USCF ETF TRUST DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Exhibit (e)(1)
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of June 18, 2014, between USCF ETF Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, and ALPS Distributors, Inc., a Colorado corporation (“ALPS”).
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end non-diversified investment company offering the portfolios set forth in Appendix A hereto, as may be amended from time to time (each, a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”), each having filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);
WHEREAS, ALPS is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”);
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to create and redeem shares of beneficial interest, no par value per Share (the “shares”) of each Fund on a continuous basis at their net asset value only in aggregations constituting a Creation Unit, as such term is defined in the registration statement;
WHEREAS, the shares of each Fund will be listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Arca”) and traded under the ticker symbols set forth in Appendix A hereto;
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain ALPS to act as the distributor with respect to the issuance and distribution of Creation Units of shares of each Fund, hold itself available to receive and process orders for such Creation Units in the manner set forth in the Fund’s prospectus, and to enter into arrangements with broker-dealers who may solicit purchases of shares and with broker-dealers and others to provide for servicing of shareholder accounts and for distribution assistance, including broker-dealer and shareholder support; and
WHEREAS, ALPS desires to provide the services described herein to the Trust.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, the parties agree as follows.
| 1. | ALPS Appointment and Duties. |
| (a) | The Trust hereby appoints ALPS as the exclusive distributor for Creation Unit aggregations of shares of each Fund listed in Appendix A hereto, as may be amended from time to time, and to perform the duties that are set forth in Appendix B hereto, as amended from time to time, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. ALPS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish such specified services. ALPS shall for all purposes be deemed to be an |
| independent contractor and shall, except as otherwise expressly authorized in this Agreement, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust or a Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust or a Fund. |
| (b) | ALPS may employ or associate itself with a person or persons or organizations as ALPS believes to be desirable in the performance of its duties hereunder; provided that, in such event, the compensation of such person or persons or organizations shall be paid by and be the sole responsibility of ALPS, and the Trust shall bear no cost or obligation with respect thereto; and provided further that ALPS shall not be relieved of any of its obligations under this Agreement in such event and shall be responsible for all acts of any such person or persons or organizations taken in furtherance of this Agreement to the same extent it would be for its own acts. |
| 2. | ALPS Compensation; Expenses. Fees paid to ALPS shall be calculated and accrued daily and payable monthly by the Fund at a rate equal to the greater of ten (10) basis points annually on total assets of the Fund or a minimum annual fee of $50,000, plus out-of-pocket expenses. Out-of-pocket expenses include, but are not limited to, third-party security pricing and data fees, Bloomberg fees, Gainskeeper fees, SAS 70 control review report, travel expenses to board meetings and on-sight reviews, FINRA advertising/filing fees (including additional ALPS’s fees for expedited reviews), registered representative licensing, sales reporting, customized programming/enhancements, printing and mailing fees, fulfillment costs, calls, webinars, roadshow expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by ALPS in connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement. ALPS will not bear any of the costs of Trust personnel. Other Trust/Fund expenses incurred shall be borne by the Trust/Fund or the Fund’s investment adviser, including, but not limited to, initial organization and offering expenses; the blue sky registration and qualification of shares for sale in the various states in which the officers of the Trust shall determine it advisable to qualify such shares for sale (including registering the Fund’s investment adviser as a broker or dealer or any officer of the Trust as agent or salesman in any state); litigation expenses; taxes; costs of preferred shares; expenses of conducting repurchase offers for the purpose of repurchasing Fund shares; administration, transfer agency and custodial expenses; interest; Trust trustees’ fees; brokerage fees and commissions; state and federal registration fees; advisory fees; insurance premiums; fidelity bond premiums; Fund and investment advisory related legal expenses; costs of maintenance of Trust/Fund existence; printing and delivery of materials in connection with meetings of the Trust’s trustees; printing and mailing of shareholder reports, prospectuses, statements of additional information, other offering documents and supplements, proxy materials and other communications to shareholders; securities pricing data and expenses in connection with electronic filings with the SEC. |
| 3. | Documents. The Trust has furnished or will furnish, upon request, ALPS with copies of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement, advisory agreement, custodian agreement, transfer agency agreement, administration agreement, current prospectus, statement of additional information, periodic Fund reports and all forms relating to any |
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| plan, program or service offered by the Fund. The Trust shall furnish, within a reasonable time period, to ALPS a copy of any amendment or supplement to any of the above-mentioned documents. Upon request, the Trust shall furnish promptly to ALPS any additional documents necessary or advisable to perform its functions hereunder. As used in this Agreement, the terms “registration statement,” “prospectus” and “statement of additional information” shall mean any registration statement, prospectus and statement of additional information filed by the Trust on behalf of a Fund with the SEC and any amendments and supplements thereto that are filed with the SEC. |
| 4. | Insurance. ALPS agrees to maintain fidelity bond and liability insurance coverages which are, in scope and amount, consistent with coverages customary for distribution activities relating to the Funds. ALPS shall notify the Trust upon receipt of any notice of material, adverse change in the terms or provisions of its insurance coverage. Such notification shall include the date of change and the reason or reasons therefore. ALPS shall notify the Trust of any material claims against it, whether or not covered by insurance, and shall notify the Trust from time to time as may be appropriate of the total outstanding claims made by it under its insurance coverage. |
| 5. | Right to Receive Advice. |
| (a) | Advice From the Trust and Fund Service Providers. If ALPS is in doubt as to any action it should or should not take, ALPS may request directions, advice or instructions from the Trust or, as applicable, a Fund’s investment adviser, custodian or other service providers. |
| (b) | Advice of Counsel. If ALPS is in doubt as to any question of law pertaining to any action it should or should not take, ALPS may request advice, at its own expense, from counsel of its own choosing (who may be counsel for the Trust, a Fund’s investment adviser or ALPS, at the option of ALPS). |
| (c) | Conflicting Advice. In the event of a conflict between directions, advice or instructions ALPS receives from the Trust or any Fund service provider and the advice ALPS receives from counsel, ALPS may in its sole discretion rely upon and follow the advice of counsel with respect to questions of law. ALPS will provide the Trust with prior written notice of its intent to follow advice of counsel that is materially inconsistent with directions, advice or instructions from the Trust. Upon request, ALPS will provide the Trust with a copy of such advice of counsel. |
| 6. | Standard of Care; Limitation of Liability; Indemnification. |
| (a) | ALPS shall act in good faith and exercise commercially reasonable care and diligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. |
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| (b) | In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard by ALPS in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities set forth in this Agreement, ALPS and its affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, agents and employees, shall not be liable for, and the Trust agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless such persons from, all taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims and liabilities (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements and liabilities arising under applicable federal and state laws) arising directly or indirectly from the following: |
| (i) | the inaccuracy of factual information furnished to ALPS by the Trust or a Fund’s investment adviser, custodians or other service providers; |
| (ii) | any untrue statement of a material fact or omission of a material fact required to be stated or necessary in order to make the statements not misleading under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act or any other statute or the common law in any registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information, shareholder report or other information filed or made public by the Trust (as amended from time to time), except to the extent the statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Trust by or on behalf of ALPS; |
| (iii) | losses, delays, failure, errors, interruption or loss of data occurring directly or indirectly by reason of circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation, acts of God, action or inaction of civil or military authority, war, terrorism, riot, fire, flood, sabotage, labor disputes, elements of nature or non-performance by a third party; |
| (iv) | ALPS’s reliance on any instruction, direction, notice, instrument or other information that ALPS reasonably believes to be genuine and believes to be furnished by the Trust, a Fund’s investment adviser, custodians or other service providers; |
| (vi) | loss of data or service interruptions caused by equipment failure; or |
| (vi) | any other action or omission to act which ALPS takes in connection with the provision of services to the Trust on behalf of the Funds. |
| (c) | ALPS shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, a Fund’s investment adviser and their respective officers, directors, agents and employees from and against any and all taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims and liabilities (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements and liabilities arising under applicable federal and state laws) arising directly or indirectly from ALPS’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities set forth in this Agreement. |
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| (d) | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither party shall be liable under this Agreement to the other party hereto for any punitive, consequential, special or indirect losses or damages. Any indemnification payable by a party to this Agreement shall be net of insurance maintained by the indemnified party as of the time the claim giving rise to indemnity hereunder is alleged to have arisen to the extent it covers such claim. |
| 7. | Activities of ALPS. The services of ALPS under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive, and ALPS shall be free to render similar services to others. The Trust recognizes that from time to time directors, officers and employees of ALPS may serve as directors, officers and employees of other corporations or businesses (including other investment companies) and that such other corporations and businesses may include ALPS as part of their name and that ALPS or its affiliates may enter into distribution agreements or other agreements with such other corporations and businesses. |
| 8. | Accounts and Records. The accounts and records maintained by ALPS shall be the property of the Trust. ALPS shall prepare, maintain and preserve such accounts and records as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations. ALPS shall surrender such accounts and records to the Trust, in the form in which such accounts and records have been maintained or preserved, promptly upon receipt of instructions from the Trust. The Trust shall have access to such accounts and records at all times during ALPS’s normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Trust, copies of any such books and records shall be provided by ALPS to the Trust at the Trust’s expense. ALPS shall assist the Trust, a Fund’s independent auditors or, upon approval of the Trust, any regulatory body, in any requested review of the Fund’s accounts and records, and reports by ALPS or its independent accountants concerning its accounting system and internal auditing controls will be open to such entities for audit or inspection upon reasonable request. ALPS or its undersigned as defined by Rule 17a-4 of the 1934 Act, shall have access to all electronic communications, including password access to the system storing the electronic communications, of registered representatives of ALPS that are associated with the Fund and are required to be maintained under Rule 17a-4 of the 1934 Act and FINRA Rules 3110 and 3010. Electronic storage media maintained by the Trust will comply with Rule 17a-4 of the 1934 Act. |
| 9. | Confidential and Proprietary Information. ALPS agrees that it will, on behalf of itself and its officers and employees, treat all transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and all records and information relative to a Fund and its current and former shareholders and other information germane thereto, as confidential and as proprietary information of the Fund and not to use, sell, transfer or divulge such information or records to any person for any purpose other than performance of its duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing from the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Approval may not be withheld where ALPS may be exposed to civil, regulatory or criminal proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when requested by the Trust. When |
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| requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, ALPS shall use reasonable commercial efforts to request confidential treatment of such information. ALPS shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of records and information relating to a Fund and its current and former shareholders. |
| 10. | Compliance with Rules and Regulations. ALPS shall comply (and to the extent ALPS takes or is required to take action on behalf of the Trust/Fund hereunder shall cause the Trust/Fund to comply) with all applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders and code of ethics, as well as all investment restrictions, policies and procedures adopted by the Trust on behalf of a Fund of which ALPS has knowledge (it being understood that ALPS is deemed to have knowledge of all investment restrictions, policies or procedures set out in the Trust’s public filings on behalf of a Fund or otherwise provided to ALPS). Except as set out in this Agreement, ALPS assumes no responsibility for such compliance by the Trust/Fund. ALPS shall maintain at all times a program reasonably designed to prevent violations of the federal securities laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) with respect to the services provided and shall provide to the Trust a certification to such effect no less than annually or as otherwise reasonably requested by the Trust. ALPS shall make available its compliance personnel and shall provide at its own expense summaries and other relevant materials relating to such program as reasonably requested by the Trust. |
| 11. | Representations and Warranties of ALPS. ALPS represents and warrants to the Trust that: |
| (a) | It is duly organized and existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado. |
| (b) | It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of Incorporation and By-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
| (c) | All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
| (d) | It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement in accordance with industry standards. |
| (e) | ALPS has conducted a review of its supervisory controls system and has made available to the Trust the most current report of such review and any updates thereto. Every time ALPS conducts a review of its supervisory control system it will make available to the Trust for inspection a report of such review and any updates thereto. ALPS shall immediately notify the Trust of any changes in how it conducts its business that would materially change the results of its most recent |
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| review of its supervisory controls system and any other changes to ALPS’s business that would affect the business of a Fund or the Fund’s investment adviser. |
| 12. | Representations and Warranties of the Trust. The Trust represents and warrants to ALPS that: |
| (a) | It is a trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is registered with the SEC as an open-end non-diversified management investment company. |
| (b) | It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement and By-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
| (c) | The Board of Trustees of the Trust has duly authorized it to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
| (d) | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Trust agrees not to make any modifications to its registration statement or adopt any policies which would affect materially the obligations or responsibilities of ALPS hereunder without the prior written approval or ALPS, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. |
| 13. | Duties of the Trust. |
| (a) | ALPS and the Trust shall regularly consult with each other regarding ALPS’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement. In connection therewith, the Trust shall submit to ALPS at a reasonable time in advance of filing with the SEC reasonably final copies of any amended or supplemented registration statement (including exhibits) under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Trust’s right to file at any time such amendments to any registration statement and/or supplements to any prospectus or statement of additional information, of whatever character, as the Trust may deem advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional. |
| (b) | The Trust on behalf of the Fund agrees to issue Creation Unit aggregations of shares of the Fund and to request The Depository Trust Company to record on its books the ownership of such shares in accordance with the book-entry system procedures described in the prospectus in such amounts as ALPS has requested through the transfer agent in writing or other means of data transmission, as promptly as practicable after receipt by the Fund of the requisite deposit securities and cash component (together with any fees) and acceptance of such order, upon the terms described in the Registration Statement. The Fund may reject any order for Creation Units or stop all receipts of such orders at any time upon reasonable notice to ALPS, in accordance with the provisions of the Prospectus. |
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| (c) | The Trust on behalf of the Fund agrees that it will take all action necessary to register an indefinite number of shares under the 1933 Act. The Trust shall make available to ALPS, at ALPS’s expense, such number of copies of its prospectus, statement of additional information and periodic reports as ALPS may reasonably request. The Trust will furnish to ALPS copies of all information, financial statements and other papers, which ALPS may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of the Creation Units. |
| (d) | The Trust agrees to execute any and all documents and to furnish any and all information and otherwise to take all actions that may be reasonably necessary in connection with the qualification of the shares for sale in such states as ALPS may designate. The Trust will keep ALPS informed of the jurisdictions in which Creation Units of a Fund are authorized for sale and shall promptly notify ALPS of any change in this information. |
| 14. | Anti-Money Laundering. ALPS agrees to maintain an anti-money laundering program in compliance with Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA Patriot Act”) and all applicable laws and regulations promulgated thereunder. ALPS confirms that, as soon as possible, following the request from the Trust, ALPS will supply the Trust with copies of ALPS’s anti-money laundering policy and procedures and such other relevant certifications and representations regarding such policy and procedures as the Trust may reasonably request from time to time. ALPS will provide, to the Trust, any Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) request received pursuant to USA Patriot Act Section 314(a), which the Trust may then provide to its transfer agent. |
| 16. | Business Interruption Plan. ALPS shall maintain in effect a business interruption plan and enter into any agreements necessary with appropriate parties making reasonable provisions for emergency use of electronic data processing equipment customary in the industry. In the event of equipment failures, ALPS shall, at no additional expense to the Trust, take commercially reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions. |
| 17. | The Trust shall not use the name of ALPS, or any of its affiliates, in any prospectus or statement of additional information, sales literature and other material relating to the Trust/Fund in any manner without the prior written consent of ALPS (which shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that ALPS hereby approves all lawful uses of the names of ALPS and its affiliates in the prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund and in all other materials which merely refer in accurate terms to its appointment hereunder or which are required by the SEC, FINRA or any state securities authority. |
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| 18. | Neither ALPS nor any of its affiliates shall use the name of the Trust/Fund in any publicly disseminated materials, including sales literature, in any manner without the prior consent of the Trust/Fund (which shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that the Trust hereby approves all lawful uses of its name in any required regulatory filing of ALPS which merely refer in accurate terms to the appointment of ALPS hereunder or which are required by the SEC, FINRA or any state securities authority. |
| 19. | Duration and Termination of this Agreement. |
| (a) | Initial Term. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above (the “Start Date”) and shall continue thereafter throughout the period that ends two (2) years after the Start Date (the “Initial Term”). |
| (b) | Renewal Term. If not sooner terminated, this Agreement shall renew at the end of the Initial Term and shall thereafter continue for successive annual periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Fund’s Board of Trustees or (ii) by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant portfolio of the Fund, provided that in either event the continuance is also approved by the majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of any party to this Agreement by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. If a plan under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act is in effect, continuance of the plan and this Agreement must be approved at least annually by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) and have no financial interest in the operation of such plan or in any agreements related to such plan, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. |
| (c) | This Agreement is terminable without penalty on sixty (60) days’ written notice by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant portfolio, or by ALPS. |
| (d) | Deliveries Upon Termination. Upon termination of this Agreement, ALPS agrees to cooperate in the orderly transfer of distribution duties and shall deliver to the Trust or as otherwise directed by the Trust (at the expense of the Trust) all records and other documents made or accumulated in the performance of its duties for the Fund hereunder. In the event ALPS gives notice of termination under this Agreement, it will continue to provide the services contemplated hereunder after such termination at the contractual rate for up to 120 days, provided that the Trust uses all reasonable commercial efforts to appoint such replacement on a timely basis. |
| 20. | Assignment. This Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Trust without the prior written consent of ALPS. |
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| 21. | Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado and the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. To the extent that the laws of the State of Colorado conflict with the 1940 Act or such rules, the latter shall control. |
| 22. | Names. The obligations of the Trust entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any director, shareholder, representative or agent thereof are made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the directors, shareholders, representatives or agents of the Trust personally, but bind only the property of the Trust, and all persons dealing with the Trust must look solely to the property of the Trust for the enforcement of any claims against a Fund. |
| 23. | Amendments to this Agreement. This Agreement may only be amended by the parties in writing. |
| 24. | Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed to have been given when received or when sent by telex or facsimile, and shall be given to the following addresses (or such other addresses as to which notice is given): |
To ALPS:
ALPS Distributors, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: General Counsel
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
To the Trust:
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, General Counsel
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
| 25. | Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. |
| 26. | Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that ALPS may embody in one or more separate documents its agreement, if any, with respect to delegated duties and oral instructions. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
| USCF ETF TRUST ON BEHALF OF FUNDS LISTED ON APPENDIX A | ||
| By: |
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ | |
| Name: |
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ | |
| Title: |
Trustee | |
| ALPS DISTRIBUTORS, INC. | ||
| By: |
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇’▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Name: |
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇’▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Title |
President | |
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APPENDIX A
LIST OF FUNDS (TICKER SYMBOLS)
Stock Split Index Fund (TOFR)
APPENDIX B
SERVICES
(a) The Trust grants to ALPS the exclusive right to receive all orders for purchases of Creation Units of each Fund from participating parties (“Authorized Participants”) which have entered into a participant agreement with ALPS and the transfer agent in accordance with the registration statement (“Participant Agreements”) and to transmit such orders to the Fund in accordance with the registration statement; provided, however, that nothing herein shall affect or limit the right and ability of the Fund to accept deposit securities and related cash components through or outside the clearing process, and as provided in and in accordance with the registration statement. The Trust acknowledges that ALPS shall not be obligated to accept any certain number of orders for Creation Units.
(b) ALPS agrees to act as agent of the Trust with respect to the continuous distribution of Creation Units of the Fund as set forth in the registration statement and in accordance with the provisions thereof. ALPS further agrees as follows: (a) ALPS shall enter into Participant Agreements among Authorized Participants, ALPS, and the transfer agent in accordance with the registration statement; (b) ALPS shall generate and transmit confirmations of Creation Unit purchase order acceptances to the purchaser; (c) ALPS shall deliver copies of the prospectus to purchasers of such Creation Units and upon request the statement of additional information; and (d) ALPS shall maintain telephonic, facsimile and/or access to direct computer communications links with the transfer agent.
(c) (i) ALPS agrees to use all reasonable efforts, consistent with its other business, to facilitate the purchase of Creation Units through Authorized Participants in accordance with the procedures set forth in the prospectus and the Participant Agreements.
(ii) ALPS shall, at its own expense, execute selected or soliciting dealer agreements with registered broker-dealers and other eligible entities providing for the purchase of Creation Units of shares of the Fund and related promotional activities, in the forms as approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Trust shall not furnish or cause to be furnished to any person or display or publish any information or materials relating to the Fund (including, without limitation, promotional materials and sales literature, advertisements, press releases, announcements, statements, posters, signs or other similar material), except such information and materials that have been approved in writing by ALPS. Furthermore, ALPS shall clear and file all advertising, sales, marketing and promotional materials of the Funds with FINRA.
(d) ALPS agrees to administer a Fund’s distribution plan on behalf of the Fund. ALPS shall, at its own expense, set up and maintain a system of recording and payments for fees and reimbursement of expenses disseminated pursuant to this Agreement and any other related agreements under the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plans and shall, pursuant to the 1940 Act, report such payment activity under the distribution plan to the Trust at least quarterly.
(e) All activities by ALPS and its agents and employees which are primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units shall comply with the registration statement, the instructions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and all applicable laws, rules and regulations including, without limitation, all rules and regulations made or adopted pursuant to the 1940 Act by the SEC or any securities association registered under the 1934 Act, including FINRA and Arca.
(g) Except as otherwise noted in the registration statement, the offering price for all Creation Units of shares will be the aggregate net asset value of the shares per Creation Unit of the Fund, as determined in the manner described in the registration statement.
(h) If and whenever the determination of net asset value is suspended and until such suspension is terminated, no further orders for Creation Units will be processed by ALPS except such unconditional orders as may have been placed with ALPS before it had knowledge of the suspension. In addition, the Fund reserves the right to suspend sales and ALPS’s authority to process orders for Creation Units on behalf of the Fund, upon due notice to ALPS, if, in the judgment of the Fund, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. Suspension will continue for such period as may be determined by the Fund.
(i) ALPS is not authorized by the Trust to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in the registration statement or prospectus or contained in shareholder reports or other material that may be prepared by or on behalf of the Fund for ALPS’s use.
(j) The Board of Trustees shall approve the form of any Soliciting Dealer Agreement to be entered into by ALPS.
(k) At the request of the Trust, ALPS shall enter into agreements, in the form specified by the Trust, with participants in the system for book-entry of The Depository Trust Company and the National Securities Clearing Corporation as described in the prospectus.
(l) ALPS shall ensure that all direct requests for prospectuses, statements of additional of information and periodic fund reports, as applicable, are fulfilled. In addition, ALPS shall arrange to provide the Arca (and any other national stock exchange on which the shares may be listed) with copies of prospectuses to be provided to purchasers in the secondary market. ALPS will generally make it known in the brokerage community that prospectuses and statements of additional information are available, including by (i) advising the Arca on behalf of its member firms of the same, (ii) making such disclosure in all marketing and advertising materials prepared and/or filed by ALPS with FINRA, and (iii) as may otherwise be required by the SEC.
(m) ALPS agrees to make available, at the Trust’s request, one or more members of its staff to attend Board of Trustees meetings of the Trust in order to provide information with regard to the ongoing distribution process and for such other purposes as may be requested by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
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(n) ALPS will review all sales and marketing materials for compliance with applicable laws and conditions of any applicable exemptive order, and file such materials with FINRA when necessary or appropriate. All such sales and marketing materials must be approved, in writing, by ALPS prior to use.
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