or discount to its NAV.
Management Risk
The investment strategy used by the Sponsor or its implementation may not produce the intended results.
Other Risks
The Fund pays fees and expenses that are incurred regardless of whether it is profitable. In order for an investor making an investment in shares of the Fund to break even over the 12 month period following the date of this prospectus, assuming a selling price of $25.00 (the price at which the Fund expects to initially issue shares, the investment would have to generate a 1.68% return or $00.42 for the investor not to lose money.
Unlike mutual funds, commodity pools or other investment pools that manage their investments in an attempt to realize income and gains and distribute such income and gains to their investors, the Fund generally does not distribute cash to shareholders. You should not invest in the Fund if you will need cash distributions from the Fund to pay taxes on your share of income and gains of the Fund, if any, or for any other reason.
You will have no rights to participate in the management of the Fund and will have to rely on the duties and judgment of the Sponsor to manage the Fund.
The Fund is subject to actual and potential inherent conflicts involving the Sponsor and its principals, various commodity futures brokers and Authorized Participants. The Sponsor was recently organized and has no operating history and its officers, directors and employees do not devote their time exclusively to the Fund. The Sponsor’s directors, officers or employees may serve in the same or different function of other entities that may compete with the Fund for their services, including other commodity pools that the Sponsor or its trading principal manages or may manage in the future (these pools are referred to in this
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prospectus as the “Related Pools” and are identified in the Glossary). These persons could have a conflict between their responsibilities to the Fund and to those other entities.
The Fund has no prior operating history. There can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case the Sponsor may liquidate the Fund. Investors could lose part or all of their investment.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You should note that you may pay brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of the Fund’s Shares, which are not reflected in the table. Authorized Participants will pay applicable creation and redemption fees. See “Creation and Redemption of Shares-Creation and Redemption Transaction Fee,” page 44.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) (1) |
Management Fee | 0.50 | % | ||
Maximum Other Expenses(2) | 1.00 | % | ||
Maximum Total Annual Fund Expenses | 1.50 | %(1) |
(1) The Sponsor has contractually agreed to waive the Management Fee and/or reimburse the Fund for its Other Expenses (which term excludes brokerage fees, interest expenses, and extraordinary expenses) to cap Total Annual Fund Expenses at 1.50% through February 1, 2016. After that date, the expense limitation may be terminated and Fund shareholders may incur expenses higher than 1.50% annually. It cannot be predicted with any certainty what such expenses could be. As the Fund’s assets increase, Other Expenses may decrease as a percentage of the Fund’s assets. Above a certain size the Other Expenses may be less than 1.00%. The Fund may also be responsible for certain non-recurring or extraordinary fee and expenses.
(2) The Fund will be responsible for its Other Expenses, including professional services (e.g., outside auditor’s fees and legal fees and expenses), shareholder tax return preparation, regulatory compliance, and other services provided by affiliated and non-affiliated service providers.
Risk Factors Involved with an Investment in the Fund
You should consider carefully the risks described below before making an investment decision. You should also refer to the other information included in this prospectus.
An investment in the Fund involves risk. As with any investment, you could lose all or part of your investment in the Fund, and the Fund’s performance could trail that of other investments. The Fund is subject to the principal risks noted below which may adversely affect the Fund’s NAV, trading price, yield, total return and ability to meet its investment objective.
The value of the Shares of the Fund relates directly to the value of, and realized profit or loss from, the Treasury Instruments and other assets held by the Fund, and fluctuations in price could materially affect the Shares.
The NAV of the Fund’s shares relates directly to the value of the U.S. Treasuries, cash and cash equivalents held by the Fund and the portfolio’s negative effective duration established and maintained through the Fund’s investment in Treasury Instruments. Fluctuations in the prices of these assets could materially adversely affect the value and performance of an investment in the Fund’s shares. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of futures results; all or substantially all of an investment in the Fund could be lost. The primary types of investment-related risk are discussed below.
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The Fund’s investment strategy is based upon certain movements in interest rates that may not develop or to the magnitude or at the time expected, if such movements do not occur as expected, the Shares may be adversely affected.
Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise, however, the Fund attempts to maintain a portfolio with a negative effective duration and therefore anticipates that an increase in interest rates may increase the Fund’s value, and a decrease in rates may lower the Fund’s value. The NAV of the Fund’s shares relates directly to the value of U.S. Treasuries and Treasury Instruments held by the Fund which are materially impacted by interest rate movements. The magnitude of the impact on value from a change in interest rates is often greater for longer-term fixed income securities than shorter-term securities. Interest rates have been near historic lows since the market events of 2008 and may remain low.
Interest rates are heavily influenced by political and governmental bodies and their actions may be unpredictable and may materially affect the Fund.
Interest rate movements are heavily influenced by the action of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and other central banks. Their actions are based on judgments and policies which involve numerous political and economic factors which are unpredictable. Recent interest rate and monetary policies have been unprecedented and may continue to be so. Interest rates have been near historic lows since the 2008 market disruptions and may continue to be low.
Several factors may affect the Fund’s ability to consistently track the Benchmark Portfolio and achieve the Fund’s investment objective.
As with all funds that track a benchmark, the performance of the Fund may not closely track the performance of the benchmark for a variety of reasons. For example, the Fund incurs operating expenses and portfolio transaction costs not incurred by the benchmark. The Fund is also required to manage cash flows and may experience operational inefficiencies the benchmark does not. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested in the contents of its benchmark at all times or may hold securities not included in its benchmark.
Interest rates may not uniformly change across maturities and the Benchmark Portfolio’s weighting may not be optimal for the yield curve.
The Fund will invest in Treasury Instruments and U.S. Treasuries with exposure to different maturity dates. Generally, the Fund’s exposure to securities with maturities of 2 and 5 years will be greater than its exposure to securities with maturities of 10 years. Interest rates do not change uniformly for U.S. Treasuries of different maturities and therefore if interest rates rise, the investment performance of the Fund will be impacted by the Fund’s current maturity exposure which may be different from the expectations of the Sponsor and investors in the Fund. At any time, the Fund’s maturity exposure may not be optimal with respect to a movement in interest rates which would negatively impact performance.
Short sale exposure can be unlimited and if interest rates decrease investors may lose their investment.
The risk of loss of a short futures position is potentially unlimited. While that risk is somewhat mitigated by the current low interest rate environment, the potential for loss will increase if interest rates rise and then fall.
The futures markets are highly volatile and price movements can be rapid and substantial.
Futures contracts have a high degree of price variability and are subject to occasional rapid and substantial changes. Consequently, you could lose all or substantially all of your investment in the Fund.
The Fund will not take defensive positions to protect against declining interest rates, which could cause a decline to the value of the Fund’s shares.
The Fund will maintain a portfolio with a targeted average effective duration of approximately negative 10 years regardless of the Sponsor’s views on expected interest rate movements. The Fund will not take a
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defensive position if interest rates decline or if the Sponsor expects rates to decline. The Fund’s performance will be highly sensitive to interest rate changes due to the negative effective duration target and the value of the Fund’s shares will decrease as interest rates fall.
The market price at which investors buy or sell shares may be significantly more or less than NAV.
The market price at which investors buy or sell shares may be significantly less or more than NAV.
The Fund’s per share NAV will change throughout the day as fluctuations occur in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio assets. The public trading price at which an investor buys or sells shares during the day from their broker may be different from the NAV of the shares. Price differences may relate primarily to supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for the Fund’s shares that are closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the Treasury Instruments and U.S. Treasuries, cash and cash equivalents that constitute the Fund’s assets.
The NAV of the Fund’s shares may also be influenced by non-concurrent trading hours between the NYSE Arca and the exchanges on which U.S. Treasuries and Treasury Instruments are traded (primarily exchanges within the CME Group of exchanges, collectively “CME”), where the Fund expects most of its trading transactions to occur. While the Fund’s shares trade on the NYSE Arca from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the trading hours for the CME do not coincide during all of this time. As a result, trading spreads and the resulting premium or discount on the shares may widen and, therefore, increase the difference between the price of the shares and the NAV of the shares.
The Trust is taxed as a partnership and the applicable rules are complex and burdensome on investors.
An investor’s tax liability may exceed the amount of distributions, if any, on its shares. Cash or property will be distributed at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. The Sponsor has not and does not currently intend to make cash or other distributions with respect to shares. Investors will be required to pay U.S. federal income tax and, in some cases, state, local, or foreign income tax, on their allocable share of the Fund’s taxable income, without regard to whether they receive distributions or the amount of any distributions. Therefore, the tax liability of an investor with respect to its shares may exceed the amount of cash or value of property (if any) distributed.
An investor’s allocable share of taxable income or loss may differ from its economic income or loss on its shares.
Due to the application of the assumptions and conventions applied by the Fund in making allocations for tax purposes and other factors, an investor’s allocable share of the Fund’s income, gain, deduction or loss may be different than its economic profit or loss from its shares for a taxable year. This difference could be temporary or permanent and, if permanent, could result in it being taxed on amounts in excess of its economic income.
Items of income, gain, deduction, loss and credit with respect to shares could be reallocated if the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) does not accept the assumptions and conventions applied by the Fund in allocating those items, with potential adverse consequences for an investor.
The U.S. tax rules pertaining to entities taxed as partnerships are complex and their application to large, publicly traded partnership treated entities such as the Fund is in many respects uncertain. The Fund applies certain assumptions and conventions in an attempt to comply with the intent of the applicable rules and to report taxable income, gains, deductions, losses and credits in a manner that properly reflects shareholders’ economic gains and losses. These assumptions and conventions may not fully comply with all aspects of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and applicable Treasury Regulations, however, and
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it is possible that the IRS will successfully challenge the Fund’s allocation methods and require the Fund to reallocate items of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit in a manner that adversely affects investors. If this occurs, investors may be required to file an amended tax return and to pay additional taxes plus deficiency interest.
The Fund could be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, which may substantially reduce the value of the shares.
The Fund intends to obtain an opinion of counsel that, under current U.S. federal income tax laws, the Fund will be treated as a trust that is not taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, provided that (i) at least 90 percent of the Fund’s annual gross income consists of “qualifying income” as defined in the Code, (ii) the Fund is organized and operated in accordance with its governing agreements and applicable law and (iii) the Fund does not elect to be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Although the Sponsor anticipates that the Fund will satisfy the “qualifying income” requirement for all of its taxable years, that result cannot be assured. The Fund has not requested and will not request any ruling from the IRS with respect to its classification as a trust not taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. If the IRS were to successfully assert that the Fund is taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes in any taxable year, rather than passing through its income, gains, losses and deductions proportionately to shareholders, the Fund would be subject to tax on its net income for the year at corporate tax rates. In addition, although the Sponsor does not currently intend to make distributions with respect to shares, any distributions would be taxable to shareholders as dividend income. Taxation of the Fund as a corporation could materially reduce the after-tax return on an investment in shares and could substantially reduce the value of the shares.
The Fund is organized and operated as a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions of the declaration of trust and applicable state law, and therefore, the Fund has a more complex tax treatment than traditional mutual funds.
The Fund is organized and operated as a trust in accordance with the provisions of the governing trust agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) and applicable state law. No U.S. federal income tax is paid by the Fund on its income. Instead, the Fund will furnish shareholders each year with tax information on IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) and each U.S. shareholder is required to report on its U.S. federal income tax return its allocable share of the income, gain, loss and deduction of the Fund. This must be reported without regard to the amount (if any) of cash or property the shareholder receives as a distribution from the Fund during the taxable year. The tax reporting of a partnership interest can be complex and shareholders may be advised to consult a tax expert. A shareholder, therefore, may be allocated income or gain by the Fund but receive no cash distribution with which to pay the tax liability resulting from the allocation, or may receive a distribution that is insufficient to pay such liability.
In addition to federal income taxes, shareholders may be subject to other taxes, such as state and local income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, business franchise taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which the Fund does business or owns property or where the shareholders reside. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective shareholder should consider their potential impact on its investment in the Fund. It is each shareholder’s responsibility to file the appropriate U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax returns.
Certain of the Fund’s investments could be illiquid, which could cause large losses to investors at any time or from time to time.
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Futures and option positions cannot always be liquidated at the desired price. It is difficult to execute a trade at a specific price when there is a relatively small volume of buy and sell orders in a market. A market disruption can also make it difficult to liquidate a position. The large size of the positions that the Fund may acquire increases the risk of illiquidity both by making its positions more difficult to liquidate and by potentially increasing losses while trying to do so.
The NYSE Arca may halt trading in the Fund’s shares, which would adversely impact an investor’s ability to sell shares.
The Fund’s shares are listed for trading on the NYSE Arca under the market symbol “RISE.” Trading in shares may be halted due to market conditions or, in light of NYSE Arca rules and procedures, for reasons that, in the view of the NYSE Arca, make trading in shares inadvisable. In addition, trading is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to “circuit breaker” rules that require trading to be halted for a specified period based on a specified market decline. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the requirements necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund’s shares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. NYSE Arca listing rules require a minimum of 100,000 shares to be outstanding for continued listing and will be the Fund’s minimum.
The lack of an active trading market for the Fund’s shares may result in losses on an investor’s investment in the Fund at the time the investor sells the shares.
Although the Fund’s shares are listed and traded on the NYSE Arca, there can be no guarantee that an active trading market for the shares will be maintained. If an investor needs to sell shares at a time when no active trading market for them exists, the price the investor receives upon sale of the shares, assuming they were able to be sold, likely would be lower than if an active market existed.
The Sponsor is leanly staffed and relies heavily on key personnel to manage the Fund and other funds.
In managing and directing the day-to-day activities and affairs of the Fund, the Sponsor relies heavily on the services of its CEO, Samuel Masucci III, its COO, Dave Weissman, and its CFO, John Flanagan. If any of the group were to leave or be unable to carry out his present responsibilities, it may have an adverse effect on the management of the Fund.
There is a risk that the Fund will not earn trading gains sufficient to compensate for the fees and expenses that it must pay and as such the Fund may not earn any profit.
As discussed in more detail in the section of this prospectus entitled “Breakeven Analysis” on page 19, the Fund has estimated that in order for a hypothetical investment in shares to break even over the next 12 months, assuming a selling price of $25.00 (the price at which the Fund expects to initially issue shares), the investment would have to generate a 1.68% return or $0.42. Both the Fund and its manager, the Sponsor, are newly formed and have no operating history, and accordingly, the breakeven amount may be higher than estimated. The Fund’s Management Fee and Other Expenses must be paid in all cases regardless of whether the Fund’s activities are profitable. Accordingly, the Fund must earn trading gains sufficient to compensate for these fees and expenses before it can earn any profit.
Regulation of the futures and options markets is extensive and constantly changing; future regulatory developments are impossible to predict but may significantly and adversely affect the Fund.
The futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. In addition, the CFTC and futures exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the retroactive implementation of speculative position limits or higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading.
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Regulation of commodity interest transactions in the United States is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to ongoing modification by governmental and judicial action. Considerable regulatory attention has been focused on non-traditional investment pools that are publicly distributed in the United States. The effect of any future regulatory change on the Fund is impossible to predict, but it could be substantial and adverse.
An investment in the Fund may provide little or no diversification benefits.
Interest rates historically have experienced a correlation with other asset classes. Accordingly, if interest rates decline, an investor in Fund shares will experience a loss at the same time the investor may suffer losses with respect to other investments.
The Fund is not a registered investment company so shareholders do not have the protections of the 1940 Act.
The Fund is not an investment company subject to the 1940 Act. Accordingly, investors do not have the protections afforded by that statute, which, for example, requires investment companies to have a majority of disinterested directors and regulates the relationship between the investment company and its investment manager.
The Fund and the Sponsor may have conflicts of interests.
The Fund is subject to actual and potential inherent conflicts involving the Sponsor, various commodity futures brokers and Authorized Participants. The Sponsor’s officers, directors and employees do not devote their time exclusively to the Fund. These persons are directors, officers or employees of other entities that may compete with the Fund for their services. They could have a conflict between their responsibilities to the Fund and to those other entities.
The Fund may also be subject to certain conflicts with respect to its FCM through which it places trades in certain Treasury Instruments, including, but not limited to, conflicts that result from receiving greater amounts of compensation from other clients, or purchasing opposite or competing positions on behalf of third party accounts traded through the FCM.
Shareholders have only very limited voting rights and have the power to replace the Sponsor only under specific circumstances. Shareholders do not participate in the management of the Fund and do not control the Sponsor, so they do not have any influence over basic matters that affect the Fund. In addition, the Sponsor could terminate at any time and cause the liquidation and potential loss of an investment and could upset the overall maturity and timing of an investment portfolio.
Shareholders have very limited voting rights with respect to the Fund’s affairs. Shareholders may elect a replacement sponsor only if the Sponsor resigns voluntarily or loses its corporate charter. Shareholders are not permitted to participate in the management or control of the Fund or the conduct of its business. Shareholders must therefore rely upon the duties and judgment of the Sponsor to manage the Fund’s affairs.
The Fund may terminate at any time, regardless of whether the Fund has incurred losses, subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement. For example, the dissolution or resignation of the Sponsor would cause the Fund to terminate unless, within 90 days of the event, shareholders holding shares representing at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of all of the Fund elect to continue the Trust and appoint a successor sponsor. In addition, the Sponsor may terminate the Fund if it determines that the Fund’s aggregate net assets in relation to its operating expenses make the continued operation of the Fund unreasonable or imprudent. However, no level of losses will require the Sponsor to terminate the Fund. The Fund’s termination would result in the liquidation of its assets and the distribution of the proceeds thereof, first to creditors and then to the shareholders in accordance with their positive book capital account balances, after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all periods, and the Fund could incur losses in liquidating its assets in connection with a termination. Termination could also negatively affect the overall maturity and timing of an investment portfolio.
The Fund could terminate at any time and cause the liquidation and potential loss of an investor’s investment and could upset the overall maturity and timing of an investor’s investment portfolio.
The Fund may terminate at any time, regardless of whether the Fund has incurred losses, subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement. In particular, unforeseen circumstances, including the death, adjudication of incompetence, bankruptcy, dissolution, or removal of the Sponsor as the manager of the Fund could cause the Fund to terminate unless a majority interest of the security holders within 90 days of the event elects to continue the Fund. However, no level of losses will require the Sponsor to terminate the Fund. The Fund’s termination would cause the liquidation and potential loss of an investor’s investment. Termination could also negatively affect the overall maturity and timing of an investor’s investment portfolio.
The Fund does not expect to make cash distributions.
Unlike mutual funds, commodity pools or other investment pools that actively manage their investments in an attempt to realize income and gains from their investing activities and distribute such income and gains to their investors, the Fund generally does not expect to distribute cash to security holders. An investor should not invest in the Fund if the investor will need cash distributions from the Fund to pay
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taxes on its share of income and gains of the Fund, if any, or for any other reason. Nonetheless, although the Fund does not intend to make cash distributions, the income earned from its investments held directly or posted as margin may reach levels that merit distribution, e.g., at levels where such income is not necessary to support its underlying investments and investors adversely react to being taxed on such income without receiving distributions that could be used to pay such tax. If this income becomes significant then cash distributions may be made.
An unanticipated number of redemption requests during a short period of time could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s NAV.
If a substantial number of requests for redemptions are received by the Fund during a relatively short period of time, the Fund may not be able to satisfy the requests from the Fund’s assets not committed to trading. As a consequence, it could be necessary to liquidate positions in the Fund’s trading positions before the time that the trading strategies would otherwise dictate liquidation.
The financial markets are currently in a slow period of recovery and the financial markets are still relatively fragile.
Since 2008, the financial markets have experienced very difficult conditions and volatility as well as significant adverse trends. Although the financial markets have recovered somewhat, the financial markets are still fragile. A poor financial recovery could adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of the Fund’s service providers and Authorized Participants, which would impact the ability of the Sponsor to achieve the Fund’s investment objective.
The failure or bankruptcy of a clearing broker or the Fund’s Custodian could result in a substantial loss of the Fund’s assets and could impair the Fund in its ability to execute trades.
Under CFTC regulations, a clearing broker maintains customers’ assets in a bulk segregated account. If a clearing broker fails to do so, or even if the customers’ funds are segregated by the clearing broker but the clearing broker is unable to satisfy a substantial deficit in a customer account, the clearing broker’s other customers may be subject to risk of a substantial loss of their funds in the event of that clearing broker’s bankruptcy. In that event, the clearing broker’s customers, such as the Fund, are entitled to recover, even in respect of property specifically traceable to them, only a proportional share of all property available for distribution to all of that clearing broker’s customers. The bankruptcy of a clearing broker could result in the complete loss of the Fund’s assets posted with the clearing broker. The Fund may also be subject to the risk of the failure of, or delay in performance by, any exchanges and markets and their clearing organizations, if any, on which commodity interest contracts are traded.
In addition, to the extent the Fund’s clearing broker is required to post the Fund’s assets as margin to a clearinghouse, the margin will be maintained in an omnibus account containing the margin of all the clearing broker’s customers. If the Fund’s clearing broker defaults to a clearinghouse because of a default by one of the clearing broker’s other customers or otherwise, then the clearinghouse can look to all of the margin in the omnibus account, including margin posted by the Fund and any other non-defaulting customers of the clearing broker to satisfy the obligations of the clearing broker.
From time to time, clearing brokers may be subject to legal or regulatory proceedings in the ordinary course of their business. A clearing broker’s involvement in costly or time-consuming legal proceedings may divert financial resources or personnel away from the clearing broker’s trading operations, which could impair the clearing broker’s ability to successfully execute and clear the Fund’s trades.
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In addition, the majority of the Fund’s assets are held in U.S. Treasury securities, cash and/or cash equivalents with U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (the “Custodian”). The insolvency of the Custodian could result in a complete loss of the Fund’s assets held by that Custodian, which, at any given time, could comprise a substantial portion of the Fund’s total assets.
Although the Shares of the Fund are limited liability investments, certain circumstances such as bankruptcy could increase a shareholder’s liability.
The Shares of the Fund are limited liability investments; shareholders may not lose more than they invest plus any profits recognized on their investment. However, shareholders could be required, as a matter of bankruptcy law, to return to the estate of the Fund any distribution they received at a time when the Fund was in fact insolvent or in violation of its Trust Agreement.
Forward-Looking Statements
This prospectus includes “forward-looking statements” which generally relate to future events or future performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements (other than statements of historical fact) included in this prospectus that address activities, events or developments that will or may occur in the future, including such matters as movements in the futures markets and indexes that track such movements, the Fund’s operations, the Sponsor’s plans and references to the Fund’s future success and other similar matters, are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially. These statements are based upon certain assumptions and analyses the Sponsor has made based on its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate in the circumstances. Whether or not actual results and developments will conform to the Sponsor’s expectations and predictions, however, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the special considerations discussed in this prospectus, general economic, market and business conditions, changes in laws or regulations, including those concerning taxes, made by governmental authorities or regulatory bodies, and other world economic and political developments. Consequently, all the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that actual results or developments the Sponsor anticipates will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the expected consequences to, or have the expected effects on, the Fund’s operations or the value of its shares.
Additional Information About the Fund, Its Investment Objective and Investments
The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust formed on July 23, 2014. The Trust is a series trust formed pursuant to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, of which the Fund is currently the sole series. The Fund is a commodity pool that issues common shares of beneficial interest that may be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca stock exchange (“NYSE Arca”). The Fund is managed and controlled by the Sponsor. The Sponsor is registered with the CFTC as a CPO and is a member of the NFA. Sit is registered as a CTA and will act as such for the Fund.
The Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategy
The Fund’s investment objective is to profit from rising interest rates by tracking the performance of a portfolio (the “Benchmark Portfolio”) consisting of exchange traded futures contracts and options on futures on 2, 5 and 10-year U.S. Treasury securities (“Treasury Instruments”) weighted to achieve a targeted negative 10 year average effective portfolio duration (the “Benchmark Component Instruments”). The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in the Benchmark Component Instruments currently constituting the Benchmark Portfolio. The Benchmark Portfolio is maintained by Sit and will be rebalanced, reconstituted, or both, monthly (typically on the 15th of each month and on the next business day if the 15th is a holiday, weekend, or other day on which the national exchanges are closed) to maintain a negative 10 year average effective duration. The Benchmark Portfolio and the Fund will each maintain a short position in Treasury Instruments. The Fund does not use futures contracts or options to obtain leveraged investment results. The Fund will not invest in swaps or other over-the-counter derivative instruments. The Benchmark Component Instruments currently constituting the Benchmark Portfolio and anticipated rebalancing dates, as well as the daily holdings of the Fund are available on the Fund’s website at www.risingratefund.com.
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The weighting of the Treasury Instruments constituting the Benchmark Component Instruments will be based on each maturity’s duration contribution. The expected range for the duration weighted percentage of the 2 year and 5 year maturity Treasury Instruments will be from 30% to 70%. The expected range for the duration weighted percentage of the 10 year maturity Treasury Instruments will be from 5% to 25%. The relative weightings of the Benchmark Component Instruments will be shifted between maturities when there are material changes in the shape of the yield curve, for example, if the Federal Reserve began raising short term interest rates more than long term interest rates. In such an instance, Sit, which maintains the Benchmark Portfolio, will elect to increase the weightings of the 2 year and reduce the weighting in the 10 year maturity. Conversely, Sit will do the opposite if the Federal Reserve began raising long term interest rates more than short term interest rates. Reconstitution and rebalancing each will occur monthly, on the 15th, except for as noted above or if there are radical changes in the yield curve such that effective duration is outside of a range from negative nine to negative 11-year average effective duration, in which case Sit will adjust the maturities of the Treasury Instruments before the next expected monthly reconstitution.
The Sponsor anticipates that approximately 5% to 15% of the Fund’s assets will be used as payment for or collateral for Treasury Instruments. In order to collateralize its Treasury Instrument positions the Fund will hold such assets, from which it will post margin to its futures commission merchant (“FCM”), in an amount equal to the margin required by the relevant exchange, and transfer to its FCM any additional amounts that may be separately required by the FCM. When establishing positions in Treasury Instruments, the Fund will be required to deposit initial margin with a value of approximately 3% to 10% of the value of each Treasury Instrument position at the time it is established. These margin requirements are subject to change from time to time by the exchange or the FCM. On a daily basis, the Fund will be obligated to pay, or entitled to receive, variation margin in an amount equal to the change in the daily settlement level of its Treasury Instruments positions.Any assets not required to be posted as margin with the FCM will be held at the Fund’s administrator in cash or cash equivalents as discussed below.
The Benchmark Portfolio will be invested in Benchmark Component Instruments and rebalanced, as noted above to maintain a negative average effective portfolio duration of approximately 10 years. Duration is a measure of estimated price sensitivity relative to changes in interest rates. Portfolios with longer durations are typically more sensitive to changes in interest rates. For example, if interest rates rise by 1%, the market value of a security with an effective duration of 5 years would decrease by 5%, with all other factors being constant, and likewise the market value of a security with an effective duration of negative 5 years would increase by 5%, with all other factors being constant. The correlation between duration and price sensitivity is greater for securities rated investment-grade than it is for securities rated below investment-grade. Duration estimates are based on assumptions by Sit and are subject to a number of limitations. Effective duration is calculated based on historical price changes of U.S. Treasuries and Treasury Instruments held by the Benchmark Portfolio, and therefore is a more accurate estimate of price sensitivity provided interest rates remain within their historical range. Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise. The risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities.
The Fund will incur certain expenses in connection with its operations. The Fund will hold cash or cash equivalents such as U.S. Treasuries or other high credit quality, short-term fixed-income or similar securities for direct investment or as collateral for the Treasury Instruments and for other liquidity purposes and to meet redemptions that may be necessary on an ongoing basis. These expenses and income from the cash and cash equivalent holdings may cause imperfect correlation between changes in the Fund’s NAV and changes in the Benchmark Portfolio, because the Benchmark Portfolio does not reflect expenses or income.
The Fund seeks to trade its positions prior to maturation; accordingly, natural market forces may cost the Fund while rebalancing. Each time the Fund seeks to reconstitute its positions, barring movement in the underlying securities, the futures and option prices may be higher or lower. Such differences in price, barring a movement in the price of the underlying security, will constitute “roll yield” and may inhibit the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.
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Impact of Futures Roll and Time Decay of Options on Total Returns
Several factors determine the total return from investing in a futures contract position. One factor that impacts the total return that will result from investing in near month futures contracts and “rolling” those contracts forward each month is the price relationship between the current near month contract and the next month contract.
When the Sponsor purchases an option that expires “out of the money,” the Fund will realize a loss. The Sponsor may not be able to invest the Fund’s assets in futures and options contracts having an aggregate notional amount exactly equal to that which is required to achieve a negative 10 year average effective duration. For example, as standardized contracts, U.S. Treasury futures contracts are denominated in specific dollar amounts, and the Fund’s NAV and the proceeds from the sale of a block of shares referred to as a “creation basket” (“Creation Basket”) are unlikely to be an exact multiple of the amounts of those contracts. As a result, in such circumstances, the Fund may be better able to achieve the exact amount of exposure desired through the use of other investments.
The Sponsor will close existing positions when it determines it would be appropriate to do so and reinvest the proceeds in other positions. Positions may also be closed out to meet orders for Redemption Baskets.
THE POOL HAS NOT COMMENCED TRADING YET AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Management’s Discussion
The Fund is newly formed and has not commenced operations. Prior to the inception of operations the Fund does not have any financial information of which to assess the Fund’s financial condition.
Liquidity
The Fund invests principally in exchange traded futures and options on futures on U.S. Treasuries that, in the opinion of the Sponsor, are traded in sufficient volume to permit the ready taking of orders and liquidation of positions in these financial interests.
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Borrowings
Borrowings are not used by the Fund.
The Sponsor and its Management and Trading Principal
The Sponsor is a single member limited liability company that was formed in the state of Delaware on June 12, 2014. The Sponsor maintains its main business office at 35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B, Summit, NJ 07901. The Sponsor is registered as a registered commodity pool operator with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). The Sponsor is a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”). The Sponsor registered as a CPO with the CFTC and became a member of the NFA on September 23, 2014.
The Sponsor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC (“ETFMG”), a single member limited liability company domiciled and headquartered in New Jersey. The Sponsor maintains its main business office at 35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B, Summit, NJ 07901.
Neither the Trust nor the Fund has executive officers. Pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, the Fund’s affairs are managed by the Sponsor. The business and affairs of the Sponsor are managed by its chief executive officer, Samuel Masucci, III.
The following are individual Principals, as that term is defined in CFTC Rule 3.1, for the Sponsor: Samuel R. Masucci, III, John A. Flanagan, and David H. Weissman. These individuals are principals due to their positions; however, Mr. Masucci is also a principal due to his controlling stake in ETFMG.
Samuel R. Masucci, III . Mr. Masucci is the founder of Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC and ETFMG has been the Managing Owner since November 2013. Mr. Masucci was listed as a principal of ETF Managers Capital LLC on September 23, 2014. Mr. Masucci serves as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and principal of the Managing Owner with responsibilities for managing all ETF issuers and related service activities. Since June of 2012, Mr. Masucci has served as the Chief Executive Officer and principal of Factor Advisors, LLC, a financial services company, and as the Chairman since March 2013. Mr. Masucci has also served as the Chief Executive Officer and principal of GENCAP Ventures, LLC since May 2012 and is responsible for managing all ETF issuers and related service activities. Mr. Masucci was out of the job market from January to May 2012. Mr. Masucci worked as Chief Executive Officer for MacroMarkets LLC from April 2005 to December 2011, with responsibility for running the day to day operations of an issuer of public securities and a registered broker-dealer. From April 2005 to December 2011, Mr. Masucci also worked as the Chief Executive Officer, managing partner and Chief Compliance Officer of Macro Financial LLC, which was a registered broker-dealer. From July 2001 to April 2005, Mr. Masucci worked as an owner and manager of The Cobblestone Group offering fixed income consulting services to the investment banking and commercial banking industries.
From March 1999 to June 2001, Mr. Masucci worked in mortgage trading as a Managing Director for Bear Stearns Inc., a financial institution. Mr. Masucci was out of the job market from December 1998 to February 1999. From June 1996 to November 1998, Mr. Masucci worked at SBC Warburg/UBS, a financial institution, as an Executive Director managing an asset backed securities group. From January 1992 to June 1996, Mr. Masucci worked in structured products (specifically, structuring mortgage derivatives and hedge funds), at Merrill Lynch, a financial institution, as a Vice President. From January 1990 to January 1992, Mr. Masucci worked as a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch in the private client group in connection with retail investors. From November 1987 to January 1990, Mr. Masucci worked at MetLife Insurance Company, an insurance company, as a retail salesperson qualified to sell financial and insurance products to retail clients. From August 1984 to October 1987, Mr. Masucci
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worked as a manager of jobsites for Forestdale Inc., which is a residential property developer. Mr. Masucci received his B.S. from Penn State University in Finance in July 1984.
John A. Flanagan. Mr. Flanagan serves as the Principal Financial Officer of the Sponsor and the Trust. Mr. Flanagan was listed as a principal pending approval of ETF Managers Capital LLC on September 24, 2014. Since June 2014, Mr. Flanagan serves as an Independent Trustee of Absolute Shares Trust, a multi-series exchange traded fund. Mr. Flanagan has been the President and sole owner of John A Flanagan CPA, LLC since December 2010. Mr. Flanagan was Chief Financial Officer of MacroMarkets LLC, an exchange traded fund issuer from January 2007 to December 2010.
David H. Weissman. Mr. Weissman joined Exchange Traded Mangers Group LLC and its subsidiaries on September 15, 2014 and serves as COO and CCO, overseeing and managing the implementation of all elements of operations and the regulatory compliance requirements and reporting pursuant to SEC, FINRA and NYSE rules and regulations. Mr. Weissman was registered and listed as both an associated person and principal on September 23, 2014. Prior to joining Exchange Trade Managers Group, Mr. Weissman served as Chief Administrative and Chief Compliance Officer of ARK Investment Management LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor and ETF issuer from January 2014 to August 2014, overseeing and managing the office and ETF operations and the regulatory compliance requirements pursuant to SEC, FINRA and NYSE rules and regulations. Prior to joining ARK, Mr. Weissman served as Chief Compliance Officer to Factor Advisors, Factor Capital Management, LLC and FactorShares Trust from January 2013 to December 2013, as well as the Associated Person to the Factor Capital Management, a CPO. Prior to joining Factor Advisors, Mr. Weissman was an independent consultant to issuers in the ETF market from July 24, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Prior to that, Mr. Weissman served as COO and CCO to FocusShares LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scottrade LLC, an ETF issuer and Investment Adviser from June 2010 to July 2012, overseeing and managing the implementation of all elements of the FocusShares’ operations and the regulatory compliance requirements and reporting pursuant to SEC, FINRA and NYSE rules and regulations, as well as the Associated Person to the FocusShares LLC CPO. Prior to FocusShares being acquired by Scottrade in June 2010, Mr. Weissman served in the same positions with the same roles from September 2007 to June 2010, except for the role as Associated Person which he initially began serving as in September 2011.
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Commodity Trading Advisor
The Commodity Trading Advisor (“CTA”) for the Fund is Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC (“Sit”). Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company and a subsidiary of Sit Investment Associates, Inc. Sit Investment Associates, Inc. was founded in July 1981 in Minneapolis by Eugene C. Sit. Sit Investment Associates, Inc. is an employee owned Minnesota corporation with a staff in excess of 70 persons including 25 full-time investment professionals. Sit Investment Associates, Inc. and its affiliates manage $14.07 billion in assets as of June 30, 2014 in portfolios with a variety of investment objectives. Sit Investment Associates, Inc. manages the assets of separate accounts, private investment funds, and the Sit Mutual Funds, a family of 12 no-load mutual funds. Sit Investment Associates, Inc. manages two private funds which have investment objectives that are similar to the Fund’s investment objectives. Information regarding such private investment funds with similar investment objectives is included below. Sit is registered as a CTA with the CFTC and is a member of the NFA. Sit registered as a CTA and became a member of the NFA on November 21, 2014.
The Sponsor has also entered into a Licensing and Services Agreement with Sit. Under this agreement, Sit has agreed to compose and maintain the Benchmark Portfolio and license to the Sponsor the use of the Benchmark Portfolio. For this license, the Sponsor pays a fee to Sit.
Sit has agreed to be responsible for the payment of certain expenses in excess of the expense limitation although the Sponsor retains the ultimate obligation to the Fund to waive and/or reimburse such expenses.
The following are individual Principals, as that term is defined in CFTC Rule 3.1, for Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC: Roger J. Sit, Michael, C. Brilley, Paul J. Jungquist, Paul E. Rasmussen, Carla J. Rose, Debra A. Sit, Mark H. Book, Bryce A. Doty, and Chris M. Rasmussen. These individuals are principals due to their positions. The following individuals will serve as investment professionals and senior management in regards to the Fund:
Roger J. Sit . Roger Sit is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Sit was listed as principal of Sit on November 4, 2014. Mr. Sit joined the organization in January 1998. Mr. Sit directs the overall investment management activities for Sit Investment Associates, Inc. and Sit International.
Michael C. Brilley . Michael Brilley is the President and Chief Fixed Income Officer. Mr. Brilley joined Sit Investment Associates, Inc. in April 1984. Mr. Brilley was listed as a principal of Sit on October 29, 2014.
Bryce A. Doty. Bryce Doty is a Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager. Mr. Doty joined Sit Investment Associates, Inc. in November 1995. Mr. Doty was listed as a principal of Sit on October 29, 2014. He is responsible for taxable bond portfolio management serving as portfolio manager for short duration accounts.
Mark H. Book, CFA, CMA . Mark Book is a Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Book joined Sit Investment Associates, Inc. in August 2000 as a Portfolio Manager and Fixed Income Analyst. Mr. Book was listed as a principal of Sit on October 31, 2014. He is responsible for taxable bond portfolio management and credit research.
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Christopher M. Rasmussen, CFA . Chris Rasmussen is a Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Rasmussen joined Sit Investment Associates, Inc. in February 1999. Mr. Rasmussen was listed as a principal of Sit on October 29, 2014 and listed as an associated person on November 21, 2014. He is responsible for taxable bond portfolio management and credit research. Mr. Rasmussen has worked in the Sit mutual fund group as well as the client administration area, and moved to fixed income in August 2002.
The performance of certain accounts that have been managed by Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC in accordance with investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar to that of the Fund are set forth below. Although, these accounts differ in that the Fund is rules-based to the Benchmark Portfolio whereas the accounts below have greater flexibility to achieve their objectives. The accounts below may rebalance more frequently, may hold a broader range of Treasury Instruments (and other futures and options), and may hold different collateral. The accounts below are more reactive to market changes. The performance data below is net of management fees and expenses.
PERFORMANCE OF SIT RISING INTEREST RATE FUND II, LTD
Name of Pool : Sit Rising Interest Rate II
Type of Pool : Private
Inception of Trading : July 31, 2012
Assets Under Management as of August 31, 2014: $92.9 Million
Worst Monthly Drawdown : May 2014 (2.90%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : November ’12 to May ’13 (7.58%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) | |||||||||
January | (2.33 | ) | (0.40 | ) | ||||||||
February | (0.35 | ) | (0.46 | ) | ||||||||
March | 1.98 | (0.40 | ) | |||||||||
April | 0.02 | (0.35 | ) | |||||||||
May | (2.90 | ) | 0.98 | |||||||||
June | 1.93 | 0.33 | ||||||||||
July | 1.84 | (0.61 | ) | |||||||||
August | 0.33 | (0.31 | ) | 0.23 | ||||||||
September | 1.10 | (2.89 | ) | 2.12 | ||||||||
October | (2.12 | ) | 0.65 | |||||||||
November | (0.31 | ) | (0.77 | ) | ||||||||
December | 2.90 | 0.32 | ||||||||||
Annual Rate of Return | 2.00 | (3.67 | ) | 2.55 |
* | The fund commenced investment operations on July 31, 2012. |
PERFORMANCE OF SIT CUSTOM ALPHA FUND, LP
Name of Pool : Rising Interest Rate, a series of Sit Custom Alpha Fund, LP
Type of Pool : Private
Inception of Trading : August 8, 2011
Assets Under Management as of August 31, 2014: $48.4 Million
Worst Monthly Drawdown : September 2013 (3.33%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : November ’12 to November ’13 (7.01%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
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Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | ||||||||||||
January | 0.29 | (0.47 | ) | (0.65 | ) | |||||||||||
February | 2.76 | (0.44 | ) | 2.46 | ||||||||||||
March | 0.05 | (0.15 | ) | 1.35 | ||||||||||||
April | (2.99 | ) | (0.77 | ) | 0.65 | |||||||||||
May | 2.33 | 1.15 | 0.10 | |||||||||||||
June | 2.33 | (0.38 | ) | 1.01 | ||||||||||||
July | 0.34 | (0.26 | ) | (1.34 | ) | |||||||||||
August | 0.34 | 0.00 | (0.32 | ) | (1.80 | ) | ||||||||||
September | 1.03 | (3.33 | ) | 1.78 | 0.48 | |||||||||||
October | (1.91 | ) | 0.34 | 0.28 | ||||||||||||
November | (0.6 | ) | (0.64 | ) | (1.31 | ) | ||||||||||
December | 2.91 | 0.56 | 0.97 | |||||||||||||
Annual Rate of Return | 5.38 | (4.27 | ) | 5.34 | (1.40 | ) |
*The Fund commenced investment operations on August 8, 2011
Administrator, Custodian, Fund Accountant, and Transfer Agent
U.S. Bank, a national banking association, with its principal office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, provides custody and fund accounting to the Trust and Fund. Its affiliate, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, is the transfer agent (“Transfer Agent”) for Fund shares and administrator for the Fund (“Administrator”). It performs certain administrative and accounting services for the Fund and prepares certain SEC, NFA and CFTC reports on behalf of the Fund. (U.S. Bank and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services are referred to collectively hereinafter as “U.S. Bank”).
For the first year of services, the Fund has agreed to pay U.S. Bank 0.05% of assets under management (“AUM”), with a $65,000 minimum annual fee payable.
Delaware Trustee
Wilmington Trust, N.A. (the ”Trustee“) serves as the Trust’s corporate trustee as required under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (”DSTA“). The Trustee will receive $2,500 for the first year of its services.
The Trustee is the sole trustee of the Trust. The rights and duties of the Trustee and the Sponsor with respect to the offering of the Shares and Fund management and the shareholders are governed by the provisions of the DSTA and by the Trust Agreement. The Trustee will accept service of legal process on the Trust in the State of Delaware and will make certain filings under the DSTA. The Trustee does not owe any other duties to the Trust, the Sponsor or the shareholders of any Fund. The Trustee’s principal offices are located at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. The Trustee is unaffiliated with the Sponsor.
The Trustee is permitted to resign upon at least sixty (60) days’ notice to the Trust, provided, that any such resignation will not be effective until a successor Trustee is appointed by the Sponsor. The Sponsor has the discretion to replace the Trustee.
Only the assets of the Trust and the Sponsor are subject to issuer liability under the federal securities laws for the information contained in this Prospectus and under federal securities laws with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares. Under such laws, neither the Trustee, either in its capacity as Trustee or in its individual capacity, nor any director, officer or controlling person of the Trustee is, or has any liability as, the issuer or a director, officer or controlling person of the issuer of the Shares. The Trustee’s liability in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares is limited solely to the express obligations of the Trustee set forth in the Trust Agreement.
Under the Trust Agreement, the Sponsor has exclusive management and control of all aspects of the Trust’s business. The Trustee has no duty or liability to supervise the performance of the Sponsor, nor will the Trustee have any liability for the acts or omissions of the Sponsor. The shareholders have no voice in the day to day management of the business and operations of the Funds and the Trust, other than certain limited voting rights as set forth in the Trust Agreement. In the course of its management of the business and affairs of the Funds and the Trust, the Sponsor may, in its sole and absolute discretion, appoint an affiliate or affiliates of the Sponsor as additional sponsors and retain such persons, including affiliates of the Sponsor, as it deems necessary to effectuate and carry out the purposes, business and objectives of the Trust.
Because the Trustee has no authority over the Trust’s operations, the Trustee itself is not registered in any capacity with the CFTC.
Distributor
The Fund has contracted with Esposito Securities LLC (the “Distributor”) to provide statutory and wholesaling distribution services, which is further discussed under “What is the Plan of Distribution?” in the Statement of Additional Information. The Fund pays Esposito Securities an annual fee for such distribution services, which for the first year will equal 0.02% of assets under management (“AUM”) (declining if the Fund’s AUM increases above $250,000,000), with a minimum of $15,000 payable annually. In no event will the aggregate compensation paid to the Distributor and any affiliate of the Sponsor for distribution-related services in connection with the offering of shares exceed ten percent (10%) of the gross proceeds of the offering. The Distributor’s principal business address is 300 Crescent Court, Suite 650, Dallas, Texas 75201.
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Futures Commission Merchant
Newedge USA LLC serves as the Fund’s futures commission merchant (“FCM”). The Fund estimates that it will pay 0.118% of the Fund’s NAV in brokerage fees during the first year of its operations for execution and clearing services on behalf of the Fund. Such brokerage fees are not included in the Fund’s Other Fees and Expenses discussed below.
Newedge USA is headquartered at 550 W. Jackson, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60661 with branch offices in New York, New York; Cypress, Texas (futures only); Santa Monica, California (securities only) and Montreal, Canada (futures only).
Prior to January 2, 2008, Newedge USA was known as Fimat USA, LLC. On September 1, 2008, Newedge USA merged with future commission merchant and broker dealer Newedge Financial Inc. (“NFI”) – formerly known as Calyon Financial Inc. Newedge USA was the surviving entity.
In February 2011, Newedge USA settled, without admitting or denying the allegations, a disciplinary action brought by the CFTC alleging that Newedge USA exceeded speculative limits in the October 2009 live cattle futures contract on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and failed to provide accurate and timely reports to the CFTC regarding their larger trader positions. Newedge USA paid a $140,000 civil penalty and disgorgement value of $80,910 to settle this matter. In addition, the CFTC Order required Newedge USA to implement and maintain a program designed to prevent and detect reporting violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations.
In January 2012, Newedge USA settled, without admitting or denying the allegations, a disciplinary action brought by the CFTC alleging that Newedge USA failed to file accurate and timely reports to the CFTC and failed to report certain large trader information to the CFTC. Newedge USA paid a $700,000 civil penalty to settle this matter. In addition, the CFTC Order required Newedge USA to timely submit accurate position reports and notices, and to implement and maintain procedures to prevent and detect reporting violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations.
In July 2013, Newedge USA settled, without admitting or denying the allegations, a matter brought by FINRA, on its behalf and on behalf of NYSE/NYSE ARCA, BATS and NASDAQ exchanges, involving rules and regulations pertaining to supervision of equities direct market access and sponsored access business, Regulation SHO and books and records retention. In connection with this matter, Newedge USA paid a fine of $9,500,000. In addition, Newedge USA agreed to retain an independent consultant to review its policies, systems, procedures and training relating to these areas and to implement the recommendation of such consultant based on its review and written reports.
Other than the foregoing proceedings, which did not have a material adverse effect upon the financial condition of Newedge USA, there have been no material administrative, civil or criminal actions brought, pending or concluded against Newedge USA or its principals in the past five years.
Neither Newedge USA nor any affiliate, officer, director or employee thereof have passed on the merits of this prospectus or offering, or give any guarantee as to the performance or any other aspect of the Fund.
Newedge is not affiliated with the Fund or the Sponsor. Therefore, the Sponsor and the Fund do not believe that the Fund has any conflicts of interest with Newedge or its trading principals arising from their acting as the Fund’s FCM.
Other Fees and Expenses
The Fund will be responsible for its Other Expenses, including professional services (e.g., outside auditor’s fees and legal fees and expenses), shareholder tax return preparation, regulatory compliance, and other services provided by affiliated and non-affiliated service providers. The amount of such Other Expenses is estimated to be 1.0% annually through February 1, 2016 due to the Sponsor’s agreement to reimburse the Fund for its Other Expenses which together with the Management Fee exceed a certain amount as discussed below. After such date, the expense limitation may be terminated and the Fund’s Other Expenses could be higher.
This table describes the net fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Shares of the Fund. You should note that you may pay brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of the Fund’s Shares, which are not reflected in the table; however, the Fund’s brokerage fees and commissions are included (those costs associated with rolling futures). Authorized Purchasers will pay applicable creation and redemption fees. See “Creation and Redemption of Shares-Creation and Redemption Transaction Fee,” page 44.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) (1) |
Management Fee | 0.50 | % | ||
Maximum Other Expenses | 1.00 | % | ||
Maximum Total Annual Fund Expenses | 1.50 | %(1) |
(1) The Sponsor has contractually agreed to waive the Management Fee and/or reimburse the Fund for its Other Expenses (which term excludes brokerage fees, interest expenses, and extraordinary expenses) to cap Total Annual Fund Expenses at 1.50% through February 1, 2016. After that date, the expense limitation may be terminated and Fund shareholders may incur expenses higher than 1.50% annually. It cannot be predicted with any certainty what such expenses could be. As the Fund‘s assets increase, Other Expenses may decrease as a percentage of the Fund‘s assets. Above a certain size the Other Expenses may be less than 1.00%. The Fund may also be responsible for certain non-recurring or extraordinary fee and expenses.
The breakeven analysis below indicates the approximate dollar returns and percentage required for the redemption value of a hypothetical initial investment in a single share of the Fund to equal the amount invested twelve months after the investment was made. For purposes of this breakeven analysis, an initial selling price of $25.00 per share which will be the selling price of the shares sold in the initial Creation Basket was assumed. This breakeven analysis refers to the redemption of baskets by Authorized Participants and is not related to any gains an individual investor would have to achieve in order to break even. The breakeven analysis is an approximation only.
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Assumed initial selling price per Share | $ | 25.00 | ||
Management Fee (0.50%) (1) | $ | 0.13 | ||
Creation Basket Fee (2) | $ | 0.02 | ||
Estimated Brokerage Fee (0.118%) (3) | $ | 0.03 | ||
Rebalancing Costs (0.01%) | $ | 0.003 | ||
Other Expenses (1.0%) (1)(4) | $ | 0.25 | ||
Interest Income (.02%) (5) | $ | (0.01 | ) | |
Percentage of initial selling price per share | 1.68 | % |
(1) | The Sponsor has contractually agreed to waive its management fee and/or reimburse the Fund for its expenses (excluding brokerage fees, interest expenses, and extraordinary expenses) to cap Total Annual Fund Expenses at 1.50% per annum through February 1, 2016. After that date, the expense limitation may be terminated and Fund shareholders may incur expenses higher than 1.50% annually. It cannot be predicted with any certainty what such expenses could be. The Fund may also be responsible for certain non-recurring or extraordinary fee and expenses. |
(2) | Authorized Purchasers are required to pay a Creation Basket fee of $500 for each order they place to create one or more baskets. An order must be at least one basket, which is 25,000 shares. This breakeven analysis assumes a hypothetical investment in a single share so the Creation Basket fee is $0.02 (500/25,000). |
(3) | This amount is based on estimated brokerage fees for the Fund calculated on an annualized basis. |
(4) | Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year including the Sponsor’s contractual agreement to waive its management fee and/or reimburse the Fund for its expenses (excluding brokerage fees, interest expenses, and extraordinary expenses) to cap Total Annual Fund Expenses at 1.50%, see note 1 above. The Sponsor has paid all of the expenses related to the organization and offering of the shares in this prospectus. |
(5) | The Fund earns interest on funds it deposits with the futures commission merchant and the custodian and it estimates that the interest rate will be 0.02% based on the interest rate on three-month Treasury Bills as of November, 2014. The actual rate may vary and not all assets of the Fund will earn interest. |
There are present and potential future conflicts of interest in the Fund’s structure and operation you should consider before you purchase shares. The Sponsor and Sit will use this notice of conflicts as a defense against any claim or other proceeding made. If the Sponsor or Sit is not able to resolve these conflicts of interest adequately, it may impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives. The Fund, the Sponsor and Sit may have inherent conflicts to the extent the Sponsor attempts to maintain the Fund’s asset size in order to preserve its fee income.
The Sponsor’s and Sit’s officers, directors and employees, do not devote their time exclusively to the Fund. These persons are directors, officers or employees of other entities which may compete with the Fund for their services. They could have a conflict between their responsibilities to the Fund and to those other entities. The Sponsor and Sit believe that they have sufficient personnel, time, and working capital to discharge their responsibilities in a fair manner and that these persons’ conflicts should not impair their ability to provide services to the Fund. The Sponsor and its principals will not invest in futures for their proprietary accounts. Sit and its principals may trade futures on behalf of other clients, accounts, and private funds, including such other parties in which Sit may have an interest.
The Sponsor and Sit have each adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to ensure that the officers, directors, and employees of the Sponsor and Sit and their respective affiliates do not engage in trades that will harm the Fund or the shareholders. The Sponsor and Sit have each also adopted a Corporate Governance Policy. If these provisions are not successful, shareholders may be harmed. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the Corporate Governance Policy of the Sponsor may be found on the Fund’s website at www.risingratefund.com.
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The Sponsor has sole current authority to manage the investments and operations of the Fund, and this may allow it to act in a way that furthers its own interests which may create a conflict with your best interests. Security holders have limited voting control, which will limit their ability to influence matters such as amendment of the Declaration of Trust, change in the Fund’s basic investment policy, dissolution of the Fund, or the sale or distribution of the Fund’s assets.
The previous risk factors and conflicts of interest are complete as of the date of this prospectus; however, additional risks and conflicts may occur which are not presently foreseen by the Sponsor. You may not construe this prospectus as legal or tax advice. Before making an investment in this fund, you should read this entire prospectus, including the Declaration of Trust which can be found on the Fund’s website at www.risingratefund.com. You should also consult with your personal legal, tax, and other professional advisors.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
As of the date of this Prospectus the Sponsor owns 40 shares of the Fund. As of the date of this Prospectus, none of the principals have an ownership or beneficial interest in the Fund. Also, as of the date of this Prospectus, no other person owned of record, or was known to the Trust to have owned of record or beneficially, 5% or more of the Fund.
Related Party Transactions
There have been no related party transactions in the past year in excess of $120,000, further, there have been no related party transactions.
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
The Sponsor employed Reed Smith LLP to assist in preparing this prospectus. Neither the law firm nor any other expert hired by the Fund to give advice on the preparation of this offering document has been hired on a contingent fee basis. Nor does any such party have any present or future expectation of interest in the Sponsor, Distributor, Authorized Purchasers, Custodian, Administrator or other service providers to the Fund.
The Sponsor’s Responsibilities and Remedies
In addition to the obligations expressly provided by the DSTA, the Sponsor is required to:
(i) Devote such of its time to the business and affairs of the Trust as it shall, in its discretion exercised in good faith, determine to be necessary to conduct the business and affairs of the Trust for the benefit of the Trust;
(ii) Execute, file, record and/or publish all certificates, statements and other documents and do any and all other things as may be appropriate for the formation, qualification and operation of the Trust and for the conduct of its business in all appropriate jurisdictions;
(iii) Retain independent public accountants to audit the accounts of the Trust;
(iv) Employ attorneys to represent the Trust;
(v) Select the Trust’s Trustee, Administrator, Transfer Agent, Custodian and Commodity Broker, and any other service provider;
(vi) Use its best efforts to maintain the status of the Trust as a “statutory trust” for state law purposes and as a “partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
(vii) Monitor the brokerage fees charged to the Trust, and the services rendered by futures commission merchants to the Trust, to determine whether the fees paid by, and the services rendered to,
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the Trust for futures brokerage are at competitive rates and are the best price and services available under the circumstances, and if necessary, renegotiate the brokerage fee structure to obtain such rates and services for the Trust;
(viii) Have fiduciary responsibility for the safekeeping and use of the Trust, whether or not in the Sponsor’s immediate possession or control, and the Sponsor will not employ or permit others to employ such funds or in any manner except for the benefit of the Trust, including, among other things, the utilization of any portion of the Trust Estate as compensating balances for the exclusive benefit of the Sponsor. The Sponsor shall at all times act with integrity and good faith and exercise due diligence in all activities relating to the conduct of the business of the Trust and in resolving conflicts of interest;
(ix) Interact with the Depository as required;
(x) Delegate those of its duties hereunder as it shall determine from time to time to the Administrator or Distributor, as applicable;
(xi) Perform such other services as the Sponsor believes that the Trust may from time to time require;
(xii) In its sole discretion, cause the Trust to do one or more of the following: to make, refrain from making, or once having made, to revoke, the election referred to in Section 754 of the Code, and any similar election provided by state or local law, or any similar provision enacted in lieu thereof; and
In its sole discretion, cause the Trust to do one or more of the following: to make, refrain from making, or once having made, to revoke the election by a qualified fund under Code Section 988(c)(1)(E)(iii)(V), and any similar election provided by state or local law, or any similar provision enacted in lieu thereof.
The Sponsor shall have no liability to the Trust or to any shareholder for any loss suffered by the Trust which arises out of any action or inaction of the Sponsor if the Sponsor, in good faith, determined that such course of conduct was in the best interest of the Trust and such course of conduct did not constitute fraud, gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct of the Sponsor. Subject to the foregoing, the Sponsor shall not be personally liable for the return or repayment of all or any portion of the capital or profits of any shareholder or assignee thereof. The Sponsor shall not be liable for the conduct or misconduct of any Administrator or other delegatee selected by the Sponsor with reasonable care.
The Sponsor will be indemnified by the Trust against any losses, judgments, liabilities, expenses and amounts paid in settlement of any claims sustained by it in connection with its activities for the Trust, provided that (i) the Sponsor was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Trust and has determined, in good faith, that such course of conduct was in the best interests of the Trust and such liability or loss was not the result of fraud, gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct, or a material breach of the Trust Agreement on the part of the Sponsor and (ii) any such indemnification will only be recoverable from the Trust. All rights to indemnification permitted herein and payment of associated expenses shall not be affected by the dissolution or other cessation to exist of the Sponsor, or the withdrawal, adjudication of bankruptcy or insolvency of the Sponsor, or the filing of a voluntary or involuntary petition in bankruptcy under Title 11 of the Code by or against the Sponsor.
Notwithstanding the provisions above, the Sponsor and any broker-dealer for the Trust will not be indemnified for any losses, liabilities or expenses arising from or out of an alleged violation of U.S. federal or state securities laws unless (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee and the court approves the indemnification of such expenses (including, without limitation, litigation costs), (ii) such claims have
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been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular indemnitee and the court approves the indemnification of such expenses (including, without limitation, litigation costs) or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and related costs should be made.
The Trust will not incur the cost of that portion of any insurance which insures any party against any liability, the indemnification of which is herein prohibited.
Expenses incurred in defending a threatened or pending civil, administrative or criminal action suit or proceeding against the Sponsor will be paid by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, if (i) the legal action relates to the performance of duties or services by the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust; (ii) the legal action is initiated by a third party who is not a shareholder or the legal action is initiated by a shareholder and a court of competent jurisdiction specifically approves such advance; and (iii) the Sponsor undertakes to repay the advanced funds with interest to the Trust in cases in which it is not entitled to indemnification under this Section.
According to applicable law, indemnification of the Sponsor is payable only if the Sponsor is determined, in good faith, that the act, omission or conduct that gave rise to the claim for indemnification was in the best interest of the Trust and the Fund and the act, omission or activity that was the basis for such loss, liability, damage, cost or expense was not the result of negligence or misconduct and such liability or loss was not the result of negligence or misconduct by the Sponsor, and such indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of the assets of the Fund.
Provisions of Federal and State Securities Laws
This offering is made pursuant to federal and state securities laws. The SEC and state securities agencies take the position that indemnification of the Sponsor that arises out of an alleged violation of such laws is prohibited unless certain conditions are met.
These conditions require that no indemnification of the Sponsor or any underwriter for the Fund may be made in respect of any losses, liabilities or expenses arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws unless: (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the party seeking indemnification and the court approves the indemnification; (ii) such claim has been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the party seeking indemnification; or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against the party seeking indemnification and finds that indemnification of the settlement and related costs should be made, provided that, before seeking such approval, the Sponsor or other indemnitee must apprise the court of the position held by regulatory agencies against such indemnification. These agencies are the SEC and the securities administrator of the State or States in which the plaintiffs claim they were offered or sold interests.
Provisions of the 1933 Act and NASAA Guidelines
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be permitted to the Sponsor or its directors, officers, or persons controlling the Trust and the Fund, the Sponsor has been informed that SEC and the various State administrators believe that such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (“NASAA”) commodity pool guidelines and is therefore unenforceable.
The books and records of the Fund may be made available for inspection and copying (upon payment of reasonable reproduction costs) by Shareholders of the Fund or their representatives for any purposes reasonably related to a Shareholder’s interest as a beneficial owner of the Fund upon reasonable advance
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notice during regular business hours at the office of the Sponsor. The Sponsor will maintain and preserve the books and records of each Fund for a period of not less than six years.
Statements, Filings, and Reports
The Trust will furnish to DTC Participants for distribution to shareholders annual reports (as of the end of each fiscal year) for the Fund as are required to be provided to shareholders by the CFTC and the NFA. These annual reports will contain financial statements prepared by the Sponsor and audited by an independent registered public accounting firm designated by the Sponsor. The Trust will also post monthly reports to the Fund’s website (www.risingratefund.com). These monthly reports will contain certain unaudited financial information regarding the Fund, including the Fund’s NAV. The Sponsor will furnish to the shareholders other reports or information which the Sponsor, in its discretion, determines to be necessary or appropriate. In addition, under SEC rules the Trust will be required to file quarterly and annual reports for the Fund with the SEC, which need not be sent to shareholders but will be publicly available through the SEC. The Trust will post the same information that would otherwise be provided in the Trust’s CFTC, NFA and SEC reports on the Fund’s website www.risingratefund.com.
The Sponsor is responsible for the registration and qualification of the Shares under the federal securities laws, federal commodities laws, and laws of any other jurisdiction as the Sponsor may select. The Sponsor is responsible for preparing all required reports, but has entered into an agreement with the Administrator to prepare these reports on the Trust’s behalf.
The accountants’ report on its audit of the Fund’s financial statements will be furnished by the Trust to shareholders upon request. The Trust will make such elections, file such tax returns, and prepare, disseminate and file such tax reports for the Fund, as it is advised by its counsel or accountants are from time to time required by any applicable statute, rule or regulation.
Emerging Growth Company Status
The Fund is an “emerging growth company” as defined under the JOBS Act. The Fund will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years, or until the earliest of:
· | the last day of the first fiscal year in which its total annual gross revenues exceed $1 billion, |
· | the date that it becomes a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of its shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter, or |
· | the date on which it has issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt during the preceding three year period. |
As an “emerging growth company,” the Fund may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act as long as it is a “non-accelerated filer,” which includes issuers that had a public float of less than $75 million as of the last business day of their most recently completed second fiscal quarter, issuers that have not been subject to the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for a period of at least 12 calendar months and issuers that have not filed at least one annual report pursuant thereto.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Under this provision, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.
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However, the Fund is choosing to “opt out” of such extended transition period and, as a result, will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that this decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.
The fiscal year of the Fund is July 1 to June 30. The Sponsor may select an alternate fiscal year.
Governing Law; Consent to Delaware Jurisdiction
The rights of the Sponsor, the Fund, DTC (as registered owner of the Fund’s global certificate for shares) and the shareholders, are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. The Sponsor, the Fund, DTC, and by accepting shares, each DTC Participant and each shareholder, consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and any federal courts located in Delaware. Such consent is not required for any person to assert a claim of Delaware jurisdiction over the Sponsor or the Fund.
Litigation and Claims
Within the past 5 years of the date of this prospectus, there have been no material administrative, civil or criminal actions against the Sponsor, underwriter, or any principal or affiliate of either of them. This includes any actions pending, on appeal, concluded, threatened, or otherwise known to them.
Legal Opinion
Reed Smith LLP is counsel to advise the Fund, the Trust and the Sponsor with respect to the shares being offered hereby and has passed upon the validity of the shares being issued hereunder. Reed Smith LLP has also provided the Sponsor with its opinion with respect to federal income tax matters addressed herein.
Experts
WithumSmith+Brown, P.C. an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the financial statements of the Fund and the Sponsor.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares in the Fund, and the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Fund, as of the date hereof. This discussion is applicable to a beneficial owner of shares who purchases shares in the offering to which this prospectus relates, including a beneficial owner who purchases shares from an Authorized Purchaser. Except where noted otherwise, it deals only with shares held as capital assets and does not deal with special situations, such as those of dealers in securities or currencies, financial institutions, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, persons holding shares as a part of a position in a “straddle” or as part of a “hedging,” “conversion” or other integrated transaction for federal income tax purposes, traders in securities or commodities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting, or holders of shares whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar. Furthermore, the discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Code , as amended, and regulations (“Treasury Regulations”), rulings and judicial decisions thereunder as of the date hereof, and such authorities may be repealed, revoked or modified so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below.
Persons considering the purchase, ownership or disposition of shares should consult their own tax advisors concerning the United States federal income tax consequences in light of their particular situations as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction. As used
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herein, a “U.S. shareholder” of a share means a beneficial owner of a share that is, for United States federal income tax purposes, (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation or partnership created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source or (iv) a trust (X) that is subject to the supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more United States persons as described in section 7701(a)(30) of the Code or (Y) that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person. A “Non-U.S. shareholder” is a holder that is not a U.S. shareholder. If a partnership holds our shares, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding our shares, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences.
The Sponsor, on behalf of the Fund, has received the opinion of Reed Smith LLP, counsel to the Fund, that the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Fund and to U.S. shareholders and Non-U.S. shareholders will be as described below. In rendering its opinion, Reed Smith LLP has relied on the facts described in this prospectus as well as certain factual representations made by the Fund and the Sponsor. The opinion of Reed Smith LLP is not binding on the IRS, and as a result, the IRS may not agree with the tax positions taken by the Fund. If challenged by the IRS, the Fund’s tax positions might not be sustained by the courts. No ruling has been requested from the IRS with respect to any matter affecting the Fund or prospective investors.
EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IS ADVISED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR AS TO HOW U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND. APPLY TO YOU AND AS TO HOW THE APPLICABLE STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAXES APPLY TO YOU.
Tax Status of the Fund
The Fund is organized and operated as a statutory trust in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement and Delaware law. As a statutory trust, the Fund will be taxable as a partnership unless it elects to be taxable as a corporation under current tax law. The Fund does not intend to elect to be taxable as a corporation. Even if the Fund doesn’t elect to be taxed as a corporation, under the Code, an entity classified as a partnership that is deemed to be a “publicly traded partnership” is generally taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. The Code provides an exception to this general rule for a publicly traded partnership whose gross income for each taxable year of its existence consists of at least 90% “qualifying income” (“qualifying income exception”). For this purpose, section 7704 defines “qualifying income” as including, in pertinent part, interest (other than from a financial business), dividends and gains from the sale or disposition of capital assets held for the production of interest or dividends. In addition, in the case of a partnership a principal activity of which is the buying and selling of commodities (other than as inventory) or of futures, forwards and options with respect to commodities, “qualifying income” includes income and gains from such commodities and futures, forwards and options with respect to commodities. The Fund and the Sponsor have represented the following to Reed Smith LLP:
· | At least 90% of the Fund’s gross income for each taxable year will constitute “qualifying income” within the meaning of Code section 7704 (as described above); |
· | the Fund is organized and operated in accordance with its governing agreements and applicable law; |
· | the Fund has not elected, and will not elect, to be classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
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Based in part on these representations, Reed Smith LLP is of the opinion that the Fund classifies as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and that it is not taxable as a corporation for such purposes.
If the Fund failed to satisfy the qualifying income exception in any year, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery, the Fund would be taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes and would pay federal income tax on its income at regular corporate rates. In that event, shareholders would not report their share of the Fund’s income or loss on their returns.
In addition, distributions to shareholders would be treated as dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. To the extent a distribution exceeded the Fund’s earnings and profits, the distribution would be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s basis in its shares, and thereafter as gain from the sale of shares. Accordingly, if the Fund were to be taxable as a corporation, it would likely have a material adverse effect on the economic return from an investment in the Fund and on the value of the shares.
The remainder of this summary assumes that the Fund is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and that it is not taxable as a corporation.
U.S. Shareholders
Tax Consequences of Ownership of Shares
Taxation of the Fund’s Income . No U.S. federal income tax is paid by the Fund on its income. Instead, the Fund files annual information returns, and each U.S. shareholder is required to report on its U.S. federal income tax return its allocable share of the income, gain, loss and deduction of the Fund. For example, shareholders must take into account their share of ordinary income realized by the Fund from accruals of interest on U.S. Treasuries and other investments, and their share of gain from Treasury Interests. These items must be reported without regard to the amount (if any) of cash or property the shareholder receives as a distribution from the Fund during the taxable year. Consequently, a shareholder may be allocated income or gain by the Fund but receive no cash distribution with which to pay its tax liability resulting from the allocation, or may receive a distribution that is insufficient to pay such liability. Because the Sponsor currently does not intend to make distributions, it is likely that in any year the Fund realizes net income and/or gain that a U.S. shareholder will be required to pay taxes on its allocable share of such income or gain from sources other than the Fund distributions. In addition, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, individuals with income in excess of $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of married individuals filing jointly) and certain estates and trusts are subject to an additional 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” which generally includes net income from interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, and rents, and net capital gains (other than certain amounts earned from trades or businesses). Also included as income subject to the additional 3.8% tax is income from businesses involved in the trading of financial instruments or commodities.
Allocations of the Fund’s Profit and Loss . Under Code section 704, the determination of a partner’s distributive share of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit is governed by the applicable organizational document unless the allocation provided by such document lacks “substantial economic effect.”
An allocation that lacks substantial economic effect nonetheless will be respected if it is in accordance with the partners’ interests in the partnership, determined by taking into account all facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangements among the partners.
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In general, the Fund applies a monthly closing-of-the-books convention in determining allocations of economic profit or loss to shareholders. Income, gain, loss and deduction are determined on a monthly “mark-to-market” basis, taking into account our accrued income and deductions and realized and unrealized gains and losses for the month. These items are allocated among the holders of shares in proportion to the number of shares owned by them as of the close of business on the last business day of the month. Items of taxable income, deduction, gain, loss and credit recognized by the Fund for federal income tax purposes for any taxable year are allocated among holders in a manner that equitably reflects the allocation of economic profit or loss. The Fund has made the election permitted by section 754 of the Code, which election is irrevocable without the consent of the Service. The effect of this election is that when a secondary market sale of our shares occurs, we adjust the purchaser’s proportionate share of the tax basis of our assets to fair market value, as reflected in the price paid for the shares, as if the purchaser had directly acquired an interest in our assets. The section 754 election is intended to eliminate disparities between a partner’s basis in its partnership interest and its share of the tax bases of the partnership’s assets, so that the partner’s allocable share of taxable gain or loss on a disposition of an asset will correspond to its share of the appreciation or depreciation in the value of the asset since it acquired its interest. Depending on the price paid for shares and the tax bases of the Fund’s assets at the time of the purchase, the effect of the section 754 election on a purchaser of shares may be favorable or unfavorable.
The Fund applies certain conventions in determining and allocating items for tax purposes in order to reduce the complexity and costs of administration. The Sponsor believes that application of these conventions is consistent with the intent of the partnership provisions of the Code, and that the resulting allocations will have substantial economic effect or otherwise are respected as being in accordance with shareholders’ interests in the Fund for federal income tax purposes. The Code and existing Treasury Regulations do not expressly permit adoption of these conventions although the monthly allocation convention described above is consistent with a semi-monthly method permitted under recently proposed Treasury Regulations, as well as the legislative history for the provisions that requires allocations to appropriately reflect changes in ownership interest. It is possible that the IRS could successfully challenge this method and require a shareholder to report a greater or lesser share of items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit than if our method were respected. The Sponsor is authorized to revise our allocation method to conform to any method permitted under future Treasury Regulations.
The assumptions and conventions used in making tax allocations may cause a shareholder to be allocated more or less income or loss for federal income tax purposes than its proportionate share of the economic income or loss realized by the Fund during the period it held its shares. This “mismatch” between taxable and economic income or loss in some cases may be temporary, reversing itself in a later year when the shares are sold, but could be permanent. For example, a shareholder could be allocated income accruing before it purchased its shares, resulting in an increase in the basis of the shares (see “Tax Basis of Shares,” below). On a subsequent disposition of the shares, the additional basis might produce a capital loss the deduction of which may be limited (see “ Limitations on Deductibility of Losses and Certain Expenses, ” below).
Mark to Market of Certain Exchange-Traded Contracts . For federal income tax purposes, the Fund generally is required to use a “mark-to-market” method of accounting under which unrealized gains and losses on instruments constituting “section 1256 contracts” are recognized currently. A section 1256 contract is defined as: (1) a futures contract that is traded on or subject to the rules of a national securities exchange which is registered with the SEC, a domestic board of trade designated as a contract market by the CFTC, or any other board of trade or exchange designated by the Secretary of the Treasury, and with respect to which the amount required to be deposited and the amount that may be withdrawn depends on a system of “marking to market”; (2) a forward contract on exchange-traded foreign currencies, where the contracts are traded in the interbank market; (3) a non-equity option traded on or subject to the rules of a qualified board or exchange; (4) a dealer equity option; or (5) a dealer securities futures contract.
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Under these rules, section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of each taxable year, including for example futures contracts and options on futures contracts traded on a U.S. exchange or board of trade or certain foreign exchanges, are treated as if they were sold by the Fund for their fair market value on the last business day of the taxable year. A shareholder’s distributive share of the Fund’s net gain or loss with respect to each section 1256 contract generally is treated as long-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 60 percent thereof, and as short-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 40 percent thereof, without regard to the actual holding period.
Many of the Fund’s Futures Contracts and some of their other commodity interests will qualify as “section 1256 contracts” under the Code. Gain or loss recognized through disposition, termination or marking-to-market of the Fund’s section 1256 contracts will be subject to 60/ 40 treatment and allocated to shareholders in accordance with the monthly allocation convention. Under recently enacted legislation, cleared swaps and other commodity swaps will most likely not qualify as section 1256 contracts. If a commodity swap is not treated as a section 1256 contract, any gain or loss on the swap recognized at the time of disposition or termination will be long-term or short-term capital gain or loss depending on the holding period of the swap.
Limitations on Deductibility of Losses and Certain Expenses . A number of different provisions of the Code may defer or disallow the deduction of losses or expenses allocated to you by the Fund, including but not limited to those described below.
A shareholder’s deduction of its allocable share of any loss of the Fund is limited to the lesser of (1) the tax basis in its shares or (2) in the case of a shareholder that is an individual or a closely held corporation, the amount which the shareholder is considered to have “at risk” with respect to our activities. In general, the amount at risk will be your invested capital plus your share of any recourse debt of the Fund for which you are liable. Losses in excess of the lesser of tax basis or the amount at risk must be deferred until years in which the Fund generates additional taxable income against which to offset such carryover losses or until additional capital is placed at risk.
Noncorporate taxpayers are permitted to deduct capital losses only to the extent of their capital gains for the taxable year plus $3,000 of other income. Unused capital losses can be carried forward and used to offset capital gains in future years. In addition, a noncorporate taxpayer may elect to carry back net losses on section 1256 contracts to each of the three preceding years and use them to offset section 1256 contract gains in those years, subject to certain limitations. Corporate taxpayers generally may deduct capital losses only to the extent of capital gains, subject to special carryback and carryforward rules.
Otherwise deductible expenses incurred by noncorporate taxpayers constituting “miscellaneous itemized deductions,” generally including investment-related expenses (other than interest and certain other specified expenses), are deductible only to the extent they exceed 2% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income for the year. Although the matter is not free from doubt, we believe management fees we pay to the Sponsor and other expenses we incur constitute investment-related expenses subject to the miscellaneous itemized deduction limitation, rather than expenses incurred in connection with a trade or business, and will report these expenses consistent with that interpretation. The Code imposes additional limitations on the amount of certain itemized deductions allowable to individuals with adjusted gross income in excess of certain amounts by reducing the otherwise allowable portion of such deductions by an amount equal to the lesser of:
· | 3% of the individual’s adjusted gross income in excess of certain threshold amounts; or |
· | 80% of the amount of certain itemized deductions otherwise allowable for the taxable year. |
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Noncorporate shareholders generally may deduct “investment interest expense” only to the extent of their “net investment income.” Investment interest expense of a shareholder will generally include any interest accrued by the Fund and any interest paid or accrued on direct borrowings by a shareholder to purchase or carry its shares, such as interest with respect to a margin account. Net investment income generally includes gross income from property held for investment (including “portfolio income” under the passive loss rules but not, absent an election, long-term capital gains or certain qualifying dividend income) less deductible expenses other than interest directly connected with the production of investment income.
To the extent that we allocate losses or expenses to you that must be deferred or disallowed as a result of these or other limitations in the Code, you may be taxed on income in excess of your economic income or distributions (if any) on your shares. As one example, you could be allocated and required to pay tax on your share of interest income accrued by the Fund for a particular taxable year, and in the same year allocated a share of a capital loss that you cannot deduct currently because you have insufficient capital gains against which to offset the loss. As another example, you could be allocated and required to pay tax on your share of interest income and capital gain for a year, but be unable to deduct some or all of your share of management fees and/or margin account interest incurred by you with respect to your shares. Shareholders are urged to consult their own professional tax advisors regarding the effect of limitations under the Code on your ability to deduct your allocable share of the Fund’s losses and expenses.
Tax Basis of Shares . A shareholder’s tax basis in its shares is important in determining (1) the amount of taxable gain it will realize on the sale or other disposition of its shares, (2) the amount of non-taxable distributions that it may receive from the Fund and (3) its ability to utilize its distributive share of any losses of the Fund on its tax return. A shareholder’s initial tax basis of its shares will equal its cost for the shares plus its share of the Fund’s liabilities (if any) at the time of purchase. In general, a shareholder’s “share” of those liabilities will equal the sum of (i) the entire amount of any otherwise nonrecourse liability of the Fund as to which the shareholder or an affiliate is the creditor (a “partner nonrecourse liability”) and (ii) a pro rata share of any nonrecourse liabilities of the Fund that are not partner nonrecourse liabilities as to any shareholder.
A shareholder’s tax basis in its shares generally will be (1) increased by (a) its allocable share of the Fund’s taxable income and gain and (b) any additional contributions by the shareholder to the Fund and (2) decreased (but not below zero) by (a) its allocable share of the Fund’s tax deductions and losses and (b) any distributions by the Fund to the shareholder. For this purpose, an increase in a shareholder’s share of the Fund’s liabilities will be treated as a contribution of cash by the shareholder to the Fund and a decrease in that share will be treated as a distribution of cash by the Fund to the shareholder. Pursuant to certain IRS rulings, a shareholder will be required to maintain a single, “unified” basis in all shares that it owns. As a result, when a shareholder that acquired its shares at different prices sells less than all of its shares, such shareholder will not be entitled to specify particular shares (e.g., those with a higher basis) as having been sold. Rather, it must determine its gain or loss on the sale by using an “equitable apportionment” method to allocate a portion of its unified basis in its shares to the shares sold.
Treatment of Fund Distributions . If the Fund makes non-liquidating distributions to shareholders, such distributions generally will not be taxable to the shareholders for federal income tax purposes except to the extent that the sum of (i) the amount of cash and (ii) the fair market value of marketable securities distributed exceeds the shareholder’s adjusted basis of its interest in the Fund immediately before the distribution. Any cash distributions in excess of a shareholder’s tax basis generally will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of shares.
Constructive Termination of the Partnership . We will be considered to have been terminated for tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50 percent or more of the total interests in our shares within a 12-month period. A termination would result in the closing of our taxable year for all shareholders. In
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the case of a shareholder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year ending December 31, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than 12 months of our taxable income or loss being includable in its taxable income for the year of termination. We would be required to make new tax elections after a termination. A termination could result in tax penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination.
Tax Consequences of Disposition of Shares . If a shareholder sells its shares, it will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and its adjusted tax basis for the shares sold. A shareholder’s amount realized will be the sum of the cash or the fair market value of other property received plus its share of any the Fund debt outstanding.
Gain or loss recognized by a shareholder on the sale or exchange of shares held for more than one year will generally be taxable as long-term capital gain or loss; otherwise, such gain or loss will generally be taxable as short-term capital gain or loss. A special election is available under the Treasury Regulations that will allow shareholders to identify and use the actual holding periods for the shares sold for purposes of determining whether the gain or loss recognized on a sale of shares will give rise long-term or short-term capital gain or loss. It is expected that most shareholders will be eligible to elect, and generally will elect, to identify and use the actual holding period for shares sold. If a shareholder fails to make the election or is not able to identify the holding periods of the shares sold, the shareholder will have a split holding period in the shares sold. Under such circumstances, a shareholder will be required to determine its holding period in the shares sold by first determining the portion of its entire interest in the Fund that would give rise to long-term capital gain or loss if its entire interest were sold and the portion that would give rise to short-term capital gain or loss if the entire interest were sold. The shareholder would then treat each share sold as giving rise to long-term capital gain or loss and short-term capital gain or loss in the same proportions as if it had sold its entire interest in the Fund.
Under Section 751 of the Code, a portion of a shareholder’s gain or loss from the sale of shares (regardless of the holding period for such shares), will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss to the extent attributable to “unrealized receivables” or “inventory” owned by the Fund. The term “unrealized receivables” includes, among other things, market discount bonds and short-term debt instruments to the extent such items would give rise to ordinary income if sold by the Fund.
If some or all of your shares are lent by your broker or other agent to a third party - for example, for use by the third party in covering a short sale - you may be considered as having made a taxable disposition of the loaned shares, in which case -
· you may recognize taxable gain or loss to the same extent as if you had sold the shares for cash;
· any of the Fund’s income, gain, loss or deduction allocable to those shares during the period of the loan will not be reportable by you for tax purposes; and
· any distributions you receive with respect to the shares will be fully taxable, most likely as ordinary income.
Shareholders desiring to avoid these and other possible consequences of a deemed disposition of their shares should consider modifying any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit the lending of their shares.
Other Tax Matters
Information Reporting . We report tax information to the beneficial owners of shares. Shareholders who have become additional shareholders are treated as partners for federal income tax purposes. The IRS has ruled that assignees of partnership interests who have not been admitted to a partnership as partners but
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who have the capacity to exercise substantial dominion and control over the assigned partnership interests will be considered partners for federal income tax purposes. On the basis of such ruling, except as otherwise provided herein, we treat the following persons as partners for federal income tax purposes: (1) assignees of shares who are pending admission as shareholders, and (2) shareholders whose shares are held in street name or by another nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their shares. The Fund will furnish shareholders each year with tax information on IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), which will be used by the shareholders in completing their tax returns.
Persons who hold an interest in the Fund as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to us the following information: (1) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee; (2) whether the beneficial owner is (a) a person that is not a U.S. person, (b) a foreign government, an international organization or any wholly-owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing, or (c) a tax-exempt entity; (3) the amount and description of shares acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and (4) certain information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers, and acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the amount of net proceeds from sales. Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are U.S. persons and certain information on shares they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A penalty of $100 per failure, up to a maximum of $1,500,000 per calendar year, is imposed by the Code, as amended for failure to report such information to us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the shares with the information furnished to us.
Partnership Audit Procedures . The IRS may audit the federal income tax returns filed by the Fund. Adjustments resulting from any such audit may require each shareholder to adjust a prior year’s tax liability and could result in an audit of the shareholder’s own return. Any audit of a shareholder’s return could result in adjustments of non-partnership items as well as the Fund items. Partnerships are generally treated as separate entities for purposes of federal tax audits, judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS, and tax settlement proceedings. The tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined at the partnership level in a unified partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the shareholders. The Code provides for one shareholder to be designated as the “tax matters partner” and represent the partnership purposes of these proceedings. The Trust Agreement appoints the Sponsor as the tax matters partner of the Fund.
Tax Shelter Disclosure Rules . In certain circumstances the Code and Treasury Regulations require that the IRS be notified of taxable transactions through a disclosure statement attached to a taxpayer’s United States federal income tax return. In addition, certain “material advisers” must maintain a list of persons participating in such transactions and furnish the list to the IRS upon written request. These disclosure rules may apply to transactions irrespective of whether they are structured to achieve particular tax benefits. They could require disclosure by the Fund or shareholders (1) if a shareholder incurs a loss in excess a specified threshold from a sale or redemption of its shares, (2) if the Fund engages in transactions producing differences between its taxable income and its income for financial reporting purposes, or (3) possibly in other circumstances. While these rules generally do not require disclosure of a loss recognized on the disposition of an asset in which the taxpayer has a “qualifying basis” (generally a basis equal to the amount of cash paid by the taxpayer for such asset), they apply to a loss recognized with respect to interests in a pass-through entity, such as the shares, even if the taxpayer’s basis in such interests is equal to the amount of cash it paid. In addition, under recently enacted legislation, significant penalties may be imposed in connection with a failure to comply with these reporting requirements. Investors should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of these reporting requirements to their specific situation.
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Tax-Exempt Organizations . Subject to numerous exceptions, qualified retirement plans and individual retirement accounts, charitable organizations and certain other organizations that otherwise are exempt from federal income tax (collectively “exempt organizations”) nonetheless are subject to the tax on unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Generally, UBTI means the gross income derived by an exempt organization from a trade or business that it regularly carries on, the conduct of which is not substantially related to the exercise or performance of its exempt purpose or function, less allowable deductions directly connected with that trade or business. If the Fund were to regularly carry on (directly or indirectly) a trade or business that is unrelated with respect to an exempt organization shareholder, then in computing its UBTI, the shareholder must include its share of (1) the Fund’s gross income from the unrelated trade or business, whether or not distributed, and (2) the Fund’s allowable deductions directly connected with that gross income.
UBTI generally does not include dividends, interest, or payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale of property (other than property held for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business). Nonetheless, income on, and gain from the disposition of, “debt-financed property” is UBTI. Debt-financed property generally is income-producing property (including securities), the use of which is not substantially related to the exempt organization’s tax-exempt purposes, and with respect to which there is “acquisition indebtedness” at any time during the taxable year (or, if the property was disposed of during the taxable year, the 12-month period ending with the disposition). Acquisition indebtedness includes debt incurred to acquire property, debt incurred before the acquisition of property if the debt would not have been incurred but for the acquisition, and debt incurred subsequent to the acquisition of property if the debt would not have been incurred but for the acquisition and at the time of acquisition the incurrence of debt was foreseeable. The portion of the income from debt-financed property attributable to acquisition indebtedness is equal to the ratio of the average outstanding principal amount of acquisition indebtedness over the average adjusted basis of the property for the year. The Fund currently does not anticipate that it will borrow money to acquire investments; however, the Fund cannot be certain that it will not borrow for such purpose in the future. In addition, an exempt organization shareholder that incurs acquisition indebtedness to purchase its shares in the Fund may have UBTI.
The federal tax rate applicable to an exempt organization shareholder on its UBTI generally will be either the corporate or trust tax rate, depending upon the shareholder’s form of organization. The Fund may report to each such shareholder information as to the portion, if any, of the shareholder’s income and gains from the Fund for any year that will be treated as UBTI; the calculation of that amount is complex, and there can be no assurance that the Fund’s calculation of UBTI will be accepted by the Service. An exempt organization shareholder will be required to make payments of estimated federal income tax with respect to its UBTI.
Regulated Investment Companies . Under recently enacted legislation, interests in and income from “qualified publicly traded partnerships” satisfying certain gross income tests are treated as qualifying assets and income, respectively, for purposes of determining eligibility for regulated investment company (“RIC”) status. A RIC may invest up to 25% of its assets in interests in a qualified publicly traded partnership. The determination of whether a publicly traded partnership such as the Fund is a qualified publicly traded partnership is made on an annual basis. The Fund expects to be a qualified publicly traded partnership in each of its taxable years. However, such qualification is not assured.
Non-U.S. Shareholders
Generally, non-U.S. persons who derive U.S. source income or gain from investing or engaging in a U.S. business are taxable on two categories of income. The first category consists of amounts that are fixed, determinable, annual and periodic income, such as interest, dividends and rent that are not connected with the operation of a U.S. trade or business (“FDAP”). The second category is income that is effectively
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connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business (“ECI”). FDAP income (other than interest that is considered “portfolio interest”) is generally subject to a 30% withholding tax, which may be reduced for certain categories of income by a treaty between the U.S. and the recipient’s country of residence. In contrast, ECI is generally subject to U.S. tax on a net basis at graduated rates upon the filing of a U.S. tax return. Where a non-U.S. person has ECI as a result of an investment in a partnership, the ECI is subject to a withholding tax at a rate of 39.6% for individual shareholders and a rate of 35% for corporate Shareholders.
Withholding on Allocations and Distributions . The Code provides that a non-U.S. person who is a partner in a partnership that is engaged in a U.S. trade or business during a taxable year will also be considered to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business during that year. Classifying an activity by a partnership as an investment or an operating business is a factual determination. Under certain safe harbors in the Code, an investment fund whose activities consist of trading in stocks, securities, or commodities for its own account generally will not be considered to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business unless it is a dealer is such stocks, securities, or commodities. This safe harbor applies to investments in commodities only if the commodities are of a kind customarily dealt in on an organized commodity exchange and if the transaction is of a kind customarily consummated at such place. Although the matter is not free from doubt, the Fund believes that the activities directly conducted by the Fund do not result in the Fund being engaged in a trade or business within in the United States. However, there can be no assurance that the IRS would not successfully assert that the Fund’s activities constitute a U.S. trade or business.
In the event that the Fund’s activities were considered to constitute a U.S. trade or business, the Fund would be required to withhold at the highest rate specified in Code section 1 (currently 39.6%) on allocations of our income to individual Non-U.S. Shareholders and the highest rate specified in Code section 11(b) (currently 35%) on allocations of our income to corporate Non-U.S. Shareholders, when such income is allocated or distributed. A non-U.S. shareholder with ECI will generally be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return, and the return will provide the non-U.S. shareholder with the mechanism to seek a refund of any withholding in excess of such shareholder’s actual U.S. federal income tax liability. Any amount withheld by the Fund on behalf of a non-U.S. shareholder will be treated as a distribution to the non-U.S. shareholder to the extent possible. In some cases, the Fund may not be able to match the economic cost of satisfying its withholding obligations to a particular non-U.S. shareholder, which may result in such cost being borne by the Fund, generally, and accordingly, by all shareholders.
If the Fund is not treated as engaged in a U.S. trade or business, a non-U.S. shareholder may nevertheless be treated as having FDAP income, which would be subject to a 30% withholding tax (possibly subject to reduction by treaty), with respect to some or all of its distributions from the Fund or its allocable share of the Fund income. Amounts withheld on behalf of a non-U.S. shareholder will be treated as being distributed to such shareholder.
To the extent any interest income allocated to a non-U.S. shareholder that otherwise constitutes FDAP is considered “portfolio interest,” neither the allocation of such interest income to the non-U.S. shareholder nor a subsequent distribution of such interest income to the non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to withholding, provided that the non-U.S. shareholder is not otherwise engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. and provides the Fund with a timely and properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable form. In general, “portfolio interest” is interest paid on debt obligations issued in registered form, unless the “recipient” owns 10% or more of the voting power of the issuer.
Most of the Fund’s interest income qualifies as “portfolio interest.” In order for the Fund to avoid withholding on any interest income allocable to non-U.S. shareholders that would qualify as “portfolio interest,” it will be necessary for all non-U.S. shareholders to provide the Fund with a timely and properly
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completed and executed Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form). If a non-U.S. shareholder fails to provide a properly completed Form W-8BEN, the Sponsor may request that the non-U.S. shareholder provide, within 15 days after the request by the Sponsor, a properly completed Form W-8BEN. If a non-U.S. shareholder fails to comply with this request, the shares owned by such non-U.S. shareholder will be subject to redemption.
Gain from Sale of Shares . Gain from the sale or exchange of the shares may be taxable to a non-U.S. shareholder if the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year. In such case, the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% withholding tax on the amount of such individual’s gain.
Branch Profits Tax on Corporate Non-U.S. Shareholders . In addition to the taxes noted above, any non-U.S. shareholders that are corporations may also be subject to an additional tax, the branch profits tax, at a rate of 30%. The branch profits tax is imposed on a non-U.S. corporation’s dividend equivalent amount, which generally consists of the corporation’s after-tax earnings and profits that are effectively connected with the corporation’s U.S. trade or business but are not reinvested in a U.S. business. This tax may be reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the non-U.S. shareholder is a “qualified resident.”
Certain information reporting and withholding requirement . Recently enacted legislation that will become effective after June 30, 2014, generally imposes a 30% withholding tax on payments of certain types of income to foreign financial institutions that fail to enter into an agreement with the United States Treasury to report certain required information with respect to accounts held by U.S. persons (or held by foreign entities that have U.S. persons as substantial owners). The types of income subject to the tax include U.S.-source interest and dividends and the gross proceeds from the sale of any property that could produce U.S.-source interest or dividends. The information required to be reported includes the identity and taxpayer identification number of each account holder that is a U.S. person and transaction activity within the holder’s account. In addition, subject to certain exceptions, this legislation also imposes a 30% withholding tax on payments to foreign entities that are not financial institutions unless the foreign entity certifies that it does not have a greater than 10% U.S. owner or provides the withholding agent with identifying information on each greater than 10% U.S. owner. When these provisions become effective, depending on the status of a non-U.S. shareholder and the status of the intermediaries through which it holds shares, a non-U.S. shareholder could be subject to this 30% withholding tax with respect to distributions on its shares and proceeds from the sale of its shares. Under certain circumstances, a non-U.S. shareholder might be eligible for refund or credit of such taxes.
Prospective non-U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisor with regard to these and other issues unique to non-U.S. shareholders .
The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax (“backup withholding”) at a rate of 28% from all taxable distributions payable to: (1) any shareholder who fails to furnish the Fund with his, her or its correct taxpayer identification number or a certificate that the shareholder is exempt from backup withholding, and (2) any shareholder with respect to whom the IRS notifies the Fund that the shareholder has failed to properly report certain interest and dividend income to the IRS and to respond to notices to that effect. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and may be returned or credited against a taxpayer’s regular federal income tax liability if appropriate information is provided to the IRS.
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In addition to federal income taxes, shareholders may be subject to other taxes, such as state and local income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, business franchise taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which the Fund does business or owns property or where the shareholders reside. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective shareholder should consider their potential impact on its investment in the Fund. It is each shareholder’s responsibility to file the appropriate U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign tax returns. Reed Smith LLP has not provided an opinion concerning any aspects of state, local or foreign tax or U.S. federal tax other than those U.S. federal income tax issues discussed herein.
General
Most employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”) are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) or the Code, or both. This section discusses certain considerations that arise under ERISA and the Code that a fiduciary of an employee benefit plan as defined in ERISA or a plan as defined in Section 4975 of the Code who has investment discretion should take into account before deciding to invest the plan’s assets in the Fund. Employee benefit plans and plans are collectively referred to below as plans, and fiduciaries with investment discretion are referred to below as plan fiduciaries.
This summary is based on the provisions of ERISA and the Code as of the date hereof. This summary is not intended to be complete, but only to address certain questions under ERISA and the Code likely to be raised by your advisors. The summary does not include state or local law.
Potential plan investors are urged to consult with their own professional advisors concerning the appropriateness of an investment in the Fund and the manner in which shares should be purchased.
Special Investment Considerations
Each plan fiduciary must consider the facts and circumstances that are relevant to an investment in the Fund, including the role that an investment in the Fund would play in the plan’s overall investment portfolio. Each plan fiduciary, before deciding to invest in the Fund, must be satisfied that the investment is prudent for the plan, that the investments of the plan are diversified so as to minimize the risk of large losses and that an investment in the Fund complies with the terms of the plan.
The Fund and Plan Assets
A regulation issued under ERISA contains rules for determining when an investment by a plan in an equity interest of a Delaware business trust will result in the underlying assets of the Delaware business trust being deemed plan assets for purposes of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code. Those rules provide that assets of a Delaware business trust will not be plan assets of a plan that purchases an equity interest in the Delaware business trust if the equity interest purchased is a publicly-offered security. If the underlying assets of a Delaware business trust are considered to be assets of any plan for purposes of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, the operations of that Delaware business trust would be subject to and, in some cases, limited by, the provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code.
The publicly-offered security exception described above applies if the equity interest is a security that is:
1. | freely transferable (determined based on the relevant facts and circumstances); |
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2. | part of a class of securities that is widely held (meaning that the class of securities is owned by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and of each other); and |
3. | either (a) part of a class of securities registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act or (b) sold to the plan as part of a public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and the class of which such security is a part is registered under the Exchange Act within 120 days (or such later time as may be allowed by the SEC) after the end of the fiscal year of the issuer in which the offering of such security occurred. |
The plan asset regulations under ERISA state that the determination of whether a security is freely transferable is to be made based on all the relevant facts and circumstances. In the case of a security that is part of an offering in which the minimum investment is $10,000 or less, the following requirements, alone or in combination, ordinarily will not affect a finding that the security is freely transferable: (1) a requirement that no transfer or assignment of the security or rights relating to the security be made that would violate any federal or state law, (2) a requirement that no transfer or assignment be made without advance written notice given to the entity that issued the security, and (3) any restriction on the substitution of assignee as a shareholder of a partnership, including a general partner consent requirement, provided that the economic benefits of ownership of the assignor may be transferred or assigned without regard to such restriction or consent (other than compliance with any of the foregoing restrictions).
The Sponsor believes that the conditions described above are satisfied with respect to the shares. The Sponsor believes that the shares therefore constitute publicly-offered securities, and the underlying assets of the Fund are not considered to constitute plan assets of any plan that purchases shares.
Prohibited Transactions
ERISA and the Code generally prohibit certain transactions involving the plan and persons who have certain specified relationships to the plan.
In general, shares may not be purchased with the assets of a plan if the Sponsor, the clearing brokers, the trading advisors (if any), or any of their affiliates, agents or employees either:
· | exercise any discretionary authority or discretionary control with respect to management of the plan; |
· | exercise any authority or control with respect to management or disposition of the assets of the plan; |
· | render investment advice for a fee or other compensation, direct or indirect, with respect to any moneys or other property of the plan; |
· | have any authority or responsibility to render investment advice with respect to any monies or other property of the plan; or |
· | have any discretionary authority or discretionary responsibility in the administration of the plan. |
Also, a prohibited transaction may occur under ERISA or the Code when circumstances indicate that (1) the investment in a share is made or retained for the purpose of avoiding application of the fiduciary standards of ERISA, (2) the investment in a share constitutes an arrangement under which the Fund is expected to engage in transactions that would otherwise be prohibited if entered into directly by the plan purchasing the share, (3) the investing plan, by itself, has the authority or influence to cause the Fund to engage in such transactions, or (4) a person who is prohibited from transacting with the investing plan may, but only with the aid of certain of its affiliates and the investing plan, cause the Fund to engage in such transactions with such person.
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Special IRA Rules
IRAs are not subject to ERISA’ s fiduciary standards, but are subject to their own rules, including the prohibited transaction rules of Section 4975 of the Code, which generally mirror ERISA’s prohibited transaction rules. For example, IRAs are subject to special custody rules and must maintain a qualifying IRA custodial arrangement separate and distinct from the Fund and its custodial arrangement. Otherwise, if a separate qualifying custodial arrangement is not maintained, an investment in the shares will be treated as a distribution from the IRA. Second, IRAs are prohibited from investing in certain commingled investments, and the Sponsor makes no representation regarding whether an investment in shares is an inappropriate commingled investment for an IRA. Third, in applying the prohibited transaction provisions of Section 4975 of the Code, in addition to the rules summarized above, the individual for whose benefit the IRA is maintained is also treated as the creator of the IRA. For example, if the owner or beneficiary of an IRA enters into any transaction, arrangement, or agreement involving the assets of his or her IRA to benefit the IRA owner or beneficiary (or his or her relatives or business affiliates) personally, or with the understanding that such benefit will occur, directly or indirectly, such transaction could give rise to a prohibited transaction that is not exempted by any available exemption. Moreover, in the case of an IRA, the consequences of a non-exempt prohibited transaction are that the IRA’s assets will be treated as if they were distributed, causing immediate taxation of the assets (including any early distribution penalty tax applicable under Section 72 of the Code), in addition to any other fines or penalties that may apply.
Exempt Plans
Certain employee benefit plans may be governmental plans or church plans. Governmental plans and church plans are generally not subject to ERISA, nor do the above-described prohibited transaction provisions described above apply to them. These plans are, however, subject to prohibitions against certain related-party transactions under Section 503 of the Code, which operate similar to the prohibited transaction rules described above. In addition, the fiduciary of any governmental or church plan must consider any applicable state or local laws and any restrictions and duties of common law imposed upon the plan.
No view is expressed as to whether an investment in the Fund (and any continued investment in the Fund), or the operation and administration of the Fund, is appropriate or permissible for any governmental plan or church plan under Code Section 503, or under any state, county, local or other law relating to that type of plan.
Allowing an investment in the Fund is not to be construed as a representation by the Fund, the Sponsor, any trading advisor, any clearing broker, the Distributor or legal counsel or other advisors to such parties or any other party that this investment meets some or all of the relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by any particular plan or that this investment is appropriate for any such particular plan. The person with investment discretion should consult with the plan’s attorney and financial advisors as to the propriety of an investment in the Fund in light of the circumstances of the particular plan, current tax law and ERISA.
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Transfers of Shares Only Through DTC . The shares are only transferable through the book-entry system of DTC. Shareholders who are not DTC Participants may transfer their shares through DTC by instructing the DTC Participant holding their shares (or by instructing the Indirect Participant or other entity through which their shares are held) to transfer the shares. Transfers are made in accordance with standard securities industry practice.
Transfers of interests in shares with DTC are made in accordance with the usual rules and operating procedures of DTC and the nature of the transfer. DTC has established procedures to facilitate transfers among the participants and/or accountholders of DTC. Because DTC can only act on behalf of DTC Participants, who in turn act on behalf of Indirect Participants, the ability of a person or entity having an interest in a global certificate to pledge such interest to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a certificate or other definitive document representing such interest.
DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a shareholder (including, without limitation, the presentation of a global certificate for exchange) only at the direction of one or more DTC Participants in whose account with DTC interests in global certificates are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the global certificate as to which such DTC Participant or Participants has or have given such direction.
The Fund’s NAV is calculated by:
· | Taking the current market value of its total assets; | |
· | Subtracting any liabilities; and | |
· | Dividing that total by the total number of outstanding shares. |
The Administrator calculates the NAV of the Fund once each NYSE Arca trading day. The NAV for a particular trading day is released after 4:00 p.m. New York time. Trading during the core trading session on the NYSE Arca typically closes at 4:00 p.m. New York time. The Administrator uses the CME closing price (determined at the earlier of the close of the CME) for the contracts traded on the CME, but calculates or determines the value of all other Fund investments using market quotations, if available, or other information customarily used to determine the fair value of such investments as of the earlier of the close of the NYSE Arca or 4:00 p.m. New York time, in accordance with the current Administrative Agency Agreement among U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, the Fund and the Sponsor. “Other information” customarily used in determining fair value includes information consisting of market data in the relevant market supplied by one or more third parties including, without limitation, relevant rates, prices, yields, yield curves, volatilities, spreads, correlations or other market data in the relevant market; or information of the types described above from internal sources if that information is of the same type used by the Fund in the regular course of its business for the valuation of similar transactions. The information may include costs of funding, to the extent costs of funding are not and would not be a component of the other information being utilized. Third parties supplying quotations or market data may include, without limitation, dealers in the relevant markets, end-users of the relevant product, information vendors, brokers and other sources of market information.
In addition, in order to provide updated information relating to the Fund for use by investors and market professionals, the NYSE Arca calculates and disseminates throughout the core trading session on each trading day an updated indicative fund value. The indicative fund value is calculated by using the prior day’s closing NAV per share of the Fund as a base and updating that value throughout the trading day to reflect changes in the most recently reported trade price for the futures and options held by the Fund
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traded on the CME. The indicative fund value share basis disseminated during NYSE Arca core trading session hours should not be viewed as an actual real time update of the NAV, because the NAV is calculated only once at the end of each trading day based upon the relevant end of day values of the Fund’s investments.
The indicative fund value is disseminated on a per share basis every 15 seconds during regular NYSE Arca core trading session hours of 9:30 a.m. New York time to 4:00 p.m. New York time. The normal trading hours of the CME are 10:00 a.m. New York time to 2:30 p.m. New York time. This means that there is a gap in time at the beginning and the end of each day during which the Fund’s shares are traded on the NYSE Arca, but real-time CME trading prices for contracts traded on the CME are not available. During such gaps in time the indicative fund value will be calculated based on the end of day price of such contracts from the CME’s immediately preceding trading session. In addition, other investments and U.S. Treasuries held by the Fund will be valued by the Administrator, using rates and points received from client-approved third party vendors (such as Reuters and WM Company) and advisor quotes. These investments will not be included in the indicative fund value.
The NYSE Arca disseminates the indicative fund value through the facilities of CTA/CQ High Speed Lines. In addition, the indicative fund value is published on the NYSE Arca’s website and is available through on-line information services such as Bloomberg and Reuters.
Dissemination of the indicative fund value provides additional information that is not otherwise available to the public and is useful to investors and market professionals in connection with the trading of the Fund shares on the NYSE Arca. Investors and market professionals are able throughout the trading day to compare the market price of the Fund and the indicative fund value. If the market price of the Fund shares diverges significantly from the indicative fund value, market professionals will have an incentive to execute arbitrage trades. For example, if the Fund appears to be trading at a discount compared to the indicative fund value, a market professional could buy the Fund shares on the NYSE Arca and take the opposite position in Treasury Instruments. Such arbitrage trades can tighten the tracking between the market price of the Fund and the indicative fund value and thus can be beneficial to all market participants.
Creation and Redemption of Shares
The Fund creates and redeems shares from time to time, but only in one or more Creation Baskets or Redemption Baskets. The creation and redemption of baskets are only made in exchange for delivery to the Fund or the distribution by the Fund of the amount of Treasuries and any cash represented by the baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which is based on the combined NAV of the number of shares included in the baskets being created or redeemed determined as of 4:00 p.m. New York time on the day the order to create or redeem baskets is properly received.
Authorized Purchasers are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem baskets. Authorized Purchasers must be (1) registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants, such as banks and other financial institutions, that are not required to register as broker-dealers to engage in securities transactions described below, and (2) DTC Participants. To become an Authorized Purchaser, a person must enter into an Authorized Purchaser Agreement with the Sponsor. The Authorized Purchaser Agreement provides the procedures for the creation and redemption of baskets and for the delivery of the Treasuries and any cash required for such creation and redemptions. The Authorized Purchaser Agreement and the related procedures attached thereto may be amended by the Fund, without the consent of any limited partner or shareholder or Authorized Purchaser. Authorized Purchasers will pay a transaction fee of $500 to the Fund for each order they place to create or redeem one or more baskets. Authorized Purchasers who make deposits with the Fund in exchange for baskets receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either the Fund or the Sponsor, and no such person will have any obligation or responsibility to the Sponsor or the Fund to effect any sale or resale of shares.
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Certain Authorized Purchasers are expected to be capable of participating directly in the Treasury market and the related derivatives market. In some cases, Authorized Purchasers or their affiliates may from time to time buy or sell Treasuries and related derivatives and may profit in these instances. The Sponsor believes that the size and operation of the Treasury market make it unlikely that an Authorized Purchaser’s direct activities in such markets will significantly affect the price of Treasuries, related derivatives or the price of the shares.
Each Authorized Purchaser is required to be registered as a broker-dealer under the Exchange Act and is a member in good standing with FINRA, or exempt from being or otherwise not required to be registered as a broker-dealer or a member of FINRA, and qualified to act as a broker or dealer in the states or other jurisdictions where the nature of its business so requires. Certain Authorized Purchasers may also be regulated under federal and state banking laws and regulations. Each Authorized Purchaser has its own set of rules and procedures, internal controls and information barriers as it determines is appropriate in light of its own regulatory regime.
Under the Authorized Purchaser Agreement, the Sponsor has agreed to indemnify the Authorized Purchasers against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act, and to contribute to the payments the Authorized Purchasers may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
The following description of the procedures for the creation and redemption of baskets is only a summary and an investor should refer to the relevant provisions of the Trust Agreement and the form of Authorized Purchaser Agreement for more detail, each of which is attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information about where you can obtain the registration statement.
Creation Procedures
On any business day, an Authorized Purchaser may place an order with the Distributor to create one or more baskets. For purposes of processing purchase and redemption orders, a “business day” means any day other than a day when any of the NYSE Arca, the CME or the New York Stock Exchange is closed for regular trading. Purchase orders must be placed by 12:00 p.m. New York time or the close of regular trading on the NYSE Arca, whichever is earlier. The day on which the Distributor receives a valid purchase order is referred to as the purchase order date.
By placing a purchase order, an Authorized Purchaser agrees to deposit U.S. Treasuries, cash or a combination of U.S. Treasuries and cash, as described below. Prior to the delivery of baskets for a purchase order, the Authorized Purchaser must also have wired to the Custodian the non-refundable transaction fee due for the purchase order.
The manner by which creations are made is dictated by the terms of the Authorized Purchaser Agreement. By placing a purchase order, an Authorized Purchaser agrees to deposit U.S. Treasuries, cash, or a combination of U.S. Treasuries and cash with the Custodian of the fund. If an Authorized Purchaser fails to so deposit, the order shall be cancelled.
Determination of Required Deposits
The total deposit required to create each basket (“Creation Basket Deposit”) is the amount of U.S. Treasuries and/or cash that is in the same proportion to the total assets of the Fund (net of estimated accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and other liabilities) on the purchase order date as the number of shares to be created under the purchase order is in proportion to the total number of shares outstanding on the purchase order dates. The Sponsor determines, directly in its sole discretion or in consultation with the Administrator, the requirements for U.S. Treasuries and the amount of cash, including the maximum permitted remaining maturity of a Treasury and proportions of each Treasury and cash that may be included in deposits to create baskets. The Distributor will publish such requirements at the beginning of each business day. The amount of cash deposit required is the difference between the aggregate market
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value of the U.S. Treasuries required to be included in a Creation Basket Deposit as of 4:00 p.m. New York time on the date the order to purchase is properly received and the total required deposit.
Delivery of Required Deposits
An Authorized Purchaser who places a purchase order is responsible for transferring to the Fund’s account with the Custodian the required amount of U.S. Treasuries and cash by the end of the third business day following the purchase order date. Upon receipt of the deposit amount, the Administrator directs DTC to credit the number of baskets ordered to the Authorized Purchaser’s DTC account on the third business day following the purchase order date. The expense and risk of delivery and ownership of U.S. Treasuries until such U.S. Treasuries have been received by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund shall be borne solely by the Authorized Purchaser.
Because orders to purchase baskets must be placed by 12:00 p.m., New York time, but the total payment required to create a basket during the continuous offering period will not be determined until after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the date the purchase order is received, Authorized Purchasers will not know the total amount of the payment required to create a basket at the time they submit an irrevocable purchase order for the basket. The Fund’s NAV and the total amount of the payment required to create a basket could rise or fall substantially between the time a purchase order is submitted and the time the amount of the purchase price in respect thereof is determined.
Rejection of Purchase Orders
The Sponsor acting by itself or through the Distributor shall have the absolute right no obligation to reject a purchase order or a Creation Basket Deposit if:
· it determines that the investment alternative available to the Fund at that time will not enable it to meet its investment objective;
· it determines that the purchase order or the Creation Basket Deposit is not in proper form;
· it believes that the purchase order or the Creation Basket Deposit would have adverse tax consequences to the Fund, the limited partners or its shareholders;
· the acceptance or receipt of the Creation Basket Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel to the Sponsor, be unlawful; or
· circumstances outside the control of the Sponsor, Distributor or Custodian make it, for all practical purposes, not feasible to process creations of baskets.
None of the Sponsor, Distributor or Custodian will be liable for the rejection of any purchase order or Creation Basket Deposit.
Redemption Procedures The procedures by which an Authorized Purchaser can redeem one or more baskets mirror the procedures for the creation of baskets. On any business day, an Authorized Purchaser may place an order with the Distributor to redeem one or more baskets. Redemption orders must be placed by 12:00 p.m. New York time or the close of regular trading on the NYSE Arca, whichever is earlier. A redemption order so received will be effective on the date it is received in satisfactory form by the Distributor. The redemption procedures allow Authorized Purchasers to redeem baskets and do not entitle an individual shareholder to redeem any shares in an amount less than a Redemption Basket, or to redeem baskets other than through an Authorized Purchaser.
By placing a redemption order, an Authorized Purchaser agrees to deliver the baskets to be redeemed through DTC’s book-entry system to the Fund, as described below. Prior to the delivery of the redemption distribution for a redemption order, the Authorized Purchaser must also have wired to the Fund’s account at the Custodian the non-refundable transaction fee due for the redemption order.
The manner by which redemptions are made is dictated by the terms of the Authorized Purchaser Agreement. By placing a redemption order, an Authorized Purchaser agrees to (1) deliver the Redemption Basket to be redeemed through DTC’s book-entry system to the fund’s account with the
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Custodian not later than 3:00 p.m. New York time on the third business day following the effective date of the redemption order (“Redemption Distribution Date”), and (2) if required by the Sponsor in its sole discretion, enter into or arrange for a block trade, an exchange for swap, or any other transaction (through itself or a designated acceptable broker) with the fund for the sale of a number and type of futures contracts at the closing settlement price for such contracts on the Redemption Order Date. If an Authorized Purchaser fails to consummate (1) and (2) above, the order shall be cancelled. The number and type of contracts specified shall be determined by the Sponsor, in its sole discretion, to meet the Fund’s investment objective and shall be sold as a result of the Authorized Purchaser’s sale of shares.
Determination of Redemption Distribution
The redemption distribution from the Fund consists of a transfer to the redeeming Authorized Purchaser of an amount of U.S. Treasuries and/or cash that is in the same proportion to the total assets of the Fund (net of estimated accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and other liabilities) on the date the order to redeem is properly received as the number of shares to be redeemed under the redemption order is in proportion to the total number of shares outstanding on the date the order is received. The Sponsor, directly or in consultation with the Administrator, determines the requirements for U.S. Treasuries and the amounts of cash, including the maximum permitted remaining maturity of a Treasury, and the proportions of U.S. Treasuries and cash that may be included in distributions to redeem baskets. The Distributor will publish an estimate of the redemption distribution per basket as of the beginning of each business day.
Delivery of Redemption Distribution
The redemption distribution due from the Fund will be delivered to the Authorized Purchaser by 3:00 p.m. New York time on the third business day following the redemption order date if, by 3:00 p.m. New York time on such third business day, the Fund’s DTC account has been credited with the baskets to be redeemed. If the Fund’s DTC account has not been credited with all of the baskets to be redeemed by such time, the redemption distribution will be delivered to the extent of whole baskets received. Any remainder of the redemption distribution will be delivered on the next business day to the extent of remaining whole baskets received if the Fund receives the fee applicable to the extension of the redemption distribution date which the Sponsor may, from time to time, determine and the remaining baskets to be redeemed are credited to the Fund’s DTC account by 3:00 p.m. New York time on such next business day. Any further outstanding amount of the redemption order shall be cancelled. Pursuant to information from the Sponsor, the Custodian will also be authorized to deliver the redemption distribution notwithstanding that the baskets to be redeemed are not credited to the Fund’s DTC account by 3:00 p.m. New York time on the third business day following the redemption order date if the Authorized Purchaser has collateralized its obligation to deliver the baskets through DTC’s book entry-system on such terms as the Sponsor may from time to time determine.
Suspension or Rejection of Redemption Orders
The Sponsor may, in its discretion, suspend the right of redemption, or postpone the redemption settlement date, (1) for any period during which the NYSE Arca or the CME is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings, or trading on the NYSE Arca or the CME is suspended or restricted, (2) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which delivery, disposal or evaluation of U.S. Treasuries is not reasonably practicable, or (3) for such other period as the Sponsor determines to be necessary for the protection of the limited partners or shareholders. For example, the Sponsor may determine that it is necessary to suspend redemptions to allow for the orderly liquidation of the Fund’s assets at an appropriate value to fund a redemption. If the Sponsor has difficulty liquidating its positions, e.g., because of a market disruption event in the futures markets or a suspension of trading by the exchange where the futures contracts are listed, it may be appropriate to suspend redemptions until such time as such circumstances are rectified. None of the Sponsor, the Distributor, the Administrator, or the Custodian will be liable to any person or in any way for any loss or damages that may result from any such suspension or postponement.
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Redemption orders must be made in whole baskets. The Sponsor will reject a redemption order if the order is not in proper form as described in the Authorized Purchaser Agreement or if the fulfillment of the order, in the opinion of its counsel, might be unlawful. The Sponsor may also reject a redemption order if the number of shares being redeemed would reduce the remaining outstanding shares to 100,000 shares (minimum NYSE Arca listing requirement) or less, unless the Sponsor has reason to believe that the placer of the redemption order does in fact possess all the outstanding shares and can deliver them.
Creation and Redemption Transaction Fee
To compensate the Fund for its expenses in connection with the creation and redemption of baskets, an Authorized Purchaser is required to pay a transaction fee to the Fund of $500 per order to create or redeem baskets, regardless of the number of baskets in such order. An order may include multiple baskets. The transaction fee may be reduced, increased or otherwise changed by the Sponsor. The Sponsor shall notify DTC of any change in the transaction fee and will not implement any increase in the fee for the redemption of baskets until 30 days after the date of the notice.
Tax Responsibility
Authorized Purchasers are responsible for any transfer tax, sales or use tax, stamp tax, recording tax, value added tax or similar tax or governmental charge applicable to the creation or redemption of baskets, regardless of whether or not such tax or charge is imposed directly on the Authorized Purchaser, and agree to indemnify the Sponsor and the Fund if they are required by law to pay any such tax, together with any applicable penalties, additions to tax and interest thereon.
Secondary Market Transactions
As noted, the Fund creates and redeems shares from time to time, but only in one or more Creation Baskets or Redemption Baskets. The creation and redemption of baskets are only made in exchange for delivery to the Fund or the distribution by the Fund of the amount of U.S. Treasuries and cash represented by the baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which will be based on the aggregate NAV of the number of shares included in the baskets being created or redeemed determined on the day the order to create or redeem baskets is properly received.
As discussed above, Authorized Purchasers are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem baskets. Authorized Purchasers must be registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants, such as banks and other financial institutions that are not required to register as broker-dealers to engage in securities transactions. An Authorized Purchaser is under no obligation to create or redeem baskets, and an Authorized Purchaser is under no obligation to offer to the public shares of any baskets it does create. Authorized Purchasers that do offer to the public shares from the baskets they create will do so at per-share offering prices that are expected to reflect, among other factors, the trading price of the shares on the NYSE Arca, the NAV of the Fund at the time the Authorized Purchaser purchased the Creation Baskets and the NAV of the shares at the time of the offer of the shares to the public, the supply of and demand for shares at the time of sale, and the liquidity of the futures contract market and the market for Treasury Investments. The prices of shares offered by Authorized Purchasers are expected to fall between the Fund’s NAV and the trading price of the shares on the NYSE Arca at the time of sale. Shares initially comprising the same basket but offered by Authorized Purchasers to the public at different times may have different offering prices. An order for one or more baskets may be placed by an Authorized Purchaser on behalf of multiple clients. Authorized Purchasers who make deposits with the Fund in exchange for baskets receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either the Fund or the Sponsor, and no such person has any obligation or responsibility to the Sponsor or the Fund to effect any sale or resale of shares. Shares trade in the secondary market on the NYSE Arca. Shares may trade in the secondary market at prices that are lower or higher relative to their NAV per share. The amount of the discount or premium in the trading price relative to the NAV per share may be influenced by various factors, including the number of
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investors who seek to purchase or sell shares in the secondary market and the liquidity of the futures contracts market and the market for Treasury Investments. While the shares trade during the core trading session on the NYSE Arca until 4:00 p.m. New York time, liquidity in the market for Treasury Interests may be reduced after the close of the CME at 2:30 p.m. New York time. As a result, during this time, trading spreads, and the resulting premium or discount, on the shares may widen.
The Sponsor causes the Fund to transfer the proceeds from the sale of Creation Baskets to the Custodian or other custodian for trading activities. The Sponsor will invest the proceeds in U.S. Treasuries with a maturity of 397 days or less, cash and/or cash equivalents and in futures contracts and options on futures contracts on U.S. Treasuries. When the Fund purchases a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit with the selling FCM on behalf of the exchange a portion of the value of the contract or other interest as security to ensure payment for the obligation at maturity. This deposit is known as initial margin. The Fund will receive or pay, depending on market movement, variation margin as the value of the futures position increase or decreases. The Fund will pay premiums on the options contracts that it purchases. The Sponsor will invest the assets that remain after margin and collateral are posted in U.S. Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents Subject to these margin and collateral requirements, the Sponsor has sole authority to determine the percentage of assets that are:
· | held on deposit with the FCM or other custodian, |
· | used for other investments, and |
· | held in bank accounts to pay current obligations and as reserves. |
Approximately 10% of the Fund’s assets are expected to normally be committed as margin for futures contracts. However, from time to time, the percentage of assets committed as margin may be substantially more, or less, than such range. Ongoing margin and collateral payments will generally be required for exchange-traded contracts based on changes in their value. In light of the differing requirements for initial payments under exchange-traded contracts and the fluctuating nature of ongoing margin and collateral payments, it is not possible to estimate what portion of the Fund’s assets will be posted as margin or collateral at any given time. The U.S. Treasuries, cash and cash equivalents held by the Fund will constitute reserves that will be available to meet ongoing margin and collateral requirements. All interest income will be used for the Fund’s benefit. The Sponsor invests the balance of the Fund’s assets not invested in futures or options on U.S. Treasuries with a maturity of 397 days or less, cash and cash equivalents and such funds are available as reserves for changes in margin. All interest income is used for the Fund’s benefit.
An FCM, counterparty, government agency or commodity exchange could increase margin or collateral requirements applicable to the Fund to hold trading positions at any time. Moreover, margin is merely a security deposit and has no bearing on the profit or loss potential for any positions held.
The assets of the Fund posted as margin for futures contracts will be held in segregation pursuant to the CEA and CFTC regulations.
This prospectus contains information you should consider when making an investment decision about the shares. You may rely on the information contained in this prospectus. Neither the Fund nor the Sponsor has authorized any person to provide you with different information and, if anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus is not an offer to sell the shares in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of the shares is not permitted.
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The information contained in this prospectus was obtained from us and other sources believed by us to be reliable.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or any information incorporated by reference to this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information that is different. If you receive any unauthorized information, you must not rely on it. You should disregard anything we said in an earlier document that is inconsistent with what is included in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or any information incorporated by reference to this prospectus. Where the context requires, when we refer to this “prospectus,” we are referring to this prospectus and (if applicable) the relevant prospectus supplement.
You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement is current as of any date other than the date on the front page of this prospectus or the date on the front page of any applicable prospectus supplement.
We include cross references in this prospectus to captions in these materials where you can find further related discussions. The table of contents tells you where to find these captions.
Summary of Promotional and Sales Material
The Fund will utilize the following sales material:
· | the Fund’s website, www.risingratefund.com; | |
· | Press release dated the effective date of the Fund’s initial registration statement; and the Fund fact sheet available on the Fund’s website. |
Where You Can Find More Information
The Sponsor has filed on behalf of the Fund a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC under the 1933 Act. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement (including the exhibits to the registration statement), parts of which have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information about the Fund or the shares, please refer to the registration statement, which you may inspect, without charge, at the public reference facilities of the SEC at the below address or online at www.sec.gov, or obtain at prescribed rates from the public reference facilities of the SEC at the below address. Information about the Fund and the shares can also be obtained from the Fund’s website, which is www.risingratefund.com. The Fund’s website address is only provided here as a convenience to you and the information contained on or connected to the website is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is part. The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and the Sponsor and the Fund will each, on behalf of the Fund, file certain reports and other information with the SEC. The Sponsor will file an updated prospectus annually for the Fund pursuant to the 1933 Act. The reports and other information can be inspected at the public reference facilities of the SEC located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549 and online at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of such material from the public reference facilities of the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You may obtain more information concerning the operation of the public reference facilities of the SEC by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or visiting online at www.sec.gov.
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Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This prospectus includes “forward-looking statements” which generally relate to future events or future performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements (other than statements of historical fact) included in this prospectus that address activities, events or developments that will or may occur in the future, including such matters as movements in the futures markets and indexes that track such movements, the Fund’s operations, the Sponsor’s plans and references to the Fund’s future success and other similar matters, are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially. These statements are based upon certain assumptions and analyses the Sponsor has made based on its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate in the circumstances. Whether or not actual results and developments will conform to the Sponsor’s expectations and predictions, however, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the special considerations discussed in this prospectus, general economic, market and business conditions, changes in laws or regulations, including those concerning taxes, made by governmental authorities or regulatory bodies, and other world economic and political developments. Consequently, all the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that actual results or developments the Sponsor anticipates will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the expected consequences to, or have the expected effects on, the Fund’s operations or the value of its shares.
The Fund and the Sponsor may collect or have access to certain nonpublic personal information about current and former investors. Nonpublic personal information may include information received from investors, such as an investor’s name, social security number and address, as well as information received from brokerage firms about investor holdings and transactions in shares of the Fund.
The Fund and the Sponsor do not disclose nonpublic personal information except as required by law or as described in their Privacy Policy. In general, the Fund and the Sponsor restrict access to the nonpublic personal information they collect about investors to those of their and their affiliates’ employees and service providers who need access to such information to provide products and services to investors.
The Fund and the Sponsor maintain safeguards that comply with federal law to protect investors’ nonpublic personal information. These safeguards are reasonably designed to (1) ensure the security and confidentiality of investors’ records and information, (2) protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of investors’ records and information, and (3) protect against unauthorized access to or use of investors’ records or information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any investor. Third-party service providers with whom the Fund and the Sponsor share nonpublic personal information about investors must agree to follow appropriate standards of security and confidentiality, which includes safeguarding such nonpublic personal information physically, electronically and procedurally.
A copy of the Fund and the Sponsor’s current Privacy Policy is provided to investors annually and is also available upon request.
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Until [Date of 45 days after effectiveness], all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
The Trust’s current SAI provides additional detailed information about the Fund. The Trust has electronically filed the SAI with the SEC. It is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
Additional information about the Fund’s investments is or will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the annual report you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year, as applicable.
To make shareholder inquiries, for more detailed information on the Fund, or to request the SAI or annual or semi-annual shareholder reports, as applicable, free of charge, please:
Call: | 844-ETF-MGRS (844-383-6477) |
Monday through Friday | |
8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Eastern time) | |
Write: | ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I |
c/o ETF Managers Capital LLC | |
35 Beechwood Road | |
Suite 2B | |
Summit, NJ 07901 | |
Visit: | www.risingratefund.com |
Information about the Funds (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representations about any Fund and its shares not contained in this Prospectus and you should not rely on any other information. Read and keep this Prospectus for future reference.
ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
35 Beechwood Road
Suite 2B
Summit, NJ 07901
The Fund is distributed by
Esposito Securities LLC
300 Crescent Court, Suite 650
Dallas, Texas 75201
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In this prospectus, each of the following terms has the meanings set forth after such term:
Administrator : U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
Authorized Purchaser : One that purchases or redeems Creation Baskets or Redemption Baskets, respectively, from or to the Fund.
Business Day : Any day other than a day when any of the NYSE Arca, the CME or the New York Stock Exchange is closed for regular trading.
CFTC : Commodity Futures Trading Commission, an independent agency with the mandate to regulate commodity futures and options in the United States.
Code : Internal Revenue Code.
Commodity Pool : An enterprise in which several individuals contribute funds in order to trade futures or future options collectively.
Commodity Pool Operator or CPO : Any person engaged in a business which is of the nature of an investment trust, syndicate, or similar enterprise, and who, in connection therewith, solicits, accepts, or receives from others, funds, securities, or property, either directly or through capital contributions, the sale of stock or other forms of securities, or otherwise, for the purpose of trading in any commodity for future delivery or commodity option on or subject to the rules of any contract market.
Creation Basket : A block of 25,000 shares used by the Fund to issue shares.
Custodian: U.S. Bank, a national banking association chartered by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Distributor : Esposito Securities LLC.
Dodd-Frank Act : The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that was signed into law July 21, 2010.
DTC : The Depository Trust Company. DTC will act as the securities depository for the shares.
DTC Participant : An entity that has an account with DTC.
Exchange Act : The Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
FINRA : Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers.
Fund : Sit Rising Rate ETF, a series of the Trust.
Indirect Participants : Banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly.
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Limited Liability Company (LLC) : A type of business ownership combining several features of corporation and partnership structures.
Margin : The amount of equity required for an investment in futures contracts.
NAV : Net Asset Value of the Fund.
NFA : National Futures Association.
1933 Act : The Securities Act of 1933.
Option : The right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a futures contract or forward contract at a specified price on or before a specified date.
Prudential Regulators : the CFTC, the SEC and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Farm Credit System and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, collectively.
Redemption Basket : A block of 25,000 shares used by the Fund to redeem shares.
SEC : Securities and Exchange Commission.
Secondary Market : The stock exchanges and the over-the-counter market. Securities are first issued as a primary offering to the public. When the securities are traded from that first holder to another, the issues trade in these secondary markets.
Shareholders: Holder of Shares.
Shares: Common shares representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in the Fund.
Treasuries : Obligations of the U.S. government.
Trust : The ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust.
Valuation Day : Any day as of which the Fund calculates its NAV.
You : The owner of shares.
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SIT RISING RATE ETF
Statement of Additional Information
November 26, 2014.
This statement of additional information is the second part of a two part document. The first part is the Fund’s disclosure document. The disclosure document and this statement of additional information are bound together, and both parts contain important information. This statement of additional information should be read in conjunction with the disclosure document.
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SIT RISING RATE ETF
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
Form of Shares | SAI-3 |
What is the Plan of Distribution? | SAI- 4 |
SAI- 2 |
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Registered Form . Shares are issued in registered form in accordance with the Trust Agreement. US Bank has been appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of transferring shares in certificated form. US Bank keeps a record of all limited partners and holders of the shares in certificated form in the registry (the “Register”). The Sponsor recognizes transfers of shares in certificated form only if done in accordance with the Trust Agreement. The beneficial interests in such shares are held in book-entry form through participants and/or accountholders in DTC.
Book Entry . Individual certificates are not issued for the shares. Instead, shares are represented by one or more global certificates, which are deposited by the Administrator with DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. The global certificates evidence all of the shares outstanding at any time. Shareholders are limited to (1) participants in DTC such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies (“DTC Participants”), (2) those who maintain, either directly or indirectly, a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant (“Indirect Participants”), and (3) those banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and others who hold interests in the shares through DTC Participants or Indirect Participants, in each case who satisfy the requirements for transfers of shares. DTC Participants acting on behalf of investors holding shares through such participants’ accounts in DTC will follow the delivery practice applicable to securities eligible for DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Shares are credited to DTC Participants’ securities accounts following confirmation of receipt of payment.
DTC . DTC has advised us as follows. It is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York and is a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities for DTC Participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of transactions between DTC Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of DTC Participants.
SAI- 3 |
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What is the Plan of Distribution?
Buying and Selling Shares
Most investors buy and sell shares of the Fund in secondary market transactions through brokers. Shares trade on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “RISE” shares are bought and sold throughout the trading day like other publicly traded securities. When buying or selling shares through a broker, most investors incur customary brokerage commissions and charges. Investors are encouraged to review the terms of their brokerage account for details on applicable charges.
Distributor and Authorized Purchasers
The offering of the Fund’s shares is a best efforts offering. The Fund continuously offers Creation Baskets consisting of 25,000 shares through the Distributor, to Authorized Purchasers. All Authorized Purchasers pay a $500 fee for each order to create or redeem one or more Creation Baskets or Redemption Baskets.
The Distributor receives an annual fee for its distribution services, which for the first year will equal 0.02% of assets under management (“AUM”) (declining if the Fund’s AUM increases above $250,000,000), with a minimum of $15,000 payable annually. In no event will the aggregate compensation paid to the Distributor and any affiliate of the Sponsor for distribution-related services in connection with the offering of shares exceed ten percent (10%) of the gross proceeds of the offering. The activities of the Distributor may result in its being deemed a participant in a distribution in a manner that would render it a statutory underwriter and subject it to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act.
The offering of baskets is being made in compliance with Conduct Rule 2310 of FINRA. Accordingly, Authorized Purchasers will not make any sales to any account over which they have discretionary authority without the prior written approval of a purchaser of shares.
The per share price of shares offered in Creation Baskets on any subsequent day will be the total NAV of the Fund calculated shortly after the close of the core trading session on the NYSE Arca on that day divided by the number of issued and outstanding shares. An Authorized Purchaser is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of shares.
By executing an Authorized Purchaser Agreement, an Authorized Purchaser becomes part of the group of parties eligible to purchase baskets from, and put baskets for redemption to, the Fund. An Authorized Purchaser is under no obligation to create or redeem baskets, and an Authorized Purchaser is under no obligation to offer to the public shares of any baskets it does create.
As of November 26, 2014, the following are or are expected to enter into Authorized Purchaser Agreements to purchase and sell shares of the Fund:
JP Morgan Securities LLC
Nomura Securities International, Inc.
KCG Holdings
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Because new shares can be created and issued on an ongoing basis, at any point during the life of the Fund, a “distribution”, as such term is used in the 1933 Act, will be occurring. Authorized Purchasers, other broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some of their activities may result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner that would render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act. For example, the Initial Authorized Purchaser was a statutory underwriter with respect to its initial purchase of Creation Baskets. In addition, any purchaser who purchases shares with a view towards distribution of such shares may be deemed to be a statutory underwriter. Authorized Purchasers will comply with the prospectus-delivery requirements in connection with the sale of shares to customers. For example, an Authorized Purchaser, other broker-dealer firm or its client will be deemed a statutory underwriter if it purchases a basket from the Fund, breaks the basket down into the constituent shares and sells the shares to its customers; or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation
SAI- 4 |
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of secondary market demand for the shares. Authorized Purchasers may also engage in secondary market transactions in shares that would not be deemed “underwriting”. For example, an Authorized Purchaser may act in the capacity of a broker or dealer with respect to shares that were previously distributed by other Authorized Purchasers. A determination of whether a particular market participant is an underwriter must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that would lead to designation as an underwriter and subject them to the prospectus-delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act.
Dealers who are neither Authorized Purchasers nor “underwriters” but are nonetheless participating in a distribution (as contrasted to ordinary secondary trading transactions), and thus dealing with shares that are part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of Section 4(3)(C) of the 1933 Act, would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus-delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the 1933 Act.
The Sponsor may qualify the shares in states selected by the Sponsor and intends that sales be made through broker-dealers who are members of FINRA. Investors intending to create or redeem baskets through Authorized Purchasers in transactions not involving a broker-dealer registered in such investor’s state of domicile or residence should consult their legal advisor regarding applicable broker-dealer or securities regulatory requirements under the state securities laws prior to such creation or redemption.
While the Authorized Purchasers may be indemnified by the Sponsor, they will not be entitled to receive a discount or commission from the Fund for their purchases of Creation Baskets.
SAI- 5 |
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Managing Owner of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
We have audited the accompanying combined statement of assets and liabilities of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I and the individual statement of assets and liabilities of Sit Rising Rate Fund (collectively referred to as the “Trust”) as of September 26, 2014. These statements of assets and liabilities are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these statements of assets and liabilities based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the statements of assets and liabilities are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the statements of assets and liabilities, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall statements of assets and liabilities presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the statements of assets and liabilities referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the combined financial position of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I and the individual financial position of Sit Rising Rate Fund as of September 26, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
WithumSmith+Brown, P.C.
New York, NY
October 3, 2014
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ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
Combined Statement of Assets and Liabilities
September 26, 2014
Assets | ||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | 1,000 | ||
Total Assets | $ | 1,000 | ||
Liabilities and Trust Capital | ||||
Liabilities | — | |||
Trust Capital | $ | 1,000 | ||
Total Liabilities and Trust Capital | $ | 1,000 | ||
Shares Outstanding | ||||
The Sit Rising Rate Fund | 40 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Sit Rising Rate Fund
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
September 26, 2014
Assets | ||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | 1,000 | ||
Total Assets | $ | 1,000 | ||
Liabilities and Fund Capital | ||||
Liabilities | — | |||
Fund Capital | $ | 1,000 | ||
Total Liabilities and Fund Capital | $ | 1,000 | ||
Shares Outstanding | 40 | |||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 25.00 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
Sit Rising Rate Fund
Notes to Financial Statements
September 26, 2014
(1) | Organization |
ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I (the “Trust”) is a Delaware statutory trust formed on July 23, 2014 as a series trust. The Trust currently consists of a sole series, the Sit Rising Rate Trust that has not yet commenced operations. The Fund will issue common units of beneficial interest (the “Shares”) which represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Fund.
ETF Managers Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability corporation (the “Sponsor” and “Managing Owner”) will serve as the commodity pool operator of the Fund. Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC (“Sit”) has applied for registration as a “commodity trading advisor” (“CTA”) with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and will act as such for the Fund.
The only capital contributed as of September 26, 2014 is a capital contribution of $1,000 to the Fund by the Managing Owner whereby 40 shares were issued to the Managing Owner for a capital contribution. From July 23, 2014 through September 26, 2014, the Fund and the Trust had no other activities other than those related to their formations.
The Fund’s investment objective is to profit from rising interest rates by maintaining a portfolio with a benchmark equal to a targeted negative 10 year average effective duration, which is principally established and maintained using exchange traded futures and options on futures on 2, 5, and 10-year U.S. Treasury securities. The Fund will not use futures contracts or options to obtain leveraged investment results. The Fund’s assets will consist primarily of exchange traded futures and options on futures on U.S. Treasury securities, including deposits with its Futures Commission Merchant held as collateral, U.S. Treasury securities, cash and other cash equivalents. U.S. Treasury securities are debt obligations issued by the United States Department of the Treasury and include Treasury bills, Treasury notes, and Treasury bonds (“U.S. Treasuries”).
The Fund will principally invest in exchange traded futures and options on futures on 2, 5 and 10-year U.S. Treasuries. The Fund may also invest in over-the-counter swaps and other derivative instruments involving U.S. Treasuries. These exchange traded futures, options on futures, and over-the-counter swaps and other derivative instruments are collectively referred to as “Treasury Instruments”.
The Fund will invest in a portfolio of Treasury Instruments with the intention of tracking a benchmark equal to a negative effective duration of approximately 10 years. The Fund will establish and maintain a net short position on Treasury Instruments on 2, 5, and 10 year Treasuries. There will normally be substantially more net short exposure than net long exposure. The mix of positions will depend on market conditions and will require periodic rebalancing.
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The Fund qualifies as an “emerging growth company” as defined under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012.
The term of the Trust and the Fund is perpetual (unless terminated in certain circumstances as described in the Prospectus.
(2) | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Trust and Fund.
(a) | Basis of Presentation |
Pursuant to rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), audited financial statements are presented for the Trust as a whole, as the SEC registrant and the Fund individually. The liabilities and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to each series of the Trust shall be enforceable only against the assets of each series of the Trust and not against the assets of the Trust generally or any other series.
(b) | Use of Estimates |
The preparation of the accompanying financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(c) | Cash and Cash Equivalents |
The Trust and the Fund define cash and cash equivalents to be highly liquid investments, with original maturities of three months or less.
(d) | Income Taxes |
The Fund will be classified as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes, and treated as a separate entity from any other series of the Trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Fund will not incur United States federal income taxes. No provision for federal, state, and local income taxes has been made in the accompanying Statements of Assets and Liabilities, as shareholders are individually responsible for their own income taxes, if any, on their allocable share of the Fund’s income, gain, loss, deductions and other items.
(e) | Related Party Transactions |
The Fund will pay the Managing Owner a management fee, monthly in arrears, in an amount equal to 0.50% per annum of the daily net asset value of the Fund (the “Management Fee”). The Management Fee will be paid in consideration of the
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Managing Owner’s advisory services to the Fund. From the Management Fee, the Managing Owner will be responsible for paying any license fee relating to the index tracked by the Fund.
The Managing Owner will contractually agree to waive the Management Fee and/or reimburse the Fund for its Other Expenses (which term excludes brokerage fees, interest expense, and extraordinary expenses) to cap Total Expenses at 1.50% per annum through February 1, 2016.
Expenses incurred in connection with organizing the Fund and the offering of the Shares upon commencement of its trading operations will be paid by Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC, the parent and sole owner of the Managing Owner. Expenses incurred in connection with the continuous offering of Shares of the Fund after the commencement of its trading operations will be paid by the Fund.
(3) | The Offering of the Shares |
The Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933. Shares may be purchase from the Fund only by certain eligible financial institutions (the “Authorized Participants”), and only in one or more blocks of 25,000 Shares, each called a Basket, although the initial Basket(s) will be purchased by an initial purchaser at $25 per Share ($625,000 per Basket). After the commencement of investment operations, the Fund will issue Shares in Baskets only to Authorized Participants continuously as of 12:00 p.m. New York time, on the third business day immediately following the date on which a valid order to create a Basket is accepted by the Fund, at the net asset value of 25,000 Shares as of the closing time or NYSE Arca (“NYSE Arca”) on the date that a valid order to create a Basket is accepted by the Fund. An Authorized Participant will be required to pay a transaction fee of $500 per order to create or redeem one or more Baskets which will go to the Fund and will be recorded as other income.
(4) | Fees and Expenses |
(a) | Organization and Offering Expenses |
Expenses incurred in connection with organizing the Fund and expenses incurred up to the offering of its Shares upon commencement of its trading operations will be paid by Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC, the parent and the sole owner of the Managing Owner.
Expenses incurred in connection with the continuous offering of Shares of the Fund after the commencement of its trading operations will be paid by the Fund. These costs include registration fees paid to regulatory agencies and all legal, accounting, printing and other expenses associated therewith. These costs will be accounted for as a deferred charge and thereafter amortized to expense over twelve months on a straight-line basis or a shorter period if warranted.
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(b) | Management Fee |
The Fund will pay the Managing Owner the Management Fee as described in Note 2(e) above. The Management Fee will be paid in consideration of the Managing Owner’s advisory services. From the Management Fee, the Managing Owner will be responsible for paying any license fee relating to the index tracked by the Fund.
The Managing Owner will contractually agree to waive the Management Fee and/or reimburse the Fund for its Other Expenses (which term excludes brokerage fees, interest expense, and extraordinary expenses) to cap Total Expenses at 1.50% per annum through February 1, 2016.
(c) | Brokerage Commissions and Fees |
The Fund will pay to its commodity broker all brokerage commissions and fees charged in connection with its trading activities. The Sponsor does not expect brokerage commissions and fees paid for execution and clearing services on behalf of the Fund to exceed 0.027% of the net asset value of the Fund in any year, although the actual amount of brokerage commissions and fees in any year or any part of any year may be greater. For the period July 23, 2014 through September 26, 2014 the Fund incurred no brokerage commissions or fees.
(d) | The Fund’s Fees and Other Expenses |
The Fund will pay all of the routine offering, operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses of the Fund, including, but not limited to Custody, Fund Accounting, Transfer Agent and Distributor, legal and auditing fees and expenses, tax preparation expenses, filing fees, and printing, mailing and distribution costs. Such routine expenses are not expected to exceed 1.00% of the net asset value of the Fund in any year, although the actual amount of routine offering, operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses in any year or any part of any year may be greater. For the period July 23, 2014 through September 26, 2014 the Fund incurred no routine offering, operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses.
The Managing Owner will contractually agree to waive the Management Fee and/or reimburse the Fund for its Other Expenses (which term excludes brokerage fees, interest expense, and extraordinary expenses) to cap Total Expenses at 1.50% per annum through February 1, 2016.
(e) | Extraordinary Fees and Expenses |
The Fund will pay all of its extraordinary fees and expenses, if any. Extraordinary fees and expenses are fees and expenses which are non-recurring and unusual in nature, such as legal claims and liabilities, litigation costs or indemnification or other unanticipated expenses. For the period July 23, 2014 through September 26, 2014 the Fund incurred no extraordinary fees or expenses.
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(5) | Redemptions |
On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Distributor to redeem one or more Baskets. Redemption orders must be placed by no later than 12:00 p.m. New York time or the close of regular trading on the NYSE Arca, whichever is earlier. A Redemption order so received will be effective on the date it is received in satisfactory form by the Distributor. Redemption orders are irrevocable. The redemption procedures allow Authorized Participants to redeem Baskets. Individual Shareholders may not redeem directly from the Fund. Instead, individual Shareholders may only redeem Shares in integral multiples of 25,000 and only through an Authorized Participant.
By placing a Redemption order, an Authorized Participant agrees to deliver the Redemption Baskets to be redeemed through the Depository Trust Company’s (“DTC”) book entry system to the Fund not later than 3 p.m. New York time on the third business day following the effective date of the Redemption order. Prior to receipt of the redemption proceeds, an Authorized Participant’s DTC account will be charged the $500 transaction fee due for the redemption order.
The redemption proceeds from the Fund will consist of a transfer to the redeeming Authorized Participant of an amount of U.S. Treasuries and/or cash that is in the proportion to the total assets of the Fund (net of accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and other liabilities) on the date the order to redeem is properly received as the number of Shares to be redeemed under the redemption order is in proportion to the total number of Shares outstanding on the date the order is received. The Managing Owner, directly or in consultation with the Administrator, determines the requirements for U.S. Treasuries and the amounts of cash, including the maximum permitted remaining maturity of a Treasury, and the proportions of U.S. Treasuries and cash that may be included in distributions to redeem Baskets.
The redemption distribution due from the Fund will be delivered to the Authorized Participant by 3:00 p.m. New York time on the third business day following the redemption order date if, by 3:00 p.m. New York time on such third business day, the Fund’s DTC account has been credited with the Baskets to be redeemed. If the Fund’s DTC account has not been credited with all of the Baskets to be redeemed by such time, the Redemption distribution will be delivered to the extent whole Baskets received. Any remainder of the Redemption distribution will be delivered on the next business day to the extent of remaining whole Baskets received if the Fund receives the fee applicable to the extension of the Redemption distribution date which the Sponsor may from time to time, determine and the remaining Baskets to be redeemed are credited to the Fund’s DTC account by 3:00 p.m. New York time on such next business day. Any further outstanding amount of the Redemption order shall be cancelled. Pursuant to information from the Managing Owner, the Custodian will also be authorized to deliver the redemption distribution notwithstanding that the Baskets to be redeemed are not credited to the Fund’s DTC account by 3:00 p.m. New York time on the third business day following the Redemption order date if the Authorized Participant has collateralized its obligation to deliver the Baskets through DTC’s book-entry system on such terms as the Sponsor may from time to time determine.
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(6) | Subsequent Events |
The Trust and the Fund have evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued. This evaluation did not result in any subsequent events that necessitated disclosures and/or adjustments.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of ETF Managers Capital LLC
We have audited the accompanying statement of financial condition of ETF Managers Capital LLC (the “Company”) as of September 26, 2014 and the related statements of changes in member’s capital and cash flows for the period from June 12, 2014 (inception) to September 26, 2014. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statement referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of ETF Managers Capital LLC as of September 26, 2014 and changes in its member’s capital and its cash flows for the period June 12, 2014 (inception) to September 26, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
WithumSmith+Brown, P.C.
New York, NY
October 3, 2014
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ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC
Statement of Financial Condition
September 26, 2014
ASSETS | ||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | 1,000 | ||
Investment in Rising Rate Fund | 1,000 | |||
Total Assets | $ | 2,000 | ||
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER’S CAPITAL | ||||
LIABILITIES | $ | — | ||
MEMBER’S CAPITAL: | 2,000 | |||
Total Member’s Capital | 2,000 | |||
Total Liabilities and Member’s Capital | $ | 2,000 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC
Statement of Changes in Member’s Capital
Period from June 12, 2014 (inception) to September 26, 2014
Member’s Capital, June 12, 2014 (inception) | $ | — | ||
Capital contribution from ETF Managers Group LLC | 2,000 | |||
Member’s Capital, September 26, 2014 | $ | 2,000 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC
Statement of Cash Flows
Period from June 12, 2014 (inception) to September 26, 2014
Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||
Contribution for investment in Sit Rising Rate Fund | $ | (1,000 | ) | |
Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (1,000 | ) | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||
Capital contribution from ETF Managers Group LLC | $ | 2,000 | ||
Net cash provided by investing activities | 2,000 | |||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 1,000 | |||
Cash at June 12, 2014 (inception) | — | |||
Cash at September 26, 2014 | $ | 1,000 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC
Notes to Financial Statements
September 26, 2014
(1) | Organization and Basis of Presentation |
ETF Managers Capital LLC (the “Company”), a Delaware limited liability company, was formed on June 12, 2014 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC (“ETFMG”). The Company has applied for registration with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) and has applied for membership with the National Futures Association (“NFA”). The Company serves as the Sponsor and Managing Owner of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I (the “Trust”) a Delaware series trust, of which the Sit Rising Rate Fund (the “Fund”) is currently the sole series of the Trust. Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC (“Sit”) has applied for registration as a “commodity trading advisor” (“CTA”) and will act as such for the Fund.
(2) | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
(a) | Basis of Accounting |
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. As the Company does not have any revenues or expenses during the period from June 12, 2014 (inception) to September 26, 2014, a statement of operations is not presented herein.
(b) | Use of Estimates |
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities during the reporting period of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(c) | Cash and cash equivalents |
The Company defines cash and cash equivalents to be highly liquid investments, with original maturities of three months or less.
(d) | Income Taxes |
As the Company does not have any revenues or expenses during the period from June 12, 2014 (inception) to September 26, 2014 no provision for United States federal or state income taxes has been made. The Company is a single member limited liability company.
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(e) | Related Party Transactions |
The Fund will pay the Company a management fee, monthly in arrears, in an amount equal to 0.50% per annum of the daily net asset value of the Fund (the “Management Fee”). The Management Fee will be paid in consideration of the Company’s advisory services to the Fund. From the Management Fee, The Company will be responsible for paying any license fee relating to the index tracked by the Fund.
The Company will contractually agree to waive the Management Fee and/or reimburse the Fund for its Other Expenses (which term excludes brokerage fees, interest expense, and extraordinary expenses) to cap Total Expenses at 1.50% per annum through February 1, 2016.
Expenses incurred in connection with organizing the Fund and the offering of the Shares upon commencement of its trading operations will be paid by ETFMG, the parent and sole owner of the Company. Expenses incurred in connection with the continuous offering of Shares of the Fund after the commencement of its trading operations will be paid by the Fund.
The Company has subscribed for 40 Shares or Units of the Fund in exchange for a capital contribution of $1,000 to the Fund. Units are a separate class of units of beneficial interest of the Fund that are issued to the Sponsor in exchange for its capital contribution to the Fund and represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Fund.
(3) | Subsequent Events |
The Company evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date the financial statements were available to be issued. This evaluation did not result in any subsequent events that necessitated disclosures and/or adjustments.
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PART II
Information Not Required in the Prospectus
Item 13. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
Set forth below is an estimate (except as indicated) of the amount of fees and expenses (other than underwriting commissions and discounts) payable by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the units pursuant to the prospectus contained in this registration statement.
Amount | ||||
SEC registration fee (actual) | $ | 58,100 | ||
NYSE Arca Listing Fee (actual initial) | $ | 7,500 | ||
FINRA filing fees (actual) | n/a | |||
Blue Sky expenses | n/a | |||
Auditor’s fees and expenses | $ | 70,000 | ||
Legal fees and expenses | $ | 25,000 | ||
Printing expenses | $ | 20,000 | ||
Miscellaneous expenses | $ | 15,000 | ||
Total | $ | 195,600 | ||
Item 14. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
The Trust’s Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) provides that the Sponsor shall be indemnified by the Trust (or, by a Fund of the Trust separately to the extent the matter in question relates to a single fund or disproportionately affects a Fund in relation to other Funds) against any losses, judgments, liabilities, expenses and amounts paid in settlement of any claims sustained by it in connection with its activities for the Trust, or any Fund as applicable, provided that (i) the Sponsor was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Trust, or such Fund as applicable, and has determined, in good faith, that such course of conduct was in the best interests of the Trust, or such Fund as applicable, and such liability or loss was not the result of gross negligence, willful misconduct, or a breach of the Trust Agreement on the part of the Sponsor and (ii) any such indemnification will only be recoverable from the Trust estate or the applicable estate of such Fund. All rights to indemnification permitted by the Trust Agreement and payment of associated expenses shall not be affected by the dissolution or other cessation to exist of the Sponsor, or the withdrawal, adjudication of bankruptcy or insolvency of the Sponsor, or the filing of a voluntary or involuntary petition in bankruptcy under Title 11 of the Bankruptcy Code by or against the Sponsor.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sponsor shall not be indemnified for any losses, liabilities or expenses arising from or out of an alleged violation of U.S. federal or state securities laws unless (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee and the court approves the indemnification of such expenses (including, without limitation, litigation costs), (ii) such claims
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have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular indemnitee and the court approves the indemnification of such expenses (including, without limitation, litigation costs) or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and related costs should be made.
The Trust and the Funds shall not incur the cost of that portion of any insurance which insures any party against any liability, the indemnification of which is prohibited by the Trust Agreement.
Expenses incurred in defending a threatened or pending civil, administrative or criminal action suit or proceeding against the Sponsor shall be paid by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, if (i) the legal action relates to the performance of duties or services by the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust or any Fund as applicable; (ii) the legal action is initiated by a party other than the Trust or any Fund as applicable; and (iii) the Sponsor undertakes to repay the advanced funds with interest to the Trust, or any Fund as applicable, in cases in which it is not entitled to indemnification under the Trust Agreement.
For purposes of the indemnification provisions of the Trust Agreement, the term “Sponsor” includes, in addition to the Sponsor, any other covered person performing services on behalf of the Trust, or any Fund as applicable, and acting within the scope of the Sponsor’s authority as set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In the event the Trust, or any Fund as applicable, is made a party to any claim, dispute, demand or litigation or otherwise incurs any loss, liability, damage, cost or expense as a result of or in connection with any Shareholder’s (or assignee’s) obligations or liabilities unrelated to the business of the Trust, or any Fund as applicable, such Shareholder (or assignees cumulatively) shall indemnify, defend, hold harmless, and reimburse the Trust, or such Fund as applicable, for all such loss, liability, damage, cost and expense incurred, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees.
The payment of any amount pursuant to the Trust Agreement shall take into account the allocation of liabilities and other amounts, as appropriate, among the Funds.
Item 15. | Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities |
On September 26, 2014 the Sponsor made a $1,000.00 capital contribution to the Trust and acquired forty (40) shares of the Fund in connection therewith. Such shares were sold in a private offering exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Item 16. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules |
(a) Exhibits
3.1 | Form of Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement of the Registrant. + |
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3.2 | Certificate of Trust of the Registrant. + | |
5.1 | Opinion of Reed Smith LLP relating to the legality of the Shares. * | |
8.1 | Opinion of Reed Smith LLP with respect to federal income tax consequences. * | |
10.1 | Form of Authorized Participant Agreement. + | |
10.2 | Form of Distribution Services Agreement. + | |
10.3 | Form of Licensing and Services Agreement. + | |
10.4 | Form of Custody Agreement. * | |
10.5 | Form of Fund Administration Servicing Agreement. + | |
10.6 | Form of Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement. * | |
10.7 | Form of Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement * | |
23.1 | Consent of Reed Smith LLP. * | |
23.2 | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.* |
* |
To be filed by amendment. |
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+ | Filed herewith |
(b) Financial Statement Schedules
The financial statement schedules are either not applicable or the required information is included in the financial statements and footnotes related thereto.
Item 17. | Undertakings |
(a) Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
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and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C (§230.430C of this chapter), each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A (§230.430A of this chapter), shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (§230.424 of this chapter);
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
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(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunder duly authorized, in the city of Summit, state of New Jersey, on November 26, 2014.
By: ETF Managers Capital LLC, Sponsor | ||
By: | /s/ Samuel R. Masucci III | |
Samuel R. Masucci III
Principal Executive Officer |
||
By: | /s/ John A. Flanagan | |
John A. Flanagan
Principal Financial Officer Principal Accounting Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. The document may be executed by signatories hereto on any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Samuel R. Masucci III | ||||
Samuel R. Masucci III | Principal Executive Officer | November 26, 2014 | ||
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ John A. Flanagan | ||||
John A. Flanagan |
Principal Financial Officer
Principal Accounting Officer |
November 26, 2014 |
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST AND TRUST AGREEMENT
OF
ETF MANAGERS GROUP COMMODITY TRUST I
Dated as of November __, 2014
By and Between
ETF Managers Capital LLC
as Sponsor
and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article I DEFINITIONS | ||
Section 1.1 | Definitions | |
Article II GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||
Section 2.1 | Name | |
Section 2.2 | Delaware Trustee; Business Offices | |
Section 2.3 | Declaration of Trust | |
Section 2.4 | Purposes and Powers | |
Section 2.5 | Tax Matters | |
Section 2.6 | General Liability of Unitholders | |
Section 2.7 | Legal Title | |
Section 2.8 | Series Trust | |
Section 2.9 | Derivative Actions | |
Article III THE TRUSTEE | ||
Section 3.1 | Term; Resignation | |
Section 3.2 | Powers | |
Section 3.3 | Compensation and Expenses of the Trustee | |
Section 3.4 | Indemnification | |
Section 3.5 | Successor Trustee | |
Section 3.6 | Liability of Trustee | |
Section 3.7 | Reliance; Advice of Counsel | |
Section 3.8 | Payments to the Trustee | |
Article IV UNITS; DEPOSITS | ||
Section 4.1 | General | |
Section 4.2 | Establishment of Series, or Funds, of the Trust |
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Section 4.3 | Establishment of Classes and Sub-Classes | |
Section 4.4 | Offer of Units | |
Section 4.5 | Procedures for Creation and Issuance of Creation Baskets | |
Section 4.6 | Book-Entry-Only System, Global Certificates | |
Section 4.7 | Assets | |
Section 4.8 | Liabilities of Funds | |
Section 4.9 | Voting Rights | |
Section 4.10 | Equality | |
Section 4.11 | Record Dates | |
Article V THE SPONSOR | ||
Section 5.1 | Management of the Trust | |
Section 5.2 | Authority of Sponsor | |
Section 5.3 | Obligations of the Sponsor | |
Section 5.4 | General Prohibitions | |
Section 5.5 | Liability of Covered Persons | |
Section 5.6 | Fiduciary Duty | |
Section 5.7 | Indemnification of the Sponsor | |
Section 5.8 | Expenses and Limitations Thereon | |
Section 5.9 | Compensation to the Sponsor | |
Section 5.10 | Other Business of Unitholders | |
Section 5.11 | Merger, Consolidation, Incorporation | |
Section 5.12 | Withdrawal of the Sponsor | |
Section 5.13 | Authorization of Registration Statements | |
Section 5.14 | Litigation | |
Article VI TRANSFERS OF UNITS |
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Section 6.1 | Transfer of Units | |
Section 6.2 | Transfer of Sponsor’s Units | |
Article VII CAPITAL ACCOUNTS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS | ||
Section 7.1 | Capital Accounts | |
Section 7.2 | Allocations for Capital Account Purposes | |
Section 7.3 | Allocations for Tax Purposes | |
Section 7.4 | Tax Conventions | |
Section 7.5 | No Interest on Capital Account | |
Section 7.6 | Valuation | |
Section 7.7 | Distributions | |
Article VIII REDEMPTIONS | ||
Section 8.1 | Redemption of Redemption Baskets | |
Section 8.2 | Other Redemption Procedures | |
Article IX UNITHOLDERS | ||
Section 9.1 | No Management or Control; Limited Liability; Exercise of Rights through DTC | |
Section 9.2 | Rights and Duties | |
Section 9.3 | Limitation on Liability | |
Article X BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND REPORTS | ||
Section 10.1 | Books of Account | |
Section 10.2 | Reports to Unitholders | |
Section 10.3 | Calculation of Net Asset Value | |
Section 10.4 | Maintenance of Records | |
Article XI FISCAL YEAR | ||
Section 11.1 | Fiscal Year |
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Article XII AMENDMENT OF TRUST AGREEMENT; MEETINGS | ||
Section 12.1 | Amendments to the Trust Agreement | |
Section 12.2 | Meetings of the Unitholders | |
Section 12.3 | Action Without a Meeting | |
Article XIII TERM | ||
Section 13.1 | Term | |
Article XIV TERMINATION | ||
Section 14.1 | Events Requiring Dissolution of the Trust or any Fund | |
Section 14.2 | Distributions on Dissolution | |
Section 14.3 | Termination; Certificate of Cancellation | |
Article XV POWER OF ATTORNEY | ||
Section 15.1 | Power of Attorney Executed Concurrently | |
Section 15.2 | Effect of Power of Attorney | |
Section 15.3 | Limitation on Power of Attorney | |
Article XVI MISCELLANEOUS | ||
Section 16.1 | Governing Law | |
Section 16.2 | Provisions In Conflict With Law or Regulations | |
Section 16.3 | Construction | |
Section 16.4 | Notices | |
Section 16.5 | Counterparts | |
Section 16.6 | Binding Nature of Trust Agreement | |
Section 16.7 | No Legal Title to Trust Estate | |
Section 16.8 | Creditors | |
Section 16.9 | Integration | |
Section 16.10 | Goodwill; Use of Name |
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Exhibit A | ||
Form of Global Certificate | ||
Exhibit B | ||
Form of Instrument Establishing Series or Class | ||
Exhibit C | ||
Series Funds | ||
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ETF MANAGERS GROUP COMMODITY TRUST I
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST AND TRUST AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST AND TRUST AGREEMENT of ETF MANAGERS GROUP COMMODITY TRUST I (the “Trust”) is made and entered into as of ________, 2014, by and between ETF Managers Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as Sponsor, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a Delaware national banking association, as Delaware trustee.
WHEREAS, the Sponsor and the Trustee desire to enter into an Agreement which states those terms and conditions upon which the Trust shall be administered, as hereinafter provided; and
WHEREAS, the Sponsor and the Trustee desire to amend and restate the Agreement to amend certain items prior to launch of the initial fund;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each party hereby agrees as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Trust Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:
“Adjusted Property” means any property the book value of which has been adjusted as provided by Section 7.1(d).
“Administrator” means any Person from time to time engaged to provide administrative services to the Trust pursuant to authority delegated by the Sponsor.
“Affiliate” means, when used with reference to a specified Person, (i) any Person who directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the specified Person or (ii) any Person that is an officer of, partner in, or trustee of, or serves in a similar capacity with respect to, the specified Person or of which the specified Person is an officer, partner or trustee, or with respect to which the specified Person serves in a similar capacity.
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“Authorized Purchaser” means a Person that is a DTC Participant (as defined in Section 4.6(c)) and has entered into an Authorized Purchaser Agreement that, at the relevant time, is in full force and effect.
“Authorized Purchaser Agreement” means an agreement between the Sponsor, the Trust and an Authorized Purchaser, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.
“Basket” means a Creation Basket or a Redemption Basket, as the context may require.
“Book-Tax Disparity” means, with respect to any property held by a Fund, as of any date of determination, the difference between the book value of such property (as initially determined under Section 7.6 in the case of contributed property, and as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 7.1(d)) and the adjusted basis thereof for United States federal income tax purposes, as of such date of determination.
“Business Day” means any day other than a day on which either the Exchange or the applicable Fund’s Futures Exchange is closed for regular trading.
“Capital Account” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.1(a).
“Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Unitholder of a Fund, the amount of money and the fair market value of any property (other than money) contributed to the Fund by such Unitholder.
“CE Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.
“Certificate of Trust” means that certain Certificate of Trust of the Trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 23,2014, as may be amended from time to time, pursuant to Section 3810 of the Delaware Trust Statute.
“CFTC” means the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and any successor thereto.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Commodity” means a traded physical commodity.
“Commodity Contract” means a contract for the purchase or sale of a Commodity or any other contract whose value is determined by reference to the value of a Commodity, one or more Commodities, including a Commodity-based forward contract, futures contract, swap, option or other over the counter transaction.
“Covered Person” means the Trustee, the Sponsor and their respective Affiliates.
“Creation Basket” means a basket of 25,000 Units of a Fund, or such greater or lesser number of Units as the Sponsor may determine from time to time for each Fund.
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“Creation Basket Deposit” of a Fund means the Deposit made by an Authorized Purchaser in connection with a Purchase Order and the creation of a Creation Basket in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the number of Creation Baskets set forth in the relevant Purchase Order by (ii) the Net Asset Value Per Basket of such Fund calculated on the Purchase Order Date.
“Delaware Trust Statute” means the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq., as the same may be amended from time to time.
“Deliver,” “Delivered” or “Delivery” means, when used with respect to Units, either (A) one or more book-entry transfers of such Units to an account or accounts at the Depository designated by the Person entitled to such delivery for further credit as specified by such Person or (B) if the Depository ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Units, execution and delivery at the Trust’s principal office of one or more certificates evidencing those Units.
“Deposit” means the amount of cash or other property contributed or agreed to be contributed to the Trust by any Authorized Purchaser or by the Sponsor, as applicable, in accordance with Article IV hereof.
“Depository” or “DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or such other depository of Units as may be selected by the Sponsor as specified herein.
“Depository Agreement” means the Letter of Representations relating to each Fund from the Sponsor to the Depository in connection with the initial issuance of Units of such Fund, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Distributor” means Esposito Securities, LLC or any Person from time to time engaged to provide distribution services or related services to the Trust pursuant to authority delegated by the Sponsor.
“DTC Participants” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.6(c).
“Event of Withdrawal” means the filing of a certificate of dissolution or cancellation of the Sponsor, the revocation of the Sponsor’s charter (and the expiration of 90 days after the date of notice to the Sponsor of revocation without a reinstatement of its charter), or the provision of written notice by the Sponsor of its withdrawal as Sponsor in accordance with Section 5.12(a) of this Trust Agreement.
“Exchange” means NYSE Arca, Inc. or, if the Units of any Fund shall cease to be listed on such exchange and are listed on one or more other exchanges, the exchange on which the Units of such Fund are principally traded, as determined by the Sponsor.
“Fiscal Year” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Article XI hereof.
“Fund” means a Fund established and designated as a series of the Trust as provided in Section 4.2(a).
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“Futures Exchange” means the contract market or derivatives transaction execution facility on which futures contracts or other investments relating to any underlying Commodities that comprise a Fund’s principal investment focus are principally traded, including but not limited to the New York Mercantile Exchange, ICE Futures, Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, London Metal Exchange, Commodity Exchange, Inc. or on other foreign exchanges.
“Global Certificates” means the global certificate or certificates for each Fund issued to the Depository as provided in the Depository Agreement, each of which shall be in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
“Indirect Participants” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.6 (c).
“Initial Contribution” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.1(a).
“Internal Revenue Service” or “IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service or any successor thereto.
“Liquidating Trustee” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 14.2.
“Management Fee” means the management fee paid to the Sponsor pursuant to this Agreement.
“Net Asset Value” at any time means the total assets in the Trust Estate of a Fund as reasonably determined by the Sponsor or its designee including, but not limited to, all cash and cash equivalents, other debt securities or other property, less total expenses and liabilities of such Fund, each determined on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, consistently applied under the accrual method of accounting. The amount of any distribution made pursuant to Article VII hereof shall be a liability of such Fund from the day when the distribution is declared until it is paid.
“Net Asset Value Per Basket” means the product obtained by multiplying the Net Asset Value Per Unit of a Fund by the number of Units comprising a Basket at such time.
“Net Asset Value Per Unit” means the Net Asset Value of a Fund divided by the number of Units of a Fund outstanding on the date of calculation.
“NFA” means the National Futures Association.
“Order Cut-Off Time” means such time as disclosed in the Prospectus by which orders for creation or redemption of Baskets must be placed.
“Organization and Offering Expenses” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.8(a)(ii).
“Percentage Interest” means, as to each Unitholder, the portion (expressed as a percentage) of the total outstanding Units held by such Unitholder.
“Person” means any natural person, or any partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, corporation, association or other legal entity, in its own or any representative capacity.
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“Prospectus” means the final prospectus and disclosure document of the Trust and any Fund, constituting a part of the Registration Statement for such Fund filed with the SEC and declared effective thereby, as such prospectus may at any time and from time to time be supplemented.
“Purchase Order” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.5(a)(i).
“Purchase Order Date” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.5(a)(i).
“Reconstituted Trust” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 14.1(a).
“Redemption Basket” means the minimum number of Units of a Fund that may be redeemed pursuant to Section 8.1, which shall be the number of Units of such Fund constituting a Creation Basket on the relevant Redemption Order Date.
“Redemption Distribution” means the cash or the combination of United States Treasury securities, cash and/or cash equivalents or other securities or property to be delivered in satisfaction of a redemption of a Redemption Basket as specified in Section 8.1(c).
“Redemption Order” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.1(a).
“Redemption Order Date” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.1(b).
“Redemption Settlement Time” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.1(d).
“Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rules or regulations thereunder, on Form S-1 or Form S-3 or any successor form or any other SEC registration statement form that the Trust may be permitted to use, as any such form may be amended from time to time, pursuant to which the Trust registered Units, as such Registration Statement may at any time and from time to time be amended.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Sponsor” means ETF Managers Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which is registered as a Commodity Pool Operator and controls the investments and other decisions of the Funds, and any successor thereto or any substitute therefore as provided herein.
“Sponsor’s Units” means the units issued by a Fund to the Sponsor pursuant to Section 2.3, evidencing the Sponsor’s beneficial interests in the net assets of such Fund.
“Suspended Redemption Order” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.1(d).
“Tax Matters Partner” means the Sponsor or any successor in its capacity as the “tax matters partner” designated to represent a Fund in certain federal income tax matters pursuant to subchapter C of chapter 63 of the Code or under any comparable provisions of state or local law.
“Transaction Fee” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.5(d).
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“Trust” means ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I, the Delaware statutory trust formed pursuant to the Certificate of Trust, the business and affairs of which are governed by this Trust Agreement.
“Trust Agreement” means this Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement dated November __, 2014, as amended, restated or supplemented from time to time.
“Trustee” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, or any successor thereto as provided herein, acting not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee of the Trust.
“Trust Estate” means, with respect to a Fund, all property and cash held by such Fund.
“Unitholder” means, with respect to any Unit, the Person who owns the ultimate economic beneficial interest in such Unit and does not hold the Unit as a mere nominee or custodian for another Person.
“Units” means the units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in a Fund.
“Unrealized Gain” attributable to any property of a Fund means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of the fair market value of such property (as determined for purposes of Section 7.1(d)) as of such date of determination over the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of determination.
“Unrealized Loss” attributable to any property of a Fund means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of determination over the fair market value of such property (as determined for purposes of Section 7.1(d)) as of such date of determination.
ARTICLE II
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 2.1 Name. The name of the Trust shall be “ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I” in which name the Sponsor may engage in the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued on behalf of the Trust.
Section 2.2 Delaware Trustee; Business Offices.
(a) The sole Trustee of the Trust is Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware, which is located at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001 or at such other address in the State of Delaware as the Trustee may designate in writing to the Sponsor. The Trustee shall receive service of process on the Trust in the State of Delaware at the foregoing address.
(b) The principal office of the Trust, and such additional offices as the Sponsor may establish, shall be located at such place or places inside or outside the State of Delaware as the Sponsor
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may designate from time to time in writing to the Trustee and the Unitholders. Initially, the principal office of the Trust shall be located at 35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B, Summit, New Jersey 07901. The Trust may maintain such other offices at such other places as the Sponsor deems advisable.
Section 2.3 Declaration of Trust. The Sponsor contributed the sum of $1,000 as an initial contribution to the capital of the Trust and as consideration for the Sponsor’s Units in Sit Rising Rate ETF (the “Fund” or “RISE”) designated in Section 4.2 hereof, and shall also contribute a sum of $1,000 as consideration for the Sponsor’s Units in each additional Fund designated in Section 4.2 hereof. The initial contribution to the Fund is held, and any similar contributions to additional Funds shall be held, in bank accounts in the name of the Trust controlled by the Sponsor, which amount shall constitute the initial trust estate. The trust estate shall be held in trust for the Sponsor. The Sponsor agrees that upon the initial public offering of any additional Fund formed pursuant to this Trust Agreement, the initial capital contribution made by it to a Fund upon such Fund’s formation shall be deemed payment for the Sponsor’s Units in such Fund. The Sponsor declares that the Trust Estate of each Fund will be held in the name of the Trust and each Fund, as applicable, for the benefit of such Fund’s Unitholders for the purposes of, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in, this Agreement. It is the intention of the Parties hereto to create a statutory trust under the Delaware Trust Statute, organized in series or Funds, and that this Trust Agreement shall constitute the governing instrument of the Trust. Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall be construed to make the Unitholders of any Fund members of a limited liability company, joint stock association, corporation or, except for tax purposes as provided in Section 2.5, partners in a partnership. Effective as of the date hereof, the Trustee and the Sponsor shall have all of the rights, powers and duties set forth herein and, to the extent not inconsistent with this Trust Agreement, in the Delaware Trust Statute with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust. The Trust was formed on July 23, 2014, at which time the Trustee filed the Certificate of Trust required by Section 3810 of the Delaware Trust Statute in connection with the formation of the Trust under the Delaware Trust Statute.
Section 2.4 Purposes and Powers. The purpose and powers of the Trust and each Fund shall be: (a) to implement the investment objective of each Fund as contemplated by the Prospectus; (b) to enter into any lawful transaction and engage in any lawful activity in furtherance of or incidental to the foregoing purposes; and (c) as determined from time to time by the Sponsor, to engage in any other lawful business or activity for which a statutory trust may be organized under the Delaware Trust Statute. The Trust shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes, business, protection and benefit of the Trust and the Trust shall have all of the powers specified in this Section 2.4 hereof, including, without limitation, all of the powers which may be exercised by a trustee or Sponsor on behalf of the Trust under this Trust Agreement. Except to the extent expressly set forth in Section 2.2(a) and this Article II, the duty and authority to manage the business and affairs of the Trust is hereby vested in the Sponsor, which duty and authority the Sponsor may delegate as provided herein, all pursuant to Section 3806(b)(7) of the Delaware Trust Statute.
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Section 2.5 Tax Matters.
(a) Subject to Section 4.9(b), the Sponsor, and each Unitholder by virtue of its purchase of Units in a Fund, (i) express their intent that the Units of such Fund qualify under applicable tax law as interests in a partnership, and (ii) agree to file U.S. federal, state and local income, franchise and other tax returns in a manner that is consistent with the treatment of such Fund as a partnership in which each of the Unitholders thereof is a partner. The Tax Matters Partner or the Unitholders (as appropriate) will make or refrain from making any tax elections to the extent necessary to obtain treatment consistent with the foregoing. The Sponsor shall not be liable to any Person for the failure of any Fund to qualify as a partnership under the Code or any comparable provision of the laws of any State or other jurisdiction where such treatment is sought.
(b) The Sponsor shall obtain a separate federal taxpayer identification number for each Fund prior to the commencement of the Fund’s operations. The Sponsor, at its expense, shall prepare or cause to be prepared all federal, state, and local tax returns of a Fund for each year for which such returns are required to be filed and shall timely file or cause to be timely filed such returns and timely pay or cause to be timely paid, out of the Trust Estate of such Fund, any taxes, assessments or other governmental charges owing with respect to the Fund. The Trustee and the Administrator shall promptly notify the Sponsor if it becomes aware that any tax, assessment or other governmental charge is due or claimed to be due with respect to a Fund. Unless not required to be provided under applicable rules and regulations of the Code, the Sponsor shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Unitholder of a Fund and the broker or nominee through which a Unitholder owns its Units an IRS Schedule K-1 and such other information, if any, with respect to the Fund as may be necessary for the preparation of the federal income tax or information returns of such Unitholder, including a statement showing the Unitholder’s share of the Fund’s items of income, gain, loss, expense, deduction and credit for the Fiscal Year for federal income tax purposes, as soon as practicable after the last day of the Fiscal Year but not later than September 15 of the following year.
(c) Except as provided herein, the Tax Matters Partner may, in its sole discretion, cause a Fund to make, or refrain from making, any tax elections that the Tax Matters Partner reasonably deems necessary or advisable, including, but not limited to, an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code.
(d) Each Unitholder of a Unit in a Fund, by its acceptance or acquisition of a beneficial interest therein, agrees to furnish the Sponsor with such representations, forms, documents or other information as may be necessary to enable such Fund to comply with its U.S. federal income tax reporting obligations in respect of such Unit, including an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or the substantial equivalent thereof) in the case of a Unitholder that is a United States person within the meaning of the Code or an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or other applicable form in the case of a Unitholder that is not a United States person. The Fund shall file any required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding and backup withholding tax is properly established by a Unitholder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Unitholder to the applicable tax authorities. To the extent that the Sponsor reasonably believes that the Fund is required to withhold and pay over any amounts (including taxes, interest, penalties, assessments or additions to tax) to any tax authority with respect to distributions or allocations to any Unitholder, the Fund may withhold such amounts and treat the
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amounts withheld as distributions of cash to the Unitholder in the amount of the withholding and reduce the amount of cash or other property otherwise distributable to such Unitholder. If an amount required to be withheld was not withheld, the Fund may reduce subsequent distributions to such Unitholder by the amount of such required withholding. In the event of any claimed over-withholding, Unitholders shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction.
(e) By its acceptance of a beneficial interest in a Unit, a Unitholder waives all confidentiality rights, including all confidentiality rights provided by Section 3406(f) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 31.3406(f)-1, with respect to any representations, forms, documents or information, and any information contained in such representations, forms or documents, that the Unitholder provides, or has previously provided, to any broker or nominee through which it owns its Units, to the extent such representations, forms, documents or information may be necessary to enable the Fund to comply with its withholding tax and backup withholding tax and information reporting obligations or to make basis adjustments under Section 754 of the Code with respect to the Units. Furthermore, the parties hereto, and by its acceptance or acquisition of a beneficial interest in a Unit, a Unitholder, acknowledge and agree that any broker or nominee through which a Unitholder holds its Units shall be a third party beneficiary to this Trust Agreement for the purposes set forth in this Section 2.5.
(f) The Sponsor is specifically authorized to act as the “Tax Matters Partner” under the Code for each Fund and in any similar capacity under state or local law. The Tax Matters Partner shall have the authority without any further consent of Fund Unitholders being required (except as specifically required herein) to make any and all elections for federal, state, local, and foreign tax purposes including any election, if permitted by applicable law: (i) to make the election provided for in Code Section 6231(a)(1)(B)(ii); (ii) to adjust the basis of the Fund’s assets pursuant to Code Sections 754, 734(b) and 743(b) or comparable provisions of state, local, or foreign law, in connection with transfers of Units and distributions; (iii) to extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against the Unitholders with respect to adjustments to the Fund’s federal, state local, or foreign tax returns; and (iv) to the extent provided in Code Sections 6221 through 6231 and similar provisions of federal, state, local, or foreign law, to represent the Fund and its Unitholders before taxing authorities or courts of competent jurisdiction in tax matters affecting the Fund or the Unitholders in their capacities as Unitholders and to file any tax returns and execute any agreements or other documents relating to or affecting such tax matters, including agreements or other documents that bind the Unitholders with respect to such tax matters or otherwise affect the rights of the Fund and its Unitholders.
(g) By its acceptance of a beneficial interest in a Unit of a Fund, a Unitholder agrees to the designation of the Sponsor as the initial Tax Matters Partner of the Fund. Each Unitholder agrees to take any further action as may be required by regulation or otherwise to effectuate such designation. The Tax Matters Partner of a Fund shall be authorized to exercise all rights and responsibilities conferred upon a Tax Matters Partner under Sections 6221-6234 of the Code with respect to such Fund, including, without limitation: (i) handling all audits and other administrative proceedings conducted by the IRS with respect to the Fund; (ii) extending the statute of limitations with respect to the Fund’s partnership tax returns; (iii) entering into a settlement with the IRS with respect to the Fund’s partnership items on behalf of those Limited Owners having less than a 1% interest in the Fund; and (iv) filing a petition or complaint with an appropriate U.S. federal court for review of a final partnership administrative adjustment.
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(h) The Sponsor shall maintain all books, records and supporting documents that are necessary to comply with any and all aspects of its duties under this Trust Agreement.
Section 2.6 General Liability of Unitholders. Subject to Sections 9.1 and 9.3 hereof, no Unitholder, other than the Sponsor to the extent set forth above, shall have any personal liability for any liability or obligation of the Trust or any Fund.
Section 2.7 Legal Title. Legal title to all of the Trust Estate of each Fund shall be vested in the Trust as a separate legal entity; provided, however, that where applicable law in any jurisdiction requires any part of the Trust Estate to be vested otherwise, the Sponsor may cause legal title to the Trust Estate or any portion thereof to be held by or in the name of the Sponsor or any other Person (other than a Unitholder) as nominee.
Section 2.8 Series Trust. The Trust is a series trust pursuant to Sections 3804(a) and 3806(b)(2) of the Delaware Trust Statute. The Units of the Trust shall be divided into series, each a Fund, as provided in Section 3806(b)(2) of the Delaware Trust Statute. Separate and distinct records shall be maintained for each Fund and the assets associated with a Fund shall be held in such separate and distinct records (directly or indirectly, including a nominee or otherwise) and accounted for in such separate and distinct records separately from the assets of any other Fund. The use of the terms “Trust”, “Fund” or “series” in this Trust Agreement shall in no event alter the intent of the parties hereto that the Trust receive the full benefit of the limitation on inter-series liability as set forth in Section 3804 of the Delaware Trust Statute.
Section 2.9 Derivative Actions.
(a) No person who is not a Unitholder of a particular Fund shall be entitled to bring any derivative action, suit or other proceeding on behalf of the Trust with respect to such Fund. No Unitholder of a Fund may maintain a derivative action on behalf of the Trust with respect to such Fund unless holders of at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Units of such Fund join in the bringing of such action.
(b) In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 3816 of the Act, a Unitholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the Trust with respect to a Fund only if the following conditions are met: (i) the Unitholder or Unitholders must make a pre-suit demand upon the Sponsor to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Sponsor to bring such an action is not likely to succeed; and a demand on the Sponsor shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if the Sponsor has a personal financial interest in the transaction at issue, and the Sponsor shall not be deemed interested in a transaction or otherwise disqualified from ruling on the merits of a Unitholder demand by virtue of the fact that the Sponsor receives remuneration for its service as the Sponsor or as a sponsor of one or more companies that are under common management with or otherwise affiliated with the Trust; and (ii) unless a demand is not required under clause (i) of this paragraph, the Sponsor must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such Unitholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim; and the Sponsor shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and may require an undertaking by the Unitholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Sponsor determines not to bring such action.
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ARTICLE III
THE TRUSTEE
Section 3.1 Term; Resignation.
(a) The Trust shall have only one trustee unless otherwise determined by the Sponsor. Wilmington Trust, National Association has been appointed and hereby agrees to serve as the Trustee of the Trust. The Sponsor is entitled to appoint additional Trustees and remove any Trustee without cause and appoint a successor Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof at any time. The Trustee is appointed to serve as the trustee of the Trust in the State of Delaware for the purpose of satisfying the requirement of Section 3807(a) of the Delaware Trust Statute that the Trust has at least one trustee with a principal place of business in Delaware. It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that the Trustee shall have none of the duties or liabilities of the Sponsor and shall have no obligation to supervise or monitor the Sponsor or otherwise manage the Trust.
(b) Any Trustee of the Trust, including the current Trustee, may resign upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the Sponsor and the other Trustee(s), if any; provided, that such resignation shall not become effective unless and until a successor Trustee shall have been appointed by the Sponsor in accordance with Section 3.5. If the Sponsor does not appoint a successor trustee within such 60 day period, the Trustee may, at the expense of the Trust, petition a court to appoint a successor trustee. Any person into which the Trustee may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any person which succeeds to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor Trustee under this Trust Agreement without the execution, delivery or filing of any paper or instrument or further act to be done on the part of the parties hereto, except as may be required by applicable law.
Section 3.2 Powers. Except to the extent expressly set forth in Section 2.2(a) and this Article III, the duty and authority to manage the business and affairs of the Trust is hereby vested in the Sponsor, which duty and authority the Sponsor may delegate as provided herein, all pursuant to Section 3806(b)(7) of the Delaware Trust Statute. The duties of the Trustee shall be limited to (i) accepting legal process served on the Trust in the State of Delaware, and (ii) the execution of any certificates required to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware which the Trustee is required to execute under Section 3811 of the Delaware Trust Statute, and (iii) any other duties expressly allocated to the Trustee in the Trust Agreement. The Trustee shall provide prompt notice to the Sponsor of its performance of any of the foregoing. The Trustee shall not have any implied duties (including fiduciary duties), obligations and liabilities with respect to the business and affairs of the Trust or any Fund. The Sponsor shall reasonably keep the Trustee informed of any actions taken by the Sponsor with respect to the Trust that would reasonably be expected to affect the rights, duties, obligations or liabilities of the Trustee hereunder or under the Delaware Trust Statute.
Section 3.3 Compensation and Expenses of the Trustee. The Trustee shall be entitled to receive from the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor (including the Trust) reasonable compensation for its services hereunder as set forth in a separate fee agreement and shall be
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entitled to be reimbursed by the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor (including the Trust) for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it in the performance of its duties hereunder, including without limitation, the reasonable compensation, out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements of counsel and such other agents as the Trustee may employ in connection with the exercise and performance of its rights and duties hereunder.
Section 3.4 Indemnification. The Sponsor agrees, whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, to assume liability for, and does hereby indemnify, protect, defend, save and keep harmless, the Trustee (in its capacity as Trustee and individually) and its successors, assigns, legal representatives, officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents and servants (the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, taxes (excluding any taxes payable by the Trustee on or measured by any compensation received by the Trustee for its services hereunder or any indemnity payments received by the Trustee pursuant to this Section), claims, actions, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of any kind and nature whatsoever (collectively, “Expenses”), which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Indemnified Parties in any way relating to or arising out of the formation, operation or termination of the Trust, the execution, delivery and performance of any other agreements to which the Trust is a party or the action or inaction of the Trustee hereunder or thereunder, except for Expenses resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any of the Indemnified Parties. The indemnities contained in this Section 3.4 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement, the termination of the Trust or the removal or resignation of the Trustee.
Section 3.5 Successor Trustee. Upon the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the Sponsor shall appoint a successor Trustee by delivering a written instrument to the outgoing Trustee. Any successor Trustee must satisfy the requirements of Section 3807(a) of the Delaware Trust Statute. Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall not become effective until a written acceptance of appointment is delivered by the successor Trustee to the outgoing Trustee and the Sponsor and any fees and expenses due to the outgoing Trustee are paid. Following compliance with the preceding sentence, the successor Trustee shall become fully vested with all of the rights, powers, duties and obligations of the outgoing Trustee under this Trust Agreement, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee, and the outgoing Trustee shall be discharged of its duties and obligations under this Trust Agreement.
Section 3.6 Liability of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in this Article III, the Trustee acts solely as trustee hereunder and not in its individual capacity, and all Persons having any claim against the Trustee by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Trust Agreement and any other agreement to which the Trust or any Fund is a party shall look only to the appropriate Fund’s Trust Estate for payment or satisfaction thereof; provided, however, that in no event is the foregoing intended to affect or limit the liability of the Sponsor as set forth in Section 2.6 hereof. The Trustee shall not be liable or accountable hereunder to the Trust or to any other person or under any other agreement to which the Trust is a party, except for the Trustee’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct. In particular, but not by way of limitation:
(a) The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the validity or sufficiency of this Trust Agreement, any agreement contemplated hereunder, or for the form, character, genuineness, sufficiency, value or validity of any Trust Estate or any Units;
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(b) The Trustee shall not be liable for any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the instructions of the Sponsor;
(c) The Trustee shall not have any liability for the acts or omissions of the Sponsor or its delegatees, any beneficial owners or any other person;
(d) The Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to supervise or monitor the performance of, or compliance with this Trust Agreement by, the Sponsor or its delegatees or any beneficial owner of the Trust.
(e) No provision of this Trust Agreement shall require the Trustee to act or expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its rights or powers hereunder if the Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that such action, repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured or provided to it;
(f) Under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable for indebtedness evidenced by or other obligations of the Trust arising under this Trust Agreement or any Fund other agreements to which the Trust or any Fund is a party; and
(g) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall not be required to take any action in any jurisdiction other than in the State of Delaware if the taking of such action will (i) require the consent or approval or authorization or order of or the giving of notice to, or the registration with or taking of any action in respect of, any state or other governmental authority or agency of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware, (ii) result in any fee, tax or other governmental charge under the laws of any jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof in existence as of the date hereof other than the State of Delaware becoming payable by the Trustee or (iii) subject the Trustee to personal jurisdiction, other than in the State of Delaware, for causes of action arising from personal acts unrelated to the consummation of the transactions by the Trustee, as the case may be, contemplated hereby.
Section 3.7 Reliance; Advice of Counsel.
(a) The Trustee is authorized to take such action or refrain from taking such action under this Trust Agreement as it may be directed in writing by or on behalf of the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor from time to time; provided, however, that the Trustee shall not be required to take or refrain from taking any such action if it shall have determined, or shall have been advised by counsel, that such performance is likely to involve the Trustee in personal liability or is contrary to the terms of this Trust Agreement or of any document contemplated hereby to which the Trust or the Trustee is a party or is otherwise contrary to law. If at any time the Trustee determines that it requires or desires guidance regarding the application of any provision of this Trust Agreement or any other document, or regarding compliance with any direction received by it hereunder, then the Trustee may deliver a notice to the Sponsor requesting written instructions as to the course of action desired by the Sponsor, and such instructions by or on behalf of the Sponsor shall constitute full and complete authorization and protection for actions taken and other performance by the Trustee in reliance thereon. Until the Trustee has received such instructions after
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delivering such notice, it may refrain from taking any action with respect to the matters described in such notice.
(b) The Trustee shall incur no liability to anyone in acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and believed by it to be signed by the proper party or parties. The Trustee may accept a certified copy of a resolution of the board of directors or other governing body of any corporate party as conclusive evidence that such resolution has been duly adopted by such body and that the same is in full force and effect. As to any fact or matter the manner of ascertainment of which is not specifically prescribed herein, the Trustee may for all purposes hereof rely on a certificate, signed by the Sponsor, as to such fact or matter, and such certificate shall constitute full protection to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in reliance thereon.
(c) In the exercise or administration of the Trust hereunder and in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Trust Agreement, the Trustee (i) may act directly or, at the expense of the Trust, through agents or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be liable for the default or misconduct of such agents or attorneys if such agents or attorneys shall have been selected by the Trustee in good faith, and (ii) may, at the expense of the Trust, consult with such counsel, accountants and other experts and it shall not be liable for anything done, suffered or omitted in good faith by it in accordance with the advice or opinion of any such counsel, accountants or other experts.
Section 3.8 Payments to the Trustee. Any amounts paid to the Trustee pursuant to this Article III shall be deemed not to be a part of any Fund’s Trust Estate immediately after such payment. Any amounts owing to the Trustee under this Trust Agreement shall constitute a claim against the applicable Fund’s Trust Estate.
Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees and, as evidenced by its acceptance of any benefits hereunder, any Unitholder agrees that the Trustee in any capacity (x) has not provided and will not provide in the future, any advice, counsel or opinion regarding the tax, financial, investment, securities law or insurance implications and consequences of the formation, funding and ongoing administration of the Trust, including, but not limited to, income, gift and estate tax issues, insurable interest issues, and the initial and ongoing selection and monitoring of financing arrangements, (y) has not made any investigation as to the accuracy of any representations, warranties or other obligations of the Trust under any contract or other agreement and shall have no liability in connection therewith and (z) the Trustee has not prepared or verified, and shall not be responsible or liable for, any information, disclosure or other statement in any disclosure or offering document or in any other document issued or delivered in connection with the sale or transfer of the Units.
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ARTICLE IV
UNITS; DEPOSITS
Section 4.1 General.
(a) The Sponsor shall have the power and authority, without Unitholder approval, to establish and designate one or more series, or Funds, and to issue Units thereof, from time to time as set forth in Section 4.2, as it deems necessary or desirable. Each Fund shall be separate from all other Funds created as series of the Trust in respect of the assets and liabilities allocated to that Fund and shall represent a separate investment portfolio of the Trust. The Sponsor shall have exclusive power to fix and determine the relative rights and preferences as between the Units of the Funds as to right of redemption, special and relative rights as to dividends and other distributions and on liquidation, conversion rights, and conditions under which the Funds shall have separate voting rights or no voting rights.
(b) The Sponsor may, without Unitholder approval, divide or subdivide Units of any Fund into two or more classes or subclasses, Units of each such class or subclass having such preferences and special or relative rights and privileges as the Sponsor may determine as provided in Section 4.3. The fact that a Fund shall have been initially established and designated without any specific establishment or designation of classes or subclasses shall not limit the authority of the Sponsor to divide a Fund and establish and designate separate classes or subclasses thereof.
(c) The number of Units authorized shall be unlimited, and the Units so authorized may be represented in part by fractional Units, calculated to four decimal places. From time to time, the Sponsor may divide or combine the Units of any Fund or class into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in the Fund or class thereof. The Sponsor may issue Units of any Fund or class thereof for such consideration and on such terms as it may determine (or for no consideration if pursuant to a Unit dividend, split or reverse split), all without action or approval of the Unitholders of such Fund. All Units when so issued on the terms determined by the Sponsor shall be fully paid and non-assessable. The Sponsor may classify or reclassify any unissued Units or any Units previously issued and reacquired of any Fund or class thereof into one or more series or classes thereof that may be established and designated from time to time. The Sponsor may hold as treasury Units, reissue for such consideration and on such terms as it may determine, or cancel, at its discretion from time to time, any Units of any Fund or class thereof reacquired by the Trust. Unless otherwise determined by the Sponsor, treasury Units shall not be deemed cancelled.
(d) The Units of each Fund shall initially be a single class.
(e) No certificates or other evidence of beneficial ownership of the Units will be issued for Sponsor’s Units. Global Certificates will be issued in accordance with Section 4.5(e) of this Agreement for all Units of a Fund other than the Sponsor’s Units of such Fund.
(f) Every Unitholder, by virtue of having purchased or otherwise acquired a Unit, shall be deemed to have expressly consented and agreed to be bound by the terms of this Trust Agreement.
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Section 4.2 Establishment of Series, or Funds, of the Trust.
(a) Without limiting the authority of the Sponsor set forth in Section 4.2(b) to establish and designate any further series, the Sponsor has established and designated one initial series or Fund, Sit Rising Rate ETF (“RISE”), and hereby establishes and designates additional series, or Funds, as shown in Exhibit C, which may be amended from time to time.
The provisions of this Article IV shall be applicable to each of the Funds shown in Exhibit C and any further Fund that may from time to time be established and designated by the Sponsor as provided in Section 4.2(b); provided, however, that such provisions may be amended, varied or abrogated by the Sponsor with respect to any Fund created after the initial formation of the Trust in this Agreement or any other written instrument creating such additional Fund.
(b) The establishment and designation of any series, or Funds, other than those set forth above shall be effective upon the execution by the Sponsor of an instrument in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of such series, or Funds, or as otherwise provided in such instrument. At any time that there are no Units outstanding of any particular Fund previously established and designated, the Sponsor may by an instrument executed by it abolish that Fund and the establishment and designation thereof. Each instrument referred to in this paragraph shall have the status of an amendment to this Trust Agreement.
Section 4.3 Establishment of Classes and Sub-Classes. The division of any series, or Funds, into two or more classes or sub-classes of Units thereof and the establishment and designation of such classes or sub-classes of Units shall be effective upon the execution by the Sponsor of an instrument in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B setting forth such division, and the establishment, designation, and relative rights and preferences of such classes of Units, or as otherwise provided in such instrument. The relative rights and preferences of the classes or sub-classes of Units of any Fund may differ in such respects as the Sponsor may determine to be appropriate, provided that such differences are set forth in the aforementioned instrument. At any time that there are no Units outstanding of any particular class or sub-class of Units previously established and designated, the Sponsor may by an instrument executed by it abolish that class or sub-class of Units and the establishment and designation thereof. Each instrument referred to in this paragraph shall have the status of an amendment to this Trust Agreement.
Section 4.4 Offer of Units. With respect to each Fund, during the period commencing with the initial effective date of the Prospectus of the Fund and ending no later than immediately prior to the time Units of such Fund begin trading on an Exchange, such Fund shall offer Units to Authorized Purchasers in Creation Baskets pursuant to SEC Rule 415, at an offering price as specified in the prospectus for each Fund. After such period, each Fund shall continue to offer Units in Creation Baskets at the Net Asset Value Per Basket of such Fund. The Sponsor shall make such arrangements for the sale of the Units as it deems appropriate. The offering for each Fund shall be made on the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus for such Fund.
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Section 4.5 Procedures for Creation and Issuance of Creation Baskets.
(a) General. The following procedures, as supplemented by the more detailed procedures specified in an attachment to the Authorized Purchaser Agreement for each Fund, which may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Authorized Purchaser Agreement (and any such amendment will not constitute an amendment of this Trust Agreement), will govern the Trust with respect to the creation and issuance of Creation Baskets for each Fund. Subject to the limitations upon and requirements for issuance of Creation Baskets stated herein and in such procedures, the number of Creation Baskets, which may be issued by each Fund is unlimited.
(i) On any Business Day, an Authorized Purchaser may submit to the Sponsor or its designee a purchase order to subscribe for and agree to purchase one or more Creation Baskets for the applicable Fund (such request by an Authorized Purchaser, a “Purchase Order”) in the manner provided in the Authorized Purchaser Agreement. Any Purchase Order must be received by the Order Cut-Off Time on a Business Day (the “Purchase Order Date”). By placing a Purchase Order, an Authorized Purchaser agrees to deposit cash or a combination of United States Treasury securities, cash and/or cash equivalents or other securities or property with the Trust. Failure to do so shall result in the cancellation of the Purchase Order. The Sponsor or its designee will process Purchase Orders only from Authorized Purchasers with respect to which the Authorized Purchaser Agreement for the Fund is in full force and effect. The Sponsor or its designee will maintain and provide to Unitholders upon request a current list of the Authorized Purchasers for each Fund with respect to which the Authorized Purchaser Agreement is in full force and effect.
(ii) Any Purchase Order is subject to rejection by the Sponsor or its designee pursuant to Section 4.5(c). The Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion or in consultation with the Administrator, the requirements for securities that may be included in Creation Basket Deposits and publishes, or its agent publishes on its behalf, such requirements at the beginning of each Business Day.
(iii) After accepting an Authorized Purchaser’s Purchase Order, the Sponsor or its designee will issue and deliver Creation Baskets to fill an Authorized Purchaser’s Purchase Order on the third Business Day following the Purchase Order Date, but only if by such time the Sponsor or its designee has received (A) for its own account, the Transaction Fee, and (B) for the account of the Trust, the Creation Basket Deposit due from the Authorized Purchaser submitting the Purchase Order. The Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion or in consultation with the Administrator, the requirements for Treasuries and/or the amount of cash, including the maximum permitted remaining maturity of a Treasury and the proportions of Treasuries and cash, that may be included in Deposits to create Baskets and publishes, or its agent publishes on its behalf, such requirements at the beginning of each Business Day. The Sponsor or its designee will obtain from each Authorized Purchaser an acknowledgment that it has received a copy of the Prospectus prior to accepting any Purchase Order.
(b) Deposit with the Depository. Upon issuing a Creation Basket for any Fund pursuant to a Purchase Order, the Sponsor will cause the Trust to deposit the Creation Basket with the Depository in accordance with the Depository’s customary procedures, for credit to the account of the Authorized Purchaser that submitted the Purchase Order.
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(c) Rejection. For each Fund, the Sponsor or its designee shall have the absolute right, but shall have no obligation, to reject any Purchase Order or Creation Basket Deposit: (i) determined by the Sponsor or its designee not to be in proper form; (ii) determined by the Sponsor not to be in the best interest of the Unitholders; (iii) that, due to position limits or otherwise, the Sponsor determines investment alternatives that will enable a Fund to meet its investment objective are not available to such Fund at that time; (iv) the acceptance or receipt of which would have adverse tax consequences to the Trust, the Fund or the Fund’s Unitholders; (v) the acceptance or receipt of which would, in the opinion of counsel to the Sponsor, be unlawful; (vi) if circumstances outside the control of the Sponsor or its designee make it, for all practical purposes, not feasible, as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion, to process creations of Creation Baskets; or (vii) for any other reason set forth in the Authorized Purchaser Agreement entered into with that Authorized Purchaser. Neither the Sponsor nor its designee shall be liable to any person by reason of the rejection of any Purchase Order or Creation Basket Deposit.
(d) Transaction Fee. For each Fund, a non-refundable transaction fee will be payable by an Authorized Purchaser to the Sponsor for its own account in connection with each Purchase Order pursuant to this Section 4.5 and in connection with each Redemption Order of such Authorized Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.1 (each a “Transaction Fee”). The Transaction Fee charged in connection with each such creation and redemption shall be initially $1,000, but may be changed as provided below. Even though a single Purchase Order or Redemption Order may relate to multiple Creation Baskets or Redemption Baskets, only a single Transaction Fee will be due for each Purchase Order or Redemption Order for a Fund. The Transaction Fee may subsequently be waived, modified, reduced, increased or otherwise changed by the Sponsor.
(e) Global Certificate Only. Certificates for Creation Baskets of a Fund will not be issued, other than the Global Certificates issued to the Depository. So long as the Depository Agreement is in effect, Creation Baskets will be issued and redeemed and Units will be transferable solely through the book-entry systems of the Depository and the DTC Participants and their Indirect Participants as more fully described in Section 4.6.
(f) Replacement of Depository. The Depository may determine to discontinue providing its service with respect to Creation Baskets and Units of any Fund by giving notice to the Sponsor pursuant to and in conformity with the provisions of the Depository Agreement and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Sponsor shall take action to find a replacement for the Depository to perform its functions at a comparable cost and on terms acceptable to the Sponsor or, if such a replacement is unavailable, to either (i) terminate the Trust or specific Funds, as applicable, or (ii) execute and deliver separate certificates evidencing Units registered in the names of the Unitholders thereof, with such additions, deletions and modifications to this Trust Agreement and to the form of certificate evidencing Units as the Sponsor deems necessary or appropriate.
Section 4.6 Book-Entry-Only System, Global Certificates.
(a) Global Certificates. The Trust and the Sponsor will enter into the Depository Agreement pursuant to which the Depository will act as securities depository for Units of each Fund. Units of each Fund will be represented by the Global Certificates (which may consist of one or more certificates as required by the Depository), which will be registered, as the Depository shall
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direct, in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for the Depository and deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depository. No other certificates evidencing Units will be issued. The Global Certificates for each Fund shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A or described therein and shall represent such Units as shall be specified therein, and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Units of a Fund from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Units represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect creations or redemptions of Baskets. Any endorsement of a Global Certificate to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of outstanding Units represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon instructions given by the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust as specified in the Depository Agreement.
(b) Legend. Any Global Certificate issued to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the Trust or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co., or to such other entity as is required by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.”
(c) The Depository. The Depository has advised the Trust and the Sponsor as follows: The Depository is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Depository was created to hold securities of its participants (the “DTC Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own the Depository. Access to the Depository’s system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”).
(d) Unitholders. As provided in the Depository Agreement, upon the settlement date of any creation, transfer or redemption of Units of a Fund, the Depository will credit or debit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the number of Units so created, transferred or redeemed to the accounts of the appropriate DTC Participants. The accounts to be credited and charged shall be designated by the Sponsor on behalf of each Fund and each Authorized Purchaser, in the case of a creation or redemption of Baskets. Ownership of beneficial interest in Units will be limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Unitholders will be shown on, and the transfer of Units will be effected only through, in the case of DTC Participants, the records maintained by the Depository and, in the case of Indirect Participants and Unitholders holding
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through a DTC Participant or an Indirect Participant, through those records or the records of the relevant DTC Participants or Indirect Participants. Unitholders are expected to receive, from or through the broker or bank that maintains the account through which the Unitholder has purchased Units, a written confirmation relating to their purchase of Units.
(e) Reliance on Procedures. Unitholders will not be entitled to have Units registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificates in definitive form. Accordingly, to exercise any rights of a holder of Units under the Trust Agreement, a Unitholder must rely on the procedures of the Depository and, if such Unitholder is not a DTC Participant, on the procedures of each DTC Participant or Indirect Participant through which such Unitholder holds its interests. The Trust and the Sponsor understand that under existing industry practice, if the Trust or any Fund requests any action of a Unitholder, or a Unitholder desires to take any action that the Depository or its nominee, as the record owner of all outstanding Units of each Fund, is entitled to take, (1) in the case of a Trust request, the Depository will notify the DTC Participants regarding such request, such DTC Participants will in turn notify each Indirect Participant holding Units through it, with each successive Indirect Participant continuing to notify each person holding Units through it until the request has reached the Unitholder, and (2) in the case of a request or authorization to act being sought or given by a Unitholder, such request or authorization is given by such Unitholder and relayed back to the Trust or such Fund through each Indirect Participant and DTC Participant through which the Unitholder’s interest in the Units is held.
(f) Communication between the Trust and the Unitholders. As described above, the Trust and the Funds will recognize the Depository or its nominee as the owner of all Units for all purposes except as expressly set forth in this Trust Agreement. Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Unitholders will be effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depository Agreement, the Depository is required to make available to the Funds upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Funds a listing of the Unit holdings of each DTC Participant. The Trust or the Funds shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Unitholders holding Units of a Fund, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust or the Funds shall provide each such DTC Participant with sufficient copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Unitholders. In addition, the Funds shall pay to each such DTC Participant an amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
(g) Distributions. Any distributions on Units pursuant to Section 7.8 shall be made to the Depository or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered owner of all Units. The Trust and the Sponsor expect that the Depository or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of distributions in respect of Units, shall credit immediately DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in Units as shown on the records of the Depository or its nominee. The Trust and the Sponsor also expect that payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Unitholders holding Units through such DTC Participants and Indirect Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants and Indirect
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Participants. None of the Trust, the Funds, the Trustee or the Sponsor will have any responsibility or liability for any aspects of the records relating to or notices to Unitholders, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in Units, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests or for any other aspect of the relationship between the Depository and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Unitholders owning through such DTC Participants or Indirect Participants or between or among the Depository, any Unitholder and any person by or through which such Unitholder is considered to own Units.
(h) Limitation of Liability. Each Global Certificate to be issued hereunder is executed and delivered solely on behalf of the Trust by the Sponsor, as Sponsor, in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it by this Trust Agreement. The representations, undertakings and agreements made on the part of the Trust in each Global Certificate are made and intended not as personal representations, undertakings and agreements by the Sponsor or the Trustee, but are made and intended for the purpose of binding only the Trust. Nothing in the Global Certificate shall be construed as creating any liability on the Sponsor or the Trustee, individually or personally, to fulfill any representation, undertaking or agreement other than as provided in this Trust Agreement.
(i) Successor Depository. If a successor to The Depository Trust Company shall be employed as Depository hereunder, the Trust and the Sponsor shall establish procedures acceptable to such successor with respect to the matters addressed in this Section 4.6.
Section 4.7 Assets. All consideration received by a Fund for the issue or sale of Units together with such Fund’s Trust Estate in which such consideration is invested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, shall belong to each Fund for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors of such Fund and except as may otherwise be required by applicable tax laws, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of such Fund.
Section 4.8 Liabilities of Funds.
(a) The Trust Estate belonging to each particular Fund shall be charged with the liabilities of the Trust in respect of that Fund and only that Fund, and all expenses, costs, charges, indemnities and reserves attributable to that Fund. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, indemnities or reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Fund shall be allocated and charged by the Sponsor to and among any one or more of the Funds established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as the Sponsor in its sole discretion deems fair and equitable. Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Sponsor shall be conclusive and binding upon all Unitholders for all purposes. The Sponsor shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with applicable law, to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital, and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Unitholders. Every written agreement, instrument or other undertaking made or issued by or on behalf of a particular Fund shall include a recitation limiting the obligation or claim represented thereby to that Fund and its assets.
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(b) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.8, but subject to the right of the Sponsor in its discretion to allocate general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves as herein provided, the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses (“Claims”) incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Fund shall be enforceable against the assets of such Fund only, and not against the assets of the Trust generally or of any other Fund. Notice of this limitation on inter-series liabilities is set forth in the Certificate of Trust of the Trust as filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the Delaware Trust Statute, and upon the giving of such notice in the Certificate of Trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Trust Statute relating to limitations on inter-series liabilities (and the statutory effect under Section 3804 of setting forth such notice in the Certificate of Trust) became applicable to the Trust and each Fund. Every Unit, note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or other undertaking made or issued by or on behalf of a particular Fund shall include a recitation limiting the obligation on the Units represented thereby to that Fund and its assets, but the absence of such a provision shall not be construed as creating recourse to any other Fund or any other person.
(c) Any agreement entered into by the Trust, any Fund, or the Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust generally or any Fund, including, without limitation, the Purchase Order entered into with each Authorized Purchaser, will include language substantially similar to the language set forth in Section 4.8(b).
Section 4.9 Voting Rights. The Unitholders shall have the limited voting rights as set forth in this Agreement.
(a) Unless approved by at least a majority of the Unitholders of the applicable Fund, the Sponsor shall not take any action or refuse to take any reasonable action the effect of which, if taken or not taken, as the case may be, would be to cause the Fund, to the extent it would materially and adversely affect such Fund’s Unitholders, to be taxable other than as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, on each matter submitted to a vote of the Unitholders, each Unitholder shall be entitled to a proportionate vote based upon the number of Units, or fraction thereof, standing in its name on the books of the applicable Fund.
Section 4.10 Equality. Except as provided herein or in an instrument establishing a Fund, all Units of a Fund shall represent an equal proportionate beneficial interest in the assets of the Fund subject to the liabilities of the Fund, and each Unit shall be equal to each other Unit. The Sponsor may from time to time divide or combine the Units into a greater or lesser number of Units without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the assets of the Fund or in any way affecting the rights of Unitholders.
Section 4.11 Record Dates. Whenever any distribution will be made, or whenever for any reason there is a split, reverse split or other change in the outstanding Units, or whenever the Sponsor shall find it necessary or convenient in respect of any matter, the Sponsor in its sole discretion shall fix a record date for the determination of the Unitholders who shall be entitled to receive such distribution or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, or entitled to act in respect of any other matter for which the record date was set.
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ARTICLE V
THE SPONSOR
Section 5.1 Management of the Trust. Pursuant to Section 3806(b)(7) of the Delaware Trust Statute, the Trust shall be managed by the Sponsor as an agent of the Trust and the conduct of the Trust’s business shall be controlled and conducted solely by the Sponsor in accordance with this Trust Agreement.
Section 5.2 Authority of Sponsor. In addition to and not in limitation of any rights and powers conferred by law or other provisions of this Trust Agreement, and except as limited, restricted or prohibited by the express provisions of this Trust Agreement or the Delaware Trust Statute, the Sponsor shall have and may exercise on behalf of the Trust, all powers and rights necessary, proper, convenient or advisable to effectuate and carry out the purposes, business and objectives of the Trust, which shall include, without limitation, the following:
(a) To enter into, execute, deliver and maintain, and to cause the Trust to perform its obligations under, contracts, agreements and any or all other documents and instruments, and to do and perform all such things as may be in furtherance of Trust purposes or necessary or appropriate for the offer and sale of the Units and the conduct of Trust activities;
(b) To establish, maintain, deposit into, sign checks and/or otherwise draw upon accounts on behalf of the Trust with appropriate banking and savings institutions, and execute and/or accept any instrument or agreement incidental to the Trust’s business and in furtherance of its purposes, any such instrument or agreement so executed or accepted by the Sponsor in the Sponsor’s name shall be deemed executed and accepted on behalf of the Trust by the Sponsor;
(c) To deposit, withdraw, pay, retain and distribute each Fund’s Trust Estate or any portion thereof in any manner consistent with the provisions of this Trust Agreement;
(d) To supervise the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement and supplements and amendments thereto;
(e) To adopt, implement or amend, from time to time, such disclosure and financial reporting information gathering and control policies and procedures as are necessary or desirable to ensure compliance with applicable disclosure and financial reporting obligations under any applicable securities laws;
(f) To make any necessary determination or decision in connection with the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements and amendments thereto, and any Prospectus;
(g) To prepare, file and distribute, if applicable, any periodic reports or updates that may be required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the CE Act, or the rules and regulations thereunder;
(h) To pay or authorize the payment of distributions to the Unitholders and expenses of each Fund;
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(i) Subject to section 2.5(a), to make any elections on behalf of the Trust under the Code, or any other applicable U.S. federal or state tax law, as the Sponsor shall determine to be in the best interests of the Trust; and
(j) In the sole discretion of the Sponsor, to admit an Affiliate or Affiliates of the Sponsor as additional Sponsors.
Section 5.3 Obligations of the Sponsor. In addition to the obligations expressly provided by the Delaware Trust Statute or this Trust Agreement, the Sponsor shall:
(a) Devote such of its time to the business and affairs of the Trust as it shall, in its discretion exercised in good faith, determine to be necessary to conduct the business and affairs of the Trust for the benefit of the Trust and the Unitholders;
(b) Execute, file, record and/or publish all certificates, statements and other documents and do any and all other things as may be appropriate for the formation, qualification and operation of the Trust and for the conduct of its business in all appropriate jurisdictions;
(c) Appoint and remove independent public accountants to audit the accounts of the Trust;
(d) Employ attorneys to represent the Trust;
(e) Use its best efforts to maintain the status of the Trust as a “statutory trust” for state law purpose and as a “partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
(f) Invest, reinvest, hold uninvested, sell, exchange, write options on, lease, lend and, subject to Section 5.4(b), pledge, mortgage and hypothecate the Trust Estate of each Fund in accordance with the purposes of the Trust and the Registration Statement.
(g) Have fiduciary responsibility for the safekeeping and use of the Trust Estate, whether or not in the Sponsor’s immediate possession or control;
(h) Enter into an Authorized Purchaser Agreement with each Authorized Purchaser and discharge the duties and responsibilities of the Trust and the Sponsor thereunder;
(i) For each Fund, receive from Authorized Purchasers and process, or cause the Distributor to process, properly submitted Purchase Orders, as described in Section 4.5(a)(i);
(j) For each Fund, in connection with Purchase Order, receive Creation Basket Deposits from Authorized Purchasers;
(k) For each Fund, in connection with Purchase Order, deliver or cause the delivery of Creation Baskets to the Depository for the account of the Authorized Purchaser submitting a Purchase Order for which the Sponsor has received the requisite Transaction Fee and the Trust has received the requisite Deposit, as described in Section 4.5(d);
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(l) For each Fund, receive from Authorized Purchasers and process, or cause the Distributor to process, properly submitted Redemption Orders, as described in Section 8.1(a), or as may from time to time be permitted by Section 8.2;
(m) For each Fund, in connection with Redemption Orders, receive from the redeeming Authorized Purchaser through the Depository, and thereupon cancel or cause to be cancelled, Units corresponding to the Redemption Baskets to be redeemed as described in Section 8.1, or as may from time to time be permitted by Section 8.2;
(n) Interact with the Depository as required; and
(o) Delegate those of its duties hereunder as it shall determine from time to time to one or more Administrators or commodity trading or other advisors.
Section 5.4 General Prohibitions. The Trust and each Fund, as applicable, shall not:
(a) Borrow money from or loan money to any Unitholder (including the Sponsor);
(b) Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any lien, mortgage, pledge, conditional sale or other title retention agreement, charge, security interest or encumbrance, except (i) liens for taxes not delinquent or being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves have been established, (ii) deposits or pledges to secure obligations under workmen’s compensation, social security or similar laws or under unemployment insurance, (iii) deposits or pledges to secure contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds and other obligations of like nature arising in the ordinary course of business, (iv) mechanic’s, warehousemen’s, carrier’s, workmen’s, materialmen’s or other like liens arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to obligations which are not due or which are being contested in good faith, and for which appropriate reserves have been established if required by generally accepted accounting principles, and liens arising under ERISA, or (v) the deposit of margin or collateral with respect to the initiation and maintenance of Commodity Contract positions; or
(c) Operate the Trust or a Fund in any manner so as to contravene the requirements to preserve the limitation on inter-series liability set forth in Section 3804 of the Delaware Trust Statute.
Section 5.5 Liability of Covered Persons. A Covered Person shall have no liability to the Trust, any Fund, or to any Unitholder or other Covered Person for any loss suffered by the Trust or any Fund which arises out of any action or inaction of such Covered Person if such Covered Person, in good faith, determined that such course of conduct was in the best interest of the Trust or the applicable Fund and such course of conduct did not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Covered Person. Subject to the foregoing, neither the Sponsor nor any other Covered Person shall be personally liable for the return or repayment of all or any portion of the capital or profits of any Unitholder or assignee thereof, it being expressly agreed that any such return of capital or profits made pursuant to this Trust Agreement shall be made solely from the assets of the applicable Fund without any rights of contribution from the Sponsor or any other Covered Person. A Covered Person shall not be liable for the conduct or willful misconduct of any Administrator or other delegatee selected by the Sponsor with reasonable care, provided, however, that the Trustee and its Affiliates shall not under any circumstances be liable for the
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conduct or willful misconduct of any Administrator or other delegatee or any other Person selected by the Sponsor to provide services to the Trust.
Section 5.6 Fiduciary Duty.
(a) To the extent that, at law (common or statutory) or in equity, the Sponsor has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust, the Funds, the Unitholders or to any other Person, the Sponsor acting under this Trust Agreement shall not be liable to the Trust, the Funds, the Unitholders or to any other Person for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Trust Agreement subject to the standard of care set forth in Section 5.5 herein. For the avoidance of doubt, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no person other than the Sponsor and the Trustee shall have any duties (including fiduciary duties) or liabilities at law or in equity to the Trust, any Fund, any Unitholder or any other person. The provisions of this Trust Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities of the Sponsor or the Trustee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Sponsor or the Trustee.
(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:
(i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Trust, any Fund or any Unitholder or any other Person, on the other hand; or
(ii) whenever this Trust Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or therein provides that the Sponsor shall act in a manner that is, or provides terms that are, fair and reasonable to the Trust, any Fund, any Unitholder or any other Person, the Sponsor shall (i) resolve such conflict of interest, or (ii) take such action or provide for such terms as are fair and reasonable to the Trust, any Fund, any Unitholder or any other Person, as applicable, considering in each case the relative interest of each party (including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable generally accepted accounting practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by the Sponsor, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the Sponsor shall not constitute a breach of this Trust Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the Sponsor at law or in equity or otherwise.
(c) The Sponsor and any Affiliate of the Sponsor may engage in or possess an interest in other profit-seeking or business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, whether or not such ventures are competitive with the Trust or any Fund, as applicable, and the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to the Sponsor. If the Sponsor acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Trust or any Fund, as applicable, it shall have no duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Trust or any Fund, as applicable, and the Sponsor shall not be liable to the Trust, any Fund, or to the Unitholders for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that the Sponsor pursues or acquires for, or directs such opportunity to, another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Trust or any Fund. The Trust, the Funds and the Unitholders shall not have any rights or
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obligations by virtue of this Agreement or the trust relationship created hereby in or to such independent ventures or the income or profits or losses derived therefrom. The pursuit of such ventures, even if competitive with the activities of the Trust or any Fund, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. Except to the extent expressly provided herein, the Sponsor may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Trust, the Funds, the Unitholders or any Affiliate of the Trust or the Unitholders.
Section 5.7 Indemnification of the Sponsor.
(a) The Sponsor shall be indemnified by the Trust (or, in furtherance of Section 4.8, by a Fund separately to the extent the matter in question relates to a single Fund or disproportionately affects a specific Fund in relation to other Funds) against any losses, judgments, liabilities, expenses and amounts paid in settlement of any claims sustained by it in connection with its activities for the Trust or any Fund, as applicable, provided that (i) the Sponsor was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Trust or such Fund, as applicable, and has determined, in good faith, that such course of conduct was in the best interests of the Trust or such Fund, as applicable, and such liability or loss was not the result of gross negligence, willful misconduct, or a breach of this Trust Agreement on the part of the Sponsor, and (ii) any such indemnification will only be recoverable from the Trust estate or the applicable estate of such Fund. All rights to indemnification permitted herein and payment of associated expenses shall not be affected by the dissolution or other cessation to exist of the Sponsor, or the withdrawal, adjudication of bankruptcy or insolvency of the Sponsor, or the filing of a voluntary or involuntary petition in bankruptcy under Title 11 of the Bankruptcy Code by or against the Sponsor.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.7(a) above, the Sponsor shall not be indemnified for any losses, liabilities or expenses arising from or out of an alleged violation of U.S. federal or state securities laws unless (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee and the court approves the indemnification of such expenses (including, without limitation, litigation costs), (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular indemnitee and the court approves the indemnification of such expenses (including, without limitation, litigation costs) or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and related costs should be made.
(c) The Trust and the Funds shall not incur the cost of that portion of any insurance which insures any party against any liability, the indemnification of which is herein prohibited.
(d) Expenses incurred in defending a threatened or pending civil, administrative or criminal action suit or proceeding against the Sponsor shall be paid by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, if (i) the legal action relates to the performance of duties or services by the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust or any Fund, as applicable; (ii) the legal action is initiated by a party other than the Trust or any Fund, as applicable; and (iii) the Sponsor undertakes to repay the advanced funds with interest to the Trust or any Fund, as applicable, in cases in which it is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 5.7.
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(e) The term “Sponsor” as used only in this Section 5.7 shall include, in addition to the Sponsor, any other Covered Person performing services on behalf of the Trust or any Fund, as applicable, and acting within the scope of the Sponsor’s authority as set forth in this Trust Agreement.
(f) In the event the Trust or any Fund, as applicable, is made a party to any claim, dispute, demand or litigation or otherwise incurs any loss, liability, damage, cost or expense as a result of or in connection with any Unitholder’s (or assignee’s) obligations or liabilities unrelated to the business of the Trust or any Fund, as applicable, such Unitholder (or assignees cumulatively) shall indemnify, defend, hold harmless, and reimburse the Trust or such Fund, as applicable, for all such loss, liability, damage, cost and expense incurred, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees.
(g) The payment of any amount by the Trust pursuant to this Section 5.7 shall be subject to Section 4.8 with respect to the allocation of liabilities and other amounts, as appropriate, among the Funds.
Section 5.8 Expenses and Limitations Thereon.
(a) The Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor shall be responsible for the payment of all Sponsor Expenses incurred in connection with the Trust or any Fund and the initial issuance of the Units of any Fund.
“Sponsor Expenses” shall mean those expenses incurred in connection with the formation, qualification and registration of the Trust, any Fund and the Units under applicable U.S. federal and state law, and any other expenses actually incurred and, directly or indirectly, related to the organization of the Trust or any Fund or the offering of a Fund’s Units prior to the time such Units begin trading on an Exchange, including, but not limited to, expenses such as: (i) initial registration fees, prepaid licensing fees, filing fees, escrow fees and taxes, (ii) costs of preparing, printing (including typesetting), amending, supplementing, mailing and distributing the Registration Statement, the Exhibits thereto and the Prospectus for a Fund, (iii) the costs of qualifying, printing, (including typesetting), amending, supplementing, mailing and distributing sales materials used in connection with the offering and issuance of the Units of a Fund, (iv) travel, telephone and other expenses in connection with the offering and issuance of the Units of a Fund, (v) accounting, auditing and legal fees (including disbursements related thereto) incurred in connection therewith, (vi) the routine expenses associated with preparation of monthly, quarterly, annual and other reports required by applicable U.S. federal and state regulatory authorities, and (vii) payment for fees associated with custody and transfer agency services, whether performed by an outside service provider or by Affiliates of the Sponsor.
(b) Except as set forth in Article III and Sections 5.8(a), all ongoing charges, costs and expenses of each Fund’s operation shall be billed to and paid by the applicable Fund. Such costs and expenses shall include, without limitation: (i) the Sponsor’s fee in accordance with Section 5.9; (ii) brokerage and other fees and commissions incurred in connection with the trading activities of the Funds; (iii) expenses incurred in connection with registering additional Units of a Fund or offering Units of a Fund after the time any Units of such Fund have begun trading on an Exchange; (iv) the routine expenses associated with distribution, including printing and mailing, of any monthly, annual and other reports to Unitholders required by applicable U.S. federal and
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state regulatory authorities; (v) fees and expenses associated with compensation to the directors; (vi) payment for routine services of the Trustee, legal counsel and independent accountants; (vii) payment for fees associated with tax accounting and reporting, routine accounting, bookkeeping, whether performed by an outside service provider or by Affiliates of the Sponsor; (viii) postage and insurance, including directors and officers’ liability insurance; (ix) costs and expenses associated with client relations and services; (x) the payment of any distributions related to redemption of Units; (xi) payment of all federal, state, local or foreign taxes payable on the income, assets or operations of the Fund and the preparation of all tax returns related thereto; and (xii) extraordinary expenses (including, but not limited to, indemnification of any Person against liabilities and obligations to the extent permitted by law and required under this Agreement and the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation).
Section 5.9 Compensation to the Sponsor. The Sponsor shall be entitled to receive a management fee as compensation for the management and administrative services rendered by Sponsor to the Trust and each Fund (the “Management Fee”). Each Fund shall pay the Sponsor (or such other person or entity designated by the Sponsor) the Management Fee as set forth in such Fund’s current Prospectus. The Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, waive all or part of the Management Fee.
Section 5.10 Other Business of Unitholders. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, any of the Unitholders and any unitholder, officer, director, member, manager, employee or other person holding a legal or beneficial interest in an entity which is a Unitholder, may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of every nature and description, independently or with others, and the pursuit of such ventures, even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper.
Section 5.11 Merger, Consolidation, Incorporation.
(a) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Sponsor may, without Unitholder approval, (i) cause the Trust to convert into or merge, reorganize or consolidate with or into one or more trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities (or a series of any of the foregoing to the extent permitted by law) (including trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities created by the Sponsor to accomplish such conversion, merger or consolidation), (ii) cause the Units to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law, (iii) cause the Trust to incorporate under the laws of a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, (iv) sell or convey all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust or any Fund to another Fund of the Trust or to another trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity (or a series of any of the foregoing to the extent permitted by law) (including a trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Sponsor to accomplish such sale and conveyance), organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, for adequate consideration as determined by the Sponsor which may include the assumption of all outstanding obligations, taxes and other liabilities, accrued or contingent of the Trust or any affected Fund, and which may include Units of such other Fund of the Trust or shares of beneficial interest, stock or other ownership interest
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of such trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity (or series thereof) or (v) at any time sell or convert into money all or any part of the assets of the Trust or any Fund thereof.
(b) Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Trust Statute and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Trust Agreement, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved by the Sponsor in accordance with this Section 5.11 may effect any amendment to the Trust Agreement (other than an amendment adverse to the Trustee without its consent) or effect the adoption of a new trust agreement of the Trust or change the name of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting entity in the merger or consolidation.
(c) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Sponsor may, without Unitholder approval, create one or more statutory or business trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust or any Fund thereof may be transferred and may provide for the conversion of Units in the Trust or any Fund thereof into beneficial interests in any such newly created trust or trusts or any series or classes thereof.
Section 5.12 Withdrawal of the Sponsor.
(a) The Sponsor may withdraw voluntarily as the Sponsor of the Trust only upon ninety (90) days’ prior notice to all Unitholders and the Trustee. If the Sponsor withdraws and a successor Sponsor is selected in accordance with Section 14.1(a)(ii), the withdrawing Sponsor shall pay all expenses as a result of its withdrawal.
(b) The Sponsor will not cease to be a Sponsor of the Trust merely upon the occurrence of its making an assignment for the benefit of creditors, filing a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, filing a petition or answer seeking for itself any reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any statute, law or regulation, filing an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest material allegations of a petition filed against it in any proceeding of this nature or seeking, consenting to or acquiescing in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator for itself or of all or any substantial part of its properties.
(c) In connection with any Event of Withdrawal, the Sponsor shall not cease to be a Sponsor of the Trust, or to have the power to exercise any rights or powers as a Sponsor, or to have liability for the obligations of the Trust under Section 2.6 hereof, until a substitute Sponsor, which shall carry on the business of the Trust, has been admitted to the Trust or until the Trust has been terminated in accordance with Section 14.1.
(d) To the full extent permitted by law, nothing in this Trust Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the merger of the Sponsor with another corporation or other entity, the reorganization of the Sponsor into or with any other corporation or other entity, the transfer of all the capital stock of the Sponsor or the assumption of the rights, duties and liabilities of the Sponsor by, in the case of a merger, reorganization or consolidation, the surviving corporation or other entity by operation of law or the transfer of the Sponsor’s Units to an Affiliate of the Sponsor. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the transactions referenced in the preceding sentence shall be
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deemed to be a voluntary withdrawal for purposes of Section 5.12(a) or an Event of Withdrawal or assignment of Units for purposes of Section 6.2(a).
(e) The Sponsor may be removed as Sponsor of the Trust only if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding Units (excluding for this purpose any Units held by the Sponsor and its Affiliates). Any such action by such holders for removal of the Sponsor of the Trust must also provide for the election of a successor Sponsor of the Trust by the Unitholders holding a majority of the outstanding Units (excluding for this purpose any Units held by the Sponsor and its Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor Sponsor of the Trust.
Section 5.13 Authorization of Registration Statements. Each Unitholder (or any permitted assignee thereof) hereby agrees that the Sponsor, the Trust, and the Trustee are authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements, acts, transactions and matters contemplated hereby or described in or contemplated by any Registration Statement on behalf of the Trust without any further act, approval or vote of the Unitholders of the Funds, notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, the Delaware Trust Statute or any applicable law, rule or regulation.
Section 5.14 Litigation. The Sponsor is hereby authorized to prosecute, defend, settle or compromise actions or claims at law or in equity as may be necessary or proper to enforce or protect the interests of the Trust or any Fund, as applicable. The Sponsor shall satisfy any judgment, decree or decision of any court, board or authority having jurisdiction or any settlement of any suit or claim prior to judgment or final decision thereon, first, out of any insurance proceeds available therefor, next, out of the assets of the applicable Fund, or with respect to the Trust, out of the Funds’ assets on a pro rata basis and, thereafter, out of the assets (to the extent that it is permitted to do so under the various other provisions of this Trust Agreement) of the Sponsor.
ARTICLE VI
TRANSFERS OF UNITS
Section 6.1 Transfer of Units. To the fullest extent permitted by law, a Unitholder may not transfer his Units or any part of his right, title and interest in the capital or profits in any Fund except as permitted in this Article VI and any act in violation of this Article VI shall not be binding upon or recognized by the Trust (regardless of whether the Sponsor shall have knowledge thereof), unless approved in writing by the Sponsor. Unitholders that are not DTC Participants may transfer Units by instructing the DTC Participant or Indirect Participant holding the Units for such Unitholder in accordance with standard securities industry practice. Unitholders that are DTC Participants may transfer Units by instructing the Depository in accordance with the rules of the Depository and standard securities industry practice.
Section 6.2 Transfer of Sponsor’s Units. Upon the Sponsor ceasing to serve as Sponsor of the Trust, the Sponsor’s Units shall be purchased by the Trust for a purchase price in cash equal to the Net Asset Value thereof.
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ARTICLE VII
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS
Section 7.1 Capital Accounts.
(a) There shall be established on the books and records of each Fund for each Unitholder a separate account (a “Capital Account”), which shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) A Unitholder’s Capital Account shall be increased by such Unitholder’s Capital Contributions to the Fund and by any income or gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 7.1(b) and allocated to such Unitholder pursuant to Section 7.2.
(ii) A Unitholder’s Capital Account shall be decreased by the amount of cash distributed to such Unitholder pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and by any expenses, deductions or losses computed in accordance with section 7.1(b) and allocated to such Unitholder pursuant to Section 7.2.
(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, deduction, expense or loss to be reflected in a Unitholder’s Capital Account, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Code section 703(a); provided, that:
(i) Items described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code shall be treated as items of deduction. All fees and other expenses incurred by the Fund to promote the sale of (or to sell) a Unit that can neither be deducted nor amortized under section 709 of the Code shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code.
(ii) Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code.
(iii) In computing income, gain, deduction, expense or loss for Capital Account purposes, the amount of such item shall be determined taking into account the book value of the Fund’s property, as adjusted pursuant to Section 7.1(c) .
(c) Consistent with the provisions of Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), upon an issuance or redemption of Units, in connection with the dissolution, liquidation or termination of a Fund, or otherwise as appropriate pursuant to generally accepted industry accounting practices, the Capital Accounts of all Unitholders may, immediately prior to such issuance, redemption, dissolution, liquidation, termination, or otherwise, be adjusted (consistent with the provisions hereof) upwards or downwards to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to Fund property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized upon an actual sale of such property, immediately prior to such issuance, redemption, dissolution, liquidation, termination, or otherwise, and had been allocated to the Unitholders at such time pursuant to Section 7.2. Pursuant to Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g), appropriate adjustments shall be made to the book value of a Fund’s property with Unrealized
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Gain or Unrealized Loss. Proper adjustment shall be made to the amount of any Capital Account adjustment under this Section 7.1(c) to take into account any prior Capital Account adjustment under this Section.
(d) In the event a Unit (or beneficial interest therein) is transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred Unit.
The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with section 1.704-1(b) of the Treasury regulations, and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such regulations. In the event the Sponsor shall determine that it is prudent to modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any debits or credits thereto are computed in order to comply with such regulations, it may make such modification. The Sponsor also shall (i) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate to maintain equality between the aggregate Capital Accounts of the Unitholders and the amount of capital reflected on a Fund’s balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q) and (ii) make any appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b).
Section 7.2 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes.
(a) For purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Unitholders among themselves, except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.2 each item of income, gain, loss, expense and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 7.1(b)) shall be allocated to the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
(b) Pursuant to Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g), items of depreciation, depletion, amortization and gain or loss attributable to Adjusted Property that has a Book-Tax Disparity shall be allocated among the Unitholders in accordance with Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g)(3).
(c) If any Unitholder unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) or 1.704- 1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of a Fund’s income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Unitholder in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate a deficit balance in its Capital Account (after decreasing such Unitholder’s Capital Account balance by the items described in Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6)) created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible. This Section 7.2(c) is intended to constitute a “qualified income offset” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d).
Section 7.3 Allocations for Tax Purposes.
(a) For U.S. federal income tax purposes, except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.3, each item of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of a Fund shall be allocated among the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
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(b) In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, or loss shall be allocated for U.S. federal income tax purposes among the Unitholders under the principles of the remedial method of Treasury Regulations section 1.704-3(d).
(c) If any Unitholder unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d), items of income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Unitholder in an amount and manner consistent with the allocations of income and gain pursuant to Section 7.2(c).
(d) The provisions of this Article VII and the other provisions of this Trust Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Regulations. The Sponsor or Administrator shall be authorized to make appropriate amendments to the allocations of items pursuant to this Section 7.3 if necessary in order to comply with Section 704 of the Code or applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder.
Section 7.4 Tax Conventions.
(a) For purposes of Sections 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3, the Sponsor or Administrator shall adopt such conventions as may be necessary, appropriate or advisable in the Sponsor’s reasonable discretion in order to comply with applicable law, including Section 706 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder. The Sponsor may revise, alter or otherwise modify such conventions in accordance with the standard established in the previous sentence.
(b) Unless the Sponsor determines that another convention is necessary or appropriate in the Sponsor’s reasonable discretion in order to comply with applicable law, each Fund shall use the monthly convention described in this section 7.4(b).
(i) All issuances, redemptions and transfers of Units or beneficial interests therein shall be deemed to take place at a price (the “single monthly price”) equal to the value of such Unit or beneficial interest therein at the end of the Business Day during the month in which the issuance, redemption or transfer takes place on which the value of a Unit is lowest. Accordingly, in determining Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss and in making the adjustments provided for by Section 7.1(c), the fair market value of all Fund property immediately prior to the issuance, redemption or transfer of Units shall be deemed to be equal to the lowest value of such property (as determined under Section 7.6) during the month in which such Units are issued or redeemed. In the event that a Fund makes an election under Section 754 of the Code, adjustments to be made under Sections 734(b) and 743(b) of the Code will be made using the same monthly convention, including by reference to the single monthly price.
(ii) All property contributed to a Fund shall be deemed to have a value equal to the value of such property (determined under principles similar to those described in Section 7.6) on the date of such contribution. All purchases and sales of property, however, shall be treated as taking place at a price equal to the purchase or sale price of the property, respectively.
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(iii) In general, each item of a Fund’s income, gain, expense, loss, deduction and credit shall, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be determined for each calendar month during a taxable period based on an interim closing of the books and shall be allocated solely to the Unitholders recognized as unitholders of a Fund as of the close of business on the last trading day of the preceding calendar month. For this purpose, any transfer of a Unit during a calendar month shall be treated as being effective immediately prior to the close of business on the last trading day of a calendar month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless the Sponsor determines that another method is necessary or appropriate in the Sponsor’s reasonable discretion, gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of all or a substantial portion of the assets of a Fund (or, in the Sponsor’s sole discretion, other sales or dispositions of assets if appropriate to more accurately allocate such gain and loss to Unitholders in a manner that corresponds to their economic gain and loss) shall be allocated to the Unitholders who own Units as of the close of the day in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. Investors who hold a Unit on the last trading day of the first month of a Fund’s operation will be allocated the tax items for that month, as well as the tax items for the following month, attributable to the Unit.
(c) The allocations pursuant to Section 7.4(b) are intended to constitute a reasonable method of allocation in accordance with Treasury Regulations section 1.706-1(c)(2)(ii) and to take into account a Unitholder’s or Unitholders’ varying Units during the taxable year of any issuance, redemption or transfer of Units or beneficial interests therein. Any person who is the transferee of Units shall be deemed to consent to the methods of determination and allocation set forth in Section 7.4(b), and in any other provision of this Article VII, as a condition of receiving such Units.
Section 7.5 No Interest on Capital Account. No Unitholder shall be entitled to interest on its Capital Account.
Section 7.6 Valuation.
(a) For purposes of determining the Net Asset Value of a Fund, the Trust will value all property at (A) its current market value, if quotations for such property are readily available or (B) its fair value, as reasonably determined by the Sponsor, if the current market value cannot be determined.
(b) The Sponsor may (but is not required to) employ the services of, and rely upon the reports of, a recognized pricing service. If the Sponsor determines that the procedures in this Section are an inappropriate basis for the valuation of the Trust’s assets, it shall determine an alternative basis to be employed. The Sponsor shall not be liable to any Person for any determination as to the alternative basis for evaluation, provided that such determination is made in good faith.
Section 7.7 Distributions.
(a) Distributions on Units of a Fund may be paid with such frequency as the Sponsor may determine, which may be daily or otherwise, to the Unitholders in accordance with Section 4.6(g) from such of the income and capital gains, accrued or realized, from each Trust Estate, after providing for actual and accrued liabilities. Such distributions shall be made in cash or, at the sole discretion of the Sponsor, in property.
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(b) Distributions from a Fund upon the occurrence of a redemption or upon dissolution, liquidation or termination pursuant to Sections 8.1 and 14.2 of this Trust Agreement will be in the form of property and/or cash as determined by such sections, as applicable; provided that amounts received by Unitholders in the case of distributions upon dissolution, liquidation or termination shall be in accordance with Capital Accounts as provided in Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b).
(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Trust Agreement, a Fund shall not be required to make a distribution with respect to Units if such distribution would violate the Delaware Trust Statute or any other applicable law. A determination that a distribution is not prohibited under this Section 7.8 or the Delaware Trust Statute shall be made by the Trust and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, may be based either on financial statements prepared on the basis of accounting practices and principles that are reasonable under the circumstances or on a fair valuation or any other method that is reasonable under the circumstances. Unless otherwise agreed to by the Unitholders, a Unitholder shall be entitled only to the distributions expressly provided for in this Trust Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Trust Agreement, the Unitholders understand and acknowledge that a Unitholder (or its agent) may be compelled to accept a distribution of any asset in kind from a Fund despite the fact that the percentage of the asset distributed to such Unitholder (or its agent) exceeds the percentage of that asset which is equal to the percentage in which such Unitholder receives distributions from the Trust.
ARTICLE VIII
REDEMPTIONS
Section 8.1 Redemption of Redemption Baskets. The following procedures, as supplemented by the more detailed procedures specified in the attachment to the applicable Authorized Purchaser Agreement, which may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions of such Authorized Purchaser Agreement (and any such amendment will not constitute an amendment of this Trust Agreement), will govern the Trust and the Funds with respect to the redemption of Redemption Baskets.
(a) On any Business Day, an Authorized Purchaser with respect to which an Authorized Purchaser Agreement is in full force and effect (as reflected on the list maintained by the Sponsor pursuant to Section 4.5(a)(i)) may redeem one or more Redemption Baskets standing to the credit of the Authorized Purchaser on the records of the Depository by delivering a request for redemption to the Sponsor or its designee (such request, a “Redemption Order”) in the manner specified in the procedures described in the attachment to the Authorized Purchaser Agreement, as amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Authorized Purchaser Agreement (and any such amendment will not constitute an amendment of this Trust Agreement).
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(b) To be effective, a Redemption Order must be submitted on a Business Day by the Order Cut-Off Time in form satisfactory to the Sponsor (the Business Day on which the Redemption Order is so submitted, the “Redemption Order Date”). The Sponsor acting by itself or through the Marketing Agent may, in its sole discretion, reject any Redemption Order (i) the Sponsor determines that the Redemption Order is not in proper form (ii) the fulfillment of which its counsel advises may be illegal under applicable laws and regulations, or (iii) if circumstances outside the control of the Sponsor, the Marketing Agent or the Custodian make it for all practical purposes not feasible for the Units to be delivered under the Redemption Order. The Sponsor may also reject a redemption order if the number of units being redeemed would reduce the remaining outstanding units to 100,000 units (i.e., two baskets) or less, unless the Sponsor has reason to believe that the placer of the redemption order does in fact possess all the outstanding units and can deliver them.
(c) The redemption distribution (“Redemption Distribution”) shall consist of cash or a combination of United States Treasury securities, cash and/or cash equivalents. The Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion or in consultation with the Administrator, the requirements for securities and/or property that may be included in Redemption Distributions and publishes, or its agent publishes on its behalf, such requirements at the beginning of each Business Day.
(d) By 3:00 PM New York time on the third Business Day following the Redemption Order Date (the “Redemption Settlement Time”), if the Distributor’s account at the Depository has by the Redemption Settlement Time been credited with the Redemption Baskets being tendered for redemption and the Sponsor has by such time received the Transaction Fee, the Sponsor shall deliver the Redemption Distribution through the Depository to the account of the Authorized Purchaser as recorded on the book entry system of the Depository. If the Fund’s DTC account has not been credited with all of the Redemption Baskets by such time, the redemption distribution is delivered to the extent of whole Redemption Baskets received. Any remainder of the redemption distribution is delivered on the next Business Day to the extent of remaining whole Redemption Baskets received if the Fund receives the fee applicable to the extension of the Redemption Distribution Date which the Sponsor may, from time to time, determine and the remaining Redemption Baskets are credited to the Fund’s DTC account by 3:00 PM New York time on such next Business Day. Any further remaining amount of the Redemption Order shall be cancelled and the Authorized Purchaser will indemnify the Trust for any losses, if any, due to such cancellation, including but not limited to the difference in the price of investments sold as a result of the Redemption Order and investments made to reflect that such Redemption Order has been cancelled.
(e) The Sponsor may, in its discretion, suspend the right of redemption or postpone the Redemption Settlement Date for a Fund (i) for any period during which the Exchange or the Fund’s Futures Exchange is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings, or trading on the Exchange or the Fund’s Futures Exchange is suspended or restricted; (ii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which delivery of Redemption Distributions is not reasonably practicable; or (iii) for such other period as the Sponsor determines to be necessary for the protection of Unitholders. Neither the Sponsor nor its designees will be liable to any person or in any way for any loss or damages that may result from any such suspension or postponement.
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(f) Redemption Baskets effectively redeemed pursuant to the provisions of this Section 8.1 shall be cancelled by the Trust or the applicable Fund in accordance with the Depository’s procedures, and no longer be deemed outstanding for purposes of this Trust Agreement and the Delaware Trust Statute.
Section 8.2 Other Redemption Procedures. The Sponsor from time to time may, but shall have no obligation to, establish procedures with respect to redemption of Units in (i) lot sizes smaller than the Redemption Basket, (ii) permitting the Redemption Distribution to be in a form, and delivered in a manner, other than that specified in Section 8.1, and (iii) for redemptions deemed necessary, in the Sponsor’s sole discretion, to comply with applicable law, rule, regulation or policy.
ARTICLE IX
UNITHOLDERS
Section 9.1 No Management or Control; Limited Liability; Exercise of Rights through DTC. The Unitholders of a Fund shall not participate in the management or control of the Trust or the applicable Fund or the applicable Fund’s business, shall not transact any business for the Trust or any Fund and shall not have the power to sign for or bind the Trust or any Fund, said power being vested solely and exclusively in the Sponsor. Except as provided in Section 9.3 hereof, no Unitholder of any Fund shall be bound by, or be personally liable for, the expenses, liabilities or obligations of the Trust, the applicable Fund or any other series of the Trust except to the extent of such Unitholder’s proportionate share of the applicable Fund’s Trust Estate. Except as provided in Section 9.3 hereof, each Unit shall be fully paid and no assessment shall be made against any Unitholder. No salary shall be paid to any Unitholder in its capacity as such, nor shall any Unitholder have a drawing account or earn interest on its share of a Fund’s Trust Estate. By the purchase and acceptance or other lawful delivery and acceptance of Units, each Unitholder shall be deemed to be a beneficiary of the applicable Fund and vested with beneficial undivided interest in such Fund to the extent of the Units owned beneficially by such Unitholder, subject to the terms and conditions of this Trust Agreement. The rights under this Trust Agreement of any Unitholder that is not a DTC Participant must be exercised by a DTC Participant acting on behalf of such Unitholder in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depository, as provided in Section 4.6.
Section 9.2 Rights and Duties. The Unitholders shall have the following rights, powers, privileges, duties and liabilities:
(a) The Unitholders shall have the right to obtain from the Sponsor the reports and information as are set forth in Article X and the list of Authorized Purchasers contemplated by Section 4.5(a)(i). The foregoing rights are in addition to, and do not limit, other remedies available to Unitholders under U.S. federal or state law.
(b) The Unitholders shall receive the share of the distributions provided for in this Trust Agreement in the manner and at the times provided for in this Trust Agreement.
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(c) Except for the Unitholders’ redemption rights set forth in Article VIII hereof, Unitholders of a Fund shall have the right to demand the return of their capital only upon the dissolution and winding up of the applicable Fund or the Trust and only to the extent of funds available therefore. In no event shall a Unitholder of a Fund be entitled to demand property other than cash unless the Sponsor, as determined in its sole discretion, has specified property for distribution to all Unitholders of such Fund, or the Trust, as applicable. No Unitholder of any Fund shall have priority over any other Unitholder of such Fund either as to the return of capital or as to profits, losses or distributions. No Unitholder of any Fund shall have the right to bring an action for partition against the Trust or a Fund.
(d) Unitholders, voting together as a single class, or, if the proposed change affects only certain Funds, of each affected Fund voting separately as a class, may vote to (i) approve the items set forth in 4.9(a), (ii) remove the Sponsor and elect a successor Sponsor as set forth in Section 5.12(e), (iii) approve amendments to this Trust Agreement as set forth in Section 12.1, (iv) continue the Trust as provided in Section 14.1(a), (v) terminate the Trust as provided in Section 14.1(e), and (vi) in the event there is no Sponsor, elect the Liquidating Trustee as set forth in Section 14.2. Unless otherwise specified in the relevant section of this Trust Agreement or in federal law or regulations of rules on any exchange, any matter upon which the Unitholders vote shall be approved by the affirmative vote of Unitholders holding Units representing at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding Units of the Trust or the applicable Fund, as the case may be. Except as expressly provided in this Trust Agreement, the Unitholders shall have no voting or other rights with respect to the Trust or any Fund.
Section 9.3 Limitation on Liability.
(a) Except as provided in Section 5.7(f) hereof, and as otherwise provided under Delaware law, the Unitholders shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the general corporation law of the State of Delaware and no Unitholder shall be liable for claims against, or debts of the Trust or the applicable Fund in excess of its Deposit or share of the applicable Fund’s Trust Estate and undistributed profits. In addition, and subject to the exceptions set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the Trust or the applicable Fund shall not make a claim against a Unitholder with respect to amounts distributed to such Unitholder or amounts received by such Unitholder upon redemption unless, under Delaware law, such Unitholder is liable to repay such amount.
(b) The Trust or the applicable Fund indemnifies to the full extent permitted by law and the other provisions of this Trust Agreement, and to the extent of the applicable Fund’s Trust Estate, each Unitholder and its agent or nominee against any claims of liability asserted against such Unitholder solely based on its status as a Unitholder of one or more Units (other than for taxes for which such Unitholder is liable under Section 7.2 hereof).
(c) Every written note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust or a Fund shall give notice to the effect that the same was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust or the applicable Fund and that the obligations of such instrument are not binding upon the Unitholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable Fund, and no resort shall be had to the Unitholders’ personal property for satisfaction of any obligation or claim thereunder, and appropriate
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references may be made to this Trust Agreement and may contain any further recital which the Sponsor deems appropriate, but the omission thereof shall not operate to bind the Unitholders individually or otherwise invalidate any such note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking. Nothing contained in this Section 9.3 shall diminish the limitation on the liability of the Trust to the extent set forth in Section 4.7 and 4.8 hereof.
ARTICLE X
BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND REPORTS
Section 10.1 Books of Account. Proper books of account for each Fund shall be kept and shall be audited annually by an independent certified public accounting firm selected by the Sponsor in its sole discretion, and there shall be entered therein all transactions, matters and things relating to each Fund’s business as are required by the CE Act and regulations promulgated thereunder, and all other applicable rules and regulations, and as are usually entered into books of account kept by Persons engaged in a business of like character. The books of account shall be kept at the principal office of the Trust and, subject to Section 9.2(a), each Unitholder (or any duly constituted designee of a Unitholder) shall have, at all times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance written notice, access to and the right to inspect and copy the same (at such Unitholder’s own cost) to the extent such access is required under CFTC rules and regulations. Such books of account shall be kept in accordance with, and the Trust shall report its profits and losses on, the accrual method of accounting for financial accounting purposes on a Fiscal Year basis as described in Article XI.
Section 10.2 Reports to Unitholders. The Trust will furnish to DTC Participants for distribution to each Fund’s Unitholders monthly and annual (as of the end of each fiscal year) reports (in such detail) as are required to be provided to Unitholders by the CFTC and the NFA. Monthly reports will contain certain unaudited financial information regarding a Fund, including the Fund’s NAV, and annual reports will contain financial statements prepared by the Sponsor and audited by an independent registered public accounting firm designated by the Sponsor. The Sponsor will furnish to Fund Unitholders any other reports or information which the Sponsor, in its discretion, determines to be necessary or appropriate. In addition, it is expected that the Trust will be required under SEC rules to file quarterly and annual reports with the SEC, which need not be sent to Fund Unitholders directly but will be publicly available through the SEC. The Trust will post the same information that would otherwise be provided in the Trust’s CFTC, NFA and SEC reports on the Trust’s website.
Section 10.3 Calculation of Net Asset Value. Net Asset Value of a Fund shall be calculated once each Business Day at such time as the Sponsor shall determine from time to time.
Section 10.4 Maintenance of Records. The Sponsor shall maintain: (a) for a period of at least six Fiscal Years all books of account required by Section 10.1 hereof, a list of the names and last known address of, and number of Units owned by, all Unitholders of each Fund, a copy of the Certificate of Trust and all certificates of amendment thereto, together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which any certificate has been executed, and copies of the
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Trust’s and Funds’ federal, state and local income tax returns and reports, if any; and (b) for a period of at least six Fiscal Years, copies of any effective written trust agreements, subscription agreements and any financial statements of the Trust and the Funds. The Sponsor may keep and maintain the books and records of the Trust and the Funds in paper, magnetic, electronic or other format as the Sponsor may determine in its sole discretion, provided the Sponsor uses reasonable care to prevent the loss or destruction of such records.
ARTICLE XI
FISCAL YEAR
Section 11.1 Fiscal Year. The Fiscal Year of the Trust shall be July 1 to June 30. The first Fiscal Year of the Trust shall commence on the date of filing of the Certificate of Trust and end on the thirtieth day of June, 2015. The Fiscal Year in which the Trust shall terminate shall end on the date of termination.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENT OF TRUST AGREEMENT; MEETINGS
Section 12.1 Amendments to the Trust Agreement.
(a) The Sponsor may, without the approval of the Unitholders, amend or supplement this Trust Agreement; provided, however, that the Unitholders shall have the right to vote on any amendment (i) if expressly required under federal law or regulations or rules of any exchange, or (ii) submitted to them by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. The Sponsor shall provide to the Unitholders notice of any amendment on which the Unitholders have a right to vote setting forth the substance of the amendment and its effective date.
(b) Upon amendment of this Trust Agreement, the Certificate of Trust shall also be amended, if required by the Delaware Trust Statute, to reflect such change.
(c) No amendment shall be made to this Trust Agreement without the consent of the Trustee if it reasonably believes that such amendment adversely affects any of the rights, duties or liabilities of the Trustee. At the expense of the Sponsor, the Trustee shall execute and file any amendment to the Certificate of Trust if so directed by the Sponsor or if such amendment is required in the opinion of the Trustee.
(d) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to execute any amendment to the Trust Agreement or any agreement to which the Trust is a party until it has received an instruction letter from the Sponsor, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (i) directing the Trustee to execute such amendment, (ii) representing and warranting to the Trustee that such execution is authorized and permitted by the terms of the Trust Agreement and (if applicable) such other agreement to which the Trust is a party and does not conflict with or violate any other agreement
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to which the Trust is a party and (iii) confirming that such execution and acts related thereto are covered by the indemnity provisions of the Trust Agreement in favor of the Trustee and do not adversely affect the Trustee.
(e) No provision of this Trust Agreement may be amended, waived or otherwise modified orally but only by a written instrument adopted in accordance with this Section.
Section 12.2 Meetings of the Unitholders. Meetings of the Unitholders may be called by the Sponsor and the Sponsor may, but is not required to, call a meeting upon the written request of Unitholders holding at least 50% of the outstanding Units of all Funds or any Fund, as applicable. The Sponsor shall deposit in the United States mail or electronically transmit written notice to all Unitholders of the applicable Fund of the meeting and the purpose of the meeting, which shall be held on a date, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days after the date of mailing of said notice, at a reasonable time and place. Where the meeting is being called upon the written request of Unitholders as set forth in this Section 12.2, such written notice shall be mailed or transmitted not more than forty-five (45) days after such written request for a meeting was received by the Sponsor. Any notice of meeting shall be accompanied by a brief description of the purpose of the meeting. Unitholders may vote in person or by proxy at any such meeting. The Sponsor shall be entitled to establish voting and quorum requirements and other reasonable procedures for Unitholder voting.
Section 12.3 Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken by Unitholders by vote may be taken without a meeting by written consent setting forth the actions so taken. Such written consents shall be treated for all purposes as votes at a meeting. If the vote or consent of any Unitholder to any action of the Trust, any Fund or any Unitholder, as contemplated by this Trust Agreement, is solicited by the Sponsor, the solicitation shall be effected by notice to each Unitholder given in the manner provided in Section 16.4. Any vote or consent that has been cast by a Unitholder so solicited shall be deemed conclusively to have been cast or granted as requested in the notice of solicitation, whether or not the notice of solicitation is actually received by that Unitholder, unless the Unitholder expresses written objection to the vote or consent by notice given in the manner provided in Section 16.4 below and actually received by the Trust within twenty (20) days after the notice of solicitation is effected. The Sponsor and all persons dealing with the Trust shall be entitled to act in reliance on any vote or consent which is deemed cast or granted pursuant to this Section 12.3 and shall be fully indemnified by the Trust in so doing. Any action taken or omitted in reliance on any such deemed vote or consent of one or more Unitholders shall not be void or voidable by reason of timely communication made by or on behalf of all or any of such Unitholders in any manner other than as expressly provided in Section 16.4.
ARTICLE XIII
TERM
Section 13.1 Term. The term for which the Trust is to exist shall commence on the date of the filing of the Certificate of Trust, and the Trust and any Fund shall exist in perpetuity, unless
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earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV hereof or as otherwise provided by law.
ARTICLE XIV
TERMINATION
Section 14.1 Events Requiring Dissolution of the Trust or any Fund. The Trust or, as the case may be, any Fund shall dissolve at any time upon the happening of any of the following events:
(a) The occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal, unless (i) at the time there is at least one remaining Sponsor and that remaining Sponsor carries on the business of the Trust or (ii) within ninety (90) days of such Event of Withdrawal, the affirmative vote or written consent of Unitholders in accordance with Section 9.2(d) or Section 12.3 of this Trust Agreement is obtained to continue the business of the Trust and to select, effective as of the date of such selection, one or more successor Sponsors.
(b) The occurrence of any event which would make unlawful the continued existence of the Trust or any Fund, as the case may be.
(c) In the event of the suspension, revocation or termination of the Sponsor’s registration as a commodity pool operator under the CE Act, or membership as a commodity pool operator with the NFA (if, in either case, such registration is required under the CE Act or the rules promulgated thereunder) unless at the time there is at least one remaining Sponsor whose registration or membership has not been suspended, revoked or terminated.
(d) The Trust or any Fund, as the case may be, becomes insolvent or bankrupt.
(e) Unitholders owning at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding Units held in all Funds, voting together as a single class, vote to dissolve the Trust, upon notice to the Sponsor of not less than ninety (90) Business Days prior to the effective date of termination.
(f) Upon written notice to the Trustee and the Unitholders by the Sponsor of its determination, in the Sponsor’s sole discretion, that the Trust’s or a Fund’s aggregate net assets in relation to the operating expenses of the Trust or such Fund make it unreasonable or imprudent to continue the business of the Trust or such Fund.
(g) The Trust is required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(h) DTC is unable or unwilling to continue to perform its functions, and a comparable replacement is unavailable. The death, legal disability, bankruptcy, insolvency, dissolution, or withdrawal of any Unitholder (as long as such Unitholder is not the sole Unitholder of the Trust) shall not result in the termination of the Trust or any Fund, and such Unitholder, his estate, custodian or personal representative shall have no right to withdraw or value such Unitholder’s Units. Each Unitholder (and any assignee thereof) expressly agrees that in the event of his death,
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he waives on behalf of himself and his estate, and he directs the legal representative of his estate and any person interested therein to waive the furnishing of any inventory, accounting or appraisal of the assets of the applicable Fund and any right to an audit or examination of the books of the applicable Fund, except for such rights as are set forth in Article X hereof relating to the books of account and reports of the applicable Fund.
Section 14.2 Distributions on Dissolution. Upon the dissolution of the Trust or any Fund, the Sponsor (or in the event there is no Sponsor, such person (the “Liquidating Trustee”) as the majority in interest of the Unitholders may propose and approve) shall take full charge of the Trust Estate. Any Liquidating Trustee so appointed shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or approval of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the Sponsor under the terms of this Trust Agreement, subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, and provided that the Liquidating Trustee shall not have general liability for the acts, omissions, obligations and expenses of the Trust or the Funds. Thereafter, in accordance with Section 3808(e) or (g), as applicable, of the Delaware Trust Statute, the business and affairs of the Trust or any Fund shall be wound up and all assets shall be liquidated as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof, and the proceeds therefrom shall be applied and distributed in the following order of priority: (a) to the expenses of liquidation and termination and to creditors, including Unitholders who are creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by law, in satisfaction of liabilities of the Trust or the Funds (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof) other than liabilities for distributions to Unitholders, and (b) to the Unitholders in accordance with their positive book Capital Account balances, after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all periods.
Section 14.3 Termination; Certificate of Cancellation. Following the dissolution and distribution of the assets of all Funds, the Trust shall terminate and the Sponsor or the Liquidating Trustee, as the case may be, shall instruct the Trustee to execute and cause such certificate of cancellation of the Certificate of Trust pursuant to Section 3810(d) to be filed in accordance with the Delaware Trust Statute at the expense of the Sponsor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Trust Agreement, the existence of the Trust as a separate legal entity shall continue until the filing of such certificate of cancellation.
ARTICLE XV
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Section 15.1 Power of Attorney Executed Concurrently. Each Unitholder, by virtue of its purchase of Units in a Fund, irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Sponsor with full power of substitution, as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for such Unitholder with full power and authority to act in his name and on his behalf in the execution, acknowledgment, filing and publishing of Trust documents, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Any certificates and other instruments, including but not limited to, any applications for authority to do business and amendments thereto, which the Sponsor deems appropriate to
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qualify or continue the Trust as a business or statutory trust in the jurisdictions in which the Trust may conduct business, so long as such qualifications and continuations are in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement or any amendment hereto, or which may be required to be filed by the Trust or the Unitholders under the laws of any jurisdiction;
(b) Any instrument which may be required to be filed by the Trust under the laws of any state or by any governmental agency, or which the Sponsor deems advisable to file; and
(c) This Trust Agreement and any documents which may be required to effect an amendment to this Trust Agreement approved under the terms of the Trust Agreement, and the continuation of the Trust, the increase or decrease of the Global Certificates pursuant to Section 4.6, or the termination of the Trust, provided such continuation, increase, decrease or termination is in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement.
Section 15.2 Effect of Power of Attorney. The Power of Attorney granted by each Unitholder to the Sponsor:
(a) Is a special, irrevocable Power of Attorney coupled with an interest, and shall survive and not be affected by the death, disability, dissolution, liquidation, termination or incapacity of the Unitholder;
(b) May be exercised by the Sponsor for each Unitholder by facsimile signature and/or by a single signature of one of its officers acting as attorney-in-fact for all of them; and
(c) Shall survive the delivery of an assignment by a Unitholder of the whole or any portion of his Units, as applicable, except that where the records of a Direct Participant or Indirect Participant reflect a transfer by a Unitholder of its Units that has otherwise been effectuated in accordance with the provisions of this Trust Agreement, the Depository’s procedures and the procedures of such Direct Participant or Indirect Participant, as applicable, the Power of Attorney of the assignor shall survive the delivery of such assignment for the sole purpose of enabling the Sponsor to execute, acknowledge and file any instrument necessary to effect such transfer. Each Unitholder agrees to be bound by any representations made by the Sponsor and by any successor thereto, determined to be acting in good faith pursuant to such Power of Attorney and not constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Section 15.3 Limitation on Power of Attorney. The Power of Attorney granted by each Unitholder to the Sponsor shall not authorize the Sponsor to act on behalf of Unitholders in any situation in which this Trust Agreement requires the approval of Unitholders unless such approval has been obtained as required by this Trust Agreement. In the event of any conflict between this Trust Agreement and any instruments filed by the Sponsor or any new Sponsor pursuant to this Power of Attorney, this Trust Agreement shall control.
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ARTICLE XVI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 16.1 Governing Law. The validity and construction of this Trust Agreement and all amendments hereto shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and the rights of all parties hereto and the effect of every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof; provided, however, that the parties hereto intend that the provisions hereof shall control over any contrary or limiting statutory or common law of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Trust Statute) and that, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Funds, the Trustee, the Sponsor, the Unitholders or this Trust Agreement any provision of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the Delaware Trust Statute) pertaining to trusts which relate to or regulate in a manner inconsistent with the terms hereof: (a) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (b) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents, or employees of a trust, (c) the necessity for obtaining court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property, (d) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (e) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal, (f) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage or other manner of holding or investing of trust assets, or (g) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts or powers of trustees or managers that are inconsistent with the limitations on liability or authorities and powers of the Trustee or the Sponsor set forth or referenced in this Trust Agreement. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a “statutory trust,” and without limiting the provisions hereof, as determined from time to time by the Sponsor, the Trust may exercise all powers that are ordinarily exercised by such a trust under Delaware law. The Trust specifically reserves the right to exercise any of the powers or privileges afforded to statutory trusts and the absence of a specific reference herein to any such power, privilege or action shall not imply that the Trust may not exercise such power or privilege or take such actions.
Section 16.2 Provisions In Conflict With Law or Regulations.
(a) The provisions of this Trust Agreement are severable, and if the Sponsor shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any one or more of such provisions (the “Conflicting Provisions”) are in conflict with the Code, the Delaware Trust Statute or other applicable U.S. federal or state laws, the Conflicting Provisions shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Trust Agreement, even without any amendment of this Trust Agreement pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided, however, that such determination by the Sponsor shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions of this Trust Agreement or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. No Sponsor or Trustee shall be liable for making or failing to make such a determination.
(b) If any provision of this Trust Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such holding shall not in any manner affect or render invalid or unenforceable such
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provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Trust Agreement in any jurisdiction.
Section 16.3 Construction. In this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, words used in the singular or in the plural include both the plural and singular and words denoting any gender include all genders. The title and headings of different parts are inserted for convenience and shall not affect the meaning, construction or effect of this Trust Agreement.
Section 16.4 Notices. All notices or communications under this Trust Agreement (other than requests for redemption of Units, notices of assignment, transfer, pledge or encumbrance of Units, and reports and notices by the Sponsor to the Unitholders) shall be in writing and shall be effective upon personal delivery, or if sent by mail, postage prepaid or by overnight courier, or if sent electronically, by facsimile; and addressed, in each such case, to the address set forth in the books and records of the Trust or the applicable Fund or such other address as may be specified in writing, of the party to whom such notice is to be given, and shall be effective upon the deposit of such notice in the United States mail, upon deposit with a representative of an overnight courier, or upon transmission and electronic confirmation thereof, as the case may be. Notices of assignment, transfer, pledge or encumbrance of Units shall be effective upon timely receipt by the Sponsor in writing. Requests for redemption of Units shall be effected in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII of this Trust Agreement.
Section 16.5 Counterparts. This Trust Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, and all so executed shall constitute one agreement, binding upon all of the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all the parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart.
Section 16.6 Binding Nature of Trust Agreement. The terms and provisions of this Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, custodians, executors, estates, administrators, personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns of the respective Unitholders. For purposes of determining the rights of any Unitholder or assignee hereunder, the Trust and the Sponsor may rely upon the Trust and Fund records as to who are Unitholders and permitted assignees, and all Unitholders and assignees agree that the Trust, each Fund and the Sponsor, in determining such rights, shall rely on such records and that Unitholders and assignees shall be bound by such determination.
Section 16.7 No Legal Title to Trust Estate. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.7 in the case of the Sponsor, the Unitholders shall not have legal title to any part of the applicable Fund’s Trust Estate.
Section 16.8 Creditors. No creditors of any Unitholders shall have any right to obtain possession of, or otherwise exercise legal or equitable remedies with respect to the applicable Fund’s Trust Estate.
Section 16.9 Integration. This Trust Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
Section 16.10 Goodwill; Use of Name. No value shall be placed on the name or goodwill of the Trust, which shall belong exclusively to ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By: | |||
Name: | |||
Title: |
ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC, as Sponsor
By: | |||
Name: | |||
Title: |
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF GLOBAL CERTIFICATE
CERTIFICATE OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
-Evidencing-
All Units
-in-
ETF MANAGERS GROUP COMMODITY TRUST I
WITH RESPECT TO ONE OF ITS SERIES
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE TRUST WITH RESPECT TO THE FUND OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
This is to certify that Cede & Co., is the owner and registered holder of this Certificate evidencing the ownership of all issued and outstanding Units (“Units”), each of which represents a fractional undivided Unit of beneficial interest in _______________ (the “Fund”), established and designated as a series of the ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust formed under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq.) pursuant to a Certificate of Trust, dated as of and filed in the offices of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 23, 2014, and the Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement, dated as of July 23, 2014, by and between ETF Managers Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as Sponsor, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a Delaware
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national banking association, as Trustee (hereinafter called the “Trust Agreement”), copies of which are available at the principal offices of the Trust.
At any given time this Certificate shall represent all units of beneficial interest in the Fund, which shall be the total number of Units that are outstanding at such time. The Trust Agreement provides for the deposit of cash or a combination of United States Treasury
1. Forms of Global Certificates of Beneficial Interest for each of the Trust’s Funds shall be, except for the names of the Funds, substantially identical to this Form of Global Certificate.
Securities, cash and/or cash equivalents or other securities or property with the Fund from time to time and the issuance by the Trust, with respect to the Fund, of additional Creation Baskets representing the undivided units of beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust. At the request of the registered holder this Certificate may be exchanged for one or more Certificates issued to the registered holder in such denominations as the registered holder may request, provided, however, that, in the aggregate, the Certificates issued to the registered holder hereof shall represent all Units outstanding at any given time.
Each Authorized Purchaser hereby grants and conveys all of its rights, title and interest in and to the Fund to the extent of the undivided interest represented hereby to the registered holder of this Certificate subject to and in pursuance of the Trust Agreement, all the terms, conditions and covenants of which are incorporated herein as if fully set forth at length.
The registered holder of this Certificate is entitled at any time upon tender of this Certificate to the Fund, endorsed in blank or accompanied by all necessary instruments of assignment and transfer in proper form, at its principal office in the State of New York and, upon payment of any tax or other governmental charges, to receive at the time and in the manner provided in the Trust Agreement, such holder’s ratable portion of the assets of the Fund for each Redemption Basket tendered and evidenced by this Certificate.
The holder of this Certificate, by virtue of the purchase and acceptance hereof, assents to and shall be bound by the terms of the Trust Agreement, copies of which are on file and available for inspection at reasonable times during business hours at the principal office of the Trust, to which reference is made for all the terms, conditions and covenants thereof.
The Fund may deem and treat the person in whose name this Certificate is registered upon the books of the Fund as the owner hereof for all purposes and the Fund shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.
The Trust Agreement permits the Sponsor, without the approval of the Unitholders, to amend or supplement the Trust Agreement; provided, however, that the affirmative vote or written consent of Unitholders holding Units equal to at least a majority of the Trust’s outstanding Units or, if the proposed amendment affects only certain Funds, of each affected Fund’s outstanding Units, or such higher percentage as may be required by applicable law, is required to approve any amendment (i) if expressly required under Delaware or federal law or regulations or rules of any exchange, or (ii) submitted to them by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. The Sponsor shall
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provide notice of any amendment to the Trust Agreement to the Unitholders setting forth the substance of the amendment and its effective date. Any such vote, consent or waiver by the holder of Units shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder of Units and upon all future holders of Units, and shall be binding upon any Units, whether evidenced by a Certificate or held in uncertificated form, issued upon the registration or transfer hereof whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Certificate and whether or not the Units evidenced hereby are at such time in uncertificated form.
In accordance with Section 4.8 of the Trust Agreement, the holder of this Certificate agrees and consents (the “Consent”) to look solely to the assets (the “Fund Assets”) of the Fund and to the Sponsor and its assets for payment in respect of any claim against or obligation of the Fund. The Fund Assets include only those funds and other assets that are paid, held or distributed to the Trust on account of and for the benefit of the Fund, including, without limitation, funds delivered to the Trust for the purchase of Units in the Fund.
The Trust Agreement, and this Certificate, are executed and delivered by ETF Managers Capital LLC, as Sponsor, in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it by the Trust Agreement. The representations, undertakings and agreements made on the part of the Trust in the Trust Agreement or the Fund in this Certificate are made and intended not as personal representations, undertakings and agreements by ETF Managers Capital LLC, but are made and intended for the purpose of binding only the Trust. Nothing in the Agreement or this Certificate shall be construed as creating any liability on ETF Managers Capital LLC, individually or personally, to fulfill any representation, undertaking or agreement other than as provided in the Trust Agreement or this Certificate.
This Certificate shall not become valid or binding for any purpose until properly executed by the Sponsor pursuant to the Trust Agreement.
Terms not defined herein have the same meaning as in the Trust Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ETF Managers Capital LLC, as Sponsor, has caused this Certificate to be executed in its name by the manual or facsimile signature of one of its Authorized Officers.
ETF Managers Capital LLC,
as Sponsor |
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By: | |||
Authorized Officer | |||
Date: |
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EXHIBIT B
FORM OF INSTRUMENT ESTABLISHING SERIES OR CLASS
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EXHIBIT C
SERIES FUNDS
Initial Fund: | Sit Rising Rate ETF (“RISE”) |
Additional Series:
Exhibit 3.2
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
ETF MANAGERS GROUP COMMODITY TRUST I
This Certificate of Trust of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I (the “Trust”) is being duly executed and filed on behalf of the Trust by the undersigned, as trustee, to form a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq.) (the “Act”).
1. Name. The name of the statutory trust formed by this Certificate of Trust is ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I.
2. Delaware Trustee. The name and address of the trustee of the Trust in the State of Delaware are: Wilmington Trust, National Association, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001.
3. Series. Pursuant to Section 3806(b)(2) of the Act, the Trust will issue one or more series of beneficial interests having the rights and preferences specified in the governing instrument of the Trust, as the same may be amended from time to time (each a “Series”).
4. Notice of Limitation of Liability of each Series. Pursuant to Section 3804(a) of the Act, the liabilities of each series shall be limited such that (a) the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular series shall be enforceable against the assets of that series only, and not against the assets of the Trust generally or the assets of any other series and (b) none of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to the Trust generally and any other series shall be enforceable against the assets of the particular series.
5. Effective Date. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon filing.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Trust in accordance with Section 3811(a)(l) of the Act.
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee | ||
By: | /s/ Yvette L. Howell |
Name: | Yvette L. Howell |
Title: | Assistant Vice President |
Exhibit 10.1
AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT
This Participant Agreement (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of December ___, 2014, is entered into by and among ___________________ (the “ Authorized Participant ”), ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust (the “ Trust ”) organized into separate series as set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (each a “ Fund ” and collectively, the “ Funds ”), and ETF Managers Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as managing owner of the Trust (the “ Managing Owner ”).
SUMMARY
As provided in the Trust Agreement of the Trust (the “ Trust Agreement ,”) as currently in effect and described in the Prospectus (defined below), units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of each Fund (the “ Shares ”) may be created or redeemed in aggregations of twenty-five thousand (25,000) Shares (each aggregation, a “ Basket ”). Baskets are offered only pursuant to the registration statement of the Trust on Form S-1, as amended (Registration No.: 333-199190) as declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) and as the same may be amended from time to time thereafter or any successor registration statement in respect of Shares of the Trust (the “ Registration Statement, ”) together with the prospectus of the Trust in the form filed with the SEC under Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”), after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (the “ Prospectus ”), and as supplemented from time to time. Under the Trust Agreement, the Managing Owner is authorized to issue Baskets to, and redeem Baskets from, Authorized Participants, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ” or the “ Depository ”), or a successor depository, and in exchange for cash. This Agreement sets forth the specific procedures by which an Authorized Participant may create or redeem Baskets.
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the applicable Trust Agreement. To the extent there is a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the provisions of a Trust Agreement, the provisions of the applicable Trust Agreement shall control. To the extent there is a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the provisions of the Prospectus, the Prospectus shall control.
To give effect to the foregoing premises and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth below, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Order Placement . To place orders to create or redeem one or more Baskets, Authorized Participants must follow the procedures for creation and redemption referred to in Section 3 of this Agreement and the procedures described in the Authorized Participant Handbook (the “ AP Handbook ”), as each may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time. The procedures in Section 3 of this Agreement and the procedures in the AP Handbook are collectively referred to as the “Procedures.” The Managing Owner has delegated certain of its obligations hereunder to the Trust’s distributor, currently Esposito Securities, LLC (the “ Distributor ”). The Distributor shall receive Creation/Redemption Order Forms (as hereinafter defined) on behalf of the Trust. The
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Distributor shall also review each Creation/Redemption Order Form for completeness, accuracy and compliance with Sections 3 and 16, and the Procedures and shall have the authorization to accept or reject such Creation/Redemption Order Forms as provided herein. Further, the Distributor shall make all deliveries provided for in Section 12(c) hereof.
Section 2. Status of Authorized Participant . The Authorized Participant represents and warrants and covenants the following:
(a) The Authorized Participant is a participant of DTC (as such a participant, a “ DTC Participant ”). If the Authorized Participant ceases to be a DTC Participant, the Authorized Participant shall give immediate notice to the Distributor and the Managing Owner of such event, and this Agreement shall terminate immediately as of the date the Authorized Participant ceased to be a DTC Participant.
(b) Unless Section 2(d) applies, the Authorized Participant either (i) is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”), and is a member in good standing of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”), or (ii) is exempt from being, or otherwise is not required to be, licensed as a broker-dealer or a member of FINRA, and in either case is qualified to act as a broker or dealer in the states or other jurisdictions where the nature of its business so requires. The Authorized Participant shall maintain any such registrations, qualifications and membership in good standing and in full force and effect throughout the term of this Agreement. The Authorized Participant shall comply with all applicable United States federal laws, including without limitation, the prospectus delivery requirements of Section 5 of the 1933 Act and all applicable rules of the SEC, the laws of the states or other jurisdictions concerned, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and with the Constitution, By-Laws and Conduct Rules of FINRA, if it is a FINRA member, and shall not offer or sell Shares in any state or jurisdiction where they may not lawfully be offered and/or sold.
(c) The Authorized Participant understands and acknowledges that the proposed method by which Baskets will be created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. The Authorized Participant understands and acknowledges that, for example, because new Shares can be created and issued on an ongoing basis, at any point during the life of a Trust, a “distribution,” as such term is used in the 1933 Act, may be occurring. The Authorized Participant is cautioned that some of its activities may result in its being deemed a participant in a distribution in a manner that would render it a statutory underwriter and subject it to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act. The Authorized Participant should review the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus and consult with its own counsel in connection with entering into this Agreement and submitting an order for the creation of Basket(s) on a Creation/Redemption Order Form.
(d) If the Authorized Participant is offering or selling Shares in jurisdictions outside the several states, territories and possessions of the United States and is not otherwise required to be registered, qualified or a member of FINRA as set forth in Section 2(b) above, the Authorized Participant shall (i) observe the applicable laws of the jurisdiction in which such offer and/or sale is made, (ii) comply with the full disclosure requirements of the 1933 Act, and the regulations
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promulgated thereunder, and (iii) conduct its business in accordance with the spirit of the FINRA Conduct Rules.
(e) The Authorized Participant further represents that its anti-money laundering program (“ AML Program ”) is maintained consistent with all applicable federal laws, rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act and rules promulgated by the SEC, and that its AML Program, at a minimum, (i) designates a compliance officer to administer and oversee the AML Program, (ii) provides ongoing employee training, (iii) includes an independent audit function to test the effectiveness of the AML Program, (iv) establishes internal policies, procedures, and controls that are tailored to its particular business, (v) includes a customer identification program consistent with the rules under Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act, (vi) provides for the filing of all necessary anti-money laundering reports including, but not limited to, currency transaction reports and suspicious activity reports, (vii) provides for screening all new and existing customers against reports and suspicious activity reports, (viii) provides for screening all new and existing customers against the Office of Foreign Asset Control list and any other government list that is or becomes required under the USA Patriot Act, and (ix) allows for appropriate regulators to examine its anti-money laundering books and records. The Distributor shall verify the identity of each Authorized Person (as hereinafter defined) of the Authorized Participant and maintain identification verification and transactional records of the Authorized Persons in accordance with the requirements of applicable laws and regulations.
Section 3. Orders . (a) All orders to create or redeem Baskets shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, this Agreement and the AP Handbook. Each party shall comply with such foregoing terms and procedures to the extent applicable to it. The Authorized Participant hereby consents to the use of recorded telephone lines whether or not such use is reflected in the Procedures. The Managing Owner may issue additional or other procedures from time to time relating to the manner of creating or redeeming Baskets which are not related to the Procedures, and the Authorized Participant shall comply with such procedures of which it has been notified in accordance with this Agreement.
(b) The Authorized Participant acknowledges and agrees on behalf of itself and any party for which it is acting (whether such party is a customer or otherwise) that each order to create or redeem a Basket (a “ Creation/Redemption Order Form ” or an “Order”) may not be revoked by the Authorized Participant after its delivery to and acceptance by the Distributor. A form of Creation/Redemption Order Form is attached hereto as Exhibit B .
(c) The Distributor shall have the absolute right, but shall have no obligation, to reject any Creation/Redemption Order Form or Creation Basket Capital Contribution (i) determined by the Distributor not to be in proper form; (ii) the acceptance or receipt of which could, in the opinion of counsel to the Managing Owner, be unlawful; or (iii) if circumstances outside the control of the Distributor or the Managing Owner, as applicable, make it, for all practical purposes, not feasible to process Creation Baskets. The Distributor shall reject a Creation/Redemption Order Form or Creation Basket Capital Contribution if it has been advised in writing by the Managing Owner that it believes that such order would have adverse tax consequences to the Trust, any Fund, or its shareholders. Neither the Managing Owner nor the Distributor shall be liable to any person by reason of the rejection of any Creation/Redemption Order Form or Creation Basket Capital Contribution.
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(d) The Distributor shall reject any Redemption Order the fulfillment of which counsel to the Managing Owner advises in writing that it would be illegal under applicable laws and regulations, and neither the Managing Owner nor the Distributor shall have liability to any person for rejecting a Redemption Order in such circumstances.
(e) The Managing Owner may, in its discretion, suspend the right of redemption, or postpone the applicable Redemption Settlement Time, (i) for any period during which the NYSE Arca, Inc. or any exchange on which a Funds’ assets are regularly traded is closed other than for customary weekend or holiday closings, or trading is suspended or restricted; (ii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which delivery, disposal or evaluation of a Fund’s assets is not reasonably practicable; or (iii) for such other period as the Managing Owner determines to be necessary for the protection of the Beneficial Owners. The Managing Owner shall promptly notify the Distributor of any action taken pursuant to this Section 3(e). The Managing Owner and the Distributor shall not liable to any person or in any way for any loss or damages that may result from any such suspension or postponement.
Section 4. Fees . In connection with each Order by an Authorized Participant to create or redeem one or more Baskets, the Authorized Participant agrees to pay the Transaction Fee prescribed in the Trust Agreement and/or the Prospectus (as applicable) with respect to such creation or redemption. The Transaction Fee may be adjusted from time to time as set forth in the Trust Agreement and/or the Prospectus (as applicable). As described in the Procedures, the Authorized Participant agrees to pay an additional processing charge if the Authorized Participant fails timely to deliver the Creation Basket Capital Contribution or the Baskets, as the case may be.
Section 5. Authorized Persons . Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement and from time to time thereafter, the Authorized Participant shall deliver to the Trust’s transfer agent, Distributor and the Managing Owner, notarized and duly certified as appropriate by its secretary or other duly authorized person, a certificate in the form of Exhibit A setting forth the names and signatures of all persons authorized to give instructions relating to activity contemplated hereby or by any other notice, request or instruction given on behalf of the Authorized Participant (each, an “ Authorized Person ”). The Trust’s transfer agent, Distributor and the Managing Owner may accept and rely upon such certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts set forth therein and shall consider such certificate to be in full force and effect until the Trust’s transfer agent, Distributor and the Managing Owner receive a superseding certificate bearing a subsequent date. Upon the termination or revocation of authority of any Authorized Person by the Authorized Participant, the Authorized Participant shall give immediate written notice of such fact to the Trust’s transfer agent, Distributor and the Managing Owner and such notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Trust’s transfer agent, Distributor and the Managing Owner. The Trust’s transfer agent shall issue to each Authorized Person a unique personal identification number (the “ PIN Number ”) by which such Authorized Person shall be identified and by which instructions issued by the Authorized Participant to the Trust’s transfer agent hereunder shall be authenticated. The PIN Number shall be kept confidential by the Authorized Participant and shall only be provided to the Authorized Person and the Trust’s transfer agent. If, after issuance, the Authorized Person’s PIN Number is changed, the new PIN Number shall become effective on a date mutually agreed upon by the Authorized Participant and the Trust’s transfer agent. If for some reason, the Authorized Participant’s PIN Number is compromised,
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the Authorized Participant shall contact the Trust’s transfer agent immediately in order for a new one to be issued.
Section 6. Redemption . The Authorized Participant represents and warrants that it shall not obtain an Order Number (as described in the AP Handbook) from the Distributor for the purpose of redeeming a Basket unless it first ascertains that (i) it or its customer, as the case may be, owns outright or has full legal authority and legal and beneficial right to tender for redemption the Baskets to be redeemed and to receive the entire proceeds of the redemption, and (ii) such Baskets have not been loaned or pledged to another party and are not the subject of a repurchase agreement, securities lending agreement or any other arrangement which would preclude the delivery of such Baskets to the Distributor on the Business Day following the Redemption Order Date.
Section 7. Role of Authorized Participant . (a) The Authorized Participant acknowledges that, for all purposes of this Agreement and the Trust Agreement, the Authorized Participant is and shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and has and shall have no authority to act as agent for the Trust, the Distributor or the Managing Owner in any matter or in any respect.
(b) The Authorized Participant will make itself and its employees available, upon request, during normal business hours to consult with the Distributor and/or the Managing Owner or their designees concerning the performance of the Authorized Participant’s responsibilities under this Agreement.
(c) With respect to any creation or redemption transaction made by the Authorized Participant pursuant to this Agreement for the benefit of any customer or any other DTC Participant or Indirect Participant, or any other Beneficial Owner, the Authorized Participant shall extend to any such party all of the rights, and shall be bound by all of the obligations, of a DTC Participant in addition to any obligations that it undertakes hereunder or in accordance with the Trust Agreement.
(d) Upon reasonable request by the Distributor or the Managing Owner, the Authorized Participant will, subject to any limitations arising under federal or state securities laws relating to privacy or other obligations it may have to its customers, provide the Distributor or the Managing Owner written notice indicating the number of Shares that the Authorized Participant may hold as record holder and the number of such Shares that it holds for the benefit of other broker-dealers that clear and settle transactions in Shares through the Authorized Participant, in each case as of the date of such request, with respect to the Trusts. In addition, the Authorized Participant agrees, upon request of the Distributor or the Managing Owner, and subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, to transmit to its account holders who are Beneficial Owners of Shares, such written materials received from the Distributor or the Managing Owner (including notices, annual reports, disclosure or other informational or tax materials and any amendments or supplements thereto and other communications) as may be required to be transmitted to Beneficial Owners pursuant to the Trust Agreement or applicable law, provided that the expenses associated with such transmissions shall be borne by the Managing Owner in accordance with usual custom and practice in respect of such communications.
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(e) The Authorized Participant agrees that, in connection with any sales of the Shares, it will not charge a commission to its customers in excess of one percent (1%) of the total amount of the sale.
Section 8. Indemnification .
(a) The Authorized Participant hereby indemnifies and holds harmless the Trust, the Managing Owner, the Distributor, and the Custodian and their respective direct or indirect affiliates (as defined below) and their respective directors, trustees, Managing Owners, partners, members, managers, officers, employees and agents (each, an “ AP Indemnified Party ”) from and against any losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and the reasonable costs of investigation) incurred by such AP Indemnified Party as a result of or in connection with: (i) any breach by the Authorized Participant of any provisions of this Agreement, including its representations, warranties and covenants; (ii) any failure on the part of the Authorized Participant to perform any of its obligations set forth in this Agreement; (iii) any failure by the Authorized Participant to comply with applicable laws and the rules and regulations of self-regulatory organizations; (iv) any actions of such AP Indemnified Party in reliance upon any instructions issued in accordance with the Procedures believed by the AP Indemnified Party to be genuine and to have been given by the Authorized Participant; or (v) (A) any representation by the Authorized Participant, its employees or its agents or other representatives about the Shares, any AP Indemnified Party or the Trust that is not consistent with the Trust’s then-current Prospectus made in connection with the offer or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell Shares and (B) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any research reports, marketing material and sales literature described in Section 12(b) hereof or any alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to the extent that such statement or omission relates to the Shares, any AP Indemnified Party or the Trust, unless, in either case, such representation, statement or omission was made or included by the Authorized Participant at the written direction of the Managing Owner or is based upon any omission or alleged omission by the Managing Owner to state a material fact in connection with such representation, statement or omission necessary to make such representation, statement or omission not misleading.
(b) The Managing Owner hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Authorized Participant, its respective subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who controls such persons within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (each, a “ Managing Owner Indemnified Party ”) from and against any losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and the reasonable cost of investigation) incurred by such Managing Owner Indemnified Party as a result of (i) any breach by the Managing Owner of any provision of this Agreement that relates to the Managing Owner; (ii) any failure on the part of the Managing Owner to perform any obligation of the Managing Owner set forth in this Agreement; (iii) any failure by the Managing Owner to comply with applicable laws; or (iv) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement as originally declared effective by the SEC or in any amendment thereof, or in any Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arising out of or based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except
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those statements in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based on information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Authorized Participant expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
(c) This Section 8 shall not apply to the extent any such losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses are incurred as a result of or in connection with any gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the AP Indemnified Party or the Managing Owner Indemnified Party, as the case may be. The term “ affiliate ” in this Section 8 shall include, with respect to any person, entity or organization, any other person, entity or organization which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such person, entity or organization.
(d) The indemnity agreements contained in this Section 8 shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Authorized Participant, its partners, stockholders, members, directors, officers, employees or any person (including each partner, stockholder, member, director, officer or employee of such person) who controls the Authorized Participant within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, or by or on behalf of the Managing Owner, its partners, stockholders, members, managers, directors, officers, employees or any person who controls the Managing Owner within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, and shall survive any termination of this Agreement. The Managing Owner, the Trust, Managing Owner Indemnified Party, and the Authorized Participant agree promptly to notify each other of the commencement of any Proceeding against it or any AP Indemnified Party or Managing Owner Indemnified Party, as the case may be, and, in the case of the Managing Owner, against any of the Managing Owner’s officers or directors, in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares or in connection with the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
Section 9. (a) Limitation of Liability . In the absence of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, none of the Managing Owner, the Trust, the Distributor or the Authorized Participant shall be liable to each other or to any other person, including any party claiming by, through or on behalf of the Authorized Participant, for any losses, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses arising out of any mistake or error in data or other information provided to any of them by each other or any other person or out of any interruption or delay in the electronic means of communications used by them. In addition, any references to the Distributor or the Custodian herein shall not be deemed to imply, nor have such parties agreed, to undertake any obligations under this Agreement nor made any representations or warranties under this Agreement and none of such parties shall be required to advance, expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur, become exposed to or be responsible for any loss, liability, damages, costs or expenses hereunder or in connection herewith regardless of form of action or legal theory including, without limitation, any type of special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever.
(b) Trust Liability . It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that (i) the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust or the Managing Owner, personally, and (ii) the debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to the Trust shall be enforceable against the assets of the Trust only, and not against the assets of any other trust, and none of the debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise
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existing with respect to any other trust shall be enforceable against the assets of the Trust. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust.
(c) Fund Liability . The Authorized Participant agrees and consents (the “Consent”) to look solely to the assets (the “Fund Assets”) of a Fund and to the Managing Owner and its assets for payment in respect of any claim against or obligation of that Fund. The Fund Assets include only those funds and other assets that are paid, held or distributed to the Trust on account of and for the benefit of the Fund, including, without limitation, funds delivered to the Trust for the purchase of Shares in the Fund. In furtherance of the Consent, the Authorized Participant agrees that (i) any debts, liabilities, obligations, indebtedness, expenses and claims of any nature and of all kinds and descriptions (collectively, “Claims”) of the Fund incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing and (ii) the Shares shall be subject to the following limitations:
1. (i) except as set forth below, the Claims and Shares (collectively, the “Subordinated Claims and Shares”) shall be expressly subordinate and junior in right of payment to any and all other claims against and Shares in the Trust and any series thereof, pursuant to any contract; provided, however, that the Authorized Participant’s Claims (if any) against and Shares shall not be considered Subordinated Claims and Shares with respect to enforcement against and distribution and repayment from the Fund, the Fund Assets and the Managing Owner and its assets; and provided further that (1) the Authorized Participant’s valid Claims, if any, against the Fund shall be pari passu and equal in right of repayment and distribution with all other valid Claims against the Fund and (2) the Authorized Participant’s Shares shall be pari passu and equal in right of repayment and distribution with all other Shares in the Fund; and (ii) the Authorized Participant will not take, demand, or receive from any series or the Trust or any of their respective assets (other than the Fund, the Fund Assets and the Managing Owner and its assets) any payment for the Subordinated Claims and Shares;
2. The Claims and Shares of the Authorized Participant shall only be asserted and enforceable against the Fund, the Fund Assets and the Managing Owner and its assets and such Claims and Shares shall not be asserted or enforceable for any reason whatsoever against any other series, the Trust generally or any of their respective assets;
3. If the Claims of the Authorized Participant against the Fund or the Trust are secured in whole or in part, the Authorized Participant hereby waives (under section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 1111(b)) any right to have any deficiency Claims (which deficiency Claims may arise in the event such security is inadequate to satisfy such Claims) treated as unsecured Claims against the Trust or any series (other than the Fund), as the case may be;
4. In furtherance of the foregoing, if and to the extent that the Authorized Participant receives monies in connection with the Subordinated Claims and Shares from a series or the Trust (or their respective assets), other than the Fund, the Fund Assets and the Managing Owner and its assets, the Authorized Participant shall be deemed to hold such monies in trust and shall promptly remit such monies to the series or the Trust that paid such amounts for distribution by the series or the Trust in accordance with the terms hereof; and
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5. The foregoing Consent shall apply at all times notwithstanding that the Claims are satisfied, the Shares are sold, transferred, redeemed or in any way disposed of and notwithstanding that the agreements in respect of such Claims and Shares are terminated, rescinded or canceled.
(d) Tax Liability . The Authorized Participant shall be responsible for the payment of any transfer tax, sales or use tax, stamp tax, recording tax, value added tax and any other similar tax or government charge applicable to the creation or redemption of any Basket made pursuant to this Agreement, regardless of whether or not such tax or charge is imposed directly on the Authorized Participant. To the extent the Managing Owner or the Trust is required by law to pay any such tax or charge, the Authorized Participant agrees to promptly indemnify such party for any such payment, together with any applicable penalties, additions to tax or interest thereon.
Section 10. Acknowledgment . The Authorized Participant acknowledges receipt of (i) a copy of the Trust Agreement and (ii) the current Prospectus and represents that it has reviewed and understands such documents.
Section 11. Effectiveness and Termination . Upon the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto, this Agreement shall become effective in this form as of the date first set forth above, and may be terminated at any time by any party upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the other parties unless earlier terminated: (i) in accordance with Section 2(a) hereof; (ii) upon notice to the Authorized Participant by the Managing Owner in the event of a breach by the Authorized Participant of this Agreement or the procedures described or incorporated herein; (iii) immediately in the circumstances described in Section 17(j) hereof; or (iv) at such time as the Trust is terminated pursuant to the Trust Agreement. For avoidance of doubt, the termination of this Agreement with respect to one Fund does not affect the status of this Agreement with respect to the other Funds.
Section 12. Marketing Materials; Representations Regarding Shares; Identification in Registration Statement .
(a) The Authorized Participant represents, warrants and covenants that (i), without the written consent of the Managing Owner, the Authorized Participant shall not make, or permit any of its representatives to make, any representations concerning the Shares or any AP Indemnified Party other than representations contained (A) in the then-current Prospectus, (B) in printed information approved by the Managing Owner as information supplemental to such Prospectus or (C) in any promotional materials or sales literature furnished to the Authorized Participant by the Distributor or the Managing Owner, and (ii) the Authorized Participant shall not furnish or cause to be furnished to any person or display or publish any information or material relating to the Shares, any AP Indemnified Person or the Trusts that are not consistent with the Trusts’ then current Prospectus. Copies of the then current Prospectus and any such printed supplemental information will be supplied by, or caused to be supplied by, the Distributor to the Authorized Participant in reasonable quantities upon request.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Authorized Participant may without the written approval of the Managing Owner prepare and circulate in the regular course of its business research reports, marketing material and sales literature that includes information,
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opinions or recommendations relating to the Shares (i) for public dissemination, provided that such research reports, marketing material or sales literature compare the relative merits and benefits of Shares with other products; and (ii) for internal use by the Authorized Participant. The Authorized Participant shall file all such research reports, marketing material and sales literature related to the Shares with FINRA to the extent required by the FINRA Conduct Rules.
(c) The Distributor may deliver electronically a single prospectus, annual or semi-annual report or other shareholder information (each, a “Shareholder Document”) to persons who have effectively consented to such electronic delivery. The Distributor will deliver Shareholder Documents electronically by sending consenting persons an e-mail message informing them that the applicable Shareholder Document has been posted and is available on the Fund’s website, [], and providing a hypertext link to the document. The electronic versions of the Shareholder Documents will be in PDF format and can be downloaded and printed using Adobe Acrobat.
By signing this Agreement, the Participant hereby consents to the foregoing electronic delivery of all Shareholder Documents to the e-mail address set forth on the signature page attached to this Agreement. The Participant further understands and agrees that unless such consent is revoked, the Participant can obtain access to the Shareholder Documents from the Distributor only electronically. The Participant can revoke the consent to electronic delivery of Shareholder Documents at any time by providing written notice to the Distributor. The Participant agrees to maintain the e-mail address set forth on the signature page to this Agreement and further agrees to promptly notify the Distributor if its e-mail address changes. The Participant understands that it must have continuous Internet access to access all Shareholder Documents.
(d) For as long as this Agreement is effective, the Authorized Participant agrees to be identified as an authorized participant of the Trust (i) in the section of the Prospectus entitled “Creation and Redemption of Shares” and in any other section as may be required by the SEC and (ii) on the Trust’s website. Upon the termination of this Agreement, (i) the Managing Owner shall remove such identification from the Prospectus in the amendment of either the Registration Statement or a supplement to the Prospectus, as applicable, next occurring after the date of the termination of this Agreement and (ii) the Managing Owner shall promptly update each Trust’s website to remove any identification of the Authorized Participant as an authorized participant of the Trust.
Section 13. Certain Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Managing Owner . The Managing Owner and the Trust, each covenants and agrees, as applicable:
(a) that (i) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained therein conform in all material respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (ii) the sale and distribution of the Shares as contemplated herein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or
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body having jurisdiction over the Trust, and (iii) no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency is required for the issuance of the Shares, except registration of the Shares under the 1933 Act.
(b) to notify the Authorized Participant and the Distributor promptly of the happening of any event during the term of this Agreement which could require the making of any change in the Prospectus then being used so that the Prospectus would not include an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, and, during such time, to prepare and furnish, at the expense of the Trust, as applicable, to the Authorized Participant promptly such amendments or supplements to such Prospectus as may be necessary to reflect any such change;
(c) to deliver to the Authorized Participant, at each time (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is amended or supplemented by the filing of a post-effective amendment and (ii) a new Registration Statement is filed to register additional Shares and a single Prospectus is used in reliance on Rule 429 under the 1933 Act, an Officer’s Certificate by duly authorized officers of the Managing Owner in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C .
In addition, any certificate signed by any officer of the Managing Owner and delivered to the Authorized Participant or counsel for the Authorized Participant pursuant hereto shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Managing Owner to the Authorized Participant as to matters covered thereby.
Section 14. Third Party Beneficiaries . Each AP Indemnified Party, to the extent it is not a party to this Agreement, is a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement (each, a “ Third Party Beneficiary ”) and may proceed directly against the Authorized Participant (including by bringing proceedings against the Authorized Participant in its own name) to enforce any obligation of the Authorized Participant under this Agreement which directly or indirectly benefits such Third Party Beneficiary.
Section 15. Force Majeure . No party to this Agreement shall incur any liability for any delay in performance, or for the non-performance, of any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any cause beyond its reasonable control. This includes any Act of God or war or terrorism, any breakdown, malfunction or failure of transmission in connection with or other unavailability of any wire, communication or computer facilities, any transport, port, or airport disruption, industrial action, acts and regulations and rules of any governmental or supra-national bodies or authorities or regulatory or self-regulatory organization or failure of any such body, authority or organization for any reason to perform its obligations.
Section 16. Ambiguous Instructions . If a Creation/Redemption Order Form otherwise in good form contains order terms that differ from the information provided in the telephone call at the time of issuance of the applicable order number, the Distributor will attempt to contact one of the Authorized Persons of the Authorized Participant to request confirmation of the terms of the Order. If an Authorized Person confirms the terms as they appear in the Order, then the Order shall be accepted and processed. If an Authorized Person contradicts the Order terms, the Order shall be deemed invalid, and a corrected Order must be received by the Distributor not later than
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the earlier of: (i) within 15 minutes of such contact with the Authorized Person; or (ii) 45 minutes after the Order Cut-Off Time. If the Distributor is not able to contact an Authorized Person, then the Order shall be accepted and processed in accordance with its terms notwithstanding any inconsistency with the terms of the telephone information. In the event that an Order contains terms that are illegible, the Order shall be deemed invalid and the Distributor will attempt to contact one of the Authorized Persons of the Authorized Participant to request retransmission of the Order. A corrected Order must be received by the Distributor not later than the earlier of (i) within 15 minutes of such contact with the Authorized Person or (ii) 45 minutes after the Order Cut-Off Time, as the case may be.
Section 17. Miscellaneous .
(a) Amendment and Modification . This Agreement, the Procedures and the Exhibits hereto may be amended, modified or supplemented by the Trusts and the Managing Owner, without consent of any Beneficial Owner or Authorized Participant from time to time by the following procedure. After the proposed amendment, modification or supplement has been agreed to, the Managing Owner shall mail a copy of the proposed amendment, modification or supplement to the Authorized Participant. For the purposes of this Agreement, mail shall be deemed received by the recipient thereof on the third (3 rd ) day following the deposit of such mail into the United States postal system. Within ten (10) calendar days after its deemed receipt, the amendment, modification or supplement will become part of this Agreement, the Attachments or the Exhibits, as the case may be, in accordance with its terms.
(b) Waiver of Compliance . Any failure of any of the parties to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by the party entitled to the benefits thereof only by a written instrument signed by the party granting such waiver, but any such written waiver, or the failure to insist upon strict compliance with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein, shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.
(c) Notices . Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, all notices required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be given in writing and delivered by personal delivery, by postage prepaid registered or certified United States first class mail, return receipt requested, by nationally recognized overnight courier (delivery confirmation received) or by telex, electronic mail, telegram or telephonic facsimile or similar means of same day delivery (transmission confirmation received), with a confirming copy by regular mail, postage prepaid. Unless otherwise notified in writing, all notices to the Trusts shall be given or sent to the Managing Owner and, if applicable, the Distributor. All notices shall be directed to the address or telephone or facsimile numbers or electronic mail addresses indicated below the signature line of the parties on the signature page hereof.
(d) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
(e) Assignment . Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of the other parties,
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except that any entity into which a party hereto may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion, or consolidation to which such party hereunder shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the business of the party, shall be the successor of the party under this Agreement and except that the Managing Owner may delegate its obligations hereunder to the Distributor or the Administrator by notice to the Authorized Participant. The party resulting from any such merger, conversion, consolidation or succession shall notify the other parties hereto of the change. Any purported assignment in violation of the provisions hereof shall be null and void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall be automatically assigned to any successor trustee or Managing Owner at such time such successor qualifies as a successor trustee or Managing Owner under the terms of the Trust Agreement.
(f) Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable Delaware conflict of laws principles) as to all matters, including matters of validity, construction, effect, performance and remedies. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and of any federal court located in the Borough of Manhattan in such State in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any action taken or omitted hereunder, and waives any claim of forum non conveniens and any objections as to laying of venue. Each party further waives personal service of any summons, complaint or other process and agrees that service thereof may be made by certified or registered mail directed to such party at such party’s address for purposes of notices hereunder.
(g) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken together, shall be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement as to any party hereto to produce or account for more than one such counterpart executed and delivered by such party.
(h) Interpretation . The section headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(i) Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the Trust Agreement, along with any other agreement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement and the Trust Agreement, supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, provided, however, that the Authorized Participant shall not be deemed by this provision to be a party to the Trust Agreement.
(j) Severance . If any provision of this Agreement is held by any court or any act, regulation, rule or decision of any other governmental or supra-national body or authority or regulatory or self-regulatory organization to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason, it shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable only to the extent so held and shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein, unless the Managing Owner determines in its discretion that the provision of this
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Agreement that was held invalid, illegal or unenforceable does affect the validity, legality or enforceability of one or more other provisions of this Agreement, and that this Agreement should not be continued without the provision that was held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, and in that case, upon the Managing Owner’s notification of the trustee of such a determination, this Agreement shall immediately terminate and the Managing Owner shall so notify the Authorized Participant immediately.
(k) No Strict Construction . The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.
(l) Survival . Sections 8 (Indemnification) and 14 (Third Party Beneficiaries) hereof shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
(m) Other Usages . The following usages shall apply in interpreting this Agreement: (i) references to a governmental or quasi-governmental agency, authority or instrumentality shall also refer to a regulatory body that succeeds to the functions of such agency, authority or instrumentality; and (ii) “including” means “including, but not limited to.”
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Authorized Participant and the Managing Owner, on behalf of itself and the Trust, have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first set forth above.
ETF Managers Capital LLC, Managing Owner of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Address: | ||
Telephone: | ||
Facsimile: | ||
E-mail: |
[Name of Authorized Participant]
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Address: | ||
Telephone: | ||
Facsimile: | ||
E-mail: |
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SCHEDULE A
Funds
Sit Rising Rate ETF (NYSE Arca: RISE)
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF CERTIFIED AUTHORIZED PERSONS OF AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT
The following are the names, titles and signatures of all persons (each an “Authorized Person”) authorized to give instructions relating to any activity contemplated by the Participant Agreement or any other notice, request or instruction on behalf of the Authorized Participant pursuant to the Participant Agreement (as hereinafter defined).
Authorized Participant: ________________________________
Name:
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Name:
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Title:
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Title:
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Signature:
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Signature:
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E-mail:
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E-mail:
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Phone:
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Phone:
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Name:
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Name:
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Title:
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Title:
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Signature:
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Signature:
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E-mail:
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E-mail:
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Phone:
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Phone:
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The undersigned, ___________________ [name], ________________ [title] of ________________________ [company], does hereby certify that the persons listed above have been duly elected to the offices set forth beneath their names, that they presently hold such offices, that they have been duly authorized to act as Authorized Persons pursuant to the Participant Agreement by and among [ name of Authorized Participant ], each of Sit Rising Rate ETF and ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I, dated December ___, 2014 (the “Participant Agreement”), and that their signatures set forth above are their own true and genuine signatures.
In Witness Whereof , the undersigned has hereby has caused this Agreement to be executed on the date set forth below.
By: |
Name: |
Title: | ||
Date: |
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EXHIBIT B
FACTORSHARES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
ESPOSITO SECURITIES, LLC - DISTRIBUTOR
STATE STREET BANK & TRUST - CUSTODIAN AND ADMINISTRATOR
CREATION / REDEMPTION ORDER FORM
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ORDER EXECUTION
Fund Trading Fax Number: (214) 855-2160
Creation/Redemption Order Line: (866) 453- 5199
Creation/Redemption Email: statd@espoglobal.com
I. TO BE COMPLETED BY AP: |
AP:
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Date:
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Time:
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Name:
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Phone Number:
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PIN #:
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Fax Number:
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DTC / NSCC Participant Number:
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Fund Name | # Create | # Redeem |
RISE / Sit Rising Rate ETF |
All Creation/ Redemption Order Forms are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) of Sit Rising Rate ETF, as applicable (each, the “Trust” and collectively, the “Trusts”) as currently in effect and the Participant Agreement among the Authorized Participant, the Trusts and the Managing Owner named therein (the “Participant Agreement”). Al l representations and warranties of the Authorized Participant set forth in the Participant Agreement are incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meaning given in the applicable Trust Agreement.
In connection with the submission of an order for the creation of Basket(s) on this Creation/Redemption Order Form, the undersigned understands that by submitting this Creation/ Redemption Order Form to the Distributor he/she; (i) is making the representations and warranties set forth in Annex A to this Creation/ Redemption Order Form, (ii) agrees that his/her execution of this Creation/ Redemption Order Form shall constitute (for all purposes) his/her execution of the applicable Trust Agreement and agreement to the terms thereof, and (i ii) acknowledges that the Managing Owner or its authorized designee, Esposito Securities, L LC, may rely upon his/her execution of this Creation/Redemption Order Form as constituting an execution of the Trust Agreement and agreement of the terms thereof The Authorized Participant understands that its OTC account will be charged the Transaction Fee as set forth in the currently effective Trust Agreement and/or Prospectus (as applicable).
The undersigned does hereby certify as of the date set forth below that he/she is an Authorized Person under the Participant Agreement and that he/she is authorized to deliver this Creation/Redemption Order Form to the Distributor, Esposito Securities, L LC, on behalf of the Authorized Participant.
Authorized Signature: |
I. TO BE COMPLETED BY DISTRIBUTOR:
This certifies the above order has been: | ||||
Accepted by the Distributor: | ||||
Declined: | ||||
Reason: | ||||
Order Affirmed with | ||||
AP and Custodian: | ||||
Authorized Signature: | ||||
Print Name: | ||||
Date: | Time: |
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EXHIBIT C
OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE
The undersigned, a duly authorized officer of ETF Managers Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, the Managing Owner (the “ Managing Owner ”) of the ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust (the “ Trust ”), and each of the series of the Trust (each, a “ Fund ” and collectively, the “ Funds ”) and pursuant to Section 13(c) of the Participant Agreement (the “ Participant Agreement ”), dated as of December ___, 2014, as amended from time-to-time, by and among the Managing Owner, the Trust and __________ (the “ Authorized Participant ”), hereby certify that:
1. | Each of the following representations and warranties of the Managing Owner is true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof: |
(a) | the Prospectus in the form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) under rule 424 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”) does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; the currently effective registration statement of the Trust on Form S-1 or S-3, if applicable (collectively, the “ Registration Statement ”) and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act; any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been so described or filed; the conditions to the use of Form S-1 or S-3, if applicable, have been satisfied; and the Registration Statement does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and the Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Managing Owner makes no warranty or representation with respect to any statement contained in the Registration Statement or any Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information concerning the Authorized Participant and furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Authorized Participant to the Managing Owner expressly for use in the Registration Statement or such Prospectus; |
(b) | the Trust has been duly formed and is validly existing as a statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware, as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and the Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement of the Trust (collectively, the “ Trust Agreement ”) authorizes the Managing Owner or its agents to issue and deliver the units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Funds (the |
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“ Shares ”) to the Authorized Participant hereunder as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
(c) | the Managing Owner has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full power and authority to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver the Participant Agreement; |
(d) | the Managing Owner is duly qualified and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the conduct of its business requires such qualification; and the Trusts are not required to so qualify in any jurisdiction; |
(e) | complete and correct copies of the Trust Agreement, and any and all amendments thereto, have been delivered to the Authorized Participant, and no changes thereto have been made; |
(f) | the outstanding Shares have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights; |
(g) | the Shares conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and the holders of the Shares will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; |
(h) | the Participant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust and the Managing Owner and constitutes the valid and binding obligations of the Trust and the Managing Owner, enforceable against the Trust and the Managing Owner in accordance with its terms; |
(i) | neither the Managing Owner nor the Trust is in breach or violation of or in default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time or both would result in any breach or violation of, constitute a default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under) its respective constitutive documents, or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Managing Owner or the Trust is a party or by which either of them or any of their properties may be bound or affected, and the execution, delivery and performance of the Participant Agreement, the issuance and sale of Shares to the Authorized Participant thereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby does not conflict with, result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which with notice, lapse of time or both would result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under), respectively, the limited |
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liability company agreement of the Managing Owner or the Trust Agreement, or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which, respectively, the Managing Owner or the Trust is a party or by which the Managing Owner or the Trust or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment or order applicable to the Managing Owner or the Trust;
(j) | no approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency is required in connection with the issuance and sale of Shares to the Authorized Participant hereunder or the consummation by the Managing Owner or the Trust of the transactions contemplated hereunder other than registration of the Shares under the 1933 Act, which has been effected, and any necessary qualification under the securities laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Shares are being offered or under the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”); |
(k) | except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (i) no person has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Trust to issue or sell to it any Shares or other equity interests of the Trust, and (ii) no person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial advisor to the Trust in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i), and (ii), whether as a result of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the sale of the Shares as contemplated thereby or otherwise; no person has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Managing Owner on behalf of the Trust or the Trust to register under the 1933 Act any other equity interests of the Trust, or to include any such shares or interests in the Registration Statement or the offering contemplated thereby, whether as a result of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the sale of the Shares as contemplated thereby or otherwise; |
(l) | each of the Managing Owner and the Trust have all necessary licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all necessary filings required under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, and has obtained all necessary authorizations, consents and approvals from other persons, in order to conduct its respective business; neither the Managing Owner nor the Trust is in violation of, or in default under, or has received notice of any proceedings relating to revocation or modification of, any such license, authorization, consent or approval or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to the Managing Owner or the Trust; |
(m) | all legal or governmental proceedings, affiliate transactions, off-balance sheet transactions, contracts, licenses, agreements, leases or documents of |
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a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been so described or filed as required;
(n) | except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings pending or threatened or contemplated to which the Managing Owner or the Trust, or any of the Managing Owner’s directors or officers, is or would be a party or of which any of their respective properties are or would be subject at law or in equity, before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency; |
(o) | [] whose report on the audited financial statements of the Trusts are filed with the SEC as part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act; |
(p) | the audited financial statement(s) included in the Prospectus, together with the related notes and schedules, presents fairly the financial position of the Trust as of the date indicated and has been prepared in compliance with the requirements of the 1933 Act and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles; there are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that are not included as required; and the Trust do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; |
(q) | subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been (i) any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change affecting the Managing Owner or the Trust, (ii) any transaction which is material to the Managing Owner or the Trust taken as a whole, (iii) any obligation, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), incurred by the Managing Owner or the Trust, which is material to the Trust, (iv) any change in the Shares purchased by the Authorized Participant or outstanding indebtedness of the Managing Owner or the Trust or (v) any distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on such Shares; |
(r) | the Trust is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares, will not be required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act; |
(s) | except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Managing Owner and the Trust own, or have obtained valid and enforceable licenses for, or other rights to use, the inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks (both registered and unregistered), tradenames, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary information |
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described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as being owned or licensed by them or which are necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses, (collectively, “ Intellectual Property ”); (i) to the knowledge of the Managing Owner or the Trust, there are no third parties who have or will be able to establish rights to any Intellectual Property, except for the ownership rights of the owners of the Intellectual Property which is licensed to the Managing Owner or the Trust; (ii) to the knowledge of the Managing Owner or the Trust, there is no infringement by third parties of any Intellectual Property; (iii) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Managing Owner or the Trust, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Managing Owner’s or the Trust’s rights in or to any Intellectual Property, and the Managing Owner and the Trust are unaware of any facts which could form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (iv) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Managing Owner or the Trust, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any Intellectual Property, and the Managing Owner and the Trust are unaware of any facts which could form a reasonable basis for any such claim; and (v) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Managing Owner or the Trusts, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Managing Owner or the Trust infringe or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others, and the Managing Owner and the Trust are unaware of any facts which could form a reasonable basis for any such claim;
(t) | all tax returns required to be filed by the Trust have been filed, and all taxes and other assessments of a similar nature (whether imposed directly or through withholding) including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto due or claimed to be due from such entities have been paid; and no tax returns or tax payments are due with respect to the Trust as of the date of the Participant Agreement; |
(u) | neither the Managing Owner nor the Trust have sent or received any communication regarding termination of, or intent not to renew, any of the contracts or agreements referred to or described in, or filed as an exhibit to, the Registration Statement, and no such termination or non-renewal has been threatened by the Managing Owner or the Trust or any other party to any such contract or agreement; |
(v) | with respect to its activities on behalf of the Trust, as provided for in the Trust Agreement, the Managing Owner maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Managing Owner’s duties thereunder; (ii) transactions with respect to the Trust are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; and (iii) assets are held for the Trust in accordance with the Trust Agreement; |
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(w) | on behalf of the Trust, the Managing Owner has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”), giving effect to the rules and regulations, and SEC staff interpretations (whether or not public), thereunder; such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Trust, are made known to the Managing Owner, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established; on behalf of the Trust, the Managing Owner has been advised of: (i) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Trust’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a role in the Trust’s internal controls; any material weaknesses in internal controls have been identified for the Trust’s auditors; |
(x) | any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Managing Owner believes to be reliable and accurate, and the Managing Owner has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources to the extent required; and |
(y) | neither the Managing Owner, nor any of the Managing Owner’s directors, members, managers, officers, affiliates or controlling persons nor the Trustee has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which has constituted or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the 1934 Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security or asset of the Trust to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares; and there are no affiliations or associations between any member of FINRA and any of the Managing Owner’s officers, directors or 5% or greater security holders, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. |
For purposes hereof, the term “Registration Statement” shall mean the Registration Statement as amended or supplemented from time to time to the date hereof and the term “Prospectus” shall mean the Prospectus as amended or supplemented from time to time to the date hereof.
2. | Each of the obligations of the Managing Owner to be performed by it on or before the date hereof pursuant to the terms of the Participant Agreement, and each of the provisions thereof to be complied with by the Managing Owner on or before the date hereof, has been duly performed and complied with in all material respects. |
Capitalized terms used, but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Participant Agreement.
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto, on behalf of the Managing Owner, subscribed our names this _____ day of _________, 2010.
By: | |||
Name: | |||
Title: |
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Exhibit 10.2
DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AGREEMENT
Registered 1933 Act Commodity Pools
This Distribution Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made this 29 th day of October 2014, by and among each Delaware statutory trust set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), each having its principal place of business at 35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B, Summit, NJ 07901, Esposito Securities, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (the “Distributor”), having its principal place of business at 300 Crescent Court, Suite 650, Dallas, TX 75201, and ETF Managers Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Managing Owner”), with its principal place of business at 35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B, Summit, NJ 07901.
WHEREAS , the Managing Owner serves as the sole managing owner and commodity pool operator of each Fund;
WHEREAS , the Managing Owner, on behalf of each Fund, has filed, or will file, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-l under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”);
WHEREAS , each Fund has engaged the Managing Owner to serve as its commodity pool operator; the Managing Owner is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) as a commodity pool operator, is a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”), and is subject to the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “CEA”),and all of the relevant rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Commodities Rules”);
WHEREAS , the CPO intends to create and redeem common shares of beneficial interest (the “Shares”) of each Fund on a continuous basis at their net asset value only in aggregations constituting a Creation Unit, as such term is defined in the Registration Statement;
WHEREAS , the Shares of each Fund will be listed on one or more national securities exchanges (together, the “Listing Exchanges”);
WHEREAS , the Trust desires to retain the Distributor to act as the distributor with respect to the issuance and distribution of Creation Units of each Fund, hold itself available to receive and process orders for such Creation Units in the manner set forth in the Trust’s Prospectus, and to enter into arrangements with broker-dealers who may solicit purchases of Creation Units and with broker-dealers and others to provide for servicing of shareholder accounts and for distribution assistance, including broker-dealer
WHEREAS , the Distributor is a registered broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”);
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WHEREAS , each Fund desires to retain the Distributor to act as the distributor of such Fund and to perform the services described herein and such additional services as may be agreed to from time to time; and
WHEREAS , the Distributor desires to provide the services described herein to the Funds.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual promises and undertakings herein contained, the parties agree as follows:
1. | Appointment. |
The Managing Owner, on behalf of each Fund, hereby appoints the Distributor as the exclusive distributor of each Fund listed in Exhibit A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, on the terms and for the period set forth in this Agreement and subject to the registration requirements of the federal securities laws and of the laws governing the sale of securities in the various states, and the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act in such capacity hereunder.
2. | Definitions. |
Wherever they are used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a) | “Prospectus” means the prospectus which constitutes part of the Registration Statement(s) of each Fund under the 1933 Act as such Prospectus may be amended or supplemented and filed with the SEC from time to time. | |
(b) | “Registration Statement” means the registration statement most recently filed from time to time by each Fund with the SEC and effective under the 1933 Act, as such registration statement(s) is amended by any amendments thereto at the time in effect; | |
(c) | All capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. |
3. | Duties of the Distributor |
(a) | The Distributor agrees to act as agent of each Fund and to work with each Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) in connection with the receipt and processing of all orders for purchases and redemptions of common units of beneficial interest of each Fund (“Shares”) in aggregations of 25,000 Shares (“Baskets”) from DTC Participants or participants in the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC Participants”) that have executed a Participant Agreement (the “Authorized Participants”), as defined in paragraph 3(b) hereof, with the Funds and the Managing Owner. The Funds acknowledge that the Distributor shall be obligated to accept all orders for Baskets subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable |
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Participant Agreement and guidelines established by the Managing Owner from time to time. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the Distributor from entering into like distribution service arrangements with other exchange traded funds. | ||
(b) | The Distributor agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to act as agent of each Fund with respect to the continuous distribution of Baskets of each Fund as set forth in each Registration Statement and in accordance with the provisions thereof. The Distributor further agrees as follows: (i) at the request of the Managing Owner, the Distributor shall coordinate with counsel to the Managing Owner and negotiate participant agreements (“Participant Agreements”) between and among Authorized Participants, the Funds and the Managing Owner, for transactions in Baskets of the Funds, in accordance with the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (ii) the Distributor shall generate, transmit and maintain copies of confirmations of Basket purchase and redemption order acceptances to the purchaser or redeemer (such confirmations will indicate the time such orders were accepted and will be made available to the Managing Owner promptly upon request and in no case, less frequently than daily as provided under section 3(j)(vii)); (iii) the Distributor shall make available copies of the Prospectus to Authorized Participants who have purchased Baskets in accordance with the Participant Agreements; (iv) the Distributor shall maintain telephonic, facsimile and/or access to direct computer communications links with the Transfer Agent; and (v) the Distributor shall maintain a list of Authorized Participants for each Fund and shall make such list available to the public upon request. | |
(c) | The Distributor agrees to use all reasonable efforts, consistent with its other business, to secure purchasers of Creation Units through Authorized Participants in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Prospectus. | |
(d) | All activities by the Distributor and its agents and employees that are primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units shall comply with the Registration Statement and Prospectus, the instructions of the Investment Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, and all applicable laws, rules and regulations including, without limitation, all rules and regulations made or adopted pursuant to the 1940 Act by the Commission or any securities association registered under the 1934 Act, including FINRA and the Listing Exchanges. | |
(e) | Except as otherwise noted in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, the offering price for all Creation Units will be the aggregate net asset value of the Shares per Creation Unit of the relevant Fund, as determined in the manner described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus. | |
(f) | The Managing Owner, on behalf of each Fund, reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption, or postpone the redemption settlement date, (1) for any period during which the NYSE, ARCA or any exchange on which a Fund’s assets are regularly traded is closed other than for customary weekend or holiday closings, or trading is suspended or restricted, (2) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which the delivery, disposal or evaluation of a Fund’s assets is not reasonably practicable, or (3) for |
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such other period as the Managing Owner determines to be necessary for the protection of the Shareholders. The Managing Owner may suspend the Distributor’s authority to process orders for Baskets on behalf of any Fund in accordance with the Participant Agreement upon notice to the Distributor. | ||
(g) | The Distributor is not authorized by the Managing Owner or any Fund to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or contained in shareholder reports or other material that may be prepared by or on behalf of a Fund (and with the assistance of the Distributor, as applicable) for the Distributor’s use. The Distributor shall be entitled to rely on and shall not be responsible in any way for information provided to it by the Managing Owner with respect to any Fund and its respective service providers and shall not be liable or responsible for the errors and omissions of such service providers, provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to protect the Distributor against any liability to the Managing Owner or a Fund or the Funds’ shareholders to which the Distributor would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. | |
(h) | The Distributor shall ensure that all direct requests by Authorized Participants for Prospectuses, product descriptions and periodic fund reports, as applicable, are fulfilled. The Distributor will generally make it known in the brokerage community that Prospectuses and product descriptions are available, including by (i) advising Listing Exchanges on which each Fund’s Shares are listed on behalf of its member firms of the same, (ii) making such disclosure in all marketing and advertising materials prepared and/or filed by the Distributor with FINRA, and (iii) as may otherwise be required by the SEC. The Distributor shall not bear any costs associated with printing Prospectuses and all other such materials. | |
(i) | The Distributer shall communicate Fund requirements and operational events to Authorized Participants. | |
(j) | The Distributor agrees to make available, at the Managing Owner’s request, one or more members of its staff to attend meetings of the Board of Managers of the Managing Owner in order to provide information with regard to the ongoing distribution process and for such other purposes as may be requested by the Managing Owner. | |
(k) | The Distributor shall review and approve all sales and marketing materials for compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations, and file such materials with FINRA, as required under the 1933 Act, and the rules promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Distributor shall not be responsible for the compliance of sales and marketing materials with the CEA, NFA, or the Commodities Rules. The Managing Owner shall be responsible for ensuring that all sales and marketing materials have been reviewed for compliance with the CEA and the Commodities Rules and filed with the CFTC or NFA, if applicable. |
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(l) | The Distributor shall provide training to employees of the Managing Owner with respect to the marketing material review process for which the Distributor is responsible, the SEC and FINRA regulations, and the applicability of these regulations as they relate to sales and marketing materials. Such training shall be provided onsite if requested by the Managing Owner, provided that the Managing Owner pay all reasonable travel expenses associated therewith. | |
(m) | The Distributor shall provide a system pursuant to which the Authorized Participants may contact the Distributor (or its affiliates) and place requests to create and redeem Baskets in accordance with the Participant Agreements, including without limitation: (i) generating and transmitting confirmations of purchase and redemption order acceptances to purchasers and redeemers of Baskets; (ii) providing acknowledgement to Authorized Participants that orders have been accepted; (iii) rejecting any orders that were not submitted in proper form or in a timely fashion; (iv) maintaining a toll-free line for Authorized Participants to place share creation and redemption orders; (v) transmitting creation and redemption records and restricted files to the Managing Owner daily; and (vi) reconciling Shares daily. | |
(n) | The Distributor has as of the date hereof, and shall at all times have and maintain, net capital of not less than that required by Rule 15c3-1 under the 1934 Act, or any successor provision thereto. In the event that the net capital of the Distributor shall fall below that required by Rule 15c3-1, or any successor provision thereto, the Distributor shall promptly provide notice to the Trust and the Investment Adviser of such event. |
4. | Duties of the Managing Owner. |
(a) | The Managing Owner, on behalf of each Fund, agrees that it will take all reasonable action necessary to monitor available Shares registered by each Fund and to register additional Shares of a Fund pursuant to the 1933 Act as may be required from time to time. The Managing Owner will make available to the Distributor such number of copies of each Fund’s then currently effective Prospectus and product description as the Distributor may reasonably request. The Managing Owner will furnish to the Distributor copies of annual audited reports of each Fund made by independent public accountants regularly retained by the Funds and such other publicly available information that the Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of Baskets. The Managing Owner shall keep the Distributor informed of the jurisdictions in which it has filed notice filings for Shares for sale on behalf of each Fund under the securities laws thereof and shall promptly notify the Distributor of any change in this information. The Distributor shall not be liable for damages resulting from the sale of Shares in authorized jurisdictions where the Distributor had no information from the Managing Owner that such sale or sales were unauthorized at the time of such sale or sales. The Managing Owner will be responsible for all legal fees resulting in the negotiation of AP agreements for fund administration. |
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5. | Fees and Expenses. |
(a) | The Distributor shall be entitled to receive compensation from each Fund related to its services hereunder or for additional services as may be agreed to between the Managing Owner, on behalf of each Fund, and the Distributor, in accordance with the Fee Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit B; | |
(b) | Each Fund shall bear the cost and expenses of: (i) the registration of Shares for sale under the Securities Act; and (ii) the registration or qualification of the Shares for sale under the securities laws and/or the costs related to the filing of DDOCs pursuant to the Commodities Rules, as applicable; | |
(c) | The Distributor shall pay (i) all expenses relating to Distributor’s broker/dealer qualification and registration under the 1934 Act; and (ii) the expenses incurred by the Distributor in connection with routine FINRA filing fees; | |
(d) | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Distributor and its affiliates may receive compensation or reimbursement from the applicable Funds with respect to any services not included under this Agreement, as may be agreed upon by the parties from time to time; and | |
(e) | The payments to the Distributor under this Agreement and under any other agreement between the Distributor or any of its affiliates and the Funds or the Managing Owner with respect to the Funds, will not, in the aggregate, exceed 5.0% of the aggregate dollar amount of the offering (in a dollar amount equal to the amount disclosed on Schedule C of the aggregate amount registered on the Registration Statement on Form S-1 or Form S-3, as applicable, in respect of each Fund). Schedule C will be amended from time-to-time in the event that additional amounts of Shares are registered. Each Fund will advise the Distributor if the payments described hereunder must be limited, when combined with selling commissions charged by other FINRA members and other payments that would constitute underwriting compensation as defined in FINRA Rule 2310, in order to comply with the 10% limitation on total underwriters’ compensation pursuant to FINRA Rule 2310. | |
(f) | The Managing Owner shall provide to the Distributor on an on-going basis information sufficient to enable Distributor to ensure compliance with FINRA Rule 2310, including calculations of underwriting compensation and total offering and operating expenses. |
6. | Indemnification. |
(a) | Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 14 and in the immediately following paragraph below, each Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor, its affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers and employees and agents and any person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (any of the Distributor, its officers, employees, agents and directors or such control persons, for purposes of this paragraph, a “Distributor Indemnitee” ) against any loss, |
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liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising out of or based upon (i) the Distributor providing services to a Fund pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) any claim that the Registration Statement, Prospectus, product description, shareholder reports, sales literature and advertisements specifically approved by each Fund and the Managing Owner or other information filed or made public by any Fund (as from time to time amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein (and in the case of the Prospectus and product description, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading under the 1933 Act, or any other statute or the common law; (iii) the breach by a Fund of any obligation, representation or warranty contained in this Agreement; or (iv) a Fund’s failure to comply in any material respect with applicable securities or commodities laws. | ||
Each Fund does not agree to indemnify the Distributor or hold it harmless to the extent that the statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Funds by or on behalf of the Distributor. Each Fund will also not indemnify any Distributor Indemnitee with respect to any untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or product description that is subsequently corrected in such document (or an amendment thereof or supplement thereto) if a copy of the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement) was not sent or given to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense at or before the written confirmation to such person in any case where such delivery is required by the 1933 Act and the applicable Fund had notified the Distributor of the amendment or supplement prior to the sending of the confirmation. In no case (i) is the indemnity of the Funds in favor of any Distributor Indemnitee to be deemed to protect the Distributor Indemnitee against any liability to the Funds or their respective shareholders to which the Distributor Indemnitee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement, or (ii) are the Funds to be liable under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section with respect to any claim made against any Distributor Indemnitee unless the Distributor Indemnitee shall have pursuant to Section 9 notified the applicable Fund in writing of the claim at its principal offices in New York, New York within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon Distributor Indemnitee (or after Distributor Indemnitee shall have received notice of service on any designated agent). | ||
Failure to notify the Funds of any claim shall not relieve the applicable Fund from any liability that it may have to any Distributor Indemnitee against whom such action is brought unless failure or delay to so notify the applicable Fund prejudices such Fund’s ability to defend against such claim. The Funds shall be entitled to participate at their own expense in the defense, or, if they so elect, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any claims, but if the Funds elect to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Funds and satisfactory to Distributor Indemnitee, |
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defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event the Funds elect to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, Distributor Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If the Funds do not elect to assume the defense of any suit, they will reimburse the Distributor Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Funds agree to notify the Distributor promptly of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them or any of their officers or the Managing Owner in connection with the issuance or sale of any of the Baskets or the Shares. | ||
(b) | The Distributor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Funds, the Managing Owner and each of their managers and officers and any person who controls the Funds within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (for purposes of this Section, the Funds, the Managing Owner and each of their managers and officers and their controlling persons are collectively referred to as the “Trust Affiliates”) against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising out of or based upon (i) the allegation of any wrongful act of the Distributor or any of its directors, officers, employees or affiliates in connection with its activities as Distributor pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) the breach of any obligation, representation or warranty contained in this Agreement by the Distributor; (iii) the Distributor’s failure to comply in any material respect with applicable securities laws, including applicable FINRA regulations; or (iv) any allegation that the Registration Statement, Prospectus, product description, shareholder reports, any information or materials relating to the Funds (as described in section 3(g)) or other information filed or made public by the Funds (as from time to time amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements not misleading, insofar as such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with information furnished to the Funds by or on behalf of the Distributor. | |
In no case (i) is the indemnity of the Distributor in favor of any Trust Affiliate to be deemed to protect any Trust Affiliate against any liability to the Funds or its security holders to which such Trust Affiliate would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) is the Distributor to be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in this Section with respect to any claim made against any Trust Affiliate unless the Trust Affiliate shall have notified the Distributor in writing of the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Trust Affiliate (or after the Trust Affiliate shall have received notice of service on any designated agent). | ||
Failure to notify the Distributor of any claim shall not relieve the Distributor from any liability that it may have to the Trust Affiliate against whom such action is brought on account of its indemnity agreement contained in this Section unless failure or delay to |
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so notify the Distributor prejudices the Distributor’s ability to defend against such claim. The Distributor shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce the claim, but if the Distributor elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Funds, the Managing Owner and the Trust Affiliates, and to any controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event that Distributor elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, the Funds or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If the Distributor does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the Funds, the Managing Owner, their officers and managers or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Distributor agrees to notify the Managing Owner and the Funds promptly of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of any of the Creation Units or the Shares. | ||
(c) | No indemnified party shall settle any claim against it for which it intends to seek indemnification from the indemnifying party, under the terms of section 6(a) or 6(b) above, without prior written notice to and consent from the indemnifying party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No indemnified or indemnifying party shall settle any claim unless the settlement contains a full release of liability with respect to the other party in respect of such action. This section 6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
7. | Representations. |
(a) | The Distributor represents and warrants that (i) it is duly organized as a Texas limited liability company and is and at all times will remain duly authorized and licensed under applicable law to carry out its services as contemplated herein; (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are within its power and have been duly authorized by all necessary action; (iii) its entering into this Agreement or providing the services contemplated hereby does not conflict with or constitute a default or require a consent under or breach of any provision of any agreement or document to which the Distributor is a party or by which it is bound; (iv) it is registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and is a member of FINRA, (v) it is in material compliance with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to it, including but not limited to the rules and regulations promulgated by FINRA; and (vi) shall as promptly as possible notify the Managing Owner should the representations and warranties under this Section 7(a) are no longer be true during the term of this Agreement; | |
(b) | The Distributor acknowledges that it is a financial institution subject to the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act (collectively, the “AML Acts”), which require, among other things, that financial institutions adopt compliance programs to guard against money laundering. The Distributor represents and warrants that it is in compliance with and will continue to comply with the AML Acts and applicable |
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regulations in all relevant respects. The Distributor agrees that it will take such further steps, and cooperate with the other as may be reasonably necessary, to facilitate compliance with the AML Acts, including but not limited to the provision of copies of its written procedures, policies and controls related thereto (“AML Operations”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expressly understood and agreed that neither the Managing Owner nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents, on its own behalf or on behalf of the Funds, shall have access to any of Distributor’s AML Operations, books or records pertaining to other clients or services of Distributor. | ||
(c) | The Distributor and the Managing Owner, on behalf of each Fund, each individually represent and warrant that it has in place and will maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to consumers and customers of the Funds. The Managing Owner, on behalf of the Funds, further represents to the Distributor that it has adopted a statement of its privacy policies and practices as required by Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-P and agrees to provide to the Distributor a copy of that statement annually. | |
(d) | The Managing Owner individually represents and warrants that (i) it is duly organized as a Delaware limited liability company and is and at all times will remain duly authorized to carry out its obligations as contemplated herein; (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are within its power and have been duly authorized by all necessary action; (iii) its entering into this Agreement does not conflict with or constitute a default or require a consent under or breach of any provision of any agreement or document to which such Fund is a party or by which it is bound; (iv) the Managing Owner is duly registered with the NFA as a Commodity Pool Operator and the Managing Owner will ensure compliance by each Fund with the CEA and all of the relevant Commodities Rules; (v) it possesses, licenses or has other rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks and service marks, trademark and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary for or used in the conduct of the Fund’s business and for the offer, issuance, distribution and sale of the Shares in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus and this Agreement, and such Intellectual Property does not and will not breach or infringe the terms of any Intellectual Property owned, held or licensed by any third party; (vi) the Registration Statements and each Fund’s Prospectus have been prepared, and all sales literature and advertisements (“Sales Literature and Advertisements”) approved by the Managing Owner with respect to the Funds or other materials prepared by or on behalf of the Funds shall be prepared, in all material respects, in conformity with the CEA, the Commodities Rules, the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC (the “SEC Rules and Regulations”); (vii) the Registration Statement and each Fund’s Prospectus contain, and all Sales Literature and Advertisements shall contain, all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with the CEA, the Commodities Rules, the 1933 Act, the SEC Rules and Regulations, and FINRA Rules and Regulations; and (viii) all statements of fact contained therein, or to be contained in all Sales Literature and Advertisements, are or will be true and correct in all material respects at the time indicated or the effective date, as the case may be, and |
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none of the Registration Statement, any Fund’s Prospectus, nor any Sales Literature and Advertisements shall include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of each Fund’s Prospectus in light of the circumstances in which made, not misleading. Each Fund shall, from time to time, file such amendment or amendments to the Registration Statement and each Fund’s Prospectus as, in the light of future developments, shall, in the opinion of counsel to the Managing Owner, be necessary in order to have the Registration Statement and each Fund’s Prospectus at all times contain all material facts required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of each Fund’s Prospectus in light of the circumstances in which made, not misleading. Each Fund shall not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or each Fund’s Prospectus without giving the Distributor reasonable notice thereof in advance and the Managing Owner shall promptly notify the Distributor of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Funds’ right to file at any time such amendments to the Registration Statement or any Fund’s Prospectus as the Managing Owner may deem advisable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Funds shall not be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to any information or statement provided by the Distributor for inclusion in the Registration Statement or any Fund’s Prospectus. | ||
(e) | The Managing Owner represents to the Distributor that the Registration Statement and Prospectus filed by the Managing Owner with the Commission with respect to the Funds have been prepared in conformity in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Managing Owner will notify the Distributor promptly of any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus and any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Managing Owner’s right to file at any time such amendments to any Registration Statement and/or supplements to any Prospectus, of whatever character, as the Managing Owner may deem advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional. The Managing Owner shall not be responsible in any way for any information, statements or representations given or made by the Distributor or its representatives or agents other than such information, statements or representations as are contained in such Prospectus or Registration Statement or financial reports filed on behalf of the Managing Owner or in any Sales Literature and Advertisements |
8. | Duration, Termination and Amendment. |
(a) | This Agreement shall be effective on October 29, 2014, and unless terminated as provided herein, shall continue for one year from its effective date, and hereafter from year to year, provided such continuance is approved annually by the Managing Owner. | |
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, as to each individual Fund by the Managing Owner or by the Distributor, on |
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sixty (60) days’ prior written notice. This Agreement shall automatically terminate without the payment of any penalty in the event of its assignment. | ||
(b) | No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated except by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which an enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought. |
9. | Notice. |
Any notice or other communication authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to either party shall be in writing and deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by confirmed facsimile, or posted by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the following address (or such other address as a party may specify by written notice to the other):
If to the Distributor:
Esposito Securities, LLC
ATTN: Legal/Compliance
300 Crescent Court Suite 650
Dallas, TX 75201
Telephone: (214) 855-2150
Facsimile: (214) 855-2160
If to the Managing Owner:
ETF Managers Capital LLC
35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B
Summit, NJ 07901
Telephone: (908) 897-0513
Facsimile: (917) 522-9729
If to a Fund:
Sit Rising Rate ETF
c/o ETF Managers Capital LLC
35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B
Summit, NJ 07901
Telephone: (908) 897-0513
Facsimile: (917) 522-9729
10. | Choice of Law. |
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This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Texas, without giving effect to the choice of laws provisions thereof.
11. | Counterparts. |
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
12. | Severability. |
If any provisions of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid, in whole or in part, then the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in force. Invalid provisions shall, in accordance with this Agreement’s intent and purpose, be amended, to the extent legally possible, in order to effectuate the intended results of such invalid provisions.
13. | Confidentiality. |
During the term of this Agreement, the Distributor and the Managing Owner, on its own behalf and on behalf of each Fund, may have access to confidential information relating to such matters as either party’s business, trade secrets, systems, procedures, manuals, products, contracts, personnel, and clients. As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information belonging to one of the parties that is of value to such party and the disclosure of which could result in a competitive or other disadvantage to such party.
Confidential Information includes, without limitation, financial information, proposal and presentations, reports, forecasts, inventions, improvements and other intellectual property; trade secrets; know-how; designs, processes or formulae; software; market or sales information or plans; customer lists; and business plans, prospects and opportunities (such as possible acquisitions or dispositions of businesses or facilities). Confidential Information includes information developed by either party in the course of engaging in the activities provided for in this Agreement, unless: (i) the information is or becomes publicly known through lawful means; (ii) the information is disclosed to the other party without a confidential restriction by a third party who rightfully possesses the information and did not obtain it, either directly or indirectly, from one of the parties, as the case may be, or any of their respective principals, employees, affiliated persons, or affiliated entities. The parties understand and agree that all Confidential Information shall be kept confidential by the other both during and after the term of this Agreement. Each party shall maintain commercially reasonable information security policies and procedures for protecting Confidential Information. The parties further agree that they will not, without the prior written approval by the other party, disclose such Confidential Information, or use such Confidential Information in any way, either during the term of this Agreement or at any time thereafter, except as required in the course of this Agreement and as provided by the other party or as required by law. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, or as otherwise requested by the Managing Owner, all Confidential Information held by or on behalf of Managing Owner or any Fund shall be promptly returned to the Managing Owner, or an authorized officer of the Distributor will certify to the Managing Owner in writing that all such Confidential Information has been destroyed. This section 13 shall survive the termination of this
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Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a party may disclose the other’s Confidential Information if (i) required by law, regulation or legal process or if requested by the SEC, the CFTC, FINRA or other governmental regulatory agency with jurisdiction over the parties hereto or (ii) requested to do so by the other party; provided that in the event of (i), the disclosing party shall give the other party reasonable prior notice of such disclosure to the extent reasonably practicable and shall reasonably cooperate with the other party (at such other party’s expense) in any efforts to prevent such disclosure.
14. | Limitation of Liability. |
This Agreement is executed by the Managing Owner on behalf of each Fund and the obligations hereunder are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers or shareholders of a Fund individually but are binding only upon each Fund to which such obligations pertain and the assets and property of such Fund. Separate and distinct records are maintained for each Fund and the assets associated with any such Fund are held and accounted for separately from the other assets of any other Fund. The debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Fund shall be enforceable against the assets of that Fund only, and not against the assets of any other Fund, and none of the debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to any other Fund shall be enforceable against the assets of that Fund. Each Fund’s Amended and Restated Trust Declaration, as may be amended form time to time, is on file with the Managing Owner.
15. | Use of names; Publicity. |
The Managing Owner and the Funds shall not use the Distributor’s name, or any trade or service mark owned by or licensed to the Distributor, in any offering material, shareholder report, advertisement or other material relating to the Funds, other than for the purpose of merely identifying and describing the functions of the Distributor hereunder, in a manner not approved by the Distributor in writing prior to such use, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. The Distributor hereby consents to all uses of its name required by FINRA, the SEC, the CFTC, any state securities commission, or any federal or state regulatory authority.
The Distributor or its affiliates shall not use the name of any Fund or the name of the Managing Owner, or any trade or service mark owned by or licensed to the Managing Owner or any Fund in any offering material, shareholder report, advertisement or other material relating to the Distributor, other than for the purpose of merely identifying and describing the functions of the Funds hereunder, in a manner not approved by the Managing Owner in writing prior to such use, provided that in no case shall such approval be unreasonably withheld. The Managing Owner and each Fund hereby consent to all uses of its name required by FINRA, the SEC, the CFTC or any state securities commission, or any federal or state regulatory authority.
The Distributor will not issue any press releases or make any public announcements regarding the existence of this Agreement without the express prior written consent of the Managing Owner. None of the Managing Owner, the Funds or the Distributor will disclose any of the economic terms of this Agreement, except as may be required by law.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their officers designated below as of the date first set forth above.
ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC, | |||
As Managing Owner of each of the Funds set forth on Exhibit A | |||
BY: | |||
Name: | |||
Title: | |||
ESPOSITO SECURITIES, LLC | |||
BY: | |||
Name: | |||
Title: |
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EXHIBIT A
Fund Name
Sit Rising Rate ETF
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EXHIBIT B
Fee Schedule
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EXHIBIT C
Pursuant to Section 5(e)
The payments to the Distributor under Section 5 and under any other agreement between the Distributor or any of its affiliates and the Funds or the Managing Owner with respect to the Funds, will not, in the aggregate, exceed 5.0% of the aggregate dollar amount of the offering (an amount equal to $25,000,000 of the $500,000,000 Shares registered on the Registration Statement on Form S-1 in respect of Sit Rising Rate ETF).
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Exhibit 10.3
LICENSING AND SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Licensing and Services Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of the __ day of November, 2014 (“ Effective Date ”), by and among Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC (“ Sit ”), a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business at 3300 IDS Center, 80 South 8th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402, and ETF Managers Capital LLC (“ ETF Managers Capital ”), a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business at 35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B, Summit, NJ 07901.
WHEREAS , ETF Managers Capital desires to retain Sit to provide certain services in connection with the operation of Sit Rising Rate ETF (the “ Fund ”), a series of the ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I, which is a Delaware series trust and offers its units to the public, which units will be traded on a national securities exchange (the date on which the Fund commences trading, the “ Launch Date ”); and
WHEREAS , Sit is willing to provide such services under the terms of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS , ETF Managers Capital desires to license the use of a model portfolio that is owned, maintained and published by Sit (the “ Benchmark ”); and
WHEREAS , Sit is willing to license the use of the Benchmark under the terms of this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing, and in reliance upon the mutual promises contained in this Agreement, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. | LICENSE |
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Sit hereby grants to ETF Managers Capital and the Fund a non-transferable, non-exclusive license: (i) to use the Benchmark as the basis, or a component, of the Fund, and (ii) subject to this Article, to reproduce, modify and create derivative works from any information provided to ETF Managers Capital by Sit, in each case solely in connection with the marketing, promotion and sale of the Fund and its shares and in connection with making such disclosure about the Fund as ETF Managers Capital deems necessary or desirable under any applicable laws, rules or regulations in order to indicate the source of the Benchmark (“ License ”). Sit reserves all rights with respect to the Benchmark except those expressly licensed to ETF Managers Capital hereunder; however, Sit shall not grant any license or sublicense permitting the use of the Benchmark for an exchange-traded fund on any U.S. or foreign securities exchange by any party other than ETF Managers Capital or the Fund for as long as this Agreement remains in effect and for six (6) months following the termination of this Agreement if a termination has occurred other than pursuant to a voluntary termination by ETF Managers Capital under the terms of this Agreement.
(b) ETF Managers Capital acknowledges that, as between ETF Managers Capital and Sit, the Benchmark is the exclusive property of Sit, and that the Benchmark and its compilation and composition and change therein are in the control of Sit. Sit warrants and represents that ETF Managers Capital does not need to obtain a license from any person (other than the License provided herein) with respect to the use of the Benchmark or the exercise of rights under the License.
2. | SERVICES |
During the term of this Agreement, Sit shall maintain, and publish the Benchmark in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and consistent with (i) the Fund’s investment objective, strategies, policies, and limitations as all are described in the Fund’s then-current prospectus and (ii) with any other regulatory requirements applicable to the Fund. In addition, Sit shall provide to ETF Managers Capital and the Fund, as applicable, services, including but not limited, to general consultation regarding the calculation, maintenance, and publication of the Benchmark, anticipated changes to the Benchmark and the nature of the Benchmark’s current or anticipated components and other such services as the parties to this Agreement may subsequently determine, as permitted by applicable law and exchange rules. Sit also agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to assist in the dissemination of the Benchmark’s data (to include, but not limited to, its components and such components value) as required by applicable securities laws and exchange rules. Further, Sit shall (a) provide general advice regarding the markets for
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and trading in commodity interests, (b) provide such information and data as may reasonably be requested by ETF Managers Capital regarding the principals of Sit and the Benchmark for inclusion in regulatory filings and marketing materials for the Fund, and (c) make reasonably available upon adequate notice speakers for Fund marketing events and persons to be interviewed by the press who can describe the Benchmark and its maintenance (the “ Services ”). Sit represents that its other engagements or activities are not of a nature or magnitude so as to have a material adverse effect on its ability to provide Services under this Article 2.
ETF Managers Capital acknowledges and agrees that Sit and its principals are required to devote only such time as may be reasonably required with respect to the Services. Other than as set forth below, Sit and its affiliates, including their respective partners, directors, members, stockholders, officers and employees (together, “ Sit’s Affiliates ”) will not be precluded from engaging directly or indirectly in any other business or activity, including, but not limited to, exercising investment advisory and management responsibility and buying, selling or otherwise dealing with securities, commodities or other investments for their own accounts, for the accounts of family members, for the accounts of other funds and for the accounts of individual and institutional clients. Sit and its Affiliates may also serve as the general partner or investment manager of other funds, client accounts and proprietary accounts (collectively, its “ Clients ”). Other than as set forth below, Sit and its Affiliates will perform, among other things, investment advisory and management services for Clients other than the Fund and in that connection to give advice and take action in the performance of their duties to those Clients which may differ from the timing and nature of action taken with respect to the Fund. Sit will make all investment decisions relating to the Fund and its other Clients in a manner consistent with its fiduciary obligations to act in good faith in what it considers to be the Fund’s and its Client’s best interests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sit and Sit’s Affiliates shall not engage in management, investment, or commodity trading activities, as the general partner, managing member, investment adviser, commodity trading advisor or otherwise for an exchange-traded fund (as defined below) that bases its return by reference to the Benchmark or a Substantially Similar Benchmark (as defined below), for as long as they are parties to this Agreement, and for six (6) months following the termination of this Agreement. “Substantially Similar Benchmark” shall mean a benchmark with all of the following criteria: (i) it is created by Sit or any of its Affiliates; (ii) its components consist of exchange traded futures contracts and options on futures on U.S. Treasury securities; and (iii) its components are selected and weighted to achieve a negative effective portfolio duration. “Exchange-traded fund” shall mean a fund open to the public and traded on a U.S. or foreign securities exchange whose net asset value is calculated daily and which trades throughout the trading day, and which does not invest in securities.
3. | FEES |
For the Services provided hereunder, ETF Managers Capital and/or the Fund will pay Sit an advisory fee as set forth in the fee schedule attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement.
4. | TERMS AND TERMINATIONS |
(a) This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and remain in effect for a period of two (2) years therefrom (“ Initial Term ”), unless earlier terminated by either ETF Managers Capital or Sit in accordance with this Article 4. After the Initial Term, this Agreement shall continue for successive one-year periods unless terminated by either such party as of the end of an annual period by providing written notice at least the period provided in Article 4(b) prior to such termination prior to the end of the annual period. Upon termination of this Agreement, ETF Managers Capital shall cease to use the Benchmark except as provided for in this Agreement.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated by ETF Managers Capital for any reason upon sixty (60) days written notice to Sit. This Agreement may be terminated by Sit upon sixty (60) days written notice to ETF Managers Capital for any reason.
(c) If a party (the “ Breaching Party ”) is in material breach of any terms of this Agreement, either ETF Managers Capital or Sit, as the case may be, may so notify the Breaching Party in writing, specifying the nature of the breach in reasonable detail. The Breaching Party shall have thirty (30) calendar days from delivery of that notice to correct the breach; provided that if the breach is not cured within the identified time period, the other party may terminate this Agreement at any time after the thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Breaching Party with another thirty (30) days’ written notice. Either ETF Managers Capital or Sit may terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30)
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days’ written notice to such other party if Sit or ETF Managers Capital, as the case may be, is dissolved or its existence is terminated; becomes insolvent or bankrupt or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they mature, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; makes a voluntary assignment or transfer of all or substantially all of its property; has a custodian, trustee, or receiver appointed for it, or for all or substantially all of its property; has bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangements, insolvency or liquidation proceedings, or other proceedings for relief under any bankruptcy or similar law for the relief of debtors, instituted by or against it, and, if instituted against it, any of the foregoing is allowed or consented to by the other party or is not dismissed within sixty (60) days after such institution.
(d) ETF Managers Capital acknowledges and agrees that Sit shall have the right, in its discretion, to cease maintenance and publication of the Benchmark and, in the event that the Benchmark is discontinued, Sit shall have the right to terminate this Agreement as to the Fund using the Benchmark if Sit does not intend to maintain and publish a replacement or substitute model portfolio. Sit shall give ETF Managers Capital at least sixty (60) days’ written notice prior to such discontinuance, which notice shall specify whether a replacement or substitute model portfolio will be available. ETF Managers Capital shall have the option hereunder to use the replacement model portfolio under the terms of this Agreement by notifying Sit within ninety (90) days of receiving written notice from Sit regarding the replacement model portfolio, on the same terms and conditions (including payment of fees as set forth in Article 3 of this Agreement) as ETF Managers Capital or the Fund previously used the discontinued Benchmark.
(e) No fees under Article 3 of this Agreement will be payable to Sit by ETF Managers Capital after termination of this Agreement as set forth in this Article 4 except any outstanding fees. The fee for the month in which this Agreement is terminated will be pro rated based on the number of days in the month during which the Agreement was in effect.
5. | INDEMNIFICATION |
(a) ETF Managers Capital shall indemnify, defend and hold Sit and its affiliates, members, directors, officers, shareholders, employees, representatives, agents, attorneys, successors and assigns (collectively, the “ Sit Indemnified Parties ”) harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, obligations, judgments, causes of action, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (collectively, “ Losses ”) arising out of any material breach of this Agreement by ETF Managers Capital or any disclosure in the Registration Statement of the Fund (except disclosure about Sit or the Benchmark that has been specifically approved by Sit), and out of ETF Managers Capital’s use of the Benchmark (including, without limitation, in connection with the marketing, promotion and sale of the Fund and its units) other than a case in which Sit is obligated to indemnify ETF Managers Capital under Article 5(b) and except to the extent Losses are the result of any grossly negligent act or omission of a Sit Indemnified Party.
(b) Sit shall indemnify, defend and hold ETF Managers Capital and its affiliates, members, directors, officers, shareholders, employees, representatives, agents, attorneys, successors and assigns (collectively, the “ ETF Managers Capital Indemnified Parties ”) harmless from and against any and all Losses arising out of (i) any material breach of this Agreement by Sit, (ii) any disclosure in the Registration Statement of the Fund about Sit or the Benchmark that has been specifically approved by Sit, (iii) any claim that Sit does not possess all rights necessary to grant the License granted by this Agreement, or (iv) the gross negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct of Sit in providing Services under this Agreement.
(c) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, in no event shall either ETF Managers Capital or Sit be liable for any indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, even if the party or an authorized representative thereof has been advised of the possibility of such damages. The federal securities laws impose liabilities under certain circumstances on persons who act in good faith; thus, nothing in this Agreement shall in any way constitute a waiver or limitation on any rights which a party may have under the federal securities laws.
(d) Promptly after receipt by any Indemnified Party of notice of the commencement of any action, the Indemnified Party shall, if indemnification is to be sought against the other party (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) under this Article 5, notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission to notify the Indemnifying Party shall relieve the Indemnifying Party from liability hereunder only to the extent that such
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omission results in the forfeiture by the Indemnifying Party of rights or defenses with respect to such action. In any action or proceeding, following provision of proper notice by the Indemnified Party of the existence of such action, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to participate in any such action and to assume the defense thereof, with counsel of its choice, and after notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of the Indemnified Party’s election to assume the defense of the action, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party hereunder for any attorneys’ fees subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified party shall cooperate in the defense of settlement of claims so assumed. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable hereunder for the settlement by the Indemnified Party for any claim or demand unless it has previously approved the settlement or it has been notified of such claim or demand and has failed to provide a defense in accordance with the provisions hereof. Without limiting the foregoing, in no event may either party make any admission of liability by or on behalf of the other party without such other party’s express prior written consent.
6. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
(a) Each party represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Sit represents and warrants that it has the right to grant licenses under the Benchmark and that to its knowledge use of the Benchmark by ETF Managers Capital as provided herein shall not infringe any trade name, trademark, trade dress, copyright, other proprietary right, or contractual right of any person not a party to this Agreement. Except for the warranties set forth herein, Sit makes no warranty, express or implied, concerning the Benchmark, and makes no warranty as to its merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. In particular, and without limiting the foregoing, Sit does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, or completeness of the Benchmark.
(c) ETF Managers Capital represents and warrants that both ETF Managers Capital and the Fund shall not commit any material violation of any applicable law or regulation, including but not limited to banking, commodities and securities laws.
(d) Sit represents and warrants that Sit shall not commit any material violation of any applicable law or regulation, including but not limited to banking, commodities and securities laws.
(e) ETF Managers Capital agrees to include the following disclosure or the substance thereof in the Fund’s prospectus:
The Benchmark Portfolio is the exclusive property of Sit, which has licensed the use of the Benchmark Portfolio for use by ETF Managers Capital. Sit is solely responsible for determining the securities included in, and the calculation of, the Benchmark Portfolio. Neither Sit nor its affiliates make any representation regarding the appropriateness of the Fund’s investments for the purpose of tracking the performance of the Benchmark Portfolio or otherwise.
7. | CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION |
(a) By virtue of this Agreement, either ETF Managers Capital or Sit may have access to information that is confidential to the other party including, without limitation, all business, technical, financial, customer and/or any other proprietary information of a party, products, processes, tools, services, technical knowledge and any other information and/or materials clearly marked as confidential or information identified as confidential at the time of disclosure or summarized as confidential in a written memorandum delivered to the recipient within thirty (30) calendar days of disclosure, including, without limitation, all information concerning the Benchmark, whether or not so marked (collectively, “ Confidential Information ”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a party’s Confidential Information shall not include information which: (i) is or becomes a part of the public domain through no act or omission of the other party; (ii) was in the other party’s lawful possession prior to the disclosure and had not been obtained by the other party either directly or indirectly from the disclosing party; (iii) is lawfully disclosed to the other party by a third party without restriction on disclosure; or (iv) is independently developed by the other party without reference to any Confidential Information. In addition, the obligations of this Article 7 do not apply to confidential information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to a duly authorized subpoena, court order, or government authority, provided that to the extent permitted by law the party subject to same shall provide immediate
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written notice to the other party upon receipt of subpoena, order, or other disclosure requirement prior to such disclosure and allow such other party the opportunity to intervene in the action in order to attempt to enjoin such subpoena, order, or other disclosure requirement. Such Confidential Information shall remain confidential for all other purposes.
(b) ETF Managers Capital and Sit agree to secure and protect the Confidential Information of each other in a manner consistent with the maintenance of the other party’s rights therein, using at least as great a degree of care as each party uses to maintain the confidentiality of its own confidential information of a similar nature, but in no event using less than its reasonable efforts. Neither ETF Managers Capital nor Sit shall sell, transfer, publish, disclose, or otherwise make available any portion of the Confidential Information of the other party to third parties, except as necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement or as expressly authorized in this Agreement. Each party represents that it has, and agrees to maintain, an appropriate agreement with each third party who may have access to Confidential Information sufficient to enable such party to comply with all of the terms of this Agreement.
(c) ETF Managers Capital and Sit agree that the unauthorized use by any party of the other party’s Confidential Information will diminish the value of such Confidential Information and will cause substantial and irreparable damage to the party whose Confidential Information was improperly disclosed, and that the remedies generally available at law may be inadequate. Accordingly, ETF Managers Capital and Sit agree that a breach of this Article 7 shall entitle Sit (in the case of a breach by ETF Managers Capital) or ETF Managers Capital (in the case of a breach by Sit) to seek equitable relief to protect its interest herein, including injunctive relief, as well as money damages. The parties agree that the obligations under this Article shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement.
(d) Each party shall be free to use for itself and for others in any manner the general knowledge, skill or experience acquired by it in connection with this Agreement.
8. | GENERAL |
(a) RIA; CTA . Sit is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and as a commodity trading advisor with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and is a member of the National Futures Association. Sit has provided Part 2 of its current Form ADV to ETF Managers Capital and will provide any revised Part 2 (or equivalent disclosure document) within a reasonable time after the revisions are made.
(b) Captions Not Determinative . Titles and paragraph headings herein are for convenient reference only and are not part of this Agreement.
(c) Independent Contractors. ETF Managers Capital and Sit are independent contractors to one another. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to create a partnership, joint venture or agency relationship between ETF Managers Capital, on the one hand, and Sit, on the other hand.
(d) Force Majeure . No party shall be in default or otherwise liable for any delay in or failure of its performance under this Agreement where such delay or failure arises by reason of any act of God, or any government or any governmental body, any act of war or terrorism, the elements, strikes or labor disputes, or other similar or dissimilar cause beyond the control of such party.
(e) Notice . All notices, including notices of address changes, required to be sent hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid to the appropriate address below:
If to Sit:
Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC
3300 IDS Center
80 South 8 th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
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If to ETF Managers Capital:
ETF Managers Capital LLC
35 Beechwood Road
Suite 2B
Summit, NJ 07901
(f) Severability . In the event that any provision of this Agreement is held invalid by a court with jurisdiction over the parties, such provision shall be deemed to be restated to be enforceable, in a manner which reflects, as nearly as possible, the intent and economic effect of the invalid provision in accordance with applicable law. The remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
(g) Waiver . The waiver by any party of any default or breach of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any other or subsequent default or breach.
(h) Modification . No representation or promise hereafter made, nor any modification or amendment of this Agreement, shall be binding unless in writing and executed by duly authorized agents of all parties affected by the modification or amendment.
(i) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but which together shall constitute one and the same document.
(j) Assignment . ETF Managers Capital may not assign this Agreement or any of the rights or obligations granted hereunder without Sit’s prior written consent, and Sit may not assign this Agreement or any of the rights or obligations granted hereunder (except to an affiliate under common control) without ETF Managers Capital’s prior written consent.
(k) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed solely and exclusively in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflicts of law principles.
(l) Survival . The terms of Articles 5 and 7 shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
(m) Authority . The person signing this Agreement on behalf of each party has been properly authorized and empowered to execute agreements such as this Agreement on behalf of such party.
(n) Entire Agreement . This Agreement and any Exhibits constitute the complete agreement between the parties and supersede all previous or contemporaneous agreements, proposals, understandings, and representations, written or oral, with respect to the subject matter addressed herein.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this Licensing and Services Agreement, and intend to be legally bound by it, as of the Effective Date.
Attest: | ||
(Printed Name) | By: | |
Attest: | ||
(Printed Name) | By: |
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EXHIBIT A
Fee Schedule
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Exhibit 10.5
11/25/14
FUND ADMINISTRATION SERVICING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the ____ day of November, 2014, by and between U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC , a Wisconsin limited liability company (“Fund Services”), ETF MANAGERS GROUP COMMODITY TRUST I ,, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), for itself and on behalf of each of its series listed on Exhibit A to this Agreement (as amended from time to time) (each a “Fund”) and ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC , the sponsor of the Funds (the “Sponsor”).
WHEREAS, each Fund is operated as a commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act and is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by means of a registration statement on Form S-1 or Form S-3, as applicable (each a “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Sponsor has exclusive responsibility for the management and control of the business and affairs of the Trust and each Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Trust and Sponsor desire to retain Fund Services to provide fund administration services to each Fund listed on _ hereto (as amended from time to time) the services described herein, all as more fully set forth below;
WHEREAS, the Trust and Sponsor desire to retain Fund Services to provide to each Fund the fund administration services described herein, all as more fully set below;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:
1. | Appointment of Fund Services as Fund Administrator |
The Trust and Sponsor hereby appoint Fund Services as fund administrator for the term of this Agreement to perform the services and duties described herein. Fund Services hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement. The services and duties of Fund Services shall be confined to those matters expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against Fund Services hereunder.
2. | Delivery of Documents |
The Trust and the Sponsor will on a continuing basis provide, or make available to, Fund Services:
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A. | Copies of the Trust’s most recent registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; |
B. | Copies of all agreements between the Trust and its service providers, including without limitation, sponsor and distribution agreements; |
C. | Copies of each Fund’s valuation procedures, to the extent they are developed; |
D. | A copy of the Trust’s charter documents; |
E. | Any other documents or resolutions which relate to or affect Fund Services’ performance of its duties hereunder; and |
F. | Copies of any and all amendments or supplements to the foregoing. |
3. | Services and Duties of Fund Services |
Fund Services shall provide the following administration services to each Fund:
A. | General Fund Management: |
(1) | Act as liaison among Fund service providers. |
(2) | Supply: |
a. | Office facilities (which may be in Fund Services’, or an affiliate’s, or Fund’s own offices). |
b. | Non-investment-related statistical and research data as requested. |
(3) | Audits: |
a. | For the annual Fund audit, prepare appropriate schedules and materials. Provide requested information to the independent auditors, and facilitate the audit process. |
b. | For SEC or other regulatory audits, provide requested information to the SEC or other regulatory agencies and facilitate the audit process. |
c. | For all audits, provide office facilities, as needed. |
(4) | Assist with overall operations of the Fund. |
(5) | Pay Fund expenses upon written authorization from the Trust or Sponsor. |
(6) | Keep the Trust’s governing documents, including its charter and bylaws, but only to the extent such documents are provided to Fund Services by the Trust or its representatives for safe keeping. Maintain required books and records for each Fund, as required by all applicable statutes, rules and regulations. This will be subject to and in accordance with Section 9 of the Agreement, maintain files of registration statements, Fund contracts, compliance materials and other Fund documents that are prepared by Fund Services or furnished to Fund Services by the Fund, as required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), U.S. Commodity |
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Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), National Futures Association (“NFA”) and NYSE rules adopted thereunder, as they may be amended from time to time, and other requirements. |
B. | Compliance: |
(1) | Regulatory Compliance: |
a. | Monitor Fund’s compliance with the policies and investment limitations as set forth in its registration statement. |
b. | Perform its duties hereunder in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and provide any sub-certifications reasonably requested by the Trust in connection with (i) any certification required of the Trust pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “SOX Act”) or any rules or regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder, and (ii) the operation of Fund Services’ compliance program as it relates to the Trust, provided the same shall not be deemed to change Fund Services’ standard of care as set forth herein. |
c. | Monitor applicable regulatory and operational service issues, including exchange listing requirements. |
(2) | SEC Registration and Reporting: |
a. | Prepare, update and maintain a calendar for all SEC, CFTC, NFA and NYSE regulatory matters in a form to be agreed upon by the parties from time to time; provided that the Funds and/or the Sponsor shall notify Fund Services of additional regulatory matters to be added to such calendar as soon as practicable. |
b. | Within a 45 day production cycle, or shorter time period as required by the SEC and communicated to Fund Services by the Funds or the Sponsor, prepare one Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Funds for each of the first three fiscal quarters of the Funds, or as necessary. The preparation of each Form 10-Q includes the coordination of all printer and author edits, the review of printer drafts and the review of final printer invoices. |
c. | Within a 90 day production cycle, or shorter time period as required by the SEC and communicated to Fund Services by the Funds or the Sponsor, prepare an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Funds’ fiscal year. The preparation of the Form 10-K includes the coordination of all printer and author edits, the review of printer drafts and the review of final printer invoices. Fund Services in consultation with the Funds or the Sponsor shall facilitate delivery of the filing to the printer. Within 90 days after the end of the Funds’ fiscal year, prepare one Annual Report of the Funds in compliance with the requirements of CFTC Rule § 4.22(c); such preparation includes the coordination of all printer and author edits, the review of printer drafts and review of final printer invoices. Fund Services in consultation with the Funds or the |
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Sponsor shall make arrangements for the printing and mailing of the Annual Report. |
d. | Apply for all portfolio Tax I.D. numbers and CUSIP numbers. |
e. | At the request of the Sponsor, assist with the coordination of the requests for information/documentation from the SEC, CFTC, NFA and NYSE Arca. |
f. | Upon review and approval of each form 10-K and 10-Q by the Sponsor and upon request, Fund Services shall EDGARize and file, or caused to be EDGARized and filed, such reports with the SEC. |
g. | Fund Services also shall prepare and file, or cause to be filed, the following regulatory notices/forms/reports: |
(i) | Forms 3, 4 and 5 and Schedules 13D and 13G for the officer of the Sponsor and such other persons as requested by the Funds with the SEC. |
(ii) | Current Reports on Form 8-K as circumstances warrant with the SEC. |
(iii) | Other notices/forms as agreed to among the Funds, the Sponsor and Fund Services with the NYSE. |
C. | Financial Reporting: |
(1) | Provide financial data required by the registration statement. |
(2) | Within a 30 day period following the end of the Funds’ required monthly reporting period, prepare an Account Statement in compliance with the requirements of CFTC Rule § 4.22(a), including a Statement of Income (Loss) and a Statement of Changes in Net Asset Value; Fund Services shall coordinate the filing of the Account Statements with the NFA. Upon review and approval of each above-mentioned report by the Sponsor, Fund Services shall file such reports with the CFTC and/or NFA, as required, including any applicable executive officer certifications or other exhibits to such reports. |
(3) | Supervise the Fund’s custodian and fund accountants in the maintenance of the Fund’s general ledger and in the preparation of the Fund’s financial statements, including oversight of expense accruals and payments, the determination of net asset value and the declaration and payment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders. |
(4) | Monitor expense accruals and make adjustments as necessary; notify the Trust’s management of adjustments expected to materially affect the Fund’s expense ratio. |
(5) | Prepare and coordinate filing Form 8-K with the SEC, prepare file for upload to the Funds’ website. |
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(6) | Prepare and review the Fund’s Financial Statements: for transmission to service providers in connection with their preparation of Quarterly Reports on form 10-Q and Annual Reports on form 10-K (Quarterly/Annual): |
a. | Statement of Financial Condition. |
b. | Statement of Investments. |
c. | Statement of Operations. |
d. | Statement of Changes in Net Assets. |
e. | Statement of Cash Flows. |
f. | Notes to the Financial Statements. |
g. | Review of other financial data included in 10-Qs and 10-Ks. |
h. | Any other information that may be required by rule or regulation. |
D. Tax Reporting:
(1) | Prepare for the review of the independent accountants and/or Fund Management the federal and state tax returns including, without limitation, Form 1120 RIC and applicable state returns including any necessary schedules. Fund Services will prepare annual Fund federal and state income tax return filings as authorized by and based on the instructions received by the Sponsor and/or its independent accountant. |
(2) | Provide the Fund’s Sponsor and independent accountant with tax reporting information pertaining to the Fund and available to Fund Services as required in a timely manner. |
(3) | Prepare Fund financial statement tax footnote disclosures for the review and approval of Sponsor and/or its independent accountant. |
(4) | Monitor wash sale losses(5) Calculate Qualified Dividend Income (“QDI”) for qualifying Fund Shareholders. |
4. | Compensation |
Fund Services shall be compensated for providing the services set forth in this Agreement in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit C hereto (as amended from time to time). Fund Services shall also be compensated for such out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., telecommunication charges, postage and delivery charges, and reproduction charges) as are reasonably incurred by Fund Services in performing its duties hereunder. The Trust shall pay all such fees and reimbursable expenses within 30 calendar days following receipt of the monthly billing notice, except for any fee or expense subject to a good faith dispute. The Trust shall notify Fund Services in writing within 30 calendar days following receipt of each invoice if the Trust is disputing any amounts in good faith. The Trust shall pay such disputed amounts within 10 calendar days of the day on which the parties agree to the amount to be paid. With the exception of any fee or
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expense the Trust is disputing in good faith as set forth above, unpaid invoices shall accrue a finance charge of 1½% per month after the due date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by the Trust to Fund Services shall only be paid out of the assets and property of the particular Fund involved.
5. | License of Data; Warranty; Termination of Rights |
A. | Fund Services has entered into an agreement with MSCI index data services (“MSCI”), Standard & Poor Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and FactSet Research Systems, Inc. (“FACTSET”) and obligates Fund Services to include a list of required provisions in this Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B . The index data services being provided to the Trust by Fund Services pursuant hereto (collectively, the “Data”) are being licensed, not sold, to the Trust. The provisions in Exhibit B shall not have any affect upon the standard of care and liability Fund Services has set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. |
B. | The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Fund Services, its information providers, and any other third party involved in or related to the making or compiling of the Data, their affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents from and against any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, as incurred, arising in and any manner out of the Trust’s or any third party’s use of, or inability to use, the Data or any breach by the Trust of any provision contained in this Agreement. The immediately preceding sentence shall not have any effect upon the standard of care and liability of Fund Services as set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement. |
6. | Representations and Warranties |
A. | The Trust and Sponsor each hereby represents and warrants to Fund Services, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that: |
(1) | It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; |
(2) | This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust or Sponsor, as applicable, in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust or Sponsor, as applicable, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; |
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(3) | It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or |
affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
B. | Fund Services hereby represents and warrants to the Trust and Sponsor, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that: |
(1) | It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; |
(2) | This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Fund Services in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of Fund Services, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and |
(3) | It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement. |
7. | Standard of Care; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability |
A. | Fund Services shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. Fund Services shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with its duties under this Agreement, including losses resulting from mechanical breakdowns or power supplies beyond Fund Services’ control, except a loss arising out of or relating to Fund Services’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if Fund Services has exercised reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless Fund Services from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that Fund Services may sustain or incur or that may be asserted |
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against Fund Services by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in performing the services hereunder (i) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (ii) in reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to Fund Services by any duly authorized officer of the Trust or the Sponsor, except for any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities arising out of or relating to Fund Services’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Trust, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. As used in this paragraph, the term “Fund Services” shall include Fund Services’ directors, officers and employees. |
Each Fund shall indemnify Fund Services against and save Fund Services harmless from any loss, damage or expense, including counsel fees and other costs and expenses of a defense against any claim or liability, arising from any one or more of the following:
(1) Errors in records or instructions, explanations, information, specifications or documentation of any kind, as the case may be, supplied to Fund Services by any third party described above or by or on behalf of a Fund;
(2) Action or inaction taken or omitted to be taken by Fund Services pursuant to written or oral instructions of the fund or otherwise without negligence or willful misconduct.;
(3) Any action taken or omitted to be taken by Fund Services in good faith in accordance with the advice or opinion of counsel for a Fund or its own counsel;
(4) Any improper use by a Fund or its agents, distributor or investment advisor of any valuations or computations supplied by Fund Services pursuant to this Agreement.
Fund Services shall indemnify and hold the Trust harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that the Trust may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against the Trust by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by Fund Services as a result of Fund Services’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, or from its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of Fund Services, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. As used in this paragraph, the term “Trust” shall include the Trust’s trustees, officers and employees.
Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for consequential, special or punitive damages under any provision of this Agreement.
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In the event of a mechanical breakdown or power supplies beyond its control, Fund Services shall take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions for any period that such interruption continues. Fund Services will make every reasonable effort to restore any lost or damaged data and correct any errors resulting from such a breakdown at the expense of Fund Services. Fund Services agrees that it shall, at all times, have reasonable contingency plans with appropriate parties, making reasonable provision for emergency use of electrical data processing equipment to the extent appropriate equipment is available. Representatives of the Trust shall be entitled to inspect Fund Services’ premises and operating capabilities at any time during regular business hours of Fund Services, upon reasonable notice to Fund Services. Moreover, Fund Services shall provide the Trust, at such times as the Trust may reasonably require, copies of reports rendered by independent accountants on the internal controls and procedures of Fund Services relating to the services provided by Fund Services under this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the above, Fund Services reserves the right to reprocess and correct administrative errors at its own expense.
B. | In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this section shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation that presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification. The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim that may be the subject of this indemnification. In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim, and the indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this section. The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor’s prior written consent. |
C. | The indemnity and defense provisions set forth in this Section 6 shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement. |
D. | If Fund Services is acting in another capacity for the Trust pursuant to a separate agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve Fund Services of any of its obligations in such other capacity. |
E. | Paid Tax Preparer Disclaimer: In conjunction with the tax services provided to each Fund by Fund Services hereunder, Fund Services shall not be deemed to act as an income tax return preparer for any purpose including as such term is defined under Section 7701(a)(36) of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), or any successor thereof. Any information provided by Fund Services to a Fund for |
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income tax reporting purposes with respect to any item of income, gain, loss, or credit will be performed solely in Fund Services’ administrative capacity. Fund Services shall not be required to determine, and shall not take any position with respect to whether, the reasonable belief standard described in Section 6694 of the IRC has been satisfied with respect to any income tax item. Each Fund, and any appointees thereof, shall have the right to inspect the transaction summaries produced and aggregated by Fund Services, and any supporting documents thereto, in connection with the tax reporting services provided to each Fund by Fund Services. Fund Services shall not be liable for the provision or omission of any tax advice with respect to any information provided by Fund Services to a Fund. The tax information provided by Fund Services shall be pertinent to the data and information made available to us, and is neither derived from nor construed as tax advice. |
8. | Data Necessary to Perform Services |
The Trust or its agent shall furnish to Fund Services the data necessary to perform the services described herein at such times and in such form as mutually agreed upon.
9. | Proprietary and Confidential Information |
Fund Services agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust, all records and other information relative to the Trust and prior, present, or potential shareholders of the Trust (and clients of said shareholders), and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld (i) where Fund Services may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, (ii) when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or (iii) when so requested by the Trust. Records and other information which have become known to the public through no wrongful act of Fund Services or any of its employees, agents or representatives, and information that was already in the possession of Fund Services prior to receipt thereof from the Trust or its agent, shall not be subject to this paragraph.
Further, Fund Services will adhere to the privacy policies adopted by the Trust pursuant to Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, as may be modified from time to time. In this regard, Fund Services shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to the Trust and its shareholders.
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10. | Records |
Fund Services shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder in the form and manner, and for such period, as it may deem advisable and is agreeable to the Trust, but not inconsistent with the rules and regulations of appropriate government authorities, in particular, as required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the rules of the stock exchange on which the Funds’ shares are listed, 17 C.F.R. 4.23 (specifically, the records specified in 17 C.F.R. 4.23(a)(1) through (8), (10) through (12) and (b)(1)), and other applicable federal securities laws and created pursuant to the performance of the Administrator’s obligations under this Agreement. Fund Services will also maintain those records of the Trust and the Funds including any changes, modifications or amendments thereto (the “Fund Records”) and will act as document repository for such Fund Records. Upon receipt of such Fund Records, Fund Services will issue a receipt for such Fund Records. Fund Services shall maintain a complete and orderly inventory of all Fund Records for which it has issued a receipt. Fund Services shall be under no duty or obligation to audit or reconcile the content, nor shall it be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of those Fund Records not created by it. Upon written request in a form to be determined by Fund Services and the Trust, Fund Services will return or release the requested Fund Records to such persons or entities pursuant to the Instructions provided by the Trust. Once one or more Fund Records have been returned or released by Fund Services, Fund Services shall have no further duty or obligation to act as repository for said previously released Fund Records. The Sponsor represents and warrants that: (a) promptly after the date of this Agreement, it will, at its own expense, deliver, cause to be delivered or make available to Fund Services all of the Fund Records in effect as of the date of this Agreement; (b) it will, on a continuing basis and at its own expense, promptly deliver, cause to be delivered or make available to Fund Services any Fund Records created after the date of this Agreement; (c) it has adequate record-keeping policies and procedures in effect to ensure that all Fund Records are promptly provided to Fund Services pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (d) it shall be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of any Fund Records not created by Fund Services; and (e) it shall be responsible for ensuring the Trust’s or the Funds’ compliance with, fulfillment of its obligations under or enforcement of, any Fund Records not created by Fund Services. Fund Services acknowledges that the records maintained and preserved by it pursuant to this Agreement are the property of the Trust and will be, at the Trust’s expense, surrendered promptly upon reasonable request. In performing its obligations under this Section, Fund Services may utilize micrographic and electronic storage media as well as independent third party storage facilities.
11. | Compliance with Laws |
The Trust has and retains primary responsibility for all compliance matters relating to the Funds, including but not limited to compliance with the 1933 Act, 1934 Act, the Internal
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Revenue Code of 1986, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the USA Patriot Act of 2001, the rules and regulations of the SEC, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, National Futures Association, the securities exchange on which any Shares are listed and the policies and limitations of the Fund relating to its portfolio investments as set forth in its registration statement . Fund Services’ services hereunder shall not relieve the Trust or Sponsor of its responsibilities for assuring such compliance.
12. | Term of Agreement; Amendment |
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above and will continue in effect for a period of three (3) years. This Agreement may be terminated by any party upon giving 90 days prior written notice to the other parties or such shorter period as is mutually agreed upon by the parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by any party upon the breach of the other party of any material term of this Agreement if such breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of such breach to the breaching party. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by written agreement executed by Fund Services and the Trust, and authorized or approved by the Sponsor.
13. | Duties in the Event of Termination |
In the event that, in connection with termination, a successor to any of Fund Services’ duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by the Trust by written notice to Fund Services, Fund Services will promptly, upon such termination and at the expense of the Trust, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records, correspondence, and other data established or maintained by Fund Services under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs from the form in which Fund Services has maintained the same, the Trust shall pay any expenses associated with transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance from Fund Services’ personnel in the establishment of books, records, and other data by such successor. If no such successor is designated, then such books, records and other data shall be returned to the Trust and Sponsor.
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14. | Early Termination |
In the absence of any material breach of this Agreement, should the Trust and Sponsor elect to terminate this Agreement prior to the end of the initial three year term, the Trust agrees to pay the following fees:
(1) all monthly fees through the life of the Agreement, including the repayment of any negotiated discounts;
(2) all fees associated with converting services to successor service provider;
(3) all fees associated with any record retention and/or tax reporting obligations that may not be eliminated due to the conversion to a successor service provider;
(4) all out-of-pocket costs associated with (1) to (3) above
15. | Assignment |
This Agreement shall extend to and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Trust without the written consent of Fund Services, or by Fund Services without the written consent of the Trust accompanied by the authorization or approval of the Trust’s Sponsor.
16. | Governing Law |
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin, without regard to conflicts of law principles. To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of Wisconsin, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1933 Act, the latter shall control, and nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1933 Act or any rule or order of the SEC thereunder.
17. | No Agency Relationship |
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower any party to act as agent for another party to this Agreement, or to conduct business in the name, or for the account, of another party to this Agreement.
18. | Services Not Exclusive |
Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict Fund Services from providing services to other parties that are similar or identical to some or all of the services provided hereunder.
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19. | Invalidity |
Any provision of this Agreement which may be determined by competent authority to be prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. In such case, the parties shall in good faith modify or substitute such provision consistent with the original intent of the parties.
20. | Notices |
Any notice required or permitted to be given by either party to the other shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given on the date delivered personally or by courier service, or three days after sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or on the date sent and confirmed received by facsimile transmission to the other party’s address set forth below:
Notice to Fund Services shall be sent to:
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Attn: President
and notice to the Trust or Sponsor shall be sent to:
ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
c/o ETF Managers Capital LLC
35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B
Summit, NJ 07901
21. | Multiple Originals |
This Agreement may be executed on two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
{Signatures on the following page}
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date first above written.
ETF MANAGERS GROUP COMMODITY TRUST I
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC
By: | ||
Name: | Michael R. McVoy | |
Title: | Executive Vice President |
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Exhibit A to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement - ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
Separate Series of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
Name of Series
Sit Rising Rate ETF |
Symbol RISE (NYSE Arca) |
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Exhibit B to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement
(ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I)
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Exhibit C to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement- ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
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Exhibit C (continued) to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement – ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I at November, 2014 Fund Accounting, Fund Administration & Portfolio Compliance Supplemental Services
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