0001571049-16-010434.txt : 20160104 0001571049-16-010434.hdr.sgml : 20160101 20160104090918 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001571049-16-010434 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: POS EX PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 9 FILED AS OF DATE: 20160104 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20160104 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20160104 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: WisdomTree Coal Fund CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001552700 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: [6221] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: POS EX SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-182301 FILM NUMBER: 161316570 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3340 PEACHTREE ROAD STREET 2: SUITE 1910 CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30326 BUSINESS PHONE: 404-239-7941 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3340 PEACHTREE ROAD STREET 2: SUITE 1910 CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30326 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GreenHaven Coal Fund DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20140828 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GREENHAVEN COAL INDEX FUND DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20120620 POS EX 1 t1503058_posex.htm POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-1

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 4, 2016

Registration No. 333-182301

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

Post-Effective Amendment No. 1

to

FORM S-1

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

WISDOMTREE COAL FUND

(f/k/a GREENHAVEN COAL FUND)

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 6221 90-6214629

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

c/o WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC

245 Park Avenue, 35th Floor

New York, NY

(866) 909-9473

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,

of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Ryan Louvar

c/o WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC

245 Park Avenue, 35th Floor

New York, NY

(866) 909-9473

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies of communications to:

Eliot Robinson

Terrence Childers

Bryan Cave LLP

1201 West Peachtree Street, NW

Atlanta, Georgia  30309

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  x

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  x  333-182301

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  o

Non-accelerated filer  x

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Accelerated filer  o

Smaller reporting company  o

 
 
 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

The Registrant is filing this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 pursuant to Rule 462(d) for the sole purpose of replacing exhibits 3.1, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 and adding new exhibits 3.2, 10.5 and 10.6.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 16.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a)  Exhibits. 

 

Exhibit No.

Description

 

3.1 Certificate of Trust of WisdomTree Coal Fund, as amended
3.2 Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement of WisdomTree Coal Fund, as amended
10.1 Form of Commodity Subadvisory Agreement
10.2 Form of Master Custodian Agreement
10.3 Form of Administration Agreement
10.4 Form of Distribution Services Agreement
10.5 Form of Transfer Agency and Services Agreement
10.6

Form of Participant Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York, on January 4, 2016.

 

WISDOMTREE COAL FUND
 
  By: Wisdomtree Coal Services, LLC, Sponsor
 
By: /s/ Gregory Barton
Gregory Barton, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EX-3.1 2 t1503058_ex3-1.htm EXHIBIT 3.1

Exhibit 3.1

 

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

OF

GREENHAVEN COAL FUND

 

 

THIS CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF GREENHAVEN COAL FUND (the “Trust”) is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned to amend the original Certificate of Trust as filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 18, 2012 to form a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq. (as amended from time to time, the “Delaware Act”).

 

1.                  Original Name. The original name of the statutory trust is “GreenHaven Coal Fund.”

 

2.                  Change of Name. The name of the statutory trust is changed to “WisdomTree Coal Fund.”

 

3.                  Name of Trustee Unchanged. The name and business address of the trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware remain unchanged and are: Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, 500 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19801.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 

 

 

 
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate in accordance with Section 3811 of the Delaware Act on the 4th day of January, A.D. 2016.

 

 

 

CHRISTIANA TRUST, A DIVISION OF WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, not in its individual capacity, but solely as trustee
 
 
By:
Name:
Title:

 

 

 


[SIGNATURE PAGE TO CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF TRUST]

 

 

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

OF

GREENHAVEN COAL INDEX FUND

 

THIS CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF GREENHAVEN COAL INDEX FUND (the “Trust”) is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned to amend the original Certificate of Trust as filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 18, 2012 to form a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq. (as amended from time to time, the “Delaware Act”).

 

1.   Original Name.  The original name of the statutory trust is “GreenHaven Coal Index Fund”.

 

2.   Change of Name.  The name of the statutory trust is changed to “GreenHaven Coal Fund.”

 

3.   Trustee Unchanged.  The name and business address of the trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware remain unchanged, and are: CHRISTIANA TRUST, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, 500 Delaware Avenue, 11th floor, Wilmington, DE 19899.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Trust in accordance with Section 3811 of the Delaware Act.

 

  CHRISTIANA TRUST, a division of
  Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, not in
  its individual capacity, but solely as trustee

 

 

  By: /s/ Jeffrey R. Everhart
     
  Name: Jeffrey R. Everhart, AVP
     
  Title:  

  

 

 

  

CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

OF

GREENHAVEN COAL INDEX FUND

 

THIS CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF GREENHAVEN COAL INDEX FUND (the “Trust) is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned to form a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq. (as amended from time to time, the “Delaware Act”).

 

1.    Name.  The name of the statutory trust is “GreenHaven Coal Index Fund”.

 

2.    Trustee.  The name and business address of the trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware is: CHRISTIANA TRUST, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, 500 Delaware Avenue, 11th floor, Wilmington, DE 19899.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Trust in accordance with Section 3811 of the Delaware Act.

 

  CHRISTIANA TRUST, a division of
Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, not in
its individual capacity, but solely as trustee
     
  By: /s/ Jeffrey R. Everhart
  Name: Jeffrey R. Everhart, AVP
  Title:  

 

   

EX-3.2 3 t1503058_ex3-2.htm EXHIBIT 3.2

Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDMENT

TO THE

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT OF

GREENHAVEN COAL FUND

 

 

THIS AMENDMENT TO THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT OF GREENHAVEN COAL FUND, dated as of January 4, 2016 (the “Amendment”), is executed and delivered by the undersigned (the “Sponsor”), being the Sponsor of GreenHaven Coal Fund (the “Trust”), pursuant to Section 10.16 of the Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of January 6th, 2015, of the Trust (the “Trust Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 10.16 of the Trust Agreement, the Sponsor may amend any provisions of the Trust Agreement without the consent of any Shareholder or Beneficial Owner; and

 

WHEREAS, the Sponsor desires to amend the Trust Agreement as specified herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Trust Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

1.Amendment to the name of the Trust.

 

The name of the Trust, GreenHaven Coal Fund, is hereby replaced throughout the Trust Agreement with “WisdomTree Coal Fund.”

 

2.Except to the extent modified herein, the terms and conditions of the Trust Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

3.The Amendment may not be amended nor may any provision hereof be waived without complying with Section 10.16 of the Trust Agreement.

 

4.Any signature to the Amendment may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including PDF) or other transmission method and any signature so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

5.This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

 

SPONSOR:
 
WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC
 
 
 
By:
Name:  Peter M. Ziemba
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Legal
Officer and Secretary

 

 

 


[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT TO TRUST AGREEMENT]

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

GreenHaven Coal Fund
 
Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement
 
GreenHaven Coal Services, LLC,
 
as Sponsor,
 
and
 
Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB,
 
as Trustee
 
Dated as of January 6, 2015
 
 
 

 

 
GreenHaven Coal Fund
Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement
 
Table of Contents
       
 
1
 
1
 
5
 
5
 
5
 
5
 
5
 
7
 
7
 
7
       
 
7
 
7
 
8
 
8
 
8
 
9
 
9
 
10
       
 
10
 
10
 
10
 
11
 
13
 
14
 
14
       
 
14
 
14
 
14
 
17
 
17
 
17
 
19
 
19
 
19
 
19
 
20
       
 
21
 
21
 
21
       
 
21
 
21
 
 
 

 

 
 
21
 
21
 
22
 
22
 
23
 
23
 
24
 
24
 
24
 
24
 
25
       
 
25
 
25
 
25
       
 
25
 
25
 
26
 
26
       
 
27
 
27
 
28
 
28
 
28
 
28
 
28
 
29
 
29
 
29
 
29
 
29
 
29
 
29
 
29
 
29
 
30
 
2
 

 

 
GREENHAVEN COAL FUND
 
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT
 
THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of January 6, 2015, by and between GreenHaven Coal Services, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company, and Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, a federally chartered savings institution, for the purpose of continuing a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth.
 
RECITALS
 
WHEREAS, the Sponsor and the Trustee have heretofore created the Trust by entering into that certain Trust Agreement of GreenHaven Coal Index Fund dated as of June 18, 2012 (the “Original Trust Agreement”), and by the Trustee’s executing and filing that certain Certificate of Trust of GreenHaven Coal Index Fund (as amended or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Trust”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 18, 2012, pursuant to Section 3810 of the Delaware Trust Statute;
 
WHEREAS, the Sponsor and the Trustee have heretofore amended and restated the Original Trust Agreement by that certain Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of August 22, 2012 (the “First Amended Trust Agreement”);
 
WHEREAS, the Sponsor and the Trustee desire to amend and restate the First Amended Trust Agreement in its entirety, to change the name of the Trust from “GreenHaven Coal Index Fund” to “GreenHaven Coal Fund,” and to provide for the matters set forth herein;
 
AGREEMENT
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and pursuant to Section 10.16 of the First Amended Trust Agreement, the Trustee and the Sponsor hereby amend and restate the First Amended Trust Agreement in its entirety and agree as follows:
 
 
Section 1.01     Definitions. As used in this Trust Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:
 
Administrator” means any Person from time to time engaged to provide administrative services to the Trust pursuant to authority delegated by the Sponsor.
 
Affiliate” of a Person means (i) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding with power to vote 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of such Person, (ii) any Person 5% or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held with power to vote by such Person, (iii) any Person, directly or indirectly, controlling, controlled by or under common control of such Person, (iv) any employee, officer, director, member, manager or partner of such Person, or (v) if such Person is an employee, officer, director, member, manager or partner, any Person for which such Person acts in any such capacity.
 
 
 

 

 
Authorized Participant” means a Person that is (1) a registered broker-dealer or other securities market participant, such as a bank or other financial institution that is not required to register as a broker-dealer to engage in securities transactions, (2) a DTC Participant, and (3) has entered into an Authorized Participant Agreement which, at the relevant time, is in full force and effect. Only Authorized Participants may place orders to create or redeem one or more Baskets.
 
Authorized Participant Agreement” means an agreement among the Trust, the Sponsor and an Authorized Participant, in such form as determined by the Sponsor, in its sole discretion.
 
Basket” means a Creation Basket or a Redemption Basket, as the context may require.
 
Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.03(d).
 
Business Day” means any day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which the Exchange is open for regular trading.
 
Capital Contribution” means the amounts of cash or other consideration contributed to the Trust by any Person.
 
Certain K-1 Unitholders” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(d).
 
Certificate of Trust” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
 
Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
Conflicting Provisions” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.05(a).
 
Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office at which at any particular time the corporate trust business of the Trustee is administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 500 Delaware Avenue, 11th Floor, Wilmington, Delaware 19899.
 
Covered Person” means the Trustee, the Sponsor and their respective Affiliates.
 
Creation Basket” means the minimum number of Shares that may be created at any one time, which shall be 50,000 or such greater or lesser number as the Sponsor may determine from time to time.
 
Creation Basket Capital Contribution” means a Capital Contribution made by an Authorized Participant when purchasing a Creation Unit.
 
Delaware Trust Statute” means the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq., as the same may be amended from time to time.
 
Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or such other depository of Shares as may be selected by the Sponsor as specified herein.
 
Depository Agreement” means the Letter of Representations from the Sponsor to the Depository.
 
DTC Participant” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.03(c).
 
2
 

 

 
Exchange” means the NYSE Arca Exchange or, if the Shares shall cease to be listed on the NYSE Arca Exchange, the exchange on which the Shares are principally traded, as determined by the Sponsor.
 
Expenses” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04.
 
First Amended Trust Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
 
GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.
 
Global Security” means the global certificate or certificates, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, issued to the Depository as provided in the Depository Agreement.
 
Indirect Participant” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.03(c).
 
IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or any successor thereto.
 
Net Asset Value” at any time means the total assets of the Trust including, but not limited to, all financial instruments, cash and cash equivalents, securities or other property, less total liabilities of the Trust, determined on the basis of GAAP, consistently applied under the accrual method of accounting.
 
Net Asset Value Per Basket” means the product obtained by multiplying the Net Asset Value Per Share by the number of Shares comprising a Basket at such time.
 
Net Asset Value Per Share” means the quotient obtained by dividing the Net Asset Value by the number of Shares outstanding as of the date of calculation.
 
Original Trust Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
 
Outstanding Shares” means all Shares that are issued by the Trust and reflected as outstanding on the Trust’s books and records as of the date of determination.
 
Percentage Interest” means, as of any date of determination, the amount obtained by dividing (a) the number of Shares held, by (b) the total number of all Outstanding Shares.
 
Person” means any natural person, partnership, limited liability company, trust (including a statutory trust), corporation, association or other entity.
 
Profits and Losses” means the profits and losses of the Trust, each as determined in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied.
 
Prospectus” means the final prospectus and disclosure document of the Trust, constituting a part of a Registration Statement, as filed with the SEC and declared effective thereby, as the same may at any time and from time to time be amended or supplemented.
 
Purchase Order” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(b).
 
3
 

 

 
Redemption Basket” means the minimum number of Shares that may be redeemed pursuant to Section 9.01, which shall be the number of Shares constituting a Creation Basket on the relevant Redemption Order Date.
 
Redemption Distribution” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(c).
 
Redemption Order” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(a).
 
Redemption Order Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(b).
 
Redemption Settlement Time” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).
 
Registration Statement” means an effective registration statement, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed with the SEC pursuant to which the Trust registered the offer and sale of the Shares.
 
SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Shareholders” means the registered holders of Shares.
 
Shares” means the whole and/or fractional common units of undivided beneficial interest in the Trust.
 
Sponsor” means GreenHaven Coal Services, LLC, or any substitute therefore as provided herein, or any successor thereto by merger or operation of law.
 
Sponsor Agreement” means an agreement between the Trust and the Sponsor setting forth, among other things, the Sponsor’s compensation, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
 
Sponsor Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.10(a).
 
Tax Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(d).
 
Transaction Fee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(d).
 
Treasury Regulations” means regulations, including proposed or temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code. References herein to specific provisions of proposed or temporary regulations shall include analogous provisions of final Treasury Regulations or other successor Treasury Regulations.
 
Trust” means GreenHaven Coal Fund, the Delaware statutory trust formerly known as GreenHaven Coal Index Fund and formed pursuant to the Certificate of Trust, the business and affairs of which are governed by this Trust Agreement.
 
Trust Agreement” means this Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement as the same may at any time or from time to time be amended.
 
Trust Estate” means all property and cash held by the Trust, and all proceeds therefrom.
 
4
 

 

 
Trustee” means Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, a federally chartered savings institution, or any successor thereto as provided herein, acting not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee of the Trust.
 
Trustee Indemnified Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04.
 
Section 1.02     Name. The name of the Trust is hereby changed from “GreenHaven Coal Index Fund” to “GreenHaven Coal Fund,” in which name the Sponsor may engage in the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued on behalf of the Trust.
 
Section 1.03     Delaware Trustee; Business Offices.
 
(a)          The initial sole Trustee of the Trust is Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB. The Trustee shall receive service of process on the Trust in the State of Delaware at the Corporate Trust Office. In the event Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, resigns or is removed as the Trustee, a successor trustee of the Trust in the State of Delaware shall serve as the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof.
 
(b)          The principal office of the Trust, and such additional offices as the Sponsor may establish, shall be located at such place or places inside or outside the State of Delaware as the Sponsor may designate from time to time. Initially, the principal office of the Trust shall be at 3340 Peachtree Road, Suite 1910, Atlanta, Georgia 30326.
 
Section 1.04     Declaration of Trust. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust shall continue as a statutory trust under the Delaware Trust Statute and that this Trust Agreement shall constitute the governing instrument of the Trust. It is not the intention of the parties hereto to create a general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, joint stock association, corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a Delaware statutory trust except to the extent that the Trust is deemed to constitute a publicly traded partnership under the Code and applicable state and local tax laws. Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall be construed to make the Shareholders partners or members of a joint stock association. Neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee shall be liable to any person for the failure of the Trust to qualify as a publicly traded partnership under the Code or any comparable provision of the laws of any state or other jurisdiction where such treatment is sought. Effective as of the date hereof, the Trustee and the Sponsor shall have all of the rights, powers and duties set forth herein and in the Delaware Trust Statute with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust. The Trustee has filed the Certificate of Trust required by Section 3810 of the Delaware Trust Statute in connection with the formation of the Trust under the Delaware Trust Statute; and the Sponsor hereby authorizes and directs the Trustee to execute and file a with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware an amendment to the Certificate of Trust in the form attached to this Trust Agreement as Annex A.
 
Section 1.05     Purpose. The purpose of the Trust shall be to enter into any lawful transaction and engage in any business activity of a Delaware statutory trust permitted under the Delaware Trust Statute.
 
Section 1.06     Tax Treatment.
 
(a)          By accepting Shares or interests therein, the Shareholders and/or Beneficial Owners and, by entering into this Trust Agreement, the Sponsor, each (i) expresses its intention that the Shares will qualify under applicable tax law as interests in a publicly traded partnership (not taxable as an association) that holds the Trust Estate for their benefit, (ii) agrees that it will file its own U.S. federal, state and local income, franchise and other tax returns in a manner that is consistent with the treatment of the Trust as a publicly traded partnership in which each of the Shareholders thereof is a partner, and (iii) agrees to use reasonable efforts to notify the Sponsor promptly upon receipt of any notice from any taxing authority having jurisdiction over such holders of Shares with respect to the treatment of the Shares as anything other than interests in a publicly traded partnership.
 
5
 

 

 
(b)          The Tax Matters Partner (as defined in Section 6231 of the Code and any corresponding state and local tax law) initially shall be the Sponsor. The Sponsor, at the expense of the Trust, shall prepare or cause to be prepared and filed tax returns for the Trust (but not the Shareholders) as a partnership for U.S. federal, state and local tax purposes and shall be authorized to perform all duties imposed by Section 6221 et seq. of the Code, including, without limitation: (i) the power to conduct all audits and other administrative proceedings with respect to tax items; (ii) the power to extend the statute of limitations for all Shareholders with respect to tax items; (iii) the power to file a petition with an appropriate U.S. federal court for review of a final administrative adjustment; and (iv) the power to enter into a settlement with the IRS on behalf of, and binding upon, the Shareholders. The designation made by each Shareholder in this Section 1.06(b), either directly or indirectly as a holder of Shares, is hereby approved by each Shareholder as an express condition to becoming a Shareholder. Each Shareholder agrees to take any further action as may be required by regulation or otherwise to effectuate such designation. Subject to Section 4.10, the Trust hereby indemnifies, to the full extent permitted by law, the Sponsor 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 as Tax Matters Partner; provided, that such action taken or omitted to be taken does not constitute fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct.
 
(c)          Each Shareholder shall furnish the Sponsor with information necessary to enable the Sponsor to comply with U.S. federal income tax information reporting requirements in respect of such Shareholder’s Shares.
 
(d)          The Trust shall make the election under Code Section 754 in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the Sponsor’s determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Shareholders. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Code Section 743(b), the Tax Matters Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Share will be deemed to be the weighted average closing price of the Shares on any Exchange on which such Shares are traded during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur.
 
(e)          Except as otherwise provided herein, the Tax Matters Partner shall determine whether the Trust should make any other elections permitted by the Code.
 
(f)           The Beneficial Owners who are of a type, as identified by the nominee through whom their Shares are held, that do not ordinarily have U.S. federal tax return filing requirements (collectively, “Certain K-1 Unitholders”) have designated the Sponsor as their tax agent (the “Tax Agent”) in dealing with the Trust. In light of such designation and pursuant to Treasury Regulation section 1.6301(b)-1T(c), as amended from time to time, the Trust will provide to the Tax Agent Certain K-1 Unitholders statements (as such term is defined under Treasury Regulation section 1.6031(b)-1T(a)(3), as amended from time to time. For all other Beneficial Owners who are not Certain K-1 Unitholders the Tax Matters Partner shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Shareholder, or the broker or nominee through which a Beneficial Owner owns its Shares, a Form K-1 and such other information, if any, with respect to the Trust as may be necessary for the preparation of the U.S. 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.
 
6
 

 

 
(g)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, the Tax Matters Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Trust to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other U.S. federal, state, local or foreign law including pursuant to Code Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446 and 1471 through 1474. To the extent that the Trust is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Shareholder (including by reason of Code Section 1446), the Tax Matters Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 3.06 or Section 6.01 or an expense in the amount of such withholding with regard to such Shareholder. To maintain the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of the Shares, the Tax Matters Partner is also authorized instead to allocate the amount withheld or paid, whether treated as a distribution, expense or otherwise, to all current Shareholders.
 
Section 1.07     Limited Liability of the Sponsor.
 
(a)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, the Sponsor shall not be considered, treated as or have the duties (at law or in equity) or the liabilities of, a general partner if the Trust were considered a partnership under Delaware law. All Shares held by the Sponsor shall have the same rights and limited liabilities created or imposed hereunder as those issued to Shareholders unaffiliated with the Sponsor. Notwithstanding anything in this Trust Agreement to the contrary, Persons having any claim against the Trust by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Trust Agreement and any other agreement, instrument, obligation or other undertaking to which the Trust is a party, shall look only to the Trust Estate for payment or satisfaction thereof. The ownership of Shares is not a condition for any Person to serve as the Sponsor.
 
(b)          Subject to Section 7.01 and Section 7.03, no Shareholder, including the Sponsor, shall have any personal liability for any liability or obligation of the Trust.
 
Section 1.08     Legal Title. Legal title to all of the Trust Estate shall be vested in the Trust as a separate legal entity; provided, however, that where applicable law in any jurisdiction requires any part of the Trust Estate to be vested otherwise, the Sponsor may cause legal title to the Trust Estate or any portion thereof to be held by or in the name of the Sponsor or any other Person (other than a Shareholder or the Trustee) as nominee.
 
Section 1.09     Commencement of Business. The commencement of the Trust’s business and the sale of the Shares to the respective Authorized Participants pursuant to each Authorized Participant Agreement shall commence at such time as the Sponsor shall determine.
 

Section 2.01     Trustee Term; Resignation.
 
(a)          Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, has been appointed and hereby agrees to serve as the Trustee of the Trust solely for purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Trust Statute. The Trust shall have only one trustee unless otherwise determined by the Sponsor. The Trustee shall serve until such time as the Sponsor removes the Trustee or the Trustee resigns and a successor Trustee is appointed by the Sponsor in accordance with the terms of Section 2.05.
 
(b)          The Trustee may resign at any time upon the giving of at least sixty (60) days’ advance written notice to the Trust; provided, that such resignation shall not become effective unless and until a successor Trustee shall have been appointed by the Sponsor in accordance with Section 2.05. If the Sponsor shall not have notified the Trustee within such sixty (60) day period that it has appointed a successor Trustee, the Trustee may apply, at the expense of the Trust, to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
 
7
 

 

 
Section 2.02     Powers of the Trustee. Except as set forth in Section 1.03(a) and this Article II, the duty and authority to manage the business and affairs of the Trust is hereby vested exclusively in the Sponsor, which duty and authority the Sponsor may delegate as provided herein, all pursuant to Section 3806(b)(7) of the Delaware Trust Statute. The Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the powers of the Sponsor as described in this Trust Agreement. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for the vesting of managerial authority as aforesaid, shall have no duty to supervise or monitor the Sponsor’s performance of its duties and responsibilities hereunder, and the Trustee shall not have any of the duties and responsibilities of the Sponsor described in this Trust Agreement. The Trustee shall be a Trustee for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Trust Statute. The Trustee shall have only the rights, obligations and liabilities specifically provided for herein and shall have no implied rights, duties, obligations and liabilities with respect to the business and affairs of the Trust or otherwise. The Trustee shall have the power and authority to execute and file certificates as required by the Delaware Trust Statute and to accept service of process on the Trust in the State of Delaware. The Trustee shall provide prompt notice to the Sponsor of its performance of any of the acts referred to in the immediately preceding sentence. The Sponsor shall reasonably keep the Trustee informed of any actions taken by the Sponsor with respect to the Trust that would reasonably be expected to affect the rights, obligations or liabilities of the Trustee hereunder or under the Delaware Trust Statute.
 
Section 2.03     Compensation and Expenses of the Trustee. The Trustee shall be entitled to receive from the Sponsor or its Affiliate reasonable compensation for its services hereunder as set forth in a separate fee agreement, and shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Sponsor or its Affiliate for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Trustee in the performance of its duties hereunder, including without limitation, the reasonable compensation, out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements of counsel and such other agents as the Trustee may employ in connection with the exercise and performance of its rights and duties hereunder, all as set forth in a separate fee agreement.
 
Section 2.04     Indemnification of the Trustee. The Sponsor agrees (and any additional Sponsor admitted pursuant to Section 4.02(g) will be deemed by reason of and concurrent with such admission to agree), whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, to assume liability for, and does hereby indemnify, protect, save and keep harmless the Trustee and its successors, assigns, legal representatives, officers, directors, employees, agents and servants (each a “Trustee Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, taxes (excluding any taxes payable by the Trustee on or measured by any compensation received by the Trustee for its services hereunder or any indemnity payments received by the Trustee pursuant to this Section 2.04), claims, actions, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements (including legal fees and expenses) of any kind and nature whatsoever (collectively, “Expenses”), which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against a Trustee Indemnified Party in any way relating to or arising out of the formation, existence, operation or termination of the Trust, the execution, delivery and performance of any other agreements to which the Trust is a party or the action or inaction of the Trustee hereunder or thereunder, except for Expenses resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of a Trustee Indemnified Party. The indemnities contained in this Section 2.04 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement or the removal or resignation of the Trustee.
 
8
 

 

 
Section 2.05     Successor Trustee. Upon the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the Sponsor shall appoint a successor Trustee by delivering a written instrument to the outgoing Trustee. Any successor Trustee must satisfy the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Trust Statute. Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall not become effective until a written acceptance of appointment is delivered by the successor Trustee to the outgoing Trustee and the Sponsor, and any fees and expenses due to the outgoing Trustee are paid or waived by the outgoing Trustee. Following compliance with the preceding sentence, the successor Trustee shall become fully vested with all of the rights, powers, duties and obligations of the outgoing Trustee under this Trust Agreement, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee, and the outgoing Trustee shall be discharged of its duties and obligations under this Trust Agreement. Notwithstanding, the foregoing, any business entity into which the 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 Trustee shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall, subject to the requirement that any successor meet the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Trust Statute, be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto or such successor Trustee.
 
Section 2.06     Liability of the Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in this Article II, in accepting the trust created hereby, the Trustee acts solely as Trustee hereunder and not in its individual capacity, and all Persons having any claim against the Trustee by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Trust Agreement and any other agreement to which the Trust is a party shall look only to the Trust Estate for payment or satisfaction thereof. The Trustee shall not be liable or accountable hereunder to the Trust or to any other Person or under any other agreement to which the Trust is a party, except for the Trustee’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct. In particular, but not by way of limitation:
 
(a)          the Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the validity or sufficiency of this Trust Agreement or for the form, character, genuineness, sufficiency, value or validity of any Trust Estate;
 
(b)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the instructions of the Sponsor;
 
(c)          the Trustee shall not have any liability for the acts or omissions of the Sponsor or its delegatees;
 
(d)          the Trustee shall not be liable for its failure to supervise the performance of any obligations of the Sponsor or its delegatees or any Authorized Participant;
 
(e)          no provision of this Trust Agreement shall require the Trustee to act or expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its rights or powers hereunder if the Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that such action, repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured or provided to it;
 
(f)         under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable for indebtedness evidenced by or other obligations of the Trust arising under this Trust Agreement or any other agreements to which the Trust is a party; and
 
(g)          the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement, or to institute, conduct or defend any litigation under this Trust Agreement or any other agreements to which the Trust is a party, at the request, order or direction of the Sponsor or any Shareholder unless the Sponsor or such Shareholder has offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by the Trustee (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) therein or thereby.
 
9
 

 

 
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall not be required to take any action in any jurisdiction other than in the State of Delaware if the taking of such action will (i) require the consent, approval, authorization or order of, or the giving of notice to, or the registration with or taking of any action in respect of, any state or other governmental authority or agency of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware, (ii) result in any fee, tax or other governmental charge under the laws of any jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof in existence as of the date hereof other than the State of Delaware becoming payable by the Trustee, or (iii) subject the Trustee to personal jurisdiction, other than in the State of Delaware, for causes of action arising from personal acts unrelated to the consummation of the transactions by the Trustee, as the case may be, contemplated hereby.
 
To the extent that, at law or in equity, the Trustee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust, the Shareholders or to any other Person, the Trustee acting under this Trust Agreement shall not be liable to the Trust, the Shareholders or to any other Person for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Trust Agreement. The provisions of this Trust Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Trustee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Trustee.
 
Section 2.07     Payments to the Trustee. Any amounts paid to the Trustee pursuant to this Article II shall be deemed not to be a part of the Trust Estate immediately after such payment.  
 

 
(a)         The Sponsor shall have the power and authority, without Shareholder approval, to issue Shares from time to time as it deems necessary or desirable. The number of Shares authorized shall be unlimited, without par value, and the Shares so authorized may be represented in part by fractional Shares. From time to time, the Sponsor may divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests. The Sponsor may issue Shares for such consideration and on such terms as it may determine (or for no consideration if pursuant to a Share dividend or split-up), all without action or approval of the Shareholders. All Shares when so issued on the terms determined by the Sponsor shall be fully paid and non-assessable. The Sponsor may hold as treasury Shares, reissue for such consideration and on such terms as it may determine, or cancel, at its discretion from time to time, any Shares reacquired by the Trust. Unless otherwise determined by the Sponsor, treasury Shares shall not be deemed cancelled.
 
(b)        Every Shareholder, by virtue of having purchased or otherwise acquired a Share, shall be deemed to have expressly consented and agreed to be bound by the terms of this Trust Agreement.
 
 
(a)         General. The procedures specified in the Authorized Participant Agreement will govern the Trust with respect to the creation and issuance of Creation Baskets. Subject to the limitations upon and requirements for the issuance of Creation Baskets stated herein, the number of Creation Baskets that may be issued by the Trust is unlimited.
 
(b)         Deposit with the Depository. Upon issuing a Creation Basket pursuant to a purchase order to subscribe for and agree to purchase one or more Creation Baskets (such request by an Authorized Participant, a “Purchase Order”), the Sponsor will cause the Trust to deposit the Creation Basket with the Depository in accordance with the Depository’s customary procedures, for credit to the account of the Authorized Participant that submitted the Purchase Order.
 
10
 

 

 
(c)          Rejection. The Sponsor shall have the absolute right, but shall have no obligation, acting through itself or the Administrator or other delegatee, to reject any Purchase Order or Creation Basket Capital Contribution: (i) determined by the Sponsor not to be in proper form; (ii) believed by the Sponsor to have adverse tax consequences to the Trust or the Shareholders; (iii) if circumstances outside the control of the Sponsor make it, for all practical purposes, not feasible to process creations of Creation Baskets; (iv) if the Sponsor believes that it or the Trust would be in violation of any securities or commodities rules or regulations regarding position limits or otherwise by accepting such Purchase Order; or (v) for any additional reasons as set forth in the Prospectus. None of the Sponsor, the Administrator or any other Sponsor delegatee shall be liable to any Person by reason of the rejection of any Purchase Order or Creation Basket Capital Contribution.
 
(d)          Transaction Fee. A non-refundable transaction fee will be payable by an Authorized Participant to the Trust with respect to each Purchase Order pursuant to this Section and each Redemption Order of such Authorized Participant pursuant to Section 9.01 (each a “Transaction Fee”). The Transaction Fee charged in connection with each such creation and redemption shall be as set forth in the Prospectus. The Transaction Fee may subsequently be waived, modified, reduced, increased or otherwise changed by the Sponsor. The Sponsor shall notify the Depository of any agreement to change the Transaction Fee and shall not implement any increase until thirty (30) days after the date of that notice.
 
(e)          Global Certificate Only. Certificates for Creation Baskets will not be issued, other than the Global Security issued to the Depository. So long as the Depository Agreement is in effect, Creation Baskets will be issued and redeemed and Shares will be transferable solely through the book-entry systems of the Depository and the DTC Participants and their Indirect Participants as more fully described in Section 3.03. The Depository may determine to discontinue providing its service with respect to Creation Baskets and Shares by giving notice to the Sponsor pursuant to and in conformity with the provisions of the Depository Agreement and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Sponsor shall take action either to find a replacement for the Depository to perform its functions on terms acceptable to the Sponsor or, if such a replacement is unavailable, to terminate the Trust.
 
 
(a)          Global Security. The Trust and the Sponsor will enter into the Depository Agreement pursuant to which the Depository will act as securities depository for Shares. Shares will be represented by the Global Security (which may consist of one or more certificates as required by the Depository), which will be registered, as the Depository shall direct, in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for the Depository and deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depository. No other certificates evidencing Shares will be issued. The Global Security shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and shall represent such Shares as shall be specified therein, and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Shares from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Shares represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect creations or redemptions of Baskets. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of outstanding Shares represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon instructions given by the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust as specified in the Depository Agreement.
 
(b)          Legend. Any Global Security issued to the Depository or its nominee shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the Trust or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is required by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.”
 
11
 

 

 
(c)          The Depository. The Depository has advised the Trust and the Sponsor as follows: The Depository is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Depository was created to hold securities of its participants (each a “DTC Participant”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in such securities among the DTC Participants through electronic book-entry changes, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own the Depository. Access to the Depository’s system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (each an “Indirect Participant”).
 
(d)          Beneficial Owners. As provided in the Depository Agreement, upon the settlement date of any creation, transfer or redemption of Shares, the Depository credits or debits on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the amount of Shares so created, transferred or redeemed to the accounts of the appropriate DTC Participants.  The Sponsor and the Authorized Participants designate the accounts to be credited and charged in the case of a creation or redemption of Baskets. Beneficial ownership of the Shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Owners of beneficial interests in Shares (each a “Beneficial Owner”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by the Depository (with respect to DTC Participants), the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants) and the records of Indirect Participants (with respect to Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants or Indirect Participants). Beneficial Owners are expected to receive from or through the broker or bank maintaining the account through which the Beneficial Owner has purchased its Shares a written confirmation relating to such purchase.
 
(e)          Reliance on Procedures. So long as Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depository, is the registered owner of Shares, references herein to the registered or record owners of Shares shall mean Cede & Co. and shall not mean the Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not be entitled to have Shares registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificates in definitive form and will not be considered the record or registered holder of Shares under this Trust Agreement. Accordingly, to exercise any rights of a holder of Shares under the Agreement, a Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of the Depository and, if such Beneficial Owner is not a DTC Participant, on the procedures of each DTC Participant or Indirect Participant through which such Beneficial Owner holds its interests. The Trust and the Sponsor understand that under existing industry practice, if the Trust requests any action of a Beneficial Owner, or a Beneficial Owner desires to take any action that the Depository, as the record owner of all outstanding Shares, is entitled to take, in the case of a Trust request, the Depository will notify the DTC Participants regarding such request, such DTC Participants will in turn notify each Indirect Participant holding Shares through it, with each successive Indirect Participant continuing to notify each person holding Shares through it until the request has reached the Beneficial Owner, and in the case of a request or authorization to act being sought or given by a Beneficial Owner, such request or authorization is given by the Beneficial Owner and relayed back to the Trust through each Indirect Participant and DTC Participant through which the Beneficial Owner’s interest in the Shares is held.
 
12
 

 

 
(f)           Communication between the Trust and the Beneficial Owners. As described above, the Trust will recognize the Depository or its nominee as the owner of all Shares for all purposes except as expressly set forth in this Trust Agreement. Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners will be effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depository Agreement, the Depository is required to make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Trust a listing of the Share holdings of each DTC Participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding Shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with sufficient copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participant an amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
 
(g)          Distributions. Distributions on Shares pursuant to Section 3.06 shall be made to the Depository or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered owner of all Shares. The Trust and the Sponsor expect that the Depository or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of distributions in respect of Shares, shall credit immediately the DTC Participant’s account with payments in amounts proportionate to its respective beneficial interests in Shares as shown on the records of the Depository or its nominee. The Trust and the Sponsor also expect that payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners held through such DTC Participants and Indirect Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. None of the Trust, the Trustee or the Sponsor will have any responsibility or liability for any aspects of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in Shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests or for any other aspect of the relationship between the Depository and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants or Indirect Participants or between or among the Depository, any Beneficial Owner and any person by or through which such Beneficial Owner is considered to own Shares.
 
(h)          Limitation of Liability. The Global Security to be issued hereunder is executed and delivered solely on behalf of the Trust by the Sponsor, as Sponsor, in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it by this Trust Agreement. The representations, undertakings and agreements made on the part of the Trust in the Global Security are made and intended not as personal representations, undertakings and agreements by the Sponsor or the Trustee, but are made and intended for the purpose of binding only the Trust. Nothing in the Global Security shall be construed as creating any liability on the Sponsor or the Trustee, individually or personally, to fulfill any representation, undertaking or agreement other than as expressly provided in this Trust Agreement.
 
(i)           Successor Depository. If a successor Depository shall be employed hereunder, the Trust and the Sponsor shall establish procedures acceptable to such successor with respect to the matters addressed in this Section 3.03.
 
Section 3.04     Assets. All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares together with all of the Trust Estate in which such consideration is invested, all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, shall belong to the Trust for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors of the Trust and except as may otherwise be required by applicable tax laws, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust.
 
13
 

 

 
Section 3.05     Liabilities. The Trust Estate shall be charged with the liabilities of the Trust and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to the Trust. The Sponsor shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with applicable law, to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items shall be treated as capital, and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders.
 
 
(a)          Distributions on Shares may be paid, with such frequency as the Sponsor may determine, to the Shareholders from such of the income and capital gains, accrued or realized, from the Trust Estate, after providing for actual and accrued liabilities. Except to the extent the Sponsor otherwise determines, all distributions on Shares thereof shall be distributed to the Shareholders according to their Percentage Interests at the date and time of record established for the payment of such distribution and in accordance with Section 3.03(g). Such distributions may be made in cash or Shares as determined by the Sponsor or pursuant to any program that the Sponsor may have in effect at the time for the election by each Shareholder of the mode of the making of such distribution to that Shareholder.  Nothing in this Section 3.05 shall obligate the Sponsor to cause the Trust to make any distributions.
 
(b)          Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, no distribution including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust, or any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares shall be affected by the Trust other than from the assets held by the Trust.
 

Section 4.01     Management of the Trust. Pursuant to Sections 3806(a) and 3806(b)(7) of the Delaware Trust Statute, the business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed by the Sponsor in lieu of the Trustee with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by law.  The Sponsor shall have power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches and maintain offices both within and without the State of Delaware, in any and all states of the U.S., in the District of Columbia, in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies or possessions of the U.S., and in any foreign jurisdiction and to do all such other things and execute all such instruments as it deems necessary, proper or desirable to promote the interests of the Trust. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Sponsor in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Trust Agreement, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Sponsor. The enumeration of any specific power in this Trust Agreement shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power. The powers of the Sponsor may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.
 
Section 4.02     Authority of the Sponsor. In addition to and not in limitation of any rights and powers conferred by law or other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the Sponsor shall have and may exercise on behalf of the Trust, all powers and rights necessary, proper, convenient or advisable to effectuate and carry out the purposes, business and objectives of the Trust, which shall include, without limitation, the following:
 
(a)          to enter into, execute, deliver and maintain, and to cause the Trust to perform its obligations under, contracts, agreements and any or all other documents and instruments, and to do and perform all such things as may be in furtherance of Trust purposes or necessary or appropriate for the offer and sale of the Shares and the conduct of Trust activities;
 
(b)          to establish, maintain, deposit into, sign checks and/or otherwise draw upon accounts on behalf of the Trust with appropriate banking and savings institutions, and execute and/or accept any instrument or agreement incidental to the Trust’s business and in furtherance of its purposes, any such instrument or agreement so executed or accepted by the Sponsor in the Sponsor’s name shall be deemed executed and accepted on behalf of the Trust by the Sponsor;
 
14
 

 

 
(c)         to deposit, withdraw, pay, retain and distribute the Trust Estate or any portion thereof in any manner consistent with the provisions of this Trust Agreement;
 
(d)         to supervise the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto;
 
(e)         to pay or authorize the payment of distributions to the Shareholders and expenses of the Trust;
 
(f)          to make any elections on behalf of the Trust under the Code or any other applicable U.S. federal or state tax law as the Sponsor shall determine to be in the best interests of the Trust;
 
(g)         in the sole discretion of the Sponsor, to admit an Affiliate or Affiliates of the Sponsor as additional Sponsors;
 
(h)         to make any necessary determination or decision in connection with the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements and amendments thereto, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
 
(i)          to prepare, file and distribute, if applicable, any periodic reports or updates that may be required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Commodity Exchange Act, or the rules and regulations thereunder;
 
(j)          to execute, file, record and/or publish all certificates, statements and other documents and do any and all other things as may be appropriate for the formation, qualification and operation of the Trust and for the conduct of its business in all appropriate jurisdictions;
 
(k)         to appoint and remove independent public accountants to audit the accounts of the Trust;
 
(l)          to employ attorneys to represent the Trust;
 
(m)        to adopt, implement or amend, from time to time, such disclosure and financial reporting information gathering and control policies and procedures as are necessary or desirable to ensure compliance with applicable disclosure and financial reporting obligations under any applicable securities laws;
 
(n)         to enter into an Authorized Participant Agreement on behalf of the Trust and discharge the duties and responsibilities of the Trust thereunder;
 
(o)         to receive directly, or indirectly through the Administrator or another Person, Purchase Orders and process or cause the Administrator to process properly submitted Purchase Orders;
 
(p)         in connection with Purchase Orders, to receive directly, or indirectly through another Person, on behalf of the Trust, Creation Share Capital Contributions from Authorized Participants and thereupon issue or cause to be issued to a purchasing Authorized Participant through the Depository the Shares to be purchased in connection with the Purchase Order;
 
15
 

 

 
(q)         to receive directly, or indirectly through the Administrator or another Person, Redemption Orders from Authorized Participants and process or cause the Administrator to process properly submitted Redemption Orders;
 
(r)          to receive directly, or indirectly through the Administrator or another Person, the Shares subject to a Redemption Order from a redeeming Authorized Participant through the Depository, and thereupon cancel or cause to be cancelled the Shares so redeemed in connection with such Redemption Order;
 
(s)         to cause the Trust to enter into one or more asset custodial agreements and collateral maintenance or management agreements on terms and conditions acceptable to the Sponsor;
 
(t)          to cause the Trust to purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such insurance as the Sponsor may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustee (both in its individual capacity and in its capacity as Trustee), Sponsor, officers, employees, agents, consultants, investment advisers, managers, administrators, distributors, principal underwriters, or independent contractors, or any thereof (or any person connected therewith), of the Trust individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person in any such capacity, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability;
 
(u)         to authorize the Trust to enter into one or more administration, transfer agency and accounting agreements and agreements for such other services necessary or appropriate to carry out the business and affairs of the Trust with any party or parties on terms and conditions acceptable to the Sponsor, including but not limited to agreements with legal counsel and an independent registered public accounting firm;
 
(v)         to interact with the Depository as required;
 
(w)        to enter into and perform, or cause the performance of, the Sponsor Agreement on terms and conditions acceptable to the Sponsor;
 
(x)         to prosecute, defend, settle or compromise actions or claims at law or in equity as may be necessary or proper to enforce or protect the Trust’s interests (the Sponsor shall satisfy any judgment, decree or decision of any court, board or authority having jurisdiction or any settlement of any suit or claim prior to judgment or final decision thereon, first, out of any insurance proceeds available therefor, and second, out of the Trust’s assets);
 
(y)         to delegate those of its duties hereunder as it shall determine from time to time to one or more officers of the Trust, the Administrator or other Persons; and
 
(z)         in general, to carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the foregoing powers, to do everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power herein set forth, either alone or in association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to or growing out of or connected with the aforesaid business or purposes, objects or powers.
 
16
 

 

 
The foregoing clauses shall be construed both as objects and powers, and the foregoing enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the general powers of the Sponsor. Any action by the Sponsor hereunder shall be deemed an action on behalf of the Trust, and not an action in an individual capacity.
 
 
(a)          Unless otherwise assumed by the Sponsor, the Sponsor is authorized to pay or cause to be paid out of the Trust Estate any fees and expenses of the Trust that are extraordinary or non-recurring in nature, including (without limitation) legal claims and liabilities, litigation costs or indemnification or other unanticipated expenses.
 
(b)          Subject to subsection (c) below, the Sponsor shall be responsible for all organizational and offering expenses of the Trust, and for the routine operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses of the Trust, including (without limitation) fees for the Trustee’s ordinary services and reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses as provided herein, the fees and expenses reimbursable to the Administrator and other service providers of the Trust, listing fees of the Exchange, registration fees charged by the SEC and other regulatory and self-regulatory organizations, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and expenses and legal fees and expenses.
 
(c)          At the option of the Sponsor, expenses incurred in connection with organizing the Trust and the initial offering of the Shares will be paid by the Sponsor, subject to reimbursement by the Trust. Expenses incurred in connection with the continuous offering of Shares after the commencement of the Trust’s trading operations also will be paid by the Sponsor, subject to reimbursement by the Trust.
 
Section 4.04     Liability of Covered Persons. A Covered Person shall have no liability to the Trust or to any Shareholder, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant 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 gross negligence or willful misconduct 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 Shareholder, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant or assignee thereof, it being expressly agreed that any such return of capital or profits made pursuant to this Trust Agreement shall be made solely from the assets of the Trust without any rights of contribution from any Covered Person. A Covered Person shall not be liable for the conduct or misconduct of any delegatee selected by the Sponsor pursuant to Section 4.07; provided, however, that in the case of the Sponsor the foregoing shall only apply if the Sponsor made such selection with reasonable care.
 
 
(a)          The parties hereto expressly agree to eliminate, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law, any and all duties at law or in equity (including fiduciary duties) that may be applicable to the Sponsor in the Sponsor’s management of the Trust and performance under this Trust Agreement other than any duties expressly imposed by the provisions of this Trust Agreement. To the fullest extent permitted by law and pursuant to Section 3806(e) of the Delaware Trust Statute, the Sponsor and its Affiliates shall have no liabilities, at law or in equity, for breaches of duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Trust, the Shareholders, the Beneficial Owners, the Authorized Participants or any other Person under this Trust Agreement or otherwise in its management of the Trust. To the fullest extent permitted by Section 3806(e) of the Delaware Trust Statute, the Sponsor acting under this Agreement shall not be liable, at law or in equity, for breaches of this Trust Agreement to the Trust, the Shareholders, the Beneficial Owners, the Authorized Participants or any other Person for its management of the Trust and its performance under this Trust Agreement, provided that such management and performance is within the standard of care set forth herein. The provisions of this Trust Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities of the Sponsor and its Affiliates otherwise existing at law or in equity are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Sponsor.
 
17
 

 

 
(b)          Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:
 
(i)         whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Trust or any Shareholder or any other Person, on the other hand; or

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

the Sponsor 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 Sponsor, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the Sponsor shall not constitute a breach of this Trust Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the Sponsor at law or in equity or otherwise.
 
(c)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement or of applicable law, whenever in this Trust Agreement the Sponsor is permitted or required to make a decision
 
(i)          in its “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority, 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 Shareholder, any Beneficial Owner, any Authorized Participant or any other Person; or
 
(ii)         in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the Sponsor shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard.
 
(d)          The Sponsor and any of its 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 Sponsor. If 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 Sponsor shall not be liable to the Trust or to the Shareholders, the Beneficial Owners or the Authorized Participants for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that the Sponsor pursues or acquires for, or directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Trust. Neither the Trust nor any Shareholder, Beneficial Owner or Authorized Participant shall have any rights or obligations by virtue of this Trust 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 wrongful or improper. Except to the extent expressly provided herein, the Sponsor may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Trust, the Shareholders, the Beneficial Owners, the Authorized Participants or any of their respective Affiliates.
 
18
 

 

 
 
(a)          The Sponsor does not assume any obligation and it shall not be subject to any liability under this Trust Agreement to any Shareholder, Beneficial Owner or Authorized Participant (including liability with respect to the worth of the Trust Estate), except that it agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Trust Agreement without gross negligence or bad faith.
 
(b)          The Sponsor shall not be under any obligation to prosecute any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any portion of the Trust Estate or in respect of the Shares on behalf of a Shareholder, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Participant or other Person.
 
(c)          The Sponsor shall not be liable for any action or non-action by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any Authorized Participant, any Shareholder or any other Person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information.
 
(d)          The Sponsor shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor Sponsor, whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Sponsor or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the resignation of the Sponsor; provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Sponsor performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Sponsor.
 
(e)          The Sponsor shall have no obligation to comply with any direction or instruction from any Shareholder, Beneficial Owner or Authorized Participant regarding Shares except to the extent specifically provided in this Trust Agreement.
 
Section 4.07     Delegation of Obligations of the Sponsor. The Sponsor may at any time delegate all or a portion of its duties and obligations under this Trust Agreement to another entity, including the Administrator, without the consent of the Trustee, any Shareholder and any Beneficial Owner. The Sponsor may terminate the delegation to such other entity at any time and is not required to appoint a replacement therefor.
 
Section 4.08     Compensation to the Sponsor. The Sponsor shall be entitled to compensation for its services as Sponsor of the Trust and allowances for certain Trust administrative expenses as set forth in the Sponsor Agreement.
 
Section 4.09     Other Business of Shareholders. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, any of the Shareholders and any shareholder, officer, director, member, manager, employee or other person holding a legal or beneficial interest in an entity which is a Shareholder, may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of every nature and description, independently or with others, and the pursuit of such ventures, even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper.
 
19
 

 

 
 
(a)          The Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law the Sponsor and its Affiliates, successors, assigns, legal representatives, officers, directors, employees, agents and servants (each a “Sponsor Indemnified Party”) against all claims, losses, liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments or settlements, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by any Sponsor Indemnified Party, in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Sponsor Indemnified Party may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Sponsor Indemnified Party may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of any alleged act or omission as a Sponsor Indemnified Party or by reason of his or her being or having been such a Sponsor Indemnified Party except with respect to any matter as to which such Sponsor Indemnified Party shall have been finally adjudicated in any such action, suit or other proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Sponsor Indemnified Party’s action was in the best interests of the Trust and except that no Sponsor Indemnified Party shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Sponsor Indemnified Party, and provided further that any such indemnification will only be recoverable from the Trust Estate. All rights to indemnification permitted herein and payment of associated expenses shall not be affected by the dissolution or other cessation to exist of the Sponsor Indemnified Party, or the withdrawal, adjudication of bankruptcy or insolvency of the Sponsor Indemnified Party, or the filing of a voluntary or involuntary petition in bankruptcy under Title 11 of the Code by or against the Sponsor Indemnified Party.
 
(b)          Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.10(a), a Sponsor Indemnified Party and any Person acting as broker-dealer for the Trust shall not be indemnified for any losses, liabilities or expenses arising from or out of an alleged violation of U.S. federal or state securities laws unless (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee and the court approves the indemnification of such expenses (including, without limitation, litigation costs), (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular indemnitee and the court approves the indemnification of such expenses (including, without limitation, litigation costs) or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and related costs should be made.
 
(c)          The Trust shall not incur the cost of that portion of any insurance which insures any party against any liability, the indemnification of which is herein prohibited.
 
(d)          The term “Sponsor Indemnified Party” as used only in this Section 4.10 shall include, in addition to the Sponsor, any other Sponsor Indemnified Party performing services on behalf of the Trust and acting within the scope of the Sponsor’s authority as set forth in this Trust Agreement.
 
(e)          In the event the Trust is made a party to any claim, dispute, demand or litigation or otherwise incurs any loss, liability, damage, cost or expense as a result of or in connection with any Shareholder’s (or assignee’s) obligations or liabilities unrelated to Trust business, such Shareholder (or assignees cumulatively) shall indemnify, defend, hold harmless, and reimburse the Trust for all such loss, liability, damage, cost and expense incurred, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees.
 
(f)          Expenses, including counsel fees, so incurred by any such Sponsor Indemnified Party (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties) shall be paid from time to time by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Sponsor Indemnified Party to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Section 4.10.
 
20
 

 

 

Section 5.01     General Prohibition. A Shareholder may not sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or pledge, hypothecate or in any manner encumber any or all of its Shares or any part of its right, title and interest in the capital or profits in the Trust except as permitted in this Article V and any act in violation of this Article V shall not be binding upon or recognized by the Trust (regardless of whether the Sponsor shall have knowledge thereof), unless approved in writing by the Sponsor.
 
Section 5.02     Transfer of Shares. Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants may transfer Shares by instructing the DTC Participant or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owners hold their Shares to transfer the Shares. Beneficial Owners that are DTC Participants may transfer the Shares by instructing the Depository in accordance with the rules of the Depository and standard securities industry practice.
 
 
Section 6.01     Liability for State and Local and Other Taxes. In the event that the Trust shall be separately subject to taxation by any state or local or by any foreign taxing authority, the Trust shall be obligated to pay such taxes to such jurisdiction. In the event that the Trust shall be required to make payments to any Federal, state or local or any foreign taxing authority in respect of any Shareholder’s allocable share of income, the amount of such taxes shall be considered a loan by the Trust to such Shareholder, and such Shareholder shall be liable for, and shall pay to the Trust, any taxes so required to be withheld and paid over by the Trust within ten (10) days after the Sponsor’s request therefore. Such Shareholder shall also be liable for (and the Sponsor shall be entitled to redeem additional Shares of the foreign Shareholder as necessary to satisfy) interest on the amount of taxes paid over by the Trust to the IRS or other taxing authority, from the date of the Sponsor’s request for payment to the date of payment or the redemption, as the case may be, at the rate of two percent (2%) over the prime rate charged from time to time by Citibank, N.A. The amount, if any, payable by the Trust to the Shareholder in respect of its Shares so redeemed, or in respect of any other actual distribution by the Trust to such Shareholder, shall be reduced by any obligations owed to the Trust by the Shareholder, including, without limitation, the amount of any taxes required to be paid over by the Trust to the IRS or other taxing authority and interest thereon as aforesaid. Amounts, if any, deducted by the Trust from any actual distribution or redemption payment to such Shareholder shall be treated as an actual distribution to such Shareholder for all purposes of this Trust Agreement.
 

Section 7.01    No Management or Control; Limited Liability; Exercise of Rights through DTC. The Shareholders shall not participate in the management or control of the Trust’s business nor shall they transact any business for the Trust or have the power to sign for or bind the Trust, said power being vested solely and exclusively in the Sponsor. Except as provided in Section 7.03, no Shareholder shall be bound by, or be personally liable for, the expenses, liabilities or obligations of the Trust in excess of its Capital Contribution plus its share of any Trust Estate in which such Shareholder owns a Share and the Trust’s remaining profits, if any. Except as provided in Section 7.03, each Share owned by a Shareholder shall be fully paid and no assessment shall be made against any Shareholder. No salary shall be paid to any Shareholder in its capacity as a Shareholder, nor shall any Shareholder have a drawing account or earn interest on its contribution. By the purchase and acceptance or other lawful delivery and acceptance of Shares, each Beneficial Owner shall be deemed to be a Shareholder and beneficiary of the Trust and vested with beneficial undivided interest in the Trust to the extent of the Shares owned beneficially by such Beneficial Owner, subject to the terms and conditions of this Trust Agreement. The rights of Beneficial Owners under this Trust Agreement must be exercised by DTC Participants acting on their behalf in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depository, as provided in Section 3.03.
 
21
 

 

 
Section 7.02     Rights and Duties. The Shareholders shall have the following rights, powers, privileges, duties and liabilities:
 
(a)         The Shareholders shall have the right to obtain from the Sponsor information regarding all things affecting the Trust, provided that such is for a purpose reasonably related to the Shareholders’ interest as a beneficial owner of the Trust.
 
(b)         The Shareholders shall receive the share of the distributions provided for in this Trust Agreement in the manner and at the times provided for in this Trust Agreement.
 
(c)         Except for the Shareholders’ redemption rights set forth in Article IX hereof, Shareholders shall have the right to demand the return of their capital account only upon the dissolution and winding up of the Trust and only to the extent of funds available therefor. In no event shall a Shareholder be entitled to demand or receive property other than cash. No Shareholder shall have priority over any other Shareholder either as to the return of capital or as to profits, losses or distributions. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring an action for partition against the Trust.
 
(d)         Except as required under applicable U.S. federal law or under the rules or regulations of an Exchange, the Shareholders shall have no voting rights hereunder (including with respect to mergers, consolidations or conversions of the Trust or transfers to or domestication in any jurisdiction by the Trust or any other matters that under the Delaware Trust Statute default voting rights are provided to holders of beneficial interests). The Shareholders shall have the right to vote on other matters only as the Sponsor may consider desirable and so authorize in its sole discretion. To the extent that U.S. federal or Delaware law is amended, modified or interpreted by rule, regulation, order, or no-action letter to (on a mandatory basis) expand, eliminate or limit Shareholders’ right to vote on any specific matter, the Shareholders’ right to vote shall be deemed to be amended, modified or interpreted in accordance therewith without further approval by the Sponsor or the Shareholders.
 
(e)         No action may be brought by a Shareholder on behalf of the Trust unless Shareholders owning no less than a majority of the then outstanding Shares join in the bringing of such action.
 
Except as set forth above, the Shareholders shall have no voting or other rights with respect to the Trust.

Section 7.03     Limitation on Liability.
 
(a)         Except as provided in Section 4.10(e) and Section 6.01, and as otherwise provided under Delaware law, the Shareholders shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the general corporation law of Delaware and no Shareholder shall be liable for claims against, or debts of the Trust in excess of his Capital Contribution and his share of the applicable Trust Estate and undistributed profits. In addition, and subject to the exceptions set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the Trust shall not make a claim against a Shareholder with respect to amounts distributed to such Shareholder or amounts received by such Shareholder upon redemption unless, under Delaware law, such Shareholder is liable to repay such amount.
 
(b)         The Trust shall indemnify to the full extent permitted by law and the other provisions of this Trust Agreement, and to the extent of the applicable Trust Estate, each Shareholder against any claims of liability asserted against such Shareholder solely because it is a beneficial owner of one or more Shares as a Shareholder (other than for taxes for which such Shareholder is liable under Section 6.01).
 
22
 

 

 
(c)          Every written note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Sponsor shall give notice to the effect that the same was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust and that the obligations of such instrument are not binding upon the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust, and no resort shall be had to the Shareholders’ personal property for satisfaction of any obligation or claim thereunder, and appropriate references may be made to this Trust Agreement and may contain any further recital which the Sponsor deems appropriate, but the omission thereof shall not operate to bind the Shareholders individually or otherwise invalidate any such note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking. Nothing contained in this Section 7.03 shall diminish the limitation on the liability of the Trust to the extent set forth elsewhere herein, including Section 3.05.
 
Section 7.04     Voting Power and Meetings.
 
(a)          Meetings of the Shareholders may be called by the Sponsor for such purposes as may be prescribed by law or this Trust Agreement. Except as required by law or as provided for herein, there shall be no annual or regular Shareholders’ meetings.
 
(b)          On each matter, if any, submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all Shares shall be voted as a single class. As determined by the Sponsor, in its sole discretion, without the vote or consent of Shareholders, on any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders either (i) each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote or (ii) each dollar of value (number of Shares owned times Net Asset Value per Share) shall be entitled to one vote on any matter on which such Shares are entitled to vote and each fractional dollar amount shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. The Sponsor hereby establishes that each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy or in any manner determined by the Sponsor.
 
(c)          A meeting of Shareholders shall be held at any place designated by the Sponsor.
 
Section 7.05     Notice of Shareholders’ Meeting.
 
(a)          All notices of meetings of Shareholders shall be sent or otherwise given to each Shareholder of record not less than seven (7) nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days before the date of the meeting in the manner determined by the Sponsor. The notice shall specify: (i) the place, date and hour of the meeting; and (ii) the general nature of the business to be transacted.
 
(b)          Any Shareholders’ meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time by the Sponsor or by the vote of a majority of the Shares represented at that meeting, either in person or by proxy. When any meeting of Shareholders is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless a new record date of the adjourned meeting is fixed or unless the adjournment is for more than sixty (60) days from the date set for the original meeting, in which case the Sponsor shall set a new record date. Notice of any such adjourned meeting shall be given to each Shareholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting. At any adjourned meeting, the Trust may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
 
23
 

 

 
Section 7.06     Voting Procedure. The Trust shall be authorized to solicit, and a Shareholder shall be entitled to submit a proxy ballot containing the voting instructions of such Shareholder, in person, or by U.S. mail, overnight mail, express mail, telephone, electronic mail, telefacsimile, telegraph, internet or other electronic media; provided, however, that the Sponsor may limit or delineate the types of media and methods by which a Shareholder may submit voting instructions. On any matter any Shareholder may vote part of the Shares in favor of the proposal and refrain from voting the remaining Shares or vote them against the proposal, but if the Shareholder fails to specify the number of Shares that the Shareholder is voting affirmatively, it will be conclusively presumed that the Shareholder’s approving vote is with respect to the total Shares that the Shareholder is entitled to vote on such proposal.
 
Section 7.07      Quorum and Required Vote.
 
(a)         Except when a larger quorum is required by applicable law or by this Trust Agreement, the presence (in person or by ballot) of thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the Shares entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders’ meeting. Any meeting of Shareholders may be adjourned consistent with the provisions of Section 7.05, whether or not a quorum is present. When a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the Shares represented at the meeting shall decide any questions except when a different vote is required by any provision of this Trust Agreement or by applicable law.
 
(b)         Any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Trust Agreement or U.S. federal law) consent to the action in writing or by other electronic means (such as via telephone or the internet) and such written consent or a record of such electronic consent is filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
 
Section 7.08     Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, the Sponsor may from time to time fix a date, which shall be not more than one-hundred and twenty (120) days before the date of any meeting of Shareholders, as the record date for determining the Shareholders having the right to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof, and in such case only Shareholders of record on such record date shall have such right, notwithstanding any transfer of Shares on the books of the Trust after the record date. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Sponsor may from time to time fix a date, which shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other payment, as the record date for determining the Shareholders having the right to receive such dividend or distribution. Without fixing a record date the Sponsor may for voting and/or distribution purposes close the register or transfer books for all or any part of the period between a record date and a meeting of Shareholders or the payment of a distribution.
 
Section 7.09     Waiver of Notice by Consent of Absent Shareholders. Any Shareholder may waive notice, which waiver may be submitted by U.S. mail, overnight mail, express mail, telephone, electronic mail, telefacsimile, telegraph, internet or other electronic media. The waiver of notice need not specify either the business to be transacted or the purpose of any meeting of Shareholders. Attendance by a person at a meeting shall also constitute a waiver of notice of that meeting, except when the person objects at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to object to the consideration of matters not included in the notice of the meeting if that objection is expressly made at the beginning of the meeting.
 
24
 

 

 
Section 7.10     Proxies. Every person entitled to vote on any matter shall have the right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a written or electronic proxy authorized by the person and filed with the Sponsor. A proxy shall be deemed authorized if the Shareholder’s name is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, telephonic or internet transmission or otherwise) by the Shareholder or the Shareholder’s attorney-in-fact. A validly authorized proxy that does not state that it is irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect unless (i) revoked by the person executing it before the vote pursuant to that proxy by a writing delivered to the Trust stating that the proxy is revoked or by a subsequent proxy executed by, or attendance at the meeting and voting in person by, the person executing that proxy; or (ii) written notice of the death or incapacity of the maker of that proxy is received by the Trust before the vote pursuant to that proxy is counted; provided, however, that no proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven months from the date of the proxy unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
 

Section 8.01     Maintenance of Share Register. The Trust shall keep at its principal office or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar, if either be appointed and as determined by the Sponsor, a record of its Shareholders, containing the names and addresses of all Shareholders and the number of Shares held by each Shareholder.
 
Section 8.02     Maintenance of Other Records. The accounting books and records and minutes of proceedings of the Shareholders and the Sponsor shall be kept at such place or places designated by the Sponsor or, in the absence of such designation, at the principal office of the Trust. The minutes shall be kept in written form and the accounting books and records shall be kept either in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form.
 

Section 9.01     Redemption of Redemption Baskets. The following procedures, as supplemented by the more detailed procedures specified in the Authorized Participant Agreement, will govern the Trust with respect to the redemption of Redemption Baskets.
 
(a)          On any Business Day, an Authorized Participant with respect to which an Authorized Participant Agreement is in full force and effect may redeem one or more Redemption Baskets standing to the credit of the Authorized Participant on the records of the Depository by delivering a request for redemption to the Administrator (such request, a “Redemption Order”) in the manner specified in the procedures specified in the Authorized Participant Agreement.
 
(b)          To be effective, a Redemption Order must be submitted on a Business Day by the order cut-off time identified in the applicable Authorized Participant Agreement in form satisfactory to the Sponsor (the Business Day on which the Redemption Order is so submitted, the “Redemption Order Date”). The Sponsor may reject a Redemption Order if the order is not in proper form as described in the Authorized Participant Agreement or if the fulfillment of the order, in the opinion of counsel, might be unlawful, and the Sponsor shall have no liability to any Person for rejecting a Redemption Order in such circumstances.
 
(c)          Subject to deduction of any tax or other governmental charges due thereon, the redemption distribution (“Redemption Distribution”) shall consist of cash in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the number of Redemption Baskets set forth in the relevant Redemption Order by (ii) the Net Asset Value Per Basket as of the time described in the Prospectus.
 
25
 

 

 
(d)          The Redemption Distribution will be delivered to a designated account of the Authorized Participant at 12:00 p.m., New York time, on the next Business Day immediately following the Redemption Order Date (the “Redemption Settlement Time”) if, by such time, the Fund’s account at the Depository has been credited with the Redemption Baskets being tendered for redemption and the Administrator has by such time received the Transaction Fee. If the Fund’s account at the Depository has not been credited with all of the Redemption Baskets being tendered for redemption by such time, the Redemption Distribution will be delivered to the extent of whole Redemption Baskets received. Any remainder of the Redemption Distribution will be delivered on the next Business Day to the extent of remaining whole Baskets received if the Trust receives the fee applicable to the extension of the Redemption Settlement Time that the Sponsor may, from time to time, determine, and the remaining Redemption Baskets being tendered for redemption are credited to the Fund’s account at the Depository by 12:00 p.m., New York time, on such next Business Day. Any further outstanding amount of the Redemption Order shall be cancelled. The Sponsor may cause the Redemption Distribution to be delivered notwithstanding that the Redemption Baskets being tendered for redemption are not credited to the Fund’s account at the Depository by 12:00 p.m., New York time, on the next Business Day immediately following the Redemption Order Date if the Authorized Participant has collateralized its obligation to deliver the Redemption Baskets through the Depository’s book entry system on such terms as the Sponsor may from time to time determine.
 
(e)          The Sponsor may, in its discretion, suspend the right of redemption, or postpone the Redemption Settlement Date: (i) for any period during which the Exchange is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings, or trading is suspended or restricted; (ii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which delivery, disposal or evaluation of the Trust’s assets is not reasonably practicable; (iii) for such other period as the Sponsor determines to be necessary for the protection of Beneficial Owners; or (iv) for any other period as specified in the applicable Authorized Participant Agreement or Prospectus. The Sponsor is not liable to any Person or in any way for any loss or damages that may result from any such suspension or postponement.
 
(f)           Redemption Baskets effectively redeemed pursuant to the provisions of this Section 9.01 shall be cancelled by the Trust in accordance with the Depository’s procedures.
 
Section 9.02     Other Redemption Procedures. The Sponsor from time to time may, but shall have no obligation to, establish procedures with respect to redemption of Shares in lot sizes smaller than the Redemption Basket and permitting the Redemption Distribution to be in a form, and delivered in a manner, other than that specified in Section 9.01.
 
Section 9.03     Mandatory Redemption by the Trust. Upon the provision by the Sponsor of at least fifteen (15) days written notice to a Shareholder, the Sponsor may for any reason or no reason at all, in its sole discretion, require the mandatory redemption of all or part of the Shares held by such Shareholder at the net asset value per Share calculated as of the date of redemption; provided, however, that the provision of the written notice to a Shareholder does not obligate the Fund to affect any redemption. If the Sponsor does not give at least fifteen (15) days written notice to a Shareholder, then it may only require mandatory redemption of all or any portion of the Shares held by any such Shareholder in the following circumstances: (i) the Shareholder made a misrepresentation to the Trust or the Sponsor in connection with its purchase of Shares, or (ii) the Shareholder’s ownership of Shares would result in the violation of any law or regulation applicable to the Trust or a Shareholder. Upon redemption of Shares pursuant to this ‎Section 9.03, the Trust shall promptly cause payment of the full redemption price to be made to such Shareholder for Shares so redeemed.
 
26
 

 

 

Section 10.01     Termination of the Trust.
 
(a)            Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time. The Trust may be dissolved at any time and for any reason, or no reason at all, by the Sponsor. The Sponsor shall set a date on which the Trust shall dissolve and mail notice of that dissolution to the Shareholders. The Shareholders shall have no rights to terminate or revoke the Trust.
 
(b)            On or after dissolution of the Trust, after paying or making reasonable provision for all charges, taxes, expenses, claims and liabilities of the Trust, whether due or accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the Sponsor and otherwise complying with Section 3808 of the Delaware Trust Statute, the Sponsor shall wind up the business and affairs of the Trust in accordance with Section 3808 of the Delaware Trust Statute. Subject to the payment or the reasonable provision of such payment by the Sponsor of the claims and obligations of the Trust, as required by Section 3808 of the Delaware Trust Statute, the Shareholders of the Trust, will, upon (i) surrender of their Shares, (ii) payment of any Transaction Fee and (iii) payment of any applicable taxes or other governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to them or upon their order, of the amount of applicable Trust Estate represented by those Shares as determined by the Sponsor, less any amount owing by such Shareholder. The Sponsor shall not accept any delivery of Baskets after the date of dissolution. If any Shares remain outstanding after the date of dissolution of the Trust, the Sponsor thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of such Shares, shall not make any distributions to Shareholders and shall not give any further notices, except that the Sponsor shall continue to collect distributions pertaining to the Trust Estate and hold the same uninvested and without liability for interest, pay pursuant to Section 3808 of the Delaware Trust Statute the Trust’s expenses as set forth in this Trust Agreement and sell Trust assets as necessary to meet those expenses and shall continue to deliver the Trust Estate, together with any distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any other property, in exchange for Shares surrendered to the Sponsor (after deducting or upon payment of, in each case, the Transaction Fee for the surrender of Shares, any expenses for the account of the Shareholder of such Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Trust Agreement and any applicable taxes or other governmental charges) or otherwise under such other procedures the Sponsor deems, in its discretion, to be appropriate. At any time after the expiration of ninety (90) days following the date of dissolution of the Trust, the Sponsor may sell, or cause the sale of, the Trust Estate and may thereafter, after complying with Section 3808 of the Delaware Trust Statute, cause to be held uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Shareholders of the Shares that have not theretofore been surrendered.
 
(c)            Upon the completion of the winding up of the Trust in accordance with the Delaware Trust Statute and this Trust Agreement, the Sponsor shall cause the Trustee to file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (at the expense of the Sponsor) in accordance with the provisions of Section 3810 of the Delaware Trust Statute and thereupon, the Trust and this Trust Agreement (other than Section 2.04), shall terminate. The provisions of Section 2.04 shall survive the termination of the Trust. After making such filing, the Trustee and the Sponsor shall be discharged from all obligations under this Trust Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, any fees, expenses, taxes or other governmental charges payable by the Trust, the Transaction Fees for the surrender of Shares and any expenses for the account of the Shareholder of such Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Trust Agreement and any applicable taxes or other governmental charges).
 
27
 

 

 
Section 10.02     Merger and Consolidation.
 
(a)            The Sponsor may cause (i) the Trust to be merged into or consolidated with, converted to or to sell all or substantially all of its assets to, another trust or entity; (ii) the Shares of the Trust to be converted into beneficial interests in another statutory trust (or series thereof); or (iii) the Shares of the Trust to be exchanged for shares in another trust or company under or pursuant to any state or U.S. federal statute to the extent permitted by law. For the avoidance of doubt, the Sponsor, with written notice to the Shareholders, may approve and effect any of the transactions contemplated under this Section without any vote or other action of the Shareholders.
 
(b)            In accordance with Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Trust Statute, an agreement of merger or consolidation may affect any amendment to this Trust Agreement or effect the adoption of a new trust agreement of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting business trust following a merger or consolidation.
 
Section 10.03     Filing of Copies. The original or a copy of this Trust Agreement and of each restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by the Sponsor as to whether or not any such restatements and/or amendments have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by the Sponsor to be a copy of this instrument or of any such restatements and/or amendments.
 
Section 10.04     Governing Law. This Trust Agreement is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Trust Statute. The Sponsor may construe any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement insofar as the same may appear to be ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions hereof, and any such construction hereof by the Sponsor in good faith shall be conclusive as to the meaning to be given to such provisions. In construing this Trust Agreement, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Sponsor.
 
Section 10.05     Provisions In Conflict With Law or Regulations.
 
(a)            The provisions of this Trust Agreement are severable, and if the Sponsor shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any one or more of such provisions (the “Conflicting Provisions”) are in conflict with the Code, the Delaware Trust Statute or other applicable U.S. federal or state laws, the Conflicting Provisions shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Trust Agreement, even without any amendment of this Trust Agreement pursuant hereto; provided, however, that such determination by the Sponsor shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions of this Trust Agreement or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. Neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee shall be liable for making or failing to make such a determination.
 
(b)            If any provision of this Trust Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such holding shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect or render invalid or unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Trust Agreement in any jurisdiction.
 
Section 10.06     Contracts and Instruments; How Executed. The Sponsor may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Trust and this authority may be general or confined to specific instances; and unless so authorized or ratified by the Sponsor or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Trust by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
 
28
 

 

 
Section 10.07     Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall be fixed and refixed or changed from time to time by resolution of the Sponsor. The initial fiscal year of the Trust shall be from January 1 to December 31.
 
Section 10.08     Counterparts. This Trust Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, and all so executed shall constitute one agreement, binding upon all of the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all the parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart.
 
 
(a)            In this Trust Agreement or in any such amendment, references to this Trust Agreement, and all expressions such as “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and as amended or affected by any such amendment.
 
(b)            Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only, and in case of any conflict, the text of this instrument, rather than the headings, shall control.
 
(c)            Whenever the singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural; and the neuter, masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as applicable.
 
Section 10.10     Notices. All notices or communications under this Trust Agreement (other than requests for redemption of Shares, notices of assignment, transfer, pledge or encumbrance of Shares, and reports and notices by the Sponsor to the Shareholders) shall be in writing and shall be effective upon personal delivery, or if sent by mail, postage prepaid, or if sent electronically, by facsimile or by overnight courier; and addressed, in each such case, to the address set forth in the books and records of the Trust or such other address as may be specified in writing, of the party to whom such notice is to be given, upon the deposit of such notice in the United States mail, upon transmission and electronic confirmation thereof or upon deposit with a representative of an overnight courier, as the case may be. Requests for redemption, notices of assignment, transfer, pledge or encumbrance of Shares shall be effective upon timely receipt by the Sponsor in writing.
 
Section 10.11     Binding Nature of Trust Agreement. The terms and provisions of this Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, custodians, executors, estates, administrators, personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns of the respective Shareholders. For purposes of determining the rights of any Shareholder or assignee hereunder, the Trust and the Sponsor may rely upon the Trust records as to who are Shareholders and permitted assignees, and all Shareholders and assignees agree that the Trust and the Sponsor, in determining such rights, shall rely on such records and that Shareholders and assignees shall be bound by such determination.
 
Section 10.12     No Legal Title to the Trust Estate. Subject to the provisions of Section 1.08 in the case of the Sponsor, the Shareholders shall not have legal title to any part of the Trust Estate.
 
Section 10.13     Creditors. No creditors of any Shareholders shall have any right to obtain possession of, or otherwise exercise legal or equitable remedies with respect to, the Trust Estate.
 
Section 10.14     Integration. This Trust Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
 
Section 10.15     Goodwill; Use of Name. No value shall be placed on the name or goodwill of the Trust, which shall belong exclusively to GreenHaven Coal Services, LLC.
 
29
 

 

 
 
(a)            The Sponsor may amend any provisions of this Trust Agreement without the consent of any Shareholder or Beneficial Owner. Any amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges) or prejudices a substantial existing right of the Shareholders will not become effective until thirty (30) days after notice of such amendment is given, or caused to be given, by the Sponsor to the Shareholders. Every Shareholder 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 Trust Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of a Shareholder to redeem Baskets and receive therefor the amount of the Trust Estate, except to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, no amendment to this Trust Agreement may be made if, as a result of such amendment, it would cause the Trust to be taxable as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
 
(b)           No amendment shall be made to this Trust Agreement without the consent of the Trustee if such amendment adversely affects any of its rights, duties or liabilities.

 
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
 
30
 

 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
 
 
 
 
CHRISTIANA TRUST, A DIVISION OF WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB,
as Trustee
 
 
 
By:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name:
 
 
Title:
 
 
 
GREENHAVEN COAL SERVICES, LLC,
as Sponsor
 
 
 
By:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name: Cooper Anderson
 
 
Title: Chief Financial Officer

All Shareholders now and hereafter admitted as Shareholders of the Trust and reflected in the records maintained by the Depository, the DTC Participants or the Indirect Participants, as the case may be, as Shareholders from time to time, pursuant to powers of attorney now and hereafter executed in favor of, and granted and delivered to, the Sponsor by each of the Shareholders
 
 
 
By:
 
GREENHAVEN COAL SERVICES, LLC,
 
 
as attorney-in-fact
 
 
 
By:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name: Cooper Anderson
 
 
Title: Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 

 

 
ANNEX A

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
GREENHAVEN COAL INDEX FUND
 
THIS CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF GREENHAVEN COAL INDEX FUND (the “Trust”) is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned to amend the original Certificate of Trust as filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 18, 2012 to form a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq. (as amended from time to time, the “Delaware Act”).
 
1. Original Name. The original name of the statutory trust is “GreenHaven Coal Index Fund”.
 
2. Change of Name. The name of the statutory trust is changed to “GreenHaven Coal Fund.”
 
3. Trustee Unchanged. The name and business address of the trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware remain unchanged, and are: CHRISTIANA TRUST, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, 500 Delaware Avenue, 11th floor, Wilmington, DE 19899.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Trust in accordance with Section 3811 of the Delaware Act.
       
  CHRISTIANA TRUST, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, not in its individual capacity, but solely as trustee
       
 
By:  
   
 
Name:
 
 
Title:
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
EXHIBIT A

FORM OF GLOBAL CERTIFICATE

CERTIFICATE OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
 
-Evidencing-
 
All Shares
 
-In-
 
GREENHAVEN COAL FUND

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE TRUST OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
 
This is to certify that CEDE & CO. is the owner and registered holder of this Certificate evidencing the ownership of all issued and outstanding shares (“Shares”), each of which represents a fractional undivided unit of beneficial interest in GreenHaven Coal Fund (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust formed under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq.) pursuant to a Certificate of Trust, dated as of and filed in the offices of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 18, 2012, and a Trust Agreement dated as of June 18, 2012, as amended and restated by that certain Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of August 22, 2012, and further amended and restated by that certain Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of January 6, 2014, by and among GreenHaven Coal Services, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company, as Sponsor, Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, a federally chartered savings institution, as Trustee, and the shareholders from time to time thereunder (hereinafter called the “Trust Agreement”), copies of which are available at the principal offices of the Trust.

The holder of this Certificate, by virtue of the purchase and acceptance hereof, assents to and shall be bound by the terms of the Trust Agreement, copies of which are on file and available for inspection at reasonable times during business hours at the principal office of the Trust, to which reference is made for all the terms, conditions and covenants thereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Certificate shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Trust Agreement.

At any given time this Certificate shall represent all Shares of beneficial interest in the Trust, which shall be the total number of Shares that are outstanding at such time. The Trust Agreement provides for the deposit of cash with the Trust from time to time and the issuance by the Trust of Creation Baskets representing the undivided units of beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust. At the request of the registered holder, this Certificate may be exchanged for one or more Certificates issued to the registered holder in such denominations as the registered holder may request; provided, however, that, in the aggregate, the Certificates issued to the registered holder hereof shall represent all Shares outstanding at any given time.
 
A-I
 
 
 

 

 
Each Authorized Participant hereby grants and conveys all of its rights, title and interest in and to the Trust to the extent of the undivided interest represented hereby to the registered holder of this Certificate subject to and in pursuance of the Trust Agreement, all the terms, conditions and covenants of which are incorporated herein as if fully set forth at length.

The registered holder of this Certificate is entitled at any time upon tender of this Certificate to the Trust, endorsed in blank or accompanied by all necessary instruments of assignment and transfer in proper form, at its principal office in the State of New York and, upon payment of any tax or other governmental charges, to receive at the time and in the manner provided in the Trust Agreement, such holder’s ratable portion of the assets of the Trust for each Redemption Basket tendered and evidenced by this Certificate.
 
The Trust may deem and treat the person in whose name this Certificate is registered upon the books of the Trust as the owner hereof for all purposes and the Trust shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.
 
The Trust Agreement permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof, by the Sponsor with the consent of the Beneficial Owners holding Shares (excluding Shares held by the Sponsor and its Affiliates) equal to at least a majority (over 50%) of the net asset value of the Trust or such higher percentage as may be required by applicable law, and upon receipt of an opinion of independent legal counsel to the effect that the amendment is legal, valid and binding and will not adversely affect the limitations on liability of the Beneficial Owners; provided, however, that the Sponsor may, without the approval of the Beneficial Owners, make such amendments to the Trust Agreement that: (i) are necessary to add to the representations, duties or obligations of the Sponsor or surrender any right or power granted to the Sponsor in the Trust Agreement, for the benefit of the Beneficial Owners; (ii) are necessary to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in the Trust Agreement which may be inconsistent with any other provision in the Trust Agreement or in the Prospectus, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Trust Agreement or the Prospectus that will not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Trust Agreement or the Prospectus; or (iii) the Sponsor deems advisable; provided, however, that no amendment shall be adopted pursuant to clause (iii) unless the adoption thereof: (A) is not adverse to the interests of the Beneficial Owners; (B) is consistent with Sponsor’s control of and power to conduct the business of the Trust; (C) with certain exceptions, does not affect the allocation of Profits and Losses among the Beneficial Owners or between the Beneficial Owners and the Sponsor; and (D) does not adversely affect the limitations on liability of the Beneficial Owners or the status of the Trust as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any such consent or waiver by the holder of Shares shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder of Shares and upon all future holders of Shares, and shall be binding upon any Shares, whether evidenced by a Certificate or held in uncertificated form, issued upon the registration or transfer hereof whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Certificate and whether or not the Shares evidenced hereby are at such time in uncertificated form. The Trust Agreement also permits the amendment thereof, in certain limited circumstances, without the consent of any holders of Shares.
 
A-II
 
 
 

 

 
The Trust Agreement, and this Certificate, is executed and delivered by GreenHaven Coal Services, LLC, as Sponsor, in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it by the Trust Agreement. The representations, undertakings and agreements made on the part of the Trust in the Trust Agreement or this Certificate are made and intended not as personal representations, undertakings and agreements by GreenHaven Coal Services, LLC, but are made and intended for the purpose of binding only the Trust. Nothing in the Agreement or this Certificate shall be construed as creating any liability on GreenHaven Coal Services, LLC, individually or personally, to fulfill any representation, undertaking or agreement other than as provided in the Trust Agreement or this Certificate.

This Certificate shall not become valid or binding for any purpose until properly executed by the Sponsor pursuant to the Trust Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, GreenHaven Coal Services, LLC, as Sponsor, has duly executed this Certificate as of the day and year written below.
 
 
 
GREENHAVEN COAL SERVICES, LLC,
as Sponsor
 
 
 
By:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name:
 
 
Title:
     
Date:
 
 , 20
 
A-III
 
 

 

EX-10.1 4 t1503058_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

FORM OF COMMODITY SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

THIS COMMODITY SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of this 4th day of January, 2016, effective as of the 1st day of January, 2016 (the “Effective Date”), by and among GreenHaven Coal Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (to be renamed WisdomTree Coal Fund, the “Fund”), GreenHaven Coal Services, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (to be renamed WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC, “Manager”), and GreenHaven Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Commodity Subadvisor”).

 

WHEREAS, Manager serves as the investment manager for the Fund, pursuant to that certain Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for the Fund (as such agreement may be modified from time to time); and

 

WHEREAS, Manager desires to retain Commodity Subadvisor to furnish certain sub-investment advisory services for the Fund upon the terms and conditions hereafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.          Appointment. Manager hereby appoints Commodity Subadvisor to provide sub-investment advisory services to the Fund in the management of the Fund’s Commodity Interests and Collateral (as each term is defined in Section 2 below) for the period commencing on the Effective Date and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. Commodity Subadvisor accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided. All references to “person” hereon shall include an individual or entity.

 

2.          Services to be Performed. Subject always to the supervision of Manager, Commodity Subadvisor will furnish an investment program in respect of, make investment decisions for, and place all orders for the purchase and sale of futures contracts, forward contracts, options on futures contracts and other commodity interests (“Commodity Interests”) and securities issued by the United States Department of the Treasury (“Collateral”), all on behalf of the Fund and as described in the Fund’s registration statement on Form S-1 as declared effective by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Registration Statement”), consistent with the investment objectives and restrictions of the Fund described therein. In the performance of its activities and duties, Commodity Subadvisor will satisfy its fiduciary duties to the Fund, will select and monitor on at least a daily basis the Fund’s investments in Commodity Interests and Collateral, and will comply with the provisions of the Fund’s Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) as filed with the Registration Statement, as the Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time (to the extent Commodity Subadvisor has been provided with amendments), and the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as disclosed in the Registration Statement, as such investment objectives, policies and restrictions may be amended from time to time (to the extent Commodity Subadvisor has been provided such amendments). Commodity Subadvisor acknowledges receipt of the Fund’s organizational documents, prospectus and amendments thereto as of the date hereof.

 

 

 

 

All commissions and expenses arising from the trading of Commodity Interests, or other transactions in the course of the administration of the Fund’s account, shall be charged to the Fund’s account with its clearing broker(s). Manager shall deliver to Commodity Subadvisor, and renew when necessary, a commodity trading authorization appointing Commodity Subadvisor as the Fund’s agent and attorney-in-fact for the purpose of trading Commodity Interests and Collateral on behalf of the Fund. Commodity Subadvisor may place orders for Commodity Interest transactions and purchases and sales of Collateral for the Fund through broker/dealers and futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) selected by Commodity Subadvisor; provided that Commodity Subadvisor will provide Manager and the Fund on a quarterly basis (or more frequently as reasonably requested by Manager) with a list of the broker/dealers and FCMs Commodity Subadvisor is then using (as of the date hereof, the initial list is set forth on Exhibit A hereto), and Manager may, after receiving such list, object in its sole discretion to the use of one or more broker/dealers or FCMs due to, among other reasons, a reasonable belief by Manager that the use of such broker/dealer(s) or FCM(s) would be detrimental to the Fund and its investors, and Commodity Subadvisor shall cease using such broker/dealers or FCMs on behalf of the Fund. Commodity Subadvisor shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a combination of best price and execution, taking into account all appropriate factors, including price, commission, and the size and difficulty of the transaction. In no instance will a Commodity Interest or Collateral be purchased from the Fund or sold by the Fund to Commodity Subadvisor or any affiliated person of the Fund or Commodity Subadvisor, except with the written consent of the Manager.

 

Commodity Subadvisor further agrees that it:

 

a)        Will exercise its commercially reasonable judgment and will act in good faith and use reasonable care in performing the activities and duties hereunder;

 

b)        Will conduct its activities and duties under this Agreement in accordance with, and consistent with, any applicable laws, regulations and governmental or self-regulatory authority including, without limitation, all applicable rules and regulations of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”), in all material respects;

 

c)        Will report regularly to Manager and will make appropriate persons available for the purpose of reviewing with representatives of the Manager on a regular basis the management of the Fund’s Commodity Interests and Collateral, including, without limitation, review of the general investment strategies of the Fund with respect to Commodity Subadvisor’s management of the Fund’s Commodity Interests and Collateral, and the performance of the Fund’s Commodity Interests and Collateral in relation to standard industry indices and passively managed commodity index tracking funds and general conditions affecting the marketplace, and will provide various other reports from time to time as reasonably requested by Manager;

 

d)        Will submit such reports or information as the Manager may reasonably request to assist the Fund’s custodian, administrator, accounting agent, transfer agent and/or independent public accountants (and all other agents, representatives and service providers to the Fund or the Manager) in the performance of their activities or duties, cooperate with such persons, take action to make information in the Commodity Subadvisor’s possession available to such persons for the performance of their activities or duties and requests made in connection therewith, and

 

2 

 

 

establish and maintain appropriate operational structure and programs, procedures and interfaces with such persons so as to promote the efficient exchange of information and compliance with applicable law and regulation, and the investment strategies, guidelines and other restrictions and policies of the Fund;

 

e)        Will reasonably assist in the preparation of periodic reports by the Fund to its limited owners and to meet other regulatory or tax requirements applicable to the Fund;

 

f)         Will reasonably cooperate with any third-party audit arranged by the Manager or the Fund to evaluate the effectiveness of compliance controls;

 

g)        Will not, without the prior written approval of Manager, materially deviate or change the Fund’s investment strategies, guidelines and other restrictions and policies;

 

h)        Will monitor the pricing of the Fund’s Commodity Interests and Collateral, and events relating to the commodity markets in which the Fund trades or applicable securities markets, and will notify Manager promptly of any market events or other situations that come to Commodity Subadvisor’s attention (particularly those that may occur after the close of a foreign market in which the Fund’s Commodity Interests may primarily trade but before the time at which the Fund’s Commodity Interests are priced on a given day) that may materially impact the pricing of one or more of the Fund’s Commodity Interests or Collateral. In addition, Commodity Subadvisor will assist Manager in evaluating the impact that such an event may have on the net asset value of the Fund and in determining a recommended fair value of the affected asset or assets;

 

i)         Other than with respect to the preparation of books and records typically produced by others (such as by FCMs, custodians and broker/dealers), will prepare such books and records with respect to the Fund’s Commodity Interests and Collateral as reasonably requested by Manager and will furnish Manager such periodic and special reports and certifications as Manager may reasonably request;

 

j)         Will promptly notify the Fund and the Manager of any material fact known to the Commodity Subadvisor respecting or relating to the Commodity Subadvisor or the Fund that is not contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, but that is required to be disclosed therein, and of any statement contained therein that is or becomes untrue in any material respect; and

 

k)          Will promptly notify the Manager and the Fund of any actual or expected change of control for the Commodity Subadvisor, and of any changes to executive officers, members or key personnel of the Commodity Subadvisor including, without limitation, personnel who are portfolio manager(s) with respect to the Fund.

 

l)         Will obtain and maintain at its sole expense errors and omission insurance in a reasonable scope and amount. For as long as the net value of the Fund’s assets calculated in the manner set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus (as defined below) (the “Assets Under Management”), together with the net value of the assets of the WisdomTree Continous Commodity Index Master Fund and the WisdomTree Continuous Commodity Index Fund (together, “GCC”) calculated in the manner set forth in GCC’s prospectuses, are less than $500,000,000 in the aggregate,

 

3 

 

 

$1,000,000 shall be deemed a reasonable amount of errors and omissions insurance coverage. If the Assets Under Management of the Fund and GCC exceed $500,000,000 in the aggregate, the Commodity Subadvisor will increase its errors and omissions insurance coverage by an appropriate amount.

 

The Commodity Subadvisor is authorized to and may employ, associate or contract with such person or persons as the Commodity Subadvisor may deem desirable to assist it in performing its activities and duties under this Agreement (including portfolio managers), including Grain Service Corporation, Inc. (“Grain Service”); provided, however, the compensation of such person or persons shall be paid by the Commodity Subadvisor, and the Commodity Subadvisor shall be as fully responsible to the Fund and the Manager for the acts and omissions of any such person or persons as it is for its own acts and omissions. As may be mutually agreed by the Fund, Manager and the Commodity Subadvisor, but in any event at least annually, the Commodity Subadvisor shall discuss with the Fund and Manager any assistance the Commodity Subadvisor has deemed desirable in performing its duties under this Agreement (including person or persons involved therewith).

 

3.          Preparation of Materials. Commodity Subadvisor will reasonably cooperate with Manager and the Fund in the Fund’s endeavors to prepare and update, if necessary, the Registration Statement and a prospectus and disclosure document included therein (the “Prospectus”), promotional brochures or other marketing materials as well as any other materials reasonably requested or required by Manager in connection with the organization, operation, or marketing of the Fund or the registration or renewal of registration of the Shares (as defined in the Prospectus) for sale to the public in all applicable jurisdictions (collectively, with the Registration Statement and Prospectus, the “Materials”). In this regard, Commodity Subadvisor will furnish to Manager such information as may be reasonably requested for inclusion in such Materials. Moreover, Commodity Subadvisor agrees to provide to Manager such information as Manager reasonably requests in order for Manager to make all necessary disclosures regarding Commodity Subadvisor, its principals, its trading performance, customer accounts and otherwise as are required in the reasonable judgment of Manager to be made in such Materials.

 

4.          Representations and Warranties of Manager. Manager hereby represents and warrants to Commodity Subadvisor that this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding contract of, Manager, enforceable in accordance with its terms and conditions, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and except as such enforceability of this Agreement is subject to the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

5.          Representations and Warranties of Commodity Subadvisor. Commodity Subadvisor hereby represents and warrants to the Fund and Manager that:

 

a)         The information and materials relating to Commodity Subadvisor, its businesses, principals, and past performance record that has been requested by Manager, has been delivered to Manager and is current, accurate and complete in all material respects, and notwithstanding Commodity Subadvisor’s relief from certain requirements in Part 4 of the CFTC’s regulations, the Commodity Subadvisor is in compliance with all other applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

4 

 

 

Commodity Subadvisor will provide Manager with updated or amended copies of any such materials when and if such materials are updated or amended;

 

b)         Commodity Subadvisor is not registered as an investment adviser with the SEC in reliance on the exception from the definition of “investment adviser” in Section 203(a)(11)(E) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;

 

c)         To the extent reasonably available to it and applicable, Commodity Subadvisor has supplied or upon request will supply, and has made available or upon request will make available, for review by Manager or its agents substantially all documents, statements, agreements, confirmations and work papers relating to all accounts managed by Commodity Subadvisor for the period covered in any Materials, including for the Fund;

 

d)         Commodity Subadvisor has met, and will continue to meet for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, any applicable federal or state requirements, or the applicable requirements of any regulatory agency or industry self-regulatory organization, necessary to be met in order to perform services for the Fund pursuant to this Agreement;

 

e)         Commodity Subadvisor is a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the CFTC and is a member in good standing of the National Futures Association (“NFA”). Commodity Subadvisor shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term of this Agreement. Further, Commodity Subadvisor agrees to notify Manager promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of Commodity Subadvisor under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of Commodity Subadvisor’s commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of which Commodity Subadvisor is subject or has been advised it is a target (which investigation shall not include routine compliance examinations);

 

f)         There are no material actions that are required to be disclosed pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.34(k);

 

g)         Commodity Subadvisor is a Delaware limited liability company with full power and authority to enter into this Agreement;

 

h)         Commodity Subadvisor maintains errors and omissions insurance coverage in an appropriate scope and amount and shall upon request of Manager, provide Manager a certificate of insurance evidencing same;

 

i)         This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding contract of, Commodity Subadvisor enforceable in accordance with its terms and conditions, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and except as such enforceability of this Agreement is subject to the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and

 

5 

 

 

j)         The representations and warranties made in this Agreement by Commodity Subadvisor shall be continuing during the term of this Agreement, and if at any time any event has occurred which would make or tend to make any of the representations and warranties in this Agreement materially untrue, Commodity Subadvisor will promptly notify Manager.

 

6.          Compensation. For the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant to this Agreement, Commodity Subadvisor agrees to accept as full compensation the fee specified in Exhibit B hereto.

 

7.          Expenses. Commodity Subadvisor will be responsible for and pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities and duties under this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing the personnel, office space and equipment, including any investment related software or technology resources, reasonably necessary therewith; provided, however, the Commodity Subadvisor will not be responsible for the cost of investments (including brokerage commissions and other related expenses) purchased or sold for the Fund. The Fund pays all other costs and expenses of its operations, including custody fees, transfer agent expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, reports to governmental agencies or self-regulatory organizations and taxes, if any.

 

8.          Independence of Commodity Subadvisor. Commodity Subadvisor shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized herein, have no authority to act for or represent Manager or the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of Manager or the Fund. Commodity Subadvisor shall not offer or sell or solicit any offers to purchase the Shares. However, when requested by Manager at such reasonable times and upon adequate notice as mutually agreed to, Commodity Subadvisor will assist in the general explanation and presentation of Commodity Subadvisor’s trading strategies and methods. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Fund to take any action contrary to the Trust Agreement, or any applicable statute, regulation or exchange rule or interpretation of the staff of an applicable governmental agency.

 

9.          Records of the Fund. Commodity Subadvisor will instruct the Fund’s broker/dealer(s) and FCMs to furnish copies, and/or will otherwise furnish copies to Manager as requested by Manager, of all trade confirmations and trading reports. Commodity Subadvisor will maintain a record of all trading orders for the Fund’s account that have been filled and will monitor at least daily the Fund’s open positions. Upon the request of Manager, Commodity Subadvisor shall permit Manager or its agents and representatives to inspect such information as Manager may request for the purpose of confirming that the Fund has been treated equitably with respect to trading conducted during the term of this Agreement with all client accounts of Commodity Subadvisor or its affiliates. The books and records pertaining to the Commodity Subadvisor’s activities and duties hereunder shall be the property of the Fund (although the foregoing will not prohibit the Commodity Subadvisor from maintaining copies of all such records). The Manager or its representatives shall have access to such books and records at all times during the Commodity Subadvisor’s normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Manager, copies of any such books and records shall be provided promptly by the Commodity Subadvisor to the Manager or its representatives.

 

6 

 

 

10.       Compliance. The Commodity Subadvisor shall:

 

a)         Promptly notify the Manager upon determination of any error (or discovery of any error by a third party, such as the Fund’s accountant) in connection with its activities and duties hereunder, including but not limited to any trade errors. With respect to any Commodity Subadvisor error, the Commodity Subadvisor shall provide a memorandum to the Manager that sufficiently describes any such error and the action to be taken to prevent future occurrences of such error;

 

b)         Promptly notify the Manager if it becomes aware of any material breach of any of the Fund’s investment strategies, guidelines or other restrictions and policies or of any violation of applicable law or regulation. The Commodity Subadvisor shall also promptly notify the Manager upon detection of any material violations on the Commodity Subadvisor’s own compliance policies and procedures that relate to its activities or duties hereunder;

 

c)         Provide access to the Manager and its agents and representatives to its policies and procedures pertaining to its activities and duties hereunder and shall notify the Manager, via quarterly certification or otherwise at the request of the Manager, of: (1) any material changes to its policies and procedures; (2) any new policies and procedures as they pertain to activities or duties performed hereunder; and (3) the retirement of any policies and procedures as they pertain to activities or duties performed hereunder; and

 

d)         Promptly provide notice to the Manager regarding any inspections, notices or inquiries from any governmental, administrative or self-regulatory agency, including without limitation, any deficiency letter, responses to deficiency letters or similar communications or actions (1) relating to the Commodity Subadvisor’s activities or duties that relate to the Fund or (2) that involve matters that could reasonably be viewed as material to the Commodity Subadvisor’s ability to provide services to the Fund. To the extent that such inspections, notices, or inquiries relate to the Fund, the Commodity Subadvisor shall promptly make available such documents to the Manager.

 

11.         Notice of Threatened, Pending or Completed Actions, Suits or Proceedings.

 

a)         Commodity Subadvisor will give prompt notice to Manager of: (i) any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (including, without limitation, any reparations or administrative proceeding threatened or instituted under the CEA to which Commodity Subadvisor was or is a party or is threatened to be a party; and (ii) any judgments or amounts paid by Commodity Subadvisor in settlement in connection with any such threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding.

 

b)         Written notices required to be given pursuant to this Section 11 shall contain all pertinent information concerning the threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding and, in the case of any pending or completed action suit or proceeding, shall include a copy of the complaint, petition or similar documents asserting a claim.

 

7 

 

 

12.       Indemnity.

 

a)         Commodity Subadvisor and each of the Additional Indemnitors listed on Exhibit C hereto (each, an “Additional Indemnitor”, and collectively with Commodity Subadvisor, the “Joint and Several Indemnitors,”) jointly and severally agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Fund and Manager and their affiliates, including their subsidiaries, directors, officers, members, managers, trustees, employees, agents, representatives, partners and shareholders (each, an “Indemnitee”) against any loss, liability, damage, cost, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and accountants’ fees), judgments and amounts paid in settlement (“Losses”) by reason of: (i) any act or omission of Commodity Subadvisor relating to the Fund (including costs and expenses of investigating and defending any claims, demand or suit and attorneys’ and accountants’ fees), including, without limitation, any willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence on the Commodity Subadvisor’s part in the performance of its activities and duties or by reason of the Commodity Subadvisor’s reckless disregard of its activities and duties under this Agreement or otherwise for breach of this Agreement; or (ii) any claim, dispute or litigation arising between Commodity Subadvisor or its affiliates and any party other than the Fund or Manager, which claim, dispute or litigation is unrelated to the Fund’s business, and if the Fund or Manager are made a party to such claim, dispute or litigation by such other party. In the event that the Joint and Several Indemnitors collectively fail to promptly pay for (or otherwise reimburse) any Losses, Manager shall be entitled to deduct an amount necessary to pay (or otherwise reimburse) for such Losses from any Fees due or payable to Commodity Subadvisor.

 

b)         Promptly after receipt by an Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of an action as set forth in sub-section a) above, such Indemnitee shall notify Commodity Subadvisor each of the Additional Indemnitors of the commencement thereof (such notice to Commodity Subadvisor pursuant to Section 14 hereof shall constitute notice to each Additional Indemnitor for purposes of this Section 12); but the omission so to notify (or the delay in notifying) the Commodity Subadvisor will not relieve the Joint and Several Indemnitors from any liability that they may have to any Indemnitee, except to the extent that the Joint and Several Indemnitors, jointly and severally, suffer material damage in their ability to respond to such action as a result of the omission. In case any such action is brought against any Indemnitee, and it notified Commodity Subadvisor (and thereby each Additional Indemnitor) of the commencement thereof, the Joint and Several Indemnitors will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that they may wish, assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnitee.

 

c)         The foregoing provisions for indemnification shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

d)         Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, all securities laws impose liabilities under certain circumstances on persons who act in good faith, and, therefore, nothing in this Agreement shall constitute a waiver or limitation of liability under such laws to the extent (but only to the extent) such liability may not be waived, modified or limited.

 

13.        Term; Termination; Amendment.

 

a)         The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until December 31, 2020, unless this Agreement is terminated earlier as provided

 

8 

 

 

herein. This Agreement shall automatically renew for one-year periods thereafter, unless either party gives at least one hundred twenty (120) days’ notice of termination prior to the end of the then current term, or unless terminated earlier as provided herein.

 

b)         Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated in its entirety by Manager immediately upon written notice to Commodity Subadvisor if:

 

(1)         any litigation or proceeding is commenced against Commodity Subadvisor, Grain Service, or any affiliate of Commodity Subadvisor that Manager reasonably believes would have a material adverse effect on Commodity Subadvisor’s ability to perform its obligations to provide sub-investment advisory services to Manager and the Fund;

 

(2)         Commodity Subadvisor commits a material breach of the Agreement, and fails to remedy such breach within a period of thirty (30) business days following receipt of written notice from Manager specifying the breach and requesting its remedy;

 

(3)         Manager ceases to act as overall investment manager to the Fund; provided, however, that if the successor investment manager to the Fund (the “Successor Manager”) is an affiliate of the Manager, such Successor Manager will expressly agree in writing to assume all obligations of the Manager under this Agreement and honor its terms and conditions; provided, further, that in the case of the foregoing, the Manager shall be released from further obligations under this Agreement and each non-assigning party agrees to look solely to the Successor Manager for the performance of the Manager’s obligations; or

 

(4)         the Fund closes for any reason.

 

c)         Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated in its entirety by Commodity Subadvisor immediately upon notice to Manager if Manager does not pay undisputed fees due Commodity Subadvisor, and Manager fails to remedy such breach within a period of thirty (30) business days following receipt of notice from Commodity Subadvisor specifying the amount of undisputed fees believed due from Manager, including detailed calculations regarding how the Commodity Subadvisor determined such fees.

 

14.         Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent by an internationally recognized overnight courier service with signature required for delivery, by facsimile where a confirmation of receipt is obtained, provided, however, that if sent by facsimile the written communication must also be sent by next business day delivery via an internationally recognized overnight courier service with signature required for delivery, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties hereto at the following addresses:

 

If to Manager or the Fund:

 

WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC

 

9 

 

 

c/o WisdomTree Investments, Inc.

245 Park Avenue, 35th Fl.

New York, NY 10167

Attention: Peter Ziemba

Facsimile: (917) 267-3851

  

If to Commodity Subadvisor:

 

GreenHaven Advisors, LLC

c/o Grain Service Corporation, Inc.

3340 Peachtree Road, Suite 1910

Atlanta, GA 30326

Attention: Ashmead Pringle

Facsimile: (404) 261-5468

 

All such communications so addressed shall be deemed given (i) when delivered, if delivered personally to the intended recipient, or if sent by an internationally recognized courier service with signature required for delivery, or if sent by facsimile and a confirmation of receipt is obtained, and the written communication has also be sent for next business day delivery via an internationally recognized courier service with signature required for delivery, or (ii) three business days after being mailed if sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or upon delivery if actual delivery occurs earlier.

 

15.         Confidentiality. Each party agrees that it will treat confidentially all information provided by the other party regarding such other party’s business and operations, including without limitation, with respect to the Commodity Subadvisor, the investment activities and holdings of the Fund and all information obtained in the ordinary course of performing its activities and duties hereunder about the Fund’s prior, present or potential limited owners. All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (i) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, (ii) that is independently derived by either party hereto without the use of any information provided by the other party hereto in connection with this Agreement, (iii) that is disclosed, upon prior notice to the party whose information is being disclosed (to the extent such notice is permissible), in the manner and to the extent required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation, or (iv) where the party seeking to disclose has received the prior written consent of the party providing the information, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party acknowledges that the other party may provide access to and use of confidential information relating to the other party to the disclosing party’s employees, contractors, agents, professional advisors, auditors or persons performing similar functions, as necessary solely for the purpose of rendering services under this Agreement, provided that each person or entity shall be subject to confidentiality obligations substantially similar to those set forth herein. If either party becomes aware of a breach of this confidentiality provision, it will notify promptly the other party of such breach and provide such details as it

 

10 

 

 

deems appropriate and in accordance with the standard of care hereunder regarding the extent of the breach of confidentiality. Each party’s obligations under this clause shall survive for a period of one (1) year following the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

 

16.         Business Continuity. The Commodity Subadvisor shall maintain business continuity, disaster recovery, and backup capabilities and facilities, through which the Commodity Subadvisor will be able to perform its activities and duties hereunder with minimal disruptions or delays. The Commodity Subadvisor will employ reasonable safeguards designed to protect the Fund’s confidential information. Upon request, the Commodity Subadvisor shall provide to the Manager copies of its written business continuity, disaster recovery and backup plan(s) or sufficient information and written certification regarding such plans to satisfy the Manager. The Commodity Subadvisor represents that it tests its plan(s) on at least an annual basis, and shall, at the Manager’s request, provide the Manager with information regarding the results of its testing.

 

17.         Assignment and Successors. This Agreement may not be assigned without the express written consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No activities or duties hereunder may delegated by either party, except as expressly set forth in Section 2. This Agreement is made solely for the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and no other person shall have any right or obligation under it. Any assignment in violation of this Agreement shall be void and of no effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Manager engages in any (a) merger or consolidation into or with any other corporation or entity, (b) sale, conveyance, transfer, license, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Manager or (c) acquisition by any person of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all securities of the Manager (collectively, a “Change of Control”), the Manager may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Commodity Subadvisor or any other party hereto, assign this Agreement in connection with such Change of Control and, upon such assignment and Change of Control, the successor-in-interest to Manager as a result of the Change in Control will expressly agree in writing to assume this Agreement and honor its terms and conditions, and Manager shall be released from further obligations under this Agreement and each non-assigning Party agrees to look solely to the successor-in-interest of the Manager for the performance of the Manager’s obligations.

 

18.         Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any provision of this Agreement is held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby.

 

19.         Applicable Law, Entire Agreement, Amendments. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with applicable federal law and the laws of the State of New York, without reference to any conflict of law principles to the contrary. Commodity Subadvisor consents to jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts sitting in the State of New York, County of New York, U.S.A. This Agreement is the entire agreement of the parties in respect of the subject matter and may be amended only by a writing signed by the parties.

 

11 

 

 

20.         Obligations of Fund Only. This Agreement is executed on behalf of the Fund by officers of the Manager as officers and not individually and the obligations imposed upon the Fund by this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Fund’s trustees or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

21.         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.

 

22.         Commodity Subadvisor’s Rule 4.7 Advisory and Fund Consent. PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH ACCOUNTS OF QUALIFIED ELIGIBLE PERSONS, THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE, AND HAS NOT BEEN, FILED WITH THE COMMISSION. THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A TRADING PROGRAM OR UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR DISCLOSURE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION HAS NOT REVIEWED OR APPROVED THIS TRADING PROGRAM OR THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT.

 

The Fund consents to its account being managed by Commodity Subadvisor being an exempt account under CFTC Rule 4.7.

 

[SIGNATURES ON NEXT PAGE]

 

12 

 

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Manager, the Fund and Commodity Subadvisor have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

  

GREENHAVEN COAL SERVICES, LLC

(to be renamed WISDOMTREE COAL SERVICES, LLC),

a Georgia limited liability company

 

By: WisdomTree Investments, Inc.

Its: Sole Member

 

By:    

Name:

Title:

 

GREENHAVEN COAL FUND

(to be renamed WISDOMTREE COAL FUND),

a Delaware statutory trust

 

By: GREENHAVEN COAL SERVICES, LLC

(to be renamed WISDOMTREE COAL SERVICES, LLC),

its Manager

 

By: WisdomTree Investments, Inc.

Its: Sole Member

 

By:    

Name:

Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO COAL SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT – GREENHAVEN COAL FUND]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Manager, the Fund and Commodity Subadvisor have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

  

GREENHAVEN ADVISORS, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

 

By:    
Name: Ashmead Pringle  
Title: Managing Member  

 

AGREED, FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSES SET FORTH IN SECTION 12:

 

ADDITIONAL INDEMNITORS, EACH IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES

 

By:    
Name: Ashmead Pringle  

 

By:    

Name: Thomas Cooper Anderson 

 

 

By:    
Name: Thomas J. Fernandes  

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO COAL SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT – GREENHAVEN COAL FUND]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

List of Broker/Dealers and FCMs

 

Commodity Broker Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
     
Execution Broker TFS Energy Futures LLC

  

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Compensation

 

a)          For the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant to this Agreement, Commodity Subadvisor agrees to accept as full compensation an annual fee equal to twenty percent (20%) of the Manager’s management fee plus twenty percent (20%) of the Fund’s other expense accrual (excluding brokerage expense accrual) based on the Fund’s average daily net assets (the “Fee”); provided, however the minimum annual Fee that Commodity Subadvisor will be paid shall be $50,000 (the “Minimum Annual Fee”). The Fee shall accrue on each calendar day and shall be paid by Manager within seven (7) days after the first business day of the next succeeding calendar month. The daily fee accrual shall be computed by multiplying the fraction of one divided by the number of days in the calendar year by the applicable annual rate of fee, and multiplying this product by the net assets of the Fund as of the close of business on the last preceding business day on which the Fund’s net asset value was determined. The Fund’s net asset value for this purpose shall be calculated as provided in the Fund’s prospectus then in effect. If, at the end of each calendar year that this Agreement remains in effect, beginning January 1, 2016, and each monthly Fee has been calculated and paid to Commodity Subadvisor (other than the payment for the last month of the calendar year), Commodity Subadvisor has not received Fees equal to the Minimum Annual Fee, then Manager shall pay the shortfall amount to Commodity Subadvisor at the same time that Manager makes the payment to Commodity Subadvisor for the last month of the applicable calendar year.

 

b)          For the month and year in which this Agreement becomes effective or terminates, there shall be an appropriate proration of the Fee on the basis of the number of days that the Agreement is in effect during the month and year, respectively. By way of example, if this Agreement were to terminate on the 100th day of a calendar year because the Fund closed on that day, then the Minimum Annual Fee for that partial year would be $50,000 x (100/365).

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

Additional Indemnitors

 

Ashmead Pringle

Thomas Cooper Anderson

Thomas J. Fernandes

 

 

EX-10.2 5 t1503058_ex10-2.htm EXHIBIT 10.2

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

Form Of Master Custodian Agreement

 

This Agreement made as of January 4, 2016, and to have an effective date on January 1, 2016, is by and between each commodity pool entity set forth on Schedule A hereto (each such commodity pool entity and each commodity pool entity made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 22.5 below shall hereinafter be referred to as a “Fund”) and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company (the “Custodian”).

 

Witnesseth:

 

Whereas, the Fund is authorized to issue common units of beneficial interest (“Shares”);

 

Whereas, the Fund will issue and redeem Shares only in aggregations known as “Baskets,” generally in exchange for a specified cash payment, as more fully described in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund related to the Fund (collectively, the “Prospectus”);

 

Whereas, WisdomTree Commodity Services, LLC or WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC, as applicable, serves as the managing owner and/or sponsor, and commodity pool operator, of the Fund (the “Managing Owner” or “Sponsor”); and

 

Whereas, the Sponsor on behalf of the Fund has selected and desires to retain the Custodian to act as custodian of Fund assets, and the Custodian is willing to provide such services to the Fund upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

Now, Therefore, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.     Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by It

 

The Sponsor on behalf of the Fund hereby employs the Custodian as a custodian of assets of the Fund, including securities which the Fund desires to be held in places within the United States (“domestic securities”) and securities it desires to be held outside the United States (“foreign securities”). The Fund agrees to deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash of the Fund, and all payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by it with respect to all securities owned by the Fund from time to time, and the cash consideration received by it for such shares as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of a Fund which is not received by it or which is delivered out in accordance with Proper Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 8 hereof), so long as the Custodian has met its standard of care as specified in Section 16.1 of this Agreement.

 

With respect to uncertificated shares or other interests (the “Underlying Shares”) in collective investment vehicles, including, among others, registered “investment companies” (as defined in Section 3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time, the holding of confirmation statements that identify the shares as being recorded in the Custodian’s name on behalf of the Fund will be deemed custody for purposes hereof.

 

  

 

 

Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall on behalf of the Fund appoint one or more banks, trust companies or other entities located in the United States and designated in such Proper Instructions to act as a sub-custodian for the purposes of effecting such transaction(s) as may be designated by the Fund. Each such designated sub-custodian is referred to herein as a “Special Sub-Custodian.” The Custodian may place and maintain the Fund’s foreign securities with foreign banking institution sub-custodians employed by the Custodian and/or foreign securities depositories, in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4 hereof.

 

Section 2.     Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund to be Held in the United States

 

Section 2.1      Holding Securities. The Custodian shall hold and physically segregate for the account of the Fund all non-cash property to be held by it in the United States, including all domestic securities owned by such Fund other than (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.9 in a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a “U.S. Securities System”) and (b) Underlying Shares owned by the Fund which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof in an account with State Street Bank and Trust Company or such other entity which may from time to time be appointed by the Fund to act as a transfer agent for the Underlying Portfolios and with respect to which the Custodian is provided with Proper Instructions (the “Underlying Transfer Agent”).

 

Section 2.2      Delivery of Domestic Securities. The Custodian shall release and deliver domestic securities owned by a Fund held by the Custodian, in a U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian or in an account at the Underlying Transfer Agent, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the applicable Fund, specifying (a) the domestic securities of the Fund to be delivered and (b) the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

 

Section 2.3      Registration of Securities. Domestic securities held by the Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of any nominee of the Fund or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively to the Fund, unless the Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee to be used in common with other investment companies or funds having the same investment adviser or managing owner as the Fund, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.8 or in the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund under the terms of this Agreement shall be in “street name” or other good delivery form. If, however, the Fund directs the Custodian to maintain securities in “street name”, the Custodian shall utilize reasonable efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on such securities and to notify the Fund of relevant corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers.

 

Section 2.4      Payment of Fund Monies. The Custodian shall pay out monies of the Fund upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the Fund, specifying (a) the amount of such payment and (b) the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

 

 -2- 

 

 

Section 2.5      Bank Accounts. The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the Fund. Funds held by the Custodian for the Fund may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in the banking department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust companies as it may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act as a custodian and that each such bank or trust company and the funds to be deposited with each such bank or trust company shall on behalf of the Fund as approved by the Fund or its Sponsor. Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.

 

Section 2.6      Determination of Fund Deposit, etc. Subject to and in accordance with the directions of the Sponsor, the Custodian shall determine for the Fund after the end of each trading day on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), in accordance with the respective Fund’s policies as adopted from time to time and in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Prospectus, the amount of cash or cash equivalent proceeds required for the issuance or redemption, as the case may be, of Shares in Basket aggregations of such Fund on such date. The Custodian shall provide or cause to be provided this information to the Funds’ distributor and other persons according to the policy established by the Fund and shall disseminate such information on each day that the NYSE is open, including through the facilities of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, prior to the opening of trading on the NYSE.

 

Section 2.6A.    Allocation of Deposit Security Shortfalls. While the Fund does not anticipate that its Baskets will generally contain securities (“Deposit Securities”), the Fund acknowledges that the Custodian maintains only one account on the books of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”) for the benefit of all exchange traded funds for which the Custodian serves as custodian, including the Fund (collectively, the “ETF Custody Clients”). In the event that (a) two or more ETF Custody Clients require delivery of the same Deposit Security in order to purchase a Basket, and (b) the NSCC, pursuant to its Continuous Net Settlement system, delivers to the Custodian’s NSCC account less than the full amount of such Deposit Security necessary to satisfy in full each affected ETF Custody Client’s required amount (a “Common Deposit Security Shortfall”), then, until all Common Deposit Security Shortfalls for a given Deposit Security are satisfied in full, the Custodian will allocate to each affected ETF Custody Client, on a pro rata basis, securities and/or cash received in the Custodian’s NSCC account relating to such shortfall, first to satisfy any prior unsatisfied Common Deposit Security Shortfall, and then to satisfy the current Common Deposit Security Shortfall.

 

Section 2.7     Collection of Income. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to registered domestic securities held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business, and shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent thereof, and shall credit such income, as collected, to such Fund’s custodian account. The Custodian shall present for payment all income items requiring presentation

 

 -3- 

 

 

as and when they become due and shall collect interest when due on securities held hereunder. Income due each Fund on securities loaned shall be the responsibility of the Fund. The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection therewith, other than to provide the Fund with such information or data as may be necessary to assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian of the income to which the Fund is properly entitled.

 

Section 2.8    Appointment of Agents. The Custodian may at any time or times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust company which is itself qualified to act as a custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as the Custodian may from time to time direct; provided, however, that the appointment of any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder. The Underlying Transfer Agent shall not be deemed an agent or sub-custodian of the Custodian for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.9    Deposit of Fund Assets in U.S. Securities Systems. The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund in a U.S. Securities System in accordance with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, if any, and to the extent applicable hereto.

 

Section 2.10   Segregated Account. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall on behalf of the Fund establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of such Fund for any purpose, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.9 hereof.

 

Section 2.11   Deposit of Fund Assets with the Underlying Transfer Agent. Underlying Shares beneficially owned by the Fund shall be deposited and/or maintained in an account or accounts maintained with an Underlying Transfer Agent and the Custodian’s only responsibilities with respect thereto shall be limited to the following:

 

1)Upon receipt of a confirmation or statement from an Underlying Transfer Agent that such Underlying Transfer Agent is holding or maintaining Underlying Shares in the name of the Custodian (or a nominee of the Custodian) for the benefit of a Fund, the Custodian shall identify by book-entry that such Underlying Shares are being held by it as custodian for the benefit of such Fund.

 

2)In respect of the purchase of Underlying Shares for the account of a Fund, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall pay out monies of such Fund as so directed, and record such payment from the account of such Fund on the Custodian’s books and records.

 

3)In respect of the sale or redemption of Underlying Shares for the account of a Fund, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall transfer such Underlying Shares as so directed, record such transfer from the account of such Fund on the Custodian’s books and records and, upon the Custodian’s receipt of the proceeds

 

 -4- 

 

 

therefor, record such payment for the account of such Fund on the Custodian’s books and records.

 

4)The Custodian will implement procedures to ensure that the Underlying Transfer Agent’s records of the Fund’s holdings of Underlying Shares are properly reconciled with the Custodian’s records.

 

Section 2.12  Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes. The Custodian shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to domestic securities of the Fund held by it and in connection with transfers of securities.

 

Section 2.13  Proxies. The Custodian shall deliver to the Fund, in the most expeditious manner practicable, all forms of proxies, all notices of meetings, and any other notices or announcements affecting or relating to securities owned by the Fund that are received by the Custodian, any Sub-Custodian, or any nominee of either of them (or with the exercise of reasonable care that the Custodian, any Sub-Custodian, or any nominee of either of them should have become aware), and, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall execute and deliver, or cause such Sub-Custodian or nominee to execute and deliver, such proxies or other authorizations as may be required. The Custodian recognizes that this requirement applies to all securities and that the Fund’s investments in non-U.S. securities may entail proxies and notices, which, for the avoidance of doubt, are subject to this Agreement. Except as directed pursuant to Proper Instructions, neither the Custodian nor any Sub-Custodian or nominee shall vote upon any such securities, or execute any proxy to vote thereon, or give any consent or take any other action with respect thereto. In the event that the Custodian is unable to vote upon any such securities in accordance with Proper Instructions for any reason including, but not limited to, the failure of the Fund to deliver any necessary powers of attorney or other documentation, the Custodian shall promptly notify (subject to market practices and rules) the Fund. The Fund acknowledges that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of the Fund to exercise shareholder rights.

 

Section 2.14  Communications Relating to Domestic Fund Securities. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities being held for the Fund. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with domestic securities or other property of the Fund at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian is in actual possession of such domestic securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or power. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the Fund all written information received by the Custodian regarding any class action or other collective litigation in connection with Fund securities or other assets issued in the United States and then held, or previously held, during the

 

 -5- 

 

 

relevant class-action period during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian for the account of the, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. The Custodian will not support class-action participation by the Fund beyond such forwarding of written information received by the Custodian. For the avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, with respect to the Fund the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 2.14.

 

Section 2.15.  Provision of Information. At the request of the Fund, the Custodian shall promptly provide to the Fund all information relating to the Fund, or any of its Fund’s, cash, securities, and other assets which may be reasonably requested by the Fund in order to determine the amount to be paid to the Custodian under Section 15 hereof. Such information shall be delivered to the Fund at such time(s) and in such form(s) specified by the Fund.

 

Section 3.     [Reserved]

 

Section 4.     Activities of the Custodian with Respect to Property Held Outside the United States

 

Section 4.1.   Appointment of Foreign Sub-Custodians. The Fund hereby authorizes and instructs the Custodian to employ as sub-custodians for the Fund's securities and other assets maintained outside the United States in the countries listed on Schedule A (“foreign countries”) the foreign banking institutions and foreign securities depositories designated on Schedule A hereto (“foreign sub-custodians”).

 

Section 4.2.   Foreign Securities Systems. Except as may otherwise be agreed upon in writing by the Custodian and the Fund, assets of the Fund shall be maintained in a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry system for the central handling of securities located outside the United States (each, a “Foreign Securities System”) only through arrangements implemented by the foreign banking institutions serving as sub-custodians pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

Section 4.4.   Holding Securities. Foreign securities and other financial assets held outside of the United States shall be maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a foreign country through arrangements implemented by the Custodian or foreign sub-custodian, as applicable, in the foreign country. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Fund the foreign securities and other financial assets held by each foreign sub-custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign securities and other financial assets for all of its customers, including the Fund, with any foreign sub-custodian in an account that is identified as the Custodian’s account for the benefit of its customers; provided however, that (a) the records of the Custodian with respect to foreign securities or other financial assets of the Fund maintained in the account shall identify those securities and other financial assets as belonging to the Fund and (b) to the extent permitted and customary in the market in which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall require that securities and other financial assets so held by the foreign sub-custodian be held separately from any assets of the foreign sub-custodian or of other customers of the foreign sub-custodian.

 

 -6- 

 

 

Section 4.4.    Registration of Foreign Securities. Foreign securities and other financial assets held outside of the United States maintained in the custody of foreign sub-custodian and that are not bearer securities shall be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of the Custodian or in the name of any foreign sub-custodian or in the name of any nominee of any of the foregoing. The Fund agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any liability as a holder of record of the foreign securities or other financial assets. The Custodian or foreign sub-custodian reserves the right not to accept securities or other financial assets on behalf of the Fund under the terms of this Agreement unless the form of the securities or other financial assets and the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with local market practice.

 

Section 4.5    Agreements with Foreign Banking Institutions. The Custodian shall use commercially reasonable efforts to require that each agreement with a foreign banking institution employed as a foreign sub-custodian shall provide that: (a) the Fund's assets will not be subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of the foreign banking institution or its creditors or agent, except a claim of payment for their safe custody or administration or, in the case of cash deposits, liens or rights in favor of creditors of the foreign banking institution arising under bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws; (b) beneficial ownership of the Fund's assets will be freely transferable without the payment of money or value other than for custody or administration; (c) adequate records will be maintained identifying the assets as belonging to the Fund; (d) officers of (references to officers and/or trustees of the Fund as used herein shall be deemed to include officers and/or trustees/directors of the Sponsor) or auditors employed by, or other representatives of the Fund, including to the extent permitted under applicable law the independent public accountants for the Fund, will be given access to the books and records of the foreign banking institution relating to its actions under its agreement with the Custodian; and (e) assets of the Fund held by the foreign sub-custodian will be subject only to the instructions of the Custodian or its agents.

 

Section 4.6    Access of Independent Accountants of the Fund. Upon request of the Fund, the Custodian will use commercially reasonable efforts to arrange for the independent accountants of the Fund to be afforded access to the books and records of any foreign banking institution employed as a foreign sub-custodian insofar as such books and records relate to the performance of such foreign banking institution under its agreement with the Custodian.

 

Section 4.7.   Reports by Custodian. The Custodian will supply to the Fund from time to time, as mutually agreed upon, statements in respect of the securities and other assets of the Fund held by foreign sub-custodians, including but not limited to an identification of entities having possession of the Fund's foreign securities and other assets and advices or notifications of any transfers of securities to or from each custodial account maintained by a foreign banking institution for the Custodian on behalf of the Fund indicating, as to foreign securities acquired for the Fund, the identity of the entity having physical possession of such securities.

 

Section 4.8   Bank Accounts.

 

4.8.1   General. The Custodian shall identify on its books as for the account of the Fund the amount of cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies) deposited with the Custodian. The Custodian shall maintain cash deposits in on book currencies on its balance sheet.

 

 -7- 

 

 

The Custodian shall be liable for such balances. If the Custodian is unable to maintain, or market practice does not facilitate the maintenance for the Fund of a cash balance in a currency as an on book currency, a deposit account shall be opened and maintained by the Custodian outside the United States on behalf of the Fund with foreign sub-custodian. The Custodian shall not maintain the cash deposit on its balance sheet. The foreign sub-custodian will be liable for such balance directly to the Fund. All deposit accounts referred to in this Section shall be subject only to draft or order by the Custodian or, if applicable, the foreign sub-custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Cash maintained in a deposit account and denominated in an “on book” currency will be maintained under and subject to the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Custodian will not have any deposit liability for deposits in any currency that is not an “on book” currency.

 

4.8.2   Non-U.S. Branch and Non-U.S. Dollar Deposits. In accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Custodian shall not be required to repay any deposit made at a non-U.S. branch of the Custodian or any deposit made with the Custodian and denominated in a non-U.S. dollar currency, if repayment of the deposit or the use of assets denominated in the non-U.S. dollar currency is prevented, prohibited or otherwise blocked due to (a) an act of war, insurrection or civil strife; (b) any action by a non-U.S. government or instrumentality or authority asserting governmental, military or police power of any kind, whether such authority be recognized as a de facto or a de jure government, or by any entity, political or revolutionary movement or otherwise that usurps, supervenes or otherwise materially impairs the normal operation of civil authority; or (c) the closure of a non-U.S. branch in order to prevent, in the reasonable judgment of the Custodian, harm to the employees or property of the Custodian.

 

Section 4.9.   Collection of Income. The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled. If extraordinary measures are required to collect the income or payment, the Fund and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures. The Custodian shall credit income to the Company as such income is received or in accordance with the Custodian’s then current payable date income schedule. Any credit to the Company in advance of receipt may be reversed when the Custodian determines that payment will not occur in due course, and the Company may be charged at the Custodian’s applicable rate for time credited. Income on securities or other financial assets loaned other than from the Custodian’s securities lending program shall be credited as received.

 

 -8- 

 

 

Section 4.10.   Transactions in Foreign Custody Account.

 

4.10.1  Delivery Out. The Custodian or a foreign sub-custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities or other financial assets held outside of the United States owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian or such foreign sub-custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, specifying the foreign securities to be delivered and the person or persons to whom delivery is to be made. The Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective foreign sub-custodian or the respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, cash of the Fund only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the amount of the payment and the person or persons to payment is to be made.

 

4.10.2  Market Conditions. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received for the account of the Fund and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the account of the Fund may be effected in accordance with the customary established securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the country or market in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of receiving later payment for the Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.

 

Section 4.11  Shareholder or Bondholder Rights. The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder and bondholder rights with respect to foreign securities and other financial assets held outside the United States, subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country where the securities or other financial assets are issued. The Custodian may utilize Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. or another proxy service firm of recognized standing as its delegate to provide proxy services for the exercise of shareholder and bondholder rights. Local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of the Fund to exercise shareholder and bondholder rights.

 

Section 4.12.  Communications. The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information with respect to materials received by the Custodian through foreign sub-custodian from issuers of the foreign securities and other financial asset assets being held outside the United States for the account of the Fund. The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from issuers of foreign securities whose tender or exchange is sought or from the party or its agent making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the Fund all written information received by the Custodian through foreign sub-custodian from issuers of the foreign securities or other financial assets issued outside of the United States and being held for the account of the Fund regarding any class action or other collective litigation relating to the Fund’s foreign securities or other financial assets issued outside the United States and then held, or previously held, during the relevant class-action period during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian via a foreign sub-custodian for the account of the Fund, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. The Custodian does not support class-action participation by the Fund beyond such forwarding of written information received by the Custodian.

 

 -9- 

 

 

Section 5.     Contractual Settlement Services (Purchase / Sales)

 

Section 5.1  The Custodian shall, in accordance with the terms set out in this section, debit or credit the appropriate cash account of theFund in connection with (i) the purchase of securities for theFund, and (ii) proceeds of the sale of securities held on behalf of the Fund, on a contractual settlement basis.

 

Section 5.2  The services described above (the “Contractual Settlement Services”) shall be provided for such instruments and in such markets as the Custodian may advise from time to time. The Custodian may terminate or suspend any part of the provision of the Contractual Settlement Services under this Agreement at its sole discretion immediately upon notice to the, including, without limitation, in the event of force majeure events affecting settlement, any disorder in markets, or other changed external business circumstances affecting the markets or the Fund, provided that the Custodian shall be acting within the standard of care set forth in Section 16.1.

 

Section 5.3  The consideration payable in connection with a purchase transaction shall be debited from the appropriate cash account of the Fund as of the time and date that monies would ordinarily be required to settle such transaction in the applicable market. The Custodian shall promptly recredit such amount at the time that the Fund or the Fund notifies the Custodian by Proper Instruction that such transaction has been canceled.

 

Section 5.4  With respect to the settlement of a sale of securities, a provisional credit of an amount equal to the net sale price for the transaction (the “Settlement Amount”) shall be made to the account of the Fund as if the Settlement Amount had been received as of the close of business on the date that monies would ordinarily be available in good funds in the applicable market. Such provisional credit will be made conditional upon the Custodian having received Proper Instructions with respect to, or reasonable notice of, the transaction, as applicable; and the Custodian or its agents having possession of the asset(s) (which shall exclude assets subject to any third party lending arrangement entered into by a Fund) associated with the transaction in good deliverable form and not being aware of any facts which would lead them to believe that the transaction will not settle in the time period ordinarily applicable to such transactions in the applicable market.

 

Section 5.5.  Simultaneously with the making of such provisional credit, the Fund agrees that the Custodian shall have, and hereby grants to the Custodian, a security interest in any property at any time held for the account of the Fund to the full extent of the credited amount, and each Fund hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Custodian a continuing security interest and a lien on any and all such property under the Custodian’s possession, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In the event that the Fund fails to promptly repay any provisional credit, the Custodian shall have all of the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

Section 5.6  The Custodian shall have the right to reverse any provisional credit or debit given in connection with the Contractual Settlement Services at any time when the Custodian believes, in its reasonable judgment, that such transaction will not settle in accordance with its terms or amounts due pursuant thereto, will not be collectable or where the Custodian has not been provided Proper Instructions with respect thereto, as applicable, and the Fund shall be responsible

 

 -10- 

 

 

for any costs or liabilities resulting from such reversal. Upon such reversal, a sum equal to the credited or debited amount shall become immediately payable by the Fund to the Custodian and may be debited from any cash account held for benefit of the Fund.

 

Section 5.7   In the event that the Custodian is unable to debit an account of the Fund, and the Fund fails to pay any amount due to the Custodian at the time such amount becomes payable in accordance with this Agreement, (i) the Custodian may charge the Fund for reasonable costs and expenses associated with providing the provisional credit, including without limitation the cost of funds associated therewith, (ii) the amount of any accrued dividends, interest and other distributions with respect to assets associated with such transaction may be set off against the credited amount, (iii) the provisional credit and any such costs and expenses shall be considered an advance of cash for purposes of the Agreement and (iv) the Custodian shall have the right to setoff against any property and to sell, exchange, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of any property at any time held for the account of the Fund to the full extent necessary for the Custodian to make itself whole.

 

Section 6.     Foreign Exchange.

 

Section 6.1.   Generally. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which for purposes of this section may also include security trade advices, the Custodian shall facilitate the processing and settlement of foreign exchange transactions. Such foreign exchange transactions do not constitute part of the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement.

 

Section 6.2.   Fund Elections. The Fund (or its Sponsor acting on its behalf) may elect to enter into and execute foreign exchange transactions with third parties that are not affiliated with the Custodian, with State Street Global Markets, which is the foreign exchange division of State Street Bank and Trust Fund and its affiliated companies (“SSGM”), or with a sub-custodian. Where the Fund or its Sponsor gives Proper Instructions for the execution of a foreign exchange transaction using an indirect foreign exchange service described in the Client Publications, the Fund (or its Sponsor) instructs the Custodian, on behalf of the Fund, to direct the execution of such foreign exchange transaction to SSGM or, when the relevant currency is not traded by SSGM, to the applicable sub-custodian. The Custodian shall not have any agency (except as contemplated in preceding sentence), trust or fiduciary obligation to the Fund, its Sponsor or any other person in connection with the execution of any foreign exchange transaction. The Custodian shall have no responsibility under this Agreement for the selection of the counterparty to, or the method of execution of, any foreign exchange transaction entered into by the Fund (or its Sponsor acting on its behalf) or the reasonableness of the execution rate on any such transaction.

 

Section 6.3.  Fund Acknowledgement The Fund acknowledges that in connection with all foreign exchange transactions entered into by the Fund (or its Sponsor acting on its behalf) with SSGM or any sub-custodian, SSGM and each such sub-custodian:

 

(i)shall be acting in a principal capacity and not as broker, agent or fiduciary to the Fund or its Sponsor;

 

 -11- 

 

 

(ii)shall seek to profit from such foreign exchange transactions, and are entitled to retain and not disclose any such profit to the Fund or its Sponsor; and

 

(iii)shall enter into such foreign exchange transactions pursuant to the terms and conditions, including pricing or pricing methodology, (a) agreed with the Fund or its Sponsor from time to time or (b) in the case of an indirect foreign exchange service, (i) as established by SSGM and set forth in the Client Publications with respect to the particular foreign exchange execution services selected by the Fund or the Sponsor or (ii) as established by the sub-custodian from time to time.

 

Section 6.4.   Transactions by State Street. The Custodian or its affiliates, including SSGM, may trade based upon information that is not available to the Fund (or its Sponsor acting on its behalf), and may enter into transactions for its own account or the account of clients in the same or opposite direction to the transactions entered into with the Fund (or its Sponsor), and shall have no obligation, under this Agreement, to share such information with or consider the interests of their respective counterparties, including, where applicable, the Fund or the Sponsor.

 

Section 7.     Payments for Sales or Repurchases or Redemptions of Shares

 

The Custodian shall receive from the distributor of the Shares or from the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), as the case may be, and deposit into the account of the appropriate Fund such payments as are received for Shares, in Basket aggregations, thereof issued or sold from time to time by the Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of payments for shares of such Fund.

 

From such funds and securities as may be available for the purpose, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds and securities available for payment to, or in accordance with the instructions of, Authorized Participants (as defined in the Prospectus) who have delivered to the Transfer Agent proper instructions for the redemption or repurchase of their shares, in Basket aggregations, which shall have been accepted by the Transfer Agent, the applicable Fund Securities (as defined in the Prospectus) (or such securities in lieu thereof as may be designated by the Sponsor of the Fund in accordance with the Prospectus) for such Fund and the Cash Redemption Amount (as defined in the Prospectus), if applicable, less any applicable Redemption Transaction Fee (as defined in the Prospectus). The Custodian will transfer the applicable Fund Securities to or on the order of the Authorized Participant. Any cash redemption payment (less any applicable Redemption Transaction Fee) due to the Authorized Participant on redemption shall be effected through the DTC (as defined in the Prospectus) system or through wire transfer in the case of redemptions effected outside of the DTC system.

 

Section 8.     Proper Instructions

 

“Proper Instructions,” which may also be standing instructions, shall mean instructions received by the Custodian from the Fund or its Sponsor or a person or entity duly authorized by either of them. Such instructions may be in writing signed by the authorized person or persons or may be in a tested

 

 -12- 

 

 

communication or in a communication utilizing access codes effected between electro-mechanical or electronic devices or may be by such other means and utilizing such intermediary systems and utilities as may be agreed from time to time by the Custodian and the person(s) or entity giving such instruction, provided that the Fund has followed any security procedures agreed to from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by the Fund via the form of Funds Transfer Addendum hereto, the terms of which are hereby agreed to. The Custodian may agree to accept oral instructions, and in such case oral instructions will be considered Proper Instructions. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing. The Custodian shall be entitled conclusively to rely and act upon Proper Instructions until the Custodian has received notice of any change from the Fund and has had a reasonable time to implement such change. The Custodian may act on a Proper Instruction if it reasonably believes it contains sufficient information, and may refrain from acting on any Proper Instructions until such time that it has determined, in its sole discretion, that is has received any required clarification and/or authentication of Proper Instructions, provided the Custodian shall be acting within the standard of care set forth in Section 16.1. The Custodian may rely upon and shall be protected in acting upon any instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the Fund.

 

If the Custodian is not provided with reasonable time to execute a Proper Instruction (including any Proper Instruction not to execute, or any other modification to, a prior Proper Instruction) the Custodian will use good faith efforts to execute the Proper Instruction but will not be responsible or liable if such efforts are not successful (including any inability to change any actions that the Custodian had taken pursuant to the prior Proper Instruction) provided that the Custodian has acted within the standard of care set forth in Section 16.1. The inclusion of a statement of purpose or intent (or any similar notation) in a Proper Instruction shall not impose any additional obligations on the Custodian or condition or qualify its authority to effect such Proper Instruction. The Custodian will not assume a duty to ensure that the stated purpose or intent is fulfilled, and will have no responsibility or liability when it follows the Proper Instruction without regard to such purpose or intent provided that the Custodian has acted within the standard of care set forth in Section 16.1.

 

Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and from time to time thereafter, as appropriate, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian an officer’s certificate setting forth the names, titles, signatures and scope of authority of all persons authorized to give Proper Instructions or any other notice, request, direction, instruction, certificate or instrument on behalf of the Fund. Such certificate may be accepted and conclusively relied upon by the Custodian and shall be considered to be in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of a similar certificate to the contrary.

 

Section 9.     [Reserved]

 

 -13- 

 

 

Section 10.    Actions Permitted without Express Authority

 

The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the,but otherwise acting within the standard of care set forth in Section 16.1:

 

1)Make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement; provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Fund;

 

2)Surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive form;

 

3)Endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and

 

4)In general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with the securities and property of the Fund except as otherwise directed by the Fund.

 

Section 11.Duties of Custodian with Respect to the Books of Account and Calculation of Net Asset Value and Net Income

 

The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the entity or entities appointed by the Fund or Sponsor on the Fund’s behalf to keep the books of account of each Fund and/or compute the net asset value per share of the outstanding shares or, if directed in writing to do so by the Fund on behalf of a Fund, shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such net asset value per share. The Custodian shall transmit the net asset value per share of theFund to the Transfer Agent, the Distributor, the NYSE and such other entities as directed in writing by the Fund. If and as so directed, the Custodian shall also calculate daily the net income of the Fund as described in the Prospectus and shall advise the Fund and the Transfer Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income and, if instructed in writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall advise the Transfer Agent periodically of the division of such net income among its various components. The calculations of the net asset value per Share and the daily income of the Fund shall be made at the time or times described from time to time in the Prospectus. The Custodian shall on each day a Fund is open for the purchase or redemption of shares of the Fund compute the number of shares of each Deposit Security (as defined in the Prospectus) to be included in the current Fund Deposit (as defined in the Prospectus) and the Fund Securities (as defined in the Prospectus) and shall transmit such information to the NSCC.

 

The Fund acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to investments maintained with the Underlying Transfer Agent, the Underlying Transfer Agent is the sole source of information on the number of shares of a fund held by it on behalf of the Fund and that the Custodian has the right to rely on holdings information furnished by the Underlying Transfer Agent to the Custodian in performing its duties under this Agreement, including without limitation, the duties set forth in this Section 11 and in Section 12 hereof; provided, however, that the Custodian shall be obligated to reconcile information as to purchases and sales of Underlying Shares contained in trade instructions and confirmations received by the Custodian and to report promptly any discrepancies to the Underlying Transfer Agent.

 

 -14- 

 

 

Section 12.    Records

 

The Custodian shall with respect to the Fund create and maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement. All such records shall be the property of the Fund, copies shall be furnished promptly to the Fund or any successor custodian upon request and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund and employees and agents of the SEC. The Custodian shall, at the Fund’s request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such tabulations. In the event that the Custodian is requested or authorized by the Fund, or required by subpoena, administrative order, court order or other legal process, applicable law or regulation, or required in connection with any investigation, examination or inspection of the Fund by state or federal regulatory agencies, to produce the records of the Fund or the Custodian’s personnel as witnesses or deponents, the Fund agrees to pay the Custodian for the Custodian’s time and reasonable expenses, as well as the reasonable fees and expenses of the Custodian’s counsel, incurred in such production.

 

Section 13.    Opinion of Fund’s Independent Accountant

 

The Custodian shall cooperate reasonably with the the Fund’s independent accountants.

 

Section 14.    Reports to Fund by Independent Public Accountants

 

The Custodian shall provide the Fund at such times as the Fund may reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including securities deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities System or a Foreign Securities System (either, a “Securities System”), relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement; such reports, shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required by the Fund to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.

 

Section 15.    Compensation of Custodian

 

The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services and reasonable expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the Custodian.

 

Section 16.    Responsibility of Custodian

 

Section 16.1  Standard of Care. In performing the services hereunder, the Custodian shall act without negligence, willful misconduct, willful misfeasance, fraud, bad faith, reckless disregard of its duties and obligations under this Agreement and with the reasonable care, prudence,

 

 -15- 

 

 

diligence, and skill that may be reasonably expected of a leading provider of custody services in carrying out all of its duties and obligations under this Agreement. The Custodian shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence; provided that, the Custodian shall not be indemnified against any liability (or any expenses incident to such liability) arising out of the Custodian’s failure to exercise its standard of care set out in this Section 16.1.

 

Except as may arise from the Custodian’s failure to exercise its standard of care, the Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss or expense resulting from or caused by: (i) events or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities System or any agent or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, the interruption, suspension or restriction of trading on or the closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, work stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by the Fund or its duly authorized investment manager or Sponsor in their instructions to the Custodian provided such instructions have been in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) any delay or failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other commercially prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian’s sub-custodian or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made in connection with securities sold; (iv) any delay or failure of any company, corporation, or other body in charge of registering or transferring securities in the name of the Custodian, the Fund, the Custodian’s sub-custodians, nominees or agents or any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to transfer such securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and rights and other accretions or benefits; (v) delays or inability to perform its duties due to any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular security or Securities System; and (vi) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or any foreign country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent jurisdiction. The Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss or expense resulting from or caused by anything that is part of Country Risk.

 

Section 16.2  Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity. The Custodian shall, at no additional expense to the Fund, take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions in the event of equipment failure, work stoppage, governmental action, communication disruption or other impossibility of performance beyond the Custodian’s control. The Custodian shall enter into and shall maintain in effect at all times during the term of this Agreement with appropriate parties one or more agreements making reasonable provision for (i) periodic back-up of the computer files and data with respect to the Fund and (ii) emergency use of electronic data processing equipment to provide services under this Agreement. Upon reasonable request, the Custodian shall discuss with the Fund any business continuity/disaster recovery plan of the Custodian and/or provide a high-level presentation summarizing such plan. The Custodian represents that its business continuity plan is appropriate for its business as a provider of custodian services to a registered commodity pool.

 

Section 16.3  Special or Consequential Damages. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither party shall be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages; provided that the foregoing limitation shall not apply with respect to damages or claims arising out of or relating to that party’s fraud or willful misconduct.

 

 -16- 

 

 

Section 16.4  Payment of Money. If the Fund requires the Custodian to take any action with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or which action may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to the Fund being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to it.

 

Section 16.5  Mitigation by Custodian. Upon the occurrence of any event which causes or may cause any loss, damage or expense to the Fund, (i) the Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund of the occurrence of such event, (ii) the Custodian shall cause any applicable sub-custodian to, and (iii) the Custodian shall use its best efforts to cause any applicable sub-custodian or Eligible Securities Depository to, use all commercially reasonable efforts and take all reasonable steps under the circumstances to mitigate the effects of such event and to avoid continuing harm to the Fund.

 

Section 16.6.  Advice of Counsel. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice provided however, with respect to the performance of any action or omission of any action upon such advice, the Custodian shall be acting within the standard of care set forth in Section 16.1. The Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund of the receipt of such advice.

 

Section 16.7.  Lien If the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents advances cash or securities to the Fund for any purpose (including but not limited to securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement), or in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its nominee’s own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, or if the Fund fails to compensate the Custodian pursuant to Section 15 hereof, any property at any time held for the account of the Fund shall be security therefor and should the Fund fail to pay or reimburse the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such Fund’s assets to the extent necessary to obtain payment or reimbursement. The Custodian may at any time decline to follow Proper Instructions to deliver out to the Fund cash or securities if the Custodian determines in its reasonable discretion that, after giving effect to the Proper Instructions, the cash or securities remaining will not have sufficient value fully to secure the Fund's payment or reimbursement obligations, whether contingent or otherwise, and Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund of such action.

 

Section 17. Liability of Custodian for Actions of Other Persons.

 

Section 17.1  Domestic Sub-Custodians, Foreign Sub-Custodians. The Custodian shall be liable for the actions or omissions of any domestic sub-custodian or any foreign sub-custodian to the same extent as if such action or omission was performed by the Custodian itself, taking into account established market practices and local laws prevailing in the jurisdiction in which the acts and omissions of such sub-custodian occur. In the event of any loss, damage or expense suffered or

 

 -17- 

 

   

incurred by the Fund caused by or resulting from the actions or omissions of any domestic sub-custodian or foreign sub-custodian for which the Custodian would otherwise be liable, the Custodian shall promptly reimburse the Fund in the amount of any such loss, damage or expense. The Custodian shall be without liability for any loss, damage or expense caused by or resulting from the insolvency of any domestic sub-custodian or foreign sub-custodian that is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Custodian; provided, however, that the foregoing exculpation of the Custodian with respect to the insolvency of a particular foreign sub-custodian shall not be applicable if the Custodian fails to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or as a Foreign Custody Manager pursuant to Rule 17f-5 with respect to such foreign sub-custodian. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Custodian has met its standard of care hereunder and has fulfilled its obligations as a Foreign Custody Manager pursuant to Rule 17f-5 with respect to a foreign sub-custodian, then the Custodian shall be without liability for any loss, damage or expense caused by or resulting from the insolvency of such foreign sub-custodian.

 

Section 17.2  Special Sub-Custodians And Additional Custodians. Except as otherwise provided in any sub-custodian agreement to which the Custodian, the Fund and any Special Sub-Custodian or additional custodian are parties, the Custodian shall not be liable to the Fund for any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by the Fund resulting from the actions or omissions of a Special Sub-Custodian or additional custodian, unless such loss, damage or expense is caused by, or arises from, the failure of the Custodian to meet its standard of care as set out in Section 16.1 of this Agreement; provided however, that in the event of any such loss, damage or expense, the Custodian shall take all reasonable steps to enforce such rights as it may have against any Special Sub-Custodian or additional custodian to protect the interests of the Fund. The Custodian shall be without liability for any loss, damage or expense caused by or resulting from the insolvency of any Special Sub-Custodian or additional custodian.

 

Section 17.3  Securities Systems. The Custodian shall not be liable to the Fund for any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by the Fund resulting from the use by the Custodian of a Securities System, unless such loss, damage or expense is caused by, or arises from the failure of the Custodian to meet its standard of care as set out in Section 16.1 of this Agreement; provided however, that in the event of any such loss, damage or expense, the Custodian shall take all reasonable steps to enforce such rights as it may have against the Securities System to protect the interests of the Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Custodian shall be without liability for any loss, damage or expense caused by or resulting from the insolvency of any Securities System.

 

Section 18.    Effective Period, Termination and Amendment.

 

This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for an initial term ending March 31, 2019 (the “Initial Term”). After the expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year terms (each, a “Renewal Term”) unless a written notice of non-renewal is delivered by the non-renewing party no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, as the case may be. During the Initial Term and thereafter, either party may terminate this Agreement: (i) in the event of the other party’s material breach of a material provision of this Agreement that the other party has either (a) failed to cure or (b) failed to establish a remedial plan to cure that is reasonably acceptable, within 60 days’ written notice of such breach,

 

 -18- 

 

 

(ii) in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the other party or upon the happening of a like event to the other party at the direction of an appropriate agency or court of competent jurisdiction, or (iii) based upon the Fund’s determination that there is a reasonable basis to conclude that the Custodian is insolvent or that the financial condition of the Custodian is deteriorating in any material respect.

 

Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section with respect to the Fund, the Fund shall pay Custodian its compensation due and shall reimburse Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements except, if termination is based on termination for a material breach of this Agreement coupled with the Custodian’s failure to meet its standard of care under this Agreement, less any losses or damages caused by such event.

 

The provisions of Sections 6, 15, 16, 17 and 22.10 of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason.

 

This Agreement may be amended by a written agreement executed by both parties.

 

Section 19.    Successor Custodian

 

If a successor custodian for the Fund shall be appointed by the Fund, the Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, all securities, funds and other properties of the Fund then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the securities of the Fund held in a Securities System or at the Underlying Transfer Agent. If directed by the Fund, the Custodian will provide the services hereunder until a replacement custodian is in place, for a reasonable period of time not to exceed nine months, subject to the terms of this Agreement, including compensation.  The Custodian will also provide reasonable assistance to its successor, for such transfer, subject to the payment of such reasonable expenses and charges as the Custodian customarily charges for such assistance.

 

If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in like manner, upon receipt of a Proper Instruction, deliver at the office of the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in accordance with such Proper Instruction.

 

In the event that no Proper Instruction designating a successor custodian or alternative arrnagments shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, or New York, New York and providing custody services to registered commodity pools, of its own selection, all securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian hereunder and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and all other property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of the Fund, and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the Fund’s securities held in any Securities System or at the Underlying Transfer Agent. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.

 

 -19- 

 

 

In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to failure of the Fund to to provide Proper Instructions as aforesaid, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 20. Remote Access Services Addendum. The Custodian and the Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access Services Addendum hereto.

 

Section 21. Loan Services Addendum. In the event the Fund directs Custodian in writing to perform loan services, Custodian and the Fund hereby agree to be bound by the terms of the Loan Services Addendum attached hereto and the Fund shall reimburse Custodian for its fees and expenses related thereto as agreed upon from time to time in writing by the Fund and Custodian.

 

Section 22. General.

 

Section 22.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with laws of state of New York.

 

Section 22.2 Prior Agreements. This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all prior agreements between the Fund and the Custodian relating to the custody of the Fund’s assets.

 

Section 22.3 Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by (a) the Fund without the written consent of the Custodian or (b) by the Custodian without the written consent of the Fund, except that the Custodian may assign this Agreement to a successor of all or a substantial portion of its business, or to a party controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Custodian.

 

Section 22.4 Interpretive and Additional Provisions. In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Fund, may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by all parties, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable laws or regulations or any provision of the Fund’s articles of organization and by-laws or agreement or declaration of trust, as applicable, and Prospectus (collectively, “Governing Documents”). No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.

 

Section 22.5 Additional Funds. In the event that any commodity pool entity in addition to those listed on the Schedule A hereto desires to have the Custodian render services as custodian under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Custodian in writing, and if the Custodian agrees in writing to provide such services, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, such commodity pool entityshall become a Fund hereunder and be bound by all terms and conditions and provisions hereof including, without limitation, the representations and warranties set forth in Section 22.6 below.

 

 -20- 

 

 

Section 22.6 The Parties. In the case of a series corporation, trust or other entity, all references herein to the “Fund” are to the individual series or portfolio of such corporation, trust or other entity, or to such corporation, trust or other entity on behalf of the individual series or portfolio, as appropriate. Any reference in this Agreement to “the parties” shall mean the Custodian and the Fund. The Fund hereby represents and warrants that (a) it is a statutory trust, duly organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of formation; (b) it has the requisite power and authority under applicable laws and by its Declaration of Trust and By-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement; (c) all requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement; (d) it is a commodity pool that has properly registered its securities with the SEC under the applicable U.S. securities laws; (e) the Registration Statement been filed and will be effective and remain effective during the term of this Agreement; the Fund also warrants to the Custodian that as of the effective date of this Agreement, all necessary filings under the securities laws of the states in which the Trust offers or sells its shares have been made; (f) no legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would impair the Fund’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; (g) its entrance into this Agreement will not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Fund or any law or regulation applicable to it; (h) as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, the Fund is authorized to issue unlimited shares of beneficial interest; and (i) it has all necessary right, title, intellectual property, licenses, consents and content as may be necessary for the Fund to operate as presently contemplated. The Custodian hereby represents and warrants that (a) it is a Massachusetts trust company, duly organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts; (b) it has the organizational power and authority to carry on its business in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts; (c) all requisite organizational proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement; (d) no legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would materially impair the Custodian’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; (e) its entrance into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Custodian or any law or regulation applicable to it; (f) it has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; (g) it will promptly notify the Fund in the event that the Custodian is for any reason unable to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement;(h) it will promptly notify the Fund, except as may be prohibited by applicable law, of any legal, regulatory or administrative proceedings that have been instituted, which would materially impair the Custodian’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; and (i) the various procedures and systems which it has implemented with regard to safeguarding from loss or damage attributable to fire, theft or any other cause, the Fund’s records and other data and the Custodian’s records, data equipment facilities and other property used in the performance of its obligations hereunder are adequate and it will make such changes therein from time to time as it may deem reasonably necessary for the secure performance of its obligations hereunder. Each of the Fund and the Custodian further represents and warrants that it will promptly notify the other party if any of the above representations and warranties applicable to it ceases to be true or if it is unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement for any reason.

 

 -21- 

 

 

Section 22.7 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications required or permitted to be given under this agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent by an internationally recognized overnight courier service with signature required for delivery, by facsimile where a confirmation of receipt is obtained, provided, however, that if sent by facsimile the written communication must also be sent by next business day delivery via an internationally recognized overnight courier service with signature required for delivery, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties hereto at the following addresses:

 

To the Fund: WisdomTree Commodity Pool
  245 Park Avenue, 35th  Floor
  New York, NY 10167
  Attn: Legal Department
  Facsimile: 917-267-3851
   
To the Custodian: State Street Bank and Trust Company
  1200 Crown Colony Drive
  Quincy, MA  02169
  Attention: Matthew H. Malkasian  
  Telephone: 617-537-4685
  Facsimile: 617-451-4786
   
with a copy to: State Street Bank and Trust Company
  2 Avenue de Lafayette
  Boston, MA  02111
  Attention:  US Investor Services Legal Team, Senior Managing Counsel
  Telephone:  (617) 662-1783
  Facsimile:  (617) 662-2702

 

All such communications so addressed shall be deemed given (i) when delivered, if delivered personally to the intended recipient, or if sent by an internationally recognized courier service with signature required for delivery, or if sent by facsimile and a confirmation of receipt is obtained, and the written communication has also be sent for next business day delivery via a internationally recognized courier service with signature required for delivery (ii) three business days after being mailed if sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or upon delivery if actual delivery occurs earlier.

 

Section 22.8 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.

 

 -22- 

 

 

Section 22.9 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired. The failure of a party hereto to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion or the failure of a party hereto to exercise or any delay in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any such term, right or remedy or a waiver of any other rights or remedies, and no single or partial exercise of any right or remedy under this Agreement shall prevent any further exercise of the right or remedy or the exercise of any other right or remedy. Any waiver must be in writing signed by the waiving party.

 

Section 22.10 Confidentiality. The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other party regarding its business and operations, including information related to the development of new Funds(“Confidential Information”). All Confidential Information provided by a party hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (i) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, (ii) that is independently derived by any party hereto without the use of any information provided by the other party hereto in connection with this Agreement, (iii) that is disclosed, upon prior notice to the party whose information is being disclosed (to the extent that such notice is permissible), in the manner and to the extent required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation, or (iv) where the party seeking to disclose has received the prior written consent of the party providing the information, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Custodian and its affiliates may report and use nonpublic portfolio holdings information of its clients, including the Fund, on an aggregated basis with all or substantially all other client information and without specific reference to any Fund, provided that the Custodian shall be acting within the standard of care set forth in Section 16.1. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party acknowledges that the other party may provide access to and use of confidential information relating to the other party to the disclosing party’s employees, affiliates, contractors, agents, professional advisors, auditors or persons performing similar functions, as necessary solely for the purpose of rendering services under this Agreement , provided that each person or entity shall be subject to confidentiality obligations substantially similar to those set forth herein. Further, each party agrees and represents that in no case would information it receives under this Agreement be used against the other party in a manner that is adverse to the other party’s interests (including the other party’s interests in competitive businesses). Nothing herein shall prohibit or restrict the right of each party (or its affiliates) to develop, use or market products or services similar to or competitive with those of the other party (or its affiliates) provided that any such development, use or marketing does not violate the confidentiality obligations set forth herein. Additionally, each party acknowledges that the other party (or its affiliates) may already possess or have developed products or services similar to or competitive with those of the other party.

 

The Custodian will employ reasonable safeguards designed to protect the Fund’s Confidential Information, which may include but are not limited to the use of encryption

 

 -23- 

 

 

technologies, passwords and any other safeguards the Custodian may choose to employ. To the extent that Custodian’s affiliates or other permitted agents or subcontractors have access to Confidential Information, Custodian shall require that such entities are subject to terms governing confidentiality and security of such information that are substantially similar to those set forth in this Agreement. At all times, Custodian shall remain responsible and liable for such entities’ compliance with the terms of Section 22.13.

 

Custodian agrees to notify promptly the Fund of any breach of this Section 22.10 or Section 22.13 and to provide the Fund with details as to the nature and extent of the breach, including, but not limited to, the type of confidential or personal information disclosed and the identity of the recipients of such information.

 

To the extent reasonably possible, shareholder information made available to third parties by Custodian will be provided on a non-disclosed basis (that is, without information disclosing the identity of the shareholder).

 

Section 22.11 Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, exhibits, appendices, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

 

Section 22.12 Regulation GG. The Fund hereby represents and warrants that it does not engage in an “Internet gambling business,” as such term is defined in Section 233.2(r) of Federal Reserve Regulation GG (12 CFR 233) (“Regulation GG”). The Fund hereby covenants that it shall not engage in an Internet gambling business. In accordance with Regulation GG, the Fund is hereby notified that “restricted transactions,” as such term is defined in Section 233.2(y) of Regulation GG, are prohibited in any dealings with the Custodian pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise between or among any party hereto.

 

Section 22.13 Data Privacy. The Custodian will implement and maintain a written information security program that contains appropriate security measures to safeguard the personal information of the Fund’s shareholders, employees, directors and/or officers that the Custodian receives, stores, maintains, processes or otherwise accesses in connection with the provision of services hereunder.  For these purposes, “personal information” shall mean (i) an individual’s name (first initial and last name or first name and last name), address or telephone number plus (a) Social Security number, (b) driver’s license number, (c) state identification card number, (d) debit or credit card number, (e) financial account number or (f) personal identification number or password that would permit access to a person’s account, or (ii) any combination of the foregoing that would allow a person to log onto or access an individual’s account.  Notwithstanding the foregoing “personal information” shall not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly available

 

 -24- 

 

 

information, or from federal, state or local government records lawfully made available to the general public.

 

Section 22.14 Shareholder Communications Election. SEC Rule 14b-2 requires banks which hold securities for the account of customers to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names, addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of this information. In order to comply with the rule, as may be applicable, the Custodian needs the Fund to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Fund’s name, address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund owns. If the Fund tells the Custodian “no,” the Custodian will not provide this information to requesting companies. If the Fund tells the Custodian “yes” or does not check either “yes” or “no” below, the Custodian is required by the rule, as applicable, to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund. For the Fund’s protection, the rule, as applicable, prohibits the requesting company from using the Fund’s name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of the alternatives below.

 

YES ¨ The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.
   
NO  x The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.

 

Section 22.15. Limitation of Liability of the Trustees and Shareholders. This Agreement is executed by the Sponsor on behalf of the Fund and the obligations hereunder are not binding upon any of the directors/trustees, officers or shareholders of the Fund (or its Sponsor) individually. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, each and every obligation, liability or undertaking of the Fund under this Agreement shall constitute solely an obligation, liability or undertaking of, and be binding upon, the Fund and shall be payable solely from the available assets of such Fund and shall not be binding upon or affect any assets of any other Fund (or its Sponsor).

 

Section 22.16. Insurance. The Custodian shall at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain, at its cost, insurance coverage regarding its business in such amount and scope as it deems adequate in connection with the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement.  Upon the Fund’s reasonable request, which in no event shall be more than once annually, the Custodian shall furnish to the Fund a summary of the Custodian’s applicable insurance coverage.

 

Section 22.17. Liability of Fund. The use of a single form of agreement referring to multiple Funds listed on Appendix A is for ease of administrative purposes only. Custodian and each Fund listed on Appendix A to this Agreement shall be deemed for all purposes to have entered into and executed a separate Agreement. The assets and liabilities of each Fund listed on Appendix A are separate and distinct; the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are binding solely upon the assets or property of each Fund, on whose behalf this Agreement has been executed.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

 -25- 

 

 

EXECUTION

 

Signature Page

 

In Witness Whereof, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative under seal as of the date first above-written.

 

  Each Commodity Pool Entity
  Identified On Schedule A hereto
   
  By its Managing Owner And/Or Sponsor
     
  By:  
    Gregory Barton
    President
     
  State Street Bank and Trust Company
     
  By:  
     Gunjan Kedia
    Executive Vice President

 

Master Custodian Agreement

 

 

 

 

Schedule A

to

Master Custodian Agreement

 

WisdomTree Continuous Commodity Index Fund (f/k/a GreenHaven Continuous Commodity Index Fund) and its master fund

 

WisdomTree Coal Fund (f/k/a GreenHaven Coal Fund)

 

 App-1 

 

 

SCHEDULE D

to

Master Custodian Agreement

 

Special Sub-Custodians

 

None

  

 D-1 

 

EX-10.3 6 t1503058_ex10-3.htm EXHIBIT 10.3

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

Form Of Administration Agreement

 

This Administration Agreement (“Agreement”) made as of January 4, 2016, and to have an effective date on January 1, 2016, is by and between each commodity pool entity set forth on Schedule A hereto (each such commodity pool entity and each commodity pool entity made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 18 below shall hereinafter be referred to as a “Trust”) and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company (the “Administrator”).

 

WHEREAS, each Trust is operated as a commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act, and is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") by means of a registration statement on Form S-1 or S-3, as applicable (each a "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act");

 

WHEREAS, WisdomTree Commodity Services, LLC or WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC, as applicable, serves as the managing owner and/or sponsor, and commodity pool operator, of each Trust (the "Managing Owner" or “Sponsor”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Managing owner on behalf of the Trust desires to retain the Administrator to furnish certain administrative services to the Trust, and the Administrator is willing to furnish such services, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.Appointment of Administrator

 

The Sponsor on behalf of the Trust hereby appoints the Administrator to act as administrator to the Trust for purposes of providing certain administrative services for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Administrator accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services stated herein.

 

2.Delivery of Documents

 

The Trust will promptly deliver to the Administrator copies of each of the following documents and all future amendments and supplements, if any:

 

a.The Trust’s Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement, as may be amended from time to time (collectively, the “Charter Documents”);

 

b.The Trust’s currently effective Registration Statement under the 1933 Act and each Prospectus (including any disclosure document and statement of additional information) relating to the Trust(s) and all amendments and supplements thereto as in effect from time to time;

 

 

 

 

c.Certified copies of the resolutions of the Sponsor, on its behalf, authorizing (1) the Trust to enter into this Agreement and (2) certain individuals on behalf of the Trust to (a) give instructions to the Administrator pursuant to this Agreement and (b) sign checks and pay expenses;

 

d.A copy of any investment management agreement between the Trust and its Sponsor;

 

e.Copies of all of the Authorized Participant Agreements between the Trust, the Sponsor and any authorized participants named therein, including all amendments thereto; and

 

f.Such other certificates, documents or opinions which the Administrator may, in its reasonable discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in the proper performance of its duties.

 

3.Representations and Warranties of the Administrator

 

The Administrator represents and warrants to the Trust that:

 

a.It is a Massachusetts trust company, duly organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts;

 

b.It has the organizational power and authority to carry on its business in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts;

 

c.All requisite organizational proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

d.No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would materially impair the Administrator’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;

 

e.Its entrance into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Administrator or any law or regulation applicable to it;

 

f.It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;

 

g.It will promptly notify the Trust in the event that the Administrator is for any reason unable to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement;

 

h.It will promptly notify the Trust, except as may be prohibited by applicable law, of any legal, regulatory or administrative proceedings that have been instituted,

 

-2

 

 

which would materially impair the Administrator’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; and

 

i.The various procedures and systems which it has implemented with regard to safeguarding from loss or damage attributable to fire, theft or any other cause, the Trust’s records and other data and the Administrator’s records, data equipment facilities and other property used in the performance of its obligations hereunder are adequate and it will make such changes therein from time to time as it may deem reasonably necessary for the secure performance of its obligations hereunder.

 

The Administrator further represents and warrants that it will promptly notify the Trust if any of the above ceases to be true or if it is unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement for any reason.

 

4.Representations and Warranties of the Trust

 

The Trust represents and warrants to the Administrator that:

 

a.It is a statutory trust, duly organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of formation;

 

b.It has the requisite power and authority under applicable laws and by its Charter Documents to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

c.All requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

d.It has made all requisite filings, or is otherwise exempt from making filings, with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") and National Futures Association ("NFA");

 

e.The Registration Statement been filed and will be effective and remain effective during the term of this Agreement. The Trust also warrants to the Administrator that as of the effective date of this Agreement, all necessary filings under the securities laws of the states in which the Trust offers or sells its shares have been made;

 

f.No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would impair the Trust’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;

 

g.Its entrance into this Agreement will not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Trust or any law or regulation applicable to it;

 

-3

 

 

h.As of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, the Trust is authorized to issue unlimited shares of beneficial interest, subject to its effective Registration Statement;

 

i.It has all necessary right, title, intellectual property, licenses, consents and content as may be necessary for the Trust to operate as presently contemplated.

 

The Trust further represents and warrants that it will promptly notify the Administrator if any of the above ceases to be true or if it is unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement for any reason.

 

5.Administration Services

 

The Administrator shall provide the services as listed on Schedule B, subject to the authorization and direction of the Sponsor and, in each case where appropriate, the review and comment by the Trust’s independent accountants and legal counsel and in accordance with procedures which may be established from time to time between the Trust and the Administrator.

 

The Administrator shall perform such other services for the Trust that are mutually agreed to by the parties from time to time, for which the Trust will pay such fees as may be mutually agreed upon, including the Administrator’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The provision of such services shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

The Administrator shall provide the office facilities and the personnel determined by it to perform the services contemplated herein.

 

In performing the services hereunder, the Administrator shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Trust’s current Prospectus(es), and effective amendments thereto. The Trust shall promptly provide the Administrator with copies of such material as soon as available and, upon request, copies of any applicable resolutions by the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust which relate to the Trust’s shares.

 

6.Fees; Expenses; Expense Reimbursement

 

The Administrator shall receive from the Trust such compensation for the Administrator’s services provided pursuant to this Agreement as may be agreed to from time to time in a written Fee Schedule approved by the parties. The fees are accrued daily and billed monthly and shall be due and payable upon receipt of the invoice. Upon the termination of this Agreement before the end of any month, the fee for the part of the month before such termination shall be prorated according to the proportion which such part bears to the full monthly period and shall be payable upon the date of termination of this Agreement. In addition, the Trust agrees to reimburse the Administrator for its reasonable out-of-pocket costs set out in the fee schedule. All rights of compensation and expense reimbursement under this Agreement for services performed as of the termination date shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

-4

 

 

The Trust agrees promptly to reimburse the Administrator for any equipment and supplies specially ordered by or for the Trust through the Administrator and for any other expenses not contemplated by this Agreement that the Administrator may incur on the Trust’s behalf at the Trust’s or Sponsor’s request or with the Trust’s or Sponsor’s consent.

 

Each of the Trust and the Administrator will bear its own expenses. In particular, the Trust, will bear all Trust expenses that are incurred by the Trust, or by the Administrator on the Trust’s behalf (e.g., typesetting, XBRL-tagging, page changes and all other print vendor and EDGAR charges), in its operation unless otherwise assumed by the Administrator, including as part of the services or as otherwise mutually agreed in writing by the Trust and the Administrator.

 

From time to time, the Administrator is authorized to and may employ, associate or contract with such person or persons as the Administrator may deem desirable to assist it in performing its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that the compensation of such person or persons shall be paid by the Administrator and that the Administrator shall be as fully responsible to the Trust for the acts and omissions of any such person or persons as it is for its own acts and omissions. As mutually agreed by the Trust and the Administrator, but in any event at least annually, the Administrator shall discuss with the Trust any assistance the Administrator has deemed desirable in performing its duties under this Agreement.

 

7.Proper Instructions and Advice

 

a.         The Trust or any other person duly authorized by the Trust shall communicate to the Administrator by means of Proper Instructions (as defined in Section 7.a. below). Proper Instructions shall mean (i) a writing signed or initialed by one or more persons as an officer or trustee of the Trust (references to officers and/or trustees of the Trust as used herein shall be deemed to include officers and/or trustees/directors of the Sponsor), or the delegate thereof, shall have from time to time authorized or (ii) communication effected directly between the Trust or its third-party agents and the Administrator by electro-mechanical or electronic devices, provided that the Trust and the Administrator agree to security procedures. The Administrator may rely upon any Proper Instruction reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly issued by or on behalf of the Trust. Oral instructions shall be considered Proper Instructions if the Administrator reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions; provided, however, that the Trust shall cause all authorized oral instructions to be confirmed in accordance with clauses (i) or (ii) above, as appropriate.

 

b.         At any time, the Administrator may apply to any officer of the Trust or his or her designee for instructions and may consult with the independent accountants for the Trust, with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Administrator under this Agreement. Where circumstances arise that the Administrator believes advice from counsel may be necessary, the Administrator will notify the Trust. The Administrator shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Trust) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice provided, however, with respect to the performance of any action or omission of any action upon such advice, the Administrator shall be acting within the standard of care set forth in Section 8. The Administrator shall promptly notify the Trust of the receipt of such advice. The

 

-5

 

 

Administrator shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person until receipt of written notice thereof from the Trust. Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing upon the Administrator any obligation to seek instructions or advice.

 

8.Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

 

The Administrator shall be responsible for the performance only of such duties as are set forth in this Agreement and, except as otherwise provided under Section 6, shall have no responsibility for the actions or activities of any other party, including other service providers. The Administrator shall at all times act in good faith and without negligence and agrees to exercise the care and expertise of a leading provider of fund administration and fund accounting services in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and use all reasonable efforts in performing the services under this Agreement. The Administrator shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Trust for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in connection with the provision of services hereunder, provided that the Administrator shall not be indemnified against any liability (or any expenses incident to such liability) arising out of the Administrator’s own bad faith, negligence, willful misconduct or disregard of its duties and obligations under this Agreement. The Administrator shall have no liability in respect of any loss, damage or expense suffered by the Trust insofar as such loss, damage or expense arises directly from the performance of the Administrator’s duties hereunder in reliance upon records that were maintained for the Trust by entities other than the Administrator prior to the Administrator’s appointment as administrator for the Trust (“Prior Records”) except as may arise from Administrator’s own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct or the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of an agent of the Administrator provided that the Administrator shall notify the Trust as soon as practicable after becoming aware in the course of performing its duties hereunder of an error or incomplete information in such Prior Records. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrator shall have no responsibility to review, confirm or otherwise verify the accuracy or completeness of any Prior Records. The Administrator shall have no liability for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss or damage resulting from the performance or nonperformance of its duties hereunder except to the extent arising directly from the failure to exercise the standard of care set out in this Section 8 or the bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrator, its agents, officers or employees.

 

Except as may arise from the Administrator’s failure to exercise its standard of care, the Administrator shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including without limitation, work stoppage, power or other mechanical failure, computer virus, natural disaster, governmental action or communication disruption.

 

The Administrator shall, at no additional expense to the Trust, take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions in the event of equipment failure, work stoppage, governmental action, communication disruption or other impossibility of performance beyond the Administrator’s control. The Administrator shall enter into and shall maintain in effect at all times during the term of this Agreement with appropriate parties one or more agreements making reasonable provision, at a level the Administrator believes consistent with other similarly situated providers of fund administration services, for (i) periodic back-up of the computer files

 

-6

 

 

and data with respect to the Trust and (ii) emergency use of electronic data processing equipment to provide services under this Agreement. Upon reasonable request, the Administrator shall discuss with the Trust any business continuity/disaster recovery plan of the Administrator and/or provide a high-level presentation summarizing such plan.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither party shall be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages; provided that the foregoing limitation shall not apply with respect to damages or claims arising out of or relating to that party’s fraud or willful misconduct.

 

In any event, except as otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties hereto, the Administrator’s cumulative liability for each calendar year (a “Liability Period”) with respect to the Trust under this Agreement regardless of the form of action or legal theory shall be limited to its total annual compensation earned and fees payable hereunder during the preceding Compensation Period, as defined herein, for any liability or loss suffered by the Trust including, but not limited to, any liability relating to qualification of the Trust as a regulated investment company or any liability relating to the Trust’s compliance with any federal or state tax or securities statute, regulation or ruling during such Liability Period. “Compensation Period” shall mean the calendar year ending immediately prior to each Liability Period in which the event(s) giving rise to the Administrator’s liability for that period have occurred. For any partial first year, the annual cumulative liability hereunder shall be the Administrator’s total compensation earned and fees payable hereunder during such partial first year on an annualized basis.

 

The limitation of liability and indemnification contained herein shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

9.Confidentiality

 

The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other party regarding its business and operations, including information related to the development of new Trusts or new series. The Administrator shall treat confidentially all information obtained in the ordinary course of performing its duties hereunder about the Trust’s prior, present or potential shareholders or relative to the advisor or distributor and their prior, present or potential customers (including all “personal information” described in Section 17 of this Agreement). All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (i) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, (ii) that is independently derived by either party hereto without the use of any information provided by the other party hereto in connection with this Agreement, (iii) that is disclosed, upon prior notice to the party whose information is being disclosed (to the extent such notice is permissible), in the manner and to the extent required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation, or (iv) where the party seeking to disclose has received the prior written consent of the party providing the information, which consent shall

 

-7

 

 

not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party acknowledges that the other party may provide access to and use of confidential information relating to the other party to the disclosing party’s employees, contractors, agents, professional advisors, auditors or persons performing similar functions, as necessary solely for the purpose of rendering services under this Agreement, provided that each person or entity shall be subject to confidentiality obligations substantially similar to those set forth herein. Further, each party agrees and represents that in no case would information it receives under this Agreement be used against the other party in a manner that is adverse to the other party’s interests (including the other party’s interests in competitive businesses). Nothing herein shall prohibit or restrict the right of each party (or its affiliates) to develop, use or market products or services similar to or competitive with those of the other party (or its affiliates) provided that any such development, use or marketing does not violate the confidentiality obligations set forth herein. Additionally, each party acknowledges that the other party (or its affiliates) may already possess or have developed products or services similar to or competitive with those of the other party.

 

The Administrator will employ reasonable safeguards designed to protect the Trust’s confidential information, which may include but are not limited to the use of encryption technologies, passwords and any other safeguards the Administrator may choose to employ. If either party becomes aware of a breach of this confidentiality provision, it will notify promptly the other party of such breach and provide such details as it deems appropriate and in accordance with the standard of care hereunder regarding the extent of the breach of confidentiality.

 

To the extent reasonably possible, shareholder information made available to third parties by the Administrator will be provided on a non-disclosed basis (that is, without information disclosing the identity of the shareholder). The Administrator affirms that it has, and will continue to have throughout the term of this Agreement, procedures in place that are reasonably designed to protect the privacy of non-public personal consumer/customer financial information to the extent required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

The undertakings and obligations contained in this Section shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

10.Compliance with Governmental Rules and Regulations; Records

 

The Administrator agrees to perform its duties hereunder in accordance with applicable law; however, the Administrator assumes no responsibility for ensuring that the Trust complies with all securities, tax, commodities and other laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Trust.

 

The Administrator agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust shall at all times remain the property of the Trust, shall be readily accessible during normal business hours, and shall be promptly surrendered upon the termination of the Agreement or otherwise on written request except as otherwise provided in Section 12. Records may be surrendered in either written or machine-readable form, at the option of the Administrator. Upon the reasonable request of the Trust, copies of any such books and records shall be provided by the Administrator.

 

-8

 

 

11.Services Not Exclusive

 

The services of the Administrator are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Administrator shall be free to render similar services to others. The Administrator shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided herein or authorized by the Trust from time to time, have no authority to act or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.

 

12.Effective Period and Termination

 

This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for an initial term ending March 31, 2019 (the “Initial Term”). After the expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year terms (each, a “Renewal Term”) unless a written notice of non-renewal is delivered by the non-renewing party no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, as the case may be. During the Initial Term and thereafter, either party may terminate this Agreement: (i) in the event of the other party’s material breach of a material provision of this Agreement that the other party has either (a) failed to cure or (b) failed to establish a remedial plan to cure that is reasonably acceptable, within 60 days’ written notice of such breach, (ii) in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the other party or upon the happening of a like event to the other party at the direction of an appropriate agency or court of competent jurisdiction, or (iii) based upon the Trust’s determination that there is a reasonable basis to conclude that the Administrator is insolvent or that the financial condition of the Administrator is deteriorating in any material respect.

 

Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section with respect to the Trust, the Trust shall pay the Administrator its compensation due and shall reimburse the Administrator for its costs, expenses and disbursements except, if termination is based on termination for a material breach of this Agreement coupled with the Administrator’s failure to meet its standard of care under this Agreement, less any losses or damages caused by such event.

 

Termination of this Agreement with respect to any one particular Trust shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect any other Trust.

 

As soon as reasonably practicable following the termination or expiration of this Agreement, the Administrator agrees to transfer such records and related supporting documentation as are held by it under this Agreement to any replacement provider of the services or to such other person as the Trust may direct. If directed by the Trust, the Administrator will provide the services hereunder until a replacement administrator is in place, for a reasonable period of time up to nine (9) months, subject to the terms of this Agreement, including compensation. The Administrator will also provide reasonable assistance to its successor, for such transfer, subject to the payment of such reasonable expenses and charges as the Administrator customarily charges for such assistance.

 

-9

 

 

13.Notices

 

All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications required or permitted to be given under this agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent by an internationally recognized overnight courier service with signature required for delivery, by facsimile where a confirmation of receipt is obtained, provided, however, that if sent by facsimile the written communication must also be sent by next business day delivery via an internationally recognized overnight courier service with signature required for delivery, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties hereto at the following addresses:

 

If to the Trust:

WisdomTree Commodity Pools

245 Park Ave, 35th Floor

New York, NY 10167

Attn: Legal Department

Facsimile: 917-267-3851

 

If to the Administrator:

State Street Bank and Trust Company

P.O. Box 5049

Boston, MA 02206-5049

Attn: US Investor Services Legal Team, Senior Managing Counsel

Facsimile: 617-662-2702

 

All such communications so addressed shall be deemed given (i) when delivered, if delivered personally to the intended recipient, or if sent by an internationally recognized courier service with signature required for delivery, or if sent by facsimile and a confirmation of receipt is obtained, and the written communication has also be sent for next business day delivery via a internationally recognized courier service with signature required for delivery (ii) three business days after being mailed if sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or upon delivery if actual delivery occurs earlier.

 

14.Amendment

 

This Agreement may be amended by a written agreement executed by both parties.

 

15.Assignment

 

This Agreement may not be assigned by (a) the Trust without the written consent of the Administrator or (b) by the Administrator without the written consent of the Trust, except that the Administrator may assign this Agreement to a successor of all or a substantial portion of its business, or to a party controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Administrator.

 

-10

 

 

16.Successors

 

This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Trust and the Administrator and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

17.Data Protection

 

The Administrator shall implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program that contains appropriate security measures to safeguard the personal information of the Trust’s shareholders, employees, directors and/or officers that the Administrator receives, stores, maintains, processes or otherwise accesses in connection with the provision of services hereunder. For these purposes, “personal information” shall mean (i) an individual’s name (first initial and last name or first name and last name), address or telephone number plus (a) social security number, (b) driver’s license number, (c) state identification card number, (d) debit or credit card number, (e) financial account number or (f) personal identification number or password that would permit access to a person’s account or (ii) any combination of the foregoing that would allow a person to log onto or access an individual’s account. Notwithstanding the foregoing “personal information” shall not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly available information, or from federal, state or local government records lawfully made available to the general public.

 

18.Additional Trusts

 

In the event that any trust in addition to those listed on Schedule A hereto desires to have the Administrator render services as administrator under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Administrator in writing, and if the Administrator agrees in writing to provide such services, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, trust shall become a Trust hereunder and be bound by all terms and conditions and provisions hereof.

 

19.Entire Agreement

 

This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous representations, warranties or commitments regarding the services to be performed hereunder whether oral or in writing.

 

20.Waiver

 

The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver nor shall it deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing signed by the waiving party.

 

-11

 

 

21.Severability

 

If any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the balance of the Agreement shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any person or circumstance it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other persons and circumstances.

 

Each party agrees to perform such further acts and execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof.

 

22.Governing Law

 

This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the state of New York.

 

23.Reproduction of Documents

 

This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, xerographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

 

24.Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

25.Limitation of Liability of the Trustees and Shareholders

 

This Agreement is executed by the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust and the obligations hereunder are not binding upon any of the directors/trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust (or its Sponsor) individually. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, each and every obligation, liability or undertaking of the Trust under this Agreement shall constitute solely an obligation, liability or undertaking of, and be binding upon, the Trust and shall be payable solely from the available assets of such Trust and shall not be binding upon or affect any assets of any other Trust (or its Sponsor).

 

26.SSAE 16 Reports

 

The Administrator will furnish to the Trust, on a semi-annual basis, a report in accordance with Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 16 (the “SSAE Report”) as well as such other reports and information relating to the Administrator’s policies

 

-12

 

 

and procedures and its compliance with such policies and procedures and with the laws applicable to its business and its services, as the parties may mutually agree upon.

 

27.Cooperation with Accountants

 

The Administrator shall cooperate with the Trust’s independent public accountants and shall take all reasonable actions in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement to provide such information, as may be reasonably requested by the Trust from time to time, to such accountants for the expression of their opinion.

 

28.Insurance

 

The Administrator shall at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain, at its cost, insurance coverage regarding its business in such amount and scope as it deems adequate in connection with the services provided by the Administrator under this Agreement.  Upon the Trust’s reasonable request, which in no event shall be more than once annually, the Administrator shall furnish to the Trust a summary of the Administrator’s applicable insurance coverage.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

-13

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their officers designated below as of the date first written above.

 

Each Commodity pool entity

Identified on Schedule A Hereto

 

by its managing owner and/or Sponsor

 

By:    
Name: Gregory Barton  
Title: President  

 

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

 

By:    
Name: Gunjan Kedia  
Title: Executive Vice President  

 

Administration Agreement

 

 

 

 

ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

 

SCHEDULE A

Listing of Trust(s)

 

WisdomTree Continuous Commodity Index Fund (f/k/a GreenHaven Continuous Commodity Index Fund) and its master fund

 

WisdomTree Coal Fund (f/k/a GreenHaven Coal Fund)

 

 

 

ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

 

Schedule B

 

LIST OF SERVICES

 

I.Fund Administration Treasury Services as described in Schedule B1 attached hereto;

 

II.[Reserved]; and

 

III.Fund Administration Legal Services as described in Schedule B3 attached hereto.

 

 

 

 

Schedule B1

 

Fund Administration Treasury Services

 

a.Prepare for the review by designated officer(s) of the Sponsor on behalf of each Trust, financial information regarding each Trust that will be included in each Trust's quarterly and annual reports on Form 10-Q and 10-K, respectively, such reports to be prepared and filed by the Sponsor or designee;

 

b.Coordinate the audit of each Trust's annual financial statements by each Trust's independent accountants to be included in each Trust's Form 10-K, including the preparation of supporting audit work papers and other schedules;

 

c.Prepare for the review by designated officer(s) of the Sponsor on behalf of each Trust, monthly Account Statements required pursuant to Rule 4.22(a) of the Commodity Exchange Act;

 

d.Prepare such other reports, forms or filings as may be mutually agreed upon;

 

e.Prepare for the review by designated officer(s) of the Sponsor on behalf of each Trust, annual expense budgets, perform accrual analyses and recommend changes to expense accruals on a periodic basis, arrange for payment of each Trust's expenses, review calculations of fees paid to each Trust's Sponsor, custodian, accounting agent, distributor and transfer agent, and obtain authorization of accrual changes and expense payments;

 

f.Provide periodic testing of each Trust with respect to compliance with limitations for each Trust contained in the Registration Statement, as may be mutually agreed upon;

 

g.Prepare and furnish total return performance information for each Trust, calculated in accordance with applicable U.S. securities and commodities laws and regulations, as may be reasonably requested by designated officer(s) of the Sponsor on behalf of such Trust;

 

h.Provide sub-certificates in connection with the certification requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 with respect to the services provided by the Administrator; and

 

B1-1 

 

 

SCHEDULE B3

 

Fund Administration Legal Services

 

Subject to the authorization and direction of the Sponsor or Sponsor, and, in each case where appropriate, the review and comment by such Sponsor’s or Sponsor’s independent accountants and legal counsel and in accordance with procedures which may be established from time to time between such Sponsor or Sponsor:

 

a.State Street will assist in an administrative capacity only with the preparation, coordination, proofreading and filing of any amendments and/or updates to the Registration Statements (including S-1, S-3, 424(b)(3) and Free Writing Prospectus (FWP) filings) and proxy statements. This includes distributing drafts, incorporating data and comments received by outside parties and proofreading the same, as well as assistance with the filing of such documents and coordinating the EDGAR conversion with outside printers. In acting solely in an administrative capacity, State Street will not make determinations with respect to the suitability of any documents for which it will provide assistance, including with respect to legal and regulatory requirements governing any such filings, or otherwise act in a discretionary capacity.

 

B3-1 

EX-10.4 7 t1503058_ex10-4.htm EXHIBIT 10.4

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

FORM OF DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AGREEMENT
Registered Commodity Pools

 

This Distribution Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made this 4th day of January 2016, effective as of January 1, 2016, by and among WisdomTree Coal Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund” or the “Trust”), having its principal place of business at 245 Park Avenue, 35th Floor, New York, New York 10167, Foreside Fund Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Distributor” or “Foreside”), having its principal place of business at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101, and WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the “Sponsor” or “Managing Owner”), with its principal place of business at 245 Park Avenue, 35th Floor, New York, New York 10167.

 

WHEREAS, the Sponsor is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) as a commodity pool operator, is a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”), and is subject to the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “CEA”), and all of the relevant rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Commodities Rules”) and serves as the commodity pool operator of the Trust; and

 

WHEREAS, the Trust is a statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, and may have separate series (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), each of which may issue common units representing fractional individual beneficial interests in such Fund (“Shares”, and aggregations thereof, “Baskets”);

 

WHEREAS, the Sponsor desires to retain Foreside to serve as the distributor of certain Funds as listed on Exhibit A hereto (as amended from time to time); and

 

WHEREAS, the Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, has filed, or will file, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”);

 

WHEREAS, the Distributor is a registered broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”);

 

WHEREAS, the Distributor desires to serve as distributor of the Funds and to provide the services described herein to the Funds.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and undertakings herein contained, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.          Appointment.

 

The Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, hereby appoints the Distributor as the exclusive distributor of the Funds in accordance with this Agreement, on the terms and for the period set forth in this Agreement and subject to the registration requirements of the federal securities laws

 

 1 

 

 

and of the laws governing the sale of securities in the various states, and the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act in such capacity hereunder.

 

2.           Definitions.

 

Wherever they are used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

(a)          “Prospectus” means the prospectus which constitutes part of the Registration Statement(s) of the Trust under the 1933 Act as such Prospectus may be amended or supplemented and filed with the SEC from time to time;

 

(b)          “Registration Statement” means the registration statement most recently filed from time to time by the Trust with the SEC and effective under the 1933 Act, as such registration statement(s) is amended by any amendments thereto at the time in effect;

 

(c)          All capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

3.           Duties of the Distributor

 

(a)          The Distributor agrees to act as agent of the Funds and to work with the Funds’ transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) in connection with the receipt and processing of all orders for purchases and redemptions of Shares of each Fund in aggregations of a predetermined number of Shares specified in the Fund’s Prospectus (“Baskets”) from DTC Participants or participants in the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC Participants”) that have executed a Participant Agreement (the “Authorized Participants”), as defined in paragraph 3(b) hereof, with the Funds and the Sponsor. The Funds acknowledge that the Distributor shall be obligated to accept all good orders for Baskets, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Participant Agreement and guidelines established by the Sponsor from time to time. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the Distributor from entering into like distribution service arrangements with other exchange-traded funds.

 

(b)          The Distributor agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to act as agent of the Funds with respect to the continuous distribution of Baskets of the Funds as set forth in each Registration Statement and in accordance with the provisions thereof. The Distributor further agrees as follows: (i) at the request of the Sponsor, the Distributor shall coordinate the process, including negotiation, by which Authorized Participants, the Funds, the Distributor and the Sponsor enter into participant agreements (“Participant Agreements”) for transactions in Baskets of the Funds, in accordance with the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (ii) the Distributor shall generate, transmit and maintain copies of confirmations of Basket purchase and redemption order acceptances to the purchaser or redeemer (such confirmations will indicate the time such orders were accepted and will be made available to the Sponsor promptly upon request; (iii) the Distributor shall deliver copies of the Prospectus to Authorized Participants who have purchased Baskets in accordance with the Participant Agreements; and (iv) the Distributor shall maintain telephonic, facsimile and/or access to direct computer communications links with the Transfer Agent.

 

 2 

 

 

(c)          The Sponsor, on behalf of the Funds, reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption, or postpone the redemption settlement date, (1) for any period during which the NYSE Arca or any exchange on which the Funds’ assets are regularly traded is closed other than for customary weekend or holiday closings, or trading is suspended or restricted, (2) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which the delivery, disposal or evaluation of a Fund’s assets is not reasonably practicable, or (3) for such other period as the Sponsor determines to be necessary for the protection of the Shareholders.

 

(d)          The Distributor is not authorized by the Sponsor or the Trust to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or contained in shareholder reports or other material that may be prepared by or on behalf of the Funds for the Distributor’s use. All activities by the Distributor and its agents and employees that are primarily intended to result in the sale of shall comply with the Registration Statement, the instructions of the Managing Owner and all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

(e)          The Distributor shall be entitled to rely on and shall not be responsible in any way for information provided to it by the Sponsor with respect to the Funds and their service providers and shall not be liable or responsible for the errors and omissions of such service providers, provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to protect the Distributor against any liability to the Funds or the Funds’ shareholders to which the Distributor would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.

 

(f)          The Distributor shall ensure that all direct requests by Authorized Participants for Prospectuses, product descriptions and periodic fund reports, as applicable, are fulfilled. The Distributor will generally make it known in the brokerage community that Prospectuses and product descriptions are available, including by (i) advising the Listing Exchange on which the Shares are listed on behalf of its member firms of the same, (ii) making such disclosure in all marketing and advertising materials prepared and/or filed by the Distributor with FINRA, and (iii) as may otherwise be required by the SEC. The Distributor shall not bear any costs associated with printing Prospectuses and all other such materials.

 

(g)          The Distributor agrees to provide information to the Sponsor with regard to the ongoing distribution process and for such other purposes as may be requested by the Sponsor from time to time.

 

(h)          The Distributor shall review and approve all sales and marketing materials for compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations, and file such materials with FINRA, as required under the 1933 Act, and the rules promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Distributor shall not be responsible for the compliance of sales and marketing materials with the CEA or the Commodities Rules, and the Sponsor shall be responsible for ensuring that all sales and marketing materials have been reviewed for compliance with the CEA and the Commodities Rules and filed with the CFTC or NFA, if applicable.

 

(i)          The Distributor shall provide training to employees of the Sponsor with respect to the marketing material review process for which the Distributor is responsible, the SEC and FINRA regulations, and the applicability of these regulations as they relate to sales and

 

 3 

 

 

marketing materials. Such training shall be provided on-site if requested by the Sponsor, provided that the Sponsor pay all reasonable travel expenses associated therewith.

 

(i)          The Distributor shall work with the Transfer Agent to review and accept or reject orders placed by Authorized Participants and transmitted to the Distributor by the Transfer Agent.

 

(j)          The Distributor agrees to maintain and preserve records of its activities and obligations under this Agreement unless any such records are earlier surrendered as provided below. The Distributor agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust shall at all times remain the property of the Trust, shall be readily accessible during normal business hours, and shall be promptly surrendered upon the termination of the Agreement or otherwise on written request; provided that Distributor may retain all records, or if permissible, copies of all records that it is required to maintain as a broker-dealer pursuant to applicable FINRA and SEC rules and regulations. Records may be surrendered in either written or machine-readable form, at the option of the Trust. Upon the reasonable request of the Trust, copies of any such books and records shall be provided by the Distributor. The Distributor shall assist the Trust and its agents or, upon approval of the Trust, any regulatory or self-regulatory body, in any requested review of the Trust’s books and records, and reports by the Distributor, its independent accountants or other independent reviewer concerning its ETP order processing system and such books, records, reports and system will be open to such entities for audit or inspection upon reasonable request.

 

(k)          The Distributor shall take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions in the event of equipment failure, work stoppage, governmental action, communication disruption or other impossibility of performance beyond the Distributor’s control. The Distributor shall enter into and shall maintain in effect at all times during the term of this Agreement a business continuity plan, including internal systems or arrangements with appropriate parties making reasonable provision for (i) periodic back-up of the computer files and data with respect to the Trust and (ii) emergency use of electronic data processing equipment to provide services under this Agreement. Upon reasonable request, the Distributor shall discuss with the Trust any business continuity/disaster recovery plan of the Distributor and/or provide presentations regarding such plan.

 

(l)          The Distributor shall at all times act in good faith and without negligence and agrees to exercise the care and expertise of a leading provider of distribution services in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and use all reasonable efforts (or such higher standard set forth herein) in performing the services under this Agreement.

 

4.           Duties of the Funds.

 

(a)          The Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, agrees that it will take all reasonable action necessary to monitor available Shares registered by each Fund and to register additional Shares of a Fund pursuant to the 1933 Act as may be required from time to time. The Sponsor will make available to the Distributor such number of copies of the Funds’ then currently effective Prospectus and product description as the Distributor may reasonably request. The Sponsor will furnish to the Distributor copies of annual audited reports of each Fund made by independent public accountants regularly retained by the Funds and such other publicly available information that the Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of Baskets.

 

 4 

 

 

The Sponsor shall keep the Distributor informed of the jurisdictions in which it has filed notice filings for Shares for sale on behalf of each Fund under the securities laws thereof and shall promptly notify the Distributor of any change in this information. The Distributor shall not be liable for damages resulting from the sale of Shares in jurisdictions where the Distributor had no information from the Sponsor that such sale or sales were unauthorized at the time of such sale or sales.

 

5.           Fees and Expenses.

 

(a)          The Distributor shall be entitled to receive compensation from the Trust related to its services hereunder or for additional services as may be agreed to between the Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, and the Distributor, in accordance with the Fee Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit B;

 

(b)          The Trust shall bear the cost and expenses of: (i) the registration of Shares for sale under the Securities Act; and (ii) the registration or qualification of the Shares for sale under the securities laws and/or the costs related to any filings pursuant to the Commodities Rules, as applicable;

 

(c)          The Distributor shall pay all of its own costs and expenses, including (i) all expenses relating to Distributor’s broker-dealer qualification and registration under the 1934 Act; and (ii) the expenses incurred by the Distributor in connection with routine FINRA filing fees. In addition, the Distributor shall bear all other expenses incurred in connection with the services contemplated herein, except as specifically provided in this Agreement;

 

(d)          Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Distributor and its affiliates may receive compensation or reimbursement from the Trust with respect to any services not included under this Agreement, as may be agreed upon by the parties from time to time;

 

(e)          The payments to the Distributor under this Agreement and under any other agreement between the Distributor or any of its affiliates and the Funds or the Sponsor with respect to the Funds, will not, in the aggregate, exceed 10% of the aggregate dollar amount of the offering. The Trust will advise the Distributor if the payments described hereunder must be limited, when combined with selling commissions charged by other FINRA members and other payments that would constitute underwriting compensation as defined in FINRA Rule 2310, in order to comply with the 10% limitation on total underwriters’ compensation pursuant to FINRA Rule 2310; and

 

(f)          The Sponsor shall provide to the Distributor on an on-going basis information sufficient to enable Distributor to ensure compliance with FINRA Rule 2310, including calculations of underwriting compensation and total offering and operating expenses.

 

6.           Indemnification.

 

(a)          The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor, its affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers and employees and agents and any person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (any of the Distributor, its officers, employees, agents and directors or such control persons, for purposes of

 

 5 

 

 

this paragraph, a “Distributor Indemnitee”) against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) (“Losses”) arising out of or based upon (i) the Distributor providing services to the Funds pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) any claim that the Registration Statement, Prospectus, product description, shareholder reports, sales literature and advertisements specifically approved by the Funds and the Sponsor or other information filed or made public by the Funds (as from time to time amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein (and in the case of the Prospectus and product description, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading under the 1933 Act, or any other statute or the common law; (iii) the breach by the Trust or any Fund of any obligation, representation or warranty contained in this Agreement; or (iv) the Trust’s or any Fund’s failure to comply in any material respect with applicable securities or commodities laws.

 

The Trust does not agree to indemnify the Distributor or hold it harmless to the extent that the statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Funds by or on behalf of the Distributor. The Trust will also not indemnify any Distributor Indemnitee with respect to any untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or product description that is subsequently corrected in such document (or an amendment thereof or supplement thereto) if a copy of the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement) was not sent or given to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense at or before the written confirmation to such person in any case where such delivery is required by the 1933 Act and the Trust had notified the Distributor of the amendment or supplement prior to the sending of the confirmation. In no case (i) is the indemnity of the Trust in favor of any Distributor Indemnitee to be deemed to protect the Distributor Indemnitee against any liability to the Trust, the Funds or their respective shareholders to which the Distributor Indemnitee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement and no Distributor Indemnitee shall be indemnified or held harmless for any Losses arising out of the Distributor’s own bad faith, negligence, willful misconduct or disregard of its duties and obligations under this Agreement,, or (ii) is the Trust to be liable under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section with respect to any claim made against any Distributor Indemnitee unless the Distributor Indemnitee shall have pursuant to Section 9 notified the Trust in writing of the claim at its principal offices in 245 Park Avenue, 35th Floor, New York, New York 10167 within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon Distributor Indemnitee (or after Distributor Indemnitee shall have received notice of service on any designated agent).

 

Failure to notify the Trust of any claim shall not relieve the Trust from any liability that it may have to any Distributor Indemnitee against whom such action is brought unless failure or delay to so notify the Trust prejudices the Trust’s ability to defend against such claim. The Trust shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any claims, but if the Trust elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Trust and satisfactory to Distributor Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event the Trust elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, Distributor Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall

 

 6 

 

 

bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If the Trust does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the Distributor Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Distributor agrees to notify the Sponsor and the Trust promptly of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of any of the Baskets or the Shares.

 

(b)          The Distributor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Sponsor and each of their managers, directors and officers, employees and agents and any person who controls the Trust or the Sponsor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (for purposes of this Section, the Funds, the Sponsor and each of their managers and officers and their controlling persons are collectively referred to as the “Trust Affiliates”) against any Losses arising out of or based upon (i) the allegation of any wrongful act of the Distributor or any of its directors, officers, employees or affiliates in connection with its activities as Distributor pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) the breach of any obligation, representation or warranty contained in this Agreement by the Distributor; (iii) the Distributor’s failure to comply in any material respect with applicable securities laws, including applicable FINRA regulations; or (iv) any allegation that the Registration Statement, Prospectus, product description, shareholder reports, any information or materials relating to the Funds (as described in section 3(g)) or other information filed or made public by the Trust (as from time to time amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements not misleading, insofar as such statement or omission was (x) made in reliance upon, and in conformity with information furnished to the Trust by or on behalf of the Distributor or (y) otherwise approved by the Distributor in the performance of its duties under this Agreement..

 

In no case (i) is the indemnity of the Distributor in favor of any Trust Affiliate to be deemed to protect any Trust Affiliate against any liability to the Funds or its security holders to which such Trust Affiliate would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) is the Distributor to be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in this Section with respect to any claim made against any Trust Affiliate unless the Trust Affiliate shall have notified the Distributor in writing of the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Trust Affiliate (or after the Trust Affiliate shall have received notice of service on any designated agent).

 

Failure to notify the Distributor of any claim shall not relieve the Distributor from any liability that it may have to the Trust Affiliate against whom such action is brought on account of its indemnity agreement contained in this Section unless failure or delay to so notify the Distributor prejudices the Distributor’s ability to defend against such claim. The Distributor shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce the claim, but if the Distributor elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Funds, the Sponsor and the Trust Affiliates, and to any controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event that Distributor elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, the Funds or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If the Distributor does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the Funds, the Sponsor, their officers and managers or

 

 7 

 

 

controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Trust and the Sponsor agrees to notify the Distributor promptly of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them or any of their officers in connection with the issuance or sale of any of the Baskets or the Shares.

 

(c)          No indemnified party shall settle any claim against it for which it intends to seek indemnification from the indemnifying party, under the terms of section 6(a) or 6(b) above, without prior written notice to and consent from the indemnifying party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No indemnified or indemnifying party shall settle any claim unless the settlement contains a full release of liability with respect to the other party in respect of such action. This section 6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no party shall be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages; provided that the foregoing limitation shall not apply with respect to damages or claims arising out of or relating to that party’s fraud or willful misconduct.

 

7.           Representations.

 

(a)          The Distributor represents and warrants that (i) it is duly organized as a Delaware limited liability company and is and at all times will remain duly authorized and licensed under applicable law to carry out its services as contemplated herein; (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are within its power and have been duly authorized by all necessary action; (iii) its entering into this Agreement or providing the services contemplated hereby does not conflict with or constitute a default or require a consent under or breach of any provision of any agreement or document to which the Distributor is a party or by which it is bound; (iv) it is registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and is a member of FINRA, a(v) it is in material compliance with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to it, including but not limited to the rules and regulations promulgated by FINRA, (vi) it has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; (vii) it will promptly notify the Trust in the event it is for any reason unable to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement; (viii) it shall perform its duties hereunder in accordance with applicable law; (ix) it will promptly notify the Trust, except as may be prohibited by applicable law, of any legal, regulatory or administrative proceedings that have been instituted, which would materially impair the Distributor’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; and (x) the various procedures and systems which it has implemented in safeguarding from loss or damage attributable to fire, theft or any other cause, the Trust’s records and other data and the Distributor’s records, data equipment facilities and other property used in the performance of its obligations hereunder are adequate and it will make such changes therein from time to time as it may deem reasonably necessary for the secure performance of its obligations hereunder.

 

(b)          The Distributor acknowledges that it is a financial institution subject to the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act (collectively, the “AML Acts”), which require, among other things, that financial institutions adopt compliance programs to guard against money laundering. The Distributor represents and warrants that it is in compliance with and will continue to comply with the AML Acts and applicable regulations in all relevant respects. The Distributor agrees that it will take such further steps, and cooperate with the other as may be reasonably

 

 8 

 

 

necessary, to facilitate compliance with the AML Acts, including but not limited to the provision of copies of its written procedures, policies and controls related thereto (“AML Operations”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expressly understood and agreed that neither the Sponsor nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents, on its own behalf or on behalf of the Funds, shall have access to any of Distributor’s AML Operations, books or records pertaining to other clients or services of Distributor.

 

(c)          The Distributor and the Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, each individually represent and warrant that it has in place and will maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to consumers and customers of the Funds. The Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, further represents to the Distributor that it has adopted, to the extent required under applicable law, a statement of its privacy policies and practices as required by Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-P and agrees to provide to the Distributor a copy of that statement annually.

 

(d)          The Sponsor, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Trust, represents and warrants that (i) the Trust is duly organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is and at all times will remain duly authorized to carry out its obligations as contemplated herein; (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are within the power of the Sponsor and the Trust and have been duly authorized by all necessary action; (iii) entering into this Agreement by the Sponsor and the Trust does not conflict with or constitute a default or require a consent under or breach of any provision of any agreement or document to which the Trust or the Sponsor is a party or by which either is bound; (iv) the Sponsor is duly registered with the NFA as a Commodity Pool Operator and the Sponsor will use commercially reasonable efforts in seeking to ensure compliance by the Trust with the CEA and all of the relevant Commodities Rules; (v) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus have been prepared, and all sales literature and advertisements (“Sales Literature and Advertisements”) approved by the Sponsor with respect to the Funds or other materials prepared by or on behalf of the Funds shall be prepared, in all material respects, in conformity with the CEA, the Commodities Rules, the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC (the “SEC Rules and Regulations”); (vi) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus contain, and all Sales Literature and Advertisements shall contain, all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with the CEA, the Commodities Rules, the 1933 Act, the SEC Rules and Regulations, and FINRA Rules and Regulations; and (vii) all statements of fact contained therein, or to be contained in all Sales Literature and Advertisements, are or will be true and correct in all material respects at the time indicated or the effective date, as the case may be, and none of the Registration Statement, any Fund’s Prospectus, nor any Sales Literature and Advertisements shall include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances in which made, not misleading. The Trust shall, from time to time, file such supplement, amendment or amendments to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as, in the light of future developments, shall, in the opinion of counsel to the Sponsor, be necessary in order to have the Registration Statement and the Prospectus at all times contain all material facts required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances in which made, not misleading. The Trust shall not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus without giving the Distributor reasonable notice thereof in advance and the Sponsor shall promptly notify the Distributor of any

 

 9 

 

 

stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to any information or statement provided by the Distributor for inclusion in the Registration Statement or any Fund’s Prospectus.

 

8.           Duration, Termination and Amendment.

 

(a)          This Agreement shall be effective on the date set forth above, and unless terminated as provided herein, shall continue until December 31, 2016, and thereafter from year to year, unless earlier terminated, without the payment of any penalty, as to each individual Fund by the Sponsor or by the Distributor, on at least sixty (60) days’ prior written notice.

 

(b)           As soon as reasonably practicable following the termination or expiration of this Agreement, the Distributor agrees to transfer such records and related supporting documentation as are held by it under this Agreement to any replacement provider of the services or to such other person as the Trust may direct. If directed by the Trust, the Distributor will provide the services hereunder until a replacement distributor is in place, for a reasonable period of time up to nine (9) months, subject to the terms of this Agreement, including compensation. The Distributor will also provide reasonable assistance to its successor, for such transfer, subject to the payment of such reasonable expenses and charges as the Distributor customarily charges for such assistance.

 

(c)           Termination of this Agreement with respect to any one particular Fund shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect to the Trust or any other Fund.

 

(d)          No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated except by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which an enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.

 

9.           Notice.

 

All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications required or permitted to be given under this agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent by an internationally recognized overnight courier service with signature required for delivery, by facsimile where a confirmation of receipt is obtained, provided, however, that if sent by facsimile the written communication must also be sent by next business day delivery via an internationally recognized overnight courier service with signature required for delivery, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties hereto at the following addresses:

 

If to the Distributor:

Foreside Fund Services, LLC

ATTN: Legal Department

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100

Portland, ME 04101

Telephone: (207) 553-7110

Facsimile: (207) 553-7151

 

 10 

 

 

If to the Sponsor:

WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC

ATTN: Legal

245 Park Avenue, 35th Floor

New York, New York 10167

Facsimile: 917-267-2721

 

If to the Trust:

WisdomTree Coal Fund

ATTN: Ben Slavin

245 Park Avenue, 35th Floor

New York, New York 10167

Facsimile: 917-267-2721

 

All such communications so addressed shall be deemed given (i) when delivered, if delivered personally to the intended recipient, or if sent by an internationally recognized courier service with signature required for delivery, or if sent by facsimile and a confirmation of receipt is obtained, and the written communication has also been sent for next business day delivery via an internationally recognized courier service with signature required for delivery, or (ii) three business days after being mailed if sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or upon delivery if actual delivery occurs earlier.

 

10.         Choice of Law.

 

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the choice of laws provisions thereof.

 

11.         Counterparts.

 

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

 

12.         Severability.

 

If any provisions of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid, in whole or in part, then the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in force. Invalid provisions shall, in accordance with this Agreement’s intent and purpose, be amended, to the extent legally possible, in order to effectuate the intended results of such invalid provisions.

 

13.         Insurance.

 

The Distributor will maintain at its expense an errors and omissions insurance policy adequate to cover services provided by the Distributor hereunder. Upon the Trust’s or Sponsor’s reasonable request, which in no event shall be more than once annually, the Distributor shall furnish to the Trust or Sponsor a summary of the Distributor’s applicable insurance coverage. The Distributor shall notify the Trust and Sponsor of any material claims against it which would

 

 11 

 

 

materially impair Distributor’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement, whether or not covered by insurance.

 

14.         Confidentiality.

 

During the term of this Agreement, the Distributor and the Sponsor, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Trust, may have access to confidential information relating to such matters as either party’s business, trade secrets, systems, procedures, manuals, products, contracts, personnel, and clients. As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information belonging to one of the parties that is of value to such party and the disclosure of which could result in a competitive or other disadvantage to such party. Confidential Information includes, without limitation, transaction information with Authorized Participants (which is the Trust’s and Sponsor’s Confidential Information), financial information, proposal and presentations, reports, forecasts, inventions, improvements and other intellectual property; trade secrets; know-how; designs, processes or formulae; software; market or sales information or plans; customer lists; and business plans, prospects and opportunities (such as possible acquisitions or dispositions of businesses or facilities). Confidential Information includes information developed by either party in the course of engaging in the activities provided for in this Agreement, unless: (i) the information is or becomes publicly known through lawful means; (ii) the information is disclosed to the other party without a confidential restriction by a third party who rightfully possesses the information and did not obtain it, either directly or indirectly, from one of the parties, as the case may be, or any of their respective principals, employees, affiliated persons, or affiliated entities. The parties understand and agree that all Confidential Information shall be kept confidential by the other both during and after the term of this Agreement. Each party shall maintain commercially reasonable information security policies and procedures for protecting Confidential Information. The parties further agree that they will not, without the prior written approval by the other party, disclose such Confidential Information, or use such Confidential Information in any way, either during the term of this Agreement or at any time thereafter, except as required in the course of this Agreement and as provided by the other party or as required by law. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, or as otherwise requested by the Sponsor, all Confidential Information held by or on behalf of Sponsor or the Trust shall be promptly returned to the Sponsor, or an authorized officer of the Distributor will certify to the Sponsor in writing that all such Confidential Information has been destroyed, provided that Distributor may retain Confidential Information to the extent required by regulatory record retention requirements applicable to it. This section 13 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a party may disclose the other’s Confidential Information if (i) required by law, regulation or legal process or if requested by the SEC, CFTC, NFA, FINRA or other governmental regulatory agency with jurisdiction over the parties hereto or (ii) requested to do so by the other party; provided that in the event of (i), the disclosing party shall give the other party reasonable prior notice of such disclosure to the extent reasonably practicable and shall reasonably cooperate with the other party (at such other party’s expense) in any efforts to prevent such disclosure.

 

15.         Limitation of Liability.

 

This Agreement is executed by or on behalf of the Trust with respect to each Fund and the obligations hereunder are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers or shareholders of a Fund individually but are binding only upon each Fund to which such obligations pertain and the assets and property of such Fund. Separate and distinct records are maintained for each Fund and the

 

 12 

 

 

assets associated with any such Fund are held and accounted for separately from the other assets of any other Fund. The debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Fund shall be enforceable against the assets of that Fund only, and not against the assets of any other Fund, and none of the debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to any other Fund shall be enforceable against the assets of that Fund. The Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as may be amended form time to time, is on file with the Sponsor.

 

16.         Use of Names; Publicity.

 

The Funds shall not use the Distributor’s name, or any trade or service mark owned by or licensed to the Distributor, in any offering material, shareholder report, advertisement or other material relating to the Funds, other than for the purpose of merely identifying and describing the functions of the Distributor hereunder, in a manner not approved by the Distributor in writing prior to such use, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. The Distributor hereby consents to all uses of its name required by the SEC, the CFTC, any state securities commission, or any federal or state regulatory authority.

 

The Distributor or its affiliates shall not use the name of the Trust or the Sponsor in any offering material, shareholder report, advertisement or other material relating to the Distributor, other than for the purpose of merely identifying and describing the functions of the Funds hereunder, in a manner not approved by the Sponsor in writing prior to such use, provided that in no case shall such approval be unreasonably withheld. The Sponsor and the Trust hereby consent to all uses of their names required by FINRA, the SEC, the CFTC or any state securities commission, or any federal or state regulatory authority. The Sponsor and the Trust also hereby consent to the inclusion of the Sponsor’s and/or Trust’s names on the Distributor’s website noting such parties as clients of the Distributor.

 

None of the Sponsor, the Trust or the Distributor will disclose any of the economic terms of this Agreement, except as may be required by law.

 

17.         Regulatory Updates; Management Access and Engagement.

 

Foreside shall maintain awareness of significant emerging regulatory, self-regulatory and legislative developments that may affect the distribution services provided to the Trust or the Sponsor, update the Trust and the Sponsor on those developments and provide related planning assistance where requested or appropriate.

 

Foreside and the Sponsor will appoint one or more senior representatives that will meet from time to time to monitor the quality of the Services, evaluate any remedial action to address any failure to meet contractual obligations, and address strategic aspects of the Services.  The meetings are intended to foster collaboration and transparency. At the request of the Sponsor, senior executives of Foreside will be available to meet with such frequency as the parties may agree to address issues that have not been resolved. The strategic meetings will be held to review and address strategic aspects of the Services, including: (i) planned upgrades by Foreside to Foreside technology; (ii) changes to the Services in order to offer Foreside’s customers more efficient or improved services or functionality; (iii) location strategy for non-core service team

 

 13 

 

 

support services; (iv) any new products or services that Foreside intends to make available as part of its services offerings; and (v) the strategic direction of the Trust.

 

18.         Personnel.

 

Foreside shall appoint individuals with suitable training and skills and in sufficient numbers to perform the Services. The Sponsor or the Trust may request that Foreside reassign any employee from the team that provides Services (“Foreside Personnel”) to the Trust. Any such request for Foreside to reassign any employee that provides Services will be discussed by senior team management and escalated as appropriate. Foreside will consider the input of the Trust or Sponsor. The timing for transfer, reassignment or replacement, if any, of Foreside Personnel will be closely coordinated with the requirements for timing and other elements of the Services so as to maintain continuity in the performance of the Services.

 

19.         Notice of Service Location Change.

 

Foreside shall provide the Trust and Sponsor reasonable notice of any material change in the location of the core service team.

 

20.         Technology Access and Upgrades.

 

Foreside shall provide the Trust, the Sponsor and their authorized designees with access to Foreside’s core platforms related to the Services, including, without limitation, Foreside’s proprietary internet-based marketing/advertising web portal or such other web portal with no less capability and functionality than the proprietary Foreside portal. If, in the ordinary course of its business, Foreside enhances the foregoing technologies or any other core system processing functionality that it uses in connection with the Services, Foreside shall promptly inform the Trust and Sponsor of such enhancements. If the Trust and/or Sponsor, as the case may be, agrees to use the enhancements, the parties will agree to a reasonable timetable for the rollout of the enhancements. Foreside shall not charge the Trust or Sponsor for technology changes that it ordinarily provides at no charge to any other customers.

 

21.         Site Visits and Inspections; Regulatory Examinations.

 

During the term of the Agreement, authorized representatives of the Sponsor or the Trust may conduct periodic site visits of Foreside’s facilities and inspect Foreside’s records and as they pertain to Foreside’s services for the Trust under or pursuant to the Distribution Agreement or otherwise to the Sponsor. Such inspections shall occur during Foreside’s regular business hours and, except as otherwise agreed to by the parties, no more frequently than twice a year. Site visits as may be scheduled in the ordinary course of business are not restricted in frequency.

 

22.         Service Level Standards.

 

The parties agree to negotiate in good faith for service level standards and operating procedures associated with the Services.

 

 14 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their officers designated below as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

WISDOMTREE COAL SERVICES, LLC

  on behalf of the Trust
     
  By:  
    Name:  Gregory Barton
    Title:  President
     
 

WISDOMTREE COAL SERVICES, LLC

     
  By:  
    Name:Gregory Barton
    Title:  President
     
  FORESIDE FUND SERVICES, LLC
     
  By:  
    Name:    Mark Fairbanks
    Title:      President

 

 15 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

List of Funds

 

WisdomTree Coal Fund

 

Ex. A-1 

EX-10.5 8 t1503058_ex10-5.htm EXHIBIT 10.5

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

Form Of Transfer Agency and Service Agreement

 

This Agreement made as of January 4, 2016, and to have an effective date on January 1, 2016, by and between each commodity pool entity set forth on Schedule A hereto (each such commodity pool entity and each commodity pool entity made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 12 below shall hereinafter be referred to as a “Trust”) and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company (the “State Street” or the “Transfer Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue common units of beneficial interest (“Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, the Trust is operated as a commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act, and is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") by means of a registration statement on Form S-1 or Form S-3, as applicable (each, a "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act");

 

WHEREAS, WisdomTree Commodity Services, LLC or WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC, as applicable, serves as the managing owner and/or sponsor, and commodity pool operator, of the Trust (the “Managing Owner” or “Sponsor”);

 

WHEREAS, the Trust will issue and redeem Shares only in aggregations of Shares known as “Baskets” as described in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional information of the Trust (collectively, the “Prospectus”);

 

WHEREAS, only those entities (“Authorized Participants”) that have entered into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the distributor of the Trust, currently Foreside Fund Services LLC (the “Distributor”), are eligible to place orders for Baskets with the Distributor;

 

WHEREAS, the Depository Trust Company, a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York (“DTC”) or its nominee will be the record or registered owner of all outstanding Shares;

 

WHEREAS, the Trust desires to appoint Transfer Agent to act as its transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and agent in connection with certain other activities; and Transfer Agent is willing to accept such appointment.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto, agree as follows:

 

1.TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

 

1.1Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Trust hereby employs and appoints the Transfer Agent to act as, and the Transfer Agent agrees to act as, transfer agent for the Baskets and dividend disbursing agent of the Trust. In the event that the Sponsor establishes one or more additional Trust(s) with

 

 

 

 

respect to which such Trust desires to retain the Transfer Agent to act as transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and agent in connection with certain other activities hereunder, the Trust(s) shall notify the Transfer Agent in writing. Upon written acceptance by the Transfer Agent, such Trust(s) shall become subject to the provisions of this Agreement to the same extent as the existing Trusts, except to the extent that such provisions (including those relating to compensation and expenses payable) may be modified with respect to such Trust in writing by such Trust and the Transfer Agent at the time of the addition of such Trust.

 

1.2Transfer Agency Services. In accordance with procedures established from time to time by agreement between the Trust and the Transfer Agent, the Transfer Agent shall:

 

(i)establish each Authorized Participant’s account in the Trust on the Transfer Agent’s recordkeeping system and maintain such account for the benefit of such Authorized Participant;

 

(ii)receive and process orders for the purchase of Baskets from the Distributor or the Trust, and promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation thereof to the custodian of the Trust as identified by the Trust (the “Custodian”);

 

(iii)generate or cause to be generated and transmitted confirmation of receipt of such purchase orders to the Authorized Participants and, if applicable, transmit appropriate trade instruction to the National Securities Clearance Corporation (“NSCC”);

 

(iv)receive and process redemption requests and redemption directions from the Distributor or the Trust and deliver the appropriate documentation thereof to the Custodian;

 

(v)with respect to items (i) through (iv) above, the Transfer Agent may execute transactions directly with Authorized Participants;

 

(vi)at the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid to it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or cause to be paid over in the appropriate manner such monies, if any, to the redeeming Authorized Participant as instructed by the Distributor or the Trust ;

 

(vii)prepare and transmit by means of DTC’s book-entry system payments for any dividends and distributions declared by the Trust;

 

(viii)record the issuance of Shares of the Trust and maintain a record of the total number of Shares of the Trust which are issued and outstanding; and provide the Trust on a regular basis with the total number of Shares of the Trust which are issued and outstanding but Transfer Agent shall have no obligation, when recording the issuance of Shares, to monitor the issuance of such Shares to determine if there are authorized Shares available for

 

-2

 

 

issuance or to take cognizance of any laws relating to, or corporate actions required for, the issue or sale of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the Trust; and, excluding DTC or its nominee as the record or registered owner, the Transfer Agent shall have no obligations or responsibilities to account for, keep records of, or otherwise related to, the beneficial owners of the Shares;

 

(ix)maintain and manage, as agent for the Trust, such bank accounts as the Transfer Agent shall deem necessary for the performance of its duties under this Agreement, including but not limited to, the processing of Basket purchases and redemptions and the payment of a Trust’s dividends and distributions. The Transfer Agent may maintain such accounts at the bank or banks deemed appropriate by the Transfer Agent in accordance with applicable law;

 

(x)process any request from an Authorized Participant to change its account registration; and

 

(xi)except as otherwise instructed by the Trust, the Transfer Agent shall process all transactions in the Trust in accordance with the procedures mutually agreed upon by the Trust and the Transfer Agent with respect to the proper net asset value to be applied to purchase orders received in good order by the Transfer Agent or by the Trust or any other person or firm on behalf of the Trust or from an Authorized Participant before cut-offs established by the Trust. The Transfer Agent shall report to the Trust any known exceptions to the foregoing.

 

1.3Additional Services. In addition to, and neither in lieu of nor in contravention of the services set forth in Section 1.2 above, the Transfer Agent shall perform the following services:

 

(i)Perform certain customary services of a transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

 

(ii)The Transfer Agent shall perform such other services for the Trust that are mutually agreed to by the parties from time to time, for which the Trust will pay such fees as may be mutually agreed upon, including the Transfer Agent’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The provision of such services shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

(iii)DTC and NSCC. The Transfer Agent shall: (a) accept and effectuate the registration and maintenance of accounts, and the purchase and redemption of Baskets in such accounts, in accordance with instructions transmitted to and received by the Transfer Agent by transmission from DTC or NSCC on behalf of Authorized Participants; and (b) issue instructions to a Trust’s banks for the settlement of transactions between

 

-3

 

 

the Trust and DTC or NSCC (acting on behalf of the applicable Authorized Participant).

 

1.4Authorized Persons. The Trust hereby agrees and acknowledges that the Transfer Agent may rely on the current list of authorized persons of the Sponsor and other persons authorized by the Sponsor, including the Distributor, as provided or agreed to by the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust and as may be amended from time to time, in receiving instructions to issue or redeem Baskets. The Trust agrees and covenants for itself and each such authorized person that any order or sale of or transaction in Baskets received by it after the order cut-off time as set forth in the Prospectus or such earlier time as designated by the Trust (the “Order Cut-Off Time”), shall be effectuated at the net asset value determined on the next business day or as otherwise required pursuant to the applicable Trust’s then-effective Prospectus, and the Trust or such authorized person shall so instruct the Transfer Agent of the proper effective date of the transaction.

 

1.5Anti-Money Laundering and Client Screening. With respect to the Trust’s offering and sale of Baskets at any time, and for all subsequent transfers of such interests, the Trust or its delegate shall, to the extent applicable, directly or indirectly and to the extent required by law: (i) conduct know your customer/client identity due diligence with respect to potential investors and transferees in the Shares and Baskets and shall obtain and retain due diligence records for each investor and transferee; (ii) use its best efforts to ensure that each investor’s and any transferee’s funds used to purchase Baskets or Shares shall not be derived from, nor the product of, any criminal activity; (iii) if requested, provide periodic written verifications that such investors/transferees have been checked against the United States Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control database for any non-compliance or exceptions; and (iv) perform its obligations under this Section in accordance with all applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations. In the event that the Transfer Agent has received advice from counsel that access to underlying due diligence records pertaining to the investors/transferees is necessary to ensure compliance by the Transfer Agent with relevant anti-money laundering (or other applicable) laws or regulations, the Trust shall, upon receipt of written request from the Transfer Agent, provide the Transfer Agent copies of such due diligence records.

 

1.6State Transaction (“Blue Sky”) Reporting. If applicable, the Trust shall be solely responsible for its “blue sky” compliance and state registration requirements.

 

1.7Tax Law. The Transfer Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Trust, any Baskets, any Shares, a beneficial owner thereof, an Authorized Participant or the Transfer Agent in connection with the services provided by the Transfer Agent hereunder by the tax laws of any country or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of the Trust to notify the Transfer Agent of the obligations imposed on the Trust, the Baskets, the Shares, or the Transfer Agent in connection with the services provided by the Transfer Agent hereunder by the tax law of countries,

 

-4

 

 

states and political subdivisions thereof, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting.

 

1.8The Transfer Agent shall provide the office facilities and the personnel determined by it to perform the services contemplated herein.

 

2.FEES AND EXPENSES

 

2.1Fee Schedule. For the performance by the Transfer Agent of services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to receive the fees and expenses set forth in a written fee schedule. Such fees and any out of pocket expenses and advances identified under Section 2.2 below may be changed from time to time, subject to mutual written agreement between the Trust and the Transfer Agent. The parties agree that the fees set forth in the fee schedule shall apply with respect to each Trust listed on Schedule A hereto as of the date hereof and to any newly created Trusts added to this Agreement that have requirements consistent with services then being provided by the Transfer Agent under this Agreement. In the event that a Trust is to become a party to this Agreement as a result of an acquisition or merger, then the parties shall confer diligently and negotiate in good faith, and agree upon fees applicable to such Trust.

 

2.2Out of Pocket Expenses. In addition to the fees paid under Section 2.1 above, the Trust agrees to reimburse the Transfer Agent for reasonable out of pocket expenses set out in the fee schedule. In addition, any other reasonable expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent at the request or with the consent of the Trust, will be reimbursed by the Trust.

 

3.REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TRANSFER AGENT

 

The Transfer Agent represents and warrants to the Trust that:

 

3.1It is a trust company duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

3.2It is duly registered as a transfer agent under Section 17A(c)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), it will remain so registered for the duration of this Agreement, and it will promptly notify the Trust in the event of any material change in its status as a registered transfer agent.

 

3.3It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

3.4It is empowered under applicable laws and by its organizational documents to enter into and perform the services contemplated in this Agreement.

 

3.5All requisite organizational proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.

 

-5

 

 

3.6It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement.

 

3.7It will promptly notify the Trust in the event that the Transfer Agent is for any reason unable to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

3.8It will promptly notify the Trust, except as may be prohibited by applicable law, of any legal, regulatory or administrative proceedings that have been instituted, which would materially impair the Transfer Agent’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement.

 

3.9The various procedures and systems which it has implemented with regard to safeguarding from loss or damage attributable to fire, theft or any other cause, the Trust’s records and other data and the Transfer Agent’s records, data equipment facilities and other property used in the performance of its obligations hereunder are adequate and it will make such changes therein from time to time as it may deem reasonably necessary for the secure performance of its obligations hereunder.

 

The Transfer Agent will notify the Trust promptly if any of the representations and warranties above cease to be true.

 

4.REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TRUST

 

The Trust represents and warrants to the Transfer Agent that:

 

4.1The Trust is a statutory trust duly organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its formation.

 

4.2The Trust is empowered under applicable laws and by its organizational documents to enter into and perform this Agreement.

 

4.3All requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize the Trust to enter into, perform and receive services pursuant to this Agreement.

 

4.4A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is currently effective and will remain effective, and all appropriate state securities law filings have been made and will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of the Trust being offered for sale.

 

4.5It has all necessary right, title, intellectual property, licenses, consents and content as may be necessary for the Trust to operate as presently contemplated.

 

The Trust will notify the Transfer Agent promptly if any of the representations and warranties above cease to be true.

 

-6

 

 

5.DATA ACCESS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

 

5.1The Trust acknowledges that the databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, and documentation manuals furnished to the Trust by the Transfer Agent as part of the Trust’s ability to access certain Trust-related data maintained by the Transfer Agent or another third party on databases under the control and ownership of the Transfer Agent (“Data Access Services”) constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other proprietary information (collectively, “Proprietary Information”) of substantial value to the Transfer Agent or another third party. In no event shall Proprietary Information be deemed Authorized Participant information or the confidential information of the Trust. The Trust agrees to treat all Proprietary Information as proprietary to the Transfer Agent and further agrees that it shall not divulge any Proprietary Information to any person or organization except as may be provided hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust agrees for itself and its officers and trustees (references to officers and/or trustees of the Trust as used herein shall be deemed to include officers and/or trustees/directors of the Sponsor) and their agents, to:

 

(i)use such programs and databases solely on the Trust’s, or such agents’ computers, or solely from equipment at the location(s) agreed to between the Trust and the Transfer Agent, and solely in accordance with the Transfer Agent’s applicable user documentation;

 

(ii)refrain from copying or duplicating in any way the Proprietary Information;

 

(iii)refrain from obtaining unauthorized access to any portion of the Proprietary Information, and if such access is inadvertently obtained, to inform the Transfer Agent in a timely manner of such fact and dispose of such information in accordance with the Transfer Agent’s instructions;

 

(iv)refrain from causing or allowing Proprietary Information transmitted from the Transfer Agent’s computers to the Trust’s, or such agents’ computer to be retransmitted to any other computer facility or other location, except with the prior written consent of the Transfer Agent;

 

(v)allow the Trust or such agents to have access only to those authorized transactions agreed upon by the Trust and the Transfer Agent;

 

(vi)honor all reasonable written requests made by the Transfer Agent to protect at the Transfer Agent’s expense the rights of the Transfer Agent in Proprietary Information at common law, under federal copyright law and under other federal or state law.

 

5.2Proprietary Information shall not include all or any portion of any of the foregoing items that are or become publicly available without breach of this Agreement; that are released for general disclosure by a written release by the

 

-7

 

 

Transfer Agent; or that are already in the possession of the receiving party at the time of receipt without obligation of confidentiality or breach of this Agreement.

 

5.3If the Trust notifies the Transfer Agent that any of the Data Access Services do not operate in material compliance with the most recently issued user documentation for such services, the Transfer Agent shall endeavor in a timely manner to correct such failure. Organizations from which the Transfer Agent may obtain certain data included in the Data Access Services are solely responsible for the contents of such data, and the Trust agrees to make no claim against the Transfer Agent arising out of the contents of such third-party data, including, but not limited to, the accuracy thereof. DATA ACCESS SERVICES AND ALL COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND SOFTWARE SPECIFICATIONS USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS, AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. THE TRANSFER AGENT EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES EXCEPT THOSE EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

 

5.4If the transactions available to the Trust include the ability to originate electronic instructions to the Transfer Agent in order to effect the transfer or movement of cash or Baskets or transmit Authorized Participant information or other information, then in such event the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to rely on the validity and authenticity of such instruction without undertaking any further inquiry as long as such instruction is undertaken in conformity with security procedures established by the Transfer Agent from time to time.

 

5.5Each party shall take reasonable efforts to advise its employees of their obligations pursuant to this Section. The obligations of this Section shall survive any earlier termination of this Agreement.

 

6.RESERVED

 

7.STANDARD OF CARE / INDIRECT DAMAGES

 

7.1Standard of Care. The Transfer Agent shall at all times act in good faith and without negligence and agrees to exercise the care and expertise of a leading provider of transfer agency services and use all reasonable efforts in performing the services under this Agreement, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless said errors are caused by its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct or that of its employees or agents. The parties agree that any encoding or payment processing errors shall be governed by this standard of care, and that Section 4-209 of the Uniform Commercial Code is superseded by this Section.

 

7.2Indirect Damages. Other than damages arising from a party’s fraud, neither party shall be liable for any special, indirect or consequential damages under any

 

-8

 

 

provision of this Agreement or for any special, indirect or consequential damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder.

 

7.3In any event, except as otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties hereto, the Transfer Agent’s cumulative liability for each calendar year (a “Liability Period”) with respect to the services provided pursuant to this Agreement regardless of the form of action or legal theory shall be limited to its total annual compensation earned and fees payable hereunder during the preceding Compensation Period, as defined herein, for any liability or loss suffered by the Trust including, but not limited to, any liability relating to qualification of the Trust as a regulated investment company or any liability relating to the Trust’s compliance with any federal or state tax or securities statute, regulation or ruling during such Liability Period. “Compensation Period” shall mean the calendar year ending immediately prior to each Liability Period in which the event(s) giving rise to the Transfer Agent’s liability for that period have occurred. For any partial first year, the annual cumulative liability hereunder shall be the Transfer Agent’s total compensation earned and fees payable hereunder during such partial first year on an annualized basis.

 

8.INDEMNIFICATION

 

8.1The Transfer Agent shall not be responsible for, and the Trust shall indemnify and hold the Transfer Agent harmless, from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees (including the defense of any lawsuit solely in connection with services under this Agreement in which the Transfer Agent or its affiliate is a named party), payments, expenses and liability directly arising out of or directly attributable to the following; provided, however, that the Trust shall not be obligated to indemnify the Transfer Agent hereunder if such loss, damage or liability is due to the Transfer Agent’s (i) breach of its standard of care as set forth in Section 7.1 or (ii) violation of applicable law or regulation pertaining to the transfer agency services:

 

(a)All actions of the Transfer Agent required to be taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken in good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct;

 

(b)The Trust’s lack of good faith, negligence or willful misconduct;

 

(c)The reasonable reliance upon, and any subsequent reasonable use of or action taken or omitted, by the Transfer Agent, or its agents or subcontractors on: any information, records, documents, data, stock certificates or services, which are received by the Transfer Agent, including those received by machine readable input, facsimile, electronic instructions, or other similar means authorized by the Trust, and which have been prepared, maintained or performed by the Trust or any other person or firm on behalf of the Trust including but not limited to any broker-dealer, third party administrator or previous transfer agent; any

 

-9

 

 

instructions or requests of the Trust or any of its officers; or any paper or document, reasonably believed to be genuine, authentic, or signed by the proper person or persons;

 

(d)The offer or sale of Baskets in violation of federal or state securities laws or regulations requiring that such Baskets be registered, or in violation of any stop order or other determination or ruling by any federal or any state agency with respect to the offer or sale of such Baskets (except to the extent that such violation resulted directly from the Transfer Agent’s failure to comply with the instructions of the Trust or the Administrator identifying the states and countries where the Shares of the Trust or the Funds are registered or exempt, and the number of Shares of each class registered with respect to each such state or country, as applicable.

 

(e)The negotiation and processing of any checks, wires and ACH transmissions including without limitation for deposit into, or credit to, the Trust’s demand deposit accounts maintained by the Transfer Agent; the Transfer Agent shall assist the Trust and work with the Trust and the depositing and/or originating bank to mitigate the losses where possible; however, the Trust acknowledges that such mitigation is not a condition of this indemnity obligation;

 

(f)Upon the Trust’s request, entering into any agreements required by the NSCC for the transmission of Trust or Shareholder data through the NSCC clearing systems; or

 

(g)any tax obligations under the tax laws of any country or of any state or political subdivision thereof, including taxes, withholding and reporting requirements, claims for exemption and refund, additions for late payment, interest, penalties and other expenses (including legal expenses) that may be assessed, imposed or charged against the Transfer Agent as transfer agent hereunder.

 

8.2At any time the Transfer Agent may apply to any officer of the Trust for instructions, and may consult with legal counsel with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Transfer Agent under this Agreement, and the Transfer Agent and its agents or subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Trust for any action taken or omitted by it in reliance upon such instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel, provided however, with respect to the performance of any action or omission of any action upon such advice, the Transfer Agent shall be acting within the standard of care set forth in Section 7.1. The Transfer Agent shall promptly notify the Trust of the receipt of such advice. The Transfer Agent, its agents and subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified in acting upon any paper or document furnished by or on behalf of the Trust reasonably believed to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person or persons, or upon any instruction, information, data,

 

-10

 

 

records or documents provided the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable input, electronic data entry or other similar means authorized by the Trust, and shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Trust.

 

9.ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE TRUST AND THE TRANSFER AGENT

 

9.1Delivery of Documents. The Trust shall promptly furnish to the Transfer Agent the following:

 

(i)A copy of the resolution of the Sponsor of the Trust certified by an officer authorizing the appointment of the Transfer Agent and the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

(ii)A copy of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Trust and all amendments thereto.

 

9.2Certificates, Checks, Facsimile Signature Devices. The Transfer Agent hereby agrees to establish and maintain facilities and procedures for safekeeping of any stock certificates, check forms and facsimile signature imprinting devices; and for the preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such certificates, forms and devices.

 

9.3Records. The Transfer Agent shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable. The Transfer Agent agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by the Transfer Agent relating to the services to be performed by the Transfer Agent hereunder are the property of the Trust and will be and will be surrendered promptly to the Trust on and in accordance with its request. Records may be surrendered in either written or machine-readable form, at the option of the Transfer Agent.

 

9.4In performing the services hereunder, the Transfer Agent shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Trust’s current prospectus(es) and statement(s) of additional information, and effective amendments thereto. The Trust shall promptly provide the Transfer Agent with copies of such material as soon as available and, upon request, copies of any applicable resolutions by the Trust’s Board of Trustees which relate to the Shares.

 

9.5SSAE16 Reports. The Transfer Agent will furnish to the Trust, on a semi-annual basis, a report in accordance with Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 16 (the “SSAE Report”) as well as such other reports and information relating to the Transfer Agent’s policies and procedures and its compliance with such policies and procedures and with the laws applicable to its business and its services, as the parties may mutually agree upon.

 

9.6Business Continuity. The Transfer Agent shall, at no additional expense to the Trust, take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions in the event of

 

-11

 

 

equipment failure, work stoppage, governmental action, communication disruption or other impossibility of performance beyond the Transfer Agent’s control. The Transfer Agent shall enter into and shall maintain in effect at all times during the term of this Agreement with appropriate parties one or more agreements making reasonable provision, at a level the Transfer Agent believes consistent with other similarly situated providers of transfer agency services, for (i) periodic back-up of the computer files and data with respect to the Trust and (ii) emergency use of electronic data processing equipment to provide services under this Agreement. Upon reasonable request, the Transfer Agent shall discuss with the Trust any business continuity/disaster recovery plan of the Transfer Agent and/or provide a high-level presentation summarizing such plan.

 

9.7Cooperation with Accountants. The Transfer Agent shall cooperate with the Trust’s independent public accountants and shall take all reasonable actions in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement to provide such information, as may be reasonably requested by the Trust from time to time, to such accountants for the expression of their opinion.

 

9.8Insurance. The Transfer Agent shall at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain, at its cost, insurance coverage regarding its business in such amount and scope as it deems adequate in connection with the services provided by the Transfer Agent under this Agreement.  Upon the Trust’s reasonable request, which in no event shall be more than once annually, the Transfer Agent shall furnish to the Trust a summary of the Transfer Agent’s applicable insurance coverage.

 

10.CONFIDENTIALITY

 

10.1The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other party regarding its business and operations, including information related to the development of new Trusts or new series. The Transfer Agent shall treat confidentially all information obtained in the ordinary course of performing its duties hereunder about the Trust’s prior, present or potential shareholders or relative to the advisor or distributor and their prior, present or potential customers (including all “personal information” described in Section 15.4 of this Agreement). All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (i) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, (ii) that is independently derived by either party hereto without the use of any information provided by the other party hereto in connection with this Agreement, (iii) that is disclosed, upon prior notice to the party whose information is being disclosed (to the extent such notice is permissible), in the manner and to the extent required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative

 

-12

 

 

demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation, or (iv) where the party seeking to disclose has received the prior written consent of the party providing the information, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party acknowledges that the other party may provide access to and use of confidential information relating to the other party to the disclosing party’s employees, contractors, agents, professional advisors, auditors or persons performing similar functions, as necessary solely for the purpose of rendering services under this Agreement, provided that each person or entity shall be subject to confidentiality obligations substantially similar to those set forth herein. Further, each party agrees and represents that in no case would information it receives under this Agreement be used against the other party in a manner that is adverse to the other party’s interests (including the other party’s interests in competitive businesses). Nothing herein shall prohibit or restrict the right of each party (or its affiliates) to develop, use or market products or services similar to or competitive with those of the other party (or its affiliates) provided that any such development, use or marketing does not violate the confidentiality obligations set forth herein. Additionally, each party acknowledges that the other party (or its affiliates) may already possess or have developed products or services similar to or competitive with those of the other party.

 

The undertakings and obligations contained in this Section 10.1 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

10.2The Transfer Agent affirms that it has, and will continue to have throughout the term of this Agreement, procedures in place that are reasonably designed to protect the privacy of non-public personal consumer/customer financial information to the extent required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. The Transfer Agent will employ reasonable safeguards designed to protect the Trust’s confidential information, which may include but are not limited to the use of encryption technologies, passwords and any other safeguards the Transfer Agent may choose to employ. If either party becomes aware of a breach of this confidentiality provision, it will notify promptly the other party of such breach and provide such details as it deems appropriate and in accordance with the standard of care hereunder regarding the extent of the breach of confidentiality.

 

11.Effective Period and Termination

 

This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for an initial term ending March 31, 2019 (the “Initial Term”). After the expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year terms (each, a “Renewal Term”) unless a written notice of non-renewal is delivered by the non-renewing party no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, as the case may be. During the Initial Term and thereafter, either party may terminate this Agreement: (i) in the event of the other party’s material breach of a material provision of this Agreement that the other party has either (a) failed to cure or (b) failed to establish a remedial plan to cure that is reasonably acceptable, within 60 days’ written notice of such breach, (ii) in the event of the appointment of a

 

-13

 

 

conservator or receiver for the other party or upon the happening of a like event to the other party at the direction of an appropriate agency or court of competent jurisdiction, or (iii) based upon the Trust’s determination that there is a reasonable basis to conclude that the Administrator is insolvent or that the financial condition of the Transfer Agent is deteriorating in any material respect. Termination of this Agreement with respect to any one particular Trust shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect to the Trust.

 

As soon as reasonably practicable following the termination or expiration of this Agreement, the Transfer Agent agrees to transfer such records and related supporting documentation as are held by it under this Agreement to any replacement provider of the services or to such other person as the Trust may direct. If directed by the Trust, the Transfer Agent will provide the services hereunder until a replacement transfer agent is in place, for a reasonable period of time up to nine (9) months, subject to the terms of this Agreement, including compensation. The Transfer Agent will also provide reasonable assistance to its successor, for such transfer, subject to the payment of such reasonable expenses and charges as the Transfer Agent customarily charges for such assistance.

 

12.Additional TRUSTS

 

In the event that any entity in addition to those listed on Schedule A hereto desires to have the Transfer Agent render services as transfer agent under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Transfer Agent in writing, and if the Transfer Agent agrees in writing to provide such services, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, such entity shall become a Trust hereunder and be bound by all terms and conditions and provisions hereof.

 

13.assignment

 

This Agreement may not be assigned by (a) the Trust without the written consent of the Transfer Agent or (b) by the Transfer Agent without the written consent of the Trust, except that the Transfer Agent may assign this Agreement to a successor of all or a substantial portion of its business, or to a party controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Transfer Agent.

 

14.subcontractors

 

14.1The Transfer Agent may, without further consent on the part of the Trust, subcontract for the performance hereof with each of the following entities provided it is duly registered pursuant to Section 17A(c)(2) of the 1934 Act: (i) Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (“BFDS”); (ii) a BFDS subsidiary; (iii) a BFDS affiliate; or (iv) another affiliated third party duly registered as a transfer agent; provided, however, that the Transfer Agent shall remain liable to the Trust for the acts and omissions of any subcontractor under this Section as it is for its own acts and omissions under this Agreement.

 

14.2For purposes of this Agreement, unaffiliated third parties such as, by way of example and not limitation, Airborne Services, Federal Express, United Parcel Service, the U.S. Mails, the NSCC and telecommunication companies, shall not be deemed to be subcontractors of the Transfer Agent.

 

-14

 

 

15.miscellaneous

 

15.1Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by a written agreement executed by both parties.

 

15.2New York Law to Apply. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the state of New York.

 

15.3Force Majeure.

 

(a)         Except as may arise from the Transfer Agent’s failure to exercise its standard of care, the Transfer Agent shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including without limitation, work stoppage, power or other mechanical failure, computer virus, natural disaster, governmental action or communication disruption.

 

(b)         The Trust shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including without limitation, work stoppage, power or other mechanical failure, computer virus, natural disaster, governmental action or communication disruption.

 

15.4Data Protection. The Transfer Agent will implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program that contains appropriate security measures to safeguard the personal information of the Trust’s shareholders, employees, directors and/or officers that the Transfer Agent receives, stores, maintains, processes or otherwise accesses in connection with the provision of services hereunder. For these purposes, “personal information” shall mean (i) an individual’s name (first initial and last name or first name and last name), address or telephone number plus (a) social security number, (b) drivers license number, (c) state identification card number, (d) debit or credit card number, (e) financial account number or (f) personal identification number or password that would permit access to a person’s account or (ii) any combination of the foregoing that would allow a person to log onto or access an individual’s account. Notwithstanding the foregoing “personal information” shall not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly available information, or from federal, state or local government records lawfully made available to the general public.

 

15.5Survival. All provisions regarding indemnification, warranty, liability, and limits thereon, and confidentiality and/or protections of proprietary rights and trade secrets shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

15.6Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

 

-15

 

 

15.7Priorities Clause. In the event of any conflict, discrepancy or ambiguity between the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and any schedules or attachments hereto, the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement shall take precedence.

 

15.8Waiver. No waiver by either party or any breach or default of any of the covenants or conditions herein contained and performed by the other party shall be construed as a waiver of any succeeding breach of the same or of any other covenant or condition. Any waiver must be in writing signed by the waiving party.

 

15.9Entire Agreement. This Agreement and any schedules, exhibits, attachments or amendments hereto constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof whether oral or written.

 

15.10Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

15.11Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

 

15.12Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications required or permitted to be given under this agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent by an internationally recognized overnight courier service with signature required for delivery, by facsimile where a confirmation of receipt is obtained, provided, however, that if sent by facsimile the written communication must also be sent by next business day delivery via an internationally recognized overnight courier service with signature required for delivery, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties hereto at the following addresses:

 

(a)If to Transfer Agent, to:

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company

200 Clarendon Street, 16th Floor

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

Attention: Sheila McClorey, Transfer Agent Vice President

Telephone: (617) 662-9681

Facsimile: (617) 956-5648

 

-16

 

 

With a copy to:

State Street Bank and Trust Company

2 Avenue de Lafayette, 2nd Floor (LCC/2)

Boston, MA 02110

Attn: US Investor Services Legal Team, Senior Managing Counsel

Telephone: (617) 662-1783

Facsimile: (617) 662-2702

 

(b)If to the Trust, to:

 

WisdomTree Commodity Pool

245 Park Avenue, 35th Floor

New York, NY 10167

Attn: Legal Department

Facsimile: 917-267-3851

 

All such communications so addressed shall be deemed given (i) when delivered, if delivered personally to the intended recipient, or if sent by an internationally recognized courier service with signature required for delivery, or if sent by facsimile and a confirmation of receipt is obtained, and the written communication has also be sent for next business day delivery via a internationally recognized courier service with signature required for delivery (ii) three business days after being mailed if sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or upon delivery if actual delivery occurs earlier.

 

15.13Limitation of Liability of the Trustees and Shareholders. This Agreement is executed by the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust and the obligations hereunder are not binding upon any of the directors/trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust (or its Sponsor) individually. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, each and every obligation, liability or undertaking of a particular Trust under this Agreement shall constitute solely an obligation, liability or undertaking of, and be binding upon, the Trust and shall be payable solely from the available assets of such particular Trust and shall not be binding upon or affect any assets of any other Trust (or its Sponsor).

 

15.14Liability of Trust. The use of a single form of agreement referring to multiple Trusts listed on Schedule A hereto is for ease of administrative purposes only. Transfer Agent and each Trust listed on Schedule A to this Agreement shall be deemed for all purposes to have entered into and executed a separate Agreement. The assets and liabilities of each Trust listed on Schedule A are separate and distinct; the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are binding solely upon the assets or property of each Trust, on whose behalf this Agreement has been executed.

 

-17

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company

 

By:    
       
  Name: Gunjan Kedia  
       
  Title: Executive Vice President  

 

Each COMMODITY POOL Entity

Identified on Schedule A Hereto

 

BY ITS MANAGING OWNER AND/OR SPONSOR

 

By:    
       
  Name: Gregory Barton  
       
  Title: President  

 

TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT

 

 

 

 

TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT

 

SCHEDULE A

Listing of Fund(s)

 

WisdomTree Continuous Commodity Index Fund (f/k/a GreenHaven Continuous Commodity Index Fund) and its master fund

 

WisdomTree Coal Fund (f/k/a GreenHaven Coal Fund)

 

A-1 

EX-10.6 9 t1503058_ex10-6.htm EXHIBIT 10.6

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

FORM OF AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT

FOR

WISDOMTREE COAL FUND

 

This Authorized Participant Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into by and among WisdomTree Coal Fund (“Fund”), WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC, the Fund’s sponsor (the “Sponsor”), Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) and ____________________________________ (the “Authorized Participant” and together with the Fund, the Sponsor and the Distributor, the “Parties”), and is subject to acceptance by State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Transfer Agent”). The Transfer Agent serves as an agent for the Fund and is an “Index Receipt Agent” as that term is defined in the rules of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”).

 

As described in the Fund’s Trust Agreement (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Trust Agreement”) and in the Prospectus (as defined below), the Fund will issue its shares representing units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Fund (the “Shares”). The Shares may be created or redeemed by the Sponsor for an Authorized Participant in aggregations of Shares as set forth in the Prospectus (e.g., 25,000 Shares) (each aggregation, a “Creation Basket” or “Redemption Basket,” respectively, and collectively, the “Baskets”). Creation Baskets are offered only pursuant to the registration statement of the Fund on Form S-1, as declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and as amended and supplemented from time to time, or any successor registration statement for the Shares (the “Registration Statement”), including the prospectus of the Fund a part thereof (the “Prospectus”). Under the Trust Agreement, only Authorized Participants may place orders to create and redeem Baskets. The Prospectus provides that the Authorized Participant will pay a transaction fee of two hundred dollars ($200) per order to create or redeem Baskets (the “Transaction Fee”). See Section 5. The Transaction Fee may be adjusted from time to time as set forth in the Prospectus.

 

To the extent there is a conflict between any provision of this Agreement, other than the indemnities provided in Section 9 herein, and the provisions of the Trust Agreement or the Prospectus, the Trust Agreement or the Prospectus, as applicable, shall control. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Trust Agreement or the Prospectus, as applicable.

 

This Agreement is intended to set forth certain premises and the procedures by which the Authorized Participant may purchase and/or redeem Shares (i) through the Continuous Net Settlement (“CNS”) clearing processes of NSCC as such processes have been enhanced to effect purchases and redemptions of Shares (such processes being referred to herein as the “CNS Clearing Process”), or (ii) outside the CNS Clearing Process (i.e., through the manual process of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) (the “DTC Process”). The procedures (the “Procedures”) for processing an order to purchase Baskets (each a “Purchase Order”) and an order to redeem Baskets (each a “Redemption Order” and together with a Purchase Order, an “Order”) are described in the Prospectus, the Trust Agreement, this Agreement and in Attachment A to this Agreement, as each may be amended from time to time. A copy of the Fund’s Order Form (as amended from time to time, the “Order Form”) has been made available to the Authorized Participant by the Transfer Agent, as may be revised from time to timeAll Orders must be made pursuant to the Procedures.

 

To give effect to the foregoing premises and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth below, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

 

 

 

Section 1.            Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Authorized Participant.

 

(a)          The Authorized Participant hereby represents, warrants and covenants that:

 

(i)          it is a DTC Participant and, only with respect to Orders through the CNS Clearing Process, it is a member of NSCC and an authorized participant in the CNS System of NSCC (a “Participating Party”); provided, that any change in the foregoing status of the Authorized Participant shall terminate this Agreement and the Authorized Participant shall give prompt written notice to the Distributor, the Fund and the Transfer Agent of such change;

 

(ii)         unless Section 1(a)(v) is applicable, it (A) is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and is a member in good standing of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), or (B) is exempt from being, or otherwise is not required to be, licensed as a broker-dealer or a member of FINRA, and in either case is qualified to act as a broker or dealer in the states or other jurisdictions where the nature of its business so requires;

 

(iii)        it will maintain registrations, qualifications, membership, or, if applicable, exempt status described in Section 1(a)(ii) in good standing and in full force and effect throughout the term of this Agreement;

 

(iv)        it will comply with all applicable United States federal laws, the laws of the states or other jurisdictions concerned and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and with the FINRA By-Laws and NASD Conduct Rules (or with comparable FINRA Conduct Rules, if such NASD Conduct Rules are subsequently renamed, repealed, rescinded or are otherwise replaced by FINRA Conduct Rules) if it is a FINRA Member, to the extent the foregoing relates to the Authorized Participant’s transactions in, and activities with respect to, the Shares, and that it will not offer or sell Shares of the Fund in any state or jurisdiction where they may not lawfully be offered and/or sold;

 

(v)         if the Authorized Participant is offering or selling Shares in jurisdictions outside the several states, territories and possessions of the United States and is not otherwise required to be registered, qualified or a member of FINRA as set forth above, the Authorized Participant will, in connection with such offers and sales, (A) observe the applicable laws of the jurisdiction in which such offer and/or sale is made, (B) comply with the prospectus delivery and other requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and (C) conduct its business in accordance with the NASD Conduct Rules (or with comparable FINRA Conduct Rules, if such NASD Conduct Rules are subsequently renamed, repealed, rescinded, or are otherwise replaced by FINRA Conduct Rules), to the extent the foregoing relates to the Authorized Participant’s transactions in, and activities with respect to, the Shares;

 

(vi)        it has established and presently maintains an anti-money laundering program (the “Program”) reasonably designed to prevent the Authorized Participant from being used as a conduit for money laundering or other illicit purposes or the financing of terrorist activities and is in compliance with the Program and all anti-money laundering laws, regulations and rules now or hereafter in effect that are applicable to it, including, without limitation, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act); and

 

(vii)       it has the capability to send and receive communications via authenticated telecommunication facility to and from the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and the Authorized

 

2 

 

 

Participant’s custodian, and it shall confirm such capability to the satisfaction of the Distributor and the Transfer Agent prior to placing its first Order with the Fund acting through the Transfer Agent.

 

(b)          The Authorized Participant understands and acknowledges that the method by which Shares will be created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. For example, because new Shares may be issued and sold by the Fund on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the 1933 Act, may be occurring. The Authorized Participant further understands and acknowledges that some of its activities may result in its being deemed a participant in a distribution in a manner that could render it a statutory underwriter and subject it to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act. The Authorized Participant should review the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus and consult with its own counsel in connection with entering into this Agreement and placing Orders. The Authorized Participant also understands and acknowledges that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in the Shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of the Shares, are generally required to deliver a Prospectus.

 

Section 2.            Execution of Orders.

 

(a)          All Orders shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, the Prospectus and the Procedures. Each Party agrees to comply with the provisions of such documents to the extent applicable to it. The Sponsor may issue, or caused to be issued, additional or other procedures from time to time relating to the manner of creating or redeeming Baskets that are not related to the Procedures, and the Authorized Participant will comply with such procedures in placing Orders hereunder.

 

(b)          The Authorized Participant acknowledges and agrees on behalf of itself and any party for which it is acting (whether as a customer or otherwise) that delivery of an Order shall be irrevocable.

 

(c)          The Authorized Participant acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(i)          the Sponsor, or its designee, may, in its discretion, suspend the right of purchase, or postpone the purchase settlement date, (A) for any period during which the NYSE Arca is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings, or trading on the NYSE Arca is suspended or restricted; (B) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which the processing of Purchase Orders is not reasonably practicable; or (C) for such other period as the Sponsor determines to be necessary for the protection of the Fund’s Shareholders;

 

(ii)         the Sponsor, or its designee, shall have the absolute right, but shall have no obligation, to reject any Purchase Order (A) determined by the Sponsor, or its designee, not to be submitted in compliance with the Procedures; (B) that the Sponsor, or its designee, has determined would have adverse tax consequences to the Fund or to its Shareholders; (C) if circumstances outside the control of the Sponsor, or its designee, make it, for all practical purposes, not feasible to process Creation Baskets; or (D) the Sponsor, or its designee, believes that it or the Fund would be in violation of any securities or commodities rules or regulations regarding position limits or otherwise by accepting a Creation Order;

 

(iii)        the Sponsor, or its designee, may, in its discretion, suspend the right of redemption, or postpone the redemption settlement date, (A) for any period during which the NYSE Arca is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings, or trading on the NYSE Arca is suspended or restricted; (B) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which the processing of Redemption Orders is not reasonably practicable; or (C) for such other period as the Sponsor determines to be necessary for the protection of the Fund’s Shareholders; and

 

3 

 

 

(iv)        the Sponsor, or its designee, may reject a Redemption Order if the Redemption Order is not submitted in compliance with the Procedures or if the fulfillment of the Redemption Order, in the opinion of counsel, might be illegal under applicable laws and regulations.

 

None of the Fund, the Sponsor, the Distributor or the Transfer Agent will be liable to any person or in any way for any liability, loss or damages that may result from any rejection, suspension or postponement of an Order.

 

(d)          The Authorized Participant hereby consents to the use of recorded telephone lines whether or not such use is reflected in the Procedures.

 

Section 3.            NSCC. Solely with respect to Orders effected through the CNS Clearing Process, the Authorized Participant, as a Participating Party, hereby authorizes the Transfer Agent to transmit to the NSCC on behalf of the Authorized Participant such instructions consistent with the instructions issued by the Authorized Participant to the Transfer Agent. The Authorized Participant agrees to be bound by the terms of such instructions issued by the Transfer Agent and reported to NSCC as though such instructions were issued by the Authorized Participant directly to NSCC.

 

Section 4.            Marketing Materials; Representations Regarding Shares; Identification in Registration Statement.

 

(a)          The Authorized Participant represents, warrants and covenants that (i) it will not, in connection with any sale or solicitation of a sale of Shares, make, or permit any of its representatives to make, any representations concerning the Shares or any AP Indemnified Party (as defined below) other than representations not inconsistent with (A) the then-current Prospectus of the Fund, (B) printed information approved by the Sponsor as information supplemental to such Prospectus or (C) any promotional materials or sales literature furnished to the Authorized Participant by the Sponsor, and (ii) the Authorized Participant will not furnish or cause to be furnished to any person or display or publish any information or material relating to the Shares or any AP Indemnified Party that are inconsistent with the Fund’s then-current Prospectus. Copies of the then-current Prospectus and any such printed supplemental information will be supplied by the Sponsor, or its designee, to the Authorized Participant in reasonable quantities upon request. The Sponsor represents, warrants, and agrees that it will notify the Authorized Participant when a revised, supplemented, or amended Prospectus for the Fund is available and deliver or otherwise make available to the Authorized Participant copies of such revised, supplemented, or amended Prospectus at such time and in such numbers as to enable the Authorized Participant to comply with any obligation it may have to deliver such Prospectus to its customers. The Sponsor will make such revised, supplemented, or amended Prospectus available to the Authorized Participant no later than its effective date.

 

(b)          The Sponsor and the Fund represent and warrant that (i) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained therein conforms in all material respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the sale and distribution of the Shares as contemplated herein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any statute or any order, rule, or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Sponsor or the Fund, and (iii) no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issuance and sale of the Shares, except registration under the 1933 Act.

 

4 

 

 

(c)          Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Authorized Participant and its affiliates may, without the written approval of the Sponsor or the Fund, prepare and circulate in the regular course of their businesses research, sales literature, reports and other similar materials that include information, opinions or recommendations relating to the Shares; provided, that such research, sales literature, reports, and other similar materials comply with applicable NASD rules (or with comparable FINRA rules, if such NASD rules are subsequently repealed, rescinded, or are otherwise replaced by FINRA rules).

 

(d)          The Authorized Participant hereby agrees that, for the term of this Agreement, the Sponsor or its designee may deliver the then-current Prospectus, and any revisions, supplements or amendments thereto or recirculation thereof, to the Authorized Participant in Portable Document Format (“PDF”) via electronic mail to (or to such other address as may be provided by the Authorized Participant from time to time) in lieu of delivering the Prospectus in paper form. The Authorized Participant may revoke the foregoing agreement at any time by delivering written notice to the Sponsor, or the Sponsor’s designee, and, whether or not such agreement is in effect, the Authorized Participant may, at any time, request reasonable quantities of the Prospectus, and any revisions, supplements or amendments thereto or recirculation thereof, in paper form from the Sponsor or its designee. The Authorized Participant acknowledges that it has the capability to access, view, save and print material provided to it in PDF and that it will incur no appreciable extra costs by receiving the Prospectus in PDF instead of in paper form. The Sponsor will, when requested by the Authorized Participant, make available, or cause to be made available, at no cost the software and technical assistance necessary to allow the Authorized Participant to access, view and print the PDF version of the Prospectus.

 

(e)          For as long as this Agreement is effective, if required by the SEC, the Authorized Participant agrees to be identified as an authorized participant of the Fund in the Prospectus and on the Fund’s website.

 

Section 5.           Fees. To compensate State Street Bank and Trust Company for its services as Transfer Agent in connection with the processing of the creation and redemption of Baskets, the Fund shall charge, and the Authorized Participant shall pay (which may be from its DTC account to the Fund), the Transaction Fee described in the Prospectus. The current Transaction Fee shall be two hundred dollars ($200) per order. The Transaction Fee may be adjusted from time to time as set forth in the Prospectus.

 

Section 6.          Authorized Persons. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement and from time to time thereafter as may be requested by the Sponsor, the Fund or the Distributor, the Authorized Participant shall deliver to such parties, with copies to the Transfer Agent, at the address specified herein, duly certified as appropriate by its Secretary or other duly authorized official, a certificate in the form attached hereto as Attachment B setting forth the names and signatures 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 such person an “Authorized Person”). Such certificate may be accepted and relied upon by the Sponsor, the Fund, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent as conclusive evidence of the facts set forth therein and shall be considered to be in full force and effect until delivery to such parties of a superseding certificate in a form approved by the Sponsor bearing a subsequent date and duly certified as described above. Upon the termination or revocation of authority of such Authorized Person by the Authorized Participant, the Authorized Participant shall give immediate written notice of such fact to the Sponsor, the Fund, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent, and such notice shall be effective upon receipt by each of such parties.

 

Section 7.          Redemption. The Authorized Participant represents and warrants that it will not attempt to place a Redemption Order for the purpose of redeeming any Basket unless (i) it owns outright or has the right or authority to tender for redemption the Baskets to be redeemed and to receive the entire proceeds of

 

5 

 

 

the redemption, and (ii) such Baskets have not been loaned or pledged to another party and are not the subject of a repurchase agreement, securities lending agreement or any other arrangement that, under the circumstances, would preclude the delivery of such Baskets to the Transfer Agent on behalf of the Fund in accordance with the Procedures or as otherwise required by the Fund.

 

Section 8.            Role of Authorized Participant.

 

(a)          The Authorized Participant acknowledges and agrees that for all purposes of this Agreement and the Trust Agreement, the Authorized Participant will have no authority to act as an agent for the Sponsor, the Fund, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent or the Authorized Participant’s custodian in any matter or in any respect.

 

(b)          The Authorized Participant covenants and agrees to make itself and its employees available, upon request, during normal business hours to consult with the Sponsor, the Fund, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent or the Authorized Participant’s custodian or their designees concerning the performance of the Authorized Participant’s responsibilities under this Agreement.

 

(c)          The Authorized Participant, as a DTC Participant, covenants and agrees that it shall be bound by all of the obligations of a DTC Participant in addition to any obligations that it undertakes hereunder or in accordance with the Prospectus.

 

(d)          The Authorized Participant agrees, subject to any privacy, confidentiality or other obligations it may have to its customers arising under federal or state securities laws or the applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization, to assist, upon request, the Sponsor, the Fund, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent in ascertaining certain information that the Authorized Participant may possess regarding sales of Shares made by or through the Authorized Participant that is necessary for the Fund to comply with its obligations to distribute information to its Shareholders under applicable state or federal securities laws or as set forth in the Prospectus.

 

Section 9.            Indemnification.

 

(a)          The Authorized Participant hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor, the Transfer Agent, the Distributor and the Fund, and 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 an “AP Indemnified Party”) from and against any loss, liability, damage, reasonable cost and expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the reasonable cost of investigation) incurred by such AP Indemnified Party as a result of (i) any material breach by the Authorized Participant of any provision of this Agreement that relates to the Authorized Participant, including its representations, warranties and covenants made herein; (ii) any failure on the part of the Authorized Participant to perform any of its obligations set forth in this Agreement except to the extent that such failure was directly caused by the Authorized Participant’s reasonable reliance on instructions given or representations made by one or more AP Indemnified Parties; (iii) any failure by the Authorized Participant to comply with applicable laws and rules and regulations of self-regulatory organizations to the extent the foregoing relates to the Authorized Participant’s transactions in, and activities with respect to, Shares under this Agreement, except that the Authorized Participant shall not be required to indemnify an AP Indemnified Party to the extent that such failure was caused by the Authorized Participant’s adherence to instructions given or representations made by the Sponsor or any AP Indemnified Party, as applicable; (iv) any actions of such AP Indemnified Party in reliance upon any instructions issued by the Authorized Participant in accordance with the Procedures that are reasonably believed by such AP Indemnified Party to be genuine and to have been given by the Authorized Participant; or (v) (A) any representation by the Authorized Participant, its employees or its agents or other representatives about the Shares, any AP Indemnified Party or the Fund that is not

 

6 

 

 

consistent with the Fund’s then-current Prospectus made in connection with the offer or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the Shares and (B) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any research reports, marketing material and sales literature described herein or any alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to the extent that such statement or omission relates to the Shares or any AP Indemnified Party, unless, in either case, such representation, statement or omission was made or included by an AP Indemnified Party at the written direction of the Sponsor, the Fund or the Distributor or is based upon any omission or alleged omission by the Sponsor, the Fund or the Distributor to state a material fact in connection with such representation, statement or omission necessary to make such representation, statement or omission not misleading. The Authorized Participant and the Distributor understand and agree that the Fund as a third-party beneficiary to this Agreement is entitled and intends to proceed directly against the Authorized Participant in the event that the Authorized Participant fails to honor any of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement that benefit the Fund. The Authorized Participant shall not be liable to an AP Indemnified Party for any damages arising out of mistakes or errors in data provided to the Authorized Participant, or mistakes or errors by, or out of interruptions or delays of communications with the AP Indemnified Parties due to any action of a service provider to the Fund. The Authorized Participant shall not be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in this subsection with respect to any claim made against any AP Indemnified Party unless the AP Indemnified Party shall have notified the Authorized Participant in writing of the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the AP Indemnified Party (or after the AP Indemnified Party shall have received notice of service on any designated agent). However, failure to notify the Authorized Participant of any claim shall not relieve the Authorized Participant from any liability that it may have to any AP Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement contained in this subsection and shall only release it from such liability under this subsection to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure to give notice. The Authorized Participant shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any claims, but if the Authorized Participant elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the AP Indemnified Party in the suit, and who shall not, except with the consent of the AP Indemnified Parties, be counsel to the Authorized Participant. If the Authorized Participant does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the AP Indemnified Party for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.

 

(b)          The Distributor hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Authorized Participant, its respective subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who controls such persons within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (each a “Distributor Indemnified Party”) from and against any loss, liability, damage, cost and expense (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such Distributor Indemnified Party as a result of (i) any breach by the Distributor of any provision of this Agreement that relates to the Distributor; (ii) any failure on the part of the Distributor to perform any of its obligations set forth in this Agreement; (iii) any failure by the Distributor to comply with applicable laws, including rules and regulations of self-regulatory organizations; (iv) actions of a Distributor Indemnified Party in reliance upon any instructions issued or representations made in accordance with the Procedures reasonably believed by a Distributor Indemnified Party to be genuine and to have been given by the Distributor; or (v) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement of the Fund or in any amendment thereof, or in any Prospectus or any statement of additional information, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in connection with the Authorized Participant’s acting in its capacity as an Authorized Participant. The Distributor shall not be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in this subsection with respect to any claim made against any Distributor Indemnified Party unless the Distributor Indemnified Party shall have notified the Distributor in writing of the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the

 

7 

 

 

claim shall have been served upon the Distributor Indemnified Party (or after the Distributor Indemnified Party shall have received notice of service on any designated agent). However, failure to notify the Distributor of any claim shall not relieve the Distributor from any liability that it may have to any Distributor Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement contained in this subsection and shall only release it from such liability under this subsection to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure to give notice. The Distributor shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any claims, but if the Distributor elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Distributor Indemnified Party in the suit and who shall not, except with the consent of the Distributor Indemnified Party, be counsel to the Distributor. If the Distributor does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the Distributor Indemnified Party in the suit for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.

 

(c)          The Sponsor hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Authorized Participant, and its respective subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who controls such persons within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (each a “Sponsor Indemnified Party”) from and against any loss, liability, damage, cost and expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the reasonable cost of investigation) incurred by such Sponsor Indemnified Party as a result of (i) any breach by the Sponsor of any provision of this Agreement that relates to the Sponsor; (ii) any failure on the part of the Sponsor to perform any of its obligations set forth in this Agreement; (iii) any failure by the Sponsor to comply with applicable laws, including rules and regulations of self-regulatory organizations; (iv) any untrue statements or omissions made in any promotional material or sales literature furnished to the Authorized Participant or otherwise approved in writing by the Sponsor or its designee; (v) actions of such Sponsor Indemnified Party in reliance upon any instructions issued or representations made by the Sponsor or the Fund in accordance with this Agreement (including the attachments hereto) reasonably believed by the Authorized Participant to be genuine and to have been given by the Sponsor or the Fund, or (vi) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement of the Fund as originally filed with the SEC or in any amendment thereof, or in the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arising out of or based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except those statements in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based on information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Authorized Participant expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. The Sponsor shall not be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in this subsection with respect to any claim made against any Sponsor Indemnified Party unless the Sponsor Indemnified Party shall have notified the Sponsor in writing of the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Sponsor Indemnified Party (or after the Sponsor Indemnified Party shall have received notice of service on any designated agent). However, failure to notify the Sponsor of any claim shall not relieve the Sponsor from any liability that it may have to any Sponsor Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement contained in this subsection and shall only release it from such liability under this subsection to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure to give notice. The Sponsor shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any claims, but if the Sponsor elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Sponsor Indemnified Party in the suit and who shall not, except with the consent of the Sponsor Indemnified Party, be counsel to the Sponsor. If the Sponsor does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the Sponsor Indemnified Party in the suit for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.

 

(d)          This Section 9 shall not apply to the extent any such losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses are incurred as a result or in connection with any gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct

 

8 

 

 

on the part of an AP Indemnified Party, a Distributor Indemnified Party or a Sponsor Indemnified Party, as the case may be. The term “affiliate” in this Section 9 shall include, with respect to any person, entity or organization, any other person, entity or organization which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such person, entity or organization.

 

(e)          No indemnifying party, as described in subsections (a), (b) or (c) above, shall, without the written consent of the AP Indemnified Party, Distributor Indemnified Party or Sponsor Indemnified Party, as the case may be, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the AP Indemnified Party, Distributor Indemnified Party or Sponsor Indemnified Party, as the case may be, from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any AP Indemnified Party, Distributor Indemnified Party or Sponsor Indemnified Party, as the case may be.

 

Section 10.         Liability.

 

(a)          The Distributor, the Transfer Agent, the Sponsor and the Fund, whether acting directly or through agents (including the Transfer Agent), undertake to perform such duties and only such duties as are expressly set forth herein, or expressly incorporated herein by reference, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Distributor, the Transfer Agent, the Sponsor, or the Fund.

 

(b)          In the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part, neither the Distributor, the Transfer Agent, the Sponsor nor the Fund, whether acting directly or through agents (including the Transfer Agent), shall be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted or for any error of judgment made by any of them in the performance of their duties hereunder. Neither the Distributor, the Transfer Agent, the Sponsor nor the Fund, whether acting directly or through agents (including the Transfer Agent), shall be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith unless the party exercising such shall have been grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts necessary to make such judgment. In no event shall the Distributor, the Transfer Agent, the Sponsor, or the Fund, whether acting directly or through agents (including the Transfer Agent), be liable for special, indirect or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profit), even if such parties have been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. In no event shall the Distributor, the Transfer Agent, the Sponsor, or the Fund, whether acting directly or through agents (including the Transfer Agent), be liable for the acts or omissions of DTC or any other securities depository or clearing corporation.

 

(c)          Neither the Distributor, the Transfer Agent, the Sponsor nor the Fund, whether acting directly or through agents (including the Transfer Agent), shall be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of their obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation: acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; civil or military disturbances; terrorism; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunction of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communications service; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority or governmental actions.

 

(d)          The Distributor, the Transfer Agent, the Sponsor, the Fund and the Transfer Agent may conclusively rely upon, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any communication authorized hereby and upon any written or oral instruction, notice, request, direction or consent reasonably believed by them to be genuine.

 

9 

 

 

(e)          This Agreement has been entered into by the Fund and was executed and delivered by an officer of its Sponsor, on behalf of the Fund, which officer was acting solely in his capacity as an officer of the Sponsor and not in his individual capacity and which Sponsor was acting solely in its capacity as sponsor of the Fund and not in its individual capacity. The obligations of this Agreement are not binding on such officer, the Sponsor or any Shareholder individually. The obligations of this Agreement are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

(f)          The Authorized Participant shall be responsible for the payment of any transfer tax, sales or use tax, stamp tax, recording tax, value added tax and any other similar tax or government charge applicable to the creation or redemption of any Basket made pursuant to this Agreement, regardless of whether or not such tax or charge is imposed directly on the Authorized Participant. To the extent the Sponsor or the Fund is required by law to pay any such tax or charge, the Authorized Participant agrees to promptly indemnify such party for any such payment, together with any applicable penalties, additions to tax or interest thereon, upon reasonable notice thereof.

 

Section 11.         Acknowledgment. The Authorized Participant acknowledges receipt of a (i) copy of the Trust Agreement and (ii) the current Prospectus of the Fund, and represents that it has reviewed and understands such documents.

 

Section 12.         Effectiveness and Termination. Upon the execution of this Agreement by the Parties, this Agreement shall become effective in this form as of the date first set forth above, and may be terminated at any time by any Party upon five (5) days prior written notice to the other Parties unless earlier terminated: (i) in accordance with Section 1(a)(i); (ii) upon written notice to the Authorized Participant by the Sponsor in the event of a material breach by the Authorized Participant of this Agreement or the procedures described or incorporated herein; (iii) immediately in the circumstances described in Section 23; or (iv) at such time as the Fund is terminated pursuant to the Trust Agreement.

 

Section 13.         Ambiguous Instructions. If an Order Form contains order terms that differ from the information provided in the telephone call at the time of issuance of the applicable order number, the Sponsor or its designee will attempt to contact one of the Authorized Persons of the Authorized Participant to request confirmation of the terms of the Order. If an Authorized Person confirms the terms as they appear in the Order Form, then the Order will be accepted and processed. If an Authorized Person contradicts the terms of the Order Form, the Order will be deemed invalid, and a corrected Order Form must be received by the Sponsor or its designee in the time period designated. If the Sponsor or its designee is not able to contact an Authorized Person, then the Order shall be accepted and processed in accordance with the terms of the Order Form notwithstanding any inconsistency from the terms of the telephone information. In the event that an Order Form contains terms that are not complete or are illegible, the Order will be deemed invalid and the Sponsor will attempt to contact one of the Authorized Persons of the Authorized Participant to request retransmission of the Order Form.

 

Section 14.         Amendment. This Agreement, the Procedures and the attachments hereto may be amended, modified or supplemented by the Fund, the Sponsor and the Distributor, without consent of the Authorized Participant, from time to time by the following procedure. After the amendment, modification or supplement has been agreed to, the Distributor will mail a copy of the proposed amendment, modification or supplement to the Authorized Participant in accordance with the terms hereof. For the purposes of this Agreement, mail will be deemed received by the recipient thereof on the third (3rd) day following the deposit of such mail into the United States postal system. If the Authorized Participant does not object in writing to the amendment, modification, or supplement within fifteen (15) calendar days after its deemed receipt, the amendment, modification or supplement will become part of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

10 

 

 

Section 15.         Waiver of Compliance. Any failure of any of the Parties to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by the Party entitled to the benefits thereof only by a written instrument signed by the Party granting such waiver, but any such written waiver, or the failure to insist upon strict compliance with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein, shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

 

Section 16.         Notices. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, all notices required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be given in writing and delivered by personal delivery, by postage prepaid registered or certified United States first class mail, return receipt requested, by nationally recognized overnight courier (delivery confirmation received) or by telex, telegram or telephonic facsimile or similar means of same day delivery (transmission confirmation received), with a confirming copy regular mail, postage prepaid. For avoidance of doubt, notices may not be given or transmitted by electronic mail. Unless otherwise notified in writing, all notices to the Fund shall be sent to the Sponsor. All notices shall be directed to the address or facsimile numbers indicated below the signature line of the Parties on the signature page hereof, unless otherwise notified in writing.

 

Section 17.         Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 18.         Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable New York conflict of laws principles) as to all matters, including matters of validity, construction, effect, performance and remedies. Each Party irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and of any federal court located in the Borough of Manhattan in such State in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any action taken or omitted hereunder, and waives any claim of forum non conveniens and any objections as to laying of venue. Each Party further waives personal service of any summons, complaint or other process and agrees that service thereof may be made by certified or registered mail directed to such Party at such Party’s address for purposes of notices hereunder. Each Party hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

Section 19.         Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, except that any entity into which a Party may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion, or consolidation to which such Party hereunder shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the business of the Party, shall be the successor of the Party under this Agreement. The party resulting from any such merger, conversion, consolidation or succession shall notify the other Parties of the change. Any purported assignment in violation of the provisions hereof shall be null and void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall be automatically assigned to any successor trustee or sponsor of the Fund at such time such successor qualifies as a successor trustee or sponsor under the terms of the Trust Agreement.

 

Section 20.         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Section 21.         Interpretation. The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the Parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

11 

 

 

Section 22.         Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Trust Agreement, along with any other agreement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement or the Trust Agreement, supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that the Authorized Participant shall not be deemed by this provision to be a party to the Trust Agreement.

 

Section 23.         Severance. If any provision of this Agreement is held by any court or any act, regulation, rule or decision of any other governmental or supra national body or authority or regulatory or self-regulatory organization to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason, it shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable only to the extent so held and shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the Parties as to the subject matter of this Agreement and the deletion of such portion of this Agreement will not substantially impair the respective benefits, obligations, or expectations of the Parties. If this Agreement as so modified substantially impairs the respective benefits, obligations, or expectations of the Parties, it shall be subject to immediate termination upon written notice by the terminating Party delivered in accordance with terms hereof.

 

Section 24.         No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any Party.

 

Section 25.         Survival. Section 9 (Indemnification) shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 26.         Other Usages. The following usages shall apply in interpreting this Agreement: (i) references to a governmental or quasigovernmental agency, authority or instrumentality shall also refer to a regulatory body that succeeds to the functions of such agency, authority or instrumentality; and (ii) “including” means “including, but not limited to.”

 

12 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of __________, 20__.

  

THE FUND:   THE SPONSOR:
     
WisdomTree Coal Fund   WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC
       
By: WisdomTree Coal Services, LLC, its Sponsor   By:  
      Name:  
By:     Title:  
Name:   Address: 245 Park Avenue, 35th Floor
Title:       New York, NY 10167
Address: 245 Park Avenue, 35th Floor      
  New York, NY 10167      

 

DISTRIBUTOR:   THE AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT:
       
Foreside Fund Services, LLC      
           
By:     By:    
Name:     Name:
Title:     Title:
Address:     Address:
       
Telephone:     Telephone:
Facsimile:     Facsimile:

 

ACCEPTED BY THE TRANSFER AGENT:    
     
State Street Bank and Trust Company    
       
By:      
Name:    
Title:    
Address:    
     
Telephone:    
Facsimile:    

 

 

WisdomTree Coal Fund Execution Page
Form of Authorized Participant Agreement  

 

 

 

 

Attachment A

 

Defined terms used herein that are not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement (the “AP Agreement”)

 

This document supplements the Prospectus with respect to the procedures to be used by (i) the Transfer Agent and Distributor in processing orders for the purchase of Creation Baskets of a Fund (“Creation Orders”) and (ii) the Transfer Agent in processing orders redeeming Redemption Baskets of a Fund (“Redemption Orders,” and together with Creation Orders, “Orders”). The Authorized Participant (sometimes referred to herein as the “Participant”) acknowledges and agrees that the Prospectus for the Fund may contain, among other matters, procedures relating to the creation and redemption of Shares and in the event of a conflict, the Prospectus shall control.

 

The Participant is required to have signed the Authorized Participant Agreement (sometimes referred to herein as the “Participant Agreement”). Upon acceptance by the Trust of the Participant Agreement, the Transfer Agent or Distributor, as the case may be, will assign a personal identification number (“PIN”) to each Authorized Person authorized to act for the Participant. This will allow a Participant through its Authorized Person(s) to place an order with respect to Baskets.

 

TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR PURCHASE OR REDEMPTION OF BASKETS

 

1.Orders by Telephone.

 

a. Order Number. Call to Receive an Order Number. An Authorized Person for the Participant will call the telephone representative at the number listed on the applicable Fund’s order form (“Order Form”) not later than the cut-off time for placing Orders with the applicable Fund as set forth in the Order Form (the “Order Cut-Off Time”) to receive an Order Number. Non-standard Orders generally must be arranged with the Sponsor in advance of Order placement. The Order Form (as may be revised from time to time) is incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement.

 

Upon verifying the authenticity of the caller (as determined by the use of the appropriate PIN) and the terms of the Order, the telephone representative will issue a unique Order Number. All Orders with respect to the purchase or redemption of Baskets are required to be in writing and accompanied by the designated Order Number. Incoming telephone calls are queued and will be handled in the sequence received. Calls placed before the Order Cut-Off Time will be processed even if the call is taken after this cut-off time. ACCORDINGLY, DO NOT HANG UP AND REDIAL. INCOMING CALLS THAT ARE ATTEMPTED LATER THAN THE Order Cut-Off Time WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

 

NOTE THAT THE TELEPHONE CALL IN WHICH THE ORDER NUMBER IS ISSUED INITIATES THE ORDER PROCESS BUT DOES NOT ALONE CONSTITUTE THE ORDER. AN ORDER IS ONLY COMPLETED AND PROCESSED UPON RECEIPT OF WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS VIA THE ORDER FORM CONTAINING THE DESIGNATED ORDER NUMBER, AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS’ SIGNATURES AND TRANSMITTED BY FACSIMILE.

 

b. Place the Order. An Order Number is only valid for a limited time. The Order Form

 

A-1 

 

 

for purchase or redemption of Baskets must be sent by facsimile to the telephone representative within 20 minutes of the issuance of the Order Number. In the event that the Order Form is not received within such time period, the telephone representative will attempt to contact the Participant to request immediate transmission of the Order. Unless the Order Form is received by the telephone representative upon the earlier of (i) within 15 minutes of contact with the Participant or (ii) 45 minutes after the Order Cut-Off Time, the Order will be deemed invalid.

 

c. Await Receipt of Confirmation.

 

(i)Clearing Process. The Transfer Agent shall issue a confirmation of Order acceptance within approximately 15 minutes of its receipt of an Order Form received in good form. In the event the Participant does not receive a timely confirmation from the Transfer Agent, it should contact the telephone representative at the business number indicated.

 

(ii)Outside the Clearing Process. In lieu of receiving a confirmation of Order acceptance, the DTC Participant will receive an acknowledgment of Order acceptance. The DTC Participant shall deliver on settlement date the Deposit Securities and/or cash (in the case of purchases) or the Creation Unit size aggregation of Shares on trade date plus one (in the case of redemptions) to the Fund through DTC. The Fund shall settle the transaction on the prescribed settlement date.

 

d. Ambiguous Instructions. In the event that an Order Form contains terms that differ from the information provided in the telephone call at the time of issuance of the Order Number, the telephone representative will attempt to contact the Participant to request confirmation of the terms of the Order. If an Authorized Person confirms the terms as they appear in the Order Form then the Order will be accepted and processed. If an Authorized Person contradicts its terms, the Order will be deemed invalid and a corrected Order Form must be received by the telephone representative not later than the earlier of (i) within 15 minutes of such contact with the Participant or (ii) 45 minutes after the Order Cut-Off Time.

 

In the event that an Order Form contains terms that are illegible, as determined in the sole discretion of the Transfer Agent, the Order will be deemed invalid and will not be processed. A telephone representative will attempt to contact the Participant to request retransmission of the Order Form, and a corrected Order Form must be received by the telephone representative not later than the earlier of (i) within 15 minutes of such contact with the Participant or (ii) 45 minutes after the Order Cut-Off Time. If the telephone representative is not able to contact an Authorized Person, the Order will be deemed invalid.

 

2.Election to Place Orders by Internet.

 

a. General. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, Orders may be submitted through the Internet (“Web Order Site” or “Fund Connect”), to the extent such Web Order Site is made available, but must be done so in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Prospectus, the Web Order Site, the State Street Fund Connect Buy-Side User Agreement (which must be separately entered into by the Participant) (the “Fund Connect Agreement”) and the applicable Fund Connect User Guide (or any successor documents).

 

A-2 

 

 

To the extent that any provision of this Agreement is inconsistent with any provision of any Fund Connect Agreement, the Fund Connect Agreement shall control with respect to State Street’s provision of the Web Order Site; provided, however, it is not the intention of the parties to otherwise modify the rights, duties and obligations of the parties under the Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect until otherwise expressly modified or terminated in accordance with its terms. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Participant acknowledges that references to the applicable Fund Connect User Guide (or any successor documents) contained herein are for instructional purposes only, and such Fund Connect User Guide (or any successor documents) does not contain any additional representations, warranties or obligations by the Fund, the Sponsor, the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or their respective agents.

 

b. Certain Acknowledgements. The Participant acknowledges and agrees (i) that the Fund, the Sponsor, the Transfer Agent, the Distributor and their respective agents may elect to review any Order placed through the Web Order Site manually before it is executed and that such manual review may result in a delay in execution of such Order; (ii) that during periods of heavy market activity or other times, it may be difficult to place Orders via the Web Order Site and the Participant may place Orders as otherwise set forth in Attachment A; and (iii) that any access, transaction information, content, or data downloaded or otherwise obtained through the use of the Web Order Site may be recorded and are done at the Participant’s own discretion and risk

 

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN THE FUND CONNECT AGREEMENT AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE WEB ORDER SITE IS PROVIDED “AS IS,” “AS AVAILABLE” WITH ALL FAULTS AND WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. SPECIFICALLY, WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, ALL WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS, OTHER CONTRACTUAL TERMS, REPRESENTATIONS, INDEMNITIES AND GUARANTEES WITH RESPECT TO THE WEB ORDER SITE, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, ARISING BY LAW, CUSTOM, PRIOR ORAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENTS BY THE FUND, THE SPONSOR, THE TRANSFER AGENT, THE DISTRIBUTOR OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AGENTS, AFFILIATES, LICENSORS OR OTHERWISE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO AS TO TITLE, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, UNINTERRUPTED USE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, TIMELINESS, TRUTHFULNESS, SEQUENCE, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS AND OTHER CONTRACTUAL TERMS ARISING FROM TRADE USAGE, COURSE OF DEALING OR COURSE OF PERFORMANCE) ARE HEREBY OVERRIDDEN, EXCLUDED AND DISCLAIMED.

 

c. Election to Terminate Placing Orders by Internet. The Participant may elect at any time to discontinue placing Orders through the Web Order Site without providing notice under the Agreement.

 

3.Acknowledgment Regarding Telephone and Internet Transactions. During periods of heavy market activity or other times, the Participant acknowledges it may be difficult to reach the Transfer Agent by telephone or to transact business over the Internet via the Web Order Site. Technological irregularities may also make the use of the Internet and Web Order Site slow or unavailable at times. The Transfer Agent may terminate the receipt of redemption or exchange Orders by telephone or the Internet at any time, in which case you may redeem or exchange Shares by other means.

 

A-3 

 

 

Attachment B

 

WISDOMTREE COAL FUND

AUTHORIZED PERSONS

 

The following individuals are Authorized Persons pursuant to the Authorized Participant Agreement with respect to the WisdomTree Coal Fund as entered into by the Participant named below:

 

    ,    
  Participant Name   NSCC #  

 

NAME   TITLE   SIGNATURE   TELEPHONE
NUMBER
  E-MAIL
ADDRESS
  CITY OF
BIRTH
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     

  

Signed on behalf of the Authorized Participant:

 

  By:    
       
  Name:    
       
  Title:    
       
  Date:    

 

B-1