NOTE 4 – CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS
BNO is party to a marketing agent agreement, dated as of March 31, 2010, as amended from time to time, with the Marketing Agent and USCF, whereby the Marketing Agent provides certain marketing services for BNO as outlined in the agreement. The fee of the Marketing Agent, which is borne by USCF, is equal to 0.06% on BNO’s assets up to $3 billion and 0.04% on BNO’s assets in excess of $3 billion.
The above fees do not include the following expenses, which are also borne by USCF: the cost of placing advertisements in various periodicals; web construction and development; or the printing and production of various marketing materials.
BNO is also party to a custodian agreement, dated February 8, 2010, as amended from time to time, with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH&Co.”) and USCF, whereby BBH&Co. holds investments on behalf of BNO. USCF pays the fees of the custodian, which are determined by the parties from time to time. In addition, BNO is party to an administrative agency agreement, dated February 8, 2010, as amended from time to time, with USCF and BBH&Co., whereby BBH&Co. acts as the administrative agent, transfer agent and registrar for BNO. USCF also pays the fees of BBH&Co. for its services under such agreement and such fees are determined by the parties from time to time.
Currently, USCF pays BBH&Co. for its services, in the foregoing capacities, a minimum amount of $75,000 annually for its custody, fund accounting and fund administration services rendered to BNO and each of the Related Public Funds, as well as a $20,000 annual fee for its transfer agency services. In addition, USCF pays BBH&Co. an asset-based charge of (a) 0.06% for the first $500 million of the Related Public Funds’, combined net assets, (b) 0.0465% for the Related Public Funds’ combined net assets greater than $500 million but less than $1 billion, and (c) 0.035% once the Related Public Funds’ combined net assets exceed $1 billion. The annual minimum amount will not apply if the asset-based charge for all accounts in the aggregate exceeds $75,000. USCF also pays transaction fees ranging from $7 to $15 per transaction.
On October 8, 2013, BNO entered into a brokerage agreement with RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC Capital” or “RBC”) to serve as BNO’s futures commission merchant (“FCM”), effective October 10, 2013. Prior to October 10, 2013, the FCM was UBS Securities LLC (“UBS Securities”). The agreements require RBC Capital and UBS Securities to provide services to BNO in connection with the purchase and sale of Futures Contracts and Other Crude Oil-Related Investments that may be purchased and sold by or through RBC Capital and/or UBS Securities for BNO’s account. In accordance with each agreement, RBC Capital and UBS Securities charge BNO commissions of approximately $7 to $15 per round-turn trade, including applicable exchange and NFA fees for Futures Contracts and options on Futures Contracts. Such fees include those incurred when purchasing Futures Contracts and options on Futures Contracts when BNO issues shares as a result of a Creation Basket, as well as fees incurred when selling Futures Contracts and options on Futures Contracts when BNO redeems shares as a result of a Redemption Basket. Such fees are also incurred when Futures Contracts and options on Futures Contracts are purchased or redeemed for the purpose of rebalancing the portfolio. BNO also incurs commissions to brokers for the purchase and sale of Futures Contracts, Other Crude Oil-Related Investments or short term obligations of the United States of two years or less (“Treasuries”). During the year ended December 31, 2013, total commissions accrued to brokers amounted to $29,674. Of this amount, approximately $24,097, or 81.21%, was a result of rebalancing costs and approximately $5,577, or 18.79%, was the result of trades necessitated by creation and redemption activity. By comparison, during the year ended December 31, 2012 total commissions accrued to brokers amounted to $33,506. Of this amount, approximately $29,561, or 88.23%, was a result of rebalancing costs and approximately $2,945, or 8.79%, was the result of trades necessitated by creation and redemption activity. By comparison, during the year ended December 31, 2011, total commissions accrued to brokers amounted to $31,871. Of this amount, approximately $22,560, or 70.79%, was a result of rebalancing costs and approximately $9,311, or 29.21%, was the result of trades necessitated by creation and redemption activity. The decrease in total commissions accrued to brokers for the year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2012, was primarily due to a lower number of futures contracts being held and traded as a result of BNO’s lower total net assets during the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in total commissions accrued to brokers for the year ended December 31, 2012, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2011, was primarily a function of increased brokerage fees due to a higher number of futures contracts being held and traded as a result of the increase in BNO’s total net assets. The increase in total net assets required BNO to purchase a greater number of Futures Contracts and incur a higher amount of broker commissions. As an annualized percentage of average daily total net assets, the figure for the year ended December 31, 2013 represents approximately 0.07% of average daily total net assets. By comparison, the figure for the year ended December 31, 2012 represented approximately 0.06% of average daily total net assets and the figure for the year ended December 31, 2011, represented approximately 0.08% of average daily total net assets. However, there can be no assurance that commission costs and portfolio turnover will not cause commission expenses to rise in future quarters.
