ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Introduction
On October 24, 2014, DB Commodity Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“DBCS”), DB U.S. Financial Markets Holding Corporation (“DBUSH”) and Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC (“Invesco”) entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”). DBCS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DBUSH. DBCS agreed to transfer and sell to Invesco all of DBCS’ interest in the PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund (the “Fund”), a separate series of PowerShares DB Multi-Sector Commodity Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized in seven separate series, including the sole and exclusive power to direct the business and affairs of the Trust and the Fund, as well as certain other assets of DBCS pertaining to the management of Trust and the Fund, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Agreement (the “Transaction”).
The Transaction was consummated on February 23, 2015 (the “Closing Date”). Invesco now serves as the managing owner (the “Managing Owner”), commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor of the Trust and the Fund, in replacement of DBCS (the “Predecessor Managing Owner”).
Organization
The Fund is a separate series of the Trust. The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized in seven separate series and was formed on August 3, 2006. The Predecessor Managing Owner seeded the Fund with a capital contribution of $1,000 in exchange for 40 General Shares of the Fund. The General Shares were sold to the Managing Owner by the Predecessor Managing Owner pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. The fiscal year end of the Fund is December 31st. The term of the Fund is perpetual (unless terminated earlier in certain circumstances) as provided for in the Fifth Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement of the Trust (the “Trust Agreement”).
The Fund offers common units of beneficial interest (the “Shares”) only to certain eligible financial institutions (the “Authorized Participants”) in one or more blocks of 200,000 Shares, called a Basket. The proceeds from the offering of Shares are invested in the Fund. The Fund commenced investment operations on January 3, 2007. The Fund commenced trading on the American Stock Exchange (which became the NYSE Alternext US LLC (the “NYSE Alternext”)) on January 5, 2007 and, as of November 25, 2008, is listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”).
As of the date of this Report, each of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., Newedge USA LLC, Virtu Financial Capital Markets LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Virtu Financial BD LLC, Knight Capital Americas LLC, Timber Hill LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC, Nomura Securities International Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, UBS Securities LLC, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Goldman Sachs Execution & Clearing, L.P. has executed a Participant Agreement and are the only Authorized Participants.
Fund Investment Overview
The Fund seeks to track the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the DBIQ Optimum Yield Precious Metals Index Excess Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY Precious Metals ER™”, or the “Index”) over time, plus the excess, if any, of the Fund’s interest income from its holdings of United States Treasury Obligations and other high credit quality short-term fixed income securities over the expenses of the Fund. The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the precious metals sector. The commodities comprising the Index are gold and silver (each an “Index Commodity”, and collectively, the “Index Commodities”).
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and/or commodity exchanges, as applicable, impose position limits on market participants trading in certain commodities included in the Index. The Index is comprised of futures contracts on each of the Index Commodities that expire in a specific month and trade on a specific exchange (the “Index Contracts”). If the Managing Owner determines in its commercially reasonable judgment that it has become impracticable or inefficient for any reason for the Fund to gain full or partial exposure to any Index Commodity by investing in a specific Index Contract, the Fund may invest in (i) a futures contract referencing the particular Index Commodity other than the Index Contract or, in the alternative, invest in (ii) other futures contracts not based on the particular Index Commodity ((i) and (ii) collectively, the “Alternative Futures Contracts”) if, in the commercially reasonable judgment of the Managing Owner, such Alternative Futures Contracts tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with such Index Commodity. Further, in the event the Fund invests in Alternative Futures Contracts as described above, that trade on a U.S. exchange, the CFTC and commodity exchanges may impose position limits on market participants trading in the Index Commodity. Please see http://www.invescopowershares.com with respect to the most recently available weighted composition of the Fund the composition of the Index on the Base Date.
The Fund does not borrow money to increase leverage. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Fund had $156,789,542 (or 100.00% of its total assets) and $183,319,612 (or 100.00% of its total assets), respectively, of its holdings of cash, United States Treasury Obligations and unrealized appreciation /depreciation on futures contracts on deposit with its Commodity Broker. Of this, $7,637,300 (or 4.87%) and $14,009,875 (or 7.6%) is required to be deposited to satisfy maintenance margin required by the Commodity Broker for the Fund’s open futures positions as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Fund has in the past invested in futures contracts with an aggregate notional value approximating the aggregate Index value, as opposed to the aggregate net asset value of the Fund. For additional information, please see the audited Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 for details of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
Effective as of the Closing Date, the Managing Owner, on behalf of the Fund, has appointed Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. to serve as the index sponsor (the “Index Sponsor”). (Prior to the Closing Date, the index sponsor was Deutsche Bank AG London.) The Index Sponsor calculates and publishes the daily index levels and the indicative intraday index levels. Additionally, the Index Sponsor also calculates the indicative value per Share of the Fund throughout each Business Day. The Index Sponsor may subcontract its services from time-to-time to one or more third parties.
The Managing Owner pays the Index Sponsor a licensing fee and an index services fee for performing its duties. These fees constitute a portion of the routine operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses and are paid from out of the Management Fee and are not charged to or reimbursed by the Fund.
Neither the Managing Owner nor any affiliate of the Managing Owner has any rights to influence the selection of the futures contracts underlying the Index. After the Closing Date, the Index Sponsor is not affiliated with the Fund or the Managing Owner. The Managing Owner has entered into a license agreement with the Index Sponsor to use the Index.
The Fund is not sponsored or endorsed by Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. or any subsidiary or affiliate of Deutsche Bank AG or Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (collectively, “Deutsche Bank”). The DBIQ Optimum Yield Precious Metals Index Excess Return™ (the “DB Index”) is the exclusive property of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. “DBIQ” is a service mark of Deutsche Bank AG and has been licensed for use for certain purposes by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. Neither Deutsche Bank nor any other party involved in, or related to, making or compiling the DB Index makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, concerning the DB Index, the Fund or the advisability of investing in securities generally. Neither Deutsche Bank nor any other party involved in, or related to, making or compiling the DB Index has any obligation to take the needs of the Managing Owner, or its clients into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the DB Index. Neither Deutsche Bank nor any other party involved in, or related to, making or compiling the DB Index is responsible for or has participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, quantities or valuation of the Fund. Neither Deutsche Bank nor any other party involved in, or related to, making or compiling the DB Index has any obligation or liability in connection with the administration or trading of the Fund.
NEITHER DEUTSCHE BANK NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN, OR RELATED TO, MAKING OR COMPILING THE DB INDEX, WARRANTS OR GUARANTEES THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE DB INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. NEITHER DEUTSCHE BANK NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN, OR RELATED TO, MAKING OR COMPILING THE DB INDEX, MAKES ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY INVESCO POWERSHARES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC FROM THE USE OF THE DB INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. NEITHER DEUTSCHE BANK NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN, OR RELATED TO, MAKING OR COMPILING THE DB INDEX, MAKES ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE DB INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL DEUTSCHE BANK OR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN, OR RELATED TO, MAKING OR COMPILING THE DB INDEX HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES OR LOSSES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY, THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN DEUTSCHE BANK AND INVESCO POWERSHARES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC.
No purchaser, seller or holder of the shares of this Fund, or any other person or entity, should use or refer to any Deutsche Bank trade name, trademark or service mark to sponsor, endorse, market or promote this Fund without first contacting Deutsche Bank to determine whether Deutsche Bank’s permission is required. Under no circumstances may any person or entity claim any affiliation with Deutsche Bank without the written permission of Deutsche Bank.
Index Composition
The Index is composed of notional amounts of each of the underlying Index Commodities. The notional amount of each Index Commodity included in the Index is intended to reflect the changes in market value of each such Index Commodity within the Index. The closing level of the Index is calculated on each business day by the Index Sponsor based on the closing price of the futures contracts for each of the underlying Index Commodities and the notional amounts of such Index Commodities.
The Index is rebalanced annually in November to ensure that each of the Index Commodities is weighted in the same proportion that such Index Commodities were weighted on December 2, 1988 (the “Base Date”). The Index has been calculated back to the Base Date. On the Base Date, the closing level was 100. The following table reflects the index base weights (the “Index Base Weights”) of each Index Commodity on the Base Date:
The composition of the Index may be adjusted in the event that the Index Sponsor is not able to calculate the closing prices of the Index Commodities.
The following table reflects the Fund weights of each Index Commodity or related futures contracts, as applicable, as of December 31, 2014:
The Index includes provisions for the replacement of futures contracts as they approach maturity. This replacement takes place over a period of time in order to lessen the impact on the market for the futures contracts being replaced. With respect to each Index Commodity, the Fund employs a rule-based approach when it “rolls” from one futures contract to another. The Index replaces the underlying futures contracts on an “optimum yield” basis.
Rather than select a new futures contract based on a predetermined schedule (e.g., monthly), each Index Commodity rolls to the futures contract which generates the best possible “implied roll yield.” The futures contract with a delivery month within the next thirteen months which generates the best possible implied roll yield will be included in the Index. As a result, the Fund is able to potentially maximize the roll benefits in backwardated markets and minimize the losses from rolling in contangoed markets for such Index Commodity.
In general, as a futures contract approaches its expiration date, its price will move towards the spot price in a contangoed market. Assuming the spot price does not change, this would result in the futures contract price decreasing and a negative implied roll yield. The opposite is true in a backwardated market. Rolling in a contangoed market will tend to cause a drag on an Index Commodity’s contribution to the Fund’s return while rolling in a backwardated market will tend to cause a push on an Index Commodity’s contribution to the Fund’s return.
The DBIQ Optimum Yield Precious Metals Index is calculated in USD on both an excess return (unfunded) and total return (funded) basis.
The futures contract price for each Index Commodity will be the exchange closing price for such Index Commodity on each weekday when banks in New York, New York are open (the “Index Business Days”). If a weekday is not an Exchange Business Day (as defined in the following sentence) but is an Index Business Day, the exchange closing price from the previous Index Business Day will be used for each Index Commodity. “Exchange Business Day” means, in respect of an Index Commodity, a day that is a trading day for such Index Commodity on the relevant exchange (unless either an Index disruption event or force majeure event has occurred).
On the first New York business day (the “Verification Date”) of each month, each Index Commodity futures contract will be tested in order to determine whether to continue including it in the Index. If the Index Commodity futures contract requires delivery of the underlying commodity in the next month, known as the Delivery Month, a new Index Commodity futures contract will be selected for inclusion in the Index. For example, if the first New York business day is May 1, 2015, and the Delivery Month of the Index Commodity futures contract currently in such Index is June 2015, a new Index Commodity futures contract with a later Delivery Month will be selected.
For each underlying Index Commodity of the Index, the new Index Commodity futures contract selected will be the Index Commodity futures contract with the best possible “implied roll yield” based on the closing price for each eligible Index Commodity futures contract. Eligible Index Commodity futures contracts are any Index Commodity futures contracts having a Delivery Month (i) no sooner than the month after the Delivery Month of the Index Commodity futures contract currently in such Index, and (ii) no later than the 13th month after the Verification Date. For example, if the first New York business day is May 1, 2015 and the Delivery
Month of an Index Commodity futures contract currently in the Index is June 2015, the Delivery Month of an eligible new Index Commodity futures contract must be between July 2015 and May 2016. The implied roll yield is then calculated and the futures contract on the Index Commodity with the best possible implied roll yield is then selected. If two futures contracts have the same implied roll yield, the futures contract with the minimum number of months prior to the Delivery Month is selected.
After the selection of the replacement futures contract, the monthly roll for each Index Commodity subject to a roll in that particular month unwinds the old futures contract and enters a position in the new futures contract. This takes place between the 2nd and 6th Index Business Day of the month.
On each day during the roll period, new notional holdings are calculated. The calculations for the futures contracts on the old Index Commodities that are leaving the Index and the futures contracts on the new Index Commodities are then calculated.
On all days that are not monthly index roll days, the notional holdings of each Index Commodity future remains constant.
The Index is re-weighted on an annual basis on the 6th Index Business Day of each November.
The calculation of the Index is expressed as the weighted average return of the Index Commodities.
The Trustee
Under the Trust Agreement, Wilmington Trust Company, the Trustee of the Fund, has delegated to the Managing Owner the exclusive management and control of all aspects of the business of the Trust and the Fund. The Trustee will have no duty or liability to supervise or monitor the performance of the Managing Owner, nor will the Trustee have any liability for the acts or omissions of the Managing Owner. The Trustee is compensated by the Managing Owner. Under the Trust Agreement, the Managing Owner, from the assets of the Fund, will indemnify the Trustee for any liability or expense relating to the ongoing operations and termination of the Fund incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Trustee.
The Managing Owner
The Managing Owner was formed on February 7, 2003. The Managing Owner is an affiliate of Invesco Ltd. The Managing Owner was formed to be the managing owner of investment vehicles such as exchange-traded funds and has been managing non-commodity futures based exchange-traded funds since 2003 and a commodity futures based exchange-traded fund since 2014. The Managing Owner serves as the commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor of the Trust and the Fund. The Managing Owner is registered as a commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor with the CFTC and is a member of the National Futures Association (the “NFA”). As a registered commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor, with respect to the Fund, the Managing Owner must comply with various regulatory requirements under the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEAct”) and the rules and regulations of the CFTC and the NFA, including investor protection requirements, antifraud prohibitions, disclosure requirements, and reporting and recordkeeping requirements. The Managing Owner also is subject to periodic inspections and audits by the CFTC and NFA.
The Managing Owner has served as the managing owner of the Trust and the Fund since the Closing Date on February 23, 2015. The Predecessor Managing Owner served as the managing owner of the Trust and the Fund prior to the Closing Date.
The Managing Owner’s main business offices are located at 3500 Lacey Road, Suite 700, Downers Grove, IL 60515, and its telephone number is (800) 983-0903.
The Fund pays the Managing Owner a management fee (the “Management Fee”) monthly in arrears, in an amount equal to 0.75% per annum of the daily net asset value of the Fund. The Management Fee is paid in consideration of the Managing Owner’s commodity futures trading advisory services. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of the reporting period of this Form 10-K and up to the Closing Date, all fees payable to the Managing Owner were paid to DBCS.
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Fund will indemnify the Managing Owner against any losses, judgments, liabilities, expenses and amounts paid in settlement of any claims sustained by it in connection with its activities on behalf of the Fund incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct.
The Commodity Broker
Effective as of the Closing Date, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, serves as the Fund’s clearing broker (the “Commodity Broker”). Prior to the Closing Date, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (“DBSI”) served as the commodity broker (the “Predecessor Commodity Broker”). For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of the reporting period of this Form 10-K and up to the Closing Date, all fees payable to the Commodity Broker were paid to DBSI.
In its capacity as clearing broker, the Commodity Broker executes and clears each of the Fund’s futures transactions and performs certain administrative and custodial services for the Fund. As custodian of the Fund’s assets, the Commodity Broker is responsible, among other things, for providing periodic accountings of all dealings and actions taken by the Trust on behalf of the Fund during the reporting period, together with an accounting of all securities, cash or other indebtedness or obligations held by it or its nominees for or on behalf of the Fund.
A variety of executing brokers execute futures transactions on behalf of the Fund. Such executing brokers “give-up”, or transfer for clearing, all such transactions to the Commodity Broker. The Commodity Broker is registered with the CFTC as a futures commission merchant and is a member of the NFA in such capacity.
The Fund pays to the Commodity Broker all brokerage commissions, including applicable exchange fees, NFA fees, give-up fees, pit brokerage fees and other transaction related fees and expenses charged in connection with trading activities. The Commodity Broker’s brokerage commissions and trading fees are determined on a contract-by-contract basis. Brokerage commissions and fees in any future fiscal year or any part of any future fiscal year may be greater. On average, total charges paid to the Commodity Broker were less than $10.00 per round-turn trade1 for the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
The Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent
The Bank of New York Mellon is the administrator (the “Administrator”) of the Fund and has entered into an Administration Agreement in connection therewith. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as custodian (the “Custodian”) of the Fund and has entered into a Global Custody Agreement (the “Custody Agreement”) in connection therewith. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) of the Fund and has entered into a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement in connection therewith.
The Bank of New York Mellon, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York with trust powers, has an office at 2 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, New York 11217. The Bank of New York Mellon is subject to supervision by the New York State Banking Department and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator performs or supervises the performance of services necessary for the operation and administration of the Fund (other than making investment decisions), including receiving and processing orders from Authorized Participants to create and redeem Baskets, net asset value calculations, accounting and other fund administrative services. The Administrator retains certain financial books and records, including: Basket creation and redemption books and records, fund accounting records, ledgers with respect to assets, liabilities, capital, income and expenses, the registrar, transfer journals and related details, and trading and related documents received from futures commission merchants.
The Administration Agreement is continuously in effect unless terminated on at least 90 days’ prior written notice by either party to the other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may terminate the Administration Agreement upon 30 days’ prior written notice if the Fund has materially failed to perform its obligations under the Administration Agreement.
The Administration Agreement provides for the exculpation and indemnification of the Administrator from and against any costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims (other than those resulting from the Administrator’s own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct) which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrator in performing its obligations or duties under the Administration Agreement.
The Administrator’s monthly fees are paid on behalf of the Fund by the Managing Owner out of the Management Fee.
The Administrator and any of its affiliates may from time-to-time purchase or sell Shares for their own account, as agent for their customers and for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
The Administrator receives a transaction processing fee in connection with orders from Authorized Participants to create or redeem Baskets in the amount of $500 per order. These transaction processing fees are paid directly by the Authorized Participants and not by the Fund.
The Distributor
ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) provides certain distribution services to the Fund. Pursuant to the Distribution Services Agreement among the Managing Owner, in its capacity as managing owner of the Fund, the Fund and the Distributor, the Distributor assists the Managing Owner and the Administrator with certain functions and duties relating to distribution and marketing services to the Fund including reviewing and approving marketing materials.
The Distribution Services Agreement is terminable without penalty on sixty days’ written notice by the Managing Owner or by the Distributor. The Distribution Services Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
A round-turn trade is a completed transaction involving both a purchase and a liquidating sale, or a sale followed by a covering purchase.
Pursuant to the Distribution Services Agreement, the Fund will indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising by reason of any person acquiring any Shares, based upon the ground that the registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information, shareholder reports or other information filed or made public by the Fund (as from time-to-time amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary in order to make the statements not misleading under the 1933 Act or any other statute or the common law.
Index Sponsor
Effective as of the Closing Date, the Managing Owner, on behalf of the Fund, has appointed Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. to serve as the index sponsor (the “Index Sponsor”). (Prior to the Closing Date, the index sponsor was Deutsche Bank AG London.) The Index Sponsor calculates and publishes the daily index levels and the indicative intraday index levels. Additionally, the Index Sponsor also calculates the indicative value per Share of the Fund throughout each Business Day.
The Managing Owner pays the Index Sponsor a licensing fee and an index services fee for performing its duties.
Marketing Agent
Effective as of the Closing Date, the Managing Owner, on behalf of the Fund, has appointed Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (the “Marketing Agent”) to assist the Managing Owner by providing support to educate institutional investors about the Deutsche Bank indices and to complete governmental or institutional due diligence questionnaires or requests for proposals related to the Deutsche Bank indices. The Managing Owner pays the Marketing Agent a marketing services fee.
The Marketing Agent will not open or maintain customer accounts or handle orders for the Fund. The Marketing Agent has no responsibility for the performance of the Fund or the decisions made or actions taken by the Managing Owner.
Tax Reporting
The Fund has retained the services of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to assist with certain tax reporting requirements of the Fund and its Shareholders.
Regulation
Futures exchanges in the United States are subject to regulation under the CEAct by the CFTC, the governmental agency having responsibility for regulation of futures exchanges and trading on those exchanges. No U.S. governmental agency regulates the over-the-counter (the “OTC”) foreign exchange markets.
The CEAct and the CFTC also regulate the activities of “commodity trading advisors” and “commodity pool operators” and the CFTC has adopted regulations with respect to certain of such persons’ activities. Pursuant to its authority, the CFTC requires a commodity pool operator (such as the Managing Owner) to keep accurate, current and orderly records with respect to each pool it operates. The CFTC may suspend the registration of a commodity pool operator if the CFTC finds that the operator has violated the CEAct or regulations thereunder and in certain other circumstances. Suspension, restriction or termination of the Managing Owner’s registration as a commodity pool operator would prevent it, until such time (if any) as such registration were to be reinstated, from managing, and might result in the termination of, the Fund. The CEAct gives the CFTC similar authority with respect to the activities of commodity trading advisors, such as the Managing Owner. If the registration of a managing owner as a commodity trading advisor were to be terminated, restricted or suspended, the managing owner would be unable, until such time (if any) as such registration were to be reinstated, to render trading advice to the Fund. The Fund is not registered with the CFTC in any capacity.
The CEAct requires all “futures commission merchants,” such as the Commodity Broker, to meet and maintain specified fitness and financial requirements, segregate customer funds from proprietary funds and account separately for all customers’ funds and positions, and to maintain specified books and records open to inspection by the staff of the CFTC.
The CEAct also gives the states certain powers to enforce its provisions and the regulations of the CFTC.
Shareholders are afforded certain rights for reparations under the CEAct. Shareholders may also be able to maintain a private right of action for certain violations of the CEAct. The CFTC has adopted rules implementing the reparation provisions of the CEAct which provide that any person may file a complaint for a reparations award with the CFTC for violation of the CEAct against a floor broker, futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, and their respective associated persons.
Pursuant to authority in the CEAct, the NFA was formed and registered with the CFTC as a “registered futures association.” At the present time, the NFA is the only non-exchange self-regulatory organization for commodities professionals. NFA members are subject to NFA standards relating to fair trade practices, financial condition, and consumer protection. As the self-regulatory body of the commodities industry, the NFA promulgates rules governing the conduct of commodity professionals and disciplines those professionals who do not comply with such standards. The CFTC has delegated to the NFA responsibility for the registration of commodity trading advisors, commodity pool operators, futures commission merchants, introducing brokers and their respective associated persons and floor brokers. The Commodity Broker and the Managing Owner are members of the NFA (the Fund is not required to become a member of the NFA).
The CFTC has no authority to regulate trading on foreign commodity exchanges and markets.
Employees
The Fund has no employees.
Available Information
The Fund files with or submits to the SEC annual, quarterly and current reports and other information meeting the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. These reports are available on the Managing Owner’s website at http://www.invescopowershares.com. Investors may also inspect and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information, and related exhibits and schedules, at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Investors may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically by us with the SEC which are available on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
The Fund also posts monthly performance reports and its annual report, as required by the CFTC, on the Managing Owner’s website at the address listed above.
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
An investment in the securities of the Fund involves a high degree of risk. Investors should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this report and the Prospectus, before making a decision to invest in the securities of the Fund. If any of the following risks occur, the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Fund may be adversely affected.
Investment and Trading Related Risks
The Value of the Shares Relates Directly to the Value of the Futures Contracts and Other Assets Held by The Fund and Fluctuations in the Price of These Assets Could Materially Adversely Affect an Investment in The Fund’s Shares.
The Shares are designed to reflect as closely as possible the changes, positive or negative, in the level of the Index, over time, through its portfolio of exchange traded futures contracts on the Index Commodities. The value of the Shares relates directly to the value of its portfolio, less the liabilities (including estimated accrued but unpaid expenses) of the Fund. The price of the various Index Commodities may fluctuate widely. Several factors may affect the prices of the Index Commodities, including, but not limited to:
•
Global supply and demand of the Index Commodities which may be influenced by such factors as forward selling by the various commodities producers, purchases made by the commodities’ producers to unwind their hedge positions and production and cost levels in the major markets of the Index Commodities;
•
Domestic and foreign interest rates and investors’ expectations concerning interest rates;
•
Domestic and foreign inflation rates and investors’ expectations concerning inflation rates;
•
Investment and trading activities of mutual funds, hedge funds and commodity funds; and
•
Global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations.
Effective as of August 15, 2014, the daily London silver fix, or the London Silver Fix, which has served as a global benchmark, was replaced by an electronic silver benchmark operated by the CME Group and Thomson Reuters, or the Replacement Silver Fix. The CME Group provides the pricing and Thomson Reuters provides the administration and the governance for the Replacement Silver Fix.
As of the date of this Report, the DBP Fund invests in silver futures contracts that trade on the CME. According to the rules associated with these silver futures contracts, the silver that underlies these futures contracts must be silver that is produced by a list of specific producers. To the extent that these approved producers rely upon the Replacement Silver Fix on and after August 15, 2014 with respect to the pricing of silver, the value of the DBP Fund’s silver futures contracts and the value of the shares of the DBP Fund may be affected adversely to the extent that the Replacement Silver Fix experiences unexpected issues or has inherent design flaws, if any.
Net Asset Value May Not Always Correspond to Market Price and, as a Result, Baskets May be Created or Redeemed at a Value that Differs from the Market Price of the Shares.
The net asset value per Share will change as fluctuations occur in the market value of its portfolio. Investors should be aware that the public trading price of a Basket may be different from the net asset value of a Basket (i.e., 200,000 Shares may trade at a premium over, or a discount to, net asset value of a Basket) and similarly the public trading price per Share may be different from its net asset value per Share. Consequently, an Authorized Participant may be able to create or redeem a Basket at a discount or a premium to the public trading price per Share. This price difference may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for Shares are closely related, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the Index Commodities, trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. Investors also should note that the size of the Fund in terms of total assets held may change substantially over time and from time-to-time as Baskets are created and redeemed.
Authorized Participants or their clients or customers may have an opportunity to realize a profit if they can purchase a Basket at a discount to the public trading price of the Shares or can redeem a Basket at a premium over the public trading price of the Shares. The Managing Owner expects that the exploitation of such arbitrage opportunities by Authorized Participants and their clients and customers will tend to cause the public trading price to track net asset value per Share closely over time.
The value of a Share may be influenced by non-concurrent trading hours between the NYSE Arca and the various futures exchanges on which the Index Commodities are traded. While the Shares trade on the NYSE Arca from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the trading hours for the futures exchanges on which each of the Index Commodities trade may not necessarily coincide during all of this time. For example, while the Shares trade on the NYSE Arca until 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, liquidity in the global gold market will be reduced after the close of the COMEX at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. As a result, during periods when the NYSE Arca is open and the futures exchanges on which the Index Commodities are traded are closed, trading spreads and the resulting premium or discount on the Shares may widen and, therefore, increase the difference between the price of the Shares and the net asset value of the Shares.
Regulatory and Exchange Position Limits and Other Rules May Restrict the Creation of Baskets and the Operation of the Fund.
CFTC and commodity exchange rules impose speculative position limits on market participants, including the Fund, trading in certain commodities. These position limits prohibit any person from holding a position of more than a specific number of such futures contracts.
The purposes of speculative position limits are to diminish, eliminate or prevent sudden or unreasonable fluctuations or unwarranted changes in the prices of futures contracts.
The CFTC and commodity exchange rules impose speculative position limits on market participants trading in both commodities included in the Index (gold and silver, or the “Affected Index Commodities”). Currently, speculative position limits (i) for corn, oats, wheat, soybean, soybean oil and cotton are determined by the CFTC and (ii) for all other commodities are determined by the futures exchanges. Pursuant to the statutory mandate of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Dodd-Frank Act, which was signed into law on July 21, 2010, the CFTC adopted final regulations on October 18, 2011, or the Regulations, which, in pertinent part, impose new federal position limits on futures and options on a subset of energy, metal, and agricultural commodities, or the Referenced Contracts, and economically equivalent swaps. The Regulations were to go into effect 60 days after the term “swap” is further defined pursuant to Section 721 of the Dodd-Frank Act. However, on September 28, 2012, a federal court issued an order vacating the Regulations. In vacating and remanding the new position limits rules, the court nevertheless upheld the CFTC’s revisions to the legacy position limits that amended previously-enacted position limits rules are already in place pursuant to CFTC rules. On November 5, 2013, the CFTC re-proposed for public comment new position limits and an aggregation rule both of which are currently pending and have not yet been adopted. In addition, the CFTC proposed regulations that would expand certain exemptions from aggregation of accounts of related parties. In order to provide interested parties an opportunity to comment on various developing issues with respect to the position limit and aggregation rules, the CFTC reopened the public comment periods for these proposed regulations a number of times, including a recent reopening until March 28, 2015. It remains to be seen whether the CFTC will modify the proposed regulations in response to public comments.
The CFTC’s existing position limit regulations require that a trader aggregate all positions in accounts which the trader owns or over which the trader controls trading. However, a trader is not required to aggregate positions in multiple accounts or commodity pools if that trader (or its applicable divisions/subsidiaries) qualifies as an “independent account controller” under applicable CFTC regulations and avails itself of the independent account controller exemption under the regulations. The re-proposed regulations would maintain the independent account controller exemption, which the Managing Owner intends to rely upon in order to disaggregate the positions of the Fund from certain other accounts. However, if the CFTC does not adopt or renew the independent account controller exemption, or if the exemption were modified or otherwise unavailable, to the extent the Managing Owner avails itself of the exemption, it may be required to aggregate positions in multiple accounts or commodity pools for purposes of the CFTC’s position limits regulations. In that case, it is possible that investment decisions of the Managing Owner with respect to the Fund would be affected by positions maintained by the Managing Owner with respect to accounts other than for the Fund. It is likely that the Fund would be compelled to liquidate futures contracts with respect to the Affected Index Commodities to come within position limits in the aggregate with other accounts or substitute a futures contract that exhibits trading prices that tend to correlate with a futures contract with respect to an Affected Index Commodity, at the risk of variance with the Index. In addition, failure to comply with the requirements of the independent account controller exemption, if applicable, could lead to an enforcement proceeding against the Managing Owner and could adversely affect the Fund.
Generally, speculative position limits in the physical delivery markets are set at a stricter level during the spot month, the month when the futures contract matures and becomes deliverable, versus the limits set for all other months. If the Managing Owner determines that the Fund’s trading may be approaching any of these speculative position limits, the Fund may reduce its trading in that commodity or trade in other commodities or instruments that the Index Sponsor determines comply with the rules and goals of the Index. Below is a chart that sets forth certain relevant information, including current speculative position limits for each Affected Index Commodity that any person may hold, separately or in combination, net long or net short, for the purchase or sale of any commodity futures contract or, on a futures-equivalent basis, options thereon. Speculative position limit levels remain subject to change by the CFTC or the relevant exchanges. Depending on the outcome of any future CFTC or futures exchange rulemaking, as applicable, the rules concerning position limits may be amended in a manner that is detrimental to the Fund.
Exchanges may also establish accountability levels applicable to futures contracts. An exchange may order a person who holds or controls aggregate positions in excess of specified position accountability levels not to further increase the positions, to comply with any prospective limit which exceeds the size of the position owned or controlled, or to reduce any open position which exceeds position accountability levels if the exchange determines that such action is necessary to maintain an orderly market.
Under current regulations, subject to any relevant exemptions, traders, such as the Fund, may not exceed speculative position limits, either individually or in the aggregate with other persons with whom they are under common control or ownership. Under the vacated Regulations, the CFTC would have required certain persons to aggregate exchange listed futures and economically equivalent swap positions owned or controlled by such persons.
Legend:
“COMEX” means the Commodity Exchange Inc., New York, a part of the CME Group, or its successor.
Subject to the Position Limit, Position Accountability and Reportable Level table in the Interpretations & Special Notices section at the end of Chapter 5 of each exchange’s rulebook.
Because the Fund is currently subject to position limits and may be subject to new and expanded position limits and because the Fund on any given date may not have an effective registration statement with the SEC with sufficient shares available, the Fund’s ability to issue new Baskets, or the Fund’s ability to reinvest income in additional futures contracts corresponding to the Affected Index Commodities, may be impaired or limited to the extent these activities would cause the Fund to exceed its applicable position limits. Limiting the size of the Fund to stay within these position limits may affect the correlation between the price of the Shares, as traded on the NYSE Arca, and the net asset value of the Shares. The inability to create additional Baskets could result in Shares trading at a premium or discount to net asset value of the Fund.
The Fund’s Performance May Not Always Replicate Exactly the Changes in the Level of the Index.
It is possible that the Fund’s performance may not fully replicate the changes in the level of the Index due to disruptions in the markets for the Index Commodities, the imposition of speculative position limits or due to other extraordinary circumstances. As the Fund approaches or reaches position limits with respect to the Index Contracts, the Fund may commence investing in other futures contracts based on the Index Commodities and in futures contracts based on commodities other than the Index Commodities that, in the commercially reasonable judgment of the Managing Owner, tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with the Index Contracts. In addition, the Fund is not able to replicate exactly the changes in the levels of the Index because the total return generated by the Fund is reduced by expenses and transaction costs, including those incurred in connection with the Fund’s trading activities, and increased by interest income from the Fund’s holdings of short-term high credit quality fixed income securities. Tracking the Index requires trading of the Fund’s portfolio with a view to tracking the Index over time and is dependent upon the skills of the Managing Owner and its trading principals, among other factors.
The Fund Is Not Actively Managed and Tracks the Index During Periods in which the Index Is Flat or Declining as well as when the Index Is Rising.
The Fund is not actively managed by traditional methods. Therefore, if positions in any one or more of the Index Commodities are declining in value, the Fund will not close out such positions, except in connection with a change in the composition or weighting of the Index. The Managing Owner will seek to cause the net asset value of the Fund to track the Index during periods in which the Index is flat or declining as well as when the Index is rising.
The NYSE Arca May Halt Trading in the Shares Which Would Adversely Impact Your Ability to Sell Shares.
The Shares are listed for trading on the NYSE Arca under the market symbol “DBP”. Trading in the Shares may be halted due to market conditions or, in light of NYSE Arca rules and procedures, for reasons that, in the view of the NYSE Arca, make trading in the Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to “circuit breaker” rules that require trading to be halted for a specified period based on a specified market decline. There can be no assurance that the requirements necessary to maintain the listing of the Shares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. The Fund will be terminated if its Shares are delisted.
The Lack of an Active Trading Market for the Shares May Result in Losses on Your Investment in the Fund at the Time of Disposition of Your Shares.
Although the Shares are listed and traded on the NYSE Arca, there can be no guarantee that an active trading market for the Shares will be maintained. If you need to sell your Shares at a time when no active market for them exists, the price you receive for your Shares, assuming that you are able to sell them, likely will be lower than that you would receive if an active market did exist.
The Shares Could Decrease in Value if Unanticipated Operational or Trading Problems Arise.
The mechanisms and procedures governing the creation, redemption and offering of the Shares have been developed specifically for this securities product. Consequently, there may be unanticipated problems or issues with respect to the mechanics of the operations of the Fund and the trading of the Shares that could have a material adverse effect on an investment in the Shares. In addition, although the Fund is not actively “managed” by traditional methods, to the extent that unanticipated operational or trading problems or issues arise, the Managing Owner’s past experience and qualifications may not be suitable for solving these problems or issues.
As the Managing Owner and its Principals have a Short History of Operating an Exchange-Traded Fund that Invests in a Broad Range of Commodity Futures Contracts, their Experience May be Relatively Inadequate or Unsuitable to Manage the Fund.
The Managing Owner manages a number of exchange-traded funds that use financial futures as part of their investment strategy and, only for a short time, has actively managed an exchange-traded fund related to a broad-based futures index. The past performance of these funds is no indication of the Managing Owner’s ability to manage exchange-traded investment vehicles that track a commodities index such as the Fund. There can be no assurance that the Managing Owner will be able to cause the net asset value per Share of the Fund to closely track the changes in the Index levels. If the experience of the Managing Owner and its principals is not relatively adequate or suitable to manage investment vehicles such as the Fund, the operations of the Fund may be adversely affected.
You May Not Rely on Past Performance or Index Results in Deciding Whether to Buy Shares.
Although past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results, the Fund’s performance history might (or might not) provide you with more information on which to evaluate an investment in the Fund. Likewise, the Index has a history which might (or might not) be indicative of the future Index results, or of the future performance of the Fund. Therefore, you will have to make your decision to invest in the Fund without relying on the Fund’s past performance history or the Index’s closing level history.
Fewer Representative Commodities May Result In Greater Index Volatility.
The Index is concentrated in terms of the number of commodities represented. The Fund is concentrated in two commodities. You should be aware that other commodities indexes are more diversified in terms of both the number and variety of commodities included. Concentration in fewer commodities may result in a greater degree of volatility in an Index and the net asset value of the Fund which tracks the Index under specific market conditions and over time.
Price Volatility May Possibly Cause the Total Loss of Your Investment.
Futures contracts have a high degree of price variability and are subject to occasional rapid and substantial changes. Consequently, you could lose all or substantially all of your investment in the Fund.
The following table* reflects various measures of volatility** of the Index as calculated on an excess return basis:
The following table reflects the daily volatility on an annual basis of the Index:
* As of December 31, 2014. Past Index levels are not necessarily indicative of future changes, positive or negative, in the Index levels
** Volatility, for these purposes means the following:
Daily Volatility: The relative rate at which the price of the Index moves up and down, found by calculating the annualized standard deviation of the daily change in price.
Monthly Return Volatility: The relative rate at which the price of the Index moves up and down, found by calculating the annualized standard deviation of the monthly change in price.
Average Annual Volatility: The average of yearly volatilities for a given sample period. The yearly volatility is the relative rate at which the price of the Index moves up and down, found by calculating the annualized standard deviation of the daily change in price for each business day in the given year.
*** As of December 31, except 1988 which is as of December 2.
Unusually Long Peak-to-Valley Drawdown Periods With Respect To the Index May Be Reflected in Equally Long Peak-to-Valley Drawdown Periods with Respect to the Performance of the Shares.
Although past Index levels are not necessarily indicative of future Index levels, the peak-to-valley drawdown periods that the Index has experienced have been unusually long and has lasted for multi-year drawdown periods.
Because it is expected that the Fund’s performance will track the change of its underlying Index, the Fund would suffer a continuous drawdown during the period that the Index suffers such a drawdown period, and in turn, the value of your Shares will also suffer.
Fees and Commissions are Charged Regardless of Profitability and May Result in Depletion of Assets.
The Fund is directly subject to the fees and expenses described herein which are payable irrespective of profitability. Such fees and expenses include asset-based fees of 0.75% per annum. Additional charges include brokerage fees of approximately 0.04% per annum in the aggregate and selling commissions. For the avoidance of doubt, selling commissions are not included in the Fund’s breakeven calculation. The Fund is expected to earn interest income at an annual rate of 0.03% per annum, based upon the yield on 3-month U.S. Treasury bills as of January 21, 2015. Because the Fund’s current interest income does not exceed its fees and expenses, the Fund will need to have a positive performance that exceeds the difference between the Fund’s interest income and its fees and expenses in order to break even. If the aggregate of the Fund’s performance and interest income do not exceed the Fund’s fees and expenses described herein, then the expenses of the Fund could, over time, result in losses to your investment therein. You may never achieve profits, significant or otherwise.
You Cannot Be Assured of the Managing Owner’s Continued Services, Which Discontinuance May Be Detrimental to the Fund.
You cannot be assured that the Managing Owner will be willing or able to continue to service the Fund for any length of time. If the Managing Owner discontinues its activities on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may be adversely affected.
Possible Illiquid Markets May Exacerbate Losses.
Futures positions cannot always be liquidated at the desired price. It is difficult to execute a trade at a specific price when there is a relatively small volume of buy and sell orders in a market. A market disruption, such as when foreign governments may take or be subject to political actions which disrupt the markets in their currency or major exports, can also make it difficult to liquidate a position.
There can be no assurance that market illiquidity will not cause losses for the Fund. The large size of the positions which the Fund may acquire increases the risk of illiquidity by both making its positions more difficult to liquidate and increasing the losses incurred while trying to do so.
You May Be Adversely Affected by Redemption Orders that Are Subject To Postponement, Suspension or Rejection Under Certain Circumstances.
The Fund may, in its discretion, suspend the right of redemption or postpone the redemption settlement date, (1) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which the redemption distribution is not reasonably practicable, or (2) for such other period as the Managing Owner determines to be necessary for the protection of the Shareholders. In addition, the Fund will reject a redemption order if the order is not in proper form as described in the participant agreement among the Authorized Participant, the Managing Owner and the Managing Owner in its capacity as managing owner of the Fund or if the fulfillment of the order, in the opinion of its counsel, might be unlawful. Any such postponement, suspension or rejection could adversely affect a redeeming Authorized Participant. For example, the resulting delay may adversely affect the value of the Authorized Participant’s redemption proceeds if the net asset value of the Fund declines during the period of delay. The Fund disclaims any liability for any loss or damage that may result from any such suspension or postponement.
Because the Futures Contracts Have No Intrinsic Value, the Positive Performance of Your Investment Is Wholly Dependent Upon an Equal and Offsetting Loss.
Futures trading is a risk transfer economic activity. For every gain there is an equal and offsetting loss rather than an opportunity to participate over time in general economic growth. Unlike most alternative investments, an investment in Shares does not involve acquiring any asset with intrinsic value. Overall stock and bond prices could rise significantly and the economy as a whole prospers while Shares trade unprofitably.
Failure of Commodity Futures Markets to Exhibit Low to Negative Correlation to General Financial Markets Will Reduce Benefits of Diversification and May Exacerbate Losses to Your Portfolio.
Historically, commodity futures’ returns have tended to exhibit low to negative correlation with the returns of other assets such as stocks and bonds. Although commodity futures trading can provide a diversification benefit to investor portfolios because of its low to negative correlation with other financial assets, the fact that the Index is not 100% negatively correlated with financial assets such as stocks and bonds means that the Fund cannot be expected to be automatically profitable during unfavorable periods for the stock or bond market, or vice-versa. If the Shares perform in a manner that correlates with the general financial markets or do not perform successfully, you will obtain no diversification benefits by investing in the Shares and the Shares may produce no gains to offset your losses from other investments.
Shareholders Will Not Have the Protections Associated With Ownership of Shares in an Investment Company Registered Under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
The Fund is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and is not required to register under such Act. Consequently, Shareholders do not have the regulatory protections provided to the investors in registered and regulated investment companies.
Trading on Commodity Exchanges Outside the United States is Not Subject to U.S. Regulation.
If speculative position limits with respect to an Index Contract underlying the Index Commodities has been reached, a portion of the Fund’s trades may take place on markets or exchanges outside the United States. Trading on commodity exchanges outside the United States is not regulated by any United States governmental agency and may involve certain risks not applicable to trading on United States exchanges, including different or diminished investor protections. In trading contracts denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars, Shares are subject to the risk of adverse exchange-rate movements between the dollar and the functional currencies of such contracts. Investors could incur substantial losses from trading on foreign exchanges which such investors would not have otherwise been subject had the Fund’s trading been limited to U.S. markets.
Various Actual and Potential Conflicts of Interest May Be Detrimental to Shareholders.
The Fund is subject to actual and potential conflicts of interest involving the Managing Owner, various commodity futures brokers and Authorized Participants. The Managing Owner and its principals, all of whom are engaged in other investment activities, are not required to devote substantially all of their time to the business of the Fund, which also presents the potential for numerous conflicts of interest with the Fund. As a result of these and other relationships, parties involved with the Fund have a financial incentive to act in a manner other than in the best interests of the Fund and the Shareholders. The Managing Owner has not established any formal procedure to resolve conflicts of interest. Consequently, investors are dependent on the good faith of the respective parties subject to such conflicts to resolve them equitably. Although the Managing Owner attempts to monitor these conflicts, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the Managing Owner to ensure that these conflicts do not, in fact, result in adverse consequences to the Shareholders.
The Fund may be subject to certain conflicts with respect to the Commodity Broker, including, but not limited to, conflicts that result from receiving greater amounts of compensation from other clients, or purchasing opposite or competing positions on behalf of third party accounts traded through the Commodity Broker.
Tax Related Risks
Shareholders Will Be Subject to Taxation on Their Allocable Share of the Fund’s Taxable Income Whether or Not They Receive Cash Distributions.
Shareholders will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation and, in some cases, state, local, or foreign income taxation on their allocable share of the Fund’s taxable income, whether or not they receive cash distributions from the Fund. Shareholders may not receive cash distributions equal to their share of the Fund’s taxable income or even the tax liability that results from such income.
Items of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction With Respect to Shares Could Be Reallocated if the IRS Does Not Accept the Assumptions or Conventions Used by the Fund in Allocating Such Items.
U.S. federal income tax rules applicable to partnerships are complex and often difficult to apply to publicly traded partnerships. The Fund will apply certain assumptions and conventions in an attempt to comply with the applicable rules and to report items of income, gain, loss and deduction to the Fund’s Shareholders in a manner that reflects the Shareholders’ beneficial interest in such tax items, but these assumptions and conventions may not be in compliance with all aspects of the applicable tax requirements. It is possible that the IRS will successfully assert that the conventions and assumptions used by the Fund do not satisfy the technical requirements of the Code and/or Treasury Regulations and could require that items of income, gain, loss and deduction be adjusted or reallocated in a manner that adversely affects one or more Shareholders.
The Current Treatment of Long Term Capital Gains Under Current U.S. Federal Income Tax Law May Be Adversely Affected, Changed or Repealed in the Future.
Under current law, long-term capital gains are taxed to non-corporate investors at reduced U.S. federal income tax rates. This tax treatment may be adversely affected, changed or repealed by future changes in, or the expiration of, tax laws at any time.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISERS AND COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO THE POSSIBLE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE SHARES; SUCH TAX CONSEQUENCES MAY DIFFER WITH RESPECT TO DIFFERENT INVESTORS.
Other Risks
Failure of Futures Commission Merchants or Commodity Brokers to Segregate Assets May Increase Losses; Despite Segregation of Assets, The Fund Remains at Risk of Significant Losses Because The Fund May Only Receive a Pro-Rata Share of the Assets, or No Assets at All.
The CEAct requires a clearing broker to segregate all funds received from customers from such broker’s proprietary assets. If the Commodity Broker fails to do so, the assets of the Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the Commodity Broker’s bankruptcy. Furthermore, in the event of the Commodity Broker’s bankruptcy, the Fund could be limited to recovering either a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the Commodity Broker’s combined customer accounts or the Fund may not recover any assets at all, even though certain property specifically traceable to the Fund was held by the Commodity Broker. The Commodity Broker may, from time-to-time, have been the subject of certain regulatory and private causes of action.
In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of any exchange or a clearing house, the Fund could experience a loss of the funds deposited through its Commodity Broker as margin with the exchange or clearing house, a loss of any unrealized profits on its open positions on the exchange, and the loss of profits on its closed positions on the exchange.
The Effect Of Market Disruptions and Government Intervention are Unpredictable and May Have an Adverse Effect on the Value of Your Shares.
The global financial markets have in the past few years gone through pervasive and fundamental disruptions that have led to extensive and unprecedented governmental intervention. Such intervention has in certain cases been implemented on an “emergency” basis, suddenly and substantially eliminating market participants’ ability to continue to implement certain strategies or manage the risk of their outstanding positions. In addition-as one would expect given the complexities of the financial markets and the limited time frame within which governments have felt compelled to take action-these interventions have typically been unclear in scope and application, resulting in confusion and uncertainty which in itself has been materially detrimental to the efficient functioning of the markets as well as previously successful investment strategies.
The Fund may incur major losses in the event of disrupted markets and other extraordinary events in which historical pricing relationships become materially distorted. The risk of loss from pricing distortions is compounded by the fact that in disrupted markets many positions become illiquid, making it difficult or impossible to close out positions against which the markets are moving. The financing available to market participants from their banks, dealers and other counterparties is typically reduced in disrupted markets. Such a reduction may result in substantial losses to the affected market participants. Market disruptions may from time to time cause dramatic losses, and such events can result in otherwise historically low-risk strategies performing with unprecedented volatility and risk.
Regulatory Changes or Actions, Including the Implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act, May Alter the Operations and Profitability of the Fund.
The regulation of commodity interest transactions in the United States is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to ongoing modification by governmental and judicial action. Considerable regulatory attention has been focused on non-traditional investment pools that are publicly distributed in the United States. The Dodd-Frank Act seeks to regulate markets, market participants and financial instruments that previously have been unregulated and substantially alters the regulation of many other markets, market participants and financial instruments. Because many provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act require rulemaking by the applicable regulators before becoming fully effective and the Dodd-Frank Act mandates multiple agency reports and studies (which could result in additional legislative or regulatory action), it is difficult to predict the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on the Fund, the Managing Owner, and the markets in which the Fund may invest, the Net Asset Value of the Fund or the market price of the Shares. The Dodd-Frank Act could result in the Fund’s investment strategy becoming non-viable or non-economic to implement. Therefore, the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations adopted pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act could have a material adverse impact on the profit potential of the Fund and in turn the value of your Shares.
Lack of Independent Advisers Representing Investors.
The Managing Owner has consulted with counsel, accountants and other advisers regarding the formation and operation of the Fund. No counsel has been appointed to represent you in connection with the offering of the Shares. Accordingly, you should consult your own legal, tax and financial advisers regarding the desirability of an investment in the Shares.
Possibility of Termination of the Fund May Adversely Affect Your Portfolio.
The Managing Owner may withdraw from the Fund upon 120 days’ notice, which would cause the Fund to terminate unless a substitute managing owner was obtained. Owners of 50% of the Shares have the power to terminate the Fund. If it is so exercised, investors who may wish to continue to invest in a vehicle that tracks the Fund’s Index will have to find another vehicle, and may not be able to find another vehicle that offers the same features as the Fund. Such detrimental developments could cause you to liquidate your investments and upset the overall maturity and timing of your investment portfolio. If the registrations with the CFTC or memberships in the NFA of the Managing Owner or the Commodity Broker were revoked or suspended, such entity would no longer be able to provide services to the Fund.
Shareholders Do Not Have the Rights Enjoyed by Investors in Certain Other Vehicles.
As interests in separate series of a Delaware statutory trust, the Shares have none of the statutory rights normally associated with the ownership of shares of a corporation (including, for example, the right to bring “oppression” or “derivative” actions). In addition, the Shares have limited voting and distribution rights (for example, Shareholders do not have the right to elect directors and the Fund is not required to pay regular distributions, although the Fund may pay distributions at the discretion of the Managing Owner).
An Investment in the Shares May Be Adversely Affected by Competition From Other Methods of Investing in Commodities.
The Fund constitutes a relatively new type of investment vehicle. The Fund competes with other financial vehicles, including mutual funds, and other investment companies, ETFs, other index tracking commodity pools, actively traded commodity pools, hedge funds, traditional debt and equity securities issued by companies in the commodities industry, other securities backed by or linked to such commodities, and direct investments in the underlying commodities or commodity futures contracts. Market and financial conditions, and other conditions beyond the Managing Owner’s control, may make it more attractive to invest in other financial vehicles or to invest in such commodities directly, which could limit the market for the Shares and therefore reduce the liquidity of the Shares.
Competing Claims Over Ownership of Intellectual Property Rights Related to the Fund Could Adversely Affect the Fund and an Investment in the Shares.
While the Managing Owner believes that all intellectual property rights needed to operate the Fund are either owned by or licensed to the Managing Owner or have been obtained, third parties may allege or assert ownership of intellectual property rights which may be related to the design, structure and operations of the Fund. To the extent any claims of such ownership are brought or any proceedings are instituted to assert such claims, the negotiation, litigation or settlement of such claims, or the ultimate disposition of such claims in a court of law if a suit is brought, may adversely affect the Fund and an investment in the Shares, for example, resulting in expenses or damages or the termination of the Fund.
The Value of the Shares Will be Adversely Affected if the Fund is Required to Indemnify the Trustee or the Managing Owner.
Under the Trust Agreement, the Trustee and the Managing Owner have the right to be indemnified for any liability or expense either incurs without gross negligence or willful misconduct. That means the Managing Owner may require the assets of the Fund to be sold in order to cover losses or liability suffered by it or by the Trustee. Any sale of that kind would reduce the net asset value of the Fund and, consequently, the value of the Shares.
The Net Asset Value Calculation of the Fund May Be Overstated or Understated Due to the Valuation Method Employed When a Settlement Price is not Available on the Date of Net Asset Value Calculation.
Calculating the net asset value of the Fund includes, in part, any unrealized profits or losses on open commodity futures contracts. Under normal circumstances, the net asset value of the Fund reflects the settlement price of open commodity futures contracts on the date when the net asset value is being calculated. However, if a commodity futures contract traded on an exchange (both U.S. and, to the extent it becomes applicable, non-U.S. exchanges) could not be liquidated on such day (due to the operation of daily limits or other rules of the exchange upon which that position is traded or otherwise), the Managing Owner may value such futures contract pursuant to policies the Managing Owner has adopted, which are consistent with normal industry standards. In such a situation, there is a risk that the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund on such day will not accurately reflect the realizable market value of such commodity futures contract. For example, daily limits are generally triggered in the event of a significant change in market price of a commodity futures contract. Therefore, as a result of the daily limit, the current settlement price is unavailable. Because the Managing Owner may value such futures contract pursuant to policies the Managing Owner has adopted, which are consistent with normal industry standards, there is a risk that the resulting calculation of the net asset value of the Fund could be under or overstated, perhaps to a significant degree.
Although the Shares are Limited Liability Investments, Certain Circumstances such as Bankruptcy of the Fund or Indemnification of the Fund by the Shareholders will Increase the Shareholders’ Liability.
The Shares are limited liability investments; investors may not lose more than the amount that they invest plus any profits recognized on their investment. However, Shareholders could be required, as a matter of bankruptcy law, to return to the estate of the Fund any distribution they received at a time when the Fund was in fact insolvent or in violation of its Trust Agreement. In addition, although the Managing Owner is not aware of this provision ever having been invoked in the case of any public futures fund, Shareholders agree in the Trust Agreement that they will indemnify the Fund for any harm suffered by it as a result of:
•
Shareholders’ actions unrelated to the business of the Fund, or
•
Taxes imposed on the Shares by the states or municipalities in which such investors reside.
An Insolvency Resulting From Another Series in the Trust or the Trust Itself May Have a Material Adverse Effect On the Fund.
The Fund is a series or a part of a Delaware statutory trust. Pursuant to Delaware law, the organization of the Trust provides that the assets and liabilities of the Fund are separate from the assets and liabilities of all other series of the Trust, as well as the larger Trust itself. Though such organization may, under state law, protect the assets of the Fund in an insolvency action brought by the creditors of another series of the Trust, this may be insufficient to protect the assets of the Fund from such creditors in an insolvency action in Federal court, or in a court in a foreign jurisdiction. Accordingly, an insolvency resulting from another series in the Trust or the Trust itself may have a material adverse effect on the Fund. The material risks associated with the other series have not been included in this Report.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Fund does not own or use physical properties in the conduct of its business. Its assets consist of futures contracts, cash, United States Treasury Obligations and may consist of other high credit quality short-term fixed income securities. The Managing Owner’s headquarters are located at 3500 Lacey Road, Suite 700, Downers Grove, IL 60515.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
The Shares traded on the NYSE Alternext from January 5, 2007 to November 25, 2008 and have been trading on the NYSE Arca since November 25, 2008 under the symbol “DBP.”
The following table sets forth, for the calendar quarters indicated, the high and low sales prices per Share, as reported on the applicable exchange.
Holders
As of December 31, 2014, the Fund had 8,985 holders of record of its Shares.
Distributions
The Managing Owner has sole discretion in determining what distributions, if any, the Fund will make to Shareholders.
The Fund paid no distributions for the Year Ended December 31, 2014 or for the Year Ended December 31, 2013.
Sales of Unregistered Securities and Use of Proceeds of Registered Securities
(a) There have been no unregistered sales of the Fund’s securities. No Fund securities are authorized for issuance by the Fund under equity compensation plans.
(b) Non-applicable
(c) The following table summarizes the redemptions by Authorized Participants during the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table summarizes the relevant 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 financial data for the Fund and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s financial statements, and the notes and schedules related thereto, which are included in this report. The Fund commenced investment operations on January 3, 2007.
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report (the “Report”). The discussion and analysis which follows may contain trend analysis and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial results. The matters discussed throughout this Form 10-K that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the registrant’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the registrant’s business and industry and its beliefs and assumptions about future events. For example, the Fund’s performance information from inception up to and excluding the Closing Date (as defined herein) is a reflection of the performance associated with DB Commodity Services LLC, which served as the predecessor managing owner and all of the statements regarding the performance of the Fund on and after the Closing Date are forward-looking statements regarding the expected performance associated with Invesco Powershares Capital Management LLC, which now serves as the managing owner of the Fund. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “outlook” and “estimate,” as well as similar words and phrases, signify forward-looking statements. PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund’s (the “Fund”) forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions and important factors, risks and uncertainties may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements.
You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the Federal securities laws, Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC, undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or the risks, uncertainties or other factors described in this Report, as a result of new information, future events or changed circumstances or for any other reason after the date of this Report.
Overview/Introduction
On October 24, 2014, DB Commodity Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“DBCS”), DB U.S. Financial Markets Holding Corporation (“DBUSH”) and Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC (“Invesco”) entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”). DBCS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DBUSH. DBCS agreed to transfer and sell to Invesco all of DBCS’ interest in the PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund (the “Fund”), including the sole and exclusive power to direct the business and affairs of the Fund, as well as certain other assets of DBCS pertaining to the management of the Fund, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Agreement (the “Transaction”).
The Transaction was consummated on February 23, 2015 (the “Closing Date”). Invesco now serves as the managing owner (the “Managing Owner”), commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor of the Fund, in replacement of DBCS (the “Predecessor Managing Owner”).
The Fund seeks to track the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the DBIQ Optimum Yield Precious Metals Index Excess Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY Precious Metals ER™”, or the “Index”) over time, plus the excess, if any, of the Fund’s interest income from its holdings of United States Treasury Obligations and other high credit quality short-term fixed income securities over the expenses of the Fund. The Shares are designed for investors who want a cost-effective and convenient way to invest in a group of commodity futures on U.S. and, if applicable, non-U.S. markets. The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the precious metals sector. The commodities comprising the Index are gold and silver (each an “Index Commodity”, and collectively, the “Index Commodities”).
As of the date of this Report, each of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., Newedge USA LLC, Virtu Financial Capital Markets LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Virtu Financial BD LLC, Knight Capital Americas LLC, Timber Hill LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC, Nomura Securities International Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, UBS Securities LLC, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Goldman Sachs Execution & Clearing, L.P. has executed a Participant Agreement and are the only Authorized Participants.
The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing in a portfolio of exchange traded futures contracts that expire in a specific month and trade on a specific exchange (the “Index Contracts”) in the commodities comprising the Index (the “Index Commodities”). The Index is composed of notional amounts of each of the Index Commodities. The Fund also holds United States Treasury Obligations and other high credit quality short-term fixed income securities for deposit with the Fund’s Commodity Broker as margin. After the Closing Date, the aggregate notional value of the Futures contracts owned by the Fund is expected to approximate the aggregate net asset value of the Fund, as opposed to the aggregate Index Value.
The CFTC and/or commodity exchanges, as applicable, impose position limits on market participants trading in certain commodities included in the Index. The Index is comprised of futures contracts on each of the Index Commodities that expire in a specific month and trade on a specific exchange (the “Index Contracts”). As disclosed in the Prospectus, if the Managing Owner determines in its commercially reasonable judgment that it has become impracticable or inefficient for any reason for the Fund to gain full or partial exposure to any Index Commodity by investing in a specific Index Contract, the Fund may invest in Alternative Futures
Contracts if, in the commercially reasonable judgment of the Managing Owner, such Alternative Futures Contracts tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with such Index Commodity. Please see http://www.invescopowershares.com with respect to the most recently available weighted composition of the Fund and the composition of the Index on the Base Date.
Under the Fifth Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement of the Trust (the “Trust Agreement”), Wilmington Trust Company, the Trustee of the Trust has delegated to the Managing Owner the exclusive management and control of all aspects of the business of the Trust and the Fund. The Trustee will have no duty or liability to supervise or monitor the performance of the Managing Owner, nor will the Trustee have any liability for the acts or omissions of the Managing Owner.
The Shares are intended to provide investment results that generally correspond to the changes, positive or negative, in the levels of the Index over time. The value of the Shares is expected to fluctuate in relation to changes in the value of the Fund’s portfolio. The market price of the Shares may not be identical to the net asset value per Share, but these two valuations are expected to be very close.
Margin Calls
Like other futures and derivatives traders, the Fund will be subject to margin calls from time-to-time. The term “margin” has a different meaning in the context of futures contracts and other derivatives than it does in the context of securities. In particular, “margin” on a futures position does not constitute a borrowing of money or the collateralization of a loan. The Fund does not borrow money.
To establish a position in an exchange-traded futures contract, the Fund makes a deposit of “initial margin.” The amount of initial margin required to be deposited in order to establish a position in an exchange-traded futures contract varies from instrument to instrument depending, generally, on the historical volatility of the futures contract in question. Determination of the amount of the required initial margin deposit in respect of a particular contract is made by the exchange on which the contract is listed. To establish a long position in an over-the-counter instrument, the counterparty may require an analogous deposit of collateral, depending upon the anticipated volatility of the instrument and the creditworthiness of the person seeking to establish the position. The deposit of initial margin provides assurance to futures commission merchants and clearing brokers involved in the settlement process that sufficient resources are likely to be on deposit to enable a client’s position to be closed by recourse to the initial margin deposit should the client fail to meet a demand for variation margin, even if changes in the value of the contract in question, which are marked to market from day to day, continue to reflect the contract’s historical volatility. Collateral deposited in support of an over-the-counter instrument serves a similar purpose.
Once a position has been established on a futures exchange, “variation margin” generally is credited or assessed at least daily to reflect changes in the value of the position, except in certain instances where midday variation margin calls are made. In contrast to “initial margin,” “variation margin” represents a system of marking to market the futures contract’s value. Thus, traders in exchange-traded futures contracts are assessed daily in an amount equal to that day’s accumulated losses in respect of any open position (or are credited daily with accumulated gains in respect of such position). Collateral may move between the parties to an over-the-counter instrument in a similar manner as gains or losses accumulate in the instrument. As with initial margin, variation margin serves to secure the obligations of the investor under the contract and to protect those involved in the settlement process against the possibility that a client will have insufficient resources to meet its contractual obligations. Collateral deposited in support of an over-the-counter instrument serves a similar purpose. Like initial margin (or an equivalent deposit of collateral), variation margin (or an equivalent deposit of collateral) does not constitute a borrowing of money, is not considered to be part of the contract purchase price and is returned upon the contract’s termination unless it is used to cover a loss in the contract position. United States Treasury Obligations are used routinely to collateralize OTC derivative positions, and are deposited routinely as margin to collateralize futures positions. The Fund may liquidate United States Treasury Obligations to meet an initial or variation margin requirement.
Performance Summary
This report covers the three months ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (herein referred to as the “Three Months Ended December 31, 2014”, the “Three Months Ended December 31, 2013” and the “Three Months Ended December 31, 2012,” respectively), the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (herein referred to as the “Year Ended December 31, 2014”, the “Year Ended December 31, 2013” and the “Year Ended December 31, 2012,” respectively).
The Fund commenced trading on the American Stock Exchange (which became the NYSE Alternext US LLC (the “NYSE Alternext”)) on January 5, 2007, and, as of November 25, 2008, is listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”).
Performance of the Fund and the exchange traded Shares are detailed below in “Results of Operations”. The Fund’s performance information from inception up to and excluding the Closing Date is a reflection of the performance associated with the Predecessor Managing Owner. Past performance of the Fund is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the Index Commodities. In turn, the Index is intended to reflect the precious metals sector. The DBIQ Optimum Yield Precious Metals Index Total Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™”) consists of the Index plus 3-month United States Treasury Obligations returns. Past Index results are not necessarily indicative of future changes, positive or negative, in the Index closing levels.
The section “Summary of the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™ and Underlying Index Commodity Returns for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012” below provides an overview of the changes in the closing levels of the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™ by disclosing the change in market value of each underlying component Index Commodity through a “surrogate” (and analogous) index plus 3-month United States Treasury Obligations returns. Please note also that the Fund’s objective is to track the Index (not the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™) and the Fund does not attempt to outperform or underperform the Index. The Index employs the optimum yield roll method with the objective of mitigating the negative effects of contango, the condition in which distant delivery prices for futures exceed spot prices, and maximizing the positive effects of backwardation, a condition opposite of contango.
Summary of the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™ and Underlying Index Commodity Returns for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
If the Fund’s interest income from its holdings of fixed income securities were to exceed the Fund’s fees and expenses, the aggregate return on an investment in the Fund is expected to outperform the Index and underperform the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™ . The only difference between (i) the Index and (ii) the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™ is that the Index does not include interest income from a hypothetical basket of fixed income securities while the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™ does include such a component. Thus, the difference between the Index and the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™ is attributable entirely to the hypothetical interest income from this hypothetical basket of fixed income securities. If the Fund’s interest income from its holdings of fixed income securities exceeds the Fund’s fees and expenses, then the amount of such excess is expected to be distributed periodically. The market price of the Shares is expected to closely track the Index. The aggregate return on an investment in the Fund over any period is the sum of the capital appreciation or depreciation of the Shares over the period, plus the amount of any distributions during the period. Consequently, the Fund’s aggregate return is expected to outperform the Index by the amount of the excess, if any, of its interest income over its fees and expenses but, as a result of the Fund’s fees and expenses, the aggregate return on the Fund is expected to underperform the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™ . If the Fund’s fees and expenses were to exceed the Fund’s interest income from its holdings of fixed income securities, the aggregate return on an investment in the Fund is expected to underperform the Index.
Net Asset Value
Net asset value means the total assets of the Fund, including, but not limited to, all futures, cash and investments less total liabilities of the Fund, each determined on the basis of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied under the accrual method of accounting. In particular, net asset value includes any unrealized appreciation or depreciation on open commodity futures contracts, and any other credit or debit accruing to the Fund but unpaid or not received by the Fund. All open commodity futures contracts will be calculated at their then current market value, which will be based upon the settlement price for that particular commodity futures contract traded on the applicable exchange on the date with respect to which net asset value is being determined; provided, that if a commodity futures contract could not be liquidated on such day, due to the operation of daily limits or other rules of the exchange upon which that position is traded or otherwise, the Managing Owner may value such futures contract pursuant to policies the Managing Owner has adopted, which are consistent with normal industry standards. The Managing Owner may in its discretion (and under circumstances, including, but not limited to, periods during which a settlement price of a futures contract is not available due to exchange limit orders or force majeure type events such as systems failure, natural or man-made disaster, act of God, armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor disruption or any similar intervening circumstance) value any asset of the Fund pursuant to such other principles as the Managing Owner deems fair and equitable so long as such principles are consistent with normal industry standards. Interest earned on the Fund’s brokerage account is accrued monthly. The amount of any distribution is a liability of the Fund from the day when the distribution is declared until it is paid.
Net asset value per share is the net asset value of the Fund divided by the number of outstanding shares.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Fund’s critical accounting policies are as follows:
Preparation of the financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires the application of appropriate accounting rules and guidance, as well as the use of estimates, and requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue and expense and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities during the reporting period of the financial statements and accompanying notes. The Fund’s application of these policies involves judgments and actual results may differ from the estimates used.
The Fund holds a significant portion of its assets in futures contracts and United States Treasury Obligations, both of which are recorded on a trade date basis and at fair value in the financial statements, with changes in fair value reported in the statement of income and expenses.
The use of fair value to measure financial instruments, with related unrealized gains or losses recognized in earnings in each period is fundamental to the Fund’s financial statements. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (the exit price).
In determining fair value of United States Treasury Obligations and commodity futures contracts, the Fund uses unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification for fair value measurement and disclosure guidance requires a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The objective of a fair value measurement is to determine the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. See Note 5(c) within the financial statements in Item 8 for further information.
When market closing prices are not available, the Managing Owner may value an asset of the Fund pursuant to policies the Managing Owner has adopted, which are consistent with normal industry standards.
Realized gains (losses) and changes in unrealized gain (loss) on open positions are determined on a specific identification basis and recognized in the statement of income and expenses in the period in which the contract is closed or the changes occur, respectively.
Interest income on United States Treasury Obligations is recognized on an accrual basis when earned. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the life of the United States Treasury Obligations.
Market Risk
Trading in futures contracts involves the Fund entering into contractual commitments to purchase a particular commodity at a specified date and price. The market risk associated with the Fund’s commitments to purchase commodities is limited to the gross or face amount of the contracts held.
The Fund’s exposure to market risk is also influenced by a number of factors including the volatility of interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, the liquidity of the markets in which the contracts are traded and the relationships among the contracts held. The inherent uncertainty of the Fund’s trading as well as the development of drastic market occurrences could ultimately lead to a loss of all or substantially all of the investors’ capital.
Credit Risk
When the Fund enters into futures contracts, the Fund is exposed to credit risk that the counterparty to the contract will not meet its obligations. The counterparty for futures contracts traded on United States and on most foreign futures exchanges is the clearing house associated with the particular exchange. In general, clearing houses are backed by their corporate members who may be required to share in the financial burden resulting from the nonperformance by one of their members and, as such, should significantly reduce this credit risk. In cases where the clearing house is not backed by the clearing members (i.e., some foreign exchanges), it may be backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions. There can be no assurance that any counterparty, clearing member or clearinghouse will meet its obligations to the Fund.
The Commodity Broker, when acting as the Fund’s futures commission merchant in accepting orders for the purchase or sale of domestic futures contracts, is required by CFTC regulations to separately account for and segregate as belonging to the Fund all assets of the Fund relating to domestic futures trading and the Commodity Broker is not allowed to commingle such assets with other assets of the Commodity Broker. In addition, CFTC regulations also require the Commodity Broker to hold in a secure account assets of the Fund related to foreign futures trading. Also, see Item 1A.-Risk Factors-“Failure of Futures Commission Merchants or Commodity Brokers to Segregate Assets May Increase Losses; Despite Segregation of Assets, The Fund Remains at Risk of Significant Losses Because The Fund May Only Receive a Pro-Rata Share of the Assets, or No Assets at All.” In addition, CFTC regulations also require the Commodity Broker to hold in a secure account assets of the Fund related to foreign futures trading.
Liquidity
The Fund’s entire source of capital is derived from the Fund’s offering of Shares to Authorized Participants. The Fund in turn allocates its net assets to commodities trading. A significant portion of the net asset value is held in United States Treasury Obligations and cash, which is used as margin for the Fund’s trading in commodities. The percentage that United States Treasury Obligations bear to the total net assets will vary from period to period as the market values of the Fund’s commodity interests change. The balance of the net assets is held in the Fund’s commodity trading account. Interest earned on the Fund’s interest-bearing funds is paid to the Fund.
The Fund’s commodity contracts may be subject to periods of illiquidity because of market conditions, regulatory considerations or for other reasons. For example, commodity exchanges generally have the ability to limit fluctuations in certain commodity futures contract prices during a single day by regulations referred to as “daily limits.” During a single day, no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limit. Once the price of a particular futures contract for a particular commodity has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in the commodity futures contract can neither be taken nor liquidated unless the traders are willing to effect trades at or within the limit. Commodity futures prices have occasionally moved the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading. Such market conditions could prevent the Fund from promptly liquidating its commodity futures positions.
Because the Fund trades futures contracts, its capital is at risk due to changes in the value of futures contracts (market risk) or the inability of counterparties (including the Commodity Broker and/or exchange clearinghouses) to perform under the terms of the contracts (credit risk).
On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Transfer Agent to redeem one or more Baskets. Redemption orders must be placed by 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. The day on which the Managing Owner receives a valid redemption order is the redemption order date. The day on which a redemption order is settled is the redemption order settlement date. As provided below, the redemption order settlement date may occur up to 3 business days after the redemption order date. Redemption orders are irrevocable. The redemption procedures allow only Authorized Participants to redeem Baskets. Individual Shareholders may not redeem directly from the Fund. Instead, individual Shareholders may only redeem Shares in integral multiples of 200,000 and only through an Authorized Participant.
Unless otherwise agreed to by the Managing Owner and the Authorized Participant as provided in the next sentence, by placing a redemption order, an Authorized Participant agrees to deliver the Baskets to be redeemed through DTC’s book-entry system to the Fund not later than the redemption order settlement date as of 2:45 p.m., Eastern time, on the business day immediately following the redemption order date. Upon submission of a redemption order, the Authorized Participant may request the Managing Owner to agree to a redemption order settlement date up to 3 business days after the redemption order date. By placing a redemption order, and prior to receipt of the redemption proceeds, an Authorized Participant’s DTC account is charged the non-refundable transaction fee due for the redemption order.
Redemption orders may be placed either (i) through the Continuous Net Settlement (“CNS”) clearing processes of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”) or (ii) if outside the CNS Clearing Process, only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC” or the “Depository”) (the “DTC Process”), or a successor depository, and only in exchange for cash. By placing a redemption order, and prior to receipt of the redemption proceeds, an Authorized Participant’s DTC account is charged the non-refundable transaction fee due for the redemption order and such fee is not borne by the Fund.
Cash Flows
The primary cash flow activity of the Fund is to raise capital from Authorized Participants through the issuance of Shares. This cash is used to invest in United States Treasury Obligations and to meet margin requirements as a result of the positions taken in futures contracts to match the fluctuations of the Index the Fund is tracking.
Operating Activities
Net cash flow provided by operating activities was $19.8 million, $0.4 million and $150.9 million for the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. This amount primarily includes net purchases and sales of United States Treasury Obligations which are held at fair value on the statement of financial condition.
During the Year Ended December 31, 2014, $725.9 million was paid to purchase United States Treasury Obligations and $755.0 million was received from sales and maturing United States Treasury Obligations. During the Year Ended December 31, 2013, $1000.9 million was paid to purchase United States Treasury Obligations and $1,101.5 million was received from sales and maturing United States Treasury Obligations. During the Year Ended December 31, 2012, $1,359.7 million was paid to purchase United States Treasury Obligations and $1,531.0 million was received from sales and maturing United States Treasury Obligations. Unrealized appreciation/depreciation on United States Treasury Obligations and futures increased (decreased) cash by $3.2 million, $(2.2) million, and $(39.7) million during the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Financing Activities
The Fund’s net cash flow (used for) financing activities was $(14.1) million, $(76.1) million and $(130.7) million during the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. This included $74.1 million, $76.7 million and $83.5 million from the sale of Shares to Authorized Participants during the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Results of Operations
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012, AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012
The Fund was launched on January 3, 2007 at $25.00 per Share. The Shares traded on the NYSE Alternext from January 5, 2007 to November 25, 2008 and have been trading on the NYSE Arca since November 25, 2008. The Fund’s performance information from inception up to and excluding the Closing Date is a reflection of the performance associated with the Predecessor Managing Owner. Past performance of the Fund is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
The Fund seeks to track changes in the closing levels of the DBIQ Optimum Yield Precious Metals Index Excess Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY Precious Metals ER™”, or the “Index”) over time, plus the excess, if any, of the Fund’s interest income from its holdings of United States Treasury Obligations and other high credit quality short-term fixed income securities over the expenses of the Fund. The following graphs illustrate changes in (i) the price of the Shares (as reflected by the graph “DBP”), (ii) the Fund’s NAV (as reflected by the graph “DBPNV”), and (iii) the closing levels of the Index (as reflected by the graph “DBPMIX”). Whenever the interest income earned by the Fund exceeds Fund expenses, the price of the Shares generally has exceeded the levels of the Index primarily because the Share price reflects interest income from the Fund’s collateral holdings whereas the Index does not consider such interest income. There can be no assurances that the price of the Shares will exceed the Index levels.
The Index is a set of rules applied to a body of data and does not represent the results of actual investment or trading. The Index is frictionless, in that it does not take into account fees or expenses associated with investing in the Fund. Also, because it does not represent actual futures positions, the Index is not subject to, and does not take into account the impact of, speculative position limits or certain other similar limitations on the ability of the Fund to trade the Index Commodities. The “TR” version of the Index includes an assumed amount of interest income based on prevailing rates that is adjusted from time to time. The Fund, by contrast, invests actual money and trades actual futures contracts. As a result, the performance of the Fund involves friction, in that fees and expenses impose a drag on performance. The Fund may be subject to speculative position limits and certain other limitations on its ability to trade the Index Commodities, which may compel the Fund to trade futures or other instruments that are not Index Commodities as proxies for the Index Commodities. The interest rate actually earned by the Fund over any period may differ from the assumed amount of interest income factored into the “TR” version of the Index over the same period. All of these factors can contribute to discrepancies between changes in net asset value per Share and changes in the level of the Index over any period of time. The extent to which the Fund has invested at an aggregate notional level approximating the Index value as opposed to the Fund’s aggregate net asset value also may contribute to discrepancies. Fees and expenses always will tend to cause changes in the net asset value per Share to underperform changes in the value of the Index over any given period, all other things being equal. Actual interest income could be higher or lower than the assumed interest income factored into the “TR” version of the Index, and therefore could cause changes in the net asset value per Share to outperform or underperform changes in the value of the “TR” version of the Index over any given period, all other things being equal. Similarly, trading futures or other instruments that are not the Index Commodities as proxies for the Index Commodities could cause changes in the net asset value per Share to outperform or underperform changes in the value of the Index over any given period, all other things being equal.
COMPARISON OF DBP, DBPNV AND DBPMIX FOR THE YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012 AND
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES,
POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUND’S FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES,
POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUND’S FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
See Additional Legends below
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES,
POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUND’S FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES,
POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUND’S FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
See Additional Legends below
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES,
POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUND’S FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES,
POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUND’S FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
See Additional Legends below
Additional Legends
The Fund seeks to track the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the DBIQ Optimum Yield Precious Metals Index Excess Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY Precious Metals ER™”, or the “Index”) over time, plus the excess, if any, of the Fund’s interest income from its holdings of United States Treasury Obligations and other high credit quality short-term fixed income securities over the expenses of the Fund. The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the precious metals sector. The commodities comprising the Index are gold and silver (each an “Index Commodity”, and collectively, the “Index Commodities”). The Shares are designed for investors who want a cost-effective and convenient way to invest in commodity futures on U.S. and non-U.S. markets.
DBIQ-Optimum Yield Precious Metals Excess Return™ is an index and does not reflect (i) actual trading and (ii) any fees or expenses.
WHILE THE FUND’S OBJECTIVE IS NOT TO GENERATE PROFIT THROUGH ACTIVE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT, BUT IS TO TRACK THE INDEX, BECAUSE THE INDEX WAS ESTABLISHED IN JULY 2006 (RENAMED IN OCTOBER 2010), CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS MAY BE CONSIDERED TO BE “HYPOTHETICAL.” HYPOTHETICAL INFORMATION MAY HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW.
WITH RESPECT TO INDEX DATA, NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT THE INDEX WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE CLOSING LEVELS CONSISTENT WITH OR SIMILAR TO THOSE SET FORTH HEREIN. SIMILARLY, NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT THE FUND WILL GENERATE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THE FUND’S PAST PERFORMANCE OR THE HISTORICAL ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE CHANGES IN THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS. IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVED BY INVESTMENT METHODOLOGIES, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE.
WITH RESPECT TO INDEX DATA, ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL INFORMATION IS THAT IT IS GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. TO THE EXTENT THAT INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN RELATES TO THE PERIOD DECEMBER 1988 THROUGH JUNE 2006, THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS REFLECT THE APPLICATION OF THE INDEX’S METHODOLOGY, AND SELECTION OF INDEX COMMODITIES, IN HINDSIGHT.
NO HYPOTHETICAL RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE DESCRIBED UNDER ITEM 1A: “RISK FACTORS” SET FORTH HEREIN, RELATED TO THE COMMODITIES MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FUND’S EFFORTS TO TRACK THE INDEX OVER TIME WHICH CANNOT BE, AND HAVE NOT BEEN, ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF THE INDEX INFORMATION SET FORTH ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES, ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS FOR THE FUND. FURTHERMORE, THE INDEX INFORMATION DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK OR ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FEES AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUND.
THE MANAGING OWNER AND ITS TRADING PRINCIPALS HAVE NO EXPERIENCE MANAGING THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS FOR THE FUND AND HAVE ONLY MANAGED AN EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND THAT RELATES TO A BROAD-BASED COMMODITY INDEX FOR A SHORT PERIOD. BECAUSE THERE ARE NO ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS OF THE MANAGING OWNER THAT ARE COMPARABLE TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS SET FORTH HEREIN, PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD BE PARTICULARLY WARY OF PLACING UNDUE RELIANCE ON THE ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE INDEX RESULTS. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, NONE OF THE PERFORMANCE RELATED INFORMATION THAT IS COVERED BY THE PERIOD OF THIS REPORT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE MANAGING OWNER.
THE PREDECESSOR MANAGING OWNER, AN INDIRECT WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF DEUTSCHE BANK AG, COMMENCED OPERATIONS IN JANUARY 2006. AS THE PREDECESSOR MANAGING OWNER, THE PREDECESSOR MANAGING OWNER AND ITS TRADING PRINCIPALS MANAGED THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS FOR THE FUND FROM INCEPTION UP TO AND EXCLUDING THE CLOSING DATE. BECAUSE THERE ARE LIMITED ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS TO COMPARE TO THE INDEX CLOSING LEVELS SET FORTH HEREIN, PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD BE PARTICULARLY WARY OF PLACING UNDUE RELIANCE ON THE ANNUAL OR CUMULATIVE INDEX RESULTS.
THE FUND’S PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FROM INCEPTION UP TO AND EXCLUDING THE CLOSING DATE IS A REFLECTION OF THE PERFORMANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREDECESSOR MANAGING OWNER AND ALL OF THE STATEMENTS REGARDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND ON AND AFTER THE CLOSING DATE ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS REGARDING THE EXPECTED PERFORMANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANAGING OWNER OF THE FUND.
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012
Fund Share Price Performance
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share decreased 6.48% from $39.19 per Share to $36.65 per Share. The Share price high and low for the Year Ended December 31, 2014 and related change from the Share price from December 31, 2013 was as follows: Shares traded from a high of $44.77 per Share (+14.25%) on March 14, 2014 to a low of $35.42 per Share (-9.62%) on November 5, 2014. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Year Ended December 31, 2014. Therefore, the total return for the Fund, on a market value basis, was -6.48%.
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share decreased 31.35% from $57.09 per Share to $39.19 per Share. The Share price high and low for the Year Ended December 31, 2013 and related change from the Share price on December 31, 2012 was as follows: Shares traded from a high of $58.18 per Share (+1.91%) on January 22, 2013 to a low of $38.74 per Share (-32.14%) on December 19, 2013. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Year Ended December 31, 2013. Therefore, the total return for the Fund, on a market value basis was -31.35%.
For the Year Ended December 31, 2012, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share increased 5.96% from $53.88 per Share to $57.09 per Share. The Share price low and high for the Year Ended December 31, 2012 and related change from the Share price on December 31, 2011 was as follows: Shares traded from a low of $52.63 per Share (-2.32%) on May 16, 2012 to a high of $63.42 per Share (+17.71%) on February 28, 2012. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Year Ended December 31, 2012. Therefore, the total return for the Fund, on a market value basis was +5.96%.
Fund Share Net Asset Performance
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014, the net asset value of each Share decreased 6.59% from $39.17 per Share to $36.59 per Share. Depreciation in the futures contract prices of Gold and Silver during the Year Ended December 31, 2014 contributed to an overall 5.53% decrease in the level of the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™. The Fund did not make a distribution to Shareholders during the Year Ended December 31, 2014. Therefore, the total return for the Fund on a net asset value basis was -6.59%.
Net loss for the Year Ended December 31, 2014 was $12.4 million, resulting from $0.1 million of interest income, net realized losses of $7.9 million, net change in unrealized losses of $3.2 million and operating expenses of $1.4 million.
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013, the net asset value of each Share decreased 31.40% from $57.10 per Share to $39.17 per Share. Depreciation in the prices of gold and silver futures contracts during the Year Ended December 31, 2013 contributed to an overall 30.26% decrease in the level of the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™. The Fund did not make a distribution to Shareholders during the Year Ended December 31, 2013. Therefore, the total return for the Fund on a net asset value basis was -31.40%.
Net loss for the Year Ended December 31, 2013 was $97.7 million, resulting from $0.1 million of interest income, net realized losses of $98.1 million, net change in unrealized gains of $2.2 million and operating expenses of $1.9 million.
For the Year Ended December 31, 2012, the net asset value of each Share increased 5.60% from $54.07 per Share to $57.10 per Share. Appreciation in the prices of gold and silver futures contracts during the Year Ended December 31, 2012 contributed to an overall 6.39% increase in the level of the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™. The Fund did not make a distribution to Shareholders during the Year Ended December 31, 2012. Therefore, the total return for the Fund on a net asset value basis was +5.60%.
Net income for the Year Ended December 31, 2012 was $19.7 million, resulting from $0.2 million of interest income, net realized losses of $17.3 million, net change in unrealized gains of $39.7 million and operating expenses of $2.9 million.
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013 AND 2012
Fund Share Price Performance
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share decreased 3.53% from $37.99 per Share to $36.65 per Share. The Share price high and low for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014 and related change from the Share price on September 30, 2014 was as follows: Shares traded from a high of $39.24 per Share (+3.29%) on October 21, 2014 to a low of $35.42 per Share (-6.76%) on November 5, 2014. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014. Therefore, the total return for the Fund, on a market value basis, was -3.53%.
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share decreased 10.26% from $43.67 per Share to $39.19 per Share. The Share price high and low for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013 and related change from the Share price on September 30, 2013 was as follows: Shares traded from a high $44.62 per Share (+2.18%) on October 28, 2013 to a low of $38.74 per Share (-11.29%) on December 19, 2013. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013. Therefore, the total return for the Fund, on a market value basis was -10.26%.
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2012, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share decreased 7.41% from $61.66 per Share to $57.09 per Share. The Share price high and low for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2012 and related change from the Share price on September 30, 2012 was as follows: Shares traded from a high of $62.33 per Share (+1.09%) on October 4, 2012 to a low of $56.27 per Share (-8.74%) on December 20, 2012. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Three Months Ended December 31, 2012. Therefore, the total return for the Fund, on a market value basis was -7.41%.
Fund Share Net Asset Performance
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014, the net asset value of each Share decreased 3.86% from $38.06 per Share to $36.59 per Share. Depreciation in the futures contract prices of Gold and Silver contributed to an overall 3.52% decrease in the level of the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014. Therefore, the total return for the Fund on a net asset value basis was -3.86%.
Net loss for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014 was $6.1 million, resulting from $0.01 million of interest income, net realized losses of $7.3 million, net change in unrealized gains of $1.5 million and operating expenses of $0.3 million.
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013, the net asset value of each Share decreased 10.24% from $43.64 per Share to $39.17 per Share. Depreciation in the prices of gold and silver futures contracts during the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013 contributed to an overall 9.78% decrease in the level of the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013. Therefore, the total return for the Fund on a net asset value basis was -10.24%.
Net loss for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013 was $23.3 million, resulting from $0.02 million of interest income, net realized losses of $21.9 million, net change in unrealized losses of $1.0 million and operating expenses of $0.4 million.
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2012, the net asset value of each Share decreased 7.31% from $61.60 per Share to $57.10 per Share. Depreciation in the prices of gold and silver futures contracts during the Three Months Ended December 31, 2012 contributed to an overall 7.03% decrease in the level of the DBIQ-OY Precious Metals TR™. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Three Months Ended December 31, 2012. Therefore, the total return for the Fund on a net asset value basis was -7.31%.
Net loss for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2012 was $29.5 million, resulting from $0.01 million of interest income, net realized gains of $3.2 million, net change in unrealized losses of $32.0 million and operating expenses of $0.7 million.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
In the normal course of its business, the Fund is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. The term “off-balance sheet risk” refers to an unrecorded potential liability that, even though it does not appear on the balance sheet, may result in a future obligation or loss. The financial instruments used by the Fund are commodity futures, whose values are based upon an underlying asset and generally represent future commitments which have a reasonable possibility to be settled in cash or through physical delivery. The financial instruments are traded on an exchange and are standardized contracts.
The Fund has not utilized, nor does it expect to utilize in the future, special purpose entities to facilitate off-balance sheet financing arrangements and has no loan guarantee arrangements or off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind, other than agreements entered into in the normal course of business noted above, which may include indemnification provisions related to certain risks service providers undertake in performing services which are in the best interests of the Fund. While the Fund’s exposure under such indemnification provisions cannot be estimated, these general business indemnifications are not expected to have a material impact on the Fund’s financial position.
The Fund’s contractual obligations are with the Managing Owner and the Commodity Broker. Management Fee payments are calculated as a fixed percentage of the Fund’s net asset value. Commission payments are on a contract-by-contract, or round-turn, basis. As such, the Managing Owner cannot anticipate the amount of payments that will be required under these arrangements for future periods as net asset values are not known until a future date. These agreements are effective for one year terms, renewable automatically for additional one year terms unless terminated. Additionally, these agreements may be terminated by either party for various reasons. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of the reporting period of this Form 10-K and up to the Closing Date, all Management Fees and commission payments were paid to the Predecessor Managing Owner and the Predecessor Commodity Broker, respectively.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
INTRODUCTION
The Fund is designed to replicate positions in a commodity index. The market sensitive instruments held by it are subject to the risk of trading loss. Unlike an operating company, the risk of market sensitive instruments is integral, not incidental, to the Fund’s main line of business.
Market movements can produce frequent changes in the fair market value of the Fund’s open positions and, consequently, in its earnings and cash flow. The Fund’s market risk is primarily influenced by changes in the price of commodities.
Value at Risk, or VaR, is a measure of the maximum amount which the Fund could reasonably be expected to lose in a given market sector. However, the inherent uncertainty in the markets in which the Fund trades and the recurrence in the markets traded by the Fund of market movements far exceeding expectations could result in actual trading or non-trading losses far beyond the indicated VaR or the Fund’s experience to date (i.e., “risk of ruin”). In light of this, as well as the risks and uncertainties intrinsic to all future projections, the inclusion of the quantification included in this section should not be considered to constitute any assurance or representation that the Fund’s losses in any market sector will be limited to VaR or by the Fund’s attempts to manage its market risk.
Standard of Materiality
Materiality as used in this section, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” is based on an assessment of reasonably possible market movements and the potential losses caused by such movements, taking into account the effects of margin, and any other multiplier features, as applicable, of the Fund’s market sensitive instruments.
QUANTIFYING THE FUND’S TRADING VALUE AT RISK
Quantitative Forward-Looking Statements
The following quantitative disclosures regarding the Fund’s market risk exposures contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor from civil liability provided for such statements by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). All quantitative disclosures in this section are deemed to be forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor, except for statements of historical fact (such as the dollar amount of maintenance margin required for market risk sensitive instruments held at the end of the reporting period).
Value at risk, or VaR, is a statistical measure of the value of losses that would not be expected to be exceeded over a given time horizon and at a given probability level arising from movement of underlying risk factors. Loss is measured as a decline in the fair value of the portfolio as a result of changes in any of the material variables by which fair values are determined. VaR is measured over a specified holding period (1 day) and to a specified level of statistical confidence (99th percentile). However, the inherent uncertainty in the markets in which the Fund trades and the recurrence in the markets traded by the Fund of market movements far exceeding expectations could result in actual trading or non-trading losses far beyond the indicated VaR or the Fund’s experience to date (i.e., “risk of ruin”). In light of this, as well as the risks and uncertainties intrinsic to all future projections, the inclusion of the quantification included in this section should not be considered to constitute any assurance or representation that the Fund’s losses in any market sector will be limited to VaR or by the Fund’s attempts to manage its market risk.
THE FUND’S TRADING VALUE AT RISK
The Fund calculates VaR using the actual historical market movements of the Fund’s total assets.
The following table indicates the trading VaR associated with the Fund’s total assets as of December 31, 2014.
* The VaR represents the one day downside risk, under normal market conditions, with a 99% confidence level. It is calculated using historical market moves of the Fund’s total assets and uses a one year look-back.
The following table indicates the trading VaR associated with the Fund’s total assets as of December 31, 2013.
* The VaR represents the one day downside risk, under normal market conditions, with a 99% confidence level. It is calculated using historical market moves of the Fund’s total assets and uses a one year look-back.
NON-TRADING RISK
The Fund has non-trading market risk as a result of investing in short-term United States Treasury Obligations. The market risk represented by these investments is expected to be immaterial.
QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES REGARDING PRIMARY TRADING RISK EXPOSURES
The following qualitative disclosures regarding the Fund’s market risk exposures-except for those disclosures that are statements of historical fact-constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. The Fund’s primary market risk exposures are subject to numerous uncertainties, contingencies and risks. Government interventions, defaults and expropriations, illiquid markets, the emergence of dominant fundamental factors, political upheavals, changes in historical price relationships, an influx of new market participants, increased regulation and many other factors could result in material losses as well as in material changes to the risk exposures of the Fund. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s current market exposure will not change materially. Investors may lose all or substantially all of their investment in the Fund.
The following were the primary trading risk exposures of the Fund as of December 31, 2014 by Index Commodity:
Gold
The price of gold is volatile and is affected by numerous factors. Gold prices float freely in accordance with supply and demand. The price movement of gold may be influenced by a variety of factors, including announcements from central banks regarding reserve gold holdings, agreements among central banks, purchases and sales of gold by central banks, other governmental agencies that hold large supplies of gold, political uncertainties, economic concerns such as an increase or decrease in confidence in the global monetary system, the relative strength of the U.S. dollar, interest rates and numerous other factors. Gold prices may also be affected by industry factors such as industrial and jewelry demand.
Silver
The price of silver is volatile and is affected by numerous factors. The largest industrial users of silver (e.g., photographic, jewelry, and electronic industries) may influence its price. A change in economic conditions, such as a recession, can adversely affect industries which are significant users of silver. In turn, such a negative economic impact may decrease demand for silver, and, consequently, its price. Worldwide speculation and hedging activity by silver producers may also impact its price.
QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES REGARDING NON-TRADING RISK EXPOSURE
General
The Fund is unaware of any (i) anticipated known demands, commitments or capital expenditures; (ii) material trends, favorable or unfavorable, in its capital resources; or (iii) trends or uncertainties that will have a material effect on operations.
QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES REGARDING MEANS OF MANAGING RISK EXPOSURE
Under ordinary circumstances, the Managing Owner’s discretionary power is limited to determining whether the Fund will make a distribution. Under emergency or extraordinary circumstances, the Managing Owner’s discretionary powers increase, but remain circumscribed. These special circumstances, for example, include the unavailability of the Index or certain natural or man-made disasters. The Managing Owner does not actively manage the Fund to avoid losses. The Fund initiates positions only on the “long” side of the market and does not employ “stop-loss” techniques.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Report of Management on Internal Control
Over Financial Reporting
Management of Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC, as managing owner (the “Managing Owner”) of PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund (the “Fund”), is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined under Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Fund; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that the Fund’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations of management; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Fund’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements, errors or fraud. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
We, Andrew Schlossberg, Principal Executive Officer, and Steven Hill, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools, of the Managing Owner, assessed the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (1992). The assessment included an evaluation of the design of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operational effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting. Based on our assessment and those criteria, we have concluded that the Fund maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014.
The Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, has audited the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, as stated in their report on page 36 of the Fund’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
By:
/S/ Andrew Schlossberg
Name:
Andrew Schlossberg
Title:
Principal Executive Officer of
the Managing Owner
By:
/S/ Steven Hill
Name:
Steven Hill
Title:
Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools, of the Managing Owner
March 6, 2015
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders of PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund:
In our opinion, the accompanying statements of financial condition, including the schedules of investments, and the related statements of income and expenses, of changes in shareholders’ equity and of cash flows, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund (the “Fund”) at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2014 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Fund maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Fund’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A fund’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A fund’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the fund; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the fund are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management of the fund; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the fund’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
March 6, 2015
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Managers of Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC and
The Shareholders of PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund:
We have audited the accompanying statements of income and expenses, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows of PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund (the Fund), a series of the PowerShares DB Multi-Sector Commodity Trust, for the year ended December 31, 2012. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and the cash flows of PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund for the year ended December 31, 2012, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ KPMG LLP
New York, New York
March 1, 2013
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Statements of Financial Condition
December 31, 2014 and 2013
See accompanying notes to financial statements
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Schedule of Investments
December 31, 2014
A portion of the above United States Treasury Obligations are held as margin against open futures contracts, as described in Note 3.
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is presented above, net by contract.
See accompanying notes to financial statements
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Schedule of Investments
December 31, 2013
A portion of the above United States Treasury Obligations are held as margin against open futures contracts, as described in Note 3.
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is presented above, net by contract. Refer to Note 5(h) for gross amounts of unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation on futures contracts.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Statements of Income and Expenses
For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
See accompanying notes to financial statements
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
See accompanying notes to financial statements
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
See accompanying notes to financial statements
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
See accompanying notes to financial statements
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
See accompanying notes to financial statements
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014
(1) Background
On October 24, 2014, DB Commodity Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“DBCS”), DB U.S. Financial Markets Holding Corporation (“DBUSH”) and Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC (“Invesco”) entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”). DBCS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DBUSH. DBCS agreed to transfer and sell to Invesco all of DBCS’ interest in the PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund (the “Fund”), a separate series of PowerShares DB Multi-Sector Commodity Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized in seven separate series, including the sole and exclusive power to direct the business and affairs of the Trust and the Fund, as well as certain other assets pertaining to the management of Trust and the Fund, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Agreement (the “Transaction”).
The Transaction was consummated on February 23, 2015 (the “Closing Date”). Invesco now serves as the managing owner (the “Managing Owner”), commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor of the Trust and the Fund, in replacement of DBCS (the “Predecessor Managing Owner”).
(2) Organization
The Fund is a separate series of the Trust. The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized in seven separate series and was formed on August 3, 2006. The Predecessor Managing Owner seeded the Fund with a capital contribution of $1,000 in exchange for 40 General Shares of the Fund. The General Shares were sold to the Managing Owner by the Predecessor Managing Owner pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. The fiscal year end of the Fund is December 31st. The term of the Fund is perpetual (unless terminated earlier in certain circumstances) as provided for in the Fifth Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement of the Trust (the “Trust Agreement”).
The Fund offers common units of beneficial interest (the “Shares”) only to certain eligible financial institutions (the “Authorized Participants”) in one or more blocks of 200,000 Shares, called a Basket. The proceeds from the offering of Shares are invested in the Fund. The Fund commenced investment operations on January 3, 2007. The Fund commenced trading on the American Stock Exchange (which became the NYSE Alternext US LLC (the “NYSE Alternext”)) on January 5, 2007 and, as of November 25, 2008, is listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”).
This Report covers the year ended December 31, 2014 (herein referred to as the “Year Ended December 31, 2014”), the year ended December 31, 2013 (herein referred to as the “Year Ended December 31, 2013”) and the year ended December 31, 2012 (herein referred to as the “Year Ended December 31, 2012”). The Fund’s performance information from inception up to and excluding the Closing Date is a reflection of the performance associated with the Predecessor Managing Owner. Past performance of the Fund is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
(3) Fund Investment Overview
The Fund invests with a view to tracking the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the DBIQ Optimum Yield Precious Metals Index Excess Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY Precious Metals ER™”, or the “Index”) over time, plus the excess, if any, of the Fund’s interest income from its holdings of United States Treasury Obligations and other high credit quality short-term fixed income securities over the expenses of the Fund. The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the precious metals sector. The commodities comprising the Index are gold and silver (each an “Index Commodity”, and collectively, the “Index Commodities”).
The CFTC and/or commodity exchanges, as applicable, impose position limits on market participants trading in certain commodities included in the Index. The Index is comprised of futures contracts on each of the Index Commodities that expire in a specific month and trade on a specific exchange (the “Index Contracts”). As disclosed in the Fund’s Prospectus, if the Managing Owner determines in its commercially reasonable judgment that it has become impracticable or inefficient for any reason for the Fund to gain full or partial exposure to any Index Commodity by investing in a specific Index Contract, the Fund may invest in (i) a futures contract referencing the particular Index Commodity other than the Index Contract or, in the alternative, invest in (ii) other futures contracts not based on the particular Index Commodity ((i) and (ii) collectively, the “Alternative Futures Contracts”) if, in the commercially reasonable judgment of the Managing Owner, such Alternative Futures Contracts tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with such Index Commodity.
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Notes to Financial Statements-(Continued)
December 31, 2014
The Fund also holds United States Treasury Obligations for deposit with the Fund’s Commodity Broker as margin. The Fund does not borrow money to increase leverage. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Fund had $156,789,542 (or 100.00% of its total assets) and $183,319,612 (or 100.00% of its total assets), respectively, of its holdings of cash, United States Treasury Obligations and unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts on deposit with its Commodity Broker. Of this, $7,637,300 (or 4.87%) and $14,009,875 (or 7.64%), is required to be deposited to satisfy maintenance margin required by the Commodity Broker for the Fund’s open futures positions as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. For additional information, please see the audited Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 for details of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
(4) Service Providers and Related Party Agreements
The Trustee
Under the Trust Agreement, Wilmington Trust Company, the trustee of the Fund (the “Trustee”) has delegated to the Managing Owner the exclusive management and control of all aspects of the business of the Trust and the Fund. The Trustee will have no duty or liability to supervise or monitor the performance of the Managing Owner, nor will the Trustee have any liability for the acts or omissions of the Managing Owner.
The Managing Owner
The Managing Owner serves the Fund as commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor and managing owner. The Fund pays the Managing Owner a management fee, monthly in arrears, in an amount equal to 0.75% per annum of the daily net asset value of the Fund; provided, however, for purposes of the reporting period of this Form 10-K and up to the Closing Date, all Management Fees were payable to the Predecessor Managing Owner (the “Management Fee”).
During the Year Ended December 31, 2014, the Fund incurred Management Fees of $1,346,888, of which $94,583 was payable at December 31, 2014. During the Year Ended December 31, 2013, the Fund incurred Management Fees of $1,880,210, of which $117,305 was payable at December 31, 2013. During the Year Ended December 31, 2012, the Fund incurred Management Fees of $2,838,239.
The Commodity Broker
Effective as of the Closing Date, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, serves as the Fund’s futures clearing broker (the “Commodity Broker”); provided, however, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (“DBSI”), a Delaware corporation, served as the Fund’s futures clearing broker prior to and during the reporting period of this Form 10-K and up to the Closing Date (the “Predecessor Commodity Broker”). DBSI is also an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG and is an affiliate of the Predecessor Managing Owner. In its capacity as clearing broker, the Commodity Broker executes and clears each of the Fund’s futures transactions and performs certain administrative and custodial services for the Fund. As custodian of the Fund’s assets, the Commodity Broker is responsible, among other things, for providing periodic accountings of all dealings and actions taken by the Trust on behalf of the Fund during the reporting period, together with an accounting of all securities, cash or other indebtedness or obligations held by it or its nominees for or on behalf of the Fund. For the Year Ended December 31, 2014, the Fund incurred brokerage fees of $70,834, of which $4,837 was payable at December 31, 2014. For the Year Ended December 31, 2013, the Fund incurred brokerage fees of $39,778, of which $2,654 was payable at December 31, 2013. For the Year Ended December 31, 2012, the Fund incurred brokerage fees of $54,290.
The Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent
The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Administrator”) is the administrator, custodian and transfer agent of the Fund, and has entered into separate administrative, custodian, transfer agency and service agreements (collectively referred to as the “Administration Agreement”).
Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator performs or supervises the performance of services necessary for the operation and administration of the Fund (other than making investment decisions), including receiving and processing orders from Authorized Participants to create and redeem Baskets, net asset value calculations, accounting and other fund administrative services. The Administrator retains certain financial books and records, including: Basket creation and redemption books and records, fund accounting records, ledgers with respect to assets, liabilities, capital, income and expenses, the registrar, transfer journals and related details, and trading and related documents received from the futures commission merchants. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, there were no Fund assets held by the Administrator.
The Distributor
ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) provides certain distribution services to the Fund. Pursuant to the Distribution Services Agreement among the Managing Owner in its capacity as managing owner of the Fund, the Fund and the Distributor, the Distributor assists the Managing Owner and the Administrator with certain functions and duties relating to distribution and marketing services to the Fund including reviewing and approving marketing materials.
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Notes to Financial Statements-(Continued)
December 31, 2014
Index Sponsor
Effective as of the Closing Date, the Managing Owner, on behalf of the Fund, has appointed Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. to serve as the index sponsor (the “Index Sponsor”). (Prior to the Closing Date, the index sponsor was Deutsche Bank AG London.) The Index Sponsor calculates and publishes the daily index levels and the indicative intraday index levels. Additionally, the Index Sponsor also calculates the indicative value per Share of the Fund throughout each Business Day.
The Managing Owner pays the Index Sponsor a licensing fee and an index services fee for performing its duties.
Marketing Agent
Effective as of the Closing Date, the Managing Owner, on behalf of the Fund, has appointed Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as the marketing agent (the “Marketing Agent”) to assist the Managing Owner by providing support to educate institutional investors about the Deutsche Bank indices and to complete governmental or institutional due diligence questionnaires or requests for proposals related to the Deutsche Bank indices.
The Managing Owner pays the Marketing Agent a marketing services fee.
The Marketing Agent will not open or maintain customer accounts or handle orders for the Fund. The Marketing Agent has no responsibility for the performance of the Fund or the decisions made or actions taken by the Managing Owner.
(5) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Basis of Presentation
The financial statements of the Fund have been prepared using U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”).
In June 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued updated guidance clarifying the characteristics of an investment company and requiring new disclosures. Under the guidance, all entities regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 automatically qualify as investment companies, while all other entities need to consider both the fundamental and typical characteristics of an investment company in determining whether they qualify as investment companies. This new guidance is effective for interim or annual reporting periods that begin after December 15, 2013, and should be applied prospectively. The Fund adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2014. The Fund has determined that it meets the definition of an investment company and has prepared the financial statements in conformity with accounting and reporting guidance of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 - Investment Companies, which is part of U.S. GAAP. The adoption of this guidance had no effect on the Fund’s statements of financial condition, including the schedule of investments, and the related statements of income and expenses, changes in shareholders’ equity and of cash flows.
In August 2014, the FASB issued a new standard, Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15 Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, which will explicitly require management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosure in certain circumstances. This new guidance is effective for all entities in the first annual reporting period ending after December 15, 2016. The Fund is currently evaluating this guidance and its impact on the Fund’s financial statement disclosures.
(b) Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities during the reporting period of the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. There were no significant estimates used in the preparation of these financial statements.
(c) Financial Instruments and Fair Value
United States Treasury Obligations and commodity futures contracts are recorded in the statements of financial condition on a trade date basis at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings in each period. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (the exit price). The brokerage agreement with the Commodity Broker provides for the net settlement of all financial instruments covered by the agreement in the event of default or termination of any one contract.
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Notes to Financial Statements-(Continued)
December 31, 2014
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification fair value measurement and disclosure guidance requires a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Basis of Fair Value Measurement
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly;
Level 3: Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
In determining fair value of United States Treasury Obligations and commodity futures contracts, the Fund uses unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets. United States Treasury Obligations and commodity futures contracts are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The Fund does not adjust the quoted prices for United States Treasury Obligations and commodity futures contracts.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value were as follows:
There were no Level 2 or Level 3 holdings during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers in and out of the valuation levels as of the end of the reporting period.
(d) Deposits with Commodity Broker
The Fund deposits cash and United States Treasury Obligations with its Commodity Broker subject to CFTC regulations and various exchange and broker requirements. The combination of the Fund’s deposits with its Commodity Broker of cash and United States Treasury Obligations and the unrealized profit or loss on open futures contracts (variation margin) represents the Fund’s overall equity in its broker trading account. To meet the Fund’s initial margin requirements, the Fund holds United States Treasury Obligations. The Fund uses its cash held by the Commodity Broker to satisfy variation margin requirements. The Fund earns interest on its cash deposited with the Commodity Broker.
(e) United States Treasury Obligations
The Fund records purchases and sales of United States Treasury Obligations on a trade date basis. These holdings are marked to market based on quoted market closing prices. The Fund holds United States Treasury Obligations for deposit with the Fund’s Commodity Broker to meet margin requirements and for trading purposes. Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis when earned. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted in interest income over the life of the United States Treasury Obligations. The Fund purchased $3,000,000 face amount of United States Treasury Obligations valued at $2,999,738 which was recorded as payable for securities purchased as of December 31, 2014. The Fund purchased $3,000,000 face amount of United States Treasury Obligations valued at $2,999,507 which was recorded as payable for securities purchased as of December 31, 2013.
(f) Cash Held by Commodity Broker
The Fund’s arrangement with the Commodity Broker requires the Fund to meet its variation margin requirement related to the price movements, both positive and negative, on futures contracts held by the Fund by keeping cash on deposit with the Commodity Broker. The Fund defines cash and cash equivalents to be highly liquid investments, with original maturities of three months or less when purchased. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Fund had cash held with the Commodity Broker of $15,350,341 and $9,718,986. There were no cash equivalents held by the Fund as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Notes to Financial Statements-(Continued)
December 31, 2014
(g) Income Taxes
The Fund is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Fund will not incur U.S. federal income taxes. No provision for federal, state, and local income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements, as investors are individually liable for income taxes, if any, on their allocable share of the Fund’s income, gain, loss, deductions and other items.
Management of the Fund has reviewed all open tax years and major jurisdictions and concluded that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits relating to uncertain income tax positions taken or expected to be taken in future tax returns. The Funds are also not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months. On an ongoing basis, management will monitor its tax positions taken under the interpretation (and consult with its tax counsel from time to time when appropriate) to determine if adjustments to conclusions are necessary based on factoring including, but not limited to, on-going analysis of tax law, regulation, and interpretations thereof. The major tax jurisdiction for the Fund and the earliest tax year subject to examination: United States, 2010.
(h) Futures Contracts
All commodity futures contracts are held and used for trading purposes. The commodity futures contracts are recorded on a trade date basis and open contracts are recorded in the statement of financial condition at fair value on the last business day of the period, which represents market value for those commodity futures contracts for which market quotes are readily available. However, when market closing prices are not available, the Managing Owner may value an asset of the Fund pursuant to policies the Managing Owner has adopted, which are consistent with normal industry standards. Realized gains (losses) and changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on open positions are determined on a specific identification basis and recognized in the statement of income and expenses in the period in which the contract is closed or the changes occur, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the average monthly notional market value of futures contracts held was $183.1 million and $257.0 million, respectively.
The Fair Value of Derivative Instruments as of December 31, 2014 is as follows:
The Fair Value of Derivative Instruments as of December 31, 2013 is as follows:
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Notes to Financial Statements-(Continued)
December 31, 2014
The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statements of Income and Expenses is as follows:
The Fund utilizes derivative instruments to achieve its investment objective. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund offsets financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements. In order for an arrangement to be eligible for netting, the Fund must have a basis to conclude that such netting arrangements are legally enforceable. The following table presents derivative instruments that are either subject to an enforceable netting agreement or offset by collateral arrangements as of December 31, 2014, net by contract:
The following table presents derivative instruments that are either subject to an enforceable netting agreement or offset by collateral arrangements as of December 31, 2013:
* As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, a portion of the Fund’s cash and US Treasury Obligations were required to be deposited as margin in support of the Fund’s futures positions as described in Note 3.
The Managing Owner will utilize the cash held at the Commodity Broker to offset any realized losses incurred in the commodity futures contracts, if available. To the extent that cash held at the commodity broker is not adequate to cover any realized losses, a portion of the United States Treasury Bills will be sold to make additional cash available.
(i) Brokerage Commissions and Fees
The Fund incurs all brokerage commissions, including applicable exchange fees, National Futures Association (“NFA”) fees, give-up fees, pit brokerage fees and other transaction related fees and expenses charged in connection with trading activities by the Commodity Broker. These costs are recorded as brokerage commissions and fees in the statement of income and expenses as incurred. The Commodity Broker’s brokerage commissions and trading fees are determined on a contract-by-contract basis. On average, total charges paid to the Commodity Broker were less than $10.00 per round-turn trade for the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Notes to Financial Statements-(Continued)
December 31, 2014
(j) Routine Operational, Administrative and Other Ordinary Expenses
Effective as of the Closing Date, the Managing Owner assumes all routine operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses of the Fund, including, but not limited to, computer services, the fees and expenses of the Trustee, legal and accounting fees and expenses, tax preparation expenses, filing fees and printing, mailing and duplication costs. For purposes of the reporting period of this Form 10-K and up to the Closing Date, the Predecessor Managing Owner assumed all routine operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses of the Fund. Accordingly, all such expenses are not reflected in the statement of income and expenses of the Fund.
(k) Organizational and Offering Costs
Prior to the Closing Date, all organizational and offering expenses (including continuous offering expenses for the offering of the Shares) incurred by the Fund was assumed by the Predecessor Managing Owner. Effective as of the Closing Date, all offering expenses (including continuous offering expenses for the offering of the Shares) incurred by the Fund were assumed by the Managing Owner. The Fund is not responsible to either the Predecessor Managing Owner or the Managing Owner for the reimbursement of organizational and offering costs (including continuous offering expenses for the offering of the Shares).
(l) Non-Recurring Fees and Expenses
The Fund pays all non-recurring and unusual fees and expenses (referred to as extraordinary fees and expenses in the Trust Declaration), if any, of itself, as determined by the Managing Owner. Non-recurring and unusual fees and expenses are fees and expenses which are non-recurring and unusual in nature, such as legal claims and liabilities, litigation costs or indemnification or other unanticipated expenses. Such non-recurring and unusual fees and expenses, by their nature, are unpredictable in terms of timing and amount. For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Fund did not incur such expenses.
(6) Financial Instrument Risk
In the normal course of its business, the Fund is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. The term “off-balance sheet risk” refers to an unrecorded potential liability that, even though it does not appear on the balance sheet, may result in a future obligation or loss in excess of the amounts shown on the Statement of Financial Condition. The financial instruments used by the Fund are commodity futures, whose values are based upon an underlying asset and generally represent future commitments that have a reasonable possibility of being settled in cash or through physical delivery. The financial instruments are traded on an exchange and are standardized contracts.
Market risk is the potential for changes in the value of the financial instruments traded by the Fund due to market changes, including fluctuations in commodity prices. In entering into these futures contracts, there exists a market risk that such futures contracts may be significantly influenced by adverse market conditions, resulting in such futures contracts being less valuable. If the markets should move against all of the futures contracts at the same time, the Fund could experience substantial losses.
Credit risk is the possibility that a loss may occur due to the failure of the Commodity Broker and/or clearinghouse to perform according to the terms of a futures contract. Credit risk with respect to exchange-traded instruments is reduced to the extent that an exchange or clearing organization acts as a counterparty to the transactions. The Commodity Broker, when acting as the Fund’s futures commission merchant in accepting orders for the purchase or sale of domestic futures contracts, is required by CFTC regulations to separately account for and segregate as belonging to the Fund all assets of the Fund relating to domestic futures trading and the Commodity Broker is not allowed to commingle such assets with other assets of the Commodity Broker. In addition, CFTC regulations also require the Commodity Broker to hold in a secure account assets of the Fund related to foreign futures trading, if any. The Fund’s risk of loss in the event of counterparty default is typically limited to the amounts recognized in the statement of financial condition and not represented by the futures contract or notional amounts of the instruments.
The Fund has not utilized, nor does it expect to utilize in the future, special purpose entities to facilitate off-balance sheet financing arrangements and has no loan guarantee arrangements or off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind, other than agreements entered into in the normal course of business noted above.
(7) Share Purchases and Redemptions
(a) Purchases
On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Transfer Agent to create one or more Baskets. For purposes of processing both creation and redemption orders, a “business day” means any day other than a day when banks in New York City are required or permitted to be closed. Creation orders must be placed by 10:00 a.m., Eastern time. The day on which the Transfer Agent receives a valid creation order is the creation order date. The day on which a creation order is settled is the creation order settlement date. As provided below, the creation order settlement date may occur up to 3 business days after the creation order date. By placing a creation order, and prior to delivery of such Baskets, an Authorized Participant’s DTC account is charged the non refundable transaction fee due for the creation order.
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Notes to Financial Statements-(Continued)
December 31, 2014
Unless otherwise agreed to by the Managing Owner and the Authorized Participant as provided in the next sentence, Baskets are issued on the creation order settlement date as of 2:45 p.m., Eastern time, on the business day immediately following the creation order date at the applicable net asset value per Share as of the closing time of the NYSE Arca or the last to close of the exchanges on which its futures contracts are traded, whichever is later, on the creation order date, but only if the required payment has been timely received. Upon submission of a creation order, the Authorized Participant may request the Managing Owner to agree to a creation order settlement date up to 3 business days after the creation order date. By placing a creation order, and prior to receipt of the Baskets, an Authorized Participant’s DTC account is charged the non-refundable transaction fee due for the creation order.
Creation orders may be placed either (i) through the Continuous Net Settlement (“CNS”) clearing processes of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”) or (ii) if outside the CNS Clearing Process, only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC” or the “Depository”) (the “DTC Process”), or a successor depository.
(b) Redemptions
On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Transfer Agent to redeem one or more Baskets. Redemption orders must be placed by 10:00 a.m., Eastern time. The day on which the Managing Owner receives a valid redemption order is the redemption order date. The day on which a redemption order is settled is the redemption order settlement date. As provided below, the redemption order settlement date may occur up to 3 business days after the redemption order date. The redemption procedures allow Authorized Participants to redeem Baskets. Individual Shareholders may not redeem directly from the Fund. Instead, individual Shareholders may only redeem Shares in integral multiples of 200,000 and only through an Authorized Participant.
Unless otherwise agreed to by the Managing Owner and the Authorized Participant as provided in the next sentence, by placing a redemption order, an Authorized Participant agrees to deliver the Baskets to be redeemed through DTC’s book-entry system to the Fund not later than the redemption order settlement date as of 2:45 p.m., Eastern time, on the business day immediately following the redemption order date. Upon submission of a redemption order, the Authorized Participant may request the Managing Owner to agree to a redemption order settlement date up to 3 business days after the redemption order date. By placing a redemption order, and prior to receipt of the redemption proceeds, an Authorized Participant’s DTC account is charged the non-refundable transaction fee due for the redemption order.
Redemption orders may be placed either (i) through the CNS clearing processes of the NSCC or (ii) if outside the CNS Clearing Process, only through the DTC Process, or a successor depository, and only in exchange for cash. By placing a redemption order, and prior to receipt of the redemption proceeds, an Authorized Participant’s DTC account is charged the non-refundable transaction fee due for the redemption order.
The redemption proceeds from the Fund consist of the cash redemption amount. The cash redemption amount is equal to the net asset value of the number of Basket(s) of the Fund requested in the Authorized Participant’s redemption order as of the closing time of the NYSE Arca or the last to close of the exchanges on which the Fund’s futures contracts are traded, whichever is later, on the redemption order date. The Managing Owner will distribute the cash redemption amount at the redemption order settlement date as of 2:45 p.m., Eastern time, on the redemption order settlement date through DTC to the account of the Authorized Participant as recorded on DTC’s book-entry system.
The redemption proceeds due from the Fund are delivered to the Authorized Participant at 2:45 p.m., Eastern time, on the redemption order settlement date if, by such time, the Fund’s DTC account has been credited with the Baskets to be redeemed. If the Fund’s DTC account has not been credited with all of the Baskets to be redeemed by such time, the redemption distribution is delivered to the extent of whole Baskets received. Any remainder of the redemption distribution is delivered on the next business day to the extent of remaining whole Baskets received if the Transfer Agent receives the fee applicable to the extension of the redemption distribution date which the Managing Owner may, from time-to-time, determine and the remaining Baskets to be redeemed are credited to the Fund’s DTC account by 2:45 p.m., Eastern time, on such next business day. Any further outstanding amount of the redemption order will be cancelled. The Managing Owner is also authorized to deliver the redemption distribution notwithstanding that the Baskets to be redeemed are not credited to the Fund’s DTC account by 2:45 p.m., Eastern time, on the redemption order settlement date if the Authorized Participant has collateralized its obligation to deliver the Baskets through DTC’s book-entry system on such terms as the Managing Owner may determine from time-to-time.
(8) Profit and Loss Allocations and Distributions
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, income and expenses are allocated pro rata to the Managing Owner as holder of the General Shares and to the Shareholders monthly based on their respective percentage interests as of the close of the last trading day of the preceding month. Distributions (other than redemption of units) may be made at the sole discretion of the Managing Owner on a pro rata basis in accordance with the respective capital balances of the shareholders.
No distributions were paid for the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Notes to Financial Statements-(Continued)
December 31, 2014
(9) Commitments and Contingencies
The Managing Owner, either in its own capacity or in its capacity as the Managing Owner and on behalf of the Fund, has entered into various service agreements that contain a variety of representations, or provide indemnification provisions related to certain risks service providers undertake in performing services which are in the best interests of the Fund. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, no claims had been received by the Fund and it was therefore not possible to estimate the Fund’s potential future exposure under such indemnification provisions. Further, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Accordingly, the Managing Owner expects the risk of loss to be remote.
(10) Net Asset Value and Financial Highlights
The Fund is presenting the following net asset value and financial highlights related to investment performance for a Share outstanding for the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. The net investment income and total expense ratios are calculated using average net asset value. The net asset value presentation is calculated using average daily Shares outstanding. The total return is based on the change in net asset value of the Shares during the period. An individual investor’s return and ratios may vary based on the timing of capital transactions.
Net asset value per Share is the net asset value of the Fund divided by the number of outstanding Shares at the date of each respective period presented.
(11) Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund
Notes to Financial Statements-(Continued)
December 31, 2014
(12) Subsequent Events
See Note 1 above regarding the transaction under which DBCS agreed to transfer and sell to Invesco all of DBCS’ interest in the Fund, including the sole and exclusive power to direct the business and affairs of the Fund, as well as certain other assets pertaining to the management of the Fund, pursuant to the terms and conditions of a certain Asset Purchase Agreement.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of the management of the Managing Owner, including Andrew Schlossberg, its Principal Executive Officer, and Steven Hill, its Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools, the Fund carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report, and, based upon that evaluation, Andrew Schlossberg, the Principal Executive Officer, and Steven Hill, the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools, of the Managing Owner, concluded that the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information the Fund is required to disclose in the reports that it files or submits with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management of the Managing Owner, including its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in internal control over financial reporting (as defined in the Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during the Fund’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management of the Managing Owner is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined under Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act, for the Fund. Andrew Schlossberg, the Principal Executive Officer, and Steven Hill, the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools, of the Managing Owner, assessed the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014. Their report in connection with their assessment may be found in the “Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” on page 35 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, has audited the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, as stated in their report on page 36 of this Form 10-K.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Neither the Managing Owner nor any affiliates of the Managing Owner engaged in any activities as defined under Section 13(r) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, during the reporting periods covered by this report.
Deutsche Bank AG, the ultimate parent company of the predecessor Managing Owner, has provided us the disclosure set forth below describing the ITRA-relevant activities of it and its affiliates for the year ended December 31, 2014. All references in this quoted disclosure to “we,” “us” and “our” are to Deutsche Bank AG and its affiliates. None of the disclosed activities or transactions were conducted by the Registrant.
Disclosures Under Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012
Under Section 219 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, which added Section 13(r) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, an issuer of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is required to disclose in its periodic reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 certain of its activities and those of its affiliates relating to Iran and to other persons sanctioned by the U.S. under programs relating to terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction that occurred during the period covered by the report. We describe below a number of potentially disclosable activities of Deutsche Bank AG and its affiliates. Disclosure is generally required regardless of whether the activities, transactions or dealings were conducted in compliance with applicable law.
Legacy Financing Arrangements. Despite having ceased entering into new business in or with Iran in 2007, we continue to be engaged as lender, sponsoring bank and/or facility agent or arranger in several long-term financing agreements relating to the construction or acquisition of plant or equipment for the petroleum and petrochemical industries, under which Iranian entities were the direct or indirect borrowers. Before 2007, as part of banking consortia, we entered into a number of financing arrangements, three of which remained outstanding as of December 31, 2014, with the National Petrochemical Company (NPC) and its group entities as borrowers. The latest final maturity under these loan facilities is in 2019. These loan facilities were guaranteed by national export credit agencies representing two European governments. In principle, the obligations of the borrowers under these loan facilities are secured by assignments of receivables from oil and oil products exported by NPC and/or its trading subsidiaries to buyers, mostly in Asia. These delivery obligations, however, were waived for the period covered by this report, because of the current sanctions environment. For some of these arrangements, we act as escrow agent, holding escrow accounts for the Iranian borrowers mentioned above, into which receivables are, in principle, paid by the buyers of the oil and oil products. During the period covered by this report, no such receivables were paid to the said escrow accounts. Such accounts are pledged in favor of the relevant banking consortium. We have no involvement in the contractual arrangements related to, or in the physical settlement of, the oil and oil product exports mentioned above. Iranian entities in whose names the escrow accounts are held are not permitted to draw on such accounts, either because they are sanctioned parties or, where this is not the case, because of our business decision to not allow access to such accounts in light of the overall sanctions environment.
During 2014, approximately  1.0 million was paid into the escrow account. We, in our role as agent, distributed to the participants in the banking consortia  45 million including portions attributable to us totaling  5.9 million.
We received approximately  2.6 million of repayments in principal and approximately  4,000 interest in 2014 with respect to transactions in which we were a lender but not an agent or arranger.
In one financing arrangement, we are not ourselves a lender but act rather as agent for a lender, a state-owned development bank. In this capacity, we received fees from the Iranian borrower of approximately  2,000 and passed them on to the lender.
We generated revenues in 2014 of approximately  2.2 million in respect of these financing arrangements, of which approximately  1.9 million consisted of escrow account revenues,  0.2 million consisted of loan interest revenues and  34,000 consisted of fee revenues. The net profits were less than these amounts. This amount includes the revenues from BHF-Bank’s business related to Iran attributable to the time it still was our subsidiary. BHF-Bank was acquired as part of the acquisition of the Sal. Oppenheim Group in March 2010 and was sold by us effective March 26, 2014.
As of December 31, 2014, we have an undrawn commitment of approximately  1.3 million under one of the financing agreements referred to above. Due to the export credit agency coverage, this remainder cannot be cancelled without German government approval, for which we have applied but which we have not yet received. We do not intend to make further disbursements upon this undrawn commitment.
Our portion of the outstanding principal amount of the remaining loan facilities amounted to approximately  25 million as of December 31, 2014. We intend to continue pursuing repayment and fulfilling our administrative role under these agreements, but we do not intend to engage in any new extensions of credit to these or other Iranian entities.
Legacy Contractual Obligations Related to Guarantees and Letters of Credit. Prior to 2007, we provided guarantees to a number of Iranian entities. In almost all of these cases, we issued counter-indemnities in support of guarantees issued by Iranian banks because the Iranian beneficiaries of the guarantees required that they be backed directly by Iranian banks. In 2007, we made a decision to discontinue issuing new guarantees to Iranian or Iran-related beneficiaries. Although the pre-existing guarantees stipulate that they must be either extended or honored if we receive such a demand and we are legally not able to terminate these guarantees, we decided in 2011 to reject any “extend or pay” demands under such guarantees. Even though we exited, where possible, many of these guarantees, guarantees with an aggregate face amount of approximately  7.6 million are still outstanding as of year-end 2014. The gross revenues from this business in 2014 were approximately  76,000 and the net profit we derived from these activities was less than this amount. This amount includes revenues of BHF-Bank, which was sold in March 2014.
We also have outstanding legacy guarantees in relation to a Syrian bank sanctioned by the U.S. under its non-proliferation program. The aggregate face amount of these legacy guarantees was approximately  11.1 million as of December 31, 2014, the gross revenues received from non-Syrian parties for these guarantees were approximately  110,000 in 2014 and the net profit we derived from these activities was less than this amount. This amount includes revenues of BHF-Bank, which was sold in March 2014. In one case we paid cancellation fees of less than  400 to the frozen account of the Syrian bank. The amount of legacy guarantees related to this Syrian bank is higher than the amount reported for 2013 (which was  9.0 million) because an analysis initiated in 2014 identified additional legacy guarantees, dating from or before 2007, with regard to this Syrian bank booked in one of the Bank’s (non-German) European locations.
We intend to exit these guarantee arrangements as soon as possible.
Payments Received. In 2014, we received less than 80 payments adding up to approximately  19 million in favor of non-Iranian clients in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, which payments stemmed ultimately from relevant Iranian entities. Revenues for these incoming payments were less than  20,000. These figures include relevant payments in favor of clients of our subsidiary Postbank. We expect that we will also have to execute such transactions in the future.
On behalf of one of our clients in Poland we transferred to an account of the Iranian embassy in Poland, held by another bank, one payment of approximately  100. We do not intend to make such payments in the future.
Operations of Iranian Bank Branches and Subsidiaries in Germany and/or France. Several Iranian banks, including Bank Melli Iran, Bank Saderat, Bank Tejarat and Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank, have branches or offices in Germany and/or France, even though their funds and other economic resources are frozen under European law. As part of the payment clearing system in Germany and other European countries, when these branches or offices need to make payments in Germany or Europe to cover their day-to-day operations such as rent, taxes, insurance premia and salaries for their remaining staff, or for any other kind of banking-related operations necessary to wind down their legacy trade business, the German Bundesbank and French banks accept fund transfers from these Iranian banks and disburse them to the applicable (mainly German) payees, some of whom hold accounts with us. In 2014, we received approximately  14.1 million in such disbursements in approximately 1,000 transactions via the German Bundesbank and French banks in respect of payments from the above-mentioned Iranian banks, and the gross revenues derived from these payments were less than  5,000. Relevant transactions of our subsidiary Postbank are included in these figures. We expect that we will also have to execute such transactions in the future.
Based on discussions initiated by the German Bundesbank, in 2014 BHF-Bank continued to maintain accounts for Bank Sepah’s branch in Frankfurt, Germany. These accounts were frozen under European sanctions law. Until BHF-Bank was sold in March 2014 the total volume of outgoing payments from these accounts was approximately  0.5 million, which payments were made with the involvement of the competent authorities in Germany under applicable law. The gross revenues from this activity attributable to this time were approximately  3,500 and the net profits were less than this amount.
Maintaining of Accounts for Iranian Consulates and Embassies. In 2014, Iranian embassies and consulates in Germany and the Netherlands were holding accounts with us as well as with Postbank. This includes the provision by a subsidiary of Postbank to the Iranian consulate of girocard (debitcard/ATM)-terminals as well as the processing of transactions of cardholders using the terminals; the terminals are used to facilitate the payment of fees for the issuance of visas and other administrative measures by the consulate. The additional purpose of these accounts was the funding of day-to-day operational costs of the embassies and consulates, such as salaries, rent, and electricity. One of the account relationships was between Deutsche Bank Netherlands N.V. and the Agent Bureau of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in The Hague (which is responsible for all Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal activities). The total volume of outgoing payments from these accounts was approximately  32.5 million in 2014, which payments were made with the involvement of the competent authorities in the relevant European countries under applicable law. We derived gross revenues of approximately  51,000 and net profits which were less than this amount from these activities. The relevant European governments have requested that we continue to provide these services in the future to enable the Government of Iran to conduct its diplomatic relations.
Relationships with Corporate Clients. We maintain a business relationship with one corporate client registered in Germany who was sanctioned by the United States in the first quarter of 2014 pursuant to Executive Order 13382. We did not terminate this relationship but imposed several restrictive measures to mitigate the relevant risks. On October 16, 2014, the client’s name was removed from the U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control’s Specially Designated Nationals List. Until that day the generated revenues derived from this relationship were less than  7,000 and the net profits were less than this amount.
Activities of Entities in Which We Have Interests. Section 13(r) requires us to provide the specified disclosure with respect to ourselves and our “affiliates,” as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2. Although we have minority equity interests in certain entities that could arguably result in these entities being deemed “affiliates,” we do not have the authority or the legal ability to acquire in every instance the information from these entities that would be necessary to determine whether they are engaged in any disclosable activities under
Section 13(r). In some cases, legally independent entities are not permitted to disclose the details of their activities to us because of German privacy and data protection laws or the applicable banking laws and regulations. In such cases, voluntary disclosure of such details could violate such legal and/or regulatory requirements and subject the relevant entities to criminal prosecution or regulatory investigations.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board of Directors and Principal Officers
The Fund has no directors or principal officers and also does not have any employees. It is managed by the Managing Owner.
The current board of managers and principal officers of the Managing Owner are as follows:
Name
Age
Position
Andrew Schlossberg
Chief Executive Officer, Board of Managers
Peter Hubbard
Vice President and Director of Portfolio Management
David Warren
Chief Administrative Officer, Board of Managers
Daniel Draper
Board of Managers
Roderick Ellis
Principal
Steven Hill
Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools
Deanna Marotz
Chief Compliance Officer
John Zerr
Board of Managers
Andrew Schlossberg (40) has been Principal Executive Officer of the Managing Owner since January 2010, where he has general oversight responsibilities for all of the Managing Owner’s business. Mr. Schlossberg has also been Managing Director, Head of US Distribution for Invesco Distributors, Inc., or IDI, since June 2012, where he has been responsible for Sales, Client Service, Product Management, and Marketing for services provided to Invesco Ltd.’s US businesses, including the Managing Owner. IDI is a registered broker-dealer and is the US distributor for Invesco Ltd.’s retail products and collective trust funds. Invesco Ltd. is a global investment management company affiliated with the Managing Owner. In these capacities, Mr. Schlossberg also is responsible for overseeing the operations of various investment funds sponsored by Invesco Ltd. or its affiliates, or Invesco Funds. He earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.S. degree at Northwestern University and a B.S. degree in Finance and International Business from the University of Delaware. Mr. Schlossberg was listed as a principal of the Managing Owner on December 4, 2012.
Peter Hubbard (34) joined the Managing Owner in May 2005 as a portfolio manager and has been Vice President, Director of Portfolio Management since September 2012. In his role, Mr. Hubbard manages a team of 12 portfolio managers. His responsibilities include facilitating all portfolio management processes associated with more than 150 equity and fixed income Invesco Funds listed in the United States, Canada and Europe. He is a graduate of Wheaton College with a B.A. degree in Business & Economics. Mr. Hubbard was listed as a principal and registered as an associated person of the Managing Owner on November 15, 2012 and January 1, 2013, respectively.
David Warren (56) is Chief Administrative Officer, Americas, for Invesco Ltd., a global investment management company affiliated with the Managing Owner. He was appointed to this position in January 2007, and has also held the roles of Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Invesco Canada Ltd., a Canadian investment management subsidiary of Invesco Ltd., since January 2009. He has also been a Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer of the Managing Owner since January 2010. In these capacities, Mr. Warren also is responsible for overseeing the administration of Invesco Funds. He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the University of Toronto and is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. Mr. Warren was listed as a principal of the Managing Owner on November 21, 2012.
Daniel Draper (45) has been a Managing Director of the Managing Owner since September 2013. In this role he is responsible for the management of the Managing Owner’s exchange traded fund business with direct functional reporting responsibilities for the Managing Owner’s portfolio management, products, marketing and capital markets teams. In such capacity, Mr. Draper also is responsible for managing the operations of the Invesco Funds. Previously, Mr. Draper was the Global Head of Exchange Traded
Funds for Credit Suisse Asset Management, or Credit Suisse, based in London from March 2010 until June 2013, followed by a three month non-compete period pursuant to his employment terms with Credit Suisse. Credit Suisse is an asset management business of Credit Suisse Group, a financial services company. From January 2007 to March 2010, he was the Global Head of Exchange Traded Funds for Lyxor Asset Management in London, an investment management business unit of Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking. Mr. Draper was previously registered as a Significant Influence Functions (SIF) person with the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority. He withdrew this status on June 30, 2013 when he left Credit Suisse. Mr. Draper received his MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his BA from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Mr. Draper is currently registered with FINRA and holds the Series 7, 24 and 63 registrations. Mr. Draper was listed as a principal of the Managing Owner on December 16, 2013.
Roderick Ellis (47) has been a Chief Accounting Officer for Invesco Ltd. since April 2011. In this role, he is responsible for all aspects of Corporate Accounting including group financial reporting, internal controls and group accounting policies. Mr. Ellis is also responsible for group insurance matters. Previously, Mr. Ellis was Global Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, and Treasurer since May 2007. Mr. Ellis earned a B.A. (with honors) in Economics and Social History from the University of Sheffield, UK, in 1988. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Mr. Ellis was listed as a principal of the Managing Owner on November 30, 2012.
Steven Hill (50) has been Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools for the Managing Owner since December 2012, and was Head of Global ETF Operations from September 2011 to December 2012. As Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools, he has financial and administrative oversight responsibilities for, and serves as Principal Financial Officer of, Invesco PowerShares Funds, including the Fund. As Head of Global ETF Operations he had management responsibilities with regard to the general operations of the Managing Owner. From October 2010 to August 2011, he was Senior Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of Destra Capital Management LLC and its subsidiaries, or Destra, an asset management firm, and was responsible for managing financial and administrative activities as well as financial reporting for Destra and investment funds sponsored by Destra. Previously, he was Senior Managing Director of Claymore Securities, Inc., or Claymore, from December 2003 to October 2010, and was responsible for managing financial and administrative oversight for investment funds sponsored by Claymore. Claymore, now known as Guggenheim Funds Distributors, Inc., is a registered broker-dealer that distributes investment funds. Mr. Hill earned a BS in Accounting from North Central College, Naperville, IL. Mr. Hill is expected to become listed as a principal of the Managing Owner upon final approval of the NFA.
Deanna Marotz (49) has been Chief Compliance Officer of the Managing Owner since March 31, 2008. In her role as Chief Compliance Officer she is responsible for all aspects of regulatory compliance for the Managing Owner. She is a registered representative of IDI. Ms. Marotz earned a B.S. degree from Eastern Illinois University. Ms. Marotz was listed as a principal of the Managing Owner on November 15, 2012.
John Zerr (52) has been a Managing Director of the Managing Owner since September 2006. Mr. Zerr is also Managing Director and General Counsel - US Retail of Invesco Management Group, Inc., a registered investment adviser affiliated with the Managing Owner, since March 2006, where he is responsible for overseeing the US Retail Legal Department for Invesco Ltd. and its affiliated companies. Mr. Zerr has also been a Senior Vice President and Secretary of IDI since March 2006 and June 2006, respectively. He also served as a Director of that entity until February 2010. Mr. Zerr has served as Senior Vice President of Invesco Advisers since December 2009. Mr. Zerr serves as a Director, Vice President and Secretary of Invesco Investment Services, Inc., a registered transfer agency since May 2007. Mr. Zerr has served as Director, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of a number of other Invesco Ltd. wholly-owned subsidiaries which service or serviced portions of Invesco Ltd.’s US Retail business since May 2007 and since June 2010 with respect to certain Van Kampen entities engaged in the asset management business that were acquired by Invesco Ltd. from Morgan Stanley. In each of the foregoing positions Mr. Zerr is responsible for overseeing legal operations. In such capacity, Mr. Zerr also is responsible for overseeing the legal activities of the Invesco Funds. Mr. Zerr earned a BA degree in economics from Ursinus College. He graduated cum laude with a J.D. from Temple University School of Law. Mr. Zerr was listed as a principal of the Managing Owner on December 6, 2012.
Code of Ethics
The Fund has no officers or employees and is managed by Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC. Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC has adopted a code of ethics which applies to all of its employees and is available on request, free of charge, by calling 1-800-983-0903 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Fund has no employees, officers or directors and was managed by the Predecessor Managing Owner for purposes of the reporting period of this Form 10-K and up to the Closing Date. None of the directors or officers of the Predecessor Managing Owner received compensation from the Fund. The Predecessor Managing Owner received a monthly Management Fee of 1/12th of 0.75% per
annum of the daily net asset value of the Fund at the end of each month. In addition, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., an affiliate of DB Commodity Services LLC, served as the futures commission merchant and receives brokerage commissions paid by the Fund in connection with its futures trading for purposes of the reporting period of this Form 10-K and up to the Closing Date.
As of the Year Ended December 31, 2014, the Fund has incurred Management Fees of $1,346,888 of which $1,252,305 had been paid at December 31, 2014. Management Fees of $94,583 were unpaid at December 31, 2014 and are reported as a liability on the statement of financial condition.
As of the Year Ended December 31, 2014, the Fund has incurred brokerage commissions of $70,834 of which $65,997 had been paid at December 31, 2014. Brokerage commissions of $4,837 were unpaid at December 31, 2014 and are reported as a liability on the statement of financial condition.
As of the Year Ended December 31, 2013, the Fund has incurred Management Fees of $1,880,210 of which $1,762,905 had been paid at December 31, 2013. Management Fees of $117,305 were unpaid at December 31, 2013 and are reported as a liability on the statement of financial condition.
As of the Year Ended December 31, 2013, the Fund has incurred brokerage commissions of $39,778 of which $37,124 had been paid at December 31, 2013. Brokerage commissions of $2,654 were unpaid at December 31, 2013 and are reported as a liability on the statement of financial condition.
As of the Year Ended December 31, 2012, the Fund has incurred Management Fees of $2,838,239 of which $2,603,699 had been paid at December 31, 2012. Management Fees of $234,540 were unpaid at December 31, 2012 and are reported as a liability on the statement of financial condition.
As of the Year Ended December 31, 2012, the Fund has incurred brokerage commissions of $54,290 of which $53,884 had been paid at December 31, 2012. Brokerage commissions of $406 were unpaid at December 31, 2012 and are reported as a liability on the statement of financial condition.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Fund has no officers or directors. The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our General Shares and Shares as of December 31, 2014, by management. No person is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of such class.
The Fund has no securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
See Item 11.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Audit and Non-Audit Fees
The following table sets forth the fees for professional services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
(1) Audit-Related Fees for fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 include fees billed for reviewing regulatory filings.
(2) Tax Fees for fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 include fees billed for preparing tax forms.
The following table sets forth the fees for professional services rendered by KPMG LLP, the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Approval of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Services and Fees
The Predecessor Managing Owner approved all of the services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and KPMG LLP to the Fund described above. The Predecessor Managing Owner pre-approved all audit and allowed non-audit services of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, including all engagement fees and terms.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) Financial Statements
See financial statements commencing on page 34 hereof.
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules
No financial statement schedules are filed herewith because (i) such schedules are not required or (ii) the information required has been presented in the aforementioned financial statements.
(a)(3) Exhibits
The following documents (unless otherwise indicated) are filed herewith and made a part of this Annual Report:
Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K on February 25, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference.
Previously filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 on December 14, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference.
Previously filed as an exhibit to 8-K on February 26, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: March 6, 2015