UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 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): April 30, 2019

 

ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

001-36851   36-4793446
(Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     

30 Maple Street - Suite 2

Summit, New Jersey

  07901
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(844) 383-6477

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

  

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))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company   ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

Attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference are the audited (i) Statement of Financial Condition of ETF Managers Capital LLC (the “Company”), the commodity pool operator of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I, as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, (ii) Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, (iii) Statement of Changes in Member’s Capital for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, Statement of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related notes to such financial statements.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)   Exhibits
     
99.1   Audited Financial Statements of ETF Managers Capital LLC as of and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 and the notes related thereto. (Filed herewith.)
     
99.2   Consent of Independent Auditor. (Filed herewith.)

 

 

 

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. 

 

  ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I
     
  By: /s/ John A. Flanagan
  Name:   John A. Flanagan
  Title: ETF Managers Capital LLC, sponsor of
    ETF Managers Commodity Trust I
    Chief Financial Officer

 

Dated: April 30, 2019

 

Exhibit 99.1

  

 

ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL, LLC

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2018 and 2017

 

 

ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL, LLC

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2018 and 2017

 

INDEX

 

    Page
     
Independent Auditors’ Report   1
     
Financial Statements    
     
Statement of Financial Condition   2
     
Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income   3
     
Statement of Changes in Member’s Capital   4
     
Statement of Cash Flows   5
     
Notes to Financial Statements   6-10

 

 

 

Independent Auditors’ Report

                 

To the Member of            

ETF Managers Capital, LLC            

Summit, NJ 07901              

                                 

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of ETF Managers Capital, LLC (a Delaware limited liability company), which comprise the statement of financial condition as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and the related statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in member’s capital and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 and the related notes to the financial statements.

                 

Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements    

                 

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

                 

Auditors’ Responsibility            

                 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

                 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

                 

Opinion                

                 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of ETF Managers Capital, LLC as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and the results of its operations, changes in its member’s capital and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017  in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

           

Connolly & Company            

Warren, NJ              

April 26, 2019

 

1  

 

  

ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL, LLC

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

DECEMBER 31,

    2018     2017  
ASSETS                
                 
Current Assets                
Cash   $ 38,905     $ 37,603  
                 
Investment in Sit Rising Rate ETF     963       950  
                 
Investment in Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF     735        
                 
Due from Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC     555,418       264,921  
                 
Due from Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF     8,791        
                 
Due from SIT Rising Rate ETF     60,524       39,853  
                 
Total Current Assets   $ 665,336     $ 343,327  
                 
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER’S CAPITAL                
                 
Current Liabilities                
Service Fee Payable to Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC   $ 310,000     $ 115,000  
                 
Accounts Payable on behalf of  Sit Rising Rate ETF and Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF     83,691       20,950  
                 
Due to ETFMG Financial LLC     2,562       1,274  
                 
Deposit - Breakwave Advisors LLC     5,680        
                 
Deposit - Sit Investment Associates II           25,632  
                 
Accrued Expenses     47,778       44,778  
                 
Total Current Liabilities     449,711       207,634  
                 
MEMBER’S CAPITAL                
                 
Total Member’s Capital     215,625       135,693  
                 
Total Liabilities and Member’s Capital   $ 665,336     $ 343,327  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

2  

 

 

ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL, LLC  

STATEMENT OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME  

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,  

 

    2018     2017  
REVENUES            
             
Management Fees   $ 625,582     $ 162,524  
                 
EXPENSES                
                 
Parent Company Service Fee     360,000       100,000  
                 
Sit Rising Rate ETF Operating Loss     127,142        
                 
Professional Fees     56,500       35,379  
                 
Miscellaneous Expenses     1,756       41  
                 
Total Expenses     545,398       135,420  
                 
NET INCOME   $ 80,184     $ 27,104  
                 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME                
                 
Net Income   $ 80,184     $ 27,104  
                 
Other Comprehensive Gain                
               
Unrealized Loss on Investment in  Dry Bulk Shipping ETF     (265 )        
               
Unrealized Gain (Loss)  on Investment in SIT Rising Rate ETF     13       (1 )
                 
Other Comprehensive Income   $ 79,932     $ 27,103  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

3  

 

ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL, LLC

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN MEMBER’S CAPITAL

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017

          Accumulated        
          Other     Total  
    Member’s     Comprehensive     Member’s  
    Capital     Income     Capital  
                   
Balance January 1, 2017   $ 108,601     $ (11 )   $ 108,590  
                         
Net Income     27,104               27,104  
                         
Other Comprehensive Income:                        
Unrealized Holding Loss Arising                        
During the Period             (1 )     (1 )
                         
MEMBER’S CAPITAL, DECEMBER 31, 2017     135,705       (12 )     135,693  
                         
Net Income     80,184               80,184  
                         
Other Comprehensive Income:                        
Unrealized Holding Loss Arising                        
During the Period             (252 )     (252 )
                         
MEMBER’S CAPITAL DECEMBER 31, 2018   $ 215,889     $ (264 )   $ 215,625  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 

4  

 

 

ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL, LLC  

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS  

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,  

 

    2018     2017  
             
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES                
                 
Net Income   $ 80,184     $ 27,104  
                 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by Operating Activities:                
                 
Due from Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC     (290,497 )     34,533  
Due from SIT Rising Rate ETF     (20,671 )     (26,569 )
Due from Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF     (8,791 )        
Service Fee payable to Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC     195,000       (35,000 )
Due to ETFMG Financial LLC     1,288       1,274  
Accounts Payable on behalf of SIT Rising Rate ETF     62,741       (22,217 )
Deposit - Sit Investment Associates II     (25,632 )     (20,577 )
Deposit - Breakwave Advisors LLC     5,680        
Accrued Expenses     3,000       17,280  
Net cash (used in)  provided by operating activities     2,302       (24,172 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                
                 
Investment in Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF     (735 )      
Investment in Sit Rising Rate ETF     (13 )     (1 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities     (748 )     (1 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES            
                 
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS     1,554       (24,173 )
                 
Effect of unrealized loss on Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF     (265 )      
Effect of unrealized gain (loss) on Investment in Sit Rising Rate ETF     13       (1 )
                 
CASH BEGINNING     37,603       61,777  
                 
CASH ENDING DECEMBER 31   $ 38,905     $ 37,603  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

5  

 

 

ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL, LLC

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2018 and 2017

 

Note 1 – ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

ETF Managers Capital, LLC (the “Company”), a Delaware limited liability company, was formed June 14, 2014 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exchange Traded Managers Group LLC (“ETFMG”). The Company is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) and is a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”). The Company serves as the Sponsor and managing Owner of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I (the “Trust”), a Delaware series trust, of which Sit Rising Rate ETF (“RISE”) and Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF (the “Funds”) are currently the sole series of the Trust. Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF (“BDRY”) commenced operations with the listing and commencement of trading of BDRY shares on the NYSE Arca on March 22, 2018.

 

SIT Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC (“SIT”) is registered as a “commodity trading advisor” (“CTA”) and acts as such for RISE.

 

Breakwave Advisors, LLC (“Breakwave”) is registered as a “commodity trading advisor” (“CTA”) and acts as such for BDRY.

 

The operations of the Company began with the listing and commencement of trading of the Fund’s shares on the NYSE Arca on February 19, 2015.

 

Note 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

(a) Basis of Accounting

 

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

(b) Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities during the reporting periods of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

(c) Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company defines cash and cash equivalents to be highly liquid investments, with original maturities of three months or less.

 

6  

 

 

ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL, LLC

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2018 and 2017

 

Note 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

 

(d) Income Taxes

 

ETF Managers Capital, LLC is not a tax paying entity for federal income tax purposes, and thus no income tax expense has been recorded in the financial statements. The Company is a single member limited liability company.

 

Note 3 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Effective January 1, 2018 and later extended on March 1, 2019, the Company has agreed to waive receipt of the Sponsor Fee for RISE and/or assume RISE’s expenses (excluding brokerage fees, interest expense, and extraordinary expenses) so that RISE’s total annual expenses do not exceed 1.00% of average net assets per annum through January 31, 2020.

 

Further, effective January 1, 2018, RISE’s CTA fee, calculated daily and paid monthly in arrears, was reduced from 0.50% per annum to 0.20% per annum of average daily net assets.

 

In addition to the reduction in the expense limit, effective January 1, 2018, RISE’s Sponsor Fee, calculated daily and paid monthly, became the greater of 0.15% of its average daily net assets, or $75,000, and the fees for Principal Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer services provided to RISE by the Sponsor were each increased to $25,000 per annum. Certain additional fees paid to the Company for tax return preparation and regulatory reporting fees were also increased. The Sponsor Fee, fees for the Principal Financial Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and fees for tax return preparation and regulatory reporting reflect the level of fees charged to RISE prior to January 1, 2017. Through December 31, 2017, RISE paid the Company an annual management fee, monthly in arrears, in an amount calculated as the greater of 0.15% of its average daily net assets, or $18,750 effective January 1, 2017.

 

RISE paid an annual fee to Sit, monthly in arrears, in an amount equal to 0.50% of RISE’s average daily net assets, effective January 27, 2016 and through December 31, 2017. As of February 19, 2015, through December 31, 2017, Sit had agreed to waive its CTA fee to the extent necessary, and the Company had agreed to correspondingly assume the remaining expenses of RISE such that RISE’s expenses did not exceed an annual rate of 1.50%, excluding brokerage commissions and interest expense, of the value of the Fund’s average daily net assets (the “RISE Expense Cap”)

 

BDRY pays the Company an annual Sponsor Fee, monthly in arrears, in an amount calculated as the greater of 0.15% of its average daily net assets, or $125,000. BDRY also paid an annual fee to Breakwave, monthly in arrears, in an amount equal to 1.45% of BDRY’s average daily net assets. As of March 22, 2018, Breakwave has agreed to waive its CTA fee to the extent necessary, and the Company has voluntarily agreed to correspondingly assume the remaining expenses of BDRY such that Fund expenses do not exceed an annual rate of 3.50%, excluding brokerage commissions and interest expense, of the value of BDRY’s average daily net assets (the “BDRY Expense Cap,” and together with the RISE Expense Cap, the “Expense Caps”). The assumption of expenses by the Sponsor and waiver of BDRY’s CTA fee are contractual on the part of the Sponsor and Breakwave, respectively.

 

7  

 

 

ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL, LLC

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2018 and 2017

 

Note 3 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS – continued

 

In addition to the Sponsor fee, the Company receives additional fees from the Fund for providing necessary services for its operations. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company received the following fees:

 

    2018     2017  
             
Sponsor Fees   $ 182,069     $ 32,050  
Legal Fees     42,322       35,000  
Tax return and Form K-1 preparation     177,762       25,000  
Regulatory Reporting Fees     44,452       6,250  
Chief Compliance Officer Fees     44,452       6,250  
Principal Financial Officer Fees     44,452       6,250  
Insurance Fees     15,000       30,000  
Wholesale Support Fees     75,073       21,724  
                 
Total Fee Income   $ 625,582     $ 162,524  

 

SIT had agreed to deposit with the Company such amounts as are necessary, through December 31, 2017, to enable the Company to assume the expenses of the Fund pursuant to the Expense Cap. At December 31, 2017, the Company held $25,632, in an expense reimbursement account representing the balance of such deposit account for the payment of assumed expenses of the Fund.

 

Breakwave had agreed to deposit with the Company such amounts as are necessary to enable the Company to assume the expenses of the Fund pursuant to the Expense Cap. At December 31, 2018, the Company held $5,680, in an expense reimbursement account representing the balance of such deposit account for the payment of assumed expenses of the Fund.

 

The waiver of RISE’s Sponsor Fee, pursuant to the undertaking, amounted to $24,657 for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

8  

 

 

ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL, LLC

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2018 and 2017

 

Note 3 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS - continued

 

The waiver of RISE’s CTA fees, pursuant to the prior undertaking, amounted to $49,453 for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The waiver of BDRY’s CTA fees, pursuant to the undertaking, amounted to $38,066 for the period from March 22, 2018 to December 31, 2018.

 

The Funds currently accrues their daily expenses up to the applicable Expense Cap. At the end of each month, the accrued amount is remitted to the Company as the Company has assumed, and is responsible for the payment of, the routine operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses of the Funds in excess of the Fund’s respective Expense Cap, which in the case of RISE, aggregated $124,925 and $316,782 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and in the case of BDRY, aggregated $422,059 for the period from March 22, 2018 to December 31, 2018.

 

The routine operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses of RISE aggregated $734,047 and $515,074 for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, of which $407,805 and $174,213, respectively, were for services provided by the Company and its affiliate.

 

The routine operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses of BDRY aggregated $583,241 for the period from March 22, 2018 to December 31, 2018, of which $355,295 were for services provided by the Company and its affiliate.

 

The Funds pay ETFMG Financial LLC. (“Distributor”), an affiliate of the Company, an annual fee for statutory and wholesaling distribution services and related administrative services equal to the greater of $15,000 or 0.02% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, payable monthly. Pursuant to the respective Marketing Agent Agreement between the Company, each Fund and the Distributor, the Distributor assists the Company and the applicable Fund with certain functions and duties relating to distribution and marketing services to the applicable Fund, including reviewing and approving marketing materials and certain regulatory compliance matters. The Distributor also assists with the processing of creation and redemption orders. For the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company paid the Distributor, on behalf of the Funds, $61,660 and $11,301 in distribution and related administrative services.

 

RISE also pays the Company an annual fee for wholesale support services equal to 0.1% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, payable monthly. BDRY pays the Sponsor an annual fee for wholesale support services of $25,000 plus 0.12% of BDRY’s average daily net assets, payable monthly.

 

RISE paid the Company $51,359 and $21,724 in wholesale support fees for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. BDRY paid $23,714 in wholesale support fees for the period from March 22, 2018 to December 31, 2018.

 

9  

 

 

ETF MANAGERS CAPITAL, LLC

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2018 and 2017

 

Note 3 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS - continued

 

The Company paid ETFMG a parent company service fee at the rate of $30,000 per month effective January 1, 2018 per month for providing it with the office space and personnel necessary to fulfill its responsibilities as Sponsor of the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company paid ETFMG a parent company service fee of $8,333 per month. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the parent service fee aggregated $360,000 and $100,000, respectively.

 

The Company owns 40 Shares of each Fund and serves as Tax Matters Partner for federal income tax purposes. These Shares were issued to the Company in exchange for its initial capital contribution to the Fund and represent units of beneficial interest in and ownership of the Fund.

 

Expenses incurred in connection with organizing each Fund and the offering of the Shares upon the commencement of its operations were paid by ETFMG, the parent and sole owner of the Company.

 

Expenses incurred in connection with the continuous offering of Shares of the Fund are the responsibility of the Fund.

 

Note 4 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

In preparing these financial statements, the Company has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date the financial statements were issued.

 

10  

Exhibit 99.2

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR

 

We have issued our report dated April 26, 2019, with respect to the financial statements of ETF Managers Capital LLC (a Delaware limited liability company) included in the Current Report of ETF Managers Group Commodity Trust I (the “Trust”) on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2019. We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Trust’s Registration Statements (Forms S-1 No. 333-218453 and No. 333-222379) of the aforementioned report, and to the use of our name as it appears under the caption “Experts”.

 

/s/ Connolly & Company, P.C.

 

Warren, New Jersey 

April 30, 2019