EXHIBIT 4.1
RYDEX SPECIALIZED PRODUCTS LLC, d/b/a "RYDEX INVESTMENTS",
as Sponsor,
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Trustee,
ALL REGISTERED OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF BRITISH POUND STERLING
CURRENCYSHARES ISSUED HEREUNDER
and
ALL DEPOSITORS
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Depositary Trust Agreement
CurrencyShares(SM) British Pound Sterling Trust
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Dated as of _________, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.......................... 2
Section 1.1 Definitions.............................................. 2
Section 1.2 Rules of Construction.................................... 8
ARTICLE 2 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE; CREATION AND DECLARATION OF TRUST; FORM
OF CERTIFICATES; DEPOSIT OF BRITISH POUNDS; DELIVERY,
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF SHARES................... 9
Section 2.1 Statement of Purpose; Duties and Powers of the Trust..... 9
Section 2.2 Creation and Declaration of Trust; Business of the Trust. 9
Section 2.3 Form of Certificates; Book-Entry System;
Transferability of Shares............................. 10
Section 2.4 Deposit of British Pounds................................ 12
Section 2.5 Delivery of Shares....................................... 14
Section 2.6 Registration and Registration of Transfer of Shares;
Combination and Split-up of Certificates.............. 14
Section 2.7 Surrender of Shares and Withdrawal of Trust Property..... 15
Section 2.8 Limitations on Delivery, Registration of Transfer and
Surrender of Shares................................... 16
Section 2.9 Lost Certificates, Etc................................... 17
Section 2.10 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered
Certificates.......................................... 17
Section 2.11 Splits and Reverse Splits of Shares...................... 18
ARTICLE 3 CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF REGISTERED OWNERS OF SHARES............. 18
Section 3.1 Liability of Registered Owner for Taxes and Other
Governmental Charges.................................. 18
Section 3.2 Warranties on Deposit of British Pounds.................. 19
ARTICLE 4 ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRUST.................................... 19
Section 4.1 Evaluation of British Pounds; Calculation of Net Asset
Value................................................. 19
Section 4.2 Responsibility of the Trustee for Evaluations............ 20
Section 4.3 Interest Account and Non-Interest Account................ 21
Section 4.4 Cash Distributions....................................... 21
Section 4.5 Distributions of Surplus Property........................ 22
Section 4.6 Fixing of Record Date.................................... 22
Section 4.7 Payment of Trust Expenses................................ 22
Section 4.8 Statements and Reports................................... 24
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Section 4.9 Further Provisions for Sales of Trust Property;
Currency Conversion................................... 24
Section 4.10 Counsel.................................................. 26
Section 4.11 Grantor Trust............................................ 26
ARTICLE 5 THE SPONSOR.................................................... 27
Section 5.1 Duties of the Sponsor.................................... 27
Section 5.2 Obligations of the Sponsor............................... 27
Section 5.3 Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Sponsor........ 28
Section 5.4 Certain Matters Regarding Successor Sponsor.............. 29
Section 5.5 Resignation of Sponsor; Successors....................... 29
Section 5.6 Compensation of the Sponsor.............................. 30
Section 5.7 Federal Securities Law Filings........................... 31
Section 5.8 Discretionary Actions by Sponsor; Consultation........... 32
ARTICLE 6 THE TRUSTEE.................................................... 32
Section 6.1 Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Trustee.. 32
Section 6.2 Obligations of the Trustee............................... 33
Section 6.3 Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Trustee........ 34
Section 6.4 Resignation or Removal of the Trustee; Appointment of
Successor Trustee..................................... 34
Section 6.5 Transfers Between Interest Account and Non-Interest
Account............................................... 36
Section 6.6 The Depository........................................... 37
Section 6.7 Compensation of the Depository........................... 37
Section 6.8 Retention of Trust Documents............................. 38
Section 6.9 Prospectus Delivery...................................... 38
Section 6.10 Discretionary Actions by Trustee; Consultation........... 38
ARTICLE 7 INDEMNIFICATION................................................ 39
Section 7.1 Indemnification of the Sponsor and Trustee............... 39
ARTICLE 8 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION...................................... 43
Section 8.1 Amendment................................................ 43
Section 8.2 Termination.............................................. 43
ARTICLE 9 MISCELLANEOUS.................................................. 47
Section 9.1 Counterparts............................................. 47
Section 9.2 Third-Party Beneficiaries................................ 47
Section 9.3 Severability............................................. 47
Section 9.4 Registered Owners, Beneficial Owners and Depositors as
Parties; Binding Effect............................... 47
Section 9.5 Notices.................................................. 48
Section 9.6 Agent for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction............ 49
Section 9.7 Governing Law............................................ 49
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EXHIBIT A -DEPOSIT ACCOUNT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT B -FORM OF CERTIFICATES
iii
DEPOSITARY TRUST AGREEMENT
THIS DEPOSITARY TRUST AGREEMENT dated as of [___________], 2006,
between Rydex Specialized Products LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
d/b/a "RYDEX INVESTMENTS", as sponsor, THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking
corporation, as trustee, all Registered Owners and Beneficial Owners from time
to time of British Pound Sterling CurrencyShares issued hereunder and all
Depositors.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS the Sponsor desires to establish a trust, to be known as the
"CurrencyShares(SM) British Pound Sterling Trust", pursuant to the laws of the
State of New York;
WHEREAS the Sponsor desires to establish the terms on which British
Pounds (as herein defined) may be deposited in the trust and provide for the
creation of British Pound Sterling CurrencyShares in Baskets (as herein defined)
representing fractional undivided interests in the net assets of the trust and
the execution and delivery of Certificates (as herein defined) evidencing the
British Pound Sterling CurrencyShares; and
WHEREAS the Sponsor desires to provide for other terms and conditions
upon which the trust shall be established and administered, as hereinafter
provided.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements herein contained, the Sponsor and the Trustee hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
Section 1.1 Definitions.
Except as otherwise specified in this Trust Agreement or as the
context may otherwise require, the following terms have the respective meanings
set forth below for all purposes of this Depositary Trust Agreement.
"Agreement" means this Depositary Trust Agreement, as amended or
supplemented in accordance with its terms.
"Authorized Participant" means a Person that, at the time of
submitting a Purchase Order or a Redemption Order, (i) is a registered
broker-dealer or other securities market participant, (ii) is a DTC Participant
or an Indirect Participant and (iii) has in effect a valid Authorized
Participant Agreement.
"Authorized Participant Agreement" means an agreement among the
Trustee, the Sponsor and an Authorized Participant that authorizes the
Authorized Participant to submit Purchase Orders and Redemption Orders under
this Agreement.
"Basket" means 50,000 Shares, except that the Trustee, in consultation
with the Sponsor, may from time to time increase or decrease the number of
Shares comprising a Basket.
"Basket British Pound Amount" is the amount of British Pounds that
must be deposited for issuance of one Basket or that, subject to the exception
stated in Section 2.7, is deliverable upon Surrender of one Basket. The Basket
British Pound Amount will be determined as provided in Section 2.4(b).
"Beneficial Owner" means any Person owning, through DTC, a DTC
Participant, or an Indirect Participant, a Share.
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"British Pound" and "Great Britain Pound" mean the official currency
of the United Kingdom.
"Certificate" means a certificate that may be executed and delivered
by the Trustee under this Agreement evidencing Shares.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the
United States or any successor governmental agency in the United States.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which its
depositary receipt business is administered which, at the date of this
Agreement, is located at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
"Deliver" means (a) when used with respect to British Pounds, either
(i) a wire transfer of immediately available British Pounds to the account
specified by the Person entitled to the Delivery or (ii) if requested by the
Person entitled to the Delivery, delivery of a certified or official bank check
for British Pounds payable as requested by the person entitled to the Delivery
and (b) when used with respect to Shares, either (i) one or more book-entry
transfers of those Shares to an account or accounts at DTC designated by the
Person entitled to such delivery for further credit as specified by that Person
or (ii) in the circumstances specified in Section 2.3(e), execution and delivery
at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee of one or more Certificates
evidencing those Shares.
"Deposit Account Agreement" means the Deposit Account Agreement
entered into between the Trustee and the Depository, substantially in the form
annexed hereto as Exhibit A, as it may be amended or supplemented in accordance
with this Agreement.
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"Depositor" means any Authorized Participant that deposits British
Pounds into the Trust, either for its own account or on behalf of another Person
that is the owner or beneficial owner of those British Pounds.
"Depository" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch.
"Dollars" or "$" means the official currency of the United States of
America.
"DTC" means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their
respective successors.
"DTC Participant" means a Person that, pursuant to DTC's governing
documents, is entitled to deposit securities with DTC in its capacity as a
"participant."
"Exchange" means the exchange on which the Shares are principally
traded, as specified by the Sponsor, initially the New York Stock Exchange.
"Fiscal Year" means the annual accounting periods of the Trust which
will end on October 31 of each year.
"Indemnified Amounts" is defined in Section 7.1.
"Indemnitee" is defined in Section 7.1.
"Indemnitor" is defined in Section 7.1.
"Indirect Participant" means a Person that, by clearing securities
through, or maintaining a custodial relationship with, a DTC Participant, has
access to the DTC clearing system.
"Interest Account" means the interest-bearing account for the Trust's
assets maintained with the Depository pursuant to the Deposit Account Agreement.
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"London Business Day" means any day other than (i) a Saturday or
Sunday or (ii) a day which has been designated a bank holiday in England.
"NAV" means the net asset value of the Trust determined under Section
4.1.
"NAV per Basket" means the value of a Basket determined under Section
2.4.
"NAV per Share" means the value of a Share determined under Section
4.1.
"New York Business Day" means any day other than (i) a Saturday or
Sunday or (ii) a day on which the Exchange is not open for regular trading at
noon, New York time.
"Non-Interest Account" means the non-interest-bearing account
maintained with the Depository pursuant to the Deposit Account Agreement.
"Noon Buying Rate" means the Dollar/British Pound exchange rate, as
determined and published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York each New York
Business Day at approximately 12:00 PM (New York time).
"Order Cutoff Time" means (i) 4:00 PM (New York time) or (ii) another
time agreed to by the Sponsor and the Trustee and of which Registered Owners and
all existing Authorized Participants have been notified by the Trustee.
"Order Date" means, with respect to a Purchase Order, the date
specified in Section 2.4(a) and, with respect to a Redemption Order, the date
specified in Section 2.7.
"Person" means any natural person or any limited liability company,
corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company,
trust,
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unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof.
"Proceeding" is defined in Section 7.1.
"Purchase Order" is defined in Section 2.4.
"Qualified Bank" means a bank, trust company, corporation or national
banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States or any State of the United States that is authorized under those laws to
exercise corporate trust powers and that (i) is a DTC Participant or a
participant in such other securities depository as is then acting with respect
to the Shares, (ii) unless counsel to the Sponsor determines that the following
requirement is not necessary for the exception under Section 408(m) of the Code
to apply, is a banking institution as defined in Section 408(n) of the Code and
(iii) had, as of the date of its most recent annual financial statements, an
aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least $500,000,000.
"Redemption Order" is defined in Section 2.7.
"Registered Owner" means the Person in whose name Shares are
registered on the books of the Trustee maintained for that purpose.
"Registrar" means any bank or trust company that is appointed to
register Shares and transfers of Shares as herein provided.
"Relevant Price" means the Noon Buying Rate, except as provided below.
If, on a particular evaluation day, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York does
not announce a Noon Buying Rate by 2:00 PM (New York time), then the most recent
Federal Reserve Bank of New York determination of the Noon Buying Rate will be
the "Relevant Price" and be used to determine the NAV of the Trust unless the
Trustee, in consultation with the Sponsor, determines that such price is
inappropriate to use as the basis for such valuation. In the event that the
Trustee and the Sponsor determine that the
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most recent Federal Reserve Bank of New York determination of the Noon Buying
Rate is not an appropriate basis for valuation of the Trust's British Pounds,
they shall determine an alternative basis for such evaluation to be employed by
the Trustee, which will be the "Relevant Price."
"Settlement Date" means, with respect to a Purchase Order, the date
specified in Section 2.4(a) and, with respect to a Redemption Order, the date
specified in Section 2.7.
"Shares" means British Pound Sterling CurrencyShares created under
this Agreement, each representing a fractional undivided ownership interest in
the net assets of the Trust, which interest shall equal a fraction, the
numerator of which is 1 and the denominator of which is the total number of
Shares outstanding.
"Sponsor" means Rydex Specialized Products LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, d/b/a "Rydex Investments".
"Sponsor's Fee" means the fee to be paid to the Sponsor, which for
each day shall be equal to ([.004]/365 or 366, depending on the number of days
in the year) multiplied by (the British Pounds in the Trust as of the close of
business on the preceding London Business Day, which shall include all unpaid
interest but exclude unpaid fees, each as accrued through the immediately
preceding day).
"Sponsor Indemnified Persons" is defined in Section 7.1.
"Surplus Property" means any Trust Property other than (i) British
Pounds deposited by or on behalf of Authorized Participants pursuant to Section
2.4, in the Interest Account or the Non-Interest Account, (ii) British Pounds
received as interest on British Pounds in the Interest Account, (iii) amounts
withdrawn from the Interest Account in order to make a redemption described in
Section 2.7, or (iv) amounts being held for the payment of estimated Trust
expenses.
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"Surrender" means, when used with respect to Shares, (a) one or more
book-entry transfers of Shares to the DTC account of the Trustee or (b)
surrender to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office of one or more
Certificates evidencing Shares.
"Trust" means the CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust, the
trust entity created by this Agreement.
"Trust Property" means the British Pounds that are deposited under
this Agreement and any other money or other property that is received by the
Trustee in respect of Trust Property and that is being held under this
Agreement. Trust Property shall not include any property subject to distribution
for which the record date for determining Registered Owners entitled to such
distribution has passed.
"Trustee" means The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation,
in its capacity as trustee under this Agreement, or any successor as trustee
under this Agreement.
"Trustee Indemnified Persons" is defined in Section 7.1.
Section 1.2 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(i) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(ii) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning
assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in
effect in the United States;
(iii) "or" is not exclusive;
(iv) the words "herein", "hereof", "hereunder" and other words of
similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
Article, Section or other subdivision;
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(v) "including" means including without limitation; and
(vi) words in the singular include the plural and words in the
plural include the singular.
ARTICLE 2
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE;
CREATION AND DECLARATION OF TRUST;
FORM OF CERTIFICATES; DEPOSIT OF BRITISH POUNDS; DELIVERY,
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF SHARES
Section 2.1 Statement of Purpose; Duties and Powers of the Trust.
(a) The Trust is a passive investment vehicle that is not actively
managed. The sole purpose of the Trust is to hold British Pounds on behalf of
the Registered Owners. The Trust shall have no directors or persons acting in
similar capacity and no officers or employees, and shall act only through the
Trustee and the Sponsor.
(b) The Trust shall have the power to receive and hold deposits of
British Pounds, issue Baskets representing those deposits, distribute British
Pounds upon surrenders of Baskets, and perform acts incidental to the foregoing
as provided in this Agreement, but the Trust shall not have the power to engage
in any other business activities.
Section 2.2 Creation and Declaration of Trust; Business of the Trust.
(a) The Trustee acknowledges that an initial deposit of 100 British
Pounds under and in accordance with this Agreement has been made in the Interest
Account by the Sponsor on the date hereof in exchange for one Share. The Sponsor
is purchasing the initial Share solely for the purpose of forming the Trust. The
Sponsor will redeem the initial Share for 100 British Pounds as promptly as
practicable after the Form S-1 registration statement filed with the Commission
with respect to the Shares is declared
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effective by the Commission and the Initial Purchaser, as defined in the
registration statement, deposits British Pounds in accordance with the
registration statement.
(b) The Trustee declares that it will hold that initial deposit and
all other Trust Property as trustee for the benefit of the Registered Owners for
the purposes of, and subject to and limited by the terms and conditions set
forth in, this Agreement. The trust created by this Agreement shall be known as
the "CurrencyShares(SM) British Pound Sterling Trust".
Section 2.3 Form of Certificates; Book-Entry System; Transferability
of Shares.
(a) The Certificates evidencing Shares shall be substantially in the
form set forth in Exhibit B annexed to this Agreement, with appropriate
insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided. No Shares
shall be entitled to any benefits under this Agreement or be valid or obligatory
for any purpose unless a Certificate evidencing those Shares has been executed
by the Trustee by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized
signatory of the Trustee and, if a Registrar (other than the Trustee) for the
Shares shall have been appointed, countersigned by the manual signature of a
duly authorized officer of the Registrar. The Trustee shall maintain books on
which the registered ownership of each Share and transfers, if any, of such
registered ownership shall be recorded. Certificates evidencing Shares bearing
the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Trustee
and the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar, if
applicable, who was, at the time such Certificates were executed, a proper
signatory of the Trustee or Registrar, if applicable, shall bind the Trustee,
notwithstanding that such signatory has ceased to hold such office prior to the
delivery of such Certificates.
(b) The Certificates may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the
text thereof such legends or recitals or modifications not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Agreement as may be required by the Trustee or required to
comply with any
10
applicable law or regulations thereunder or with the rules and regulations of
the Exchange or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate
any special limitations or restrictions to which the Shares evidenced by a
particular Certificate are subject.
(c) The Sponsor and the Trustee will apply to DTC for acceptance of
the Shares in its book-entry settlement system. Shares deposited with DTC shall
be evidenced by one or more global Certificates which shall be registered in the
name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, and shall bear the following legend:
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO
THE AGENT AUTHORIZED BY THE ISSUER FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER,
EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE
NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE &
CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR
VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE
REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
(d) So long as the Shares are eligible for book-entry settlement with
DTC and such settlement is available, unless otherwise required by law,
notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.3(a) and Section 2.3(b), all Shares
shall be evidenced by one or more global Certificates the Registered Owner of
which is DTC or a nominee of DTC and (i) no Beneficial Owner of Shares will be
entitled to receive a separate Certificate evidencing those Shares, (ii) the
interest of a Beneficial Owner in Shares represented by a global Certificate
will be shown only on, and transfer of that interest will be effected only
through, records maintained by DTC or a DTC Participant or Indirect Participant
through which the Beneficial Owner holds that interest and (iii) the rights of a
Beneficial Owner with respect to Shares represented by a global Certificate will
be exercised only to the
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extent allowed by, and in compliance with, the arrangements in effect between
such Beneficial Owner and DTC or the DTC Participant or Indirect Participant
through which that Beneficial Owner holds an interest in Shares.
(e) If, at any time when Shares are evidenced by a global Certificate,
DTC ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for such Shares,
the Trustee shall execute and deliver separate Certificates evidencing Shares to
the DTC Participants entitled thereto, with such additions, deletions and
modifications to this Agreement and to the form of Certificate evidencing Shares
as the Sponsor and the Trustee may agree.
(f) Title to a Certificate evidencing Shares (and to the Shares
evidenced thereby), when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments
of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the
case of a negotiable instrument under the laws of New York; provided, however,
that the Trustee, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the
Registered Owner of Shares as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of
determining the person entitled to any distribution or to any notice provided
for in this Agreement and for all other purposes.
Section 2.4 Deposit of British Pounds.
(a) After the deposit of British Pounds in the Trust by the Initial
Purchaser, as defined in the registration statement, the issuance and Delivery
of Shares will take place only in integral numbers of Baskets and in compliance
with the provisions of this Agreement, as supplemented by any procedures
attached to an applicable Authorized Participant Agreement, to the extent those
procedures are consistent with this Agreement. Authorized Participants wishing
to acquire from the Trustee one or more Baskets must place an order with the
Trustee (a "Purchase Order"). Purchase Orders received by the Trustee prior to
the Order Cutoff Time on a New York Business Day will have that day as the Order
Date. Purchase Orders received on a day that is not a New York Business Day or
received after the Order Cutoff Time on a New York Business Day will have the
next following New York Business Day as the Order Date. The "Settlement
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Date" for a Purchase Order shall be the third New York Business Day following
the Order Date unless that day is not a London Business Day, in which case the
Settlement Date shall be the next following day that is both a New York Business
Day and a London Business Day. As consideration for each Basket acquired,
Authorized Participants must deposit with the Depository the Basket British
Pound Amount determined by the Trustee on the Business Day prior to the
Settlement Date for the corresponding Purchase Order. The Basket British Pound
Amount shall be deposited in the Non-Interest Account. Pursuant to Section 6.5,
the Trustee shall contemporaneously instruct the Depository to transfer the
portion of the Basket British Pound Amount representing principal from the
Non-Interest Account to the Interest Account. The portion of the Basket British
Pound Amount representing a pro rata portion of accrued but unpaid interest will
remain in the Non-Interest Account.
(b) The Trustee shall determine the Basket British Pound Amount for
each New York Business Day. The initial "Basket British Pound Amount" is
5,000,000 British Pounds. After the initial deposit, the "Basket British Pound
Amount" shall be an amount of British Pounds equal to the quotient obtained by
dividing the NAV per Basket on the date on which the determination is being made
by the Relevant Price on such date. For purposes of this computation, "NAV per
Basket" is the product obtained by multiplying (x) the NAV per Share determined
in compliance with Section 4.1, by (y) the number of Shares which constitute a
Basket on the date on which the determination is being made. Fractions of a
British Pound smaller than .001 shall be disregarded. The Sponsor intends to
publish, or may designate other persons to publish, for each New York Business
Day, the Basket British Pound Amount.
(c) If the Trust Property includes Surplus Property, no deposits of
British Pounds will be accepted until after a record date for distribution of
that money or property, or proceeds from that property, has passed.
(d) All deposited British Pounds shall be owned by the Trust and held
for the Trust by the Depository in the Interest Account or the Non-Interest
Account. Any
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assets of the Trust other than British Pounds shall be held by the Trustee or
the Depository at such place and in such manner as the Trustee shall determine.
Section 2.5 Delivery of Shares.
Upon receipt by the Trustee of any deposit in accordance with Section
2.4, together with a Purchase Order and the other documents required under this
Agreement, if any, and a confirmation from the Depository that the Basket
British Pound Amount has been Delivered to the Depository for each Basket of
Shares and the Depository is holding those British Pounds for the account of the
Trust, the Trustee, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall
Deliver to the Depositor the number of Baskets of Shares issuable in respect of
such deposit as requested in the corresponding Purchase Order, but only upon
payment to the Trustee of the fees and expenses of the Trustee as provided in
Section 6.7 and of all taxes and governmental charges and fees payable in
connection with such deposit, the transfer of the British Pounds and the
issuance and Delivery of the Shares.
Section 2.6 Registration and Registration of Transfer of Shares;
Combination and Split-up of Certificates.
(a) The Trustee shall keep or cause to be kept a register of
Registered Owners of Shares and shall provide for the registration of Shares and
the registration of transfers of Shares.
(b) The Trustee, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, shall register transfers of ownership of Shares on its transfer books
from time to time, upon any Surrender of a Certificate evidencing such Shares,
by the Registered Owner in person or by a duly authorized attorney, properly
endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, and duly stamped as
may be required by the laws of the State of New York and of the United States of
America. Thereupon the Trustee shall execute a new Certificate or Certificates
evidencing such Shares, and deliver the same to or upon the order of the Person
entitled thereto.
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(c) The Trustee, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, shall, upon Surrender of a Certificate or Certificates evidencing
Shares for the purposes of effecting a split-up or combination of that
certificate or certificates, execute and deliver one or more new Certificates
evidencing those Shares.
(d) The Trustee may, with the written approval of the Sponsor (which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), appoint one or more co-transfer
agents for the purpose of effecting registration of transfers of Shares and
combinations and split-ups of Certificates at designated transfer offices on
behalf of the Trustee at the Trustee's expense. In carrying out its functions, a
co-transfer agent may require evidence of authority and compliance with
applicable laws and other requirements by Registered Owners or Persons entitled
to Shares and will be entitled to protection and indemnity to the same extent as
the Trustee.
Section 2.7 Surrender of Shares and Withdrawal of Trust Property.
Upon Surrender of any integral number of Baskets for the purpose of
withdrawal of the amount of Trust Property represented thereby, and upon payment
of the fee of the Trustee in connection with the Surrender of Shares as provided
in Section 6.7 and payment of all taxes and charges payable in connection with
such Surrender and withdrawal of Trust Property, and subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, an Authorized Participant acting on authority of
the Registered Owner of those Shares will be entitled to Delivery, in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement, as supplemented by any procedures
attached to an applicable Authorized Participant Agreement, to the extent those
procedures are consistent with this Agreement, of the amount of Trust Property
at the time represented by such Baskets, including the Basket British Pound
Amounts corresponding to such Baskets for the New York Business Day prior to the
Settlement Date (as defined below), but excluding from those Basket British
Pound Amounts any portion that represents the value of Trust Property that is
not held as British Pounds. Authorized Participants wishing to redeem one or
more Baskets must place an order with the Trustee (a "Redemption Order").
Redemption Orders received by
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the Trustee prior to the Order Cutoff Time on a New York Business Day will have
that day as the Order Date. Redemption Orders received by the Trustee after the
Order Cutoff Time on a New York Business Day or on a day that is not a New York
Business Day will have the next New York Business Day as the Order Date. The
"Settlement Date" for a Redemption Order shall be the third New York Business
Day following the Order Date unless that day is not a London Business Day, in
which case the Settlement Date shall be the next following day that is both a
New York Business Day and a London Business Day. Any Trust Property other than
British Pounds will be delivered by the Trustee.
The Trustee may require that a Certificate evidencing Shares Surrendered
for the purpose of withdrawal is properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by
proper instruments of transfer in blank. Upon a Surrender of an integral number
of Baskets of Shares and satisfaction of all the conditions for withdrawal of
Trust Property, the Trustee shall instruct the Depository to Deliver, to or to
the order of the Surrendering Authorized Participant, the amount of British
Pounds represented by the Surrendered Baskets of Shares and the Depository or
the Trustee shall pay or deliver to or to the order of the Surrendering
Authorized Participant the amount of any other Trust Property represented by the
Surrendered Baskets of Shares. Any Delivery of British Pounds other than by wire
transfer or at the office of the Depository will be at the expense and risk of
the Authorized Participant.
Section 2.8 Limitations on Delivery, Registration of Transfer and
Surrender of Shares.
(a) As a condition precedent to the Delivery, registration of
transfer, split-up, combination or Surrender of any Shares or withdrawal of any
Trust Property, the Trustee or Registrar may require payment from the Depositor
or the Authorized Participant Surrendering the Shares of a sum sufficient to
reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or
registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee
with respect to any securities being withdrawn) and payment of any applicable
fees as herein provided, may require the production of
16
proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and
may also require compliance with any regulations the Trustee may establish
consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, including this Section 2.8.
(b) The Delivery of Shares against deposits of British Pounds or the
registration of transfer of Shares may be suspended generally, or refused with
respect to particular requested Deliveries or transfers, during any period when
the transfer books of the Trustee are closed or if any such action is deemed
necessary or advisable by the Trustee or the Sponsor for any reason at any time
or from time to time.
(c) The Surrender of Shares for purposes of withdrawing Trust Property
may be suspended by the Trustee only if (i) the Trust holds Surplus Property
that has not been distributed in accordance with Section 4.5 or (ii) the Trustee
determines, in its sole discretion, that a suspension is necessary or desirable.
In either case, the Trustee and the Depository shall consult with each other and
use good faith efforts to resume accepting and honoring Redemption Orders as
soon as possible.
Section 2.9 Lost Certificates, Etc.
The Trustee shall execute and deliver a new Certificate of like tenor
in exchange and substitution for a mutilated Certificate upon cancellation
thereof, or in lieu of and in substitution for a destroyed, lost or stolen
Certificate if the Registered Owner thereof has (a) filed with the Trustee (i) a
request for such execution and delivery before the Trustee has notice that the
Shares evidenced by the Certificate have been acquired by a protected purchaser
and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond and (b) satisfied any other reasonable
requirements imposed by the Trustee.
Section 2.10 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Certificates.
All Certificates Surrendered to the Trustee shall be canceled by the
Trustee. The Trustee is authorized to destroy Certificates so canceled.
17
Section 2.11 Splits and Reverse Splits of Shares.
If requested in writing by the Sponsor, the Trustee shall effect a
split or reverse split of the Shares as of a record date set by the Trustee in
accordance with procedures determined by the Trustee.
The Trustee is not required to distribute any fraction of a Share in
connection with a split or reverse split of the Shares. The Trustee may sell the
aggregated fractions of Shares that would otherwise be distributed in a split or
reverse split of the Shares or the amount of Trust Property that would be
represented by those Shares and distribute the net proceeds of those Shares or
that Trust Property to the Registered Owners entitled to them.
The amount of Trust Property represented by each Share and the Basket
British Pound Amount shall be adjusted as appropriate as of the open of business
on the New York Business Day following the record date for a split or reverse
split of the Shares.
ARTICLE 3
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF REGISTERED OWNERS OF SHARES
Section 3.1 Liability of Registered Owner for Taxes and Other
Governmental Charges.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the
Trustee with respect to any transfer or redemption of Shares, such tax or other
governmental charge shall be payable by the Registered Owner of such Shares to
the Trustee. The Trustee shall refuse to effect any registration of transfer of
such Shares or any withdrawal of Trust Property represented by such Shares until
such payment is made, and may withhold any distributions, or may sell for the
account of the Registered Owner thereof Trust Property or Shares, and may apply
such distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or
other governmental charge, and the Registered Owner
18
of such Shares shall remain liable for any deficiency. The Trustee shall
distribute any net proceeds of a sale made under the preceding sentence that
remain, after payment of the tax or other governmental charge, to the Registered
Owners entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution in cash.
Section 3.2 Warranties on Deposit of British Pounds.
Every Person depositing British Pounds under this Agreement shall be
deemed thereby to represent and warrant that the Person making such deposit is
duly authorized to do so and that at the time of delivery, the British Pounds
are free and clear of any lien, pledge, encumbrance, right, charge or claim
(other than the rights created by this Agreement). All representations and
warranties deemed made under this Section 3.2 shall survive the deposit of
British Pounds, Delivery or Surrender of Shares or termination of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE 4
ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRUST
Section 4.1 Evaluation of British Pounds; Calculation of Net Asset
Value.
As promptly as practicable after the determination of the Relevant
Price on each New York Business Day, ordinarily no later than 2:00 PM (New York
time), the Trustee will calculate, and the Sponsor or a person designated by the
Sponsor will publish, the Trust's net asset value ("NAV"). To calculate the NAV,
the Trustee will:
(a) take the sum of British Pounds in the Interest Account and
Non-Interest Account as of the close of business on the preceding London
Business Day, as reported by the Depository;
(b) add interest accrued but unpaid on the Interest Account through
the preceding day;
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(c) subtract the accrued but unpaid Sponsor's Fee through the
preceding day;
(d) add British Pounds receivable by the Trust under Purchase Orders
having Order Dates on or before the preceding New York Business Day;
(e) subtract British Pounds payable by the Trust under Redemption
Orders having Order Dates on or before the preceding New York Business Day;
(f) convert the result after step (e) into Dollars using the Relevant
Price;
(g) add the Dollar value of any other assets included in the Trust
Property as of the close of business on the preceding New York Business Day; and
(h) subtract the Dollar value of any other expenses and liabilities of
the Trust as of the close of business on the preceding New York Business Day.
The result is the NAV of the Trust for that New York Business Day. The
Trustee shall also divide the NAV of the Trust by the number of Shares
outstanding for the date of the evaluation then being made, which figure is the
"NAV per Share." For purposes of the preceding sentence, the number of Shares
deemed outstanding shall include Shares to be Delivered under Purchase Orders
having Order Dates on or before the preceding New York Business Day and shall
exclude Shares to be Surrendered under Redemption Orders having Order Dates on
or before the preceding New York Business Day.
Section 4.2 Responsibility of the Trustee for Evaluations.
The Sponsor, Depositors, Registered Owners and Beneficial Owners may
rely on any evaluation or determination of any amount made by the Trustee, and
the Sponsor shall have no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. The
determinations made by the Trustee under this Agreement shall be made in good
faith upon the basis of, and the Trustee shall not be liable for any errors
contained in, information reasonably
20
available to it. The Trustee shall be under no liability to the Sponsor, or to
Depositors, Registered Owners or Beneficial Owners, for errors in judgment;
provided, however, that this provision shall not protect the Trustee against any
liability to which it would otherwise be subject by reason of negligence or bad
faith in the performance of its duties.
Section 4.3 Interest Account and Non-Interest Account.
The Trustee will deposit all British Pounds into the Interest Account
or the Non-Interest Account in accordance with Section 6.5. The Interest Account
will accrue interest in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Account
Agreement. The Non-Interest Account will not accrue interest.
Section 4.4 Cash Distributions.
On the first London Business Day of each month, the Depository will
deposit into the Non-Interest Account the accrued but unpaid interest for the
previous month. On the first day of each month that is both a London Business
Day and a New York Business Day, the Trustee will make withdrawals from the
Non-Interest Account to pay the accrued Sponsor's Fee for the previous month
plus any other Trust expenses. In the event that the interest deposited exceeds
the sum of the Sponsor's Fee for the previous month plus other Trust expenses,
if any, then the Trustee shall convert the excess into Dollars in accordance
with Section 4.9, and, as promptly as practicable declare a record date and
distribute the net proceeds to Registered Owners on a pro rata basis (in
accordance with the number of Shares that they own); provided, however, that in
the event that the Trustee shall be required to withhold and does withhold from
such cash an amount on account of taxes, the amount distributed to the
Registered Owners shall be reduced accordingly; and provided, further, that the
Trustee shall round the amount paid to each Registered Owner to the nearest
whole cent.
21
Section 4.5 Distributions of Surplus Property.
At any time that the Trust Property includes Surplus Property, the
Trustee shall, as promptly as practicable, (a) distribute all Surplus Property
consisting of Dollars to the Registered Owners in proportion to the number of
Shares held by them, and (b) convert into Dollars or sell for Dollars all other
Surplus Property and distribute the Dollar proceeds, net of the fees and
expenses of the Trustee, to the Registered Owners in proportion to the number of
Shares held by them. If the Trust Property includes any Surplus Property that is
not British Pounds, the Trustee shall suspend deposits of British Pounds for the
purpose of issuance of Shares until after a record date for distribution of that
Surplus Property, or proceeds of that Surplus Property, has passed.
Section 4.6 Fixing of Record Date.
Whenever any distribution will be made, or whenever the Trustee
receives notice of any solicitation of proxies or consents from Registered
Owners, or whenever for any reason there is a split, reverse split or other
change in the outstanding Shares, or whenever the Trustee shall find it
necessary or convenient in respect of any matter, the Trustee, in consultation
with the Sponsor, shall fix a record date for the determination of the
Registered Owners who shall be (i) entitled to receive such distribution or the
net proceeds of the sale thereof, (ii) entitled to give such proxies or consents
in respect of any such solicitation or (iii) entitled to act in respect of any
other matter for which the record date was set.
Section 4.7 Payment of Trust Expenses.
(a) The following expenses are or may be accrued and paid by the Trust:
(1) the Sponsor's Fee and other fees and expenses of the Sponsor set
forth in Section 5.6;
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(2) expenses of the Trust not assumed by the Sponsor pursuant to
Section 5.1(b);
(3) taxes and other governmental charges;
(4) expenses and costs of any extraordinary services performed by the
Trustee or the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust or action taken by the Trustee or
the Sponsor to protect the Trust or the interests of Registered Owners; and
(5) indemnification of the Sponsor as provided in Section 7.1(d).
(b) On first day of each month that is both a London Business Day and a New
York Business Day, the Trustee shall withdraw from the Non-Interest Account
amounts necessary to pay the Trust expenses provided for in Section 4.7(a) and
any otherwise unpaid expenses hereunder. In the event that the expenses exceed
the balance of the Non-Interest Account, such excess shall be withdrawn from the
Interest Account. The Trustee will withdraw and sell sufficient British Pounds
to purchase an amount of currency other than British Pounds sufficient to pay
any Trust expenses payable other than in British Pounds and the costs of
currency conversion.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if requested by the Sponsor and agreed
to by the Trustee, the Trustee will advance amounts out of its own funds for the
payment of Trust expenses, provided that the amount advanced at any time shall
not exceed $20,000. The amount of such advances, plus the cost of meeting
reserve requirements imposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, together with interest thereon at a percentage rate equal to
then-current overnight federal funds rate, shall be expenses of the Trust. The
Trustee shall have a lien on the balances on hand in the Interest Account and
Non-Interest Account to the extent of all amounts advanced by it pursuant to
this Section 4.7(c), which lien shall be superior to the interest of the
Registered Owners.
(d) The Trustee is conclusively authorized to sell British Pounds in the
smallest amounts required to permit payment of Trust expenses, it being the
intention to
23
minimize the Trust's holdings of assets other than British Pounds. Neither the
Trustee nor the Sponsor shall have any liability for loss or depreciation
resulting from sales of British Pounds so made. The Trustee shall not be liable
or responsible in any way for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of any
sale made in accordance with this Section 4.7(d).
Section 4.8 Statements and Reports.
After the end of each Fiscal Year and within the time period required
by applicable laws, rules and regulations, at the Sponsor's expense, the Trustee
shall send to the Registered Owners as of the end of such Fiscal Year, an annual
report of the Trust containing financial statements audited by independent
accountants designated by the Sponsor and such other information as may be
required by such laws, rules and regulations or otherwise, or which the Sponsor
determines shall be included. The Trustee may distribute the annual report by
any means acceptable to the Registered Owners and that complies with applicable
laws, rules and regulations.
Section 4.9 Further Provisions for Sales of Trust Property; Currency
Conversion.
In addition to selling British Pounds in accordance with Section 4.7,
the Trustee shall sell British Pounds whenever any one or more of the following
conditions exist:
(i) the Sponsor has notified the Trustee that such sale is required by
applicable law or regulation; or
(ii) the Trust is to be terminated and its assets liquidated in
accordance with Section 8.2.
When the Trustee is required or permitted to sell Trust Property, it
may sell that Trust Property by public or private sale in any manner and on any
terms that are
24
(i) commercially reasonable in the circumstances and (ii) reasonably calculated
to maximize the value of the Trust Property while taking into account any duty
of the Trustee under this Agreement to sell that Trust Property as promptly as
practicable.
However, whenever the Trustee is required or permitted to sell Trust
Property that is currency, if at the time the currency can, in the judgment of
the Trustee, be converted on a reasonable basis into the required currency that,
if applicable, is transferable to the United States, the Trustee shall place
orders with dealers (which may include the Depository or the Trustee or any of
their affiliates) through which it may reasonably expect to obtain a
commercially reasonable rate of exchange (net of commission) and good execution
of orders.
If such conversion can be effected only with the approval or license
of any government or agency thereof, the Trustee shall file such application for
approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.
If at any time the Trustee shall determine that in its judgment the
currency is not convertible on a reasonable basis into the required currency or
that, if applicable, is transferable to the United States, or if any approval or
license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such
conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Trustee is not obtainable, or if
any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as
determined by the Trustee, the Trustee may distribute the currency without
conversion (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such
currency) to, or in its discretion may hold such currency for the respective
accounts of, the persons entitled to receive it. Any interest earned or
investment gains attributable to amounts withheld from distribution shall be
held by the Trustee for distribution to the Registered Owners entitled to the
amount to which the interest or gain is attributable.
If any such conversion of currency, in whole or in part, cannot be
effected for distribution to some of the persons entitled to it, the Trustee
may, in its discretion, make such conversion and distribution to the extent
permissible to the persons entitled to
25
it and may distribute the balance of the currency without conversion to, or in
its discretion may hold such currency for the respective accounts of, the
persons entitled to receive it. Any interest earned or investment gains
attributable to amounts withheld from distribution shall be held by the Trustee
for distribution to the Registered Owners entitled to the amount to which the
interest or gain is attributable.
The Trustee and the Sponsor shall not be liable or responsible in any
way for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of any sale made pursuant to
this Section 4.9.
Section 4.10 Counsel.
The Sponsor may from time to time employ counsel to act on behalf of
the Trust and perform any legal services in connection with the British Pounds
and the Trust, including any legal matters relating to the possible disposition
or acquisition of any British Pounds. The reasonable fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be paid by the Sponsor up to an aggregate maximum of $100,000 per
year, with any excess amount to be paid by the Trust.
Section 4.11 Grantor Trust.
Nothing in this Agreement, any agreement with a Depository, or
otherwise, shall be construed to give the Trustee or Sponsor the power to vary
the investment of the Beneficial Owners within the meaning of Section
301.7701-4(c) of the regulations under the Code or any similar or successor
provision of the regulations under the Code, nor shall the Sponsor give the
Trustee any direction that would vary the investment of the Beneficial Owners.
However, the Trustee shall not be liable to any Person for any failure of the
Trust to qualify as a grantor trust under the Code or any comparable provision
of the laws of any State or other jurisdiction where that treatment is sought,
except that this sentence shall not limit the Trustee's responsibility for the
administration of the Trust in accordance with this Agreement. Neither the
Trustee nor the Sponsor will agree to any amendment of the Deposit Account
Agreement unless the Sponsor obtains and delivers to the Trustee a prior written
opinion of counsel to the effect
26
that such amendment will have no adverse effect on the classification of the
Trust as a "grantor trust" under the Code.
ARTICLE 5
THE SPONSOR
Section 5.1 Duties of the Sponsor.
(a) The Sponsor shall select the Depository and shall be solely
responsible for that selection. The Sponsor is responsible for establishing the
Trust and for the registration of the Shares. The Sponsor will generally oversee
the performance of the Trustee and the Trust's principal service providers, but
will not exercise day-to-day oversight over the Trustee or such service
providers. The Sponsor will regularly communicate with the Trustee to monitor
the overall performance of the Trust. The Sponsor will also designate the
independent certified public accountants of the Trust and may from time to time
employ legal counsel for the Trust.
(b) The Sponsor shall be responsible for all organizational expenses
of the Trust, and for the following administrative and marketing expenses of the
Trust: the Trustee's monthly fee, routine transaction and maintenance fees
charged by the Depository, listing fees of the Exchange, registration fees
charged by the Commission, printing and mailing costs, audit fees, legal
expenses not in excess of $100,000 per year and any applicable license fees.
(c) The Sponsor will monitor the interest rate paid by the Depository
and has the right and duty to instruct the Trustee to terminate the Deposit
Account Agreement if the Sponsor considers the interest rate to be
noncompetitive.
Section 5.2 Obligations of the Sponsor.
(a) The Sponsor does not assume any obligation nor shall it be subject
to any liability under this Agreement to any Registered Owner or Beneficial
Owner or Depositor (including liability with respect to the worth of the Trust
Property), except that
27
the Sponsor agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this
Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
(b) The Sponsor shall not be under any obligation to prosecute any
action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Trust Property or in respect
of the Shares on behalf of a Registered Owner, Beneficial Owner, Depositor or
other Person.
(c) The Sponsor shall not be liable for any action or non-action by it
in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants,
any Depositor, any Registered Owner or any other person believed by it in good
faith to be competent to give such advice or information.
(d) The Sponsor shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by
a successor sponsor whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the
Sponsor or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the resignation of
the Sponsor, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such
potential liability arises the Sponsor performed its obligations without
negligence or bad faith while it acted as sponsor.
(e) The Sponsor shall have no obligation to comply with any direction
or instruction from any Registered Owner or Beneficial Owner or Depositor
regarding Shares except to the extent specifically provided in this Agreement.
Section 5.3 Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Sponsor.
The Sponsor and its directors, employees, agents and affiliates shall
not incur any liability to any Registered Owner, Beneficial Owner or Depositor
if, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the
United States or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory
authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism
or other circumstances beyond its control, the Sponsor is prevented or forbidden
from, or would be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, or is
delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing which by the
28
terms of this Agreement it is provided shall be done or performed and
accordingly the Sponsor does not do that act or thing or does that act or thing
at a later time than would otherwise be required. The Sponsor will not incur any
liability to any Registered Owner or Beneficial Owner or Depositor by reason of
any non-performance or delay in the performance of any act or thing which by the
terms of this Agreement it is provided may be done or performed, or by reason of
any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this
Agreement.
Section 5.4 Certain Matters Regarding Successor Sponsor.
The covenants, provisions and agreements herein contained shall in
every case be binding upon any successor to the business of the Sponsor. The
Sponsor may transfer all or substantially all of its assets to an entity which
carries on the business of the Sponsor, if at the time of such transfer such
successor duly assumes all the obligations of the Sponsor under this Agreement,
and in such event, the Sponsor shall be relieved of all further liability under
this Agreement.
Section 5.5 Resignation of Sponsor; Successors.
If at any time the Sponsor desires to resign its position as Sponsor
hereunder, it may resign by delivering to the Trustee an instrument of
resignation executed by the Sponsor. Such resignation shall become effective
upon the earliest of the following: (i) the effective date of the appointment by
the Trustee of a successor sponsor and the acceptance by the successor sponsor
of that appointment, with such compensation from the Trust as the Trustee may
deem reasonable under the circumstances, by an instrument of appointment and
assumption executed by the Trustee and the successor sponsor; or (ii) an
agreement by the Trustee to act as sponsor hereunder succeeding to all the
rights and duties of the resigning Sponsor without appointing a successor
sponsor and without terminating this Agreement; or (iii) termination of this
Agreement in accordance with its terms and completion of distribution of all
remaining assets to Registered Owners. The Trustee shall have no obligation to
appoint a successor sponsor or to
29
assume the duties of the Sponsor and shall have no liability to any person
because the Trust is terminated by reason of the Sponsor's resignation.
If the Sponsor shall fail to undertake or perform or become incapable
of undertaking or performing its duties hereunder or shall become bankrupt or
its affairs shall be taken over by public authorities, the effect of that event
shall be the same as if the Sponsor had given a notice of resignation as
provided in the preceding paragraph.
Upon its resignation becoming effective, the resigning Sponsor shall
be discharged and shall no longer be liable in any manner hereunder except as to
acts or omissions occurring before its resignation became effective, and the
successor sponsor shall thereupon undertake and perform all duties and be
entitled to all rights and compensation as sponsor under this Agreement. The
successor sponsor shall not be under any liability hereunder for acts or
omissions occurring prior to the effective date stated in the instrument
appointing it successor sponsor. The Trustee shall notify Registered Owners of
the appointment of a successor sponsor.
Section 5.6 Compensation of the Sponsor.
(a) The Sponsor is entitled to receive from the Trust, as an expense
of the Trust, the Sponsor's Fee. The Sponsor's Fee shall be accrued daily but
paid monthly in arrears.
(b) In addition to the Sponsor's Fee, the Sponsor is entitled to
receive reimbursement from the Trust for all expenses and disbursements incurred
by it. Such reimbursement shall be made promptly after such expenses are
incurred by the Sponsor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sponsor is not
entitled to charge the Trust for (i) expenses and disbursements incurred by it
prior to the commencement of trading of Shares on the Exchange and (ii) expenses
for performing, or fees of agents for performing, services the Sponsor is
required to perform under this Agreement.
30
(c) Within 30 days following the end of each Fiscal Year, the Sponsor
shall certify to the Trustee the amount of its actual expenses and disbursements
incurred by it during the preceding Fiscal Year by it in connection with action
taken by it pursuant to Section 5.8 and shall reimburse the Trust any amounts
received by it from the Trust that exceed the amount so certified.
(d) The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for amounts
paid to the Sponsor pursuant to this Section 5.6.
Section 5.7 Federal Securities Law Filings.
The Sponsor shall (i) prepare and file a registration statement with
the Commission and take such action as is necessary from time to time to qualify
the Shares for offering and sale under the federal securities laws of the United
States, including the preparation and filing of amendments and supplements to
such registration statement, (ii) promptly notify the Trustee of any amendment
or supplement to the registration statement or prospectus, of any order
preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus, of any request for the
amending or supplementing of the registration statement or prospectus or if any
event or circumstance occurs that is known to the Sponsor as a result of which
the registration statement or prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, (iii) provide the Trustee from time
to time with copies, including copies in electronic form, of the prospectus, as
amended and supplemented, in such quantities as the Trustee may reasonably
request and (iv) prepare and file any periodic reports or updates that may be
required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Trustee
shall furnish to the Sponsor any information from the records of the Trust that
the Sponsor reasonably requests in writing that is needed to prepare any filing
or submission that the Sponsor or the Trust is required to make under the
federal securities laws of the United States.
31
Section 5.8 Discretionary Actions by Sponsor; Consultation.
(a) The Sponsor may, in its discretion, undertake any action which it
may deem necessary or desirable to protect the rights of the Registered Owners
and, in such event, the legal expenses and costs of any such actions shall be
expenses and costs of the Trust and the Sponsor shall be entitled to be
reimbursed therefor by the Trust. The expenses incurred by the Sponsor in
connection with taking any action under the preceding sentence (including the
fees and disbursements of legal counsel) shall be expenses of the Trust, and the
Sponsor shall be entitled to be promptly reimbursed for those expenses by the
Trust.
(b) The Sponsor shall promptly notify the Trustee (i) regarding any
action it takes pursuant to Section 5.8(a) or (ii) if the Sponsor becomes aware
of any development or event that affects the administration of the Trust but is
not contemplated or provided for in this Agreement.
ARTICLE 6
THE TRUSTEE
Section 6.1 Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Trustee.
(a) Until termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms,
the Trustee shall maintain facilities for the Delivery, registration,
registration of transfers and Surrender of Shares in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement.
(b) The Trustee shall keep books for the registration of Shares and
registration of transfers of Shares which at all reasonable times shall be open
for inspection by the Registered Owners.
(c) Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.8(b), the
Trustee may, and at the reasonable written request of the Sponsor shall, close
the transfer books at any
32
time or from time to time if such action is deemed necessary or advisable in the
reasonable judgment of the Trustee or the Sponsor.
(d) Pursuant to Section 2.8(c), the Trustee may, at its sole
discretion, suspend withdrawals of Trust Property if the Trustee, at its sole
discretion, determines that such a suspension is necessary or desirable.
(e) If any Shares are listed on one or more stock exchanges in the
United States, the Trustee shall act as Registrar or, with the written approval
of the Sponsor (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), appoint a
registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry of such Shares in accordance
with any requirements of such exchange or exchanges.
Section 6.2 Obligations of the Trustee.
(a) The Trustee assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any
liability under this Agreement to any Registered Owner or Beneficial Owner or
Depositor (including liability with respect to the worth of the Trust Property),
except that the Trustee agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth
in this Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
(b) The Trustee shall not be under any obligation to prosecute any
action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Trust Property or in respect
of the Shares on behalf of a Registered Owner, Beneficial Owner, Depositor or
other Person.
(c) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action or non-action by it
in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants,
any Depositor, any Registered Owner or any other person believed by it in good
faith to be competent to give such advice or information.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by
a successor trustee whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the
Trustee or
33
in connection with any matter arising wholly after the resignation of the
Trustee, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential
liability arises the Trustee performed its obligations without negligence or bad
faith while it acted as Trustee.
(e) The Trustee shall have no obligation to comply with any direction
or instruction from any Registered Owner or Beneficial Owner or Depositor
regarding Shares except to the extent specifically provided in this Agreement.
Section 6.3 Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Trustee.
The Trustee and its directors, employees, agents and affiliates shall
not incur any liability to any Registered Owner, Beneficial Owner or Depositor
if, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the
United States or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory
authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism
or other circumstances beyond its control, the Trustee is prevented or forbidden
from, or would be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, or is
delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of this
Agreement it is provided shall be done or performed and accordingly the Trustee
does not do that act or thing or does that act or thing at a later time than
would otherwise be required. The Trustee will not incur any liability to any
Registered Owner or Beneficial Owner or Depositor by reason of any
non-performance or delay in the performance of any act or thing which by the
terms of this Agreement it is provided may be done or performed, or by reason of
any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this
Agreement.
Section 6.4 Resignation or Removal of the Trustee; Appointment of
Successor Trustee.
(a) Resignation. The Trustee may at any time resign as Trustee
hereunder by notice of its election so to do, delivered to the Sponsor, and such
34
resignation shall take effect upon the appointment of a successor trustee and
its acceptance of such appointment.
(b) Removal by the Sponsor. In case at any time the Trustee shall be
adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property
shall be appointed, or a trustee or liquidator or any public officer shall take
charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purposes
of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then in any such case the
Sponsor shall, subject to the requirements of Section 6.4(e), remove the Trustee
by notice to the Trustee, and such removal shall take effect upon the
appointment of a successor trustee and its acceptance of such appointment.
(c) Removal by Registered Owners. Registered Owners of at least
two-thirds (66-2/3 %) of the Shares then outstanding may at any time remove the
Trustee by a notice delivered to the Trustee and Sponsor, and such removal shall
take effect upon the appointment of a successor trustee and its acceptance of
such appointment.
(d) Removal for Material Breach. If at any time the Trustee ceases to
be a Qualified Bank or is in material breach of its obligations under this
Agreement and the Trustee fails to cure such breach within 30 days after receipt
by the Trustee of notice from the Sponsor or Registered Owners acting on behalf
of at least 25% of the outstanding Shares specifying such default and requiring
the Trustee to cure such default, the Sponsor may remove the Trustee by notice
delivered to the Trustee, and such removal shall take effect upon the
appointment of a successor trustee and its acceptance of such appointment as
hereinafter provided.
(e) Appointing Successor Trustees. If the Trustee acting hereunder
resigns or is removed, the Sponsor, acting on behalf of the Registered Owners,
shall use its reasonable efforts to appoint a successor trustee, which shall be
a Qualified Bank. Every successor trustee shall execute and deliver to its
predecessor and to the Sponsor, acting on behalf of the Registered Owners, an
instrument in writing accepting its
35
appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor trustee, without any further
act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and
obligations of its predecessor; but such predecessor, nevertheless, upon payment
of all sums due it and on the written request of the Sponsor, acting on behalf
of the Registered Owners, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring
to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall
duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Trust
Property to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor a list of the
Registered Owners of all outstanding Shares. The Sponsor or any such successor
trustee shall promptly notify the Registered Owners of the appointment of such
successor trustee.
(f) Liability of Trustee. Upon effective resignation hereunder, the
resigning or removed Trustee shall be discharged and shall no longer be liable
in any manner hereunder except as to acts or omissions occurring prior to such
resignation or removal, and the new trustee shall thereupon undertake and
perform all duties and be entitled to all rights and compensation as trustee
under this Agreement. The successor trustee shall not be under any liability
hereunder for acts or omissions occurring prior to execution of an instrument
accepting its appointment as trustee.
(g) Effect of Merger of the Trustee. Any corporation into which the
Trustee may be merged, consolidated or converted in a transaction in which the
Trustee is not the surviving corporation shall be the successor of the Trustee
without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.
Section 6.5 Transfers Between Interest Account and Non-Interest
Account.
(a) Proceeds from creation of Baskets shall be deposited into the
Non-Interest Account. The Trustee shall contemporaneously instruct the
Depository to transfer the portion of the Basket British Pound Amount
representing principal from the Non-Interest Account to the Interest Account.
The portion of the Basket British Pound
36
Amount representing a pro rata portion of accrued but unpaid interest will
remain in the Non-Interest Account.
(b) Amounts payable upon Surrender of Shares in whole Baskets shall be
paid from the Non-Interest Account. The Trustee shall contemporaneously instruct
the Depository to transfer the portion of the Basket British Pound Amount
representing principal from the Interest Account to the Non-Interest Account.
Section 6.6 The Depository.
The parties acknowledge that the Depository was selected solely by the
Sponsor. The Trustee will have no duty or liability to any Person on account of
that selection or the terms of the Deposit Account Agreement. The Depository
will be subject at all times and in all respects to the directions of the
Trustee and will be responsible solely to it. The rights and duties of the
Depository with reference to the Trust will be determined by the Deposit Account
Agreement and applicable law. The Trustee shall not amend or terminate the
Deposit Account Agreement without the written consent of the Sponsor. The
Trustee shall terminate the Deposit Account Agreement if the Sponsor directs it
in writing to do so.
Section 6.7 Compensation of the Depository.
(a) Each Depositor, and each person surrendering Shares for the
purpose of withdrawing Trust Property, shall pay to the Trustee a fee of $500.00
per Purchase Order pursuant to Section 2.5 or Redemption Order pursuant to
Section 2.7 or surrender of Shares after termination of this Agreement pursuant
to Section 8.2(e).
(b) The Trustee is entitled to receive from the Sponsor fees for its
services and reimbursement for its out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with
written agreements between the Sponsor and the Trustee.
37
(c) The Trustee is entitled to charge the Trust for all expenses and
disbursements incurred by it in connection with action taken by it under Section
6.10(a) (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of its legal counsel),
except that the Trustee is not entitled to charge the Trust for (i) expenses and
disbursements incurred by it prior to the commencement of trading of Shares on
the Exchange and (ii) fees of agents for performing services the Trustee is
required to perform under this Agreement.
Section 6.8 Retention of Trust Documents.
The Trustee is authorized to destroy those documents, records, bills
and other data compiled during the term of this Agreement at the times permitted
by the laws or regulations governing the Trustee, unless the Sponsor reasonably
requests the Trustee in writing to retain those items for a longer period.
Section 6.9 Prospectus Delivery.
The Trustee shall, if required by the federal securities laws of the
United States, in any manner permitted by such laws, deliver, at the time of
issuance of Shares, a copy of the relevant prospectus, as most recently
furnished to the Trustee by the Sponsor, to each Depositor.
Section 6.10 Discretionary Actions by Trustee; Consultation.
(a) The Trustee may, in its discretion, undertake any action which it
may deem necessary or desirable to protect the rights of the Registered Owners
and, in such event, the legal expenses and costs of any such actions shall be
expenses and costs of the Trust and the Sponsor shall be entitled to be
reimbursed therefor by the Trust. The expenses incurred by the Trustee in
connection with taking any action under the preceding sentence (including the
fees and disbursements of legal counsel) shall be expenses of the Trust, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to be promptly reimbursed for those expenses by the
Trust.
38
(b) The Trustee shall notify and consult with the Sponsor before
undertaking any action under subsection (a) above or if the Trustee becomes
aware of any development or event that affects the administration of the Trust
but is not contemplated or provided for in this Agreement.
ARTICLE 7
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.1 Indemnification of the Sponsor and Trustee.
(a) The Sponsor shall indemnify the Trustee, its directors, employees
and agents (the "Trustee Indemnified Persons") against, and hold each of them
harmless from, any loss, liability, cost, expense or judgment (including, but
not limited to, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) (collectively
"Indemnified Amounts") that is incurred by any of them and that arises out of or
is related to (i) any offer or sale by the Trust of Baskets of Shares under this
Agreement, (ii) acts performed or omitted pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time, by (A) a Trustee Indemnified Person or (B) the Sponsor or (iii) any
filings with or submissions to the Commission in connection with or with respect
to the Shares (which, by way of illustration and not by way of limitation,
include any registration statement and any amendments or supplements thereto
filed with the Commission or any periodic reports or updates that may be filed
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any failure to make
any filings with or submissions to the Commission which are required to be made
in connection with or with respect to the Shares), except that the Sponsor shall
not have any obligations under this Section 7.1(a) to pay Indemnified Amounts
incurred as a result of and attributable to (x) the negligence or bad faith of,
or material breach of the terms of this Agreement by, the Trustee, (y) written
information furnished in writing by the Trustee to the Sponsor expressly for use
in the registration statement, or any amendment thereto, filed with the
Commission relating to the Shares that is not materially altered by the Sponsor
or (z) any
39
misrepresentations or omissions made by a Depositor (other than Sponsor) in
connection with such Depositor's offer and sale of Shares.
(b) The Trustee shall indemnify the Sponsor, its members, officers,
employees and agents against, and hold each of them harmless from, any
Indemnified Amounts (i) caused by the negligence or bad faith of the Trustee or
(ii) arising out of any information furnished in writing to the Sponsor by the
Trustee expressly for use in an registration statement, or any amendment
thereto, a prospectus pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 Section 10(a) or
Section 10(b), or a prospectus supplement thereto with the Commission relating
to the Shares that is not materially altered by the Sponsor.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in Section 7.1(a) or Section
7.1(b) is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless the indemnified party
under subsection (a) or (b) above, then the indemnifying party shall contribute
to the Indemnified Amounts referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by
the Sponsor on the one hand and the Trustee on the other hand from the fees each
receives that are attributable to the Shares which are the subject of the action
or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the Sponsor on the one hand and the Trustee on the other hand in connection with
the action, statement or omission which resulted in such Indemnified Amount as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact from which the action arises relates to information supplied by
the Sponsor or the Trustee and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or
omission or the act or omission from which the action arises. The amount of
Indemnified Amounts referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (c)
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified
40
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is
the subject of this subsection (c).
(d) The Sponsor and its shareholders, directors, officers, employees,
affiliates (as such term is defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended) and subsidiaries (each, a "Sponsor Indemnified Party") shall be
indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or
expense incurred without (i) negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or
willful malfeasance on the part of the Sponsor arising out of or in connection
with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or any actions
taken in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or (ii) reckless
disregard by the Sponsor of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
Such indemnity shall include payment from the Trust of the costs and expenses
incurred by such Sponsor Indemnified Party in defending itself against any claim
or liability in its capacity as Sponsor. Any amounts payable to a Sponsor
Indemnified Party under this Section 7.1(d) may be payable in advance or shall
be secured by a lien on the Trust.
(e) If an action, proceeding (including, but not limited to, any
governmental investigation), claim or dispute (each, a "Proceeding") in respect
of which indemnity may be sought by either party is brought or asserted against
the other party, the party seeking indemnification (the "Indemnitee") shall
promptly (and in no event more than seven (7) days after receipt of notice of
such Proceeding) notify the party obligated to provide such indemnification (the
"Indemnitor") of such Proceeding. The failure of the Indemnitee to so notify the
Indemnitor shall not impair the Indemnitee's ability to seek indemnification
from the Indemnitor (but only for costs, expenses and liabilities incurred after
such notice) unless such failure adversely affects the Indemnitor's ability to
adequately oppose or defend such Proceeding. Upon receipt of such notice from
the Indemnitee, the Indemnitor shall be entitled to participate in such
Proceeding and, to the extent that it shall so desire and provided no conflict
of interest exists as specified in clause (i) below and there are no other
defenses available to Indemnitee as specified in clause (iii) below, to assume
the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
41
the Indemnitee (in which case all attorney's fees and expenses shall be borne by
the Indemnitor and the Indemnitor shall in good faith defend the Indemnitee).
The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but, in such case, no fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be borne by the Indemnitor unless such fees
and expenses are otherwise required to be indemnified under Section 7.1(a),
Section 7.1(b) or Section 7.1(d), as applicable, and (i) there is such a
conflict of interest between the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee as would
preclude, in compliance with the ethical rules in effect in the jurisdiction in
which the Proceeding was brought, one lawyer from representing both parties
simultaneously, (ii) the Indemnitor fails, within the earlier of (x) twenty (20)
days following receipt of notice of the Proceeding from the Indemnitee or (y)
seven (7) days prior to the date the first response or appearance is required to
be made in such Proceeding, to assume the defense of such Proceeding with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee or (iii) there are legal
defenses available to Indemnitee that are different from or are in addition to
those available to the Indemnitor. No compromise or settlement of such
Proceeding may be effected by either party without the other party's consent
unless (m) there is no finding or admission of any violation of law and no
effect on any other claims that may be made against such other party and (n) the
sole relief provided is monetary damages that are paid in full by the party
seeking the settlement. Neither party shall have any liability with respect to
any compromise or settlement effected without its consent, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld. The Indemnitor shall have no obligation to indemnify and
hold harmless the Indemnitee from any loss, expense or liability incurred by the
Indemnitee as a result of a default judgment entered against the Indemnitee
unless such judgment was entered after the Indemnitor agreed, in writing, to
assume the defense of such Proceeding.
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ARTICLE 8
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
Section 8.1 Amendment.
The Trustee and the Sponsor may amend any provisions of this Agreement
without the consent of any Registered Owner; provided, however, that the
provisions of Section 2.6, Section 2.7, Section 2.10, Section 4.2 through
Section 4.7, this Section 8.1 and Section 8.2 may not be amended unless (i) the
provision relates solely to procedural or logistical matters (as distinguished
from core economic rights), or (ii) prior to the amendment, (a) the Sponsor
obtains and delivers to the Trustee a written opinion of counsel to the effect
that after such amendment the Trust will continue to be classified as a "grantor
trust" under the Code, and (b) in the event that such opinion of counsel assumes
that certain actions are taken by the Sponsor or the Trustee in connection with
such amendment, such actions shall be taken by the Sponsor or the Trustee, as
the case may be. Any amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges
(other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees or other
such expenses), or that otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of
the Registered Owners, will not become effective as to outstanding Shares until
30 days after notice of such amendment is given to the Registered Owners. Every
Registered Owner and Beneficial Owner, at the time any amendment so becomes
effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold any Shares or an interest
therein, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by this
Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right
of the Registered Owner of Shares to Surrender Baskets of Shares and receive
therefor the amount of Trust Property represented thereby, except in order to
comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
Section 8.2 Termination.
(a) The Trustee shall set a date on which this Agreement will
terminate and mail notice of that termination to the Registered Owners at least
30 days prior to the
43
date set for termination, which date shall be no later than 90 days from the
mailing of termination notice, if any of the following occurs:
(i) the Sponsor has given notice of resignation or is unable to
perform its duties or becomes bankrupt or insolvent and the Trustee will not
appoint a successor sponsor or agree to act as Sponsor;
(ii) Registered Owners holding at least 75% of the outstanding
Shares notify the Trustee that they elect to terminate the Trust;
(iii) the United Kingdom chooses the euro as its currency, by an
act of parliament or by referendum, and the Council of the European Union adopts
an irrevocable conversion rate for British Pounds to euro and the Trustee has
actual knowledge of that action;
(iv) the Depository resigns or is removed; or
(v) the Trust receives notice from the Internal Revenue Service
or counsel for the Trust or the Sponsor that the Trust fails to qualify for
treatment, or will not be treated, as a grantor trust under the Code.
(b) The Trustee shall set a date on which this Agreement will
terminate and mail notice of that termination to the Registered Owners at least
30 days prior to the date set for termination, which date shall be no later than
90 days from the mailing of termination notice, if any of the following occurs
and the Sponsor has notified the Trustee that it elects to terminate this
Agreement:
(i) The Trustee is notified that the Shares are delisted from a
national securities exchange and are not approved for listing on another
national securities exchange within five New York Business Days of their
delisting;
(ii) the Commission determines that the Trust is an investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
44
(iii) the NAV of the Trust remains less than $100 million for 30
consecutive New York Business Days at any time after the first 90 days of the
Shares being traded on the Exchange;
(iv) all of the Trust's assets are sold;
(v) the aggregate market capitalization of the Trust, based on
the closing price for the Shares remains less than $300 million at any time for
five consecutive trading days beginning after the first anniversary of this
Agreement; or
(vi) DTC ceases providing book-entry settlement services for the
Shares.
(c) If 60 days have elapsed since the Trustee gave the Sponsor notice
of its election to resign and no successor trustee appointed by the Sponsor has
accepted appointment as Trustee, the Trustee may set a date on which this
Agreement will terminate and mail notice of that termination to the Registered
Owners at least 30 days prior to the date set for termination.
(d) If not terminated sooner, this Agreement shall terminate forty
years from the date of this Agreement, and the Trustee shall mail a notice of
that termination to the Registered Owners and the Sponsor at least 30 days
before the termination date.
(e) On and after the date of termination of this Agreement, the
Registered Owner of Shares will, upon (i) Surrender of those Shares, (ii)
payment of the fee of the Trustee for the Surrender of Shares provided in
Section 6.7, and (iii) payment of any applicable taxes or other governmental
charges, be entitled to Delivery, to the Registered Owner or upon the Registered
Owner's order, of the amount of Trust Property represented by those Shares. The
Trustee shall not accept any deposits of British Pounds after the date of
termination of this Agreement. If any Shares remain outstanding after the date
of termination of this Agreement, the Trustee thereafter shall discontinue the
registration of transfers of Shares, shall not make any distributions to
Registered Owners,
45
and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under this
Agreement, except that the Trustee shall continue to collect distributions
pertaining to Trust Property and hold the same uninvested and without liability
for interest, pay the Trust's expenses and sell British Pounds as necessary to
meet those expenses and shall continue to deliver Trust Property, together with
any distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale
of any other property, in exchange for Shares Surrendered to the Trustee (after
deducting or upon payment of, in each case, the fee of the Trustee set forth in
5.7 for the Surrender of Shares, any expenses for the account of the Registered
Owner of such Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, and any applicable taxes or other governmental charges). At any time
after the expiration of 90 days following the date of termination of this
Agreement, the Trustee may sell for Dollars the Trust Property for then held
under this Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any
such sale, together with any other cash then held by it under this Agreement,
unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the
Registered Owners of Shares that have not theretofore been Surrendered, such
Registered Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Trustee with
respect to such net proceeds. After making such sale, the Trustee shall be
discharged from all obligations under this Agreement, except to account for such
net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, any fees, expenses,
taxes or other governmental charges payable by the Trust, the fee of the Trustee
for the Surrender of Shares and any expenses for the account of the Registered
Owner of such Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, and any applicable taxes or other governmental charges), and the
trust created by this Agreement shall terminate. Upon the termination of this
Agreement, the Sponsor shall be discharged from all obligations under this
Agreement except for its obligations to the Trustee under Section 6.7 and
Section 7.1, each of which shall survive termination of this Agreement. Section
5.6 and this Section 8.1(e) shall also survive termination of this Agreement.
46
ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original and all of such counterparts shall constitute
one and the same instrument. Copies of this Agreement shall be filed with the
Trustee and shall be open to inspection by any Registered Owner during the
Trustee's business hours.
Section 9.2 Third-Party Beneficiaries.
This Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and
shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
whatsoever to any other person.
Section 9.3 Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement
should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
Section 9.4 Registered Owners, Beneficial Owners and Depositors as
Parties; Binding Effect.
The Registered Owners, Beneficial Owners and Depositors from time to
time shall be parties to this Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms
and conditions hereof by their acceptance of Shares or any interest therein or
by their depositing British Pounds, as the case may be.
47
Section 9.5 Notices.
(a) All notices given under this Agreement must be in writing.
(b) Any and all notices to be given to the Trustee or the Sponsor
shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when it is actually delivered by a
messenger or recognized courier service, (ii) five days after it is mailed by
registered or certified mail, postage paid or (iii) when receipt of a facsimile
transmission is acknowledged via a return receipt or receipt confirmation as
requested by the original transmission, in each case to or at the address set
forth below:
To the Trustee:
The Bank of New York
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00-X
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: ADR Administration
Facsimile: 212-571-3050
or any other place to which the Trustee may have transferred its Corporate Trust
Office with notice to the Sponsor.
To the Sponsor:
Rydex Specialized Products LLC
c/o Rydex Investments
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx, President
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
or any other place to which the Sponsor may have transferred its principal
office with notice to the Trustee.
(c) Any and all notices to be given to a Registered Owner shall be
deemed to have been duly given (i) when actually delivered by messenger or a
recognized courier service, (ii) when mailed, postage prepaid or (iii) when sent
by facsimile transmission
48
confirmed by letter, in each case at or to the address of such Registered Owner
as it appears on the transfer books of the Trustee, or, if such Registered Owner
shall have filed with the Trustee a written request that any notice or
communication intended for such Registered Owner be delivered to some other
address, at the address designated in such request.
Section 9.6 Agent for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction.
The Sponsor hereby (i) irrevocably designates and appoints CT
Corporation, in the State of New York, as the Sponsor's authorized agent upon
which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating
to the Shares, the Trust Property or this Agreement, (ii) consents and submits
to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court in The City of New York, State
of New York, in which any such suit or proceeding may be instituted, and (iii)
agrees that service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in
every respect effective service of process upon the Sponsor in any such suit or
proceeding. The Sponsor agrees to deliver, upon the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, a written acceptance by such agent of its appointment as such
agent. The Sponsor further agrees to take any and all action, including the
filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to
continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect for so long
as any Shares remain outstanding or this Agreement remains in force. In the
event the Sponsor fails to continue such designation and appointment in full
force and effect, the Sponsor hereby waives personal service of process upon it
and consents that any such service of process may be made by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested, directed to the Sponsor at its
address last specified for notices hereunder, and service so made shall be
deemed completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so mailed.
Section 9.7 Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be interpreted under, and all rights and duties
under this Agreement shall be governed by, the laws of the State of New York.
49
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, RYDEX SPECIALIZED PRODUCTS LLC and THE BANK OF NEW
YORK have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first set forth
above.
RYDEX SPECIALIZED PRODUCTS LLC,
as Sponsor
By:
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer and
Treasurer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
50
EXHIBIT A
Form of Deposit Account Agreement
1
EXHIBIT B
Form of Certificate
THE SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY REPRESENT RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO UNDERLYING TRUST
PROPERTY (AS DEFINED IN THE TRUST AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN) HELD BY THE
TRUST AND DO NOT EVIDENCE AN OBLIGATION OF, OR AN INTEREST IN, AND ARE NOT
GUARANTEED BY THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUSTEE OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES.
NEITHER THE SHARES NOR THE UNDERLYING TRUST PROPERTY ARE INSURED UNDER ANY
AGREEMENT THAT DIRECTLY BENEFITS THE TRUST OR GUARANTEED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL
AGENCY OR ANY OTHER PERSON.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO THE AGENT
AUTHORIZED BY THE ISSUER FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND
ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER
NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS
MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
2
BRITISH POUND STERLING CURRENCYSHARES
ISSUED BY
CURRENCYSHARES BRITISH POUND STERLING TRUST
REPRESENTING
FRACTIONAL INTERESTS IN DEPOSITED BRITISH POUNDS AND ANY OTHER TRUST PROPERTY
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee
No.____ * Shares
CUSIP: ____________
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee (hereinafter called the Trustee), hereby
certifies that CEDE & CO., as nominee of the Depository Trust Company, or
registered assigns, IS THE OWNER OF * Shares issued by CurrencyShares British
Pound Sterling Trust, each representing a fractional undivided interest in the
net assets of the Trust, as provided in the Agreement referred to below. At the
time of delivery of the Agreement, each 50,000 Shares represented an interest in
5,000,000 British Pounds that are deposited under the Agreement and held by the
Depository referred to in the Agreement. The amount of British Pounds in which
each 50,000 Shares represents an interest may change from time to time as
provided in the Agreement. The Trustee's Corporate Trust Office is located at a
different address than its principal executive office. Its Corporate Trust
Office is located at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, and its
principal executive office is located at Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000.
This Certificate is issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
Trust Agreement dated as of _________, 2006 (the "Agreement") among Rydex
Specialized Products LLC d/b/a "Rydex Investments" (herein called the Sponsor),
the Trustee, all Registered Owners and Beneficial Owners from time to time of
Shares issued thereunder and all Depositors. By becoming a Registered Owner or
Beneficial Owner, or by depositing British Pounds, a Person becomes a party to
the Agreement and is bound by all the terms and conditions of the Agreement. The
Agreement sets forth the rights of Depositors and Registered Owners and the
rights and duties of the Trustee and the Sponsor. Copies of the Agreement are on
file at the Trustee's Corporate Trust Office in New York City.
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* That number of Shares held at The Depository Trust Company at any given
point in time.
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The Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into and made a part of
this Certificate as if set forth in full in this place. Capitalized terms not
defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement.
This Certificate shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Agreement
or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless it is executed by the Trustee
by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the
Trustee and, if a Registrar (other than the Trustee) for the Shares shall have
been appointed, countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized
officer of the Registrar.
Dated: THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee
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By:
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Its:
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THE TRUSTEE'S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS
000 XXXXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, XXX XXXX 00000
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