UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20152017
OR
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period fromto
Commission File Number: 001-33242
POWERSHARES DB OIL FUND
(A Series of PowerShares DB Multi-Sector Commodity Trust)
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 87-0778062 | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
c/o Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC 3500 Lacey Road, Suite 700 Downers Grove, Illinois | 60515 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 983-0903
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | |
Common Units of Beneficial Interest | NYSE Arca, Inc. |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨☐ No x☒
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨☐ No x☒
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant:Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x☒ No ¨☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x☒ No ¨☐
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x☒
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrantregistrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitionthe definitions of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer,” and“accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer | ☐ | Accelerated Filer | ☒ | |||
Non-Accelerated Filer | ☐ | (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | ||
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨☐ No x☒
State the market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter: $577,764,000$402,384,000
Number of Common Units of Beneficial Interest outstanding as of January 31, 2016: 52,400,0002018: 31,000,000
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ITEM 1. | 1 | |||||||
ITEM 1A. | 6 | |||||||
ITEM 1B. | 16 | |||||||
ITEM 2. | 16 | |||||||
ITEM 3. | 17 | |||||||
ITEM 4. | 17 | |||||||
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ITEM 5. | 17 | |||||||
ITEM 6. | 18 | |||||||
ITEM 7. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS | 19 | ||||||
ITEM 7A. | 27 | |||||||
ITEM 8. | 29 | |||||||
ITEM 9. | CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE | 50 | ||||||
ITEM 9A. | 50 | |||||||
ITEM 9B. | 50 | |||||||
51 | ||||||||
ITEM 10. | DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | 51 | ||||||
ITEM 11. | 53 | |||||||
ITEM 12. | SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS | 53 | ||||||
ITEM 13. | CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE | 53 | ||||||
ITEM 14. | 54 | |||||||
55 | ||||||||
ITEM 15. | 55 |
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This Reportreport includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. 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. These forward-lookingevents and speak only as of the date on which they are made. Forward-looking statements are subjectnot guarantees of future results and conditions and important factors risks and uncertainties in the markets for financial instruments that the Fund trades, in the markets for related physical commodities, in the legal and regulatory regimes applicable to knownInvesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC, the Fund, and unknown risks, uncertaintiesthe Fund’s service providers, and assumptions aboutin the registrant thatbroader economy may cause our actual results levels of activity, performance or achievements to bediffer materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievementsthose expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, investors can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, those described in this report, including in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” (MD&A), and our other Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”(“SEC”) filings.
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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 PowerShares DB Oil 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 the 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, as amended (the “Trust Agreement”). The Fund has an unlimited number of Sharesshares authorized for issuance. The fiscal year end of the Fund is December 31st.
Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC (“Invesco”) has served as the managing owner (the “Managing Owner”), commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor of the Fund since February 23, 2015 (the “Closing Date”). Prior to the Closing Date, a different company served the Fund in those capacities (the “Predecessor Managing Owner”).
The Fund seeks to track changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the DBIQ Optimum Yield Crude Oil Index Excess Return™ (the “Index”) over time, plus the excess, if any, of the sum of the Fund’s interest income from its holdings of United States Treasury Obligations (“Treasury Income”), dividends from its holdings in money market mutual funds (affiliated or otherwise) (“Money Market Income”) and dividends or distributions of capital gains from its holdings of T-Bill ETFs (as defined below) (“T-Bill ETF Income”) over the expenses of the Fund. The Fund invests in futures contracts in an attempt to track its Index. The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the crude oil sector. The single commodity comprising the Index is Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) (the “Index Commodity”).
The Fund may invest directly in United States Treasury Obligations. The Fund may also gain exposure to United States Treasury Obligations through investments in exchange-traded funds (affiliated or otherwise) that track indexes that measure the performance of United States Treasury Obligations with a maximum remaining maturity of up to 12 months (“T-Bill ETFs”). The Fund invests in United States Treasury Obligations, money market mutual funds and T-Bill ETFs (affiliated or otherwise), if any, for margin and/or cash management purposes.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and certain futures exchanges impose position limits on futures contracts that reference the Index Commodity (the “Index Contracts”). As the Fund approaches or reaches position limits with respect to the Index Commodity, the Fund may commence investing in other futures contracts. These other futures contract may or may not be based on the Index Commodity. When they are not, the Managing Owner may seek to select futures contracts that it reasonably believes tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with an Index Contract. In addition, the Managing Owner may determine to invest in other futures contracts if at any time it is impractical or inefficient to gain full or partial exposure to the Index Commodity through the use of Index Contracts. These other futures contracts may or may not be based on the Index Commodity. When they are not, the Managing Owner may seek to select futures contracts that it reasonably believes tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with an Index Contract.
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”))LLC) on January 5, 2007 and, as ofsince November 25, 2008, is listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”).
As of the date of this Annual Report (the “Report”), each of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., 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 & Company Inc., Nomura Securities International Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, UBS Securities LLC, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Goldman Sachs Execution & Clearing, L.P. and Citadel Securities LLC has executed a Participant Agreement.
Fund Investment Overview
The Fund seeks to track changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the DBIQ Optimum Yield Crude Oil Index Excess Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY CL 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 over the expenses of the Fund. The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the crude oil sector. The single commodity comprising the Index is Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) (the “Index Commodity”). 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.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and/or commodity exchanges, as applicable, impose position limits on market participants trading in the commodity included in the Index. The Index is comprised of futures contracts on the Index Commodity 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 the Index Commodity by investing in the Index Contract, the Fund may invest in (i) a futures contract referencing the Index Commodity other than the Index Contract or, in the alternative, invest in (ii) other futures contracts not based on the 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 the Index Commodity. Please seehttp://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.
The Fund holds United States Treasury Obligations for deposit with the Custodian (as defined below) and with the Commodity Broker (as defined below) as margin. The Fund does not borrow money to increase leverage. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Fund had $101,684,720 (or 24.78% of its total assets) and $290,416,811 (or 100.00% of its total assets), respectively, of its holdings of cash, United States Treasury Obligations and unrealized appreciation/depreciation on commodity futures contracts on deposit with its Commodity Broker or its Predecessor Commodity Broker (as defined below), as applicable. Of this, $95,990,400 (or 23.39% of its total assets) and $27,583,325 (or 9.50% of its total assets) was required to be deposited to satisfy maintenance margin required by the Commodity Broker or Predecessor Commodity Broker as applicable for the Fund’s open commodity futures positions as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. All the remaining cash and United States Treasury Obligations are on deposit with the Custodian (see Note 4). For additional information, please see the Schedules of Investments as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 for details of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.Description
The Managing Owner pays the Index Sponsor (as defined below) 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 which are paid 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 Crude Oil Index Excess Return™ (the “DB Index”“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 one underlying Index Commodity. The notional amount of the Index Commodity included in the Index is intended to reflect the changes in market value of the 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 the underlying Index Commodity and the notional amount of such Index Commodity.
The composition of the Index may be adjusted in the event that the Index Sponsor is not able to calculate the closing price of the Index Commodity.
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 the 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 from one contract to another futures contract that is intended to generate the most favorable ‘implied roll yield’ under prevailing market conditions. Where there is an upward-sloping price curve for futures contracts, the implied roll yield is expected to be negative. The selection of a new futures contract on the Index Commodity rollsin such market conditions is designed to minimize the impact of negative roll yield. Conversely, where there is a downward-sloping price curve for futures contracts, the implied roll yield is expected to be positive. The selection of a new futures contract which generateson the best possible “impliedIndex Commodity in such market conditions is designed to maximize the impact of positive roll yield.” The Index takes the impact of implied roll yield into consideration by selecting, as the replacement for an expiring futures contract, the futures contract with a delivery month within the next thirteen months whichthat generates the best possiblemost favorable implied roll yield will be includedunder the current market conditions.
The market condition in which the Index. As a result, the FundIndex is abledesigned to potentially maximize the effect of positive roll benefits in backwardated markets and minimize the losses from rolling in contangoed markets for the Index Commodity.
In general, as ayield when entering into new 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 oppositecontracts is truecalled backwardation. Rolling in a backwardated market.market will tend to enhance returns from futures trading. The market condition in which the Index is designed to mitigate the effect of negative roll yield when entering into new futures contracts is called contango. Rolling in a contangoed market will tend to cause a drag on returns from futures trading. Returns from futures trading are called excess return, which is the combined return based on the spot prices of the Index Commodity’s contribution toCommodity and the Fund’s return while rolling in a backwardated market will tend to cause a pushroll yield from trading futures contracts on the Index Commodity’s contribution to the Fund’s return.
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 the Index Commodity by investing in the 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 an Index Contract. Please seehttp://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.Commodity.
The DBIQ Optimum Yield Crude OilIndex is calculated in USD on both an excess return (unfunded) basis, which means that the Index reflects the return associated with spot prices for the Index Commodity and total return (funded) basis.the roll yield associated with trading futures contracts on the Index Commodity. The Fund also invests in securities that are expected to generate income, including Treasury Securities, money market mutual funds, and T-Bill ETFs. These securities are held with the Custodian. In addition, Treasury Securities for deposit may be held with the Commodity Broker as margin for the Fund’s futures positions. The Index does not reflect any corresponding income characteristics.
The futures contract price for the Index Commodity will be the exchange closing price for the Index Commodity on each weekday when banks in New York, New York area day on which the appropriate exchange is open for business (the “Index Business Days”Day”). 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 the Index Commodity. “Exchange Business Day” means, in respect of the Index Commodity, a day that is a trading day for the Index Commodity on the relevant exchange (unless either an Index disruption event or force majeure event has occurred).
On the first New York business dayIndex Business Day of each month (the “Verification Date”) of each month,, the 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 dayIndex Business Day is May 1 2016,of the current year, and the Delivery Month of thean Index Commodity futures contract currently in suchthe Index is June 2016,of the current year, a new Index Commodity futures contract with a later Delivery Month will be selected.
For the underlying Index Commodity ofin 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 the Index, and (ii) no later than the 13ththirteenth month after the Verification Date. For example, if the first New York business dayIndex Business Day is May 1 2016of the current year and the Delivery Month of an Index Commodity futures contract currently in the Index is June 2016,of the current year, the Delivery Month of an eligible new Index Commodity futures contract must be between July 2016of the current year and May 2017.June of the following year. The implied roll yield is then calculated and the futures contract on the Index Commodity with the best possible implied roll yield under the current market conditions 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 selection, the monthly roll for the Index Commodity subject to a roll in that particular month unwinds the old commodity futures contract and enters a position in the new commodity futures contract. This takes place between the 2ndsecond and 6thsixth Index Business Day of the month.
On each day during the roll period, new notional holdings are calculated. The calculations for the old futures contracts on the old Index Commodity that are leaving the Index and the new futures contracts on the new Index Commodity are then calculated.
On all days that are not monthly index roll days, the notional holdings of the Index Commodity future remains constant.
The Trustee
Under the Trust Agreement, Wilmington Trust Company, (the “Trustee”), a Delaware trust company, is the sole trustee of the Trust and the Fund. The Trustee’s duties and liabilities with respect to the offering of the Shares and the management of the Fund (the “Trustee”), has delegatedare limited to its express obligations under the Trust Agreement. Under the Trust Agreement, the Managing Owner thehas 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.Owner in accordance with the Managing Owner’s instructions. The Trustee is compensated by the Managing Owner. UnderFund and is indemnified by the Trust Agreement, the Managing Owner, from the assetsFund against any expenses it incurs relating to or arising out of the Fund, will indemnify the Trustee for any liabilityformation, operation or expense relating to the ongoing operations and termination of the Fund incurred withoutor the execution, delivery and performance of any other agreements to which the Fund is a party or the action or inaction of the Trustee, except to the extent that such expenses result from the 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 fundsETFs and has been managing non-commodity futures based exchange-traded fundsETFs since 2003 and a commodity futures based exchange-traded fundETF since 2014. The Managing Owner serves as the commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor and swap firm 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, and approved as a swap firm by, 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 of 1936, as amended (the “CEAct”“Commodity Exchange Act”) 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.Date. 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, monthly in arrears, in an amount equal to 0.75% per annum of the daily net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund (the “Management Fee”).
The Management Fee is paidFund may, for margin and/or cash management purposes, invest in considerationmoney market mutual funds and/or T-Bill ETFs that are managed by affiliates of the Managing Owner’s commodity futures trading advisory services. ForOwner. The indirect portion of the avoidance of doubt, from inception up to and excludingmanagement fee that the Closing Date, all Management Fees were payableFund may incur through such investment is in addition to the Predecessor Managing Owner. Since the Closing Date, the Managing Owner has served as managing owner of the Fund and all Management Fee accruals since the Closing Date have been paid to the Managing Owner. The Managing Owner has contractually agreed to waive the fees that it receives in an amount equal to the indirect management fees that the Fund incurs through its investments in affiliated money market mutual funds and/or affiliated T-Bill ETFs indefinitely.
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, withoutexcept for any expenses resulting from 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 futures 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, from inception up to and excluding the Closing Date, all commission payments were paid to the Predecessor Commodity Broker. Since the Closing Date, theThe Commodity Broker has servedis registered with the CFTC as a futures commission merchant and is a member of the Fund’sNFA in such capacity.
A variety of executing brokers execute futures clearing broker andtransactions on behalf of the Fund. Such executing brokers give-up all commission payment accruals since the Closing Date have been paidsuch transactions to the Commodity Broker.
In its capacity as clearing broker, the Commodity Broker may execute or receive transactions executed by others and clears all of the Fund’s futures transactions and performs certain administrative and custodial services for the Fund. 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.greater than fees incurred in prior fiscal years. On average, total charges paid to the Commodity Broker were less than $6.00, $10.00$6.00 and $10.00$6.00 per round-turn trade1 for the Years Endedyears ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
1 | A round-turn trade is a completed transaction involving both a purchase and a liquidating sale, or a sale followed by a covering purchase. |
The Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent
The Bank of New York Mellon is the administrator (the “Administrator”) and serves as the custodian (the “Custodian”) and transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) of the Fund andFund. The Bank of New York Mellon 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 101 Barclay Street,2 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, New York, New York 10286.11217. The Bank of New York Mellon is subject to supervision by the New York State Banking Department of Financial Services 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 valueNAV 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 Managing Owner pays the Administrator administrative services fees 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 AdministratorTransfer Agent 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
ALPSInvesco Distributors, Inc. is the Fund’s distributor (the “Distributor”) provides certain distribution services to the Fund.. Pursuant to the Distribution Services Agreement among the Managing Owner, 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. Prior to June 20, 2016, ALPS Distributors, Inc. provided distribution services to the Fund.
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.
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 1933Securities 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 1933Securities Act or any other statute or the common law.
The Managing Owner pays the Distributor a distribution fee out of the Management Fee.
Index Sponsor
Effective as of the Closing Date, theThe Managing Owner, on behalf of the Trust and 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, theThe 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 out of the Management Fee for performing its duties.
Marketing Agent
Effective as of the Closing Date, theThe Managing Owner, on behalf of the Trust and 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 DBIQ indices and to complete governmental or institutional due diligence questionnaires or requests for proposals related to the DBIQ indices.
The Managing Owner pays the Marketing Agent a marketing services fee out of the Management 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 CEActCommodity Exchange Act 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 CEActCommodity Exchange Act 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 CEActCommodity Exchange Act 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 CEActCommodity Exchange Act 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 CEActCommodity Exchange Act 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 CEActCommodity Exchange Act 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.Commodity Exchange Act. Shareholders may also be able to maintain a private right of action for certain violations of the CEAct.Commodity Exchange Act. The CFTC has adopted rules implementing the reparation provisions of the CEActCommodity Exchange Act which provide that any person may file a complaint for a reparations award with the CFTC for violation of the CEActCommodity Exchange Act 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,Commodity Exchange Act, 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 commoditiesderivatives professionals. NFA members are subject to NFA standards relating to fair trade practices, financial condition,market integrity, and consumer protection. As the self-regulatoryself-
regulatory body of the commoditiesderivatives industry, the NFA promulgates rules governing the conduct of commodityderivatives 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 swap dealers, among others, and their respective associated persons, as applicable, and floor brokers. The Commodity Broker and the Managing Owner are members of the NFA (the Fund itself is not required to become a member of the NFA).
The CFTC has no authority to regulate trading on foreign commodityfutures 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.www.powershares.com. Information in the Managing Owner’s website shall not be deemed to be a part of this Report or incorporated by reference herein unless otherwise expressly stated. 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 athttp://www.sec.gov.www.sec.gov.
The Fund also posts monthly performance reports and its Annual Report,annual report, as required by the CFTC, on the Managing Owner’s website at the address listed above.
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 Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "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 RelatedMarket 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 Commodity. 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 Index Commodity may fluctuate widely. Several factors may affect the price of the Index Commodity, including, but not limited to:
Global supply and demand of the Index Commodity 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 Commodity;
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.
Net Asset ValueNAV 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.
Shares may trade at, above or below their NAV. The net asset value per Share will change as fluctuations occurNAV fluctuates with changes in the market value of its portfolio. Investors should be aware that the publicFund’s assets. The trading price of a Basket may be different fromShares fluctuates in accordance with changes in the net assetNAV, intraday changes in the value of a Basket (i.e., 200,000 Shares may trade at a premium over, or a discount to, net asset valuethe futures contracts and market supply and demand. The amount 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 Commodity, 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 andrelative to 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 ShareNAV may be influenced by non-concurrent trading hours between the NYSE Arca (the exchange on which the Shares trade) and the various futures exchanges on which futures contracts on the Index Commodity is traded.trade. While the Shares are expected to 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 the Index Commodity 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,(Eastern time), liquidity in the global Light Sweet Crude Oil market will be reduced after the close of the NYMEX at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. As a result, during periods when the NYSE Arca is open andmarkets for the futures exchangescontracts on which the Index Commodity is traded is closed,are expected to be reduced whenever the principal markets for those contracts are closed. As a result, 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 onduring these gaps in 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 the Index Commodity included in the Index (Light Sweet Crude Oil, the “Affected Index Commodity”). 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. On November 5, 2013, the CFTC 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. 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 Commodity 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 the 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 the 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 proposed regulations, the CFTC would require certain persons to aggregate exchange listed futures and economically equivalent swap positions owned or controlled by such persons.
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Because the Fund is currently subject to position limits and may be subject to new and expanded position limits, 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 Commodity 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. Additionally, the Fund on any given date may not have an effective registration statement with the SEC with sufficient Shares available, which may limit the Fund’s ability to create new Baskets. The inability to create additional Baskets could result in Shares trading at a premium or discount to net asset value of the Shares.
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 Commodity, 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 Contract, the Fund may commence investing 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 the Index Contract. 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 United States Treasury Obligations. 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.hours.
The Fund is not actively managed by traditional methods. Therefore, if positions in its Index Commodity 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 “DBO.” 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 itsthe 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 thatthe price 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 Limited 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 a single commodity. 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** ofIndex’s average annual volatility is 26.39%. Average annual volatility is the Index as calculated on an excess return basis:
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The following table reflects the daily volatility on an annual basis of the Index:
Year | Daily Volatility | |||
1988*** | 26.56 | % | ||
1989 | 28.11 | % | ||
1990 | 40.56 | % | ||
1991 | 29.57 | % | ||
1992 | 16.66 | % | ||
1993 | 17.70 | % | ||
1994 | 20.13 | % | ||
1995 | 17.07 | % | ||
1996 | 31.02 | % | ||
1997 | 21.51 | % | ||
1998 | 27.97 | % | ||
1999 | 27.10 | % | ||
2000 | 32.19 | % | ||
2001 | 29.77 | % | ||
2002 | 25.52 | % | ||
2003 | 26.59 | % | ||
2004 | 30.80 | % | ||
2005 | 26.55 | % | ||
2006 | 22.01 | % | ||
2007 | 21.17 | % | ||
2008 | 41.43 | % | ||
2009 | 33.56 | % | ||
2010 | 20.63 | % | ||
2011 | 25.20 | % | ||
2012 | 19.36 | % | ||
2013 | 12.41 | % | ||
2014 | 19.00 | % | ||
2015* | 40.19 | % |
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.
Unusually Long Peak-to-Valley Drawdown Periods With Respect ToWithdrawal from participation by Authorized Participants may affect the Index May Be Reflected in Equally Long Peak-to-Valley Drawdown Periods with Respectliquidity of Shares.
If one or more Authorized Participants withdraws from participation, it may become more difficult to create or redeem Baskets, which may reduce the Performanceliquidity of the Shares.
Although past Index levels are not necessarily indicative If it becomes more difficult to create or redeem Baskets, the correlation between the price of future Index levels, the peak-to-valley drawdown periods thatShares and the Index has experienced have been unusually long and have lastedNAV may be affected, which may affect the trading market 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 0.03% per annumShares. Having fewer participants in the aggregate and selling commissions. Formarket for the avoidance of doubt, selling commissions are not included inShares could also adversely affect the Fund’s breakeven calculation. The Fund is expectedability to earn interest income at an annual rate of 0.33% per annum, based upon the yield on 3-month U.S. Treasury bills as of January 29, 2016. 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 thearbitrage any price difference between the Fund’s interest incomefutures contracts and its feesthe Shares, which may affect the trading market and expenses in order to break even. If the aggregateliquidity of the Fund’s performance and interest income does 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.Shares.
PossibleYou 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 currencycurrencies or major commodities 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 prosper 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 CommodityFutures Exchanges Outside the United States is Not Subject to U.S. Regulation.
If speculative position limits with respect to a futures contract underlying the Index Commodity has been reached, a portionSome of the Fund’s trades may take placetrading is expected to be conducted on markets orfutures exchanges outside the United States. Trading on commoditysuch 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 arethe Fund is subject to the risk of adverse exchange-rate movements between the dollar and the functional currencies of such contracts. Investors could incur substantial losses fromIn addition, trading on foreignnon-U.S. exchanges which such investors would not have otherwise been subject to 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 actualthe risks presented by exchange controls, expropriation, increased tax burdens and potential conflicts of interest involving the Managing Owner, various commodity futures brokersexposure to local economic declines and Authorized Participants. The Managing Owner and its principals, all of whom are engaged inpolitical instability, among 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 infactors. An adverse consequences to the Shareholders.
The Fund may be subject to certain conflictsdevelopment with respect to any of these factors could reduce the Commodity Broker, including, but not limited to, conflicts that result from receiving greater amounts of compensation from other clients,profit or purchasing opposite or competing positionsincrease the loss earned 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.trades on non-U.S. exchanges.
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 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 financialcommodity futures markets have inmay be subject to temporary distortions due to various factors, including lack of liquidity, congestion, disorderly closing periods, manipulation and disruptive conduct, limitations on deliverable supplies, the past few years gone through pervasiveparticipation of speculators, government regulation and fundamental disruptions that have led to extensiveintervention, technical and unprecedented governmental intervention. Suchoperational or system failures, nuclear accidents, terrorism, riots and acts of God.
Government 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—theseThese 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 financial crisis of 2008-2009 and associated regulatory changes, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd Frank Act”) are generally considered to have contributed to less credit being available to financial market participants. This is particularly the case for credit extended by banks and other traditional lending sources. The Fund does not borrow from lenders for the purpose of pursuing its investment objective. Nonetheless, restrictions on the availability of credit may adversely affect investors who borrow to purchase Fund shares and participants in the markets for financial instruments in which the Fund trades, including futures markets. Restrictions on credit, whether in stressed market conditions or otherwise, may have a material adverse effect on investors and financial market participants, which in turn could affect the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment objective. Among other things, fewer prospective investors may adversely affect the Fund’s asset levels, and fewer financial market participants may reduce liquidity and adversely affect pricing for the financial instruments that the Fund seeks to trade.
In addition, U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices that may occur during a single business day. These limits are generally referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits,” and the maximum or minimum price of a contract on any given day as a result of these limits is referred to as a “limit price.” Once the limit price has been reached in a particular contract, it is possible that no trades may be made at a different price. It is not certain how
long any such price limits would remain in effect. Limit prices may have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices, consequently affecting the value of the futures contracts.
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 or liquidate positions against which the markets are moving. The large size of positions which the Fund may acquire increase the risk of illiquidity by both making its positions more difficult to liquidate and increasing the losses incurred while trying to do so.
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.participants, including the Fund. 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 regulates 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. 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 and the implementing regulation adopted by regulators 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 ValueNAV 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 ValueNAV Calculation.
Calculating the net asset valueNAV of the Fund includes, in part, any unrealized profits or losses on open commodity futures contracts. Under normal circumstances, the net asset valueNAV of the Fund reflects the settlement price of open commodity futures contracts on the date when the net asset valueNAV 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.adopted. In such a situation, there is a risk that the calculation of the net asset valueNAV 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 valueNAV of the Fund could be under or overstated, perhaps to a significant degree.
Futures Risks
Fluctuations in the Price of Assets Held by the Fund Could Have a Materially Adverse Effect on the Value of an Investment in 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 the Fund’s portfolio of exchange-traded futures contracts on the Index Commodity. The value of the Shares relates directly to the value of the portfolio, less the liabilities (including estimated accrued but unpaid expenses) of the Fund. The price of the Index Commodity may fluctuate widely. Several factors may affect the prices of the Index Commodity, including, but not limited to:
• | Global supply and demand of the Index Commodity, 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 Commodity; |
• | 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, ETFs, closed-end funds, hedge funds and commodity funds; |
• | Weather and other environmental conditions; |
• | Acts of God; and |
• | Global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations. |
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 a single commodity. 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 the Index and the net asset value of the Fund which tracks the Index under specific market conditions and over time.
Because the Futures Contracts Have No Intrinsic Value, the Positive Performance of Your Investment Is Wholly Dependent Upon an Equal and Offsetting Loss.
Trading in futures contracts transfers the risk of future price movements from one market participant to another. For every gain in futures trading, there is an equal and offsetting loss rather than an opportunity to participate over time in general economic growth. Futures contracts reflect, in the case of cash-settled contracts, certain rights to receive payment or obligations to make payments to the other party to the contract. In the case of physically-settled contracts, a futures contract is an agreement to make or take delivery of a particular asset at a specified price. Overall stock and bond prices could rise significantly and the economy as a whole could prosper while the Fund experiences losses as a result of pursuing its investment objective through trading futures contracts in the Index Commodity.
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. Commodity futures contracts can provide a diversification benefit to investor portfolios because of their low to negative correlation with other financial assets. However, the fact that the Index is not inversely correlated with financial assets such as stocks and bonds means that the Fund will not necessarily be profitable during unfavorable periods for the stock or bond market. If the Shares perform in a manner that correlates with the stock or bond markets or otherwise do not perform successfully, the Shares may not provide any diversification from losses in those markets. In such a scenario, the Shares may produce no gains to offset your losses from investments in stocks, bonds, or related assets.
“Backwardation” or “Contango” in the Market Prices of the Index Commodity Will Affect the Value of Your Shares.
As the futures contracts that underlie the Index near expiration, they are replaced by contracts that have a later expiration. Thus, for example, a contract purchased and held in August of the current year may specify an October of that year expiration. As that contract nears expiration, it may be replaced by selling the October of the current year contract and purchasing the contract expiring in December of that year. This process is referred to as “rolling.” Historically, the prices of the Index Commodity may have been higher for contracts with shorter-term expirations than for contracts with longer-term expirations, which is referred to as “backwardation.” In these circumstances, absent other factors, the sale of the October contract would take place at a price that is higher than the price at which the December contract is purchased, thereby creating a gain in connection with rolling. While the prices of the Index Commodity may exhibit consistent periods of backwardation, backwardation will likely not exist in these markets at all times. The absence of backwardation in the Index Commodity will adversely affect the value of the Index and, accordingly, decrease the value of your Shares.
Conversely, certain of the Index Commodities historically exhibit “contango” markets rather than backwardation. Contango markets are those in which the prices of contracts are higher in the distant delivery months than in the nearer delivery months due to the costs of long-term storage of a physical commodity prior to delivery or other factors. Although certain of the Index Commodities may have historically exhibited consistent periods of contango, contango will likely not exist in these markets at all times. Contango in the Index Commodities will adversely affect the value of an Index and, accordingly, decrease the value of your Shares.
The Fund’s returns from futures trading are called excess return, which is the combined return based on the spot prices of Index Commodities and the roll yield from trading futures contracts on Index Commodities. Rolling in a backwardated market will tend to enhance returns from futures trading. Rolling in a contangoed market will tend to cause a drag on returns from futures trading. The selection of a new futures contract on an Index Commodity is designed to minimize the impact of negative roll yield and to maximize the impact of positive roll yield in prevailing market conditions.
Although the roll method of the Index may minimize the roll losses due to contango and may maximize the roll benefits due to backwardation, there can be no assurance that this outcome will occur.
Index Risks
The Fund’s Performance May Not Always Replicate the Changes in the Level of the Index.
It is possible that the Fund’s performance may not fully replicate the changes in the levels of the Index due to disruptions in the markets for the Index Commodity, the imposition of speculative position limits or due to other extraordinary circumstances. The Managing Owner may determine to invest in other futures contracts if at any time it is impractical or inefficient to gain full or partial
exposure to the Index Commodity through a futures contract that is included in the Index (an “Index Contract”). These other futures contracts may or may not be based on the Index Commodity. When they are not, the Managing Owner may seek to select futures contracts that it reasonably believes tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with an Index Contract. In addition, the Fund may not be able to replicate the changes in 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, as applicable, Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income, if any, held for margin and/or cash management purposes. 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 the Index Commodity 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 seeks to cause the NAV to track the Index during periods in which the Index is flat or declining as well as when the Index is rising.
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.
“Peak-to-valley drawdown” represents the cumulative percentage decline in month-end NAV per Share due to losses sustained during any period in which the initial month-end NAV per Share is not equaled or exceeded by a subsequent month-end NAV per Share.
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 have 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 experience a continuous drawdown during the period that the Index experiences such a drawdown period. The value of your Shares will also decrease during such a period.
Regulatory Risks
Regulatory and Exchange Position Limits and Other Rules May Restrict the Creation of Baskets and the Operation of the Fund.
CFTC and futures exchange rules impose speculative position limits on market participants, including the Fund, trading in certain commodity futures contracts. These position limits prohibit any person from holding a position of more than a specific number of futures contracts.
The Index Commodity is subject to speculative position limits imposed by the rules of futures exchanges on which futures contracts for the Index Commodity are traded. On November 5, 2013, the CFTC proposed for public comment new position limits and aggregation regulations. In December 2016, the CFTC re-proposed the rules on position limits with respect to 25 physical delivery commodity futures and options contracts, as well as to swaps that are economically equivalent to such contracts, referred to herein as Position Limit Rules. The re-proposed position limits would apply with respect to contracts traded on all U.S. and certain foreign exchanges on an aggregate basis. In addition, under the Position Limit Rules, the CFTC has also proposed amendments to the requirement that U.S. futures exchanges establish corresponding speculative position limits. The re-proposed Position Limit Rules are based on the position limit rules previously proposed in 2013 by the CFTC. In December 2016, the CFTC also adopted final position aggregation regulations requiring that all accounts owned or managed by an entity that is responsible for such accounts’ trading decisions, their principals and their affiliates would be aggregated for position limit purposes, referred to herein as the Aggregation Rules. The Position Limit Rules were published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2016, and the final Aggregation Rules became effective on February 14, 2017. CFTC staff subsequently issued CFTC Letter No. 17-37, which provides time-limited no-action relief from compliance with certain requirements under the final Aggregation Rules and clarification on the meaning of certain terms used throughout the final Aggregation Rules. The relief therein expires on August 12, 2019.
The CFTC’s Aggregation Rules 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 the Aggregation Rules and avails itself of the independent account controller exemption under the Aggregation Rules. Failure to comply with the requirements of the independent account controller exemption, if applicable, could lead to the Managing Owner being required to aggregate positions in multiple accounts or commodity pools for purposes of the CFTC’s, or a future exchange’s, position limits regulations, or 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 the corresponding commodity futures contracts or may trade futures contracts in other commodities that the Managing Owner determines will best position the Fund to meet its investment objective. 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.
As of January 3, 2018, the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (“MiFID II”) requires regulatory agencies of member states in the European Union to impose position limits on certain futures contracts. A foreign futures exchange may also impose accountability levels in certain contracts. If the Fund were to trade futures contracts on exchanges in the European Union, position limits may apply to such trading activity pursuant MiFID II as implemented in the relevant national laws and regulations of member states.
Exchanges may also establish accountability levels applicable to futures contracts. An exchange may order a person who holds or controls a position in excess of a position accountability level not to further increase its position, to comply with any prospective limit that exceeds the size of the position owned or controlled, or to reduce any open position that exceeds the position accountability level if the exchange determines that such action is necessary to maintain an orderly market. Position accountability levels could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to establish and maintain positions in commodity futures contracts to which such levels apply, if the Fund were to trade in such contracts.
The Fund is currently subject to position limits and may be subject to new and more restrictive position limits in future. As a result, the Fund may not be able to issue new Baskets or reinvest income in additional commodity futures contracts to the extent position limits restrict its ability to establish new futures positions or add to existing positions. 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 NAV of the Shares.
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 Commodity Exchange Act requires a futures commission merchant to segregate all funds received from customers from such futures commission merchant’s proprietary assets. If the Commodity Broker fails to segregate customer assets as required, 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. Such material actions, if any, are described in the Fund’s Prospectus under “The Commodity Broker.”
The Commodity Exchange Act requires a clearing organization approved by the CFTC as a derivatives clearing organization to segregate all funds and other property received from a clearing member’s customers in connection with U.S. futures and options contracts from any funds held at the clearing organization to support the clearing member’s proprietary trading. Nevertheless, customer funds held at a clearing organization in connection with any futures or options contracts may be held in a commingled omnibus account, which may not identify the name of the clearing member’s individual customers. With respect to futures and options contracts, a clearing organization may use assets of a non-defaulting customer held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing organization. In the event of a default of the clearing futures commission merchant’s other clients or the clearing futures commission merchant’s failure to extend its own funds in connection with any such default, a customer may not be able to recover the full amount of assets deposited by the clearing futures commission merchant with the clearing organization on the customer’s behalf.
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 the 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 unrealized profits on its closed positions on the exchange.
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 and markets, including under the Dodd-Frank Act, is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to ongoing modification by governmental and judicial action. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act has expanded the regulation of markets, market participants and financial instruments. The new regulatory regime under the Dodd-Frank Act has imposed new compliance and legal burdens on participants in the markets for futures and other commodity interests. For example, under the Dodd-Frank Act new capital and risk requirements have been imposed on market intermediaries. Those requirements may cause the cost of trading to increase for market participants, like the Fund, that must interact with those intermediaries to carry out their trading activities. These increased costs can detract from the Fund’s performance.
The Fund is Subject to Extensive Regulatory Reporting and Compliance.
The Fund is subject to a comprehensive scheme of regulation under the federal commodity futures trading and securities laws. The Fund could be subject to sanctions for a failure to comply with those requirements, which could adversely affect the Fund’s financial performance (in the case of financial penalties) or ability to pursue its investment objective (in the case of a limitation on its ability to trade).
Because the Shares are publicly traded, the Fund is subject to certain rules and regulations of federal, state and financial market exchange entities charged with the protection of investors and the oversight of companies whose securities are publicly traded. These entities, including the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”), the SEC, the CFTC and NYSE-ARCA, have in recent years issued new requirements and regulations, most notably the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. From time to time, since the adoption of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, these authorities have continued to develop additional regulations or interpretations of existing regulations. The Fund’s ongoing efforts to comply with these regulations and interpretations have resulted in, and are likely to continue resulting in, a diversion of management’s time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance related activities.
The Fund is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Fund’s internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance to its management regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective may provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
Current Discussions between the SEC and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP regarding PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s Independence Could Have Potentially Adverse Consequences for the Fund.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP informed the Fund that it has identified an issue related to its independence under Rule 2-01(c)(1)(ii)(A) of Regulation S-X (referred to as the Loan Rule). The Loan Rule prohibits accounting firms, such as PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from being deemed independent if they have certain financial relationships with their audit clients or certain affiliates of those clients. The Fund is required under various securities laws to have its financial statements audited by an independent accounting firm.
The Loan Rule specifically provides that an accounting firm would not be independent if it or certain affiliates and covered persons receives a loan from a lender that is a record or beneficial owner of more than ten percent of an audit client’s equity securities (referred to as a “more than ten percent owner”). For purposes of the Loan Rule, audit clients include the Fund as well as all registered investment companies advised by the Managing Owner and its affiliates, including other subsidiaries of the Managing Owner’s parent company, Invesco Ltd. (collectively, the Invesco Fund Complex). PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP informed the Fund it and certain affiliates and covered persons have relationships with lenders who hold, as record owner, more than ten percent of the shares of certain funds within the Invesco Fund Complex, which may implicate the Loan Rule.
On June 20, 2016, the SEC Staff issued a “no-action” letter to another mutual fund complex (see Fidelity Management & Research Company et al., No-Action Letter) related to the audit independence issue described above. In that letter, the SEC confirmed that it would not recommend enforcement action against a fund that relied on audit services performed by an audit firm that was not in compliance with the Loan Rule in certain specified circumstances. In connection with prior independence determinations, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP communicated, as contemplated by the no-action letter, that it believes that it remains objective and impartial and that a reasonable investor possessing all the facts would conclude that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is able to exhibit the requisite objectivity and impartiality to report on the Funds’ financial statements as the independent registered public accounting firm. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP also represented that it has complied with PCAOB Rule 3526(b)(1) and (2), which are conditions to the Fund’s relying on the no action letter, and affirmed that it is an independent accountant within the meaning of PCAOB Rule 3520. Therefore, the Managing Owner, the Fund and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP concluded that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP could continue as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Invesco Fund Complex relied upon the no-action letter in reaching this conclusion.
If in the future the independence of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is called into question under the Loan Rule by circumstances that are not addressed in the SEC’s no-action letter, the Fund will need to take other action in order for the Fund’s filings with the SEC containing financial statements to be deemed compliant with applicable securities laws. Such additional actions could result in additional costs, impair the ability of the Fund to issue new shares or have other material adverse effects on the Fund. The SEC no-action relief was initially set to expire 18 months from issuance but has been extended by the SEC without an expiration date, except that the no-action letter will be withdrawn upon the effectiveness of any amendments to the Loan Rule designed to address the concerns expressed in the letter.
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 applicable rules and to report items of income, gain, loss and deduction to 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 United States Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) will successfully assert that the conventions and assumptions used by the Fund do not satisfy the technical requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and/or the Federal Tax Regulations codified under 26 C.F.R., referred to herein as the 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 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) Makes Significant Changes to U.S. Federal Income Tax Rules.
The Tax Act makes significant changes to the U.S. federal income tax rules for taxation of individuals and corporations, generally effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. Most of the changes applicable to individuals are temporary and would apply only to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026. In particular for individuals, the Tax Act establishes for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026 a 20% deduction for “qualified publicly traded partnership income” within the meaning of Section 199A(e)(5) of the Code. Qualified publicly traded partnership income includes the Fund’s income effectively connected with the Fund’s trade or business, but does not include certain investment income. In light of the very recent enactment of the new rules regarding such deduction, the lack of guidance interpreting such rules, and the expected character of the income of the Fund, it is unclear whether any of the Fund’s income will be eligible for the deduction. Potential investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of such deduction for their allocable share of the Fund’s items of income, gain, deduction and loss.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS 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
Disruptions in the Ability to Create and Redeem Baskets May Adversely Affect Investors.
It is generally expected that the public trading price per Share will track the NAV per Share closely over time. The relationship between the public trading price per Share and the NAV per Share depends, to a considerable degree, on the ability of Authorized Participants or their clients or customers to purchase and redeem Baskets in the ordinary course. If the process for creating or redeeming Shares is impaired for any reason, Authorized Participants and their clients or customers may not be able to purchase and redeem Baskets or, even if possible, may choose not to do so. The inability to purchase and redeem Baskets, or the partial impairment of the ability to purchase and redeem Baskets, could result in Shares trading at a premium or discount to the NAV of the Fund. Such a premium or discount could be significant, depending upon the nature or duration of the impairment.
If the Fund were to issue all Shares that have been registered, it would not be able to create new Baskets until it registered additional Shares and those additional Shares became available for sale. An inability to create new Baskets could increase the possibility that the trading price per Share would not track closely the NAV per Share. In addition, the Fund may, in its discretion, suspend the creation of Baskets. Suspension of creations may adversely affect how the Shares are traded and could cause Shares to trade at a premium or discount to the NAV of the Fund, perhaps to a significant degree.
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 the Fund. Consequently, there may be unanticipated problems 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. To the extent that unanticipated operational or trading problems arise, the Managing Owner’s past experience and qualifications may not be suitable for solving those problems.
While the Managing Owner manages a number of ETFs that use futures contracts as part of their investment strategy, it has only managed the Fund for a limited period of time. The Managing Owner’s limited experience with the Fund and other similar funds may adversely affect its ability to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objective.
Historical Performance of the Fund and the Index is Not Indicative of Future Performance.
Past performance of the Fund or the Index is not necessarily indicative of future results. Therefore, past performance of the Fund or the Index should not be relied upon in deciding whether to buy Shares of the Fund.
Fees and Expenses May Deplete the Fund’s Assets if the Fund’s Investment Performance is Not Favorable.
The Fund pays fees and expenses regardless of its investment performance. Such fees and expenses include asset-based fees of 0.75% per annum. Additional charges include brokerage fees of approximately 0.03% per annum in the aggregate and selling commissions. Selling commissions are not included in the Fund’s breakeven calculation. The sum of the Fund’s Treasury Income, Money Market Income and/or T-Bill ETF Income may not exceed its fees and expenses. If such income does not exceed its fees and expenses, in order to break even, the Fund’s futures trading activity will need to have a favorable performance that exceeds the difference between the sum of the Fund’s Treasury Income, Money Market Income and/or T-Bill ETF Income and its fees and expenses. If the Fund’s futures trading performance is not sufficiently favorable, the Fund’s expenses could deplete its assets over time. In such a scenario, the value of your Shares will decrease.
There may be circumstances that could prevent the Fund from being operated in a manner consistent with its investment objective.
There may be circumstances outside the control of the Managing Owner and/or the Fund that make it, for all practical purposes, impossible to re-position the Fund and/or to process a purchase or redemption order. Examples of such circumstances include: natural disasters; public service disruptions or utility problems such as those caused by fires, floods, extreme weather conditions, and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy, and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the aforementioned parties, as well as DTC, or any other participant in the purchase process, and similar extraordinary events. While the Managing Owner has established and implemented a disaster recovery plan, circumstances such as those identified above may prevent the Fund from being operated in a manner consistent with its investment objective.
You May Be Adversely Affected by Redemption Orders that Are Subject To Postponement, Suspension or Rejection Under Certain Circumstances.
The Managing Owner may, in its discretion, suspend the right of redemption or postpone the redemption order settlement date, for (1) any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which the redemption distribution is not reasonably practicable, or (2) 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, either in its own capacity or 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 NAV 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.
Shareholders Do 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, as amended. Consequently, Shareholders do not have the legal and regulatory protections provided to the investors in investment companies that are registered as such.
Shareholders Do Not Have the Rights Enjoyed by Investors in Certain Other Vehicles.
As interests in an investment trust, the Shares have none of the statutory rights normally associated with the ownership of shares of a corporation. However, under Delaware law, a beneficial owner of a business trust (such as a Shareholder) may, under certain circumstances, institute legal action on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated beneficial owners to recover damages from a third party where a managing owner has failed or refused to institute legal action on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated beneficial owners to recover damages from a managing owner for violations of fiduciary duties, or on behalf of a business trust to recover damages from a third party where a managing owner has failed or refused to institute proceedings to recover such damages. 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 in the discretion of the Managing Owner).
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 or any of its affiliates, the Commodity Broker, including its principals and its affiliates, the Index Sponsor and Marketing Agent, and Invesco Distributors. 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. The Managing Owner and its principals and affiliates are engaged in a broad array of asset management and financial services activities and may engage in activities during the ordinary course of business that cause their interests or those of their other clients to conflict with those of the Fund and its Shareholders.
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. For example, by investing in affiliated money market mutual funds and/or T-Bill ETFs for margin and/or cash management purposes, the Managing Owner may select affiliated money market mutual funds and/or T-Bill ETFs that may pay dividends that are lower than non-affiliated money market mutual funds and/or T-Bill ETFs. In addition, the Managing Owner would have a conflict of interest if it sought to redeem the Fund’s interest in an affiliated money market mutual fund or T-Bill ETF in circumstances where such redemption would be unfavorable for the affiliated fund. 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 Fund and 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.
Because the Managing Owner and Invesco Distributors are affiliates, the Managing Owner has a disincentive to replace Invesco Distributors. Furthermore, the Managing Owner did not conduct an arm’s length negotiation when it retained Invesco Distributors.
Lack of Independent Advisers Representing Investors.
The Managing Owner has consulted with counsel, accountants and other advisers regarding the operation of the Fund. No counsel has been appointed to represent you in connection with the Fund’s continuous offering of Shares. Accordingly, you should consult your own legal, tax and financial advisers about whether you should invest in the Shares.
Possibility of Termination of the Fund May Adversely Affect Your Portfolio.
It is ultimately within the discretion of the Managing Owner whether it will continue to operate and advise the Fund. The Managing Owner may withdraw from the Fund upon 120 days’ prior written notice to all Limited Owners and the Trustee, which would cause the Fund to terminate unless a substitute managing owner was obtained. Limited 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. See “Description of the Shares; Certain Material Terms of the Trust Agreement – Termination Events” in the Fund’s Prospectus for a summary of termination events. 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.
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 in the manner described in the Fund’s Prospectus 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 issuance of any restraining orders or injunctions, the negotiation, litigation or settlement of such claims, or the ultimate disposition of such claims in a court of law may adversely affect the Fund and an investment in the Shares. For example, such actions could result in expenses or damages payable by the Fund, suspension of activities 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 they incur, except for any expenses resulting from 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 NAV of the Fund and, consequently, the value of the Shares.
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.
The Fund may Potentially Lose Money on its Holdings of Money Market Mutual Funds.
The Fund may invest in government money market funds that have chosen to not rely on the ability to impose fees on shareholder redemptions, or liquidity fees, or temporarily to suspend redemption privileges, or gates, if the government money market fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below a certain threshold. Although such government money market funds seek to preserve the value of an investment at $1.00 per share, there is no guarantee that they will be able to do so and the Fund may lose money by investing in a government money market fund. An investment in a government money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, referred to herein as the FDIC, or any other government agency. The share price of a government money market fund can fall below the $1.00 share price. The Fund cannot rely on or expect a government money market fund’s adviser or its affiliates to enter into support agreements or take other actions to maintain the government money market fund’s $1.00 share price. The credit quality of a government money market fund’s holdings can change rapidly in certain markets, and the default of a single holding could have an adverse impact on the government money market fund’s share price. Due to fluctuations in interest rates, the market value of securities held by a government money market fund may vary. A government money market fund’s share price can also be negatively affected during periods of high redemption pressures and/or illiquid markets.
Due to the Increased use of Technologies, Intentional and Unintentional Cyber Attacks Pose Operational and Information Security Risks.
With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform necessary business functions, the Fund is susceptible to operational and information security risks. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber attacks include, but are not limited to gaining unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cyber attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on websites. Cyber security failures or breaches of the Fund’s third party service providers (including, but not limited to, the Index Sponsor, the Administrator and transfer agent) or the issuers of the money market mutual funds and T-Bill ETFs in which the Fund invests, have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. While the Managing Owner has established business continuity plans and systems to prevent such cyber attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Furthermore, the Fund cannot control the cyber security plans and systems put in place by the Fund’s third party service providers. Cyber attacks may also cause disruptions to the futures exchanges and clearinghouses through which the Fund invests in exchange-traded futures contracts, resulting in disruptions to the Fund’s investment objectives and resulting in financial losses.
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.
None.
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.money market mutual funds and/or T-Bill ETFs. The Managing Owner’s headquarters are located at 3500 Lacey Road, Suite 700, Downers Grove, IL 60515.
None.
Not applicable.
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 “DBO.”
The following table sets forth, for the calendar quarters indicated, the high and low sales prices per Share, as reported on the applicable exchange.
|
| Shares |
| |||||
Quarter ended |
| High |
|
| Low |
| ||
March 31, 2017 |
| $ | 9.66 |
|
| $ | 8.39 |
|
June 30, 2017 |
| $ | 9.21 |
|
| $ | 7.45 |
|
September 30, 2017 |
| $ | 8.91 |
|
| $ | 7.73 |
|
December 31, 2017 |
| $ | 10.16 |
|
| $ | 8.49 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter ended |
| High |
|
| Low |
| ||
March 31, 2016 |
| $ | 9.06 |
|
| $ | 6.82 |
|
June 30, 2016 |
| $ | 9.71 |
|
| $ | 7.27 |
|
September 30, 2016 |
| $ | 9.34 |
|
| $ | 7.77 |
|
December 31, 2016 |
| $ | 9.71 |
|
| $ | 8.07 |
|
Shares | ||||||||
Quarter ended | High | Low | ||||||
March 31, 2015 | $ | 15.67 | $ | 12.57 | ||||
June 30, 2015 | $ | 15.34 | $ | 13.66 | ||||
September 30, 2015 | $ | 14.17 | $ | 9.89 | ||||
December 31, 2015 | $ | 12.37 | $ | 8.75 | ||||
Quarter ended | High | Low | ||||||
March 31, 2014 | $ | 29.20 | $ | 25.94 | ||||
June 30, 2014 | $ | 30.94 | $ | 28.01 | ||||
September 30, 2014 | $ | 30.75 | $ | 27.13 | ||||
December 31, 2014 | $ | 26.91 | $ | 15.65 |
Holders
As of December 31, 2015,2017, the Fund had 11199 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 Endedyear ended December 31, 20152017 or for the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2014.2016.
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) Not applicable.
(c) The following table summarizes the redemptions by Authorized Participants during the YearsThree Months Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:2017:
Period of Redemption | Total Number of Shares Redeemed | Average Price Paid per Share | ||||||
Year Ended December 31, 2015 | 14,400,000 | $ | 12.06 | |||||
Year Ended December 31, 2014 | 3,600,000 | $ | 29.79 | |||||
Year Ended December 31, 2013 | 20,400,000 | $ | 26.49 |
Period of Redemption |
| Total Number of Shares Redeemed |
|
| Average Price Paid per Share |
| ||
October 1, 2017 to October 31, 2017 |
|
| 12,000,000 |
|
| $ | 8.90 |
|
November 1, 2017 to November 30, 2017 |
|
| 5,600,000 |
|
|
| 9.61 |
|
December 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 |
|
| 2,200,000 |
|
|
| 9.95 |
|
Total |
|
| 19,800,000 |
|
| $ | 9.22 |
|
The following table summarizes the relevant 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 2013, 2012 and 20112013 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.
Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | December 31, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | December 31, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
Interest Income(a) | $ | 123,536 | $ | 104,628 | $ | 265,496 | $ | 483,428 | $ | 346,317 | ||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | (3,914,384 | ) | $ | (2,037,831 | ) | $ | (3,150,024 | ) | $ | (4,532,899 | ) | $ | (4,226,463 | ) | |||||
Net realized and net change in unrealized gains/(losses) on United States Treasury Obligations and futures | $ | (221,862,791 | ) | $ | (134,761,696 | ) | $ | 30,265,297 | $ | (58,195,892 | ) | $ | 17,859,087 | |||||||
Net Income (Loss) | $ | (225,777,175 | ) | $ | (136,799,527 | ) | $ | 27,115,273 | $ | (62,728,791 | ) | $ | 13,632,624 | |||||||
Net Income (Loss) per Share | $ | (6.44 | ) | $ | (12.18 | ) | $ | 1.70 | $ | (2.57 | ) | $ | 0.36 | |||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash | $ | (36,434,784 | ) | $ | 62,836,866 | $ | 463,739 | $ | (8,753,657 | ) | $ | (17,668,955 | ) | |||||||
As of December 31, 2015 | As of December 31, 2014 | As of December 31, 2013 | As of December 31, 2012 | As of December 31, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
Total Assets | $ | 410,352,640 | $ | 290,416,811 | $ | 312,360,942 | $ | 785,359,032 | $ | 520,163,651 | ||||||||||
Shares NAV | $ | 9.07 | $ | 15.51 | $ | 27.69 | $ | 25.99 | $ | 28.56 | ||||||||||
General Shares NAV | $ | 9.07 | $ | 15.51 | $ | 27.69 | $ | 26.00 | $ | 28.55 |
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
|
| Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||||||||||||||
|
| 2017 |
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2015 |
|
| 2014 |
|
| 2013 |
| |||||
Income (a) |
| $ | 3,205,781 |
|
| $ | 1,235,732 |
|
| $ | 123,536 |
|
| $ | 104,628 |
|
| $ | 265,496 |
|
Net investment income (loss) |
| $ | 124,150 |
|
| $ | (2,171,777 | ) |
| $ | (3,914,384 | ) |
| $ | (2,037,831 | ) |
| $ | (3,150,024 | ) |
Net realized and net change in unrealized gains/(losses) on United States Treasury Obligations, Affiliated Investments and Commodity Futures Contracts |
| $ | 16,745,356 |
|
| $ | 49,964,955 |
|
| $ | (221,862,791 | ) |
| $ | (134,761,696 | ) |
| $ | 30,265,297 |
|
Net Income (Loss) |
| $ | 16,869,506 |
|
| $ | 47,793,178 |
|
| $ | (225,777,175 | ) |
| $ | (136,799,527 | ) |
| $ | 27,115,273 |
|
Net Income (Loss) per Share |
| $ | 0.54 |
|
| $ | 0.60 |
|
| $ | (6.44 | ) |
| $ | (12.18 | ) |
| $ | 1.70 |
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash |
| $ | 1,008,149 |
|
| $ | (32,179,166 | ) |
| $ | (36,434,784 | ) |
| $ | 62,836,866 |
|
| $ | 463,739 |
|
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 | For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 | For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 | For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||
Interest Income(a) | $ | 22,005 | $ | 30,071 | $ | 27,844 | $ | 43,616 | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | (902,190 | ) | $ | (1,200,508 | ) | $ | (935,397 | ) | $ | (876,289 | ) | ||||
Net realized and net change in unrealized gains/(losses) on United States Treasury Obligations and Futures | $ | (37,732,133 | ) | $ | 54,429,358 | $ | (136,000,198 | ) | $ | (102,559,818 | ) | |||||
Net Income/(loss) | $ | (38,634,323 | ) | $ | 53,228,850 | $ | (136,935,595 | ) | $ | (103,436,107 | ) | |||||
Increase/(decrease) in Net Asset Value | $ | 325,451,073 | $ | (24,154,632 | ) | $ | (86,468,097 | ) | $ | (84,003,629 | ) | |||||
Net Income (loss) per Share | $ | (2.01 | ) | $ | 1.16 | $ | (3.38 | ) | $ | (2.21 | ) | |||||
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 | For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2014 | For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 | For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||
Interest Income (loss)(a) | $ | 46,021 | $ | 31,472 | $ | 18,167 | $ | 8,968 | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | (521,141 | ) | $ | (563,177 | ) | $ | (451,421 | ) | $ | (502,092 | ) | ||||
Net realized and net change in unrealized gains/(losses) on United States Treasury Obligations and Futures | $ | 11,182,077 | $ | 22,209,921 | $ | (30,241,696 | ) | $ | (137,911,998 | ) | ||||||
Net Income/(loss) | $ | 10,660,936 | $ | 21,646,744 | $ | (30,693,117 | ) | $ | (138,414,090 | ) | ||||||
Increase/(decrease) in Net Asset Value | $ | (516,214 | ) | $ | 3,874,383 | $ | (70,252,669 | ) | $ | 35,986,426 | ||||||
Net Income (loss) per Share | $ | 0.98 | $ | 2.07 | $ | (3.71 | ) | $ | (11.52 | ) |
|
| As of December 31, |
| |||||||||||||||||
|
| 2017 |
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2015 |
|
| 2014 |
|
| 2013 |
| |||||
Total Assets |
| $ | 333,046,864 |
|
| $ | 453,548,425 |
|
| $ | 410,352,640 |
|
| $ | 290,416,811 |
|
| $ | 312,360,942 |
|
General Shares NAV |
| $ | 10.21 |
|
| $ | 9.67 |
|
| $ | 9.07 |
|
| $ | 15.51 |
|
| $ | 27.69 |
|
Shares NAV |
| $ | 10.21 |
|
| $ | 9.67 |
|
| $ | 9.07 |
|
| $ | 15.51 |
|
| $ | 27.69 |
|
(a) | Income for the |
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
|
| For the Three Months Ended |
| |||||||||||||
|
| March 31, 2017 |
|
| June 30, 2017 |
|
| September 30, 2017 |
|
| December 31, 2017 |
| ||||
Income |
| $ | 517,365 |
|
| $ | 688,113 |
|
| $ | 970,545 |
|
| $ | 1,029,758 |
|
Net investment income (loss) |
| $ | (344,979 | ) |
| $ | (89,257 | ) |
| $ | 229,338 |
|
| $ | 329,048 |
|
Net realized and net change in unrealized gains/(losses) on United States Treasury Obligations, Affiliated Investments and Commodity Futures Contracts |
| $ | (40,469,252 | ) |
| $ | (31,617,594 | ) |
| $ | 36,319,324 |
|
| $ | 52,512,878 |
|
Net Income/(loss) |
| $ | (40,814,231 | ) |
| $ | (31,706,851 | ) |
| $ | 36,548,662 |
|
| $ | 52,841,926 |
|
Increase/(decrease) in Net Asset Value |
| $ | (43,223,752 | ) |
| $ | (8,761,609 | ) |
| $ | 57,787,071 |
|
| $ | (125,726,023 | ) |
Net Income (loss) per Share |
| $ | (0.88 | ) |
| $ | (0.74 | ) |
| $ | 0.77 |
|
| $ | 1.39 |
|
|
| For the Three Months Ended |
| |||||||||||||
|
| March 31, 2016 |
|
| June 30, 2016 |
|
| September 30, 2016 |
|
| December 31, 2016 |
| ||||
Income |
| $ | 219,769 |
|
| $ | 295,779 |
|
| $ | 314,655 |
|
| $ | 405,529 |
|
Net investment income (loss) |
| $ | (644,384 | ) |
| $ | (585,249 | ) |
| $ | (508,668 | ) |
| $ | (433,476 | ) |
Net realized and net change in unrealized gains/(losses) on United States Treasury Obligations and Futures |
| $ | (53,924,049 | ) |
| $ | 75,313,624 |
|
| $ | (10,251,702 | ) |
| $ | 38,827,082 |
|
Net Income/(loss) |
| $ | (54,568,433 | ) |
| $ | 74,728,375 |
|
| $ | (10,760,370 | ) |
| $ | 38,393,606 |
|
Increase/(decrease) in Net Asset Value |
| $ | 39,933,265 |
|
| $ | 16,916,783 |
|
| $ | (16,722,504 | ) |
| $ | 2,559,513 |
|
Net Income (loss) per Share |
| $ | (1.28 | ) |
| $ | 1.37 |
|
| $ | (0.23 | ) |
| $ | 0.74 |
|
This information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in Item 8 of Part II of this Report.Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Report”). The discussion and analysis which follows may contain trend analysis and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”), which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial results. The matters discussed throughout this Form 10-KReport 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. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “outlook” and “estimate,” as well as similar words and phrases, signify forward-looking statements. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risk and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. PowerShares DB Oil Fund’s (the “Fund”) forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions and important factors, risks and uncertainties in the markets for financial instruments that the Fund trades, in the markets for related physical commodities, in the legal and regulatory regimes applicable to the Managing Owner, the Fund, and the Fund’s service providers, and in the broader economy 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. Any forward-looking statement in this report is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as expressly required by the Federal securities laws, Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC (“Invesco”), 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 ServicesInvesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC a Delaware limited liability company (“DBCS”), DB U.S. Financial Markets Holding Corporation (“DBUSH”Invesco”) and 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 PowerShares DB Oil Fund (the “Fund”), 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 the 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 serveshas served as the managing owner (the “Managing Owner”), commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor of the Trust and the Fund since February 23, 2015 (the “Closing Date”). Prior to the Closing Date, a different company served the Fund in replacement of DBCSthose capacities (the “Predecessor Managing Owner”).
The Fund seeks to track changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the DBIQ Optimum Yield EnergyCrude Oil Index Excess Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY CL ER™” or the “Index”) over time, plus the excess, if any, of the sum of the Fund’s interest income from its holdings of United States Treasury Obligations (“Treasury Income”), dividends from its holdings in money market mutual funds (affiliated or otherwise) (“Money Market Income”) and dividends or distributions of capital gains from its holdings of T-Bill ETFs (as defined below) (“T-Bill ETF Income”) over the expenses of the Fund. The Fund invests in futures contracts in an attempt to track its Index. The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the crude oil sector. The Shares are designedsingle commodity comprising the Index is Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) (the “Index Commodity”).
The Fund may invest directly in United States Treasury Obligations. The Fund may also gain exposure to United States Treasury Obligations through investments in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) (affiliated or otherwise) that track indexes that measure the performance of United States Treasury Obligations with a maximum remaining maturity of up to 12 months (“T-Bill ETFs”). The Fund invests in United States Treasury Obligations, money market mutual funds and T-Bill ETFs (affiliated or otherwise), if any, for investors who want a cost-effective and convenient way to invest in commodity futures on U.S. and non-U.S. markets.margin and/or cash management purposes.
The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing in a portfolio of exchange-traded commodity futures contracts that expire in a specific month and trade on a specific exchange (the “Index Contracts”), in the single commodity comprising the Index (the “Index Commodity”). The single Index Commodity is Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI). The Index is composed of notional amounts of the Index Commodity. The Fund also holds United States Treasury Obligations onand T-Bill ETFs, if any, for deposit with The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”) and with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, the Fund’s commodity broker (the “Commodity Broker”) as margin. Aftermargin, to the Closing Date,extent permissible under the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”), and United States Treasury Obligations, cash, money market mutual funds and T-Bill ETFs (affiliated or otherwise), if any, on deposit with The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”), for cash management purposes. The aggregate notional value of the commodity futures contracts owned by the Fund is expected to approximate the aggregate net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund, as opposed to the aggregate Index value.
As of the date of this Report, each of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., 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 & Company Inc., Nomura Securities International Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, UBS Securities LLC, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Goldman Sachs Execution & Clearing, L.P. and Citadel Securities LLC has executed a Participant Agreement.
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 CFTC and/or commodityand certain futures exchanges as applicable, impose position limits on market participants tradingfutures contracts, including on Index Contracts. As the Fund approaches or reaches position limits with respect to an Index Commodity, the Fund may commence investing in Index Contracts that reference other Index Commodities. In those circumstances, the commodity includedFund may also trade in the Index. As disclosed in the Fund’s Prospectus, iffutures contracts based on commodities other than Index Commodities that 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 the Index Commodity by investing in a specific Index Contract, the Fund may invest in (i) a futures contract referencing the Index Commodity other than the Index Contract or, in the alternative, invest in (ii) other futures contracts not based on the Index Commodity ((i) and (ii) collectively, the “Alternative Futures Contracts”) if, in the commercially reasonable judgment of the Managing Owner, such Alternative Futures Contractsreasonably believes tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with thean Index Commodity. Please seehttp://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 (as defined below).
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 and the Fund (the “Trustee”), has delegated toContract. In addition, the Managing Owner may determine to invest in other futures contracts if at any time it is impractical or inefficient to gain full or partial exposure to an Index Commodity through the exclusive management and controluse of all aspects of the business of the Trust and the Fund. The Trustee will have no dutyIndex Contracts. These other futures contracts
may or liability to supervise or monitor the performance ofmay not be based on an Index Commodity. When they are not, the Managing Owner nor will the Trustee have any liability for the acts or omissions of the Managing Owner.may seek to select futures contracts that it reasonably believes tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with an Index Contract.
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 valueNAV per Share, but these two valuations are expected to be very close.
Margin Calls
Like other futures and derivatives traders,“Initial” or “original” margin is the Fund willminimum amount of funds that must 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” ondeposited by 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 depositedtrader with his commodity broker in order to establish ainitiate futures trading or to maintain an open position in an exchange-traded futures contract varies from instrumentcontracts. “Maintenance” margin is the amount (generally less than initial margin) to instrument depending, generally, onwhich a trader’s account may decline before he must deliver additional margin. A margin deposit is like a cash performance bond. It helps assure the historical volatilityfutures trader’s performance of the futures contract in question. Determinationthat the trader purchases or sells. Futures contracts are customarily bought and sold on margin that represents a very small percentage (ranging upward from less than 2%) of the purchase price of the underlying commodity being traded. Because of such low margins, price fluctuations occurring in the futures markets may create profits and losses that are greater, in relation to the amount invested, than are customary in other forms of investments. The minimum amount of themargin required initial margin deposit in respect ofconnection with a particular futures contract is madeset from time to time by the exchange on which thesuch contract is listed. To establish a long position in an over-the-counter instrument,traded, and may be modified from time to time by the counterparty may require an analogous deposit of collateral, depending uponexchange during the anticipated volatilityterm 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, “variationcontract. “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,position.
Brokerage firms carrying accounts for traders in exchange-traded futures contracts may not accept lower, and generally require higher, amounts of margin as a matter of policy in order to afford further protection for themselves.
Margin requirements 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 betweencomputed each day by a commodity broker. When 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, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (herein referred to as the “Three Months Ended December 31, 2015”, the “Three Months Ended December 31, 2014” and the “Three Months Ended December 31, 2013”, respectively) and the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (herein referred to as the “Year Ended December 31, 2015”, the “Year Ended December 31, 2014” and the “Year Ended December 31, 2013”, 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 a particular open futures contract position changes to a point where the Index Commodity. In turn,margin on deposit does not satisfy maintenance margin requirements, a margin call is made by the Indexcommodity broker. If the margin call is intendednot met within a reasonable time, the broker may close out the Fund’s position. With respect to reflect the oil sector. The DBIQ Optimum Yield Crude Oil Index Total Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY CL TR™”) consists ofManaging Owner’s trading, only the Index plus 3-month United States Treasury Obligations returns. Past Index results areManaging Owner, and not necessarily indicative of future changes, positivethe Fund or negative, in the Index closing levels.its Shareholders personally, will be subject to margin calls.
Position Limits and/or Accountability Levels
The section “Summary of the DBIQ-OY CL TR™ and Underlying Index Commodity Returns for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013” below provides an overview of the changes in the closing levels of the DBIQ-OY CL TR™ by disclosing the change in market value of the 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 CL TR™), and the Fund doeshas not attempt to outperform or underperform the Index. The Index employs the optimum yield roll methodreached position limits 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 CL TR™ and Underlying Index Commodity Returns for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
AGGREGATE RETURNS | ||||||||||||
Underlying Index | Three Months Ended December 31, 2015 | Three Months Ended December 31, 2014 | Three Months Ended December 31, 2013 | |||||||||
DB Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) Indices | (19.40 | )% | (40.75 | )% | 0.88 | % | ||||||
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|
|
|
|
| |||||||
AGGREGATE RETURN | (19.40 | )% | (40.75 | )% | 0.88 | % | ||||||
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|
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| |||||||
AGGREGATE RETURNS | ||||||||||||
Underlying Index | Year Ended December 31, 2015 | Year Ended December 31, 2014 | Year Ended December 31, 2013 | |||||||||
DB Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) Indices | (40.84 | )% | (41.80 | )% | 7.14 | % | ||||||
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|
|
|
|
| |||||||
AGGREGATE RETURN | (40.84 | )% | (41.80 | )% | 7.14 | % | ||||||
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|
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 CL TR™. The only difference between (i) the Index and (ii) the DBIQ-OY CL TR™ is that the Index does not include interest income from a hypothetical basket of fixed income securities while the DBIQ-OY CL TR™ does include such a component. Thus, the difference between the Index and the DBIQ-OY CL TR™ is attributable entirelyrespect 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 fees2017, 2016 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 CL 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.2015 reporting periods.
Net Asset Value
Net asset valueNAV means the total assets of the Fund, including, but not limited to, all commodity futures contracts, cash and investments less total liabilities of the Fund, each determined on the basis of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”), 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 primary exchange on the date with respect to which net asset valueNAV is being determined. Under certain circumstances, including, but not limited to instances where the settlement price is not available, the Managing Owner may 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 valueNAV per Share is the net asset valueNAV 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. GAAP 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. There were no significant estimates used in the preparation of these financial statements.
The Fund holds a significant portion of its assets in commodity 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 Statements 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).
United States Treasury Obligations are fair valued using an evaluated quote provided by an independent pricing service. Futures contracts are valued at the final settlement price set by an exchange on which they are principally traded. 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 Statements 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 – “FailureFactors—“Failure of Futures Commission Merchants or Commodity Brokers to Segregate Assets May Increase Losses; Despite Segregation of Assets, Thethe Fund Remains at Risk of Significant Losses Because Thethe Fund May Only Receive a Pro-Rata Share of the Assets, or No Assets at All.”
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 valueNAV is held in United States Treasury Obligations, and cash, which may be used as margin for the Fund’s trading in commodity futures contracts.contracts and United States Treasury Obligations, money market mutual funds, cash (and T-Bill ETFs, if any), which may be used for cash management purposes. 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. A portion of the Fund’s United States Treasury Obligations areis held for deposit with the Commodity Broker to meet margin requirements. All remaining cash, money market mutual funds, T-Bill ETFs, if any, and United States Treasury Obligations are on deposit with the Custodian. Interest earned on the Fund’s interest-bearing funds isand dividends from the Fund’s holdings of money market mutual funds are paid to the Fund. Any dividends or distributions of capital gains received from the Fund’s holdings of T-Bill ETFs, if any, are paid to the Fund.
The Fund’s commodity futures 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 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 threetwo business days after the redemption order date. Redemption orders are irrevocable. 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,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 threetwo 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”) (the “CNS Clearing Process”) 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.
The Fund does not have any material commitments for capital expenditures as of the end of the latest fiscal period.
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.
Cash Flows
A 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, money market mutual funds and T-Bill ETFs, if any, 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.
As of the date of this Report, each of BMO Capital Markets Corp., BNP Paribas Securities Corp, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Citadel Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., Goldman Sachs Execution & Clearing LP, Interactive Brokers LLC, Jefferies LLC, JP Morgan Securities Inc., Knight Clearing Services LLC, Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Nomura Securities International Inc., RBC Capital Markets LLC, SG Americas Securities LLC, Timber Hill LLC, UBS Securities, Virtu Financial BD LLC and Virtu Financial Capital Markets LLC has executed a Participant Agreement, and those firms are the only Authorized Participants.
Operating Activities
Net cash flow provided by and (used for) operating activities was $ (393.0)$137.8 million, $(43.1)$(27.1) million and $502.3$(393.0) million for the Years Endedyears ended December 31, 2015, 20142017, 2016 and 2013,2015, respectively. These amounts primarily include net income (loss), net purchases and sales of money market mutual funds and net purchases and sales of United States Treasury Obligations which are held at fair value on the Statements of Financial Condition.and affiliated investments. The Fund invests in futures contracts in an attempt to track its Index. The Fund invests in United States Treasury Obligations, money market mutual funds and T-Bill ETFs (affiliated or otherwise), if any, for margin and/or cash management purposes.
During the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2017, $1,354.6 million was paid to purchase United States Treasury Obligations and $1,484.7 million was received from sales and maturing United States Treasury Obligations. During the year ended December 31, 2016, $1,811.4 million was paid to purchase United States Treasury Obligations and $1,746.5 million was received from sales and maturing United States Treasury Obligations. During the year ended December 31, 2015, $1,957.7 million was paid to purchase United States Treasury Obligations and $1,855.3 million was received from sales and maturing United States Treasury Obligations. During the Year Ended December 31, 2014, $1,175.9$807.9 million was received from sales of affiliated investments and $810.4 million was paid to purchase United States Treasury Obligations and $1,196.0affiliated investments during the year ended December 31, 2017. $406.2 million was received from sales of affiliated investments and maturing United States Treasury Obligations. During the Year Ended December 31, 2013, $1,551.8$421.2 million was paid to purchase United States Treasury Obligations and $1,990.5 million was received from sales and maturing United States Treasury Obligations.affiliated investments during the year ended December 31, 2016. The Fund had no affiliated investments holdings during the year ended December 31, 2015. Unrealized appreciation/depreciationappreciation (depreciation) on United States Treasury Obligations, affiliated investments and Commodity Futures Contracts increased (decreased) cash by $126.0$0.03 million, $73.8$0.01 million and $37.0$126.0 million during the Years Endedyears ended December 31, 2015, 20142017, 2016 and 2013,2015, respectively.
Financing Activities
The Fund’s net cash flow provided by and (used for) financing activities was $356.6$(136.8) million, $105.9$(5.1) million and $(501.8)$356.6 million during the Years Endedyears ended December 31, 2015, 20142017, 2016 and 2013,2015, respectively. This included $530.2$161.1 million, $213.1$157.7 million and $48.9$530.2 million from the sale of Shares to Authorized Participants and $173.6$297.9 million, $107.2$162.8 million and $550.8$173.6 million from Shares redeemed by Authorized Participants during the Years Endedyears ended December 31, 2015, 20142017, 2016 and 2013,2015, respectively.
Results of Operations
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015, 20142017, 2016 AND 20132015
The following graphs illustrate the percentage changes in (i) the market price of the Shares (as reflected by the line “Market”), (ii) the Fund’s NAV (as reflected by the line “NAV”), and (iii) the closing levels of the Index (as reflected by the line “DBIQ Opt Yield Crude Oil Index ERTM”). Whenever the Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income, if any, earned by the Fund exceeds Fund expenses, the price of the Shares generally exceeds the levels of the Index primarily because the Share price reflects Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income, if any, from the Fund’s collateral holdings whereas the Index does not consider such income. There can be no assurances that the price of the Shares or the Fund’s NAV will exceed the Index levels.
No representation is being made that the Index will or is likely to achieve 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 changes in the Index closing levels.
COMPARISON OF MARKET, NAV AND DBIQ OPT YIELD CRUDE OIL INDEX ER
FOR THE THREE MONTHSYEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015, 20142017, 2016 AND 20132015
The
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.
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.
Performance Summary
This Report covers the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.
Performance of the Fund was launched on January 3, 2007 at $25.00 per Share. Theand the exchange traded 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.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. The Managing Owner has served as managing owner of the Fund since the Closing Date, and the Fund’s performance information since the Closing Date is a reflection of the performance associated with the 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 Crude Oil Index Excess Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY CL 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 over the expenses of the Fund. The following graphs illustrate changes in (i) the price of the Shares (as reflected by the graph “DBO”), (ii) the Fund’s NAV (as reflected by the graph “DBONV”), and (iii) the closing levels of the Index (as reflected by the graph “DBOLIX”). 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 Commodity. 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 (if applicable) and certain other limitations on its ability to trade the Index Commodity, which may compel the Fund to trade futures or other instruments that are not the Index Commodity as proxies for the Index Commodity. 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 those 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 Commodity as proxies for the Index Commodity 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 DBO, DBONV AND DBOLIX FOR THE YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2015, 2014 AND 2013 AND
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015, 2014 AND 2013
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.
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.
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 Crude Oil Index Excess Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY CL 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 over the expenses of the Fund. The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the crudeIndex Commodity. In turn, the Index is intended to reflect the oil sector. The single commodity comprising the Index is Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) (the “Index Commodity”). 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–DBIQ Optimum Yield Crude Oil Index ExcessTotal Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY CL TR™”) consists of the Index plus 3-month United States Treasury Obligations returns. Past results of the DBIQ-OY CL TR™ are not necessarily indicative of future changes, positive or negative, in the closing levels of the DBIQ-OY CL TR™.
The section “Summary of the DBIQ-OY CL TR™ and Underlying Index Commodity Returns for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015” below provides an overview of the changes in the closing levels of the DBIQ-OY CL TR™ by disclosing the change in market value of the 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 an indexto track the Index (not the DBIQ-OY CL TR™), and the Fund does not reflectattempt 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 CL TR™ and Underlying Index Commodity Returns for the
Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
|
| Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||||||
Underlying Index |
| 2017 |
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2015 |
| |||
DB Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) Indices |
|
| 6.46 | % |
|
| 7.43 | % |
|
| (40.84 | )% |
If the Fund’s Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income were to exceed the Fund’s fees and expenses, the aggregate return on an investment in the Fund would be expected to outperform the Index and underperform the DBIQ-OY CL TR™. The only difference between (i) actual tradingthe Index (the “Excess Return Index”) and (ii) the DBIQ-OY CL TR ™ (the “Total Return Index”) is that the Excess Return Index does not include interest income from fixed income securities while the Total Return Index does include such a component. Thus, the difference between the Excess Return Index and the Total Return Index is attributable entirely to the
interest income attributable to the fixed income securities reflected in the Total Return Index. The Total Return Index does not actually hold any fixed income securities. If the Fund’s Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income, if any, 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 Excess Return Index by the amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income over its fees and expenses. As a result of the Fund’s fees and expenses, however, the aggregate return on the Fund is expected to underperform the Total Return Index. If the Fund’s fees and expenses were to exceed the Fund’s Treasury Income, Money Market Income and T-Bill ETF Income, if any, the aggregate return on an investment in the Fund is expected to underperform the Excess Return Index.
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 MAY 2006, 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 APRIL 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 LIMITED 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 LIMITED 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 UP TO AND EXCLUDING THE CLOSING DATE 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. IN RESPECT OF ANY PERIOD, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, NONE OF THE PERFORMANCE RELATED INFORMATION THAT IS COVERED BY THE PERIOD OF THIS REPORT ON AND AFTER THE CLOSING DATE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE PREDECESSOR MANAGING OWNER.
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. THE MANAGING OWNER HAS SERVED AS MANAGING OWNER OF THE FUND SINCE THE CLOSING DATE AND THE FUND’S PERFORMANCE INFORMATION SINCE THE CLOSING DATE IS A REFLECTION OF THE PERFORMANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANAGING OWNER. PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015, 20142017, 2016 AND 20132015
Fund Share Price Performance
For the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2017, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share increased 4.96% from $9.68 per Share to $10.16 per Share. The Share price low and high for the year ended December 31, 2017 and related change from the Share price on December 31, 2016 was as follows: Shares traded at a low of $7.45 per Share (-23.05%) on June 21, 2017, and a high of $10.16 per Share (+4.96%) on December 29, 2017. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2017. Therefore, the total return for the Fund, on a market value basis was +4.96%.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share increased 6.61% from $9.08 per Share to $9.68 per Share. The Share price low and high for the year ended December 31, 2016 and related change from the Share price on December 31, 2015 was as follows: Shares traded at a low of $6.82 per Share (-24.85%) on January 20, 2016, and a high of $9.71 per Share (+6.94%) on May 30, 2016. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2016. Therefore, the total return for the Fund, on a market value basis was +6.61%.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share decreased 42.06% from $15.67 per Share to $9.08 per Share. The Share price highlow and lowhigh for the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2015 and related change from the Share price from December 31, 2014 was as follows: Shares traded fromat a low of $8.75 per Share (-44.17%) on December 21, 2015, and a high of $15.34 per Share (-2.11%) on May 5, 2015 to a low of $8.75 per Share (-44.17%) on December 21, 2015. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2015. Therefore, the total return for the Fund, on a market value basis, was -42.06%.
Fund Share Net Asset Performance
For the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2014,2017, the NYSE Arca market valueNAV of each Share decreased 43.32%increased 5.58% from $27.70$9.67 per Share to $15.70$10.21 per Share. The Share price high and lowRising commodity future contract prices for Light Sweet Crude Oil during the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 20142017 contributed to an overall 5.46% increase in the level of the Index and related change from the Share price from December 31, 2013 was as follows: Shares traded from a high of $30.94 per Share (+11.70%) on June 25, 2014 to a low6.46% increase in the level of $15.65 per Share (-43.50%) on December 30, 2014.the DBIQ-OY CL TR™. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2014.2017. Therefore, the total return for the Fund on a market valueNAV basis was -43.32%.+5.58%
Net income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $16.9 million, primarily resulting from income of $3.2 million, net realized gain (loss) of $76.7 million, net change in unrealized gain (loss) of $(59.9) million and operating expenses of $3.1 million.
For the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2013,2016, the NYSE Arca market valueNAV of each Share increased 6.78%6.62% from $25.94$9.07 per Share to $27.70$9.67 per Share. The Share price low and highRising commodity future contract prices for Light Sweet Crude Oil during the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2013 and related change from2016 contributed to an overall 7.43% increase in the Share price on December 31, 2012 was as follows: Shares traded from a lowlevel of $24.11 per Share (-7.05%) on April 17, 2013 to a high of $28.21 per Share (+8.75%) on October 16, 2013.the DBIQ-OY CL TR™. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2013.2015. Therefore, the total return for the Fund on a market valueNAV basis was +6.78%.+6.62%
Fund Share Net Asset Performanceincome (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $47.8 million, primarily resulting from income of $1.2 million, net realized gain (loss) of $(240.7) million, net change in unrealized gain (loss) of $290.7 million and operating expenses of $3.4 million.
For the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2015, the net asset valueNAV of each Share decreased 41.52% from $15.51 per Share to $9.07 per Share. Decreases in the price of light sweet crude oil futures contractsFalling commodity future contract prices for Light Sweet Crude Oil during the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2015, contributed to an overall 40.84% decrease in the level of the DBIQ-OY-CL TR™. The Fund did not make a distributionNo distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2015. Therefore, the total return for the Fund on a net asset valueNAV basis was –41.52%.
Net income (loss) for the Year Endedyear ended December 31, 2015 was $(225.8) million, primarily resulting from net realized gain (loss) of $(95.9) million, net change in unrealized gain (loss) of $(126.0) million, $0.1 million of interest income and operating expenses of $4.0 million.
ForCritical Accounting Policies
The Fund’s critical accounting policies are as follows:
Preparation of the Year Ended December 31, 2014,financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the net assetapplication 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. There were no significant estimates used in the preparation of these financial statements.
Commodity futures contracts, United States Treasury Obligations, T-Bill ETFs and money market mutual funds are recorded on a trade date basis and at fair value in the financial statements, with changes in fair value, if any, reported in the Statements 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 each Share decreased 43.99%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).
United States Treasury Obligations are fair valued using an evaluated quote provided by an independent pricing service. Futures contracts are valued at the final settlement price set by an exchange on which they are principally traded. Investments in open-end and closed-end registered investment companies that do not trade on an exchange are valued at the end of day NAV per share. Investments in open-end and closed-end registered investment companies that trade on an exchange are valued at the last sales price or official closing price as of the close of the customary trading session on the exchange where the security is principally traded. 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 6 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) from $27.69 per Share to $15.51 per Share. Decreasesthe sale or disposition of securities or derivatives are determined on a specific identification basis and recognized in the priceStatements of light sweet crude oil futures contracts during the Year Ended December 31, 2014, contributed to an overall 41.8% decreaseIncome and Expenses in the levelperiod in which the contract is closed or the sale or disposition occurs, 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 DBIQ-OY-CL TR™. The Fund did not make a distribution to Shareholders duringUnited States Treasury Obligations. Dividend income (net of withholding tax, if any) is recorded on the Year Ended December 31, 2014. Therefore, the total return for the Fund on a net asset value basis was -43.99%.ex-dividend date.
Net income (loss) for the Year Ended December 31, 2014 was $(136.8) million, primarily resulting from net realized gain (loss) of $(61.0) million, net change in unrealized gain (loss) of $(73.8) million, $0.1 million of interest income and operating expenses of $2.1 million.
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013, the net asset value of each Share increased 6.54% from $25.99 per Share to $27.69 per Share. Increases in the price of light sweet crude oil futures contracts during the Year Ended December 31, 2013 contributed to an overall 7.14% increase in the level of the DBIQ-OY CL 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 +6.54%.
Net income (loss) for the Year Ended December 31, 2013 was $27.1 million, primarily resulting from net realized gain (loss) of $67.3 million, net change in unrealized gain (loss) of $(37.1) million, $0.3 million of interest income and operating expenses of $3.4 million.
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015, 2014 AND 2013
Fund Share Price Performance
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share decreased 20.07% from $11.36 per Share to $9.08 per Share. The Share price high and low for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015 and related change from the Share price on September 30, 2015 was as follows: Shares traded from a high of $12.37 per Share (+8.94%) on October 8, 2015 to a low of $8.75 per Share (-22.99%) on December 21,2015. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015. Therefore, the total return for the Fund, on a market value basis, was –20.07%.
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share decreased 42.13% from $27.13 per Share to $15.70 per Share. The Share price low and high 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 $26.91 per Share (-0.81%) on October 2, 2014 to a low of $15.65 per Share (-42.31%) on December 30,2014. 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 -42.13%.
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013, the NYSE Arca market value of each Share increased 0.95% from $27.44 per Share to $27.70 per Share. The Share price low and high 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 of $28.21 per Share (+2.81%) on October 16, 2013 to a low of $26.57 per Share (-3.17%) on November 27, 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 +0.95%.
Fund Share Net Asset Performance
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015, the net asset value of each Share decreased 19.59% from $11.28 per Share to $9.07 per Share. Decreases in the price of light sweet crude oil futures contracts during the Three Months December 31, 2015, contributed to an overall 19.40% decrease in the level of the DBIQ-OY CL TR™. No distributions were paid to Shareholders during the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015. Therefore, the total return for the Fund on a net asset value basis was -19.59%.
Net income (loss) for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015 was $(103.4) million, primarily resulting from net realized gain (loss) of $(36.7) million, net change in unrealized gain (loss) of $(65.9) million and operating expenses of $0.9 million.
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014, the net asset value of each Share decreased 42.62% from $27.03 per Share to $15.51 per Share. Decreases in the price of light sweet crude oil futures contracts during the Three Months December 31, 2014, contributed to an overall 40.75% decrease in the level of the DBIQ-OY CL 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 -42.62%.
Net income (loss) for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014 was $(138.4) million, primarily resulting from net realized gain (loss) of $(98.1) million, net change in unrealized gain (loss) of $(39.81) million and operating expenses of $0.5 million.
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013, the net asset value of each Share increased 0.69% from $27.50 per Share to $27.69 per Share. Increases in the price of light sweet crude oil futures contracts during the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013 contributed to an overall 0.88% increase in the level of the DBIQ-OY CL 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 +0.69%.
Net income (loss) for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013 was $2.3 million, primarily resulting net realized gain (loss) of $2.9 million, net change in unrealized gain (loss) of $0.05 million and operating expenses of $0.6 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 interestsinterest 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 Managing Owner expects the risk of loss to be remote.
The Fund’s contractual obligations are with the Managing Owner and the Commodity Broker. Management Fee payments made to the Managing Owner are calculated as a fixed percentage of the Fund’s net asset value.NAV. Commission payments to the Commodity Broker 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 valuesNAVs 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, fromFrom inception up to and excluding the Closing Date, all Management Fees and commission payments were paid to the Predecessor Managing Owner and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (the “Predecessor Commodity Broker”), respectively. Since the Closing Date, the Managing Owner has served as managing owner of the Fund and the Commodity Broker has served as the Fund’s futures clearing broker, and all Management Fee accruals and commission accruals since the Closing Date have been paid to the Managing Owner and the Commodity Broker, respectively.
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 prices 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 (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Exchange Act). 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, (VaR),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 (one 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,these considerations, as well as the risks and uncertainties intrinsic to all future projections, the inclusion of the quantification included in this section shouldfollowing VaR presentation does 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.VaR.
THE FUND’S TRADING VALUE AT RISK
The Fund calculates VaR using the actual historical market movements of the Fund’s net assets.
The following table indicates the trading VaR associated with the Fund’s net assets as of December 31, 2017.
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| For the Year Ended |
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| December 31, 2017 |
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Description |
| Net Assets |
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| Daily Volatility |
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| VaR* (99 Percentile) |
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| Number of times VaR Exceeded |
| ||||
PowerShares DB Oil Fund |
| $ | 332,833,341 |
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| 1.15 | % |
| $ | 8,940,876 |
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| 14 |
|
The following table indicates the trading VaR associated with the Fund’s net assets as of December 31, 2015.2016.
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| For the Year Ended |
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| December 31, 2016 |
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Description | Net Assets | Daily Volatility | VaR* (99 Percentile) | For the Year Ended December 31, 2015 Number of times VaR Exceeded |
| Net Assets |
|
| Daily Volatility |
|
| VaR* (99 Percentile) |
|
| Number of times VaR Exceeded |
| ||||||||||||||||
PowerShares DB Oil Fund | $ | 410,070,597 | 2.10 | % | $ | 20,062,119 | 13 |
| $ | 452,757,654 |
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| 2.05 | % |
| $ | 21,672,416 |
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| 3 |
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* | 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 net 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, 2014.
Description | Total Assets | Daily Volatility | VaR* (99 Percentile) | For the Year Ended December 31, 2014 Number of times VaR Exceeded | ||||||||||||
PowerShares DB Oil Fund | $ | 290,416,811 | 1.47 | % | $ | 9,550,481 | 19 |
THE FUND’S NON-TRADING MARKET RISK
The Fund has non-trading market risk as a result of investing in short-term United States Treasury Obligations. TheObligations, T-Bill ETFs and money market mutual funds. As such, the market risk represented by these investments is not expected to be immaterial.material. Although the Fund purchases and sells shares of T-Bill ETFs on an exchange, it does not establish or liquidate those positions for trading purposes.
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 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 exposureexposures of the Fund as of December 31, 2015 relating to the Index Commodity is as follows:2017:
Light Sweet Crude Oil
The price of Light Sweet Crude Oil is volatile and is affected by numerous factors. The level of global industrial activity influences the demand for Light Sweet Crude Oil. In addition, various other factors can affect the demand for Light Sweet Crude Oil, such as weather, political events and labor activity. The supply of Light Sweet Crude Oil can be affected by many events, in particular, the meetings of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Market expectations about events that will influence either demand or supply can cause prices for Light Sweet Crude Oil to fluctuate greatly. A significant amount of the world oil production capacity is controlled by a relatively small number of producers. Any large change in production by one of these producers could have a substantial effect on the price of Light Sweet Crude Oil.
QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES REGARDING NON-TRADING MARKET RISK EXPOSURE
General
TheAs noted above, the Fund has non-trading market risk as a result of investing in short-term United States Treasury Obligations, T-Bill ETFs and money market mutual funds. As such, the market risk represented by these investments 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.not expected to be material.
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 initiatesonly takes long positions only on the “long” side of the marketin investments and does not employ “stop-loss” techniques.
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 Oil 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,Daniel Draper, 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, 2015.2017. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) inInternal Control—Integrated Framework(2013). 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, 2015.2017.
The Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, has audited the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015,2017, as stated in their report on page 3631 of the Fund’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
By: | |||
/ | |||
Name: | Daniel Draper | ||
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 |
February 26, 201627, 2018
Report of Independent RegisteredRegistered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Managers of PowerShares DB Multi-Sector Commodity Trust and Shareholders of PowerShares DB Oil Fund:Fund
In our opinion,
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying statements of financial condition, including the schedules of investments of PowerShares DB Oil Fund (constituting a series of PowerShares DB Multi-Sector Commodity Trust, hereafter referred to as the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016,and the related statements of income and expenses, of changes in shareholders’ equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”).We also have audited the Fund's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework(2013)issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of PowerShares DB Oilthe Fund (the “Fund”) atas of December 31, 2015 2017 and December 31, 2014, 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 2017 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, 2015,2017, based on criteria established inInternal Control—Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Fund’sFund'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.Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on thesethe Fund’s financial statements and on the Fund’sFund's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordanceare a public accounting firm registered with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence supportingregarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessingstatements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, andas well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement presentation.statements. 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.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
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 and
directors 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.
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/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 27, 2018
We have served as the Fund’s auditor since 2013.
Statements of Financial Condition
December 31, 20152017 and 20142016
December 31, 2015 | December 31, 2014 | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
United States Treasury Obligations, at fair value (cost $372,481,672 and $280,982,992, respectively) | $ | 372,479,154 | $ | 280,990,311 | ||||
Cash held by commodity broker | — | 68,613,950 | ||||||
Cash held by custodian | 32,179,166 | — | ||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on Commodity Futures Contracts | — | (59,187,450 | ) | |||||
Variation margin receivable | 5,694,320 | — | ||||||
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Total assets (of which $95,990,400 and $27,583,325, respectively, is restricted for maintenance margin purposes) | $ | 410,352,640 | $ | 290,416,811 | ||||
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Liabilities | ||||||||
Payable for securities purchased | $ | — | $ | 10,999,263 | ||||
Management fee payable | 278,574 | 167,000 | ||||||
Brokerage fee payable | 3,469 | 4,666 | ||||||
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Total liabilities | 282,043 | 11,170,929 | ||||||
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Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9) | ||||||||
Equity | ||||||||
Shareholders’ equity—General Shares | 363 | 620 | ||||||
Shareholders’ equity—Shares | 410,070,234 | 279,245,262 | ||||||
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Total shareholders’ equity | 410,070,597 | 279,245,882 | ||||||
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Total liabilities and equity | $ | 410,352,640 | $ | 290,416,811 | ||||
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General Shares outstanding | 40 | 40 | ||||||
Shares outstanding | 45,200,000 | 18,000,000 | ||||||
Net asset value per share | ||||||||
General Shares | $ | 9.07 | $ | 15.51 | ||||
Shares | $ | 9.07 | $ | 15.51 |
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| December 31, |
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| 2017 |
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| 2016 |
| ||
Assets |
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United States Treasury Obligations, at value (cost $311,509,304 and $438,609,436, respectively) |
| $ | 311,472,491 |
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| $ | 438,601,879 |
|
Affiliated Investments, at value (cost $17,417,436 and $14,942,839, respectively) |
|
| 17,412,477 |
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| 14,942,839 |
|
Other investments: |
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|
|
Variation margin receivable- Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
| 3,138,420 |
|
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| — |
|
Cash held by custodian |
|
| 1,008,149 |
|
|
| — |
|
Receivable for: |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends from affiliates |
|
| 15,327 |
|
|
| 3,707 |
|
Total assets |
| $ | 333,046,864 |
|
| $ | 453,548,425 |
|
Liabilities |
|
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Other investments: |
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|
|
|
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|
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Variation margin payable- Commodity Futures Contracts |
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 496,980 |
|
Payable for: |
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|
|
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|
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Due to custodian |
|
| — |
|
|
| 500 |
|
Management fees |
|
| 209,080 |
|
|
| 288,397 |
|
Brokerage commissions and fees |
|
| 4,443 |
|
|
| 4,894 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
| 213,523 |
|
|
| 790,771 |
|
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10) |
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Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder's equity—General Shares |
|
| 408 |
|
|
| 387 |
|
Shareholders' equity—Shares |
|
| 332,832,933 |
|
|
| 452,757,267 |
|
Total shareholders' equity |
|
| 332,833,341 |
|
|
| 452,757,654 |
|
Total liabilities and equity |
| $ | 333,046,864 |
|
| $ | 453,548,425 |
|
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|
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General Shares outstanding |
|
| 40 |
|
|
| 40 |
|
Shares outstanding |
|
| 32,600,000 |
|
|
| 46,800,000 |
|
Net asset value per share |
| $ | 10.21 |
|
| $ | 9.67 |
|
Market value per share |
| $ | 10.16 |
|
| $ | 9.68 |
|
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements which are an integral part of the financial statements.
December 31, 20152017
Description | Percentage of Shareholders’ Equity | Fair Value | Face Value | |||||||||
United States Treasury Obligations(a)(b) | ||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.235% due January 7, 2016 | 8.53 | % | $ | 34,999,860 | $ | 35,000,000 | ||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.205% due January 14, 2016 | 21.34 | 87,497,550 | 87,500,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.195% due January 21, 2016 | 20.73 | 84,996,515 | 85,000,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.170% due January 28, 2016 | 21.34 | 87,492,825 | 87,500,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.200% due February 4, 2016 | 13.41 | 54,995,710 | 55,000,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.135% due February 11, 2016 | 1.46 | 5,999,208 | 6,000,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.145% due February 18, 2016 | 1.83 | 7,499,010 | 7,500,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.140% due February 25, 2016 | 0.73 | 2,999,706 | 3,000,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.280% due March 10, 2016 | 1.46 | 5,998,770 | 6,000,000 | |||||||||
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| |||||||||
Total United States Treasury Obligations (cost $372,481,672) | 90.83 | % | $ | 372,479,154 | ||||||||
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|
|
| |||||||||
a) Security may be traded on a discount basis. The interest rate shown represents the discount rate at the most recent auction date of the security prior to year end. (b) A portion of United States Treasury Obligations are on deposit with the Commodity Broker and held as margin for open futures contracts. See Note 3 for additional information. |
| |||||||||||
Description | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) as a Percentage of Shareholders’ Equity | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)(c) | Notional Market Value | |||||||||
Commodity Futures Contracts | ||||||||||||
NYMEX WTI Crude (10,744 contracts, settlement date February 22, 2016) | (45.15 | )% | $ | (185,157,240 | ) | $ | 410,098,480 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Total Commodity Futures Contracts | (45.15 | )% | $ | (185,157,240 | ) | $ | 410,098,480 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
(c) Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is presented above, net by contract. |
|
Description |
| Percentage of Shareholders' Equity |
|
| Value |
|
| Principal Value |
| |||
United States Treasury Obligations (a) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. Treasury Bills, 1.180% due January 4, 2018 |
|
| 15.92 | % |
| $ | 52,996,676 |
|
| $ | 53,000,000 |
|
U.S. Treasury Bills, 1.245% due January 18, 2018 |
|
| 2.70 |
|
|
| 8,995,065 |
|
|
| 9,000,000 |
|
U.S. Treasury Bills, 1.285% due February 22, 2018 |
|
| 24.89 |
|
|
| 82,851,845 |
|
|
| 83,000,000 |
|
U.S. Treasury Bills, 1.285% due March 1, 2018 (b) |
|
| 47.98 |
|
|
| 159,673,267 |
|
|
| 160,000,000 |
|
U.S. Treasury Bills, 1.450% due June 7, 2018 |
|
| 2.09 |
|
|
| 6,955,638 |
|
|
| 7,000,000 |
|
Total United States Treasury Obligations (cost $311,509,304) |
|
| 93.58 | % |
| $ | 311,472,491 |
|
|
|
|
|
Affiliated Investments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shares |
| |
Exchange-Traded Fund |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PowerShares Treasury Collateral Portfolio (cost $5,005,284)(c) |
|
| 1.50 |
|
|
| 5,000,325 |
|
|
| 47,500 |
|
Money Market Mutual Fund |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Invesco Premier U.S. Government Money Portfolio - Institutional Class, 1.15% (cost $12,412,152)(d) |
|
| 3.73 |
|
|
| 12,412,152 |
|
|
| 12,412,152 |
|
Total Affiliated Investments (cost $17,417,436) |
|
| 5.23 | % |
| $ | 17,412,477 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Investments in Securities (cost $328,926,740) |
|
| 98.81 | % |
| $ | 328,884,968 |
|
|
|
|
|
(a) | Security may be traded on a discount basis. The interest rate shown represents the discount rate at the most recent auction date of the security prior to period end. |
(b) | United States Treasury Obligations of $39,916,000 are on deposit with the Commodity Broker and held as maintenance margin for open futures contracts. |
(c) | Affiliated company. The security and the Fund are affiliated by having the same investment adviser. See Note 8. |
(d) | The security and the Fund are advised by wholly-owned subsidiaries of Invesco Ltd. and are therefore considered to be affiliated. The rate shown is the 7-day SEC standardized yield as of December 31, 2017. |
Long Futures Contracts |
| Number of Contracts |
|
| Expiration Date |
| Notional Value |
|
| Value(e) |
|
| Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)(e) |
| ||||
Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NYMEX WTI Crude |
|
| 5,506 |
|
| February - 2018 |
| $ | 332,782,640 |
|
| $ | 45,635,994 |
|
| $ | 45,635,994 |
|
(e) | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) and Value are presented above, net by contract. |
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements which are an integral part of the financial statements.
December 31, 20142016
Description | Percentage of Shareholders’ Equity | Fair Value | Face Value | |||||||||
United States Treasury Obligations(a)(b) | ||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.030% due January 2, 2015 | 0.72 | % | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 2,000,000 | ||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.020% due January 15, 2015 | 0.36 | 999,993 | 1,000,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.010% due February 5, 2015 | 0.36 | 999,981 | 1,000,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.025% due February 19, 2015 | 2.86 | 7,999,864 | 8,000,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.020% due February 26, 2015 | 0.71 | 1,999,954 | 2,000,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.025% due March 5, 2015 | 4.30 | 11,999,736 | 12,000,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.025% due March 12, 2015 | 32.94 | 91,996,504 | 92,000,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.035% due March 19, 2015 | 41.18 | 114,996,320 | 115,000,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.055% due March 26, 2015 | 13.25 | 36,998,927 | 37,000,000 | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.040% due April 2, 2015 | 3.94 | 10,999,032 | 11,000,000 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Total United States Treasury Obligations (cost $280,982,992) | 100.62 | % | $ | 280,990,311 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
Description |
| Percentage of Shareholders' Equity |
|
| Value |
|
| Principal Value |
| |||
United States Treasury Obligations(a) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.490% due January 19, 2017 |
|
| 9.50 | % |
| $ | 42,992,217 |
|
| $ | 43,000,000 |
|
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.485% due January 26, 2017 |
|
| 25.17 |
|
|
| 113,970,018 |
|
|
| 114,000,000 |
|
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.490% due March 2, 2017 |
|
| 36.41 |
|
|
| 164,873,775 |
|
|
| 165,000,000 |
|
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.530% due April 6, 2017 |
|
| 7.06 |
|
|
| 31,956,864 |
|
|
| 32,000,000 |
|
U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.625% due May 18, 2017 (b) |
|
| 18.73 |
|
|
| 84,809,005 |
|
|
| 85,000,000 |
|
Total United States Treasury Obligations (cost $438,609,436) |
|
| 96.87 | % |
|
| 438,601,879 |
|
|
|
|
|
Money Market Mutual Fund |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shares |
| |
Premier U.S. Government Money Portfolio- Institutional Class, 0.41% (cost $14,942,839) (c) |
|
| 3.30 |
|
|
| 14,942,839 |
|
|
| 14,942,839 |
|
Total Investments in Securities (cost $453,552,275) |
|
| 100.17 | % |
| $ | 453,544,718 |
|
|
|
|
|
(a) | Security may be traded on a discount basis. The interest rate shown represents the discount rate at the most recent auction date of the security prior to year end. |
(b) |
|
(c) | The security and the Fund are advised by wholly-owned subsidiaries of Invesco Ltd. and are therefore considered to be affiliated. The rate shown is the 7-day SEC standardized yield as of December 31, 2016. |
Description | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) as a Percentage of Shareholders’ Equity | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)(c) | Notional Market Value | |||||||||
Commodity Futures Contracts | ||||||||||||
NYMEX WTI Crude (5,635 contracts, settlement date January 20, 2015) | (21.20 | )% | $ | (59,187,450 | ) | $ | 300,176,450 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Total Commodity Futures Contracts | (21.20 | )% | $ | (59,187,450 | ) | $ | 300,176,450 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long Futures Contracts |
| Number of Contracts |
|
| Expiration Date |
| Notional Value |
|
| Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)(d) |
| |||
Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NYMEX WTI Crude |
|
| 8,283 |
|
| February - 2017 |
| $ | 452,748,780 |
|
| $ | 105,525,095 |
|
| Unrealized |
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements which are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statements of Income and Expenses
For the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 20142017, 2016 and 20132015
2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| 2017 |
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2015 |
| |||||||||||||
Income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Interest Income | $ | 123,536 | $ | 104,628 | $ | 265,496 |
| $ | 3,009,035 |
|
| $ | 1,209,378 |
|
| $ | 123,536 |
| ||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from Affiliates |
|
| 196,746 |
|
|
| 26,354 |
|
|
| — |
| ||||||||||||
Total Income |
|
| 3,205,781 |
|
|
| 1,235,732 |
|
|
| 123,536 |
| ||||||||||||
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Management Fee | 3,843,464 | 2,065,309 | 3,325,652 |
|
| 2,939,104 |
|
|
| 3,295,092 |
|
|
| 3,843,464 |
| |||||||||
Brokerage Commissions and Fees | 174,592 | 77,150 | 89,868 |
|
| 83,769 |
|
|
| 98,360 |
|
|
| 174,592 |
| |||||||||
Interest Expense(a) | 19,864 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest Expense |
|
| 104,874 |
|
|
| 28,626 |
|
|
| 19,864 |
| ||||||||||||
Total Expenses | 4,037,920 | 2,142,459 | 3,415,520 |
|
| 3,127,747 |
|
|
| 3,422,078 |
|
|
| 4,037,920 |
| |||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | (3,914,384 | ) | (2,037,831 | ) | (3,150,024 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Realized and Net Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Waivers |
|
| (46,116 | ) |
|
| (14,569 | ) |
|
| — |
| ||||||||||||
Net Expenses |
|
| 3,081,631 |
|
|
| 3,407,509 |
|
|
| 4,037,920 |
| ||||||||||||
Net Investment Income (Loss) |
|
| 124,150 |
|
|
| (2,171,777 | ) |
|
| (3,914,384 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net Realized and Net Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on United States Treasury Obligations, Affiliated Investments and Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
United States Treasury Obligations | (1,486 | ) | 3,806 | 17,091 |
|
| 335 |
|
|
| 1,974 |
|
|
| (1,486 | ) | ||||||||
Commodity Futures Contracts | (95,881,678 | ) | (60,962,520 | ) | 67,259,780 |
|
| 76,668,337 |
|
|
| (240,714,315 | ) |
|
| (95,881,678 | ) | |||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) | (95,883,164 | ) | (60,958,714 | ) | 67,276,871 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Realized Gain (Loss) |
|
| 76,668,672 |
|
|
| (240,712,341 | ) |
|
| (95,883,164 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
United States Treasury Obligations | (9,837 | ) | (5,942 | ) | (42,914 | ) |
|
| (29,256 | ) |
|
| (5,039 | ) |
|
| (9,837 | ) | ||||||
Affiliated Investments |
|
| (4,959 | ) |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
| ||||||||||||
Commodity Futures Contracts | (125,969,790 | ) | (73,797,040 | ) | (36,968,660 | ) |
|
| (59,889,101 | ) |
|
| 290,682,335 |
|
|
| (125,969,790 | ) | ||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) | (125,979,627 | ) | (73,802,982 | ) | (37,011,574 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and net change in unrealized gain (loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts | (221,862,791 | ) | (134,761,696 | ) | 30,265,297 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
|
| (59,923,316 | ) |
|
| 290,677,296 |
|
|
| (125,979,627 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net Realized and Net Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on United States Treasury Obligations, Affiliated Investments and Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
| 16,745,356 |
|
|
| 49,964,955 |
|
|
| (221,862,791 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) | $ | (225,777,175 | ) | $ | (136,799,527 | ) | $ | 27,115,273 |
| $ | 16,869,506 |
|
| $ | 47,793,178 |
|
| $ | (225,777,175 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements which are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
For the Year Ended December 31, 20152017
General Shares |
Shares | Total Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Total Equity | Shares | Total Equity | |||||||||||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2015 | 40 | $ | 620 | 18,000,000 | $ | 279,245,262 | $ | 279,245,882 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Sale of Shares | 41,600,000 | 530,239,846 | 530,239,846 | |||||||||||||||||
Redemption of Shares | (14,400,000 | ) | (173,637,956 | ) | (173,637,956 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||
Net Increase (Decrease) due to Share Transactions | 27,200,000 | 356,601,890 | 356,601,890 | |||||||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | (5 | ) | (3,914,379 | ) | (3,914,384 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts | (109 | ) | (95,883,055 | ) | (95,883,164 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts | (143 | ) | (125,979,484 | ) | (125,979,627 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) | (257 | ) | (225,776,918 | ) | (225,777,175 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Net Change in Shareholders’ Equity | — | (257 | ) | 27,200,000 | 130,824,972 | 130,824,715 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2015 | 40 | $ | 363 | 45,200,000 | $ | 410,070,234 | $ | 410,070,597 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| General Shares |
|
| Shares |
|
| Total |
| |||||||||||
|
| Shares |
|
| Total Equity |
|
| Shares |
|
| Total Equity |
|
| Shareholders' Equity |
| |||||
Balance at December 31, 2016 |
|
| 40 |
|
| $ | 387 |
|
|
| 46,800,000 |
|
| $ | 452,757,267 |
|
| $ | 452,757,654 |
|
Purchases of Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 19,000,000 |
|
|
| 161,111,372 |
|
|
| 161,111,372 |
|
Redemption of Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (33,200,000 | ) |
|
| (297,905,191 | ) |
|
| (297,905,191 | ) |
Net Increase (Decrease) due to Share Transactions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (14,200,000 | ) |
|
| (136,793,819 | ) |
|
| (136,793,819 | ) |
Net Income (Loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Investment Income (Loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 124,149 |
|
|
| 124,150 |
|
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on United States Treasury Obligations, Affiliated Investments and Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
| 95 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 76,668,577 |
|
|
| 76,668,672 |
|
Net Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on United States Treasury Obligations, Affiliated Investments and Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
| (75 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| (59,923,241 | ) |
|
| (59,923,316 | ) |
Net Income (Loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 16,869,485 |
|
|
| 16,869,506 |
|
Net Change in Shareholders' Equity |
|
| — |
|
|
| 21 |
|
|
| (14,200,000 | ) |
|
| (119,924,334 | ) |
|
| (119,924,313 | ) |
Balance at December 31, 2017 |
|
| 40 |
|
| $ | 408 |
|
|
| 32,600,000 |
|
| $ | 332,832,933 |
|
| $ | 332,833,341 |
|
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements which are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
For the Year Ended December 31, 20142016
General Shares | Shares | Total Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Total Equity | Shares | Total Equity | |||||||||||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2014 | 40 | $ | 1,108 | 11,200,000 | $ | 310,152,848 | $ | 310,153,956 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Sale of Shares | 10,400,000 | 213,137,142 | 213,137,142 | |||||||||||||||||
Redemption of Shares | (3,600,000 | ) | (107,245,689 | ) | (107,245,689 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||
Net Increase (Decrease) due to Share Transactions | 6,800,000 | 105,891,453 | 105,891,453 | |||||||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | (7 | ) | (2,037,824 | ) | (2,037,831 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts | (218 | ) | (60,958,496 | ) | (60,958,714 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts | (263 | ) | (73,802,719 | ) | (73,802,982 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) | (488 | ) | (136,799,039 | ) | (136,799,527 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Net Change in Shareholders’ Equity | — | (488 | ) | 6,800,000 | (30,907,586 | ) | (30,908,074 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2014 | 40 | $ | 620 | 18,000,000 | $ | 279,245,262 | $ | 279,245,882 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| General Shares |
|
| Shares |
|
| Total |
| |||||||||||
|
| Shares |
|
| Total Equity |
|
| Shares |
|
| Total Equity |
|
| Shareholders' Equity |
| |||||
Balance at January 1, 2016 |
|
| 40 |
|
| $ | 363 |
|
|
| 45,200,000 |
|
| $ | 410,070,234 |
|
| $ | 410,070,597 |
|
Purchases of Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 20,600,000 |
|
|
| 157,691,418 |
|
|
| 157,691,418 |
|
Redemption of Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (19,000,000 | ) |
|
| (162,797,539 | ) |
|
| (162,797,539 | ) |
Net Increase (Decrease) due to Share Transactions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,600,000 |
|
|
| (5,106,121 | ) |
|
| (5,106,121 | ) |
Net Income (Loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Investment Income (Loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
| (1 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| (2,171,776 | ) |
|
| (2,171,777 | ) |
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
| (121 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| (240,712,220 | ) |
|
| (240,712,341 | ) |
Net Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
| 146 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 290,677,150 |
|
|
| 290,677,296 |
|
Net Income (Loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 47,793,154 |
|
|
| 47,793,178 |
|
Net Change in Shareholders' Equity |
|
| — |
|
|
| 24 |
|
|
| 1,600,000 |
|
|
| 42,687,033 |
|
|
| 42,687,057 |
|
Balance at December 31, 2016 |
|
| 40 |
|
| $ | 387 |
|
|
| 46,800,000 |
|
| $ | 452,757,267 |
|
| $ | 452,757,654 |
|
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements which are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
For the Year Ended December 31, 20132015
General Shares | Shares | Total Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Total Equity | Shares | Total Equity | |||||||||||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2013 | 40 | $ | 1,040 | 29,800,000 | $ | 774,470,827 | $ | 774,471,867 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Sale of Shares | 1,800,000 | 48,936,598 | 48,936,598 | |||||||||||||||||
Redemption of Shares | (20,400,000 | ) | (540,369,782 | ) | (540,369,782 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||
Net Increase (Decrease) due to Share Transactions | (18,600,000 | ) | (491,433,184 | ) | (491,433,184 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | (8 | ) | (3,150,016 | ) | (3,150,024 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts | 169 | 67,276,702 | 67,276,871 | |||||||||||||||||
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts | (93 | ) | (37,011,481 | ) | (37,011,574 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) | 68 | 27,115,205 | 27,115,273 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Net Change in Shareholders’ Equity | — | 68 | (18,600,000 | ) | (464,317,979 | ) | (464,317,911 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2013 | 40 | $ | 1,108 | 11,200,000 | $ | 310,152,848 | $ | 310,153,956 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| General Shares |
|
| Shares |
|
| Total |
| |||||||||||
|
| Shares |
|
| Total Equity |
|
| Shares |
|
| Total Equity |
|
| Shareholders' Equity |
| |||||
Balance at January 1, 2015 |
|
| 40 |
|
| $ | 620 |
|
|
| 18,000,000 |
|
| $ | 279,245,262 |
|
| $ | 279,245,882 |
|
Purchases of Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 41,600,000 |
|
|
| 530,239,846 |
|
|
| 530,239,846 |
|
Redemption of Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (14,400,000 | ) |
|
| (173,637,956 | ) |
|
| (173,637,956 | ) |
Net Increase (Decrease) due to Share Transactions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 27,200,000 |
|
|
| 356,601,890 |
|
|
| 356,601,890 |
|
Net Income (Loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Investment Income (Loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
| (5 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| (3,914,379 | ) |
|
| (3,914,384 | ) |
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
| (109 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| (95,883,055 | ) |
|
| (95,883,164 | ) |
Net Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
| (143 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| (125,979,484 | ) |
|
| (125,979,627 | ) |
Net Income (Loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
| (257 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| (225,776,918 | ) |
|
| (225,777,175 | ) |
Net Change in Shareholders' Equity |
|
| — |
|
|
| (257 | ) |
|
| 27,200,000 |
|
|
| 130,824,972 |
|
|
| 130,824,715 |
|
Balance at December 31, 2015 |
|
| 40 |
|
| $ | 363 |
|
|
| 45,200,000 |
|
| $ | 410,070,234 |
|
| $ | 410,070,597 |
|
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements which are an integral part of the financial statements.
For the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 20142017, 2016 and 20132015
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) | $ | (225,777,175 | ) | $ | (136,799,527 | ) | $ | 27,115,273 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities: | ||||||||||||
Cost of securities purchased | (1,957,667,461 | ) | (1,175,908,099 | ) | (1,551,756,156 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from securities sold and matured | 1,855,291,568 | 1,195,996,218 | 1,990,488,699 | |||||||||
Net accretion of discount on United States Treasury Obligations | (123,536 | ) | (106,706 | ) | (265,526 | ) | ||||||
Net realized (gain) loss on United States Treasury Obligations | 1,486 | (3,806 | ) | (17,091 | ) | |||||||
Net change in unrealized (gain) loss on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts | 125,979,627 | 73,802,982 | 37,011,574 | |||||||||
Cash transfer to Commodity Broker to satisfy variation margin requirements (Note 4) | 3,341,590 | — | — | |||||||||
Cash received (paid) to Commodity Broker to satisfy open variation margin, net (Note 4) | (188,498,830 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Change in operating receivables and payables: | ||||||||||||
Variation margin receivable | (5,694,320 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Management fee payable | 111,574 | (37,335 | ) | (287,182 | ) | |||||||
Brokerage fee payable | (1,197 | ) | 1,686 | 2,912 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | (393,036,674 | ) | (43,054,587 | ) | 502,292,503 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of Shares | 530,239,846 | 213,137,142 | 48,936,598 | |||||||||
Redemption of Shares | (173,637,956 | ) | (107,245,689 | ) | (550,765,362 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities | 356,601,890 | 105,891,453 | (501,828,764 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net change in cash held | (36,434,784 | ) | 62,836,866 | 463,739 | ||||||||
Cash at beginning of year(a) | 68,613,950 | 5,777,084 | 5,313,345 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Cash at end of year(a)(b) | $ | 32,179,166 | $ | 68,613,950 | $ | 5,777,084 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information | ||||||||||||
Cash paid for interest | $ | 19,864 | $ | 2,078 | $ | 30 |
|
| 2017 |
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2015 |
| |||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income (Loss) |
| $ | 16,869,506 |
|
| $ | 47,793,178 |
|
| $ | (225,777,175 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of securities purchased |
|
| (1,354,621,461 | ) |
|
| (1,811,383,546 | ) |
|
| (1,957,667,461 | ) |
Proceeds from securities sold and matured |
|
| 1,484,730,963 |
|
|
| 1,746,467,134 |
|
|
| 1,855,291,568 |
|
Cost of affiliated investments purchased |
|
| (810,359,831 | ) |
|
| (421,190,289 | ) |
|
| — |
|
Proceeds from affiliated investments sold |
|
| 807,885,234 |
|
|
| 406,247,450 |
|
|
| — |
|
Net accretion of discount on United States Treasury Obligations |
|
| (3,009,035 | ) |
|
| (1,209,378 | ) |
|
| (123,536 | ) |
Net realized (gain) loss on United States Treasury Obligations and Affiliated Investments |
|
| (335 | ) |
|
| (1,974 | ) |
|
| 1,486 |
|
Net change in unrealized (gain) loss on United States Treasury Obligations, Affiliated Investments and Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
| 34,215 |
|
|
| 5,039 |
|
|
| 125,979,627 |
|
Cash transfer to Commodity Broker to satisfy variation margin requirements (Note 4) |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 3,341,590 |
|
Cash received (paid) to Commodity Broker to satisfy open variation margin, net (Note 4) |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| (188,498,830 | ) |
Change in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Variation margin- Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
| (3,635,400 | ) |
|
| 6,191,300 |
|
|
| (5,694,320 | ) |
Dividends from affiliates |
|
| (11,620 | ) |
|
| (3,707 | ) |
|
| — |
|
Management fees |
|
| (79,317 | ) |
|
| 9,823 |
|
|
| 111,574 |
|
Brokerage commissions and fees |
|
| (451 | ) |
|
| 1,425 |
|
|
| (1,197 | ) |
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities |
|
| 137,802,468 |
|
|
| (27,073,545 | ) |
|
| (393,036,674 | ) |
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from purchases of Shares |
|
| 161,111,372 |
|
|
| 157,691,418 |
|
|
| 530,239,846 |
|
Redemption of Shares |
|
| (297,905,191 | ) |
|
| (162,797,539 | ) |
|
| (173,637,956 | ) |
Increase (decrease) in payable for amount due to custodian, net |
|
| (500 | ) |
|
| 500 |
|
|
| — |
|
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities |
|
| (136,794,319 | ) |
|
| (5,105,621 | ) |
|
| 356,601,890 |
|
Net change in cash |
|
| 1,008,149 |
|
|
| (32,179,166 | ) |
|
| (36,434,784 | ) |
Cash at beginning of period |
|
| — |
|
|
| 32,179,166 |
|
|
| 68,613,950 | (a) |
Cash at end of period (b) |
| $ | 1,008,149 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 32,179,166 |
|
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest |
| $ | 104,874 |
|
| $ | 28,626 |
|
| $ | 19,864 |
|
(a) | Cash at December 31, 2014 |
(b) | Cash at December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 reflects cash held by the Custodian. |
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements which are an integral part of the financial statements.
December 31, 20152017
(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 Note 1 - Organization
PowerShares DB Oil 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, as amended (the “Trust Agreement”). The Fund has an unlimited number of shares authorized for issuance.
Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC (“Invesco”) has served as the managing owner (the “Managing Owner”), commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor of the Trust and the Fund, since February 23, 2015 (the “Closing Date”). Prior to the Closing Date, a different company served the Fund in those capacities (the “Predecessor Managing Owner”). The Predecessor Managing Owner seeded the Fund with a capital contribution of $1,000 in exchange for 40 general shares (the “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 asset purchase agreement entered into with DB US Financial Markets Holding Corporation. The fiscal year end of the Fund is December 31st.
The Fund seeks to track changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the DBIQ Optimum Yield Crude Oil Index Excess Return™ (the “Index”) over time, plus the excess, if any, of the sum of the Fund’s interest income from its holdings of United States Treasury Obligations, dividends from its holdings in money market mutual funds (affiliated or otherwise) and dividends or distributions of capital gains from its holdings of T-Bill ETFs (as defined below) over the expenses of the Fund. The Fund invests in futures contracts in an attempt to track its Index. The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the crude oil sector. The single commodity comprising the Index is Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) (the “Index Commodity”).
The Fund may invest directly in United States Treasury Obligations. The Fund may also gain exposure to United States Treasury Obligations through investments in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) (affiliated or otherwise) that track indexes that measure the performance of United States Treasury Obligations with a maximum remaining maturity of up to 12 months (“T-Bill ETFs”). The Fund invests in United States Treasury Obligations, money market mutual funds and T-Bill ETFs (affiliated or otherwise), if any, for margin and/or cash management purposes.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and certain futures exchanges impose position limits on futures contracts that reference the Index Commodity (the “Index Contracts”). As the Fund approaches or reaches position limits with respect to an Index Commodity, the Fund may commence investing in Index Contracts that reference other Index Commodities. In those circumstances, the Fund may also trade in futures contracts based on commodities other than Index Commodities that the Managing Owner reasonably believes tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with an Index Contract. In addition, the Managing Owner may determine to invest in other futures contracts if at any time it is impractical or inefficient to gain full or partial exposure to the Index Commodity through the use of Index Contracts. These other futures contracts may or may not be based on the Index Commodity. When they are not, the Managing Owner may seek to select futures contracts that it reasonably believes tend to exhibit trading prices that correlate with an Index Contract.
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”))LLC) on January 5, 2007 and, as ofsince November 25, 2008,
is has been listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”).
This Annual Report (the “Report”) covers the years ended December 31, 2015, 20142017, 2016 and 2013 (herein referred to, as the “Year Ended December 31, 2015”, the “Year Ended December 31, 2014” and the “Year Ended December 31, 2013”, respectively).2015. 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. The Managing Owner has served as managing owner of the Fund since the Closing Date, and the Fund’s performance information since the Closing Date is a reflection of the performance associated with the 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 Crude Oil Index Excess Return™ (the “DBIQ-OY CL 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 over the expenses of the Fund.
The Index is intended to reflect the change in market value of the crude oil sector. The single commodity comprising the Index is Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) (the “Index Commodity”).
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and/or commodity exchanges, as applicable, impose position limits on market participants trading in the commodity included in the Index. The Index is comprised of futures contracts on the Index Commodity 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 the Index Commodity by investing in the Index Contract, the Fund may invest in (i) a futures contract referencing the Index Commodity other than the Index Contract or, in the alternative, invest in (ii) other futures contracts not based on the 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 the Index Commodity.
The Fund holds United States Treasury Obligations for deposit with the Commodity Broker as margin. The Fund does not borrow money to increase leverage. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Fund had $101,684,720 (or 24.78% of its total assets) and $290,416,811 (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 or its Predecessor Commodity Broker (as defined below), as applicable. Of this, $95,990,400 (or 23.39% of its total assets) and $27,583,325 (or 9.50% of its total assets) is required to be deposited to satisfy maintenance margin required by the Commodity Broker or its Predecessor Commodity Broker, as applicable for the Fund’s open futures positions as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. All the remaining cash and United States Treasury Obligations are on deposit with the Custodian (see Note 4). For additional information, please see the Schedules of Investments as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 for details of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
PowerShares DB Oil Fund
Notes to Financial Statements—(Continued)
December 31, 2015
(4) Service Providers and Related Party Agreements
The Trustee
Under the Trust Agreement, Wilmington Trust Company, the trustee of the Trust (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 as the Fund’s 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 (the “Management Fee”). From inception up to and excluding the Closing Date, all Management Fees were payable to the Predecessor Managing Owner. The Managing Owner has served as managing owner of the Fund since the Closing Date and all Management Fee accruals since the Closing Date have been paid to the Managing Owner.
During the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Fund incurred Management Fees of $3,843,464, $2,065,309 and $3,325,652, respectively. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, Management Fees payable were $278,574 and $167,000, respectively.
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”). Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (“DBSI”), a Delaware corporation, served as the Fund’s futures clearing broker up to and excluding the Closing Date (the “Predecessor Commodity Broker”). DBSI is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG and is an affiliate of the Predecessor Managing Owner. A variety of executing brokers execute futures transactions on behalf of the Fund. Such executing brokers give-up all such transactions to the Commodity Broker.
In its capacity as clearing broker, the Commodity Broker may execute or receive transactions executed by others and clears all of the Fund’s futures transactions and performs certain administrative and custodial services for the Fund. 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.
During the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Fund incurred brokerage fees of $174,592, $77,150 and $89,868, respectively. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, brokerage fees payable were $3,469 and $4,666, respectively. For the avoidance of doubt, from inception up to and excluding the Closing Date, commission payments were paid to the Predecessor Commodity Broker. The Commodity Broker has served as the Fund’s futures clearing broker since the Closing Date and all commission accruals since the Closing Date have been paid to the Commodity Broker.
The Administrator, the Custodian and Transfer Agent
The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Administrator” and “Custodian”) 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 maintains 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 Commodity Broker and other unaffiliated futures commission merchants.
The Managing Owner pays the Administrator administrative services fees out of the Management Fee.
As of December 31, 2014, the Fund held $68,613,950 of cash and $280,990,311 of United States Treasury Obligations at the Predecessor Commodity Broker. In conjunction with the Transaction, during the three-day period from February 24, 2015 to February 26, 2015, the Fund transferred $21,627,202 of cash and $470,990,982 of United States Treasury Obligations from the Predecessor Commodity Broker to the Custodian. Additionally, during that same three-day period, the Fund transferred all of its open positions of commodity futures contracts from the Predecessor Commodity Broker to the Commodity Broker and accordingly, $3,341,590 of futures variation margin was credited to the Commodity Broker account. $67,993,200 of United States Treasury Obligations was also transferred from the Custodian to the Commodity Broker to satisfy maintenance margin requirements. Effective February 26, 2015, the Managing Owner began transferring cash daily from the Custodian to the Commodity Broker to satisfy the previous day’s variation margin on open futures contracts. The cumulative amount of cash transferred to the Commodity Broker as of December 31, 2015 approximates the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on commodity futures contracts. As a result, only the current day’s variation margin receivable or payable is disclosed on the Statement of Financial Condition.
PowerShares DB Oil Fund
Notes to Financial Statements—(Continued)
December 31, 2015
As of December 31, 2015 the Fund had $308,667,920 (or 75.22% of total assets) of its holdings of cash and United States Treasury Obligations held with its Custodian. No assets were held at the Custodian on December 31, 2014.
The Distributor
ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) provides certain distribution services to the Fund. Pursuant to the Distribution Services Agreement, 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 Managing Owner pays the Distributor a distribution fee out of the Management Fee.
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 out of the Management 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 DBIQ indices and to complete governmental or institutional due diligence questionnaires or requests for proposals related to the DBIQ indices.
The Managing Owner pays the Marketing Agent a marketing services fee out of the Management 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)2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Basis of Presentation
A. | Basis of Presentation |
The financial statements of the Fund have been prepared using U.S.accounting principles generally accepted accounting principlesin the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years’ financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.
The Fund has determined that it meets the definition of an investment company and has prepared the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP for investment companies in conformity with the accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—946, Financial Services — Investment Companies.
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.
Companies(b) Use of Estimates.
B. | Accounting 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 duringat the reporting perioddate of the financial statements and accompanying notes.the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. There were noestimates by a significant estimates usedamount. In addition, the Fund monitors for material events or transactions that may occur or become known after the period-end date and before the date the financial statements are released to print.
C. | Investment Valuations |
Investments in the preparation of these financial statements.
PowerShares DB Oil Fund
Notes to Financial Statements—(Continued)
December 31, 2015
(c) Financial Instrumentsopen-end and Fair Value
United States Treasury Obligations and commodity futures contractsclosed-end registered investment companies that do not trade on an exchange 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. U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participantsvalued at the measurement date, under current market conditions.
U.S. GAAP establishes a hierarchyend-of-day net asset value (“NAV”) per share. Investments in open-end and closed-end registered investment companies that prioritizestrade on an exchange are valued at the inputs to valuation methods, givinglast sales price or official closing price as of the highest priority to readily available unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical assets (Level 1) andclose of the lowest priority to significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), generally when market prices are not readily available or are unreliable. Basedcustomary trading session on the valuation inputs,exchange where the securities or other investments are tiered into one of three levels. Changes in valuation methods or market conditions may result in transfers in or out of an investment’s assigned level:
Level 1—Prices are determined using quoted prices in an active market for identical assets.
Level 2—Prices are determined using other significant observable inputs. Observable inputs are inputs that other market participants may use in pricing a security. These may include quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, loss severities, default rates, discount rates, volatilities and others.
Level 3—Prices are determined using significant unobservable inputs. In situations where quoted prices or observable inputs are unavailable (for example, when theresecurity is little or no market activity for an investment at the end of the period), unobservable inputs may be used. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the factors market participants would use in determining fair value of the securities or instruments and would be based on the best available information.principally traded.
United States Treasury Obligations are fair valued using an evaluated quote provided by an independent pricing service. Evaluated quotes provided by the pricing service may be determined without exclusive reliance on quoted prices, and may reflect appropriate factors such as developments related to specific securities, yield, quality, type of issue, coupon rate, maturity, individual trading characteristics and other market data. All debt obligations involve some risk of default with respect to interest and/or principal payments.
The levels assigned toFutures contracts are valued at the securities valuations mayfinal settlement price set by an exchange on which they are principally traded.
When market closing prices are not be an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investing in those securities. Because of the inherent uncertainties of valuation, the values reflected in the financial statements may materially differ from the value received upon actual sale of those investments.
The following is a summary of the tiered valuation input levels as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
United States Treasury Obligations | $ | — | $ | 372,479,154 | $ | — | $ | 372,479,154 | ||||||||
Commodity Futures Contracts(a) | $ | (185,157,240 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (185,157,240 | ) |
The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers in and out of the valuation levels as of the end of the reporting period. Effective on the Closing Date,available, the Managing Owner evaluated the classificationmay value an asset of the Fund’s investments,Fund pursuant to policies the Managing Owner has adopted, which are consistent with normal industry standards.
D. | Investment Transactions and Investment Income |
Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses from the sale or disposition of securities or derivatives are determined on a specific identification basis and elected to reflectrecognized in the Statements of Income and Expenses in the period in which the contract is closed or the sale or disposition occurs, respectively. Interest income on United States Treasury Obligations as Level 2. As a result, United States Treasury Obligations were transferred from Level 1 to Level 2.
The following is a summary of the tiered valuation input levels as of December 31, 2014:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
United States Treasury Obligations | $ | 280,990,311 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 280,990,311 | ||||||||
Commodity Futures Contracts(a) | $ | (59,187,450 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (59,187,450 | ) |
PowerShares DB Oil Fund
Notes to Financial Statements—(Continued)
December 31, 2015
(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 transfers cash to the Commodity Broker to satisfy variation margin requirements. The Fund earns interest on any excess cash deposited with the Commodity Broker and incurs interest expense on any deficit balance with the Commodity Broker.
(e) United States Treasury Obligations
The Fund records purchases and sales of United States Treasury Obligations on trade date. These holdings are marked to market based on evaluated mean prices provided by an independent pricing service. A portion of the Fund’s United States Treasury Obligations are held for deposit with the Commodity Broker to meet margin requirements. Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis when earned. Realized gains or losses on sales are computed on the basis of specific identification of the securities sold. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the life of the United States Treasury Obligations. AsDividend income (net of withholding tax, if any) is recorded on the ex-dividend date.
E. | 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, 2015, there were no payables or receivables outstanding for securities purchased or sold.2017, 2016 and 2015.
F. | Routine Operational, Administrative and Other Ordinary Expenses |
Upon assuming the role of Managing Owner on the Closing Date, the Managing Owner assumed 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. Prior to that date, the Predecessor Managing Owner assumed all routine operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses of the Fund. The Fund purchased $11,000,000 face amountdoes not reimburse the Managing Owner for the routine operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses of United States Treasury Obligations valued at $10,999,263 which wasthe Fund. Accordingly, such expenses are not reflected in the Statements of Income and Expenses of the Fund.
G. | Non-Recurring Fees and Expenses |
The Fund pays all non-recurring and unusual fees and expenses, if any, of itself, as determined by the Managing Owner. Non-recurring and unusual fees and expenses include fees and expenses, such as legal claims and liabilities, litigation costs, indemnification expenses or other nonroutine expenses. Non-recurring and unusual fees and expenses, by their nature, are unpredictable in terms of timing and amount. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Fund did not incur such expenses.
H. | 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 (as defined below). These costs are recorded as payable for securities purchased asBrokerage Commissions and Fees in the Statements of December 31, 2014.
(f) Cash Held byIncome and Expenses. The Commodity Broker
The Fund’s arrangement withBroker’s brokerage commissions and trading fees are determined on a contract-by-contract basis. On average, total charges paid to the Commodity Broker, requiresas applicable were less than $6.00, $6.00 and $6.00 per round-turn trade during the Fund to meet its variation margin requirement related to the price movements on futures contracts held by the Fund by keeping cash on deposit with the Commodity Broker. The Fund assesses its variation margin requirements on a daily basis by recalculating the change in value of the futures contracts based on price movements. Subsequent cash payments are made or received by the Fund each business day depending upon whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred on the futures contracts. Effective February 24, 2015, only the current day’s variation margin receivable or payable is disclosed as an asset or liability on the Statement of Financial Condition.
The Fund defines cash and cash equivalents to be highly liquid investments, with original maturities of three months or less when purchased. There were no cash equivalents held by the Fund as ofyears ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, and 2014.respectively.
(g) Receivable/(Payable) for Shares Issued and Redeemed
On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order to create or redeem Shares of the Fund. Cash settlement occurs at the creation order settlement date or the redemption order settlement date as discussed in Note 7.
(h) Income Taxes
I. | Income Taxes |
The Fund is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Fund will generally 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.
The Managing Owner has reviewed all of the Fund’s open tax years and major jurisdictions and concluded that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits relating to uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in future tax returns. The Fund is 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, the Managing Owner will monitor the Fund’s 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 factors 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, 2012.2014.
J. | Commodity Futures Contracts |
(i)The Fund utilizes derivative instruments to achieve its investment objective. A commodity futures contract is an agreement between counterparties to purchase or sell a specified underlying commodity for a specified price, or to pay or receive a cash amount based on the value of an index or other reference instrument, at a future date. Initial margin deposits required upon entering into futures contracts are satisfied by the segregation of specific securities or cash as collateral with the Commodity Futures Contracts
AllBroker. During the period that the commodity futures contracts are held and used for trading purposes. Commodity futuresopen, changes in the value of the contracts are recordedrecognized as unrealized gains or losses by recalculating the value of the contracts on trade date. Open contractsa daily basis. Subsequent or variation margin payments are recorded inreceived or made depending upon whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as a receivable or payable on the Statements of Financial Condition at fair value on trade date and on each successive date as well as onCondition. When the last business day of eachcontracts are closed or expire, the Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from, or cost of, the periods presented. Futures contracts are valued atclosing transaction and the final settlement price set by an exchange on which they are principally traded.Fund’s basis in the contract. Realized gains (losses) and changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on open positions are determined on a specific identification basis and recognized in the Statements of Income and Expenses in the period in which the contract is closed or the changes occur, respectively.
PowerShares DB Oil Fund
Notes to Financial Statements—(Continued)
December 31, 2015
The Fair Value of Derivative Instruments is as follows:
December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2015(a) | 2014(b) | |||||||||||||||
Risk Exposure/Derivative Type | Assets | Liabilities | Assets | Liabilities | ||||||||||||
Commodity risk | ||||||||||||||||
Commodity Futures Contracts | $ | — | $ | (185,157,240 | ) | $ | — | $ | (59,187,450 | ) |
|
|
The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statements of Income and Expenses is as follows:
Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives Income | For the Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
Risk Exposure/Derivative Type | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||
Commodity risk | ||||||||||||||
Commodity Futures Contracts | Net Realized Gain (Loss) | $ | (95,881,678 | ) | $ | (60,962,520 | ) | $ | 67,259,780 | |||||
Net Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) | (125,969,790 | ) | (73,797,040 | ) | (36,968,660 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Total | $ | (221,851,468 | ) | $ | (134,759,560 | ) | $ | 30,291,120 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
The table below summarizes the average monthly notional value of futures contracts outstanding during the period:
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
Average Notional Value | $ | 514,600,121 | $ | 289,615,233 | $ | 465,138,418 |
PowerShares DB Oil Fund
Notes to Financial Statements—(Continued)
December 31, 2015
The Fund utilizes derivative instruments to achieve its investment objective. 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. The Managing Owner will utilize any excess cash held at the Commodity Broker to offset any realized losses incurred in the commodity futures contracts, if available. To the extent that any excess cash held at the Commodity Broker is not adequate to cover any realized losses, a portion of the United States Treasury Obligations on deposit with the Commodity Broker will be sold to make additional cash available. 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, 2015, net by contract:
Gross Amounts Recognized | Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition | Net Amounts Presented in the Statement of Financial Condition | Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition | |||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Instruments (a) | Cash Collateral Pledged (a) | Net Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity Futures Contracts | $ | 190,851,560 | $ | (185,157,240 | ) | $ | 5,694,320 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 5,694,320 | |||||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity Futures Contracts | $ | (185,157,240 | ) | $ | 185,157,240 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
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:
Gross Amounts Recognized(b) | Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition | Net Amounts Presented in the Statement of Financial Condition | Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition | |||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Instruments (a) | Cash Collateral Pledged (a) | Net Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity Futures Contracts | $ | (59,187,450 | ) | $ | — | $ | (59,187,450 | ) | $ | — | $ | 59,187,450 | $ | — |
|
|
PowerShares DB Oil Fund
Notes to Financial Statements—(Continued)
December 31, 2015
(j) 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 Statements of Income and Expenses. 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 and the Predecessor Commodity Broker, as applicable, were less than $6.00, $10.00 and $10.00 per round-turn trade during the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
(k) Routine Operational, Administrative and Other Ordinary Expenses
After the Closing Date, the Managing Owner assumed 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. Prior to the Closing Date, the Predecessor Managing Owner assumed all routine operational, administrative and other ordinary expenses of the Fund. Accordingly, such expenses are not reflected in the Statements of Income and Expenses of the Fund.
(l) Organizational and Offering Costs
All organizational and offering expenses (including continuous offering expenses for the offering of Shares) incurred by the Fund were assumed by either the Predecessor Managing Owner or 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 Shares).
(m) 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 Agreement), 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, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Fund did not incur such expenses.
(6)Note 3 - 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 Statements of Financial Condition. The financial instruments used by the Fund are commodity futures contracts, 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 clearinghouseclearing house 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. The Fund’s risk of loss in the event of counterparty default is typically limited to the amounts recognized in the Statements 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.
PowerShares DB Oil FundNote 4 – Service Providers and Related Party Agreements
NotesThe Trustee
Under the Trust Agreement, Wilmington Trust Company, the trustee of the Trust and the Fund (the “Trustee”), has the power and authority to Financial Statements—(Continued)execute and file certificates as required by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and to accept service of process on the Fund in the State of Delaware. The Managing Owner has the exclusive management and control of all aspects of the business of the Trust and the Fund. The Trustee will serve in that capacity until such time as the Managing Owner removes the Trustee or the Trustee resigns and a successor is appointed by the Managing Owner. 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 as the Fund’s 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 NAV of the Fund (the “Management Fee”). The Fund, for cash management purposes, invests in money market mutual funds and/or T-Bill ETFs that are managed by affiliates of the Managing Owner. The indirect portion of the management fee that the Fund incurs through such investments is in addition to the Management Fee paid to the Managing Owner. The Managing Owner has contractually agreed to waive the fees that it receives in an amount equal to the indirect management fees that the Fund incurs through its investments in affiliated money market mutual funds and/or affiliated T-Bill ETFs indefinitely.
The Managing Owner waived fees of $46,116 and $14,569 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Managing Owner did not waive fees for the year ended December 31, 2015.
The Distributor
Effective June 20, 2016, Invesco Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) became distributor and began providing certain distribution services to the Fund. Pursuant to the Distribution Services Agreement among the Managing Owner, the Fund and the Distributor, the Distributor assists the Managing Owner and the Fund’s administrator, The Bank of New York Mellon with certain functions and duties relating to distribution and marketing services to the Fund including reviewing and approving marketing materials. Prior to June 20, 2016, ALPS Distributors, Inc. provided distribution services to the Fund.
The Managing Owner pays the Distributor a distribution fee out of the Management Fee.
The Commodity Broker
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, serves as the Fund’s futures clearing broker (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.
A variety of executing brokers execute futures transactions on behalf of the Fund. Such executing brokers give-up all such transactions to the Commodity Broker. In its capacity as clearing broker, the Commodity Broker may execute or receive transactions executed by others and clears all of the Fund’s futures transactions and performs certain administrative and custodial services for the Fund. The Commodity Broker is responsible, among other things, for providing periodic accountings of all dealings and actions taken by 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.
The Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent
The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Administrator” and “Custodian”) is the administrator, custodian and transfer agent of the Fund. The Fund and the Administrator have 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, NAV calculations, accounting and other fund administrative services. The Administrator maintains 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 Commodity Broker. The Managing Owner pays the Administrator fees for its services out of the Management Fee.
During the three-day period from February 24, 2015 to February 26, 2015, the Fund transferred $21,627,202 of cash and $470,990,982 of United States Treasury Obligations from the Predecessor Commodity Broker to the Custodian. Additionally, during that same three-day period, the Fund transferred all of its open positions of commodity futures contracts from the Predecessor Commodity Broker to the Commodity Broker and accordingly, $3,341,590 of futures variation margin was credited to the Commodity
Broker account. $67,993,200 of United States Treasury Obligations was also transferred from the Custodian to the Commodity Broker to satisfy maintenance margin requirements. Effective February 26, 2015, the Managing Owner began transferring cash daily from the Custodian to the Commodity Broker to satisfy the previous day’s variation margin on open futures contracts. The cumulative amount of cash transferred to the Commodity Broker as of December 31, 2015 approximates the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on commodity futures contracts.
Index Sponsor
The Managing Owner, on behalf of the Fund, has appointed Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. to serve as the index sponsor (the “Index Sponsor”). 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 out of the Management Fee for performing its duties.
Note 5 - Deposits with Commodity Broker and Custodian
The Fund defines cash as cash held by the Custodian. There were no cash equivalents held by the Fund as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.
The Fund deposits cash and United States Treasury Obligations with the 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 represents the Fund’s overall equity in its broker trading account. To meet the Fund’s maintenance margin requirements, the Fund holds United States Treasury Obligations with the Commodity Broker. The Fund transfers cash to the Commodity Broker to satisfy variation margin requirements. The Fund earns interest on any excess cash deposited with the Commodity Broker and incurs interest expense on any deficit balance with the Commodity Broker. The Fund may deposit T-Bill ETFs and money market mutual funds with the Commodity Broker as margin, to the extent permissible under CFTC rules.
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. The Managing Owner will utilize any excess cash held at the Commodity Broker to offset any realized losses incurred in the commodity futures contracts, if available. To the extent that any excess cash held at the Commodity Broker is not adequate to cover any realized losses, a portion of the United States Treasury Obligations and T-Bill ETFs, if any, on deposit with the Commodity Broker will be sold to make additional cash available. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund offsets financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to legally enforceable netting arrangements.
The Fund’s remaining cash, United States Treasury Obligations, T-Bill ETFs and money market mutual fund holdings are on deposit with the Custodian. The Fund is permitted to temporarily carry a negative or overdrawn balance in its account with the Custodian. Such balances, if any at period-end, are shown on the Statements of Financial Condition under the payable caption Due to custodian.
Note 6 - Additional Valuation Information
U.S. GAAP defines fair value as 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, under current market conditions. U.S. GAAP establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methods, giving the highest priority to readily available unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical assets (Level 1) and the lowest priority to significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), generally when market prices are not readily available or are unreliable. Based on the valuation inputs, the securities or other investments are tiered into one of three levels. Changes in valuation methods or market conditions may result in transfers in or out of an investment’s assigned level:
Level 1: Prices are determined using quoted prices in an active market for identical assets.
Level 2: Prices are determined using other significant observable inputs. Observable inputs are inputs that other market participants may use in pricing a security. These may include quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, loss severities, default rates, discount rates, volatilities and others.
Level 3: Prices are determined using significant unobservable inputs. In situations where quoted prices or observable inputs are unavailable (for example, when there is little or no market activity for an investment at the end of the period), unobservable inputs may be used. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the factors market participants would use in determining fair value of the securities or instruments and would be based on the best available information.
The levels assigned to the securities valuations may not be an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investing in those securities. Because of the inherent uncertainties of valuation, the values reflected in the financial statements may materially differ from the value received upon actual sale of those investments.
The Fund's policy is to recognize transfers in and out of the valuation levels as of the end of the reporting period. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, there were no material transfers between valuation levels.
The following is a summary of the tiered valuation input levels as of December 31, 2017:
|
| Level 1 |
|
| Level 2 |
|
| Level 3 |
|
| Total |
| ||||
Investments in Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United States Treasury Obligations |
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 311,472,491 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 311,472,491 |
|
Exchange-Traded Fund |
|
| 5,000,325 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 5,000,325 |
|
Money Market Mutual Fund |
|
| 12,412,152 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 12,412,152 |
|
Total Investments in Securities |
|
| 17,412,477 |
|
|
| 311,472,491 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 328,884,968 |
|
Other Investments - Assets(a) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
| 45,635,994 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 45,635,994 |
|
Total Investments |
| $ | 63,048,471 |
|
| $ | 311,472,491 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 374,520,962 |
|
(a) | Unrealized appreciation (depreciation). |
The following is a summary of the tiered valuation input levels as of December 31, 2016:
|
| Level 1 |
|
| Level 2 |
|
| Level 3 |
|
| Total |
| ||||
United States Treasury Obligations |
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 438,601,879 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 438,601,879 |
|
Money Market Mutual Fund |
|
| 14,942,839 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 14,942,839 |
|
|
|
| 14,942,839 |
|
|
| 438,601,879 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 453,544,718 |
|
Commodity Futures Contracts (a) |
|
| 105,525,095 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 105,525,095 |
|
Total Investments |
| $ | 120,467,934 |
|
| $ | 438,601,879 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 559,069,813 |
|
(a) | Unrealized appreciation (depreciation). |
Note 7 – Derivative Instruments
The Fair Value of Derivative Instruments is as follows:
|
| December 31, |
| |||||||||||||
|
| 2017 |
|
| 2016 |
| ||||||||||
Risk Exposure/Derivative Type (a) |
| Assets |
|
| Liabilities |
|
| Assets |
|
| Liabilities |
| ||||
Commodity risk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commodity Futures Contracts |
| $ | 45,635,994 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 105,525,095 |
|
| $ | — |
|
(a) | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of commodity futures contracts. Only the current day’s variation margin receivable (payable) is reported in the December 31, 2017 and 2016 Statements of Financial Condition. |
(7)The following table presents derivative instruments that are either subject to an enforceable netting agreement or offset by collateral arrangements as of December 31, 2017, net by contract:
|
| Financial Derivative Assets |
|
| Financial Derivative Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
| Collateral (Received)/Pledged(a) |
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Counterparty |
| Futures Contracts |
|
| Futures Contracts |
|
| Net value of derivatives |
|
| Non-Cash |
|
| Cash |
|
| Net amount |
| ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
| $ | 45,635,994 |
|
| $ | (42,497,574 | ) |
| $ | 3,138,420 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 3,138,420 |
|
The following table presents derivative instruments that are either subject to an enforceable netting agreement or offset by collateral arrangements as of December 31, 2016, net by contract:
|
| Financial Derivative Assets |
|
| Financial Derivative Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
| Collateral (Received)/Pledged(a) |
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Counterparty |
| Futures Contracts |
|
| Futures Contracts |
|
| Net value of derivatives |
|
| Non-Cash |
|
| Cash |
|
| Net amount |
| ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
| $ | 105,525,095 |
|
| $ | (106,022,075 | ) |
| $ | (496,980 | ) |
| $ | 496,980 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
(a) | As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, a portion of the Fund’s U.S. Treasury Obligations were required to be deposited as maintenance margin in support of the Fund’s futures positions. |
The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statements of Income and Expenses is as follows:
| Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives |
| For the Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||||||
Risk Exposure/Derivative Type | Recognized in Income |
| 2017 |
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2015 |
| |||
Commodity risk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commodity Futures Contracts | Net Realized Gain (Loss) |
| $ | 76,668,337 |
|
| $ | (240,714,315 | ) |
| $ | (95,881,678 | ) |
| Net Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
|
| (59,889,101 | ) |
|
| 290,682,335 |
|
|
| (125,969,790 | ) |
Total |
|
| $ | 16,779,236 |
|
| $ | 49,968,020 |
|
| $ | (221,851,468 | ) |
The table below summarizes the average monthly notional value of futures contracts outstanding during the period:
|
| Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||||||
|
| 2017 |
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2015 |
| |||
Average Notional Value |
| $ | 397,184,327 |
|
| $ | 441,139,713 |
|
| $ | 514,600,121 |
|
Note 8 - Investments in Affiliates
The Fund's investment adviser also serves as the adviser for PowerShares Treasury Collateral Portfolio, and therefore, PowerShares Treasury Collateral Portfolio is considered to be affiliated with the Fund. The following is a summary of the transactions in, and earnings from, investments in affiliates (excluding affiliated money market funds) for the year ended December 31, 2017.
|
| Value 12/31/2016 |
|
| Purchases at Cost |
|
| Proceeds from Sales |
|
| Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
|
| Realized Gain (Loss) |
|
| Value 12/31/2017 |
|
| Dividend Income |
| |||||||
PowerShares Treasury Collateral Portfolio |
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 5,005,284 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | (4,959 | ) |
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 5,000,325 |
|
| $ | 35,475 |
|
Note 9 - Share Purchases and Redemptions
(a) Purchases
On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Administrator, whowhich also serves as the Fund’s transfer agent (“Transfer Agent”) to create one or more Baskets. Each Basket consists of a block of 200,000 Shares. 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. Cash settlement occurs at the creation order settlement date. As provided below, the creation order settlement date may occur up
to threetwo business days after the creation order date. By placing a creation order, and prior to delivery of such Baskets, an Authorized Participant’s DTCDepository Trust Company (“DTC”) account is charged the nonrefundablenon-refundable transaction fee due for the creation order.
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 valueNAV 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 threetwo business days after the creation order date.
Creation orders may be placed either (i) through the Continuous Net Settlement (“CNS”) clearing processes of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”) (the “CNS Clearing Process”) 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. Cash settlement occurs at the redemption order settlement date. As provided below, the redemption order settlement date may occur up to threetwo 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 threetwo 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 Process or (ii) if outside the CNS Clearing Process, only through the DTC Process, or a successor depository, and only in exchange for cash.
The redemption proceeds from the Fund consist of the cash redemption amount. The cash redemption amount is equal to the net asset valueNAV 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.
PowerShares DB Oil Fund
Notes to Financial Statements—(Continued)
December 31, 2015
(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, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
(9)Note 10 - 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 infor the best interestsFund. The Trust Agreement provides for the Fund to indemnify the Managing Owner and any affiliate of the Fund. As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, no claims had been receivedManaging Owner that provides services to the Fund to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, subject to certain exceptions for disqualifying conduct by the Fund.Managing Owner or such an affiliate. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. 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 andNote 11 - Financial Highlights
The Fund is presenting the following net asset valueNAV and financial highlights related to investment performance for a Share outstanding for the Years Endedyears ended December 31, 2015, 20142017, 2016 and 2013. The net investment income (loss) and total expense ratios are calculated using average net asset value. The net asset value per Share 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.2015. An individual investor’s return and ratios may vary based on the timing of capital transactions.
Net asset valueNAV per Share is the net asset valueNAV of the Fund divided by the number of outstanding Shares at the date of each respective period presented.
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
| |||||||||||
Net asset value per Share, beginning of period | $ | 15.51 | $ | 27.69 | $ | 25.99 | ||||||
Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) on United States Treasury Obligations and Commodity Futures Contracts | (6.34 | ) | (11.99 | ) | 1.89 | |||||||
Net investment income (loss)(a) | (0.10 | ) | (0.19 | ) | (0.19 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net income (loss) | (6.44 | ) | (12.18 | ) | 1.70 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net asset value per Share, end of period | $ | 9.07 | $ | 15.51 | $ | 27.69 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Market value per Share, beginning of period | $ | 15.67 | (b)(c) | $ | 27.70 | $ | 25.94 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Market value per Share, end of period | $ | 9.08 | (c) | $ | 15.70 | $ | 27.70 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Ratio to average Net Assets | ||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | (0.76 | )% | (0.74 | )% | (0.71 | )% | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Total expenses | 0.79 | % | 0.78 | % | 0.77 | % | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Total Return, at net asset value | (41.52 | )% | (43.99 | )% | 6.54 | % | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Total Return, at market value | (42.06 | )% | (43.32 | )% | 6.78 | % | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||||||
|
| 2017 |
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2015 |
| |||
Net Asset Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value per Share, beginning of period |
| $ | 9.67 |
|
| $ | 9.07 |
|
| $ | 15.51 |
|
Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) on United States Treasury Obligations, Affiliated Investments and Commodity Futures Contracts |
|
| 0.54 |
|
|
| 0.64 |
|
|
| (6.34 | ) |
Net investment income (loss) (a) |
|
| 0.00 |
|
|
| (0.04 | ) |
|
| (0.10 | ) |
Net income (loss) |
|
| 0.54 |
|
|
| 0.60 |
|
|
| (6.44 | ) |
Net asset value per Share, end of period |
| $ | 10.21 |
|
| $ | 9.67 |
|
| $ | 9.07 |
|
Market value per Share, beginning of period (b) |
| $ | 9.68 |
|
| $ | 9.08 |
|
| $ | 15.67 |
|
Market value per Share, end of period (b) |
| $ | 10.16 |
|
| $ | 9.68 |
|
| $ | 9.08 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio to average Net Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss) |
|
| 0.03 | % |
|
| (0.49 | )% |
|
| (0.76 | )% |
Expenses, after waivers |
|
| 0.79 | % |
|
| 0.78 | % |
|
| 0.76 | % |
Expenses, prior to waivers |
|
| 0.80 | % |
|
| 0.78 | % |
|
| 0.76 | % |
Total Return, at net asset value (c) |
|
| 5.58 | % |
|
| 6.62 | % |
|
| (41.52 | )% |
Total Return, at market value (c) |
|
| 4.96 | % |
|
| 6.61 | % |
|
| (42.06 | )% |
(a) | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) |
|
The mean between the last bid and ask prices. |
PowerShares DB Oil Fund
(c)
| Total Return, at NAV is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the NAV at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at NAV during the period, and redemption of Shares on the last day of the period. Total Return, at NAV includes adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP and as such, the NAV for financial reporting purposes and the returns based upon those NAVs may differ from the NAVs and returns for shareholder transactions. Total Return, at market value is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the market value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at market value during the period, and redemption of Shares at the market value on the last day of the period. Not annualized for periods less than one year, if applicable. |
(11) Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
The following summarized (unaudited) quarterly financial information presents the results of operations and other data for three month periods ended March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2015 and 2014.
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 | For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 | For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 | For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||
Interest Income(a) | $ | 22,005 | $ | 30,071 | $ | 27,844 | $ | 43,616 | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | (902,190 | ) | $ | (1,200,508 | ) | $ | (935,397 | ) | $ | (876,289 | ) | ||||
Net realized and net change in unrealized gains/(losses) on United States Treasury Obligations and Futures | $ | (37,732,133 | ) | $ | 54,429,358 | $ | (136,000,198 | ) | $ | (102,559,818 | ) | |||||
Net Income/(loss) | $ | (38,634,323 | ) | $ | 53,228,850 | $ | (136,935,595 | ) | $ | (103,436,107 | ) | |||||
Increase/(decrease) in Net Asset Value | $ | 325,451,073 | $ | (24,154,632 | ) | $ | (86,468,097 | ) | $ | (84,003,629 | ) | |||||
Net Income (loss) per Share | $ | (2.01 | ) | $ | 1.16 | $ | (3.38 | ) | $ | (2.21 | ) |
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 | For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2014 | For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 | For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||
Interest Income (loss)(a) | $ | 46,021 | $ | 31,472 | $ | 18,167 | $ | 8,968 | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | (521,141 | ) | $ | (563,177 | ) | $ | (451,421 | ) | $ | (502,092 | ) | ||||
Net realized and net change in unrealized gains(losses) on United States Treasury Obligations and Futures | $ | 11,182,077 | $ | 22,209,921 | $ | (30,241,696 | ) | $ | (137,911,998 | ) | ||||||
Net Income/(loss) | $ | 10,660,936 | $ | 21,646,744 | $ | (30,693,117 | ) | $ | (138,414,090 | ) | ||||||
Increase/(decrease) in Net Asset Value | $ | (516,214 | ) | $ | 3,874,383 | $ | (70,252,669 | ) | $ | 35,986,426 | ||||||
Net Income (loss) per Share | $ | 0.98 | $ | 2.07 | $ | (3.71 | ) | $ | (11.52 | ) |
ITEM 9. |
|
None.
For purposes of this Item 9A, all references to the “Fund” shall be read to specifically include the Fund and the Trust. Please note that the disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting of the Trust are the aggregate disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting of the Fund and that of PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund, PowerShares DB Base Metals Fund, PowerShares DB Energy Fund, PowerShares DB Gold Fund, PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund and PowerShares DB Silver Fund, each a series of the Trust.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of the management of the Managing Owner, including Andrew Schlossberg,Daniel Draper, 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,annual report, and, based upon that evaluation, Andrew Schlossberg,Daniel Draper, the Principal Executive Officer of the Managing Owner, 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,Daniel Draper, the Principal Executive Officer of the Managing Owner, 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, 2015.2017. Their report in connection with their assessment may be found in the “Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” on page 3530 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, 2015,2017, as stated in their Reportreport on page 3631 of this Form 10-K.
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.None.
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 Three Months Ended March 31, 2015. 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 2012PART III
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 March 31, 2015, 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 the first quarter of 2015, approximately €9.0 million were paid into the escrow account. We in our role as agent distributed to the participants in the banking consortia approximately €2.2 million, including the portion attributable to us totaling €1.5 million.
In the first quarter of 2015 we generated revenues of approximately €170,000 in respect of these financing arrangements, of which approximately €125,000 consisted of escrow account revenues, €30,000 consisted of loan interest revenues and €14,000 consisted of fee revenues. The net profits were less than these amounts.
As of March 31, 2015, 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 €22 million as of March 31, 2015. 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 March 31, 2015. The gross revenues from this business were approximately €11,000 and the net profit we derived from these activities was less than this amount.
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 €10 million as of March 31, 2015, the gross revenues received from non-Syrian parties for these guarantees were approximately €29,000 and the net profit we derived from these activities was less than this amount. In one case we paid cancellation fees of less than €300 to the frozen account of the Syrian bank.
We intend to exit these guarantee arrangements as soon as possible.
Payments Received. In the first quarter of 2015, we received less than 10 payments adding up to approximately €2.5 million in favor of non-Iranian clients in Germany and the Netherlands, which payments stemmed ultimately from relevant Iranian entities. Revenues for these incoming payments were less than €2,000. 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, two payments in sum 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 the first quarter of 2015, we received approximately €2.1 million in such disbursements in approximately 300 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 €1,000. 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.
Maintaining of Accounts for Iranian Consulates and Embassies. In the first quarter of 2015, 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 €6.2 million as of March 31, 2015, 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 €4,500 and net profits which were less than this amount from these activities. Deutsche Bank in the Netherlands will discontinue providing these services, Deutsche Bank in Germany will continue to provide these services in the future to enable the Government of Iran to conduct its diplomatic relations in Germany.
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.
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.
As of December 31, 2015,2017, the current board of managers and principal officers of the Managing Owner are as follows:
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Invesco North American Holdings Inc. is also a principal of the Managing Owner. The Managing Owner is managed by a Board of Managers. The Board of Managers is composed of Messrs. The Managing Owner has designated Mr. Hubbard as the trading principal of the Fund. Daniel Draper
Peter Hubbard David Warren (60) 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 also holds 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 been a Member of the Board of Managers and Chief Administrative Officer of the Managing Owner since January 2010, as well. In these capacities, Mr. Warren is responsible for general management support, in addition to executing on various strategic initiatives and overseeing the risk management framework for the business units operating within the Americas division of Invesco Ltd. He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from the University of Toronto as both a CA and CPA, and is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. Mr. Warren was listed as a principal of the Managing Owner on November 21, 2012. Annette Lege (48) has been a Chief Accounting Officer and Head of Finance and Corporate Services (“FCS”) Business Services for Invesco Ltd. since centers and has held this role since September 2015. Previously, Ms. Lege was Head of FCS Transformation Office from October 2013 through September 2015, with responsibility for business transformation initiatives taking place across FCS at Invesco. Before assuming that role in October 2013, Ms. Lege held the position of North American Corporate Controller at Invesco from March 2007 to October 2013. Ms. Lege is also Steven Hill Melanie H. Zimdars John Zerr Brian Hartigan (39) joined the Managing Owner in May 2015 as Global Head of ETF Investments. In his role, Mr. Hartigan manages the portfolio management function at the Managing Owner, with the Director of Portfolio Management reporting to him. Previously from June 2010 until May of 2015, Mr. Hartigan was the Head of Portfolio Management and Research for Invesco Capital Markets, Inc., the sponsor of unit investment trusts. In that role, he oversaw portfolio management of Invesco unit trusts. He earned his B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and an MBA in finance from DePaul University. He is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of Chicago. Mr. Hartigan was listed as a principal of the Managing Owner on February 21, 2018. 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. The Fund has no employees, officers or directors and was managed by the Predecessor Managing Owner from inception up to and excluding the Closing Date. None of the directors or officers of the Predecessor Managing Owner received compensation from the Fund. The Managing Owner receives a monthly Management Fee of 1/ In addition, For the For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Fund has incurred brokerage commissions of $83,769 of which $79,326 had been paid at December 31, 2017. Brokerage commissions of $4,443 were unpaid at December 31, 2017 and are reported as a liability on the Statements of Financial Condition. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund has incurred Management Fees of $3,295,092 of which $3,006,695 had been paid at December 31, 2016. Management Fees of $288,397 were unpaid at December 31, 2016 and are reported as a liability on the Statements of Financial Condition. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund has incurred brokerage commissions of $98,360 of which $93,466 had been paid at December 31, 2016. Brokerage commissions of $4,894 were unpaid at December 31, 2016 and are reported as a liability on the Statements of Financial Condition. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Fund has incurred Management Fees of $3,843,464 of which $3,564,890 had been paid at December 31, 2015. Management Fees of $278,574 were unpaid at December 31, 2015 and are reported as a liability on the For the
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,
The Fund has no securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans. See Item 11. 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,
Approval of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Services and Fees The Managing Owner approved all of the services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Fund described
(a)(1) Financial Statements See financial statements commencing on page (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:
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.
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