SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT is entered into as
of the 21st day of May, 2024, between Franklin Ethereum Trust, a Delaware statutory trust organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (the “Trust”) on behalf of its series, Franklin Ethereum ETF, and Franklin Resources, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (the “Purchaser”).
THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
I. PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE SHARES
(1) SALE AND ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Trust agrees to sell to the
Purchaser, and the Purchaser agrees to purchase from the Trust, 4,000 shares of beneficial interest, representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in the net assets of the Trust (the “Shares”), at a price per Share of $25.00 for an aggregate purchase price of $100,000.
II. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE PURCHASER. The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to, and
covenants for the benefit of, the Trust that:
(1) PURCHASE ENTIRELY FOR OWN ACCOUNT. This Agreement is made by the Trust with the Purchaser in reliance upon the
Purchaser’s representation to the Trust, which by the Purchaser’s execution of this Agreement the Purchaser hereby confirms, that the Shares are being acquired for investment for the Purchaser’s own account, and not as a nominee or agent and not with
a view to the resale or distribution by the Purchaser of any of the Shares, and that the Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the Shares, in either case in violation of any securities
registration requirement under applicable law, but subject nevertheless, to any requirement of law that the disposition of its property shall at all times be within its control. By executing this Agreement, the Purchaser further represents that the
Purchaser does not have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any person to sell, transfer or grant participation to such person or to any third person, with respect to any of the Shares.
(2) INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE. The Purchaser acknowledges that it can bear the economic risk of the investment for an
indefinite period of time and has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters (and particularly in the business in which the Trust operates) as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in the Shares. The
Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).
(3) RESTRICTED SECURITIES. The Purchaser understands that the Shares are characterized as “restricted securities” under
the United States securities laws inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Trust in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under such laws and applicable regulations such Shares may be resold without registration under the 1933
Act only in certain circumstances. In this connection, the Purchaser represents that it understands the resale limitations imposed by the 1933 Act and is generally familiar with the existing resale limitations imposed by Rule 144 under the 1933 Act.
(4) LEGENDS. It is understood that the certificate evidencing the Shares, if any, may bear either or both of the
following legends:
(i) “These securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933. They may not be sold, offered for sale,
pledged or hypothecated in the absence of a registration statement in effect with respect to the Shares under such Act or an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to Franklin Holdings, LLC, the sponsor of Franklin Ethereum Trust, that such
registration is not required.”
(ii) Any legend required by the laws of any other applicable jurisdiction.
The Purchaser and the Trust agree that the legends contained in the paragraph above shall be removed at a holder’s request
when they are no longer necessary to ensure compliance with federal securities laws.
(5) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with
the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
FRANKLIN HOLDINGS, LLC in its capacity as sponsor of FRANKLIN ETHEREUM TRUST*
|
||
|
|
|
By:
|
___________________________________________ |
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxx Xxxx
|
|
Title:
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
||
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
|
||
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/_________________________________________
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Title:
|
* The persons are signing in their capacities as officers of the sponsor of the Trust.
[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement]