As Filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on August 26, 2011
Registration No. 333-170314
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware |
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6799 |
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27-6620981 |
(State of Organization) |
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(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Number) |
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
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BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global Commodities Fund
c/o BNP Paribas Exchange Traded Trust 787 Seventh Avenue New York, New York 10019
(212) 841-2000 |
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M. Andrews Yeo BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC 787 Seventh
Avenue New York, New York 10019 (212) 841-2000 |
(Address, including zip code, and telephone
number including area code, of registrants principal executive offices) |
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(Name, address, including zip code, and
telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) |
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Copies to: |
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Michael J. Schmidtberger, Esq. James C. Munsell, Esq. Sidley Austin LLP
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019 |
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Andrew Alter, Esq. BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC 787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
As promptly as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule
415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. x
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act,
check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer,
or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer ¨ |
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Accelerated filer ¨ |
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Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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Smaller reporting company x |
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION
FEE
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Title of Securities to be Registered |
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Amount to be Registered |
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Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price Per Share |
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Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price1 |
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Amount of Registration Fee2 |
BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll
Global Commodities Fund Common
Units of Beneficial
Interest3 |
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25,000,000 |
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$25.001 |
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$625,000,000 |
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$44,562.50 |
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The proposed maximum aggregate offering has been calculated assuming that all Shares are sold at a price of $25 per Share.
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The amount of the registration fee of the Shares is calculated in
reliance upon Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act and using the proposed maximum aggregate offering price as described above. 25,000,000 Shares were registered and the registration fee of $44,562.50 in respect thereof was paid on November 3,
2010. |
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Securities originally registered under the title of BNP Paribas L/S
Commodities Trust Common Units of Beneficial Interest on November 3, 2010. |
The registrant hereby
amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective
in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of BNP Paribas Exchange Traded Trust (the Trust) and BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global Commodities
Fund (the Fund, collectively with the Trust, the Registrants) is being filed, in part, in order to transfer the registered common units of beneficial interests previously registered as securities in the account of the Trust
to the account of the Fund, which is a series of the Trust and, for the avoidance of doubt, a separate registrant.
The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We
may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any
state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion, dated August 26, 2011
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST
BNP PARIBAS
S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL COMMODITIES FUND
25,000,000 Common Units of Beneficial Interest
BNP Paribas Exchange Traded Trust, which we refer to as the Trust, is organized in series
as a Delaware statutory trust. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Trust consists of two series, one of which is the BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global Commodities Fund, or the Fund. The Fund will issue common units of beneficial interest,
which we refer to as Shares, which represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Fund. Shares may be purchased from the Fund only by certain qualified financial institutions called Authorized Participants, and
only in one or more blocks of 40,000 Shares, called a Basket. The Fund will issue Shares in Baskets to Authorized Participants continuously at the net asset value of 40,000 Shares. The Form of Participant Agreement sets forth the terms and
conditions on which Authorized Participants may create or redeem Baskets. The offering of Shares will terminate on the third anniversary of the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part unless prior thereto a new registration
statement is filed.
The Shares will trade on NYSE Arca, Inc., which we refer to as NYSE Arca, under the symbol
BNPC (quoted in U.S. dollars).
The Fund will trade exchange-traded futures on the commodities
comprising the S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Excess Return Index, which we refer to as the Index, with a view to tracking the Index over time.
The Index aims to reflect the return of an investment in a world production-weighted portfolio comprised of the principal physical
commodities that are the subject of active, liquid futures markets. The Index employs a flexible and systematic futures contract rolling methodology which seeks to maximize yield from rolling long futures contracts in certain markets (backwardated
markets) and minimize roll loss from rolling long futures positions in certain markets (contangoed markets) as further described in the Prospectus.
The Fund does not intend to outperform the Index. BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or the Managing Owner, will seek to cause the net asset value of the Fund
to track the Index during periods in which the Index is flat or declining as well as when the Index is rising.
Except when aggregated in
Baskets, the Shares are not redeemable securities.
The Shares are
speculative securities and their purchase involves a high degree of risk. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, read this entire Prospectus carefully.
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER ALL RISK FACTORS BEFORE INVESTING IN THE FUND. PLEASE REFER TO THE
SECTION THE RISKS YOU FACE BEGINNING ON PAGE 18 OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
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Futures trading is volatile and even a small movement
in market prices could cause large losses. The Managing Owner and its trading principals have not managed any other commodity pools of this type, and therefore there is no indication of their ability to
manage investment vehicles such as the Fund. If the experience of the Managing Owner and its trading principals is not adequate or suitable to manage investment vehicles such as the Fund, the operations and performance of the Fund may be adversely
affected.
You could lose all or substantially all of your
investment. |
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The Fund will be subject to actual and potential
conflicts of interest involving the Managing Owner, the Commodity Brokers, the Authorized Participants, the Initial Purchaser and the Affiliated Liquidity Provider, which we refer to as the BNP Affiliated Entities.
Investors will pay fees in connection with their investment in Shares
including asset-based fees of 0.95% per annum of the Net Asset Value of the Fund, continuous offering fees and expenses of approximately 0.01% per annum of the Net Asset Value of the Fund, and routine operational, administrative and other ordinary
fees and expenses of up to 0.20% per annum of the Net Asset Value of the Fund. Additional charges include brokerage commissions and fees expected to be approximately 0.08% per annum of the Net Asset Value of the Fund. The actual amount of continuous
offering fees and expenses and brokerage commissions and fees in any year or any part of any year may be greater.
Fees and commissions are charged, and expenses are incurred, regardless
of profitability and may result in depletion of assets and, as a result, losses to your investment. |
On [], 2011, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as the Initial Purchaser, subject to certain conditions, agreed to purchase 600,000
Shares, which comprise the initial Baskets, at a purchase price of $25.00 per Share ($1,000,000 per Basket), as described in the section Plan of Distribution. This price was determined arbitrarily
inasmuch as the Shares have no inherent value prior to the commencement of the Funds operations. The Initial Purchaser proposes to offer the Shares to the public at a per-Share offering price that will vary depending upon, among other factors,
the market price of the Shares on NYSE Arca, the Net Asset Value per Share and the supply of and demand for the Shares at the time of offer. Shares offered by the Initial Purchaser at different times may have different offering prices. The Initial
Purchaser will not receive from the Fund, the Managing Owner or any of their affiliates, any fee or other compensation in connection with its sale of Shares to the public.
Authorized Participants may, from time-to-time offer to the public Shares from any Baskets they create. Shares offered to the public
by Authorized Participants will be offered at a per Share offering price that will vary depending upon, among other factors, the market price of the Shares on NYSE Arca, the Net Asset Value per Share and the supply of and demand for the Shares at
the time of offer. Shares initially comprising the same Basket but offered by Authorized Participants to the public at different times may have different offering prices. Authorized Participants will not receive from the Fund, the Managing Owner or
any of their affiliates, any fee or other compensation in connection with their sale of Shares to the public. An Authorized Participant may receive commissions or fees from investors who purchase Shares through their commission or fee-based
brokerage accounts with the Authorized Participant. For more information regarding items of compensation paid to FINRA members, please see the section Plan of Distribution on page 104.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities
commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global
Commodities Fund is not a mutual fund or any other type of Investment Company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and is not subject to regulation thereunder.
THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION HAS NOT PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THIS POOL NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED ON
THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT.
The Shares are neither interests in nor obligations of any of
the Managing Owner, the Trustee, the Initial Purchaser, any Authorized Participant or any of their respective affiliates. The Shares are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
[ ], 2011
COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION
RISK DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION PERMITS YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN A COMMODITY POOL. IN SO DOING, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT COMMODITY INTEREST TRADING CAN QUICKLY LEAD TO LARGE
LOSSES AS WELL AS GAINS. SUCH TRADING LOSSES CAN SHARPLY REDUCE THE NET ASSET VALUE OF THE POOL AND CONSEQUENTLY THE VALUE OF YOUR INTEREST IN THE POOL. IN ADDITION, RESTRICTIONS ON REDEMPTIONS MAY AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO WITHDRAW YOUR PARTICIPATION
IN THE POOL.
FURTHER, COMMODITY POOLS MAY BE SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIAL CHARGES FOR MANAGEMENT, AND
ADVISORY AND BROKERAGE FEES. IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THOSE POOLS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THESE CHARGES TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL TRADING PROFITS TO AVOID DEPLETION OR EXHAUSTION OF THEIR ASSETS. THIS DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF EACH
EXPENSE TO BE CHARGED TO THIS POOL AT PAGE 12 AND A STATEMENT OF THE PERCENTAGE RETURN NECESSARY TO BREAK EVEN, THAT IS, TO RECOVER THE AMOUNT OF YOUR INITIAL INVESTMENT, AT PAGES 14-15.
THIS BRIEF STATEMENT CANNOT DISCLOSE ALL THE RISKS AND OTHER FACTORS NECESSARY TO EVALUATE YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS
COMMODITY POOL. THEREFORE, BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMMODITY POOL, YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY STUDY THIS DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT, INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS OF THIS INVESTMENT, AT PAGES 18 THROUGH 35.
YOU SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT THIS COMMODITY POOL MAY TRADE FOREIGN FUTURES OR OPTIONS CONTRACTS.
TRANSACTIONS ON MARKETS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING MARKETS FORMALLY LINKED TO A UNITED STATES MARKET, MAY BE SUBJECT TO REGULATIONS WHICH OFFER DIFFERENT OR DIMINISHED PROTECTION TO THE POOL AND ITS PARTICIPANTS. FURTHER, UNITED
STATES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES MAY BE UNABLE TO COMPEL THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES OF REGULATORY AUTHORITIES OR MARKETS IN NON-UNITED STATES JURISDICTIONS WHERE TRANSACTIONS FOR THE POOL MAY BE EFFECTED.
THIS POOL HAS NOT COMMENCED TRADING AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY PERFORMANCE HISTORY.
NEITHER THIS POOL OPERATOR NOR ANY OF ITS TRADING PRINCIPALS HAS PREVIOUSLY OPERATED ANY OTHER POOLS OR TRADED ANY
OTHER ACCOUNTS.
THE BOOKS AND RECORDS OF THE FUND WILL BE MAINTAINED AS FOLLOWS: ALL MARKETING MATERIALS WILL BE MAINTAINED AT THE
OFFICES OF ALPS DISTRIBUTORS, INC., 1290 BROADWAY, SUITE 1100, DENVER, COLORADO 80203; TELEPHONE NUMBER (303) 623-2577; BASKET CREATION AND REDEMPTION BOOKS AND RECORDS ACCOUNTING AND CERTAIN OTHER FINANCIAL BOOKS AND RECORDS (INCLUDING FUND
ACCOUNTING RECORDS, LEDGERS WITH RESPECT TO ASSETS, LIABILITIES, CAPITAL, INCOME AND EXPENSES, THE REGISTRAR, TRANSFER JOURNALS AND RELATED DETAILS) AND TRADING AND RELATED DOCUMENTS RECEIVED FROM FUTURES COMMISSION MERCHANTS WILL BE MAINTAINED BY
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, 2 HANSON PLACE, 12TH FLOOR, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11217, TELEPHONE NUMBER (718) 315-4850. ALL OTHER BOOKS AND RECORDS OF THE FUND (INCLUDING MINUTE BOOKS AND OTHER GENERAL CORPORATE RECORDS, TRADING RECORDS AND RELATED
REPORTS AND
-i-
Notes to Cover Page (contd)
OTHER ITEMS RECEIVED FROM THE FUNDS COMMODITY BROKER) WILL BE MAINTAINED AT THE FUNDS PRINCIPAL OFFICE, C/O BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIES, LLC, 787 SEVENTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW
YORK 10019; TELEPHONE NUMBER (212) 841-2000. SHAREHOLDERS WILL HAVE THE RIGHT, DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS, TO HAVE ACCESS TO AND COPY (UPON PAYMENT OF REASONABLE REPRODUCTION COSTS) SUCH BOOKS AND RECORDS IN PERSON OR BY THEIR AUTHORIZED
ATTORNEY OR AGENT. MONTHLY ACCOUNT STATEMENTS CONFORMING TO COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION (THE CFTC) AND THE NATIONAL FUTURES ASSOCIATION (THE NFA) REQUIREMENTS WILL BE POSTED ON THE MANAGING OWNERS WEBSITE AT
WWW.BNPFUNDS.BNPPARIBAS.COM. ADDITIONAL REPORTS MAY BE POSTED ON THE MANAGING OWNERS WEBSITE IN THE DISCRETION OF THE MANAGING OWNER OR AS REQUIRED BY REGULATORY AUTHORITIES. THERE WILL SIMILARLY BE DISTRIBUTED TO SHAREHOLDERS,
NOT MORE THAN 90 DAYS AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE FUNDS FISCAL YEAR, CERTIFIED AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND (IN NO EVENT LATER THAN MARCH 15 OF THE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING YEAR) THE TAX INFORMATION RELATING TO SHARES OF THE FUND NECESSARY FOR THE
PREPARATION OF SHAREHOLDERS ANNUAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURNS.
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE INFORMATION OR EXHIBITS IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE TRUST. YOU CAN
READ AND COPY THE ENTIRE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AT THE PUBLIC REFERENCE FACILITIES MAINTAINED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (THE SEC) IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
THE FUND WILL FILE PERIODIC, QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL REPORTS WITH THE SEC. YOU CAN READ AND COPY THESE REPORTS AT THE SEC
PUBLIC REFERENCE FACILITIES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. PLEASE CALL THE SEC AT 1-800-SEC-0330 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
THE FILINGS OF THE TRUST ARE POSTED AT THE SEC WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV.
REGULATORY NOTICES
NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE TRUST, THE FUND, THE BNP AFFILIATED ENTITIES, AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANTS OR ANY OTHER PERSON.
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, NOR SHALL
THERE BE ANY OFFER, SOLICITATION, OR SALE OF THE SHARES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION, OR SALE IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE ANY SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION, OR SALE.
AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN TRANSACTING IN SHARES. SEE THE SECTION PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION.
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Notes to Cover Page (contd)
S&P AND STANDARD &
POORS ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF STANDARD & POORS FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC. S&P
GSCI® IS A REGISTERED SERVICE MARK AND TRADEMARK OF S&P.
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-iv-
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST
BNP PARIBAS S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL COMMODITIES FUND
Table of Contents
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Prospectus Section |
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(1)
The Value Of The Shares Relates Directly To The Market Price Of The Commodity Futures Contracts And Other Assets Held By The Fund And Fluctuations In The Market Price Of These Assets Could Materially Adversely Affect An Investment In The
Shares |
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18 |
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(2)
Numerous Factors May Affect The Price Of The Index Commodities, And In Turn, The Net Asset Value Of The Shares, And Ultimately The Market Price Of The Funds Shares |
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18 |
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(3)
Net Asset Value Per Share May Not Always Correspond To The Market Price Per Share And, As A Result, Baskets May Be Created Or Redeemed At A Net Asset Value Per Share That Differs From The Market Price Per Share |
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18 |
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(4)
Non-concurrent Trading Hours Between NYSE Arca And The Various Futures Exchanges On Which The Index Commodities Are Traded May Impact The Value Of Your Investment |
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19 |
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(5)
Certain Operations Of The Fund, Including The Creation Of Baskets, May Be Restricted By Regulatory And Exchange Position Limits And Other Position Limitation Rules And Could Result In Tracking Error Between Changes In The Net Asset Value
Per Share And Changes In The Level Of The Index, Or Could Result In The Market Price Of The Shares Trading At A Premium Or Discount To The Net Asset Value Per Share |
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19 |
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(6)
The Funds Performance May Not Always Replicate The Changes In The Levels Of The Index. As A Result, There Will Be Times When The Funds Performance Will Not Meet The Investment Expectations Of The
Shareholders |
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20 |
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(7)
The Fund Is Not Actively Managed And Will Seek To Track The Index During Periods In Which The Index Is Flat Or Declining As Well As When The Index Is Rising. Therefore, Investors Will Not Be Protected Against Adverse Movements In The Level
Of The Index, Which In Turn, May Have A Significantly Adverse Impact On The Shares |
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20 |
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Prospectus Section |
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Page |
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(8)
NYSE Arca May Halt Trading In The Shares Which Would Adversely Impact Your Ability To Buy Or Sell Shares |
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21 |
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(9)
The Lack Of An Active Trading Market For The Shares May Result In Losses On Your Investment At The Time Of Disposition Of Your Shares |
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21 |
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(10)
The Affiliated Liquidity Provider May Act In A Manner That Ignores Or Disregards The Interests Of Shareholders |
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21 |
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(11)
The Liquidity Of The Shares Of The Fund May Also Be Affected By The Withdrawal From Participation Of One Or More Authorized Participants With Respect To The Fund, Which Could Adversely Affect The Value Of Your
Shares |
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21 |
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(12)
Shareholders That Are Not Authorized Participants May Only Purchase Or Sell Their Shares In Secondary Trading Markets, And The Conditions Associated With Trading In Secondary Markets May Adversely Affect Investors Investment In The
Shares |
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21 |
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(13)
The Shares Are A New Securities Product And Their Value Could Decrease If Unanticipated Operational Or Trading Problems Arise |
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22 |
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(14)
As The Managing Owner And Its Trading Principals Have No History Of Operating An Investment Vehicle Like The Trust, Their Experience May Be Inadequate Or Unsuitable To Manage The Fund |
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22 |
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(15)
The Fund Has No Past Performance And There Are Limited Index Results On Which To Rely On In Deciding Whether To Buy Shares. Therefore, You Will Have To Make Your Decision To Invest In The Fund On The Basis Of
Limited Information |
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22 |
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(16) Price Volatility May Possibly Cause The Total Loss Of Your
Investment |
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22 |
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(17)
Fees And Commissions Are Charged Regardless Of Profitability And May Result In Depletion Of Assets |
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22 |
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(18)
The Fund May Terminate Because The Managing Owner May Be Unwilling Or Unable To Continue To Service The Fund Or Owners May Vote To Terminate The Fund, Each Of Which May Adversely Affect The Value Of Your
Portfolio |
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23 |
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(19)
Potentially Illiquid Markets, Disruption Of Market Trading, And Daily Price Fluctuation Limits, Among Other Events, May Exacerbate Losses Of The Fund And, In Turn, The Value Of Your Shares |
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23 |
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Prospectus Section |
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Page |
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(20)
The Net Asset Value Of Your Shares May Be Adversely Affected By Redemption Orders That Are Subject To Suspension, Postponement Or Rejection Under Certain Circumstances |
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23 |
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(21)
Because Futures Contracts And Other Derivatives Have No Intrinsic Value, The Positive Performance Of Your Investment Is Wholly Dependent Upon An Equal And Offsetting Loss. Therefore, Overall Stocks And Bond Prices Could Rise Significantly,
And The Economy As A Whole Prosper, While Shares Trade Unprofitably |
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24 |
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(22)
Failure Of The Index To Exhibit Low To Negative Correlation To General Financial Markets Will Reduce Benefits Of Diversification And May Increase Losses To Your Portfolio |
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24 |
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(23)
Various Actual And Potential Conflicts Of Interest May Be Detrimental To Shareholders |
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24 |
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(24)
Failure Of CFI To Segregate Assets May Increase Losses; Despite Segregation Of Assets, The Fund Remains At Risk Of Significant Losses Because The Fund May Only Receive A Pro-Rata Share Of The Assets Or No Assets At
All |
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24 |
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(25)
You Should Consult Your Own Legal, Tax And Financial Advisers Regarding The Desirability Of An Investment In The Shares Because No Independent Advisers Were Appointed To Represent You In Connection With The Formation And Operation Of The
Trust And The Fund |
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25 |
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(26)
Shareholders Do Not Have Certain Rights And Protections Enjoyed By Investors In Certain Other Vehicles, Such As Corporations |
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25 |
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(27)
An Investment In The Shares May Be Adversely Affected By Competition From Other Methods Of Investing In Commodities |
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25 |
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(28)
Competing Claims Over Ownership Of Intellectual Property Rights Related To The Fund Could Adversely Affect The Fund And An Investment In The Shares |
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25 |
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(29)
Backwardation Or Contango In The Market Prices Of The Index Commodities Will Affect The Net Asset Value, And In Turn, The Market Price Of Your Shares |
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26 |
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(30)
The Value Of The Shares Will Be Adversely Affected If The Fund Is Required To Indemnify The Trustee Or The Managing Owner |
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26 |
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-vi-
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Prospectus Section |
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Page |
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(44)
Shareholders Will Not Have The Protections Associated With Ownership Of Shares In An Investment Company Registered Under The Investment Company Act Of 1940. Such Protections Are Intended To Decrease Certain Conflicts And Also Impose A Number Of Investment
Restrictions And Diversification Requirements |
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31 |
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(45)
Trading On Commodity Exchanges Outside The U.S., Such As The London Metal Exchange And ICE Europe, Is Not Subject To U.S. Regulation. Shareholders Could Incur Substantial Losses From Trading On Commodity Exchanges Which Such Shareholders Would Not Have
Otherwise Been Subject Had The Funds Trading Been Limited To U.S. Markets |
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31 |
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(46)
Alternative Financial Instruments (If Any), Such As Forward Agreements And Swaps Are Not Regulated And Are Subject To The Risk Of Counterparty Non-Performance Resulting In The Fund Not Realizing A Trading Gain |
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32 |
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(47)
The Effect Of Market Disruptions, Governmental Intervention And The Reform Act Are Unpredictable And May Have An Adverse Effect On The Value Of Your Shares |
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32 |
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(48)
The Effects Of New Regulation Of The Over-The-Counter Derivatives Markets Is Unknown And May Have A Detrimental Effect On The Value Of Your Shares |
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33 |
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(49)
Although The Shares Are Limited Liability Investments, Certain Circumstances Such As Bankruptcy Of The Fund Or Indemnification Of The Fund By The Shareholders Will Increase A Shareholders Liability |
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33 |
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(50)
Shareholders Will Be Subject To Taxation On Their Allocable Shares Of The Funds Taxable Income, Whether Or Not They Receive Cash Distributions |
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34 |
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(51)
Items Of Income, Gain, Loss And Deduction With Respect To Shares Could Be Reallocated If The IRS Does Not Accept The Assumptions Or Conventions Used By The Fund In Allocating Such Tax Items |
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34 |
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(52)
The Current Treatment Of Long-Term Capital Gains Under Current U.S. Federal Income Tax Law May Be Adversely Affected, Changed Or Repealed In The Future, And In Turn, May Adversely Affect The Value Of Your Shares |
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35 |
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS |
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36 |
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-vii-
-viii-
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Prospectus Section |
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Page |
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EXPERTS |
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107 |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
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107 |
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RECENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND ANNUAL REPORTS |
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107 |
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PRIVACY POLICY OF THE MANAGING OWNER |
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107 |
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DEFINED TERMS |
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109 |
|
|
|
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
110 |
|
|
|
BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global Commodities Fund |
|
|
|
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated [ ], 2011*
|
|
|
111 |
|
Statement of Financial Position dated [ ], 2011* |
|
|
112 |
|
Notes to Statement of Financial Position* |
|
|
113 |
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Enhanced Volatility Fund |
|
|
|
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated [ ],
2011* |
|
|
114 |
|
|
|
Statement of Financial Position dated [ ], 2011* |
|
|
115 |
|
Notes to Statement of Financial Position* |
|
|
116 |
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Exchange Traded Trust |
|
|
|
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated [ ],
2011* |
|
|
117 |
|
|
|
Statement of Financial Position dated [ ], 2011* |
|
|
118 |
|
Notes to Statement of Financial Position* |
|
|
119 |
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial Statements for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent Auditors Report dated August 5, 2011 |
|
|
122 |
|
Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 2010 |
|
|
123 |
|
Statement of Operations for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010 |
|
|
124 |
|
Statement of Changes in Members Capital for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31,
2010 |
|
|
125 |
|
Statement of Cash Flows for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010 |
|
|
126 |
|
-ix-
-x-
[Page left blank intentionally]
Summary
This summary of all material information provided in this Prospectus is intended for quick reference only. The
remainder of this Prospectus contains more detailed information. You should read the entire Prospectus, including all exhibits to the Registration Statement, before deciding to invest in any Shares. This Prospectus is dated
[ ], 2011.
The Trust and the Fund
The Trust was formed as a Delaware statutory trust on April 30, 2010 and was amended to become a series trust. The
Fund is a series of the Trust. The Fund will issue Shares. The term of the Trust and the Fund is perpetual (unless terminated in certain circumstances). The principal offices of the Trust and the Fund are located at c/o BNP Paribas Quantitative
Strategies, LLC, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, and its telephone number is (212) 841-2000.
The Trust was organized in separate series as a Delaware statutory trust rather than as separate statutory trusts in order to achieve certain administrative efficiencies. The interests of investors are
not adversely affected by the choice of form of organization. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Trust consists of two series. This Prospectus is for the Fund, which is one of the Trusts series.
Shares Listed on NYSE Arca
The Shares will be listed on NYSE Arca under the symbol BNPC. Secondary market purchases and sales of
Shares will be subject to ordinary brokerage commissions and charges.
Purchases
and Sales in the Primary
Market for Authorized Participants and
in the Secondary Market on NYSE Arca
Baskets of Shares may be created or redeemed only by Authorized Participants, except that the initial Baskets will be
created by the Initial Purchaser. Investors who are not Authorized Participants who seek to purchase or sell Shares on any day are expected to effect transactions in the secondary market, on NYSE Arca, at the market price per Share, rather than in
connection with the
creation or redemption of Baskets. It is expected that Baskets will be created when there is sufficient demand for Shares that the market price per Share exceeds the Net Asset Value per Share,
and that this excess may create an arbitrage opportunity for market participants. Authorized Participants are expected to sell the Shares they create to the public at the market price of the Shares on NYSE Arca. NYSE Arca pricing is expected to
reflect, among other factors, the supply of and demand for Shares at the time of sale. These prices are expected to fall between Net Asset Value per Share and the market price of the Shares on NYSE Arca at the time of sale. Similarly, it is expected
that Baskets will be redeemed when the market price per Share is less than the Net Asset Value per Share. Except when aggregated in Baskets, the Shares are not redeemable.
Authorized Participants should review the section Creation and Redemption of Shares on page 70 for a
complete description of the creation and redemption process.
The market price of the Shares may not be
identical to the Net Asset Value per Share, but these valuations are expected to be close. Investors will be able to use the indicative intra-day value per Share to determine if they want to purchase or sell on the secondary market. The intra-day
indicative value per Share is based on the prior days final Net Asset Value per Share, adjusted every 15 seconds throughout the day to reflect the continuous price changes of the Funds futures contracts to provide a continuously updated
indicative intra-day value per Share.
Investors may purchase and sell Shares through traditional brokerage
accounts. Purchases or sales of Shares may be subject to customary brokerage commissions. Investors are encouraged to review the terms of their brokerage accounts for applicable charges.
-1-
SUMMARY (contd)
Pricing Information Available on NYSE
Arca and Other Sources
The following table lists NYSE Arca symbols and their meanings with respect to the Shares and the Index:
|
|
|
Ticker |
|
Description |
BNPC |
|
Market price per Share on NYSE Arca |
BNPCIV |
|
Indicative intra-day value per Share |
BNPCNV |
|
End of day Net Asset Value per Share |
SPDYCIP |
|
Intra-day and Index closing level as of close of business from the prior
day |
BNPCSO |
|
Number of outstanding Shares |
The intra-day data in the above table is published once every 15 seconds throughout
each trading day.
The current market price per Share (symbol: BNPC) (quoted in U.S. dollars)
will be published continuously as trades occur throughout each trading day on the consolidated tape by market data vendors and on the Managing Owners website at http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com, or any successor thereto.
The intra-day indicative value per Share (symbol: BNPCIV) (quoted in U.S. dollars) will be published by
NYSE Arca once every 15 seconds throughout each trading day on the consolidated tape by market data vendors and on the Managing Owners website at http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com, or any successor thereto.
The most recent end-of-day Net Asset Value per Share (symbol: BNPCNV) will be published by the Managing
Owner as of the close of business on the Managing Owners website at http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com, or any successor thereto and will be published by market data vendors on the consolidated tape.
The intra-day level and the most recent end-of-day closing level of the Index (symbol: SPDYCIP) will be
published on Reuters page .SPDYCIP and on Bloomberg page .SPDYCIP<index> once every 15 seconds throughout each trading day and as of the close of business on each Index Business Day, respectively, on Standard & Poors (which
serves as the Index Sponsor) website at http://www.standardandpoors.com, or any successor thereto.
The number of outstanding Shares (symbol: BNPCSO) will be
published once every 15 seconds throughout the trading day and as of the close of business for NYSE Arca, respectively, on the consolidated tape by market data vendors and on the Managing Owners website at
http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com, or any successor thereto.
Any adjustments made to the Index will
be published on Standard & Poors (which serves as the Index Sponsor) website at http://www.standardandpoors.com, or any successor thereto.
The Trust and the Fund are not issued, sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by NYSE Arca, and NYSE Arca makes no
representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product.
NYSE ARCA MAKES
NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. IN NO EVENT SHALL NYSE ARCA HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
[CUSIP]
The Trusts CUSIP number is 97717Q 102.
Risk Factors
An investment in Shares is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. The summary risk factors set forth below
are intended merely to highlight certain risks of the Fund. The Fund has particular risks that are set forth elsewhere in this Prospectus.
|
|
|
The Fund has no operating history. Therefore, a potential investor does not have any performance history to serve as a factor for evaluating an
investment in the Fund. |
|
|
|
Past performance, when available, is not necessarily indicative of future results. All or
|
-2-
SUMMARY (contd)
|
substantially all of an investment in the Shares could be lost. |
|
|
|
The trading activities of the Fund take place in very volatile markets that may be subject to sudden and rapid changes. Consequently, all or
substantially all of your investment in the Shares could be lost. |
|
|
|
The Fund is subject to the fees and expenses described herein (in addition to the amount of any commissions charged by the investors broker in
connection with an investors purchase or sale of Shares) and will be successful only if a certain amount of positive performance is achieved. |
|
|
|
The Managing Owner was formed to be the managing owner of investment vehicles such as the Trust and the Fund and has no history of past performance.
The Managing Owner and its trading principals have not managed any other commodity pools of this type. Therefore there is no indication of their ability to manage investment vehicles such as the Trust or the Fund. If the experience of the Managing
Owner and its trading principals is not adequate or suitable to manage investment vehicles such as the Trust or the Fund, the operations and performance of the Trust or the Fund may be adversely affected. |
|
|
|
The Fund will be subject to fees and expenses in the aggregate amount of approximately 1.24% per annum as described herein. The Fund will be
successful only if its annual returns from its trading, plus its annual interest income from its holdings of cash, U.S. government securities (which include any security issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S.), or any
certificate of deposit for any of the foregoing, including U.S. Treasury bonds, U.S. Treasury bills and issues of agencies of the U.S. government, and certain cash items such as, certificates of deposit (under nine months), time deposits and other
high credit quality short-term fixed income securities, and Alternative Financial Instruments (if any, and as defined below), exceed these fees and expenses. We refer to the Funds holdings of cash, U.S. government securities (which include any
security issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S.), or any certificate of deposit for any of the foregoing, including U.S. Treasury bonds, U.S. Treasury bills and
|
|
|
issues of agencies of the U.S. government, and certain cash items such as, certificates of deposit (under nine months), time deposits and other high credit quality short-term fixed income
securities collectively as the Cash Instruments. The current holdings of Cash Instruments will earn an interest rate of 0.00% as of August 15, 2011. Therefore, the Fund will be required to earn approximately 1.24% per annum, or $0.31 per
annum per Share at $25.00 as the Net Asset Value per Share, in order for an investor to break-even on an investment during the first twelve months of an investment. |
|
|
|
As of the date of this Prospectus, the CFTC and commodity exchange rules impose speculative position limits and other position limitations, as
applicable, on market participants trading in the Index Commodities. Because the Fund is subject to these position limits and, consequently, the Funds ability to issue new Baskets or to reinvest income in additional futures contracts
corresponding to the Index Commodities may be limited to the extent that these activities would cause the Fund to exceed the applicable position limits, unless the Fund trades alternative futures contracts or over-the-counter derivatives in addition
to and as a proxy for futures on the Index Commodities. These limitations and the use of alternative futures contracts or over-the-counter derivatives in addition to or as a proxy for futures on the Index Commodities may affect the correlation
between changes in the Net Asset Value per Share and changes in the level of the Index, and the correlation between the market price per Share on NYSE Arca and the Net Asset Value per Share. |
|
|
|
Fees and commissions are charged regardless of profitability. This may result in depletion of the Funds assets and losses to your investment.
|
|
|
|
There can be no assurance that an investment in the Shares will achieve profits or avoid losses, significant or otherwise.
|
|
|
|
Performance of the Fund may not track the Index during particular periods or over either the short or long term. |
|
|
|
Certain potential conflicts of interest exist between the Managing Owner and its affiliates and the shareholders of the Fund, or the Shareholders.
For example, because the |
-3-
SUMMARY (contd)
|
Managing Owner and the Commodity Brokers (as defined below) are both subsidiaries of BNP Paribas, the Managing Owner has a disincentive to replace the Commodity Brokers. The Commodity Brokers may
have a conflict of interest between their execution of trades for the Fund and for their other customers. More specifically, the Commodity Brokers will benefit from executing orders for other clients, whereas the Fund may be harmed to the extent
that the Commodity Brokers have fewer resources to allocate to the Funds accounts due to the existence of such other clients. General order taking by the Commodity Brokers or proprietary trading by the principals and/or affiliates of the
Managing Owner and the Commodity Brokers may create conflicts of interest from time-to-time. General order taking or proprietary trades, as applicable, may cause either the principals and/or affiliates of the Commodity Brokers or the Managing Owner
to take a position that is opposite of that of the Fund or may compete with the Fund for certain positions within the marketplace. See the section Conflicts of Interest for a more complete disclosure of various conflicts. Although
the Managing Owner has considered various conflicts and has established formal procedures designed to resolve these conflicts equitably, there may be additional conflicts that arise because the Managing Owner has not established formal procedures to
resolve all potential conflicts of interest. Consequently, investors may be dependent on the good faith of the respective parties subject to such conflicts to resolve them equitably. Although the Managing Owner attempts to monitor these conflicts,
it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the Managing Owner to ensure that these conflicts will not, in fact, result in adverse consequences to the Fund or the Net Asset Value of the Shares and ultimately the market price of the Shares.
|
The Trustee
Wilmington Trust Company, which we refer to as the Trustee, a Delaware trust company, is the sole trustee of the Trust.
The Trustee has only nominal duties and liabilities to the Trust and the Fund.
Under the Declaration
of Trust, the Managing Owner has the exclusive management and control of all aspects of the business of the Trust and the Fund. The Trustee will have no duty to supervise or monitor the performance of the Managing Owner, nor will the
Trustee have any liability for the acts or omissions of the Managing Owner.
The Managing Owner
BNP
Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, was formed on April 30, 2010 and serves as Managing Owner of the Trust and the Fund. The Managing Owner will also manage the Fund Portfolio. The Managing Owner is a
subsidiary of Paribas North America, Inc., which is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas. The Managing Owner has been registered as a commodity pool operator with the CFTC and has been a member of the NFA since July 27, 2010. During the period from
April-July, 2010, the Managing Owner was engaged in fund structuring activities in connection with futures-based exchange traded funds. As a registered commodity pool operator of the Trust and the Fund, the Managing Owner must comply with various
regulatory requirements under the Commodity Exchange Act, which we refer to as the CEAct, and the rules and regulations of the CFTC and the NFA, including investor protection requirements, antifraud prohibitions, disclosure requirements, and
reporting and recordkeeping requirements. The Managing Owner is also subject to periodic inspections and audits by the CFTC and NFA.
NEITHER THIS POOL OPERATOR NOR ANY OF ITS TRADING PRINCIPALS HAS PREVIOUSLY OPERATED ANY OTHER POOLS OR TRADED ANY OTHER ACCOUNTS.
The Shares are not deposits or other obligations of the Managing Owner, the Trustee or any of their respective
subsidiaries or affiliates or any other bank. The Shares are not guaranteed by the Managing Owner, the Trustee or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates or any other bank and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
or any other governmental agency. An investment in the Shares is speculative and involves a high degree of risk.
The Managing Owner was formed to be the managing owner of investment vehicles such as the Trust and the Fund and has no history of past performance. The Managing Owner and its trading principals have not
managed any other commodity pools of this type. Therefore there is no indication of their ability to manage investment vehicles such as the Trust and the Fund. If the experience of the Managing Owner and its trading principals is not
-4-
SUMMARY (contd)
adequate or suitable to manage investment vehicles such as the Trust and the Fund, the operations and performance of the Trust and the Fund may be adversely affected.
The Fund pays the Managing Owner a Management Fee, monthly in arrears, in an amount equal to 0.95% per annum of
the daily Net Asset Value of the Fund.
The principal office of the Managing Owner is located at 787 Seventh
Avenue, New York, New York 10019. The telephone number of the Managing Owner is (212)
841-2000.
Investment Objective
The Fund will seek to track changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the Index, over time. The Shares are
designed for investors who want a convenient way to gain an exposure to a diversified selection of commodities and an index strategy that seeks to serve as a benchmark for commodity market performance and to reflect general levels of price movements
and inflation in the world economy.
Considerations relating to an investment in the Shares include:
|
|
|
Roll Optimization. The Index is an excess return commodity index comprised of commodity futures contracts that are replaced periodically. The
process of periodically replacing a futures contract prior to its expiration is known as rolling a contract or position. The Fund utilizes a more flexible monthly futures contract rolling strategy, to determine the new futures contract
months, than the liquidity focused S&P GSCI® Index. This is designed to maximize yield from rolling long
futures contracts in backwardated markets and minimize roll loss from rolling long futures positions in contangoed markets. |
|
|
|
Ease and Flexibility of Investment. The Shares will trade on NYSE Arca and provide investors with indirect exposure to commodity futures. The
Shares may be bought and sold throughout the business day at real-time market prices on NYSE Arca like other exchange-listed securities. Investors will be able to purchase and sell
|
|
|
Shares through traditional brokerage accounts. |
|
|
|
Diversification. The Shares may help to diversify a portfolio because historically the Index has tended to exhibit low to negative
correlation with equities, conventional bonds and alternative investments. |
|
|
|
More Direct Commodity Access. The Shares provide a more direct exposure to commodities than mutual funds that invest in commodity-linked
notes or non-exchange traded commodity instruments, which also have implicit imbedded costs and credit risk, potentially adversely impacting the net asset value of the respective mutual fund. |
|
|
|
Margin. Shares will be eligible for margin accounts. |
Investing in the Shares does not insulate Shareholders from certain risks, including price volatility.
The Fund will trade exchange-traded futures on the Index Commodities comprising the Index, with a view to tracking the
Index over time.
In addition to exchange-traded futures on the Index Commodities, the Funds
portfolio will include Cash Instruments, and may include Alternative Financial Instruments, which we refer to collectively as the Fund Portfolio.
If the Managing Owner determines in its commercially reasonable judgment that it has become impracticable or inefficient for any reason for the Fund to gain full or partial exposure to any Index Commodity
(as defined below) by investing in a specific futures contract that is a part of the Index, the Fund may:
|
|
|
invest in a futures contract referencing the particular Index Commodity other than the specific contract that is a part of the Index, or
|
|
|
|
invest in an Alternative Financial Instrument (as defined below) referencing the particular Index Commodity, or
|
-5-
SUMMARY (contd)
|
|
|
in the alternative, invest in other Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) not based on the particular Index Commodity
|
if, in the commercially reasonable judgment of the Managing Owner, such above instruments
tend to exhibit trading prices or returns that generally correlate with a futures contract that is a part of the Index. If the Fund invests in alternative forward agreements, cleared swaps or swaps that will serve as proxies to one or more Index
Commodities, we will refer to these instruments as the Alternative Financial Instruments. Investing in Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) exposes the Fund to counterparty risk, or the risk that an Alternative Financial Instrument
counterparty will default on its obligations under the Alternative Financial Instrument. The Declaration of Trust does not limit the amount of funds that the Fund may invest in Alternative Financial Instruments.
There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective or avoid substantial losses.
THIS POOL HAS NOT COMMENCED TRADING AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY PERFORMANCE HISTORY. The market price of the Shares on the secondary market is expected to fluctuate generally in relation to changes in the Net Asset Value of the
Fund.
The Index
The Index aims to reflect the return of an investment in a world production-weighted portfolio comprising the principal
physical commodities that are the subject of active, liquid futures markets.
The Index Portfolio,
denominated in USD, is made up of long positions in 24 underlying Index Commodities diversified across the commodity universe.
The holding of long positions involves establishing commodity futures, which means that the investors portfolio will benefit if the prices of such Index Commodities rise and will be negatively
affected if the prices of such Index Commodities decline.
The Index Portfolio is a synthetic portfolio or
basket of Index Commodities (and in turn, a reflection of the change in market price of these Index Commodities) because there is no actual
portfolio of assets to which any person is entitled or in which any person has any ownership interest.
The Index is an excess return commodity index comprised of commodity futures contracts that are replaced periodically. The process of periodically replacing a futures contract prior to its expiration is
known as rolling a contract or position.
The Dynamic Roll Index Methodology is designed to
maximize yield from rolling long futures contracts in backwardated markets and minimize roll loss from rolling long futures positions in contangoed markets. A backwardated market means a market in which the prices of certain commodity
futures contracts are higher for contracts with shorter-term expirations than for contracts with longer-term expirations. A contangoed market means a market in which the prices of certain commodity futures contracts are lower for
contracts with shorter-term expirations than for contracts with longer-term expirations.
An index that is
designed to reflect the return from rolling each contract included in the index as it nears expiration into the next nearby most active delivery month is said to follow a standard roll, or Standard Roll, methodology. This is accomplished by selling
the position in the first delivery month and purchasing a position of equivalent value in the second delivery month.
An index that employs the Standard Roll schedule may sometimes diminish total returns due to periodic rolling expenses. Although the first nearby contracts are generally the most liquid, based on open
interest, they may also become the most expensive (resulting in lower total returns) when the commodities market is in contango (when further out future contracts trade at a premium). Conversely, when commodity markets are in backwardation (when
further out future contracts trade at a discount), indices that employ a Standard Roll strategy generally boast higher total returns.
The Index is a commodity index that utilizes the S&P GSCI®
Dynamic Roll Index Methodology, a monthly futures contract rolling methodology that determines the new futures contract months for the underlying commodities. The S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Index Methodology is a more flexible methodology than the Standard Roll methodology, as more fully described under the section Description of
the S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Excess Return Index The Dynamic Roll Selection Process.
At each Roll Determination Date, which is the third Index
-6-
SUMMARY (contd)
Business Day of each month, dynamic roll algorithms measure the current shape of the forward curves of the eligible futures contract prices for each Index Commodity. The contract rolling strategy
is optimized based on implied roll yield and the Dynamic Roll Parity Principle as explained below. The Index optimizes rolling by using a systematic methodology to search for the optimal contract months along the curve to roll into, subject to using
only the most liquid of all available contracts of a given commodity.
When the futures
curve for a given commodity is in a general state of contango, the S&P GSCI Dynamic Roll methodology uses futures contracts months that are further out on the futures curve, with the intention of minimizing the effects of negative roll yields.
When the futures curve for a given commodity is in a general state of backwardation, the S&P GSCI Dynamic Roll methodology generally uses nearby futures contracts. This process is described below under the section Description of the
S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Excess Return Index The Dynamic Roll Process.
The steps and calculations that govern the determination of the weighting for the Index Commodities
and the subsequent rebalancings, and therefore, the results of the Index, were developed by the Index Sponsor. We refer to these steps and calculations as the Index Methodology. The Index Methodology is more fully described below under
the section Description of the S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Excess Return Index The Index
Methodology.
Each futures contract included in the Index is a Designated
Contract and must satisfy a number of eligibility criteria. This process is described below under the section Description of the S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Excess Return Index Composition of the Index.
The Index Sponsor determines the quantity of each of the Designated Contracts included in the
Index, the Contract Production Weights, on the basis of a five-year average, referred to as the world production average, of the production quantity of the underlying Index Commodities as published by a number of official sources as
provided in the S&P GSCI® Index Methodology.
The five-year moving average is updated annually for each Index Commodity based on the most recent five-year period
(ending approximately one and a half years prior to the date of calculation
and moving backwards) for which complete data for all Index Commodities is available and the process is described below under the section Description of the S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Excess Return Index Calculation of the Weight of each Contract in the Index. The Index
is rebalanced annually in January.
Because the Index is comprised of actively
traded contracts with scheduled expirations, it can be calculated only by reference to the prices of contracts for specified expiration, delivery or settlement periods, referred to as Designated Contract Expirations. The Designated
Contract Expirations included in the Index during a given year are determined by the Index Sponsor at the time that the composition of the Index for the year is made, a process more fully described below under the section Description of the
S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Excess Return Index Contract Expirations.
The value, or the total dollar weight, of the Index on each Index Business Day is equal to the sum of the dollar
weights of each of the Index Commodities. The dollar weight of each Index Commodity on any given day is equal to the product of the:
|
|
|
weight of such Index Commodity, |
|
|
|
the daily contract reference price for the appropriate Designated Contracts, and |
|
|
|
the applicable roll weights during a Roll Period. |
This process is described below under the section Description of the S&P
GSCI® Dynamic Roll Excess Return Index Calculation of the Closing Value of the Index.
The Designated Contract daily return on any given day is equal to:
|
|
|
(A) the sum, for each of the Index Commodities included in the Index, of the applicable daily contract reference price on the relevant Designated
Contract multiplied by the appropriate Designated Contract production weight and the appropriate roll weight, divided by (B) the total dollar weight of the Index on the preceding day, minus |
This process is described below under the section Description of the S&P GSCI® Dynamic
-7-
SUMMARY (contd)
Roll Excess Return Index Designated Contract Daily Return.
On any Index Business Day, the value of the Index is equal to the product of:
|
|
|
the value of the Index on the preceding Index Business Day and |
|
|
|
one plus the Contract Daily Return on the Index Business Day on which the calculation is made. |
The Contract Daily Return on any Index Business Day is equal to the ratio of the total dollar weight of the Index on
that day and the total dollar weight of the Index on the preceding Index Business Day, minus one. The Contract Daily Return is represented as the percentage change in the total dollar weight of the Index. The value of the Index is indexed to a base
value of 100 on January 16, 1995.
No assurance can be given that the Index Methodology will achieve
its goals or that the Index results will surpass any alternative basket or strategy that might be constructed from the Index Commodities.
The Market Price of the Shares Should
Track the Changes in the Level of the
Index
The Shares are intended to provide investment results that generally correspond to the changes, positive or negative,
in the level of the Index over time.
The market price of the Shares is expected to fluctuate in relation to
changes in the value of the Fund Portfolio. The market price of the Shares may not be identical to the Net Asset Value per Share, but these two valuations are expected to be close.
The Fund Portfolio is traded with a view to tracking the Index over time, whether the Index is rising, falling or flat
over any particular period. The Fund is not managed by traditional methods, which typically involve effecting changes in the composition of the Fund Portfolio on the basis of discretionary or systematic judgments relating to economic,
financial and market considerations with a view to obtaining positive results under various market conditions. To maintain the correspondence between the composition and weightings of the Index Commodities comprising the Index, the Managing Owner
adjusts the Fund Portfolio regularly to
conform to periodic changes in the identity and/or relative weighting of the Index Commodities.
The Commodity Brokers
A variety of executing brokers will execute futures transactions on behalf of the Fund. Such executing brokers will
give-up all such transactions to BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Inc., a Delaware corporation, which will serve as the Funds executing and clearing broker, which we refer to as CFI. CFI is an affiliate of the Managing Owner and is a BNP
Affiliated Entity. In its capacity as executing and clearing broker, CFI will execute and clear each of the Funds futures transactions and will perform certain administrative services for the Fund. CFI is registered with the CFTC as a futures
commission merchant and is a member of the NFA in such capacity.
BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Limited, a
limited company registered in England and Wales will serve as the Funds executing and clearing broker, which we refer to as CFL, with respect to all transactions on the London Metal Exchange. CFL is an affiliate of the BNP Affiliated Entities
and the Managing Owner. CFL is a member of the Financial Services Authority and as such is regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the conduct of its business in the United Kingdom.
We may refer to CFI and/or CFL as a Commodity Broker individually, or the Commodity Brokers collectively.
The Fund will pay to the Commodity Brokers all brokerage commissions, including applicable exchange fees, NFA fees,
give-up fees, pit brokerage fees and other transaction related fees and expenses charged in connection with trading activities. On average, total charges paid to the Commodity Brokers are expected to be approximately $10.00 per round-turn trade,
although the Commodity Brokers brokerage commissions and trading fees will be determined on a contract-by-contract basis. The Managing Owner expects that the brokerage commissions and fees may equal to approximately 0.08% of the Net Asset
Value of the Fund in any year, although the actual amount of brokerage commissions and fees in any year or any part of any year may be greater.
A round-turn trade is a completed transaction involving both a purchase and a liquidating sale, or a sale followed by a covering purchase.
-8-
SUMMARY (contd)
The Administrator, Custodian, and Transfer
Agent
The Managing Owner, on behalf of the Trust and the Fund, has appointed The Bank of New York
Mellon as the administrator, which we refer to as the Administrator, of the Fund and has entered into a Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement, which we refer to as the Administration Agreement, in connection therewith. The Bank of New York
Mellon will serve as custodian, which we refer to as the Custodian, of the Fund and has entered into a Global Custody Agreement, which we refer to as the Custody Agreement, in connection therewith. The Bank of New York Mellon will also serve as the
transfer agent, which we refer to as the Transfer Agent, of the Fund and has entered into a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement in connection therewith.
The Bank of New York Mellon, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of New
York with trust powers, has an office at 2 Hanson Place,
12th Floor, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11217. The Bank of New York
Mellon is subject to supervision by the New York State Banking Department and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Information regarding the Net Asset Value of the Fund, creation and redemption transaction fees and the names of the
parties that have executed a Participant Agreement (as defined below) may be obtained from The Bank of New York Mellon by calling the following number: (718) 315-7500. A list of the names of the parties that have executed a Participant
Agreement as of the date of this Prospectus may be found in the section Plan of Distribution. A copy of the Administration Agreement is available for inspection at The Bank of New York Mellons trust office identified above.
Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator will perform or supervise the performance
of services necessary for the operation and administration of the Fund (other than making investment decisions), including receiving and processing orders from Authorized Participants to create and redeem Baskets, Net Asset Value calculations,
accounting and other fund administrative services. The Administrator will retain certain financial books and records, including: Basket creation and redemption books and records, Fund accounting records, ledgers with respect to assets, liabilities,
capital, income and expenses, the registrar, transfer journals and related details and trading and related documents received from futures
commission merchants, c/o The Bank of New York Mellon, 2 Hanson Place, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, New York 11217, telephone number (718) 315-4850.
A summary of the material terms of the Administration Agreement is disclosed in the section Material
Contracts.
The Administrators monthly fees are paid on behalf of the Fund by the Managing
Owner out of the Management Fee.
The Administrator and any of its affiliates may from time-to-time purchase
or sell Shares for their own account, as agent for their customers and for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
The Administrator will also receive a transaction processing fee in connection with orders from Authorized Participants to create or redeem Baskets in the amount of $500 per order. These transaction
processing fees are paid by the Authorized Participants and not by the Fund.
The Managing Owner on behalf
of the Fund is expected to retain the services of one or more additional service providers to assist with certain tax reporting requirements of the Fund and its Shareholders.
The Marketing Agent
The Managing Owner, on behalf of the Trust and the Fund, has appointed ALPS Distributors, Inc., which we refer to as
the Marketing Agent, to assist the Managing Owner and the Administrator with certain functions and duties relating to distribution and marketing, including reviewing and approving marketing materials. The Marketing Agent will retain all marketing
materials at c/o ALPS Distributors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203; telephone number (303) 623-2577.
The Marketing Agent will not open or maintain customer accounts or solicit, receive, execute, clear, settle or otherwise handle any orders to purchase or redeem Shares.
The Fund will enter into a Marketing Agent Agreement with the Marketing Agent.
-9-
SUMMARY (contd)
A summary of the material terms of the Marketing Agreement is disclosed
in the section Material Contracts.
The Managing Owner, out of the Management Fee, pays
the Marketing Agent for performing its duties on behalf of the Fund.
800 Number for Investors
Investors may contact the Marketing Agent toll-free in the U.S. at
(800) [ ]-[ ].
Limitation of Liabilities
Although the Shares of only one Fund are being offered by this Prospectus, it is expected that additional series of
Funds will offer Shares in the future.
Your investment in a Fund is part of the assets of that Fund, and it
will therefore be subject to the risks of that Funds trading only. You cannot lose more than your investment in a Fund, and you will not be subject to the losses or liabilities of a Fund in which you have not invested. We have received an
opinion of counsel that each Fund is entitled to the benefits of the limitation on inter-series liability provided under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. Each Share, when purchased in accordance with the Trust Declaration, will, except as otherwise
provided by law, be fully-paid and non-assessable.
The debts, liabilities, obligations, claims and expenses
of a particular Fund will be enforceable against the assets of that Fund only, and not against the assets of the Trust generally or the assets of any other Fund, and, unless otherwise provided in the Trust Declaration, none of the debts,
liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the Trust generally or any other series thereof will be enforceable against the assets of such Fund.
The Offering
On [], 2011, the Initial Purchaser, subject to certain conditions, agreed to purchase 600,000 Shares, which
comprise the initial Baskets, at a purchase price of $25.00 per Share ($1,000,000 per Basket), as described in the section Plan of Distribution. This price was determined arbitrarily inasmuch as the Shares have no inherent value
prior to the commencement of the Funds operations.
Authorized Participants
Baskets may be created or redeemed only by Authorized Participants, except that the initial Baskets were created by the
Initial Purchaser. Each Authorized Participant must (1) be a registered broker-dealer or other securities market participant such as a bank or other financial institution which is not required to register as a broker-dealer to engage in
securities transactions, (2) be a direct participant in the Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation, which we refer to as DTC, and (3) have entered into an agreement with the Fund and the Managing Owner, which we refer to as the
Participant Agreement. The Participant Agreement sets forth the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets of Shares and for the delivery of cash required for such creations or redemptions. The list of current Authorized Participants may
be obtained from the Administrator.
Creation and Redemption of Shares
The Fund will create and redeem Shares from time-to-time, but only in one or more Baskets. Baskets may
be created or redeemed only by Authorized Participants, except that the initial Baskets will be created by the Initial Purchaser. Baskets are created and redeemed continuously as of noon, New York time, on the business day immediately following the
date on which a valid order to create or redeem a Basket is accepted by the Fund. Baskets are created and redeemed at the Net Asset Value of 40,000 Shares as of the closing time of NYSE Arca or the last to close of the exchanges on which the Index
Commodities are traded, whichever is later, on the date that a valid order to create or redeem a Basket is accepted by the Fund. For purposes of processing both purchase and redemption orders, a business day means any day other than a
day when each of NYSE Arca and banks in both New York City and London are required or permitted to be closed. Except when aggregated in Baskets, the Shares are not redeemable securities. Authorized Participants pay a transaction fee of $500 in
connection with each order to create or redeem a Basket. Authorized Participants may sell the Shares included in the Baskets they purchase from the Fund to other investors.
The Fund may suspend the creation of Baskets if the Fund has reached speculative position or other limits with respect
to the Funds holdings of futures contracts on one or more Index Commodities and the Fund is unable to gain an exposure to the Index Commodities based upon Alternative Financial
-10-
SUMMARY (contd)
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Instruments to the futures contracts on the Index Commodities. |
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See the section Creation and Redemption of Shares for more details. |
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Net Asset Value |
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Net asset value, which we refer to as Net Asset Value, means the total assets of the Fund including, but not limited to, all cash and
cash equivalents or other debt securities less total liabilities of the Fund, each determined on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles. |
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See the section Description of the Shares; Certain Material Terms of the Declaration of Trust Net Asset
Value for more details. |
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Clearance and Settlement |
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The Shares are evidenced by a global certificate that the Fund issues to DTC. The Shares are available only in book-entry form.
Shareholders may hold their Shares through DTC, if they are participants in DTC, or indirectly through entities that are participants in DTC. |
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Segregated Accounts/Interest Income |
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The proceeds of the offering will be deposited in cash in a segregated account in the name of the Fund at CFI in accordance with CFTC
investor protection and segregation requirements, at CFL pursuant to the applicable rules and regulations of the Financial Services Authority or with the Custodian. |
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The Fund will be credited with 100% of the interest earned on its average net assets on deposit with the Commodity Broker or the
Custodian. In an attempt to increase interest income earned, the Managing Owner expects to invest non-margin assets in Cash Instruments or other instruments permitted by applicable rules and regulations. The current holdings of Cash Instruments will
earn an interest rate of 0.00% as of August 15, 2011. See the section Fees and Expenses for more details. |
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-11-
SUMMARY (contd)
Fees and Expenses
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Management Fee |
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The Fund
will pay the Managing Owner a Management Fee, monthly in arrears, in an amount equal to 0.95% per annum of the daily Net Asset Value of the Fund. The Management Fee will be paid in consideration of the Managing Owners advisory
services. |
Organization and Initial Offering Expenses; Continuous
Offering Fees and Expenses |
|
Expenses
incurred in connection with organizing the Trust and the Fund and up to the initial offering of the Funds Shares upon commencement of its trading operations will be paid by the Managing Owner. Organization and initial offering expenses
relating to the Trust and the Fund that are paid by the Managing Owner means those expenses incurred in connection with its formation, the qualification, registration and the anticipated offering of the Funds Shares under applicable federal
law, and any other expenses actually incurred and, directly or indirectly, related to the organization of the Trust and the Fund prior to commencing trading operations (which will occur contemporaneously with the commencement of the offering of the
Shares). Upon and after commencement of trading operations (which will
occur contemporaneously with the commencement of the offering of the Shares) and thereafter, the Fund will bear the costs of its continuous offering of Shares and continuous offering expenses. Continuous offering fees and expenses include those
legal and accounting fees and expenses, filing fees, printing, mailing and duplication costs associated with the continuous offering of the Shares.
The Managing Owner expects that the continuous offering fees and expenses of the Fund will be approximately 0.01% per annum of the Funds Net Asset
Value, although the actual amount of continuous offering fees and expenses in any year or any part of any year may be greater. |
Brokerage Commissions and Fees |
|
The Fund
will pay to the Commodity Brokers all brokerage commissions, including applicable exchange fees, NFA fees, give-up fees, pit brokerage fees and other transaction related fees and expenses charged in connection with its trading activities. On
average, total charges paid to the Commodity Brokers are expected to be approximately $10.00 per round-turn trade, although the Commodity Brokers brokerage commissions and trading fees will be determined on a contract-by-contract basis. The
Managing Owner expects that the brokerage commissions and fees may equal to approximately 0.08% of the Net Asset Value of the Fund in any year, although the actual amount of brokerage commissions and fees in any year or any part of any year may be
greater. |
Routine Operational, Administrative and Other Ordinary Fees
and Expenses |
|
The Fund
will pay all of the routine operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses of the Fund, including, but not limited to, computer services, legal and accounting fees and expenses, tax preparation expenses, filing fees and printing,
mailing and duplication costs. The Managing Owner will pay the fees and expenses of the Trustee, Administrators fees, Custodian fees, Transfer Agent fees and Marketing Agent fees. The Managing Owner expects that all of the routine operational,
administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses of the Fund will be approximately 0.40% per annum of the Funds Net Asset Value. The Managing Owner has agreed to reimburse the Fund, from its Management Fee, the amount of routine
operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses (excluding those legal and accounting fees and expenses, filing fees, printing, mailing and duplication costs associated with the continuous offering of the Shares as provided under
the sub-section Organization and Initial Offering Expenses; Continuous Offering Fees and Expenses) in excess of 0.20% per annum of the Funds Net Asset Value. For the avoidance of doubt, the cap as described in the immediately
preceding sentence excludes expenses incurred in connection with the continuous offering of Shares after the commencement of the Funds trading operations.
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Extraordinary Fees and Expenses |
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The Fund will pay all its extraordinary fees and expenses
(as defined in the Declaration of Trust) generally, if any, as determined by the Managing Owner. Extraordinary fees and |
-12-
SUMMARY (contd)
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expenses are fees and expenses which are non-recurring and unusual in nature, such as legal
claims and liabilities, litigation costs or indemnification or other unanticipated expenses. Extraordinary fees and expenses will also include material expenses which are not currently anticipated obligations of the Fund or of managed futures funds
in general. Routine operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses will not be deemed extraordinary expenses. |
Payment of Management Fee and Brokerage Commissions and Fees From Interest Income, if any |
|
Because it is expected that interest income, if any, will not be sufficient to cover the fees
and expenses of the Fund, the excess of such fees and expenses over such interest income, if any, will be paid out of income from its trading, if any, or from sales of a portion of the Fund Portfolio. However, if interest income exceeded the fees
and expenses of the Fund, the Management Fee and the brokerage commissions and fees of the Fund would be paid first out of interest income from the Fund Portfolio.
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Selling Commission |
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Investors may purchase and sell Shares through traditional brokerage accounts. Investors are expected to be charged a customary commission by
their brokers in connection with purchases of Shares that will vary from investor to investor. Investors are encouraged to review the terms of their brokerage accounts for applicable charges. |
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-13-
SUMMARY (contd)
Break-Even Amounts
The estimated amount of all fees and expenses which are anticipated to be incurred by a new investor in Shares during
the first twelve months of investment is 1.24% per annum of the Net Asset Value of the Fund, plus the amount of any commissions charged by the investors broker.
The Fund will be successful only if its annual returns from the Fund Portfolio exceed such fees and expenses of
approximately 1.24% per annum. The current holdings of Cash Instruments will earn an interest rate of 0.00% as of August 15, 2011. Therefore, the Fund will be required to earn approximately 1.24% per annum, or $0.31 per annum per
Share at $25.00 as the Net Asset Value per Share, in order for an investor to break-even on an investment during the first twelve months of an investment.
Distributions
The Fund will make distributions at the discretion of the Managing Owner. In light of the currently low interest rate
environment, the Managing Owner does not expect to make any distributions. To the extent that the actual and projected interest income from the Fund Portfolio exceeds the actual and projected fees and expenses of the Fund, the Managing Owner expects
periodically to make distributions of the amount of such excess. The Fund currently does not expect to make distributions with respect to its capital gains. Depending on the Funds performance for the taxable year and your own tax situation for
such year, your income tax liability for the taxable year for your allocable share of the Funds net ordinary income or loss and capital gain or loss may exceed any distributions you receive with respect to such year.
Fiscal Year
The Funds fiscal year ends on August 31 of each year.
Financial Information
The Fund has only recently been organized and has no financial history.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
Subject to the discussion below in the section Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,
the Fund will be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which is treated as a separate entity from any other series of the Trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Accordingly, the Fund will not incur U.S. federal income tax liability; rather, each beneficial owner of Shares will be required to take into account its allocable share of the Funds income, gain, loss, deduction and other items for the
Funds taxable year ending with or within the owners taxable year.
Additionally, please refer to
the section Material U. S. Federal Income Tax Considerations below for information on the potential U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Shares.
Breakeven Table
The Breakeven Table on the following page indicates the approximate percentage and dollar returns required for the
value of an initial $25.00 investment in a Share to equal the amount originally invested twelve months after issuance.
The Breakeven Table, as presented, is an approximation only. The capitalization of the Fund does not directly affect the level of its charges as a percentage of its Net Asset Value, other than
continuous offering expenses and brokerage commissions.
-14-
SUMMARY (contd)
Breakeven Table
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Per Share Dollar Amount and
Percentage of Expenses of the Fund1 |
Expense |
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$ |
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% |
Management Fee2 |
|
$0.238 |
|
0.950% |
Organization and Initial Offering Expenses; Continuous Offering Fees and Expenses3 |
|
$0.0025 |
|
0.010% |
Brokerage Commissions and Fees4 |
|
$0.020 |
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0.080% |
Routine Operational, Administrative and Other Ordinary Fees and Expenses5,6 |
|
$0.050 |
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0.200% |
Interest Income7 |
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$0.000 |
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0.000% |
12-Month Breakeven8,9 |
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$0.31 |
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1.24% |
1. |
The breakeven analysis set forth in this column assumes that the Shares have a constant month-end Net Asset Value and is based on $25.00 as the Net
Asset Value per Share. See the section Charges on page 68 for an explanation of the expenses included in the Breakeven Table. |
2. |
From the Management Fee, the Managing Owner is responsible for paying the fees and expenses of the Trustee, Administrators fees, Custodian
fees, Transfer Agent fees, and Marketing Agent fees. |
3. |
Expenses incurred in connection with organizing the Trust and the Fund and up to the initial offering of the Funds Shares upon commencement of
its trading operations will be paid by the Managing Owner. Organization and initial offering expenses relating to the Trust and the Fund that are paid by the Managing Owner means those expenses incurred in connection with its formation, the
qualification, registration and the anticipated offering of the Funds Shares under applicable federal law, and any other expenses actually incurred and, directly or indirectly, related to the organization of the Trust and the Fund prior to
commencing trading operations (which will occur contemporaneously with the commencement of the offering of the Shares). |
|
Upon and after commencement of trading operations (which will occur contemporaneously with the commencement of the offering of the Shares) and
thereafter, the Fund will bear the costs of its continuous offering of Shares and continuous offering expenses. Continuous offering fees and expenses include those legal and accounting fees and expenses, filing fees, printing, mailing and
duplication costs associated with the continuous offering of the Shares. |
|
The Managing Owner expects that the continuous offering fees and expenses of the Fund will be approximately 0.01% per annum of the Funds
Net Asset Value, although the actual amount of continuous offering fees and expenses in any year or any part of any year may be greater. |
4. |
The actual amount of brokerage commissions and fees incurred will be affected by the trading frequency of the Fund and the specific instruments
traded. Furthermore, the actual amount of brokerage commissions and fees incurred by the Fund may vary for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, prevailing market conditions that may impact the composition of the Fund (i.e., the amount
and the turnover of the Funds futures contracts linked to the Index Commodities may be traded more frequently to replicate changes in the levels of the Index) and may exceed the above estimate. |
5. |
The Fund will pay all of the routine operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses of the Fund, including, but not limited to,
computer services, legal and accounting fees and expenses, tax preparation expenses, filing fees and printing, mailing and duplication costs. The Managing Owner will pay the fees and expenses of the Trustee, Administrators fees, Custodian
fees, Transfer Agent fees and Marketing Agent fees. The Managing Owner expects that all of the routine operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses of the Fund will be approximately 0.40% per annum of the Funds Net
Asset Value. The Managing Owner has agreed to reimburse the Fund, from its Management Fee, the amount of routine operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses (excluding those legal and accounting fees and expenses, filing fees,
printing, mailing and duplication costs associated with the continuous offering of the Shares as provided under the sub-section Organization and Initial Offering Expenses; Continuous Offering Fees and Expenses) in excess of
0.20% per annum of the Funds Net Asset Value. For the avoidance of doubt, the cap as described in the immediately preceding sentence excludes expenses incurred in connection with the continuous offering of Shares after the commencement of
the Funds trading operations. |
6. |
In connection with orders to create and redeem Baskets, Authorized Participants pay a transaction fee in the amount of $500 per order. Because these
transaction fees are de minimis in amount, are charged on a transaction-by-transaction basis (and not on a Basket-by-Basket basis), and are borne by the Authorized Participants, they have not been included in the Breakeven Table.
|
7. |
The current holdings of Cash Instruments will earn an interest rate of 0.00% as of August 15, 2011. |
8. |
The Fund is subject to (i) a Management Fee of 0.95% per annum of the daily Net Asset Value of the Fund, (ii) estimated brokerage
commissions and fees of 0.08% per annum of the Net Asset Value of the Fund, (iii) continuous offering fees and expenses of approximately 0.01% per annum of the Net Asset Value of the Fund, and (iv) routine operational,
administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses of up to 0.20% per annum of the Net Asset Value of the Fund. The Fund is subject to fees and expenses in the aggregate amount of approximately 1.24% per annum. The Fund will be successful
only if its annual returns from the Fund Portfolio exceed approximately 1.24% per annum. The current holdings of Cash Instruments will earn an interest rate of 0.00% as of August 15, 2011. As a result, the Fund will be required to earn
approximately 1.24% per annum, or $0.31 per annum per Share at $25.00 as the Net Asset Value per Share, in order for an investor to break-even on an investment during the first twelve months of an investment. |
9. |
You may pay customary brokerage commissions in connection with purchases of the Shares. Because such brokerage commission rates will vary from
investor to investor, such brokerage commissions have not been included in the Breakeven Table. Investors are encouraged to review the terms of their brokerage accounts for applicable charges. |
-15-
SUMMARY (contd)
Reports to Shareholders
The Managing Owner will furnish Shareholders with an annual report of the Fund within 90 calendar days after the end of
the Funds fiscal year as required by the rules and regulations of the CFTC, including, but not limited to, annual audited financial statements certified by an independent registered public accounting firm and any other reports required by any
other governmental authority that has jurisdiction over the activities of the Fund.
Shareholders also will
be provided with appropriate information to permit Shareholders to file their U.S. federal and state income tax returns (on a timely basis) with respect to their Shares. Monthly account statements conforming to CFTC and NFA requirements will be
posted on the Managing Owners website at http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com. The Fund will file periodic, quarterly and annual reports with the SEC. Shareholders can read and copy these reports at the SEC public reference
facilities in Washington D.C. The filings will also be posted at the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. Additional reports may be posted on the Managing Owners website in the discretion of the Managing Owner or as required
by regulatory authorities.
THE SHARES ARE SPECULATIVE AND
INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
[Remainder of page left blank intentionally.]
-16-
ORGANIZATION CHART
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST
BNP PARIBAS S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL
COMMODITIES
-17-
THE RISKS YOU FACE
You could lose money investing in Shares. You should consider carefully the risks described below before making an
investment decision. You should also refer to the other information included in this Prospectus.
Fund
and Market Related Risks
|
(1) |
The Value Of The Shares Relates Directly To The Market Price Of The Commodity Futures Contracts And Other Assets Held By The Fund And
Fluctuations In The Market Price Of These Assets Could Materially Adversely Affect An Investment In The Shares. |
The Shares are designed to reflect the changes, positive or negative, in the level of the Index over time through the Funds Portfolio of exchange-traded futures contracts on the Index Commodities,
Cash Instruments and, if applicable, Alternative Financial Instruments. The Net Asset Value of the Shares relates directly to the Net Asset Value of the Fund Portfolio.
|
(2) |
Numerous Factors May Affect The Price Of The Index Commodities, And In Turn, The Net Asset Value Of The Shares, And Ultimately The Market
Price Of The Funds Shares. |
The market price of the Index Commodities may
fluctuate widely, and in turn, the value of the Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) may fluctuate accordingly. Several factors may affect the market prices of the Index Commodities, including, but not limited to:
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Global supply and demand of each of the Index Commodities, which may be influenced by such factors as forward selling by the various commodities
producers, purchases made by the commodities producers to unwind their hedge positions and production and cost levels in the major markets of each of the Index Commodities; |
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Domestic and foreign interest rates and investors expectations concerning interest rates;
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Domestic and foreign inflation rates and investors expectations concerning inflation rates; |
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Investment and trading activities of mutual funds, hedge funds and commodity funds; and |
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Global or regional political, regulatory, legislative, economic or financial events and situations. |
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(3) |
Net Asset Value Per Share May Not Always Correspond To The Market Price Per Share And, As A Result, Baskets May Be Created Or Redeemed At A
Net Asset Value Per Share That Differs From The Market Price Per Share. |
The Net
Asset Value per Share will change as fluctuations occur in the market value of the Fund Portfolio. Investors should be aware that the market price per Share may be different from the Net Asset Value per Share. Consequently, an Authorized Participant
may be able to create or redeem a Basket at a discount or a premium to the market price per Share. This price difference may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary market for Shares is closely
related, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the futures contracts underlying the Index Commodities trading individually or in the aggregate, at any point in time. Furthermore, any market forces that affect the prices of
the Index Commodities may in turn also affect the Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) accordingly. Investors also should note that the size of the Fund in terms of total assets held may change substantially over time and from time-to-time as
Baskets are created and redeemed, and in turn, the difference between the Net Asset Value per Share and the public market price per Share may either increase or decrease.
Authorized Participants or their customers may have an opportunity to realize a profit if they can purchase a Basket at
a discount to the public market price of the Shares or can redeem a Basket at a premium over the public market price of the Shares. The Managing Owner expects that the exploitation of these arbitrage opportunities by Authorized Participants and
their customers will tend to cause the public market price per Share to track Net Asset Value per Share over time.
-18-
|
(4) |
Non-concurrent Trading Hours Between NYSE Arca And The Various Futures Exchanges On Which The Index Commodities Are Traded May Impact The
Value Of Your Investment. |
The value of a Share may be influenced by
non-concurrent trading hours between NYSE Arca and the various futures exchanges on which the Index Commodities are traded. While the Shares trade on NYSE Arca from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the trading hours for the futures
exchanges on which each of the Index Commodities trades may not necessarily coincide during all this time.
For example, while the Shares trade on NYSE Arca until 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, liquidity in the global
aluminum market will be reduced after the close of the London Metal Exchange Limited at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. As a result, during periods when NYSE Arca is open and the futures exchange on which aluminum is traded is closed, liquidity in
the global aluminum market will be reduced or extremely limited, thus trading spreads and the resulting premium or discount on the Shares may widen, increasing the difference between the market price of the Shares and the Net Asset Value of the
Shares.
|
(5) |
Certain Operations Of The Fund, Including The Creation Of Baskets, May Be Restricted By Regulatory And Exchange Position Limits And Other
Position Limitation Rules And Could Result In Tracking Error Between Changes In The Net Asset Value Per Share And Changes In The Level Of The Index, Or Could Result In The Market Price Of The Shares Trading At A Premium Or Discount To The Net Asset
Value Per Share. |
The Index is currently composed of 24 Index Commodities, each of
which are subject to speculative position limits and other position limitations, as applicable, which are imposed by either the CFTC or the rules of the futures exchanges on which the futures contracts for the Index Commodities are traded. These
position limits prohibit any person from holding a position of more than a specific number of such futures contracts. The purposes of these limits are to diminish, eliminate or prevent sudden or unreasonable fluctuations or
unwarranted changes in the prices of futures contracts.
Pursuant to the statutory mandate of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Dodd-Frank
Act, which was signed into law on July 21, 2010, the CFTC proposed regulations in January 2011, or the Proposed Regulations, would, in pertinent part, impose new federal position limits on futures and options on a subset of energy, metal, and
agricultural commodities, or Referenced Contracts, and economically equivalent swaps. The Referenced Contracts subject to the 2011 Proposed Rules represent approximately 70% (i.e., 2011 reference production dollar weight) of the Index Commodities
that comprise the Index.
For example, speculative position limits in the physical delivery markets are set
at a stricter level during the month when the futures contract matures and becomes deliverable, known as the spot month, versus the limits set for all other months. If the Managing Owner determines that the Funds trading may be
approaching any of these speculative position limits, the Fund may reduce its trading in that commodity or trade in other commodities or instruments that the Managing Owner, in its commercially reasonable judgment, determines that these substitute
instruments tend to exhibit trading prices or returns that generally correlate with a futures contract that is a part of the Index.
Under current regulations, subject to any relevant exemptions, traders, such as the Fund, may not exceed speculative position limits, either individually, or in the aggregate with other persons with whom
they are under common control or ownership. Under the Proposed Regulations, the CFTC would require certain persons to aggregate exchange listed futures and economically equivalent swap positions owned or controlled by such persons.
The Fund is subject to these speculative position limits and other position limitations, as applicable, and,
consequently, the Funds ability to issue new Baskets or to reinvest income in additional futures contracts corresponding to the Index Commodities may be limited to the extent these activities would cause the Fund to exceed its applicable
limits unless the Fund trades alternative futures contracts or Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) in addition to and as a proxy for futures on the Index Commodities. These limits and the use of alternative futures contracts or Alternative
Financial Instruments (if any) in addition to or as a proxy for futures on the Index Commodities may affect the correlation
-19-
between changes in the Net Asset Value per Share and changes in the level of the Index, and the correlation between the market price of the Shares, as traded on NYSE Arca and the Net Asset Value
per Share.
Regulatory reform, by its nature, is unpredictable, and may be detrimental to the Fund and the
Net Asset Value or the market price, as applicable, of your Shares. Under Dodd-Frank, the CFTC is required, among other things, to establish speculative position limits on exchange listed futures and options on physical commodities (including
certain energy, metals and agricultural products) and economically equivalent over-the-counter derivatives. The Dodd-Frank Act will also require the CFTC to establish aggregate position limits for contracts based on the same underlying commodity,
including certain contracts traded on non-U.S. exchanges. Depending on the outcome of the Proposed Regulations and any future CFTC or futures exchanges rulemaking, as applicable, the rules concerning position limits or other position limitations, as
applicable, may be amended in a manner that is either detrimental or favorable to the Fund. For example, if the amended rules are detrimental to the Fund, the Funds ability to issue new Baskets, or the Funds ability to reinvest income in
additional futures contracts corresponding to the Index Commodities, may be limited to the extent these activities would cause the Fund to exceed the applicable position limits or other position limitations, as applicable. Limiting the size of the
Fund may affect the correlation between the market price of the Shares of the Fund, as traded on NYSE Arca, and the Net Asset Value of the Fund. That is, the inability to create additional Baskets could result in the market price of the Shares in
the Fund trading at a premium or discount to the Net Asset Value of the Fund.
|
(6) |
The Funds Performance May Not Always Replicate The Changes In The Levels Of The Index. As A Result, There Will Be Times When The
Funds Performance Will Not Meet The Investment Expectations Of The Shareholders. |
It is possible that the Funds performance may not fully replicate the changes in levels of the Index due to disruptions in the markets for the relevant Index Commodities, the imposition of
speculative position limits or any other related position limitations, as applicable (as discussed in the section
The Risks You Face - (5) Certain Operations Of The Fund, Including The Creation Of Baskets, May Be Restricted By Regulatory And Exchange Position Limits And Other Position Limitation
Rules And Could Result In Tracking Error Between Changes In The Net Asset Value Per Share And Changes In The Level Of The Index, Or Could Result In The Market Price Of The Shares Trading At A Premium Or Discount To The Net Asset Value Per
Share) or due to other circumstances. As the Fund approaches or reaches position limits or any other related position limitations, as applicable, with respect to certain futures contracts comprising the Index and the Managing Owner
determines in its commercially reasonable judgment that it has become impracticable or inefficient for any reason for the Fund to gain full or partial exposure to any Index Commodity by investing in a specific futures contract that is a part of the
Index, the Fund may invest in a futures contract referencing the particular Index Commodity other than the specific contract that is a part of the Index, or invest in one or more Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) referencing the particular
Index Commodity, or in the alternative, invest in other Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) not based on the particular Index Commodity if, in the commercially reasonable judgment of the Managing Owner, such replacement instruments tend to
exhibit trading prices or returns that generally correlate with a futures contract that is a part of the Index. By investing in alternative futures contracts or Alternative Financial Instruments (if any), the Fund may experience additional tracking
error due to a change in the character of the instruments owned by the Fund, or by potentially increasing the frequency of required trading, which may increase brokerage commissions and may result in additional tracking error. In addition, the Fund
is not able to replicate exactly the changes in levels of the Index because the total return generated by the Fund is reduced by expenses and transaction costs, including those incurred in connection with the Funds trading activities, and
increased by interest income, if any, from the Fund Portfolio. Tracking the Index requires trading of the Fund Portfolio with a view to tracking the Index over time and is dependent upon the skills of the Managing Owner and its trading principals,
among other factors.
|
(7) |
The Fund Is Not Actively Managed And Will Seek To Track The Index During Periods In Which The Index Is Flat Or Declining As Well As When The
Index Is Rising. Therefore, Investors Will Not Be Protected Against Adverse Movements In The
|
-20-
|
Level Of The Index, Which In Turn, May Have A Significantly Adverse Impact On The Shares. |
The Fund is not actively managed by traditional methods. For example, if the futures contracts underlying the Index
Commodities or the Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) owned by the Fund are trending in an adverse direction, the Fund will not close out the futures positions underlying the Index Commodities or terminate the Alternative Financial
Instruments (if any), except in connection with a change in the composition or weighting of the Index. The Managing Owner will seek to cause the Net Asset Value of the Fund to track the Index during periods in which the Index is flat or declining as
well as when the Index is rising.
|
(8) |
NYSE Arca May Halt Trading In The Shares Which Would Adversely Impact Your Ability To Buy Or Sell Shares.
|
The Shares will be listed for trading on NYSE Arca under the market symbol
BNPC. Trading in Shares may be halted due to market conditions or, in light of NYSE Arca rules, circuit breakers and procedures, for reasons that, in the view of NYSE Arca, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading is
subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to circuit breaker rules that require trading to be halted for a specified period based on a specified market decline. There can be no assurance that the
requirements necessary to maintain the listing of the Shares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. The Fund will be terminated if the Shares are delisted.
|
(9) |
The Lack Of An Active Trading Market For The Shares May Result In Losses On Your Investment At The Time Of Disposition Of Your Shares.
|
Although we anticipate that the Shares will be listed and traded on NYSE Arca, there is
no certainty that an active trading market for the Shares will develop or be maintained. A number of factors may prevent the development of an active trading market, including, but not limited to, Authorized Participants who elect not to participate
actively due to the complexity of the Index, which may impede the development of a liquid market. If you need to sell your Shares at a time when no active market for them exists, the price you receive for your Shares, assuming that you are able to
sell them, likely will be
lower than the price that you would receive if an active market did exist.
|
(10) |
The Affiliated Liquidity Provider May Act In A Manner That Ignores Or Disregards The Interests Of Shareholders.
|
The Affiliated Liquidity Provider (as defined below) has no obligation to provide
liquidity to the Fund. The Affiliated Liquidity Provider may decide to cease its activities intra-day, for periods longer than one day or permanently and may act in a manner that ignores or disregards the interests of Shareholders. For example, as
the amount of liquidity decreases, the Affiliated Liquidity Provider, any other affiliated liquidity provider or any other affiliate of the Managing Owner, may benefit from the potential increase in spreads between the bid and offering price for the
Shares while Shareholders experience losses in the market price of their Shares.
|
(11) |
The Liquidity Of The Shares Of The Fund May Also Be Affected By The Withdrawal From Participation Of One Or More Authorized Participants With
Respect To The Fund, Which Could Adversely Affect The Value Of Your Shares. |
If
one or more Authorized Participants (including the Authorized Participant which is an affiliate of the BNP Affiliated Entities) which have substantial interests in the Shares of the Fund were to withdraw from participation, the liquidity of the
affected Shares may decrease, which may adversely affect the market price of your Shares or lead to tracking error between the market price per Share and the Net Asset Value per Share.
|
(12) |
Shareholders That Are Not Authorized Participants May Only Purchase Or Sell Their Shares In Secondary Trading Markets, And The Conditions
Associated With Trading In Secondary Markets May Adversely Affect Investors Investment In The Shares. |
Only Authorized Participants may create or redeem Baskets at a price equal to the net asset value of a Basket. In addition to creating or redeeming Baskets directly with the Fund, Authorized
-21-
Participants may also buy or sell Shares through the secondary market at market prices. In contrast, ordinary investors who are not Authorized Participants are limited to secondary market
transactions at market prices. Because ordinary investors who are not Authorized Participants may not create or redeem Baskets, these investors do not have identical arbitrage opportunities that are available to Authorized Participants, and
therefore, ordinary investors who are not Authorized Participants are subject to the state of the secondary market at the time of a transaction. Ordinary investors who are not Authorized Participants may be required to conduct a transaction on the
secondary market when conditions are adverse to an investors interests, such as when the market price for Shares is lower than the net asset value per Share and the ordinary investor seeks to sell Shares.
|
(13) |
The Shares Are A New Securities Product And Their Value Could Decrease If Unanticipated Operational Or Trading Problems Arise.
|
The mechanisms and procedures governing the creation, redemption and offering of the
Shares have been developed specifically for this securities product. Consequently, there may be unanticipated problems or issues with respect to the mechanics of the operations of the Fund and the trading of the Shares that could have a material
adverse effect on an investment in the Shares. To the extent that unanticipated operational or trading problems or issues arise, the Managing Owners past experience and qualifications may not be suitable for solving these problems or issues.
|
(14) |
As The Managing Owner And Its Trading Principals Have No History Of Operating An Investment Vehicle Like The Trust, Their Experience May Be
Inadequate Or Unsuitable To Manage The Fund. |
The Managing Owner was formed to be
the managing owner of investment vehicles such as the Trust and the Fund and has no history of past performance. The Managing Owner and its trading principals have not managed any other commodity pools of this type. Therefore there is no indication
of their ability to manage investment vehicles such as the Trust or the Fund. If the experience of the Managing Owner and its trading principals is not adequate or suitable to manage investment vehicles
such as the Trust or the Fund, the operations and performance of the Trust or the Fund may be adversely affected.
|
(15) |
The Fund Has No Past Performance And There Are Limited Index Results On Which To Rely On In Deciding Whether To Buy Shares. Therefore, You
Will Have To Make Your Decision To Invest In The Fund On The Basis Of Limited Information. |
The Fund has not commenced trading and does not have a performance history upon which to evaluate your investment in the Fund. Although past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results, if
the Fund had a performance history, such performance history may (or may not) provide you with more information on which to evaluate an investment in the Fund. Likewise, the Index has a limited history which might (or might not) be indicative of the
future Index results, or of the future performance of the Fund. Therefore, you will have to make your decision to invest in the Fund on the basis of limited information.
|
(16) |
Price Volatility May Possibly Cause The Total Loss Of Your Investment. |
Futures contracts and the Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) have a high degree of price variability and are
subject to occasional rapid and substantial changes. Consequently, you could lose all or substantially all of your investment in Shares.
|
(17) |
Fees And Commissions Are Charged Regardless Of Profitability And May Result In Depletion Of Assets. |
Investors in the Fund will pay fees and expenses in the aggregate amount of approximately 1.24% per annum as
described herein. Additionally, investors are expected to be charged a customary commission by their brokers in connection with purchases or sales, which will vary from investor to investor.
Consequently, depending upon the interest rate environment, the expenses of the Fund could, over time, result in losses
to your investment. You may never achieve profits, significant or otherwise.
-22-
|
(18) |
The Fund May Terminate Because The Managing Owner May Be Unwilling Or Unable To Continue To Service The Fund Or Owners May Vote To Terminate
The Fund, Each Of Which May Adversely Affect The Value Of Your Portfolio. |
You
cannot be assured that the Managing Owner will be willing or able to continue to service the Fund for any length of time. The Managing Owner may withdraw from the Fund (for any reason or no reason at all) upon 120 days notice, which would
cause the Fund to terminate unless a substitute managing owner were obtained. If the Managing Owner discontinues its activities on behalf of the Fund and a substitute managing owner has not been appointed, the Fund will terminate and your investment
in Shares will be terminated at a time that is not of your choosing, and may adversely affect the value of your portfolio.
Owners of 50% of the Shares have the power to terminate the Fund. If it is so exercised, investors who may wish to continue to gain an exposure to the Index through the vehicle of the Fund
will have to find another vehicle, and may not be able to find another vehicle that offers the same features as the Fund. See the section Description of the Shares; Certain Material Terms of the Declaration of Trust
Termination Events for a summary of termination events. These detrimental developments could cause you to liquidate your investments and upset the overall maturity and timing of your investment portfolio. If the registrations
with the CFTC or memberships in the NFA of the Managing Owner or any other CFTC registered service provider were revoked or suspended, such entity would no longer be able to provide services to the Fund.
|
(19) |
Potentially Illiquid Markets, Disruption Of Market Trading, And Daily Price Fluctuation Limits, Among Other Events, May Exacerbate Losses Of
The Fund And, In Turn, The Value Of Your Shares. |
The commodity markets are
subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to various factors, including the lack of liquidity in the markets, regulatory certainty, the participation of speculators, government intervention and exchange regulation.
Futures positions cannot always be liquidated at the desired price. It is
difficult to execute a trade at a specific price when there is a relatively small volume of buy and sell orders in a market. The large size of the positions which the Fund may acquire increases the risk of illiquidity by both making its positions
more difficult to liquidate and increasing the losses incurred while trying to do so. A market disruption, such as when foreign governments may take or be subject to political actions which disrupt the markets in their currency or major exports, can
also make it difficult to liquidate a position.
In addition, U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign
exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices that may occur during a single business day. These limits are generally referred to as daily price fluctuation limits and the maximum or minimum
price of a futures contract on any given day as a result of these limits is referred to as a limit price. Once the limit price has been reached in a particular futures contract, no trades may be made at a different price. Limit prices
have the effect of precluding trading in a particular futures contract or forcing the liquidation of futures contracts at disadvantageous times or prices.
Furthermore, the above distortions and/or disruptions may cause the Fund to liquidate certain of its holdings of Cash
Instruments in order to generate sufficient cash to meet margin requirements or close positions at inopportune times.
Market illiquidity and price limits may cause losses for the Fund, and in turn, adversely affect the market price of your Shares.
|
(20) |
The Net Asset Value Of Your Shares May Be Adversely Affected By Redemption Orders That Are Subject To Suspension, Postponement Or Rejection
Under Certain Circumstances. |
The Fund may, in its discretion, suspend the right
of redemption or postpone the redemption settlement date, (1) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which the redemption distribution is not reasonably practicable, or (2) for such other period as the Managing
Owner determines to be necessary for the protection of the Shareholders of the Fund. In addition, the Managing Owner, on behalf of the Fund, will reject a redemption order if the order is not in proper form as described in the
-23-
Participant Agreement or if the fulfillment of the order, in the opinion of the Managing Owners counsel, might be unlawful. Any such postponement, suspension or rejection could adversely
affect a redeeming Authorized Participant. For example, the resulting delay may adversely affect the value of the Authorized Participants redemption proceeds if the Net Asset Value of the Fund declines during the period of delay. The Fund and
the Managing Owner disclaim any liability for any loss or damage that may result from any such suspension or postponement.
|
(21) |
Because Futures Contracts And Other Derivatives Have No Intrinsic Value, The Positive Performance Of Your Investment Is Wholly Dependent Upon
An Equal And Offsetting Loss. Therefore, Overall Stocks And Bond Prices Could Rise Significantly, And The Economy As A Whole Prosper, While Shares Trade Unprofitably. |
Futures trading is a risk transfer economic activity. For every gain there is an equal and offsetting loss rather than
an opportunity to participate over time in general economic growth. Unlike most alternative investments, an investment in Shares does not involve acquiring any asset with intrinsic value. Overall stock and bond prices could rise significantly and
the economy as a whole prosper while Shares trade unprofitably.
|
(22) |
Failure Of The Index To Exhibit Low To Negative Correlation To General Financial Markets Will Reduce Benefits Of Diversification And May
Increase Losses To Your Portfolio. |
Historically, the Indexs returns have
tended to exhibit low to negative correlation with the returns of other assets such as stocks and bonds. Although commodity futures trading can provide a diversification benefit to investor portfolios because of its low to negative correlation with
other financial assets, the fact that the Index is not 100% negatively correlated with financial assets such as stocks and bonds means the Fund cannot be expected to be automatically profitable during unfavorable periods for the stock or bond
market, or vice versa. If the levels of the Index change, and in turn, the Shares perform in a manner that correlates with the general financial markets or do not perform successfully, you will obtain no diversification benefits by investing in
the Shares and the Shares may produce no gains to offset your losses from other investments.
|
(23) |
Various Actual And Potential Conflicts Of Interest May Be Detrimental To Shareholders. |
The Fund will be subject to actual and potential conflicts of interest involving each of the BNP Affiliated Entities.
The Managing Owner and its principals, officers and directors, all of whom are engaged in other investment activities, are not required to devote substantially all of their time to the business of the Fund, which also presents the potential for
numerous conflicts of interest with the Fund. As a result of these and other relationships, parties involved with the Fund have a financial incentive to act in a manner other than in the best interests of the Fund and the Shareholders. The Managing
Owner has not established formal procedures to resolve all potential conflicts of interest. Consequently, investors will be dependent on the good faith of the respective parties subject to such conflicts to resolve them equitably. Although the
Managing Owner attempts to monitor these conflicts, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the Managing Owner to ensure that these conflicts do not, in fact, result in adverse consequences to the Shareholders.
The Fund may be subject to certain conflicts with respect to the Commodity Broker, including, but not limited to,
conflicts that result from receiving greater amounts of compensation from other clients, or purchasing opposite or competing positions on behalf of third party accounts traded through the Commodity Broker.
|
(24) |
Failure Of CFI To Segregate Assets May Increase Losses; Despite Segregation Of Assets, The Fund
Remains At Risk Of Significant Losses Because The Fund May Only Receive A Pro-Rata Share Of The Assets Or No Assets At All. |
The CEAct requires CFI to segregate all funds received from customers from such brokers proprietary assets. If CFI fails to do so, the assets of the Fund might not be fully protected in the event of
CFIs bankruptcy. Furthermore, in the event of CFIs bankruptcy, the Fund could be limited to recovering either a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of CFIs combined
-24-
customer accounts or the Fund may not recover any assets at all, even though certain property specifically traceable to the Fund was held by CFI. CFI may, from time-to-time, have been the subject
of certain regulatory and private causes of action. Such material actions, if any, are described under the section The Commodity Brokers.
In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of any exchange or a clearing house, the Fund could experience a loss of the funds deposited through CFI as margin with the exchange or clearing house, a loss of
any unrealized profits on its open positions on the exchange, and the loss of profits on its closed positions on the exchange.
|
(25) |
You Should Consult Your Own Legal, Tax And Financial Advisers Regarding The Desirability Of An Investment In The Shares Because No Independent
Advisers Were Appointed To Represent You In Connection With The Formation And Operation Of The Trust And The Fund. |
The Managing Owner has consulted with counsel, accountants and other advisers regarding the formation and operation of the Trust and the Fund. No counsel has been appointed to represent you in connection
with the offering of the Shares. Accordingly, you should consult your own legal, tax and financial advisers regarding the desirability of an investment in the Shares.
|
(26) |
Shareholders Do Not Have Certain Rights And Protections Enjoyed By Investors In Certain Other Vehicles, Such As Corporations.
|
As beneficial interests in separate series of a Delaware statutory trust, the Shares
do not provide Shareholders with all of the statutory rights normally associated with the ownership of shares of a corporation. In addition, the Shares have limited voting and distribution rights (for example, Shareholders do not have the right to
elect directors and the Fund is not required to pay regular distributions, although the Fund may pay
distributions in the discretion of the Managing Owner). Therefore, an investment in Shares does not provide certain rights and protections offered by an investment in certain other investment
vehicles, such as corporations.
|
(27) |
An Investment In The Shares May Be Adversely Affected By Competition From Other Methods Of Investing In Commodities.
|
The Fund constitutes a relatively new, and thus initially untested, type of
investment vehicle. It competes with other financial vehicles, including other commodity pools, hedge funds, traditional debt and equity securities issued by companies in the commodities industry, other securities backed by or linked to such
commodities, and direct investments in the underlying commodities or commodity futures contracts. Market and financial conditions, and other conditions beyond the Managing Owners control, may make it more attractive to invest in other
financial vehicles or to invest in such commodities directly, which could limit the market for the Shares and reduce the liquidity of the Shares.
|
(28) |
Competing Claims Over Ownership Of Intellectual Property Rights Related To The Fund Could Adversely Affect The Fund And An Investment In The
Shares. |
While the Managing Owner believes that all intellectual property
rights needed to operate the Fund are either owned by or licensed to the Managing Owner or have been obtained, third parties may allege or assert ownership of intellectual property rights which may be related to the design, structure and operations
of the Fund. To the extent any claims of such ownership are brought or any proceedings are instituted to assert such claims, the negotiation, litigation or settlement of such claims, or the ultimate disposition of such claims in a court of law if a
suit is brought, may adversely affect the Fund and an investment in the Shares, for example, resulting in expenses or damages or the termination of the Fund.
-25-
|
(29) |
Backwardation Or Contango In The Market Prices Of The Index Commodities Will Affect The Net Asset Value, And In Turn,
The Market Price Of Your Shares. |
As the futures contracts that underlie the
Index near expiration, they are replaced by contracts that have a later expiration. Thus, for example, a contract purchased and held in August 2011 may specify an October 2011 expiration. If the Fund is long on this futures contract and as this
contract nears expiration, it may be replaced by selling the October 2011 contract and purchasing the contract expiring in December 2011. This process is referred to as rolling. Historically, the prices of certain Index Commodities have
frequently been higher for contracts with shorter-term expirations than for contracts with longer-term expirations, which is referred to as backwardation. In these circumstances, absent other factors, the sale of the October 2011
contract would take place at a price that is higher than the price at which the December 2011 contract is purchased, thereby creating a gain in connection with rolling. While certain Index Commodities have historically exhibited consistent periods
of backwardation, backwardation will likely not exist in these markets at all times. The absence of backwardation in certain Index Commodities will cause the closing levels of the Index to be lower than the closing levels of the Index if
backwardation existed. Because the performance of the Fund seeks to reflect the changes in the closing levels of the Index, the absence of backwardation in certain Index Commodities may ultimately decrease the net asset value of the Shares, and in
turn, the market price of your Shares.
Conversely, certain Index Commodities historically exhibit
contango markets rather than backwardation. Contango markets are those in which the prices of contracts are higher in the distant delivery months than in the nearer delivery months due to the costs of long-term storage of a physical
commodity prior to delivery or other factors. Although certain Index Commodities have historically exhibited consistent periods of contango, contango will likely not exist in these markets at all times. The existence of contango in certain Index
Commodities will cause the closing levels of the Index to be lower than the closing levels of the Index if contango was absent. Because the
performance of the Fund seeks to reflect the changes in the closing levels of the Index, the existence of contango in certain Index Commodities may ultimately decrease the net asset value of the
Shares, and in turn, the market price of your Shares.
|
(30) |
The Value Of The Shares Will Be Adversely Affected If The Fund Is Required To Indemnify The Trustee Or The Managing
Owner. |
Under the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, which we refer
to as the Declaration of Trust, the Trustee has the right to be indemnified for any liability or expense it incurs without its gross negligence or willful misconduct and the Managing Owner has the right to be indemnified for any liability or expense
it incurs without its fraud, gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or without breaching the Declaration of Trust by the Managing Owner. That means the Managing Owner may require the assets of the Fund to be sold in order to cover losses or
liability suffered by it or by the Trustee. Any sale of that kind would reduce the Net Asset Value of the Fund and the market price of the Shares.
|
(31) |
The Net Asset Value Calculation Of The Fund, And In Turn, The Net Asset Value Of Your Shares, May Be Overstated Or Understated Due To The
Valuation Method Employed When A Settlement Price Is Not Available On The Date Of Net Asset Value Calculation. |
Calculating the Net Asset Value of the Fund includes, in part, any unrealized profits or losses on open commodity futures contracts or Alternative Financial Instruments. Under normal circumstances, the
Net Asset Value of the Fund reflects the settlement price of open commodity futures contracts on the date when the Net Asset Value is being calculated. However, if a commodity futures contract traded on an exchange (both U.S. and non-U.S. exchanges)
could not be traded on such day (due to the operation of daily limits or other rules of the exchange upon which that position is traded or otherwise), the settlement price on the most recent day on which the position could have been traded will be
the basis for determining the market value of such position for such day. In such a situation, there
-26-
is a risk that the calculation of the Net Asset Value of the Fund on such day will not accurately reflect the realizable market value of such commodity futures contract. For example, daily limits
are generally triggered in the event of a significant change in market price of a commodity futures contract. Therefore, as a result of the daily limit, the current settlement price is unavailable. Because the settlement price on the most recent day
on which the position could have been traded would be used in lieu of the actual settlement price on the date of determination, there is a risk that the resulting calculation of the Net Asset Value of the Fund could be under or overstated, perhaps
to a significant degree.
The Funds commodity futures contracts may be subject to periods of
illiquidity because of market conditions, regulatory considerations and other reasons. For example, commodity exchanges limit fluctuations in certain commodity futures contract prices during a single day by regulations referred to as daily
limits.
|
(32) |
The Intra-day Indicative Value Of The Shares And The Intra-day Indicative Value Of The Index May Be Overstated Or Understated Due To The
Valuation Method Employed. |
The intra-day indicative value of the Shares is
based on the prior days final Net Asset Value per Share, adjusted every 15 seconds throughout the day to reflect the continuous price changes of the Funds futures contracts to provide a continuously updated estimated intra-day indicative
value per Share. Because this valuation method only provides an approximation of the intra-day indicative value of the Shares, the estimated intra-day indicative value of the Shares may be either higher or lower than the market price of the Shares
on NYSE Arca. The calculation of the Funds intra-day indicative value does not reflect the intra-day changes that occur with respect to the futures contracts owned by the Fund.
The intra-day indicative value of the Index is based on the prior days closing level, adjusted every 15 seconds
throughout the day to reflect the continuous changes in the closing levels of the Index to provide a continuously updated estimated closing level of the Index. The Index Sponsor will calculate the intra-day indicative value of the Index based on the
last trading price of certain futures contracts and these trading prices may not be the most updated values. Because this valuation method only provides
an approximation of the intra-day indicative value of the Index, the estimated intra-day indicative value of the Index as calculated by the Index Sponsor may be either higher or lower than if the
intra-day indicative value of the Index were calculated using a valuation methodology that closer approximated the current value of the relevant futures contracts.
If either of these occur, certain investors may inadvertently decide to either buy or sell Shares on NYSE Arca at a
time which would not have been optimal. Therefore, the timing of your transaction may have prevented you from maximizing your potential profit or minimizing your potential loss.
The performance of the Shares is linked to the aggregate changes in the closing
levels of the Index Commodities. The commodities underlying the futures contracts included in the Index Commodities will be from one of the following Categories: energy, agriculture, industrial metals, precious metals and livestock. Price movements
between the Index Commodities representing different commodity Categories may not correlate with each other. At a time when the value of an Index Commodity representing a particular commodity class increases, the value of other Index Commodities
representing different commodity Categories may not increase as much or may decline. Therefore, in calculating the closing level of the Index, increases in the value of some of the Index Commodities may be moderated by lesser increases, or more than
offset by declines in the closing levels of other Index Commodities.
You have no rights against the Index
Sponsor or its successors.
The Shares are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the Index Sponsor.
The Index Sponsor makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the Shareholders or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Shares particularly or the ability of the Index,
including, without limitation, all sub-indices, to track the appropriate market returns. The Index Sponsors only relationship to the
-27-
Managing Owner and the Fund is the licensing of certain trademarks, trade names of the Index Sponsor and the S&P GSCI and other intellectual property. The S&P GSCI and the
Index are determined and composed by the Index Sponsor and calculated by the Index Sponsor or its agents without regard to the Managing Owner and the Fund. The Index Sponsor has no obligation to take the needs of the Managing Owner, the Fund or the
Shareholders into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the S&P GSCI, the S&P GSCI-ER or the Index. The Index Sponsor is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices and the number of
Shares or the timing of the issuance of sale of Shares or in the determination or calculation of the net asset value of a Basket. The Index Sponsor has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the
Shares.
The Index Sponsor does not guarantee the accuracy or the completeness of the S&P GSCI,
the S&P GSCI-ER or the Index or any data included therein, and the Index Sponsor disclaims any and all liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein. The Index Sponsor makes no warranty, express or implied, as to the results to
be obtained by the Fund, the Shareholders or any other person or entity from use of the Index or any data included therein. The Index Sponsor makes no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or
fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the S&P GSCI, the S&P GSCI-ER or the Index or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, the Index Sponsor expressly disclaims any and all liability for any
special, punitive, indirect, or consequential damages (including lost profits), even if notified of the possibility of such damages.
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(35) |
Shareholders Have No Rights Against The Publishers Or Sponsors Of The Index. |
Although the market price of the Shares will be influenced by the values of the Index, investors will have no rights
against any of the publishers or sponsors of the futures contracts underlying the Index. The publishers or sponsors of the futures contracts underlying the Index are not involved in the offering of the Shares in any way and have no obligation
relating to this offering or to the Shareholders.
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(36) |
The Index Sponsor And Its Affiliates May Publish Research That Conflicts With Each Other And Which May Negatively Impact The Value Of The Fund
And Your Shares. |
The Index Sponsor and its affiliates may publish research
from time-to-time on commodity markets and other matters that may influence the market price of the Shares, or express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the Shares. The Index Sponsor and its
affiliates may have published or may publish in the future research or other opinions that call into question the investment view implicit in an investment in the Shares. Any research, opinions or recommendations expressed by these entities may not
be consistent with each other and may be modified from time-to-time without notice. Shareholders should make their own independent investigation of the merits of investing in the Shares.
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(37) |
Changes In The Composition And Valuation Of The Index May Adversely Affect Your Shares. |
The composition of the Index may change over time as additional commodities satisfy the eligibility criteria or
commodities currently included in the Index fail to satisfy those criteria. The weighting factors applied to each commodity included in the Index change annually, based on changes in commodity production statistics. In addition, the Index Sponsor
may modify the method for determining the composition and weighting of the Index and for calculating its value in order to ensure that the Index represents a measure of the returns over time of the markets for the underlying commodities. Such
changes could adversely affect the value of your Shares.
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(38) |
The Index May In The Future Include Contracts That Are Not Traded On Regulated Futures Exchanges And That Offer Different Or Diminished
Protections To Investors. |
The Index is comprised exclusively of futures
contracts traded on regulated futures exchanges. Such exchanges in the United States are referred to as designated contract markets. However, the Index may in the future include contracts (such as swaps and forward contracts) traded in
the over-the-counter market or on trading facilities that are subject to
-28-
lesser degrees of regulation or, in some cases, no substantive regulation. As a result, trading in such contracts, and the manner in which prices and volumes are reported by the relevant trading
facilities, may not be subject to the same provisions of, and the protections afforded by, the CEAct or other applicable statutes and related regulations that govern trading on regulated futures exchanges. In addition, a number of electronic trading
facilities have only recently initiated trading and do not have significant trading histories. As a result, the trading of contracts on such facilities and the possible inclusion of such contracts in the Index may be subject to risks not presented
by most exchange-traded futures contracts, including risks related to the liquidity and price histories of the relevant contracts.
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(39) |
Because The Index Commodities May Not Be Equally Weighted, The Index Commodities With Greater Weight Will Have A Larger Impact On The
Aggregate Results Of The Index, And May Increase The Potential Losses To Your Shares. |
The Index Commodities may have different weights at various times. One consequence of such an unequal weighting of the Index Commodities is that the same percentage change in two of the Index Commodities
may have different effects on the Index level due to the unequal weightings. Therefore, as the weighting of an Index Commodity increases, a decrease in the value of such an Index Commodity would further decrease the level of the Index, and in turn,
the market price of your Shares.
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(40) |
Because The Index Is Concentrated In The Energy Sector, Any Adverse Developments In The Energy Sector May Also Adversely
Affect The Value Of Your Shares. |
A significant portion of
the Index is comprised of futures contracts with respect to crude oil, heating oil, RBOB gasoline, brent crude oil, gasoil and natural gas, which we refer to as the Energy Category. As of 2011, approximately 70% of the Index is comprised of the
Energy Category.
Through its investment in futures contracts underlying each component of the Energy
Category, the Fund is subject to both the general economic risks associated with the Energy
Category and the production risks and hazards related to the Energy Category.
The general economic risks and the drilling and production risks and hazards that are inherent in the Energy Category may cause the price of the Energy Category to widely fluctuate, and as a result of
this volatility, may adversely affect the value of your Shares.
The general economic risks and the drilling
and production risks and hazards inherent in the Energy Category include the following:
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changes in interest rates; |
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governmental, agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies; |
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changes in balances of payments and trade; |
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currency risk, including devaluations and revaluations; |
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U.S. and international rates of inflation; |
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weather and climate conditions; |
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U.S. and international political and economic events; |
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changes in philosophies and emotions of market participants; |
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no commercially productive reservoirs will be found; |
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drilling and production activities may be shortened, delayed or canceled; |
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the ability of a producer to develop, produce and market reserves may be limited by title problems, political conflicts, including war, weather
conditions, compliance with governmental requirements, refinery capacity, and mechanical difficulties or shortages |
-29-
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or delays in the delivery of drilling rigs and other equipment; |
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decisions of the cartel of oil producing countries (e.g., OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), to produce more or less oil;
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increases in production due to price rises may make it more economical to extract from additional sources and may later temper further price
increases; and |
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economic activity and supply and demand conditions of users, as certain economies expand, energy consumption and prices increase (e.g., China,
India), and as economies contract (in a recession or depression), energy demand and prices fall. |
The energy industry experiences numerous operating risks. These operating risks include the risk of fire, explosions, blow-outs, pipe failure, abnormally pressured formations and environmental hazards.
Environmental hazards include oil spills, natural gas leaks, ruptures and discharges of toxic gases.
Energy
operations also are subject to various U.S. federal, state and local regulations that materially affect operations. Matters regulated include discharge permits for drilling operations, drilling and abandonment bonds, reports concerning operations,
the spacing of wells and pooling of properties and taxation. At various times, regulatory agencies have imposed price controls and limitations on production. In order to conserve supplies of certain energy resources, these agencies have restricted
the rates of flow below actual production capacity. Federal, state, and local laws regulate production, handling, storage, transportation and disposal of certain energy resources, including crude oil and natural gas, by-products from crude oil and
natural gas and other substances and materials produced or used in connection with crude oil and natural gas operations.
Because the value of the Energy Category is subject to numerous
general economic risks and production related risks and hazards, the price of the futures contracts underlying the Energy Category may fluctuate widely, and as a result of this volatility, may affect adversely the value of your Shares.
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(41) |
Correlation Of Changes In The Closing Levels Among The Index Commodities May Reduce The Performance Of The Shares.
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Changes in the closing levels amongst the Index Commodities may become highly correlated
from time-to-time, including, but not limited to, a period during which there is a substantial decline in a particular Category represented by the Index Commodities. Furthermore, such Index Commodities may have a higher weighting in the Index
relative to any of the other Categories. High correlation during periods of negative returns among heavily weighted Index Commodities representing any one Category may adversely impact the closing levels of the Index, and in turn, the market price
of your Shares.
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(42) |
Certain Of The Futures Contracts Underlying The Index And The Related Alternative Financial Instruments (If Any) Will Be Subject To Pronounced
Risks Of Pricing Volatility. |
Certain of the futures contracts underlying the
Index, most notably agricultural products, tend to have only a few contract months each year that trade with sufficient liquidity. Thus, the futures contracts corresponding to these commodities tend to expire infrequently, roll forward less
frequently than monthly, and may have further pronounced pricing volatility during extended periods of low liquidity. In turn, the related Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) may also reflect greater volatility accordingly.
Certain of the commodities, notably those in the energy and base metals sectors, have liquid futures contracts that
expire every month. Therefore, these contracts may be rolled forward every month. In respect of the futures contracts underlying the Index that represent energy, it should be noted that, due to the significant level of its continuous and worldwide
consumption, limited reserves, and oil cartel controls,
-30-
energy commodities are subject to rapid price increases in the event of perceived or actual shortages. In turn, the related Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) may also reflect greater
volatility accordingly.
As a result of the additional volatility of the Index Commodities, the closing
levels of the Index, and in turn the market price of your Shares, may also become subject to a corresponding increase in volatility.
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(43) |
Because The Index Is Comprised Of Long-Only Futures Contracts, The Levels Of The Index Will Fall If The Market Price Of The Index Commodities
Falls. |
A long position is a position that will increase in market price if the
price of the Index Commodities, in the aggregate, are rising during the period when the position is open. A short position is a position that will increase in market price if the price of the Index Commodities, in the aggregate, are falling during
the period when the position is open. Because the Index is comprised of long-only futures contracts, the levels of the Index will fall if the market price of the Index Commodities falls. Furthermore, because the Index is not comprised of any short
futures contracts, the Index will not benefit from a decrease in the price of the Index Commodities.
Fund and Regulatory Related Risks
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(44) |
Shareholders Will Not Have The Protections Associated With Ownership Of Shares In An Investment Company Registered Under The Investment
Company Act Of 1940. Such Protections Are Intended To Decrease Certain Conflicts And Also Impose A Number Of Investment Restrictions And Diversification Requirements. |
The Fund is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and it is not required to
register under such Act. Consequently, Shareholders will not have the regulatory protections provided to investors in registered and regulated investment companies, such as, for example, the requirement that investment companies must have a board of
directors comprised of disinterested directors which oversees the
registered funds activities with respect to entering into advisory contracts and other agreements and the requirement that investment companies must establish policies and procedures that
address various conflicts of interest. Furthermore, the Investment Company Act of 1940 imposes a number of investment restrictions and diversification requirements, prohibitions against certain transactions with affiliates, and regulates a number of
additional areas. Investors in Shares will not have the benefit of any of these protections.
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(45) |
Trading On Commodity Exchanges Outside The U.S., Such As The London Metal Exchange And ICE Europe, Is Not Subject To U.S. Regulation.
Shareholders Could Incur Substantial Losses From Trading On Commodity Exchanges Which Such Shareholders Would Not Have Otherwise Been Subject Had The Funds Trading Been Limited To U.S. Markets. |
Some of the Funds trading is expected to be conducted on commodity exchanges outside the U.S.
Specifically, the Funds trading of aluminum, copper, lead, nickel and zinc will be conducted on the London Metal Exchange, which we refer to as the LME. Additionally, the Funds trading of brent and gas oil will be conducted on ICE
Futures Europe, which we refer to as ICE Europe. Trading on these exchanges is regulated by non-U.S. governmental authorities and may involve certain risks not applicable to trading on U.S. exchanges, including different or diminished investor
protections. In trading contracts denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars, Shares will be subject to the risk of adverse exchange-rate movements between the dollar and the functional currencies of such contracts. Shareholders could
incur substantial losses from trading on foreign exchanges which such Shareholders would not have otherwise been subject had the Funds trading been limited to U.S. markets.
Based on the current Index weights (i.e., 2011 reference production dollar weight) of the Index, the Managing Owner
estimates that approximately 8.41% and 21.52% of the Funds trading is expected to be conducted on the LME and ICE Europe, respectively, which are commodity exchanges outside the U.S.
-31-
The above range is only an approximation. The actual percentage may be
either lesser or greater than above-listed.
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(46) |
Alternative Financial Instruments (If Any), Such As Forward Agreements And Swaps Are Not Regulated And Are Subject To The Risk Of Counterparty
Non-Performance Resulting In The Fund Not Realizing A Trading Gain. |
The Managing
Owner may determine that the Fund may enter into one or more Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) through a dealer market which is dominated by major money center banks and is substantially unregulated. Thus, you do not receive the same
protection as provided to futures traders in U.S. markets by the CFTC, regulatory scheme or the statutory scheme of the CEAct. Although the Managing Owner does not expect the Fund to have a significant exposure to Alternative Financial Instruments,
the Declaration of Trust does not limit the amount of funds that the Fund may invest in Alternative Financial Instruments. Therefore, as the amount of funds invested in Alternative Financial Instruments increases, the risks highlighted in this risk
factor increase correspondingly.
Markets in which the Fund may effect a transaction in one or more
Alternative Financial Instruments are in the over-the-counter unregulated private markets. The participants and dealers in such markets are typically not subject to the same level of credit evaluation and regulatory oversight as are
members of the exchange-based markets. This exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a credit or liquidity problem or a dispute over the terms of the
contract (whether or not bona fide), thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. Such counterparty risk is accentuated for contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or in instances where the Fund has concentrated
its transactions with a single or small group of counterparties. Recent events surrounding the bankruptcies or similar proceedings of various counterparties and dealers have demonstrated certain risks of the Fund engaging in these
over-the-counter transactions in unregulated private markets. Therefore, the Fund faces the risk of non-performance by the counterparties to the Alternative Financial Instruments and such non-performance may cause some or all of the
Funds gain, if any, on its Alternative Financial Instruments to be unrealized.
The Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery in a
bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding from a counterparty and the Fund may obtain only limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.
The Alternative Financial Instruments have terms that make them less marketable than futures on the Index Commodities.
Alternative Financial Instruments are less marketable because they are not traded on an exchange, do not have uniform terms and conditions, and are entered into based upon the creditworthiness of the parties and the availability of credit support,
such as collateral, and in general, are not transferable without the consent of the counterparty.
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(47) |
The Effect Of Market Disruptions, Governmental Intervention And The Reform Act Are Unpredictable And May Have An Adverse Effect On The Value
Of Your Shares. |
The global financial markets have in the past few years gone
through pervasive and fundamental disruptions that have led to extensive and unprecedented governmental intervention. Such intervention has in certain cases been implemented on an emergency basis, suddenly and substantially eliminating
market participants ability to continue to implement certain strategies or manage the risk of their outstanding positions. In addition as one would expect given the complexities of the financial markets and the limited time frame within
which governments have felt compelled to take action these interventions have typically been unclear in scope and application, resulting in confusion and uncertainty which in itself has been materially detrimental to the efficient functioning
of the markets as well as previously successful investment strategies.
The Fund may incur major losses in
the event of disrupted markets and other extraordinary events in which historical pricing relationships become materially distorted. The risk of loss from pricing distortions is compounded by the fact that in disrupted markets many positions become
illiquid, making it difficult or impossible to close out positions against which the markets are moving. The financing available to market participants from their banks, dealers and other counterparties is typically
-32-
reduced in disrupted markets. Such a reduction may result in substantial losses to the affected market participants. Market disruptions may from time to time cause dramatic losses, and such
events can result in otherwise historically low-risk strategies performing with unprecedented volatility and risk.
In response to the recent financial crises, the Obama Administration and the U.S. Congress proposed sweeping reform of the U.S. financial regulatory system. After over a year of debate, the Reform Act
became law in July 2010. The Reform Act seeks to regulate markets, market participants and financial instruments that previously have been unregulated and substantially alters the regulation of many other markets, market participants and financial
instruments. Because many provisions of the Reform Act require rulemaking by the applicable regulators before becoming fully effective and the Reform Act mandates multiple agency reports and studies (which could result in additional legislative or
regulatory action), it is difficult to predict the impact of the Reform Act on the Fund, the Managing Owner, and the markets in which the Fund trades and invests. The Reform Act could result in certain investment strategies in which the Fund engages
or may have otherwise engaged becoming non-viable or non-economic to implement. The Reform Act and regulations adopted pursuant to the Reform Act could have a material adverse impact on the profit potential of a Fund. See also The Risks You
Face (48) The Effects Of New Regulation Of The Over-The-Counter Derivatives Markets Is Unknown And May Have A Detrimental Effect On The Value Of Your Shares below.
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(48) |
The Effects Of New Regulation Of The Over-The-Counter Derivatives Markets Is Unknown And May Have A Detrimental Effect On The Value Of Your
Shares. |
The Reform Act was enacted in July 2010. The Reform Act includes
provisions that comprehensively regulate the over-the-counter, or OTC, derivatives markets for the first time.
The Reform Act will mandate that a substantial portion of OTC derivatives must be executed in regulated markets and submitted for clearing to regulated clearinghouses. OTC trades submitted for clearing
will be subject to minimum initial and variation margin requirements set by the relevant clearinghouse, as well as possible SEC- or CFTC-mandated margin requirements. The regulators also have broad discretion to impose margin requirements on
non-cleared OTC derivatives and new requirements will apply to the holding of customer collateral by OTC derivatives dealers. These requirements may increase the amount of collateral the Fund is required to provide and the costs associated with
providing it with respect to its investments in Alternative Financial Instruments (if any). Although the Reform Act includes limited exemptions from the clearing and margin requirements for so-called end-users, the Fund does not expect
to be able to rely on such exemptions. In addition, the OTC derivative dealers with which the Fund executes the majority of its Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) will not be able to rely on the end-user exemptions under the Reform Act and
therefore such dealers will be subject to
clearing and margin requirements irrespective of whether the Fund is subject to such requirements. OTC derivative dealers also will be required to post margin to the clearinghouses through which
they clear their customers trades instead of using such margin in their operations, as is currently permitted. This will increase the OTC derivative dealers costs, and these increased costs are expected to be passed through to other
market participants in the form of higher upfront and mark-to-market margin, less favorable trade pricing, and the possible imposition of new or increased fees.
The SEC and/or CFTC, as applicable, may also require a substantial portion of derivative transactions that are
currently executed on a bi-lateral basis in the OTC markets to be executed through a regulated securities, futures, or swap exchange or execution facility. Such requirements may make it more difficult and costly for investment funds, including the
Fund, to enter into highly tailored or customized transactions. They may also render investment in Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) in which the Fund might otherwise engage impossible or so costly that they will no longer be economical to
implement.
OTC derivative dealers and major OTC derivatives market participants will be required to
register with the SEC and/or CFTC. The Fund or the Managing Owner may be required to register as major participants in the OTC derivatives markets. Dealers and major participants will be subject to minimum capital and margin requirements. These
requirements may apply irrespective of whether the OTC derivatives in question are exchange-traded or cleared. OTC derivatives dealers will also be subject to new business conduct standards, disclosure requirements, reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, transparency requirements, position limits, limitations on conflicts of interest, and other regulatory burdens. These requirements may further increase the overall costs for OTC derivative dealers, which costs are also likely to be
passed along to market participants. The overall impact of the Reform Act on the Fund is highly uncertain and it is unclear how the OTC derivatives markets will adapt to this new regulatory regime.
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(49) |
Although The Shares Are Limited Liability Investments, Certain Circumstances Such As Bankruptcy Of The Fund Or Indemnification Of The Fund By
The Shareholders Will Increase A Shareholders Liability. |
The Shares are
limited liability investments. Investors may not lose more than the amount that they invest plus any profits recognized on their investment. However, Shareholders could be required, as a matter of bankruptcy law, to return to the estate of the Fund
any distribution they received at a time when the Fund was in fact insolvent or in violation of its Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement, which we refer to as the Declaration of Trust. In addition, although the Managing
Owner is not aware of this provision ever having been invoked in the case of any public futures pool, Shareholders agree in the Declaration of Trust that they will indemnify the Fund for any harm suffered by it as a result of
-33-
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Shareholders actions unrelated to the business of the Fund, or |
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taxes imposed on the Shares by any state, local or foreign taxing authority in which such shareholders reside. |
Fund and Tax Related Risks
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(50) |
Shareholders Will Be Subject To Taxation On Their Allocable Shares Of The Funds Taxable Income, Whether Or Not They Receive Cash
Distributions. |
Shareholders will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation and,
in some cases, state, local, or foreign income taxation on their allocable shares of the Funds taxable income, whether or not they receive cash distributions from the Fund. Shareholders may not receive cash distributions equal
to their shares of the Funds taxable income or even the tax liability that results from such income.
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(51) |
Items Of Income, Gain, Loss And Deduction With Respect To Shares Could Be Reallocated If The IRS Does Not Accept The Assumptions
Or Conventions Used By The Fund In Allocating Such Tax Items. |
U.S. federal income
tax rules applicable to partnerships are complex and often difficult to apply to publicly traded partnerships. The Fund will apply certain assumptions and conventions in an attempt to comply with applicable rules and to report items of income, gain,
loss and deduction to Shareholders in a manner that reflects the Shareholders beneficial interests in such tax items, but these assumptions and conventions may not be considered to be in compliance with all aspects of applicable tax
requirements. It is possible that the IRS will
-34-
successfully assert that the conventions and assumptions used by the Fund do not satisfy the technical requirements of the Code and/or Treasury Regulations and could require that items of income,
gain, loss or deduction be adjusted or reallocated in a manner that adversely affects one or more Shareholders.
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(52) |
The Current Treatment Of Long-Term Capital Gains Under Current U.S. Federal Income Tax Law May Be Adversely Affected, Changed Or Repealed In
The Future, And In Turn, May Adversely Affect The Value Of Your Shares. |
Under
current law, long-term capital gains are taxed to non-corporate investors at reduced U.S. federal income tax rates. This tax treatment may be adversely affected, changed or repealed by future changes in, or the expiration of, tax laws at any time.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISERS AND COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO
THE POSSIBLE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE SHARES; SUCH TAX CONSEQUENCES MAY DIFFER WITH RESPECT TO DIFFERENT INVESTORS.
-35-
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Prospectus includes forward-looking statements that reflect the Managing Owners current expectations about the future results, performance, prospects and opportunities of the Fund. The Managing
Owner has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as may, will, expect, anticipate, believe, intend, should, estimate or
the negative of those terms or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Managing Owner and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, both known, such as those
described in Risk Factors in the Summary section, in the section The Risks You Face and elsewhere in this Prospectus, and unknown, that could cause the actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities of
the Fund to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.
You
should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, the Managing Owner undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or the risks,
uncertainties or other factors described in this Prospectus, as a result of new information, future events or changed circumstances or for any other reason after the date of this Prospectus.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
General
The Fund will seek to track changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Excess Return Index, which we refer to as the Index, over time. The Shares are designed for investors
who want a convenient way to gain an exposure to a diversified selection of commodities and an index strategy that seeks to serve as a benchmark for commodity market returns and to reflect general levels of price movements and inflation in the world
economy.
Considerations relating to an investment in the Shares include:
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Roll Optimization. The Index is an excess return commodity index comprised of commodity futures contracts that are
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replaced periodically. The process of periodically replacing a futures contract prior to its expiration is known as rolling a contract or position. The Fund utilizes a more flexible
monthly futures contract rolling strategy, to determine the new futures contract months, than the liquidity focused S&P
GSCI® Index. This is designed to maximize yield from rolling long futures contracts in backwardated markets and
minimize roll loss from rolling long futures positions in contangoed markets. |
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Ease and Flexibility of Investment. The Shares will trade on NYSE Arca and provide investors with indirect exposure to commodity futures. The
Shares may be bought and sold throughout the business day at real-time market prices on NYSE Arca like other exchange-listed securities. Investors will be able to purchase and sell Shares through traditional brokerage accounts.
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Diversification. The Shares may help to diversify a portfolio because historically the Index has tended to exhibit low to negative
correlation with equities, conventional bonds and alternative investments. |
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More Direct Commodity Access. The Shares provide a more direct exposure to commodities than mutual funds that invest in commodity-linked
notes or non-exchange traded commodity instruments, which also have implicit imbedded costs and credit risk, potentially adversely impacting the net asset value of the respective mutual fund. |
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Margin. Shares will be eligible for margin accounts. |
Investing in the Shares does not insulate Shareholders from certain risks, including price volatility.
The Fund will trade exchange-traded futures on the Index Commodities comprising the Index, with a view to tracking the
Index over time. In addition to exchange-traded futures on the Index Commodities, the Fund Portfolio includes Cash Instruments and Alternative Financial Instruments, if any.
-36-
The Index aims to reflect the return of an investment in a world
production-weighted portfolio comprising the principal physical commodities that are the subject of active, liquid futures markets.
The Index Portfolio, denominated in USD, is made up of long positions in 24 underlying Index Commodities as listed in Table 1 in the section Description of the S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Excess Return Index Composition of the Index, diversified across the commodity
universe. The holding of long positions involves establishing commodity futures, which means that the investors portfolio will benefit if the prices of such commodities rise and will be negatively affected if the prices of such commodities
decline. The Index Portfolio is a synthetic portfolio or basket of Index Commodities (and in turn, a reflection of the change in market price of these Index Commodities) because there is no actual portfolio of assets to which any person is entitled
or in which any person has any ownership interest.
The Index is an excess return commodity index comprised
of commodity futures contracts that are replaced periodically. The process of periodically replacing a futures contract prior to its expiration is known as rolling a contract or position. An index that includes an assumed return on a
hypothetical portfolio of 3-month Treasury bills or any other risk free component is known as a total return index. An excess return index excludes returns on a hypothetical portfolio of 3-month Treasury bills or any other
risk free component.
The Dynamic Roll Index Methodology is designed to maximize yield from rolling long
futures contracts in backwardated markets and minimize roll loss from rolling long futures positions in contangoed markets. A backwardated market means a market in which the prices of certain commodity futures contracts are higher for
contracts with shorter-term expirations than for contracts with longer-term expirations. A contangoed market means a market in which the prices of certain commodity futures contracts are lower for contracts with shorter-term expirations
than for contracts with longer-term expirations.
The BNP Affiliated Entities are affiliates of the Trust
and the Fund.
Under the Declaration of Trust, the Managing Owner has the exclusive management and control
of all aspects of the business of the Trust and the Fund. The Trustee will have no duty to supervise or monitor
the performance of the Managing Owner, nor will the Trustee have any liability for the acts or omissions of the Managing Owner.
If the Managing Owner determines in its commercially reasonable judgment that it has become impracticable or
inefficient for any reason for the Fund to gain full or partial exposure to any Index Commodity by investing in a specific futures contract that is a part of the Index, the Fund may:
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invest in a futures contract referencing the particular Index Commodity other than the specific contract that is a part of the Index, or
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invest in an Alternative Financial Instrument (as defined below) referencing the particular Index Commodity, or |
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in the alternative, invest in other Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) not based on the particular Index Commodity
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if, in the commercially reasonable judgment of the Managing Owner, such above instruments
tend to exhibit trading prices or returns that generally correlate with a futures contract that is a part of the Index. If the Fund invests in alternative forward agreements, cleared swaps or swaps that will serve as proxies to one or more Index
Commodities, we will refer to these instruments as the Alternative Financial Instruments. Investing in Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) exposes the Fund to counterparty risk, or the risk that an Alternative Financial Instrument
counterparty will default on its obligations under the Alternative Financial Instrument. The Declaration of Trust does not limit the amount of funds that the Fund may invest in Alternative Financial Instruments.
PRICING INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON
NYSE ARCA AND OTHER SOURCES
The following table lists
NYSE Arca symbols and their meanings with respect to the Shares and the Index:
-37-
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Ticker |
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Description
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BNPC |
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Market price per Share on NYSE Arca |
BNPCIV |
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Indicative intra-day value per Share |
BNPCNV |
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End of day Net Asset Value per Share |
SPDYCIP |
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Intra-day and Index closing level as of close of business
from the prior day |
BNPCSO |
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Number of outstanding Shares |
The intra-day data in the above table is published once every 15 seconds throughout
each trading day.
The current market price per Share (symbol: BNPC) (quoted in U.S. dollars)
will be published continuously as trades occur throughout each trading day on the consolidated tape by market data vendors and on the Managing Owners website at http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com, or any successor thereto.
The intra-day indicative value per Share (symbol: BNPCIV) (quoted in U.S. dollars) will be published by
NYSE Arca once every 15 seconds throughout each trading day on the consolidated tape by market data vendors and on the Managing Owners website at http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com, or any successor thereto.
The most recent end-of-day Net Asset Value per Share (symbol: BNPCNV) will be published by the Managing
Owner as of the close of business on the Managing Owners website at http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com, or any successor thereto and will be published by market data vendors on the consolidated tape.
The intra-day level and the most recent end-of-day closing level of the Index (symbol: SPDYCIP) will be
published on Reuters page .SPDYCIP and on Bloomberg page .SPDYCIP<index> once every 15 seconds throughout each trading day and as of the close of business on each Index Business Day, respectively, on Standard & Poors (which
serves as the Index Sponsor) website at http://www.standardandpoors.com, or any successor thereto.
The number of outstanding Shares (symbol: BNPCSO) will be published once every 15 seconds throughout the
trading day and as of the close of business for NYSE Arca, respectively, on the
consolidated tape by market data vendors and on the Managing Owners website at http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com, or any successor thereto.
Any adjustments made to the Index will be published on Standard & Poors (which serves as the Index
Sponsor) website at http://www.standardandpoors.com, or any successor thereto.
The intra-day
indicative value per Share of the Fund is based on the prior days final Net Asset Value, adjusted every 15 seconds throughout the day to reflect the continuous price changes of the Funds futures positions. The final Net Asset Value of
the Fund and the final Net Asset Value per Share is calculated as of the closing time of NYSE Arca or the last to close of the exchanges on which the Index Commodities are traded, whichever is later, and posted in the same manner. Although a time
gap may exist between the close of NYSE Arca and the close of the exchanges on which the Index Commodities are traded, there is no effect on the Net Asset Value calculations as a result.
The Trust and the Fund are not issued, sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by NYSE Arca, and NYSE Arca makes no
representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product.
NYSE ARCA MAKES
NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. IN NO EVENT SHALL NYSE ARCA HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
The
Shares are intended to provide investment results that generally correspond to the changes, positive or negative, in the levels of the Index over time. The market price of the Shares is expected to fluctuate in relation to changes in the value of
the Fund Portfolio. The market price of the Shares may not be identical to the Net Asset Value per Share, but these two valuations are expected to be close. See the section The Risks You Face (3) Net Asset Value Per Share May
Not Always
-38-
Correspond To The Market Price Per Share And, As A Result, Baskets May Be Created Or Redeemed At A Net Asset Value Per Share That Differs From The Market Price Per Share.
There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective or avoid substantial losses.
THIS POOL HAS NOT COMMENCED TRADING AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY PERFORMANCE HISTORY. The market price of the Shares on the secondary market is expected to fluctuate generally in relation to changes in the Net Asset Value of the Fund.
Role of Managing Owner
NEITHER THIS POOL OPERATOR NOR ANY OF ITS TRADING PRINCIPALS HAS PREVIOUSLY OPERATED ANY OTHER
POOLS OR TRADED ANY OTHER ACCOUNTS.
The Managing Owner has been registered as a commodity pool
operator with the CFTC and has been a member of the NFA since July 27, 2010.
The Managing Owner will
serve as the commodity pool operator of the Trust and the Fund and will also manage the Fund Portfolio.
Specifically, the Managing Owner:
|
|
|
selects the Trustee, the commodity broker, administrator, custodian, transfer agent, marketing agent, auditor and any other service providers of the
Fund; |
|
|
|
negotiates various agreements and fees; |
|
|
|
performs such other services as the Managing Owner believes that the Fund may from time-to-time require; and |
|
|
|
monitors the performance results of the Fund Portfolio and reallocates assets within the Fund Portfolio with a view to causing the performance of
the Fund Portfolio to track that of the Index over time. |
The principal office of the
Managing Owner is located at 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019. The telephone number of the Managing Owner is (212) 841-2000.
DESCRIPTION OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC
ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX
None of the BNP Affiliated Entities approves,
endorses or recommends an investment in the Fund or an investment in pools operated by the Managing Owner.
S&P® and Standard &
Poors are registered trademarks of Standard & Poors Financial Services LLC. S&P
GSCI® is a registered service mark and trademark of S&P.
The Managing Owner has entered into an agreement with S&P, the Index Sponsor, that provides us and our
affiliates with a non-transferable, limited, nonexclusive (except as provided below) and worldwide license, for a fee, with the right to use the S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Excess Return Index in connection with certain securities.
This section contains a description of the Index, and where applicable, the S&P GSCI Commodity Index, or the S&P GSCI. All information regarding the Index and the S&P GSCI contained in this
Prospectus, including its composition, method of calculation, changes in its components and historical return, has been derived from publicly available information, including information published by S&P (which is the Index Sponsor) but has not
been independently verified. You, as a prospective investor in the Shares, should conduct your own investigation into the Index, the S&P GSCI and the Index Sponsor in order to make an informed decision with respect to an investment in the Fund.
THIS FUND IS NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED, SOLD OR PROMOTED BY STANDARD & POORS AND ITS
AFFILIATES (collectively, S&P). S&P MAKES NO REPRESENTATION, CONDITION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE OWNERS OF THE FUND OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE ADVISABILITY OF INVESTING IN SECURITIES GENERALLY OR IN
THE FUND PARTICULARLY OR THE ABILITY OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX TO TRACK MARKET
PERFORMANCE AND/OR TO ACHIEVE ITS STATED OBJECTIVE AND/OR TO FORM THE BASIS OF A SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENT STRATEGY, AS APPLICABLE. S&PS ONLY RELATIONSHIP TO BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIES, LLC IS THE LICENSING OF CERTAIN TRADEMARKS AND
TRADE NAMES AND OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX WHICH
-39-
IS DETERMINED, COMPOSED AND CALCULATED BY S&P WITHOUT REGARD TO BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIES, LLC OR THE FUND. S&P HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE
STRATEGIES, LLC INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING, COMPOSING OR CALCULATING THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL
EXCESS RETURN INDEX. S&P IS NOT AN ADVISOR TO THE FUND AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PRICES AND AMOUNT OF THE FUND OR THE TIMING OF THE ISSUANCE OR SALE OF THE FUND OR IN THE DETERMINATION OR
CALCULATION OF THE EQUATION BY WHICH THE FUNDS SHARES ARE TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH. S&P HAS NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING, OR TRADING OF THE FUND.
S&P DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND S&P SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS,
OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO WARRANTY, CONDITION OR REPRESENTATION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIES, LLC, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE
OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR CONDITIONS, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE AND ANY OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P
GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN
NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
The following information with respect to the Index and the S&P GSCI reflects the
policies of and is subject to change by the Index Sponsor. The Index Sponsor owns the copyright and other rights to the Index and the S&P GSCI. The Index Sponsor has no obligation to consider your interests as a Shareholder and has no obligation
to continue to publish, and may discontinue the publication of, the Index or the S&P GSCI. The consequences of the Index Sponsors discontinuing the Index and the S&P GSCI are described under The Risks You Face
Fund and Index Related Risks
Current information regarding the market values of the Index and the
S&P GSCI is available from the Index Sponsor and numerous public sources. None of the Sponsor, the Trustee, the Trust, or the Fund makes any representation that publicly available information about the Index and the S&P GSCI is accurate or
complete. In addition, none of the Index Sponsor, the Trustee, the Trust, or the Fund accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of, or for any error, omission or disruption in, the Index or the S&P GSCI.
The Index and the S&P GSCI were established in January 2011 and May 1991, respectively. The Index reflects the
returns that are potentially available through a rolling uncollateralized investment in the contracts comprising the S&P GSCI. The S&P GSCI reflects the value of an investment in the Index together with a Treasury bill return.
General
The Index was developed by the Index Sponsor and is an index on a world production-weighted basket of principal
physical commodities that satisfy specified criteria. The Index reflects the level of commodity prices at a given time and is designed to be a measure of the return over time of the markets for these commodities. The commodities represented in the
Index, each an Index Commodity, are those physical commodities on which active and liquid contracts are traded on trading facilities in major industrialized countries. The Index Commodities are weighted, on a production basis, to reflect the
relative significance (in the view of the Index Sponsor) of those Index Commodities to the world economy. The fluctuations in the level of the Index are intended generally to correlate with changes in the prices of those physical Index Commodities
in global markets.
The methodology underlying the Index is based on the same methodology as the S&P
GSCI, except with respect to rolling the Designated Contracts. (For
-40-
the avoidance of doubt, the Index is calculated on an excess return basis and the S&P GSCI is calculated on a total return basis.) The Index, which is an expansion of the S&P GSCI, is
comprised of the same Index Commodities as the S&P GSCI and uses the same world production weighting methodology. The Index includes Index Commodities from the following five sectors: energy, agriculture, industrial metals, precious metals, and
livestock.
The Index, denominated in USD, is currently composed of long positions in 24 underlying Index
Commodities diversified across the commodity universe. There is no limit on the number of Designated Contracts that may be included in the Index. Any contract satisfying the eligibility criteria will become a Designated Contract and will be included
in the Index.
The holding of long positions involves establishing commodity futures contracts, which means
that the investors portfolio will benefit if the prices of such Index Commodities rise and will be negatively affected if the prices of such Index Commodities decline. The Index is a synthetic portfolio or basket of Index Commodities (and in
turn, a reflection of the change in market value of these Index Commodities) because there is no actual portfolio of assets to which any person is entitled or in which any person has any ownership interest.
No assurance can be given that the Index will achieve its goals or that the Index results will surpass any alternative
basket or strategy that might be constructed from the Index Commodities.
The steps and calculations that
govern the determination of the weighting for the Index Commodities and the selection of the Designated Contracts, and therefore, the results of the Index, were developed by the Index Sponsor. We refer to these steps and calculations as the
Index Methodology. The Index Methodology is more fully described below under the section The Index Methodology.
The closing levels of the Index are published under the symbol SPDYCIP. The Index Sponsor provides the closing levels of the Index for each Index Business Day (as defined below) to market data
vendors. The Index Sponsor began calculating the level of the Index on January 27, 2011, or the Launch Date. January 16, 1995 is the base date, or Base Date on which the initial level of the Index was 100. Values of the Index Commodities
are required prior to and after the Launch Date to determine the
Index levels for the Index. For the period from and including January 16, 1995 to January 27, 2011, the Index Sponsor calculated the closing levels of the Index by applying the Index
Methodology to the actual levels of the Index Commodities.
The Index was developed by the Index Sponsor.
The Index Methodology is provided by the Index Sponsor on its website at http://www.standardandpoors.com (which website is not incorporated into this Prospectus and is not a part of this Prospectus) and the closing levels are published by market
data vendors.
None of the Trust, the Fund, BNPP Securities or any of their affiliates assumes any
responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information or has made any due diligence inquiry with respect to the Index Commodities underlying the Index. None of the Trust, the Fund, BNPP Securities or any of their affiliates makes any
representation that such publicly available or other information regarding the Index Commodities underlying the Index is accurate or complete, and the Trust, the Fund, BNPP Securities and their affiliates are not responsible for public disclosure of
information on the Index Commodities underlying the Index. Furthermore, the Trust, the Fund, BNPP Securities and their affiliates are not affiliated with the Index Sponsor, and have no ability to control or predict the actions of the Index Sponsor,
including any errors in or discontinuation of disclosure regarding the methods or policies relating to the calculation of the Index. Moreover, the Trust, the Fund, BNPP Securities and their affiliates cannot give any assurance that all events
occurring prior to the date of this Prospectus, including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of the public information on the Index Commodities underlying the Index have been publicly disclosed. Subsequent disclosure of any such
events or the disclosure of or failure to disclose material future events concerning the Index Commodities underlying the Index could affect the value of the Fund and ultimately, the value of your Shares.
Index and Index Commodities
The Index is comprised of designated contracts, or Designated Contracts, which are futures contracts on the Index
Commodities. The Index Commodities are diversified across five different categories: energy, agriculture, industrial metals, precious metals and livestock. Each Designated Contract is comprised of futures contracts on the Index Commodities that are
traded on regulated exchanges. The Index reflects the return associated with the
-41-
change in prices of the underlying Designated Contracts on the Index Commodities together with the roll yield (as discussed below) associated with these Designated Contracts (the
price changes of the Designated Contracts and roll yield, taken together, constitute the excess return reflected by the Index).
Contracts on physical commodities are traded on regulated futures exchanges, in the over-the-counter market and on various types of physical and electronic trading facilities and markets. As of the date
of this Prospectus, all of the Designated Contracts are exchange-traded futures contracts. An exchange-traded futures contract is a bilateral agreement providing for the purchase and sale of a specified type and quantity of a commodity or financial
instrument during a stated delivery month for a fixed price. A futures contract provides for a specified settlement month in which the commodity or financial instrument is to be delivered by the seller (whose position is described as
short) and acquired by the purchaser (whose position is described as long) or in which the cash settlement amount is to be made.
There is no purchase price paid or received on the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Instead, an amount of cash or cash equivalents must be deposited with the broker as initial margin.
This amount varies based on the requirements imposed by the exchange clearing houses, but may be as low as 5% or less of the market price of the underlying futures contract. This margin deposit provides collateral for the obligations of the parties
to the futures contract.
Futures contracts are traded on organized exchanges, known as contract
markets in the U.S., through the facilities of a centralized clearinghouse and a brokerage firm which is a member of the clearinghouse. The clearinghouse guarantees the performance of each clearing member which is a party to the futures
contract by, in effect, taking the opposite side of the transaction. At any time prior to the expiration of a futures contract, subject to the availability of a liquid secondary market, a trader may elect to close out its position by taking an
opposite position on the exchange on which the trade obtained the position. This operates to terminate the position and fix the traders profit or loss.
U.S. futures contract markets, as well as brokers and market participants, are subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Futures markets outside the U.S. are generally subject to
regulation by comparable regulatory authorities. However, the structure and nature of trading on
non-
U.S. exchanges may differ from the foregoing description.
Unlike equity securities, which typically entitle the holder to a continuing stake in a corporation, and unlike owning the physical commodity directly, a commodity futures contract specifies a certain
date for delivery of the underlying commodity. A fundamental characteristic of the Index, like other commodity indices, is that as result of being comprised of futures contracts on the applicable Index Commodity, the Trust must be managed to ensure
it does not take physical delivery of each respective Index Commodity. This is achieved through a process referred to as rolling under which a given futures contract during a month in which it approaches its settlement date is rolled
forward to a new contract date (i.e., the futures contract is effectively sold to buy a longer-dated futures contract). All futures contracts underlying the Index will be deemed to be rolled before their respective maturities
into futures contracts in the more-distant future.
Roll yield is generated during the roll process from the
difference in price between the near-term and longer-dated futures contracts. The futures curve is a hypothetical curve created by plotting futures contract prices for a particular Index Commodity. When longer-dated contracts are priced lower than
the nearer contract and spot prices, the market is in backwardation represented by a downward sloping futures curve, and positive roll yield is generated when higher-priced near-term futures contracts are sold to
buy lower priced longer-dated contracts. When the opposite is true and longer-dated contracts are priced higher, the market, which is in contango, is represented by an upward sloping futures curve, and negative roll yields
result from the sale of lower priced near-term futures contracts to buy higher priced longer-dated contracts. While many of the Index Commodities may have historically exhibited consistent periods of backwardation,
backwardation will most likely not exist at all times. Moreover, certain of the Index Commodities may have historically traded in contango markets. See Chart 1 below for examples of downward and upward sloping futures curves.
-42-
Chart 1: Examples of Downward and Upward Sloping Futures Curves
-43-
The Dynamic Roll Process
The Index was established in January 2011 and reflects the returns that are potentially available
through rolling uncollateralized Designated Contracts on the Index Commodities comprising the Index. Because futures contracts have scheduled expirations, or delivery months, as one contract nears expiration it becomes necessary to close out the
position in that delivery month and to establish a position in a futures contract with a future expiration date. This process is referred to as rolling the position forward. An index that is designed to reflect the return from rolling
each contract included in the index as it nears expiration into the next nearby most active delivery month is said to follow a standard roll, or Standard Roll, methodology. This is accomplished by selling the position in the first delivery month and
purchasing a position of equivalent value in the second delivery month. If the price of the second contract is lower than the price of the first contract, the rolling process results in a greater quantity of the second contract being
acquired for the same value and the market is described as being backwardated. Conversely, if the price of the second contract is higher than the price of the first contract, the rolling process results in a smaller quantity
of the second contract being acquired for the same value and the market is described as being in contango.
An index that employs the Standard Roll schedule may sometimes diminish total returns due to periodic rolling expenses. Although the first nearby contracts are generally the most liquid, based on open
interest, they may also become the most expensive (resulting in lower total returns) when the commodities market is in contango (when further out future contracts trade at a premium). Conversely, when commodity markets are in backwardation (when
further out future contracts trade at a discount), indices that employ a Standard Roll strategy generally boast higher total returns.
The Index is a commodity index that utilizes the S&P GSCI®
Dynamic Roll Index Methodology, a monthly futures contract rolling methodology that determines the new futures contract months for the underlying commodities. The S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Index Methodology is a more flexible methodology than the Standard Roll methodology. At each Roll Determination Date, which is the third Index Business
Day of each month, dynamic roll algorithms measure the current shape of the forward curves of the eligible futures contract prices for each Index Commodity. The contract rolling strategy is optimized based on implied roll yield and the
Dynamic Roll Parity Principle as explained below. The Index optimizes rolling by using a systematic methodology to search for the optimal contract months along the curve to roll into, subject to
using only the most liquid of all available contracts of a given commodity.
When the futures curve for a
given commodity is in a general state of contango, the S&P GSCI Dynamic Roll methodology uses futures contracts months that are further out on the futures curve, with the intention of minimizing the effects of negative roll yields. When the
futures curve for a given commodity is in a general state of backwardation, the S&P GSCI Dynamic Roll methodology generally uses nearby futures contracts with the intention of maximizing the potential effects of positive roll yields from
backwardation.
The Dynamic Roll Selection Process
Based on the closing values on the Roll Determination Date, dynamic roll algorithms are run for each of the Index
Commodities. The Dynamic Roll selections of all the Index Commodities are assembled into the Monthly Dynamic Roll Schedule (see below), which is applied to the Index calculations at the beginning of the Index Roll Period.
A forward curve is created for each Index Commodity based the prices of its eligible futures contract months.
The implied roll yield of each consecutive pair of futures contracts on the forward curve is calculated.
The contract months are ranked based on their implied roll yields, with the best candidate for the new
Rolled-in Contract Month, as defined three paragraphs below, being that having the highest implied roll yield, and the next best candidate being that having the second highest implied roll yield, and so on.
The optimum set of futures contract months, or Optimum Set, is created based on the Rank Order of each of the Index
Commodities, which are given in the table below. For a Rank Order of 1, the optimum set of futures contracts consists of only the top one contract. For a Rank Order of 2, the optimum set of futures contracts consists of the top two contracts, and so
on.
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Pursuant to the Dynamic Roll Parity Principle, for a given Index
Commodity, if the Rolled-out Contact Month, as defined two paragraphs below, is included in the Optimum Set of futures contracts, continue to use the same contract month as the Rolled-in Contract Month for the current month; otherwise, choose the
first ranked contract month in the Optimum Set of futures contracts to be the new Rolled-in Contract Month for the current month.
The Rolled-out Contract Month is the current active futures contract month in use for that commodity. For a given Index Commoditys Roll Determination Date, the Rolled-in Contract Month is the
contract month selected via the Dynamic Roll Selection Process for that commodity. At the end of the Index Roll Period it then becomes the Rolled-out Contract Month for the upcoming Roll Determination Date.
Rank
Order of Index Commodities and
Optimized Set of Contracts
|
|
|
|
|
Index Commodity |
|
Code |
|
Rank Order |
Corn |
|
C |
|
1 |
Cocoa |
|
CC |
|
1 |
Crude Oil |
|
CL |
|
3 |
Brent Crude Oil |
|
LCO |
|
1 |
Cotton |
|
CT |
|
1 |
Feeder Cattle |
|
FC |
|
1 |
Gold |
|
GC |
|
1 |
Heating Oil |
|
HO |
|
1 |
Coffee |
|
KC |
|
1 |
Kansas Wheat |
|
KW |
|
2 |
Aluminum |
|
MAL |
|
2 |
Live Cattle |
|
LC |
|
1 |
Lean Hogs |
|
LH |
|
1 |
Lead |
|
MPB |
|
3 |
Nickel |
|
MNI |
|
3 |
Copper |
|
MCU |
|
3 |
Zinc |
|
MZN |
|
3 |
Natural Gas |
|
NG |
|
1 |
Gasoil |
|
LGO |
|
4 |
Soybeans |
|
S |
|
1 |
Sugar |
|
SB |
|
1 |
Silver |
|
SI |
|
2 |
Wheat |
|
W |
|
2 |
Gasoline |
|
RB |
|
2 |
Monthly Dynamic Roll Schedule
The Index Sponsor creates a Monthly Dynamic Roll Schedule of the Index by assembling
all the new Rolled-in Contract Months for all the Index Commodities. This set of Contract Months is effective for the upcoming monthly Roll Period, from the fifth (5th) Index Business Day to the ninth (9th) Index Business Day.
For example, Corn has a Rank Order of 1. If the Rolled-out Contract for Corn is not the same as the top ranked contract, use the top-ranked contract in the Optimum Set of Contracts as the new Rolled-In
Contract Month. Otherwise, if the Rolled-Out Contract Month is the same as the top ranked contract, then the same Rolled-out Contract Month will continue to be used as the new Rolled-in Contract Month.
In the case of Crude Oil, which has a Rank Order of 3, this means if the Rolled-out Contract is not one of the top
three Contract Months in the Optimum Set of Contracts for Crude Oil, the top ranked Contract Month is selected as the new Rolled-in Contract Month. Otherwise, if the Rolled-out Contract is among the top three Contract Months in the Optimum Set of
Contracts, then the same Rolled-Out Contract Month will continue to be used as the new Rolled-In Contract Month.
The Designated Contracts are rolled during the Roll Period, which occurs on the fifth through the ninth Index Business Days of each month. During the Roll Period, each applicable contract is shifted
pursuant to the Dynamic Roll Index Methodology from the Rolled-out Contract Month to the Rolled-in Contract Month at a rate of 20% per Index Business Day for each of the five days of the Roll Period. Therefore, during the first four Index
Business Days of a month, and just before the end of the fifth Index Business Day, the Index consists of the currently active futures contract month in use for each Index Commodity (i.e., Rolled-out Contract Month). The Index is calculated as though
each contract roll occurs at the end of each day during the Roll Period, at the daily settlement prices. At the end of the fifth Index Business Day, the Index is adjusted so that 20% of the contracts underlying the Index held are in the Rolled-in
Contract Month, with 80% remaining in the Rolled-out Contract Months. The roll process continues on the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth Index Business Days, with the relative weights of the Rolled-out Contract Month to the Rolled-in Contract Months
gradually shifting from a 60%/40%/20%/0%, weighting, to a 40%/60%/80%/100% weighting,
-45-
respectively. At the end of the ninth Index Business Day, the last of the Rolled-out Contract Months are exchanged, completing the roll and leaving the Index composed entirely of Rolled-in
Contract Months. See Contract Daily Return.
Index
Methodology
This section provides a summary of certain aspects of the Index Methodology as of the date
of this Prospectus. For additional information regarding the Index, please see S&P GSCI Dynamic Roll Index Methodology and S&P GSCI Index Methodology and any other related research. Please note that the Index Sponsor
may amend these publications and may post additional publications from time-to-time at www.standardandpoors.com.
The methodology for determining the composition and weighting of the Index and for calculating its value is subject to modification by S&P as described in the next sub-section. The Index Sponsor
calculates and publishes the value of the Index continuously, with such values updated during business hours on each day on which the Index is calculated as determined by the NYSE Euronext Holiday & Hours Schedule or as revised by the
S&P GSCI® Index Methodology, each of which is referred to as an Index Business Day. The Index
Sponsor publishes an official daily settlement price for the Index at the end of each Index Business Day. In addition, a number of data vendors publish Index quotations.
The Index Committee and Commodity
Index Advisory Panel
The Index Sponsor has established an Index Committee to oversee the daily management and operations of the Index, and is responsible for all analytical methods and calculation of the indices. The Index
Committee is comprised of full-time professional members of the Index Sponsors staff. At each meeting, the Index Committee reviews any issues that may affect index constituents, statistics comparing the composition of the indices to the
market, commodities that are being considered as candidates for addition to an index, and any significant market events. In addition, the Index Committee may revise index policy covering rules for selecting commodities, or other matters.
The Index Sponsor considers information about changes to its indices and related matters to be potentially market
moving and material. Therefore, all Index Committee discussions are confidential.
In addition, the Index Sponsor has established a Commodity Index
Advisory Panel to assist it with the operation of the Index. The Commodity Index Advisory Panel meets on an annual basis and at other times at the request of the Index Committee. The principal purpose of the Commodity Index Advisory Panel is
to advise the Index Committee with respect to, among other things, the calculation of the Index the effectiveness of the Index as a measure of commodity futures market return and the need for changes in the composition or the methodology of the
Index. The Commodity Index Advisory Panel acts solely in an advisory and consultative capacity. The Index Committee makes all decisions with respect to the composition, calculation and operation of the Index. Certain of the members of the Commodity
Index Advisory Panel may be affiliated with clients of the Index Sponsor. Also, certain of the members of the Commodity Index Advisory Panel may be affiliated with entities which, from time to time, may have investments linked to the Index, either
through transactions in the contracts included in the Index, futures contracts on the Index or derivative products linked to the Index.
Composition of the Index
Each futures contract included in the Index is a Designated Contract. In order to be included in the Index, a futures
contract must satisfy the following eligibility criteria:
|
(i) |
be on a physical commodity and may not be on a financial commodity; |
|
(ii) |
have a specified expiration or term, or provide in some other manner for delivery or settlement at a specified time, or within a specified period,
in the future; |
|
(iii) |
be available, at any given point in time, for trading at least five months prior to its expiration or such other date or time period specified for
delivery or settlement; and |
|
(iv) |
be traded on a trading facility that allows market participants to execute spread transactions, through a single order entry, between the pairs of
contract expirations included in the Index that at any given point in time will
|
-46-
|
be involved in the rolls to be effected in the next three Roll Periods. |
|
2. |
The commodity must be the subject of a contract that: |
|
(i) |
is denominated in U.S. dollars and; |
|
(ii) |
is traded on or through an exchange, facility or other platform, referred to as a trading facility, that has its principal place of
business or operations in a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and: |
|
a) |
makes price quotations generally available to its members or participants (and, if the Index Sponsor is not such a member or participant, to the
Index Sponsor) in a manner and with a frequency that is sufficient to provide reasonably reliable indications of the level of the relevant market at any given point in time; |
|
b) |
makes reliable trading volume information available to the Index Sponsor with at least the frequency required by the Index Sponsor to make the
monthly determinations; |
|
c) |
accepts bids and offers from multiple participants or price providers; and |
|
d) |
is accessible by a sufficiently broad range of participants. |
|
3. |
The price of the relevant contract that is used as a reference or benchmark by market participants, referred to as the daily contract
reference price, generally must have been available on a continuous basis for at least two years prior to the proposed date of inclusion in the Index. In appropriate circumstances, however, the Index Sponsor, in consultation with the Index
Committee, may determine that a shorter time period is sufficient or that historical daily contract reference prices
|
|
for that contract may be derived from daily contract reference prices for a similar or related contract. The daily contract reference price may be (but is not required to be) the settlement price
or other similar price published by the relevant trading facility for purposes of margining transactions or for other purposes; |
|
4. |
At and after the time a contract is included in the Index (i.e., becomes a Designated Contract), the daily contract reference price for that
Designated Contract must be published between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on each business day relating to that Designated Contract by the trading facility on or through which it is traded and must generally be available to all members
of, or participants in, that trading facility (and, if the Index Sponsor is not such a member or participant, to the Index Sponsor) on the same day from the trading facility or through a recognized third-party data vendor. Such publication must
include, at all times, daily contract reference prices for at least one expiration or settlement date that is five months or more from the date the determination is made, as well as for all expiration or settlement dates during that five-month
period. |
|
5. |
Volume data with respect to the contract must be available for at least the three months immediately preceding the date on which the determination
is made. |
|
6. |
A contract that is not included in the Index at the time of determination and that is based on a commodity that is not represented in the Index at
that time must, in order to be added to the Index at that time, have an annualized total dollar value traded over the relevant period of at least $15 billion. The total dollar value traded is the dollar value of the total quantity of the
commodity underlying transactions in the relevant contract and any related contract over the period for which the calculation is made, based on the average of the daily contract reference prices on the last day of each month during the period.
|
|
7. |
A contract that is already included in the Index at the time of determination and that is the only contract on the relevant
|
-47-
|
commodity included in the Index must, in order to continue to be included in the Index after that time, have an annualized total dollar value traded over the relevant period of at least $5
billion and at least $10 billion during at least one of the three most recent annual periods used in making the determination. |
|
8. |
A contract that is not included in the Index at the time of determination and that is based on a commodity on which there are one or more contracts
already included in the Index at that time must, in order to be added to the Index at that time, have an annualized total dollar value traded over the relevant period of at least $30 billion. |
|
9. |
A contract that is already included in the Index at the time of determination and that is based on a commodity on which there are one or more
contracts already included in the Index at that time must, in order to continue to be included in the Index after that time, have an annualized total dollar value traded over the relevant period of at least $10 billion and at least $20 billion
during at least one of the three most recent annual periods used in making the determination. |
|
(i) |
already included in the Index at the time of determination must, in order to continue to be included after that time, have a reference percentage
dollar weight of at least 0.10%. The reference percentage dollar weight of a contract represents the current value of the quantity of the underlying commodity that is included in the Index at a given time. This figure is determined by
dividing (A) the product of the contract production weight of each contract, or CPW, and the average of its daily contract reference prices on the last day of each month during the relevant period, by (B) the sum of the products in
(A) for all contracts included in the Index. The CPW of a contract is part of its weight in the Index, |
|
(ii) |
not included in the Index at the time of determination must, in
|
|
order to be added to the Index at that time, have a reference percentage dollar weight of at least 1.00%. |
|
11. |
In the event that two or more contracts on the same commodity satisfy the eligibility criteria: |
|
(i) |
Such contracts will be included in the Index in the order of their respective total quantity traded during the relevant period (determined as the
total quantity of the commodity underlying transactions in the relevant contract), with the contract having the highest total quantity traded being included first, provided that no further contracts will be included if such inclusion would result in
the portion of the Index attributable to that commodity exceeding a particular level. |
12. |
If additional contracts could be included with
respect to several commodities at the same time, that procedure is first applied with respect to the commodity that has the smallest portion of the Index attributable to it at the time of determination. Subject to the other eligibility criteria
described above, the contract with the highest total quantity traded on that commodity will be included. Before any additional contracts on the same commodity or on any other commodity are included, the portions of the Index attributable to all
commodities are recalculated. The selection procedure described above is then repeated with respect to the contracts on the commodity that then has the smallest portion of the Index attributable to it.
|
-48-
The futures contracts currently included in the Index, the exchanges on
which they are traded, their market symbols and their reference percentage dollar weights are as follows:
Table 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trading Facility1 |
|
Commodity |
|
Ticker2 |
|
2011 RPDW3 |
|
|
CBT |
|
Chicago
Wheat
|
|
W |
|
3.00%
|
|
|
KBT |
|
Kansas City Wheat |
|
KW |
|
0.69%
|
|
|
CBT |
|
Corn |
|
C |
|
3.37%
|
|
|
CBT |
|
Soybeans |
|
S |
|
2.36%
|
|
|
ICE-US |
|
Coffee |
|
KC |
|
0.76%
|
|
|
ICE-US |
|
Sugar #11 |
|
SB |
|
2.25%
|
|
|
ICE-US |
|
Cocoa |
|
CC |
|
0.39%
|
|
|
ICE-US |
|
Cotton #2 |
|
CT |
|
1.24%
|
|
|
CME |
|
Lean Hogs |
|
LH |
|
1.59%
|
|
|
CME |
|
Live Cattle |
|
LC |
|
2.59%
|
|
|
CME |
|
Feeder Cattle |
|
FC |
|
0.44%
|
|
|
NYM/ICE-US |
|
Crude Oil |
|
CL |
|
34.71%
|
|
|
NYM |
|
Heating Oil |
|
HO |
|
4.66%
|
|
|
NYM |
|
RBOB Gasoline |
|
RB |
|
4.67%
|
|
|
ICE-UK |
|
Brent Crude Oil |
|
LCO |
|
15.22%
|
|
|
ICE-UK |
|
Gasoil |
|
LGO |
|
6.30%
|
|
|
NYM/ICE-US |
|
Natural Gas |
|
NG |
|
4.20%
|
|
|
LME |
|
Aluminum |
|
MAL |
|
2.70%
|
|
|
LME |
|
Copper |
|
MCU |
|
3.66%
|
|
|
LME |
|
Lead |
|
MPB |
|
0.51%
|
|
|
LME |
|
Nickel |
|
MNI |
|
0.82%
|
|
|
LME |
|
Zinc |
|
MZN |
|
0.72%
|
|
|
CMX |
|
Gold |
|
GC |
|
2.80%
|
|
|
CMX |
|
Silver |
|
SI |
|
0.36%
|
CBT means the Chicago Board of Trade.
KBT
means the Kansas City Board of Trade.
ICE-US means ICE Futures U.S.
CME means the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
NYM means the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc.
ICE-UK means ICE Futures Europe.
LME means the London Metal Exchange.
CMX means the COMEX Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc.
|
(2) |
Ticker are Reuters RIC Codes. |
|
(3) |
With respect to any contract, reference percentage dollar weight, or the Reference Percentage Dollar Weight, is the quotient of (i) the
reference dollar weight of such contract, and (ii) the sum of the reference dollar weights of all Designated Contracts, provided that, when calculating the composition of the Index, the Reference Percentage Dollar Weight of any contract that is
part of a prospective index composition is determined based on such composition. |
-49-
The quantity of each of the Designated Contracts
included in the Index is determined on the basis of a five-year average, referred to as the world production average, of the production quantity of the underlying commodity as published by a number of official sources as provided in the
S&P GSCI® Index Methodology. However, if an Index Commodity is primarily a regional commodity, based on its
production, use, pricing, transportation or other factors, the Index Sponsor, in consultation with the Index Committee, may calculate the weight of that Index Commodity based on regional, rather than world, production data. At present, natural gas
is the only Index Commodity the weights of which are calculated on the basis of regional production data, with the relevant region defined as North America.
The five-year moving average is updated annually for each Index Commodity included in the Index, based on the most recent five-year period (ending approximately one and a half years prior to the date of
calculation and moving backwards) for which complete data for all commodities is available. The Designated Contract production weights used in calculating the Index are derived from world or regional production averages, as applicable, of the
relevant Index Commodities, and are calculated based on the total quantity traded for the relevant Designated Contract and the world or regional production average, as applicable, of the underlying Index Commodity. However, if the volume of trading
in the relevant Designated Contract, as a multiple of the production levels of the Index Commodity, is below specified thresholds, the Designated Contract production weight of the Designated Contract is reduced until the threshold is satisfied. This
is designed to ensure that trading in each Designated Contract is sufficiently liquid relative to the production of the Index Commodity.
In addition, the Index Sponsor performs this calculation on a monthly basis and, if the multiple of any Designated Contract is below the prescribed threshold, the composition of the Index is reevaluated,
based on the criteria and weighting procedure described above. This procedure is undertaken to allow the Index to shift from Designated Contracts that have lost substantial liquidity into more liquid contracts during the course of a given year. As a
result, it is possible that the composition or weighting of the Index will change on one or more of these monthly evaluation dates. The likely circumstances under which the Index Sponsor would be expected to change the composition of the Index
during a given year, however, are (1) a substantial shift of liquidity away from a Designated
Contract included in the Index as described above, or (2) an emergency, such as a natural disaster or act of war or terrorism, that causes trading in a particular contract to cease
permanently or for an extended period of time. In either event, the Index Sponsor will publish the nature of the changes, through websites, news media or other outlets, with as much prior notice to market participants as is reasonably practicable.
Moreover, regardless of whether any changes have occurred during the year, the Index Sponsor reevaluates the composition of the Index at the conclusion of each year, based on the above criteria. Other commodities that satisfy that criteria, if any,
will be added to the Index. Commodities included in the Index that no longer satisfy that criteria, if any, will be deleted.
The Index Sponsor also determines whether modifications in the selection criteria or the methodology for determining the composition and weights of and for calculating the Index are necessary or
appropriate in order to assure that the Index represents a measure of commodity market return. The Index Sponsor has the discretion to make any such modifications.
Calculation of the Weight of each
Designated Contract in the Index
The Index Sponsor determines the quantity of each of the Designated Contracts included in the
Index, the Contract Production Weights, on the basis of a five-year average, referred to as the world production average, of the production quantity of the underlying commodity as published by a number of official sources as provided in
the S&P GSCI® Index Methodology.
The five-year moving average is updated annually for each Index Commodity based on the most recent five-year period
(ending approximately one and a half years prior to the date of calculation and moving backwards) for which complete data for all commodities is available. The weights used in calculating the Index are derived from world or regional production
averages, as applicable, of the relevant commodities, and are calculated based on the total quantity traded for the relevant contract and the world or regional production average, as applicable, of the underlying commodity. However, if the volume of
trading in the relevant contract, as a multiple of the production levels of the commodity, is below specified thresholds, the weight of the contract is reduced until the threshold is satisfied. This is designed to ensure that trading in each
Designated
-50-
Contract is sufficiently liquid relative to the production of the commodity.
In addition, the Index Sponsor performs this calculation on a monthly basis and, if the multiple of any Designated Contract is below the prescribed threshold, the composition of the Index is reevaluated,
based on the criteria and weighting procedure described above. This procedure is undertaken to allow the Index to shift from Designated Contracts that have lost substantial liquidity into more liquid contracts during the course of a given year. As a
result, it is possible that the composition or weighting of the Index will change on one or more of these monthly evaluation dates. The likely circumstances under which the Index Sponsor would be expected to change the composition of the Index
during a given year, however, are (1) a substantial shift of liquidity away from a Designated Contract included in the Index as described above, or (2) an emergency, such as a natural disaster or act of war or terrorism, that causes
trading in a particular Designated Contract to cease permanently or for an extended period of time. In either event, the Index Sponsor will publish the nature of the changes, through websites, news media or other outlets, with as much prior notice
to market participants as is reasonably practicable. Moreover, regardless of whether any changes have occurred during the year, the Index Sponsor reevaluates the composition of the Index at the conclusion of each year, based on the above criteria.
Other commodities that satisfy that criteria, if any, will be added to the Index. Index Commodities included in the Index that no longer satisfy that criteria, if any, will be deleted.
The Index Sponsor also determines whether modifications in the selection criteria or the methodology for determining
the composition and weights of and for calculating the Index are necessary or appropriate in order to assure that the Index represents a measure of commodity market return. The Index Sponsor has the discretion to make any such modifications.
Contract Expirations
Because the Index is comprised of actively traded contracts with scheduled expirations, it can be calculated only by
reference to the prices of contracts for specified expiration, delivery or settlement periods, referred to as Designated Contract Expirations. The Designated Contract Expirations included in the Index for each Index Commodity during a
given year are designated by the Index Sponsor in consultation with the Index Committee
provided that each Designated Contract must be an active contract. An active contract for this purpose is a liquid, actively-traded contract expiration, as defined or
identified by the relevant trading facility or, if no such definition or identification is provided by the relevant trading facility, as defined by standard custom and practice in the industry.
If a trading facility deletes one or more Designated Contract Expirations, the Index will be calculated during the
remainder of the year in which that deletion occurs on the basis of the remaining Designated Contract Expirations as designated by the Index Sponsor. If a trading facility ceases trading in all Designated Contract Expirations relating to a
particular Designated Contract, the Index Sponsor may designate a replacement contract on the Index Commodity. The replacement contract must satisfy the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the Index. To the extent practicable, the replacement will
be effected during the next monthly review of the composition of the Index. If that timing is not practicable, the Index Sponsor will determine the date of the replacement and will consider a number of factors, including the differences between the
Designated Contract and the replacement contract with respect to contractual specifications and contract expirations.
If a trading facility eliminates one or more Designated Contract Expirations, but there are remaining Designated Contract Expirations of the same Designated Contract, the weighting of the Index Commodity
underlying the relevant Designated Contract will not be affected. If the trading facility ceases trading in all Designated Contract Expirations relating to a particular Designated Contract, and the Index Sponsor designates a replacement contract on
the same Index Commodity, the index weighting allocated to the terminated Designated Contract will be allocated to the replacement contract. Accordingly, unless a Designated Contract is eliminated entirely and no replacement contract is designated,
a cessation of trading in certain Designated Contract Expirations or the elimination of a Designated Contract will not affect the weighting of Index Commodities in the Index. If a Designated Contract is eliminated and there is no replacement
contract, the underlying Index Commodity will necessarily drop out of the Index and the weighting allocated to that Designated Contract will then be allocated pro rata to the remaining Designated Contracts in the Index. The designation of a
replacement contract, or the elimination of an Index Commodity from the Index because of the absence of
-51-
a replacement contract, could affect the value of the Index, either positively or negatively, depending on the price of the Designated Contract that is eliminated and the prices of the remaining
contracts in the Index. It is impossible, however, to predict the effect of these changes, if they occur, on the value of the Index.
Calculation of the Closing Value of the
Index
The value, or the total dollar weight, of the Index on each Index Business Day is equal to the sum of the dollar
weights of each of the Index Commodities. The dollar weight of each Index Commodity on any given day is equal to the product of the (i) weight of such Index Commodity, (ii) the daily contract reference price for the appropriate Designated
Contracts, and (iii) the applicable roll weights during a Roll Period.
The daily contract
reference price used in calculating the dollar weight of each Index Commodity on any given day is the most recent daily contract reference price for the applicable Designated Contract made available by the relevant trading facility, except that the
daily contract reference price for the most recent prior day will be used if the exchange is closed or otherwise fails to publish a daily contract reference price on that day. If the trading facility fails to make a daily contract reference price
available or if the Index Sponsor determines, in its reasonable judgment, that the published daily contract reference price reflects manifest error, the relevant calculation will be delayed until the price is made available or corrected. If the
daily contract reference price is not made available or corrected by 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, the Index Sponsor may determine, in its reasonable judgment, the appropriate daily contract reference price for the applicable Designated Contract in order
to calculate the Index. A daily contract reference price will be used regardless of whether such price is a Limit Price, as defined in the next sub-section.
It is generally considered unlikely that a trading facility will fail to publish a daily contract reference price in the regular course of business, because the price is required to margin open positions
in the relevant contracts. It is possible, however, that a trading facility may fail to publish a daily contract reference price under emergency or extraordinary conditions, such as in the event of a natural disaster, act of war or terrorist attack,
that prevent trading or cause a termination of trading on a given day. A manifest error in a daily contract reference price is
also unlikely to occur, but is nevertheless possible. This may arise, for example, in the event of a system malfunction that results in the published daily contract reference price being outside
the range of trading for the relevant day. In that instance, it would be clear that the published price could not be correct and the Index Sponsor would likely disregard that price.
Designated Contract Daily Return
The Designated Contract daily return on any given day is equal to (1)(A) the sum, for each of the Index Commodities
included in the Index, of the applicable daily contract reference price on the relevant Designated Contract multiplied by the appropriate Designated Contract production weight and the appropriate roll weight, divided by (B) the
total dollar weight of the Index on the preceding day, minus (2) one.
The
roll weight of each Index Commodity reflects the fact that the positions in the Designated Contracts must be liquidated or rolled forward into more distant contract expirations as they near expiration. If actual positions in the relevant
markets were rolled forward, the roll would likely need to take place over a period of days. Because the Index is designed to replicate the return of actual investments in the underlying Designated Contracts, the rolling process incorporated in the
Index also takes place over a period of days at the beginning of each month, referred to as the Roll Period. On each day of the Roll Period, the roll weights of the first nearby contract expirations on a particular Index
Commodity and the more distant contract expiration into which it is rolled are adjusted, so that the hypothetical position in the Designated Contract on the Index Commodity that is included in the Index is gradually shifted from the first nearby
contract expiration to the more distant contract expiration pursuant to the S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll Index
Methodology.
If on any day during a Roll Period any of the following conditions exists, the portion of the
roll that would have taken place on that day is deferred until the next day on which these conditions do not exist:
|
|
no daily contract reference price is available for a given contract expiration; |
|
|
any such price represents the maximum or minimum price for that contract month, based on exchange price limits, referred to as a Limit
Price; |
-52-
|
|
the daily contract reference price published by the relevant trading facility reflects manifest error, or that price is not published by 4:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time. In that event, the Index Sponsor may, but is not required to, determine a daily contract reference price and complete the relevant portion of the roll based on that price; provided, that, if the trading facility publishes a price
before the open of trading on the next day, the Index Sponsor will revise the portion of the roll accordingly; or |
|
|
trading in the relevant contract terminates prior to its scheduled closing time. |
If any of these conditions exist throughout the roll period, the roll with respect to the affected contract will be
effected in its entirety on the next day on which these conditions no longer exist.
Daily Calculation of the Index
On any Index Business Day, the value of the Index is equal to the
product of
|
|
the value of the Index on the preceding Index Business Day and |
|
|
one plus the Contract Daily Return on the Index Business Day on which the calculation is made. |
The Contract Daily Return on any Index Business Day is equal to the ratio of the total dollar weight of the Index on
that day and the total dollar weight of the Index on the preceding Index Business Day, minus one. The Contract Daily Return is represented as the percentage change in the total dollar weight of the Index. The value of the Index is indexed to a base
value of 100 on January 16, 1995.
Index Disclaimer
THIS FUND IS NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED, SOLD OR PROMOTED BY STANDARD &
POORS AND ITS AFFILIATES (collectively, S&P). S&P MAKES NO REPRESENTATION, CONDITION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE OWNERS OF THE FUND OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE ADVISABILITY OF INVESTING IN
SECURITIES GENERALLY OR IN THE FUND PARTICULARLY OR THE ABILITY OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN
INDEX TO TRACK MARKET PERFORMANCE AND/OR TO ACHIEVE ITS
STATED OBJECTIVE AND/OR TO FORM THE BASIS OF A SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENT STRATEGY, AS APPLICABLE. S&PS ONLY RELATIONSHIP TO BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIES, LLC IS THE LICENSING OF
CERTAIN TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES AND OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX WHICH IS
DETERMINED, COMPOSED AND CALCULATED BY S&P WITHOUT REGARD TO BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIES, LLC OR THE FUND. S&P HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIES, LLC INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING,
COMPOSING OR CALCULATING THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX. S&P IS NOT AN ADVISOR TO THE
FUND AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PRICES AND AMOUNT OF THE FUND OR THE TIMING OF THE ISSUANCE OR SALE OF THE FUND OR IN THE DETERMINATION OR CALCULATION OF THE EQUATION BY WHICH THE FUNDS
SHARES ARE TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH. S&P HAS NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING, OR TRADING OF THE FUND.
S&P DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND S&P SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS,
OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO WARRANTY, CONDITION OR REPRESENTATION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIES, LLC, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE
OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR CONDITIONS, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE AND ANY OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION
-53-
WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS
RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE
S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY
OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Note on Hypothetical Back-Tested
Historical Calculations
The hypothetical back-tested historical values of the Index should not be taken as an indication of future results, and
no assurance can be given as to the values of the Index on a future date. The hypothetical back-tested historical values of the Index were calculated on materially the same basis on which the Index is now calculated.
The Index Sponsor expressly disclaims any responsibility for (i) any errors or omissions in calculating the
back-tested information and (ii) any uses to which the back-tested information may be put by any person.
Legal and regulatory regimes could affect the Index and the Fund
The commodity futures contracts that underlie the Index are subject to legal and regulatory regimes in the U.S. and, in
some cases, in other countries that may change in ways that could negatively affect the level of the Index. For example, please see The Risks You Face (47) The Effect Of Market Disruptions, Governmental Intervention And The
Reform Act Are Unpredictable And May Have An Adverse Effect On The Value Of Your Shares and The Risks You Face (48) The Effects Of New Regulation Of The Over-The-Counter Derivatives Markets Is Unknown And May Have A
Detrimental Effect On The Value Of Your Shares.
Changes to the legal or regulatory regimes
applicable to the commodity futures contracts that underlie the Index could result in a modification of the Index rules, which may, in turn, have a negative effect on the level of the Index.
Publication of Closing Levels and
Adjustments
The intra-day indicative value per Share of the Fund is based on the prior days
final Net Asset Value per Share, adjusted every 15 seconds throughout the trading day to reflect the continuous price changes of the Funds futures contracts and holdings of Cash Instruments to provide a continuously updated intra-day
indicative value per Share.
The Managing Owner will publish the Net Asset Value of the Fund and the
Net Asset Value per Share daily. Additionally, NYSE Arca will publish the indicative value per Share once every 15 seconds throughout each trading day.
The current market price per Share (symbol: BNPC) (quoted in U.S. dollars) will be published continuously as trades occur throughout each trading day on the consolidated tape by market data
vendors and on the Managing Owners website at http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com, or any successor thereto.
The intra-day indicative value per Share (symbol: BNPCIV) (quoted in U.S. dollars) will be published by NYSE Arca once every 15 seconds throughout each trading day on the consolidated tape by
market data vendors and on the Managing Owners website at http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com, or any successor thereto.
The most recent end-of-day Net Asset Value per Share (symbol: BNPCNV) will be published by the Managing Owner as of the close of business on the Managing Owners website at
http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com, or any successor thereto and will be published by market data vendors on the consolidated tape.
The intra-day level and the most recent end-of-day closing level of the Index (symbol: SPDYCIP) will be published on Reuters page .SPDYCIP and on Bloomberg page .SPDYCIP<index> once
every 15 seconds throughout each trading day and as of the close of business on each Index Business Day, respectively, on Standard & Poors (which serves as the Index Sponsor) website at http://www.standardandpoors.com, or any
successor thereto.
Any adjustments made to the Index will be published on Standard & Poors
(which serves as the
-54-
Index Sponsor) website at http://www.standardandpoors.com, or any successor thereto.
The Trust and the Fund are not issued, sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by NYSE Arca, and NYSE Arca makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product.
NYSE ARCA MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN
INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. IN NO EVENT SHALL NYSE ARCA HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Historical Closing Levels
The Closing Levels Table reflects how the returns of the Index based on the selection criteria and methodology
described above since the Base Date of January 16, 1995. Most of the commodities currently comprising the Index, however, have not been continuously included in the Index, either because futures contracts on such commodities had not yet been
introduced or because the futures contracts available for trading did not satisfy the selection criteria. Conversely, some commodities previously included in the Index no longer meet the selection criteria and have been deleted. The Launch Date of
the Index was January 27, 2011.
The Various Statistical Measures Table discloses the Annualized
Changes to Index level, Average rolling 3 month daily volatility, Sharpe Ratio, % of months with positive change, Average monthly positive change, and Average monthly negative change with respect to the Index and the benchmark commodity indices as
noted in the following paragraph.
The changes in the closing levels of the Index have
been compared graphically to the following three commodities benchmark indices: the Dow Jones UBS Commodity
IndexSM, the Goldman Sachs Commodity Index® (Excess Return), and the Rogers International Commodity Index (Excess Return).
Cautionary Statement Statistical
Information
Various statistical information is presented on the following pages, relating to the
closing levels of the Index, on an annual and cumulative basis, including certain comparisons of the Index to other commodities indices.
In reviewing such information, prospective investors should consider that:
|
|
|
Changes in closing levels of the Index during any particular period or market cycle may be volatile. For example, the worst peak-to-valley
drawdown of the Index, representing the greatest percentage decline from any month-end closing level, without such closing level being equaled or exceeded as of a subsequent month-end, is 54.66% and occurred during the period July 2008 through
February 2009. The worst monthly drawdown of the Index during such period was 20.64%, and occurred in October 2008. See the section The Risks You Face (16) Price Volatility May Possibly Cause The Total Loss Of Your
Investment. |
|
|
|
Neither the fees charged by the Fund nor the actual execution costs associated with establishing futures positions in the Index Commodities
are incorporated into the closing levels of the Index. |
|
|
|
The Index was established in January 2011. The Index calculation methodology and commodity futures contracts selection is the same before and after
January 2011, as described above. Accordingly, the Index closing levels, the Index Methodology and the futures contracts underlying the Index Commodities, reflect an element of hindsight at the time the Index was established. See the section
The Risks You Face (15) The Fund Has No Past Performance And There Are Limited Index Results On Which To Rely On In Deciding Whether To Buy Shares. Therefore, You Will Have To Make Your Decision To Invest In The Fund On The
Basis Of Limited Information. |
WHILE THE FUNDS OBJECTIVE IS NOT TO
GENERATE PROFIT THROUGH ACTIVE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT, BUT IS TO
-55-
TRACK THE INDEX, BECAUSE THE INDEX WAS ESTABLISHED IN JANUARY 2011, CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS MAY BE CONSIDERED TO BE HYPOTHETICAL. HYPOTHETICAL
INFORMATION MAY HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW.
NO REPRESENTATION IS
BEING MADE THAT THE INDEX WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE CLOSING LEVELS CONSISTENT WITH OR SIMILAR TO THOSE SET FORTH HEREIN. SIMILARLY, NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT THE FUND WILL GENERATE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THE
FUNDS PAST PERFORMANCE, WHEN AVAILABLE, OR THE HISTORICAL ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE CHANGES IN INDEX CLOSING LEVELS. IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVED BY
INVESTMENT METHODOLOGIES, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE.
ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL INFORMATION IS
THAT IT IS GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. TO THE EXTENT THAT INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN RELATES TO THE PERIOD JANUARY 1995 THROUGH JANUARY 2011, THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS REFLECT THE APPLICATION OF THE INDEX METHODOLOGY, AND
SELECTION OF INDEX COMMODITIES, IN HINDSIGHT.
NO HYPOTHETICAL RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT
OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE DESCRIBED UNDER THE SECTION THE RISKS YOU FACE HEREIN, RELATED TO THE COMMODITIES MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
FUNDS EFFORTS TO TRACK THE INDEX OVER TIME WHICH CANNOT BE, AND HAVE NOT BEEN, ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF THE INDEX INFORMATION SET FORTH ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES, ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS FOR THE
FUND. FURTHERMORE, THE INDEX INFORMATION DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK.
THE MANAGING OWNER HAS HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN TRADING ACTUAL ACCOUNTS FOR
ITSELF OR FOR CLIENTS. BECAUSE THERE ARE NO ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS TO COMPARE TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS SET FORTH HEREIN, PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD BE PARTICULARLY WARY OF PLACING UNDUE RELIANCE ON THE ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE INDEX RESULTS.
[Remainder of page left blank intentionally.]
-56-
CLOSING LEVELS TABLE
S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date |
|
Closing Level |
|
Annual Index Changes1 |
|
Index Changes
Since Inception2
|
January 16, 1995 |
|
100.0000 |
|
|
|
|
December 31, 1995 |
|
109.4749 |
|
9.47% |
|
9.47% |
December 31, 1996 |
|
143.2362 |
|
30.84% |
|
43.24% |
December 31, 1997 |
|
129.9023 |
|
-9.31% |
|
29.90% |
December 31, 1998 |
|
96.3676 |
|
-25.82% |
|
-3.63% |
December 31, 1999 |
|
121.3045 |
|
25.88% |
|
21.30% |
December 31, 2000 |
|
150.9521 |
|
24.44% |
|
50.95% |
December 31, 2001 |
|
123.2237 |
|
-18.37% |
|
23.22% |
December 31, 2002 |
|
156.3498 |
|
26.88% |
|
56.35% |
December 31, 2003 |
|
199.1657 |
|
27.38% |
|
99.17% |
December 31, 2004 |
|
270.3380 |
|
35.74% |
|
170.34% |
December 31, 2005 |
|
407.8220 |
|
50.86% |
|
307.82% |
December 31, 2006 |
|
422.7395 |
|
3.66% |
|
322.74% |
December 31, 2007 |
|
557.7434 |
|
31.94% |
|
457.74% |
December 31, 2008 |
|
406.1651 |
|
-27.18% |
|
306.17% |
December 31, 2009 |
|
476.4730 |
|
17.31% |
|
376.47% |
December 31, 2010 |
|
524.3867 |
|
10.06% |
|
424.39% |
May 31, 2011 |
|
583.3996 |
|
11.25% |
|
483.40% |
THE FUND WILL TRADE WITH A VIEW TO TRACKING THE
S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OVER TIME.
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE
PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, SHOULD
BE TAKEN AS AN
INDICATION OF THE FUNDS FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
Please refer to Notes and Legends that follow on page 61.
-57-
All Statistics from July 31, 1998* to June 21, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VARIOUS STATISTICAL MEASURES |
|
INDEX3 |
|
GSCI-ER4 |
|
RICI-ER5 |
|
DJUBS6 |
Annualized Changes to Index Level7 |
|
13.53% |
|
3.50% |
|
8.83% |
|
4.54% |
Average rolling 3 month daily volatility8 |
|
15.34% |
|
19.78% |
|
18.73% |
|
13.31% |
Sharpe Ratio9 |
|
0.69 |
|
0.14 |
|
0.44 |
|
0.26 |
% of months with positive change10 |
|
57.79% |
|
57.14% |
|
61.69% |
|
57.14% |
Average monthly positive change11 |
|
2.94% |
|
3.10% |
|
2.69% |
|
2.22% |
Average monthly negative change12 |
|
-1.55% |
|
-2.36% |
|
-1.78% |
|
-1.56% |
|
|
|
|
|
ANNUALIZED INDEX LEVELS13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INDEX3 |
|
GSCI-ER4 |
|
RICI-ER5 |
|
DJUBS6 |
1 year |
|
22.26% |
|
21.35% |
|
30.12% |
|
23.84% |
3 year |
|
-10.36% |
|
-21.37% |
|
-11.47% |
|
-11.62% |
5 year |
|
5.04% |
|
-7.18% |
|
0.70% |
|
-1.14% |
* July 31, 1998 represents the first date on which statistical data was available for each of the
Index, GSCI-ER, RICI-ER and DJUBS.
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES, POSITIVE
AND NEGATIVE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUNDS FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
WHILE THE FUNDS OBJECTIVE IS NOT
TO GENERATE PROFIT THROUGH ACTIVE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT, BUT IS TO TRACK THE INDEX, BECAUSE THE INDEX WAS ESTABLISHED IN JANUARY 2011, CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS MAY BE CONSIDERED TO BE HYPOTHETICAL.
HYPOTHETICAL INFORMATION MAY HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW.
NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING
MADE THAT THE INDEX WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE CLOSING LEVELS CONSISTENT WITH OR SIMILAR TO THOSE SET FORTH HEREIN. SIMILARLY, NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT THE FUND WILL GENERATE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THE
FUNDS PAST PERFORMANCE, WHEN AVAILABLE, OR THE HISTORICAL ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE CHANGES IN INDEX CLOSING LEVELS. IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVED BY
INVESTMENT METHODOLOGIES, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE.
ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL INFORMATION IS THAT IT IS
GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. TO THE EXTENT THAT INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN RELATES TO THE PERIOD JULY 1998 THROUGH JANUARY 2011, THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS REFLECT THE APPLICATION OF THE INDEX METHODOLOGY, AND SELECTION OF INDEX
COMMODITIES, IN HINDSIGHT.
NO HYPOTHETICAL RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE DESCRIBED UNDER THE SECTION THE RISKS YOU FACE HEREIN, RELATED TO THE COMMODITIES MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FUNDS EFFORTS TO TRACK THE INDEX
OVER TIME WHICH CANNOT BE, AND HAVE NOT BEEN, ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF THE INDEX INFORMATION SET FORTH ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES, ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS FOR THE FUND. FURTHERMORE, THE INDEX INFORMATION
DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK.
THE MANAGING OWNER HAS HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN TRADING ACTUAL ACCOUNTS FOR ITSELF OR FOR
CLIENTS. BECAUSE THERE ARE NO ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS TO COMPARE TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS SET FORTH HEREIN, PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD BE PARTICULARLY WARY OF PLACING UNDUE RELIANCE ON THE ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE INDEX RESULTS.
Please refer to Notes and Legends that follow on page 61.
-58-
COMPARISON OF THE VARIOUS COMMODITIES INDICES
(JULY 31, 1998* MAY 31, 2011)
THE FUND WILL TRADE WITH A VIEW TO TRACKING THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OVER TIME.
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES, POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE,
SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUNDS FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
*
July 31, 1998 represents the first date on which statistical data was available for each of the Index, GSCI-ER, RICI-ER and DJUBS.
Each of the Index, Index, GSCI-ER, RICI-ER and DJUBS is an index and does not reflect actual trading. The Index is calculated on an excess return basis and each of Index, GSCI-ER, RICI-ER and DJUBS is
calculated on an excess return basis. None of the indices reflect any fees or expenses.
WHILE THE FUNDS OBJECTIVE IS
NOT TO GENERATE PROFIT THROUGH ACTIVE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT, BUT IS TO TRACK THE INDEX, BECAUSE THE INDEX WAS ESTABLISHED IN JANUARY 2011, CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS MAY BE CONSIDERED TO BE HYPOTHETICAL.
HYPOTHETICAL INFORMATION MAY HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW.
NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING
MADE THAT THE INDEX WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE CLOSING LEVELS CONSISTENT WITH OR SIMILAR TO THOSE SET FORTH HEREIN. SIMILARLY, NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT THE FUND WILL GENERATE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THE
FUNDS PAST PERFORMANCE, WHEN AVAILABLE, OR THE HISTORICAL ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE CHANGES IN INDEX CLOSING LEVELS. IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVED BY
INVESTMENT METHODOLOGIES, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE.
ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL INFORMATION IS THAT IT IS
GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. TO THE EXTENT THAT INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN RELATES TO THE PERIOD JULY 1998 THROUGH JANUARY 2011, THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS REFLECT THE APPLICATION OF THE INDEX METHODOLOGY, AND SELECTION OF INDEX
COMMODITIES, IN HINDSIGHT.
NO HYPOTHETICAL RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE DESCRIBED UNDER THE SECTION THE RISKS YOU FACE HEREIN, RELATED TO THE COMMODITIES MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FUNDS EFFORTS TO TRACK THE INDEX
OVER TIME WHICH CANNOT BE, AND HAVE NOT BEEN, ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF THE INDEX INFORMATION SET FORTH ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES, ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS FOR THE FUND. FURTHERMORE, THE INDEX INFORMATION
DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK.
THE MANAGING OWNER HAS HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN TRADING ACTUAL ACCOUNTS FOR ITSELF OR FOR
CLIENTS. BECAUSE THERE ARE NO ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS TO COMPARE TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS SET FORTH HEREIN, PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD BE PARTICULARLY WARY OF PLACING UNDUE RELIANCE ON THE ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE INDEX RESULTS.
Please refer to Notes and Legends that follow on page 61.
-59-
COMPARISON OF ANNUAL RETURNS OF THE VARIOUS COMMODITIES INDICES
(JULY 31, 1998* MAY 31, 2011)
THE FUND WILL TRADE WITH A VIEW TO TRACKING THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OVER TIME.
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES, POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE,
SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUNDS FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
*
July 31, 1998 represents the first date on which statistical data was available for each of the Index, GSCI-ER, RICI-ER and DJUBS.
Each of the Index, Index, GSCI-ER, RICI-ER and DJUBS is an index and does not reflect actual trading. The Index is calculated on an excess return basis and each of Index, GSCI-ER, RICI-ER and DJUBS is
calculated on an excess return basis. None of the indices reflect any fees or expenses.
WHILE THE FUNDS OBJECTIVE IS
NOT TO GENERATE PROFIT THROUGH ACTIVE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT, BUT IS TO TRACK THE INDEX, BECAUSE THE INDEX WAS ESTABLISHED IN JANUARY 2011, CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS MAY BE CONSIDERED TO BE HYPOTHETICAL.
HYPOTHETICAL INFORMATION MAY HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW.
NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING
MADE THAT THE INDEX WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE CLOSING LEVELS CONSISTENT WITH OR SIMILAR TO THOSE SET FORTH HEREIN. SIMILARLY, NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT THE FUND WILL GENERATE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THE
FUNDS PAST PERFORMANCE, WHEN AVAILABLE, OR THE HISTORICAL ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE CHANGES IN INDEX CLOSING LEVELS. IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVED BY
INVESTMENT METHODOLOGIES, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE.
ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL INFORMATION IS THAT IT IS
GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. TO THE EXTENT THAT INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN RELATES TO THE PERIOD JULY 1998 THROUGH JANUARY 2011, THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS REFLECT THE APPLICATION OF THE INDEX METHODOLOGY, AND SELECTION OF INDEX
COMMODITIES, IN HINDSIGHT.
NO HYPOTHETICAL RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE DESCRIBED UNDER THE SECTION THE RISKS YOU FACE HEREIN, RELATED TO THE COMMODITIES MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FUNDS EFFORTS TO TRACK THE INDEX
OVER TIME WHICH CANNOT BE, AND HAVE NOT BEEN, ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF THE INDEX INFORMATION SET FORTH ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES, ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS FOR THE FUND. FURTHERMORE, THE INDEX INFORMATION
DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK.
THE MANAGING OWNER HAS HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN TRADING ACTUAL ACCOUNTS FOR ITSELF OR FOR
CLIENTS. BECAUSE THERE ARE NO ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS TO COMPARE TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS SET FORTH HEREIN, PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD BE PARTICULARLY WARY OF PLACING UNDUE RELIANCE ON THE ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE INDEX RESULTS.
Please refer to Notes and Legends that follow on page 61.
-60-
|
NOTES AND LEGENDS
1. Annual Index Changes reflect the change to the
Index level on an annual basis as of December 31 of each applicable year.
2. Index Changes Since Inception reflect the
change of the Index closing levels since inception on a compounded annual basis as of December 31 of each applicable year.
3. Index is the S&P GSCI Dynamic Roll Excess
Return Index calculated on an excess return basis. The GSCI is designed to provide investors with a reliable and publicly available benchmark for investment in the commodity market. The GSCI is a composite index of commodity sector returns,
representing an unleveraged, long-only investment in commodity futures that is broadly diversified across the spectrum of commodities. In turn, the GSCI provides investors with a representative and realistic picture of realizable returns attainable
in the commodities markets. The Index employs the S&P GSCI Dynamic Roll methodology.
4. GSCIER is the S&P GSCI Commodity
Index® calculated on an excess return basis. The GSCI is designed to provide investors with a reliable and
publicly available benchmark for investment in the commodity market. The GSCI is a composite index of commodity sector returns, representing an unleveraged, long-only investment in commodity futures that is broadly diversified across the spectrum of
commodities. In turn, the GSCI provides investors with a representative and realistic picture of realizable returns attainable in the commodities markets. The GSCIER employs a standard roll methodology.
5. RICIER is the Rogers International
Commodity Index calculated on an excess return basis. RICI represents the value of a basket of commodities employed in the global economy, ranging from agricultural products (such as wheat, corn and cotton) and energy products (including crude oil,
gasoline and natural gas) to metals and minerals (including gold, silver, aluminum and lead). As of its launch in 1998 there were thirty-five different contracts represented in the RICIER Index. As of 2011, the RICIER Index represents
thirty-five different contracts. The value of each component is based on monthly closing prices of the corresponding futures and/or forward contracts, each of which is valued as part of a fixed-weight portfolio. The RICI-ER Index was developed to be
an effective measure of the price action of raw materials on a worldwide basis. The broad based representation of commodities contracts is intended to provide two important characteristics: The large number of contracts and underlying raw materials
represents diversification and the global coverage of those contracts reflects the current state of international trade and commerce.
6 DJUBS is the Dow JonesUBS Commodity
IndexSM which is calculated on an excess return basis. The
DJUBS is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for the commodity futures market. The DJ-UBS is composed of futures contracts on 19 physical commodities. The DJ-UBS is composed of commodities traded on U.S. exchanges, with the
exception of aluminum, nickel and zinc, which trade on the London Metal Exchange (LME). An Oversight Committee meets annually to determine the composition of the index in accordance with the rules established in the DJ-UBSCI Handbook. Committee
members are drawn from the academic, financial and legal communities.
7. Annualized Changes to Index Level from
July 31, 1998 to May 31, 2011. 8. Average rolling 3 month daily volatility. The daily volatility reflects the relative rate at which the price of the applicable index moves up and down,
which is found by calculating the annualized standard deviation of the daily change in price. In turn, an average of this value is calculated on a 3 month rolling basis. |
-61-
|
9. Sharpe Ratio compares the
annualized rate of return minus the annualized risk-free rate of return to the annualized variability often referred to as the standard deviation of the monthly rates of return. A Sharpe Ratio of 1:1 or higher indicates
that, according to the measures used in calculating the ratio, the rate of return achieved by a particular strategy has equaled or exceeded the risks assumed by such strategy.
10. % of months with positive change during the period from
July 31, 1998 to May 31, 2011. 11. Average monthly positive change during the period from July 31, 1998 to May 31, 2011.
12. Average monthly negative change during the period from
July 31, 1998 to May 31, 2011. 13. Annualized Index Levels reflect the annualized change to the level of the applicable index on May 31, 2011 over the applicable time period (i.e., 1 year, 3 or 5
years). WHILE THE FUNDS OBJECTIVE IS
NOT TO GENERATE PROFIT THROUGH ACTIVE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT, BUT IS TO TRACK THE INDEX, BECAUSE THE INDEX WAS ESTABLISHED IN JANUARY 2011, CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS MAY BE CONSIDERED TO BE HYPOTHETICAL.
HYPOTHETICAL INFORMATION MAY HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW.
NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT THE INDEX WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE CLOSING LEVELS CONSISTENT WITH OR SIMILAR
TO THOSE SET FORTH HEREIN. SIMILARLY, NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT THE FUND WILL GENERATE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THE FUNDS PAST PERFORMANCE, WHEN AVAILABLE, OR THE HISTORICAL ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE CHANGES IN INDEX CLOSING LEVELS.
IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVED BY INVESTMENT METHODOLOGIES, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE.
ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL INFORMATION IS
THAT IT IS GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. TO THE EXTENT THAT INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN RELATES TO THE PERIOD JANUARY 1995 THROUGH JANUARY 2011, THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS REFLECT THE APPLICATION OF THE INDEX METHODOLOGY, AND
SELECTION OF INDEX COMMODITIES, IN HINDSIGHT.
NO HYPOTHETICAL RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS FACTORS,
INCLUDING THOSE DESCRIBED UNDER THE SECTION THE RISKS YOU FACE HEREIN, RELATED TO THE COMMODITIES MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FUNDS EFFORTS TO TRACK THE INDEX OVER TIME WHICH CANNOT BE, AND HAVE NOT
BEEN, ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF THE INDEX INFORMATION SET FORTH ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES, ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS FOR THE FUND. FURTHERMORE, THE INDEX INFORMATION DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL
RISK. THE MANAGING OWNER HAS HAD NO
EXPERIENCE IN TRADING ACTUAL ACCOUNTS FOR ITSELF OR FOR CLIENTS. BECAUSE THERE ARE NO ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS TO COMPARE TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS SET FORTH HEREIN, PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD BE PARTICULARLY WARY OF PLACING UNDUE RELIANCE ON THE
ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE INDEX RESULTS. THIS
FUND IS NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED, SOLD OR PROMOTED BY STANDARD & POORS AND ITS AFFILIATES (COLLECTIVELY, S&P). S&P MAKES NO REPRESENTATION, CONDITION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE OWNERS OF THE FUND OR ANY
MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE ADVISABILITY OF INVESTING IN SECURITIES GENERALLY OR IN THE FUND PARTICULARLY OR THE ABILITY OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX TO TRACK MARKET PERFORMANCE AND/OR TO ACHIEVE |
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ITS STATED OBJECTIVE AND/OR TO FORM THE BASIS OF A SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENT STRATEGY, AS APPLICABLE. S&PS ONLY
RELATIONSHIP TO BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIES, LLC IS THE LICENSING OF CERTAIN TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES AND OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX WHICH IS DETERMINED, COMPOSED AND CALCULATED BY S&P WITHOUT REGARD TO BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIES, LLC OR THE FUND.
S&P HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIES, LLC INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING, COMPOSING OR CALCULATING THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX. S&P IS NOT AN ADVISOR TO THE FUND AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PRICES AND
AMOUNT OF THE FUND OR THE TIMING OF THE ISSUANCE OR SALE OF THE FUND OR IN THE DETERMINATION OR CALCULATION OF THE EQUATION BY WHICH THE FUNDS SHARES ARE TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH. S&P HAS NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING, OR TRADING OF THE FUND. S&P DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P
GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND S&P SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY
ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO WARRANTY, CONDITION OR REPRESENTATION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY BNP PARIBAS QUANTITATIVE STRATEGIES, LLC, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM
THE USE OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR CONDITIONS, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE AND ANY OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION WITH RESPECT TO
THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE
FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE S&P GSCI® DYNAMIC ROLL EXCESS RETURN INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. |
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Critical Accounting Policies
Preparation of the financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles requires the application of appropriate accounting rules and guidance, as well as the use of estimates. The Funds application of these policies involves judgments and the use of estimates. Actual results may differ from the
estimates used and such differences could be material. The Fund Portfolio will hold a significant portion of its assets in futures contracts and Cash Instruments, each of which, as applicable, will be held at fair value. The Fund may also invest in
Alternative Financial Instruments.
The Fund will calculate its Net Asset Value as described under the
section Description of the Shares; Certain Material Terms of the Declaration of Trust Net Asset Value for more details.
The Funds critical accounting policy with respect to Alternative Financial Instruments is as follows:
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The Fund may invest in Alternative Financial Instruments. The Alternative Financial Instruments would be recorded on a trade date basis and at fair
value in the financial statements, with changes in fair value reported in the Statements of Operations. |
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The use of fair value to measure Alternative Financial Instruments, with related unrealized gains or losses recognized in earnings in each period,
is fundamental to the Funds financial statements. The fair value of an Alternative Financial Instrument is the amount that would be received for the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market
participants at the measurement date (the exit price). |
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The Alternative Financial Instruments are generally valued using independent sources and/or agreements with counterparties or other procedures as
determined
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by the Managing Owner. However, if the price of the futures contract underlying the Index Commodity becomes unavailable with respect to a specific Alternative Financial Instrument, the Managing
Owner may, in its sole discretion, choose to determine a fair value price as the basis for determining the market value of such position in an Alternative Financial Instrument for such day. Such fair value prices would be generally determined based
on available inputs about the current value of the futures contract underlying the Index Commodity and would be based on principles that the Managing Owner deems fair and equitable so long as such principles are consistent with normal industry
standards. |
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Fair value pricing with respect to the Alternative Financial Instruments may require subjective determinations about the value of the Alternative
Financial Instruments. While the Funds policy is intended to result in a calculation of the Funds Net Asset Value that fairly reflects investment values of the Alternative Financial Instruments as of the time of pricing, the Fund cannot
ensure that fair values determined by the Managing Owner or persons acting at its direction would accurately reflect the price that the Fund could obtain for an investment if it were to dispose of that Alternative Financial Instrument as of the time
of pricing (for instance, in a forced or distressed sale). The prices used by the Fund may differ from the value that would be realized if the Alternative Financial Instruments were sold and the differences could be material to the applicable
financial statements. |
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The Fund will disclose the fair value of its Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) in a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation
techniques used to measure fair value. |
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Realized gains (losses) and changes in unrealized gain (loss) on open positions are determined on a specific identification basis and recognized in
the Statements of Operations in the period in which the contract is closed or the changes occur, respectively.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not begun trading activities.
Once the Fund begins trading activities, it is anticipated that all of its total net assets will be allocated to
commodities trading, unless the Fund commences an investment in one or more Alternative Financial Instruments (if any).
If the Fund invests in Alternative Financial Instruments, a portion of its proceeds of the offering may be used to collateralize Alternative Financial Instruments in accordance with normal practices in
the over-the-counter derivatives markets.
A significant portion of the Net Asset Value is likely to be
held in Cash Instruments.
Although the following percentages may vary substantially over time, as of the
date of this Prospectus, the Fund estimates that up to approximately 10% of its Net Asset Value will be placed in segregated accounts (pursuant to the rules of the CFTC) in the name of the Fund with CFI and CFL (or another eligible financial
institution, as applicable) in the form of Cash Instruments to margin positions of all futures contracts combined. The Fund maintains approximately 90% of its Net Asset Value in Cash Instruments over and above that which is needed to post as
collateral for trading. The percentage that the Funds Cash Instruments will bear to the total net assets will vary from period to period as the market values of commodity interests change. The balance of the net assets will be held in the
Funds segregated and custodial account with the Custodian or Commodity Broker. Interest earned on the Funds interest-bearing funds will be paid to the Fund.
Initial or original margin is the minimum amount of funds that must be deposited by a futures
trader with his commodity broker in order to initiate futures trading or to maintain an open position in futures contracts. Maintenance margin is the amount (generally less than initial margin) to which a traders account may
decline before he must deliver additional margin. Margin requirements are computed each day by a commodity broker. When the market value of a particular open futures interests contract position changes to a point where the margin on deposit does not
satisfy maintenance margin requirements, a margin call is made by the commodity broker. The Fund will meet a margin call by either liquidating an appropriate amount of Cash
Instruments, as applicable, or satisfy the margin call with cash. If the Fund does not have a sufficient amount of Cash Instruments to satisfy the margin call, the Fund will be required to
liquidate its holdings of futures contracts, or Alternative Financial Instruments (if any). If the margin call is not met within a reasonable time, the broker may close out the Funds position.
The current holdings of Cash Instruments will earn an interest rate of 0.00% as of August 15, 2011.
The Funds commodity futures contracts may be subject to periods of illiquidity because of market conditions,
regulatory considerations and other reasons. For example, commodity exchanges limit fluctuations in certain commodity futures contract prices during a single day by regulations referred to as daily limits. During a single day, no trades
may be executed at prices beyond the daily limit. Once the price of a futures contract for a particular commodity has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in the commodity futures contracts can neither be taken nor
liquidated unless the traders are willing to effect trades at or within the limit. Commodity futures prices have occasionally moved the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading. Such market conditions could prevent the Fund
from promptly liquidating its commodity futures positions.
The Funds Alternative Financial
Instruments, if any, may also be subject to periods of illiquidity because of market conditions, regulatory considerations and other reasons. For example, the Alternative Financial Instruments are not traded on an exchange, do not have uniform terms
and conditions, and in general are not transferable without the consent of the counterparty. Entry into Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) may further impact liquidity because these contractual agreements are executed
off-exchange between private parties and, therefore, the time required to offset or unwind these positions may be greater than that for exchange-traded instruments. This potential delay could be exacerbated to the extent a
counterparty is not a U.S. person.
Because the Fund will trade futures contracts, its capital would be at
risk due to changes in the market price of these contracts (market risk) or the inability of counterparties to perform under the terms of the contracts (credit risk). Additionally, if the Fund invested in Alternative Financial Instruments, its
capital would be at risk due to changes in the value of these Alternative Financial Instruments
-65-
(market risk) or the inability of counterparties to perform under the terms of the Alternative Financial Instruments (credit risk).
Market risk
Trading in futures contracts and Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) will involve the Fund entering into contractual commitments to purchase or sell a particular commodity at a specified date and
price. The market risk associated with the Funds commitments to purchase commodities will be limited to the gross or face amount of the futures contracts or the Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) held.
The Funds exposure to market risk will be influenced by a number of factors including the volatility of interest
rates and foreign currency exchange rates, the liquidity of the markets associated with the contracts and the relationships among the contracts held. The inherent uncertainty of the Funds trading as well as the development of drastic market
occurrences could ultimately lead to a loss of all or substantially all of investors capital.
Credit risk
When the Fund enters into futures contracts or Alternative Financial Instruments (if any), the Fund will be exposed to credit risk that the counterparty to the contract will not meet its obligations.
The counterparty for futures contracts traded on U.S. and on most foreign futures exchanges is the clearing
house associated with the particular exchange. In general, clearing houses are backed by their corporate members who may be required to share in the financial burden resulting from the nonperformance by one of their members and, as such, should
significantly reduce this credit risk. In cases where the clearing house is not backed by the clearing members (i.e., some foreign exchanges), it may be backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions.
Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) are contracted for directly with counterparties and the Fund will be subject
to the risks as described under the section The Risks You Face (46) Alternative Financial Instruments (If Any), Such As Forward Agreements And Swaps Are Not Regulated And Are Subject To The Risk Of Counterparty Non-Performance
Resulting In The Fund Not Realizing A Trading Gain, The Risks You Face (47) The Effect Of Market Disruptions, Governmental Intervention And The Reform Act
Are Unpredictable And May Have An Adverse Effect On The Value Of Your Shares and The Risks You Face (48) The Effects Of New Regulation Of The
Over-The-Counter Derivatives Markets Is Unknown And May Have A Detrimental Effect On The Value Of Your Shares.
There can be no assurance that any counterparty, clearing member or clearing house will meet its obligations to the Fund.
Swap agreements do not generally involve the delivery of the underlying assets either at the outset of a transaction or
upon settlement. Accordingly, if the counterparty to a swap agreement defaults, the Funds risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. Swap counterparty risk is generally
limited to the amount of any unrealized gains, although in the event of a counterparty bankruptcy, there could be delays and costs associated with recovery of collateral posted in segregated tri-party accounts at the Funds custodian bank.
Forward agreements do not involve the delivery of the underlying assets at the onset of a transaction,
but may be settled physically in the underlying asset if such contracts are held to expiration. Thus, prior to settlement, if the counterparty to a forward contract defaults, the Funds risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that
the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. However, if physically settled forwards are held until expiration (presently, there is no plan to do this), at the time of settlement, the Fund may be at risk for the full notional value of the
forward contracts depending on the type of settlement procedures used.
The Managing Owner will attempt to
minimize these market and credit risks by requiring the Fund to abide by various trading limitations and policies, which will include limiting margin accounts and trading only in liquid markets. The Managing Owner will implement procedures which
will include, but will not be limited to:
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executing and clearing trades with creditworthy counterparties; |
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limiting the amount of margin or premium required for any one futures contract or all futures contracts combined; and |
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generally limiting transactions to futures contracts which will be traded in sufficient
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volume to permit the taking and liquidating of positions. |
The Fund will enter into Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) with counterparties selected by the Managing Owner. The Managing Owner will select Alternative Financial Instrument (if any)
counterparties giving due consideration to such factors as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, creditworthiness, familiarity with the Index, and price. Under no circumstances will the Fund enter into an Alternative Financial
Instrument (if any) with any counterparty whose credit rating is lower than investment-grade at the time a contract is entered into.
CFI, when acting as the Funds futures commission merchant in accepting orders for the purchase or sale of domestic futures contracts, will be required by CFTC regulations to separately account for
and segregate as belonging to the Fund, all assets of the Fund held at CFI relating to domestic futures trading and CFI will not be allowed to commingle such assets with other assets of CFI. In addition, CFTC regulations will also require CFI to
hold in a secure account assets of the Fund related to foreign futures trading.
CFL is subject to the rules
and regulations of the Financial Services Authority.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced trading and does not expect to utilize in the future,
special purpose entities to facilitate off-balance sheet financing arrangements and does not expect to have any loan guarantee arrangements or off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind other than agreements entered into in the normal course of
business, which may include indemnification provisions related to certain risks service providers undertake in performing services which are in the best interests of the Fund. While the Funds exposure under such indemnification provisions
cannot be estimated, these general business indemnifications are not expected to have a material impact on the Funds financial position.
The Funds contractual obligations are with the Managing Owner and the Commodity Broker. Management Fee payments made to the Managing Owner are calculated as a fixed percentage of the Funds Net
Asset Value. Commission payments to
the Commodity Broker are on a contract-by-contract, or round-turn, basis. As such, the Managing Owner cannot anticipate the amount of payments that will be required under these arrangements for
future periods as Net Asset Values are not known until a future date. These agreements are effective for one year terms, renewable automatically for additional one year terms unless terminated. The duration, renewal and termination provisions of
each of these agreements are specified in each individual agreement. Additionally, these agreements may be terminated by either party for various reasons.
USE OF PROCEEDS
A
substantial amount of proceeds of the offering of the Shares are used by the Fund to engage in the trading of exchange-traded futures on the Index Commodities with a view to tracking the changes, positive or negative, in the levels of the Index over
time, less the expenses of the operations of the Fund. If and when necessary, the Fund may invest in one or more Alternative Financial Instruments. The Funds holdings may also include Cash Instruments.
To the extent, if any, that the Fund trades in futures contracts on U.S. exchanges, the assets deposited by the Fund
with CFI as margin must be segregated pursuant to the regulations of the CFTC.
To the extent, if any, that
the Fund trades in futures on markets other than regulated United States futures exchanges, funds deposited with CFL to margin positions held on such exchanges are invested in bank deposits or in instruments of a credit standing generally comparable
to those authorized by the CFTC for investment of customer segregated funds, although applicable CFTC rules prohibit funds employed in trading on foreign exchanges from being deposited in customer segregated fund accounts.
Furthermore, CFL is a member of the Financial Services Authority and as such is regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the conduct of its business in the United Kingdom.
Although the percentages set forth below may vary substantially over time, as of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund
estimates:
(i) up to approximately 10% of the Net Asset Value of the Fund will be placed in segregated
accounts in the name of the Fund with CFI and CFL (or another eligible financial institution, as applicable) in the form of Cash Instruments to margin positions of all commodities combined. Such
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funds will be segregated pursuant to CFTC rules with respect to CFI and will be held pursuant to the rules of the Financial Services Authority with respect to CFL;
(ii) approximately 90% of the Net Asset Value of the Fund will be maintained in segregated accounts in the name of the
Fund in bank deposits and Cash Instruments.
Should the Fund invest in Alternative Financial
Instruments, such as forward contracts or swaps the Fund will deposit collateral with Alternative Financial Instrument counterparties in order to initiate and maintain positions in Alternative Financial Instruments. Such collateral provided will be
held in U.S. government securities or in cash, for which the Fund will receive interest credits at short-term rates. The Alternative Financial Instrument counterparties may receive a benefit as a result of the deposit of such cash in the form of a
reduction in their outstanding overnight borrowing, despite such cash belonging to the Fund, not the Alternative Financial Instrument counterparties.
The Managing Owner is a registered commodity pool operator and will be responsible for the cash management activities of the Fund, including investing in Cash Instruments.
The Fund receives 100% of the interest income earned, if any, on its fixed income assets on deposit with the Commodity
Brokers or the Custodian.
CHARGES
See the section Summary Breakeven Amounts and the section Summary
Breakeven Table for additional breakeven related information.
Management Fee
The Fund will pay the Managing Owner a Management Fee, monthly in arrears, in an
amount equal to 0.95% per annum of the daily Net Asset Value of the Fund. The Management Fee will be paid in consideration of the Managing Owners advisory services.
Organization and Initial Offering
Expenses; Continuous Offering Fees and
Expenses
Expenses incurred in connection with organizing the Trust and the Fund and up to the initial offering of the Funds Shares upon commencement of its trading operations will be paid by the Managing
Owner. Organization and initial offering expenses relating to the Trust and the Fund that are paid by the Managing Owner means those expenses incurred in connection with its formation, the qualification, registration and the anticipated offering of
the Funds Shares under applicable federal law, and any other expenses actually incurred and, directly or indirectly, related to the organization of the Trust and the Fund prior to commencing trading operations (which will occur
contemporaneously with the commencement of the offering of the Shares).
Upon and after commencement of
trading operations (which will occur contemporaneously with the commencement of the offering of the Shares) and thereafter, the Fund will bear the costs of its continuous offering of Shares and continuous offering expenses. Continuous offering fees
and expenses include those legal and accounting fees and expenses, filing fees, printing, mailing and duplication costs associated with the continuous offering of the Shares.
The Managing Owner expects that the continuous offering fees and expenses of the Fund will be approximately
0.01% per annum of the Funds Net Asset Value, although the actual amount of continuous offering fees and expenses in any year or any part of any year may be greater.
Offering expenses relating to the Fund in connection with the initial and continuous offering of the Shares, include,
but are not limited to, expenses such as:
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initial and ongoing registration fees, filing fees, escrow fees and taxes; |
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costs of preparing, printing (including typesetting), amending, supplementing, mailing and distributing the Registration Statement, the exhibits
thereto and this Prospectus; |
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the costs of qualifying, printing, (including typesetting), amending, supplementing, mailing and distributing sales materials
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used in connection with the offering and issuance of the Shares; |
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travel, telegraph, telephone and other expenses in connection with the offering and issuance of the Shares; |
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accounting, auditing and legal fees (including disbursements related thereto) incurred in connection therewith; and |
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any extraordinary expenses (including, but not limited to, legal claims and liabilities and litigation costs and any permitted indemnification
associated therewith) related thereto. |
The Managing Owner will not allocate to the Fund
the indirect expenses of the Managing Owner.
The Managing Owner currently estimates that the aggregate
amount of the organization and offering expenses will be approximately $1.5 million.
Brokerage Commissions and Fees
The Fund will pay to the Commodity Brokers all brokerage
commissions, including applicable exchange fees, NFA fees, give-up fees, pit brokerage fees and other transaction related fees and expenses charged in connection with trading activities.
Give-up fees are the fees paid in connection with give-up transactions. A broker gives up a transaction when the broker
executes a contract for the client of another broker and the client order is turned over to the second broker. The broker accepting the order from the customer collects a fee from the carrying broker for the use of the facilities. Give-ups are often
used to consolidate many small orders or to disperse large ones.
Pit brokerage fees are the fees paid to
the pit broker, the person with exchange trading privileges who, in any pit, ring, post, or other place provided by a futures exchange for the meeting of persons similarly engaged, executes for another person any orders for the purchase or sale of
any commodity for future delivery.
On average, total charges paid to the Commodity Brokers are expected
to be approximately $10.00 per round-turn trade, although the Commodity Brokers brokerage commissions and trading fees will be determined on a contract-by-
contract basis. The Managing Owner expects that the brokerage commissions and fees may equal to approximately 0.08% of the Net Asset Value of the Fund in any year, although the actual amount of
brokerage commissions and fees in any year or any part of any year may be greater.
A round-turn trade is a
completed transaction involving both a purchase and a liquidating sale, or a sale followed by a covering purchase.
Routine Operational, Administrative and Other Ordinary Fees and Expenses
The Fund will pay all of the routine operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses of the Fund, including, but not limited to, computer services, legal and accounting fees and expenses,
tax preparation expenses, filing fees, and printing, mailing and duplication costs. The Managing Owner will pay the fees and expenses of the Trustee, Administrators fees, Custodian fees, Transfer Agent fees and the Marketing Agent fees. The
Managing Owner expects that all of the routine operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses of the Fund will be approximately 0.40% per annum of the Funds Net Asset Value. The Managing Owner has agreed to reimburse the
Fund, from its Management Fee, the amount of routine operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses (excluding those legal and accounting fees and expenses, filing fees, printing, mailing and duplication costs associated with the
continuous offering of the Shares as provided under the sub-section Organization and Initial Offering Expenses; Continuous Offering Fees and Expenses) in excess of 0.20% per annum of the Funds Net Asset Value. For the
avoidance of doubt, the cap as described in the immediately preceding sentence excludes expenses incurred in connection with the continuous offering of Shares after the commencement of the Funds trading operations.
Extraordinary Fees and Expenses
The Fund will pay all its extraordinary fees and expenses (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) generally, if any,
as determined by the Managing Owner. Extraordinary fees and expenses are fees and expenses which are non-recurring and unusual in nature, such as legal claims and liabilities, litigation costs or indemnification or other unanticipated expenses.
Extraordinary fees and expenses will also include material expenses which are not currently anticipated obligations of the Fund or of managed futures funds in general. Routine operational,
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administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses will not be deemed extraordinary expenses.
Payment of Management Fee and Brokerage Commissions and Fees From Interest Income, if any
Because it is expected that interest income, if any, will not be sufficient to cover the fees and expenses of the Fund,
the excess of such fees and expenses over such interest income, if any, will be paid out of income from its trading, if any, or from sales of a portion of the Fund Portfolio. However, if interest income exceeded the fees and expenses of the Fund,
the Management Fee and the brokerage commissions and fees of the Fund would be paid first out of interest income from the Fund Portfolio.
Selling Commission
Investors
may purchase and sell Shares through traditional brokerage accounts. Investors are expected to be charged a customary commission by their brokers in connection with purchases of Shares that will vary from investor to investor. Investors are
encouraged to review the terms of their brokerage accounts for applicable charges.
WHO MAY
SUBSCRIBE
Baskets may be created or redeemed only by Authorized Participants, except that the initial
Baskets were created by the Initial Purchaser. Each Authorized Participant must (1) be a registered broker-dealer or other securities market participant such as a bank or other financial institution which is not required to register as a
broker-dealer to engage in securities transactions, (2) be a direct participant in DTC, and (3) have entered into a Participant Agreement.
Each Authorized Participant must be registered as a broker dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which we refer to as the Exchange Act, and regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, which we refer to as FINRA, or must be exempt from being, or otherwise not required to be so regulated or registered, and is qualified to act as a broker or dealer in the states or other jurisdictions where the nature of its business so
requires. Certain Authorized Participants may be regulated under federal and state banking laws and regulations. Each Authorized Participant will have its own set of rules and
procedures, internal controls and information barriers as it determines is appropriate in light of its own regulatory regime.
CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES
The Fund will create and redeem Shares from time-to-time, but only in one or more Baskets. Baskets may be created or
redeemed only by Authorized Participants, except that the initial Baskets were created by the Initial Purchaser. Except when aggregated in Baskets, the Shares are not redeemable securities. Authorized Participants pay a transaction fee of $500 in
connection with each order to create or redeem Baskets. Authorized Participants may sell the Shares included in the Baskets they purchase from the Fund to other investors.
The Participant Agreement sets forth the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets and for the payment of
cash required for such creations and redemptions. The Managing Owner may delegate its duties and obligations under the Participant Agreement to the Marketing Agent or the Administrator without consent from any Shareholder or Authorized Participant.
The Participant Agreement and the related procedures attached thereto may be amended by the Managing Owner without the consent of any Shareholder or Authorized Participant. To compensate the Administrator for services in processing the creation and
redemption of Baskets, an Authorized Participant is required to pay a transaction fee of $500 per order to create or redeem Baskets. Authorized Participants who purchase Baskets from the Fund receive no fees, commissions or other form of
compensation or inducement of any kind from either the Managing Owner or the Fund, and no such person has any obligation or responsibility to the Managing Owner or the Fund to effect any sale or resale of Shares.
Authorized Participants are cautioned that some of their activities will result in their being deemed participants in a
distribution in a manner which would render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus-delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, which we refer to as the Securities Act, as described in the section
Plan of Distribution.
Authorized Participants may act for their own accounts or as
agents for broker-dealers, custodians and other securities market participants that wish to create or redeem Baskets.
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Persons interested in purchasing Baskets who are not Authorized
Participants should contact the Managing Owner or the Administrator to obtain the contact information for the Authorized Participants. Shareholders who are not Authorized Participants will only be able to redeem their Shares through an Authorized
Participant.
Under the Participant Agreements, the Managing Owner has agreed to indemnify the Authorized
Participants against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to the payments the Authorized Participants may be required to make in respect of those liabilities. The Managing Owner has agreed to
reimburse the Authorized Participants, solely from and to the extent of the Funds assets, for indemnification and contribution amounts due from the Managing Owner in respect of such liabilities to the extent the Managing Owner has not paid
such amounts when due.
The following description of the procedures for the creation and redemption of
Baskets is only a summary and an investor should refer to the relevant provisions of the Funds Declaration of Trust and the form of Participant Agreement for more detail. The Funds Declaration of Trust and the form of Participant
Agreement are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
Creation Procedures
On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the
Managing Owner to create one or more Baskets. For purposes of processing both purchase and redemption orders, a business day means any day other than a day when each of NYSE Arca and banks in both New York City and London are required or
permitted to be closed. Purchase orders must be placed by 10:00 a.m., New York time. The day on which the Managing Owner receives a valid purchase order is the purchase order date. Purchase orders are irrevocable. By placing a purchase order, and
prior to delivery of such Baskets, an Authorized Participants DTC account will be charged the non-refundable transaction fee due for the purchase order.
Determination of required payment
The total payment required to create each Basket is the Net Asset Value of 40,000 Shares as of the closing time of NYSE
Arca or the last to close of the exchanges on which the Funds futures contracts
are traded, whichever is later, on the purchase order date. Baskets will be issued as of noon, New York time, on the business day immediately following the purchase order date at Net Asset Value
per Share as of the closing time of NYSE Arca or the last to close of the exchanges on which the Funds futures contracts are traded, whichever is later, on the purchase order date during the continuous offering, but only if the required
payment has been timely received.
Because orders to purchase Baskets must be placed by 10:00 a.m., New York
time, but the total payment required to create a Basket during the continuous offering will not be determined until the closing time of NYSE Arca or the last to close of the exchanges on which the Funds futures contracts are traded, whichever
is later, on the date the purchase order is received, Authorized Participants will not know the total amount of the payment required to create a Basket at the time they submit an irrevocable purchase order for the Basket. The Funds Net Asset
Value and the total amount of the payment required to create a Basket could rise or fall substantially between the time an irrevocable purchase order is submitted and the time the amount of the purchase price in respect thereof is determined.
Rejection of purchase orders
The Managing Owner may reject a purchase order if:
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It determines that the purchase order is not in proper form; |
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The Managing Owner believes that the purchase order would have adverse tax consequences to the Fund or its Shareholders; or
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Circumstances outside the control of the Managing Owner make it, for all practical purposes, not feasible to process creations of Baskets.
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The Managing Owner will reject a purchase order if the acceptance or receipt of the
order, in the opinion of its counsel, might be unlawful.
The Managing Owner will not be liable for the
rejection of any purchase order.
The Fund may suspend the creation of Baskets if the Fund has reached
speculative position or other
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limits with respect to the Funds holdings of futures contracts on one or more Index Commodities and the Fund is unable to gain an exposure to the Index Commodities based upon Alternative
Financial Instruments to the futures contracts on the Index Commodities.
Redemption Procedures
The procedures by which an Authorized Participant can redeem one or more Baskets mirror the procedures for the creation
of Baskets. On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Managing Owner to redeem one or more Baskets. Redemption orders must be placed by 10:00 a.m., New York time. The day on which the Managing Owner receives a valid
redemption order is the redemption order date. Redemption orders are irrevocable. The redemption procedures allow Authorized Participants to redeem Baskets. Individual Shareholders may not redeem directly from the Fund. Instead, individual
Shareholders may only redeem Shares in integral multiples of 40,000 and only through an Authorized Participant.
By placing a redemption order, an Authorized Participant agrees to deliver the Baskets to be redeemed through DTCs book-entry system to the Fund not later than noon, New York time, on the business
day immediately following the redemption order date. By placing a redemption order, and prior to receipt of the redemption proceeds, an Authorized Participants DTC account will be charged the non-refundable transaction fee due for the
redemption order.
Determination of redemption proceeds
The redemption proceeds from the Fund consist of the cash redemption amount. The cash redemption amount is equal to the
Net Asset Value of the number of Basket(s) requested in the Authorized Participants redemption order as of the closing time of NYSE Arca or the last to close of the exchanges on which the Funds futures contracts are traded, whichever is
later, on the redemption order date. The Managing Owner will distribute the cash redemption amount at noon, New York time, on the business day immediately following the redemption order date through DTC to the account of the Authorized Participant
as recorded on DTCs book entry system.
Delivery of redemption proceeds
The redemption proceeds due from the Fund are delivered to the Authorized Participant at noon, New
York time, on the business day immediately following the redemption order date if, by such time on such business day immediately following the redemption order date, the Funds DTC account
has been credited with the Baskets to be redeemed. If the Funds DTC account has not been credited with all of the Baskets to be redeemed by such time, the redemption distribution is delivered to the extent of whole Baskets received. Any
remainder of the redemption distribution is delivered on the next business day to the extent of remaining whole Baskets received if the Managing Owner receives the fee applicable to the extension of the redemption distribution date which the
Managing Owner may, from time-to-time, determine and the remaining Baskets to be redeemed are credited to the Funds DTC account by noon, New York time, on such next business day. Any further outstanding amount of the redemption order will be
cancelled. The Managing Owner is also authorized to deliver the redemption distribution notwithstanding that the Baskets to be redeemed are not credited to the Funds DTC account by noon, New York time, on the business day immediately following
the redemption order date if the Authorized Participant has collateralized its obligation to deliver the Baskets through DTCs book entry system on such terms as the Managing Owner may determine from time-to-time.
Suspension, Postponement or Rejection of Redemption Orders
The Managing Owner may, in its discretion, suspend the right of redemption, or postpone the redemption settlement date,
for (1) any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which the redemption distribution is not reasonably practicable, or (2) such other period as the Managing Owner determines to be necessary for the protection of the
Shareholders. The Managing Owner will not be liable to any person or in any way for any loss or damages that may result from any such suspension or postponement.
The Managing Owner may reject a redemption order if the order is not in proper form as described in the Participant
Agreement. The Managing Owner will reject a redemption order if the acceptance or receipt of the order, in the opinion of its counsel, might be unlawful.
Creation and Redemption Transaction Fee
To compensate the Administrator for services in processing the creation and redemption of Baskets, an Authorized Participant is required to pay a
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transaction fee of $500 per order to create or redeem Baskets. An order may include multiple Baskets. The transaction fee may be reduced, increased or otherwise changed by the Managing Owner. The
Managing Owner will notify DTC of any agreement to change the transaction fee and will not implement any increase in the fee for the redemption of Baskets until 30 days after the date of the notice.
THE COMMODITY BROKERS
A variety of executing brokers will execute futures transactions on behalf of the Fund. Such executing brokers will
give-up all such transactions to CFI. CFI is an affiliate of the BNP Affiliated Entities. In its capacity as executing and clearing broker, CFI will execute and clear each of the Funds futures transactions and will perform certain
administrative services for the Fund. CFI is registered with the CFTC as a futures commission merchant and is a member of the NFA in such capacity.
CFL will serve as the Funds executing and clearing broker with respect to all transactions on the London Metal Exchange. CFL is an affiliate of the BNP Affiliated Entities. CFL is a member of the
Financial Services Authority and as such is regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the conduct of its business in the United Kingdom.
We may refer to CFI and/or CFL as a Commodity Broker individually, or the Commodity Brokers collectively.
The Fund will pay to the Commodity Brokers all brokerage commissions, including applicable exchange fees, NFA fees, give-up fees, pit brokerage fees and other transaction related fees and expenses charged
in connection with trading activities. On average, total charges paid to the Commodity Brokers are expected to be approximately $10.00 per round-turn trade, although the Commodity Brokers brokerage commissions and trading fees will be
determined on a contract-by-contract basis. The Managing Owner expects that the brokerage commissions and fees may equal to approximately 0.08% of the Net Asset Value of the Fund in any year, although the actual amount of brokerage commissions and
fees in any year or any part of any year may be greater.
A round-turn trade is a completed transaction involving both a purchase
and a liquidating sale, or a sale followed by a covering purchase.
To the best of the Managing
Owners knowledge, there is no litigation pending regarding BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Inc. or BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Limited that would materially adversely affect their ability to carry on their commodity futures and options
brokerage business.
Additional or replacement commodity brokers may be appointed in respect of the Fund in the future.
ALTERNATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT COUNTERPARTIES
The Fund may enter into Alternative Financial Instruments from time-to-time with counterparties selected by the
Managing Owner. The Managing Owner may select Alternative Financial Instrument counterparties giving due consideration to such factors as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, creditworthiness, familiarity with the Index, and price.
Under no circumstances will the Fund enter into Alternative Financial Instruments with any counterparty whose credit rating is lower than investment-grade as determined by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (e.g., BBB- and above
as determined by Standard & Poors, Baa3 and above as determined by Moodys) at the time the Alternative Financial Instrument is entered into. The Fund anticipates that the counterparties to these Alternative Financial Instruments
are likely to be banks, broker dealers and other financial institutions. The Fund expects that these Alternative Financial Instruments (if any) may be on terms that are standard in the market for such Alternative Financial Instruments.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
General
Although the Managing Owner has considered various conflicts and has established formal procedures designed to
resolve these conflicts equitably, there may be additional conflicts that arise because the Managing Owner has not established formal procedures to resolve all potential conflicts of
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interest. Consequently, investors may be dependent on the good faith of the respective parties subject to such conflicts to resolve them equitably. Although the Managing Owner attempts to monitor
these conflicts, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the Managing Owner to ensure that these conflicts will not, in fact, result in adverse consequences to the Fund, the Net Asset Value of the Shares and ultimately the market price of
the Shares.
Prospective investors should be aware that the Managing Owner presently intends to
assert that Shareholders have, by subscribing for Shares of the Fund, consented to the following conflicts of interest in the event of any proceeding alleging that such conflicts violated any duty owed by the Managing Owner to investors.
The Managing Owner
The Managing Owner may have a conflict of interest in allocating its own limited resources among different clients and
potential future business ventures, to each of which it owes fiduciary duties. Additionally, the personnel of the Managing Owner also service other affiliates of the Managing Owner and their respective clients. Although the Managing Owner and its
professional staff cannot and will not devote all of its or their respective time or resources to the management of the business and affairs of the Fund, the Managing Owner intends to devote, and to cause its professional staff to devote, sufficient
time and resources to manage properly the business and affairs of the Fund consistent with its or their respective fiduciary duties to the Fund and others.
Relationship of the Managing Owner to the Commodity Brokers
The Managing Owner and the Commodity Brokers are affiliated subsidiaries of BNP Paribas. The Commodity Brokers receive
a brokerage commission for futures interests transactions effected for the Fund. Customers of the Commodity Brokers who maintain commodity trading accounts may pay commissions at negotiated rates which are greater or less than the rate paid by the
Fund.
The Managing Owner has a disincentive to replace the Commodity Brokers as the Funds brokers
because they are affiliates of the Managing Owner. In connection with this conflict of interest, Shareholders should understand that the Commodity Brokers receive a round-turn brokerage fee from the Fund for serving as the Funds commodity
brokers. A round-turn trade is a completed transaction
involving both a purchase and a liquidating sale, or a sale followed by a covering purchase.
The Managing Owner and the Commodity Brokers may, from time-to-time, have conflicting demands in respect of their obligations to the Fund, in the future, to other commodity pools and accounts. It is
possible that future pools that the Managing Owner may become involved with may generate larger brokerage commissions, resulting in increased payments to employees.
There is an absence of arms length negotiation with respect to all of the terms of this offering with respect to
the Managing Owner and the Commodity Brokers, and there has been no independent due diligence conducted with respect to this offering between the Managing Owner and the Commodity Brokers.
The Commodity Brokers
The Commodity Brokers may act from time-to-time as commodity brokers for other accounts with which they are affiliated
or in which they or one of their affiliates have a financial interest. The compensation received by the Commodity Brokers from such accounts may be more or less than the compensation received for brokerage services provided to the Fund. In addition,
various accounts traded through the Commodity Brokers (and over which their personnel may have discretionary trading authority) may take positions in the futures markets opposite to those of the Fund or may compete with the Fund for the same
positions. The Commodity Brokers may have a conflict of interest in their execution of trades for the Fund and for other customers. The Managing Owner will, however, not retain any commodity broker for the Fund which the Managing Owner has reason to
believe would knowingly or deliberately favor any other customer over the Fund with respect to the execution of commodity trades.
The Commodity Brokers will benefit from executing orders for other clients, whereas the Fund may be harmed to the extent that the Commodity Brokers have fewer resources to allocate to the Funds
accounts due to the existence of such other clients.
Certain officers or employees of CFI may be members of
U.S. commodities exchanges and/or serve on the governing bodies and standing committees of such exchanges, their clearing houses and/or various other industry organizations. In such
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capacities, these officers or employees may have a fiduciary duty to the exchanges, their clearing houses and/or such various other industry organizations which could compel such employees to act
in the best interests of these entities, perhaps to the detriment of the Fund.
Proprietary Trading/Other Clients
The BNP Affiliated Entities, as applicable, and their respective affiliates may trade in the commodity and foreign
exchange markets for their own accounts and for the accounts of their clients, and in doing so may take positions opposite to those held by the Fund or may compete with the Fund for positions in the marketplace. Such trading may create conflicts of
interest on behalf of one or more such persons in respect of their obligations to the Fund. Records of proprietary trading and trading on behalf of other clients will not be available for inspection by Shareholders.
Because the BNP Affiliated Entities, as applicable, and their respective principals and affiliates may trade for their
own accounts at the same time that they are managing the account of the Fund, prospective investors should be aware that as a result of a neutral allocation system, testing a new trading system, trading their proprietary accounts more
aggressively or other activities not constituting a breach of fiduciary duty such persons may from time-to-time take positions in their proprietary accounts which are opposite, or ahead of, the positions taken for the Fund.
Transactions by the BNP Affiliated
Entities and their respective affiliates
involving the Index
The BNP Affiliated Entities and their respective affiliates may from time-to-time engage in transactions involving the
Index (and/or sub-components thereof) for their proprietary accounts and for accounts under their management. Such transactions may have a positive or negative effect on the value or level of the Index (and/or sub-components thereof) and
consequently upon the Index levels, and in engaging in such transactions, none of the BNP Affiliated Entities nor any of their affiliates will be under any obligation to act in the interests of users of the Index and/or parties exposed to products
referencing the Index.
Index Sponsor
Acting in Other Capacities
The Index Sponsor and its affiliates may from time-to-time act in multiple
capacities with regard to the Index or any products referencing the Index. Potential conflicts of interest may exist between the Index Sponsor and its affiliates and any users of the Index and/or parties exposed to products referencing the Index.
Issuing of Other Derivative Instruments in Respect of the Index
The BNP Affiliated Entities and their affiliates may issue derivative instruments in respect of the Index
(and/or sub-components thereof) and the introduction of such products into the marketplace may affect the Index levels.
Liquidity Providers to the Fund
BNP Paribas Securities Corp., which also serves as the Initial Purchaser, is an affiliate of the Managing Owner and the BNP Affiliated Entities and may be a liquidity provider to the Fund, which we refer
to as the Affiliated Liquidity Provider. The Affiliated Liquidity Provider may increase liquidity in the Shares by submitting bids and offers on the Shares on NYSE Arca. The Affiliated Liquidity Provider is a registered broker dealer in the U.S. The
Affiliated Liquidity Provider has no obligation to provide liquidity. The Affiliated Liquidity Provider may decide to cease its activities intra-day, for periods longer than one day or permanently. The Affiliated Liquidity Provider may act in a
manner that ignores or disregards the interests of Shareholders.
In turn, as the amount of liquidity
decreases, the Affiliated Liquidity Provider, any other affiliated liquidity provider or any other affiliate of the Managing Owner, may benefit from the potential increase in spreads between the bid and offering price for the Shares.
Obtaining of Non-public Information
with respect to the Index
The Index Sponsor and/or its affiliates may acquire non-public information with respect to the Index (or sub-components
thereof), and neither the Index Sponsor nor any of its affiliates undertakes to disclose any such information to any user of the
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Index. In addition, one or more of the Index Sponsors affiliates may publish research reports with respect to the Index (or sub-components thereof). Such activities could present conflicts
of interest and may affect the Index level.
Affiliates of the Managing Owner
may
Serve as Counterparties to Alternative
Financial Instruments
From time-to-time, the Fund may invest in one or more Alternative Financial Instruments by selecting an affiliate of the Managing Owner to serve as the counterparty. The Managing Owner has an incentive to
select an affiliate to serve as a counterparty to an Alternative Financial Instrument. The affiliated counterparty to an Alternative Financial Instrument will attempt to earn a mark-up, spread or other profit by serving as the counterparty.
No independent party will participate in the selection of any affiliate who serves as a counterparty to an
Alternative Financial Instrument. As a result, the Fund will become subject to the creditworthiness of the affiliate who serves as a counterparty to an Alternative Financial Instrument.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SHARES; THE
TRUST; THE FUND; CERTAIN MATERIAL
TERMS OF THE DECLARATION OF TRUST
The following summary describes in brief the Shares and certain aspects of the operation of the
Trust and the Fund and the respective responsibilities of the Trustee and the Managing Owner concerning the Trust and the Fund and the material terms of the Declaration of Trust. Prospective investors should carefully review the Form of Declaration
of Trust filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part and consult with their own advisers concerning the implications to such prospective subscribers of investing in a series of a Delaware statutory trust.
Capitalized terms used in this section and not otherwise defined will have such meanings assigned to them under the Declaration of Trust.
Description of the Shares
The Fund will issue Shares which represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust. The Shares will be listed on NYSE Arca under the symbol BNPC.
The Shares may be purchased from the Fund or redeemed on a continuous
basis, but only by Authorized Participants and only in Baskets. Individual Shares may not be purchased from the Fund or redeemed. Shareholders that are not Authorized Participants may not purchase from the Fund or redeem Shares or Baskets.
The Trust; Principal Office; Location of
Records
The Trust is organized in separate series as a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Trust consists of two series. This Prospectus is for the Fund,
which is one of the Trusts Series. The Trust and the Fund are managed by the Managing Owner, whose office is located at 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, telephone: (212) 841-2000.
The books and records of the Fund will be maintained as follows: all marketing materials will be
maintained at the offices of the Marketing Agent, c/o ALPS Distributors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203; telephone number (303) 623-2577; Basket creation and redemption books and records, certain financial books and
records (including Fund accounting records, ledgers with respect to assets, liabilities, capital, income and expenses, the registrar, transfer journals and related details) and trading and related documents received from futures commission merchants
will be maintained by The Bank of New York Mellon, 2 Hanson Place, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, New York 11217, Telephone number (718) 315-4850. All other books and records of the Fund (including minute books and other general corporate records, trading records and related
reports and other items received from the Funds Commodity Broker) will be maintained at the Funds principal office, c/o BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019; telephone number
(212) 841-2000.
The books and records of the Fund are located at the foregoing addresses, and
available for inspection and copying (upon payment of reasonable reproduction costs) by Shareholders or their representatives for any purposes reasonably related to a Shareholders interest as a beneficial owner of such Shares during regular
business hours as provided in the Declaration of Trust. The Managing Owner will maintain and preserve the books and records of the Fund for a period of not less than six years.
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The Fund
For the avoidance of doubt, the Fund is one separate series of the Trust as of the date of this
Prospectus. However, the Trust may add additional series of funds from time to time and the below disclosure addresses a multi-series Trust.
The Trust is formed and is operated in a manner such that each Fund is liable only for obligations attributable to such Fund and Shareholders of a Fund are not subject to the losses or liabilities of any
other Fund. If any creditor or Shareholder in a Fund asserted against a Fund a valid claim with respect to its indebtedness or Shares, the creditor or Shareholder would only be able to recover money from that particular Fund and its assets.
Accordingly, the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses, or collectively, Claims, incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing solely with respect to a particular Fund are enforceable only against the assets of that Fund, and not against any
other Fund or the Trust generally or any of their respective assets. The assets of each Fund include only those funds and other assets that are paid to, held by or distributed to the Fund, including, without limitation, funds delivered to the Trust
for the purchase of Shares in a Fund. This limitation on liability is referred to as the Inter-Series Limitation on Liability. The Inter-Series Limitation on Liability is expressly provided for under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act,
which provides that if certain conditions (as set forth in Section 3804(a)) are met, then the debts of any particular series are enforceable only against the assets of such series and not against the assets of any other Fund or the Trust
generally.
In furtherance of the Inter-Series Limitation on Liability, every party providing services to
the Trust, a Fund or the Managing Owner on behalf of the Trust or a Fund, has acknowledged and consented in writing to:
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the Inter-Series Limitation on Liability with respect to such partys Claims; |
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voluntarily reduce the priority of its Claims against the Funds or their respective assets, such that its Claims are junior in right of repayment to
all other parties Claims against the Funds or their respective assets, except that Claims against the Trust where recourse for the payment of such Claims was, by agreement, limited to the assets of a particular Fund, will not be junior in
right of repayment, but will receive repayment from
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the assets of such particular Fund (but not from the assets of any other Fund or the Trust generally) equal to the treatment received by all other creditors and Shareholders that dealt with such
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a waiver of certain rights that such party may have under the United States Bankruptcy Code, if such party held collateral for its Claims, in the
event that the Trust is a debtor in a chapter 11 case under the United States Bankruptcy Code, to have any deficiency Claim (i.e., the difference, if any, between the amount of the Claim and the value of the collateral) treated as an unsecured Claim
against the Trust generally or any Fund. |
No special custody arrangements are applicable
to a Fund, and the existence of a trustee should not be taken as an indication of any additional level of management or supervision over a Fund. To the greatest extent permissible under Delaware law, the Trustee acts in an entirely passive role,
delegating all authority over the operation of each Trust and Fund to the Managing Owner.
The Trustee
Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware trust company, is the
sole Trustee of the Trust. The Trustees principal offices are located at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001. The Trustee is unaffiliated with the Managing Owner. The Trustees duties and
liabilities with respect to the offering of the Shares and the management of the Trust and the Fund are limited to its express obligations under the Declaration of Trust.
The rights and duties of the Trustee, the Managing Owner and the Shareholders are governed by the provisions of the
Delaware Statutory Trust Act and by the Declaration of Trust.
The Trustee serves as the sole trustee of the
Trust and the Fund in the State of Delaware. The Trustee will accept service of legal process on the Trust and the Fund in the State of Delaware and will make certain filings under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The Trustee does not owe any other
express duties to the Trust, the Managing Owner or the Shareholders of the Fund. The Trustee is permitted to resign upon at least sixty (60) days notice to the Trust, provided, that any such resignation will not be effective until
a successor
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Trustee is appointed by the Managing Owner. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustee is compensated by the Fund and is indemnified by the Fund against any expenses it incurs relating to
or arising out of the formation, operation or termination of the Trust or the Fund or the performance of its duties pursuant to the Declaration of Trust, except to the extent that such expenses result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct
of the Trustee. The Managing Owner has the discretion to replace the Trustee.
Only the Managing Owner has
signed the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, and only the assets of the Trust and the Managing Owner are subject to issuer liability under the federal securities laws for the information contained in this Prospectus and
under federal securities laws with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares. Under such laws, neither the Trustee, either in its capacity as Trustee or in its individual capacity, nor any director, officer or controlling person of the Trustee
is, or has any liability as, the issuer or a director, officer or controlling person of the issuer of the Shares. The Trustees liability in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares is limited solely to the express obligations of the
Trustee set forth in the Declaration of Trust.
Under the Declaration of Trust, the Managing Owner has the
exclusive management, authority and control of all aspects of the business of the Fund and the Trust. The Trustee will have no duty to supervise or monitor the performance of the Managing Owner, nor will the Trustee have any liability for the acts
or omissions of the Managing Owner. The Shareholders have no voice in the day-to-day management of the business and operations of the Fund and the Trust, other than certain limited voting rights as set forth in the Declaration of Trust. In the
course of its management of the business and affairs of the Fund and the Trust, the Managing Owner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, appoint an affiliate or affiliates of the Managing Owner as additional managing owners (except where the
Managing Owner has been notified by the Shareholders that it is to be replaced as the managing owner) and retain such persons, including affiliates of the Managing Owner, as it deems necessary for the efficient operation of the Fund and the Trust,
as appropriate.
Because the Trustee has no authority over the operation of the Fund and the Trust, the
Trustee itself is not registered in any capacity with the CFTC.
The existence of a trustee should not be taken as an indication of any
additional level of management or supervision over the Fund or the Trust. The Trustees only duties are to satisfy the requirements of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act that a Delaware statutory trust have at least one trustee with its principal
place of business in Delaware. The Declaration of Trust provides that the management authority with respect to the Trust and the Fund is vested directly in the Managing Owner.
The Managing Owner
Background and Principals
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, was formed on April 30, 2010 and
serves as Managing Owner of the Trust and the Fund. The Managing Owner will also manage the Fund Portfolio. The Managing Owner will serve as the commodity pool operator of the Trust and the Fund. NEITHER THIS POOL OPERATOR NOR ANY OF ITS TRADING
PRINCIPALS HAS PREVIOUSLY OPERATED ANY OTHER POOLS OR TRADED ANY OTHER ACCOUNTS. The Managing Owner has been registered as a commodity pool operator with the CFTC and has been a member of the NFA since July 27, 2010. During the period from
April-July, 2010, the Managing Owner was engaged in fund structuring activities in connection with futures-based exchange traded funds. The Managing Owners principal place of business is 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, telephone
number (212) 841-2000. The Managing Owner is a subsidiary of Paribas North America, Inc., which is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas. Paribas North America, Inc. has been a principal of the Managing Owner since July 21, 2010. The registration
of the Managing Owner with the CFTC and its membership in the NFA must not be taken as an indication that either the CFTC or the NFA has recommended or approved the Managing Owner, the Trust or the Fund.
In its capacity as a commodity pool operator, the Managing Owner is an organization which operates or solicits funds
for a commodity pool; that is, an enterprise in which funds contributed by a number of persons are combined for the purpose of trading futures contracts.
The Managing Owner was formed to be the managing owner of investment vehicles such as the Trust and the Fund and has no history of past performance. The Managing Owner and its trading
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principals have not managed any other commodity pools of this type. Therefore there is no indication of their ability to manage investment vehicles such as the Trust or the Fund. If the
experience of the Managing Owner and its trading principals is not adequate or suitable to manage investment vehicles such as the Trust or the Fund, the operations and performance of the Trust or the Fund may be adversely affected.
Principals
M. Andrews Yeo, George L. Parry and Paul Drumm serve as the Chief Executive Officer, the Principal Financial Officer, and the Chief Operating Officer, respectively, of the Managing Owner.
The Board of Directors, which manages the Managing Owner, is comprised of Mr. M. Andrews Yeo, Mr. Lionel
Crassier and Mr. Bruno dIlliers.
Messrs. Crassier, dIlliers, Drumm, Parry and Yeo also
serve as principals of the Managing Owner. Paribas North America, Inc. is also a principal of the Managing Owner.
Mr. Crassier will serve as the trading principal of the Managing Owner.
The Board of Directors has concluded that, based on each Directors experience, qualifications, attributes or skills, on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Director, each
Director should serve as a Director of the Managing Owner. Among the attributes common to all Directors are their ability to exercise sound business judgment in the performance of their duties as Directors, to review critically, evaluate, question
and discuss information provided to them regarding the commodity pools operated by the Managing Owner, including the Trust and the Fund, and their business and operations, and to interact effectively with the officers and other professional staff of
the Managing Owner, including the traders responsible for executing the Funds investment strategy, as well as the Trusts counsel, independent registered public accounting firm, and other service providers. A Directors ability to
perform his duties effectively may have been attained through the Directors educational background or professional training; business, consulting, public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member of other
investment funds and their operators or advisors, other public companies, or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. Set forth below is a
brief discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each Director.
M. Andrews Yeo was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Global Equities and Commodity Derivatives (GECD) Americas Business at BNP Paribas in August 2010. Mr. Yeo is responsible for the
management of the day-to-day operational aspects of the Equities and Commodity Derivatives Americas platform establishing strategy and business objectives and the development of policies and procedures. Additionally, Mr. Yeo currently serves on
the GECD Global Executive Committee. Mr. Yeo has been a principal of the Managing Owner since June 30, 2011, and is an associated person of the Managing Owner, pending final approval by the NFA. Mr. Yeo was as a Director for GECD,
Business Management from June 2008 until August 2010 where he was responsible for business development and day-to-day coordination with business support partners. Mr. Yeo has been a principal of BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc., a registered
U.S. broker/dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission and FINRA, primarily engaged in prime brokerage activities, since August 3, 2011. Prior to that Mr. Yeo served as a Director of BNP Paribas Securities Corp. from February, 2005
to June, 2008, where he was responsible for clearing and custody for all US and International cash markets for the US Broker Dealer. Mr. Yeo received his bachelors degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University in 1992.
George L. Parry is a Managing Director in Finance at BNP Paribas, a global bank and financial
services firm, with responsibility for finance related to global equities and commodity derivatives within the North American territory since October 2008. In addition, Mr. Parry has held the position of Financial and Operations Principal and
Chief Financial Officer for BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc., a registered U.S. broker/dealer and wholly owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas, with responsibility for all financial and operational aspects since December 2008. Mr. Parry was U.S.
Director of Finance for ICAP Services North America, LLC, from August 2007 to October 2008, accounting and finance of activities in five ICAP affiliated U.S. broker/dealers, a futures commission merchant and numerous other unregulated ICAP
affiliated entities in North America. Mr. Parry serves as the Principal Financial Officer of the Managing Owner since June 30, 2011 and is a principal of the Managing Owner and a member of the NFA, pending final approval by the NFA.
Previously, he was Executive Director and
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Chief Financial Officer of Mizuho Securities USA, Inc. (MSUSA), a primary U.S. government bond broker/dealer and futures commission merchant, from February 2005 to July 2007 with
responsibility for all financial and operational aspects. Mr. Parry has been a principal of BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc., a registered U.S. broker/dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission and FINRA, primarily engaged in prime
brokerage activities, since August 3, 2011. Mr. Parry is a CPA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and is a licensed CPA in the State of New York.
He received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from St. Josephs College in December 1992.
Paul Drumm is a Managing Director and Head of Fund Derivatives for the Americas at BNP Paribas, a global
bank and financial services firm, since December 2009. Prior to that, Mr. Drumm has been in the Global Equities and Commodity Derivatives Americas business at BNP Paribas where he has been Global Head of Client Services for the BNP
Paribas Fund Derivatives business from March 2008 to December 2009. Prior to this, Mr. Drumm was Head of Client Services for Fund Derivatives business in Europe and Asia from November 2006 to March 2008 with responsibilities for
overseeing the client services function and was Head of Fund Derivative Operations at BNP Paribas in Dublin from July 2003 to November 2006 with responsibilities for day to day operational issues. Mr. Drumm serves as the Chief Operating Officer
of the Managing Owner, and has been a principal and associated person of the Managing Owner since September 16, 2010 and September 22, 2010, respectively. Mr. Drumm has been an associated person of BNP Paribas Securities Corp., a
futures commission merchant, since August 4, 2010. Mr. Drumm received his BA in Economics from University College Dublin.
Lionel Crassier is the Head of the Global Equities and Commodity Derivatives (GECD) Americas Business at BNP Paribas, a global bank and financial services firm. Mr. Crassier serves on
the BNP Paribas Territory Management Committee for the Americas and on the GECD Global Executive Committee. Prior to being named to this position in February 2009, Mr. Crassier was Head of Trading and Structuring for Equities and Derivatives in
the Americas from August 2007 to February 2009 with responsibilities for overseeing the equities trading team. From April 2006 to August 2007, Mr. Crassier was Deputy Global Head of Trading & Structuring and Global Head of the
Structuring Group with
responsibilities for overseeing the trading and structuring teams, and from July 2005 to April 2006 he was Global Head of Exotic Trading as well as the Global Chief Operating Officer of the
Trading & Structuring team at BNP Paribas with responsibilities for overseeing the trading and structuring teams. Mr. Crassier serves as a Director of the Managing Owner, and has been a principal of the Managing Owner since
June 24, 2010. Mr. Crassier has been a principal of BNP Paribas Securities Corp., a futures commission merchant, since April 1, 2009. Mr. Crassier has been a principal of BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc., a registered U.S.
broker/dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission and FINRA, primarily engaged in prime brokerage activities, since June 15, 2011. Mr. Crassier is a Public Works (ESTP) Engineer and holds a Master of Finance from ESCP (Ecole
Supérieur de Commerce de Paris).
Bruno dIlliers is the
Chief Operating Officer (COO) for BNP Paribas North America Inc., which provides corporate, investment banking, and securities brokerage activities and is an affiliate of BNP Paribas, a global financial services firm, since April 2011, and is
responsible for overseeing the following departments: Finance & Tax, Information Technology & Operations, Governance & Control, and Branch Management. Mr. dIlliers serves as a Director of the Managing Owner, and
has been a principal of the Managing Owner since July 2011, pending final approval by the NFA. Mr. dIlliers has been a principal of BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc., a registered U.S. broker/dealer with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and FINRA, primarily engaged in prime brokerage activities, since August 3, 2011. Mr. dIlliers has been a principal of BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Inc., a Commodity Broker for the Fund, since June 30, 2011. Since
April 2011, Mr. dIlliers has been a member of the BNP Paribas North American Territory Management Committee, chairs the BNP Paribas North American Territory Operating Committee, and is an officer and board member of all major non-banking
subsidiaries with responsibilities for operational issues. Prior to being named to this position in April 2011, Mr. dIlliers was the COO for the Asia Pacific region of BNP Paribas from September 2009 to April 2011 with responsibilities
for day to day operational issues. From September 2006 to August 2009, Mr. dIlliers was Head of Organization and Controls for BNP Paribas in Paris, France with responsibilities for operational issues. Mr. dIlliers holds a
Masters from Ecole Supérieur de Commerce de Reims.
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Paribas North America, Inc., a principal of the Managing
Owner since July 21, 2010, is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of BNP Paribas.
Fiduciary and
Regulatory Duties of the Managing Owner
An investor should be aware that the Managing Owner has a
fiduciary responsibility to the Shareholders to exercise good faith and fairness in all dealings affecting the Fund.
As managing owner of the Trust and each Fund, the Managing Owner effectively is subject to the duties and restrictions imposed on fiduciaries under both statutory and common law. The Managing
Owner has a fiduciary responsibility to the Shareholders to exercise good faith, fairness and loyalty in all dealings affecting the Trust and each Fund, consistent with the terms of the Declaration of Trust. The form of Declaration of Trust is filed
as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The general fiduciary duties which would otherwise be imposed on the Managing Owner (which would make the operation of the Trust and each Fund as described herein
impracticable due to the strict prohibition imposed by such duties on, for example, conflicts of interest on behalf of a fiduciary in its dealings with its beneficiaries), are defined and limited in scope by the disclosure of the business terms of
the Trust and each Fund, as set forth herein and in the Declaration of Trust (to which terms all Shareholders, by subscribing to the Shares, are deemed to consent).
The Declaration of Trust provides that the Managing Owner and its affiliates will have no liability to the Trust and
each Fund or to any Shareholder for any loss suffered by the Trust and each Fund arising out of any action or inaction of the Managing Owner or its affiliates or their respective directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, managers or
employees, which we refer to as the Managing Owner Related Parties, if the Managing Owner Related Parties, in good faith, determined that such course of conduct was in the best interests of the applicable Fund and such course of conduct did not
constitute fraud, gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct by the Managing Owner Related Parties. The Trust and each Fund have agreed to indemnify the Managing Owner Related Parties against any losses, judgments, liabilities, expenses and
amounts paid in settlement of any claims sustained by it in connection with the Managing Owner Related Parties activities for the Trust and each Fund, provided that the Managing Owner Related Parties were acting on behalf of or performing
services for the Trust and each Fund and have
determined, in good faith, that such course of conduct was in the best interests of the applicable Fund and such liability or loss was not the result of fraud, gross negligence, bad faith,
willful misconduct, or a material breach of the Declaration of Trust on the part of the Managing Owner and any such indemnification will only be recoverable from the applicable Fund estate.
Under Delaware law, a beneficial owner of a statutory trust (such as a Shareholder of the Fund) may, under certain
circumstances, institute legal action on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated beneficial owners, or a class action, to recover damages from a fiduciary of such statutory trust for violations of fiduciary duties, or on behalf of a
statutory trust, or a derivative action, to recover damages from a third party where a fiduciary has failed or refused to institute proceedings to recover such damages. In addition, beneficial owners may have the right, subject to certain legal
requirements, to bring class actions in federal court to enforce their rights under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by SEC. Beneficial owners who have suffered losses in connection with the purchase
or sale of their beneficial interests may be able to recover such losses from the Managing Owner where the losses result from a violation by the Managing Owner of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws.
Under certain circumstances, Shareholders also have the right to institute a reparations proceeding before the CFTC
against the Managing Owner (a registered commodity pool operator), CFI (a registered futures commission merchant), as well as those of their respective employees who are required to be registered under the CEAct, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder. Private rights of action are conferred by the CEAct, as amended. Investors in commodities and in commodity pools may, therefore, invoke the protections provided thereunder.
There are substantial and inherent conflicts of interest in the structure of the Trust and each Fund which are, on
their face, inconsistent with the Managing Owners fiduciary duties. One of the purposes underlying the disclosures set forth in this Prospectus is to disclose to all prospective Shareholders these conflicts of interest so that the Managing
Owner may have the opportunity to obtain investors informed consent to such conflicts. Prospective investors who are not willing to consent to the various conflicts of interest described under the section Conflicts of
Interest and elsewhere should not invest in the applicable Fund. The Managing Owner currently intends to raise such
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disclosures and consent as a defense in any proceeding brought seeking relief based on the existence of such conflicts of interest.
The foregoing summary describing in general terms the remedies available to Shareholders under federal and Delaware law
is based on statutes, rules and decisions as of the date of this Prospectus. This is a rapidly developing and changing area of the law. Therefore, Shareholders who believe that they may have a legal cause of action against any of the foregoing
parties should consult their own counsel as to their evaluation of the status of the applicable law at such time.
Ownership or Beneficial Interest in the
Fund
As of the date of this Prospectus, principals of the Managing Owner own less than 1% of the Shares of the Fund.
Management; Voting by
Shareholders
The Shareholders take no part in the management or control, and have no voice in the
operations or the business of the Fund. Shareholders, may, however, remove and replace the Managing Owner as the managing owner of the Fund, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares then owned by Shareholders (as opposed to by
the Managing Owner and its affiliates). The owners of a majority of the outstanding Shares then owned by Shareholders may also compel dissolution of the Fund. Any Shares purchased by the Managing Owner or its affiliates are non-voting.
The Managing Owner has the right unilaterally to amend the Declaration of Trust provided that any such amendment is for
the benefit of and not adverse to the Shareholders or the Trustee and also in certain unusual circumstances for example, if doing so is necessary to comply with certain regulatory requirements or in response to regulatory changes (including,
but not limited to, proposals by regulatory bodies, self-regulatory organizations, legislative bodies or any other applicable lawmaking, rulemaking or similar body), such as, but not limited to, adverse changes in speculative positions limits
applicable to the futures contracts underlying the Funds Index Commodities.
Recognition of the Trust and each Fund in
Certain States
A number of states do not have statutory trust statutes such as that under
which the Trust has been
formed in the State of Delaware. It is possible, although unlikely, that a court in such a state could hold that, due to the absence of any statutory provision to the contrary in such
jurisdiction, the Shareholders, although entitled under Delaware law to similar limitations on personal liability as stockholders in a private corporation for profit organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, are not so entitled in such
state. To protect Shareholders against any loss of limited liability, the Declaration of Trust provides that no written obligation may be undertaken by any Fund unless such obligation is explicitly limited so as not to be enforceable against any
Shareholder personally. Furthermore, each Fund itself indemnifies all its Shareholders against any liability that such Shareholders might incur in addition to that of a beneficial owner.
Possible Repayment of Distributions
Received by Shareholders;
Indemnification by Shareholders
The Shares are limited liability investments. Investors may not lose more than the amount that they invest plus any
profits recognized on their investment. However, Shareholders of a Fund could be required, as a matter of bankruptcy law, to return to the estate of such Fund any distribution they received at a time when such Fund was in fact insolvent or in
violation of its Declaration of Trust. In addition, although the Managing Owner is not aware of this provision ever having been invoked in the case of any public futures fund, Shareholders agree in the Declaration of Trust that they will indemnify
such Fund for any harm suffered by it as a result of
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Shareholders actions unrelated to the business of such Fund, or |
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taxes imposed on the Shares by any state, local or foreign taxing authority in which such shareholders reside. |
The foregoing repayment of distributions and indemnity provisions (other than the provision for Shareholders
indemnifying a Fund for taxes imposed upon it by a state, local or foreign taxing authority, which is included only as a formality due to the fact that many states do not have statutory trust statutes so that the tax status of a Fund in such states
might, theoretically, be challenged although the Managing Owner is unaware of any instance in which this has actually occurred) are commonplace in statutory trusts and limited partnerships.
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Shares Freely Transferable
The Shares will trade on NYSE Arca and provide
investors with direct access to the Fund. The Fund trades with a view to tracking the Index over time, less expenses. The Funds Shares may be bought and sold on NYSE Arca like any other exchange-listed security.
Book-Entry Form
Individual certificates will not be issued for the Shares. Instead, a global certificate will be deposited by the
Trustee with DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. The global certificate evidences all of the Shares outstanding at any time. Under the Declaration of Trust, Shareholders are limited to (1) participants in
DTC such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies (DTC Participants), (2) those who maintain, either directly or indirectly, a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant (Indirect Participants), and (3) those banks, brokers,
dealers, trust companies and others who hold interests in the Shares through DTC Participants or Indirect Participants. The Shares are only transferable through the book-entry system of DTC. Shareholders who are not DTC Participants may transfer
their Shares through DTC by instructing the DTC Participant holding their Shares (or by instructing the Indirect Participant or other entity through which their Shares are held) to transfer the Shares. Transfers are made in accordance with standard
securities industry practice.
Reports to Shareholders
The Managing Owner will furnish Shareholders with an
annual report of the Fund within 90 calendar days after the end of the Funds fiscal year as required by the rules and regulations of the CFTC, including, but not limited to, annual audited financial statements certified by an independent
registered public accounting firm and any other reports required by any other governmental authority that has jurisdiction over the activities of the Fund.
Shareholders also will be provided with appropriate information to permit Shareholders to file their U.S. federal and state income tax returns (on a timely basis) with respect to their Shares. Monthly
account statements conforming to CFTC and NFA requirements will be posted on the Managing Owners website at http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com. The Fund will file periodic, quarterly and annual reports with the SEC. Shareholders can
read and copy these reports
at the SEC public reference facilities in Washington D.C. The filings will also be posted at the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. Additional reports may be posted on the Managing
Owners website in the discretion of the Managing Owner or as required by regulatory authorities.
Net Asset Value
Net Asset Value means the total assets of the Fund including, but not limited to, all cash and cash equivalents or other
debt securities less total liabilities of the Fund, each determined on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles. In particular, Net Asset Value includes any unrealized profit or loss on open commodity futures contracts, Alternative
Financial Instruments (if any) and any other credit or debit accruing to the Fund but unpaid or not received by the Fund. All open commodity futures contracts traded on a U.S. exchange will be calculated at their then current market value, which
will be based upon the settlement price for that particular commodity futures contract traded on the applicable U.S. exchange on the date with respect to which Net Asset Value is being determined; provided, that if a commodity futures contract
traded on a U.S. exchange could not be liquidated on such day, due to the operation of daily limits or other rules of the exchange upon which that position is traded or otherwise, the settlement price on the most recent day on which the position
could have been liquidated will be the basis for determining the market value of such position for such day. The current market value of all open commodity futures contracts traded on a non-U.S. exchange will be based upon the settlement price for
that particular commodity futures contract traded on the applicable non-U.S. exchange on the date with respect to which Net Asset Value is being determined; provided further, that if a commodity futures contract traded on a non-U.S. exchange could
not be liquidated on such day, due to the operation of daily limits (if applicable) or other rules of the exchange upon which that position is traded or otherwise, the settlement price on the most recent day on which the position could have been
liquidated will be the basis for determining the market value of such position for such day. The Managing Owner may in its discretion (and under extraordinary circumstances, including, but not limited to, periods during which a settlement price of a
futures contract is not available due to exchange limit orders or 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) value any asset of the Fund pursuant to such other principles as the Managing Owner deems
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fair and equitable so long as such principles are consistent with normal industry standards. Interest earned on the Funds commodity brokerage accounts is expected to accrue at least
monthly. The amount of any distribution will be a liability of the Fund from the day when the distribution is declared until it is paid.
In calculating the Net Asset Value of the Fund, the settlement value of an Alternative Financial Instrument (if any) is determined by either applying the then-current disseminated value for the futures
contracts underlying Index Commodities or the terms as provided under the applicable Alternative Financial Instrument. However, in the event that the futures contracts underlying Index Commodities are not trading due to the operation of daily limits
or otherwise, the Managing Owner may in its sole discretion choose to value the Funds Alternative Financial Instrument (if any) on a fair value basis in order to calculate the Funds Net Asset Value.
Net Asset Value per Share is the Net Asset Value of the Fund divided by the number of its outstanding Shares.
Termination Events
The Trust, or the Fund, will dissolve at any time upon the happening of any of the following events:
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The filing of a certificate of dissolution or revocation of the Managing Owners charter (and the expiration of 90 days after the date of
notice to the Managing Owner of revocation without a reinstatement of its charter) or upon the withdrawal, removal, adjudication or admission of bankruptcy or insolvency of the Managing Owner, or an event of withdrawal unless (i) at the time
there is at least one remaining managing owner and that remaining managing owner carries on the business of the Fund or (ii) within 90 days of such event of withdrawal all the remaining Shareholders agree in writing to continue the business of
the Fund and to select, effective as of the date of such event, one or more successor managing owners. If the Trust is terminated as the result of an event of withdrawal and a failure of all remaining Shareholders to continue the business of the
Trust and to appoint a successor managing owner as provided above within 120 days of such event of withdrawal,
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Shareholders holding Shares representing at least a majority (over 50%) of the Net Asset Value (excluding Shares held by the Managing Owner and its affiliates) may elect to continue the business
of the Trust by forming a new statutory trust, or reconstituted trust, on the same terms and provisions as set forth in the Declaration of Trust. Any such election must also provide for the election of a managing owner to the reconstituted trust. If
such an election is made, all Shareholders of the Fund will be bound thereby and continue as Shareholders of the reconstituted trust. |
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The occurrence of any event which would make unlawful the continued existence of the Trust or the Fund, as the case may be.
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In the event of the suspension, revocation or termination of the Managing Owners registration as a commodity pool operator, or membership as a
commodity pool operator with the NFA (if, in either case, such registration is required at such time unless at the time there is at least one remaining managing owner whose registration or membership has not been suspended, revoked or terminated).
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The Trust, or the Fund, as the case may be, becomes insolvent or bankrupt. |
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The Shareholders holding Shares representing at least a majority (over 50%) of the Net Asset Value (which excludes the Shares of the Managing Owner)
vote to dissolve the Fund, notice of which is sent to the Managing Owner not less than ninety (90) Business Days prior to the effective date of termination. |
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The determination of the Managing Owner that the aggregate net assets of the Fund in relation to the operating expenses of the Fund make it
unreasonable or imprudent to continue the business of the Fund, or, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, the determination by the Managing Owner to dissolve the Trust because the aggregate Net Asset Value of the Trust as of the close of
business on any business day declines below $10 million. |
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The Trust or the Fund is required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
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DTC is unable or unwilling to continue to perform its functions, and a comparable replacement is unavailable. |
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The Managing Owner determines to dissolve the Trust or the Fund for any reason or no reason. |
DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund will make distributions at the discretion of the Managing Owner. In light of the currently low interest rate
environment, the Managing Owner does not expect to make any distributions. To the extent that the actual and projected interest income from the Fund Portfolio exceed the actual and projected fees and expenses of the Fund, the Managing Owner expects
periodically to make distributions of the amount of such excess. The Fund currently does not expect to make distributions with respect to its capital gains. Depending on the Funds performance for the taxable year and your own tax situation for
such year, your income tax liability for the taxable year for your allocable share of the Funds net ordinary income or loss and capital gain or loss may exceed any distributions you receive with respect to such year.
THE ADMINISTRATOR, CUSTODIAN, AND TRANSFER AGENT
The Managing Owner, on behalf of the Trust and the Fund, has appointed The Bank of New York Mellon as the administrator
of the Fund and has entered into an Administration Agreement in connection therewith. The Bank of New York Mellon will serve as Custodian of the Fund and has entered into the Custody Agreement, in connection therewith. The Bank of New York Mellon
will also serve as the Transfer Agent of the Fund and has entered into a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement in connection therewith.
The Bank of New York Mellon, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of New
York with trust powers, has an office at 2 Hanson Place,
12th Floor, Brooklyn, New York 11217. The Bank of New York
Mellon is subject to supervision by the New York State Banking
Department and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Information regarding the Net Asset Value of the Fund, creation and redemption transaction fees and the names of the parties
that have executed a Participant Agreement may be obtained from The Bank of New York Mellon by calling the following number: (718) 315-7500. A list of the names of the parties that have executed a Participant Agreement as of the date of this
Prospectus may be found in the section Plan of Distribution. A copy of the Administration Agreement is available for inspection at The Bank of New York Mellons trust office identified above.
Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator will perform or supervise the
performance of services necessary for the operation and administration of the Fund (other than making investment decisions), including receiving and processing orders from Authorized Participants to create and redeem Baskets, Net Asset Value
calculations, accounting and other fund administrative services. The Administrator will retain certain financial books and records, including: Basket creation and redemption books and records, Fund accounting records, ledgers with respect to assets,
liabilities, capital, income and expenses, the registrar, transfer journals and related details and trading and related documents received from futures commission merchants, c/o The Bank of New York Mellon, 2 Hanson Place, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, New York 11217, telephone number
(718) 315-4850.
A summary of the material terms of the Administration Agreement is disclosed in the
section Material Contracts.
The Administrators monthly fees of up to
0.065% per annum are paid on behalf of the Fund by the Managing Owner out of the Management Fee.
The
Administrator and any of its affiliates may from time-to-time purchase or sell Shares for their own account, as agent for their customers and for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
The Administrator and any successor administrator must be a participant in DTC or such other securities depository as
will then be acting.
The Administrator will also receive a transaction processing fee in connection with
orders from Authorized Participants to create or redeem Baskets in the amount of $500 per order. These
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transaction processing fees are paid by the Authorized Participants and not by the Fund.
The Managing Owner on behalf of the Fund is expected to retain the services of one or more additional service providers to assist with certain tax reporting requirements of the Fund and its Shareholders.
THE MARKETING AGENT
The Managing Owner, on behalf of the Trust and the Fund, has appointed ALPS Distributors, Inc., or the Marketing Agent,
to assist the Managing Owner and the Administrator with certain functions and duties relating to distribution and marketing, including reviewing and approving marketing materials. The Marketing Agent will retain all marketing materials at c/o ALPS
Distributors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203; telephone number (303) 623-2577.
The Marketing Agent will not open or maintain customer accounts or solicit, receive, execute, clear, settle or otherwise handle any orders to purchase or redeem Shares.
The Fund will enter into a Marketing Agent Agreement with the Marketing Agent.
A summary of the material terms of the Marketing Agreement is disclosed in the section Material Contracts.
The Managing Owner, out of the Management Fee, pays the Marketing Agent for performing its duties on
behalf of the Fund.
800 Number for Investors
Investors may contact the Marketing Agent toll-free in the U.S. at
(800) [ ]-[ ].
THE SECURITIES DEPOSITORY; BOOK-
ENTRY-ONLY
SYSTEM; GLOBAL SECURITY
DTC acts as securities depository for the Shares. DTC is a limited-purpose
trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a clearing agency registered
pursuant to the provisions of section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities of DTC Participants and to
facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in such securities among the DTC Participants through electronic book-entry changes. This eliminates the need for physical movement of
securities certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. Access to the DTC system is also
available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly. DTC has agreed to administer its book-entry system in accordance
with its rules and by-laws and the requirements of law.
Individual certificates will not be issued for the
Shares. Instead, a global certificate is signed by the Managing Owner on behalf of the Fund, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, and deposited with the Trustee on behalf of DTC. The global certificate evidences all of
the Shares outstanding at any time. The representations, undertakings and agreements made on the part of the Fund in the global certificate is made and intended for the purpose of binding only the Fund and not the Trustee or the Managing Owner
individually.
Upon the settlement date of any creation, transfer or redemption of Shares, DTC credits or
debits, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the amount of the Shares so created, transferred or redeemed to the accounts of the appropriate DTC Participants. The Managing Owner and the Authorized Participants designate the accounts
to be credited and charged in the case of creation or redemption of Shares.
Beneficial ownership of the
Shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Owners of beneficial interests in the Shares is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only
through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants), the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants), and the records of Indirect Participants (with respect to Shareholders that are not DTC Participants or
Indirect Participants). Shareholders are expected to receive from or through the DTC Participant maintaining the account through which the Shareholder has purchased their Shares a written confirmation relating to such purchase.
Shareholders that are not DTC Participants may transfer the Shares through DTC by instructing the DTC Participant or
Indirect Participant through
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which the Shareholders hold their Shares to transfer the Shares. Shareholders that are DTC Participants may transfer the Shares by instructing DTC in accordance with the rules of DTC. Transfers
are made in accordance with standard securities industry practice.
DTC may decide to discontinue providing
its service with respect to Baskets and/or the Shares by giving notice to the Trustee and the Managing Owner. Under such circumstances, the Trustee and the Managing Owner will either find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a
comparable cost or, if a replacement is unavailable, terminate the Fund.
The rights of the Shareholders
generally must be exercised by DTC Participants acting on their behalf in accordance with the rules and procedures of DTC. Because the Shares can only be held in book-entry form through DTC and DTC Participants, investors must rely on DTC, DTC
Participants and any other financial intermediary through which they hold the Shares to receive the benefits and exercise the rights described in this section. Investors should consult with their broker or financial institution to find out about
procedures and requirements for securities held in book-entry form through DTC.
SHARE SPLITS
If the Managing Owner believes that the market price per Share in the secondary market has fallen
outside a desirable market price range, the Managing Owner may direct the Trustee to declare a split or reverse split in the number of Shares outstanding and to make a corresponding change in the number of Shares constituting a Basket.
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
Customer Agreement with CFI
Pursuant to the brokerage agreement, or Customer Agreement, between CFI and the Trust on behalf of the
Fund, CFI acts as the Funds broker for the execution, clearance and/or carrying of transactions for the purchase and sale of cash-settled commodity interests, including commodities, commodity futures contracts and related options.
The Customer Agreement will continue in force until written notice of
termination is given by the Fund or CFI.
The Fund will waive any and all claims, rights or causes of action
which it has or may have against CFI or its officers, employees, agents or affiliates for any consequential or punitive damages and to limit any claims or rights arising out of any transactions executed or not executed, or otherwise arising from the
Customer Agreement or the Funds brokerage account, to its direct out of pocket damages. None of CFI or its officers, employees, agents or affiliates will be liable as a result of any action taken by CFI or its officers, employees, agents or
affiliates or any clearing brokers or floor brokers, to comply with applicable law. Under the Customer Agreement, each of CFI and its officers, employees, agents or affiliates will only be liable for non-performance of its obligations arising from
its negligence or willful misconduct. In no event will CFI or its officers, employees, agents or affiliates be liable for: (i) the actions or inactions of any government, regulatory authority, exchange, board of trade or clearing house;
(ii) wars, terrorism, or strikes; (iii) delays or failure in the transmission of orders due to a breakdown or failure of hardware, software, electronic trading systems, order routing systems, or other transmission systems, devices or
communication facilities, including where such failure is caused by a computer virus; or (iv) failure of any exchange, board of trade, clearing house, intermediate broker, custodian, sub-custodian, bank, dealer, or for any other cause or causes
beyond CFIs direct control regardless of whether such claim arises in contract, negligence, tort, strict liability, or otherwise.
The Fund will remain fully liable for all existing open positions, new positions or eliminated positions, resulting in whole or part from business on a market operated or cleared by an exchange or board
of trade being suspended, restricted, closed or otherwise impeded.
Absent CFIs negligence or willful
misconduct, the Fund will indemnify, defend and hold CFI and its officers, directors, employees, agents and affiliates harmless from and against any and all loss, liability, damage, cost, claim or expense (including without limitation, reasonable
attorneys fees and any fine, sanction or penalty made or imposed by any court, agency or regulatory or self-regulatory authority or any exchange or board of trade) incurred in connection with the Customer Agreement, the Funds brokerage
account and/or any transactions or positions established or maintained therein, including
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where CFI acts on the instructions of any intermediary or third party for the Fund or because of business on a market operated or cleared by an exchange or board of trade being suspended,
restricted, closed or otherwise impeded. Without limitation, the Fund agrees to reimburse CFI on demand for any cost of collection incurred by CFI in collecting such sums owed hereunder and any cost incurred in successfully defending against any
claims asserted by the Fund, including legal fees, interest and expenses.
Customer Agreement with CFL
[To revise.]
Administration Agreement
Pursuant to the Administration Agreement among the Trust and the Administrator, the Administrator will perform or
supervise the performance of services necessary for the operation and administration of the Trust (other than making investment decisions), including receiving and processing orders from Authorized Participants to create and redeem Baskets, Net
Asset Value calculations, accounting and other fund administrative services.
The Administration Agreement
will continue in effect from the commencement of trading operations unless terminated on at least 90 days prior written notice by either party to the other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may terminate the
Administration Agreement upon 30 days prior written notice if the Trust has materially failed to perform its obligations under the Administration Agreement or upon the termination of the Global Custody Agreement.
The Administrator is both exculpated and indemnified under the Administration Agreement.
Except as otherwise provided in the Administration Agreement, the Administrator will not be liable for any costs,
expenses, damages, liabilities or claims (including attorneys and accountants fees) incurred by or asserted against the Trust, except those costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims arising out of the Administrators own gross
negligence or willful misconduct. In no event will the Administrator be liable to the Trust or any third party for special, indirect or consequential damages, or lost profits or loss of business, arising under or in connection with the
Administration Agreement, even if previously informed of the
possibility of such damages and regardless of the form of action. The Administrator will not be liable for any costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims (including attorneys and
accountants fees), resulting from, arising out of, or in connection with its performance under the Administration Agreement, including its actions or omissions, the incompleteness or inaccuracy of any specifications or other information
furnished by or on behalf of the Trust, or for delays caused by circumstances beyond the Administrators reasonable control, unless such cost, expense, damage, liability or claim (including attorneys and accountants fees) arises out
of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrator.
The Trust will indemnify and hold
harmless the Administrator from and against any and all costs, expenses, damages, liabilities and claims (including claims asserted by the Trust), and reasonable attorneys and accountants fees relating thereto, which are sustained or
incurred or which may be asserted against the Administrator by reason of or as a result of any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrator in good faith under the Administration Agreement or in reliance upon (i) any law, act,
regulation or interpretation of the same, issued by a court or governmental agency, (ii) the registration statement or Prospectus, (iii) any instructions of an officer of the Managing Owner, or (iv) any opinion of legal counsel for
the Trust or the Administrator, or arising out of transactions or other activities of the Trust which occurred prior to the commencement of the Administration Agreement; provided, that the Trust will not indemnify the Administrator for costs,
expenses, damages, liabilities or claims for which the Administrator is liable under the preceding paragraph. This indemnity will be a continuing obligation of the Trust, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of the
Administration Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trust will indemnify the Administrator against and save the Administrator harmless from any loss, damage or expense, including counsel fees and other costs and expenses
of a defense against any claim or liability, arising from any one or more of the following: (i) errors in records or instructions, explanations, information, specifications or documentation of any kind, as the case may be, supplied to the
Administrator by any third party described above or by or on behalf of the Trust; (ii) action or inaction taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrator pursuant to any certificate, instructions or oral instructions of the Trust or otherwise
without negligence or willful misconduct; (iii) any action
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taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrator in good faith after consultation with the Trust in accordance with the advice or opinion of counsel for the Trust or its own counsel;
(iv) any improper use by the Trust or its agents, distributor or investment advisor of any valuations or computations supplied by the Administrator pursuant to the Administration Agreement; (v) the method of valuation of the securities and
the method of computing the Trusts Net Asset Value; or (vi) any valuations of securities or Net Asset Value provided by the Trust.
Actions taken or omitted in reliance on oral or written instructions, or upon any information, order, indenture, stock certificate, power of attorney, assignment, affidavit or other instrument reasonably
believed by the Administrator to be genuine or bearing the signature of a person or persons reasonably believed to be authorized to sign, countersign or execute the same, or upon the opinion of legal counsel for the Trust or its own counsel, will be
conclusively presumed to have been taken or omitted in good faith.
Global Custody Agreement
The Bank of New York Mellon will serve as the Trusts custodian, which we refer to as the Custodian. Pursuant to
the Custody Agreement, the Custodian serves as custodian of all the Trusts securities and cash at any time delivered to Custodian during the term of the Custody Agreement and the Trust has authorized the Custodian to hold its securities in
registered form in its name or the name of its nominees. The Custodian has established and will maintain one or more securities accounts and cash accounts pursuant to the Custody Agreement. The Custodian will maintain books and records segregating
the assets.
Either party may terminate the Custody Agreement by giving to the other party a notice in
writing specifying the date of such termination, which will be not less than 90 days after the date of such notice. Upon termination thereof, the Trust will pay to the Custodian such compensation as may be due to the Custodian, and will likewise
reimburse the Custodian for other amounts payable or reimbursable to the Custodian thereunder. The Custodian will follow such reasonable oral or written instructions concerning the transfer of custody of records, securities and other items as the
Trust gives; provided, that (a) the Custodian will have no liability for shipping and insurance costs associated therewith, and (b) full payment will have been made to the Custodian of its compensation, costs, expenses and
other amounts to which it is entitled thereunder. If any securities or cash remain in any account, the Custodian may deliver to the Trust such securities and cash. Except as otherwise provided
herein, all obligations of the parties to each other hereunder will cease upon termination of the Custody Agreement.
The Custodian is both exculpated and indemnified under the Custody Agreement.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Custody Agreement, the Custodian will not be liable for any costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims (including attorneys and accountants
fees) incurred by or asserted against the Trust, except those costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims arising out of the negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian. The Custodian will have no liability whatsoever for the action or
inaction of any depository or issuer of securities. Subject to the Custodians delegation of its duties to its affiliates, the Custodians responsibility with respect to any securities or cash held by a subcustodian is limited to the
failure on the part of the Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the selection or retention of such subcustodian in light of prevailing settlement and securities handling practices, procedures and controls in the relevant market. With respect to
any costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims incurred by the Trust as a result of the acts or the failure to act by any subcustodian (other than an affiliate of the Custodian), the Custodian will take appropriate action to recover such costs,
expenses, damages, liabilities or claims from such subcustodian; and the Custodians sole responsibility and liability to the Trust will be limited to amounts so received from such subcustodian (exclusive of costs and expenses incurred by the
Custodian). In no event will the Custodian be liable to the Trust or any third party for special, indirect or consequential damages, or lost profits or loss of business, arising in connection with the Custody Agreement.
The Trust will indemnify the Custodian and each subcustodian for the amount of any tax that the Custodian, any such
subcustodian or any other withholding agent is required under applicable laws (whether by assessment or otherwise) to pay on behalf of, or in respect of income earned by or payments or distributions made to or for the account of the Trust (including
any payment of tax required by reason of an earlier failure to withhold). The Custodian will, or will instruct the applicable subcustodian or other withholding agent to, withhold the amount of any tax which is required to be withheld under
applicable law upon collection of any
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dividend, interest or other distribution made with respect to any security and any proceeds or income from the sale, loan or other transfer of any security. In the event that the Custodian or any
subcustodian is required under applicable law to pay any tax on behalf of the Trust, the Custodian is hereby authorized to withdraw cash from any cash account in the amount required to pay such tax and to use such cash, or to remit such cash to the
appropriate subcustodian, for the timely payment of such tax in the manner required by applicable law.
The
Trust will indemnify the Custodian and hold the Custodian harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims (including attorneys and accountants fees) sustained or incurred by or asserted against the
Custodian by reason of or as a result of any action or inaction, or arising out of the Custodians performance under the Custody Agreement, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel incurred by the Custodian in a successful defense of
claims by the Trust; provided however, that the Trust will not indemnify the Custodian for those costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims arising out of the Custodians negligence or willful misconduct. This indemnity will be a
continuing obligation of the Trust, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of the Custody Agreement.
Transfer Agency and Service Agreement
The Bank of New York Mellon will serve as the Trusts Transfer Agent. Pursuant to the Transfer Agency and Service
Agreement between the Trust and the Transfer Agent, the Transfer Agent will serve as the Trusts transfer agent, distribution disbursing agent, and agent in connection with certain other activities as provided under the Transfer Agency and
Service Agreement.
The term of the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement is one year from the effective
date and will automatically renew for additional one year terms unless either party provides written notice of termination at least 90 days prior to the end of any one year term or, unless earlier terminated as provided below:
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Either party terminates prior to the expiration of the initial term in the event the other party breaches any material provision of the Transfer
Agency and Service Agreement, including, without limitation in the case of the Trust, its
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obligations to compensate the Transfer Agent, provided that the non-breaching party gives written notice of such breach to the breaching party and the breaching party does not cure such violation
within 90 days of receipt of such notice. |
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The Trust may terminate the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement at any time upon 90 days prior written notice. |
The Transfer Agent will have no responsibility and will not be liable for any and all losses, damages, costs, charges,
counsel fees (including, without limitation, those incurred by the Transfer Agent in a successful defense of any claims by the Trust), payments, expenses or liability, except that the Transfer Agent will be liable to the Trust for direct money
damages caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct or that of its employees or agents, or its breach of any of its representations. In no event will the Transfer Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential damages, regardless of
the form of action and even if the same were foreseeable. For purposes of the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, none of the following will be or be deemed negligence or willful misconduct:
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The conclusive reliance on or use by the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors of information, records, documents or services which
(i) are received by the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors, and (ii) have been prepared, maintained or performed by the Trust or any other person or firm on behalf of the Trust including but not limited to any previous transfer
agent or registrar. |
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The conclusive reliance on, or the carrying out by the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors of, any instructions or requests of the Trust
or instructions or requests on behalf of the Trust. |
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The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any requirement under the federal securities laws or regulations, or the securities laws or regulations
of any state that such Shares be registered in such state, or in violation of any stop order or other determination or ruling by any federal agency, or any state with respect to the offer or sale of such Shares in such state.
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The Transfer Agent will not be responsible for, and the Trust will
indemnify and hold the Transfer Agent harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees (including, without limitation, those incurred by the Transfer Agent in a successful defense of any claims by the Trust),
payments, expenses and liability which may sustain or incur or which may be asserted against the Transfer Agent in connection with or relating to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement or the Transfer Agents actions or omissions with
respect to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, except that the Transfer Agent will be liable for direct money damages caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct or that of its employees or agents, or its breach of any of its
representations.
Marketing Agent Agreement
The Marketing Agent will provide certain marketing services to the Trust. Pursuant to the Marketing Agent Agreement, as
amended from time-to-time, among the Trust, the Managing Owner and the Marketing Agent, the Marketing Agent will assist the Managing Owner and the Administrator with certain functions and duties relating to marketing, including reviewing and
approving marketing materials.
The Marketing Agent Agreement will continue in effect for an initial term of
two years from the effective date and thereafter will continue automatically for successive twelve month periods, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Managing Owner. Upon and after completion of its
initial term, the Marketing Agent Agreement is terminable by any party at any time without penalty on 60 days prior written notice to the other parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Marketing Agent Agreement may be terminated by any
party upon written notice to the other parties if (a) the Trust is terminated, (b) any other party becomes insolvent or bankrupt or files a voluntary petition, or is subject to an involuntary petition, in bankruptcy or attempts to or makes
an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or consents to the appointment of a trustee or receiver or (c) any other party willfully and materially breaches its obligations under the Marketing Agent Agreement and such breach has not been
cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the non-breaching party prior to the expiration of 60 days after written notice by the non-breaching party to the breach party of such breach.
Pursuant to the Marketing Agent Agreement, the Trust will indemnify the
Marketing Agent as follows:
The Trust will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Marketing Agent and its
partners, stockholders, members, directors, officers and employees of the foregoing, and the successors and assigns of all the foregoing, from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation)
which the Marketing Agent or any such person may incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon:
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any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Trusts registration statement (or in the Trusts registration statement as
amended or supplemented) or in the Trusts prospectus (or in the Trusts prospectus as amended or supplemented), or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in either
such registration statement or such prospectus or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading, except for any statements provided in writing, directly or indirectly by the Marketing Agent to the Trust or the Managing Owner for
inclusion in such registration statement or such prospectus or any material omissions therefrom; |
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any untrue statement of a material fact or breach by the Trust or the Managing Owner of any representation or warranty contained in the Marketing
Agent Agreement; |
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the failure by the Trust or the Managing Owner to perform when and as required any agreement or covenant contained herein;
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any untrue statement of any material fact contained in any audio or visual materials provided by the Trust or the Managing Owner or based upon
written information furnished by or on behalf of the Trust or the Managing Owner including, without limitation, slides, videos, films or tape
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recordings used in connection with the marketing of the Trust; |
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the Marketing Agents performance of its duties under the Marketing Agent Agreement except in the case of this bullet point, for any loss,
damage, expense, liability or claim resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Marketing Agent. In no case is the indemnity of the Trust in favor of the Marketing Agent deemed to protect the Marketing Agent against any
liability to the Trust or the Managing Owner to which the Marketing Agent would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties under the Marketing Agent Agreement. |
MATERIAL U.S.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX
CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal (and certain state and local) income tax considerations
associated with the purchase, ownership and disposition of Shares as of the date hereof by U.S. Shareholders (as defined below) and non-U.S. Shareholders (as defined below). Except where noted, this discussion deals only with Shares held as capital
assets by Shareholders who acquired Shares by purchase and does not address special situations, such as those of:
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dealers in securities, commodities or currencies; |
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financial institutions; |
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regulated investment companies (RICs), other than the status of the Fund as a qualified publicly traded partnership (a qualified
PTP) within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code); |
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real estate investment trusts; |
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tax-exempt organizations; |
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persons holding Shares as a part of a hedging, integrated or conversion transaction or a straddle; |
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traders in securities or commodities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities or commodities holdings; or
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persons liable for alternative minimum tax. |
Furthermore, the discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Code, the Treasury Regulations promulgated
thereunder (the Regulations), and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof, and such authorities may be repealed, revoked, modified or subject to differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive
basis, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those described below.
A
U.S. Shareholder means a beneficial owner of Shares that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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an individual citizen or resident of the U.S.; |
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a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation) created or organized in or under the laws of the U.S. or any state thereof or the District
of Columbia; |
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an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
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a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the U.S. and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control
all substantial decisions of such trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
A non-U.S. Shareholder means a beneficial owner of Shares that is not a U.S. Shareholder.
If a partnership or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds
Shares, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership
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holding Shares, we urge you to consult your own tax adviser.
No statutory, administrative or judicial authority directly addresses the treatment of Shares or instruments similar to Shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, we cannot assure
you that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) or the courts will agree with the tax consequences described herein. A different treatment from that described below could adversely affect the amount, timing and character of income,
gain, loss or deduction in respect of an investment in the Shares. If you are considering the purchase of Shares, we urge you to consult your own tax adviser concerning the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of the purchase,
ownership and disposition of Shares, as well as any consequences to you arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.
Status of the Fund
Under
current law and assuming full compliance with the terms of the Declaration of Trust and applicable law (and other relevant documents), in the opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, the Fund will be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, which is treated as a separate entity from any other series of the Trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, subject to the discussion below regarding publicly traded partnerships, the Fund will not be a taxable
entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the Fund will not incur U.S. federal income tax liability.
Special Rules for Publicly Traded Partnerships
A partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no
U.S. federal income tax liability. Section 7704 of the Code provides that publicly traded partnerships will, as a general rule, be taxed as corporations. However, an exception exists with respect to publicly traded partnerships of which 90% or
more of the gross income during each taxable year consists of qualifying income within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code (the qualifying income exception). Qualifying income includes dividends, interest, capital
gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks and debt instruments and, in the case of a partnership (such as the Fund) a principal activity of which is the buying and selling of commodities or futures contracts with respect to commodities,
income and gains derived from commodities or futures contracts with respect to commodities. The Fund anticipates that at least 90%
of its gross income for each taxable year will constitute qualifying income within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code.
There can be no assurance that the IRS will not assert that the Fund should be treated as a publicly traded partnership
taxable as a corporation. No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS, and the IRS has made no determination as to the status of the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes or whether the Funds operations generate qualifying
income under Section 7704(d) of the Code. Whether the Fund will continue to meet the qualifying income exception is a matter that will be determined by the Funds operations and the facts existing at the time of future
determinations. However, the Funds Managing Owner will use its reasonable efforts to cause the Fund to operate in such manner as is necessary for the Fund to meet the qualifying income exception.
If the Fund were taxable as a corporation in any taxable year, either as a result of a failure to meet the qualifying
income exception described above or otherwise, the Funds items of income, gain, loss and deduction would be reflected only on its tax return rather than being passed through to the Shareholders, and the Funds net income would be taxed to
it at the income tax rates applicable to domestic corporations. In addition, if the Fund were taxable as a corporation, any distribution made by the Fund to a Shareholder would be treated as taxable dividend income, to the extent of the Funds
current or accumulated earnings and profits, or, in the absence of current and accumulated earnings and profits, as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the Shareholders tax basis in its Shares, or as taxable capital gain, after the
Shareholders tax basis in its Shares is reduced to zero. Taxation of the Fund as a corporation could result in a material reduction in a Shareholders cash flow and after-tax return and thus could result in a substantial reduction of the
value of the Shares.
The discussion below is based on Sidley Austin LLPs opinion
that the Fund will be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
U.S. Shareholders
Treatment of Fund Income
A partnership does not
incur U.S. federal income tax liability. Instead, each partner of a partnership is required to take into account its share of items of income, gain, loss, deduction and other items of the partnership. Accordingly, each
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Shareholder will be required to include in income its allocable share of the Funds income, gain, loss, deduction and other items for the Funds taxable year ending with or within its
taxable year. In computing a partners U.S. federal income tax liability, the items must be included, regardless of whether cash distributions are made by the partnership. Thus, Shareholders may be required to take into account taxable income
without a corresponding current receipt of cash if the Fund generates taxable income but does not make cash distributions in an amount equal to the taxable income, or if the Shareholder is not able to deduct, in whole or in part, the
Shareholders allocable share of the Funds expenses or capital losses. The Funds taxable year will end on December 31 unless otherwise required by law. The Fund will use the accrual method of accounting.
Shareholders will take into account their respective shares of ordinary income realized by the Fund from accruals of
interest on Treasury securities held in the Fund Portfolio. The Fund may hold Treasury securities or other debt instruments with acquisition discount or original issue discount, in which case Shareholders will be required to
include accrued amounts in taxable income on a current basis even though receipt of those amounts may occur in a subsequent year. The Fund may also acquire debt instruments with market discount. Upon disposition of market discount
obligations, gain will generally be required to be treated as interest income to the extent of the market discount and Shareholders will be required to include as ordinary income their shares of the market discount that accrued during the period the
obligations were held by the Fund.
It is expected that a substantial portion of the futures on the
Index Commodities will constitute Section 1256 Contracts (as defined below). The Code generally applies a mark-to-market system of taxing unrealized gains and losses on, and otherwise provides for special rules of taxation with
respect to futures and other contracts that are Section 1256 Contracts. A Section 1256 Contract includes certain regulated futures contracts. With the exception of futures traded on certain exchanges, including the LME discussed below, it
is expected that the futures on the Index Commodities held by the Fund will constitute Section 1256 Contracts. Section 1256 Contracts held by the Fund at the end of a taxable year of the Fund will be treated for U.S. federal income tax
purposes as if they were sold by the Fund at their fair market value on the last business day of the taxable year. The net gain or loss, if any, resulting from these deemed sales (known as marking-to-market), together with any gain or
loss resulting from any actual sales of Section 1256
Contracts (or other termination of the Funds obligations under such contracts), must be taken into account by the Fund in computing its taxable income for the year. If a Section 1256
Contract held by the Fund at the end of a taxable year is sold in the following year, the amount of any gain or loss realized on the sale will be adjusted to reflect the gain or loss previously taken into account under the mark-to-market rules.
Capital gains and losses from Section 1256 Contracts generally are characterized as short-term capital
gains or losses to the extent of 40% of the gains or losses and as long-term capital gains or losses to the extent of 60% of the gains or losses. Thus, Shareholders will generally take into account their pro rata share of the long-term capital gains
and losses and short-term capital gains and losses from Section 1256 Contracts held by the Fund and taken into account by the Fund in computing its taxable income. If a non-corporate taxpayer incurs a net capital loss for a year, the portion of
the loss, if any, which consists of a net loss on Section 1256 Contracts may, at the election of the taxpayer, be carried back three years. A loss carried back to a year by a non-corporate taxpayer may be deducted only to the extent
(1) the loss does not exceed the net gain on Section 1256 Contracts for the year and (2) the allowance of the carryback does not increase or produce a net operating loss for the year.
Any futures on Index Commodities held by the Fund which are not classified as Section 1256 Contracts
(Non-Section 1256 Contracts) (e.g., futures on aluminum, nickel, copper, zinc and lead which trade on the LME) will not be subject to the special tax rules discussed above. Since such futures are not subject to the year end
mark-to-market rules of Section 1256 described above, long-term or short-term capital gains and losses with respect to such futures will only be recognized by the Fund when such futures positions are assigned or closed (by offset or
otherwise). The applicable holding period for qualification for long-term capital gain or loss treatment for the commodity futures held by the Fund which are Non-Section 1256 Contracts is more than six months (rather than the more than one year
holding period applicable to other capital assets).
The Fund will also invest in and trade cleared swaps,
the proper tax treatment of which may not be entirely free from doubt. Shareholders will be required to treat any such derivatives for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the same manner as they are treated by the Fund. The Funds investment in
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cleared swaps may have various tax consequences, requiring Shareholders to recognize ordinary income or loss or capital gain or loss, depending on the exact terms of the cleared swaps. In
addition, the U.S. Treasury Department has issued proposed regulations that affect the timing and character of contingent non-periodic payments on notional principal contracts. If finalized in their current form, these regulations could affect the
tax treatment of payments on cleared swaps treated as notional principal contracts. Potential Shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of cleared swaps.
In addition to the futures and cleared swaps on the Index Commodities, the Fund may also invest in Alternative
Financial Instruments as described above under the section Investment Objective. The Funds investment in these Alternative Financial Instruments may have various tax consequences, requiring Shareholders to recognize ordinary
income or loss or capital gain or loss, depending on the exact terms of the Alternative Financial Instruments. In addition, the proper tax treatment of certain investments may not be entirely free from doubt. Potential investors should consult their
tax advisors regarding an investment in the Fund.
Allocation of the Funds Profits and Losses
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a Shareholders distributive share of the Funds
income, gain, loss, deduction and other items will be determined by the Declaration of Trust, unless an allocation under the Declaration of Trust does not have substantial economic effect, in which case the allocations will be determined
in accordance with the partners interests in the partnership. Subject to the discussion below under the sections Monthly Allocation and Revaluation Conventions and Transferor/Transferee Allocations and
Section 754 Election, the allocations pursuant to the Declaration of Trust should be considered to have substantial economic effect or deemed to be made in accordance with the partners interests in the Fund.
If the allocations provided by the Declaration of Trust were successfully challenged by the IRS, the amount
of income or loss allocated to Shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes under the Declaration of Trust could be increased or reduced or the character of the income or loss could be modified or both.
As described in more detail below, the U.S. federal income tax rules that apply to partnerships are
complex and their application is not always clear. Additionally, the rules generally were not written for, and in some respects are difficult to apply to, publicly traded partnerships. The Fund
will apply certain assumptions and conventions intended to comply with the intent of the rules and to report income, gain, deduction, loss and credit to Shareholders in a manner that reflects the economic gains and losses, but these assumptions and
conventions may not comply with all aspects of the applicable Regulations. It is possible therefore that the IRS will successfully assert that assumptions made and/or conventions used do not satisfy the technical requirements of the Code or the
Regulations and will require that tax items be adjusted or reallocated in a manner that could adversely impact Shareholders.
Monthly Allocation and Revaluation Conventions and Transferor/Transferee Allocations
In general, the Funds taxable income and losses will be determined monthly and will be apportioned among the
Shareholders in proportion to the number of Shares owned by each of them as of the close of the last trading day of the preceding month. By investing in Shares, a U.S. Shareholder agrees that, in the absence of an administrative determination or
judicial ruling to the contrary, it will report income and loss under the monthly allocation and revaluation conventions described below.
Under the monthly allocation convention, whomever is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as holding Shares as of the close of the last trading day of the preceding month will be treated as
continuing to hold the Shares until immediately before the close of the last trading day of the following month. With respect to any Shares that were not treated as outstanding as of the close of the last trading day of the preceding month, the
first person that is treated as holding such Shares (other than an underwriter or other person holding in a similar capacity) for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be treated as holding such Shares for this purpose as of the close of the last
trading day of the preceding month. As a result, a Shareholder who has disposed of Shares prior to the close of the last trading day of a month may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized after the date of transfer.
Section 706 of the Code generally requires that items of partnership income and deductions be allocated between
transferors and transferees of partnership interests on a daily basis. It is possible
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that transfers of Shares could be considered to occur for U.S. federal income tax purposes when the transfer is completed without regard to the Funds monthly convention for allocating
income and deductions. If this were to occur, the Funds allocation method might be considered a monthly convention that does not literally comply with that requirement.
If the IRS treats transfers of Shares as occurring throughout each month and a monthly convention is not allowed by the
Regulations (or only applies to transfers of less than all of a Shareholders Shares) or if the IRS otherwise does not accept the Funds convention, the IRS may contend that taxable income or losses of the Fund must be reallocated among
the Shareholders. If such a contention were sustained, the Shareholders respective tax liabilities would be adjusted to the possible detriment of certain Shareholders. The Managing Owner is authorized to revise the Funds methods of
allocation between transferors and transferees (as well as among Shareholders whose interests otherwise vary during a taxable period).
In addition, for any month in which a creation or redemption of Shares takes place, the Fund generally will credit or debit, respectively, the book capital accounts of the existing
Shareholders with any unrealized gain or loss in the Funds assets. This will result in the allocation of items of the Funds income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to existing Shareholders to account for the difference between the tax
basis and fair market value of property owned by the Fund at the time new Shares are issued or old Shares are redeemed (reverse Section 704(c) allocations). The intended effect of these allocations is to allocate any built-in gain
or loss in the Funds assets at the time of a creation or redemption of Shares to the investors that economically have earned such gain or loss. The Managing Owner has discretion to determine which permitted method of allocation to use with
respect to reverse Section 704(c) allocations.
As with the other allocations described above, the Fund
generally will use a monthly convention for purposes of the reverse Section 704(c) allocations. More specifically, the Fund generally will credit or debit, respectively, the book capital accounts of the existing Shareholders with
any unrealized gain or loss in the Funds assets based on a calculation utilizing the fair market value of the Shares, rather than the fair market value of its assets at the time of such creation or redemption (the revaluation
convention). As a result, it is possible that, for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, (i) a purchaser of newly issued Shares will be allocated some or all of the unrealized gain in the Funds assets at the time it acquires the Shares or
(ii) an existing Shareholder will not be allocated its entire share in the unrealized loss in the Funds assets at the time of such acquisition. Furthermore, the applicable Regulations generally require that the book capital
accounts be adjusted based on the fair market value of partnership property on the date of adjustment and do not explicitly allow the adoption of a monthly revaluation convention.
The Code and applicable Regulations generally require that items of partnership income and deductions be allocated
between transferors and transferees of partnership interests on a daily basis, and that adjustments to book capital accounts be made based on the fair market value of partnership property on the date of adjustment. The Code and
Regulations do not contemplate monthly allocation or revaluation conventions. If the IRS does not accept the Funds monthly allocation or revaluation convention, the IRS may contend that taxable income or losses of the Fund must be reallocated
among the Shareholders. If such a contention were sustained, the Shareholders respective tax liabilities would be adjusted to the possible detriment of certain Shareholders. The Managing Owner is authorized to revise the Funds allocation
and revaluation methods in order to comply with applicable law or to allocate items of partnership income and deductions in a manner that reflects more accurately the Shareholders interests in the Fund.
Section 754 Election
The Fund intends to make the election permitted by Section 754 of the Code. Such an election, once made, is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The making of the Section 754 election by
the Fund will generally have the effect of requiring a purchaser of Shares to adjust its proportionate share of the basis in the Funds assets, or the inside basis, pursuant to Section 743(b) of the Code to fair market value (as reflected
in the purchase price for the purchasers Shares), as if it had acquired a direct interest in the Funds assets. The Section 743(b) adjustment is attributed solely to a purchaser of Shares and is not added to the bases of the
Funds assets associated with all of the other Shareholders in the Fund. Depending on the relationship between a Shareholders purchase price for Shares and its unadjusted share of the Funds inside basis at the time of the purchase,
the Section 754 election may be either advantageous or disadvantageous to the
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Shareholder as compared to the amount of gain or loss a Shareholder would be allocated absent the Section 754 election.
The calculations under Section 754 of the Code are complex, and there is little legal authority concerning the
mechanics of the calculations, particularly in the context of publicly traded partnerships. Therefore, assuming the Fund makes the election under Section 754 of the Code, it is expected that the Fund will apply certain conventions in
determining and allocating the Section 743 basis adjustments to help reduce the complexity of those calculations and the resulting administrative costs. For example, the Fund may apply a convention in which it deems the price paid by a
Shareholder to be the lowest quoted trading price of the Shares during the month in which the purchase occurred, irrespective of the actual price paid. The use of such conventions may result in basis adjustments that do not reflect a
Shareholders purchase price for its Shares, including less favorable basis adjustments to a Shareholder who paid more than the lowest quoted trading price of the Shares for the month in which the purchase occurred. It is possible that the IRS
will successfully assert that some or all of such conventions utilized by the Fund do not satisfy the technical requirements of the Code or the Regulations and, thus, will require different basis adjustments to be made. If the IRS were to sustain
such a position, a Shareholder may have adverse tax consequences.
In order to make the basis adjustments
permitted by Section 754, the Fund will be required to obtain information regarding each Shareholders secondary market transactions in Shares as well as creations and redemptions of Shares. The Fund will seek the requested information
from the record Shareholders, and, by purchasing Shares, each beneficial owner of Shares will be deemed to have consented to the provision of the information by the record owner of such beneficial owners Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
however, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to obtain such information from record owners or other sources, or that the basis adjustments that the Fund makes based on the information it is able to obtain will be effective in
eliminating disparity between a Shareholders outside basis in its Shares.
Uniformity of Shares
Because the Fund cannot match transferors and transferees of Shares, the Fund will adopt tax
accounting positions that may not conform with aspects of existing Regulations. A successful IRS
challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to Shareholders. It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain on the sale
of Shares and could have a negative impact on the market price of Shares or result in audits of and adjustments to Shareholders tax returns. Investors in Shares should consult their tax advisors regarding an investment in the Fund.
Constructive Termination
The Fund will experience a constructive termination for tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50 percent or more of the total Shares within a 12-month period. A constructive termination results
in the closing of the Funds taxable year for all Shareholders. In the case of a Shareholder reporting on a taxable year other than the taxable year used by the Fund, the early closing of the Funds taxable year may result in more than 12
months of its taxable income or loss being includable in the Shareholders taxable income for the year of termination. The Fund would be required to make new tax elections after a termination, including a new election under Section 754. A
termination could also result in penalties if the Fund were unable to determine that the termination had occurred.
Treatment of Distributions
Distributions of cash by a partnership are generally not taxable to the distributee to the extent the amount of cash does not exceed the distributees tax basis in its partnership interest. Thus, any
cash distributions made by the Fund will be taxable to a Shareholder only to the extent the distributions exceed the Shareholders tax basis in the Shares it is treated as owning (see the section Tax Basis in Fund
Shares below). Any cash distributions in excess of a Shareholders tax basis generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the Shares (see the section Disposition of Shares below).
Creation and Redemption of Baskets
Shareholders, other than Authorized Participants (or holders for which an Authorized Participant is acting), generally
will not recognize gain or loss as a result of an Authorized Participants creation or redemption of a Basket. If the Fund disposes of assets in connection with the redemption of a Basket, however, the disposition may give rise to gain or loss
that will be allocated in part to Shareholders. An Authorized Participants creation
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or redemption of a Basket also may affect a Shareholders share of the Funds tax basis in its assets, which could affect the amount of gain or loss allocated to the Shareholder on the
sale or disposition of portfolio assets by the Fund.
Disposition of Shares
If a U.S. Shareholder transfers Shares and the transfer is a sale or other taxable disposition, the U.S. Shareholder
will generally be required to recognize gain or loss measured by the difference between the amount realized on the sale and the U.S. Shareholders adjusted tax basis in the Shares sold. The amount realized will include an amount equal to the
U.S. Shareholders share of the Funds liabilities, as well as any proceeds from the sale. Except to the extent Section 751(a) applies to treat any gain or loss as ordinary, the gain or loss recognized will generally be taxable as
capital gain or loss. Capital gain of non-corporate U.S. Shareholders is eligible to be taxed at reduced rates where the Shares sold are considered held for more than one year. Capital gain of corporate U.S. Shareholders is taxed at the same rate as
ordinary income. Any capital loss recognized by a U.S. Shareholder on a sale of Shares will generally be deductible only against capital gains, except that a non-corporate U.S. Shareholder may also offset up to $3,000 per year of ordinary income
with capital losses.
Tax Basis in Shares
A U.S. Shareholders initial tax basis in the Shares will equal the sum of (a) the amount of cash paid by the
U.S. Shareholder for its Shares and (b) the U.S. Shareholders share of the Funds liabilities. A U.S. Shareholders tax basis in its Shares will be increased by (a) the U.S. Shareholders share of the Funds
taxable income, including capital gain, (b) the U.S. Shareholders share of the Funds income, if any, that is exempt from tax and (c) any increase in the U.S. Shareholders share of the Funds liabilities. A U.S.
Shareholders tax basis in its Shares will be decreased (but not below zero) by (a) the amount of any cash distributed (or deemed distributed) to the U.S. Shareholder, (b) the U.S. Shareholders share of the Funds losses
and deductions, (c) the U.S. Shareholders share of the Funds expenditures that are neither deductible nor properly chargeable to its capital account and (d) any decrease in the U.S. Shareholders share of the Funds
liabilities.
Limitations on Interest Deductions
The deductibility of a non-corporate U.S. Shareholders investment interest expense is generally
limited to the amount of the Shareholders net investment income. Investment interest expense will generally include interest expense incurred by the Fund, if any, and investment interest expense incurred by the U.S. Shareholder on
any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry Shares. Net investment income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income, such as dividends and interest, less deductible
expenses, other than interest, directly connected with the production of investment income. For this purpose, any long-term capital gain or qualifying dividend income that is taxable at long-term capital gains rates is excluded from net investment
income unless the U.S. Shareholder elects to pay tax on such capital gain or dividend income at ordinary income rates.
Organization, Syndication and Other Expenses
In general, expenses incurred that are considered miscellaneous itemized deductions may be deducted by a
U.S. Shareholder that is an individual, estate or trust only to the extent that they exceed 2% of the adjusted gross income of the U.S. Shareholder. The Code imposes additional limitations on the amount of certain itemized deductions allowable to
individuals, by reducing the otherwise allowable portion of such deductions by an amount equal to the lesser of:
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3% of the individuals adjusted gross income in excess of certain threshold amounts; or |
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80% of the amount of certain itemized deductions otherwise allowable for the taxable year. |
In addition, these expenses are also not deductible in determining the alternative minimum tax liability of a U.S.
Shareholder. The Fund will report its expenses on a pro rata basis to the Shareholders, and each U.S. Shareholder will determine separately to what extent they are deductible on the U.S. Shareholders tax return. A U.S.
Shareholders inability to deduct all or a portion of such expenses could result in an amount of taxable income to the U.S. Shareholder with respect to the Fund that exceeds the amount of cash actually
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distributed to the U.S. Shareholder for the year. If the Managing Owner determines that the Fund is an investor, the Fund will treat the management fees of the Fund as miscellaneous itemized
deductions. If, however, the Managing Owner determines that the Fund is a trader, the Fund will treat the management fees as ordinary business deductions.
Under Section 709(b) of the Code, amounts paid or incurred to organize a partnership may, at the election of the partnership, be treated as deferred expenses, which are allowed as a deduction ratably
over a period of 180 months. The Fund has not yet determined whether it will make a Section 709(b) election. A non-corporate U.S. Shareholders allocable share of the organizational expenses will constitute miscellaneous itemized
deductions. Expenditures in connection with the issuance and marketing of Shares (so called syndication fees) are not eligible for the 180-month amortization provision and are not deductible.
Passive Activity Income and Loss
Individuals are subject to certain passive activity loss rules under Section 469 of the Code. Under
these rules, losses from a passive activity generally may not be used to offset income derived from any source other than passive activities. Losses that cannot be currently used under this rule may generally be carried forward. Upon an
individuals disposition of an interest in the passive activity, the individuals unused passive losses may generally be used to offset other (i.e., non-passive) income. Under current Regulations, income or loss from the Funds
investments generally will not constitute income or losses from a passive activity. Therefore, income or loss realized by Shareholders will not be available to offset a U.S. Shareholders passive losses or passive income from other sources.
Reporting by the Fund to its Shareholders
The Fund will file a partnership tax return. Accordingly, tax information will be provided to Shareholders on Schedule
K-1 for each calendar year as soon as practicable after the end of such taxable year but in no event later than March 15. Each Schedule K-1 provided to a Shareholder will set forth the Shareholders share of the Funds tax items
(i.e., interest income from Treasury securities, short-term and long-term capital gain or loss with respect to the futures contracts, and investment expenses for the year) in a manner sufficient for a U.S. Shareholder to complete its tax return with
respect to its investment in the Shares.
Each Shareholder, by its acquisition of Shares, will be deemed to agree
to allow brokers and nominees to provide to the Fund its name and address and any other information and forms as may be reasonably requested by the Fund for purposes of complying with its tax reporting and withholding obligations (and to waive any
confidentiality rights with respect to the information and forms for this purpose) and to provide information or forms upon request.
Given the lack of authority addressing structures similar to that of the Fund, it is not certain that the IRS will agree with the manner in which tax reporting by the Fund will be undertaken. Therefore,
Shareholders should be aware that future IRS interpretations or revisions to Regulations could alter the manner in which tax reporting by the Fund and any nominee will be undertaken.
Audits and Adjustments to Tax Liability
Any challenge by the IRS to the tax treatment by a partnership of any item must be conducted at the partnership, rather
than at the partner, level. A partnership ordinarily designates a tax matters partner (as defined under Section 6231 of the Code) as the person to receive notices and to act on its behalf in the conduct of such a challenge or audit
by the IRS.
Pursuant to the governing documents, the Managing Owner will be appointed the tax matters
partner of the Fund for all purposes of the Code. The tax matters partner, which is required by the Declaration of Trust to notify all U.S. Shareholders of any U.S. federal income tax audit of the Fund, will have the authority under the
Declaration of Trust to conduct any IRS audits of the Funds tax returns or other tax related administrative or judicial proceedings and to settle or further contest any issues in such proceedings. The decision in any proceeding initiated by
the tax matters partner will be binding on all U.S. Shareholders. As the tax matters partner, the Managing Owner will have the right on behalf of all Shareholders to extend the statute of limitations relating to the Shareholders U.S. federal
income tax liabilities with respect to Fund items.
A U.S. federal income tax audit of the Funds
partnership tax return may result in an audit of the returns of the U.S. Shareholders, which, in turn, could result in adjustments of items of a Shareholder that are unrelated to the Fund as well as to the Funds related items. In particular,
there can be no assurance that the IRS, upon an audit of a partnership tax return
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of the Fund or of an income tax return of a U.S. Shareholder, might not take a position that differs from the treatment thereof by the Fund. A U.S. Shareholder would be liable for interest on any
deficiencies that resulted from any adjustments. Prospective U.S. Shareholders should also recognize that they might be forced to incur substantial legal and accounting costs in resisting any challenge by the IRS to items in their individual
returns, even if the challenge by the IRS should prove unsuccessful.
Reportable Transactions
Regulations require U.S. taxpayers to report certain types of transactions to the IRS. Under these Regulations, a U.S.
Shareholder (i) who disposes of Shares and recognizes a loss with respect to such disposition in excess of certain thresholds, or (ii) whose distributive share of any Fund loss under Section 165 of the Code exceeds such thresholds,
would be required to report the loss on IRS Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction Statement). The applicable loss threshold is $10 million is any single taxable year or $20 million in any combination of taxable years for corporations, and $2 million in
any single taxable year or $4 million in any combination of taxable years for most partnerships, individuals, S corporations or trusts. However, in the case of an individual or a trust, if the loss is with respect to certain foreign currency
transactions, the reporting threshold is reduced to $50,000 in any taxable year. Shareholders should consult with their own tax advisor regarding any tax filing and reporting obligation that may apply in connection with acquiring, owning and
disposing of Shares.
Non-U.S. Shareholders
The Fund will conduct its activities in a manner that a non-U.S. Shareholder who is not otherwise carrying on a trade
or business in the U.S. will not be considered to be engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. as a result of an investment in the Shares. A non-U.S. Shareholders share of the interest income realized by the Fund on its holdings of Treasury
securities will be exempt from U.S. withholding tax provided the non-U.S. Shareholder certifies on IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form) that the Shareholder is not a U.S. person, provides name and address information and otherwise satisfies
applicable documentation requirements.
Non-U.S. Shareholders will not be subject to U.S. federal
income tax on gains realized on the sale of Shares or on the non-U.S. Shareholders share of the Funds gains. However, in the case of an
individual non-U.S. Shareholder, the non-U.S. Shareholder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains on the sale of Shares or the non-U.S. Shareholders distributive share of gains
if the non-U.S. Shareholder is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during a taxable year and certain other conditions are met.
Non-U.S. Shareholders that are individuals will be subject to U.S. federal estate tax on the value of U.S. situs property owned at the time of their death (unless a statutory exemption or tax treaty
exemption applies). It is unclear whether partnership interests (such as the Shares) will be considered U.S. situs property. Accordingly, non-U.S. Shareholders may be subject to U.S. federal estate tax on all or part of the value of the Shares owned
at the time of their death.
Non-U.S. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with
respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Shares.
Regulated Investment Companies
RICs may invest up to 25% of their assets in qualified PTPs and net income derived from
such investments is qualifying income under the income source test applicable to entities seeking to qualify for the special tax treatment available to RICs under the Code. In addition, interests in a qualified PTP are treated as issued by such PTP
and a RIC is not required to look through to the underlying partnership assets when testing compliance with the asset diversification tests applicable to RICs under the Code. The Fund anticipates that it will qualify as a qualified PTP for any
taxable year in which the Fund realizes sufficient gross income from its commodities futures transactions. However, qualification of the Fund as a qualified PTP depends on performance of the Fund for the particular tax year and there is no assurance
that it will qualify in a given year or that future results of the Fund will conform to prior experience. Additionally, there is, to date, no regulatory guidance on the application of these rules, and it is possible that future guidance may
adversely affect qualification of the Fund as a qualified PTP. In a 2005 revenue ruling, the IRS clarified that derivative contracts owned by a RIC that provide for a total-return exposure on a commodity index will not produce qualifying income for
purposes of the RIC qualification rules. The IRS interpretation set forth in such ruling, however, does not adversely affect the Funds ability to be treated as a qualified PTP for purposes of applying the RIC qualification
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rules. RIC investors are urged to monitor their investment in the Fund and consult with a tax advisor concerning the impact of such an investment on their compliance with the income source and
asset diversification requirements applicable to RICs. The Fund will make available on the Managing Owners website periodic tax information designed to enable RIC investors in its Shares to make a determination as to the Funds status
under the qualified PTP rules.
Tax-Exempt Organizations
An organization that is otherwise exempt from U.S. federal income tax is nonetheless subject to taxation with respect
to its unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). Except as noted below with respect to certain categories of exempt income, UBTI generally includes income or gain derived (either directly or through a partnership) from a
trade or business, the conduct of which is substantially unrelated to the exercise or performance of the organizations exempt purpose or function.
UBTI generally does not include passive investment income, such as dividends, interest and capital gains, whether realized by the organization directly or indirectly through a partnership (such as the
Fund) in which it is a partner. This type of income is exempt, subject to the discussion of unrelated debt-financed income below, even if it is realized from securities trading activity that constitutes a trade or business.
UBTI includes not only trade or business income or gain as described above, but also unrelated debt-financed
income. This latter type of income generally consists of (1) income derived by an exempt organization (directly or through a partnership) from income producing property with respect to which there is acquisition indebtedness
at any time during the taxable year and (2) gains derived by an exempt organization (directly or through a partnership) from the disposition of property with respect to which there is acquisition indebtedness at any time during the twelve-month
period ending with the date of the disposition.
All of the income realized by the Fund is expected to be
short-term or long-term capital gain income, interest income or other passive investment income of the type specifically exempt from UBTI as discussed above. The Fund will not borrow funds for the purpose of acquiring or holding any investments or
otherwise incur acquisition indebtedness with respect to such investments. Therefore, a tax-exempt entity purchasing Shares would not incur any UBTI
by reason of its investment in the Shares or upon sale of such Shares provided that such tax-exempt entity does not borrow funds for the purpose of investing in the Shares.
Certain State and Local Taxation Matters
Prospective Shareholders should consider, in addition to the U.S. federal income tax consequences described, potential
state and local tax considerations in investing in the Shares.
State and local laws often differ from U.S.
federal income tax laws with respect to the treatment of specific items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit. A Shareholders distributive share of the taxable income or loss of the Fund generally will be required to be included in
determining its reportable income for state and local tax purposes in the jurisdiction in which the Shareholder is a resident. The Fund may conduct business in one or more jurisdictions that will subject a Shareholder to tax (and require a
Shareholder to file an income tax return with the jurisdiction in respect to the Shareholders share of the income derived from that business). A prospective Shareholder should consult its tax adviser with respect to the availability of a
credit for such tax in the jurisdiction in which the Shareholder is resident.
The following discussion of
the application of the New York State and New York City tax laws to the Fund and its Shareholders assumes full compliance with the terms of the Declaration of Trust and applicable law (and other relevant documents). The New York City Unincorporated
Business Tax (UBT) is not imposed on an entity that is primarily engaged in the purchase and sale of financial instruments and securities for its own account. The Fund anticipates that it should not be subject to the UBT by
reason of such own account exemption. However, qualification of the Fund for the own account exemption depends on the assets and sources of income of the Fund for the particular tax year and there is no assurance that it will
qualify in a given year or that future results of the Fund will conform to prior experience. By reason of a similar own account exemption, it is also anticipated that a nonresident individual U.S. Shareholder should not be subject to New
York State personal income tax with respect to his or her share of income or gain recognized by the Fund. A nonresident individual U.S. Shareholder will not be subject to New York City earnings tax on nonresidents with respect to his or her
investment in the Fund. New York State and New York City residents will be subject to New York
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State and New York City personal income tax on their income recognized in respect of Shares. Because the Fund may conduct its business, in part, in New York City, corporate U.S. Shareholders
generally will be subject to the New York franchise tax and the New York City general corporation tax by reason of their investment in the Fund, unless certain exemptions apply. There is presently some uncertainty as to whether any such exemption,
including the exemption for a portfolio investment partnership as defined in the applicable rules, would apply. No ruling from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance or the New York City Department of Finance has been, or
will be, requested regarding such matters.
Backup Withholding
Backup withholding is required in certain circumstances on certain payments paid to non-corporate Shareholders that do
not furnish their correct taxpayer identification number (in the case of individuals, their social security number) and certain certifications, or who are otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any
amounts withheld from payments made to a Shareholder may be refunded or credited against the Shareholders U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.
Shareholders should be aware that certain aspects of the U.S. federal, state and local income tax treatment regarding
the purchase, ownership and disposition of Shares are not clear under existing law. Thus, Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences of ownership of the Shares in their particular circumstances,
including the application of U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax laws.
Recently Enacted Legislation
Recently enacted legislation will (i) require certain foreign entities that are foreign
financial institutions (as defined in Section 1471(d)(4) of the Code) to enter into an agreement with the IRS to disclose to the IRS the name, address and tax identification number of certain U.S. persons who own an interest in the foreign
entity and require certain other foreign entities to provide certain other information; and (ii) with respect to payments made after December 31, 2012, impose a 30% withholding tax on certain payments of U.S.
source income and proceeds from the sale of property that produces U.S. source interest or dividends if the foreign entity fails to enter into the agreement or satisfy its obligations under the
legislation. Non-U.S. Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation on an investment in the Fund.
Other recently enacted legislation will impose a 3.8% tax on the net investment income (as defined in the Code) of
certain individuals, trusts and estates, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. U.S. Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their own advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation on an investment in the
Fund.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISERS BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO INVEST IN THE SHARES.
PURCHASES BY EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT PLANS
Although there can be no assurance
that an investment in the Fund, or any other managed futures product, will achieve the investment objectives of an employee benefit plan in making such investment, futures investments have certain features which may be of interest to such a plan.
For example, the futures markets are one of the few investment fields in which employee benefit plans can participate in leveraged strategies without being required to pay tax on unrelated business taxable income. See the section
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations Tax-Exempt Organizations at page 101. In addition, because they are not taxpaying entities, employee benefit plans are not subject to paying annual tax on profits (if any)
of the Fund.
General
The following section sets forth certain consequences under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended (ERISA), and the Code, which a fiduciary of an employee benefit plan as defined in, and subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of, ERISA or of a plan as defined in and subject to
Section 4975
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of the Code who has investment discretion should consider before deciding to invest the plans assets in the Fund (such employee benefit plans and plans being
referred to herein as Plans, and such fiduciaries with investment discretion being referred to herein as Plan Fiduciaries). The following summary is not intended to be complete, but only to address certain questions under
ERISA and the Code which are likely to be raised by the Plan Fiduciarys own counsel.
In general, the
terms employee benefit plan as defined in ERISA and plan as defined in Section 4975 of the Code together refer to any plan or account of various types which provide retirement benefits or welfare benefits to an
individual or to an employers employees and their beneficiaries. Such plans and accounts include, but are not limited to, corporate pension and profit sharing plans, simplified employee pension plans, Keogh plans for self-employed
individuals (including partners), individual retirement accounts described in Section 408 of the Code and medical benefit plans.
Each Plan Fiduciary must give appropriate consideration to the facts and circumstances that are relevant to an investment in the Fund, including the role that such an investment in the Fund would play in
the Plans overall investment portfolio. Each Plan Fiduciary, before deciding to invest in the Fund, must be satisfied that such investment in the Fund is a prudent investment for the Plan, that the investments of the Plan, including the
investment in the Fund, are diversified so as to minimize the risk of large losses and that an investment in the Fund complies with the documents of the Plan and related trust.
EACH PLAN FIDUCIARY CONSIDERING ACQUIRING SHARES MUST CONSULT WITH ITS OWN LEGAL AND TAX ADVISERS BEFORE DOING SO.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND IS SPECULATIVE AND INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. THE FUND IS NOT INTENDED AS A COMPLETE INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
Plan Assets
ERISA and a regulation issued thereunder (the Plan Asset Rules) contain rules for determining when an
investment by a Plan in an entity will result in the underlying assets of such entity being assets of the Plan for purposes of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code (i.e., plan assets). Those rules provide that assets of an
entity will not be plan assets of a Plan which purchases an interest therein if certain
exceptions apply, including (i) an exception applicable if the equity interest purchased is a publicly-offered security (the Publicly-Offered Security Exception) and
(ii) an exception applicable if the investment by all benefit plan investors is not significant or certain other exceptions apply (the Insignificant Participation Exception).
The Publicly-Offered Security Exception applies if the equity interest is a security that is (1) freely transferable,
(2) part of a class of securities that is widely held and (3) either (a) part of a class of securities registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, or (b) sold to the Plan as part of a public
offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and the class of which such security is a part is registered under the Exchange Act within 120 days (or such later time as may be allowed by the SEC) after the
end of the fiscal year of the issuer in which the offering of such security occurred. The Plan Asset Rules state that the determination of whether a security is freely transferable is to be made based on all relevant facts and
circumstances. Under the Plan Asset Rules, a class of securities is widely held only if it is of a class of securities owned by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and of each other.
The Shares of the Fund should be considered to be publicly-offered securities. First, the Shares are being sold as part
of a public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, and the Shares will be timely registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Second, it appears that the Shares will be freely transferable
because the Shares of the Fund will be freely tradeable on NYSE Arca like any other exchange-listed security. Finally, it is anticipated that the Shares will be owned by at least 100 investors independent of the Fund and of each other. Therefore,
the underlying assets of the Fund should not be considered to constitute assets of any Plan which purchases Shares.
Ineligible Purchasers
In general, Shares may not be purchased with the assets of a Plan if the
Managing Owner, the Commodity Broker, the Administrator, the Marketing Agent, the Trustee, the Index Sponsor, or any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective employees either: (a) has investment discretion with respect to the
investment of such plan assets; (b) has authority or responsibility to give or regularly gives investment advice with respect to such plan assets,
-103-
for a fee, and pursuant to an agreement or understanding that such advice will serve as a primary basis for investment decisions with respect to such plan assets and that such advice will be
based on the particular investment needs of the Plan; or (c) is an employer maintaining or contributing to such Plan. A party that is described in clause (a) or (b) of the preceding sentence is a fiduciary under ERISA and the Code
with respect to the Plan, and any such purchase might result in a prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code.
Except as otherwise set forth, the foregoing statements regarding the consequences under ERISA and the Code of an investment in the Fund are based on the provisions of the Code and ERISA as currently in
effect, and the existing administrative and judicial interpretations thereunder. No assurance can be given that administrative, judicial or legislative changes will not occur that will not make the foregoing statements incorrect or incomplete.
THE PERSON WITH INVESTMENT DISCRETION SHOULD CONSULT WITH HIS OR HER ATTORNEY AND FINANCIAL ADVISERS AS
TO THE PROPRIETY OF AN INVESTMENT IN SHARES IN LIGHT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PARTICULAR PLAN AND CURRENT TAX LAW.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Initial Purchaser
On [], 2011, the Initial Purchaser, subject to certain conditions, agreed to purchase 600,000 Shares, which
comprise the initial Baskets, at a purchase price of $25.00 per Share ($1,000,000 per Basket). This price was determined arbitrarily inasmuch as the Shares have no inherent value prior to the commencement of the Funds operations. The Initial
Purchaser proposes to offer to the public these 600,000 Shares at a per-share offering price that will vary depending upon, among other factors, the market price of the Shares on NYSE Arca, the Net Asset Value per Share and the supply of and demand
for Shares at the time of offer. Shares offered by the Initial Purchaser at different times may have different offering prices. The Initial Purchaser will not receive from the Fund, the Managing Owner or any of their affiliates, any fee or other
compensation in connection with their sale of Shares to the public.
The Fund will not bear any expenses in connection with the offering or
sales of the Shares composing the initial Baskets.
The Managing Owner has agreed to indemnify the Initial
Purchaser against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, and to contribute to payments that the Initial Purchaser may be required to make in respect thereof.
The Initial Purchaser will only act in such a capacity with respect to the initial Baskets of the Fund. The Initial
Purchaser will create Shares of the initial Baskets at a price of $25 per Share. The price of $25 per Share has been arbitrarily determined inasmuch as the Shares have no inherent value at the Funds inception. In contrast, Authorized
Participants will create Shares of each Basket at the Net Asset Value per Share. The Initial Purchasers activities will cease after it has fully transacted with respect to the initial Baskets of the Fund. No other Authorized Participants
(except with respect to the Initial Purchaser, which is an Authorized Participant) will be involved with the purchase and sale of the initial Baskets of the Fund. Therefore, the Initial Purchasers activities will be distinct from those of an
Authorized Participant.
Authorized Participants
The Fund will issue Shares in Baskets to Authorized Participants continuously as of noon New York time on the business
day immediately following the date on which a valid order to create a Basket is accepted by the Fund. Baskets will be issued at the Net Asset Value of 40,000 Shares of the Fund as of the closing time of NYSE Arca or the last to close of the
exchanges on which the Funds futures contracts are traded, whichever is later, on the date that a valid order to create a Basket is accepted by the Fund.
Authorized Participants may, from time-to-time, offer to the public Shares from any Baskets they create. Shares offered
to the public by Authorized Participants will be offered at a per Share offering price that will vary depending upon, among other factors, the market price of the Shares of the Fund on NYSE Arca, the Net Asset Value per Share and the supply of and
demand for the Shares at the time of the offer. Shares initially comprising the same Basket but offered by Authorized Participants to the public at different times may have different offering prices. During the continuous offering period, Authorized
Participants will not receive from the Fund, the Managing Owner or any of their affiliates, any fee or other compensation in connection with
-104-
their sale of Shares to the public, although investors are expected to be charged a customary commission by their brokers in connection with purchases of Shares that will vary from investor to
investor. Investors are encouraged to review the terms of their brokerage accounts for applicable charges.
As of the date of this Prospectus, each of
[ ],[
] and [ ] has executed a Participant Agreement.
Likelihood of Becoming a Statutory Underwriter
The Fund has issued the initial Baskets to the Initial Purchaser and will issue Shares in Baskets to Authorized
Participants from time-to-time in exchange for cash. Because new Shares can be created and issued on an ongoing basis at any point during the life of the Fund, a distribution, as such term is used in the Securities Act, will be
occurring. An Authorized Participant, other broker-dealer firm or its client will be deemed a statutory underwriter, and thus will be subject to the prospectus-delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act, if it purchases a Basket from
the Fund, breaks the Basket down into the constituent Shares and sells the Shares
to its customers; or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new Shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for the Shares. Similarly, the
Initial Purchaser will be deemed a statutory underwriter. A determination of whether one is an underwriter must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case,
and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that would lead to categorization as an underwriter. Authorized Participants, other broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some of
their activities will result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which would render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus-delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act.
Dealers who are neither Authorized Participants nor underwriters but are participating in a distribution
(as contrasted to ordinary secondary trading transactions), and thus dealing with Shares that are part of an unsold allotment within the meaning of section 4(3)(C) of the Securities Act, would be unable to take advantage of the
prospectus delivery exemption provided by section 4(3) of the Securities Act.
-105-
Summary of Items of Value Pursuant to FINRA Rule 2310
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nature of
Payment |
|
Recipient |
|
Payor |
|
Amount of Payment |
|
Services Provided |
|
|
|
|
|
[TBD] |
|
[TBD] |
|
[TBD] |
|
[TBD] |
|
[TBD] |
|
|
|
|
|
[TBD] |
|
[TBD] |
|
[TBD] |
|
[TBD] |
|
[TBD] |
General
Investors may purchase and sell Shares through traditional brokerage accounts. Investors who purchase Shares through a
commission/fee-based brokerage account may pay commissions/fees charged by the brokerage account. Investors are encouraged to review the terms of their brokerage accounts for applicable charges.
Investors intending to create or redeem Baskets through Authorized Participants in transactions not involving a
broker-dealer registered in such investors state of domicile or residence should consult their legal advisor regarding applicable broker-dealer or securities regulatory requirements under the state securities laws prior to such creation or
redemption.
The Managing Owner has agreed to indemnify certain parties against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that such parties may be required to make in respect of those liabilities. The Fund has agreed to reimburse such parties, solely from and to the extent of the Funds
assets, for indemnification and contribution amounts due from the Managing Owner in respect of such liabilities to the extent the Managing Owner has not paid such amounts when due.
The offering of Baskets is being made in compliance with FINRA Rule 2310. Accordingly, neither the Initial Purchaser
nor the Authorized Participants will make any sales to any account over which they have discretionary authority without the prior written approval of a purchaser of Shares. The maximum amount of items of value to be paid to FINRA members in
connection with the offering of the Shares by the Fund will not exceed 10%.
The Initial Purchaser will not
charge a commission of greater than 1% of the price per Share in offering and selling the Shares comprising the Initial Baskets.
The Authorized Participants will not charge a commission of greater than
0.99% (which represents a maximum of $6,187,500) of the aggregate $625,000,000 registered on the initial Registration Statement on Form S-1, SEC Registration Number 333-170314 on which, 25,000,000 common units of beneficial interest were registered
in respect of the Fund).
Pursuant to the Marketing Agent Agreement, the Marketing Agent will be paid out of
the Management Fee of the Fund in an amount of approximately $50,000 per annum, plus any fees or disbursements incurred by the Marketing Agent in connection with the performance by the Marketing Agent of its duties on behalf of the Fund.
The payments to the Marketing Agent will not, in the aggregate, exceed 0.25% of the aggregate dollar amount of the
offering (or in an aggregate amount equal to $1,562,500, respectively, of the aggregate $625,000,000 registered on the initial Registration Statement on Form S-1, SEC Registration Number 333-170314 on which, 25,000,000 common units of beneficial
interest were registered in respect of the Fund). The Fund will advise the Marketing Agent if the payments described hereunder must be limited, when combined with selling commissions charged and any price spreads realized by other FINRA members, in
order to comply with the 10% limitation on total underwriters compensation pursuant to FINRA Rule 2310.
The Funds Shares trade on NYSE Arca under the symbol BNPC.
LEGAL MATTERS
Sidley Austin LLP has advised the Managing Owner in connection with the Shares being offered hereby.
Sidley Austin LLP also advises the Managing Owner with respect to its responsibilities as managing owner of, and with respect to matters relating to, the Trust and the Fund. Sidley Austin LLP has prepared the sections
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations with respect to U.S.
-106-
federal income tax laws and Purchases By Employee Benefit Plans with respect to ERISA. Sidley Austin LLP has not represented, nor will it represent, the Trust,
the Fund or the Shareholders in matters relating to the Trust or the Fund and no other counsel has been engaged to act on their behalf.
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel to the Trust, has advised the Trust in connection with the legality of the Shares being offered hereby.
Certain opinions of counsel have been filed with the SEC as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus is a part.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of the Fund as of [ ],
2011 that will be included in this Prospectus will be audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report appearing herein, and will be so included in reliance upon such report given upon
the authority of that firm as an expert in auditing and accounting.
[To revise to include both BNP
Paribas Enhanced Volatility Fund and BNP Paribas Exchange Traded Trust.]
The financial statements of BNP
Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC as December 31, 2010 and for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010, included in this Prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors, as stated in their report appearing herein, and are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Prospectus constitutes part of the Registration Statement filed by the Trust and the Trust on behalf of the Fund
with the SEC in Washington, D.C. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in such Registration Statement, certain portions of which have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, including, without
limitation, certain exhibits thereto (for example, the forms of the Participant Agreement and the Customer Agreement). The
descriptions contained herein of agreements included as exhibits to the Registration Statement are necessarily summaries. The exhibits may be inspected without charge at the public reference
facilities maintained by the SEC in Washington, D.C., and copies of all or part thereof may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the prescribed fees. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of such site is http://www.sec.gov.
RECENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
AND ANNUAL REPORTS
The Managing Owner will furnish
Shareholders with an annual report of the Fund within 90 calendar days after the end of the Funds fiscal year as required by the rules and regulations of the CFTC, including, but not limited to, annual audited financial statements certified by
an independent registered public accounting firm and any other reports required by any other governmental authority that has jurisdiction over the activities of the Fund.
Shareholders also will be provided with appropriate information to permit Shareholders to file their U.S. federal and
state income tax returns (on a timely basis) with respect to their Shares. Monthly account statements conforming to CFTC and NFA requirements will be posted on the Managing Owners website at http://www.bnpfunds.bnpparibas.com. The Fund
will file periodic, quarterly and annual reports with the SEC. Shareholders can read and copy these reports at the SEC public reference facilities in Washington D.C. The filings will also be posted at the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov.
Additional reports may be posted on the Managing Owners website in the discretion of the Managing Owner or as required by regulatory authorities.
PRIVACY POLICY OF THE
MANAGING OWNER
The Managing Owner collects non-public information about you from the following sources:
(i) information received from you on applications or other forms; and (ii) information about your transactions with the Managing Owner and others. The Managing Owner does not disclose any non-public personal information about you to
anyone, other than as set forth below, as permitted by
-107-
applicable law and regulation. The Managing Owner may disclose non-public personal information about you to the funds in which you invest. The Managing Owner may disclose non-public personal
information about you to non-affiliated companies that work with the Managing Owner to service your account(s), or to provide services or process transactions that you have requested. The Managing Owner may disclose non-public personal information
about you to parties representing you, such as your investment representative, your accountant, your tax adviser, or to other third parties at your direction/consent. If you are a former shareholder, the Managing Owner will adhere to the privacy
policies and practices as described in this notice. The Managing Owner restricts access to your personal and account information to those employees who need to know that information to provide products and services to you. The Managing Owner
maintains appropriate physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to guard your non-public personal information.
[Remainder
of page left blank intentionally.]
-108-
Defined Terms
|
|
|
|
|
Term |
|
Page |
|
|
|
Administration Agreement |
|
|
9 |
|
Administrator |
|
|
8 |
|
Affiliated Liquidity Provider |
|
|
74 |
|
Alternative Financial Instruments |
|
|
6 |
|
Authorized Participants |
|
|
i |
|
backwardated |
|
|
6, 43 |
|
Basket |
|
|
i |
|
BNP Affiliated Entities |
|
|
i |
|
BNP Paribas |
|
|
11 |
|
BNPC |
|
|
2 |
|
BNPCIV |
|
|
2 |
|
BNPCNV |
|
|
2 |
|
BNPCSO |
|
|
2 |
|
business day |
|
|
10 |
|
Cash Instruments |
|
|
3 |
|
CBT |
|
|
48 |
|
CEAct |
|
|
4 |
|
CFI Customer Agreement |
|
|
86 |
|
CFL Customer Agreement |
|
|
87 |
|
CFTC |
|
|
iv |
|
Closing Levels Table |
|
|
54 |
|
CME |
|
|
48 |
|
CMX |
|
|
48 |
|
Code |
|
|
91 |
|
Commodity Broker |
|
|
8 |
|
contangoed |
|
|
6 |
|
Custodian |
|
|
8 |
|
Custody Agreement |
|
|
9 |
|
daily limits |
|
|
27, 64 |
|
Declaration of Trust |
|
|
4 |
|
Designated Contract Expirations |
|
|
7 |
|
DTC |
|
|
10 |
|
DTC Participants |
|
|
82 |
|
ERISA |
|
|
101 |
|
Exchange Act |
|
|
69 |
|
FINRA |
|
|
69 |
|
Fund Portfolio |
|
|
5 |
|
give-up fees |
|
|
68 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term |
|
Page |
|
|
|
ICE Europe |
|
|
31 |
|
ICE-UK |
|
|
48 |
|
ICE-US |
|
|
48 |
|
Index |
|
|
i |
|
Index Business Day |
|
|
45 |
|
Index Methodology |
|
|
7 |
|
Indirect Participants |
|
|
82 |
|
Initial Purchaser |
|
|
i |
|
Inter-Series Limitation on Liability |
|
|
76 |
|
IRS |
|
|
92 |
|
KBT |
|
|
48 |
|
Limit Price |
|
|
51 |
|
LME |
|
|
31, 48 |
|
Management Fee |
|
|
5 |
|
Managing Owner |
|
|
i |
|
Marketing Agent |
|
|
9 |
|
Marketing Agent Agreement |
|
|
9 |
|
Net Asset Value |
|
|
11 |
|
Net Asset Value per Share |
|
|
83 |
|
NFA |
|
|
iv |
|
NYM |
|
|
48 |
|
NYSE Arca |
|
|
i |
|
Participant Agreement |
|
|
10 |
|
pit brokerage fees |
|
|
68 |
|
Prospectus |
|
|
i |
|
purchase order date |
|
|
70 |
|
redemption order date |
|
|
71 |
|
Reform Act |
|
|
33 |
|
RICs |
|
|
91 |
|
rolling |
|
|
43 |
|
SEC |
|
|
iv |
|
Shareholders |
|
|
3 |
|
Shares |
|
|
i |
|
SPDYCIP |
|
|
2, 40 |
|
Transfer Agency and Service Agreement |
|
|
9 |
|
Transfer Agent |
|
|
8 |
|
Trust |
|
|
i |
|
Trustee |
|
|
4 |
|
-109-
Index to Financial Statements
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page |
|
BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global Commodities Fund |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated [
], 2011* |
|
|
111 |
|
Statement of Financial Position dated [
], 2011* |
|
|
112 |
|
Notes to Statement of Financial Position* |
|
|
113 |
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Enhanced Volatility Fund |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated [
], 2011* |
|
|
114 |
|
Statement of Financial Position dated [
], 2011* |
|
|
115 |
|
Notes to Statement of Financial Position* |
|
|
116 |
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Exchange Traded Trust |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated [
], 2011* |
|
|
117 |
|
Statement of Financial Position dated [
], 2011* |
|
|
118 |
|
Notes to Statement of Financial Position* |
|
|
119 |
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial Statements for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December
31, 2010 |
|
|
121 |
|
|
|
Independent Auditors Report dated August 5, 2011 |
|
|
122 |
|
Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 2010 |
|
|
123 |
|
Statement of Operations for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December
31, 2010 |
|
|
124 |
|
Statement of Changes in Members Capital for the period from April
30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010 |
|
|
125 |
|
Statement of Cash Flows for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December
31, 2010 |
|
|
126 |
|
Notes to Financial Statements for the period from April
30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010 |
|
|
127 |
|
|
|
Unaudited Financial Statements as of and for the six-month period ended June
30, 2011 |
|
|
133 |
|
|
|
Unaudited Statement of Financial Position as of June 30, 2011 |
|
|
134 |
|
Unaudited Statement of Operations for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 |
|
|
135 |
|
Unaudited Statement of Changes in Members Capital for the six-month period ended June 30,
2011 |
|
|
136 |
|
Unaudited Statement of Cash Flows for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 |
|
|
137 |
|
Unaudited Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements for the six-month period ended June 30,
2011 |
|
|
138 |
|
* |
To be furnished by amendment |
-110-
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm*
The Unitholder
BNP Paribas
S&P Dynamic Roll Global Commodities Fund
*To be furnished by
amendment.
BNP PARIBAS S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL COMMODITIES FUND HAS NOT COMMENCED OPERATIONS AND, CONSEQUENTLY, HAS
NO ASSETS OR LIABILITIES.
BNP PARIBAS S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL COMMODITIES FUND HAS NOT COMMENCED TRADING AND DOES NOT
HAVE A PERFORMANCE HISTORY.
-111-
BNP PARIBAS S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL COMMODITIES FUND
Statement of Financial Position*
*To be furnished by amendment.
BNP PARIBAS S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL COMMODITIES FUND HAS NOT COMMENCED OPERATIONS AND, CONSEQUENTLY, HAS NO ASSETS OR LIABILITIES.
BNP PARIBAS S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL COMMODITIES FUND HAS NOT COMMENCED TRADING AND DOES NOT HAVE A PERFORMANCE HISTORY.
-112-
BNP PARIBAS S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL COMMODITIES FUND
Notes to Financial Statements*
*To be furnished by amendment.
BNP PARIBAS S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL COMMODITIES FUND HAS NOT COMMENCED OPERATIONS AND, CONSEQUENTLY, HAS NO ASSETS OR LIABILITIES.
BNP PARIBAS S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL COMMODITIES FUND HAS NOT COMMENCED TRADING AND DOES NOT HAVE A PERFORMANCE HISTORY.
-113-
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm*
The Unitholder
BNP Paribas Enhanced Volatility Fund
*To be furnished by amendment.
BNP PARIBAS ENHANCED VOLATILITY FUND HAS NOT COMMENCED OPERATIONS AND, CONSEQUENTLY, HAS NO ASSETS OR LIABILITIES.
BNP PARIBAS ENHANCED VOLATILITY FUND HAS NOT COMMENCED TRADING AND DOES NOT HAVE A PERFORMANCE HISTORY.
-114-
BNP PARIBAS ENHANCED VOLATILITY FUND
Statement of Financial Position*
*To be
furnished by amendment.
BNP PARIBAS ENHANCED VOLATILITY FUND HAS NOT COMMENCED OPERATIONS AND, CONSEQUENTLY, HAS NO ASSETS OR LIABILITIES.
BNP PARIBAS ENHANCED VOLATILITY FUND HAS NOT COMMENCED TRADING AND DOES NOT HAVE A PERFORMANCE HISTORY.
-115-
BNP PARIBAS ENHANCED VOLATILITY FUND
Notes to Financial Statements*
*To be furnished by amendment.
BNP PARIBAS ENHANCED VOLATILITY FUND HAS NOT COMMENCED OPERATIONS
AND, CONSEQUENTLY, HAS NO ASSETS OR LIABILITIES.
BNP PARIBAS ENHANCED VOLATILITY FUND HAS NOT COMMENCED TRADING AND DOES NOT HAVE A
PERFORMANCE HISTORY.
-116-
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm*
The Unitholder
BNP Paribas Exchange Traded Trust
*To be furnished by amendment.
BNP PARIBAS
EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST HAS NOT COMMENCED OPERATIONS AND, CONSEQUENTLY, HAS NO ASSETS OR LIABILITIES.
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST HAS NOT
COMMENCED TRADING AND DOES NOT HAVE A PERFORMANCE HISTORY.
-117-
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST
Statement of Financial Position*
*To be furnished by amendment.
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST HAS NOT COMMENCED OPERATIONS
AND, CONSEQUENTLY, HAS NO ASSETS OR LIABILITIES.
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST HAS NOT COMMENCED TRADING AND DOES NOT HAVE A PERFORMANCE
HISTORY.
-118-
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements*
*To be furnished by amendment.
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST HAS NOT COMMENCED OPERATIONS
AND, CONSEQUENTLY, HAS NO ASSETS OR LIABILITIES.
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST HAS NOT COMMENCED TRADING AND DOES NOT HAVE A PERFORMANCE
HISTORY.
-119-
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2010 AND FOR THE PERIOD
FROM APRIL 30, 2010 (DATE OF INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 2010
AND
INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS REPORT
* * * * * * *
-120-
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC
(An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS)
Table of Contents
-121-
|
|
|
|
|
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT |
|
|
2 |
|
To the Board of Managers and Member of
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC
New York, NY
We have audited the accompanying statement of financial position of BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (the Company) as
of December 31, 2010, and the related statements of operations, statement of changes in members equity, and cash flows for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010. These financial statements are
the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for
the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts
and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable
basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of the Company as of December 31, 2010, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010 in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
August 5, 2011
-122-
|
|
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC |
|
|
3 |
|
(An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS)
Statement of Financial Position
December 31, 2010
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
Other assets |
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
5,063 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and members capital |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Due to member |
|
$ |
565 |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
690 |
|
|
|
Members capital |
|
|
|
|
Members capital contribution |
|
|
5,000 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(627) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total members capital |
|
|
4,373 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and members capital |
|
$ |
5,063 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
-123-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
|
|
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC |
|
|
4 |
|
(An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS)
Statement of Operations
For the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Professional fees |
|
$ |
569 |
|
Regulatory fees |
|
|
46 |
|
Other expenses |
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total expenses |
|
$ |
627 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
|
(627) |
|
|
|
Income tax benefit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(627) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
-124-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
|
|
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC |
|
|
5 |
|
(An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS)
Statement of Changes in Members Capital
For the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members Capital Contribution |
|
|
Accumulated Deficit |
|
|
Total Members Capital |
|
Balance, April 30, 2010 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital Contribution, December 30, 2010 |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net Loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(627) |
|
|
|
(627) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, December 31, 2010 |
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
$ |
(627) |
|
|
$ |
4,373 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-125-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
|
|
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC |
|
|
6 |
|
(An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS)
Statement of Cash Flows
For the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to
December 31, 2010
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(627) |
|
|
|
(Increases) in operating assets: |
|
|
|
|
Other assets |
|
|
(63) |
|
|
|
Increases in operating liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
Due to member |
|
|
565 |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
Capital contribution from member |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCREASE IN CASH |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
CASH April 30, 2010 (date of inception) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH December 31, 2010 |
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
-126-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS)
Notes to Financial Statements For the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010 (in
thousands) |
|
7 |
1. |
Organization and Nature of Business |
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (the Company or BNPPQS) is a Delaware
limited liability company formed on April 30, 2010. It will serve as the managing owner of a Delaware statutory trust, BNP Paribas L/S Commodities Trust (the Trust) that will issue exchange traded commodity pool interests
(ETFs) to be listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. or other major exchange.
The Company is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Paribas North America, Inc. (PNA), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas (BNPP). BNPPQS is registered as a commodity pool operator with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(CFTC) and is also a member of the National Futures Association (NFA). As a registered commodity pool operator of the Trust, the Company must comply with various regulatory requirements under the Commodity Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations of the CFTC and the NFA, including investor protection requirements, antifraud prohibitions, disclosure requirements, and reporting and recordkeeping requirements. BNPPQS is also subject to periodic inspections and audits
by the CFTC and NFA.
The Trust is currently in the process of registering its initial two ETFs with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is awaiting final approval of its registration statement. Once registered, the Company will furnish shareholders of the Trust with an annual report of the Trust within 90 calendar days
after the end of the Trusts fiscal year as required by the rules and regulations of the CFTC, including, but not limited to, annual audited financial statements certified by an independent registered public accounting firm and any other
reports required by any other governmental authority that has jurisdiction over the activities of the Trust.
It is anticipated the Company will act as the manager for additional ETFs that will be created. The Company is managed by
a board of managers (the Board).
2. |
Significant Accounting Policies |
|
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates |
The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at December 31, 2010, as well as the
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period then ended. Estimates include accrued expenses and the realization of a net deferred tax asset (DTA). Actual results could differ from such estimates included in the financial
statements.
The Company has all cash on deposit with an affiliated bank in the United States.
|
Related Party Transactions |
As managing owner of the Trust, the Company will receive a management fee, monthly in arrears, in an amount equal to 1.00% per annum of the daily Net Asset Value of each respective ETF. The Company
will pay the fees and expenses of the trustee, administrators
-127-
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS) Notes to Financial
Statements For the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010
(in thousands) |
|
8 |
fees, custodian fees, transfer agent fees and marketing agent fees. Each ETF will pay all of its own routine operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses of the ETF,
including, but not limited to, computer services, legal and accounting fees and expenses, tax preparation expenses, filing fees and printing, mailing and duplication costs. The Company has agreed to reimburse each ETF, from its management fee, the
amount of routine operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses in excess of 0.20% per annum of each respective ETFs Net Asset Value which will include certain allocated expenses charged by affiliated entities for
services provided related to operational and personnel support. Expenses incurred in connection with organizing the Trust and ETFs and up to the initial offering of the ETFs shares will be paid by the Company upon commencement of trading
operations.
Income Taxes
The results of the Companys operations are included in the consolidated federal and the combined state and local
income tax returns of PNA. The Company is a single-member LLC which is considered to be a disregarded entity for U.S. income tax purposes. For the Companys financial statements, the tax provision is presented on a stand-alone basis with PNA
allocating to BNPPQS its share of the income tax provision / (benefit) in accordance with the tax sharing agreement.
The Company evaluates its position with respect to the realizability of its deferred tax asset on a regular basis.
The Company records an income tax provision / (benefit) equal to the total current and deferred tax provision / (benefit) which would have been calculated if the Company had filed on a stand-alone basis.
The method is systematic, rational and consistent with the broad provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 740-10 Accounting for Income Taxes.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax
basis of the Companys assets and liabilities. Valuation allowances are established to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that more likely than not will be realized. The Companys tax assets and liabilities are presented as a
component of accrued expenses in the Statement of Financial Position.
Uncertain tax positions are evaluated
in accordance with ASC 740-10-25 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes which prescribes a comprehensive model for the financial statement recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of income tax
uncertainties with respect to positions taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns. The Company would recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within Income taxes in the Statement of Operations. Accrued interest
and penalties would be included in accrued expenses in the Statement of Financial Position.
-128-
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS) Notes to Financial
Statements For the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010
(in thousands) |
|
9 |
3. |
Transactions with Related Parties |
BNPP management has decided not to allocate any operational or personnel costs to the Company in 2010.
It is anticipated that the Company will become a party to the appropriate service level agreements in 2011, once the Trust has begun operations.
-129-
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS) Notes to Financial
Statements For the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010
(in thousands) |
|
10 |
The income tax benefit for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31,
2010 consists of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
|
Deferred |
|
|
Total |
|
Federal |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
(212) |
|
|
$ |
(212) |
|
State & local |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(22) |
|
|
|
(22) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total income tax benefit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(234) |
|
|
|
(234) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
less: valuation allowance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
234 |
|
|
|
234 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income tax benefit |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The income tax benefit for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of
inception) to December 31, 2010 is $234 which consists of a federal tax benefit of $212, and a state and local benefit of $22. This benefit is offset by a full valuation allowance in the amount of $234. As such, the net income tax benefit is
zero. The difference between the Companys federal statutory and effective tax rate is due to permanent differences such as state and local taxes and the valuation allowance.
At December 31, 2010, the Companys net deferred tax asset of $234 is comprised of $234 of deferred tax assets
and no deferred tax liabilities. The net deferred tax asset is due to differences between tax basis of assets and liabilities and their respective financial-reporting amounts (temporary differences). These differences are primarily due
to capitalized syndication expenses and organizational costs. A full valuation allowance has been recorded against the net DTA as it is more likely than not that the DTA will not be realized as this is a new business without the historical data
necessary to support the future realizability of the DTA. Therefore, the Company has not recorded an income tax benefit at this time.
As this is a new business there are no uncertain tax positions. Based on this new activity, it is unknown whether any unrecognized tax benefits could be impacted within the next 12 months. Therefore, the
Company has not recorded interest and penalties at this time. Also, 2010 is the only tax year subject to potential examination.
Other assets consists of $63 of registration fees which will become payable to the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (FINRA) upon the completed filing of the Trusts registration statement. Payment has been made by PNA to a third party on behalf of the Company. BNPPQS will recognize this expense when the Trust registers with
FINRA.
-130-
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS) Notes to Financial
Statements For the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010
(in thousands) |
|
11 |
6. |
Commitments and Contingencies |
The Company has entered into an agreement which indemnifies, defends and holds harmless the trustee and
any of the officers, directors, employees and agents of the trustee (the Indemnified Persons) from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, claims, actions, suits, costs, expenses, disbursements, taxes and penalties, to the
extent that such expenses are imposed upon such Indemnified Persons with respect to the operation of the Trust; provided however, that the Company not be required to indemnify any Indemnified Person for any expenses which are a result of the willful
misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnified Person. The Companys maximum potential liability under this agreement cannot be quantified. However, the potential for the Company to be required to make payments is remote.
Accordingly, no contingent liability is recorded in the Statement of Financial Position for this arrangement.
The Company has determined at August 5, 2011, the date the financial statements were available to be issued, there are no recognized or nonrecognized subsequent events requiring disclosure, except as
follows:
As of May 13, 2011, BNP Paribas L/S Commodities Trusts name was changed to BNP Paribas
Exchange Traded Trust. In addition, the trust was changed to a series trust.
*******
-131-
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE SIX-MONTH
PERIOD ENDED
JUNE 30, 2011
* * * * * * *
-132-
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC
(An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS)
Table of Contents
-133-
|
|
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC |
|
|
2 |
|
(An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS) |
|
|
|
Unaudited Statement of Financial Position
|
|
|
|
June 30, 2011 |
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
Other assets |
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
5,063 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and members capital |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Due to member |
|
$ |
618 |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
168 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
786 |
|
|
|
Members capital |
|
|
|
|
Members capital contribution |
|
|
5,000 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(723) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total members capital |
|
|
4,277 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and members capital |
|
$ |
5,063 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
-134-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited financial statements.
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC |
|
3 |
(An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS) |
|
|
Unaudited Statement of Operations
|
|
|
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 |
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses: |
|
|
|
Professional fees |
|
$ |
94 |
|
Other expenses |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total expenses |
|
$ |
96 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
|
(96) |
|
|
|
Income tax benefit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(96) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
-135-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited financial statements.
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC |
|
4 |
(An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS) |
|
|
Unaudited Statement of Changes in Members Capital
|
|
|
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 |
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members Capital Contribution |
|
|
Accumulated Deficit |
|
|
Total Members Capital |
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, January 1, 2011 |
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
$ |
(627) |
|
|
$ |
4,373 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net Loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(96) |
|
|
|
(96) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, June 30, 2011 |
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
$ |
(723) |
|
|
$ |
4,277 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-136-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited financial statements.
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC |
|
5 |
(An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS) |
|
|
Unaudited Statement of Cash Flows
|
|
|
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 |
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(96) |
|
|
|
Increases in operating liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
Due to member |
|
|
53 |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCREASE IN CASH |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH January 1, 2011 |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH June 30, 2011 |
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
-137-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited financial statements.
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS)
Unaudited Notes to Financial Statements For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 (in thousands) |
|
6 |
1. |
Organization and Nature of Business |
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (the Company or BNPPQS) is a Delaware
limited liability company formed on April 30, 2010. It will serve as the managing owner of a Delaware statutory series trust, BNP Paribas Exchange Traded Trust (the Trust) that will issue exchange traded commodity pool interests
(ETFs) to be listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. or other major exchange.
The Company is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Paribas North America, Inc. (PNA), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas (BNPP). BNPPQS is registered as a commodity pool operator with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(CFTC) and is also a member of the National Futures Association (NFA). As a registered commodity pool operator of the Trust, the Company must comply with various regulatory requirements under the Commodity Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations of the CFTC and the NFA, including investor protection requirements, antifraud prohibitions, disclosure requirements, and reporting and recordkeeping requirements. BNPPQS is also subject to periodic inspections and audits
by the CFTC and NFA.
The Trust is currently in the process of registering its initial two ETFs with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is awaiting final approval of its registration statement. Once registered, the Company will furnish shareholders of the Trust with an annual report of the Trust within 90 calendar days
after the end of the Trusts fiscal year as required by the rules and regulations of the CFTC, including, but not limited to, annual audited financial statements certified by an independent registered public accounting firm and any other
reports required by any other governmental authority that has jurisdiction over the activities of the Trust.
It is anticipated the Company will act as the manager for additional ETFs that will be created. The Company is managed by
a board of managers (the Board).
The Company was formed on April 30, 2010 and therefore
there was de minimus activity during this date and June 30, 2010. Therefore comparable financial information for 2010 has not been included.
2. |
Significant Accounting Policies |
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates
The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at June 30, 2011, as well as the
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the six-month period then ended. Estimates include accrued expenses and the realization of a net deferred tax asset (DTA). Actual results could differ from such estimates included in the
unaudited financial statements.
-138-
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS) Unaudited Notes to Financial
Statements For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 (in thousands) |
|
7 |
Cash
The Company has all cash on deposit with an affiliated bank in the United States.
Related Party Transactions
As managing owner of the Trust, the Company will receive a management fee, monthly in arrears, in an amount equal to approximately 1.00% per annum of the daily Net Asset Value of each respective ETF.
The Company will pay the fees and expenses of the trustee, administrators fees, custodian fees, transfer agent fees and marketing agent fees. Each ETF will pay all of its own routine operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and
expenses of the ETF, including, but not limited to, computer services, legal and accounting fees and expenses, tax preparation expenses, filing fees and printing, mailing and duplication costs. The Company has agreed to reimburse each ETF, from its
management fee, the amount of routine operational, administrative and other ordinary fees and expenses in excess of 0.20% per annum of each respective ETFs Net Asset Value which will include certain allocated expenses charged by
affiliated entities for services provided related to operational and personnel support. Expenses incurred in connection with organizing the Trust and ETFs and up to the initial offering of the ETFs shares will be paid by the Company upon
commencement of trading operations.
Income Taxes
The results of the Companys operations are included in the consolidated federal and the combined state and local
income tax returns of PNA. The Company is a single-member LLC which is considered to be a disregarded entity for U.S. income tax purposes. For the Companys financial statements, the tax provision is presented on a stand-alone basis with PNA
allocating to BNPPQS its share of the income tax provision / (benefit) in accordance with the tax sharing agreement.
The Company evaluates its position with respect to the realizability of its deferred tax asset on a regular basis.
The Company records an income tax provision / (benefit) equal to the total current and deferred tax provision / (benefit) which would have been calculated if the Company had filed on a stand-alone basis.
The method is systematic, rational and consistent with the broad provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 740-10 Accounting for Income Taxes.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax
basis of the Companys assets and liabilities. Valuation allowances are established to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that more likely than not will be realized. The Companys tax assets and liabilities are presented as a
component of Accrued expenses in the Unaudited Statement of Financial Position.
Uncertain tax positions are
evaluated in accordance with ASC 740-10-25 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes which prescribes a comprehensive model for the financial
-139-
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS) Unaudited Notes to Financial
Statements For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 (in thousands) |
|
8 |
statement recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of income tax uncertainties with respect to positions taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns. The Company would
recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within Income taxes in the Unaudited Statement of Operations. Accrued interest and penalties would be included in Accrued expenses in the Unaudited Statement of Financial
Position.
-140-
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS) Unaudited Notes to Financial
Statements For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 (in thousands) |
|
9 |
3. |
Transactions with Related Parties |
BNPP management has decided not to allocate any operational or personnel costs to the Company as of
June 30, 2011. It is anticipated that the Company will become a party to the appropriate service level agreements in the second half of 2011, once the Trust has begun operations.
The income tax benefit for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 consists of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
|
Deferred |
|
|
Total |
|
Federal |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
(32) |
|
|
$ |
(32) |
|
State & local |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
|
|
|
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total income tax benefit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(35) |
|
|
|
(35) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
less: valuation allowance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income tax benefit |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The income tax benefit for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 is $35
which consists of a federal tax benefit of $32, and a state and local benefit of $3. This benefit is offset by a full valuation allowance in the amount of $35. As such, the net income tax benefit is zero. The difference between the Companys
federal statutory and effective tax rate is due to permanent differences such as state and local taxes and the valuation allowance.
At June 30, 2011, the Companys net deferred tax asset of $269 is comprised of $269 of deferred tax assets and no deferred tax liabilities. The net deferred tax asset is due to differences
between tax basis of assets and liabilities and their respective financial-reporting amounts (temporary differences). These differences are primarily due to capitalized syndication expenses and organizational costs. A full valuation
allowance has been recorded against the net DTA as it is more likely than not that the DTA will not be realized as this is a new business without the historical data necessary to support the future realizability of the DTA. Therefore, the Company
has not recorded an income tax benefit at this time.
As this is a new business there are no uncertain tax
positions. Based on this new activity, it is unknown whether any unrecognized tax benefits could be impacted within the next 12 months. Therefore, the Company has not recorded interest and penalties at this time. Also, 2010 and 2011 are the only tax
years subject to potential examination.
-141-
|
|
|
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (An indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of BNP PARIBAS) Unaudited Notes to Financial
Statements For the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 (in thousands) |
|
10 |
Other assets consists of $63 of registration fees which will become payable to the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (FINRA) upon the completed filing of the Trusts registration statement. Payment has been made by PNA to a third party on behalf of the Company. BNPPQS will recognize this expense when the Trust registers with
FINRA.
6. |
Commitments and Contingencies |
The Company has entered into an agreement which indemnifies, defends and holds harmless the trustee
and any of the officers, directors, employees and agents of the trustee (the Indemnified Persons) from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, claims, actions, suits, costs, expenses, disbursements, taxes and penalties, to
the extent that such expenses are imposed upon such Indemnified Persons with respect to the operation of the Trust; provided however, that the Company not be required to indemnify any Indemnified Person for any expenses which are a result of the
willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnified Person. The Companys maximum potential liability under this agreement cannot be quantified. However, the potential for the Company to be required to make payments is remote.
Accordingly, no contingent liability is recorded in the Unaudited Statement of Financial Position for this arrangement.
The Company has determined at August 19, 2011, the date the unaudited financial statements were
available to be issued, there are no recognized or nonrecognized subsequent events requiring disclosure.
*******
-142-
PART TWO
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST
BNP PARIBAS S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL COMMODITIES FUND
Shares of Beneficial Interest
This is a speculative investment which involves the risk of loss.
Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
See the section The Risks You Face beginning at page 18 in Part One.
THIS PROSPECTUS IS IN TWO PARTS:
A DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT AND A STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THESE
PARTS ARE BOUND TOGETHER, AND BOTH CONTAIN
IMPORTANT INFORMATION. YOU MUST READ THE
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT.
[
], 2011
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC
Managing Owner
-143-
PART TWO
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-144-
GENERAL INFORMATION RELATING TO BNP
PARIBAS
BNP Paribas (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the Group), a French incorporated company (société anonyme) is a European leader in banking and financial
services. It has one of the largest international banking networks, a presence in over 80 countries and more than 200,000 employees, including 159,800 in Europe. BNP Paribas enjoys key positions in its three activities: Retail Banking, Corporate and
Investment Banking and Investment Solutions. At December 31, 2009, the Group had consolidated assets of 2,057.7 billion and shareholders equity (Group share including income for the 2009 fiscal year) of 69,501 million.
BNP Paribas principal office is located at 16, boulevard des Italiens, 75009 Paris, France, and
its telephone number is 33 1 40 14 45 46.
THE FUTURES MARKETS
Futures Contracts
Futures contracts are standardized contracts trading on U.S. or foreign exchanges that call for the future delivery of specified quantities of various agricultural and tropical commodities, industrial
commodities, currencies, financial instruments or metals at a specified time and place. The contractual obligations, depending upon whether one is a buyer or a seller, may be satisfied either by taking or making, as the case may be, physical
delivery of an approved grade of commodity or by making an offsetting sale or purchase of an equivalent but opposite futures contract on the same, or mutually off-setting, exchange prior to the designated date of delivery. As an example of an
offsetting transaction where the physical commodity is not delivered, the contractual obligation arising from the sale of one contract of December 2011 wheat on a commodity exchange may be fulfilled at any time before delivery of the commodity is
required by the purchase of one contract of December 2011 wheat on the same exchange. The difference between the price at which the futures contract is sold or purchased and the price paid for the offsetting purchase or sale, after allowance for
brokerage commissions, constitutes the profit or loss to the trader. Certain futures contracts, such as those for stock or other financial or economic indices approved by the CFTC or Eurodollar contracts, settle in cash (irrespective of whether any
attempt is made to offset such contracts) rather than delivery of any physical commodity.
Hedgers and
Speculators
The two broad classes of persons who trade futures interest contracts are
hedgers and speculators. Commercial interests, including farmers, that market or process commodities, and financial institutions that market or deal in commodities, including interest rate sensitive instruments, foreign
currencies and stocks, and which are
exposed to currency, interest rate and stock market risks, may use the futures markets for hedging. Hedging is a protective procedure designed to minimize losses that may occur because of price
fluctuations occurring, for example, between the time a processor makes a contract to buy or sell a raw or processed commodity at a certain price and the time he must perform the contract. The futures markets enable the hedger to shift the risk of
price fluctuations to the speculator. The speculator risks his capital with the hope of making profits from price fluctuations in futures interests contracts. Speculators rarely take delivery of commodities, but rather close out their positions by
entering into offsetting purchases or sales of futures interests contracts. Since the speculator may take either a long or short position in the futures markets, it is possible for him to make profits or incur losses regardless of whether prices go
up or down.
Futures Exchanges
Futures exchanges provide centralized market facilities for trading futures contracts and options (but not forward
contracts). Members of, and trades executed on, a particular exchange are subject to the rules of that exchange. Among the principal exchanges in the U.S. are the Chicago Board of Trade, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the New York Mercantile
Exchange, and ICE Futures U.S.
Each futures exchange in the U.S. has an associated clearing
house. Once trades between members of an exchange have been confirmed, the clearing house becomes substituted for each buyer and each seller of contracts traded on the exchange and, in effect, becomes the other party to each traders open
position in the market. Thereafter, each party to a trade looks only to the clearing house for performance. The clearing house generally establishes some sort of security or guarantee fund to which all clearing members of the exchange must
contribute; this fund acts as an emergency buffer that enables the clearing house, at least to a large degree, to meet its obligations with regard to the other side of an insolvent clearing members contracts. Furthermore, clearing
houses require margin deposits and continuously mark positions to market to provide some assurance that their members will be able to fulfill their contractual obligations. Thus, a central function of the clearing houses is to ensure the integrity
of trades, and members effecting futures transactions on an organized exchange need not worry about the solvency of the party on the opposite side of the trade; their only remaining concerns are the respective solvencies of their commodity broker
and the clearing house. The clearing house guarantee of performance on open positions does not run to customers. If a member firm goes bankrupt, customers could lose money.
Foreign futures exchanges differ in certain respects from their U.S. counterparts. In contrast to U.S.
exchanges, certain foreign exchanges are principals markets, where trades remain the liability of the traders involved, and the exchange clearing house does not become substituted for any party. See the section The Risks
You Face (45) Trading On
-145-
Commodity Exchanges Outside The U.S., Such As The London Metal Exchange And ICE Europe, Is Not Subject To U.S. Regulation. Shareholders Could Incur Substantial Losses From Trading On Commodity
Exchanges Which Such Shareholders Would Not Have Otherwise Been Subject Had The Funds Trading Been Limited To U.S. Markets.
Speculative Position Limits
The CFTC and U.S. futures exchanges have established limits, referred to as speculative position limits or position limits, on the maximum net long or net short speculative
position that any person or group of persons (other than a hedger) may hold, own or control in certain futures interests contracts. Among the purposes of speculative position limits is the desire to prevent a corner on a market or undue
influence on prices by any single trader or group of traders. The CFTC has jurisdiction to establish position limits with respect to all commodities and has established position limits for all agricultural commodities. In addition, the CFTC requires
each U.S. exchange to submit position limits for all commodities traded on such exchange for approval by the CFTC. Position limits do not apply to forward contract trading or generally to trading on foreign exchanges. See the section The
Risks You Face (5) Certain Operations Of The Fund, Including The Creation Of Baskets, May Be Restricted By Regulatory And Exchange Position Limits And Other Position Limitation Rules And Could Result In Tracking Error Between Changes In
The Net Asset Value Per Share And Changes In The Level Of The Index, Or Could Result In The Market Price Of The Shares Trading At A Premium Or Discount To The Net Asset Value Per Share.
Daily Limits
Most U.S. futures exchanges (but generally not foreign exchanges or banks or dealers in the case of forward contracts) limit the amount of fluctuation in futures interests contract prices during a single
trading day by regulation. These regulations specify what are referred to as daily price fluctuation limits or more commonly daily limits. The daily limits establish the maximum amount that the price of a futures interests
contract may vary either up or down from the previous days settlement price. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular futures interest, no trades may be made at a price beyond the limit. See the section The Risks You Face
(19) Potentially Illiquid Markets, Disruption Of Market Trading, And Daily Price Fluctuation Limits, Among Other Events, May Exacerbate Losses Of The Fund And, In Turn, The Value Of Your Shares.
Regulations
Futures exchanges in the U.S. are subject to regulation under the CEAct, by the CFTC, the governmental agency having responsibility for regulation of futures exchanges and trading on those exchanges.
(Investors should be aware that no governmental U.S. agency regulates the OTC foreign exchange markets.)
The CEAct and the CFTC also regulate the activities of commodity
trading advisors and commodity pool operators and the CFTC has adopted regulations with respect to certain of such persons activities. Pursuant to its authority, the CFTC requires a commodity pool operator (such as the
Managing Owner) to keep accurate, current and orderly records with respect to each pool it operates. The CFTC may suspend the registration of a commodity pool operator if the CFTC finds that the operator has violated the CEAct or regulations
thereunder and in certain other circumstances. Suspension, restriction or termination of the Managing Owners registration as a commodity pool operator would prevent it, until such time (if any) as such registration were to be reinstated, from
managing, and might result in the termination of, the Trust. The Trust is not registered with the CFTC in any capacity.
The CEAct requires all futures commission merchants, such as CFI, to meet and maintain specified fitness and financial requirements, segregate customer funds from proprietary funds and account
separately for all customers funds and positions, and to maintain specified book and records open to inspection by the staff of the CFTC.
The CEAct also gives the states certain powers to enforce its provisions and the regulations of the CFTC.
Shareholders are afforded certain rights for reparations under the CEAct. Shareholders may also be able to maintain a private right of action for certain violations of the CEAct. The CFTC has adopted
rules implementing the reparation provisions of the CEAct which provide that any person may file a complaint for a reparations award with the CFTC for violation of the CEAct against a floor broker, futures commission merchant, introducing broker,
commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, and their respective associated persons.
Pursuant to
authority in the CEAct, the NFA has been formed and registered with the CFTC as a registered futures association. At the present time, the NFA is the only non-exchange self-regulatory organization for commodities professionals. NFA
members are subject to NFA standards relating to fair trade practices, financial condition, and consumer protection. As the self-regulatory body of the commodities industry, the NFA promulgates rules governing the conduct of commodity professionals
and disciplines those professionals who do not comply with such standards. The CFTC has delegated to the NFA responsibility for the registration of commodity trading advisors, commodity pool operators, futures commission merchants, introducing
brokers, retail foreign exchange dealers, and their respective associated persons and floor brokers. The Commodity Broker and the Managing Owner are members of the NFA (the Trust is not required to become a member of the NFA).
The CFTC has no authority to regulate trading on foreign commodity exchanges and markets.
-146-
Any protections that Shareholders may, or may not, have with respect
to CFL is determined pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Financial Services Authority.
Margin
Initial or original margin is the minimum amount of funds that must be
deposited by a futures trader with his commodity broker in order to initiate futures trading or to maintain an open position in futures contracts. Maintenance margin is the amount (generally less than initial margin) to which a
traders account may decline before he must deliver additional margin. A margin deposit is like a cash performance bond. It helps assure the futures traders performance of the futures interests which contracts he purchases or sells.
Futures interests are customarily bought and sold on margins that represent a very small percentage (ranging upward from less than 2%) of the purchase price of the underlying commodity being traded. Because of such low margins, price fluctuations
occurring in the futures markets may create profits and losses that are greater, in relation to the amount invested, than are customary in other forms of investments. The minimum amount of margin required in connection with a particular futures
interests contract is set from time-to-time by the exchange on which such contract is traded, and may be modified from time-to-time by the exchange during the term of the contract.
Brokerage firms carrying accounts for traders in futures interests contracts may not accept lower, and generally
require higher, amounts of margin as a matter of policy in order to afford further protection for themselves.
Margin requirements are computed each day by a commodity broker. When the market value of a particular open futures
interests contract position changes to a point where the margin on deposit does not satisfy maintenance margin requirements, a margin call is made by the commodity broker. If the margin call is not met within a reasonable time, the broker may close
out the Trusts position. With respect to the Managing Owners trading, for its own account, if any, only the Managing Owner, and not the Trust or its Shareholders personally, will be subject to margin calls.
-147-
EXHIBIT A
PRIVACY NOTICE
The importance of protecting the investors privacy is recognized by BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global Commodities Fund (the Fund) and BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC (the
Managing Owner). The Fund and the Managing Owner protect personal information they collect about you by maintaining physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to maintain the confidentiality and security of such information.
Categories Of Information Collected. In the normal course of business, the Fund and the Managing Owner
may collect the following types of information concerning investors in the Fund who are natural persons:
|
|
|
Information provided in the Participant Agreements and other forms (including name, address, social security number, income and other
financial-related information); and |
|
|
|
Data about investor transactions (such as the types of investments the investors have made and their account status). |
How the Collected Information is Used. Any and all nonpublic personal information received by the Fund or the
Managing Owner with respect to the investors who are natural persons, including the information provided to the Fund by such an investor in the Participant Agreement, will not be shared with nonaffiliated third parties which are not service
providers to the Fund or the Managing Owner without prior notice to such investors. Such service providers include but are not limited to the Authorized Participants, the Commodity Broker, administrators, auditors and the legal advisers of the Fund.
Additionally, the Fund and/or the Managing Owner may disclose such nonpublic personal information as required by applicable laws, statutes, rules and regulations of any government, governmental agency or self-regulatory organization or a court
order. The same privacy policy will also apply to the Shareholders who have fully redeemed.
For questions
about the privacy policy, please contact the Fund.
P-1
Until
[ ], 2011 (25 days after the date of this Prospectus), all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be
required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
BNP PARIBAS EXCHANGE TRADED TRUST
BNP PARIBAS S&P DYNAMIC ROLL GLOBAL COMMODITIES FUND
PART II
Information Not Required in Prospectus
Item 13. |
Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. |
The following expenses reflect the estimated amounts required to prepare and file this Registration Statement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Approximate Amount |
|
Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee |
|
$ |
44,563 |
|
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Filing Fee |
|
|
63,000 |
|
Printing Expenses |
|
|
50,000 |
|
Fees of Certified Public Accountants |
|
|
20,000 |
|
Fees of Counsel |
|
|
750,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
927,563 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item 14. |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Section 4.7 of the Declaration of Trust filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement and, as amended from time-to-time, provides for the indemnification of the Managing Owner. The Managing
Owner (including Covered Persons as provided under the Declaration of Trust) shall be indemnified by the Trust (or, in furtherance of Section [3.7] of the Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement, any Fund separately to the extent the matter in
question relates to a single Fund or is otherwise disproportionate) against any losses, judgments, liabilities, expenses and amounts paid in settlement of any claims sustained by it in connection with its activities for the Trust, provided that
(i) the Managing Owner was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Trust, and has determined, in good faith, that such course of conduct was in the best interests of the Trust and such liability or loss was not the result of fraud,
gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct, or a material breach of the Declaration of Trust on the part of the Managing Owner and (ii) any such indemnification will only be recoverable from the Trust Estate (as such term is defined in the
Declaration of Trust). All rights to indemnification permitted therein and payment of associated expenses shall not be affected by the dissolution or other cessation to exist of the Managing Owner, or the withdrawal, adjudication of bankruptcy or
insolvency of the Managing Owner, or the filing of a voluntary or involuntary petition in bankruptcy under Title 11 of the U.S. Code by or against the Managing Owner. The source of payments made in respect of indemnification under either Declaration
of Trust shall be from assets of the applicable Fund.
Item 15. |
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities. |
(a) Securities Sold.
Upon inception of BNP Paribas S&P
Dynamic Roll Global Commodities Fund (the Fund), 40 Units of the Fund [will be] issued to BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC in exchange for a capital contribution of $1,000 to the Fund funded by BNP Paribas Quantitative
Strategies, LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas.
II-1
Item 16. |
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules. |
The following documents (unless otherwise indicated) are filed herewith and made a part of this Registration Statement:
|
(a) |
Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed herewith: |
Exhibit
Number |
Description of Document |
1.1 |
Form of Initial Purchaser Agreement* |
4.1 |
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement of the Registrant* |
4.2 |
Form of Participant Agreement* |
4.3 |
Form of Privacy Notice (annexed to the Prospectus as Exhibit A) |
5.1 |
Form of Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger as to legality |
8.1 |
Form of Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP as to income tax matters |
10.1 |
Form of Customer Agreement between the Trust and CFI * |
10.2 |
Form of Customer Agreement between the Trust and CFL* |
10.3 |
Form of Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement1 |
10.4 |
Form of Global Custody Agreement1 |
10.5 |
Form of Transfer Agency and Service Agreement1 |
10.6 |
Form of Marketing Agent Agreement* |
23.1 |
Form of Consent of Sidley Austin LLP |
23.2 |
Form of Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger is included as part of Exhibit 5.1 |
23.3 |
Form of Consent of Sidley Austin LLP as tax counsel is included as part of Exhibit 8.1 |
23.4 |
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, is included as part of Registration Statement*
|
23.5 |
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP |
1Previously filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, SEC Registration Number 333-170314, on
November 3, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference.
* To be filed by amendment.
II-2
(b) The following financial statements are included in the Prospectus:
|
(1) |
BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global Commodities Fund |
|
(i) |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated [date], 2011* |
|
(ii) |
Statement of Financial Position dated [date], 2011* |
|
(iii) |
Notes to Statement of Financial Position* |
|
(2) |
BNP Paribas Enhanced Volatility Fund |
|
(i) |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated [date], 2011* |
|
(ii) |
Statement of Financial Position dated [date], 2011* |
|
(iii) |
Notes to Statement of Financial Position* |
|
(3) |
BNP Paribas Exchange Traded Trust |
|
(i) |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated [date], 2011* |
|
(ii) |
Statement of Financial Position dated [date], 2011* |
|
(iii) |
Notes to Statement of Financial Position* |
|
(3) |
BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC |
Financial Statements for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010
|
(i) |
Independent Auditors Report dated August 5, 2011 |
|
(ii) |
Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 2010 |
|
(iii) |
Statement of Operations for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010 |
|
(iv) |
Statement of Changes in Members Capital for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010
|
|
(v) |
Statement of Cash Flows for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010 |
|
(vi) |
Notes to Financial Statements for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010 |
Unaudited Financial Statements as of and for the period from April 30, 2010 (date of inception) to
December 31, 2010
|
(vii) |
Unaudited Statement of Financial Position as of June 30, 2011 |
|
(viii) |
Unaudited Statement of Operations for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 |
|
(ix) |
Unaudited Statement of Changes in Members Capital for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 |
|
(x) |
Unaudited Statement of Cash Flows for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 |
|
(xi) |
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 |
*To be filed by amendment.
II-3
|
(a) |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
|
(1) |
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;
|
|
(i) |
To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; |
|
(ii) |
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement;
|
|
(iii) |
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material
change to such information in the registration statement; |
Provided,
however, That:
(A) Paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or
section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement; and
(B) Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S3 or Form F3 and the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
|
(2) |
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the bona fide offering thereof. |
|
(3) |
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering. |
|
(4) |
That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser: |
|
(i) |
If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B: |
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the
registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
II-4
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule
424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the
offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to
the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration
statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a
purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately
prior to such effective date; or
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(ii) |
If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an
offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after
effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or
prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the
registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. |
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(5) |
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of
the securities: |
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of
securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the
following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
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(i) |
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
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(ii) |
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the
undersigned registrant; |
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(iii) |
The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its
securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
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(iv) |
Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
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(b) |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that: |
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(1) |
For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) |
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or (4), or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. |
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(2) |
For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to officers, directors
or controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by an officer, director, or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such officer, director or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has
been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-6
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Managing Owner of the Registrant and
BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global Commodities Fund, a series of the Registrant, has duly caused this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the city of New York, state of New York, on the 26th day of August, 2011.
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BNP Paribas Exchange Traded Trust |
BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global Commodities
Fund, a series of BNP Paribas Exchange Traded Trust |
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By: |
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BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC |
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its Managing Owner |
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By: |
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/s/ M. Andrews Yeo |
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Name: M. Andrews Yeo |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Managing Owner of the Registrant and BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global Commodities Fund, a series of the Registrant, in
the capacities and on the date indicated.
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BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC Managing Owner Of Registrant and BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global
Commodities Fund, a series of BNP Paribas
Exchange Traded Trust |
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/s/ M. Andrews Yeo |
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Director |
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Name: M. Andrews Yeo |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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August 26, 2011 |
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(Principal Executive Officer) |
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/s/ George L. Parry |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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Name: George L. Parry |
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(Principal Financial Officer and |
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August 26, 2011 |
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Principal Accounting Officer) |
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(Being principal executive officer, the principal financial and accounting
officer and all of the directors of the Board of Directors of BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC)
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BNP Paribas Quantitative Strategies, LLC, Managing Owner Of Registrant and BNP Paribas S&P Dynamic Roll Global
Commodities Fund, a series of BNP Paribas
Exchange Traded Trust |
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/s/ M. Andrews Yeo |
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Director |
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Name: M. Andrews Yeo |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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August 26, 2011 |
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(Principal Executive Officer) |
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/s/ George L. Parry |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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Name: George L. Parry |
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(Principal Financial Officer and |
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August 26, 2011 |
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Principal Accounting Officer) |
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/s/ Lionel Crassier |
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Director |
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August 26, 2011 |
Name: Lionel Crassier |
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