ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.6
This
Advisory Agreement (“Agreement”)
is made and entered into as of the 11th day of December, 2009 (“Effective
Date”), by and among SummerHaven Investment Management, LLC (“SHIM”), a
Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business at 0000
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Plaza, Fourth Floor, Stamford, CT 06902, and United
States Commodity Funds LLC (“USCF”), a
Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business at 0000
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000.
WHEREAS, USCF desires to
retain SHIM to provide certain consulting services in connection with the
operation of TBD (the “Fund”)
that will be registered as a Delaware series trust and offer its units to the
public, which units will be traded on a national securities exchange;
and
WHEREAS, pursuant to a
Licensing Agreement with SHIM, dated December 11, 2009 (the “Licensing
Agreement”), USCF sublicensed from SHIM the use of certain names and
marks (“Service
Marks”), including that of a commodity index that is owned, calculated,
maintained and published by SummerHaven Index Management, LLC (“SHIX”) and
licensed to SHIM (the “Index”),
as set forth in Exhibit A (as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time to
incorporate new or additional Service Marks or Indices), and the use of the
Index, in each case in connection with the Fund, the units of which will be
traded on a national securities exchange (the date on which the Fund commences
trading, the “Launch
Date”; and
WHEREAS, SHIM is willing to
provide such advisory services under the terms of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the foregoing, and in reliance upon the mutual promises
contained in this Agreement, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree
as follows:
1.
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CONSULTING
SERVICES
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During
the term of this Agreement, SHIM shall provide to USCF and the Fund, as
applicable, advisory services with respect to the Index, including but not
limited to general consultation regarding the calculation and maintenance of the
Index, anticipated changes to the Index and the nature of the Index’s current or
anticipated component securities. In addition, SHIM shall (a) provide
general consultation regarding the markets for and trading in commodity
interests, (b) provide such information and data as may reasonably be requested
by USCF regarding the principals of SHIM and the Index for inclusion in
regulatory filings and marketing materials for the Fund, and (c) make reasonably
available upon adequate notice speakers for Fund marketing events and persons to
be interviewed by the press who can describe the Index and its calculation and
maintenance (the “Services”). SHIM
will have discretionary authority with respect to the purchase, sale or holding
of commodity interests by the Fund and will provide advice regarding whether
specific commodity interests should be purchased by the Fund in accordance with
the procedures to be agreed to between SHIM and USCF. SHIM represents
that its other engagements or activities are not of a nature or magnitude so as
to have a material adverse effect on its ability to provide Services under this
Article 1.
USCF
acknowledges and agrees that SHIM and its principals are required to devote only
such time as may be reasonably required with respect to the
Services. Other than as set forth below, SHIM and its affiliates,
including their respective partners, directors, members, stockholders, officers
and employees (together, “SHIM’s
Affiliates”) will not be precluded from engaging directly or indirectly
in any other business or activity, including, but not limited to, exercising
investment advisory and management responsibility and buying, selling or
otherwise dealing with securities, commodities or other investments for their
own accounts, for the accounts of family members, for the accounts of other
funds and for the accounts of individual and institutional
clients. SHIM and its affiliates may also serve as the general
partner or investment manager of other funds, client accounts and proprietary
accounts (collectively, its “Clients”). Other than set forth below,
SHIM and its affiliates will perform, among other things, investment advisory
and management services for Clients other than the Fund and in that connection
to give advice and take action in the performance of their duties to those
Clients which may differ from the timing and nature of action taken with respect
to the Fund. The Investment Manager will make all investment
decisions relating to the Fund and its other Clients in a manner consistent with
its fiduciary obligations to act in good faith in what it considers to be the
Fund’s and its Client’s best interests. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, SHIM and SHIM’s Affiliates shall not engage in management,
investment, or commodity trading activities, as the general partner, managing
member, investment adviser, commodity trading advisor or otherwise for a
commodity exchange-traded fund (as defined below) that bases its return by
reference to the Index or another Substantially Similar Commodity Index (as
defined below), for as long as they are parties to this Agreement, and for three
(3) months following the termination of this Agreement but only if a termination
has occurred by SHIM under Section 3(a) or 3(d)(ii) hereto or by USCF under
Section 3(b) hereto. “Substantially Similar Commodity Index” shall
mean an index with all of the following criteria: (i) it is created by SHIX or
any of its affiliates; (ii) it is broadly diversified; (iii) it is long only;
(iv) the index components are selected from a group of at least 22 commodities;
and (v) the components of the index at all times consist of at least 10
commodities. “Commodity exchange-traded fund” shall mean a fund open
to the public and traded on a U.S. or foreign securities exchange whose net
asset value is calculated daily and which trades throughout the trading day, and
which does not invest in securities.
2.
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FEES
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For the
Services provided hereunder, USCF and/or the Fund will pay SHIM an advisory fee
as set forth in the fee schedule attached as Exhibit B to this
Agreement.
3.
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TERM
AND TERMINATION
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(a) This
Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and remain in effect for a period
of two (2) years therefrom (“Initial
Term”), unless earlier terminated by either USCF or SHIM in accordance
with this Article 3. After the Initial Term, this Agreement shall
continue for successive one-year periods unless terminated by either such party
as of the end of an annual period by providing at least ninety (90) days written
notice of such termination prior to the end of the annual period,
except as otherwise provided in this Article 3.
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(b) If
a party (the “Breaching
Party”) is in material breach of any terms of this Agreement, either USCF
or SHIM, as the case may be, may so notify the Breaching Party in writing,
specifying the nature of the breach in reasonable detail. The
Breaching Party shall have thirty (30) calendar days from delivery of that
notice to correct the breach; provided that if the breach is not cured within
the identified time period, the other party may terminate this Agreement at any
time after the thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Breaching Party with
another thirty (30) days’ written notice. Either USCF or SHIM may
terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to such other
party if SHIM or USCF, as the case may be, is dissolved or its existence is
terminated; becomes insolvent or bankrupt or admits in writing its inability to
pay its debts as they mature, or makes an assignment for the benefit of
creditors; makes a voluntary assignment or transfer of all or substantially all
of its property; has a custodian, trustee, or receiver appointed for it, or for
all or substantially all of its property; has bankruptcy, reorganization,
arrangements, insolvency or liquidation proceedings, or other proceedings for
relief under any bankruptcy or similar law for the relief of debtors, instituted
by or against it, and, if instituted against it, any of the foregoing is allowed
or consented to by the other party or is not dismissed within
sixty (60) days after such institution.
(c) USCF
may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to SHIM if (i) USCF is informed
of the final adoption of any legislation or regulation that materially impairs
USCF’s ability to market, promote, or issue, redeem or list on an exchange,
shares of the Fund, (ii) any material litigation or regulatory proceeding
regarding the Fund is commenced which requires that the Fund cease existence,
and no successor Fund is commenced with similar investment
objectives, (iii) USCF elects to terminate the public offering or
other distribution of the Fund and the Fund is dissolved, (iv) both K. Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx and Xxxx X. Xxxxxx cease to serve as a partner or senior advisor to
SHIM, or (v) there is a Change of Control of SHIM. “Change of Control
of SHIM” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the sale,
lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related
transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of SHIM, or (2) the sale,
lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition by the members of SHIM (as of
the Effective Date) of more than 50% of the outstanding equity of
SHIM.
(d) SHIM
may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to USCF if (i) SHIM is informed
of the final adoption of any legislation or regulation that materially impairs
SHIM’s ability to perform Services under this Agreement, (ii) SHIM determines in
its sole reasonable discretion that it and/or its affiliates could imminently
become subject to position limits in one or more commodities that could
reasonably expect to impair their ability to perform advisory, management or
other services to an of SHIM’s or any affiliate’s clients, (iii) any material
litigation or regulatory proceeding regarding the Fund is commenced, or (iv)
there is a Change of Control of USCF. “Change of Control
of USCF” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the sale,
lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related
transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of USCF, or (2) the sale,
lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition by the members of USCF (as of
the Effective Date) of more than 50% of the outstanding equity of
USCF.
(e) No
fees under Article 2 of this Agreement will be payable to SHIM by USCF after
termination of this Agreement as set forth in this Article 3 except any
outstanding fees. The fee for the month in which this Agreement is
terminated will be pro rated based on the number of days in the month during
which the Agreement was in effect.
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4.
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INDEMNIFICATION
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(a) USCF shall indemnify,
defend and hold SHIM and its affiliates, members, directors, officers,
shareholders, employees, representatives, agents, attorneys, successors and
assigns (collectively, the “SHIM Indemnified
Parties”)
harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, obligations,
judgments, causes of action, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’
fees) (collectively, “Losses”)
arising out of any material breach of this Agreement by USCF or any disclosure
in the Registration Statement of the Fund (except disclosure about SHIM or the
Index that has been specifically approved by SHIM), and out of USCF’s use of the
Index or the Service Marks (including, without limitation, in connection with
the marketing, promotion and sale of the Fund and its units) other than a case
in which SHIM is obligated to indemnify USCF under Article 4(b) and except to
the extent Losses are the result of any grossly negligent act or omission of a
SHIM Indemnified Party.
(b) SHIM shall indemnify,
defend and hold USCF and its affiliates, members, directors, officers,
shareholders, employees, representatives, agents, attorneys, successors and
assigns (collectively, the “USCF Indemnified
Parties”)
harmless from and against any and all Losses arising out of (i) any material
breach of this Agreement by SHIM, (ii) any disclosure in the Registration
Statement of the Fund about SHIM or the Index that has been specifically
approved by SHIM, or (iii) the gross negligence, recklessness or willful
misconduct of SHIM in providing Services under this Agreement.
(c)
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, in no event shall either USCF or
SHIM be liable for any indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages,
even if the party or an authorized representative thereof has been advised of
the possibility of such damages. The federal securities laws impose
liabilities under certain circumstances on persons who act in good faith; thus,
nothing in this Agreement shall in any way constitute a waiver or limitation on
any rights which a party may have under the federal securities
laws.
(d)
Promptly after receipt by any Indemnified Party of notice of the commencement of
any action, the Indemnified Party shall, if indemnification is to be sought
against the other party (the “Indemnifying
Party”) under this Article 4, notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of
the commencement thereof, but the omission to notify the Indemnifying Party
shall relieve the Indemnifying Party from liability hereunder only to the extent
that such omission results in the forfeiture by the Indemnifying Party of rights
or defenses with respect to such action. In any action or proceeding,
following provision of proper notice by the Indemnified Party of the existence
of such action, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to participate in any
such action and to assume the defense thereof, with counsel of its choice, and
after notice from the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party of its
election to assume the defense of the action, the Indemnifying Party shall not
be liable to such Indemnified Party hereunder for any attorneys’ fees
subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified party
shall cooperate in the defense of settlement of claims so
assumed. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable hereunder for the
settlement by the Indemnified Party for any claim or demand unless it has
previously approved the settlement or it has been notified of such claim or
demand and has failed to provide a defense in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
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5.
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REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
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(a) Each
party represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to enter into
and perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) USCF
represents and warrants that: (i) both USCF and the Fund shall not commit any
material violation of any applicable law or regulation, including but not
limited to banking, commodities and securities laws, and (ii) it will use its
best efforts to obtain exemptions from position limits with respect to the Index
and the Fund.
(c) SHIM
represents and warrants that both SHIM and SHIX shall not commit any material
violation of any applicable law or regulation, including but not limited to
banking, commodities and securities laws.
6.
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CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION
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(a) By virtue of this
Agreement, either USCF or SHIM may have access to information that is
confidential to the other party including, without limitation, all business,
technical, financial, customer and/or any other proprietary information of a
party, products, processes, tools, services, technical knowledge and any other
information and/or materials clearly marked as confidential or information
identified as confidential at the time of disclosure or summarized as
confidential in a written memorandum delivered to the recipient within thirty
(30) calendar days of disclosure, including, without limitation, all information
concerning the Index, whether or not so marked (collectively, “Confidential
Information”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a party’s
Confidential Information shall not include information which: (i) is or becomes
a part of the public domain through no act or omission of the other party; (ii)
was in the other party’s lawful possession prior to the disclosure and had not
been obtained by the other party either directly or indirectly from the
disclosing party; (iii) is lawfully disclosed to the other party by a third
party without restriction on disclosure; or (iv) is independently developed by
the other party without reference to any Confidential Information. In
addition, the obligations of this Article 6 do not apply to confidential
information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to a duly authorized
subpoena, court order, or government authority, provided that to the extent
permitted by law the party subject to same shall provide immediate written
notice to the other party upon receipt of subpoena, order, or other disclosure
requirement prior to such disclosure and allow such other party the opportunity
to intervene in the action in order to attempt to enjoin such subpoena, order,
or other disclosure requirement. Such Confidential Information shall
remain confidential for all other purposes.
(b) USCF and SHIM agree to
secure and protect the Confidential Information of each other in a manner
consistent with the maintenance of the other party’s rights therein, using at
least as great a degree of care as each party uses to maintain the
confidentiality of its own confidential information of a similar nature, but in
no event using less than its reasonable efforts. Neither USCF nor
SHIM shall sell, transfer, publish, disclose, or otherwise make available any
portion of the Confidential Information of the other party to third parties,
except as necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement or as
expressly authorized in this Agreement. Each party represents that it
has, and agrees to maintain, an appropriate agreement with each third party who
may have access to Confidential Information sufficient to enable such party to
comply with all of the terms of this Agreement.
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(c) USCF
and SHIM agree that the unauthorized use by any party of the other party’s
Confidential Information will diminish the value of such Confidential
Information and will cause substantial and irreparable damage to the party whose
Confidential Information was improperly disclosed, and that the remedies
generally available at law may be inadequate. Accordingly, USCF and
SHIM agree that a breach of this Article 6 shall entitle SHIM (in the case of a
breach by USCF) or USCF (in the case of a breach by SHIM) to seek equitable
relief to protect its interest herein, including injunctive relief, as well as
money damages. The parties agree that the obligations under this
Article shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement.
(d) Each
party shall be free to use for itself and for others in any manner the general
knowledge, skill or experience acquired by it in connection with this
Agreement.
7.
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GENERAL
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(a) RIA; CTA. SHIM is
registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission and as a commodity trading advisor with the U.S. Commodity Futures
Trading Commission, and is a member of the National Futures
Association. SHIM has provided Part II of its current Form ADV to
USCF and will provide any revised Part II (or equivalent disclosure document)
within a reasonable time after the revisions are made.
(b) Binding Arbitration. Any controversy or
claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement for the breach hereof which
cannot be settled by the parties and does not request or require injunctive
relief, shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the
commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in
New York, NY, except to the extent inconsistent with the rules set forth
herein. The parties shall endeavor to appoint a single arbitrator,
and failing that, USCF and SHIM may each select one arbitrator with knowledge of
the types of Services provided for under this Agreement. Selection
shall be completed within twenty (20) days of the receipt of a demand for
arbitration. If either party fails to select an arbitrator within
such twenty (20) day period, the one selected shall act as sole
arbitrator. If two arbitrators have been selected, the two
arbitrators selected shall select a third within fifteen (15) days after their
selection. If they fail to do so, the third arbitrator shall be
selected by the AAA. The award of any arbitration shall be final,
conclusive and binding on the parties hereto. The arbitrators may
award any legal or equitable remedy. The arbitration award may
include an award of attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party. Judgment
upon any arbitration award may be entered and enforced in any court of competent
jurisdiction.
(c) Captions Not
Determinative. Titles and paragraph
headings herein are for convenient reference only and are not part of this
Agreement.
(d) Independent Contractors. USCF and SHIM are
independent contractors to one another. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to create a partnership, joint venture or agency relationship
between USCF, on the one hand, and SHIM, on the other hand.
(e) Force Majeure. No party shall be in
default or otherwise liable for any delay in or failure of its performance under
this Agreement where such delay or failure arises by reason of any act of God,
or any government or any governmental body, any act of war or terrorism, the
elements, strikes or labor disputes, or other similar or dissimilar cause beyond
the control of such party.
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(f) Notice. All notices, including
notices of address changes, required to be sent hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been given when mailed by registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid to the appropriate address below:
If
to SHIM:
SummerHaven
Investment Management, LLC
Soundview
Plaza
Fourth
Floor
0000 Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Telephone
No.: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier
No.: (000) 000-0000
If
to USCF:
United
States Commodity Funds LLC
0000
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telephone
No.: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier
No.: (000) 000-0000
(g) Severability. In
the event that any provision of this Agreement is held invalid by a court with
jurisdiction over the parties, such provision shall be deemed to be restated to
be enforceable, in a manner which reflects, as nearly as possible, the intent
and economic effect of the invalid provision in accordance with applicable
law. The remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect.
(h) Waiver. The waiver
by any party of any default or breach of this Agreement shall not constitute a
waiver of any other or subsequent default or breach.
(i) Modification. No
representation or promise hereafter made, nor any modification or amendment of
this Agreement, shall be binding unless in writing and executed by duly
authorized agents of all parties affected by the modification or
amendment.
(j) Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original,
but which together shall constitute one and the same document.
(k) Assignment. USCF may not assign
this Agreement or any of the rights or obligations granted hereunder without
SHIM’s prior
written consent, and SHIM may not assign this Agreement or any of the rights or
obligations granted hereunder (except to an affiliate under common
control) without USCF’s prior written consent.
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(l) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed solely and exclusively in accordance with the laws of
the State of New York, without reference to its conflicts of law
principles.
(m) Survival. The
terms of Articles 4 and 6 shall survive the expiration or termination of this
Agreement.
(n) Authority. The
person signing this Agreement on behalf of each party has been properly
authorized and empowered to execute agreements such as this Agreement on behalf
of such party.
(o) Entire
Agreement. This Agreement and any Exhibits constitute the
complete agreement between the parties and supersede all previous or
contemporaneous agreements, proposals, understandings, and representations,
written or oral, with respect to the subject matter addressed
herein.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties have entered into this Consulting Services Agreement, and intend to be
legally bound by it, as of the Effective Date.
SUMMERHAVEN
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
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Attest: | ||||
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx
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By |
/s/ Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx
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Partner
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UNITED STATES COMMODITY FUNDS LLC | ||||
Attest: | ||||
Xxxxxx Xxx
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By |
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxx
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Management
Director
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EXHIBIT
A
Index:
SummerHaven
Dynamic Commodity Index, as described in the final prospectus to be filed by the
Fund in its initial public offering or as otherwise agreed by USCF and
SHIM
Service
Marks:
SDCI
10
Exhibit
B
Fee
Schedule
USCF
and/or the Fund will pay a monthly advisory fee (the “Fee”) to SHIM equal to the
product of "A" minus "B", with that result multiplied by 0.5, minus "C",
where:
"A"
equals the amount of all management, advisory, or other fees currently
payable by the Fund to USCF during the measured monthly period as measured in
basis points, and,
"B"
equals the higher of either 10 basis points or 10 basis points plus
the amount, expressed in basis points, that USCF pays ALPS Fund Services for
distribution and marketing services that exceeds 2 basis points on an annualized
basis, and,
"C"
equals 6 basis points.
USCF
and/or the Fund will pay the advisory fee as a percentage of the average daily
assets of the Fund to SHIM, which shall be paid on a monthly
basis. The advisory fee for each month will be calculated as the sum
of daily calculated advisory fees according to the following
formula:
Daily
Advisory Fee = (Total Assets of the Fund x ((A-B) x .5) -
..C%, divided by 365.
On days
that the units of the Fund are not traded, the Total Assets for the respective
advisory fees will be those determined on the previous day on which the Fund’s
units were traded.
The Fee
shall be paid to SHIM within 5 business days of the end of each calendar
month.
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