UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON , D.C. 20549

 

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): November 29, 2013

 

 


 

iSHARES ® S&P GSCI™ COMMODITY-INDEXED TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

iSHARES ® S&P GSCI™ COMMODITY-INDEXED INVESTING POOL LLC

(Rule 140 Co-Registrant)

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 


 

 

Delaware

001-32947 (Registrant)

001-32948 (Co-Registrant)

51-6573369 (Registrant)

34-2061331 (Co-Registrant)

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

c/o BlackRock Asset Management International Inc.

400 Howard Street  

San Francisco , California 94105

Attn: Product Management Team

Intermediary Investor and Exchange-Traded Products Department

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 670-2000

 

Not Applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 
 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information set forth in Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, as applicable, is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information set forth in Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, as applicable, is incorporated into this Item 1.02 by reference.

 

Item 8.01. Other Matters.

 

BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. (“ BAMII ”), the sponsor of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (the “ Trust ”) and manager of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC (the “ Investing Pool ”), intends to enter into an Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the “ Assignment Agreement ”), to be effective after the close of business on December 31, 2013, with iShares ® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC (“ iDTS ”), pursuant to which, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, iDTS will succeed to the roles of BAMII as sponsor of the Trust and manager of the Investing Pool. The execution of the Assignment Agreement will implement the decision that iDTS be the entity sponsoring certain iShares ® exchange-traded investment vehicles that are not “investment companies” (as defined for the purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended). This role succession is not expected to have any adverse effect on the Trust’s shares or shareholders.

 

In addition, following the effectiveness of the Assignment Agreement, the Investing Pool will be dissolved, and the interests of the Trust and any remaining interest of the manager of the Investing Pool will be redeemed for the Investing Pool’s assets. The dissolution of the Investing Pool will implement the decision to have the Trust perform all of the functions previously performed by its subsidiary, the Investing Pool. The reorganized Trust will perform all necessary functions in order to continue in the normal course of business, and this dissolution is not expected to have any adverse effect on the Trust’s shares or shareholders.

 

In connection with and to reflect the structural changes described above, the following agreements or amendments relating to certain organizational and operational documents relating to the Trust will be entered into by the parties thereto, which agreements or amendments will become effective after the close of business on December 31, 2013:

 

 

the Third Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of December 31, 2013 (the “ Trust Agreement ”), by and among iDTS, as sponsor, BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., as administrative trustee (the “ Trustee ”), and Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware trustee (the “ Delaware Trustee ”);

 

 

the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2013 (the “ Advisory Agreement ”), by and between BlackRock Fund Advisors (the “ Advisor ”), and iDTS as sponsor on behalf of the Trust;

 

 

the Futures and Options Account Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2013 (the “ FCM Agreement ”), by and between the Trust and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as clearing futures commission merchant for the Trust; and

 

 

Amended and Restated Authorized Participant Agreements, dated as of December 31, 2013 (the “ Authorized Participant Agreements ”), entered into by the Trustee on behalf of the Trust and the Sponsor with each of the Trust’s Authorized Participants as of such date, together with related control agreements for Authorized Participant collateral with respect to each of the foregoing Authorized Participants.

 

 

 
 

 

 

In addition to the amendments being made to reflect the structural changes described above, the Trust Agreement will be amended to clarify that the good faith standard applicable to various parties under the Trust Agreement is a subjective good faith standard rather than an objective good faith standard.

 

Copies of each of the foregoing agreements or forms thereof, in substantially the form they are expected to be entered into, are filed as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This report contains statements believed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. All statements other than historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding the expected structural changes and related changes to the Trust’s organizational and operational documents and the effects of those changes on the Trust and its shareholders, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks described under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Trust’s and the Investing Pool’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2012, as updated and amended by subsequent current and periodic reports of the Trust and the Investing Pool under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Trust and the Investing Pool assume no obligation, and disclaim any duty, to update the forward-looking statements in this report.

 

Item 9.01.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit 4.1

Form of Third Amended and Restated Trust Agreement.

Exhibit 4.2

Form of Authorized Participant Agreement.

Exhibit 10.1

Form of Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement.

Exhibit 10.4

Form of Amended and Restated Futures and Options Account Agreement.

Exhibit 10.7

Form of Control Agreement

Exhibit 10.8

Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: November 29, 2013

 

 

 

iShares ® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust*

 

(Registrant)

     
 

By:

BlackRock Asset Management International Inc.

     
 

By:

/s/ Jack Gee

 

Name:

Jack Gee

 

Title:

Managing Director

     
 

By:

/s/ Raymund Santiago

 

Name:

Raymund Santiago

 

Title:

Director

     
 

iShares ® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

 

(Rule 140 Co-Registrant)

     
 

By:

BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., its Manager

     
 

By:

/s/ Jack Gee

 

Name:

Jack Gee

 

Title:

Managing Director

     
 

By:

/s/ Raymund Santiago

 

Name:

Raymund Santiago

 

Title:

Director

 

*

The registrant is a trust. The individuals specified above are signing in their capacities as officers of BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., the sponsor of the trust.

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

iSHARES ® DELAWARE TRUST SPONSOR LLC,

 

as Sponsor

 

and

 

BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

 

as Administrative Trustee

 

and

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

 

as Delaware Trustee

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT

 

iSHARES ® S&P GSCI COMMODITY-INDEXED TRUST

 

Dated as of December 31, 2013

 

 

 
 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

2

Section 1.1

Definitions

2

Section 1.2

Rules of Construction

7

   

ARTICLE II CREATION AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

7

Section 2.1

Creation and Declaration of Trust; Business of the Trust

7

Section 2.2

Legal Title

8

Section 2.3

Form of Certificates; Book-Entry System; Transferability of Shares

8

Section 2.4

Issuance and Redemption of Shares; General

9

Section 2.5

Purchase Orders

10

Section 2.6

Delivery of Shares

10

Section 2.7

Registration and Registration of Transfer of Shares; Combination and Split-up of Certificates

11

Section 2.8

Redemption of Shares and Withdrawal of Trust Property

11

Section 2.9

Limitations on Issuance and Delivery, Registration of Transfer and Surrender of Shares

12

Section 2.10

Lost Certificates, Etc

12

Section 2.11

Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Certificates

13

Section 2.12

Splits and Reverse Splits of Shares

13

   

ARTICLE III CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF REGISTERED OWNERS

13

Section 3.1

Limitation on Liability

13

Section 3.2

Liability of Registered Owner for Taxes and Other Governmental Charges

13

Section 3.3

Warranties on Delivery of Basket Amount

13

   

ARTICLE IV ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRUST

14

Section 4.1

Valuation of Trust Property

14

Section 4.2

Responsibility of the Administrative Trustee for Determinations

15

Section 4.3

Cash Distributions

15

Section 4.4

Other Distributions

15

Section 4.5

Fixing of Record Date

16

Section 4.6

Payment of Expenses; Sales of Trust Property

16

Section 4.7

Statements and Reports

17

Section 4.8

Further Provisions for Sales of Trust Property

17

Section 4.9

Counsel

17

Section 4.10

Tax Matters

18

   

ARTICLE V THE TRUSTEES AND THE SPONSOR

21

Section 5.1

Management of the Trust

21

Section 5.2

Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Administrative Trustee

21

Section 5.3

Authority of the Sponsor

21

 

 

 

 

 

Section 5.4

Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Sponsor or the Administrative Trustee

22

Section 5.5

Liability of Covered Persons

22

Section 5.6

Fiduciary Duty

22

Section 5.7

Obligations of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee

24

Section 5.8

Delegation of Obligations of the Administrative Trustee

25

Section 5.9

Resignation or Removal of the Administrative Trustee; Appointment of Successor Administrative Trustee

25

Section 5.10

Custodians

26

Section 5.11

Indemnification

26

Section 5.12

Charges of Administrative Trustee

28

Section 5.13

Charges of the Sponsor

29

Section 5.14

Retention of Trust Documents

29

Section 5.15

Federal Securities and Commodities Law Filings

29

Section 5.16

Prospectus Delivery

30

Section 5.17

Discretionary Actions by Administrative Trustee; Consultation

30

Section 5.18

Number of Trustees

31

Section 5.19

Initial Administrative Trustee

31

Section 5.20

Delaware Trustee

31

Section 5.21

Compensation and Expenses of the Delaware Trustee

33

   

ARTICLE VI AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

33

Section 6.1

Amendment

33

Section 6.2

Termination

33

   

ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS

35

Section 7.1

Counterparts

35

Section 7.2

Third-Party Beneficiaries

35

Section 7.3

Severability

35

Section 7.4

Notices

35

Section 7.5

Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction

36

Section 7.6

Headings

37

Section 7.7

Compliance with Regulation B

37

Section 7.8

Binding Effect; Entire Agreement

37

Section 7.9

Provisions in Conflict With Law or Regulations

37

Section 7.10

Conditions to Effectiveness of Amendments

37

 

EXHIBIT A     FORM OF CERTIFICATE

 

ANNEX I         CAPITAL ACCOUNTS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS

 

 

 
ii 

 

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT

 

This Third Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated as of December 31, 2013, is among iShares ® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as sponsor (the "Sponsor"), BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as administrative trustee (the "Administrative Trustee"), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware trust company, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee").

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (the "Trust") was created on July 7, 2006 under the provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq. (as it may be amended from time to time, or any successor legislation, the "Act"); and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the creation of the Trust, a trust agreement was executed by BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., as the predecessor sponsor, the Administrative Trustee and the Delaware Trustee as of July 7, 2006, which trust agreement was last amended and restated as of March 1, 2013 (the "Existing Trust Agreement"); and

 

WHEREAS, the Trust's subsidiary, the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC (the "Investing Pool") was dissolved in accordance with the Investing Pool's limited liability company agreement and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, Chapter 18 of Title 6 of the Delaware Code, 6 Del. C. § 18-101 et seq., its affairs wound up and its remaining assets distributed to its members (the "Investing Pool Liquidation"); and

 

WHEREAS, BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. assigned all of its rights and obligations hereunder as sponsor to the Sponsor, and the Sponsor assumed all such rights and obligations pursuant to the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2013 (the "Assignment and Assumption"), by and between BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. and the Sponsor, as acknowledged by the Trust, the Administrative Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, BlackRock Fund Advisors, and State Street Bank and Trust Company; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto wish to amend and restate the Existing Trust Agreement to reflect the transactions contemplated by the Investing Pool Liquidation and the Assignment and Assumption.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto that, effective as of the date hereof, this Third Amended and Restated Trust Agreement constitute the governing instrument of the Trust, and the provisions of the Existing Trust Agreement shall have no longer any force or effect and shall be superseded entirely by the provisions hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

 

 
1

 

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

 

Section 1.1      Definitions . Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement or as the context may otherwise require, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

" Act " has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

 

" Adjusted Net Asset Value " has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(b) .

 

" Adjusted Property " means any property the book value of which has been adjusted as provided by Section 1(d) of Annex I .

 

" Administrative Trustee " means the Person named as such in the introductory paragraph hereto, solely in such Person's capacity as administrative trustee and not in such Person's individual capacity, so long as such Person shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and any other Person who may from time to time be duly appointed, qualified and serving as a administrative trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof.

 

" Advisor " means BlackRock Fund Advisors, or any successor thereto in its capacity as the advisor to the Trust.

 

" Advisory Agreement " means the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2013, between the Advisor and the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust.

 

" Affiliate " means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person.

 

" Agreement " means this Third Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, including Exhibit A and Annex I hereto, as amended, modified, supplemented and restated from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

" Authorized Participant " means a Person that, at the time of submitting to the Trust a Purchase Order or a Redemption Order (a) is a registered broker-dealer and, if required in connection with its activities, a registered futures commission merchant, (b) is a DTC Participant, (c) has in effect a valid Authorized Participant Agreement and (d) is in a position to transfer Index Futures and the required Collateral Assets to, or take delivery of these assets from, the Administrative Trustee through one or more accounts.

 

" Authorized Participant Agreement " means an agreement among the Administrative Trustee, the Sponsor and an Authorized Participant that provides the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets.

 

" Basket " means a block of 50,000 Shares, as such number may be increased or decreased, from time to time, in accordance with Section 2.12 .

 

 

 
2

 

 

" Basket Amount " is the amount of Index Futures and Collateral Assets that an Authorized Participant must Deliver in exchange for one Basket, or that an Authorized Participant is entitled to receive in exchange upon Surrender of one Basket. The Basket Amount will be determined as provided in Section 2.5(c) .

 

" Beneficial Owner " means any Person owning a beneficial interest in any Shares, including a person who holds Shares through a Registered Owner.

 

" Book-Tax Disparity " means, with respect to any property, as of any date of determination, the difference between the book value of such property (as initially determined under Section 7 of Annex I in the case of contributed property, and as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 2(c) of Annex I ) and the adjusted basis thereof for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as of such date of determination. A Beneficial Owner's share of the Trust's Book-Tax Disparities will be reflected by the difference between such Beneficial Owner's Capital Account balance, as maintained pursuant to Section 1 of Annex I , and the hypothetical balance of the Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with U.S. federal income tax accounting principles.

 

" Business Day " means any day (1) on which none of the following occurs: (a) the Exchange is closed for regular trading, (b) a Futures Exchange is closed for regular trading or (c) the Federal Reserve wire transfer system is closed for cash wire transfers, or (2) that the Administrative Trustee determines that it is able to conduct business.

 

" Capital Account " has the meaning specified in Section 1 of Annex I .

 

" Certificate " means a certificate, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit A hereto that is executed and delivered by the Administrative Trustee under this Agreement evidencing Shares.

 

" Certificate of Trust " means the Certificate of Trust, as filed with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 3810 of the Act, as amended and restated from time to time.

 

" CME " means the designated contract market known as the CME or the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc., or its successor .

 

" Code " means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

" Collateral Assets " means cash and/or Short-Term Securities.

 

" Conflicting Provisions " has the meaning specified in Section 7.9 .

 

" Corporate Trust Office " means the office of the Administrative Trustee at which its depositary receipt business is administered, which, as of the date hereof, is located at 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.

 

" Covered Person " means the Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustee, the Sponsor and their respective Affiliates .

 

 

 
3

 

 

" Custodian " has the meaning specified in Section 5.10 .

 

" Delaware Trustee " means the Person named as such in the introductory paragraph hereto, solely in such Person's capacity as the Delaware trustee of the Trust created hereunder and not in such Person's individual capacity, and includes any successor Delaware trustee under this Agreement.

 

" Deliver ," " Delivered " or " Delivery " means, (a) when used with respect to Index Futures or Collateral Assets, (i) delivering Index Futures or Collateral Assets, as applicable, to the Person entitled to the delivery, or as directed by the Person entitled to the delivery, or (ii) obtaining evidence that ownership of Index Futures or Collateral Assets, as applicable, has been transferred to, and the Index Futures or Collateral Assets, as applicable, is being duly held by a custodian for the account of, the Person entitled to that delivery, or as directed by the Person entitled to the delivery, and (b) when used with respect to Shares, either (i) one or more book-entry transfers of such Shares to an account or accounts at DTC designated by the Person entitled to such delivery for further credit as specified by such Person or (ii) in the circumstances specified in Section 2.3(e) , execution and delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of one or more Certificates evidencing those Shares.

 

" Depositor " means any Authorized Participant that Delivers Index Futures and Collateral Assets to or at the direction of the Trust, either for its own account or on behalf of another Person that is the owner or beneficial owner of such Index Futures and Collateral Assets.

 

" DTC " means The Depository Trust Company, or its successor.

 

" DTC Participant " means a Person that has an account with DTC.

 

" Exchange " means NYSE Arca, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a registered U.S. national securities exchange, or any other regulated securities market where the Sponsor may from time to time decide to list the Shares for trading.

 

" Exchange Act " means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

" Futures Exchange " means the CME or any other "designated contract market" as defined under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.

 

" Indemnified Amounts " has the meaning specified in Section 5.11(a) .

 

" Indemnitee " has the meaning specified in Section 5.11(e) .

 

" Indemnitor " has the meaning specified in Section 5.11(e) .

 

" Index " means the S&P GSCI Total Return Index.

 

" Index Futures " means index futures contracts on the S&P GSCI Excess Return Index that are listed and traded on a Futures Exchange.

 

 

 
4

 

 

" Indirect Participant " means a Person that has access to the DTC clearing system by clearing securities through, or maintaining a custodial relationship with, a DTC Participant.

 

" Initial Contributions " has the meaning specified in Section 1 of Annex I.

 

" Net Asset Value per Basket " means, as of any date of determination the number obtained by multiplying (x) the Net Asset Value per Share on the date on which the determination is being made by (y) the number of Shares that constitute a Basket on the date on which the determination is being made.

 

" Net Asset Value per Share " means the net asset value of a Share, as determined in accordance with Section 4.1(b) .

 

" Net Asset Value of the Trust " has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(b) .

 

" Order Cutoff Time " means, with respect to any Business Day, (a) 2:40 p.m. (New York City time) on such Business Day (or, if a Futures Exchange is scheduled to close early on such day, the time of the close of trading of the Index Futures on the related Futures Exchange on such Business Day) or (b) any other time agreed to by the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee and of which all existing Authorized Participants have been previously notified by the Administrative Trustee.

 

" Order Date " means, with respect to a Purchase Order, the date specified in Section 2.5(b) and, with respect to a Redemption Order, the date specified in Section 2.8 .

 

" Percentage Interest " means as to each Beneficial Owner, the portion (expressed as a percentage) of the total outstanding Shares held by such Beneficial Owner.

 

" Person " means any natural person or any limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

" Proceeding " has the meaning specified in Section 5.11(e) .

 

" Processing Agent " means SEI Investments Distribution Co., or any successor thereto in its capacity as the processing agent for the Trust.

 

" Purchase Order " has the meaning specified in Section 2.5(b) .

 

" Qualified Bank " means a bank, trust company, corporation or national banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any State of the United States that is authorized under those laws to exercise corporate trust powers and that (a) is a DTC Participant or a participant in such other securities depositary as is then acting with respect to the Shares, and (b) unless counsel to the Sponsor determines that the following requirement is not necessary for the exception under Section 408(m) of the Code to apply, is a banking institution as defined in Section 408(n) of the Code.

 

" Redemption Order " has the meaning specified in Section 2.8 .

 

 

 
5

 

 

" Registered Owner " means a Person in whose name Shares are registered on the books of the Registrar maintained for that purpose.

 

" Registrar " means the Administrative Trustee or any bank or trust company that is appointed to register Shares and transfers of Shares as herein provided.

 

" SEC " means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States, or any successor governmental agency in the United States.

 

" Securities Act " means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

" Shares " means units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust.

 

" Short-Term Securities " means U.S. Treasury securities or other short-term securities and similar securities, in each case that are eligible as margin deposits for Index Futures under the rules of the applicable Futures Exchange.

 

" Sponsor " means the Person named as such in the introductory paragraph hereto, solely in such Person's capacity as sponsor of the Trust and not in such Person's individual capacity, or any successor thereto which shall have executed such documents and other instruments as in the opinion of counsel to the Trust shall be necessary to assume all of the duties and responsibilities of the Sponsor hereunder.

 

" Sponsor's Fee " has the meaning specified in Section 5.13(a) .

 

" Sponsor Indemnified Party " has the meaning specified in Section 5.11(d) .

 

" Surrender " means, when used with respect to Shares, (a) one or more book-entry transfers of Shares to the DTC account of the Administrative Trustee or (b) surrender to the Administrative Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office of one or more Certificates evidencing Shares.

 

" Tax Matters Partner " means the Sponsor or any successor thereto in its capacity as the "tax matters partner" for the Trust, as such term is defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code.

 

" Trust " has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

 

" Trust Administrator " means State Street Bank and Trust Company, or any successor thereto in its capacity as the trust administrator for the Trust.

 

" Trust Property " means, at any time, the assets of the Trust at such time, regardless of whether such assets are held by the Administrative Trustee or any agent or custodian for the Trust.

 

" Trustee Indemnified Persons " has the meaning specified in Section 5.11(a) .

 

 

 
6

 

 

" Unrealized Gain " attributable to any Trust property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of the fair market value of such property (as determined for purposes of Section 1(d) of Annex I ) as of such date of determination over the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of determination.

 

" Unrealized Loss " attributable to any Trust property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of determination over the fair market value of such property (as determined for purposes of Section 1(d) of Annex I ) as of such date of determination.

 

Section   1.2      Rules of Construction . Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a)     a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(b)     an accounting term not otherwise defined herein has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as then in effect in the United States;

 

(c)     "or" is not exclusive;

 

(d)     the words "herein," "hereof," "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

(e)     "including" means including without limitation; and

 

(f)     words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular.

 

ARTICLE II

CREATION AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

Section   2.1      Creation and Declaration of Trust; Business of the Trust .

 

(a)     The Administrative Trustee declares that it holds and will hold all Trust Property, as Administrative Trustee, for the benefit of the Registered Owners for the purposes of, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in, this Agreement. The trust governed by this Agreement shall be known as "iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust ." The Administrative Trustee and the Delaware Trustee filed or caused to be filed the original Certificate of Trust on July 7, 2006 and filed a restated Certificate of Trust on May 9, 2007, and are hereby authorized and directed to file any amendment thereto or restatement thereof as may be necessary or appropriate from time to time.

 

(b)     Consistent with the investment objective set forth in Section 2.1(c), the Trust shall have full power and authority (i) to engage in such business or activities as set forth in, or contemplated by, this Agreement, the Authorized Participant Agreements and any other agreements or instruments to which, in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, it shall become a party to or by which it may be bound, (ii) to engage in activities incidental and necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities as set forth in, or contemplated by, this Agreement, such Authorized Participant Agreements and such other agreements or instruments and (iii) subject to the following sentence, to engage in any other lawful business, purpose or activity for which statutory trusts may be formed under the Act. Other than the Shares, the Trust shall not issue or sell any beneficial interests or other obligations or otherwise incur, assume or guarantee any indebtedness for money borrowed.

 

 

 
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(c)     The Trust's investment objective shall be to seek investment results that correspond generally, but are not necessarily identical, to the performance of the Index, before the payment of expenses and liabilities of the Trust.

 

Section   2.2      Legal Title . Legal title to all of the Trust Property shall be vested in the Trust as a separate legal entity; provided , however , that where applicable law in any jurisdiction requires any part of the Trust Property to be vested otherwise, the Administrative Trustee may cause legal title to the Trust Property or any portion thereof to be held by or in the name of the Administrative Trustee or any other Person (other than a Registered Owner or a Beneficial Owner) as nominee.

 

Section   2.3      Form of Certificates; Book-Entry System; Transferability of Shares .

 

(a)     Each Certificate shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided. No Shares shall be entitled to any benefits under this Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless a Certificate evidencing those Shares has been executed by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Administrative Trustee and, if a Registrar (other than the Administrative Trustee) for the Shares shall have been appointed, countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar. A Certificate bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Administrative Trustee and the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar, if applicable, who was, at the time such Certificate was executed, a proper signatory of the Administrative Trustee or the Registrar, if applicable, shall bind the Administrative Trustee, notwithstanding that such signatory has ceased to hold such office prior to the delivery of such Certificate.

 

(b)     A Certificate may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or modifications not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement as may be required by the Administrative Trustee or required to comply with any applicable law or regulations or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which Shares may be listed or quoted or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which the Shares evidenced by a particular Certificate are subject.

 

(c)     The Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee will apply to DTC for acceptance of the Shares in its book-entry settlement system. Shares deposited with DTC shall be evidenced by one or more global Certificates, which shall be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, and shall bear the following legend:

 

 

 
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UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (" DTC ") TO THE AGENT AUTHORIZED BY THE TRUST FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

(d)     So long as the Shares are eligible for book-entry settlement with DTC and such settlement is available, unless otherwise required by law, notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.3(a) and (b) , all Shares shall be evidenced by one or more global Certificates, the Registered Owner of which is DTC or a nominee of DTC, and (1) no Beneficial Owner will be entitled to receive a separate Certificate evidencing those Shares, (2) the interest of a Beneficial Owner in Shares represented by a global Certificate will be shown only on, and transfer of that interest will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or a DTC Participant or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner holds that interest and (3) the rights of a Beneficial Owner with respect to Shares represented by a global Certificate will be exercised only to the extent allowed by, and in compliance with, the arrangements in effect between such Beneficial Owner and DTC or the DTC Participant or Indirect Participant through which that Beneficial Owner holds an interest in Shares.

 

(e)     If, at any time when Shares are evidenced by a global Certificate, DTC ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for such Shares, the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee may select a comparable depositary for the book-entry settlement of the Shares and cause new global Certificates to be issued and registered in the name of such successor depositary or its nominee. If the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee determine that no such successor depositary is available, the Trust will terminate as set forth in Section 6.2(a)(vii) and, to the extent necessary in connection therewith, the Administrative Trustee shall execute and deliver separate Certificates evidencing Shares registered in the names of the Beneficial Owners thereof, with such additions, deletions and modifications to this Agreement and to the form of Certificate evidencing Shares as the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee may agree.

 

(f)     Title to a Certificate (and to the Shares evidenced thereby), when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a certificated security under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware; provided , however , that the Administrative Trustee, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Registered Owner of Shares as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the Person entitled to any distribution or to any notice provided for in this Agreement and for all other purposes.

 

Section   2.4      Issuance and Redemption of Shares; General . Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Administrative Trustee shall have the power and authority, and is hereby authorized, without the approval or action of any Registered Owner or Beneficial Owner, to issue and redeem Shares from time to time. The number of Shares authorized shall be unlimited. All Shares when so issued on the terms contemplated by this Agreement shall be fully paid and non-assessable. Every Registered Owner or Beneficial Owner, by virtue of having purchased or otherwise acquired a Share or a beneficial interest in a Share, shall be deemed to have expressly consented and agreed to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

 

 

 
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Section   2.5      Purchase Orders .

 

(a)     From and after the date hereof, Deliveries of Shares will take place only in integral numbers of Baskets and in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, as supplemented by any procedures attached to an applicable Authorized Participant Agreement, to the extent those procedures are consistent with this Agreement.

 

(b)     Authorized Participants wishing to acquire one or more Baskets must place an order (a " Purchase Order ") with the Administrative Trustee (or its appointed delegee, including the Processing Agent) on any Business Day. Purchase Orders received by the Administrative Trustee on a Business Day prior to the Order Cutoff Time will have that Business Day as the Order Date. Purchase Orders received by the Administrative Trustee on a Business Day on or after the Order Cutoff Time, or on a day that is not a Business Day, will have the next Business Day as the Order Date. As consideration for each Basket to be acquired pursuant to a Purchase Order, a Depositor must Deliver the Basket Amount (determined as described in Section 2.5(c) below) announced by the Trust on the Order Date (determined as described above) of such corresponding Purchase Order.

 

(c)     The Administrative Trustee shall determine the Basket Amount for each Business Day. The Basket Amount shall be an amount of Index Futures and Collateral Assets with a value equal to the Net Asset Value per Basket. The Sponsor intends to publish, or may designate other persons to publish, for each Business Day, the Basket Amount.

 

(d)     In limited circumstances and subject to the approval of the Administrative Trustee, Baskets may be created for cash equal to (i) the Net Asset Value Per Basket as announced by the Trust (x) on the date the related Purchase Order was received, in the case of a Purchase Order for cash received by 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day, or (y) on the following Business Day, in the case of a Purchase Order for cash received after 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day, plus (ii) the transaction costs incurred by the Trust in establishing the corresponding Index Future positions and acquiring the related Collateral Assets.

 

(e)     All Index Futures and Collateral Assets Delivered to the Trust as part of a Purchase Order and any other Trust Property shall be owned by the Trust and held for the Trust by the Administrative Trustee at such place and in such manner as the Administrative Trustee shall determine.

 

Section   2.6      Delivery of Shares . Upon receipt by the Administrative Trustee of any Delivery of the Basket Amount in accordance with Section 2.5 , together with a Purchase Order and the other required documents, if any, as specified above and a confirmation that the Basket Amount has been Delivered for each Basket, the Administrative Trustee, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall Deliver to, or as directed by, the Depositor the number of Baskets issuable in respect of such Delivery as requested in the corresponding Purchase Order, but only upon reimbursement to the Trust of any extraordinary costs or expenses incurred in connection with the execution of trades related to such Purchase Order, and the payment to the Administrative Trustee of the fees and expenses of the Trust and the Administrative Trustee relating to such Purchase Order as provided in Section 5.12(a) and of all taxes and governmental charges and fees payable in connection with such Delivery, the transfer of the Index Futures and Collateral Assets and the issuance and Delivery of the Baskets.

 

 

 
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Section   2.7      Registration and Registration of Transfer of Shares; Combination and Split-up of Certificates .

 

(a)     The Administrative Trustee shall keep or cause to be kept a register of Registered Owners and shall provide for the registration of Shares and the registration of transfers of Shares.

 

(b)     The Administrative Trustee, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall register transfers of ownership of Shares on its transfer books from time to time upon any Surrender of a Certificate evidencing such Shares by the Registered Owner in person or by a duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, and duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and the United States of America. Thereupon, the Administrative Trustee shall execute a new Certificate or Certificates evidencing such Shares, and deliver the same to or upon the order of the Person entitled thereto.

 

(c)     The Administrative Trustee, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall, upon Surrender of a Certificate or Certificates for the purposes of effecting a split-up or combination of that Certificate or Certificates, execute and deliver one or more new Certificates evidencing those Shares.

 

(d)     The Administrative Trustee may, with the written approval of the Sponsor (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting registration of transfers of Shares and combinations and split-ups of Certificates at designated transfer offices on behalf of the Administrative Trustee. In carrying out its functions, a co-transfer agent may require evidence of authority and compliance with applicable laws and other requirements by Registered Owners or Persons entitled to Shares and will be entitled to protection and indemnity to the same extent as the Administrative Trustee.

 

Section   2.8      Redemption of Shares and Withdrawal of Trust Property .

 

(a)     Authorized Participants wishing to redeem one or more Baskets must place an order with the Administrative Trustee on a Business Day (a " Redemption Order "). Upon the Administrative Trustee's receipt of a Redemption Order, the Surrender by an Authorized Participant of any integral number of Baskets for the purpose of withdrawal of the amount of Trust Property represented thereby, the reimbursement to the Trust of any extraordinary costs or expenses incurred in connection with the execution of trades related to such Redemption Order, and payment of the fees and expenses of the Trust and the Administrative Trustee relating to such Redemption Order as provided in Section 5.12(a) and payment of all taxes and charges payable in connection with such Surrender and withdrawal of Trust Property, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including Section 2.9 , such Baskets shall be redeemed by the Trust, and such Authorized Participant, as, or acting on authority of, the Registered Owner of those Shares will be entitled to Delivery, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, as supplemented by any procedures attached to an applicable Authorized Participant Agreement, to the extent those procedures are consistent with this Agreement, of the Basket Amounts corresponding to such Baskets (determined in accordance with Section 2.5(c) ) on the applicable Order Date (determined as provided below).

 

 

 
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(b)     Redemption Orders received by the Administrative Trustee prior to the Order Cutoff Time on a Business Day will have that Business Day as the Order Date. Redemption Orders received by the Administrative Trustee on or after the Order Cutoff Time on a Business Day, or on a day that is not a Business Day, will have the next Business Day as the Order Date.

 

Section   2.9      Limitations on Issuance and Delivery, Registration of Transfer and Surrender of Shares .

 

(a)     As a condition precedent to the Delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination or Surrender of any Shares or withdrawal of any Trust Property, the Administrative Trustee or the Registrar may require payment from the Depositor or the Authorized Participant Surrendering the Shares of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to any securities being withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as herein provided, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature or other information that it deems to be necessary and may also require compliance with any regulations the Administrative Trustee may establish consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, including this Section 2.9 .

 

(b)     The issuance and Delivery of Shares against Delivery of Index Futures and Collateral Assets, the registration of transfer of Shares or the Surrender of Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of Trust Property may be suspended generally, or refused with respect to particular requested Deliveries or Surrenders, during any period in which the transfer books of the Administrative Trustee are closed or if any such action is deemed to be necessary or advisable by the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor for any reason at any time or from time to time.

 

Section   2.10      Lost Certificates, Etc . The Administrative Trustee shall execute and deliver a new Certificate of like tenor in exchange and substitution for a mutilated Certificate upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and in substitution for a destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, if the Registered Owner thereof has (a) filed with the Administrative Trustee (i) a request for such execution and delivery before the Administrative Trustee has notice that the Shares evidenced by the Certificate have been acquired by a protected purchaser and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond, and (b) satisfied any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Administrative Trustee.

 

 

 
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Section   2.11      Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Certificates . All Certificates Surrendered to the Administrative Trustee shall be canceled by the Administrative Trustee. The Administrative Trustee is authorized to destroy Certificates so canceled.

 

Section   2.12      Splits and Reverse Splits of Shares .

 

(a)     If requested in writing by the Sponsor, the Administrative Trustee shall effect a split or reverse split of the Shares as of a record date set by the Administrative Trustee in accordance with procedures determined by the Administrative Trustee.

 

(b)     The Administrative Trustee is not required to distribute any fraction of a Share in connection with a split or reverse split of the Shares. The Administrative Trustee may sell the aggregated fractions of Shares that would otherwise be distributed in a split or reverse split of the Shares or liquidate the amount of Trust Property that would be represented by those Shares and distribute the net proceeds of those Shares or that Trust Property to the Registered Owners entitled to such proceeds. The amount of Trust Property represented by each Share, the number of Shares comprising a Basket and the Basket Amount shall be adjusted as appropriate as of the open of business on the Business Day following the record date for a split or reverse split of the Shares.

 

ARTICLE III

CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF REGISTERED OWNERS

 

Section   3.1      Limitation on Liability . Registered Owners and Beneficial Owners shall be entitled to the same limitation on personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the general corporation law of the State of Delaware.

 

Section   3.2      Liability of Registered Owner for Taxes and Other Governmental Charges . If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Administrative Trustee with respect to any transfer or redemption of Shares, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Registered Owner of such Shares to the Administrative Trustee. The Administrative Trustee shall refuse to effect any registration of transfer of such Shares or any withdrawal of Trust Property represented by such Shares until such payment is made and may withhold any distributions, or may sell for the account of the Registered Owner thereof Trust Property or Shares, and may apply such distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge, and the Registered Owner of such Shares shall remain liable for any deficiency. The Administrative Trustee shall distribute any net proceeds of a sale made under the preceding sentence that remain, after payment of the tax or other governmental charge, to the Registered Owners entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution in cash.

 

Section   3.3      Warranties on Delivery of Basket Amount . Every Depositor, at the time it Delivers to the Trust Index Futures and Collateral Assets under this Agreement, shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that (i) such Index Futures and Collateral Assets constitute, and meet all the requirements of, a Basket Amount, (ii) such Depositor is duly authorized to make such Delivery, and (iii) the assets comprising such Basket Amount are free and clear of any lien, pledge, encumbrance, right, charge or claim (other than the rights created by this Agreement and, in respect of Index Futures, the rights of the applicable Futures Exchange under its rules). All representations and warranties deemed to be made under this Section 3.3 shall survive the Delivery of a Basket Amount, Delivery or Surrender of Shares or termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 
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ARTICLE IV

ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRUST

 

Section   4.1      Valuation of Trust Property .

 

(a)     The Sponsor is hereby granted the exclusive authority to determine the Net Asset Value of the Trust and the Net Asset Value per Share, which authority it may, and hereby does, delegate to the Administrative Trustee to be exercised as set forth below, until such time as the Sponsor revokes such delegation in its sole discretion. On each Business Day on which the Exchange is open for regular trading, the Administrative Trustee shall determine the Net Asset Value of the Trust and the Net Asset Value per Share as of 4:00 p.m. (New York City time). The Trust Administrator, on behalf of the Administrative Trustee, shall value each item of Trust Property and shall communicate such valuation in a report delivered to the Administrative Trustee on each such Business Day for use by the Administrative Trustee in the determination of the Net Asset Value of the Trust, unless the Administrative Trustee determines, in consultation with the Sponsor, that such method of valuation is not appropriate as a basis for valuation of the Trust Property, in which case the Administrative Trustee will, as provided in Section 4.1(c) below, determine an alternative basis for valuation of the Trust Property. Neither the Administrative Trustee nor the Sponsor shall be liable to any Person for the determination that the most recently communicated net asset value of the Trust Property is not appropriate or for any determination as to the alternative basis for valuation; provided that such determination is made in good faith.

 

(b)     Upon receipt by the Administrative Trustee of the Trust Administrator's report referred to above, the Administrative Trustee shall subtract all fees (other than fees computed by reference to the value of the Trust or its assets), accrued expenses and other liabilities of the Trust from the total value of the Trust Property as of the time of calculation. The resulting figure is the " Adjusted Net Asset Value " of the Trust. All fees computed by reference to the value of the Trust or its assets shall be calculated on the Adjusted Net Asset Value. The Administrative Trustee shall subtract from the Adjusted Net Asset Value all accrued fees so calculated. The resulting figure is the " Net Asset Value of the Trust ." The Administrative Trustee shall divide the Net Asset Value of the Trust by the number of Shares outstanding as of the time of the calculation, which figure is the " Net Asset Value per Share ." All fees, expenses and other liabilities of the Trust that are or will be incurred or accrued through the close of business on a Business Day shall be included in the calculations required by this Section 4.1(b) for that Business Day. Shares deliverable under a Purchase Order shall be considered to be outstanding for purposes of the calculations required by this Section 4.1(b) beginning on the Business Day following the Order Date of such Purchase Order. Shares deliverable under a Redemption Order shall be considered to no longer be outstanding for purposes of the calculations required by this Section 4.1(b) on and after the Business Day following the Order Date of such Redemption Order.

 

 

 
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(c)     The Administrative Trustee, in consultation with the Sponsor, may (and under extraordinary circumstances as identified by the Sponsor, shall) value any asset of the Trust pursuant to such other principles as the Administrative Trustee deems fair and equitable so long as such principles are consistent with industry standards. For purposes of the foregoing, "extraordinary circumstances" shall include, but not be limited to, periods during which a valuation price for a forward contract or a settlement price of a futures contract is not available due to force majeure -type events such as systems failure, natural or man-made disaster, act of God, armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor disruption or any similar intervening circumstance or due to a trading or other restriction imposed by a relevant Futures Exchange.

 

Section   4.2      Responsibility of the Administrative Trustee for Determinations . The determinations made by the Administrative Trustee under this Agreement shall be made in good faith upon the basis of, and the Administrative Trustee shall not be liable for any errors contained in, information reasonably available to it. Neither the Sponsor nor the Administrative Trustee shall be under any liability to the Depositors, the Registered Owners, the Beneficial Owners or each other for errors in judgment; provided , however , that this provision shall not protect the Administrative Trustee against any liability to which it would otherwise be subject by reason of negligence or bad faith in the performance of its duties.

 

Section   4.3      Cash Distributions . The Sponsor shall have the exclusive authority to cause the Trust to distribute any Trust Property to the Registered Owners in accordance with this Agreement, which authority it may, and hereby does, delegate to the Administrative Trustee, until such time as the Sponsor revokes such delegation in its sole discretion. Whenever the Administrative Trustee distributes any cash, the Administrative Trustee shall distribute the amount available for distribution to the Registered Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of Shares held by them respectively. The Administrative Trustee shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Registered Owner a fraction of one cent. Any such fractional amounts shall be rounded down to the nearest whole cent.

 

Section   4.4      Other Distributions . Whenever the Administrative Trustee distributes any non-cash proceeds (including claims and other intangibles) in respect of Trust Property other than property subject to distribution in accordance with the creation and redemption procedures set forth herein, as supplemented by the Authorized Participant Agreements, the Administrative Trustee shall cause such non-cash proceeds received by it to be distributed to the Registered Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of Shares held by them respectively, after deduction or upon payment of the expenses of the Administrative Trustee, in any manner that the Administrative Trustee may deem to be lawful, equitable and feasible for accomplishing such distribution; provided , however , that if in the opinion of the Administrative Trustee such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Registered Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including any requirement that the Administrative Trustee withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that securities must be registered under the Securities Act in order to be distributed to the Registered Owners) the Administrative Trustee deems such distribution not to be lawful and feasible, the Administrative Trustee shall adopt such method as it deems to be lawful, equitable and feasible for the purpose of effecting such distribution, after deduction or upon payment of the expenses of the Administrative Trustee, including the public or private sale of the non-cash proceeds thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale shall be distributed by the Administrative Trustee to the Registered Owners entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in cash.

 

 

 
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Section   4.5      Fixing of Record Date . Whenever any distribution will be made, or whenever the Administrative Trustee receives notice of any solicitation of proxies or consents from Registered Owners, or whenever for any reason there is a split, reverse split or other change in the outstanding Shares, or whenever the Administrative Trustee shall find it necessary or convenient in respect of any matter, the Administrative Trustee, in consultation with the Sponsor, shall fix a record date for the determination of the Registered Owners who shall be (a) entitled to receive such distribution or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, (b) entitled to give such proxies or consents in respect of any such solicitation or (c) entitled to act in respect of any other matter for which the record date was set.

 

Section   4.6      Payment of Expenses; Sales of Trust Property .

 

(a)     The following charges may be accrued and shall be paid by the Trust:

 

(i)     any expenses of the Trust not assumed by the Sponsor pursuant to Section 5.7(f), including any applicable brokerage commissions and any applicable transaction fees;

 

(ii)     any taxes and other governmental charges that may fall on the Trust or the Trust Property;

 

(iii)     any expenses of any extraordinary services performed by the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust or expenses of any action taken by the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor to protect the Trust or the interests of Registered Owners or the Beneficial Owners;

 

(iv)     any indemnification of a Sponsor Indemnified Party as provided in Section 5.11(d) or any indemnification of any Advisor Indemnified Party as defined in and pursuant to the Advisory Agreement; and

 

(v)     the fee payable to the Sponsor pursuant to Section 5.13 .

 

(b)     The Administrative Trustee shall, when directed by the Sponsor, sell or liquidate Trust Property in such quantity and at such times as may be necessary to permit payment of expenses under this Agreement. Neither the Administrative Trustee nor the Sponsor shall have any liability for loss or depreciation resulting from sales of Trust Property so made. The Administrative Trustee shall not be liable or responsible in any way for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of any sale made pursuant to the Sponsor's direction or otherwise in accordance with this Section 4.6 or as contemplated in Section 4.8 .

 

 

 
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(c)     Except as provided in this Agreement, the Trust shall have no obligation to make any distribution to any Registered Owners or Beneficial Owners. If, at any time and from time to time, the Sponsor determines that the amount of cash included in the Trust Property exceeds the reasonably anticipated expenses of the Trust, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, direct the Administrative Trustee to distribute the excess cash to the Registered Owners under Section 4.3 .

 

Section   4.7      Statements and Reports .

 

(a)     After the end of each fiscal year and within the time period required by applicable laws, rules and regulations, at the Sponsor's expense, the Administrative Trustee shall send to the Registered Owners at the end of such fiscal year an annual report of the Trust containing financial statements that will be prepared by the Administrative Trustee and audited by independent accountants designated by the Sponsor and such other information as may be required by such laws, rules and regulations or otherwise, or which the Sponsor determines shall be included. The Administrative Trustee may distribute the annual report by any means acceptable to such Registered Owners.

 

(b)     The Administrative Trustee shall provide the Sponsor with such certifications, supporting documents and other evidence regarding the internal control over financial reporting established and maintained by the Trust, and used by the Administrative Trustee in connection with its preparation of the financial statements of the Trust, as may be reasonably necessary in order to enable the Sponsor to prepare and file or furnish to the SEC any certifications regarding such matters that may be required to be included with the Trust's periodic reports under the Exchange Act.

 

Section   4.8      Further Provisions for Sales of Trust Property . In addition to selling Trust Property in accordance with Section 4.6 , the Administrative Trustee shall sell Trust Property whenever either or both of the following conditions exist:

 

(a)     the Sponsor has notified the Administrative Trustee that such sale is required by applicable law or regulation; or

 

(b)     this Agreement has been terminated and the Trust Property is to be liquidated in accordance with Section 6.2 .

 

The Administrative Trustee and the Sponsor shall not be liable or responsible in any way for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of any sale made pursuant to this Section 4.8 .

 

Section   4.9      Counsel . The Sponsor may, from time to time, employ counsel to act on behalf of the Trust and perform any legal services in connection with the Trust Property and the Trust, including any legal matters relating to the possible disposition or acquisition of any Trust Property. The fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid by the Sponsor; provided , however , that the Sponsor shall not be responsible for the payment of any such fees and expenses in excess of $100,000 annually.

 

 

 
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Section   4.10      Tax Matters .

 

(a)     The Administrative Trustee, at its expense, shall prepare or cause to be prepared all federal, state, and local tax returns of the Trust for each year for which such returns are required to be filed and shall file or cause such returns to be timely filed and shall timely pay (or cause to be timely paid) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge owing with respect to the Trust out of Trust Property. The Administrative Trustee shall promptly notify the Sponsor if it becomes aware that any tax, assessment or other governmental charge is due or claimed to be due with respect to the Trust. The Administrative Trustee shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Beneficial Owner, and the broker or nominee through which a Beneficial Owner owns its Shares, a Schedule K-1 and such other information, if any, with respect to the Trust as may be necessary for the preparation of the federal income tax or information returns of such Beneficial Owner including a statement showing each Beneficial Owner's share of income, gain, loss, expense, deductions and credits for such fiscal year for U.S. federal income tax purposes as soon as practicable following each fiscal year but generally not later than March 15. The Administrative Trustee shall provide the Sponsor with a copy of such documents promptly after such filing or furnishing. If not already obtained, the Administrative Trustee shall obtain a taxpayer identification number for the Trust. The Trust hereby indemnifies, to the full extent permitted by law, the Administrative Trustee from and against any damages or losses (including attorneys' fees) arising out of or incurred in connection with any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in carrying out its responsibilities under this Section 4.10(a) , to the extent that such action taken or omitted to be taken does not constitute fraud, negligence or misconduct. Each Beneficial Owner agrees that it shall not, except as required by applicable law, (i) treat, on its own income or information tax returns or any information returns that it provides to any Beneficial Owner, or to any broker or nominee through which the Beneficial Owner owns its Shares, any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit, basis or any other tax item relating to its Shares in a manner inconsistent with the treatment of such items by the Trust as reflected on the Schedule K-1 or other information statement furnished to such Beneficial Owner pursuant to this Section 4.10(a) , or (ii)  file any claim for a refund relating to any such item based on, or which would result in, such inconsistent treatment.

 

(b)     The parties hereto and, by its acceptance or acquisition of a Share or a beneficial interest therein and continued ownership thereof, a Beneficial Owner and the broker or nominee through which the Beneficial Owner owns its Share (i) agree to furnish the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee with such representations, forms, documents or information as may be necessary to enable the Trust to comply with its U.S. federal income tax reporting obligations in respect of such Share and to allow the Trust to make the basis adjustments permitted by Section 754 of the Code, including information regarding such Beneficial Owner's secondary market transactions in Shares, as well as creations or redemptions of Shares and including information required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.6031(c)-1T and any successor thereto and (ii) direct brokers and nominees to report to the Administrative Trustee the Beneficial Owner's name and address and such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Trustee for purposes of complying with the Trust's U.S. federal income tax reporting obligations or as necessary to allow the Trust to make the basis adjustments permitted by Section 754 of the Code, including information required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.6031(c)-1T and any successor thereto.

 

 

 
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(c)     Except as provided herein, the Tax Matters Partner may, in its sole discretion, cause the Trust to make, or refrain from making, any income or other tax elections that the Tax Matters Partner reasonably deems necessary or advisable, including, but not limited to, an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code. The Tax Matters Partner intends to make the election under Section 754 of the Code. The Beneficial Owners recognize and intend that the Trust will be classified as a partnership for U.S. income tax purposes, and will not cause the Trust to make an election to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, or any successor provision, or a similar election under any analogous provision for purposes of state or local law. To the extent necessary, the Trust or the Beneficial Owners (as appropriate) will make any election necessary to obtain treatment consistent with the foregoing.

 

(d)     If the Trust makes an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code, the Beneficial Owners agree that the basis of Shares and property of the Trust shall be determined taking into account the provisions of Sections 734(b) and 743(b) of the Code, and except as required by applicable law the Beneficial Owners shall report the basis of their Shares or any property of the Trust distributed to the Beneficial Owners or their agents in a redemption as equal to the basis reported by the Trust or its agents to such Beneficial Owners. The Beneficial Owners acknowledge that, to the extent any Beneficial Owner is subject to the mark-to-market rules of Section 475 of the Code, the basis of Shares and of any property of the Trust, including property distributed to a Beneficial Owner in a redemption, shall be determined, including for purposes of Sections 734(b) and 743(b) of the Code, by treating such mark-to-market as having no effect on such basis.

 

(e)     Each Beneficial Owner acknowledges that the Trust may report gain or loss and other tax items, including the allocation of basis and adjustments to basis, in reliance upon the assumption that any redemption of a Beneficial Owner's Share is a distribution other than in liquidation of the Beneficial Owner's Share (a " partial redemption "), unless it notifies the Trust or its agent prior to such distribution that such distribution is in liquidation of the Beneficial Owner's Share (a " complete redemption "). The Beneficial Owner agrees to notify the Trust or its agent within 5 Business Days of any distribution of (i) any gain or loss arising from a redemption of a Share by the Beneficial Owner or its agent in exchange for such property, and (ii) any difference between the tax basis of such property on the books of the Trust immediately prior to the redemption, as such amount is reported to the Beneficial Owner or its agent, and the basis of the distributed property to the Beneficial Owner or its agent (such gain or loss or basis difference, "Section 734(b) items") in a manner sufficient for the Trust to adjust the basis of undistributed property held by the Trust under Section 734(b) of the Code if the Trust makes an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code. Each Beneficial Owner agrees to determine its basis for tax purposes in any property it or its agent receives from the Trust in consideration for a redemption of Shares by reference to the tax basis of such property on the books of the Trust immediately prior to the redemption, as such amount is reported to the Beneficial Owner or its agent by the Trust, subject to adjustment as required under Section 732 or other applicable law.

 

 

 
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(f)     The Trust shall comply with all applicable withholding and backup withholding tax requirements. The Trust shall request, and each Beneficial Owner shall provide to the Trust, and direct any broker or nominee through which the Beneficial Owner owns its Shares to provide to the Trust, such forms or other documentation as are necessary to establish an exemption from or reduction in withholding tax and backup withholding with respect to each Beneficial Owner, and any representations, forms and documents as shall reasonably be requested by the Trust to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its withholding and backup withholding tax obligations. The Trust shall file any required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding and backup withholding tax is properly established by a Beneficial Owner, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Beneficial Owner to the applicable tax authorities. To the extent that the Administrative Trustee reasonably believes that the Trust is required to withhold and pay over any amounts (including taxes, interest, penalties, assessments or additions to tax) to any tax authority with respect to distributions or allocations to any Beneficial Owner, and the Trust does withhold such amounts, the amounts withheld shall be treated as a distribution of cash to the Beneficial Owner in the amount of the withholding and shall thereby reduce the amount of cash or other property otherwise distributable to such Beneficial Owner. If an amount required to be withheld is not withheld, the Trust may reduce subsequent distributions by the amount of such required withholding. The consent of the Beneficial Owners shall not be required for any such withholding. In the event of any claimed over-withholding, Beneficial Owners shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction.

  

(g)     By its acceptance of a beneficial interest in a Share, a Beneficial Owner waives all confidentiality rights, including all confidentiality rights provided by Section 3406(f) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 31.3406(f)-1, with respect to any representations, forms, documents or information, and any information contained in such representations, forms or documents, that the Beneficial Owner provides, or has previously provided, to any broker or nominee through which it owns its Shares, to the extent such representations, forms, documents or information may be necessary to (i) assist the Trust in complying with its withholding tax and backup withholding tax obligations pursuant to Section 4.10(f) of this Agreement or (ii) enable the Trust to comply with its U.S. federal income tax reporting obligations, or to allow the Trust to make the basis adjustments under Section 754 of the Code with respect to such Share, pursuant to Section 4.10(d) of this Agreement. Furthermore, the parties hereto and , by its acceptance of a beneficial interest in a Share, a Beneficial Owner, acknowledge and agree that any broker or nominee through which a Beneficial Owner holds its Shares shall be a third party beneficiary to this Agreement for the purposes set forth in Sections 4.10(b) , 4.10(f) and 4.10(g) .

 

(h)     The Sponsor, or such other person that is designated by the Sponsor, shall act as the Tax Matters Partner and exercise any authority permitted the Tax Matters Partner under the Code and Treasury Regulations, and take whatever steps the Sponsor , or such other person as is designated by the Sponsor to act as the Tax Matters Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary or desirable to perfect such designation, including (i) filing any forms and documents with the Internal Revenue Service, (ii) retaining ownership of Shares for as long as it acts as the Tax Matters Partner as may be required under the Code and Treasury Regulations, and (iii) taking such other action as may from time to time be required under the Code or Treasury Regulations.

 

 

 
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ARTICLE V

THE TRUSTEES AND THE SPONSOR

 

Section   5.1      Management of the Trust .

 

(a)     Subject to the direction of the Sponsor pursuant to Section 5.3 and except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Trust's business shall be conducted by the Administrative Trustee in accordance with this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Administrative Trustee shall, under the direction of the Sponsor, have the power on behalf of and in the name of the Trust to carry out any and all of the objects and purposes of the Trust and to perform such acts and enter into and perform such contracts and other undertakings on behalf of the Trust that the Administrative Trustee may deem to be necessary, advisable or incidental thereto.

 

(b)     The Administrative Trustee shall maintain all books, records and supporting documents that are necessary to comply with any and all aspects of its duties under this Agreement.

 

Section   5.2      Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Administrative Trustee .

 

(a)     Until termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Administrative Trustee shall maintain facilities for the execution and Delivery, registration, registration of transfers and Surrender of Shares in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(b)     The Administrative Trustee shall keep books for the registration of Shares and registration of transfers of Shares, which, at all reasonable times, shall be open for inspection by the Registered Owners.

 

(c)     The Administrative Trustee may, and at the reasonable written request of the Sponsor shall, close the transfer books at any time or from time to time if such action is deemed to be necessary or advisable in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor.

 

(d)     If any Shares are listed on one or more stock exchanges in the United States, the Administrative Trustee shall act as Registrar or, with the written approval of the Sponsor (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), appoint a registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry of such Shares in accordance with any requirements of such exchange or exchanges.

 

Section 5.3      Authority of the Sponsor . Pursuant to Section 3806(b)(7) of the Act, the Sponsor is hereby granted the exclusive authority, and shall direct the actions of the Administrative Trustee, in the management of the Trust. The Sponsor shall have the exclusive authority to direct the Administrative Trustee to perform the Sponsor's obligations and exercise its rights under this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Sponsor shall have the authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and (without prejudice to any power or authority delegated to the Administrative Trustee in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) to enter into and perform such contracts and other undertakings on behalf of the Trust and any amendment thereto, as the Sponsor may deem necessary or advisable , and each of the Trust and the Administrative Trustee is hereby authorized and shall have the power and authority to enter into such agreements and perform its obligations thereunder.

 

 

 
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Section   5.4      Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Sponsor or the Administrative Trustee . Neither the Sponsor nor the Administrative Trustee nor any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Registered Owner, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant or Depositor if, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, the Sponsor or the Administrative Trustee is prevented or forbidden from, or would be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, or is delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing that, by the terms of this Agreement, it is provided shall be done or performed, and, accordingly, the Sponsor or the Administrative Trustee does not do that thing or does that thing at a later time than would otherwise be required. Neither the Sponsor nor the Administrative Trustee will incur any liability to any Registered Owner or Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant or Depositor by reason of any non-performance or delay in the performance of any act or thing that, by the terms of this Agreement, it is provided may be done or performed, or by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Agreement.

 

Section   5.5      Liability of Covered Persons . A Covered Person shall have no liability to the Trust or to any Registered Owner, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant, Depositor or to any other Covered Person for any loss suffered by the Trust that arises out of any action or inaction of such Covered Person if such Covered Person, in good faith, determined that such course of conduct was in the best interest of the Trust and such course of conduct did not constitute negligence (or, in the case of the Delaware Trustee, gross negligence) or bad faith of such Covered Person. Subject to the foregoing, no Covered Person shall be personally liable for the return or repayment of all or any portion of the capital or profits of any Registered Owner, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant, Depositor or assignee thereof, it being expressly agreed that any such return of capital or profits made pursuant to this Agreement shall be made solely from the assets of the Trust without any rights of contribution from any Covered Person. A Covered Person shall not be liable for the conduct or misconduct of any delegee selected by the Administrative Trustee pursuant to Section 5.8 of this Agreement; provided , however , that in the case of the Administrative Trustee the foregoing shall only apply if the Administrative Trustee made such selection with reasonable care.

 

Section   5.6      Fiduciary Duty .

 

(a)     The parties hereto agree to perform their duties under this Agreement in good faith and in the best interests of the Trust, but only upon the express terms of this Agreement. The parties hereto shall not have any implied duties (including fiduciary duties) or liabilities otherwise existing at law or in equity with respect to the Trust or any other Person. To the extent that, at law or in equity, the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust, the Registered Owners, the Beneficial Owners, the Authorized Participants, the Depositors or any other Person, the Administrative Trustee and the Sponsor acting under this Agreement shall not be liable to the Trust, the Registered Owners, the Beneficial Owners, the Authorized Participants, the Depositors or any other Person for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement subject to the standard of care in Section 5.5 . The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities of the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor otherwise existing at law or in equity are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Administrative Trustee and the Sponsor. For the avoidance of doubt, no Person other than the parties hereto shall have any duties or obligations hereunder to the Trust, any Registered Owner, any Beneficial Owner, the Authorized Participants or the Depositors.

 

 

 
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(b)     Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:

 

(i)     whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between the Administrative Trustee, the Sponsor or any of their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Trust or any Registered Owner, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant, Depositor or other Person, on the other hand; or

 

(ii)     whenever this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein provides that the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor shall act in a manner that is, or provides terms that are, fair and reasonable to the Trust, any Registered Owner, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant, Depositor or other Person,

 

the Administrative Trustee and the Sponsor, respectively, shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such action or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative interest of each party (including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable generally accepted accounting practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor at law or in equity or otherwise.

 

(c)     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or of applicable law, whenever in this Agreement the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor is permitted or required to make a decision:

 

(i)     in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority, the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust, any Registered Owner, any Beneficial Owner, any Authorized Participant, any Depositor or any other Person; or

 

(ii)     in its "good faith" or under another express standard, the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard. The term "good faith" as used in this Agreement shall mean subjective good faith as such term is understood and interpreted under Delaware law .

 

 

 
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(d)     The Administrative Trustee, the Sponsor and any of their respective Affiliates may engage in or possess an interest in other profit-seeking or business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, whether or not such ventures are competitive with the Trust, and the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor. If the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Trust, it shall have no duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Trust, and the Administrative Trustee and the Sponsor shall not be liable to the Trust or to the Registered Owners, the Beneficial Owners, the Authorized Participants or the Depositors for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor pursues or acquires for, or directs such opportunity to, another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Trust. Neither the Trust nor any Registered Owner, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant or Depositor shall have any rights or obligations by virtue of this Agreement or the trust relationship created hereby in or to such independent ventures or the income or profits or losses derived therefrom, and the pursuit of such ventures, even if competitive with the activities of the Trust, shall not be deemed to be wrongful or improper. Except to the extent expressly provided herein, the Administrative Trustee and the Sponsor may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Trust, the Registered Owners, the Beneficial Owners, the Authorized Participants, the Depositors or any Affiliate of the Trust or the Beneficial Owners.

 

Section   5.7      Obligations of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee .

 

(a)     Neither the Sponsor nor the Administrative Trustee assumes any obligation nor shall either of them be subject to any liability under this Agreement to any Registered Owner or Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant or Depositor (including liability with respect to the worth of the Trust Property), except that each of them agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Agreement without negligence or bad faith.

 

(b)     Neither the Sponsor nor the Administrative Trustee shall be under any obligation to prosecute any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Trust Property or in respect of the Shares on behalf of a Registered Owner, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant, Depositor or other Person.

 

(c)     Neither the Sponsor nor the Administrative Trustee shall be liable for any action or non-action by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any Depositor, any Registered Owner or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information.

 

(d)     The Administrative Trustee shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor Administrative Trustee, whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Administrative Trustee or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the resignation of the Administrative Trustee; provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Administrative Trustee performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Administrative Trustee.

 

 

 
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(e)     The Administrative Trustee and the Sponsor shall have no obligation to comply with any direction or instruction from any Registered Owner or Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant or Depositor regarding Shares except to the extent specifically provided in this Agreement.

 

(f)     The Sponsor will be obligated to pay the following administrative, operational and marketing expenses: (1) the fees of the Administrative Trustee, the Advisor, the Delaware Trustee, the Trust Administrator, the Processing Agent and any permitted delegee of the foregoing, (2) Exchange listing fees, (3) printing and mailing costs, (4) audit fees, (5) fees for registration of the Shares with the SEC, (6) tax reporting costs, (7) license fees and (8) pursuant to Section 4.9 , legal expenses up to $100,000 annually.

 

Section   5.8      Delegation of Obligations of the Administrative Trustee . The Administrative Trustee may and is hereby authorized to at any time delegate all or a portion of its duties and obligations under this Agreement to another entity, including the Trust Administrator and the Processing Agent, without the consent of the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee, any Registered Owner or any Beneficial Owner; provided , that any such delegees shall be appointed with reasonable care, and no such delegation shall be deemed to release the Administrative Trustee from any duties or obligations so delegated. The Administrative Trustee may terminate any such delegee at any time and is not required to appoint a replacement therefor.

 

Section   5.9      Resignation or Removal of the Administrative Trustee; Appointment of Successor Administrative Trustee .

 

(a)     The Administrative Trustee may at any time resign as the Administrative Trustee hereunder by written notice of its election so to do, delivered to the Sponsor, and such resignation shall take effect upon the appointment of a successor Administrative Trustee and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

 

(b)     The Sponsor may remove the Administrative Trustee in its discretion by written notice delivered to the Administrative Trustee in the manner provided in Section 7.4 at any time. If at any time the Administrative Trustee ceases to be a Qualified Bank or is in material breach of its obligations under this Agreement and the Administrative Trustee fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Administrative Trustee of written notice from the Sponsor, or Registered Owners acting on behalf of at least 25% of the outstanding Shares, specifying such default and requiring the Administrative Trustee to cure such default, the Sponsor may remove the Administrative Trustee by written notice delivered to the Administrative Trustee in the manner provided in Section 7.4 , and such removal shall take effect upon the appointment of a successor Administrative Trustee and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

 

(c)     If the Administrative Trustee acting hereunder resigns or is removed, the Sponsor shall use its reasonable efforts to appoint a successor Administrative Trustee, which shall be a Qualified Bank. Every successor Administrative Trustee shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Sponsor an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Administrative Trustee, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such predecessor, nevertheless, upon payment of all sums due to it and on the written request of the Sponsor, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Trust Property to such successor and shall deliver to such successor a list of the Registered Owners of all outstanding Shares. The Sponsor or any such successor Administrative Trustee shall promptly mail notice of the appointment of such successor Administrative Trustee to the Registered Owners.

 

 

 
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(d)     Any corporation into which the Administrative Trustee may be merged, consolidated or converted in a transaction in which the Administrative Trustee is not the surviving corporation shall be the successor of the Administrative Trustee without the execution or filing of any document or any further act. During the 90-day period following the effectiveness of a merger, consolidation or conversion described in the immediately preceding sentence, the Sponsor may, by written notice to the Administrative Trustee, remove the Administrative Trustee and designate a successor Administrative Trustee in compliance with the provisions of Section 5.9(c) .

 

Section   5.10      Custodians . The Administrative Trustee may at any time appoint one or more custodians (each, a " Custodian ") to hold assets of the Trust, without the consent of any Registered Owner and any Beneficial Owner. The Administrative Trustee is further authorized to appoint any successor or replacement Custodian or terminate any previously appointed Custodian, in accordance with the terms of the applicable custodial or other agreements entered into by the Trust with such Custodian or Custodians.

 

Section   5.11      Indemnification .

 

(a)     The Sponsor shall indemnify the Administrative Trustee, its directors, employees, delegees and agents (the " Trustee Indemnified Persons ") against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss, liability, claim, cost, expense or judgment of any kind whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) (collectively, " Indemnified Amounts ") that is incurred by any of them and that arises out of or is related to (i) any offer or sale by the Trust of Baskets under this Agreement, (ii) acts performed or omitted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, (A) by a Trustee Indemnified Person or (B) by the Sponsor or (iii) any filings with or submissions to the SEC in connection with or with respect to the Shares (which, by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, include any registration statement and any amendments or supplements thereto filed with the SEC or any periodic reports or updates that may be filed under the Exchange Act or any failure to make any filings with or submissions to the SEC that are required to be made in connection with or with respect to the Shares), except that the Sponsor shall not have any obligations under this Section 5.11(a) to pay any Indemnified Amounts incurred as a result of and attributable to (x) the negligence or bad faith of, or material breach of the terms of this Agreement by, the Administrative Trustee, (y) information furnished in writing by the Administrative Trustee to the Sponsor expressly for use in the registration statement, or any amendment thereto, filed with the SEC relating to the Shares that is not materially altered by the Sponsor or (z) any misrepresentations or omissions made by a Depositor (other than the Sponsor) in connection with such Depositor's offer and sale of Shares.

 

 

 
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(b)     The Administrative Trustee shall indemnify the Sponsor, its directors, employees, delegees and agents against, and hold each of them harmless from, any Indemnified Amounts (i) caused by the negligence or bad faith of the Administrative Trustee or (ii) arising out of any information furnished in writing to the Sponsor by the Administrative Trustee expressly for use in the registration statement, or any amendment thereto or periodic report, filed with the SEC relating to the Shares that is not materially altered by the Sponsor.

 

(c)     If the indemnification provided for in Section 5.11(a) or (b)  is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless the indemnified party under Section 5.11(a) or (b)  above, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the Indemnified Amounts referred to in Section 5.11(a) or (b)  above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Sponsor on the one hand and the Administrative Trustee on the other hand from the offering of the Shares which are the subject of the action or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Sponsor on the one hand and the Administrative Trustee on the other hand in connection with the action, statement or omission that resulted in such Indemnified Amount, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact from which the action arises relates to information supplied by the Sponsor or the Administrative Trustee and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission or the act or omission from which the action arises. The amount of Indemnified Amounts referred to in the first sentence of this Section 5.11(c) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim that is the subject of this Section 5.11 .

 

(d)     The Sponsor and its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, affiliates (as such term is defined under the Securities Act) and subsidiaries and agents (each, a " Sponsor Indemnified Party ") shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any Indemnified Amounts arising out of or in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and incurred without (1) negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of such Sponsor Indemnified Party or (2) reckless disregard on the part of such Sponsor Indemnified Party of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. Such indemnity shall include payment from the Trust of the costs and expenses incurred by such Sponsor Indemnified Party in defending itself against any claim or liability in its capacity as Sponsor. Any amounts payable to a Sponsor Indemnified Party under this Section 5.11(d) may be payable in advance or shall be secured by a lien on the Trust. The Sponsor may, in its discretion, undertake any action that it may deem to be necessary or desirable in respect of this Agreement and the rights and duties of the parties hereto and the interests of the Registered Owners and, in such event, the legal expenses and costs of any such actions shall be expenses and costs of the Trust, and the Sponsor shall be entitled to be reimbursed therefor by the Trust.

 

 

 
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(e)     If an action, proceeding (including, but not limited to, any governmental investigation), claim or dispute (collectively, a " Proceeding ") in respect of which indemnity may be sought by either party is brought or asserted against the other party, the party seeking indemnification (the " Indemnitee ") shall promptly (and in no event more than seven (7) days after receipt of notice of such Proceeding) notify the party obligated to provide such indemnification (the " Indemnitor ") of such Proceeding. The failure of the Indemnitee to so notify the Indemnitor shall not impair the Indemnitee's ability to seek indemnification from the Indemnitor (but only for costs, expenses and liabilities incurred after such notice) unless such failure adversely affects the Indemnitor's ability to adequately oppose or defend such Proceeding. Upon receipt of such notice from the Indemnitee, the Indemnitor shall be entitled to participate in such Proceeding and, to the extent that it shall so desire and provided no conflict of interest exists as specified in clause (i) below and there are no other defenses available to Indemnitee as specified in clause (iii) below, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee (in which case all attorney's fees and expenses shall be borne by the Indemnitor, and the Indemnitor shall in good faith defend the Indemnitee). The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but, in such case, no fees and expenses of such counsel shall be borne by the Indemnitor unless such fees and expenses are otherwise required to be indemnified under Section 5.11(a) , (b)  or (d) , as applicable, and (i) there is such a conflict of interest between the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee as would preclude, in compliance with the ethical rules in effect in the jurisdiction in which the Proceeding was brought, one lawyer from representing both parties simultaneously, (ii) the Indemnitor fails, within the earlier of (x) twenty (20) days following receipt of notice of the Proceeding from the Indemnitee or (y) seven (7) days prior to the date the first response or appearance is required to be made in such Proceeding, to assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee or (iii) there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are different from or are in addition to those available to the Indemnitor. No compromise or settlement of such Proceeding may be effected by either party without the other party's consent unless (m) there is no finding or admission of any violation of law and no effect on any other claims that may be made against such other party and (n) the sole relief provided is monetary damages that are paid in full by the party seeking the settlement. Neither party shall have any liability with respect to any compromise or settlement effected without its consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Indemnitor shall have no obligation to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnitee from any loss, expense or liability incurred by the Indemnitee as a result of a default judgment entered against the Indemnitee unless such judgment was entered after the Indemnitor agreed, in writing, to assume the defense of such Proceeding.

 

Section 5.12      Charges of Administrative Trustee .

 

(a)     Each Person acquiring Baskets pursuant to a Purchase Order and each Person Surrendering Baskets pursuant to a Redemption Order shall pay to the Administrative Trustee the transaction fee specified in the applicable Authorized Participant Agreement, and reimburse the Trust and the Administrative Trustee for any and all expenses and costs incurred in connection with such Purchase Order or Redemption Order.

 

 

 
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(b)      The Administrative Trustee is entitled to receive from the Sponsor fees for its services and reimbursement for its out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with written agreements between the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee.

 

(c)      The Administrative Trustee is entitled to charge the Trust for all expenses and disbursements incurred by it under Section 5.17(a) or that are of the type described in Sections 4.6(a)(ii) or (iii)  (including the fees and disbursements of legal counsel), except that the Administrative Trustee is not entitled to charge the Trust for (i) expenses and disbursements that were incurred by it before the commencement of trading of Shares on the Exchange and (ii) fees of agents for performing services the Administrative Trustee is required to perform under this Agreement.

 

Section   5.13      Charges of the Sponsor .

 

(a)      The Sponsor is entitled to receive from the Trust, as an expense of the Trust, a fee for services that will accrue daily and be paid monthly in arrears at an annualized rate of up to 0.75% of the Adjusted Net Asset Value of the Trust (the " Sponsor's Fee "), which the Sponsor may adjust in its discretion and may further adjust above 0.75% in accordance with Section 6.1(a) .

 

(b)      The Sponsor is entitled to receive reimbursement from the Trust for all expenses and disbursements incurred by it under the last sentence of Section 5.11(d) or that are of the type described in Sections 4.6(a)(ii), (iii)  or (iv)  (in respect of services performed or actions taken by the Sponsor) of this Agreement (including the fees and disbursements of legal counsel), except that the Sponsor is not entitled to charge the Trust for (i) expenses and disbursements incurred by it prior to the commencement of trading of Shares on the Exchange and (ii) fees of agents for performing services the Sponsor is required to perform under this Agreement.

 

Section   5.14      Retention of Trust Documents . The Administrative Trustee is authorized to destroy those documents, records, bills and other data compiled during the term of this Agreement at the times permitted by the laws or regulations governing the Administrative Trustee, unless the Sponsor reasonably requests the Administrative Trustee in writing to retain those items for a longer period.

 

Section   5.15      Federal Securities and Commodities Law Filings .

 

(a)      The Sponsor has prepared and filed a registration statement with the SEC and shall (i) take such action as is necessary to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the federal securities laws of the United States, including the preparation and filing of amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and, if the Sponsor so determines, under the laws of any other relevant jurisdiction, (ii) promptly notify the Administrative Trustee of any amendment or supplement to the registration statement or prospectus, of any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus, of any request to amend or supplement the registration statement or prospectus or if any event or circumstance occurs that is known to the Sponsor as a result of which the registration statement or prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (iii) provide the Administrative Trustee with copies, including copies in electronic form, of the prospectus, as amended and supplemented, in such quantities as the Administrative Trustee may from time to time reasonably request and (iv) prepare, file and distribute, if applicable, any periodic reports or updates that may be required under the Exchange Act, the United States Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, or the rules and regulations thereunder. The Administrative Trustee shall furnish to the Sponsor any information from the records of the Trust that the Sponsor reasonably requests in writing as needed to prepare any filing or submission that the Sponsor or the Trust is required to make under the federal securities or commodities laws of the United States or the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

 

 
29

 

 

(b)     The Sponsor shall have all necessary and exclusive power and authority to (i) adopt, implement or amend, from time to time, such disclosure and financial reporting information gathering and control policies and procedures as are necessary or desirable, in the Sponsor's reasonable judgment, to ensure compliance with applicable disclosure and financial reporting obligations under any applicable securities laws, (ii) appoint and remove the auditors of the Trust, (iii) make any determination, choice, estimate or other decision that may be necessary or desirable in connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Trust and (iv) seek from the relevant securities or other regulatory authorities such relief, clarification or other action as the Sponsor shall deem to be necessary or desirable regarding the disclosure or financial reporting obligations of the Trust; provided, however, that to the extent applicable laws, regulations or the listing rules of the Exchange contemplate that one or more of the powers vested in the Sponsor hereby be exercised by an audit committee, then the audit committee of the Sponsor's board of directors shall have exclusive power and authority to exercise such powers.

 

(c)      Policies and procedures comprising the Trust's internal control over financial reporting have been adopted as of the date hereof and copies thereof have been delivered to the appropriate officers of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee. Amendments to such internal control over financial reporting may be proposed from time to time by the Sponsor, but such amendments may not be adopted in connection with the preparation of the Trust's financial statements without the Administrative Trustee's consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

Section   5.16      Prospectus Delivery . The Sponsor, or the Administrative Trustee on its behalf, will comply with the requirements to provide copies of the current prospectus for the Trust to Authorized Participants as provided in the relevant Authorized Participant Agreements.

 

Section   5.17      Discretionary Actions by Administrative Trustee; Consultation .

 

(a)      The Administrative Trustee may, with the consent of the Sponsor, undertake any action that it deems to be necessary or desirable to protect the Trust or the interests of the Registered Owners. The expenses incurred by the Administrative Trustee in connection with taking any such action (including the fees and disbursements of legal counsel) shall be expenses of the Trust, and the Administrative Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for those expenses by the Trust.

 

 

 
30

 

 

(b)      The Administrative Trustee shall notify and consult with the Sponsor if the Administrative Trustee becomes aware of any development or event that affects the administration of the Trust but is not contemplated or provided for in this Agreement.

 

(c)      The Sponsor shall notify and consult with the Administrative Trustee (i) prior to undertaking any action described in the last sentence of Section 5.11(d) or (ii) if the Sponsor becomes aware of any development or event that affects the administration of the Trust but is not contemplated or provided for in this Agreement.

 

Section   5.18      Number of Trustees . The number of trustees of the Trust initially shall be two (2), and thereafter the number of trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by the Sponsor. The Sponsor is entitled, subject to Section 5.9 , to appoint or remove without cause any trustee at any time; provided , however , that, if required by the Act, there shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee.

 

Section   5.19      Initial Administrative Trustee .

 

(a)      The initial Administrative Trustee shall be BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A.

 

(b)      Except as otherwise required by the Act, the Administrative Trustee is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any documents that the Administrative Trustee has the power and authority to cause the Trust to execute pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section   5.20      Delaware Trustee .

 

(a)      The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and a resident of the State of Delaware or (ii) a legal entity that has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware, otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law and shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity. If at any time the Delaware Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.20 , it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Section 5.20 . The initial Delaware Trustee shall be Wilmington Trust Company.

 

(b)      The Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of the Administrative Trustee or the Sponsor that are set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the trustees of the Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of the Act and for taking such actions as are required to be taken by a Delaware trustee under the Act. Subject to the foregoing, the duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Delaware Trustee shall be limited to (i) accepting legal process served on the Trust in the State of Delaware and (ii) executing any certificates required to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State that the Delaware Trustee is required to execute under Section 3811 of the Act, and there shall be no other duties (including fiduciary duties) or obligations, express or implied, at law or in equity, of the Delaware Trustee.

 

 

 
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(c)     The Delaware Trustee shall serve until such time as the Sponsor removes the Delaware Trustee or the Delaware Trustee resigns and a successor Delaware Trustee is appointed by the Sponsor in accordance with the terms of this Section 5.20 . The Delaware Trustee may resign at any time upon the giving of at least sixty (60) days' advance written notice to the Administrative Trustee; provided , that such resignation shall not become effective unless and until a successor Delaware Trustee shall have been appointed by the Sponsor in accordance with Section 5.20 . If the Sponsor does not act within such sixty (60) day period, the Delaware Trustee may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware for the appointment of a successor Delaware Trustee.

 

(d)     Upon the resignation or removal of the Delaware Trustee, the Sponsor shall appoint a successor Delaware Trustee by delivering a written instrument to the outgoing Delaware Trustee. Any successor Delaware Trustee must satisfy the requirements of Section 3807 of the Act. Any resignation or removal of the Delaware Trustee and appointment of a successor Delaware Trustee shall not become effective until a written acceptance of appointment is delivered by the successor Delaware Trustee to the outgoing Delaware Trustee and the Sponsor and any fees and expenses due to the outgoing Delaware Trustee are paid. Following compliance with the preceding sentence, the successor Delaware Trustee (i) shall file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust reflecting the change of Delaware Trustee and (ii) shall become fully vested with all of the rights, powers, duties and obligations of the outgoing Delaware Trustee under this Agreement, with like effect as if originally named as Delaware Trustee, and the outgoing Delaware Trustee shall be discharged of its duties and obligations under this Agreement. Any business entity into which the Delaware Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Delaware Trustee shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Delaware Trustee, shall be the successor of the Delaware Trustee hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto except as may be required by law.

 

(e)     The Sponsor shall indemnify the Delaware Trustee, its directors, employees, delegees and agents (the " Delaware Trustee Indemnified Persons ") against, and hold each of them harmless from, any Indemnified Amounts that are incurred by any of them and that arise out of or are related to (i) any offer or sale by the Trust of Baskets under this Agreement, (ii) acts performed or omitted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, (A) by a Delaware Trustee Indemnified Person or (B) by the Sponsor or the Administrative Trustee or (iii) any filings with or submissions to the SEC in connection with or with respect to the Shares (which, by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, include any registration statement and any amendments or supplements thereto filed with the SEC or any periodic reports or updates that may be filed under the Exchange Act or any failure to make any filings with or submissions to the SEC that are required to be made in connection with or with respect to the Shares), except that the Sponsor shall not have any obligations under this Section 5.20(e) to pay any Indemnified Amounts incurred as a result of and attributable to (x) the gross negligence or bad faith of, or material breach of the terms of this Agreement by, the Delaware Trustee or (y) information furnished in writing by the Delaware Trustee to the Sponsor expressly for use in the registration statement, or any amendment thereto, filed with the SEC relating to the Shares that is not materially altered by the Sponsor. Any such indemnity shall be subject to the provisions of Section 5.11(e) .

 

 

 
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Section   5.21      Compensation and Expenses of the Delaware Trustee . The Delaware Trustee shall be entitled to receive from the Sponsor reasonable compensation for its services hereunder as set forth in a separate fee agreement and shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Sponsor for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it in the performance of its duties hereunder, including the reasonable compensation, out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements of counsel and such other agents as the Delaware Trustee may employ in connection with the exercise and performance of its rights and duties hereunder.

 

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

Section   6.1      Amendment .

 

(a)     The Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee may amend any provision of this Agreement without the consent of any Registered Owner or Beneficial Owner. Any amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges (other than the Sponsor's Fee, to the extent it does not exceed 0.75% of the Adjusted Net Asset Value, and other than taxes and other governmental charges) or prejudices a substantial existing right of the Registered Owners will not become effective until thirty (30) days after notice of such amendment is given by the Administrative Trustee to the Registered Owners. Every Registered Owner and Beneficial Owner, at the time any such amendment becomes effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold any Shares or an interest therein, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by this Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of a Registered Owner to Surrender Baskets and receive therefor the amount of Trust Property represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, without the consent of Registered Owners representing a majority of the outstanding Shares, no amendment to this Agreement may be made if, as a result of such amendment, it would cause the Trust to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

(b)     No amendment shall be made to this Agreement without the consent of the Delaware Trustee if such amendment adversely affects any of its rights, duties or liabilities.

 

Section   6.2      Termination .

 

(a)     The term for which the Trust will exist commenced on the date of the filing of the Certificate of Trust and shall continue until terminated pursuant to the provisions hereof. The Administrative Trustee shall set a date on which the Trust shall dissolve and mail notice of that dissolution to the Registered Owners at least thirty (30) days prior to the date set for dissolution if any of the following occurs:

 

(i)     the Administrative Trustee is notified that the Shares are delisted from the Exchange and are not approved for listing on another national securities exchange within five (5) Business Days of their delisting;

 

(ii)     Registered Owners of at least 75% of the outstanding Shares notify the Administrative Trustee that they elect to dissolve the Trust;

 

 

 
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(iii)     sixty (60) days have elapsed since the Administrative Trustee notified the Sponsor of the Administrative Trustee's election to resign, and a successor Administrative Trustee has not been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.9 ;

 

(iv)     the SEC (or its staff) or a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the Trust is an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Administrative Trustee has actual knowledge of that determination;

 

(v)     the Sponsor notifies the Administrative Trustee in writing that it has determined, in its sole discretion, that the dissolution of the Trust is advisable;

 

(vi)     the Trust is treated as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes and the Administrative Trustee receives notice from the Sponsor that the Sponsor has determined that termination of the Trust is advisable; or

 

(vii)     DTC is unable or unwilling to continue to perform its functions, and a comparable replacement is unavailable.

 

(b)     On and after the dissolution of the Trust, the Administrative Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 3808(e) of the Act, wind up the business and affairs of the Trust. Subject to the payment or the reasonable provision of such payment by the Administrative Trustee of the claims and obligations of the Trust as required by Section 3808(e) of the Act, the Registered Owners will be entitled to delivery to them of the amount of Trust Property represented by their Shares as hereinafter provided. The Administrative Trustee shall not accept any Purchase Order or Redemption Order after the date of dissolution. If any Shares remain outstanding after the date of dissolution of the Trust, the Administrative Trustee thereafter shall (i) discontinue the registration of transfers of Shares; (ii) continue to collect distributions pertaining to Trust Property and hold the proceeds thereof uninvested, without liability for interest; and (iii) pay pursuant to Section 3808(e) of the Act the Trust's expenses, and may sell Trust Property as necessary to meet those expenses. After the dissolution of the Trust, the Administrative Trustee shall sell or otherwise liquidate the Trust Property then held under this Trust Agreement and, after complying with Section 3808(e) of the Act and deducting any fees, expenses, taxes or other governmental charges payable by the Trust and any expenses for the account of the Registered Owner of such Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Trust Agreement and any applicable taxes or other governmental charges, promptly distribute the net proceeds from such sale to the Registered Owners. After making such distribution, the Trust and this Trust Agreement shall terminate and the Administrative Trustee and the Delaware Trustee shall execute and cause a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate of Trust to be filed in accordance with the Act. After making such filing, the Administrative Trustee and the Delaware Trustee shall be discharged from all obligations under this Trust Agreement .

 

 

 
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(c)     Upon the termination of this Agreement, the Sponsor shall be discharged from all obligations under this Agreement, except that its obligations to the Administrative Trustee under Sections 5.11 and 5.12 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section   7.1      Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of such counterparts constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of this Agreement are filed with the Administrative Trustee and are open to inspection by any Registered Owner during the Administrative Trustee's business hours.

 

Section   7.2      Third-Party Beneficiaries . Subject to Section 5.8 , this Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and the Covered Persons and other indemnified parties referred to in Section 5.11 , and the Registered Owners, Beneficial Owners and Depositors from time to time, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other Person.

 

Section   7.3      Severability . In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement are or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.

 

Section   7.4      Notices .

 

(a)     All notices given under this Agreement must be in writing.

 

(b)     Any notice to be given to the Administrative Trustee, the Sponsor or the Delaware Trustee shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when it is actually delivered by a messenger or a recognized courier service, (ii) five (5) days after it is mailed by registered or certified mail, postage paid or (iii) when receipt of a facsimile transmission is acknowledged via a return receipt or receipt confirmation as requested by the original transmission, in each case to or at the address or facsimile number set forth below:

 

To the Administrative Trustee:

 

BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A.
400 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

Attention: Fund Administration

Facsimile: (415) 618-5712

 

or (1) any other place to which the Administrative Trustee may have transferred its Corporate Trust Office with notice to the Sponsor and the Delaware Trustee or (2) any entity to which the Administrative Trustee may have transferred all or some of its duties hereunder pursuant to Section 5.8 at the address set forth in the notice of transfer provided to the Sponsor and the Delaware Trustee.

 

 

 
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To the Sponsor:

 

iShares ® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC
400 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

Attention: Product Management Team, Intermediary Investors and

Exchange Traded Products Department

Facsimile: (415) 618-5097

 

or any other place to which the Sponsor may have transferred its principal office with notice to the Administrative Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.

 

To the Delaware Trustee:

 

Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, DE 19890

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

Facsimile: (302) 636-4140

 

or any other place to which the Delaware Trustee may have transferred its principal office with notice to the Administrative Trustee and the Sponsor.

 

(c)     Any notice to be given to a Registered Owner shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when actually delivered by messenger or a recognized courier service, (ii) when mailed, postage prepaid or (iii) when sent by facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, in each case at or to the address of such Registered Owner as it appears on the transfer books of the Administrative Trustee, or, if such Registered Owner shall have filed with the Administrative Trustee a written request that any notice or communication intended for such Registered Owner be delivered to some other address, at the address designated in such request.

 

Section   7.5      Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction .

 

(a)     This Agreement is governed by and is to be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

(b)     The parties hereto hereby (i) irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any Delaware state court or federal court sitting in Wilmington, Delaware in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement and (ii) consent to the service of process by mail. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any manner permitted by law or affect its right to bring any action in any other court. Each party agrees that, in the event that any dispute arising from or relating to this Agreement becomes subject to any judicial proceeding, such party waives any right that it may otherwise have to (x) seek punitive or consequential damages or (y) request a trial by jury.

 

 

 
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Section   7.6      Headings . The titles of the Articles and the headings of the Sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

Section   7.7      Compliance with Regulation B . If any banking institution that is either a party to this Agreement or a delegee pursuant hereto reasonably believes that any of the activities described herein and to be performed by such institution are reasonably likely to result in such institution having to register as a broker-dealer under federal law, then (a) such institution will promptly notify in writing the other parties in reasonable detail of the basis of its concern, (b) such institution thereafter shall not be deemed to be in violation of, or acting negligently or in bad faith with respect to, this Agreement or any agreement incidental hereto by virtue of not engaging in such activity and (c) the parties hereto shall promptly restructure the arrangements described herein in good faith to the extent necessary to prevent such registration from having to occur.

 

Section   7.8      Binding Effect; Entire Agreement . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, every covenant, term and provision of this Agreement is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to such subject matter in any way.

 

Section   7.9      Provisions in Conflict With Law or Regulations . The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if the Administrative Trustee determines, with the advice of counsel, that any one or more of such provisions (the " Conflicting Provisions ") are in conflict with the Code, the Act or other applicable U.S. federal or state laws, the Conflicting Provisions shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Agreement, even without any amendment of this Agreement pursuant to this Agreement; provided , however , that such determination by the Administrative Trustee shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions of this Agreement or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. The Administrative Trustee shall not be liable for making or failing to make such a determination.

 

Section   7.10      Conditions to Effectiveness of Amendments . The amendments to the Existing Trust Agreement set forth herein shall become effective upon the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a)     The passage of thirty (30) days following the later of (i) the filing by the Trust of a current report on Form 8-K with the SEC disclosing the existence of this Agreement and the amendments contemplated hereby, and (ii) the provision of the notice required under Section 6.1 by the Administrative Trustee to the Registered Owners; and

 

(b)     The filing of an effective registration statement by the Trust containing a prospectus including a description of the Trust's operations.

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

 

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Third Amended and Restated Trust Agreement as of the day and year first set forth above.

 

 

iSHARES ® DELAWARE TRUST SPONSOR LLC ,

 

as Sponsor

     
     
 

By:

 
 

Name:

 
 

Title:

 
     
     
  BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY, N.A. ,
 

as Administrative Trustee

     
     
 

By:

 
 

Name:

 
 

Title:

 
     
     
 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY ,

 

as Delaware Trustee

     
     
 

By:

 
 

Name:

 
 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Third Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of

iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE  

 

THE SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY REPRESENT RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO UNDERLYING TRUST PROPERTY (AS DEFINED IN THE TRUST AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN) HELD BY THE iSHARES ® S&P GSCI COMMODITY-INDEXED TRUST (THE " TRUST ") AND DO NOT EVIDENCE AN OBLIGATION OF, OR AN INTEREST IN, AND ARE NOT GUARANTEED BY THE SPONSOR, THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEE, THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES. NEITHER THE SHARES NOR THE UNDERLYING TRUST PROPERTY IS INSURED UNDER ANY AGREEMENT THAT DIRECTLY BENEFITS THE TRUST OR GUARANTEED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY OR ANY OTHER PERSON.

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (" DTC ") TO THE AGENT AUTHORIZED BY THE TRUST FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRUST SHARES
ISSUED BY

iSHARES ® S&P GSCI COMMODITY-INDEXED TRUST
REPRESENTING

FRACTIONAL UNDIVIDED INTERESTS IN THE NET ASSETS OF THE TRUST

BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Administrative Trustee

 

No.              

*Shares

 

CUSIP: 46428R107

 

BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Administrative Trustee (the " Administrative Trustee "), hereby certifies that CEDE & CO., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company, or registered assigns, IS THE OWNER OF __________   1 Shares issued by iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (the " Trust "), each representing a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust, as provided in the Trust Agreement referred to below. The Administrative Trustee's Corporate Trust Office and its principal executive office are located at 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.

 


 

1

That number of Shares held at The Depository Trust Company at any given point in time.

 

 
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This Certificate is issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Third Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2013 (the " Trust Agreement "), among iShares ® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC (the " Sponsor "), the Administrative Trustee, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee. The Trust Agreement sets forth the rights of Registered Owners and the rights and duties of the Administrative Trustee and the Sponsor. Copies of the Trust Agreement are on file at the Administrative Trustee's Corporate Trust Office.

 

The Trust Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into and made a part of this Certificate as if set forth in full in this place. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

This Certificate shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Trust Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless it is executed by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Administrative Trustee and, if a Registrar (other than the Administrative Trustee) for the Shares shall have been appointed, countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar.

 

 

 

BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY, N.A. ,

 

as Administrative Trustee

   
   
 

By:

 
 

Name:

 
 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEE'S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS

 

400 HOWARD STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105

 

 
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ANNEX I

 

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS  

 

Section 1 Capital Accounts .

 

(a)           The Trust shall establish and maintain a separate account (the " Capital Account ") for each Beneficial Owner's Shares in accordance with the following provisions (references to Sections in this Annex I will be to Sections in this Annex I unless otherwise stated and references to Sections of the Agreement will be indicated as such):

 

(i)             Initial Contribution . A Beneficial Owner's "Initial Contribution" will be equal to the amount of cash and the value (as determined under Section 7 of this Annex I ) of any Index Futures or Short-Term Securities contributed to the Trust by the Beneficial Owner or its agent on the first issuance of Shares to the Beneficial Owner or its agent as described in Article II .

 

(ii)            Initial Capital Account . The initial balance of the Capital Account of each Beneficial Owner shall be such Beneficial Owner's Initial Contribution.

 

(iii)            Adjustments to Capital Accounts .

 

(A)             Each Beneficial Owner's Capital Account shall be increased by the amount of additional cash and the value (as determined under Section 7 of this Annex I ) of any Index Futures or Short-Term Securities contributed to the Trust by such Beneficial Owner or its agent, and by any income or gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 1(b) and allocated to such Beneficial Owner pursuant to Section 2 .

 

(B)             Each Beneficial Owner's Capital Account shall be decreased by the amount of cash and the value (as determined under Section 7 of this Annex I ) of any Index Futures or Short-Term Securities distributed to such Beneficial Owner or its agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, and by any expenses, deductions or losses computed in accordance with Section 1(b) and allocated to such Beneficial Owner pursuant to Section 2 .

 

(iv)            Contributions; Distributions; Redemptions .

 

(A)             Each Beneficial Owner agrees that it (or its agent) will contribute property to the Trust only if such property has, to the best of that Beneficial Owner's knowledge after reasonable inquiry, a basis for tax purposes equal to the fair market value of such property, and acknowledges that the Trust will rely upon such fair market value basis for purposes of determining and allocating items of income, gain, loss, deduction, basis and other tax items. For this purpose, Section 7 shall apply to determine fair market value.

 

 

 
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(B)             In determining which Index Futures and Short-Term Securities, if any, are to be distributed to a Beneficial Owner or its agent or sold or closed out in connection with a redemption pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, the Administrative Trustee shall adopt a standard procedure for selecting such Index Futures or Short-Term Securities that is applied consistently to all redemptions. Unless the Administrative Trustee determines that another lot selection method more accurately allocates taxable gain and loss to Beneficial Owners in a manner that corresponds to their economic gain and loss, the procedure shall be "first in, first out."

 

(b)             For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, deduction, expense or loss to be reflected in a Beneficial Owner's Capital Account, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes; provided that:

 

(i)             Items described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code shall be treated as items of deduction. All fees and other expenses incurred by the Trust to promote the sale of (or to sell) a Share that can neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709 of the Code shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code.

 

(ii)            Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( m ), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code.

 

(iii)            In computing income, gain, deduction, expense or loss for Capital Account purposes, the amount of such item shall be determined taking into account the book value of the Trust's property, as adjusted pursuant to Section 1(d) .

 

(c)             In the event any Beneficial Owner's Shares are transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of such Beneficial Owner to the extent such Capital Account relates to the transferred Shares.

 

(d)             Consistent with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( f ), upon an issuance or redemption of Shares, in connection with the dissolution, liquidation or termination of the Trust, or otherwise as appropriate pursuant to generally accepted industry accounting practices, the Capital Accounts of all Beneficial Owners may, immediately prior to such issuance, redemption, dissolution, liquidation, termination, or otherwise, be adjusted (consistent with the provisions hereof) upwards or downwards to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to Trust property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized upon an actual sale of such property, immediately prior to such issuance, redemption, dissolution, liquidation, termination, or otherwise, and had been allocated to the Beneficial Owners at such time pursuant to Section 2 . Pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g), appropriate adjustments shall be made to the book value of Trust property with Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss. Proper adjustment shall be made to the amount of any Capital Account adjustment under this Section 1(d) to take into account any prior Capital Account adjustment under this Section 1 .

 

 

 
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Section 2 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes .

 

(a)             For purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Beneficial Owners among themselves, except as otherwise provided in this Section 2 , each item of income, gain, loss, expense and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 1(b) ) shall be allocated to the Beneficial Owners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

(b)             Pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( g ), items of depreciation, depletion, amortization and gain or loss attributable to Adjusted Property that has a Book-Tax Disparity shall be allocated among the Beneficial Owners in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( g )( 3 ).

 

(c)             If any Beneficial Owner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 4) , 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 5 ) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 6 ), then items of Trust income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of Trust income, including gross income, and gain for such year) shall be specially allocated to such Beneficial Owner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate a deficit balance in its Capital Account (after decreasing such Beneficial Owner's Capital Account balance by the items described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 4) , 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 5 ) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 6 )) created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible. This Section  2(c) is intended to constitute a "qualified income offset" within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d ).

 

Section 3 Allocations for Tax Purposes .

 

(a)             For U.S. federal income tax purposes, except as otherwise provided in this Section 3 , each item of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Trust shall be allocated among the Beneficial Owners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

(b)             In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities, items of income, gain, loss, or deduction shall be allocated for U.S. federal income tax purposes among the Beneficial Owners under the remedial allocation method of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d).

 

(c)             If any Beneficial Owner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 4) , 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 5 ) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 6 ), then items of income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Beneficial Owner in an amount and manner consistent with the allocations of income and gain pursuant to Section 2(c) .

 

(d)             The provisions of this Annex I and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Regulations. The Administrative Trustee shall be authorized to make appropriate amendments to the allocations of items pursuant to this Section 3 if necessary in order to comply with Section 704 of the Code or applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

 

 
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Section 4 Tax Conventions .

 

(a)             For purposes of Sections 1 , 2 and 3 , the Administrative Trustee shall cause the Trust to adopt such conventions as may be necessary or appropriate in the Administrative Trustee's reasonable discretion in order to comply with applicable law, including Section 706 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder, or to allocate items of the Trust's income, gain, loss, expenses, deductions and credits in a manner that reflects Beneficial Owner's Shares. The Administrative Trustee may revise, alter or otherwise modify such conventions in accordance with the standard established in the prior sentence.

 

(b)             Unless the Administrative Trustee determines that another convention is necessary or appropriate in the Administrative Trustee's reasonable discretion in order to comply with applicable law, or to allocate items of the Trust's income, gain, loss, expenses, deductions and credits in a manner that more accurately reflects Administrative Trustee's Shares, the Trust shall use the monthly convention described in this Section 4(b) .

 

(i)             All issuances, redemptions and transfers of Shares or beneficial interests therein shall be deemed to take place at a price equal to the value of such Share or beneficial interest therein at the end of the Business Day during the month in which the issuance, redemption or transfer takes place on which the value of a Share is lowest (such price, the " single monthly price "). Accordingly, in determining Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss and in making the adjustments provided for by Section 1(d) , the fair market value of all Trust property immediately prior to the issuance, redemption or transfer of Shares shall be deemed to be equal to the lowest value of such property (as determined under Section 7 ) during the month in which such Shares are issued or redeemed. In the event that the Trust makes an election under Section 754 of the Code, adjustments to be made under Sections 734(b) and  743(b) of the Code will be made using the same monthly convention, including by reference to the single monthly price.

 

(ii)            All contributed property shall be deemed to be contributed at a price equal to the weighted average value of such property (as determined under Section 7 ) during the month in which such property is contributed. All purchases and sales of property, however, shall be treated as taking place at a price equal to the purchase or sales price of the property, respectively.

 

(iii)            Each item of Trust income, gain, expense, loss, deduction and credit attributable to transferred Shares shall, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be determined on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Beneficial Owners who own Shares as of the close of the last day of the month preceding the month in which the transfer occurs, provided that, for the initial period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the last day of the month following the month in which this Agreement becomes effective, such items shall be allocated to the Beneficial Owners who own the Shares as of the close of the last day of the month in which such items arose; and provided further that, unless the Administrative Trustee determines that another method is necessary or appropriate in the Administrative Trustee's reasonable discretion, gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of all or a substantial portion of the assets of the Trust (or, in the Administrative Trustee's sole discretion, other sales or dispositions of assets if appropriate to more accurately allocate such gain and loss to Beneficial Owners in a manner that corresponds to their economic gain and loss) shall be allocated to the Beneficial Owners who own Shares as of the close of the day in which such gain or loss is recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

 

 
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(iv)            All such allocations are intended to constitute a reasonable method of allocation in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.706-1(c)(2)(ii) and to take into account a Beneficial Owner or Beneficial Owner's varying Shares during the taxable year of any issuance, redemption or transfer of Shares or beneficial interests therein. Any person who is the transferee of Shares shall be deemed to consent to the methods of determination and allocation set forth in this Section 4 as a condition of receiving such Shares.

 

Section 5 Shares as Personal Property . Each Beneficial Owner hereby agrees that its Shares shall for all purposes be personal property. The Trust shall be the sole owner of the property and rights conveyed to it. No Beneficial Owner has any interest in specific Trust property, including property conveyed to the Trust by a Beneficial Owner.

 

Section 6 Interest on Capital Contributions . No Beneficial Owner shall be entitled to any interest on its capital contribution.

 

Section 7 Valuation.

 

(a)             Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, the value, on any day, of Index Futures, Short-Term Securities and any other property, other than cash, under this Agreement shall be determined as of 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on that day, as follows:

 

(i)             The Administrative Trustee will value Index Futures on the basis of that day's applicable settlement price for each Index Future as announced by the Futures Exchange on which such Index Future is listed. If there is no settlement price announced by the Futures Exchange for a Index Future on that day, the Administrative Trustee will use the most recently announced settlement price for such Index Future unless the Administrative Trustee determines that that price is inappropriate as a basis for the valuation of such Index Future, in which case the Administrative Trustee shall value such Index Future as described in paragraph (ii) below.

 

(ii)             The Administrative Trustee will value all other property at (A) its current market value, if quotations for such property are readily available or (B) its fair value, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Trustee, if no quotations for such property are readily available.

 

(b)             The Administrative Trustee may (but is not required to) employ the services of, and rely upon the reports of, a recognized pricing service (including a pricing service that is an Affiliate of the Administrative Trustee). If the Administrative Trustee determines that the procedures in this Section 7 are an inappropriate basis for the valuation of the Trust's assets, it shall determine an alternative basis to be employed. The Administrative Trustee shall not be liable to any Person for any determination as to the alternative basis for evaluation; provided that such determination is made in good faith.

 

 

 
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Section 8 Distributions .

 

(a)             Distributions from the Trust upon the occurrence of a redemption or upon dissolution, liquidation or termination pursuant to Section 2.8 or 6.2 of the Agreement, will be in the form of Index Futures, Short-Term Securities and/or cash as determined by such sections, as applicable; provided that, in the case of a distributions upon dissolution, liquidation or termination, amounts received by Beneficial Owners shall be in accordance with Capital Accounts as provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( b ).

 

(b)             Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Trust, and the Administrative Trustee on behalf of the Trust, shall not be required to make a distribution with respect to Shares if such distribution would violate the Act or any other applicable law. A determination that a distribution is not prohibited under this Section 8 or the Act shall be made by the Administrative Trustee and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, may be based either on financial statements prepared on the basis of accounting practices and principles that are reasonable under the circumstances or on a fair valuation or any other method that is reasonable under the circumstances. Unless otherwise agreed to by the Beneficial Owners, a Beneficial Owner shall be entitled only to the distributions expressly provided for in this Agreement.

 

(c)             Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Beneficial Owners understand and acknowledge that a Beneficial Owner (or its agent) may be compelled to accept a distribution of any asset in kind from the Trust despite the fact that the percentage of the asset distributed to such Beneficial Owner (or its agent) exceeds the percentage of that asset which is equal to the percentage in which such Beneficial Owner shares in distributions from the Trust.

 

 

 

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Exhibit 4.2

 

AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT

 

AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of [          ] among (i) [          ], a [          ] organized under the laws of [          ] (the “ Authorized Participant ”), (ii) BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association acting in its capacity as trustee (in such capacity, the “ Trustee ”) of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (the “ Trust ”), a trust organized under Delaware law pursuant to the provisions of the Third Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2013 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “ Trust Agreement ”), and (iii) iShares ® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in its capacity as sponsor of the Trust (in such capacity, the “ Sponsor ”).

 

R E C I T A L S

 

A.            The Trust offers, on a continuous basis, equity securities representing an interest in its assets (“ iShares ”), pursuant to the prospectus describing the iShares, as most recently filed by the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as supplemented by the Trust’s periodic reports, current reports and other information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference therein, and as otherwise amended from time to time (the “ Prospectus ”).

 

B.            As described in the Prospectus, the Trust may from time to time issue or redeem iShares pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, in each case only in aggregate amounts called “ Baskets ,” or integral multiples thereof, and only in transactions with a party who, at the time of the transaction, shall have signed and in effect an Authorized Participant Agreement with respect to the Trust.

 

C.            [          ] has requested to become an “Authorized Participant” (as such term is defined in the Trust Agreement) with respect to the Trust, and the Sponsor and the Trustee have agreed to such request.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Procedures . The Authorized Participant will purchase or redeem Baskets of iShares of the Trust in compliance with the Trust Agreement as supplemented by the Creation and Redemption Procedures attached to this Agreement as Schedule 1 (such procedures, as the same may be amended or modified from time to time in compliance with the provisions hereof and thereof, the “ Procedures ”). All creation orders and redemption orders (collectively, “ Orders ”) shall be placed and executed in accordance with the Trust Agreement as supplemented by the Procedures.

 

Section 2. Incorporation of Standard Terms . The Standard Terms attached hereto as Schedule 2 (the “ Standard Terms ”) are hereby incorporated by reference into, and made a part of, this Agreement.

 

Section 3. Conflicts Rules . In case of any inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the Trust Agreement, the provisions of the Trust Agreement shall control. In case of inconsistency between the provisions incorporated by reference into this Agreement pursuant to Section 2 above and any other provision of this Agreement, the latter will control.

 

Section 4. Authorized Representatives . Pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Standard Terms, attached hereto as Exhibit A is a certificate listing the Authorized Representatives of the Authorized Participant.

 

 

 
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Section 5. Notices . Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Procedures, all notices required or permitted to be given pursuant hereto shall be given in writing and delivered by personal delivery or by postage prepaid registered or certified United States first class mail, return receipt requested, or by facsimile, electronic mail or a nationally recognized parcel delivery service or similar means of same day delivery (with a confirming copy by mail) addressed as follows:

 

(i)           If to the Trustee:

 

BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A.

c/o State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Lincoln Street

Attn: Tim McGowan

Boston, MA 02111

Electronic Mail:

Telephone: (800) 474-2737

Facsimile: (617) 937-6033

 

If to the Sponsor:

 

iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC

400 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

Attn: iShares Product Management Team

Electronic Mail:

Telephone: (415) 670-4671

Facsimile: (415) 618-5097

 

In each case, with a copy to:

 

BlackRock Fund Advisors

400 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

Attn: Legal Department

Electronic Mail:

Telephone: (415) 670-2860

Facsimile: (415) 618-5731

 

(ii)          If to the Authorized Participant:

 

[          ]

Address: [          ]

Attn: [          ]

Electronic Mail: [          ]

Telephone: [          ]

Facsimile: [          ]

 

or to such other address as any of the parties hereto shall have communicated in writing to the remaining parties in compliance with the provisions hereof.

 

 

 
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Section 6. Effectiveness, Termination and Amendment . This Agreement shall become effective, upon execution and delivery by each of the parties hereto, as of the date first written above. This Agreement may be terminated at any time by any party upon sixty days prior written notice to the other parties and may be terminated earlier by the Trustee or the Sponsor at any time on the event of a breach by the Authorized Participant of any provision of this Agreement (including the Standard Terms incorporated by Section 2 hereof) or the Procedures. This Agreement supersedes any prior agreement between or among the parties concerning the matters governed hereby. This Agreement may be amended by the Trustee and the Sponsor from time to time without the consent of the Authorized Participant, or any person on whose behalf the Authorized Participant holds iShares, by the following procedure: the Trustee or the Sponsor will mail a copy of the amendment to the Authorized Participant in compliance with the notice provisions of this Agreement; if the Authorized Participant does not object in writing to the amendment within ten Business Days after receipt of the proposed amendment, the amendment will become part of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

Section 7. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to the choice of law provisions thereof that would apply the laws of another jurisdiction. The parties irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in New York City which has subject matter jurisdiction over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement.

 

Section 8. Assignment . No party to this Agreement shall assign any rights, or delegate the performance of any obligations, arising hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto; provided that (i) any party hereto which may be merged or converted, or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which a party hereunder shall be a party, shall be the successor of such party hereto, and (ii) each of the Trustee and the Sponsor may (A) assign this Agreement, in whole but not in part, to an affiliate that succeeds to such party’s duties under the Trust Agreement upon notice to the other parties or (B) may delegate any portion of its duties or functions hereunder, if any, for so long as it remains responsible therefor. Any purported assignment or delegation in violation of these provisions shall be null and void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any successor Trustee appointed in compliance with the Trust Agreement shall automatically become a party hereto and shall assume all the obligations, and be entitled to all the rights and remedies of the Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 9. Signatures and Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Facsimile, PDF or electronic image file signatures to this Agreement shall be acceptable and binding.

 

 

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Authorized Participant Agreement as of the date set forth above.

 

BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY, N.A. , in its capacity as Trustee of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Title:

 

 

iSHARES ®  DELAWARE TRUST SPONSOR LLC , in its capacity

as Sponsor of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

[AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT]

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 1

 

CREATION AND REDEMPTION PROCEDURES

 

 

 
 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

S1-1

Section 1.01.

Definitions

S1-1

Section 1.02.

Interpretation

S1-3

Section 1.03.

Conflicts

S1-3

ARTICLE II

CREATION PROCEDURES

S1-4

Section 2.01.

Creations of iShares

S1-4

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION PROCEDURES

S1-6

Section 3.01.

Redemption of iShares

S1-6

 

 
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iSHARES ® S&P GSCI COMMODITY-INDEXED TRUST

 

CREATION AND REDEMPTION PROCEDURES

 

adopted by the Sponsor and the Trustee (each as defined below) as of [ ]

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 1.01.      Definitions . For purposes of these Procedures, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms will have the following meanings:

 

Applicable Transaction Fee ” shall mean, for any date of determination, the transaction fee applicable to the creation or redemption of iShares, as the case may be, including the fees and charges charged by the applicable Futures Exchange and the Trust’s futures commission merchant, in each case as described in the Prospectus as of such date.

 

Authorized Participant ” shall have the meaning ascribed to the term in the introductory paragraph of the Authorized Participant Agreement.

 

Authorized Participant Agreement ” or “ Agreement ” shall mean the Authorized Participant Agreement to which these Procedures are attached as Schedule 1.

 

Authorized Participant Client ” shall mean any party on whose behalf the Authorized Participant acts in connection with an Order (whether a customer or otherwise).

 

Authorized Representative ” shall mean, with respect to an Authorized Participant, each individual who, pursuant to the provisions of the Authorized Participant Agreement among such Authorized Participant, the Trustee and the Sponsor, has the power and authority to act on behalf of the Authorized Participant in connection with the placement of Purchase Orders or Redemption Orders and is in possession of the personal identification number (PIN) assigned by the Trustee for use in any communications regarding Purchase or Redemption Orders on behalf of such Authorized Participant.

 

Basket ” shall mean 50,000 iShares (or such number as shall be designated pursuant to the Trust Agreement).

 

Basket Constituents ” shall mean, for each Business Day, a basket of financial instruments published by the Trustee in respect of such Business Day consisting of a specified number of Index Futures together with cash, U.S. Treasury securities or other Short-Term Securities.

 

Business Day ” shall mean any day (1) on which none of the following occurs: (a) the Exchange (as such term is defined in the Trust Agreement) is closed for regular trading (b) the Futures Exchange is closed for regular trading or (c) the Federal Reserve wire transfer system is closed for cash wire transfers, or (2) that the Trustee determines that it is able to conduct business.

 

Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Collateral ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Control Agreement.

 

Collateral Accounts ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Control Agreement.

 

 

 
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Control Agreement ” shall mean the Control Agreement (for Authorized Participant Collateral), entered into by and among the Trust, State Street Bank and Trust Company and the Authorized Participant in connection with the Authorized Participant Agreement.

 

Creation ” shall mean the process that begins when an Authorized Participant first indicates to the Creation and Redemption Agent its intention to purchase one or more Baskets pursuant to these Procedures and concludes with the issuance by the Trustee and Delivery to such Authorized Participant of the corresponding number of iShares.

 

Creation and Redemption Agent ” shall mean SEI Distribution Co., a Pennsylvania corporation, or any successor thereto appointed by the Trustee as the Trustee’s agent for effecting Creations and Redemptions with Authorized Participants.

 

Creation and Redemption Line ” shall mean a telephone number designated as such by the Creation and Redemption Agent and communicated to each Authorized Participant in compliance with the notice provisions of the respective Authorized Participant Agreement.

 

Custodian ” shall mean State Street Bank and Trust Company, in its capacity as custodian for the Trust, Goldman, Sachs & Co., a limited partnership organized under the laws of the state of New York, in its capacity as futures commission merchant for the Trust, and any successor thereto or additional custodian appointed by the Trust. In connection with any creations or redemptions and any related procedures hereunder, the Settlement Agent will determine the appropriate applicable Custodian for purposes of these Procedures.

 

Delivery ” shall mean full delivery of constituents of a Basket to or from (as the context may be require) the Trust’s account at the Settlement Agent or the applicable Custodian.

 

DTC ” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

 

EFRP ” shall mean an exchange for related positions under the rules of the applicable Futures Exchange that involves contemporaneous transactions in futures contracts and other assets.

 

Futures Exchange ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

Index Futures ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

iShares ” shall mean shares issued by the Trustee representing fractional, undivided interests in the net assets of the Trust.

 

Order Cut-Off Time ” shall mean 2:40 p.m. (New York time) or, on any day that the applicable Futures Exchange is scheduled to close early, the time of the close of trading in the Index Futures on the applicable Futures Exchange on such day; provided , that the Order Cut-Off Time for any Purchase Order paid for in cash rather than Basket Constituents shall be no later than 10:00 a.m. (New York time).

 

Order Date ” shall have the meaning ascribed to the term in the Trust Agreement.

 

Prospectus ” shall have the meaning ascribed to the term in the Authorized Participant Agreement.

 

Purchase Order ” shall mean an order to purchase one or more Baskets.

 

 

 
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Redemption ” shall mean the process that begins when an Authorized Participant first indicates to the Creation and Redemption Agent its intention to redeem one or more Baskets pursuant to these Procedures and concludes with Delivery by the Trustee of the corresponding Basket Constituents or cash to such Authorized Participant.

 

Redemption Order ” shall mean an order to redeem one or more Baskets.

 

Settlement Agent ” shall mean State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company, or successor thereto appointed by the Trustee as the Trustee’s agent for settling Creations and Redemptions with Authorized Participants.

 

Short-Term Securities ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

Sponsor ” shall mean iShares ® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in its capacity as sponsor under the Trust Agreement.

 

Treasury regulations ” shall mean the regulations promulgated under the Code, as amended from time to time (including any successor regulations).

 

Trustee ” shall mean BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, in its capacity as Trustee under the Trust Agreement, and any successor thereto in compliance with the provisions thereof.

 

Trust ” shall mean the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust, a trust governed by the provisions of the Trust Agreement.

 

Trust Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement.

 

Section 1.02.      Interpretation . In these Procedures:

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all references to Sections, clauses, paragraphs, schedules or exhibits, are to Sections, clauses, paragraphs, schedules or exhibits in or to these Procedures.

 

The words “hereof”, “herein”, “hereunder” and words of similar import shall refer to these Procedures as a whole, and not to any individual provision in which such words may appear.

 

A reference to any statute, law, decree, rule, regulation or other applicable norm shall be construed as a reference to such statute, law, decree, rule, regulation or other applicable norm as re-enacted, re-designated or amended from time to time.

 

A reference to any agreement, instrument or document shall be construed as a reference to such agreement, instrument or document as the same may have been amended from time to time in compliance with the provisions thereof.

 

Section 1.03.      Conflicts . In case of conflict between any provision of these Procedures and the terms of the Trust Agreement, the terms of the Trust Agreement shall control.

 

 

 
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ARTICLE II

CREATION PROCEDURES

 

Section 2.01.      Creations of iShares . From and after the date hereof, the issuance and Delivery of iShares shall take place only in integral numbers of Baskets in compliance with the following rules:

 

a.           Authorized Participants wishing to acquire from the Trustee one or more Baskets shall place a Purchase Order with the Creation and Redemption Agent on any Business Day. Purchase Orders received by the Creation and Redemption Agent prior to the Order Cut-Off Time on a Business Day shall have such Business Day as the Order Date. Purchase Orders received by the Creation and Redemption Agent on or after the Order Cut-Off Time on a Business Day shall be considered received at the opening of business on the next Business Day and shall have as their Order Date such next Business Day.

 

b.            For purposes of paragraph “a” above, a Purchase Order shall be deemed “received” by the Creation and Redemption Agent only when each of the following has occurred:

 

(i)            An Authorized Representative shall have placed a telephone call to the Creation and Redemption Line informing the Creation and Redemption Agent that the Authorized Participant wishes to place a Purchase Order for a specified number of Baskets.

 

(ii)            The Creation and Redemption Agent shall have sent, via facsimile or electronic mail message, an affirmation to the Authorized Participant that a Purchase Order for a specified number of baskets has been received by the Creation and Redemption Agent from an Authorized Representative for the Authorized Participant’s account.

 

c.            The Creation and Redemption Agent (acting on behalf of, and in consultation with, the Trustee) shall have the absolute right to reject any Purchase Order including, without limitation, (i) Purchase Orders that the Creation and Redemption Agent has determined are not in proper form, (ii) in response to market conditions or other circumstances that make transactions in or delivery of the iShares or the Index Futures impossible or impractical, (iii) Purchase Orders that the Trustee has determined would have adverse tax or other consequences to the Trust or to owners of iShares, or (iv) Purchase Orders the acceptance of which would, in the opinion of counsel to the Sponsor, the Trustee, the Creation and Redemption Agent or the Settlement Agent, result in a violation of law. Neither the Creation and Redemption Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable to any person for rejecting a Purchase Order. Should the Creation and Redemption Agent elect to accept the Purchase Order, it shall communicate its decision by sending to the Authorized Participant, via facsimile or electronic mail message, no later than 7:00 p.m. (New York time) on the same Business Day for such Purchase Order a confirmation from the Creation and Redemption Agent of the accepted Purchase Order. Prior to the transmission of the Creation and Redemption Agent’s confirmation of acceptance, a Purchase Order will only represent the Authorized Participant’s unilateral offer to deposit the Basket Constituents (or if applicable, cash) in exchange for one or more Baskets and will have no binding effect upon the Trust, the Trustee, the Creation and Redemption Agent or any other party. Upon the delivery of any such confirmation of acceptance of a Purchase Order in accordance with the foregoing, the Trust and the Authorized Participant shall be bound thereby and each of the Authorized Participant, the Trust, the Trustee and the Creation and Redemption Agent shall be bound by the terms of these Procedures, the Authorized Participant Agreement and the Trust Agreement applicable to it with respect to such Purchase Order. In connection with any Purchase Order, the Creation and Redemption Agent may require the Authorized Participant to deposit into the Collateral Accounts by 6:00 p.m. (New York time) on such Business Day, the Delivery obligation specified in paragraph “d” below or Collateral in an amount, as determined in accordance with the Control Agreement, sufficient to satisfy such Delivery obligations and any related reimbursement obligations.

 

d.            On the first Business Day following the Order Date corresponding to a Purchase Order, or on such other date as the Trustee in its discretion may agree, the Trustee shall issue the aggregate number of iShares corresponding to the Baskets ordered by the Authorized Participant and deliver them by credit to the account at DTC which the Authorized Participant shall have identified for such purpose in written instructions to the Settlement Agent, provided that by 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the date such issuance is to take place:

 

 

 
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(i)             the applicable Custodian shall have provided confirmation to the Settlement Agent that the EFRPs in connection with any Index Futures included in the Basket Constituents have been properly matched and effected in the books and records of the clearinghouse; and

 

(ii)            the Settlement Agent shall have received from the Authorized Participant (1) delivery of any cash or Short-Term Securities in the Basket Constituents and a transaction fee per Basket in the amount of the Applicable Transaction Fee, (2) in the case of a Basket created solely for cash, additional issuance costs determined by the Creation and Redemption Agent, including the costs of establishing the corresponding positions in Index Futures and Short-Term Securities); and

 

(iii)            any other conditions to the issuance under the Trust Agreement shall have been satisfied.

 

e.            In the event that, by 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the first Business Day following the Order Date of a Purchase Order governed by paragraph “d” above, the applicable Custodian is unable to confirm the Authorized Participant’s transfer of the Basket Constituents corresponding to the total number of Baskets ordered pursuant to such Purchase Order, (i) the Trustee may, or may cause the Settlement Agent to, apply or liquidate any Collateral deposited into the Collateral Accounts pursuant to paragraph “c” above and/or apply the proceeds thereof to acquire Basket Constituents and apply them towards Authorized Participant’s Delivery obligations under paragraph “d” above and to reimburse the Trust for any related expenses or losses (including any losses arising from any change in value of the related Basket Constituents) or (ii) the Trustee may, or cause the Settlement Agent to, cancel such Purchase Order and will send via fax or electronic mail message notice of such cancellation to the respective Authorized Participant and the applicable Custodian.

 

f.             In all other cases, the Trustee shall issue the aggregate number of iShares corresponding to the Baskets ordered by the Authorized Participant and instruct the Settlement Agent to deliver them by credit to the account at DTC which the Authorized Participant shall have identified for such purpose in written instructions to the Settlement Agent on the Business Day on which the conditions set forth in clauses (i) to (iii) of paragraph “d” above shall have been met.

 

 

 
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ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION PROCEDURES

 

Section 3.01.      Redemption of iShares . Redemption of iShares shall take place only in integral numbers of Baskets in compliance with the following rules:

 

a.            Authorized Participants wishing to redeem one or more Baskets shall place a Redemption Order with the Creation and Redemption Agent on any Business Day. Only Redemption Orders received by the Creation and Redemption Agent prior to the Order Cut-Off Time on a Business Day shall have such Business Day as the Order Date. Redemption Orders received by the Creation and Redemption Agent on or after the Order Cut-Off Time on any Business Day shall be considered received at the opening of business on the next Business Day and shall have as their Order Date such next Business Day.

 

b.            For purposes of paragraph “a” above, a Redemption Order shall be deemed “received” by the Creation and Redemption Agent only when each of the following has occurred:

 

(i)            An Authorized Representative shall have placed a telephone call to the Creation and Redemption Line informing the Creation and Redemption Agent that the Authorized Participant wishes to place a Redemption Order for a specified number of Baskets.

 

(ii)            The Creation and Redemption Agent shall have sent, via facsimile or electronic mail message, an affirmation to the Authorized Participant that a Redemption Order for a specified number of Baskets has been received by the Creation and Redemption Agent from an Authorized Representative for the Authorized Participant’s account.

 

 

 
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c.           The Creation and Redemption Agent (acting on behalf of, and in consultation with, the Trustee) shall have the absolute right to reject any Redemption Order, including without limitation, (i) Redemption Orders that the Creation and Redemption Agent has determined are not in proper form, (ii) in response to market conditions or other circumstances that make transactions in or delivery of the iShares or the Index Futures impossible or impractical, (iii) Redemption Orders that the Trustee has determined would have adverse tax or other consequences to the Trust or to owners of iShares, or (iv) Redemption Orders the acceptance of which would, in the opinion of counsel to the Sponsor, the Trustee, the Creation and Redemption Agent or the Settlement Agent, result in a violation of law. Neither the Creation and Redemption Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable to any person for rejecting a Redemption Order. Should the Creation and Redemption Agent (acting on behalf of, and in consultation with, the Trustee) elect to accept such Redemption Order, it shall communicate its decision to the Authorized Participant by sending to the Authorized Participant, via facsimile or electronic mail message, no later than 7:00 p.m. (New York time) on the same Business Day for such Redemption Order, a confirmation of the Creation and Redemption Agent’s acceptance of the Redemption Order. Prior to the transmission of the Creation and Redemption Agent’s confirmation of acceptance, a Redemption Order will only represent the Authorized Participant’s unilateral offer to redeem the iShares specified in such Redemption Order in exchange for the related Basket Constituents and will have no binding effect upon the Trust, the Trustee, the Creation and Redemption Agent or any other party. Upon the delivery of any such confirmation of acceptance of a Redemption Order in accordance with the foregoing, the Trust and the Authorized Participant shall be bound thereby and each of the Authorized Participant, the Trust, the Trustee and the Creation and Redemption Agent shall be bound by the terms of these Procedures, the Authorized Participant Agreement and the Trust Agreement applicable to it with respect to such Redemption Order. In connection with any Redemption Order, the Creation and Redemption Agent may require the Authorized Participant to deposit into the Collateral Accounts by 6:00 p.m. (New York time) on such Business Day, the Delivery obligation specified in paragraph “d” below or Collateral in an amount, as determined in accordance with the Control Agreement, sufficient to satisfy such Delivery obligations and any related reimbursement obligations.

 

d.            Provided that by 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the first Business Day following the Order Date of a Redemption Order:

 

(i)             the Authorized Participant has delivered to the Settlement Agent’s account at DTC the total number of iShares to be redeemed by such Authorized Participant pursuant to such Redemption Order; and

 

(ii)            any other conditions to the redemption under the Trust Agreement have been satisfied,

  

the applicable Custodian and Settlement Agent will, as applicable, on such day, at the locations and in the amounts specified in the communication sent in compliance with paragraph “c” above, credit the account(s) of the redeeming Authorized Participant specified in such confirmation with the applicable Basket Constituents. Upon such Delivery, the Settlement Agent will then cancel the iShares so redeemed on behalf of the Trustee.

 

e.            In connection with any Redemption Order, the Authorized Participant authorizes the Settlement Agent to deduct a transaction fee per Basket in the amount of the Applicable Transaction Fee from the applicable Basket Constituents credited to the applicable account of the redeeming Authorized Participant.

 

 

 
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f.            In the event that, by 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the first Business Day following the Order Date of a Redemption Order governed by paragraph “d” above, Settlement Agent’s account at DTC shall not have been credited with the total number of iShares corresponding to the total number of Baskets to be redeemed pursuant to such Redemption Order, (i) the Trustee may, or may cause the Settlement Agent to, apply or liquidate any Collateral deposited into the Collateral Accounts pursuant to paragraph “c” above and/or apply the proceeds thereof to acquire iShares and apply them towards Authorized Participant’s Delivery obligations under paragraph “d” above and to reimburse the Trust for any related expenses or losses (including any losses arising from any change in value of the related Basket Constituents) or (ii) the Trustee may, or cause the Settlement Agent to, cancel such Redemption Order and will send via fax or electronic mail message notice of such cancellation to the respective Authorized Participant and the applicable Custodian.

 

g.            In all other cases, Delivery must be completed by the Settlement Agent and applicable Custodian as soon as, in the reasonable judgment of the Settlement Agent, it is practicable.

 

 

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Sponsor and the Trustee have executed these Creation and Redemption Procedures as of the date set forth above.

 

BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY, N.A. , in its capacity as Trustee of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Title:

 

 

iSHARES ®  DELAWARE TRUST SPONSOR LLC , in its capacity as Sponsor of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 2

 

  Standard Terms

 

STANDARD TERMS FOR AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT AGREEMENTS (the “ Standard Terms ”) agreed to as of [ ] by and between BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, and iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and agreed to by the Authorized Participant as of the date of its entry into the Authorized Participant Agreement to which these Standard Terms are attached.

 

ARTICLE I

ORDERS FOR PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION

 

Section 1.01.      Authorization to Purchase and Redeem Baskets . Subject to the provisions of the Authorized Participant Agreement, during the term of the Authorized Participant Agreement the Authorized Participant will be authorized to purchase and redeem Baskets of iShares in compliance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement.

 

Section 1.02.      Procedures for Orders . Each party hereto agrees to comply with the provisions of the Trust Agreement and the Procedures to the extent applicable to it.

 

Section 1.03.      Consent to Recording . The phone lines used by the Trustee, the Creation and Redemption Agent, the Settlement Agent or their affiliated persons may be recorded, and the Authorized Participant hereby consents to the recording of all calls with any of those parties.

 

Section 1.04.      Irrevocability . The Authorized Participant agrees on behalf of itself and any Authorized Participant Client that delivery to the Creation and Redemption Agent of an Order shall be irrevocable; provided that each of the Trustee and the Sponsor reserves the right to reject any Order in compliance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement.

 

Section 1.05.      Costs and Expenses . The Authorized Participant shall be responsible for any and all expenses and costs incurred by the Trust in connection with any Orders, including, without limitation, any transaction fees or interest or funding cost incurred by the Trust in connection with the Authorized Participant’s failure to timely settle any Order.

 

Section 1.06.      Delivery of Property to the Trust . The Authorized Participant understands and agrees that in the event Basket Constituents are not transferred to the Trust by the time specified in the Purchase Order and in compliance with the Procedures and the Trust Agreement, a Purchase Order may be cancelled by the Creation and Redemption Agent and the Authorized Participant will be solely responsible for all costs incurred by the Trust, the Trustee or the applicable Custodian related to the cancelled Order.

 

Section 1.07.      Title to Basket Constituents and iShares Surrendered for Redemption . The Authorized Participant represents and warrants to the Trustee that

 

a.           in connection with each Purchase Order, the Authorized Participant will have full power and authority to transfer to the Trust the corresponding Basket Constituents, and that upon delivery of the Basket Constituents to the applicable Custodian and/or Settlement Agent in accordance with the Procedures, the Trust will acquire good and unencumbered title to such property, free and clear of all liens, charges, duties imposed on the transfer of assets and encumbrances (other than those in favor of the applicable Custodian or the clearinghouse of the applicable Futures Exchange) and not subject to any adverse claims or transferability restrictions, whether arising by operation of law or otherwise; and

 

 

 
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b.          in connection with a Redemption Order, the Authorized Participant will have full power and authority to surrender to the Settlement Agent for redemption the corresponding iShares, and upon such surrender the Trust will acquire good and unencumbered title to such iShares, free and clear of all liens, charges, duties imposed on the transfer of assets and encumbrances and not subject to any adverse claims, transferability restrictions (whether arising by operation of law or otherwise), loan, pledge, repurchase or securities lending agreements or other arrangements which would preclude the delivery of such iShares in accordance with the Procedures.

 

Section 1.08.      Certain Payments or Distributions .

 

a.           With respect to any Purchase Order, the Trust acknowledges and agrees to return to the Authorized Participant any payment, distribution or other amount paid to the Trust in respect of any Basket Constituents transferred to the Trust that, based on the valuation of the Basket Constituents at the time of transfer, should have been paid to the Authorized Participant. Likewise, the Authorized Participant acknowledges on behalf of itself and any Authorized Participant Client and agrees to return to the Trust any payment, distribution or other amount paid to the Authorized Participant or any Authorized Participant Client in respect of any Basket Constituents transferred to the Trust that, based on the valuation of the Basket Constituents at the time of transfer, should have been paid to the Trust.

 

b.           With respect to any Redemption Order, the Authorized Participant on behalf of itself and any Authorized Participant Client acknowledges and agrees to return to the Trust any payment, distribution or other amount paid to it or an Authorized Participant Client in respect of any property transferred to the Authorized Participant or any Authorized Participant Client that, based on the valuation of such property at the time of transfer, should have been paid to the Trust. The Trust is entitled to reduce the amount of any property due to the Authorized Participant or any Authorized Participant Client by an amount equal to any payment, distribution or other sum to be paid to the Authorized Participant or to the Authorized Participant Client in respect of any property transferred to the Authorized Participant or any Authorized Participant Client that, based on the valuation of such property at the time of transfer, should be paid to the Trust. Likewise, the Trust acknowledges and agrees to return to the Authorized Participant or any Authorized Participant Client any payment, distribution or other amount paid to it in respect of any iShares transferred to the Trust that, based on the valuation of such iShares at the time of transfer, should have been paid to the Authorized Participant or such Authorized Participant Client.

 

 

 
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ARTICLE II

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES

 

Section 2.01.      Certification . Concurrently with the execution of the Authorized Participant Agreement, and as requested from time to time by the Trustee but no less frequently than annually, the Authorized Participant shall deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed by the Authorized Participant’s Secretary or other duly authorized official setting forth the names, e-mail addresses and telephone and facsimile numbers of all persons authorized to give instructions relating to any activity contemplated hereby or any other notice, request or instruction on behalf of the Authorized Participant (each an “ Authorized Representative ”). Such certificate may be accepted and relied upon by the Trustee as conclusive evidence of the facts set forth therein and shall be considered to be in full force and effect until (i) receipt by the Trustee of a superseding certificate in a form approved by the Trustee bearing a subsequent date, or (ii) termination of the Authorized Participant Agreement.

 

Section 2.02.      PIN Numbers . The Creation and Redemption Agent shall issue to each Authorized Participant a unique personal identification number (“ PIN Number ”) by which such Authorized Participant shall be identified and instructions issued by the Authorized Participant shall be authenticated. The PIN Number shall be kept confidential and only provided to Authorized Representatives. The Authorized Participant may revoke the PIN Number at any time upon written notice to the Creation and Redemption Agent, and the Authorized Participant shall be responsible for doing so in the event that it becomes aware that an unauthorized person has received access to its PIN Number or has or intends to use the PIN Number in an unauthorized manner. Upon receipt of such written request, the Creation and Redemption Agent shall, as promptly as practicable, de-activate the PIN Number. If an Authorized Participant’s PIN Number is changed, the new PIN Number will become effective on a date mutually agreed upon by the Authorized Participant and the Creation and Redemption Agent. The Authorized Participant agrees that none of the Trust, the Trustee or the Creation and Redemption Agent shall be responsible for any losses incurred by the Authorized Participant as a result of an Authorized Representative identifying himself or herself as a different Authorized Representative or an unauthorized person identifying himself or herself as an Authorized Representative.

 

Section 2.03.      Termination of Authority . Upon the termination or revocation of authority of an Authorized Representative by the Authorized Participant, the Authorized Participant shall (i) give immediate written notice of such fact to the Creation and Redemption Agent and such notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Creation and Redemption Agent; and (ii) request a new PIN Number. The Creation and Redemption Agent shall, as promptly as practicable, de-activate the PIN Number upon receipt of such written notice.

 

Section 2.04.      Verification . The Creation and Redemption Agent may assume that all instructions issued to it using the Authorized Participant’s PIN Number have been properly placed by Authorized Representatives, unless the Creation and Redemption Agent has actual knowledge to the contrary or the Authorized Participant has revoked its PIN Number. The Creation and Redemption Agent shall have no duty to verify that an Order has been placed by an Authorized Representative. The Authorized Participant agrees that the Creation and Redemption Agent shall not be responsible for any losses incurred by the Authorized Participant as a result of an Authorized Representative identifying himself or herself as a different Authorized Representative or an unauthorized person identifying himself or herself as an Authorized Representative, unless the Creation and Redemption Agent previously received from the Authorized Participant written notice to revoke its PIN Number.

 

 

 
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ARTICLE III

STATUS OF THE AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT

 

Section 3.01.      Clearing Status . The Authorized Participant represents, covenants and warrants that, as of the date of execution of the Authorized Participant Agreement, and at all times during the term of the Authorized Participant Agreement, the Authorized Participant is and will be entitled to use the clearing and settlement services of each of the national clearing and settlement organizations through which, in compliance with the Procedures, the transactions contemplated hereby will clear and settle. Any change in the foregoing status of the Authorized Participant shall terminate the Authorized Participant Agreement and the Authorized Participant shall give prompt written notice thereof to the Creation and Redemption Agent.

 

Section 3.02.      Registration Status . The Authorized Participant represents and warrants that, unless Section 3.03 is applicable to it, it is (i) registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (ii) qualified to act as a broker or dealer in the states or other jurisdictions where it transacts business to the extent so required by applicable law, (iii) a member in good standing of FINRA and (iv) if required in connection with its activities hereunder, registered as a futures commission merchant under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended and a member in good standing of the National Futures Association. The Authorized Participant agrees that it will maintain such registrations, qualifications, and membership in good standing and in full force and effect throughout the term of the Authorized Participant Agreement. The Authorized Participant further agrees to comply with all Federal laws, the laws of the states or other jurisdictions concerned, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable to the Authorized Participant’s transactions in iShares, and with the Constitution and By-Laws of FINRA and all FINRA and NASD Conduct Rules (including any FINRA Conduct Rules which may subsequently replace NASD Conduct Rules) (such FINRA Conduct Rules and NASD Conduct Rules collectively referred to as the “ Conduct Rules ”) applicable to its activities as an Authorized Participant, that it will not offer or sell iShares in any state or jurisdiction where they may not lawfully be offered and/or sold, and without limiting the foregoing that it will comply with any applicable transfer restrictions with respect to iShares set forth in the current Prospectus.

 

Section 3.03.     Foreign Status . If the Authorized Participant is offering and selling iShares 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 the preceding paragraph, the Authorized Participant nevertheless agrees to observe the applicable laws of the jurisdiction in which such offer and/or sale is made (e.g., it will not offer or sell iShares in any state or jurisdiction where they may not lawfully be offered and/or sold), to comply with the full disclosure requirements of the 1933 Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and to conduct its business in accordance with the spirit of the Conduct Rules.

 

Section 3.04.      Futures Account . The Authorized Participant represents and warrants that it will arrange to receive any futures contracts owing to the Authorized Participant upon settlement of a Redemption Order at an account it establishes through a member of the applicable Futures Exchange’s associated clearing organization (which may include such Authorized Participant), and will maintain such an account at all times it is an Authorized Participant. The Authorized Participant will provide notice of such account to the Settlement Agent upon request.

 

Section 3.05.      Compliance with Certain Laws . If the Authorized Participant is subject to the requirements of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (“ U.S.A. PATRIOT Act ”), the Authorized Participant is in compliance with the anti-money laundering and related provisions of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.

 

 

 
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Section 3.06.      Authorized Participant Status .

 

a.            The Authorized Participant understands and acknowledges that the method by which Baskets of iShares will be created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. For example, because new Baskets of iShares may be issued and sold by the Trust on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution”, as such term is used in the 1933 Act, may occur. The Authorized Participant is hereby cautioned that some activities on its part, depending on the circumstances, may result in its being deemed a participant in a distribution in a manner which could render it a statutory underwriter and subject it to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act.

 

b.            The Sponsor shall ensure that the Prospectus contains an accurate and current listing of Authorized Participants.

 

ARTICLE IV

ROLE OF AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT

 

Section 4.01.      Independent Contractor . The Authorized Participant acknowledges and agrees that for all purposes of the Authorized Participant Agreement, the Authorized Participant will be deemed to be an independent contractor, and will have no authority to act as agent for the Trust or the Trustee in any matter or in any respect. The Authorized Participant agrees to make itself and its employees available, upon request, during normal business hours to consult with the Trustee, the Sponsor or their designees concerning the performance of the Authorized Participant’s responsibilities under the Authorized Participant Agreement; provided , however , that the Authorized Participant shall be under no obligation to divulge or otherwise disclose any information that the Authorized Participant reasonably believes (i) it is under legal obligation not to disclose, or (ii) it is confidential or proprietary in nature.

 

Section 4.02.     Rights and Obligations of DTC Participant . In executing the Authorized Participant Agreement, the Authorized Participant agrees in connection with any purchase or redemption transactions in which it acts for an Authorized Participant Client or for any other DTC Participant or indirect participant, or any other person on whose behalf it holds iShares, that it 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 under the Procedures.

 

Section 4.03.      Beneficial Owner Communications . The Authorized Participant agrees, subject to any limitations arising under federal or state securities laws relating to privacy or other obligations it may have to its customers, to assist the Trustee or the Sponsor in determining the ownership level of each beneficial owner relating to positions in iShares that the Authorized Participant may hold as record holder or that may be held through the Authorized Participant as a DTC Participant. In addition, the Authorized Participant agrees, in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, at the request of the Sponsor or the Trustee to forward to such beneficial owners written materials and communications received from the requesting party in sufficient quantities to allow mailing thereof to such beneficial owners, including notices, annual reports, disclosure or other informational materials and any amendments or supplements thereto that may be required to be sent by the Sponsor or the Trustee to such beneficial owners pursuant to the Trust Agreement or applicable law or regulation, or that the Sponsor or the Trustee reasonably wishes to distribute, at its own expense, to such beneficial owners.

 

 

 
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ARTICLE V

 

TAX MATTERS

 

Section 5.01.      Tax Basis of Assets Contributed Upon Creation . With respect to any Creation of iShares, the Authorized Participant on behalf of itself and any Authorized Participant Client agrees that any property contributed in consideration for the creation of iShares shall have a basis for tax purposes equal to the fair market value of that property, and acknowledges that the Trust will rely upon such fair market value basis for purposes of determining and allocating items of income, gain, loss, deduction, basis and other tax items.

 

Section 5.02.      Tax Basis of Basket Constituents Received Upon Redemption .

 

a.            With respect to any Redemption of iShares held by an Authorized Participant for its own account, the Authorized Participant acknowledges that the basis for tax purposes in Basket Constituents that it receives from the Trust in consideration for a redemption of iShares may be more or less than the fair market value of the Basket Constituents or the Authorized Participant’s basis in the iShares redeemed. The Authorized Participant will determine its basis for tax purposes in any Basket Constituent it receives from the Trust in consideration for a redemption of iShares by reference to the tax basis of such Basket Constituent on the books of the Trust immediately prior to the redemption, as such amount is reported to the Authorized Participant by the Settlement Agent, subject to adjustment as required under Section 732 or other applicable law. The Authorized Participant will report any built-in gain or loss on Index Futures that it receives from the Trust on redemption of iShares under the rules of section 1256 of the Code (absent a valid election to do otherwise), and, to the extent applicable, will report any offsetting gain or loss on the remaining iShares held by the Authorized Participant under the rules of section 475 of the Code. The Authorized Participant acknowledges that such reporting may result in a mismatch in the character or other tax attributes of gain or loss from Index Futures and iShares.

 

b.            With respect to any Redemption of iShares held by an Authorized Participant for an Authorized Participant Client, the Authorized Participant acknowledges on behalf of itself and such Authorized Participant Client that the basis for tax purposes in Basket Constituents received from the Trust in consideration for the redemption of iShares may be more or less than the fair market value of the Basket Constituents or the Authorized Participant Client’s basis in the iShares redeemed. To the extent that the Authorized Participant reports to an Authorized Participant Client, the Internal Revenue Service or any other person the basis for tax purposes of any Basket Constituents it receives from the Trust in consideration for a redemption of iShares on behalf of an Authorized Participant Client, the Authorized Participant will determine its basis by reference to the tax basis of such Basket Constituents on the books of the Trust immediately prior to the redemption, as such amount is reported to the Authorized Participant by the Settlement Agent, subject to adjustment as required under Section 732 or other applicable law. The Authorized Participant will report any other tax items of an Authorized Participant Client ( e.g. , basis in iShares, or gain or loss amounts) in a manner consistent with the preceding sentence.

 

c.            The Authorized Participant acknowledges on behalf of itself and any Authorized Participant Client that, to the extent that such Participant or Client is subject to the mark-to-market rules of section 475 of the Code, the basis of iShares and of any assets of the Trust shall be determined for purposes of sections 734(b) and 743(b) of the Code and for the purposes of the provisions of this Article V by treating such mark-to-market as having no effect on such basis.

 

 

 
S2-6

 

 

Section 5.03.      Treatment of Redemptions as Partial or Complete Redemptions .

 

a.            The Authorized Participant represents with respect to each redemption of iShares held by the Authorized Participant for its own account that the receipt of Basket Constituents from the Trust in connection with such redemption is a distribution other than in liquidation of the Authorized Participant’s interest in iShares (a “partial redemption”), unless it notifies the Trust or its agent prior to the receipt of the Basket Constituents that such distribution is in liquidation of the Authorized Participant’s interest in iShares (a “complete redemption”). The Authorized Participant acknowledges that the Trust may report gain or loss and other tax items including the allocation of basis and adjustments to basis in reliance upon the assumption that any redemption of iShares is a partial redemption unless such notice is timely provided. The Authorized Participant will notify the Trust or its agent within five Business Days of the receipt of the Basket Constituents of (i) any gain or loss arising from a redemption of iShares by the Authorized Participant in exchange for Basket Constituents, and (ii) any difference between the tax basis of such Basket Constituents on the books of the Trust immediately prior to the redemption, as such amount is reported to the Authorized Participant, and the basis of the distributed Basket Constituents to the Authorized Participant (such gain or loss or basis difference, “section 734(b) items”), in a manner sufficient for the Trust to adjust the basis of undistributed property held by the Trust under section 734(b) of the Code.

 

b.            To the extent that an Authorized Participant acts on behalf of an Authorized Participant Client in connection with a redemption of iShares, the Authorized Participant will inform the Trust or its agent prior to the receipt of the Basket Constituents of any such redemption that constitutes a complete redemption, to the extent that such information is available to the Authorized Participant (for example, because the Client redeems all iShares that it holds through the Authorized Participant). The Authorized Participant acknowledges on behalf of itself and any Authorized Participant Client that redeems iShares that the Trust may report gain or loss and other tax items including the allocation of basis and adjustments to basis in reliance upon the assumption that any redemption of iShares is a partial redemption unless such notice is timely provided. The Authorized Participant will make commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Trust in determining the amount of section 734(b) items, if any, with respect to a redemption of iShares on behalf of an Authorized Participant Client.

 

Section 5.04.      Tax Reporting .

 

a.            An Authorized Participant will provide tax reporting information with respect to the Trust to or for the benefit of taxpayers for whom the Authorized Participant holds iShares as a nominee as required by law .

 

b.            An Authorized Participant will furnish information to the Trust with respect to any taxpayer for whom the Authorized Participant holds iShares as a nominee as required under Treasury regulation section 1.6031(c)-1T or any successor thereto in addition to any information required by other provisions of this Article V.

 

c.            An Authorized Participant will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any taxpayer for whom the Authorized Participant holds iShares as a nominee has provided IRS Form W-9, W-8BEN, or other forms or documentation qualifying as a withholding certificate or documentary evidence or other appropriate documentation within the meaning of Treasury regulation section 1.1441-1(c) or any successor thereto, as necessary to establish an exemption from withholding tax and backup withholding tax with respect to income of the Trust allocable to such investor. The Authorized Participant will act as an agent of the Trust in collecting and holding such forms or documentation, and annually will provide a copy of such forms to the Trust or its agent. Upon reasonable request by the Trust or its agent, the Authorized Participant will provide the originals of such forms or documentation to the extent held by the Authorized Participant at that time and will assist the Trust in obtaining such original forms or documentation (or, to the extent originals are not available, copies thereof) from investors or other nominees to the extent not held by the Authorized Participant. The provisions of this Section 5.04(c) of the Authorized Participant Agreement are subject to, and may be modified by, any agreements between the Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, and an Authorized Participant separate and apart from the Authorized Participant Agreement, that provide otherwise.

 

 

 
S2-7

 

 

ARTICLE VI

MARKETING MATERIALS AND REPRESENTATIONS

 

Section 6.01.      Authorized Participant’s Representation . The Authorized Participant represents, warrants and agrees that it will not make, or permit any of its representatives to make, any representations concerning iShares other than those contained in or consistent with the Trust’s then current Prospectus or in any promotional materials or sales literature furnished to the Authorized Participant by the Sponsor. The Authorized Participant agrees not to furnish or cause to be furnished to any person or display or publish any information or materials relating to iShares (including, without limitation, promotional materials and sales literature, advertisements, press releases, announcements, statements, posters, signs or other similar materials), except such information and materials as may be furnished to the Authorized Participant by the Sponsor and such other information and materials as may be approved in writing by the Sponsor. The Authorized Participant understands that the Trust will not be advertised as offering redeemable securities, and that any advertising materials will prominently disclose that the iShares are not redeemable units of beneficial interest in the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Authorized Participant may without the written approval of the Sponsor, prepare and circulate in the regular course of its business or for internal use, research reports institutional sales literature (as such term in defined in FINRA Conduct Rule 2211 as of the date hereof), correspondence (as such term is defined in FINRA Conduct Rule 2211 as of the date hereof) and other similar materials that include information, opinions or recommendations relating to iShares, provided that such materials comply with applicable FINRA rules. The Authorized Participant agrees that any representation or statement in such reports, sales literature, correspondence, communications or other similar materials will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact related to iShares or omit to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, to the extent such materials include statements of fact regarding iShares, such statements of fact will be consistent with the Prospectus. The Authorized Participant agrees that it shall be fully responsible and liable for such reports, sales literature, correspondence, communications or other similar materials.

 

Section 6.02.      Prospectus .

 

a.            The Sponsor will provide, or cause to be provided, to the Authorized Participant copies of the then current Prospectus and any printed supplemental information in reasonable quantities upon request. The Sponsor will notify the Authorized Participant when a revised, supplemented or amended Prospectus for the iShares is available, and make available to the Authorized Participant copies of such revised, supplemented or amended Prospectus at such time and in such quantities as may be reasonable to permit the Authorized Participant to comply with any obligation the Authorized Participant may have to deliver such Prospectus to its customers. The Sponsor shall be deemed to have complied with this Section 6.02 when the Authorized Participant has received such revised, supplemented or amended Prospectus by e-mail, in printable form, with such number of hard copies as may be agreed from time to time by the parties promptly thereafter.

 

b.            The Authorized Participant represents and warrants to the Sponsor that it will deliver the then current Prospectus upon any sale by it of iShares (other than a redemption) or, if applicable, a notice consistent with Rule 173 under the 1933 Act in lieu of a Prospectus, to the extent so required by applicable law.

 

 

 
S2-8

 

 

ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

 

Section 7.01.      Survival of Indemnification . The provisions of this Article 7 shall survive termination of the Agreement.

 

Section 7.02.      Authorized Participant Indemnification Obligations .

 

a.            The Authorized Participant shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor, the Trustee, the Trust, the Creation and Redemption Agent, the Custodians (which the parties agree are third-party beneficiaries under this Subsection 7.01(a)), their 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 “ Sponsor Indemnified Party ”) from and against any loss, liability, cost and expense (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such Sponsor Indemnified Party as a result of (i) any breach by the Authorized Participant of any representations or warranties of the Authorized Participant (including under Section 3.2 of the Trust Agreement); (ii) any failure on the part of the Authorized Participant to perform any of its obligations set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement; (iii) any failure by the Authorized Participant to comply with applicable laws, including rules and regulations of self-regulatory organizations, that apply to it; or (iv) actions of such Sponsor Indemnified Party in reliance upon any instructions issued in accordance with the Procedures reasonably believed by such Sponsor Indemnified Party to be genuine and to have been given by the Authorized Participant.

 

b.            The Authorized Participant shall not be liable to any Sponsor Indemnified Party for any damages arising out of (i) mistakes or errors in data provided in connection with purchase or redemption transactions except for data provided by the Authorized Participant, or (ii) mistakes or errors by, or arising out of interruptions or delays of communications with, the Trustee or any Sponsor Indemnified Party.

 

Section 7.03.      Sponsor Indemnification Obligations .

 

a.            The Sponsor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Authorized Participant, its directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person who controls the Authorized Participant within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (each an "AP Indemnified Party"), from and against any loss, liability, cost and expense (including attorneys' fees) incurred by such AP Indemnified Party as a result of (i) any breach of any representations or warranties of the Sponsor in the Authorized Participant Agreement; (ii) any failure on the part of the Sponsor to perform any of its obligations set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement; and (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus, or the omission, or alleged omission, of a material fact required to be stated in such Prospectus or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

b.            The Sponsor shall not be liable to any AP Indemnified Party for any damages arising out of (i) the use of any information provided to the Sponsor by the Authorized Participant for use in a Prospectus, (ii) the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of any duties by any AP Indemnified Party or by reason of any failure by an AP Indemnified Party to perform any of its obligations and duties under the Authorized Participant Agreement, (iii) mistakes or errors in data provided in connection with purchase or redemption transactions except for data provided by the Sponsor, or (iv) mistakes or errors by, or arising out of interruptions or delays of communications with, the Trustee or any AP Indemnified Party.

 

 

 
S2-9

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 8.01.      Commencement of Trading . The Authorized Participant may not submit an Order until five Business Days after the date of execution of the Authorized Participant Agreement (or such other date as may be designated by the Sponsor).

 

Section 8.02.      Definitions . The capitalized terms used herein are defined as follows.

 

a.            “1933 Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

b.            “Affiliate” shall have the meaning given to it by Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act.

 

c.            “AP Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.03 hereof.

 

d.            “Authorized Participant Agreement” shall mean each Authorized Participant Agreement (including the Procedures attached thereto) among the Authorized Participant, the Trustee and the Sponsor into which these Standard Terms shall have been incorporated by reference.

 

e.            “Authorized Participant” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the introductory paragraph of the Authorized Participant Agreement.

 

f.            “Authorized Participant Client” means any party on whose behalf the Authorized Participant acts in connection with an Order (whether a customer or otherwise).

 

g.            “Authorized Representative” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.01 hereof.

 

h.            “Basket” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Authorized Participant Agreement.

 

i.            “DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

 

j.            “FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

k.            “iShares” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Authorized Participant Agreement.

 

l.            “NASD” means the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

 

m.            “Prospectus” means the Trust’s current prospectus included in its effective registration statement, as supplemented or amended from time to time.

 

n.            “Sponsor Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.02 hereof.

 

o.            All other capitalized terms used in these Standard Terms and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Authorized Participant Agreement.

 

Section 8.03.      Third Party Beneficiary . The parties acknowledge and agree that the Creation and Redemption Agent shall be a third party beneficiary to the Authorized Participant Agreement, including but not limited to the rights set forth in Section 7.01 of the Standard Terms.

 

 

 
S2-10

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Sponsor and the Trustee have executed these Standard Terms as of the date set forth above.

 

BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY, N.A. , in its capacity as Trustee of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

iSHARES ®  DELAWARE TRUST SPONSOR LLC , in its capacity as Sponsor of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Exhibit A

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES

 

 

Each of the following employees of [          ] (each, an “ Authorized Representative ”) is authorized, in accordance with the Authorized Participant Agreement dated as of [          ] among [          ], the Sponsor and the Trustee, to submit Purchase Orders and Redemption Orders on behalf and in the name of [          ] and to give instructions or any other notice or request on behalf of [          ] with respect to such Orders or any other activity contemplated by the Authorized Participant Agreement.

 

Name:
e-mail Address:
Telephone:
Fax:

 

Name:
e-mail Address:
Telephone:
Fax:

 

Name:
e-mail Address:
Telephone:
Fax:

 

Name:
e-mail Address:
Telephone:
Fax:

 

The undersigned, [name of secretary or authorized officer], [title] of [          ], does hereby certify that the persons listed above have been duly authorized to act as Authorized Representatives pursuant to the Authorized Participant Agreement.

 

By: 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Date:

 

  

 

 

 

A-1

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

THIS INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (this " Agreement ") is dated as of December 31, 2013, between BlackRock Fund Advisors, a California corporation (" Advisor "), and iShares ® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as sponsor (the “ Sponsor ”) of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “ Trust ”). This Agreement novates and replaces the Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2013, between BlackRock Fund Advisors, BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. (“ BAMII ”), and the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool (the “ Investing Pool ”), to reflect the dissolution of the Investing Pool and the assignment of BAMII’s role as sponsor of the Trust and manager of the Investing Pool to the Sponsor.

 

1.

The Trust . The Trust is a commodity pool as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (the " CEA ") and the applicable regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the " CFTC "). The Trust is operated by the Sponsor, a commodity pool operator registered under the CEA. The Trust is not an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”), and is not required to register under the Investment Company Act.

 

2.

Appointment . The Trust hereby appoints Advisor as commodity trading advisor for such portion of the assets of the Trust, that may be deposited, from time to time, in a separate account or accounts (collectively, the “ Accounts ”) to be managed by Advisor under this Agreement, with full power to supervise and direct the investment of the assets of the Accounts as set forth herein. Advisor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to render advisory services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Advisor shall be deemed to be an independent contractor of the Trust and, except to the extent authorized herein, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Trust as its agent.

 

3.

Delegation . The Trust acknowledges that Advisor may delegate various advisory services with respect to the Accounts. In the event of any such delegation, such party to whom Advisor delegates various advisory services shall be bound to the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as Advisor. Advisor shall, at its expense, employ or associate with itself such persons as Advisor believes appropriate to assist it in performing its obligations under this Agreement.

 

4.

Investment Direction . Advisor will manage the Accounts in accordance with Advisor's best judgment and consistent with the guidelines attached as Schedule A (the " Investment Guidelines "), as they may be modified from time to time by the written agreement of Advisor and the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust.

 

5.

Custodian and Clearing FCM . The Trust has appointed State Street Bank and Trust Company, as custodian (the " Custodian "), and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as clearing futures commission merchant (the " Clearing FCM "), for the Accounts. Advisor shall not receive, and shall at no time be in possession of, the assets comprising the Accounts.

 

 

 
 

 

 

6.

Reporting . Advisor will submit to the Trust reports appraising the Accounts at current market value as agreed between Advisor and the Sponsor. Advisor shall advise the Trust, at such times as the Trust may specify, of such investments made and the reasons for making a particular investment. Advisor will be available at reasonable times by prior arrangement to discuss the management of the Accounts with the Trust or its designee. Any written reports supplied by Advisor to the Trust discussing the management of the Accounts are intended solely for the benefit of the Trust, and the Trust agrees that it will not disseminate such reports to any other party (other than the Trust's professional advisors) without the prior consent of Advisor, except as may be required by applicable law. Advisor will provide to the Sponsor any information concerning the Advisor or its trading program that is necessary for the Sponsor to prepare any disclosure document for investors in the Trust.

 

7.

Other Accounts . The Trust understands and acknowledges that Advisor performs commodity trading advisory services for various persons other than the Trust. The Trust acknowledges that Advisor may give advice and take action concerning such persons that may be the same as, similar to or different from the advice given, or the timing and nature of action taken, concerning the Accounts. Except to the extent necessary to perform Advisor’s obligations under this Agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or restrict the right of Advisor, or any affiliate of Advisor or any employee of Advisor to engage in any other business or to devote time and attention to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.

 

8.

Fees . The Sponsor shall pay Advisor a fee determined by Advisor and the Sponsor, from time to time, for its services as Advisor hereunder.

 

9.

Representations . The Trust represents and warrants that: (a) it has been duly organized and is validly existing under the law of the state of its organization, (b) it is duly authorized to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and has taken all action necessary to authorize its execution, delivery and performance, including the obtaining of any necessary governmental consents, (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, including the Investment Guidelines, does not and will not conflict with or violate any provision of law, rule, regulation, governing document of the Trust, contract, deed of trust, or other instrument to which the Trust is a party or to which any of the Trust’s property is subject, (d) this Agreement is a valid and binding obligation enforceable against the Trust in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to equitable principles of general application), (e) the Account will be comprised of assets that are owned by the Trust as principal, and will not be subject to either (i) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the Investment Company Act, or (ii) any lien, security interest or other similar encumbrance (other than in favor of the Custodian, the Clearing FCM or any relevant clearinghouse), and (f) it is not insolvent or the subject of a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy. The Trust shall hold Advisor harmless from any liabilities, damages or expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred by Advisor for any actions taken by Advisor acting in reasonable reliance upon such representations.

 

 

 
2

 

 

10.

CFTC Registration . Advisor represents and warrants that it is registered with the CFTC as a commodity trading advisor.

 

11.

Liability . Advisor will be liable for losses to the Accounts that are the direct result of Advisor’s bad faith, gross negligence, willful or reckless misconduct or breach of the express terms of this Agreement. Except as set forth in the foregoing sentence, neither Advisor nor its officers, employees or agents shall be liable hereunder for any act or omission or for any error of judgment in managing the Accounts. Advisor shall not be responsible for any special, indirect or consequential damages, or any loss incurred by reason of any act or omission of the Trust or any broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or custodian used hereunder or any authorized representative of the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall in any way constitute a waiver or limitation of any rights that the Trust may have under the federal securities laws or other applicable law.

 

12.

Indemnification . Advisor and its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and subsidiaries (each, an “ Advisor Indemnified Party ”) shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability, cost, expense or judgment (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) arising out of or in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and incurred without (1) negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of such Advisor Indemnified Party or (2) reckless disregard on the part of such Advisor Indemnified Party of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. Such indemnity shall include payment from the Trust of the costs and expenses incurred by such Advisor Indemnified Party in defending itself against any claim or liability in its capacity as the Advisor. Any amounts payable to an Advisor Indemnified Party under this Section 12 may be payable in advance.

 

13.

Tax Filings . Advisor will not be responsible for making any tax credit or similar claim or any legal filing on the Trust’s behalf.

 

14.

Governing Law/Disputes . This Agreement is entered into in accordance with and shall be governed by the laws of the State of California; provided, however , that in the event that any law of the State of California shall require that the laws of another state or jurisdiction be applied in any proceeding, such California law shall be superseded by this paragraph, and the remaining laws of the State of California shall nonetheless be applied in such proceeding. Each party agrees that, in the event that any dispute arising from or relating to this Agreement becomes subject to any judicial proceeding, such party waives any right it may otherwise have to (a) seek punitive damages, or (b) request a jury trial.

 

15.

Termination . This Agreement may be terminated at any time by either party upon 30 days' prior written notice to the other party. Any obligation or liability of either party resulting from actions or inactions occurring prior to termination shall not be affected by termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 
3

 

 

16.

Assignment . Neither party shall assign this Agreement without the written consent of the other party.

 

17.

Consent to Use of Name . The Trust agrees that Advisor may disclose the Trust’s name to investment consultants or prospective accounts in connection with marketing presentations by Advisor and as part of a representative account list.

 

18.

Notices . All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be addressed to the parties as set forth below. Either party may, by notice to the other, designate a different address or fax number. Any notice or other communication given hereunder shall be deemed to have been given upon receipt. Notices may be transmitted by hand, fax, courier, certified or registered mail return-receipt-requested, U.S. mail postage prepaid, or other reasonable form of delivery, unless a clause of this Agreement requires a specific form of delivery. Any fax notice received after 5:00 p.m., California time, on a business day shall be deemed to have been given on the succeeding business day.

 

 

To the Trust:

To Advisor:

   

iShares ®  S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust

c/o iShares ®  Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC

400 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

Attention: Product Management Team
Facsimile: (415) 618-5097

BlackRock Fund Advisors

400 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94105.

Attn:

Fax:

 

Advisor shall comply with, and be entitled to act on, any instructions reasonably believed to be from an authorized representative of the Trust. Advisor and its employees and agents shall be fully protected from all liability in acting upon such instructions, without being required to determine the authenticity of the authorization or authority of the persons providing such instructions.

 

19.

Severability . In the event any provision of this Agreement is adjudicated to be void, illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each of such remaining terms and provisions shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law, unless a party demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence that the invalidated provision was an essential economic term of this Agreement.

 

20.

Integration; Amendment . This Agreement together with any other written agreements between the parties entered into concurrently with this Agreement contain the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersede all previous oral or written negotiations, commitments and understandings related thereto. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any respect, nor may any provision be waived, without the written agreement of both parties. No waiver by one party of any obligation of the other hereunder shall be considered a waiver of any other obligation of such party.

 

 

 
4

 

 

21.

Further Assurances . Each party hereto shall execute and deliver such other documents or agreements as may be necessary or desirable for the implementation of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

22.

Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.

 

23.

Headings . The headings of paragraphs herein are included solely for convenience and shall have no effect on the meaning of this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 
5

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the date and year first above written.

 

 

"TRUST"

 

"ADVISOR"

     

iShares ®  S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed

 

BlackRock Fund Advisors

Trust    
     

By: iShares ®  Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, as sponsor

   
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

 

 
6

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

INVESTMENT GUIDELINES

 

A.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Trust is to seek investment results that correspond generally to the performance of the S&P GSCI Total Return Index (the " Index "), before payment of expenses and liabilities.

 

B.

INVESTMENT STRATEGY

 

The Trust will seek to achieve its exposure to the Index by investing all of its assets to establish positions in Index Futures and Collateral Assets. Applicable margin requirements on the Trust's Index Future positions will be satisfied through the transfer of Collateral Assets or the proceeds thereof. "Index Futures" are futures contracts on the S&P GSCI Excess Return Index that are listed on a "designated contract market," as defined in the CEA. "Collateral Assets" are cash, U.S. Treasury securities or other short-term securities and similar securities that are eligible as margin deposits for Index Futures under the rules of the applicable designated contract market.

 

C.

RESTRICTIONS

 

The Advisor shall not engage in any activity designed to obtain a profit from, or ameliorate losses caused by changes in the level of the Index or the S&P GSCI Excess Return Index or the value of the Index Futures or the Collateral Assets, including making use of any of the hedging techniques available to professional commodity futures investors to attempt to reduce the risks of losses resulting from commodity price decreases.

 

 

 

 A-1

Exhibit 10.4

 

FUTURES AND OPTIONS ACCOUNT AGREEMENT

 

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
200 WEST STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10282

 

ATTENTION: FUTURES SERVICES DEPARTMENT

 

The undersigned customer (“Customer”) agrees that all transactions that Goldman, Sachs & Co. or any of its affiliates (collectively, “Goldman”, unless otherwise specified) may execute, clear and/or carry on Customer’s behalf for the purchase or sale of futures contracts (“Futures Contracts”) or options on Futures Contracts (“Option Contracts”), and any customer accounts carried by Goldman in connection therewith (each, an “Account”), shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this agreement (the “Agreement”), dated December 31, 2013. This Agreement novates and replaces the Futures and Options Account Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2013, between Goldman and the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool (the “Investing Pool”), Customer’s former subsidiary, to reflect the dissolution of the Investing Pool. Futures Contracts and Option Contracts are referred to collectively in this Agreement as “Contracts”.

 

1.     Applicable Law.

 

Each Account and Contract shall be subject to (i) the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “CEA”), and all rules and interpretations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and the National Futures Association (“NFA”); (ii) the constitution, by-laws, rules, interpretations and customs of any applicable exchange or clearing organization (each of which is referred to as an “Exchange”); and (iii) any other laws or rules applicable to Customer’s trading of Contracts (collectively, “Applicable Law”). Neither Goldman nor any of its partners, officers, employees or agents shall be liable as a result of any action taken by Goldman, or any clearing brokers or floor brokers, to comply with Applicable Law.

 

2.     General Agreements.

 

Customer acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a)     Goldman’s Responsibility . Goldman is responsible solely for the execution, clearing and/or carrying of Contracts in each Account in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Customer and Customer’s advisor (“Advisor”), if any, are solely responsible for all investment and trading decisions for the Account. Goldman is not acting as a fiduciary or advisor with respect to Customer or any Contract or Account and Goldman shall have no responsibility for compliance with any law or regulation governing the conduct of any such fiduciary or advisor or for Customer’s compliance with any law or regulation governing or affecting Customer’s trading hereunder.

 

(b)     Advice and Positions . Any advice provided by Goldman with respect to any Account or Contract is incidental to its business as a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) and such advice shall not serve as the primary basis for any decision by or on behalf of Customer in respect of any Contract or Account. Goldman makes no representation as to the reliability, accuracy or completeness of such advice or any information on which it is based. Goldman and its partners, officers, employees and agents may take or hold positions in, or advise other customers with respect to, Contracts that are the subject of advice furnished by Goldman to Customer, and such positions or advice may be inconsistent with any advice to Customer.

 

(c)     Conclusiveness of Reports . All written and oral reports related to the Accounts, including but not limited to confirmations, purchase and sale statements and monthly statements, given to Customer shall be conclusive and binding on Customer unless Customer notifies Goldman of any objection as follows: (i) in the case of any oral communication, at the time such report is given to Customer, and (ii) in the case of any written communication, before the opening of trading on the business day following the day on which Customer received such written communication, provided however, that with respect to monthly statements, Customer will notify Goldman of any objection within three (3) business days after receipt.

 

(d)     Reliance on Instructions . Goldman shall be entitled to rely on any instruction, notice or communication that it reasonably believes to have originated from Customer or Customer’s duly authorized agent (including Customer’s Advisor, if any) and Customer shall be bound thereby.

 

(e)     Financial and Other Information . Customer shall provide to Goldman such financial and other information regarding Customer as Goldman may from time to time reasonably request. Customer shall notify Goldman promptly of any material adverse changes to the financial condition of Customer, regardless of whether Customer has previously furnished financial information to Goldman.

 

 

 
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(f)     Floor Brokers and Clearing Brokers . Goldman, for and on behalf of Customer, is authorized in its sole discretion to select floor brokers and, on Exchanges where Goldman is not a clearing member, unaffiliated clearing brokers, which will act as brokers and agents in connection with transactions in Contracts for the Accounts.

 

(g)     Give-Ups . Absent a separate written agreement with Customer with respect to give-ups, Goldman, in its sole discretion, may, but shall not be obligated to, accept from other brokers Contracts executed by such brokers and to be given up to Goldman for clearance or carrying in any Account.

 

(h)     Limitation of Liability . Absent Goldman’s negligence or willful misconduct, Goldman shall not be liable for any loss, liability, expense, fine or tax caused directly or indirectly by any events beyond Goldman’s control, including without limitation any (i) governmental, judicial, Exchange or other self-regulatory organization action or order, (ii) suspension or termination of trading, (iii) breakdown or failure of transmission or communication facilities, or (iv) failure or delay by any Exchange to enforce its rules or to pay or return any amounts owed to Goldman with respect to any Contracts executed and/or cleared for Customer’s Accounts. In no event shall Goldman be liable for consequential, incidental or special damages. Nothing in this paragraph 2(h) shall in any manner restrict Goldman’s rights pursuant to Section 8 hereof.

 

(i)     Foreign Exchange Risk . Customer acknowledges and agrees that, if Customer enters into a transaction in any Contract that is denominated in a currency (the “Contract Currency”) other than the currency of Customer’s jurisdiction, any profit or loss on such Contract arising from changes in the exchange rate between the Contract Currency and the currency of Customer’s jurisdiction shall be for Customer’s Account and risk.

 

(j)     Transmission of Orders . If Customer has been approved by Goldman for the transmission of orders directly to affiliates of Goldman located outside the United States (the “Affiliates”), for execution and clearance on non-U.S. exchanges, Customer acknowledges and agrees that (i) it will transmit orders directly to Affiliates identified by Goldman only in accordance with any conditions or instructions furnished by Goldman and solely for Customer’s own Account, (ii) any orders transmitted by Customer to an Affiliate will be executed and cleared through omnibus accounts maintained by the appropriate Affiliate in the name of Goldman and not for an account of Customer with the Affiliate, and (iii) notwithstanding its transmission of orders to the Affiliates, Customer will continue to be a customer of Goldman and will not be a customer of the Affiliate. For purposes of this Section 2(j), the term “Goldman” shall mean Goldman, Sachs & Co.

 

3. Margin and Other Obligations.

 

(a)     Customer agrees to deposit and to maintain initial and variation margin and to make any premium payments with respect to each Contract, in such form and in such amounts as may be required from time to time by Applicable Law or by Goldman in its sole discretion. Customer acknowledges and agrees that Goldman has no obligation to establish uniform margin, commission or fee requirements and that margin requirements imposed by Goldman may exceed those of the applicable Exchange. Customer further acknowledges and agrees that Goldman shall have the right, in accordance with Applicable Law, to transfer or pledge margin deposited by Customer to any Exchange, or to transfer or pledge other property to any Exchange in substitution for such margin, in order to satisfy obligations incurred by Goldman on behalf of its customers, and that any such transfer, pledge or substitution shall not diminish Customer’s obligations pursuant to Section 3(b) of this Agreement.

 

(b)     Customer also agrees to pay (i) all brokerage charges and commissions relating to each Contract executed, cleared and/or carried by Goldman on Customer’s behalf or to any Account maintained by Customer with Goldman, in each case in such manner and at such rates as may be agreed upon by Customer and Goldman from time to time; (ii) all regulatory, Exchange and other self-regulatory fees, fines, penalties and charges, and any taxes, incurred or imposed with respect to each Contract or Account; (iii) the amount of any trading loss, debit balance or deficiency in any Account; (iv) the amount of any losses sustained by Goldman in connection with its execution and/or clearing of Contracts for Customer’s Accounts hereunder, provided that such losses are not due to the negligence or willful misconduct of Goldman; and (v) interest on any debit balances or deficiencies in any Account and on any monies advanced to Customer at the rates charged from time to time to Goldman’s securities margin account customers.

 

(c)     Customer acknowledges and agrees that Goldman may (but shall not be obligated to) accept from Customer margin deposits in the form of cash or securities denominated in a currency other than the Contract Currency (the “Base Currency”). In that event, Goldman shall determine Customer’s margin requirements in the Base Currency on any day in a commercially reasonable manner based on current exchange rates between the Base Currency and the Contract Currency. Furthermore, Customer shall pay Goldman’s fees as in effect from time to time for Goldman’s deposit of margin in the Contract Currency with the applicable Exchange.

 

 

 
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(d)     Customer hereby grants to Goldman the right to pledge, hypothecate, loan, invest or substitute any margin delivered to Goldman from time to time without notice to Customer (i) in accordance with Section 3(a) of this Agreement, and (ii) otherwise, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law. Upon Customer’s written request to Goldman, Goldman shall return excess Collateral (as defined below) (i.e., Collateral in excess of margin requirements hereunder) in the Account to Customer provided that (i) there are no outstanding obligations or margin calls owed by Customer to Goldman pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) no event of default, has occurred, and (iii) such transfer does not or would not, in Goldman’s good faith discretion, following the transfer, result in a margin or collateral deficiency in the Account.

 

4. Exercise and Delivery.

 

(a)     Customer agrees to give Goldman notice, not later than the time specified by Goldman and in any event at least two days before the close of trading in the Contract in question, if Customer intends to make or take delivery under any Futures Contract or to exercise any Option Contract. Customer shall furnish Goldman with sufficient funds to take delivery pursuant to, or to exercise and provide initial margin for, any such Contract and/or deliver to Goldman any property required to be delivered by Customer under any such Contract at such time and in such manner as may be required by Goldman.

 

(b)     Certain Option Contracts sold by Customer are subject to exercise at any time. Exercise notices received by Goldman from the applicable Exchange with respect to any Option Contract sold by Goldman’s customers will be allocated among such customers (including Customer) pursuant to a random allocation procedure and Customer shall be bound by any allocation made to it pursuant to such procedure. Such notices may be allocated to Customer after the close of trading on the day on which such notices have been allocated to Goldman by the applicable Exchange. Goldman shall use reasonable efforts to contact Customer promptly upon its allocation of an exercise notice to Customer.

 

(c)     Goldman shall have no responsibility for any action that it takes or fails to take with respect to any Option Contracts (and, without limiting the foregoing, shall have no responsibility to exercise any Option Contract purchased by Customer) unless and until Goldman receives acceptable and timely instructions from Customer indicating the action to be taken.

 

5.     Position Limits.

 

Goldman shall have the right, whenever in its discretion it deems it necessary, to limit the size and number of open Contracts (net or gross) that Goldman will at any time execute, clear and/or carry for Customer, to require Customer to reduce open positions carried with Goldman, and to refuse acceptance of orders to establish new positions. Customer shall comply with all position limit rules imposed by Applicable Law. Customer shall promptly notify Goldman if Customer is required to file any position report with any regulatory or self-regulatory authority and shall promptly file and provide Goldman with copies of any such report.

 

6.     Lien.

 

All funds, securities, credit balances, Contracts and other property of Customer (owned either individually or jointly with others) that may from time to time be held by, to the order of or on behalf of Goldman, and all amounts due to Goldman for Customer’s Account from any Exchange or clearing broker in respect of any Contracts, and all proceeds thereof (collectively, “Collateral”) are hereby pledged to Goldman and shall be subject to a security interest and lien in Goldman’s favor to secure all obligations of Customer to Goldman pursuant to this Agreement.

 

7.     Customer Representations.

 

(a) Customer represents and warrants as of the date hereof and on the date of each transaction executed hereunder that:

 

(i)     Lawful Agreement . Customer is duly authorized and empowered to execute and deliver this Agreement and to effect purchases and sales of Contracts through Goldman. Such transactions and this Agreement do not and will not violate any Applicable Law, any judgment, order or agreement to which Customer or its property is subject or by which it or its property is bound or any documents or instruments governing the investment and trading activities of Customer. This Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of Customer, enforceable against Customer in accordance with its terms. Customer has made and will make any disclosures regarding its trading of Contracts which are required under Applicable Law.

 

 

 
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(ii)     Interest in or Control of Accounts . No person or entity other than Customer has, nor during the term of this Agreement will have, any ownership interest of ten percent or more in any Account, and no person other than Customer and Advisor, if any, has or will have any control over any Account, except as otherwise disclosed to Goldman in writing.

 

(iii)     CEA Registration Requirements . Customer has reviewed the registration requirements of the CEA and the NFA pertinent to commodity pool operators and commodity trading advisors and has determined that it and any person that has trading authority or control over any or all of its Accounts are in compliance with such requirements.

 

(iv)     Financial Information . Any financial or other information provided to Goldman by Customer in connection with this Agreement is and will be accurate and complete in every material respect at the time provided.

 

(v)     Employees of FCMs, Self-Regulatory Organizations or the CFTC . If Customer is an individual, Customer is not a partner, officer, director, employee or owner of more than ten percent of the equity interest of an FCM, an introducing broker or any self-regulatory organization, or an employee of the CFTC, except as otherwise disclosed to Goldman in writing.

 

(vi)     Compliance with the Federal Deposit Insurance Act . If Customer is an insured depository institution subject to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, Customer has taken all action and maintained all such records required to be taken or maintained by it to effect and maintain the enforceability of this Agreement pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

 

(b) Customer agrees to promptly notify Goldman in writing if any representation or warranty made by Customer ceases to be accurate and complete in any material respect.

 

8. Customer Default.

 

(a)     In the event that: (i) Customer breaches or fails to timely and fully perform any of its obligations hereunder or otherwise in respect of any Contract; (ii) Customer fails to deposit or maintain required margin, fails to pay required premiums or fails to make any other payments required hereunder or otherwise in respect of any Contract; (iii) any representation made by Customer or Advisor (if any) is not or ceases to be accurate and complete in any material respect; (iv) a case in bankruptcy is commenced or a proceeding under any insolvency or other law for the protection of creditors or for the appointment of a receiver, trustee or similar officer is filed by or against Customer or Customer makes or proposes to make any arrangement or composition for the benefit of its creditors, or Customer or any of its property is subject to any agreement, order or judgment providing for Customer’s dissolution, liquidation or reorganization, or for the appointment of a receiver, trustee or similar officer of Customer or such property; (v) any warrant or order of attachment is issued against any Account or a judgment is levied against any Account; or (vi) Goldman, after notifying Customer and offering Customer the opportunity to provide adequate assurances acceptable to Goldman within a reasonable period of time under the circumstances, reasonably considers it necessary for its protection; then Goldman shall have the right, without limitation, to (A) close out any or all of Customer’s open Contracts; (B) cancel any or all of Customer’s outstanding orders; (C) treat any or all of Customer’s obligations due Goldman as immediately due and payable; (D) set off any obligations of Goldman to Customer against any obligations of Customer to Goldman; (E) sell any Collateral and/or set off and apply any Collateral or the proceeds of the sale of any Collateral to satisfy any obligations of Customer to Goldman; (F) borrow or buy any options, securities, Contracts or other property for any Account; and/or (G) terminate any or all of Goldman’s obligations for future performance to Customer.

 

(b)     So long as Goldman’s rights or position would not be jeopardized thereby, Goldman shall make a good faith effort to notify Customer of its intention to take any of the actions specified in (A) through (G) of Section 8(a) above before taking any such action, provided that Goldman shall not be deemed to have breached any obligation to Customer if no such notice is given. Any sale or purchase hereunder may be made in any manner determined by Goldman to be commercially reasonable. It is understood that, in all cases, a prior demand or notice shall not be considered a waiver of Goldman’s right to take any action provided for herein and that Customer shall be liable for the payment of any deficiency remaining in each Account after any such action is taken, together with interest thereon and all costs relating to liquidation and collection (including reasonable attorneys’ fees).

 

 

 
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9. Compensation for Losses.

 

Customer hereby agrees to compensate Goldman and its partners, officers, employees and agents for any and all loss, liability or cost (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), penalty or tax incurred by Goldman as a result, directly or indirectly, of Customer’s failure to comply with any provision of, or to perform any obligation under, this Agreement.

 

10. Communications.

 

(a)     Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, all reports, instructions and other communications by any party to another under this Agreement may be oral or written. All oral communications shall promptly be confirmed in writing.

 

(b)     Any report, instruction or other communication transmitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be transmitted to Customer at the address or telecopier or telephone number provided to Goldman in writing or to Goldman at 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Attention: Administrator, Futures Services Department, by telecopier at the number provided to Customer or by telephone at (212) 902-7520 or at such other address or number as either party hereto notifies each other party hereto in writing.

 

11.    Severability.

 

If any provision of this Agreement is or at any time becomes inconsistent with or invalid under any present or future Applicable Law, such inconsistent or invalid provision shall be deemed to be superseded or modified to conform to such Applicable Law, but in all other respects this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

 

12.    Entire Agreement.

 

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between Customer, Advisor, if any, and Goldman with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior agreements between the parties with respect to such subject matter. For purposes of this Section 12, the term “Goldman” shall mean Goldman, Sachs & Co.

 

13.    Termination.

 

This Agreement shall continue in force until written notice of termination is given in accordance with Section 10 of this Agreement by Customer or Goldman. Termination of this Agreement shall not affect any transaction entered into before receipt of notice of such termination and shall not relieve any party hereto of any obligations incurred before such receipt. Customer, upon giving or receiving notice of termination, shall promptly take all action necessary either to close out all open positions in any Account or to transfer all such positions to another FCM. Upon satisfaction by Customer of all obligations to Goldman arising hereunder (including payment obligations with respect to the transfer of Contracts to another FCM), Goldman shall transfer to the FCM specified by Customer all Contracts, cash, securities and other property, then held for any Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate.

 

14.    Amendment or Waiver.

 

No provision of this Agreement shall in any respect be waived or modified unless such waiver or modification is in writing and signed by authorized representatives of each of Goldman and Customer. The rights and remedies of Goldman and Customer under this Agreement are cumulative and no waiver or modification of this Agreement or of any such right or remedy may be inferred from any failure by Goldman or Customer to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement.

 

15.     Successors; Binding Effect.

 

(a)     This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, each of the parties and their respective successors and assigns.

 

 

 
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(b)     This Agreement and the obligations of Customer hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by Customer without the prior written consent of Goldman, and any purported assignment or delegation without such consent shall be void. Goldman may not assign its rights nor delegate its obligations under this Agreement, in whole or part, without the prior written consent of Customer, and any purported assignment or delegation without such consent shall be void, except for an assignment and delegation of all of Goldman’s rights and obligations hereunder in whatever form Goldman determines may be appropriate to a partnership, corporation, trust or other organization in whatever form that succeeds to all or substantially all of Goldman’s assets and business and that assumes such obligations by contract, operation of law or otherwise (a “Successor Entity”), provided that the creditworthiness of the Successor Entity immediately after the assignment shall not be materially weaker than the creditworthiness of Goldman immediately prior to such assignment. In addition to and not in lieu of the preceding transfer of rights, Goldman may transfer this agreement in whole or in part to any of its affiliates organized or acting through a branch in the United Kingdom, the United States of America or Japan provided that, in the case where such successor is not The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., or its successor, upon request of the Customer, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. shall provide a guarantee in form and substance satisfactory to the Customer (it being understood that a customary form of guarantee provided by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. to the Customer or its affiliates shall be satisfactory). Upon any such assignment and delegation of obligations, Goldman shall be relieved of and fully discharged from all obligations hereunder, whether such obligations arose before or after such assignment and delegation.

  

16.     Governing Law.

 

The construction, validity, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to conflicts of law principles).

 

17.     Consent to Jurisdiction.

 

Customer submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and of the Federal courts in the Southern District of New York with respect to any proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any transaction in connection herewith, and consents to the service of process by the mailing to Customer of copies thereof by certified mail to the address of Customer as it appears on the books and records of Goldman, such service to be effective ten days after mailing. Customer hereby waives irrevocably (i) any objection to the jurisdiction of any such court which it might otherwise be entitled to assert in any proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any transaction in connection herewith; and (ii) any defense of sovereign immunity or other immunity from suit or enforcement, whether before or after judgment.

 

18.     Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

19.     Benefits of BlackRock Advisory Relationship.

 

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, Goldman agrees that for so long as BlackRock Fund Advisors is serving as commodity trading advisor to Customer, and any master futures agreement is in place between Goldman and BlackRock Fund Advisors on behalf of its customers, this Agreement shall govern; provided, that Goldman shall be permitted to (i) modify the amount of margin, fees, charges or any other amounts Customer is obligated to deliver or pay to Goldman, (ii) refuse to accept Customer orders or (iii) liquidate any open positions of Customer, in each case, only if such modification, refusal or liquidation would also be expressly permitted (taking into account any timing, notice and similar requirements) under the terms of such master futures agreement if Customer were the customer thereunder.

 

20.     Customer Disclosure Obligations.

 

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary that may be contained herein or in any other agreement between the parties, Goldman acknowledges that Customer is subject to disclosure obligations under Applicable Law and applicable securities laws, including disclosure obligations that may require disclosure of information relating to Goldman, and hereby consents to such disclosure. Customer agrees to provide copies of any such disclosure documents to Goldman upon its reasonable request, and agrees to cooperate with Goldman to modify any such disclosure as Goldman may reasonably request, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and applicable securities laws.

 

 

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Futures and Options Account Agreement as of the date set forth above.

 

 

 

 

iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust,

 

 

as Customer

 

 

 

 

By:

iShares ® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC,

 

 

in its capacity as Sponsor of the Customer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

  

 

 

7

Exhibit 10.7

 

 

CONTROL AGREEMENT
(for Authorized Participant Collateral)

 

This Control Agreement (this " Agreement ") is entered into as of [ ], by and among iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (the " Trust "), State Street Bank and Trust Company (" State Street ") and [ ] (" AP "), in connection with the Authorized Participant Agreement among AP, iShares ® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, as sponsor (the " Sponsor ") of the Trust and BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the " Trustee ") of the Trust (as amended, the " AP Agreement ").

 

WHEREAS , pursuant to the terms of the AP Agreement, AP may from time to time create or redeem shares in the Trust, in connection with which AP will be required to deliver the related Basket Constituents or iShares (each as defined in the AP Agreement), respectively;

 

WHEREAS , the parties desire to permit AP to pledge, from time to time, certain assets acceptable to the Trust and identified to State Street as collateral to secure AP's delivery obligations under the AP Agreement in connection with AP's creation and redemption activities;

 

WHEREAS , pursuant to a service agreement between the Trust and State Street (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the " Service Agreement "), State Street provides certain services to the Trust including serving as custodian for the Trust's assets and other services; and

 

WHEREAS , AP wishes to establish various accounts with State Street into which Collateral (as hereinafter defined) may be transferred; and

 

WHEREAS , the Trust, AP and State Street are entering into this Agreement to set forth their respective rights and obligations concerning such collateral accounts;

 

NOW THEREFORE , the parties hereto in consideration of the premises and of the mutual agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, agree as follows:

 

1.

Collateral Accounts .

 

1.1      Establishment of Collateral Accounts . AP, from time to time, may be required to deliver to State Street, by any of the means mutually agreed to among the AP, State Street and the Trust, certain U.S. cash for the benefit of the Trust. Subject to the agreement of all parties to this Agreement and such terms, procedures and additional documentation (including any amendments or supplements to this Agreement) as agreed to by the parties, AP may deliver to State Street certain U.S. treasury securities, or other U.S. securities to secure the AP's obligations to the Trust under the AP Agreement. Any such U.S. cash, U.S. treasury securities, or other U.S. securities delivered to State Street or held by State Street hereunder whether now owned or hereafter acquired (collectively the " Deposits ") together with the Collateral Accounts (hereinafter defined) shall be collectively referred to as the " Collateral ."

 

 

 
 

 

 

State Street shall segregate and deposit in one or more separate deposit accounts any cash Deposits and hold them under the name "[    ] for the benefit of iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust" (the separate deposit account(s) shall be referred to herein, collectively, as, the " Deposit Account "). Non-cash Deposits shall be identified and segregated in one or more separate securities accounts on State Street's books and records under the name "[     ] for the benefit of iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust" (the separate securities account(s) shall be referred to herein, collectively, as, the " Securities Account " and, together with the Deposit Account, whether now owned or hereafter acquired as (the " Collateral Accounts "). State Street will hold the Collateral in, and credit such Collateral to, the applicable Collateral Account, segregated from property in which State Street has an exclusive and proprietary interest. All assets in the Securities Account shall be financial assets under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time in the State of New York (the " UCC "). The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that the Securities Account shall not include the Deposit Account and that the Securities Account is separate from the Deposit Account. Based on information provided to State Street under the Service Agreement, State Street shall identify on its books and records the Collateral in the Collateral Accounts.

 

The Trust and AP agree that AP will be deemed to have satisfied its obligation pursuant to the AP Agreement when State Street holds Deposits in the Collateral Accounts with a value equal to or greater than the value of the applicable collateral requirement under the AP Agreement or any collateral procedures incidental thereto. The value of the applicable collateral requirement shall be determined by the Trustee in accordance with the Trust Agreement (as defined in the AP Agreement), and the value of any Collateral may be discounted by the Trustee (including to zero) to the extent it consists of non-cash assets (including Identified Securities, as hereinafter defined) not readily capable of being liquidated or transferred by State Street in connection with creations and redemptions of iShares (as defined in the AP Agreement).

 

1.2      Investment of Cash . Upon receipt of a specific written investment instruction executed jointly by the AP and the Trust (the " Investment Instruction "), State Street shall facilitate the investment of any cash in the Collateral Accounts, by means mutually agreed to by the parties hereto, as specified in such Investment Instruction, which Investment Instruction shall include, inter alia, any allocation percentages and additional documentation (including any amendments or supplements to this Agreement) which may be necessary to effect such investment transactions as agreed to by the parties. Investments in securities shall be credited to the Securities Account. Absent its timely receipt of an Investment Instruction, State Street shall have no obligation or duty to invest the cash in the Deposit Account. State Street shall have no liability for any investment losses, including, but not limited to, any losses on any investment required to be liquidated prior to maturity in order to deliver cash held as Collateral to either the AP or the Trust at the instruction of the Trust or at the instruction of the AP and the Trust. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 4(iv) shall apply hereto.

 

1.3      Authorized Parties and Instructions . The AP agrees to provide State Street, in the form of Exhibit A attached (as may be amended from time to time), the names and signatures of its authorized parties who may give notices or instructions concerning the Collateral Accounts. Other means of notice or instruction may be used provided that the AP and State Street agree to appropriate security procedures. State Street shall be entitled to accept any such instruction from the AP telephonically; however, State Street shall be entitled to require that such instruction be given in writing, or may require that any such telephonic instruction be promptly confirmed in writing (in which case State Street shall not be liable if such subsequent written confirmation deviates from the telephonic instruction on which it reasonably relied). The AP also agrees to provide State Street with other forms of documentation as State Street may request to meet State Street's compliance and security procedures and policies and as State Street may otherwise reasonably request from time to time. State Street may rely on authorized parties for the Trust as set forth in the Service Agreement for purposes of accepting instructions hereunder. State Street shall be entitled to assume the due authority and genuineness of any signature appearing on any notice, instrument, order or document that it may receive.

 

 

 
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2.

Account Control .

 

2.1      Security Interest . AP hereby grants and pledges to the Trust, to secure the payment and performance in full of all of its obligations under the AP Agreement, a security interest in all Collateral and any and all proceeds thereof, in each case whether governed by Article 9 of the UCC or other law, wherever located, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising. This Agreement is intended by the Trust and AP to grant "control" of the Collateral Accounts to the Trust, for purposes of perfection of the Trust's security interest in the Collateral pursuant to Article 8 and Article 9 of the UCC. Notwithstanding the foregoing, State Street makes no representation or warranty with respect to the creation, attachment, perfection, priority or enforceability of any security interest in the Collateral Accounts.

 

2.2      Control by the Trust . The Trust, State Street and AP agree that State Street will comply with all entitlement orders and instructions originated by the Trust directing disposition of the Deposits in the Collateral Account without further consent of AP. During such time, unless and until State Street receives written notice from the Trust pursuant to Section 2.3 below instructing State Street that the Trust is exercising its right to exclusive control over the Collateral Accounts, which notice shall be in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (a “ Notice of Exclusive Control ”), or if all previous Notices of Exclusive Control with respect to the Collateral Accounts have been revoked or rescinded in writing by the Trust, State Street shall also take actions with respect to the Collateral upon the joint instructions of the Trust and AP, except that in the case of Deposits returned to AP, State Street may take instructions solely from the Trust.

 

2.3      Exclusive Control .

 

(i)     Upon receipt by State Street of a Notice of Exclusive Control from the Trust, State Street shall thereafter follow only the instructions or entitlement orders of the Trust with respect to the Collateral Accounts and shall comply with any entitlement order (within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(8) of the UCC) or instructions received from the Trust without further consent of AP, and State Street will not comply with entitlement orders or instructions from AP concerning the Collateral without the prior written consent of the Trust.

 

(ii)     AP acknowledges that the Trust may issue to State Street a Notice of Exclusive Control at any time without prior notice to AP in the event the Trust determines to use the assets in the Collateral Accounts to satisfy AP's obligations under the AP Agreement. The Trust will make commercially reasonable efforts to notify AP of any issuance of a Notice of Exclusive Control substantially concurrently with the issuance thereof to State Street. It is acknowledged and agreed that any failure by the Trust to so concurrently notify AP of the issuance of the Notice of Exclusive Control shall in no way invalidate such Notice of Exclusive Control or adversely affect in any way the Trust's right to take exclusive possession of the assets in the Collateral and the Collateral Accounts as stated in such Notice of Exclusive Control and in no event shall State Street or the Trust be liable for any loss suffered by AP as a result of the failure to receive such notification.

 

 

 
3

 

 

3.           Distributions. Prior to State Street’s receipt of a Notice of Exclusive Control, State Street shall, unless directed otherwise by a joint instruction from the AP and the Trust, credit to the Deposit Account all interest, dividends and other income received by State Street on the Collateral.

 

4.

Duties and Services of State Street .

 

(i)     State Street agrees that (i) it is acting as a securities intermediary, within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(14) of the UCC, with respect to any securities held as Collateral in the Securities Account, except Identified Securities (as hereinafter defined); (ii) the Securities Account is a "securities account" within the meaning of Section 8-501(a) of the UCC; and (iii) the AP is the only "entitlement holder" (within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(7) of the UCC) of the Securities Account and the "financial assets" (within the meaning of 8-102(9) of the UCC) carried therein from time to time credited to the Securities Account. State Street agrees that, with respect to the Collateral in the Deposit Account, it is acting as a "bank" as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(8) of the UCC.

 

(ii)     State Street shall have no duties, obligations, responsibilities or liabilities with respect to the Collateral Accounts except as and to the extent expressly set forth in this Agreement, and no implied duties of any kind shall be read into this Agreement against State Street including, without limitation, the duty to preserve, exercise or enforce rights in the Collateral. State Street shall have no responsibility for determining the adequacy or sufficiency of any Collateral required hereunder or under the AP Agreement, nor will it assume responsibility for any calculations related to any Collateral requirements.

 

(iii)     As between the Trust and State Street, except for the rights of control in favor of the Trust agreed to herein and the duty to hold the Collateral if control is exercised by the Trust, nothing herein shall be deemed to modify, limit, restrict, amend or supersede the terms of the Service Agreement, and State Street shall be and remain entitled to all of the rights, indemnities, powers, and protections in its favor under the Service Agreement, which shall apply fully to State Street's actions and omissions hereunder. Instructions or entitlement orders under this Agreement given in accordance with the terms of the Service Agreement shall also constitute Proper Instructions under the Service Agreement. The Trust shall indemnify and hold State Street harmless with regard to any losses or liabilities of State Street (including reasonable attorneys' fees) imposed on or incurred by State Street to the extent arising out of any action or omission of State Street in accordance with any notice, instruction or entitlement order by the Trust, except to the extent such losses or liabilities are directly related to State Street's failure to meet its Standard of Care (as defined the Service Agreement).

 

 

 
4

 

 

(iv)     As between the AP and State Street, notwithstanding any provision contained herein or in any instrument or document to the contrary, State Street shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken at the instruction of the AP or the Trust, or any action taken or omitted to be taken under or in connection with this Agreement (including, but not limited to, action taken or omitted to be taken at the instruction of the Trust), except for State Street's own gross negligence or willful misconduct in carrying out such instruction or entitlement order. Except as may arise from State Street's own gross negligence or willful misconduct, the AP shall indemnify and hold State Street harmless with regard to any costs, expenses, losses, damages, charges, counsel fees, payments and liabilities which may be asserted against, imposed on or incurred by State Street arising out of any action or omission of State Street in accordance with any notice, instruction or entitlement order by the AP or any action taken or omitted to be taken under or in connection with this Agreement. State Street shall have no responsibility or liability to AP for complying with a Notice of Exclusive Control or complying with entitlement orders or instructions originated by the Trust concerning any Collateral or any Collateral Account. State Street shall have no duty to investigate or make any determination to verify the compliance by either the Trust or AP with applicable law or the AP Agreement, and State Street shall be fully protected in complying with a Notice of Exclusive Control whether or not AP may allege that the Trust was not entitled to issue such Notice of Exclusive Control. As between the AP and State Street, in no event shall State Street be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damage or loss (including but not limited to lost profits) whatsoever, even if State Street has been informed of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. State Street shall in no event be liable for the application or misapplication of funds by any other person or entity, or for the acts or omissions of any other person or entity.

 

The AP acknowledges and agrees that between the AP and State Street, State Street (i) shall not be obligated to take any legal or other action hereunder which might in its judgment involve or cause it to incur any expense or liability unless it shall have been furnished with acceptable indemnification, (ii) may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice, instruction (including, without limitation, wire transfer instructions, whether incorporated herein or provided in a separate written instruction), instrument, statement, certificate, request or other document furnished to it hereunder and reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person, and shall have no responsibility for determining the accuracy thereof, and (iii) may consult counsel satisfactory to it, including in-house counsel, and the opinion or advice of such counsel in any instance shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion or advice of such counsel.

 

(v)     AP shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust with regard to any losses or liabilities incurred by the Trust or arising in any manner whatsoever due to AP's failure to maintain sufficient Collateral under the AP Agreement or any collateral procedures incidental thereto.

 

 

 
5

 

 

(vi)     The parties hereto acknowledge that no "security entitlement" under the UCC shall exist with respect to any cash or any financial asset held in the Collateral Accounts which is registered in the name of AP, payable to the order of the AP, or specially indorsed to AP or any third party (each such asset an " Identified Security "), except to the extent such Identified Security has been specially indorsed by AP to State Street or its nominee or in blank. The parties further acknowledge and agree that any such Identified Securities received by State Street and credited to the Collateral Accounts from time to time shall (so long as so credited to the Collateral Accounts and so long as this Agreement remains in effect) shall be subject to the security interest granted to the Trust in Section 2.1 above, and shall be held by State Street for the benefit of the Trust, not in its capacity as a "securities intermediary" (as defined in the UCC), but in its capacity as a collateral agent under and subject to the terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, State Street's acting in its capacity as collateral agent shall not impose upon State Street any greater duties than those otherwise stated in this Agreement or the Service Agreement, and State Street shall be entitled to all exculpations, indemnities and other benefits in its favor referred to in this Agreement when so acting in such capacity. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, upon the request of the Trust, AP will indorse any Identified Security to State Street or its nominee or in blank to create a security entitlement in such financial asset.

 

(vii)     All cash or securities held as Collateral in the Collateral Accounts shall be released only in accordance with this Agreement.

 

5. Force Majeure . None of the AP, the Trust or State Street shall be liable for delays, errors or losses occurring by reason of circumstances beyond such party's reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God, strikes, lockouts, market disorder, terrorism, insurrection, acts of war, riots, failure of transportation or equipment, failure of vendors or power supply, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, earthquakes or other disasters.

 

6. Compliance with Legal Process and Judicial Orders . State Street shall have no responsibility or liability to the Trust or AP or to any other person or entity for acting in accordance with any judicial or arbitral process, order, writ, judgment, decree or claim of lien relating to the Collateral Accounts subject to this Agreement notwithstanding that such order or process is subsequently modified, vacated or otherwise determined to have been without legal force or effect. State Street shall undertake reasonable efforts to notify the Trust or the AP of any order, writ, judgment or decree affecting the Collateral or the Collateral Accounts; provided, however, that State Street's failure to provide notice shall not give rise to any liability hereunder.

 

7. State Street Representations . State Street agrees and confirms, as of the date hereof, and at all times until the termination of this Agreement, that it has not entered into, and until the termination of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement (other than the Service Agreement) with any other person or entity relating to the Collateral or the Collateral Accounts (i) under which State Street has agreed to comply with instructions or entitlement orders (as defined in Section 8-102 of the UCC) of such other person or entity, and (ii) whereby State Street pledges or grants to its secured party a security interest in the Collateral or the Collateral Accounts.

 

 

 
6

 

 

8. Fees and Expenses . AP hereby agrees to pay and reimburse State Street for any advances, overdrafts, fees, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees and costs) and disbursements that may be paid or incurred by State Street in connection with this Agreement or the arrangement contemplated hereby, including any that may be incurred in performing its duties or responsibilities pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. It is hereby expressly acknowledged and agreed by the parties that State Street (including its agents) shall not be obligated to advance cash or investments to, for or on behalf of AP in the Collateral Accounts. Any property held by State Street for the account of the AP hereunder shall be security for the AP's obligations to State Street hereunder and should the AP fail to repay State Street promptly, State Street shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such property to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.

 

9. Notices . Any notice, instruction, entitlement order or other instrument required to be given hereunder, or requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto, shall be in writing and may be sent by hand, or by facsimile transmission, telex, or delivery by any recognized delivery service, prepaid or, for termination of this Agreement only, by certified or registered mail, and addressed as follows, or to such other address as any party may hereafter notify the other respective parties hereto in writing:

 

If to the Trust, then:

 

BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A.
400 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Attn: Legal Department
Telephone: (415) 670-2860
Facsimile: (415) 618-5731
 

 

 

With a copy to:

 

BlackRock Fund Advisors, as Investment Advisor
400 Howard St
San Francisco, CA 94105
Attn: Legal Department
Telephone: (415) 670-2860
Facsimile: (415) 618-5731

 

If to AP, then:

 

[ ]

 

 

 
7

 

 

If to State Street, then:

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116
Attn: Mike Fontaine
Facsimile: 617-662-8427
Telephone: 617-662-8101

 

10. Amendment . No amendment or modification of this Agreement will be effective unless it is in writing and signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

11. Termination . This Agreement shall continue in effect until five (5) business days following notice by the Trust to State Street in writing that this Agreement is to be terminated. Upon the fifth business day after such notice, the Trust shall have no further right to originate entitlement orders or instructions concerning the Collateral Accounts and AP shall be entitled to originate entitlement orders or instructions concerning the Collateral for any purpose and without limitation. This Agreement shall terminate in the event of the termination of the Service Agreement, following thirty (30) days prior written notice to the other parties hereto. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to the preceding sentence, all Collateral that has not been released by the Trust shall be transferred, within 30 days of such termination, to a successor custodian designated in writing by AP and acceptable to the Trust. In the event that no successor is agreed upon, State Street shall be entitled to petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor custodian and shall be indemnified by AP for any costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees) relating thereto. The provisions of Sections 4(iii) - (v), 8 and 12 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

The Trust agrees to notify State Street promptly in writing when (i) obligations of AP to the Trust under the AP Agreement have been fully paid and satisfied such that all of the Collateral may be released to AP; (ii) the Trust no longer claims any interest in the Collateral; and (iii) the AP Agreement has been terminated with respect to the Trust. Upon the occurrence of each of the events stated in subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) and the release of the Collateral to the AP, if applicable, State Street shall have no further liabilities or responsibilities hereunder and State Street's obligations under this Agreement shall terminate.

 

12. Tax Indemnification . The AP agrees to (i) assume any and all obligations imposed now or hereafter by any applicable tax law with respect to any payment or distribution of the Collateral Accounts or performance of other activities under this Agreement, (ii) to instruct State Street in writing with respect to State Street's responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, and to instruct State Street with respect to any certifications and governmental reporting that may be required under any laws or regulations that may be applicable in connection with this Agreement, and (iii) to indemnify and hold State Street harmless from any liability or obligation on account of taxes, assessments, additions for late payment, interest, penalties, expenses and other governmental charges that may be assessed or asserted against State Street in connection with or relating to any payment made or other activities performed under the terms of this Agreement, including without limitation any liability for the withholding or deduction of (or the failure to withhold or deduct) the same, and any liability for failure to obtain proper certifications or to report properly to governmental authorities in connection with this Agreement, including costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), interest and penalties.

 

 

 
8

 

 

13. Anti-Money Laundering . The AP acknowledges that State Street is required to comply with a number of federal regulations and policies concerning matters such as the identity of its customers and the source of funds it handles, including the Bank Secrecy Act and the USA Patriot Act, and all regulations issued thereunder, and the regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Asset Control (together, the "U.S. Money Laundering and Investor Identification Requirements"). Accordingly, the AP confirms that it has complied and shall continue to comply with all applicable U.S. Money Laundering and Investor Identity Requirements, including without limitation, maintaining and effecting appropriate procedures to verify suspicious transactions and the source of funds for settlement of transactions. Accordingly, the AP acknowledges that Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act and State Street's identity verification procedures require State Street to obtain information which may be used to confirm the AP's identity including without limitation name, address and organizational documents ("identifying information"). The AP agree to provide State Street with and consent to State Street obtaining from third parties any such identifying information required as a condition of opening an account with or using any service provided by State Street.

 

14. Severability . In the event any provision of this Agreement is held illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in effect and the offending provision shall be modified to the limited extent necessary within the purpose and intent of this Agreement to make it enforceable.

 

15. Governing Law . This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any conflict of laws rules that would require the application of the law of another jurisdiction. Each Collateral Account shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, and the State of New York shall be the location of the bank for purposes of Sections 9-301 and 9-304 of the UCC and the securities intermediary's jurisdiction for purposes of Sections 8-110, 9-301 and 9-305 of the UCC.

 

16. Headings . Any headings appearing on this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of any of the terms of this Agreement.

 

17. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Counterparts may be executed in either original or electronically transmitted form (e.g., faxes or emailed portable document format (PDF) form), and the parties hereby adopt as original any signatures received via electronically transmitted form.

 

18. Successors; Assignment . This Agreement may not be assigned without the written consent of all parties, provided that State Street may assign this Agreement to a successor of all or a substantial portion of its business without the consent of the other parties. The Agreement will be binding upon the parties and their respective successors and assigns.

 

 

 
9

 

 

19. Inconsistency . Solely as between the Trust and AP, in the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and the AP Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail with respect to the subject matter hereof. Solely as between the Trust and State Street, in the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and the Service Agreement, subject to the terms of Section 4(iii) hereof, this Agreement shall prevail with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

20. Prior Agreements . This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all prior control agreements, or similar agreements, among the Trust, AP and State Street relating to collateral arrangements with respect to assets delivered to State Street to secure AP's obligations under the AP Agreement.

 

21. Miscellaneous . All words used herein shall be construed to be of such gender or number as the circumstances require. The words "herein," "hereby," "hereof" and "hereto," and words of similar import, refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular paragraph or Section, clause or other subdivision, unless otherwise specified. The word "including" shall mean "including without limitation" unless otherwise specified. Section or Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Capitalized terms in any Exhibit hereto shall have the same meanings as defined in this Agreement.

 

22. Confidentiality . Each of the parties hereto agrees that it shall maintain, and shall cause its agents, attorneys and accountants to maintain, the confidentiality of the specific terms of this Agreement, and shall not discuss or disclose, nor authorize such agents, attorneys or accountants to discuss or disclose, such terms, directly or indirectly, to any person, other than: (1) to such agents, attorneys or accountants, subject to the terms hereof; (2) as may be legally required by applicable law or regulation or by any subpoena or similar legal process, or as may be requested by a regulator having jurisdiction over such party; (3) in connection with litigation to which such party is a party; or (4) to the extent such terms become publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement.

 

23. No Precedential Effect . Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that certain negotiated provisions of this Agreement were agreed as an accommodation to the parties and may be unique to the facts and circumstances surrounding this particular relationship. In furtherance of that goal the parties acknowledge that in negotiating future agreements as between two or more of the named parties herein this Agreement should be of no precedential effect.

 

24. Other Actions As To Any And All Collateral . AP further agrees, upon the reasonable request of the Trust, at the Trust's option, to take any and all other actions as the Trust may determine to be necessary or useful for the attachment, perfection and first priority of, and the ability of the Trust to enforce its security interest in any and all of the Collateral, including (a) executing, delivering and, where appropriate, filing financing statements and amendments relating thereto under the Uniform Commercial Code of any relevant jurisdiction, to the extent, if any, that AP's signature is required, (b) complying with any provision of any statute, regulation or treaty of the United States as to any Collateral if compliance with such provision is a condition to attachment, perfection or priority of, or ability of the Trust to enforce its security interest in such Collateral, (c) obtain governmental and other third party waivers, consents and approvals in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, including any consent of any person obligated on Collateral and any party or parties whose consent is required for the security interest of the Trust to attach, and (d) taking all actions under any other law, as reasonably determined by the Trustee to be applicable in any relevant Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

 

 
10

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers or duly authorized representatives as of the date first above written.

 

iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust

 

By: BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee

 

 

By: __________________________________________  

Name:

Title:

 

 

 

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

 

 

By: __________________________________________  

Name:

Title:

 

 

 

[AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT]

 

 

By: __________________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

TO
CONTROL AGREEMENT AMONG
iSHARES ® S&P GSCI COMMODITY-INDEXED TRUST,
__________, AND
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
DATED __________

 

AUTHORIZED PERSONS FOR [AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT]

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company is directed to accept and act upon instructions received from any one of the following persons at [Authorized Participant]:

 

Name:

Telephone/Fax Number

Signature

     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

Authorized by: _________________ , as authorized agent of ____________________
Name:
Title
Date:

 

 

 
 

 

 

Exhibit B

 

[Letterhead of Trust]

 

Date: ______________

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116
Attn: Mike Fontaine

 

RE: iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust – Collateral Accounts

 

NOTICE OF EXCLUSIVE CONTROL

 

We hereby instruct you pursuant to the terms of that certain Control Agreement dated as of _________ __, 20___ (as from time to time amended and supplemented, the " Control Agreement ") among [AP] (the " AP "), iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (the " Trust ") and State Street Bank and Trust Company, that you (i) shall not follow any instructions or entitlement orders of the AP with respect to the Collateral or the Collateral Accounts and (ii) unless and until otherwise expressly instructed by the Trust, shall exclusively follow the entitlement orders and instructions of the undersigned with respect to the Collateral and the Collateral Accounts. In accordance with Section 2.3(i), of the Control Agreement, we hereby instruct you to transfer the Deposits in the Collateral Accounts as follows:

 

Bank Name:

 

Bank Address:

 

ABA No.:

 

Account Name:

 

Account No.:

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

iSHARES ® S&P GSCI
COMMODITY-INDEXED TRUST

 

By: BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee

 

By:  __________________________________________________
Authorized Signatory

cc: [IM]

 

Exhibit 10.8

 

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

 

dated as of December 31, 2013
between

 

BLACKROCK ASSET MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

and

 

iSHARES ® DELAWARE TRUST SPONSOR LLC

 

 

 
 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

ARTICLE I ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS; DELEGATION OF DUTIES

2

Section 1.01

Assignment, Delegation and Assumption

2

Section 1.02

No Impairment

2

   

ARTICLE II CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

2

Section 2.01

Effectiveness

2

   

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3

Section 3.01

Representations and Warranties of iDTS

3

   

ARTICLE IV MISCELLANEOUS

4

Section 4.01

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

4

Section 4.02

Severability

4

Section 4.03

Governing Law

4

Section 4.04

Counterparts

4

 

 

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT dated as of December 31, 2013 (the " Agreement ")

 

BETWEEN

 

(1) BLACKROCK ASSET MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL INC. , a company incorporated in the State of Delaware and formerly known as Barclays Global Investors International Inc. (" BAMI "); and

 

(2) iSHARES ® DELAWARE TRUST SPONSOR LLC , a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (" iDTS ").

 

WHEREAS

 

(A)

In its capacity as the sponsor of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the " Trust "), BAMI has executed and entered into, or is an express third-party beneficiary of, each of the agreements listed on Schedule A attached hereto (each, as amended and in effect on the date hereof, a " Trust Contract ");

   

(B)

In its capacity as the manager of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the " Investing Pool "), BAMI has executed and entered into, or is an express third-party beneficiary of, each of the agreements listed on Schedule A attached hereto (each, as amended and in effect on the date hereof, an " Investing Pool Contract ");

   

(C)

In connection with an internal reallocation of functions within the BlackRock Group (a family of corporate and other legal entities ultimately controlled by BlackRock, Inc., a Delaware corporation), BAMI wishes to cease acting as the sponsor of the Trust and manager of the Investing Pool, and iDTS wishes to become the sponsor of the Trust and manager of the Investing Pool; and

   

(D)

In furtherance of the reallocation referred to above, BAMI wishes to assign all of its rights and delegate the performance of all of its obligations under each of the Trust Contracts and the Investing Pool Contracts (collectively, the " Assigned Contracts " and each, an " Assigned Contract ") , together with all of its shares in the Trust and membership interests in the Investing Pool (collectively, the " Assigned Interests ") to iDTS, and iDTS wishes to acquire such rights from BAMI and assume responsibility for the performance of such obligations in lieu of BAMI.

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valid consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intended to be legally bound, have agreed as follows:

 

 

 
 

 

 

ARTICLE I

ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS; DELEGATION OF DUTIES Section

 

Section 1.01     Assignment, Delegation and Assumption

 

Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 2.01 hereof, with effect with respect to the Trust, the Investing Pool, the related Assigned Contracts and the related Assigned Interests from and after the respective Effective Date (as defined in such Section 2.01):

 

(a)     BAMI hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys to iDTS all of the rights, claims, entitlements and causes of action arising in its favor under the Assigned Interests and each Assigned Contract, and iDTS hereby irrevocably accepts such assignment, transfer and conveyance; and

 

(b)     BAMI hereby irrevocably delegates to iDTS the performance of all of the obligations, compliance with all of the covenants and the discharge of all of the duties and liabilities to which BAMI is subject under or pursuant to the provisions of each Assigned Contract, and iDTS hereby accepts such delegation and assumes full responsibility for the performance of such obligations, the compliance with such covenants and the discharge of such duties and liabilities, in each case in compliance with the provisions of the relevant Assigned Contract; provided, that iDTS assumes no responsibility for the performance of any obligations or the discharge of any duties and liabilities of BAMI arising under any Assigned Contract prior to its respective Effective Date.

 

Section 1.02     No Impairment

 

Nothing in this Agreement shall have the effect of discharging any obligations or liabilities of BAMI arising under any Assigned Contract prior to its Effective Date, or shall impair the ability of any person, in its capacity as a party to, or beneficiary of, an Assigned Contract, or otherwise, to enforce against BAMI any obligations or liabilities or to pursue any remedies that such person may have against BAMI as a result of BAMI's acts or omissions prior to the respective Effective Date.

 

ARTICLE II

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

Section 2.01     Effectiveness

 

This Agreement will become effective with respect to the Trust, the Investing Pool, the related Assigned Contracts and the related Assigned Interests on the date on which all of the following conditions precedent shall have been satisfied (such date, the " Effective Date " with respect to such Trust and such Assigned Contracts):

 

(a)     Each party to the Assigned Contracts listed in Part I of Schedule A (in the case of the Trust) or in Schedule B (in the case of the Investing Pool), other than BAMI, shall have consented to the assignment of such Assigned Contracts to iDTS;

 

 

 
2

 

 

(b)     With respect to the Trust, BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. shall have consented to the assignment of the Assigned Contracts listed in Part II of Schedule A to iDTS; and

 

(c)     A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the " Securities Act ") shall have been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission by iDTS in its capacity as the sponsor of the Trust and such registration statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act and the rules thereunder.

 

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES Section

 

Section 3.01     Representations and Warranties of iDTS

 

As of the date hereof, iDTS hereby expressly represents and warrants to BAMI, for the benefit of BAMI and each of the other parties to the Assigned Contracts, as follows:

 

(a)      Organization. iDTS is a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, and to undertake and discharge the duties and responsibilities delegated to it hereunder, in each case pursuant to and as provided in each Assigned Contract .

 

(b)      No Breach, Etc. Neither the execution, delivery and performance by iDTS of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Assigned Contracts does or will violate or conflict with any provision of iDTS's organizational documents or any provision of any existing law, regulation, administrative order or judgment of any court applicable to iDTS.

 

(c)      Consents, Approvals, Etc. No authorization, consent, license or approval of, or other action by, or notice to or filing with, any governmental body or any other person is required for the due authorization, execution, delivery, or performance by iDTS of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Assigned Contracts .

 

(d)      No conflict. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, and the performance by iDTS of its obligations hereunder and, on and after each Effective Date, under the Assigned Contracts, do not and will not result in any breach of, violate or constitute a default under, any indenture, agreement or instrument to which iDTS is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(e)      Execution and Delivery. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by iDTS and it is, and on and after each Effective Date each of the related Assigned Contracts will be, the legal, valid and binding obligation of iDTS enforceable against iDTS in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

 

 

 
3

 

 

ARTICLE IV

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 4.01     Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

 

The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

Section 4.02     Severability

 

In case any provision in this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 4.03     Governing Law

 

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

Section 4.04     Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 

 
4

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , we have set our hands as of the date first written above.  

 

BlackRock Asset Management International Inc.

 

By:    _______________________________________
Name:
Title:

 

 

By:    _______________________________________
Name:
Title:

iShares ® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC  

 

By:    _______________________________________
Name:
Title:

 

 

By:    _______________________________________
Name:
Title:

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

TRUST CONTRACTS

 

PART I .

 

 

1.

Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust , dated as of March 1, 2013, by and among BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. and Wilmington Trust Company .

 

 

2.

Master Services Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2011, between State Street Bank and Trust Company and, inter alia, the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust, together with all related service modules and participation agreements applicable to the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust .

 

PART II .

 

 

1.

Authorized Participant Agreement dated as of February 20, 2013, among J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., as trustee for the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust, and BlackRock Asset Management International Inc.

 

 

2.

Authorized Participant Agreement dated as of February 12, 2013, among Goldman, Sachs & Co., BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., as trustee for the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust, and BlackRock Asset Management International Inc.

 

 

3.

Authorized Participant Agreement dated as of February 25, 2013, among Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., as trustee for the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust, and BlackRock Asset Management International Inc.

 

 

4.

Authorized Participant Agreement dated as of February 13, 2013, among UBS Securities LLC, BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., as trustee for the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust, and BlackRock Asset Management International Inc.

 

 

 

 
Sch. A-1

 

 

 

SCHEDULE B

 

INVESTING POOL CONTRACTS

 

 

1.

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC, dated as of March 1, 2013, among the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust and BlackRock Asset Management International Inc.

 

 

2.

Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2013, between BlackRock Fund Advisors and BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., as manager of the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC.

 

 

3.

Master Services Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2011, between State Street Bank and Trust Company and, inter alia, the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC, together with all related service modules and participation agreements applicable to the iShares ® S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC.

 

 

 

 

Sch. B-1