Document:

ex_354062.htm

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

 

iSHARES® DELAWARE TRUST SPONSOR LLC,

as Sponsor

 

and

 

BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Administrative Trustee

 

and

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Delaware Trustee

 

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT

 

iSHARES® S&P GSCITM COMMODITY-INDEXED TRUST

 

Dated as of March 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	 	 	
			Page

			
	 	 	 
	
			ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

				
			1

			
	 	 
	
			Section 1.1

				
			Definitions

				
			1

			
	
			Section 1.2

				
			Rules of Construction

				
			7

			
	 	 
	
			ARTICLE II CREATION AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

				
			7

			
	 	 
	
			Section 2.2

				
			Legal Title

				
			8

			
	
			Section 2.3

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

				
			8

			
	
			Section 2.4

				
			Issuance and Redemption of Shares; General

				
			9

			
	
			Section 2.5

				
			Purchase Orders

				
			10

			
	
			Section 2.6

				
			Delivery of Shares

				
			10

			
	
			Section 2.7

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

				
			11

			
	
			Section 2.8

				
			Redemption of Shares and Withdrawal of Trust Property

				
			11

			
	
			Section 2.9

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

				
			12

			
	
			Section 2.10

				
			Lost Certificates, Etc

				
			12

			
	
			Section 2.11

				
			Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Certificates

				
			12

			
	
			Section 2.12

				
			Splits and Reverse Splits of Shares

				
			12

			
	 	 
	
			ARTICLE III CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF REGISTERED OWNERS

				
			13

			
	 	 
	
			Section 3.1

				
			Limitation on Liability

				
			13

			
	
			Section 3.2

				
			Liability of Registered Owner for Taxes and Other Governmental Charges

				
			13

			
	
			Section 3.3

				
			Warranties on Delivery of Basket Amount

				
			13

			
	 	 
	
			ARTICLE IV ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRUST

				
			14

			
	 	 
	
			Section 4.1

				
			Valuation of Trust Property

				
			14

			
	
			Section 4.2

				
			Responsibility of the Administrative Trustee for Determinations

				
			15

			
	
			Section 4.3

				
			Cash Distributions

				
			15

			
	
			Section 4.4

				
			Other Distributions

				
			15

			
	
			Section 4.5

				
			Fixing of Record Date

				
			15

			
	
			Section 4.6

				
			Payment of Expenses; Sales of Trust Property

				
			16

			
	
			Section 4.7

				
			Statements and Reports

				
			16

			
	
			Section 4.8

				
			Further Provisions for Sales of Trust Property

				
			17

			
	
			Section 4.9

				
			Counsel

				
			17

			
	
			Section 4.10

				
			Tax Matters

				
			17

			
	 	 
	
			ARTICLE V THE TRUSTEES AND THE SPONSOR

				
			20

			
	 	 
	
			Section 5.1

				
			Management of the Trust

				
			20

			

 

- i -

 

 

	
			Section 5.2

				
			Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Administrative Trustee

				
			20

			
	
			Section 5.3

				
			Authority of the Sponsor

				
			21

			
	
			Section 5.4

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

				
			21

			
	
			Section 5.5

				
			Liability of Covered Persons

				
			22

			
	
			Section 5.6

				
			Fiduciary Duty

				
			22

			
	
			Section 5.7

				
			Obligations of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee

				
			24

			
	
			Section 5.8

				
			Delegation of Obligations of the Administrative Trustee

				
			24

			
	
			Section 5.9

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

				
			25

			
	
			Section 5.10

				
			Custodians

				
			25

			
	
			Section 5.11

				
			Indemnification

				
			26

			
	
			Section 5.12

				
			Charges of Administrative Trustee

				
			28

			
	
			Section 5.13

				
			Charges of the Sponsor

				
			28

			
	
			Section 5.14

				
			Retention of Trust Documents

				
			28

			
	
			Section 5.15

				
			Federal Securities and Commodities Law Filings

				
			29

			
	
			Section 5.16

				
			Prospectus Delivery

				
			30

			
	
			Section 5.17

				
			Discretionary Actions by Administrative Trustee; Consultation

				
			30

			
	
			Section 5.18

				
			Number of Trustees

				
			30

			
	
			Section 5.19

				
			Initial Administrative Trustee

				
			30

			
	
			Section 5.20

				
			Delaware Trustee

				
			30

			
	
			Section 5.21

				
			Compensation and Expenses of the Delaware Trustee

				
			32

			
	 	 
	
			ARTICLE VI AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

				
			32

			
	 	 
	
			Section 6.1

				
			Amendment

				
			32

			
	
			Section 6.2

				
			Termination

				
			33

			
	 	 
	
			ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS

				
			34

			
	 	 
	
			Section 7.1

				
			Counterparts

				
			34

			
	
			Section 7.2

				
			Section 7.2 Third-Party Beneficiaries

				
			34

			
	
			Section 7.3

				
			Severability

				
			34

			
	
			Section 7.4

				
			Notices

				
			34

			
	
			Section 7.5

				
			Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction

				
			35

			
	
			Section 7.6

				
			Headings

				
			36

			
	
			Section 7.7

				
			Compliance with Regulation B

				
			36

			
	
			Section 7.8

				
			Binding Effect; Entire Agreement

				
			36

			
	
			Section 7.9

				
			Provisions in Conflict With Law or Regulations

				
			36

			
	
			Section 7.10

				
			Conditions to Effectiveness of Amendments

				
			36

			
	 	 	 
	
			EXHIBIT A       FORM OF CERTIFICATE

				
			A-1

			
	 	 
	
			ANNEX I          CAPITAL ACCOUNTS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS

				
			I-1

			

 

 

- ii -

 

 

This Fourth Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated as of March 31, 2022, is among iShares® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as sponsor (the "Sponsor"), BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as administrative trustee (the "Administrative Trustee"), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware trust company, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee").

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

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

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the creation of the Trust, a trust agreement was executed by BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., as the predecessor sponsor, the Administrative Trustee and the Delaware Trustee as of July 7, 2006, which trust agreement was last amended and restated as of December 31, 2013 (the "Existing Trust Agreement"); and

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

 

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

 

- 1 -

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

- 2 -

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

"Custodian" has the meaning specified in Section 5.10.

 

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

 

- 3 -

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

- 4 -

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

- 5 -

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

- 6 -

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(c)    "or" is not exclusive;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE II

CREATION AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

- 7 -

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

- 8 -

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

- 9 -

 

 

Section 2.5    Purchase Orders.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 2.8    Redemption of Shares and Withdrawal of Trust Property.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 2.12    Splits and Reverse Splits of Shares.

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE III

CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF REGISTERED OWNERS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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ARTICLE IV

ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRUST

 

Section 4.1    Valuation of Trust Property.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 4.6    Payment of Expenses; Sales of Trust Property.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 4.7    Statements and Reports.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 4.9    Counsel. The Sponsor may, from time to time, employ counsel to act on behalf of the Trust and perform any legal services in connection with the Trust Property and the Trust, including any legal matters relating to the possible disposition or acquisition of any Trust Property. The fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid by the Sponsor; provided, however, that the Sponsor shall not be responsible for the payment of any such fees and expenses in excess of $500,000 annually.

 

Section 4.10    Tax Matters.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE V

THE TRUSTEES AND THE SPONSOR

 

Section 5.1    Management of the Trust.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 5.6    Fiduciary Duty.

 

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

 

(b)    Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 5.7    Obligations of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f)    The Sponsor will be obligated to pay the following administrative, operational and marketing expenses: (1) the fees of the Administrative Trustee, the Advisor, the Delaware Trustee, the Trust Administrator, the Processing Agent and any permitted delegee of the foregoing, (2) Exchange listing fees, (3) printing and mailing costs, (4) audit fees, (5) fees for registration of the Shares with the SEC, (6) tax reporting costs, (7) license fees and (8) pursuant to Section 4.9, legal expenses up to $500,000 annually.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 5.11    Indemnification.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 5.12    Charges of Administrative Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 5.13    Charges of the Sponsor.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 5.15    Federal Securities and Commodities Law Filings.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 5.17    Discretionary Actions by Administrative Trustee; Consultation.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 5.19    Initial Administrative Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 5.20    Delaware Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

Section 6.1    Amendment.

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 6.2    Termination.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 7.4    Notices.

 

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

 

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

 

To the Administrative Trustee:

 

BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A.

400 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

Attention: Fund Administration

Facsimile: (415) 618‐5712

 

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

 

To the Sponsor:

 

iShares® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC

400 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

Attention: Product Management Team, Intermediary Investors and

Exchange Traded Products Department

Facsimile: (415) 618‐5097

 

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

 

To the Delaware Trustee:

 

Wilmington Trust Company

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, DE 19890

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

Facsimile: (302) 636‐4140

 

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

 

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

 

Section 7.5    Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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

 

	 	iSHARES® DELAWARE TRUST SPONSOR	 
	 	LLC, as Sponsor	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Trent Walker	 
	 	 	Name: Trent Walker	 
	 	 	Title: Managing Director	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST	 
	 	COMPANY, N.A., as Administrative Trustee	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Adam Ondricek	 
	 	 	Name: Adam Ondricek	 
	 	 	Title: Authorized Signatory	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,	 
	 	as Delaware Trustee	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Dorri Costello	 
	 	 	Name: Dorri Costello	 
	 	 	Title: Assistant Vice President	 

 

 

[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of

iShares® S&P GSCITM Commodity-Indexed Trust]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE

 

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

 

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

 

TRUST SHARES

ISSUED BY

iSHARES® S&P GSCITM COMMODITY-INDEXED TRUST

REPRESENTING

FRACTIONAL UNDIVIDED INTERESTS IN THE NET ASSETS OF THE TRUST

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

 

	
			No.

				
			*Shares

			
	 	
			CUSIP: 46428R107

			

 

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

 

 

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

 

A-1

 

 

This Certificate is issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Fourth Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2022 (the "Trust Agreement"), among iShares® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC (the "Sponsor"), the Administrative Trustee, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee. The Trust Agreement sets forth the rights of Registered Owners and the rights and duties of the Administrative Trustee and the Sponsor. Copies of the Trust Agreement are on file at the Administrative Trustee's Corporate Trust Office.

 

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

 

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

 

	 	BLACKROCK INSTITUTIONAL TRUST	 
	 	COMPANY, N.A., as Administrative Trustee	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	 	 
	 	 	Name:	 
	 	 	Title:	 

 

 

THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEE'S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS

400 HOWARD STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105

 

A-2

 

 

ANNEX I

 

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS

 

Section 1         Capital Accounts.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(iii)         Adjustments to Capital Accounts.

 

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

 

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

 

(iv)         Contributions; Distributions; Redemptions.

 

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

 

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

 

I-1

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 2         Allocations for Capital Account Purposes.

 

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

 

I-2

 

 

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

 

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

 

Section 3         Allocations for Tax Purposes.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 4         Tax Conventions.

 

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

 

I-3

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

I-4

 

 

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

 

Section 7         Valuation.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 8         Distributions.

 

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

 

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

 

I-5

 

 

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

 

I-6Exhibit
4.3

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL OF SPI ENERGY

 

The following description of the material terms
of SPI Energy’s ordinary shares. This description is qualified by reference to the amended and restated form of memorandum of association
and articles of association of SPI Energy, which are attached as an exhibit to SPI’s annual report. You are encouraged to read the
relevant provisions of the Companies Law and SPI Energy’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association as they relate
to the following summary.

 

Authorized Share Capital

 

SPI Energy is authorized to issue 5,000,000,000
shares of a par value of US$0.00001 each. The board of directors of SPI Energy is authorized to issue these shares in different classes
and series and, with respect to each class or series, to determine the designations, powers, preferences, privileges and other rights,
including dividend rights, conversion rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than
the powers and rights associated with the ordinary shares, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper.

 

As of the date hereof, SPI Energy had 26,376,783
ordinary share issued and outstanding and no preference shares issued and outstanding.

 

Ordinary Shares

 

General

 

All of SPI Energy’s outstanding ordinary
shares will be issued credited as fully paid and non-assessable. SPI Energy’s ordinary shares are issued in registered form, and
are issued when registered in SPI Energy’s register of members. SPI Energy’s shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman
Islands may freely hold and transfer their ordinary shares.

 

Dividends

 

The holders of SPI Energy’s ordinary shares
are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by SPI Energy’s board of directors, subject to the Companies Law and the memorandum
and articles of association of SPI Energy, as amended and restated from time to time. Under Cayman Islands law, dividends may be declared
and paid only out of funds legally available therefor, namely out of either profit or share premium account, provided that a dividend
may not be paid if this would result in SPI Energy being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.

 

Register of Members

 

Under Cayman Islands law, SPI Energy must keep
a register of members and there shall be entered therein:

 

	 	(a)	the names and addresses of the members, a statement of the shares held by each member, and of the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member;

 

	 	(b)	the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and

 

	 	(c)	the date on which any person ceased to be a member.

 

Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members
of SPI Energy is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (i.e., the register of members will raise a presumption of
fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a member registered in the register of members shall be deemed as a matter
of Cayman Islands law to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members. Upon the closing of this Redomicile
Merger, the register of members shall be immediately updated to reflect the issue of shares by SPI Energy that will underlie the ADSs.
Once SPI Energy’s register of members has been updated, the shareholders recorded in the register of members will be deemed to have
legal title to the shares set against their name in the register of members.

 

 

    	 	 	 

     

    

 

Voting Rights

 

Each holder of ordinary shares is entitled to
one vote on all matters upon which the ordinary shares are entitled to vote on a show of hands or, on a poll, each holder is entitled
to have one vote for each share registered in his name on the register of members. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of
hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairman of SPI Energy’s board of directors or by any one or more
shareholders holding at least one-tenth of the paid-up shares given a right to vote at the meeting or one-tenth of the votes attaching
to the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in SPI Energy entitled to vote at general meetings, present in person or by proxy.

 

A quorum required for a general meeting of shareholders
consists of one or more shareholders who hold in aggregate at least one-third of the votes attaching to the issued and outstanding ordinary
shares in SPI Energy entitled to vote at general meetings, present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person,
by its duly authorized representative. Although not required by the Companies Laws or SPI Energy’s amended and restated memorandum
and articles of association, SPI Energy expects to hold shareholders’ meetings annually and such meetings may be convened by SPI
Energy’s board of directors on its own initiative or upon a request to the directors by shareholders holding in aggregate at least
one-third of SPI Energy’s shares that carry the right to vote at general meetings. Advance notice of at least 14 days is required
for the convening of SPI Energy’s annual general meeting and other shareholders meetings.

 

An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders
requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast by those shareholders entitled to
vote who are present in person or by proxy in a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than
two-thirds of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast by those shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy
in a general meeting.

 

Transfer of Ordinary Shares

 

Subject to the restrictions of SPI Energy’s
articles of association, as applicable, any of SPI Energy’s shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by
an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by SPI Energy’s board.

 

SPI Energy’s board of directors may, in
its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which SPI Energy have
a lien. SPI Energy’s directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless:

 

	 	•	 	the instrument of transfer is lodged with SPI Energy, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence as SPI Energy’s board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;

 

	 	•	 	the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of ordinary shares;

 

	 	•	 	the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;

 

	 	•	 	in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred does not exceed four; or

 

	 	•	 	the ordinary shares transferred are free of any lien in favor of SPI Energy.

 

If SPI Energy’s directors refuse to register
a transfer they shall, within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor
and the transferee notice of such refusal. The registration of transfers may, on 14 days’ notice being given by advertisement
in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as SPI
Energy’s board of directors may from time to time determine; provided, however, that the registration of transfers shall not be
suspended and the register shall not be closed for more than 30 days in any year.

 

 

    	 	2	 

     

    

 

Liquidation

 

On a winding up of SPI Energy, if the assets available
for distribution among its shareholders shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the
winding up, the surplus will be distributed among its shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them at the commencement
of the winding up, subject to a deduction from those shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to SPI Energy
for unpaid calls or otherwise. If SPI Energy’s assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital,
the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by its shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them.

 

Calls on Ordinary Shares and Forfeiture of Ordinary Shares

 

SPI Energy’s board of directors may from
time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their ordinary shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least
14 days prior to the specified time of payment. The ordinary shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.

 

Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Ordinary Shares

 

SPI Energy may issue shares on terms that are
subject to redemption, at SPI Energy’s option or at the option of the holders, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined
before the issue of such shares, by SPI Energy’s board of directors or by a special resolution of SPI Energy’s shareholders.
SPI Energy may also repurchase any of its shares provided that the manner and terms of such purchase have been approved by its board of
directors or are otherwise authorized by its memorandum and articles of association. Under the Companies Law, the redemption or repurchase
of any share may be paid out of SPI Energy’s profits or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of such
redemption or repurchase, or out of capital (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve) if SPI Energy can, immediately
following such payment, pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Companies Law no such
share may be redeemed or repurchased (a) unless it is fully paid up, (b) if such redemption or repurchase would result in there
being no shares outstanding, or (c) if the company has commenced liquidation. In addition, SPI Energy may accept the surrender of
any fully paid share for no consideration.

 

Variations of Rights of Shares

 

All or any of the special rights attached to any
class of shares may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, be varied either with the written consent of the holders of a majority
of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of an ordinary resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares
of that class.

 

Inspection of Books and Records

 

Holders of SPI Energy’s ordinary shares
have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of SPI Energy’s list of shareholders or its corporate
records. However, SPI Energy will provide its shareholders with annual audited financial statements. See “Where You Can Find Additional
Information.”

 

Changes in Capital

 

SPI Energy may from time to time by ordinary resolution:

  

	 	•	 	increase its share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such classes and amount, as the resolution shall prescribe;
	 	 	 	 
	 	•	 	consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of a larger amount than its existing shares;

 

	 	•	 	convert all or any of its paid up shares into stock and reconvert that stock into paid up shares of any denomination;

 

	 	•	 	sub-divide its existing shares, or any of them into shares of a smaller amount that is fixed by the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association; and

 

	 	•	 	cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.

 

 

    	 	3	 

     

    

 

Subject to Companies Law and confirmation by the
Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on an application by SPI Energy for an order confirming such reduction, SPI Energy may by special resolution
reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve in any manner authorized by law.

 

Issuance of Additional Preferred Shares

 

SPI Energy’s amended and restated memorandum
and articles of association authorizes SPI Energy’s board of directors to issue additional ordinary shares from time to time as
its board of directors shall determine, to the extent of available authorized but unissued shares.

 

SPI Energy’s amended and restated memorandum
and articles of association authorizes SPI Energy’s board of directors to establish from time to time one or more series of preferred
shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including:

 

	 	•	 	the designation of the series;

 

	 	•	 	the number of shares of the series;

 

	 	•	 	the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights; and

 

	 	•	 	the rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences.

 

SPI Energy’s board of directors may issue
preferred shares without action by its shareholders to the extent authorized but unissued. In addition, the issuance of preferred shares
may be used as an anti-takeover device without further action on the part of the shareholders. Issuance of these shares may dilute the
voting power of holders of ordinary shares.

 

Exempted Company

 

SPI Energy is an exempted company duly incorporated
with limited liability under the Companies Law. The Companies Law distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies.
Any company, the objects of which are to conduct business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands, may apply to be registered as an exempted
company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for certain exemptions and
privileges, including (a) an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies,
(b) an exempted company is not required to open its register of members for inspection, (c) an exempted company does not have
to hold an annual general meeting, (d) an exempted company may issue no par value, negotiable or bearer shares, and (e) an exempted
company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands.

 

Transfer Agent

 

The transfer agent and registrar for SPI Energy’s
ordinary shares is Vstock Transfer LLC.

 

 

 

    	 	4

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