|
John Loder, Esq.
c/o Ropes & Gray LLP
Prudential Tower
800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199-3600
|
Richard F. Morris
ProShare Advisors LLC
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1000E
Bethesda, MD 20814
|
|
BITO
|
Bitcoin Strategy ETF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fees
|
0.95%
|
|
Other Expenses1
|
0.00%
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
0.95%
|
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
|
$97
|
$303
|
|
Bitcoin Strategy ETF
|
BITO
|
|
Principal U.S. National Stock Exchange
|
Fund
|
|
NYSE Arca
|
Bitcoin Strategy ETF
|
|
4
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
31
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
A-1
|
|
|
B-1
|
|
|
C-1
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
1933 Act
|
Securities Act of 1933, as amended
|
|
1934 Act
|
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
|
|
1940 Act
|
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
|
|
Advisor or ProShare Advisors
|
ProShare Advisors LLC
|
|
Board of Trustees or Board
|
Board of Trustees of ProShares Trust
|
|
CCO
|
Chief Compliance Officer
|
|
CFTC
|
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
|
|
Code or Internal Revenue Code
|
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
|
|
CPO
|
Commodity Pool Operator
|
|
Distributor or SEI
|
SEI Investments Distribution Co.
|
|
ETF
|
Exchange traded fund
|
|
Exchange
|
NYSE Arca
|
|
Fund Complex
|
All operational registered investment companies that are
advised by the Advisor or its affiliates
|
|
Independent Trustee(s)
|
Trustees who are not “Interested Persons” of ProShare
Advisors or Trust as defined under Section 2(a)(19) of the
1940 Act
|
|
NAV
|
Net asset value
|
|
New Fund(s)
|
ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF
|
|
SEC
|
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
|
|
Shares
|
The shares of the Fund
|
|
Trust
|
ProShares Trust
|
|
Trustee(s)
|
One or more of the trustees of the Trust
|
|
Name and Birth Date
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During
the Past 5 Years
|
Number of
Operational
Portfolios in
Fund Complex*
Overseen by Trustee
|
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
During
Past 5 Years
|
|
Michael L. Sapir**
Birth Date: 5/58
|
Indefinite; 2002 to
present
|
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of
ProShare Advisors
(November 2005 to
present); ProFund
Advisors LLC
(April 1997 to
present); and
ProShare Capital
Management LLC
(August 2008 to
present)
|
ProShares (122)
ProFunds (116)
|
None
|
|
Name of Trustee
|
Dollar Range
of Equity
Securities in
the Trust
|
Aggregate Dollar
Range of Equity
Securities in All
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen
by Trustee in Family of
Investment Companies
|
|
Independent Trustees
|
|
|
|
William D. Fertig, Trustee
|
over $100,000
|
over $100,000
|
|
Russell S. Reynolds III, Trustee
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
|
Michael C. Wachs, Trustee
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
|
Interested Trustee
|
|
|
|
Michael L. Sapir, Trustee and Chairman
|
none
|
over $100,000
|
|
Name
|
Aggregate
Compensation
From Funds
|
Pension or
Retirement
Benefits
Accrued as
Part of
Trust
Expenses
|
Estimated
Annual
Benefits
Upon
Retirement
|
Total
Compensation
From Trust and
Fund Complex
Paid to Trustees
|
|
Independent Trustees
|
|
|
|
|
|
William D. Fertig, Trustee
|
$ 204,665.87
|
$ 0
|
$ 0
|
$ 204,665.87
|
|
Russell S. Reynolds, III, Trustee
|
$ 204,665.87
|
$ 0
|
$ 0
|
$ 204,665.87
|
|
Michael C. Wachs, Trustee
|
$ 204,665.87
|
$ 0
|
$ 0
|
$ 204,665.87
|
|
Interested Trustee
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael L. Sapir, Trustee and Chairman
|
$ 0
|
$ 0
|
$ 0
|
$ 0
|
|
Name and Birth Date
|
Position(s)
Held with
Trust
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past
5 Years
|
|
Todd B. Johnson
Birth Date: 1/64
|
President
|
Indefinite;
January 2014 to
present
|
Chief Investment Officer of ProShare
Advisors (December 2008 to present);
ProFund Advisors LLC (December 2008 to
present); and ProShare Capital
Management LLC (February 2009 to present).
|
|
Charles S. Todd
3 Canal Plaza, Suite
100 Portland, ME
04101Birth Date: 9/71
|
Treasurer
|
Indefinite; May
2021 to present
|
Senior Managing Director and Business Head,
Fund Officer Services, Foreside Financial
Group, LLC.
|
|
Victor M. Frye, Esq.
Birth Date: 10/58
|
Chief
Compliance
Officer and AML
Officer
|
Indefinite;
November 2005
to present
|
Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of
ProShare Advisors (December 2004 to
present) and ProFund Advisors LLC (October
2002 to present); Secretary of ProFunds
Distributors, Inc. (April 2008 to present).
|
|
Richard F. Morris
Birth Date: 8/67
|
Chief Legal
Officer and
Secretary
|
Indefinite;
December 2015
to present
|
General Counsel of ProShare Advisors;
ProFund Advisors LLC; and ProShare Capital
Management LLC (December 2015 to
present); Chief Legal Officer of ProFunds
Distributors, Inc. (December 2015 to present);
Partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP
(October 2012 to November 2015).
|
|
Name of Fund
|
Investment Advisory Fee
|
|
Bitcoin Strategy ETF
|
0.95%
|
|
Fund Name
|
Creation Unit
Size
|
Value of
Creation Unit at
inception
|
|
Bitcoin Strategy ETF
|
10,000
|
$ 400,000
|
|
Fund(s)
|
Typical Creation Cut-Off Time (Eastern Time)
|
|
ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF
|
2:00 p.m.
|
|
Fund(s)
|
Typical NAV Calculation Time
Eastern Time
|
|
ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF
|
4:00 p.m.
|
|
TITLE:
|
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
|
|
FOR:
|
ProShare Advisors LLC ProFund Advisors LLC
|
|
DATED:
|
March 1, 2008
|
|
AS REVISED:
|
May 1, 2015
|
|
ProShares Trust
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Todd B. Johnson
|
|
|
Todd B. Johnson President
|
|
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
|
/s/ Michael L. Sapir*
Michael L. Sapir
|
Trustee, Chairman
|
October 15, 2021
|
|
/s/ Russell S. Reynolds, III*
Russell S. Reynolds, III
|
Trustee
|
October 15, 2021
|
|
/s/ Michael C. Wachs*
Michael C. Wachs
|
Trustee
|
October 15, 2021
|
|
/s/ William D. Fertig*
William D. Fertig
|
Trustee
|
October 15, 2021
|
|
/s/ Todd B. Johnson
Todd B. Johnson
|
President
|
October 15, 2021
|
|
/s/ Charles S. Todd
Charles S. Todd
|
Treasurer
|
October 15, 2021
|
|
* By:/s/ Richard F. Morris
Richard F. Morris
As Attorney-in-fact
Date: October 15, 2021
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P a g e | 1
AMENDMENT NO. 36 DATED SEPTEMBER 13, 2021, TO THE PROSHARES TRUST INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT DATED DECEMBER 15, 2005, BETWEEN PROSHARES TRUST AND PROSHARE ADVISORS LLC
SCHEDULE A
TO THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN PROSHARES TRUST AND PROSHARE ADVISORS LLC
As of September 13, 2021
Each Portfolio listed below shall pay the Advisor a fee pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement at an annualized rate of 0.75% based on its average daily net assets, as follows:1
FUND NAME
ProShares Ultra S&P500
ProShares Ultra MidCap400
ProShares Ultra Dow30
ProShares Ultra QQQ
ProShares Ultra Basic Materials
ProShares Ultra Consumer Goods
ProShares Ultra Consumer Services
ProShares Ultra Financials
ProShares Ultra Health Care
ProShares Ultra Industrials
ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Cloud Computing
ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Cybersecurity
ProShares Ultra Oil & Gas
ProShares Ultra Real Estate
ProShares Ultra Semiconductors
ProShares Ultra Technology
ProShares Ultra Telecommunications
ProShares Ultra Utilities
ProShares Ultra Russell2000
ProShares Ultra SmallCap600
ProShares Ultra MSCI Japan
ProShares Ultra MSCI Emerging Markets
ProShares Ultra MSCI EAFE
ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Biotechnology
ProShares Ultra FTSE China 50
ProShares Ultra 7-10 Year Treasury
ProShares Ultra 20+ Year Treasury
ProShares Ultra High Yield
ProShares Ultra FTSE Europe
ProShares Ultra MSCI Brazil Capped
ProShares Short S&P500
ProShares Short MidCap400
ProShares Short Dow30
ProShares Short QQQ
ProShares Short Russell2000
1All fees are computed daily and paid monthly
P a g e | 2
FUND NAME
ProShares Short SmallCap600
ProShares Short Basic Materials
ProShares Short Financials
ProShares Short Oil & Gas
ProShares Short Real Estate
ProShares Short MSCI Emerging Markets
ProShares Short MSCI EAFE
ProShares Short 7-10 Year Treasury
ProShares Short 20+ Year Treasury
ProShares Short High Yield
ProShares Short FTSE China 50
ProShares UltraShort S&P500
ProShares UltraShort MidCap400
ProShares UltraShort Dow30
ProShares UltraShort QQQ
ProShares UltraShort Russell2000
ProShares UltraShort SmallCap600
ProShares UltraShort Basic Materials
ProShares UltraShort Consumer Goods
ProShares UltraShort Consumer Services
ProShares UltraShort Financials
ProShares UltraShort Health Care
ProShares UltraShort Industrials
ProShares UltraShort Oil & Gas
ProShares UltraShort Real Estate
ProShares UltraShort Semiconductors
ProShares UltraShort Technology
ProShares UltraShort Utilities
ProShares UltraShort MSCI Japan
ProShares UltraShort MSCI Emerging Markets
ProShares UltraShort MSCI EAFE
ProShares UltraShort Nasdaq Biotechnology
ProShares UltraShort Nasdaq Cloud Computing
ProShares UltraShort Nasdaq Cybersecurity
ProShares UltraShort FTSE China 50
ProShares UltraShort 7-10 Year Treasury
ProShares UltraShort 20+ Year Treasury
ProShares UltraShort FTSE Europe
ProShares UltraShort MSCI Brazil Capped
ProShares UltraPro S&P500
ProShares UltraPro QQQ
ProShares UltraPro Dow30
ProShares UltraPro Russell2000
ProShares UltraPro MidCap400
ProShares UltraPro Short S&P500
ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ
ProShares UltraPro Short Dow30
ProShares UltraPro Short Russell2000
ProShares UltraPro Short MidCap400
ProShares UltraPro Short 20+ Year Treasury
ProShares RAFI Long/Short
ProShares Hedge Replication ETF
ProShares Merger ETF
P a g e | 3
Each Portfolio listed below shall pay the Advisor a fee pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement at an annualized rate based on its average daily net assets, as follows:2
|
FUND NAME |
COMPENSATION |
|
|
(at annual rate expressed as a |
|
|
percentage of average daily net |
|
|
assets of each Fund) |
|
ProShares Inflation Expectations ETF |
0.55% |
|
ProShares Global Listed Private Equity ETF |
0.50% |
|
ProShares Short Term USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF |
0.50% |
|
ProShares Morningstar Alternatives Solution ETF |
0.07% |
|
PROSHARE ADVISORS LLC, |
PROSHARES TRUST, |
|
a Maryland limited liability company |
a Delaware statutory trust |
|
By: /s/ Michael L. Sapir |
By: /s/ Todd B. Johnson |
|
Michael L. Sapir |
Todd B. Johnson |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
President |
___________________
2All fees are computed daily and paid monthly
Schedule A to the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement
between ProShares Trust and ProShare Advisors LLC
Dated as of September 30, 2021
|
|
Fund |
|
Fee Rate |
|
Effective Date |
|
|
ProShares S&P 500 ex-Energy ETF |
0.27% |
|
September 17, 2015 |
|||
|
ProShares S&P 500 ex-Financials ETF |
0.27% |
|
September 17, 2015 |
|||
|
ProShares S&P 500 ex-Health Care ETF |
0.27% |
|
September 17, 2015 |
|||
|
ProShares S&P 500 ex-Technology ETF |
0.27% |
|
September 17, 2015 |
|||
|
ProShares Managed Futures Strategy ETF |
0.75% |
|
September 17, 2015 |
|||
|
ProShares S&P 500 Bond ETF |
0.15% |
|
December 7, 2015 |
|||
|
ProShares S&P 500 Dynamic Treasury Hedge ETF* |
0.40% |
|
December 7, 2015 |
|||
|
ProShares S&P GSCI Smart Commodity Strategy ETF* |
0.55% |
|
December 7, 2015 |
|||
|
ProShares K-1 Free Crude Oil Strategy ETF |
0.65% |
|
March 9, 2016 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
revised Sept 12, 2016 |
|
|
ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF |
0.35% |
|
October 1, 2016 |
|||
|
ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats ETF |
0.40% |
|
October 1, 2016 |
|||
|
ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF |
0.40% |
|
October 1, 2016 |
|||
|
ProShares MSCI EAFE Dividend Growers ETF |
0.50% |
|
October 1, 2016 |
|||
|
ProShares MSCI Europe Dividend Growers ETF |
0.55% |
|
October 1, 2016 |
|||
|
ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers ETF |
0.60% |
|
October 1, 2016 |
|||
|
ProShares High YieldInterest Rate Hedged |
0.50% |
|
October 1, 2016 |
|||
|
ProShares Investment GradeInterest Rate Hedged |
0.30% |
|
October 1, 2016 |
|||
|
ProShares Large Cap Core Plus |
0.45% |
|
December 8, 2016 |
|||
|
ProShares DJ Brookfield Global Infrastructure ETF |
0.45% |
|
December 8, 2016 |
|||
|
ProShares Equities for Rising Rates ETF |
0.35% |
|
March 7, 2017 |
|||
|
ProShares Long Online/Short Stores ETF |
0.65% |
|
September 12, 2017 |
|||
|
ProShares Decline of the Retail Store ETF |
0.65% |
|
September 12, 2017 |
|||
|
ProShares Nasdaq Tech Titans ETF* |
0.58% |
|
December 13, 2017 |
|||
|
ProShares Online Retail ETF |
0.58% |
|
June 6, 2018 |
|||
|
ProShares Pet Care ETF |
0.50% |
|
June 6, 2018 |
|||
|
ProShares Russell U.S. Dividend Growers ETF |
0.35% |
|
June 5, 2019 |
|||
|
ProShares MSCI International Dividend Growers ETF* |
0.45% |
|
June 5, 2019 |
|||
|
ProShares S&P Technology Dividend Aristocrats ETF |
0.45% |
|
June 5, 2019 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
revised Sept 16, 2019 |
|
|
ProShares MSCI Transformational Changes ETF |
0.45% |
|
September 14, 2020 |
|||
|
ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dorsey Wright Momentum ETF |
0.58% |
|
March 10, 2021 |
|||
|
ProShares Big Data Refiners ETF |
0.58% |
|
July 15, 2021 |
|||
|
ProShares Cloud Security ETF * |
0.58% |
|
July 15, 2021 |
|||
|
ProShares Electric Vehicles ETF * |
0.58% |
|
July 15, 2021 |
|||
|
ProShares Nanotechnology ETF * |
0.58% |
|
July 15, 2021 |
|||
|
ProShares On"Demand ETF * |
0.58% |
|
July 15, 2021 |
|||
|
ProShares S&P Kensho Cleantech ETF |
0.58% |
|
July 15, 2021 |
|||
|
ProShares S&P Kensho Global Crypto & Blockchain ETF * |
0.58% |
|
July 15, 2021 |
|||
|
ProShares S&P Kensho Smart Factories ETF |
0.58% |
|
July 15, 2021 |
|||
|
ProShares Smart Materials ETF * |
0.58% |
|
July 15, 2021 |
|||
[signatures on next page]
A-1
|
PROSHARES TRUST |
PROSHARE ADVISORS LLC |
|||||
|
By: /s/ Todd B. Johnson |
By: /s/ Michael L. Sapir |
|||||
|
|
|
Name: Todd B. Johnson |
|
|
|
Name: Michael L. Sapir |
|
|
Title: President |
|
|
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
||
|
* Not operational as of the date first above written |
|
|
|
|||
A-2
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT for
PROSHARES BITCOIN STRATEGY ETF
AGREEMENT ("Agreement") made as of this 12th day of October, 2021, between ProShare Advisors LLC, a Maryland limited liability company (the "Adviser") and ProShares Trust, a statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust").
WHEREAS, the Adviser is principally engaged in the business of rendering investment management services and is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust is engaged in the business of an investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in separate series with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Trust offers shares in the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (the "Fund");
and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to appoint the Adviser to serve as the investment adviser with respect to the Fund and to provide certain additional services and bear certain expenses associated with the operation of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is willing to provide investment advisory services and certain additional services to the Fund, and to bear certain expenses, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1.Appointment of the Adviser
The Trust hereby appoints the Adviser to act as investment adviser for the Fund for the period and on terms set forth herein. The Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to render services and bear the expenses specified herein for the compensation set forth herein. The Adviser shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided for or authorized, in this Agreement or another writing by the Trust and the Adviser, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.
2.Duties of the Adviser
(a)The Trust acknowledges and agrees that it is contemplated that the Adviser will manage the investment operations and composition of the Fund and render investment advice for the Fund. The Adviser may, at its own expense, select and contract with one or more investment sub-advisers to manage the investment operations and composition of the Fund
1
of the Trust and render investment advice for the Fund. The services provided by the Adviser or any such sub-adviser shall include: (i) furnishing continuously an investment program for the Fund; (ii) managing the investment and reinvestment of Fund assets; (iii) determining which investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged for the Fund and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Fund shall be held uninvested; (iv) making changes on behalf of the Trust in the investments for the Fund; (v) providing the Trust with records concerning the activities that the Trust is required to maintain; (vi) provide recommendations to the Trust's Board of Trustees with respect to the selection of third- party service providers ("Service Providers"), and, at the direction of the Board of Trustees, thereafter: (A) negotiate, coordinate and implement the Trust's contractual obligations with respect to the Fund with such Service Providers; (B) monitor, oversee and review the performance of such Service Providers to ensure adherence to applicable contractual obligations; and (C) prepare or coordinate reports and presentations to the Board of Trustees with respect to such Service Providers as requested or as deemed appropriate; (vii) make available employees of the Advisor to serve as officers and Trustees of the Trust, and pay the salaries and expenses of all such officers and Trustees (except the Chief Compliance Officer and his or her staff); and (viii) rendering reports to the Trust's officers and Board of Trustees concerning the Adviser's discharge of the foregoing responsibilities. Service Providers include, but are not limited to, entities providing custody, administrative and fund accounting services. The Adviser shall furnish to the Trust all office facilities, equipment, services and executive and administrative personnel necessary for managing the investment program of the Trust for the Fund. The Adviser may enter into arrangements with other persons affiliated or unaffiliated with the Adviser for the provision of certain personnel and facilities to the Adviser to enable the Adviser to fulfill its duties and obligations under this Agreement.
(b)The Adviser shall discharge the foregoing responsibilities subject to the supervision and control of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and in compliance with such policies as the Trustees may from time to time establish, the Fund's investment objective and policies as set forth in the then current prospectus and statement of additional information for the Fund contained in the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as amended or supplemented from time to time, the Trust's compliance manual, as in effect from time to time, and applicable laws and regulations.
3.Certain Records and Reports
Any records required to be maintained and preserved pursuant to the provisions of Rule 31a-1 and Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act that are prepared or maintained by the Adviser (or any investment sub-adviser) on behalf of the Trust are the property of the Trust and will be surrendered promptly to the Trust at its request (the "Records"). The Adviser agrees to preserve the Records for the periods prescribed in Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act. The Trust and the Adviser agree to furnish to each other, if applicable, current prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, certified copies of their financial statements, and such other information with regard to their affairs as each may reasonably request. The Adviser shall keep confidential any information obtained in connection with its duties hereunder and disclose such information only if the Trust has authorized
2
such disclosure or if such disclosure is expressly required or lawfully requested by applicable federal or state regulatory authorities.
4.Fees/Allocation of Expenses
(a)For the services to be provided by the Adviser hereunder with respect to the Fund, the Trust shall pay to the Adviser a fee at the rate set forth on Schedule A attached hereto. Schedule A shall be amended from time to time to reflect any change in the fees payable with respect to the Fund duly approved in accordance with Section 10(b) hereunder. All fees payable hereunder shall be accrued daily and paid as soon as practical after the last day of each month.
In any case of commencement or termination of this Agreement with respect to the Fund during any calendar month, the fee with respect to the Fund for that month shall be reduced proportionately based upon the number of calendar days during which it is in effect, and the fee shall be computed upon the average daily net assets of the Fund for the days during which it is in effect.
(b)The Adviser agrees to pay all expenses of each of the Fund, except for: (i) brokerage and other transaction expenses and other fees, charges, taxes, levies or expenses (such as stamp taxes) incurred in connection with the execution of portfolio transactions (except that the Adviser will pay any net account or similar fees charged by futures commission merchants) or in connection with creation and redemption transactions (including without limitation any fees, charges, taxes, levies or expenses related to the purchase or sale of an amount of any currency, or the patriation or repatriation of any security or other asset, related to the execution of portfolio transactions or any creation or redemption transactions); (ii) legal fees or expenses in connection with any arbitration, litigation or pending or threatened
arbitration or litigation, including any settlements in connection therewith; (iii) compensation and expenses of the Trustees of the Trust who are not officers, directors/trustees, partners or employees of the Adviser or its affiliates (the "Independent Trustees"); (iv) compensation and expenses of counsel to the Independent Trustees, (v) compensation and expenses of the Trust's chief compliance officer and his or her staff; (vi) extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the Independent Trustees); (vii) distribution fees and expenses paid by the Trust under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; (viii) interest and taxes of any kind or nature (including, but not limited to, income, excise, transfer and withholding taxes) (except that the Advisor will pay net interest expenses incurred with an investment in reverse repurchase agreements or futures contracts); (ix) fees and expense related to the provision of securities lending services; and (x) the fee payable to the Adviser hereunder. The internal expenses of pooled investment vehicles in which the Fund may invest (acquired fund fees and expenses) are not expenses of the Fund and are not paid by the Adviser; except that the Adviser shall pay internal expenses of any wholly owned subsidiary of the Fund, except for the expenses of the type described in (i) to (x) of Section 4(b) herein, for so long as Adviser serves as investment adviser to such subsidiary. The payment or assumption by the Adviser of any expense of the Fund that the Adviser is not
3
required by this Agreement to pay or assume shall not obligate the Adviser to pay or assume the same or any similar expense of the Trust on any subsequent occasion.
5.Limitation of Liability Under the Declaration of Trust
The Declaration of Trust establishing the Trust provides that no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be subject to any personal liability in connection with Trust property or the affairs of the Trust and that all persons should shall look solely to the Trust property or to the property of the Fund for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust.
6.Regulation
The Adviser shall submit to all regulatory and administrative bodies having jurisdiction over the services provided pursuant to this Agreement any information, reports or other material which any such body by reason of this Agreement may request or require pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
7.Provision of Certain Information by the Adviser
The Adviser will promptly notify the Trust in writing of the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a)the Adviser fails to be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act or under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the Adviser is required to be registered as an investment adviser in order to perform its obligations under this Agreement;
(b)the Adviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board or body, involving the affairs of the Trust; and
(c)the chief executive officer of the Adviser or the portfolio manager of the Fund changes.
8.Limitation of Liability of the Adviser
Neither the Adviser nor its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliated persons or controlling persons or assigns shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust or its shareholders in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates including, without limitation, losses that may be sustained in connection with the purchase, holding, redemption or sale of any security or other investment by the Trust; provided that no provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders resulting from any willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or obligations hereunder, or the reckless disregard of its duties or obligations hereunder.
4
9.Force Majeure
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Adviser shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Trust or its shareholders caused directly or indirectly by circumstances beyond the Adviser's reasonable control including, without limitation, government restrictions, exchange or market rulings, suspensions of trading, acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, labor difficulties, fires, earthquakes, floods or other catastrophes, acts of God, wars, riots or failures of communication or power supply. In the event of equipment breakdowns beyond its reasonable control, the Adviser shall take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions, but shall have no liability with respect thereto.
10.Duration, Termination and Amendment
(a)Duration. This Agreement shall become effective with respect to the Fund on the date hereof. Unless terminated in accordance with this Section 10, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for two years from the date hereof with respect to the Fund. Subsequent to such initial periods of effectiveness, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for periods of one year thereafter with respect to the Fund so long as such continuance with respect to the Fund is specifically approved at least annually (i) by either the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a "majority of the outstanding voting securities" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, and (ii) in either event, by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party ("Independent Trustees") cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. If the shareholders of the Fund fail to approve the Agreement or any continuance of the Agreement as provided herein, the Adviser may continue to serve hereunder in the manner and to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and rules and regulations thereunder. The foregoing requirement that continuance of this Agreement be "specifically approved at least annually" shall be construed in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(b)Amendment. Any amendment to this Agreement that is material shall become effective with respect to the Fund only upon approval of the Adviser, the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Trust cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting such approval and, if required under the 1940 Act, a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund.
(c)Approval, Amendment or Termination by the Fund. Any approval, amendment or termination of this Agreement with respect to the Fund will not require the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any other fund or the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, unless such approval is required by applicable law.
(d)Automatic Termination. This Agreement shall automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act).
5
(e)Termination. This Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Fund at any time, without payment of any penalty, by vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Trust, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Adviser, in each case on not less than 30 days' nor more than 60 days' prior written notice to the other party; provided, that a shorter notice period shall be permitted for the Fund in the event its shares are no longer listed on a national securities exchange.
11.Services Not Exclusive
The services of the Adviser to the Trust hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free to render similar services to others (including other investment companies and to engage in other activities) so long as its services hereunder are not impaired thereby.
12.Use of the Name
The Adviser has consented to the use by the Trust of (a) the name "ProShares" and any derivatives thereof in the name of the Trust and the Fund, and (b) any logos that are now or shall hereafter be associated with the ProShares name. Such consent is conditioned upon the employment of the Adviser or an affiliate as the investment adviser to the Fund. The name "ProShares" and any logos that are associated with the ProShares name may be used from time to time in other connections and for other purposes by the Adviser and any of its affiliates. The Adviser may require the Trust and the Fund cease using "ProShares" in the name of the Trust and the Fund and any logos that are associated with the ProShares name if the Fund ceases to employ, for any reason, the Adviser, any successor thereto or any affiliate thereof as investment adviser of the Fund.
13.Custody
Nothing in this Agreement will require the Adviser to take or receive physical possession of cash, securities or other investments of the Fund.
14.Miscellaneous
(a)Notice. All notices required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered or mailed (i) to the last known business address of the Trust or the Adviser in person, or (ii) by registered mail or a private mail or delivery service providing the sender with notice of receipt, or (iii) by facsimile, email or other electronic transmission. Notice shall be deemed given on the date delivered or mailed in accordance with this section.
(b)Severability. Should any portion of this Agreement for any reason be held to be void in law or in equity, the Agreement shall be construed, insofar as is possible, as if such portion had never been contained herein.
(c)Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Maryland (without giving effect to its conflict of law principles) and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable laws of the
6
State of Maryland, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control.
(d)Execution By Counterpart. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one agreement.
(e)Survival After Termination. The rights and obligations set forth in Sections 5 and 8 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
(f)Permissible Interests. Trustees, officers, agents and shareholders of the Trust are or may be interested in the Adviser (or any successor thereof) as directors, partners, officers, agents, shareholders or otherwise; directors, partners, officers, agents and shareholders of the Adviser are or may be interested in the Trust as Trustees, officers, agents, shareholders or otherwise; and the Adviser (or any successor thereof) is or may be interested in the Trust as a shareholder or otherwise.
(g)Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties.
(g)Liability of the Trust and Fund. It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Trust personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Trust as provided in the Declaration of Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees, and it has been signed by an officer of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the property of the Trust as provided in its Declaration of Trust. With respect to any obligation of the Trust on behalf of the Fund arising hereunder, the Adviser shall look for payment or satisfaction of such obligations solely to the assets and property of the Fund to which such obligation relates as though the Trust had separately contracted with the Adviser by separate written instrument with respect to the Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be executed as of the 12th day of October, 2021.
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PROSHARES TRUST |
PROSHARE ADVISORS LLC |
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By: /s/ Todd B. Johnson |
By: /s/ Michael L. Sapir |
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Name: Todd B. Johnson |
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Name: Michael L. Sapir |
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Title: President |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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7
Schedule A to the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement between ProShares Trust and ProShare Advisors LLC on behalf of ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF
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Fund |
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Fee Rate |
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Effective Date |
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ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF |
0.95% |
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October 12, 2021 |
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PROSHARES TRUST |
PROSHARE ADVISORS LLC |
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By: /s/ Todd B. Johnson |
By: /s/ Michael L. Sapir |
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Name: Todd B. Johnson |
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Name: Michael L. Sapir |
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Title: President |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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A-1
PROSHARES CAYMAN BITCON STRATEGY PORTFOLIO INVESTMENT
ADVISORY AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT ("Agreement") made as of this 16th day of September 2021, between ProShare Advisors LLC, a Maryland limited liability company (the "Adviser") and ProShares Cayman Bitcoin Strategy Portfolio (the "Portfolio"), a company organized under the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands (the "Companies Act").
WHEREAS, the Adviser is principally engaged in the business of rendering investment management services and is registered as an investment adviser under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Portfolio is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF(the "Fund"), an investment company registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Portfolio is authorized to issue and redeem shares in the capital of the Portfolio in accordance with the Companies Act and its Articles of Association; and
WHEREAS, the Portfolio was formed for the purpose of investing substantially all of its assets in commodity, currency, cryptocurrency and/or financial futures and swap transactions; and
WHEREAS, the Portfolio desires to appoint the Adviser to serve as the investment adviser and to provide certain additional services to the Portfolio; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is willing to provide investment advisory services and certain additional services to the Portfolio, and to bear certain expenses, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1.Appointment of the Adviser
The Portfolio hereby appoints the Adviser to act as investment adviser for the Portfolio for the period and on terms set forth herein. The Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to render services and bear the expenses specified herein for the consideration set forth herein. The Adviser shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided for or authorized in this Agreement or another writing between the Portfolio and the Adviser, have no authority to act for or represent the Portfolio in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Portfolio.
2.Duties of the Adviser
(a)The Portfolio acknowledges and agrees that it is contemplated that the Adviser will manage the investment operations and composition of the Portfolio and render investment advice for the Portfolio. The Adviser may, at its own expense, select and contract with one or more investment sub-advisers to manage the investment operations and composition of the Portfolio and render investment advice for the Portfolio. The services provided by the Adviser or any such sub-adviser shall include: (i) furnishing continuously an investment program for the Portfolio; (ii) managing the investment and reinvestment of Portfolio assets; (iii) determining which investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged for the Portfolio and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Portfolio shall be held uninvested; (iv) making changes on behalf of the Portfolio in the investments of the Portfolio; (v) providing the Portfolio with records concerning the activities that the Portfolio is required to maintain; (vi) provide recommendations to the Portfolio's Board of Directors with respect to the selection of third-party service providers ("Service Providers"), and, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, thereafter: (A) negotiate, coordinate and implement the Portfolio's contractual obligations with respect to such Service Providers; (B) monitor, oversee and review the performance of such Service Providers to ensure adherence to applicable contractual obligations; and (C) prepare or coordinate reports and presentations to the Board of Directors with respect to such Service Providers as requested or as deemed appropriate; (vii) make available employees of the Advisor to serve as officers and Directors of the Portfolio, and pay the salaries and expenses of all such officers and; and (viii) rendering reports to the Portfolio's officers and Board of Directors concerning the Adviser's discharge of the foregoing responsibilities. Service Providers include, but are not limited to, entities providing custody, administrative and accounting services. The Adviser shall furnish to the Portfolio all office facilities, equipment, services and executive and administrative personnel necessary for managing the investment program of the Portfolio. The Adviser may enter into arrangements with other persons affiliated or unaffiliated with the Adviser for the provision of certain personnel and facilities to the Adviser to enable the Adviser to fulfill its duties and obligations under this Agreement.
(b)The Adviser shall discharge the foregoing responsibilities subject to (i) the supervision and control of the Board of Directors of the Portfolio, (ii) in compliance with such policies as the Directors may from time to time establish, (iii) the investment objective and strategies, as applicable, set forth in the Fund's then- current registration statement, (iv) the 1940 Act, and (v) the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and rules thereunder as they apply to the operation of the Portfolio.
3.Certain Records and Reports
The Adviser shall retain all records on behalf of the Portfolio as if the Portfolio were registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Any records required to be maintained
and preserved pursuant to the provisions of Rule 3la-1 and Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act that are prepared or maintained by the Adviser (or any investment sub-adviser) on behalf of the Portfolio are the property of the Portfolio and will be surrendered promptly to the Portfolio at its request (the "Records"). The Adviser agrees to preserve the Records for the periods prescribed in Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act. The Portfolio and the Adviser agree to furnish to each other, if applicable, the Portfolio's current prospectuses, the Portfolio's proxy statements, the Portfolio's reports to shareholders, certified copies of the Portfolio's financial statements, and such other information with regard to their affairs as each may reasonably request. The Adviser shall keep confidential any information obtained in connection with its duties hereunder and disclose such information only if the Portfolio has authorized such disclosure or if such disclosure is expressly required or lawfully requested by applicable U.S. federal or state regulatory authorities (as contemplated by section 5 below or otherwise).
4.Fees/ Allocation of Expenses
(a)For the services to be provided by the Adviser hereunder with respect to the Portfolio, the Adviser shall not be entitled to advisory fees for so long as the Adviser, or any affiliated person of the Adviser, serves as investment adviser to the Fund and receives a fee for such services based on the consolidated assets of the Fund and the Portfolio.
(b)The Adviser agrees to pay all expenses of the Portfolio, except for: (i) brokerage and other transaction expenses and other fees, charges, taxes, levies or expenses (such as stamp taxes) incurred in connection with the execution of portfolio transactions or in connection with creation and redemption transactions (including without limitation any fees, charges, taxes, levies or expenses related to the purchase or sale of an amount of any currency, or the patriation or repatriation of any security or other asset, related to the execution of portfolio transactions or any creation or redemption transactions); (ii) legal fees or expenses in connection with any arbitration, litigation or pending or threatened arbitration or litigation, including any settlements in connection therewith; (iii) compensation and expenses of the Directors of the Portfolio who are not officers, directors, partners or employees of the Adviser or its affiliates (the "Independent Directors"); (iv) compensation and expenses of counsel to the Independent Directors, (v) compensation and expenses of the Portfolio's chief compliance officer and his or her staff; (vi) extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the Independent Directors); (vii) distribution fees and expenses paid by the Portfolio; (viii) interest and taxes of any kind or nature (including, but not limited to, income, excise, transfer and withholding taxes); (ix) fees and expense related to the provision of securities lending services; and (x) the fee payable to the Adviser hereunder. The payment or assumption by the Adviser of any expense of the Portfolio that the Adviser is not required by this Agreement to pay or assume shall not obligate the Adviser to pay or assume the same or any similar expense of the Portfolio on any subsequent occasion.
5.Regulation
The Adviser shall submit to all applicable regulatory and administrative bodies having jurisdiction over the services provided pursuant to this Agreement any information, reports or other material which any such body by reason of this Agreement may request or require pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
6.Provision of Certain Information by the Adviser
The Adviser will promptly notify the Portfolio in writing of the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a)the Adviser fails to be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act or under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the Adviser is required to be registered as an investment adviser in order to perform its obligations under this Agreement;
(b)the Adviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board or body, involving the affairs of the Portfolio; or
(c)the chief executive officer of the Adviser or the portfolio manager of Portfolio changes.
7.Limitation of Liability of the Adviser
Neither the Adviser nor its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliated persons or controlling persons or assigns shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Portfolio or its shareholders in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates including, without limitation, losses that may be sustained in connection with the purchase, holding, redemption or sale of any security or other investment by the Portfolio; provided that no provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Portfolio or its shareholders resulting from any willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or obligations hereunder, or the reckless disregard of its duties or obligations hereunder.
8.Force Majeure
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Adviser shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Portfolio or its shareholders caused directly or indirectly by circumstances beyond the Adviser's reasonable control including, without limitation, government restrictions, exchange or market rulings, suspensions of trading, acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, labor difficulties, fires, earthquakes, floods, extreme weather conditions, or other catastrophes, acts of God, widespread disease, including pandemics (for example, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) , wars, riots or failures of communication or power supply. In the event
of equipment breakdowns beyond the Advisor's reasonable control, the Adviser shall take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions, but shall have no liability with respect thereto.
9.Duration, Termination and Amendment
(a)Duration, Termination. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first set forth above. Unless terminated in accordance with this Section 9, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for two (2) years from the date hereof. Subsequent to such initial period of effectiveness, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for period(s) of one (I) year thereafter unless terminated by either party upon ten (10) days' written notice to the other.
(b)Amendment. Any amendment to this Agreement must be signed by both parties.
10.Services Not Exclusive
The services of the Adviser to the Portfolio hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free to render similar services to others (including other investment companies and to engage in other activities) so long as its services hereunder are not impaired thereby.
11.Use of the Name
The Adviser has consented to the use by the Portfolio of (a) the name "ProShares" and any derivatives thereof in the name of the Portfolio, and (b) any logos that are now or shall hereafter be associated with the Pro Shares name. Such consent is conditioned upon the employment of the Adviser or an affiliate as the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The name "ProShares" and any logos that are associated with the ProShares name may be used from time to time in other connections and for other purposes by the Adviser and any of its affiliates. The Adviser may require the Portfolio to cease using "ProShares" in the name of the Portfolio and any logos that are associated with the ProShares name if the Portfolio ceases to employ, for any reason, the Adviser, any successor thereto or any affiliate thereof as investment adviser of a Portfolio.
12.Custody
Nothing in this Agreement will require the Adviser to take or receive physical possession of cash, securities or other investments of the Portfolio.
13.Miscellaneous
(a)Notice. All notices required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered or mailed (i) to the last known business address of the Portfolio or the Adviser in person, or (ii) by registered mail or a private mail or delivery service providing the sender with notice of receipt, or (iii) by facsimile, email or other electronic transmission. Notice shall be deemed given on the date delivered or mailed in accordance with this section.
(b)Address. The address of the Portfolio is:
ProShares Bitcoin Strategy Portfolio c/o Walkers Corporate Limited 190 Elgin Avenue
George Town, Grand Cayman KYl-9009 Cayman Islands
The address of the Adviser is:
ProShare Advisors LLC c/o General Counsel 7501 Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 1000E Bethesda, MD 20814 U.S.A.
(c)Severability. Should any portion of this Agreement for any reason be held to be void in law or in equity, the Agreement shall be construed, insofar as is possible, as if such portion had never been contained herein.
(d)Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands (without giving effect to its conflict of law principles).
(e)Execution by Counterpart. This Agreement, and any amendment, may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one agreement. Facsimile, scanned image or electronic signatures are valid as originals.
(f)Survival after Termination. The rights and obligations set forth in Sections 5 and 8 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
(g)Permissible Interests. Directors, officers, agents and shareholders of the Portfolio are or may be interested in the Adviser (or any successor thereof) as directors, partners, officers, agents, shareholders or otherwise; directors, partners, officers, agents and shareholders of the Adviser are or may be interested in the Portfolio as Directors, officers, agents, shareholders or otherwise; and the Adviser (or any successor thereof) is or may be interested in the Portfolio as a shareholder or otherwise.
(h)Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties.
(i)Liability of the Portfolio. It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Portfolio hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Directors, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Portfolio personally, but shall bind only the Portfolio and the property of the Portfolio. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Directors, and it has been signed by an officer of the Portfolio, acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Directors nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the property of the Portfolio.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be executed as of the date first set forth above.
PROSHARES BITCION STRATEGY PORTFOLIO
By:
/s/ Todd B. Johnson Todd B. Johnson
President
PROSHARE ADVISORS LLC
By:
/s/ Michael L Sapir
Michael L. Sapir
Chief Executive Officer
ROPES & GRAY LLP
PRUDENTIAL TOWER
800 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02199-3600
WWW.ROPESGRAY.COM
October 15, 2021
ProShares Trust
7272 Wisconsin Avenue, 21st Floor
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are furnishing this opinion in connection with the proposed offer and sale by ProShares Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), of shares of beneficial interest of ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (the "Shares"), pursuant to Post-Effective Amendment No. 238 on Form N-1A (the "Post-Effective Amendment") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
We are familiar with the actions taken by the Trustees of the Trust to authorize the issuance of the Shares. We have examined the Trust's Certificate of Trust (as on file in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware), its Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, its Bylaws and such other documents as we deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion. We assume that upon sale of the Shares by the Trust the Trust will receive the net asset value thereof.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Shares, and that, when the Shares are issued and sold, they will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust.
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Ropes & Gray LLP Ropes & Gray LLP