As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 2015
Registration No. 333-199190
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 3
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. x
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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. o
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. o
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. o
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 o | Accelerated filer o | |
Non-accelerated filer o | Smaller reporting company x |
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*(1) |
||||||||||||
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. |
(1) | Amount previously paid. |
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 January 28, 2015
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 will sell shares to the initial Authorized Participant), 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”). Nomura Securities International Inc. 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 net asset value is calculated by taking the current market value of the Fund’s total assets (after close of NYSE Arca) subtracting any liabilities and dividing that total by the total number of outstanding shares. 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 January 28, 2015
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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 27 AND A STATEMENT OF THE PERCENTAGE RETURN NECESSARY TO BREAK EVEN, THAT IS, TO RECOVER THE AMOUNT OF YOUR INITIAL INVESTMENT, AT PAGE 27.
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.risingrateetf.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 52.
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 27, 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.
Shareholders have very limited voting rights with respect to the Fund’s affairs and have none of the statutory rights normally associated with the ownership of shares of a corporation (including, for example, the right to bring “oppression” or “derivative” actions). 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 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 or indemnification 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. Shareholders also agree in the Trust Agreement that they will indemnify the Fund for any harm suffered by the Fund as a result of the shareholders actions unrelated to the business of the Fund.
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 (please note that this investment restriction was adopted subsequent to September 26, 2014, the date as of which the Trust’s and the Fund’s financial statements and notes thereto were issued). 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.risingrateetf.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 and Chief Executive Officer of ETFMG with responsibilities for managing all ETF issuers and related service activities. Since June of 2012, Mr. Masucci has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Factor Advisors, LLC, a financial services company, and as the Chairman since March 2013; in this position Mr. Masucci was listed as a principal of Factor Capital Management LLC on June 20, 2012 and deregistered as a principal on September 23, 2014. Mr. Masucci has also served as the Chief Executive Officer of GENCAP Ventures, LLC, a financial services company, 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, a financial services company, 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 of ETF Managers Capital LLC 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; the Factor entities are a collection of financial services companies. 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 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.
Performance of Related Public Funds
Since June of 2012, Mr. Masucci has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Factor Advisors, LLC, and as the Chairman since March 2013. Mr. Masucci was listed as a principal of Factor Capital Management LLC until September 23, 2014 and during this time period Factor Capital Management LLC was the sponsor of the FactorShares exchange-traded funds noted below (the “FactorShares funds”). Each of these funds was a “commodity pool” and therefore although the funds were liquidated in November 2013, in conformity with regulatory requirements, the performance of the FactorShares funds is shown below. Investors should be aware that there are significant differences between the Fund and the related pools below; principally, the FactorShares funds were leveraged funds seeking investment exposure to equities and commodities. The Fund has an investment objective of seeking to profit from rising interest rates by tracking the performance of a portfolio of Treasury Instruments weighted to achieve a targeted negative 10 year average effective portfolio duration. Given the significantly different investment objectives of the Fund and the FactorShares funds, the performance of the Fund is not expected to have any relationship to that of the FactorShares funds.
PERFORMANCE OF FACTORSHARES 2X: OIL BULL/S&P500 BEAR ( TICKER: FOL )
Name of Pool : Factorshares 2X: Oil Bull/S&P500 Bear
Type of Pool : Public, Exchange-Listed Commodity Pool
Inception of Trading : February 22, 2011
Cessation of Operations : November 21, 2013
Aggregate Gross Capital Subscriptions as of December 1, 2014: $10,998,571
Net Asset Value as of December 1, 2014: $0.00
Net Asset Value per Share as of December 1, 2014: $0.00
Worst Monthly Drawdown : (25.51)% May 2012
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : (85.84)% April 2011 – November 2013
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | |
Annual Rate of Return | (5.49) | (54.81) | (13.33) |
* | The fund commenced investment operations on February 22, 2011. The fund ceased investment operations November 21, 2013 |
PERFORMANCE OF FACTORSHARES 2X: TBOND BULL/S&P500 BEAR ( TICKER: FSA )
Name of Pool : Factorshares 2X: TBond Bull/S&P500 Bear
Type of Pool : Public, Exchange-Listed Commodity Pool
Inception of Trading : February 22, 2011
Cessation of Operations : November 21, 2013
Aggregate Gross Capital Subscriptions as of December 1, 2014: $9,239,791
Net Asset Value as of December 1, 2014: $0.00
Net Asset Value per Share as of December 1, 2014: $0.00
Worst Monthly Drawdown : (29.18)% November 2013
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : (86.12)% September 2011 – November 2013
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | |
Annual Rate of Return | (13.63) | (35.05) | 19.77 |
* | The fund commenced investment operations on February 22, 2011. The fund ceased investment operations November 21, 2013 |
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PERFORMANCE OF FACTORSHARES 2X: S&P500 BULL/TBOND BEAR ( TICKER: FSE )
Name of Pool : Factorshares 2X: S&P500 Bull/TBond Bear
Type of Pool : Public, Exchange-Listed Commodity Pool
Inception of Trading : February 22, 2011
Cessation of Operations : November 21, 2013
Aggregate Gross Capital Subscriptions as of December 1, 2014: $5,000,000
Net Asset Value as of December 1, 2014: $0.00
Net Asset Value per Share as of December 1, 2014: $0.00
Worst Monthly Drawdown : (27.43)% August 2011
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : (60.86)% April 2011 – November 2012
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | |
Annual Rate of Return | 2.82 | (14.67) | (51.45) |
* | The fund commenced investment operations on February 22, 2011. The fund ceased investment operations November 21, 2013 |
PERFORMANCE OF FACTORSHARES 2X: GOLD BULL/S&P500 BEAR ( TICKER: FSG )
Name of Pool : Factorshares 2X: Gold Bull/S&P500 Bear
Type of Pool : Public, Exchange-Listed Commodity Pool
Inception of Trading : February 22, 2011
Cessation of Operations : November 21, 2013
Aggregate Gross Capital Subscriptions as of December 1, 2014: $41,776,771
Net Asset Value as of December 1, 2014: $0.00
Net Asset Value per Share as of December 1, 2014: $0.00
Worst Monthly Drawdown : (24.04)% December 2011
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : (87.32)% August 2011 – November 2013
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | |
Annual Rate of Return | (15.10) | (21.71) | 5.85 |
* | The fund commenced investment operations on February 22, 2011. The fund ceased investment operations November 21, 2013 |
PERFORMANCE OF FACTORSHARES 2X: S&P500 BULL/USD BEAR ( TICKER: FSU )
Name of Pool : Factorshares 2X: S&P500 Bull/USD Bear
Type of Pool : Public, Exchange-Listed Commodity Pool
Inception of Trading : February 22, 2011
Cessation of Operations : November 21, 2013
Aggregate Gross Capital Subscriptions as of December 1, 2014: $5,000,000
Net Asset Value as of December 1, 2014: $0.00
Net Asset Value per Share as of December 1, 2014: $0.00
Worst Monthly Drawdown : (24.10)% September 2011
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : (43.31)% April 2011 – September 2011
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | |
Annual Rate of Return | 6.21 | 10.52 | (23.65) |
* | The fund commenced investment operations on February 22, 2011. The fund ceased investment operations November 21, 2013 |
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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 and services, the Sponsor pays a fee to Sit of 0.35% (35 basis points) of average daily net assets of the Fund. This fee is payable by the Sponsor from the Management Fee and not directly by the Fund.
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 and was listed as a pending associated person on October 14, 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 and was listed as an associated person on November 21, 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 and was listed as a pending associated person on October 14, 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.
Sit’s Trading Program
Sit’s investment in commodities on behalf of its clients’ accounts is currently limited to investment in exchange traded futures and options on futures in three strategies:
Rising Interest Rate Strategy.
The objective of the strategy is to achieve a superior risk-adjusted return to the Barclays U.S. Treasury Bellwether 30-Year Index. Sit attempts to maintain the account’s average effective duration at approximately -11 to -9 years by investing 5 to 15% of its total assets in futures and options on 2, 5, and 10-year U.S. Treasury futures contracts. The portfolios and composites managed under this strategy are:
Rising Interest Rate II
Rising Interest Rate
The Benchmark Portfolio shares the “Rising Interest Rate Strategy” trading program described above.
Certain accounts utilizing this trading program have been managed by Sit under investment objectives that are substantially similar to that of the Fund; the performance of such accounts has been provided below in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. When reviewing this information, you should be aware that the investment strategies in accordance with which these accounts are managed to achieve their investment objectives differ in certain respects from those in accordance with which the Fund is managed. Generally, the investment strategies used in managing the Fund (described previously) permit less flexibility in managing the Fund’s investments than those used in managing the accounts. The accounts may rebalance and reconstitute their portfolios at their discretion.
Interest Rate Hedging Strategy.
The objective of the strategy is to maintain the account’s average effective duration at a level to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates by investing a portion of the account’s total assets (not to exceed 5%) in futures and options on 2, 5, and 10-year U.S. Treasury futures contracts. The portfolios and composites managed under this strategy are:
Taxable Short Duration Hedged Composite
Quality Income Hedged Composite
Custom Alpha Bond Portfolio Hedged Composite
U.S. Government Securities Hedged
Custom Alpha Strategy.
The objective of the strategy is to achieve a superior risk-adjusted return to the relative to a specified benchmark by investing 5 to 15% of the account’s total assets in futures contracts relative to the index. The indices currently utilized include Standard and Poor’s S&P 500 ® Index, Barclays U.S. 5-year Note future USD ER Index, Barclays U.S. long bond future USD ER Index, and MSCI EAFE Index. The portfolios and composites managed under this strategy are:
Custom Alpha – S&P 500
Custom Alpha – 5-Year Treasury
Custom Alpha – 30-Year Treasury
Custom Alpha – Composite Equity Index
Custom Alpha – EAFE
Custom Alpha – Client Directed A
Custom Alpha – 5-Year Treasury B
Custom Alpha – Series D
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PERFORMANCE OF RISING INTEREST RATE STRATEGY
Name of Trading Program : Rising Interest Rate II
Inception of Trading : June 30, 2012
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 1
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $136,366,701
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $92,159,155
Worst Monthly Drawdown : September 2013 (3.05%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : November ‘12 to May ‘14 (9.83%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) |
January | (2.36) | (0.56) | |
February | (0.39) | (0.62) | |
March | 1.94 | (0.56) | |
April | (0.02) | (0.51) | |
May | (2.94) | 0.82 | |
June | 1.89 | 0.17 | |
July | 1.80 | (0.77) | (0.09) |
August | 0.29 | (0.47) | 0.07 |
September | 1.06 | (3.05) | 1.95 |
October | (1.78) | (2.28) | 0.49 |
November | (0.14) | (0.47) | (0.93) |
December | 0.73 | 2.74 | 0.15 |
Annual Rate of Return | (0.06) | (5.54) | 1.63 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, management fees (1.63%), trading advisor fees (0.32%), and performance fees, which for capsule purposes are accrued at a rate of 30% on returns in excess of the benchmark. |
Name of Trading Program : Rising Interest Rate
Inception of Trading : July 31, 2011
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 1
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $136,366,701
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $44,207,546
Worst Monthly Drawdown : September 2013 (3.46%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : July ‘12 to November ‘13 (8.72%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) |
January | (2.17) | (0.60) | (0.78) | |
February | 0.17 | (0.57) | 2.33 | |
March | 2.64 | (0.28) | 1.22 | |
April | (0.07) | (0.90) | 0.52 | |
May | (3.11) | 1.02 | (0.03) | |
June | 2.21 | (0.51) | 0.88 | |
July | 2.22 | (0.39) | (1.47) | |
August | 0.22 | (0.13) | (0.45) | (1.93) |
September | 0.91 | (3.46) | 1.65 | 0.35 |
October | (1.51) | (2.04) | 0.21 | 0.15 |
November | 0.00 | (0.73) | (0.77) | (1.44) |
December | 1.35 | 2.78 | 0.43 | 0.84 |
Annual Rate of Return | 2.71 | (5.77) | 3.71 | (2.04) |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, management fees (1.63%), trading advisor fees (0.32%), and performance fees, which for capsule purposes are accrued at a rate of 30% on returns in excess of the benchmark. |
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PERFORMANCE OF INTEREST RATE HEDGING STRATEGY
Name of Trading Program : Taxable Short Duration Hedged Composite
Inception of Trading : March 31, 2010
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 6
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $1,583,338,236
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $354,102,608
Worst Monthly Drawdown : June 2013 (0.59%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : May ‘13 to October ‘13 (1.40%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | 2010(%) |
January | 0.07 | (0.29) | 0.41 | 0.47 | |
February | 0.21 | 0.39 | 0.61 | 0.47 | |
March | 0.06 | 0.09 | 0.14 | 0.36 | |
April | 0.19 | 0.18 | 0.77 | 0.09 | (0.36) |
May | (0.06) | (0.35) | 0.37 | 0.53 | 0.22 |
June | 0.40 | (0.59) | 0.03 | 0.41 | 0.69 |
July | 0.48 | (0.02) | 0.52 | 0.55 | 0.76 |
August | 0.36 | (0.34) | 0.22 | (0.01) | 0.39 |
September | 0.12 | (0.02) | 0.47 | 0.01 | 0.34 |
October | (0.43) | (0.07) | (0.02) | 0.21 | 0.92 |
November | 0.19 | 0.08 | 0.27 | (0.02) | 0.57 |
December | 0.29 | 0.26 | (0.03) | 0.56 | (0.08) |
Annual Rate of Return | 1.86 | (0.72) | 3.78 | 3.66 | 3.48 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, and management fees (0.40%). |
Name of Trading Program : Quality Income Hedged Composite
Inception of Trading : December 31, 2012
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 3
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $1,583,338,236
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $343,687,326
Worst Monthly Drawdown : June 2013 (0.36%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : May ‘13 to June ‘13 (0.49%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) |
January | 0.12 | 0.18 |
February | 0.11 | 0.09 |
March | 0.09 | 0.22 |
April | 0.16 | 0.34 |
May | 0.15 | (0.14) |
June | 0.14 | (0.36) |
July | 0.06 | 0.04 |
August | 0.13 | 0.16 |
September | 0.02 | 0.03 |
October | (0.01) | 0.14 |
November | 0.07 | (0.02) |
December | 0.05 | 0.22 |
Annual Rate of Return | 1.09 | 0.89 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, and management fees (0.40%). |
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Name of Trading Program : Custom Alpha Bond Portfolio Hedged Composite
Inception of Trading : March 31, 2008
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 3
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $1,583,338,236
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $299,258,557
Worst Monthly Drawdown : April 2010 (2.15%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : December ‘12 to November ‘13 (7.56%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | 2010(%) |
January | (0.31) | (1.43) | 0.61 | 1.00 | 1.15 |
February | 0.44 | 0.42 | 1.64 | 2.22 | (0.34) |
March | 0.89 | (0.28) | 0.60 | 1.14 | 2.41 |
April | 0.89 | 0.22 | 2.65 | 0.34 | (2.15) |
May | (1.44) | (1.28) | 0.97 | 1.08 | 0.50 |
June | 1.69 | (1.79) | 0.23 | 1.36 | 2.69 |
July | 1.25 | (0.08) | 0.38 | 1.32 | 1.85 |
August | 1.71 | (1.50) | (0.20) | (0.40) | 0.64 |
September | 0.11 | (1.05) | 1.66 | 0.37 | 1.05 |
October | 0.58 | (1.25) | (0.16) | 0.40 | 3.20 |
November | 1.40 | (0.28) | 0.15 | (0.90) | 2.84 |
December | 0.33 | 0.42 | (0.01) | 1.74 | 0.22 |
Annual Rate of Return | 7.76 | (7.63) | 8.80 | 10.07 | 14.86 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, management fees (1.50%), and trading advisor fees (0.07%). |
Name of Trading Program : U.S. Government Securities Hedged
Inception of Trading : May 31, 1987
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 1
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $1,583,338,236
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $586,289,745
Worst Monthly Drawdown : May 2013 (0.91%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : December ‘12 to December ‘13 (2.14%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | 2010(%) |
January | 0.38 | (0.40) | 0.22 | 0.14 | 0.70 |
February | 0.16 | 0.25 | 0.51 | 0.36 | 0.03 |
March | 0.09 | (0.12) | 0.25 | 0.24 | 0.53 |
April | 0.15 | 0.23 | 0.60 | 0.51 | (0.07) |
May | (0.05) | (0.91) | 0.24 | 0.63 | 0.41 |
June | 0.26 | (0.81) | (0.10) | 0.35 | 0.75 |
July | 0.21 | 0.10 | 0.40 | 0.31 | 0.45 |
August | 0.21 | (0.40) | 0.16 | 0.14 | 0.88 |
September | 0.18 | (0.04) | 0.29 | (0.03) | 0.16 |
October | 0.08 | (0.03) | (0.05) | 0.04 | 0.70 |
November | 0.23 | 0.15 | 0.18 | (0.25) | 0.62 |
December | 0.31 | (0.11) | (0.06) | 0.24 | (0.36) |
Annual Rate of Return | 2.22 | (2.08) | 2.67 | 2.72 | 4.91 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, and management fees (0.80%). |
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PERFORMANCE OF CUSTOM ALPHA STRATEGY
Name of Trading Program : Custom Alpha – S&P 500
Inception of Trading : March 31, 2008
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 1
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $71,179,611
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $12,944,375
Worst Monthly Drawdown : May 2010 (7.84%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : May ‘11 to September ‘11 (13.75%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | 2010(%) |
January | (3.56) | 3.76 | 4.54 | 3.22 | (2.82) |
February | 5.18 | 1.70 | 5.38 | 5.25 | 2.69 |
March | 2.03 | 3.42 | 3.73 | 0.53 | 8.01 |
April | 1.52 | 1.85 | 1.53 | 3.04 | (0.01) |
May | 0.89 | 1.09 | (5.16) | (0.41) | (7.84) |
June | 3.56 | (3.59) | 4.12 | (0.57) | (3.36) |
July | 0.09 | 5.09 | 1.49 | (1.07) | 8.04 |
August | 5.38 | (4.14) | 1.83 | (5.71) | (4.76) |
September | (1.27) | 1.64 | 3.85 | (6.63) | 9.96 |
October | 2.93 | 3.58 | (2.18) | 10.91 | 6.44 |
November | 4.07 | 2.61 | 0.64 | (0.92) | 2.84 |
December | (0.05) | 2.84 | 0.85 | 2.54 | 6.84 |
Annual Rate of Return | 22.39 | 21.25 | 22.07 | 9.38 | 27.02 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, management fees (1.50%), and trading advisor fees (0.32%). |
Name of Trading Program : Custom Alpha – 5-Year Treasury
Inception of Trading : March 31, 2008
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 1
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $71,179,611
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $740,309
Worst Monthly Drawdown : June 2013 (3.46%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : October ‘12 to December ‘13 (10.55%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | 2010(%) |
January | 1.00 | (1.95) | 0.93 | 1.91 | 2.80 |
February | 0.96 | 0.94 | 0.71 | 1.55 | 0.22 |
March | 0.73 | (0.16) | 0.07 | 0.57 | 1.35 |
April | 1.29 | 0.45 | 3.45 | 1.51 | (0.81) |
May | (0.61) | (2.66) | 1.24 | 2.35 | 1.33 |
June | 1.55 | (3.46) | 0.11 | 1.53 | 3.34 |
July | 1.09 | 0.30 | 0.74 | 2.57 | 2.37 |
August | 2.32 | (2.05) | (0.16) | 1.29 | 0.75 |
September | (0.18) | (0.27) | 1.44 | 0.31 | 1.65 |
October | 1.67 | (0.56) | (0.64) | 0.37 | 3.57 |
November | 2.21 | (0.45) | 0.54 | (0.44) | 2.43 |
December | (0.16) | (0.90) | (0.14) | 2.22 | (1.47) |
Annual Rate of Return | 12.47 | (10.33) | 8.56 | 16.87 | 18.86 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, management fees (1.50%), and trading advisor fees (0.32%). |
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Name of Trading Program : Custom Alpha – 30-Year Treasury
Inception of Trading : March 31, 2008
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 1
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $71,179,611
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $951,404
Worst Monthly Drawdown : May 2013 (6.12%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : December ‘12 to December ‘13 (18.54%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | 2010(%) |
January | 4.15 | (4.04) | 0.72 | 0.02 | 3.97 |
February | 1.47 | 1.63 | (0.25) | 3.05 | (0.10) |
March | 1.51 | 0.25 | (2.04) | 0.66 | 0.88 |
April | 2.20 | 2.61 | 6.00 | 1.83 | 0.80 |
May | 1.06 | (6.12) | 5.33 | 3.75 | 3.45 |
June | 1.50 | (5.20) | (0.71) | 0.10 | 5.95 |
July | 1.69 | (1.31) | 2.00 | 4.57 | 2.09 |
August | 4.55 | (1.91) | (0.46) | 6.22 | 5.13 |
September | (1.30) | (0.33) | 0.11 | 4.77 | 0.33 |
October | 2.84 | 0.00 | (0.37) | (2.04) | 0.93 |
November | 3.45 | (2.54) | 1.41 | 0.94 | 1.53 |
December | 1.55 | (1.42) | (1.57) | 3.91 | (3.86) |
Annual Rate of Return | 27.50 | (17.24) | 10.28 | 31.19 | 22.80 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, management fees (1.50%), and trading advisor fees (0.32%). |
Name of Trading Program : Custom Alpha – Composite Equity Index
Inception of Trading : December 31, 2008
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 1
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $71,179,611
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $40,222,719
Worst Monthly Drawdown : January 2009 (11.70%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : May ‘11 to September ‘11 (15.23%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | 2010(%) |
January | (3.73) | 2.74 | 3.16 | 0.59 | (4.66) |
February | 3.30 | 1.10 | 3.91 | 4.02 | 0.90 |
March | 1.75 | 1.96 | 1.64 | (1.37) | 9.05 |
April | 0.91 | 2.29 | 2.33 | 4.69 | (2.59) |
May | 0.28 | (2.57) | (4.14) | (1.40) | (10.30) |
June | 3.13 | (4.21) | 3.56 | 0.62 | (2.22) |
July | 0.57 | 2.46 | 1.25 | (1.09) | 10.41 |
August | 3.21 | (4.43) | 0.27 | (5.97) | (2.51) |
September | (0.71) | 2.76 | 3.49 | (8.13) | 6.09 |
October | 1.64 | 1.34 | (1.80) | 7.87 | 4.34 |
November | 3.08 | 1.91 | 0.37 | (3.45) | (0.10) |
December | (0.50) | 2.49 | 1.64 | 2.72 | 3.29 |
Annual Rate of Return | 13.47 | 7.68 | 16.50 | (2.01) | 10.20 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, management fees (1.50%), and trading advisor fees (0.32%). |
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Name of Trading Program : Custom Alpha – EAFE
Inception of Trading : May 31, 2009
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 1
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $71,179,611
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $1,402,009
Worst Monthly Drawdown : May 2010 (11.08%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : May ‘11 to September ‘11 (22.95%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | 2010(%) |
January | (5.29) | 2.20 | 5.56 | 3.07 | (4.91) |
February | 6.75 | (0.92) | 6.04 | 5.62 | 0.17 |
March | 0.71 | 1.07 | 0.77 | (2.22) | 8.61 |
April | 2.30 | 4.56 | (0.03) | 6.22 | (4.31) |
May | 0.38 | (3.96) | (10.40) | (2.52) | (11.08) |
June | 2.40 | (4.63) | 7.11 | 0.17 | (0.64) |
July | (1.18) | 4.91 | 0.18 | (2.09) | 12.39 |
August | 1.85 | (3.08) | 2.54 | (9.48) | (3.38) |
September | (3.69) | 5.99 | 3.75 | (10.96) | 10.30 |
October | 0.41 | 2.16 | 0.95 | 10.40 | 6.19 |
November | 1.45 | (0.62) | 2.93 | (2.78) | (1.81) |
December | (3.50) | 3.15 | 4.40 | (0.94) | 9.10 |
Annual Rate of Return | 2.01 | 10.60 | 25.12 | (7.38) | 19.16 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, management fees (1.50%), and trading advisor fees (0.32%). |
Name of Trading Program : Custom Alpha – Client Directed -- A
Inception of Trading : August 31, 2012
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 1
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $71,179,611
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $9,852,319
Worst Monthly Drawdown : January 2014 (6.59%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : May ‘13 to June ‘13 (8.66%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) |
January | (6.59) | 0.93 | |
February | 6.06 | (1.15) | |
March | 0.68 | 0.10 | |
April | 1.99 | 4.15 | |
May | 0.08 | (4.12) | |
June | 3.13 | (4.74) | |
July | (0.44) | 3.62 | |
August | 2.04 | (2.82) | |
September | (4.99) | 7.29 | 4.05 |
October | 0.83 | 1.54 | 0.19 |
November | 1.18 | (1.20) | 2.48 |
December | (3.13) | 2.02 | 4.76 |
Annual Rate of Return | 0.15 | 5.08 | 11.92 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, management fees (1.50%), and trading advisor fees (0.32%). |
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Name of Trading Program : Custom Alpha – 5-Year Treasury -- B
Inception of Trading : August 31, 2012
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 1
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $71,179,611
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $3,385,631
Worst Monthly Drawdown : June 2013 (2.90%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : December ‘12 to December ‘13 (11.82%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) |
January | 0.35 | (2.65) | |
February | 0.63 | 0.98 | |
March | (0.21) | (0.74) | |
April | 1.07 | 0.44 | |
May | (1.20) | (2.22) | |
June | 2.00 | (2.90) | |
July | 1.13 | (0.46) | |
August | 2.00 | (1.60) | |
September | (0.96) | 0.80 | 0.93 |
October | 1.80 | (1.53) | (1.13) |
November | 2.18 | (0.88) | 0.53 |
December | 0.20 | (1.49) | (0.16) |
Annual Rate of Return | 9.29 | (11.67) | 0.15 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, management fees (1.50%), and trading advisor fees (0.32%). |
Name of Trading Program : Custom Alpha – Series D
Inception of Trading : June 30, 2010
Number of Accounts Traded Pursuant to Program : 1
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Strategy as of December 31, 2014 : $71,179,611
Total Assets Traded Pursuant to Program as of December 31, 2014 : $1,680,842
Worst Monthly Drawdown : June 2013 (5.90%)
Worst Peak-to-Valley Drawdown : December ‘12 to December ‘13 (18.46%)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
Monthly Rate of Return | 2014(%) | 2013(%) | 2012(%) | 2011(%) | 2010(%) |
January | 2.00 | (2.21) | 0.25 | 1.00 | |
February | 1.12 | 0.19 | 0.66 | 2.77 | |
March | 0.51 | (0.03) | (0.61) | 1.47 | |
April | 2.06 | 0.76 | 3.86 | 2.69 | |
May | 0.74 | (5.43) | 2.01 | 1.20 | |
June | 1.83 | (5.90) | (0.39) | 2.15 | |
July | 1.24 | 0.39 | 1.67 | 4.58 | 0.03 |
August | 1.75 | (3.02) | (0.48) | 0.68 | 1.42 |
September | (2.23) | 0.08 | 1.58 | 0.15 | 1.82 |
October | 1.28 | (0.63) | 0.43 | 1.91 | 4.95 |
November | 1.47 | (1.86) | 0.48 | (0.63) | 0.44 |
December | (1.22) | (1.42) | (0.90) | 1.48 | (1.88) |
Annual Rate of Return | 10.97 | (17.72) | 8.79 | 21.15 | 6.84 |
* | Performance is net of commissions, exchange fees, regulatory fees, management fees (1.50%), and trading advisor fees (0.32%). |
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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 $45,000 minimum annual fee payable for its administrative, accounting and transfer agent services and 0.01% of AUM, with a minimum of $4,800 for custody services.
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”), 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
Currently,
SG Americas Securities, LLC (“SG”) serves as the Fund’s clearing broker to execute and clear the Fund’s
futures and equities transactions and provide other brokerage-related services. SG is a futures commission merchant and broker
dealer registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”), and is a member of FINRA. SG is a clearing member of all principal futures exchanges located in
the United States as well as a member of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, International Securities Exchange, New York Stock
Exchange, Options Clearing Corporation, and Government Securities Clearing Corporation.
SG is headquartered at 245 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10167 with branch offices in Chicago; Santa Monica, California (securities only) and Montreal, Canada (futures only).
On January 2, 2015, Newedge USA, LLC (“Newedge USA”) merged with and into SG, with the latter as 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 SG, there have been no material administrative, civil or criminal actions brought, pending or concluded against SG or its principals in the past five years.
Neither SG
nor any affiliate, officer, director or employee thereof have passed on the merits of this Prospectus or offering, or given any
guarantee as to the performance or any other aspect of the Fund.
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 Participant will pay applicable creation and redemption fees. See “Creation and Redemption of Shares-Creation and Redemption Transaction Fee,” page 52.
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 | ) | |
Amount of trading income required for the Fund’s NAV to break even | $ | 0.42 | ||
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 Participants 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 their own accounts, other clients accounts, and private funds, including such other parties in which Sit may have an interest. Sit and its principals will not have any obligation to shareholders to make available any information regarding other trading activities, strategies, or transactions by Sit or its principals.
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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.risingrateetf.com. You should also consult with your personal legal, tax, and other professional advisors.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The Sponsor owns 40 shares of the Fund. As of the date of this Prospectus, none of its principals has an ownership or beneficial interest in the Fund.
Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC, located at 3300 IDS Certer, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis, MN, owns 200,000 shares representing more than 99% of the beneficial ownership on the date of this Prospectus.
Related Party Transactions
There have been no related party transactions in the past year in excess of $120,000 nor are any related party transactions proposed. Further, the Fund has not been involved in any related party transactions. As noted above, Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC acquired an interest in the Fund. Sit was not a related party by serving as commodity trading advisor, but acquired such status upon its initial purchase of Fund shares.
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 Participants, Custodian, Administrator or other service providers to the Fund.
Fiduciary and Regulatory Duties of the Sponsor
The general fiduciary duties which would otherwise be imposed on the Sponsor (which would make its operation of the Trust as described herein impracticable due to the strict prohibition imposed by such duties on, for example, conflicts of interest on behalf of a fiduciary in its dealings with its beneficiaries), are replaced by the terms of the Trust Agreement (to which terms all shareholders, by subscribing to the shares, are deemed to consent).
Additionally, under the terms of the Trust Agreement, 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.
Under Delaware law, a beneficial owner of a statutory trust (such as a shareholder of the Fund) may, under certain circumstances, institute legal action on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated beneficial owners (a “class action”) to recover damages for violations of fiduciary duties, or on behalf of a statutory trust (a “derivative action”) to recover damages from a third party where there has been a failure or refusal to institute proceedings to recover such damages. In addition, beneficial owners may have the right, subject to certain legal requirements, to bring class actions in federal court to enforce their rights under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC. Beneficial owners who have suffered losses in connection with the purchase or sale of their beneficial interests may be able to recover such losses from the Sponsor where the losses result from a violation by the Sponsor of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws.
Under certain circumstances, shareholders also have the right to institute a reparations proceeding before the CFTC against the Sponsor (a registered commodity pool operator), an FCM, as well as those of their respective employees who are required to be registered under the CEA, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Private rights of action are conferred by the CEA. Investors in futures and in commodity pools may, therefore, invoke the protections provided thereunder.
The foregoing summary describing in general terms the remedies available to shareholders under federal law is based on statutes, rules and decisions as of the date of this Prospectus. As this is a rapidly developing and changing area of the law, shareholders who believe that they may have a legal cause of action against any of the foregoing parties should consult their own counsel as to their evaluation of the status of the applicable law at such time.
Management; Voting by Shareholders
The shareholders of the Fund take no part in the management or control, and have no voice in the Trust’s operations or business.
The Sponsor has the right unilaterally to amend the Trust Agreement as it applies to the Trust provided that the shareholders have the right to vote only if expressly required under Delaware or federal law or rules or regulations of the Exchange, or if submitted to the shareholders by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. No amendment affecting the Trustee shall be binding upon or effective against the Trustee unless consented to by the Trustee in the form of an instruction letter.
Meetings
Meetings of the Trust’s shareholders may be called by the Sponsor and may be called by it upon the written request of shareholders holding at least 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or the Fund, as applicable. The Sponsor shall deposit in the United States mail or electronically transmit written notice to all shareholders of the 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 such notice, at a reasonable time and place. Where the meeting is called upon the written request of the shareholders such written notice shall be mailed or transmitted not more than 45 days after such written request for a meeting was received by the Sponsor. Any notice of meeting shall be accompanied by a description of the action to be taken at the meeting. shareholders may vote in person or by proxy at any such meeting.
Any action required or permitted to be taken by shareholders 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 shareholder to any action of the Trust, the Fund or any shareholder, as contemplated by the Trust Agreement, is solicited by the Sponsor, the solicitation shall be effected by notice to each shareholder given in the manner provided in accordance with the Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement provides that shareholders are deemed to have consented to any proposals recommended by the Sponsor in the shareholder notice unless such shareholders timely object to the proposals. Therefore, a lack of a response by a shareholder will have the same effect as if that shareholder had provided affirmative written consent for the proposed action. The Sponsor and all parties dealing with the Trust may act in reliance on such deemed activity.
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.
Termination Events
The Trust will dissolve at any time upon the happening of any of the following events:
• | The filing of a certificate of dissolution or 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 upon written notice by the Sponsor of its withdrawal as Sponsor, 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 90 days of such event of withdrawal all the remaining shareholders agree in writing to continue the business of the Trust and to select, effective as of the date of such event, one or more successor Sponsors. If the Trust is terminated as the result of an event of withdrawal and a failure of all remaining shareholders to continue the business of the Trust and to appoint a successor Sponsor as provided above within 120 days of such event of withdrawal, shareholders holding shares representing at least a majority (over 50%) of the net asset value (not including shares held by the Sponsor and its affiliates) may elect to continue the business of the Trust by forming a new statutory trust, or reconstituted trust, on the same terms and provisions as set forth in the Trust Agreement. Any such election must also provide for the election of a Sponsor to the reconstituted trust. If such an election is made, all shareholders of the Trust shall be bound thereby and continue as shareholders of the reconstituted trust. |
• | The occurrence of any event which would make unlawful the continued existence of the Trust. |
• | In the event of the suspension, revocation or termination of the Sponsor’s registration as a commodity pool operator, or membership as a commodity pool operator with the NFA (if, in either case, such registration is required at such time unless at the time there is at least one remaining Sponsor whose registration or membership has not been suspended, revoked or terminated). |
• | The Trust becomes insolvent or bankrupt. |
• | The shareholders holding shares representing at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the net asset value (which excludes the shares of the Sponsor) vote to dissolve the Fund, notice of which is sent to the Sponsor not less than ninety (90) business days prior to the effective date of termination. |
• | The determination of the Sponsor that the aggregate net assets of the Fund in relation to the operating expenses of the Trust make it unreasonable or imprudent to continue the business of the Trust. |
• | The Trust is required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
• | DTC is unable or unwilling to continue to perform its functions, and a comparable replacement is unavailable. |
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.risingrateetf.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.risingrateetf.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 Participant. 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 Participants are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem baskets. Authorized Participants 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 Participant, a person must enter into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Sponsor. The Authorized Participant 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 Participant Agreement and the related procedures attached thereto may be amended by the Fund, without the consent of any limited partner or shareholder or Authorized Participant. Authorized Participant will pay a transaction fee of $500 to the Fund for each order they place to create or redeem one or more baskets. Authorized Participant 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 Participants are expected to be capable of participating directly in the Treasury market and the related derivatives market. In some cases, Authorized Participants 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 Participant’s direct activities in such markets will significantly affect the price of Treasuries, related derivatives or the price of the shares.
Each Authorized Participant 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 Participants may also be regulated under federal and state banking laws and regulations. Each Authorized Participant 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 Participant Agreement, the Sponsor has agreed to indemnify the Authorized Participants against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act, and to contribute to the payments the Authorized Participants 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 Participant 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 Participant 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 Participant 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 Participant 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 Participant Agreement. By placing a purchase order, an Authorized Participant 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 Participant 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 Participant 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 Participant’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 Participant.
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 Participants 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 Participant can redeem one or more baskets mirror the procedures for the creation of baskets. 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 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 Participants 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 Participant.
By placing a redemption order, an Authorized Participant 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 Participant 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 Participant Agreement. By placing a redemption order, an Authorized Participant 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 Participant 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 Participant’s sale of shares.
Determination of Redemption Distribution
The redemption distribution from the Fund consists of a transfer to the redeeming Authorized Participant 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 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 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 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.
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 Participant 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 Participant 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 Participants 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 Participant, 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 Participants are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem baskets. Authorized Participants 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 Participant is under no obligation to create or redeem baskets, and an Authorized Participant is under no obligation to offer to the public shares of any baskets it does create. Authorized Participants 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 Participant 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 Participants 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 Participants to the public at different times may have different offering prices. An order for one or more baskets may be placed by an Authorized Participant on behalf of multiple clients. Authorized Participants 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.risingrateetf.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.risingrateetf.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.risingrateetf.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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SIT RISING RATE ETF
Statement of Additional Information
This statement of additional information and accompanying disclosure document are both dated January 28, 2015.
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 Participants
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 Participants. All Authorized Participants pay a $500 fee for each order to create or redeem one or more Creation Baskets or Redemption Baskets. Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC made an initial investment of $5,000,000 in exchange for 200,000 shares. In accordance with applicable requirements of Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, no Creation Baskets will be offered to Authorized Participants nor will units be listed for trading on the NYSE Arca until at least five business days (the “Cooling-off Period”) has elapsed from the date of Sit’s purchase. It is expected that the proceeds from Sit’s purchase will be invested at the end of the Cooling-off Period and that the initial per unit net asset value of the Fund will be established as of 4:00 p.m. New York City time that day. Units offered in Creation Baskets on any subsequent day will be offered at the per unit NAV calculated shortly after the close of the core trading session on the NYSE Arca. The shares purchased by Sit will be redeemable by Sit on the same terms and conditions as those applicable to Authorized Participants.
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 Participants 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 Participant is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of shares.
By executing an Authorized Participant Agreement, an Authorized Participant becomes part of the group of parties eligible to purchase baskets from, and put baskets for redemption to, the Fund. An Authorized Participant is under no obligation to create or redeem baskets, and an Authorized Participant is under no obligation to offer to the public shares of any baskets it does create.
As of January 23, 2015, the following are or are expected to enter into Authorized Participant 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 Participants, 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 Participant 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 Participant will comply with the prospectus-delivery requirements in connection with the sale of shares to customers. For example, an Authorized Participant, 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 Participants may also engage in secondary market transactions in shares that would not be deemed “underwriting”. For example, an Authorized Participant may act in the capacity of a broker or dealer with respect to shares that were previously distributed by other Authorized Participants. 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 Participants 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 Participants 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 Participants 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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In this prospectus, each of the following terms has the meanings set forth after such term:
Administrator : U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
Authorized Participant : 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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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 ETF (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 ETF 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 ETF | 40 | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Sit Rising Rate ETF
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 ETF
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 ETF (the “Fund”) 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 Sit Rising Rate ETF | 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 ETF | $ | (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 ETF (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 | ||
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 | Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement of the Registrant. 2 |
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3.2 | Certificate of Trust of the Registrant. 1 | |
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. 2 | |
10.1 | Form of Authorized Participant Agreement. + | |
10.2 | Distribution Services Agreement. + |
10.3 | Licensing and Services Agreement. + | |
10.4 | Custody Agreement. + | |
10.5 | Fund Administration Servicing Agreement. + | |
10.6 | Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement. + | |
10.7 | Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement + | |
23.1 | Consent of Reed Smith LLP. * | |
23.2 | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. + |
+ | Filed herewith | |
1 | Previously filed as like-numbered exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-199190, filed on November 26, 2014. | |
2 | Previously filed as like-numbered exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 333-199190, filed on January 12, 2015. |
* | Included in Exhibit 5.1. |
(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, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Summit, state of New Jersey, on January 28, 2015.
By: ETF Managers Capital LLC, Sponsor | ||
By: | /s/ Samuel R. Masucci III | |
Samuel R. Masucci III
Principal Executive Officer |
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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 | January 28, 2015 | ||
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ John A. Flanagan | ||||
John A. Flanagan |
Principal Financial Officer
Principal Accounting Officer |
January 28, 2015 |
Exhibit 5.1
1301 K Street, N.W.
reedsmith.com
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ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
Suite 2B
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Re: ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust organized in series (the “ Trust ”) and its Sponsor, ETF Managers Capital LLC (the “ Sponsor ”), in connection with the registration statement filed on Form S-1 filed herewith by the Trust (the “ Registration Statement ”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), relating to the beneficial interests (the “ Units ”) in the initial series of the Trust designated as the Sit Rising Rate ETF (the “ Fund ”). This opinion is being delivered to you at your request.
As counsel to the Trust and the Sponsor, we have participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction by public officials or officers acting on behalf of the Trust or the Sponsor as authentic copies of originals, of:
(i) the Certificate of Trust of the Trust, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “ Secretary of State ”) on July 23, 2014, and certified by the Secretary of State on January 22, 2015 (the “ Certificate of Trust ”);
(ii) the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of December 11, 2014, between the Sponsor, and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee of the Trust (the “ Trust Agreement ”);
(iii) the Certificate of Formation of the Sponsor, as filed with the Secretary of State on June 12, 2014, and certified by the Secretary of State on January 22, 2015;
(iv) the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Sponsor, dated June 12, 2014;
(v) the resolution of the sole manager of the Sponsor acting on behalf of the Trust relating to the authorization, issuance, offer and sale of the Units pursuant to the Registration Statement;
NEW YORK ¨ LONDON ¨ HONG KONG ¨ CHICAGO ¨ WASHINGTON, D.C. ¨ BEIJING ¨ PARIS ¨ LOS ANGELES ¨ SAN FRANCISCO ¨ PHILADELPHIA ¨ SHANGHAI ¨ PITTSBURGH
MUNICH ¨ ABU DHABI ¨ PRINCETON ¨ NORTHERN VIRGINIA ¨ WILMINGTON ¨ SILICON VALLEY ¨ DUBAI ¨ CENTURY CITY ¨ RICHMOND ¨ GREECE
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ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I January 28, 2015 Page 2
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(vi) a form of Authorized Participant Agreement to be entered into by the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust and each Authorized Participant filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement;
(vii) a Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated January 22, 2015, obtained from the Secretary of State; and
(viii) a Certificate of Good Standing for the Sponsor, dated January 22, 2015, obtained from the Secretary of State.
With respect to such examination and our opinion expressed herein, we have assumed, without any independent investigation or verification (i) the genuineness of all signatures on all documents submitted to us for examination, (ii) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (iii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (iv) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or reproduced copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copied documents, and (v) that all certificates issued by public officials have been properly issued. We also have assumed without independent investigation or verification the accuracy and completeness of all corporate records made available to us by the Trust and the Sponsor.
We have relied with your approval upon certificates of public officials and, as to certain factual matters, upon certificates and/or representations of officers and employees of the Trust and the Sponsor.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein below, it is our opinion that:
1. The Trust has been duly formed and is validly existing as a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq. (the “Trust Act”).
2. The Units to be issued by the Trust will be validly issued and, subject to the qualifications set forth herein, will be fully paid and nonassessable beneficial interests in the Trust relating to the Fund, as to which the Unitholders, as beneficial owners of the Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Unitholders may be obligated to make certain payments provided for in Section 5.7(f) of the Trust Agreement.
3. Assuming that (i) separate and distinct records are maintained for the Fund, (ii) the assets associated with the Fund are held in such separate and distinct records (directly or indirectly including through a nominee or otherwise) and accounted for in such separate and distinct records separately from the other assets of the Trust or any other series thereof, (iii) the notice of the limitation on liabilities of a series provided in Section 3804(a) of the Trust Act is continuously set forth in the Certificate of Trust and (iv) the Trust Agreement continuously provides for those matters described in (i), (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph 3, the Fund shall be entitled to the benefits of the limitation on interseries liability set forth in Section 3804(a) of the Trust Act.
The foregoing opinions are subject to the following assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations:
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ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I January 28, 2015 Page 3
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A. The opinions expressed in this letter are limited to the Limited Liability Company Act and the Trust Act, including the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws. We express no opinion with respect to any other laws of the State of Delaware or the laws of any other jurisdiction.
B. We express no opinion as to any state securities or broker-dealer laws or regulations thereunder relating to the offer, issuance and sale of the Units.
C. The opinions in paragraph 2 above assume (i) the payment by an Authorized Participant to the Trust of the full consideration due from it for the Units subscribed by it and (ii) the Units will be offered and sold as described in the Registration Statement, the Trust Agreement and the Authorized Participant Agreements.
D. The opinions in paragraph 3 above are subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, receivership, reorganization, fraudulent transfer and similar laws relating to and affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and (ii) principles of equity, including applicable law relating to fiduciary duties (regardless of whether considered and applied in a proceeding in equity or at law).
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement filed with the SEC. We also hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations thereunder.
Reed Smith LLP
PDG/WTC/JMT
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Exhibit 10.1
AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT
This Participant Agreement (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of January ___, 2015, 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 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 promulgated thereunder, and (iii) conduct its business in accordance with the spirit of the FINRA Conduct Rules.
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(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, the Authorized Participant shall contact the Trust’s transfer agent immediately in order for a new one to be issued.
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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 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.
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(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 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.
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(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, 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.
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(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 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.
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(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 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.
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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.
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(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, 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.
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(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 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)
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: | Name: |
Title: | Title: |
Signature: E-mail:_______________________________ Phone:________________________________ |
Signature: E-mail:_______________________________ Phone:________________________________ |
Name: | Name: |
Title: | Title: |
Signature: E-mail:_______________________________ Phone:________________________________ |
Signature: E-mail:_______________________________ Phone:________________________________ |
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 January ___, 2015 (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.
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By: |
Name: | |
Title: | |
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Date: |
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EXHIBIT B
ETF MANAGERS CAPITRAL
ESPOSITO SECURITIES, LLC - DISTRIBUTOR
U.S. BANK - 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: ______________________ |
Date: ______________________ | Time: ____________________ |
Name: ______________________ | Phone Number: _____________ |
PIN #: ______________________ | Fax Number: ________________ |
DTC / NSCC Participant Number: ______________________ | |
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 ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I (the “Trust”) with regards to its separate series, as applicable (each, the "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") as currently in effect and the Participant Agreement among the Authorized Participant, the Trust and the Managing Owner named therein (the "Participant Agreement"). All 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, LLC, 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, LLC, 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 January ___, 2015, 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 “ Shares ”) to the Authorized Participant hereunder as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; |
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(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 [], 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 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; |
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(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 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; |
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(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; |
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(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 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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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto, on behalf of the Managing Owner, subscribed our names this _____ day of _________, 2015.
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
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:
(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 |
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(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. |
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(i) | The Distributer shall communicate Fund requirements and operational events to Authorized Participants. |
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(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. |
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5. | Fees and Expenses. |
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6. | Indemnification. |
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, 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,
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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.
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.
7. | Representations. |
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(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. |
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 sixty (60) days' prior written notice. This Agreement shall automatically terminate without the payment of any penalty in the event of its assignment.
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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):
Telephone: (908) 897-0513
35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B
Summit, NJ 07901
Telephone: (908) 897-0513
10. | Choice of Law. |
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.
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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 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.
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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.
As Managing Owner of each of the Funds set forth on Exhibit A
BY: /s/ Samuel Masucci III
Name: Samuel Masucci III
Title: CEO
Name: Will Martin
Title: CCO
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Sit Rising Rate ETF
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BPS Fee** - 2 Basis Points for SIT Rising Rate ETF (RISE)
* Per Annum, calculated and payable 1/12 on a monthly basis.
** BPS Fee subject to a $1,250 per fund monthly minimum.
Out-Of-Pocket and Related Expenses
The Adviser shall also reimburse Distributor for reasonable out-of-pocket and ancillary expenses incurred in the provision of services pursuant to this Agreement, including but not limited to the following: communications; postage and delivery services; record storage and retention; reproduction; reasonable travel expenses incurred in connection with the provision of the services pursuant to the Distribution Agreement; and any other expenses incurred in connection with the provision of the services pursuant to this Agreement.
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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 12th day of January, 2015 (“ 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 Fund (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 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)
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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) 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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PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH ACCOUNTS OF QUALIFIED ELIGIBLE PERSONS, THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE, AND HAS NOT BEEN, FILED WITH THE COMMISSION. THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A TRADING PROGRAM OR UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR DISCLOSURE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION HAS NOT REVIEWED OR APPROVED THIS TRADING PROGRAM OR THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT.
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:
Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LL | By: | /s/ Paul E. Rasumussen |
Paul E. Rasumussen, Vice President |
Attest:
ETF Managers Capital LLC | By: | /s/ Samuel Masucci III |
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EXHIBIT A
Fee Schedule
ETF Managers Capital will pay to Sit an annual advisory fee of 0.35% (35 basis points) of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
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Exhibit 10.4
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 2 nd day of January, 2015, by and between 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” ), ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC, the sponsor of the Funds (“Sponsor”) and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America (the “Custodian”).
WHEREAS, each Fund is operated as a commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) 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 the Custodian to act as custodian of the assets of each Fund, and to provide related services as provided herein, and the Custodian is willing to accept the obligations and duties related to that role; and
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:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth below unless the context otherwise requires:
1.01 “Authorized Person” means any Officer or person who has been designated as such by written notice and named in Exhibit B and delivered to the Custodian by the Trust or Sponsor, or if the Trust or Sponsor has notified the Custodian in writing that it has an authorized investment manager or other agent, delivered to the Custodian by the Sponsor or other agent of the Trust. Such Officer or person shall continue to be an Authorized Person until such time as the Custodian receives Written Instructions from the Trust, or the Sponsor or other agent of the Trust that any such person is no longer an Authorized Person.
1.02 “Book-Entry System” shall mean a federal book-entry system as provided in Subpart O of Treasury Circular No. 300, 31 CFR 306, in Subpart B of 31 CFR Part 350, or in such book-entry regulations of federal agencies as are substantially in the form of such Subpart O.
1.03 “Business Day” shall mean any day recognized as a settlement day by The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and any other day for which the Trust computes the net asset value of Shares of the Fund.
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1.04 “CFTC” shall mean the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
1.05 “Foreign Securities” means any of the Trust’s investments (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Trust’s transactions in such investments.
1.06 “Fund Custody Account” shall mean any of the accounts in the name of the Trust, which is provided for in Section 3.2 below.
1.07 “IRS” shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
1.08 “FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
1.09 “NFA” shall mean the National Futures Association.
1.10 “Officer” shall mean the Principal Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Principal Financial Officer, the Treasurer, or any Assistant Treasurer of the Trust.
1.11 “Proper Instructions” shall mean Written Instructions.
1.12 “Securities” shall include, without limitation, common and preferred stocks, bonds, call options, put options, debentures, notes, bank certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, mortgage-backed securities or other obligations, and any certificates, receipts, warrants or other instruments or documents representing rights to receive, purchase or subscribe for the same, or evidencing or representing any other rights or interests therein, or any similar property or assets that the Custodian or its agents have the facilities to clear and service.
1.13 “Securities Depository” shall mean The Depository Trust Company and any other clearing agency registered with the SEC under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), which acts as a system for the central handling of Securities where all Securities of any particular class or series of an issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of the Securities.
1.14 “Shares” shall mean, with respect to a Fund, the units of beneficial interest issued by the Trust on account of the Fund.
1.15 “Sub-Custodian” shall mean a bank or other financial institution (other than a Securities Depository) having a contract with the Custodian, which the Custodian has determined will provide reasonable care of assets of the Fund based on the standards specified in Section 3.03 below. Such contract shall be in writing and shall include provisions that provide: (i) for indemnification or insurance arrangements (or any combination of the foregoing) such that the Fund will be adequately protected against the risk of loss of assets held in accordance with such contract; (ii) that the Foreign Securities will not be subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of the Sub-Custodian or its creditors except a claim of payment for their safe custody or administration,
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in the case of cash deposits, liens or rights in favor of creditors of the Sub-Custodian arising under bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws; (iii) that beneficial ownership for the Foreign Securities will be freely transferable without the payment of money or value other than for safe custody or administration; (iv) that adequate records will be maintained identifying the assets as belonging to the Fund or as being held by a third party for the benefit of the Fund; (v) that the Fund’s independent public accountants will be given access to those records or confirmation of the contents of those records; and (vi) that the Fund will receive periodic reports with respect to the safekeeping of the Fund’s assets, including, but not limited to, notification of any transfer to or from a Fund’s account or a third party account containing assets held for the benefit of the Fund. Such contract may contain, in lieu of any or all of the provisions specified in (i)-(vi) above, such other provisions that the Custodian determines will provide, in their entirety, the same or a greater level of care and protection for Fund assets as the specified provisions.
1.16 “Written Instructions” shall mean (i) written communications actually received by the Custodian and signed by an Authorized Person, (ii) communications by facsimile or Internet electronic e-mail or any other such system from one or more persons reasonably believed by the Custodian to be an Authorized Person.
ARTICLE II.
APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN
2.01 Appointment . The Trust and Sponsor hereby appoint the Custodian as custodian of all Securities and cash owned by or in the possession of the Fund at any time during the period of this Agreement, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Custodian hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement. The services and duties of the Custodian shall be confined to those matters expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against the Custodian hereunder.
2.02 Documents to be Furnished . The following documents, including any amendments thereto, will be provided contemporaneously with the execution of the Agreement to the Custodian by the Trust:
(a) | A copy of the Trust’s declaration of trust, certified by the Secretary; |
(b) | A copy of the Trust’s bylaws, certified by the Secretary; |
(c) | A copy of the current prospectuses of the Funds (the “Prospectus”); |
(d) | A certification of the President and the Secretary of the Trust setting forth the names and signatures of the current Officers of the Trust and other Authorized Persons; and |
(e) | An executed authorization required by the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985, attached hereto as Exhibit D . |
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2.03 Notice of Appointment of Transfer Agent . The Trust agrees to notify the Custodian in writing of the appointment, termination or change in appointment of any transfer agent of the Fund.
ARTICLE III.
CUSTODY OF CASH AND SECURITIES
3.01 Segregation . All Securities and non-cash property held by the Custodian for the account of a Fund (other than Securities maintained in a Securities Depository or Book-Entry System) shall be physically segregated from other Securities and non-cash property in the possession of the Custodian (including the Securities and non-cash property of the other series of the Trust, if applicable) and shall be identified as subject to this Agreement.
3.02 Fund Custody Accounts . As to each Fund, the Custodian shall open and maintain in its trust department a custody account in the name of the Trust coupled with the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order of the Custodian, in which the Custodian shall enter and carry all Securities, cash and other assets of such Fund which are delivered to it.
3.03 Appointment of Agents.
(a) | In its discretion, the Custodian may appoint one or more Sub-Custodians to establish and maintain arrangements with (i) any Securities Depository or (ii) Sub-Custodian or member of a Sub-Custodian’s network to hold Securities and cash of the Fund and to carry out such other provisions of this Agreement as it may determine; provided, however, that the appointment of any such agents and maintenance of any Securities and cash of the Fund shall be at the Custodian’s expense and shall not relieve the Custodian of any of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement. The Custodian shall be liable for the actions of any Sub-Custodians (regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Sub-Custodian or a member of its network) appointed by it as if such actions had been done by the Custodian. |
(b) | If, after the initial appointment of Sub-Custodians by the Trust, on behalf of its series, in connection with this Agreement, the Custodian wishes to appoint other Sub-Custodians to hold property of the Fund, it will so notify the Trust and make the necessary determinations as to any such new Sub-Custodian’s eligibility as a custodian under applicable rules and regulations. |
(c) | In performing its delegated responsibilities as foreign custody manager to place or maintain the Fund’s assets with a Sub-Custodian, the Custodian will determine that the Fund’s assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the country in which the Fund’s assets will be held by that Sub-Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to safekeeping of such assets. |
(d) | At the end of each calendar quarter, the Custodian shall provide written reports notifying the Sponsor and the Trust of the withdrawal or placement of the Securities and cash of the Fund with a Sub-Custodian and of any material changes in the Fund’s arrangements. |
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Such reports shall include an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with any Securities Depository.
(e) | With respect to its responsibilities under this Section 3.03, the Custodian hereby warrants to the Trust that it agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of property of the Fund. The Custodian further warrants that the Fund’s assets will be subject to reasonable care if maintained with a Sub-Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation: (i) the Sub-Custodian’s practices, procedures, and internal controls for certificated securities (if applicable), its method of keeping custodial records, and its security and data protection practices; (ii) whether the Sub-Custodian has the requisite financial strength to provide reasonable care for Fund assets; (iii) the Sub-Custodian’s general reputation and standing and, in the case of a Securities Depository, the Securities Depository’s operating history and number of participants; and (iv) whether the Fund will have jurisdiction over and be able to enforce judgments against the Sub-Custodian, such as by virtue of the existence of any offices of the Sub-Custodian in the United States or the Sub-Custodian’s consent to service of process in the United States. |
(f) | The Custodian shall establish a system or ensure that its Sub-Custodian has established a system to monitor on a continuing basis (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Fund’s assets with a Sub-Custodian who is a member of a Sub-Custodian’s network; (ii) the performance of the contract governing the Fund’s arrangements with such Sub-Custodian or members of a Sub-Custodian’s network; and (iii) the custody risks of maintaining assets with a Securities Depository. The Custodian must promptly notify the Fund or Sponsor of any material change in these risks. |
(g) | The Custodian shall use commercially reasonable efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to Foreign Securities to which the Fund shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Trust. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Trust and Custodian shall consult as to the measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures. |
3.04 Delivery of Assets to Custodian . The Trust or Sponsor shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Custodian all Fund Securities, cash and other investment assets, including (i) all payments of income, payments of principal and capital distributions received by a Fund with respect to such Securities, cash or other assets owned by a Fund at any time during the period of this Agreement, and (ii) all cash received by a Fund for the issuance of Shares. The Custodian shall not be responsible for such Securities, cash or other assets until actually received by it.
3.05 Securities Depositories and Book-Entry Systems . The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain Securities of a Fund in a Securities Depository or in a Book-Entry System, subject to the following provisions:
(a) | The Custodian, on an on-going basis, shall deposit in a Securities Depository or Book-Entry System all Securities eligible for deposit therein and shall make use of such Securities Depository or Book-Entry System to the extent possible and practical in |
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connection with its performance hereunder, including, without limitation, in connection with settlements of purchases and sales of Securities, loans of Securities, and deliveries and returns of collateral consisting of Securities.
(b) | Securities of the Funds kept in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository shall be kept in an account (“Depository Account”) of the Custodian in such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository which includes only assets held by the Custodian as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for customers. |
(c) | The records of the Custodian with respect to Securities of the Funds maintained in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository shall, by book-entry, identify such Securities as belonging to the Funds. |
(d) | If Securities purchased by a Fund are to be held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, the Custodian shall pay for such Securities upon (i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System or Securities Depository that such Securities have been transferred to the Depository Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. If Securities sold by a Fund are held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, the Custodian shall transfer such Securities upon (i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System or Securities Depository that payment for such Securities has been transferred to the Depository Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for the account of the Fund. |
(e) | The Custodian shall provide the Trust with copies of any report (obtained by the Custodian from a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository in which Securities of the Funds are kept) on the internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding Securities deposited in such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository. |
(f) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Custodian shall be liable to the Trust for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from (i) the use of a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository by reason of any negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian, or (ii) failure of the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository. At its election, the Trust shall be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim against a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository or any other person from any loss or damage to the Fund arising from the use of such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss or damage. |
(g) | With respect to its responsibilities under this Section 3.05, the Custodian hereby warrants to the Trust that it agrees to (i) exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duty as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain such assets, (ii) provide, promptly upon request by the Trust or Sponsor, such reports as are available concerning the Custodian’s internal accounting controls and financial strength, and (iii) require any Sub-Custodian to exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duty as a securities |
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intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain assets corresponding to the security entitlements of its entitlement holders.
3.06 Disbursement of Moneys from Fund Custody Account . Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall disburse moneys from a Fund Custody Account but only in the following cases:
(a) | For the purchase of Securities for a Fund but only in accordance with Section 4.01 of this Agreement and only (i) in the case of Securities (other than options on Securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts), against the delivery to the Custodian (or any Sub-Custodian) of such Securities registered as provided in Section 3.09 below or in proper form for transfer, or if the purchase of such Securities is effected through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 3.05 above; (ii) in the case of options on Securities, against delivery to the Custodian (or any Sub-Custodian) of such receipts as are required by the customs prevailing among dealers in such options; (iii) in the case of futures contracts and options on futures contracts, against delivery to the Custodian (or any Sub-Custodian) of evidence of title thereto in favor of the Fund or any nominee referred to in Section 3.09 below; and (iv) in the case of repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements entered into between the Trust and a bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System or between the Trust and a primary dealer in U.S. Government securities, against delivery of the purchased Securities either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian’s account at a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository with such Securities; |
(b) | In connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender, as set forth in Section 3.07(f) below, of Securities owned by the Fund; |
(c) | For the payment of any dividends or capital gain distributions declared by the Fund; |
(d) | In payment of the redemption price of Shares as provided in Section 5.01 below; |
(e) | For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Fund, including, but not limited to, the following payments for the account of the Fund: interest; taxes; administration, investment advisory, accounting, auditing, transfer agent, custodian and legal fees; and other operating expenses of the Fund; in all cases, whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or in part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses; |
(f) | For transfer in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of FINRA, relating to compliance with rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of any similar organization or organizations) regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund; |
(g) | For transfer in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the CFTC and/or any contract market (or any similar organization or organizations) regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund; |
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(h) | For the funding of any uncertificated time deposit or other interest-bearing account with any banking institution (including the Custodian), which deposit or account has a term of one year or less; and |
(i) | For any other proper purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, specifying the amount and purpose of such payment, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made. |
3.07 Delivery of Securities from Fund Custody Account . Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall release and deliver, or cause the Sub-Custodian to release and deliver, Securities from a Fund Custody Account but only in the following cases:
(a) | Upon the sale of Securities for the account of the Fund but only against receipt of payment therefor in cash, by certified or cashiers check or bank credit; |
(b) | In the case of a sale effected through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.05 above; |
(c) | To an offeror’s depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for Securities of the Fund; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian; |
(d) | To the issuer thereof or its agent (i) for transfer into the name of the Fund, the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian, or any nominee or nominees of any of the foregoing, or (ii) for exchange for a different number of certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new Securities are to be delivered to the Custodian; |
(e) | To the broker selling the Securities, for examination in accordance with the “street delivery” custom; |
(f) | For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the issuer of such Securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such Securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement, including surrender or receipt of underlying Securities in connection with the issuance or cancellation of depository receipts; provided that, in any such case, the new Securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian; |
(g) | Upon receipt of payment therefor pursuant to any repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement entered into by the Fund; |
(h) | In the case of warrants, rights or similar Securities, upon the exercise thereof, provided that, in any such case, the new Securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian; |
(i) | For delivery in connection with any loans of Securities of the Fund, but only against receipt of such collateral as the Trust shall have specified to the Custodian in Proper Instructions; |
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(j) | For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Trust, but only against receipt by the Custodian of the amounts borrowed; |
(k) | Pursuant to any authorized plan of liquidation, reorganization, merger, consolidation or recapitalization of the Trust; |
(l) | For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of FINRA, relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of any similar organization or organizations) regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund; |
(m) | For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the CFTC and/or any contract market (or any similar organization or organizations) regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund; |
(n) | For any other proper corporate purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, specifying the Securities to be delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such Securities shall be made; or |
(o) | To brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that in any such case the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct. |
3.08 Actions Not Requiring Proper Instructions . Unless otherwise instructed by the Trust or Sponsor, the Custodian shall with respect to all Securities held for the Funds:
(a) | Subject to Section 9.04 below, collect on a timely basis all income and other payments to which a Fund is entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business; |
(b) | Present for payment and, subject to Section 9.04 below, collect on a timely basis the amount payable upon all Securities which may mature or be called, redeemed, or retired, or otherwise become payable; |
(c) | Endorse for collection, in the name of a Fund, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; |
(d) | Surrender interim receipts or Securities in temporary form for Securities in definitive form; |
(e) | Execute, as custodian, any necessary declarations or certificates of ownership under the federal income tax laws or the laws or regulations of any other taxing authority now or |
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hereafter in effect, and prepare and submit reports to the IRS and the Trust at such time, in such manner and containing such information as is prescribed by the IRS;
(f) | Hold for a Fund, either directly or, with respect to Securities held therein, through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, all rights and similar Securities issued with respect to Securities of the Fund; and |
(g) | In general, and except as otherwise directed in Proper Instructions, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with Securities and other assets of a Fund. |
3.09 Registration and Transfer of Securities . All Securities held for the Funds that are issued or issuable only in bearer form shall be held by the Custodian in that form, provided that any such Securities shall be held in a Book-Entry System if eligible therefor. All other Securities held for the Funds may be registered in the name of a Fund, the Custodian, a Sub-Custodian or any nominee thereof, or in the name of a Book-Entry System, Securities Depository or any nominee of either thereof. The records of the Custodian with respect to foreign securities of a Fund that are maintained with a Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for the benefit of its customers shall identify those securities as belonging to the Fund. The Trust shall furnish to the Custodian appropriate instruments to enable the Custodian to hold or deliver in proper form for transfer, or to register in the name of any of the nominees referred to above or in the name of a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, any Securities registered in the name of the Fund.
3.10 Records .
(a) | The Custodian shall maintain complete and accurate records with respect to Securities, cash or other property held for the Funds, including (i) journals or other records of original entry containing an itemized daily record in detail of all receipts and deliveries of Securities and all receipts and disbursements of cash; (ii) ledgers (or other records) reflecting (A) Securities in transfer, (B) Securities in physical possession, (C) monies and Securities borrowed and monies and Securities loaned (together with a record of the collateral therefor and substitutions of such collateral), (D) dividends and interest received, and (E) dividends receivable and interest receivable; (iii) canceled checks and bank records related thereto; and (iv) all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement. The Custodian shall keep such other books and records of the Fund as the Trust shall reasonably request and as shall reasonably assist the Trust in satisfying relevant rules and regulations of the CFTC, NFA, the 1934 Act or the 1933 Act. |
(b) | All such books and records maintained by the Custodian shall (i) be maintained in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust for compliance with the rules and regulations of the CFTC, NFA and SEC, and (ii) be the property of the Trust and at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be made available upon request for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Trust and employees or agents of the CFTC, NFA or the SEC, as required by law or as instructed by the Trust. |
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3.11 Fund Reports by Custodian . The Custodian shall furnish the Trust and Sponsor with a daily activity statement and a summary of all transfers to or from each Fund Custody Account on the day following such transfers. At least monthly, the Custodian shall furnish the Trust and Sponsor with a detailed statement of the Securities and moneys held by the Custodian and the Sub-Custodians for the Fund under this Agreement.
3.12 Other Reports by Custodian . As the Trust may reasonably request from time to time, the Custodian shall provide the Trust with reports on the internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding Securities which are employed by the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian.
3.13 Proxies and Other Materials . The Custodian shall cause all proxies relating to Securities which are not registered in the name of a Fund to be promptly executed by the registered holder of such Securities, without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver to the Trust such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such Securities. With respect to the foreign Securities, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country where such securities are issued. The Trust acknowledges that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of the Trust to exercise shareholder rights.
3.14 Information on Corporate Actions . The Custodian shall promptly deliver to the Trust all information received by the Custodian and pertaining to Securities being held by the Fund with respect to optional tender or exchange offers, calls for redemption or purchase, or expiration of rights. If the Trust desires to take action with respect to any tender offer, exchange offer or other similar transaction, the Trust shall notify the Custodian at least three Business Days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take such action. The Trust will provide or cause to be provided to the Custodian all relevant information for any Security which has unique put/option provisions at least three Business Days prior to the beginning date of the tender period.
ARTICLE IV.
PURCHASE AND SALE OF INVESTMENTS OF THE FUND
4.01 Purchase of Securities . Promptly upon each purchase of Securities for a Fund, Written Instructions shall be delivered to the Custodian, specifying (i) the name of the issuer or writer of such Securities, and the title or other description thereof, (ii) the number of shares, principal amount (and accrued interest, if any) or other units purchased, (iii) the date of purchase and settlement, (iv) the purchase price per unit, (v) the total amount payable upon such purchase, and (vi) the name of the person to whom such amount is payable. The Custodian shall upon receipt of such Securities purchased by a Fund pay out of the moneys held for the account of the Fund the total amount specified in such Written Instructions to the person named therein. The Custodian shall not be under any obligation to pay out moneys to
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cover the cost of a purchase of Securities for a Fund, if in the Fund Custody Account there is insufficient cash available to the Fund for which such purchase was made.
4.02 Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities Purchased . In any and every case where payment for the purchase of Securities for a Fund is made by the Custodian in advance of receipt of the Securities purchased and in the absence of specified Written Instructions to so pay in advance, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for such payment.
4.03 Sale of Securities . Promptly upon each sale of Securities by a Fund, Written Instructions shall be delivered to the Custodian, specifying (i) the name of the issuer or writer of such Securities, and the title or other description thereof, (ii) the number of shares, principal amount (and accrued interest, if any), or other units sold, (iii) the date of sale and settlement, (iv) the sale price per unit, (v) the total amount payable upon such sale, and (vi) the person to whom such Securities are to be delivered. Upon receipt of the total amount payable to a Fund as specified in such Written Instructions, the Custodian shall deliver such Securities to the person specified in such Written Instructions. Subject to the foregoing, the Custodian may accept payment in such form as shall be satisfactory to it, and may deliver Securities and arrange for payment in accordance with the customs prevailing among dealers in Securities.
4.04 Delivery of Securities Sold . Notwithstanding Section 4.03 above or any other provision of this Agreement, the Custodian, when instructed to deliver Securities against payment, shall be entitled, if in accordance with generally accepted market practice, to deliver such Securities prior to actual receipt of final payment therefor. In any such case, the Fund shall bear the risk that final payment for such Securities may not be made or that such Securities may be returned or otherwise held or disposed of by or through the person to whom they were delivered, and the Custodian shall have no liability for any for the foregoing.
4.05 Payment for Securities Sold . In its sole discretion and from time to time, the Custodian may credit the Fund Custody Account, prior to actual receipt of final payment thereof, with (i) proceeds from the sale of Securities which it has been instructed to deliver against payment, (ii) proceeds from the redemption of Securities or other assets of the Fund, and (iii) income from cash, Securities or other assets of the Fund. Any such credit shall be conditional upon actual receipt by Custodian of final payment and may be reversed if final payment is not actually received in full. The Custodian may, in its sole discretion and from time to time, permit the Fund to use funds so credited to the Fund Custody Account in anticipation of actual receipt of final payment. Any such funds shall be repayable immediately upon demand made by the Custodian at any time prior to the actual receipt of all final payments in anticipation of which funds were credited to the Fund Custody Account.
4.06 Advances by Custodian for Settlement . The Custodian may, in its sole discretion and from time to time, advance funds to the Trust to facilitate the settlement of a Fund’s transactions in the Fund Custody Account. Any such advance shall be repayable immediately upon demand made by Custodian.
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ARTICLE V.
SALE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES
5.01 Transfer of Fund Assets . From such funds or other property as may be available for the purpose in the relevant Fund Custody Account, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying that the funds or securities are required to redeem one or more creation units of the Fund, deliver the funds or securities specified in such Proper Instructions for payment to or through such bank or broker-dealer as the Proper Instructions may designate. The Fund’s transfer agent, as known to the Custodian in pursuant to Section 2.03, shall be an Authorized Person for purposes of this Section 5.01. ,
5.02 No Duty Regarding Paying Banks . Once the Custodian has wired amounts to a bank or broker-dealer pursuant to Section 5.01 above, the Custodian shall not be under any obligation to effect any further payment or distribution by such bank or broker-dealer.
ARTICLE VI.
SEGREGATED ACCOUNTS
Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of a Fund, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or Securities, including Securities maintained in a Depository Account:
(a) | in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Sponsor, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of FINRA (or any futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the CFTC or any registered contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund; |
(b) | for purposes of segregating cash or Securities in connection with securities options purchased or written by the Fund or in connection with financial futures contracts (or options thereon) purchased or sold by the Fund; |
(c) | which constitute collateral for loans of Securities made by the Fund; |
(d) | for other proper corporate purposes, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, setting forth the purpose or purposes of such segregated account and declaring such purposes to be proper corporate purposes. |
Each segregated account established under this Article VI shall be established and maintained for the Fund only. All Proper Instructions relating to a segregated account shall specify the Fund.
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ARTICLE VII.
COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN
7.01 Compensation . The Custodian 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). The Custodian 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 the Custodian in performing its duties hereunder. The Trust shall pay all such fees and reimbursable expenses within 30 calendar days following receipt of the billing notice, except for any fee or expense subject to a good faith dispute. The Trust shall notify the Custodian 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 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 the Custodian shall only be paid out of the assets and property of the particular Fund involved.
7.02 Overdrafts . The Trust is responsible for maintaining an appropriate level of short term cash investments to accommodate cash outflows. The Trust may obtain a formal line of credit for potential overdrafts of its custody account. In the event of an overdraft or in the event the line of credit is insufficient to cover an overdraft, the overdraft amount or the overdraft amount that exceeds the line of credit will be charged in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit C hereto (as amended from time to time)
ARTICLE VIII.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
8.01 Representations and Warranties of the Trust and Sponsor . The Trust and Sponsor each hereby represents and warrants to the Custodian, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
(a) | 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; |
(b) | This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust and Sponsor in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, 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 |
(c) | 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, |
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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.
8.02 Representations and Warranties of the Custodian . The Custodian hereby represents and warrants to the Trust, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
(a) | 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; |
(b) | This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Custodian in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Custodian, 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 |
(c) | 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. |
ARTICLE IX.
CONCERNING THE CUSTODIAN
9.01 Standard of Care . The Custodian shall exercise commercially reasonable efforts of care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Custodian 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, except a loss arising out of or relating to the Custodian’s (or a Sub-Custodian’s) refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement) or from its (or a Sub-Custodian’s) bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement). The Custodian shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall promptly notify the Trust and Sponsor of any action taken or omitted by the Custodian pursuant to advice of counsel.
9.02 Actual Collection Required . The Custodian shall not be liable for, or considered to be the custodian of, any cash belonging to a Fund or any money represented by a check, draft or other instrument for the payment of money, until the Custodian or its agents actually receive such cash or collect on such instrument.
9.03 No Responsibility for Title, etc. So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or
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genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement.
9.04 Limitation on Duty to Collect . Custodian shall not be required to enforce collection, by legal means or otherwise, of any money or property due and payable with respect to Securities held for the Fund if such Securities are in default or payment is not made after due demand or presentation.
9.05 Reliance Upon Documents and Instructions . The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any certificate, notice or other instrument in writing received by it and reasonably believed by it to be genuine. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any Written Instructions actually received by it pursuant to this Agreement.
9.06 Cooperation . The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the entity or entities appointed by the Trust or Sponsor to keep the books of account of the Funds and/or compute the value of the assets of the Funds. The Custodian shall take all such reasonable actions as the Trust or Sponsor may from time to time request to enable the Trust to obtain, from year to year, favorable opinions from the Trust’s independent accountants with respect to the Custodian’s activities hereunder in connection with (i) the preparation of the Trust’s annual reports and any other reports required by the CFTC, NFA and SEC, and (ii) the fulfillment by the Trust of any other requirements of the CFTC, NFA and SEC.
ARTICLE X.
INDEMNIFICATION
10.01 Indemnification by Trust . The Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian, any Sub-Custodian and any nominee thereof (each, an “Indemnified Party” and collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that an Indemnified Party may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against an Indemnified Party by any person arising directly or indirectly (i) from the fact that Securities are registered in the name of any such nominee, (ii) from any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Custodian or such Sub-Custodian (a) at the request or direction of or in reliance on the advice of the Trust or Sponsor, or (b) upon Proper Instructions, or (iii) from the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or any sub-custody agreement, provided that neither the Custodian nor any such Sub-Custodian shall be indemnified and held harmless from and against any such claim, demand, loss, expense or liability arising out of or relating to its refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement), or from its bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement (or any sub-custody 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 terms “Custodian” and “Sub-Custodian” shall include their respective directors, officers and employees.
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10.02 Indemnification by Custodian . The Custodian shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and Sponsor 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 directly or indirectly out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by an Indemnified Party as a result of the Indemnified Party’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement), or from its bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement). This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Custodian, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. As used in this paragraph, the term “Trust” shall include the Trust’s officers and employees and the term “Sponsor” shall include the Sponsor’s officers and employees.
10.03 Security . If the Custodian advances cash or Securities to a Fund for any purpose, either at the Trust’s request or as otherwise contemplated in this Agreement, or in the event that the Custodian or its nominee incurs, in connection with its performance under this Agreement, any claim, demand, loss, expense or liability (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (except such as may arise from its or its nominee’s bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct), then, in any such event, any property at any time held for the account of a Fund shall be security therefor, and should a Fund fail promptly to repay or indemnify the Custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash of such Fund and to dispose of other assets of such Fund to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement or indemnification.
10.04 Miscellaneous.
(a) | Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to another party for consequential, special or punitive damages under any provision of this Agreement. |
(b) | The indemnity provisions of this Article shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement. |
(c) | In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Article X 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 Article X. 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. |
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ARTICLE XI.
FORCE MAJEURE
Neither the Custodian, the Sponsor nor the Trust shall be liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; civil or military disturbances; acts of terrorism; sabotage; strikes; epidemics; riots; power failures; computer failure and any such circumstances beyond its reasonable control as may cause interruption, loss or malfunction of utility, transportation, computer (hardware or software) or telephone communication service; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority; governmental actions; or inability to obtain labor, material, equipment or transportation; provided, however, that in the event of a failure or delay, the Custodian (i) shall not discriminate against a Fund in favor of any other customer of the Custodian in making computer time and personnel available to input or process the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) shall use its best efforts to ameliorate the effects of any such failure or delay.
ARTICLE XII.
PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
12.01 The Custodian agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust and Sponsor, all records and other information relative to the Trust and prior, present, or potential shareholders of the Funds (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 (i) after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust or Sponsor, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where the Custodian may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, (ii) when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities although the Custodian will promptly report such disclosure to the Trust and Sponsor if disclosure is permitted by applicable law and regulation, or (iii) when so requested by the Trust or Sponsor. Records and other information which have become known to the public through no wrongful act of the Custodian or any of its employees, agents or representatives, and information that was already in the possession of the Custodian prior to receipt thereof from the Trust, Sponsor or its agent, shall not be subject to this paragraph.
12.02 Further, the Custodian 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, the Custodian 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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ARTICLE XIII.
EFFECTIVE PERIOD; TERMINATION
13.01 Effective Period . This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above and will continue in effect for a period of three (3) years.
13.02 Termination . 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 any 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. In addition, the Trust may, at any time, immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by regulatory authorities or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
13.03 Early Termination . In the absence of any material breach of this Agreement, should the Trust or Sponsor elect to terminate this Agreement prior to the end of the three year term, the Trust or Sponsor agrees to pay the following fees:
a) all monthly fees through the life of the Agreement, including the repayment of any negotiated discounts;
b) all fees associated with converting services to successor custodian;
c) 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;
d) all out-of-pocket costs associated with to a) to c) above.
13.04 Appointment of Successor Custodian . If a successor custodian shall have been appointed by the Sponsor, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of a notice of acceptance by the successor custodian, on such specified date of termination (i) deliver directly to the successor custodian all Securities (other than Securities held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository) and cash then owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian as custodian, and (ii) transfer any Securities held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository to an account of or for the benefit of the Fund at the successor custodian, provided that the Trust or Sponsor shall have paid to the Custodian all fees, expenses and other amounts to the payment or reimbursement of which it shall then be entitled. In addition, the Custodian shall, at the expense of the Trust, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records, correspondence, and other data established or maintained by the Custodian under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs from the form in which the Custodian 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 the Custodian’s personnel in the establishment of books, records, and other data by such successor. Upon such delivery and transfer, the Custodian shall be relieved of all obligations under this Agreement.
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13.05 Failure to Appoint Successor Custodian . If a successor custodian is not designated by the Trust on or before the date of termination of this Agreement, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company of its own selection cash and other property held by Custodian under this Agreement and to transfer to an account of or for the Fund at such bank or trust company all Securities of the Funds held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository. Upon such delivery and transfer, such bank or trust company shall be the successor custodian under this Agreement and the Custodian shall be relieved of all obligations under this Agreement. In addition, under these circumstances, all books, records and other data of the Trust shall be returned to the Trust.
ARTICLE XIV.
CLASS ACTIONS
The Custodian shall use its best efforts to identify and file claims for the Fund(s) involving any class action litigation that impacts any security the Fund(s) may have held during the class period. The Trust agrees that the Custodian may file such claims on its behalf and understands that it may be waiving and/or releasing certain rights to make claims or otherwise pursue class action defendants who settle their claims. Further, the Trust acknowledges that there is no guarantee these claims will result in any payment or partial payment of potential class action proceeds and that the timing of such payment, if any, is uncertain.
However, the Trust or Sponsor may instruct the Custodian to distribute class action notices and other relevant documentation to the Fund(s) or its designee and, if it so elects, will relieve the Custodian from any and all liability and responsibility for filing class action claims on behalf of the Fund(s).
In the event the Fund(s) are closed, the Custodian shall only file the class action claims upon written instructions by an authorized representative of the closed Fund(s). Any expenses associated with such filing will be assessed against the proceeds received of any class action settlement.
ARTICLE XV.
MISCELLANEOUS
15.01 Compliance with Laws . The Trust and Sponsor have and retain primary responsibility for all compliance matters relating to the Fund, including but not limited to compliance with the 1933 Act, the CEA, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the policies and limitations of the Fund relating to its portfolio investments as set forth in its Prospectus and statement of additional information. The Custodian’s services hereunder shall not relieve the Trust of its responsibilities for assuring such compliance or the Sponsor’s oversight responsibility with respect thereto.
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15.02 Amendment . This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by written agreement executed by the Custodian, Trust and Sponsor.
15.03 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 the Custodian, or by the Custodian without the written consent of the Trust accompanied by the authorization or approval of the Sponsor.
15.04 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota, without regard to conflicts of law principles. To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of Minnesota, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the CEA or 1933 Act, the latter shall control, and nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the CEA, 1933 Act or any rule or order of the CFTC, NFA or SEC thereunder.
15.05 No Agency Relationship . Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower either party to act as agent for the other party to this Agreement, or to conduct business in the name, or for the account, of the other party to this Agreement.
15.06 Services Not Exclusive . Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the Custodian from providing services to other parties that are similar or identical to some or all of the services provided hereunder.
15.07 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.
15.08 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 the Custodian shall be sent to:
U.S Bank, N.A.
1555 N. Rivercenter Dr., MK-WI-S302
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Attn: Tom Fuller
Phone: 414-905-6118
Fax: 866-350-5066
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Notice to the Trust Sponsor shall be sent to:
ETF Managers Capital LLC
35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B
Summit, NJ 07901
Attn: Samuel Masucci
Phone: 908-897-0510
and Notice to the Trust shall be sent to:
ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
c/o ETF Managers Capital LLC
35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B
Summit, NJ 07901
15.09 Multiple Originals . This Agreement may be executed on two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
15.10 No Waiver . No failure by either party hereto to exercise, and no delay by such party in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. The exercise by either party hereto of any right hereunder shall not preclude the exercise of any other right, and the remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided at law or in equity.
15.11 References to Custodian . The Trust or Sponsor shall not circulate any printed matter which contains any reference to Custodian without the prior written approval of Custodian, excepting printed matter contained in the Prospectus or statement of additional information for a Fund and such other printed matter as merely identifies Custodian as custodian for a Fund. The Trust or Sponsor shall submit printed matter requiring approval to Custodian in draft form, allowing sufficient time for review by Custodian and its counsel prior to any deadline for printing.
[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: | /s/ Samuel Masucci III |
Name: Samuel Masucci III
Title: Principle Executive Officer
U.S. BANK, N.A.
By: | /s/ Michael R. McVoy |
Name: Michael R. McVoy
Title: Senior Vice President
ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC
By: | /s/ Samuel Masucci III |
Name: Samuel Masucci III
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
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EXHIBIT A
to the Custody Agreement
Separate Series of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
Name of Series | Symbol | ||
Sit Rising Rate ETF | RISE (NYSE Arca) |
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EXHIBIT B
AUTHORIZED PERSONS
Set forth below are the names and specimen signatures of the persons authorized by ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I to administer the Fund Custody Accounts.
Name | Telephone/Fax Number | Signature | ||
David H. Weissman | ||||
John A. Flanagan | ||||
Samuel Masucci | ||||
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EXHIBIT C to the Custody Agreement – ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust
Base Fee (1) for Custody Services- The following reflects the greater of the basis point fee or minimum per fund at December, 2014
Custody |
Basis Points on AUM per Fund | Annual Minimum per Fund | ||
$0-500m | +$500m | +$1b |
$4,800
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1.0 | 0.75 | 0.5 |
Note: MLP Funds pricing may vary from the above annual fees and are TBD per investment strategy
The Following Fees are in Addition to the Base Fee-
NOTE: Additional Global Sub-Custodial services and safe keeping fees apply as required (see following page)
Portfolio Transaction Fees- Domestic custody transaction fees associate with Sponsor Trades (2)
Out-Of-Pocket Expenses
n | Intraday indicative value (IIV) agent fees | |
n | Corporate action services | |
n | SWIFT reporting and message fees | |
n | Customized reporting | |
n | Third-party data provider costs (including GICS, MSCI, Lipper, etc), | |
n | Supplemental programming and development | |
n | Cost associated with setting up data feeds | |
n | Expenses incurred in the safekeeping, delivery and receipt of securities, shipping, transfer fees, deposit withdrawals at custodian (DWAC) fees, and extraordinary expenses based upon complexity. |
(1) | Subject to annual CPI increase, Milwaukee MSA. |
(2) | “Sponsor trades” are defined as any trades put through the Portfolio, on behalf of the Fund by any portfolio manager/sub advisor and their affiliates authorized by the BOT to act on behalf of the Fund, outside of the create/redeem process. Cash-in-Lieu proceeds received as part of the create/redeem process, and their related transactions are not considered to be “Sponsor trades.” |
Fees are calculated pro rata and billed monthly.
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EXHIBIT D
SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS ACT AUTHORIZATION
ETF MANAGERS GROUP COMMODITY TRUST I
The Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 requires banks and trust companies to make an effort to permit direct communication between a company which issues securities and the shareholder who votes those securities.
Unless you specifically require us to NOT release your name and address to requesting companies, we are required by law to disclose your name and address.
Your “yes” or “no” to disclosure will apply to all securities U.S. Bank holds for you now and in the future, unless you change your mind and notify us in writing.
______ YES | U.S. Bank is authorized to provide the Trust’s name, address and security position to requesting companies whose stock is owned by the Trust. | ||
______ NO | U.S. Bank is NOT authorized to provide the Trust’s name, address and security position to requesting companies whose stock is owned by the Trust. |
ETF MANAGERS GROUP COMMODITY TRUST I
By: | ||
Title: | Chief Compliance Officer | |
Date: |
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Exhibit 10.5
FUND ADMINISTRATION SERVICING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 2 nd day of January, 2015, 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 Exhibit A 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 Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), National Futures Association |
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(“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 Sponsor shall make arrangements for the printing and mailing of the Annual Report. |
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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 expense the Trust is disputing in good faith as set forth above, unpaid invoices
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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; |
(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 |
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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 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 |
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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.
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
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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 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 |
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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.
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
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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 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
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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.
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.
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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.
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
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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: | /s/ Samuel Masucci III |
Name: Samuel Masucci III
Title: Principle Executive Officer
ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC
By: | /s/ Samuel Masucci III |
Name: Samuel Masucci III
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC
By: | /s/ Michael R. McVoy |
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
N
ame
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)
MSCI, S&P and FACTSET
· | The Trust shall represent that it will use the Data solely for internal purposes and will not redistribute the Data in any form or manner to any third party. |
· | The Trust shall represent that it will not use or permit anyone else to use the Data in connection with creating, managing, advising, writing, trading, marketing or promoting any securities or financial instruments or products, including, but not limited to, funds, synthetic or derivative securities (e.g., options, warrants, swaps, and futures), whether listed on an exchange or traded over the counter or on a private-placement basis or otherwise or to create any indices (custom or otherwise). |
· | The Trust shall represent that it will treat the Data as proprietary to MSCI, S&P and FACTSET. Further, the Trust shall acknowledge that MSCI, S&P and FACTSET are the sole and exclusive owners of the Data and all trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights in or to the Data. |
· | The Trust shall represent that it will not (i) copy any component of the Data, (ii) alter, modify or adapt any component of the Data, including, but not limited to, translating, decompiling, disassembling, reverse engineering or creating derivative works, or (iii) make any component of the Data available to any other person or organization (including, without limitation, the Trust’s present and future parents, subsidiaries or affiliates) directly or indirectly, for any of the foregoing or for any other use, including, without limitation, by loan, rental, service bureau, external time sharing or similar arrangement. |
· | The Trust shall be obligated to reproduce on all permitted copies of the Data all copyright, proprietary rights and restrictive legends appearing on the Data. |
· | The Trust shall acknowledge that it assumes the entire risk of using the Data and shall agree to hold MSCI or S&P harmless from any claims that may arise in connection with any use of the Data by the Trust. |
· | The Trust shall acknowledge that MSCI, S&P and FACTSET may, in its sole and absolute discretion and at any time, terminate Fund Services’ right to receive and/or use the Data. |
· | The Trust shall acknowledge that MSCI, S&P and FACTSET are third party beneficiaries of the Customer Agreement among S&P, MSCI, FACTSET and Fund Services, entitled to enforce all provisions of such agreement relating to the Data. |
THE DATA IS PROVIDED TO THE TRUST ON AN “AS IS” BASIS. FUND SERVICES, ITS INFORMATION PROVIDERS, AND ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN OR RELATED TO THE MAKING OR COMPILING OF THE DATA MAKE NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE DATA (OR THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE USE THEREOF). FUND SERVICES, ITS INFORMATION PROVIDERS AND ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN OR RELATED TO THE MAKING OR COMPILING OF THE DATA EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ORIGINALITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
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THE TRUST ASSUMES THE ENTIRE RISK OF ANY USE THE TRUST MAY MAKE OF THE DATA. IN NO EVENT SHALL FUND SERVICES, ITS INFORMATION PROVIDERS OR ANY THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN OR RELATED TO THE MAKING OR COMPILING OF THE DATA, BE LIABLE TO THE TRUST, OR ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY, FOR ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE INABILITY OF THE TRUST TO USE THE DATA, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, EVEN IF FUND SERVICES, ANY OF ITS INFORMATION PROVIDERS, OR ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN OR RELATED TO THE MAKING OR COMPILING OF THE DATA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF OR OTHERWISE MIGHT HAVE ANTICIPATED THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
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Exhibit C to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement- ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
Base Fee (1) for Accounting, Administration, Transfer Agent & Account Services at December, 2014
The following reflects the greater of the basis point fee or minimum per fund-
Accounting, Administration and Transfer Agent | Basis Points on AUM per Fund | Year 1 | Year 2 | |||
First $250m | Next $250m | Next $500m | Balance | $45000 |
$50,000
|
|
5 | 4.5 | 4 | 3 |
Note: MLP Funds pricing may vary from the above annual fees and are TBD per investment strategy
The Following Services and Associated Fees are in Addition to the Base Fee-
Pricing Services
n | $0.15 - | Domestic Equities, Options, ADRs |
n | $0.40 – | Foreign Equities |
n | $0.50 – | Domestic Corporate/Convertible/Gov’t/Agency Bonds, Futures, Forwards, Currency Rates, Mortgage Backed Securities |
n | $0.80 – | CMOs, Municipal Bonds, Money Market Instruments, Foreign Corporate/Convertible/Gov’t/Agency Bonds, Asset Backed Securities, High Yield Bonds |
n | $1.00 – | Bank Loans |
n | $3.00 – | Credit Default Swaps |
n | $1.50 – | Swaptions, Index Swaps |
n | $0.90 – | Interest Rate Swaps, Foreign Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Total Return Bullet Swaps |
Corporate Action & Manual Pricing Services
n | $2.00 /Foreign Equity Security per Month for Corporate Action Service |
n | $1.00 /Domestic Equity Security per Month for Corporate Action Service |
n | $125 /Month Manual Security Pricing (>10/day) |
Out-Of-Pocket Expenses
Including but not limited to corporate action services, fair value pricing services, factor services, SWIFT processing, customized reporting, third-party data provider costs (including GICS, MSCI, Lipper, etc.), postage, stationary, programming, special reports, proxies, insurance, EDGAR/XBRL filing, retention of records, federal and state regulatory filing fees, expenses from Board of directors meetings, third party auditing and legal expenses, wash sales reporting (GainsKeeper), tax e-filing, PFIC monitoring, conversion expenses (if necessary), and CCO team travel related costs to perform due diligence reviews at advisor and sub-advisor facilities.
(1) Subject to annual CPI increase, Milwaukee MSA.
Fees are calculated pro rata and billed monthly.
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Exhibit C (continued) to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement – ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I at December, 2014 Fund Accounting, Fund Administration & Portfolio Compliance Supplemental Services
The Following OPTIONAL Supplemental Services and Associated Fees are available if selected-
Daily Compliance Services (Charles River)
n | Base fee – $20,000 /fund per year |
n | Setup – $2,500 /fund group |
Fair Value Services (Charged at the Complex Level)
The lesser of…
n | $16,500 per Fund |
n | Or $0.656 per security on the First 100 Securities and $0.466 per security on the balance of Securities |
NOTE: Prices above are based on using U.S. Bancorp primary pricing service which may vary by security type and are subject to change.
Use of alternative and/or additional sources may result in additional fees. Pricing vendors may designate certain securities as hard to value or as a non-standard security type which may result in additional fees.
All schedules subject to change depending upon the use of unique security type requiring special pricing or accounting arrangements.
Non-Standard Intraday Indicative Value (IIV) Calculation
n | Negotiated based upon specific requirements |
Customized Benchmarking
n | Negotiated based upon specific requirements |
Additional Services Provided and Negotiated Upon Client Request
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Exhibit 10.6
FUND ACCOUNTING SERVICING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 2 nd day of January, 2015, 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” or an “ETF Series”) and ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC , the sponsor of the Funds (the “Sponsor”).
WHEREAS, the Sponsor has exclusive responsibility for the management and control of the business and affairs of the Trust and each Fund; and
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 Trust and Sponsor desires to retain Fund Services to provide fund accounting services to each Fund listed on Exhibit A 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 accounting 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 Accountant |
The Trust and Sponsor hereby appoint Fund Services as fund accountant of the Trust 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. | Services and Duties of Fund Services |
Fund Services shall provide the following accounting services to each Fund:
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A. | Portfolio Accounting Services: |
(1) | Maintain portfolio records on a trade date+1 basis using security trade information communicated from the Fund’s Sponsor. |
(2) | For each valuation date, obtain prices from a pricing source approved by the Sponsor of the Trust and apply those prices to the portfolio positions. For those securities where market quotations are not readily available, the Sponsor shall approve, in good faith, procedures for determining the fair value for such securities. |
(3) | Identify interest and dividend accrual balances as of each valuation date and calculate gross earnings on investments for each accounting period. |
(4) | Determine gain/loss on security sales and identify them as short-term or long-term; account for periodic distributions of gains or losses to shareholders and maintain undistributed gain or loss balances as of each valuation date. |
(5) | On a daily basis, reconcile cash of the Fund with the Fund’s custodian. |
(6) | Transmit a copy of the portfolio valuation to the Fund’s Sponsor daily. |
(7) | Review the impact of current day’s activity on a per share basis, and review changes in market value. |
B. | Expense Accrual and Payment Services: |
(1) | For each valuation date, calculate the expense accrual amounts as directed by the Trust as to methodology, rate or dollar amount. |
(2) | Process and record payments for Fund expenses upon receipt of written authorization from the Trust. |
(3) | Account for Fund expenditures and maintain expense accrual balances at the level of accounting detail, as agreed upon by Fund Services and the Trust. |
(4) | Provide expense accrual and payment reporting. |
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C. | Fund Valuation and Financial Reporting Services: |
(1) | Account for Fund creation and redemption activity and other Fund share activity as reported by the Fund’s transfer agent on a timely basis. |
(2) | Determine net investment income (earnings) for the Fund as of each valuation date. Account for periodic distributions of earnings to shareholders and maintain undistributed net investment income balances as of each valuation date. |
(3) | Maintain a general ledger and other accounts, books, and financial records for the Fund in the form as agreed upon. |
(4) | Determine the net asset value of the Fund according to the accounting policies and procedures set forth in the Fund’s current prospectus. |
(5) | Calculate per share net asset value, per share net earnings, and other per share amounts reflective of Fund operations at such time as required by the nature and characteristics of the Fund. |
(6) | Communicate to the Trust, at an agreed upon time, the per share net asset value for each valuation date. |
(7) | Prepare monthly reports that document the adequacy of accounting detail to support month-end ledger balances. |
(8) | Prepare monthly security transactions listings. |
(9) | Provide the daily net asset value per share (“NAV”) and holdings data to third-party reporting agencies as determined by the Trust and Sponsor. |
(10) | Create and transmit NAV, Intraday Indicative Value (IIV) data files on a daily basis to the FTP sites designated by the Trust and Sponsor. |
D. | Tax Accounting Services: |
(1) | Maintain accounting records for the investment portfolio of the Fund to support the tax reporting required for “regulated investment companies” under the Internal |
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Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), as applicable.
(2) | Maintain tax lot detail for the Fund’s investment portfolio. |
(3) | Calculate taxable gain/loss on security sales using the tax lot relief method designated by the Trust. |
(4) | Provide the necessary financial information to calculate the taxable components of income and capital gains distributions to support tax reporting to the shareholders. |
E. | Compliance Control Services: |
(1) | Support reporting to regulatory bodies and support financial statement preparation by making the Fund’s accounting records available to the Trust, Sponsor, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), National Futures Association (the “NFA”), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and other applicable regulatory bodies and the independent accountants. |
(2) | Perform its duties hereunder in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and provide any sub-certifications reasonably requested by the Trust and Sponsor in connection with 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, provided the same shall not be deemed to change Fund Services’ standard of care as set forth herein. |
(3) | Cooperate with the Trust’s independent accountants and take all reasonable action in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement to ensure that the necessary information is made available to such accountants for the expression of their opinion on the Fund’s financial statements without any qualification as to the scope of their examination. |
3. | License of Data; Warranty; Termination of Rights |
A. | The valuation information and evaluations being provided to the Trust and Sponsor by Fund Services pursuant hereto (collectively, the “Data”) are being licensed, not sold, to the Trust and Sponsor. The Trust and Sponsor have a limited license to use the Data only for purposes necessary to valuing the Trust’s assets and reporting |
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to regulatory bodies (the “License”). The Trust and Sponsor do not have any license nor right to use the Data for purposes beyond the intentions of this Agreement including, but not limited to, resale to other users or use to create any type of historical database. The License is non-transferable and not sub-licensable. The Trust’s and Sponsor’s right to use the Data cannot be passed to or shared with any other entity.
The Trust and Sponsor acknowledge the proprietary rights that Fund Services and its suppliers have in the Data.
B. | THE TRUST AND SPONSOR HEREBY ACCEPT THE DATA AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE OR ANY OTHER MATTER. |
C. | Fund Services may stop supplying some or all Data to the Trust and Sponsor if Fund Services’ suppliers terminate any agreement to provide Data to Fund Services. Also, Fund Services may stop supplying some or all Data to the Trust and Sponsor if Fund Services reasonably believes that the Trust and Sponsor are using the Data in violation of the License, or breaching their duties of confidentiality provided for hereunder, or if any of Fund Services’ suppliers demand that the Data be withheld from the Trust and Sponsor. Fund Services will provide notice to the Trust and Sponsor of any termination of provision of Data as soon as reasonably possible. |
4. | Pricing of Securities |
A. | For each valuation date, Fund Services shall obtain prices from a pricing source recommended by Fund Services and approved by the Sponsor and apply those prices to the portfolio positions of the Fund. For those securities where market quotations are not readily available, the Sponsor shall approve, in good faith, procedures for determining the fair value for such securities. |
If the Trust and Sponsor desire to provide a price that varies from the price provided by the pricing source, the Trust and Sponsor shall promptly notify and supply Fund Services with the price of any such security on each valuation date. All pricing changes made by the Trust or Sponsor will be in writing and must specifically identify the securities to be changed by CUSIP, name of security, new price or rate to be applied, and, if applicable, the time period for which the new price(s) is/are effective.
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B. | In the event that the Trust and Sponsor at any time receive Data containing evaluations, rather than market quotations, for certain securities or certain other data related to such securities, the following provisions will apply: (i) evaluated securities are typically complicated financial instruments. There are many methodologies (including computer-based analytical modeling and individual security evaluations) available to generate approximations of the market value of such securities, and there is significant professional disagreement about which method is best. No evaluation method, including those used by Fund Services and its suppliers, may consistently generate approximations that correspond to actual “traded” prices of the securities; (ii) methodologies used to provide the pricing portion of certain Data may rely on evaluations; however, the Trust and Sponsor acknowledge that there may be errors or defects in the software, databases, or methodologies generating the evaluations that may cause resultant evaluations to be inappropriate for use in certain applications; and (iii) the Trust and Sponsor assume all responsibility for edit checking, external verification of evaluations, and ultimately the appropriateness of using Data containing evaluations, regardless of any efforts made by Fund Services and its suppliers in this respect. |
5. | Changes in Accounting Procedures |
Any action by the Sponsor that affects accounting practices and procedures of the Trust under this Agreement shall be effective upon written receipt of notice and acceptance by Fund Services.
6. | Changes in Equipment, Systems, Etc. |
Fund Services reserves the right to make changes from time to time, as it deems advisable, relating to its systems, programs, rules, operating schedules and equipment, so long as such changes do not adversely affect the services provided to the Trust and Sponsor under this Agreement.
7. | 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 B 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
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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 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.
8. | 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;
(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;
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(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.
9. | Standard of Care; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability |
A. | Fund Services shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. Neither Fund Services nor its suppliers shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust or any third party 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 and its suppliers from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that Fund Services or its suppliers may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against Fund Services or its suppliers by any person arising out of or related to (i) any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in performing the services hereunder (ii) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (iii) in reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to Fund Services by any duly authorized officer of the Trust or the Sponsor, or (iv) the Data, or any information, service, report, analysis or publication derived therefrom, 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 |
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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.
The Trust acknowledges that the Data are intended for use as an aid to institutional investors, registered brokers or professionals of similar sophistication in making informed judgments concerning securities. The Trust accepts responsibility for, and acknowledges it exercises its own independent judgment in, its selection of the Data, its selection of the use or intended use of such, and any results obtained. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver of any rights existing under applicable law for the protection of investors.
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.
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
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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.
In no case shall any party be liable to another for (i) any special, indirect or consequential damages, loss of profits or goodwill (even if advised of the possibility of such); (ii) any delay by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, labor difficulties, fire, mechanical breakdown, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots, or failure beyond its control of transportation or power supply; or (iii) any claim that arose more than one year prior to the institution of suit therefor.
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 9 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. |
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10. | Notification of Error |
The Trust and/or Sponsor will notify Fund Services of any discrepancy between Fund Services and the Trust, including, but not limited to, failing to account for a security position in the Fund’s portfolio, upon the later to occur of: (i) three business days after receipt of any reports rendered by Fund Services to the Trust; (ii) three business days after discovery of any error or omission not covered in the balancing or control procedure; or (iii) three business days after receiving notice from any shareholder regarding any such discrepancy.
11. | 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.
12. | Proprietary and Confidential Information |
A. | 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 (i) after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld 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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B. | The Trust, on behalf of itself and its trustees, officers, and employees, will maintain the confidential and proprietary nature of the Data and agrees to protect it using the same efforts, but in no case less than reasonable efforts, that it uses to protect its own proprietary and confidential information. |
13. | 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
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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.
14. | 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 Revenue Code of 1986, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the USA Patriot Act of 2001, the rules and regulations of the SEC, CFTC, NFA, 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.
15. | 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 another 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.
16. | 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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17. | 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
18. | 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.
19. | 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.
20. | 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.
21. | Services Not Exclusive |
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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.
22. | 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.
23. | 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
24. | 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: | /s/ Samuel Masucci III |
Name: Samuel Masucci III
Title: Principle Executive Officer
ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC
By: | /s/ Samuel Masucci III |
Name: Samuel Masucci III
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC
By: | /s/ Michael R. McVoy |
Name: Michael R. McVoy
Title: Executive Vice President
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Exhibit A to the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement – ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
Separate Series of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
N ame of Series | Symbol |
Sit Rising Rate ETF | RISE (NYSE Arca) |
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Exhibit B to the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement- ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
Base Fee (1) for Accounting, Administration, Transfer Agent & Account Services at December, 2014
The following reflects the greater of the basis point fee or minimum per fund-
Accounting, Administration and Transfer Agent | Basis Points on AUM per Fund | Year 1 | Year 2 | |||
First $250m | Next $250m | Next $500m | Balance | $45000 |
$50,000
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5 | 4.5 | 4 | 3 |
Note: MLP Funds pricing may vary from the above annual fees and are TBD per investment strategy
The Following Services and Associated Fees are in Addition to the Base Fee-
Pricing Services
n | $0.15 - | Domestic Equities, Options, ADRs |
n | $0.40 – | Foreign Equities |
n | $0.50 – | Domestic Corporate/Convertible/Gov’t/Agency Bonds, Futures, Forwards, Currency Rates, Mortgage Backed Securities |
n | $0.80 – | CMOs, Municipal Bonds, Money Market Instruments, Foreign Corporate/Convertible/Gov’t/Agency Bonds, Asset Backed Securities, High Yield Bonds |
n | $1.00 – | Bank Loans |
n | $3.00 – | Credit Default Swaps |
n | $1.50 – | Swaps, Index Swaps |
n | $0.90 – | Interest Rate Swaps, Foreign Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Total Return Bullet Swaps |
Corporate Action & Manual Pricing Services
n | $2.00 /Foreign Equity Security per Month for Corporate Action Service |
n | $1.00 /Domestic Equity Security per Month for Corporate Action Service |
n | $125 /Month Manual Security Pricing (>10/day) |
Out-Of-Pocket Expenses
Including but not limited to corporate action services, fair value pricing services, factor services, SWIFT processing, customized reporting, third-party data provider costs (including GICS, MSCI, Lipper, etc.), postage, stationary, programming, special reports, proxies, insurance, EDGAR/XBRL filing, retention of records, federal and state regulatory filing fees, expenses from Board of directors meetings, third party auditing and legal expenses, wash sales reporting (GainsKeeper), tax e-filing, PFIC monitoring, conversion expenses (if necessary), and CCO team travel related costs to perform due diligence reviews at advisor and sub-advisor facilities.
(1) Subject to annual CPI increase, Milwaukee MSA.
Fees are calculated pro rata and billed monthly.
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Exhibit B (continued) to the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement – ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I at December, 2014 Fund Accounting, Fund Administration & Portfolio Compliance Supplemental Services
The Following OPTIONAL Supplemental Services and Associated Fees are available if selected-
Daily Compliance Services (Charles River)
n | Base fee – $20,000 /fund per year |
n | Setup – $2,500 /fund group |
Fair Value Services (Charged at the Complex Level)
The lesser of…
n | $16,500 per Fund |
n | Or $0.656 per security on the First 100 Securities and $0.466 per security on the balance of Securities |
NOTE: Prices above are based on using U.S. Bancorp primary pricing service which may vary by security type and are subject to change.
Use of alternative and/or additional sources may result in additional fees. Pricing vendors may designate certain securities as hard to value or as a non-standard security type which may result in additional fees.
All schedules subject to change depending upon the use of unique security type requiring special pricing or accounting arrangements.
Non-Standard Intraday Indicative Value (IIV) Calculation
n | Negotiated based upon specific requirements |
Customized Benchmarking
n | Negotiated based upon specific requirements |
Additional Services Provided and Negotiated Upon Client Request
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Exhibit 10.7
TRANSFER AGENT SERVICING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 2 nd day of January, 2015, by and between U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC , a Wisconsin limited liability company (“Fund Services”) and ETF MANAGERS GROUP COMMODITY TRUST I , a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust” for itself and behalf of each of its series listed on Appendix A to this Agreement, (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds” ), and ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC , the Sponsor of the Funds (the “ Sponsor ”).
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 intends to issue in respect of its portfolios listed on Exhibit A attached hereto (each a “Fund” or an “ETF Series”) an exchange-traded class of shares known as “ETF Shares” for each ETF Series. The ETF Shares shall be created in bundles called “Creation Units.” The Trust, on behalf of the ETF Series, shall create and redeem ETF Shares of each ETF Series only in Creation Units principally in kind for portfolio securities of the particular ETF Series (“Deposit Securities”), as more fully described in the current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Trust, included in its registration statement on Form S-1, No 333-199190; and as authorized under the Order of Exemption filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Only brokers or dealers that are “Authorized Participants” and that have entered into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Distributor, acting on behalf of the Trust, shall be authorized to create and redeem ETF Shares in Creation Units from the Trust. The Trust wishes to engage Fund Services to perform certain services on behalf of the Trust with respect to the creation and redemption of ETF Shares, as the Trust’s agent, namely: to provide transfer agent services for ETF Shares of each ETF Series; to act as Index Receipt Agent (as such term is defined in the rules of the National Securities Clearing Corporation) with respect to the settlement of trade orders with Authorized Participants; and to provide custody services under the terms of the Custody Agreement, as supplemented hereby, for the settlement of Creation Units against Deposit Securities and/or cash that shall be delivered by Authorized Participants in exchange for ETF Shares and the redemption of ETF Shares in Creation Unit size against the delivery of Redemption Securities and/or cash of each ETF Series.
WHEREAS, each Fund is operated as a commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act; and
WHEREAS, the Trust will ordinarily issue for purchase and redeem shares of the Trust (the “Shares) only in aggregations of Shares known as Creation Units (currently 25,000 shares) principally in kind or in cash;
WHEREAS, The Depository Trust Company, a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York (“DTC”), or its nominee Cede & Company, will be the registered owner (the “Shareholder”) of all Shares; and
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WHEREAS, the Trust and Sponsor desires to retain Fund Services as its transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, and agent in connection with certain other activities to each series of the Trust listed on Exhibit A attached hereto (as amended from time to time) (each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”).
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 Transfer Agent
The Trust and Sponsor hereby appoints Fund Services as transfer agent of the Trust on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and 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. Services and Duties of Fund Services
Fund Services shall provide the following transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent services:
A. Perform and facilitate the performance of purchases and redemption of Creation Units; pursuant to such orders that Fund Services as the Index Receipt Agent shall receive from Esposito Securities, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, having its principal place of business at 300 Crescent Court, Suite 650, Dallas, TX 75201 (“Distributor”) and pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement entered into by the Funds, Fund Services shall transfer appropriate trade instructions to the Funds’ custodian, U.S. Bank N.A (“Custodian”), pursuant to that such purchase orders register the appropriate number of book entry only the Funds’ Units in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee as a unit holder (each an “Authorized Participant”) of the Funds and deliver the Basket of Units of the Funds and pursuant to that such redemption orders redeem the appropriate number of the Funds’ Units that are delivered to the designated DTC Participant Account of the Custodian for redemption and debit such Units from the account of the Authorized Participant on the register of the Funds;
B. Prepare and transmit by means of DTC’s book-entry system payments for dividends and distributions on or with respect to the Shares declared by the Trust on behalf of the applicable Fund;
C. On behalf of the Funds, Fund Services shall issue the Funds’ Units in Creation Baskets for settlement with purchasers through DTC as the purchaser is authorized to receive. Beneficial ownership of the Funds’ Units shall be shown on the records of DTC and DTC Participants and not on any records maintained by the Fund Services. In issuing
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the Funds’ Units through DTC to an Authorized Participant, Fund Services shall be entitled to rely upon the latest Instructions that are received from the Distributor concerning the issuance and delivery of such Units for settlement.
D. Fund Services shall not issue on behalf of the Funds any of the Funds’ Units where it has received an Instruction from the Funds or the Distributor or written notification from any federal or state authority that the sale of the Funds’ Units has been suspended or discontinued, and Fund Services shall be entitled to rely upon such Instructions or written notification.
E. The Funds’ Units may be redeemed in accordance with the procedures set forth in the relevant Authorized Participant Agreement and Fund Services shall duly process all redemption requests.
F. Fund Services will act only upon Instruction from the Funds and/or the Sponsor in addressing any failure in the delivery of cash, treasuries and/or Units in connection with the issuance and redemption of the Funds’ Units.
G. Record the issuance of Shares of the Trust and maintain a record of the total number of Shares of the Trust which are outstanding, and, based upon data provided to it by the Trust, the total number of authorized Shares. Fund Services shall have no obligation, when recording the issuance of Shares, to monitor the issuance of such Shares
H. Prepare and transmit to the Trust and the Trust’s administrator and to any applicable securities exchange (as specified to Fund Services by the Trust) information with respect to purchases and redemptions of Shares;
I. On days that the Trust may accept orders for purchases or redemptions, calculate and transmit to Fund Services and the Trust the number of outstanding Shares;
J. On days that the Trust may accept orders for purchases or redemptions (pursuant to the Participant Agreement), transmit to Fund Services, the Trust and DTC the amount of Shares purchased on such day;
K. Confirm to DTC the number of Shares issued to the Shareholder, as DTC may reasonably request;
L. Prepare and deliver other reports, information and documents to DTC as DTC may reasonably request;
M. Maintain those books and records of the Trust specified by the Trust and agreed upon by Fund Services;
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N. Prepare a monthly report of all purchases and redemptions of Shares during such month on a gross transaction basis, and identify on a daily basis the net number of Shares either redeemed or purchased on such business day and with respect to each Authorized Participant purchasing or redeeming Shares, the amount of Shares purchased or redeemed;
O. Fund Services shall record the issuance of the Funds’ Creation Baskets and maintain, pursuant to Rule 17Ad-14(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, a record of the total number of the Funds’ Creation Baskets that are authorized, issued and outstanding based upon data provided to Fund Services by the Funds or the Sponsor. Fund Services shall also provide the Funds on a regular basis with the total number of the Funds’ Units authorized, issued and outstanding; provided however that Fund Services shall not be responsible for monitoring the issuance of such Units or compliance with any laws relating to the validity of the issuance or the legality of the sale of such Units.
P. Subject to and in accordance with Section 9 of the Agreement, Fund Services shall create and maintain such books and record which the Trust or Fund Services is, or may be, required to create and maintain in accordance with all laws, rules, and regulations applicable to Fund Services as Transfer Agent. Fund Services agrees to make all books and records available for inspection and use by the Trust or by the SEC at reasonable times, and to otherwise keep confidential. Fund Services shall maintain such books and records for at least six years or for such other period of time as Fund Services and Trust may mutually agree or as required by all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Fund Services further agrees that all such books and records shall be the property of the Trust.
Q. Upon reasonable notice by the Trust, Fund Services shall make available during regular business hours all records and other data created and maintained by Fund Services as Transfer Agent for reasonable audit and inspections by the Trust or any person retained by the Trust.
4. Anti-Money Laundering and Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention Programs
The Trust acknowledges that it has had an opportunity to review, consider and comment upon the written procedures provided by Fund Services describing various tools used by Fund Services which are designed to promote the detection and reporting of potential money laundering activity and identity theft by monitoring certain aspects of shareholder activity as well as written procedures for verifying a customer’s identity (collectively, the “Procedures”). Further, the Trust and Fund Services have each determined that the Procedures, as part of the Trust’s overall Anti-Money Laundering Program and Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention Program, are reasonably designed to: (i) prevent each Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of terrorist activities; (ii) prevent identity theft; and (iii) achieve compliance with the applicable provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act, Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 and the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the implementing regulations thereunder.
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Based on this determination, the Trust hereby instructs and directs Fund Services to implement the Procedures on the Trust’s behalf, as such may be amended or revised from time to time. It is contemplated that these Procedures will be amended from time to time by the parties as additional regulations are adopted and/or regulatory guidance is provided relating to the Trust’s anti-money laundering and identity theft responsibilities.
Fund Services agrees to provide to the Trust:
(a) | Prompt written notification of any transaction or combination of transactions that Fund Services believes, based on the Procedures, evidence money laundering or identity theft activities in connection with the Trust or any Fund shareholder; |
(b) | Prompt written notification of any customer(s) that Fund Services reasonably believes, based upon the Procedures, to be engaged in money laundering or identity theft activities, provided that the Trust agrees not to communicate this information to the customer; |
(c) | Any reports received by Fund Services from any government agency or applicable industry self-regulatory organization pertaining to Fund Services’ Anti-Money Laundering Program or the Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention Program on behalf of the Trust; |
(d) | Prompt written notification of any action taken in response to anti-money laundering violations or identity theft activity as described in (a), (b) or (c) immediately above; and |
(e) | Certified annual and quarterly reports of its monitoring and customer identification activities pursuant to the Procedures on behalf of the Trust. |
The Trust hereby directs, and Fund Services acknowledges, that Fund Services shall (i) permit federal regulators access to such information and records maintained by Funder Services and relating to Fund Services’ implementation of the Procedures, on behalf of the Trust, as they may request, and (ii) permit such federal regulators to inspect Fund Services’ implementation of the Procedures on behalf of the Trust.
5. 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 B attached hereto (as amended from time to time). Fund Services shall 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. Fund Services shall also be compensated for any increases in costs due to the adoption of any new or amended industry, regulatory or other applicable rules. 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
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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, if any. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by the Trust to Fund Services shall only be paid out of assets and property of the particular Fund involved.
6. Representations and Warranties
A. | The Trust and Sponsor 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 in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, 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; |
(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; and |
(4) | A registration statement under the 1933 Act, as amended, will be made effective prior to the effective date of this Agreement and will remain effective during the term of this Agreement, and appropriate state securities law filings will be made prior to the effective date of this Agreement and will continue to be made during the term of this Agreement as necessary to enable the Trust to make a continuous public offering of its shares. |
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; |
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(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; |
(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; and | |
(4) | It is a registered transfer agent under the Exchange Act. |
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 the failure of communication 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 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, as approved by 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. |
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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 directors, 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.
In the event of a mechanical breakdown or failure of communication 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 |
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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 7 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. |
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 (i) after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld 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.
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
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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. The Administrator 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, the Administrator will issue a receipt for such Fund Records. The Administrator shall maintain a complete and orderly inventory of all Fund Records for which it has issued a receipt. The Administrator shall be under no duty or obligation to audit or reconcile the content, nor shall the Administrator be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of those Fund Records not created by the Administrator. Upon written request in a form to be determined by Administrator and the Trust, the Administrator 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 the Administrator, the Administrator 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 the Administrator 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 the Administrator 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 the Administrator pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (d) it shall be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of any Fund Records not created by the Administrator; 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 the Administrator. The Administrator acknowledges that the records maintained and preserved by the Administrator 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, the Administrator 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 Fund, including but not limited to compliance with the 1933 Act, CFTC, NFA, NYSE, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the policies and limitations of the Fund relating to its portfolio investments as set forth in its Prospectus and statement of additional information. Fund Services’ services hereunder shall not relieve the Trust of its responsibilities for assuring such compliance or the Sponsor’s oversight responsibility with respect thereto.
12. Term of Agreement; Amendment
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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 either party upon giving 90 days prior written notice to the other party 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. 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
14. Duties in the Event of Termination
In the event that, in connection with the termination of this Agreement, a successor to any of Fund SBFS’ 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.
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
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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 Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
17. No Agency Relationship
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower either party to act as agent for the other party to this Agreement, or to conduct business in the name, or for the account, of the other 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.
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 shall be sent to:
ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
c/o ETF Managers Capital LLC
35 Beechwood Road, Suite 2B
Summit, NJ 07901
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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: | /s/ Samuel Masucci III |
Name: Samuel Masucci III
Title: Principle Executive Officer
ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL LLC
By: | /s/ Samuel Masucci III |
Name: Samuel Masucci III
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC
By: | /s/ Michael R. McVoy |
Name: Michael R. McVoy
Title: Executive Vice President
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Exhibit A to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement- ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
Separate Series of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
N ame of Series | Symbol | ||
Sit Rising Rate ETF | RISE (NYSE Arca) |
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Exhibit B to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement – ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
Base Fee (1) for Accounting, Administration, Transfer Agent & Account Services at December, 2014
The following reflects the greater of the basis point fee or minimum per fund-
Accounting, Administration and Transfer Agent | Basis Points on AUM per Fund | Year 1 | Year 2 | |||
First $250m | Next $250m | Next $500m | Balance | $45000 |
$50,000
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5 | 4.5 | 4 | 3 |
Note: MLP Funds pricing may vary from the above annual fees and are TBD per investment strategy
The Following Services and Associated Fees are in Addition to the Base Fee-
Pricing Services
n | $0.15 - | Domestic Equities, Options, ADRs |
n | $0.40 – | Foreign Equities |
n | $0.50 – | Domestic Corporate/Convertible/Gov’t/Agency Bonds, Futures, Forwards, Currency Rates, Mortgage Backed Securities |
n | $0.80 – | CMOs, Municipal Bonds, Money Market Instruments, Foreign Corporate/Convertible/Gov’t/Agency Bonds, Asset Backed Securities, High Yield Bonds |
n | $1.00 – | Bank Loans |
n | $3.00 – | Credit Default Swaps |
n | $1.50 – | Swaps, Index Swaps |
n | $0.90 – | Interest Rate Swaps, Foreign Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Total Return Bullet Swaps |
Corporate Action & Manual Pricing Services
n | $2.00 /Foreign Equity Security per Month for Corporate Action Service |
n | $1.00 /Domestic Equity Security per Month for Corporate Action Service |
n | $125 /Month Manual Security Pricing (>10/day) |
Out-Of-Pocket Expenses
Including but not limited to corporate action services, fair value pricing services, factor services, SWIFT processing, customized reporting, third-party data provider costs (including GICS, MSCI, Lipper, etc.), postage, stationary, programming, special reports, proxies, insurance, EDGAR/XBRL filing, retention of records, federal and state regulatory filing fees, expenses from Board of directors meetings, third party auditing and legal expenses, wash sales reporting (GainsKeeper), tax e-filing, PFIC monitoring, conversion expenses (if necessary), and CCO team travel related costs to perform due diligence reviews at advisor and sub-advisor facilities.
(1) Subject to annual CPI increase, Milwaukee MSA.
Fees are calculated pro rata and billed monthly.
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Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated October 3, 2014, with respect to the combined statement of assets and liabilities for ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I and individual statement of assets and liabilities of SIT Rising Rate ETF as of September 26, 2014 included in the Pre-Effective Amendment No 3 to the Registration Statement Form S-1
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, P.C.
New York, NY
January 22, 2015
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