1 unchanged sentence
Condition and Results of Operations.
−Removed: This information should be
−Removed: read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes to the financial statements included with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
−Removed: The discussion and analysis that follows may contain statements that relate to future events or future performance.
−Removed: In some cases, such
−Removed: forward- looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “may,” “should,” “expect,”
+Added: This information should be read in conjunction
+Added: with the financial statements and notes to the financial statements included with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
+Added: The discussion and
+Added: analysis that follows may contain statements that relate to future events or future performance.
+Added: In some cases, such forward- looking
+Added: statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “may,” “should,” “expect,”
“plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,”
4 unchanged sentences
or predictions.
−Removed: Because forward-looking statements
−Removed: relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risk and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and
−Removed: many of which are outside of the Funds’ control.
−Removed: The Funds’ forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results
−Removed: and conditions and important factors, risks and uncertainties in the markets for financial instruments that the Funds trade, in the markets
−Removed: for related physical commodities, in the legal and regulatory regimes applicable to the Sponsor, the Funds, and the Funds’ service
−Removed: providers, and in the broader economy may cause the Funds’ actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking
−Removed: VS Trust (the “Trust”)
−Removed: is a Delaware statutory trust formed on October 24, 2019 and is currently organized into two separate series (each, a “Fund”
−Removed: and collectively, the “Funds”).
−Removed: As of September 30, 2022, the following two series of the Trust have commenced investment
−Removed: -1x Short VIX Futures ETF and 2x Long VIX Futures ETF.
−Removed: Each of the Funds listed above issues common units of beneficial interest
−Removed: (“Shares”), which represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of only that Fund.
−Removed: of each Fund are listed on the Cboe BZX Exchange (“Cboe BZX”).
−Removed: The Trust had no operations prior
−Removed: to March 28, 2022, other than matters relating to its organization, the registration of each series under the Securities Act of 1933,
−Removed: The Sponsor also serves as the
−Removed: Trust’s commodity pool operator.
+Added: Because forward-looking statements relate to
+Added: the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risk and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which
+Added: are outside of the Funds’ control.
+Added: The Funds’ forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions
+Added: and important factors, risks and uncertainties in the markets for financial instruments that the Funds trade, in the markets for related
+Added: physical commodities, in the legal and regulatory regimes applicable to the Sponsor, the Funds, and the Funds’ service providers,
+Added: and in the broader economy may cause the Funds’ actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements.
+Added: VS Trust (the “Trust”) is a Delaware
+Added: statutory trust formed on October 24, 2019 and is currently organized into two separate series (each, a “Fund” and collectively,
+Added: the “Funds”).
+Added: As of September 30, 2022, the following two series of the Trust have commenced investment operations:
+Added: VIX Futures ETF and 2x Long VIX Futures ETF.
+Added: Each of the Funds listed above issues common units of beneficial interest (“Shares”),
+Added: which represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of only that Fund.
+Added: The Shares of each Fund are listed
+Added: on the Cboe BZX Exchange (“Cboe BZX”).
+Added: The Trust had no operations prior to March 28,
+Added: 2022, other than matters relating to its organization, the registration of each series under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
+Added: The Sponsor also serves as the Trust’s commodity
+Added: pool operator.
Wilmington Trust Company serves as the Trustee of the Trust (the “Trustee”).
−Removed: are commodity pools, as defined under the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”), and the applicable regulations of the Commodity
−Removed: Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and are operated by the Sponsor, a commodity pool operator registered with the CFTC.
−Removed: The Trust is not an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
−Removed: SVIX seeks daily investment
−Removed: results, before fees and expenses, that correspond to the performance of the Short VIX Futures Index (the “Short Index”)
−Removed: for a single day, not for any other period.
−Removed: UVIX seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, that correspond to twice
−Removed: the performance of the Long VIX Futures Index (the “Long Index”).
−Removed: A “single day” is measured from the time a
−Removed: Fund calculates its net asset value (“NAV”) to the time of the Fund’s next NAV calculation.
−Removed: The NAV calculation
−Removed: time for a Fund typically is 4:00 p.m.
+Added: The Funds are commodity pools,
+Added: as defined under the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”), and the applicable regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
+Added: (the “CFTC”) and are operated by the Sponsor, a commodity pool operator registered with the CFTC.
+Added: The Trust is not an investment
+Added: company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
+Added: SVIX seeks daily investment results, before fees
+Added: and expenses, that correspond to the performance of the Short VIX Futures Index (the “Short Index”) for a single day, not
+Added: for any other period.
+Added: UVIX seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, that correspond to twice the performance of the Long
+Added: VIX Futures Index (the “Long Index”).
+Added: A “single day” is measured from the time a Fund calculates its net asset
+Added: value (“NAV”) to the time of the Fund’s next NAV calculation.
+Added: The NAV calculation time for a Fund typically is 4:00
(Eastern Time).
−Removed: The Funds seek to achieve their investment
−Removed: objective through the appropriate amount of exposure to the VIX futures contracts included in their respective index.
−Removed: The Funds also have
−Removed: the ability to engage in options transactions, swaps, forward contracts and other instruments in order to achieve their investment objective,
−Removed: in the manner and to the extent described herein.
−Removed: SVIX is not benchmarked to the inverse of, and UVIX
−Removed: is not benchmarked to twice, the widely referenced VIX.
−Removed: The Short Index and the inverse of the VIX are separate measurements and can
−Removed: be expected to perform very differently.
−Removed: The Long Index and twice the VIX also are separate measurements and can be expected to
−Removed: perform very differently.
−Removed: As such, SVIX can be expected to perform very differently from the inverse (-1x) of the performance of the
−Removed: VIX over any period, and UVIX can be expected to perform very differently from twice (2x) of the performance of the VIX over any
−Removed: The Funds continuously offer and
−Removed: redeem Shares in blocks of at least 10,000 Shares (each such block, a “Creation Unit”).
−Removed: Only Authorized Participants (as defined
−Removed: herein) may purchase and redeem Shares from a Fund and then only in Creation Units.
−Removed: An Authorized Participant is an entity that has entered
−Removed: into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Trust and Volatility Shares LLC (the “Sponsor”).
−Removed: Shares are offered on a
−Removed: continuous basis to Authorized Participants in Creation Units at NAV.
−Removed: Authorized Participants may then offer to the public, from time
−Removed: to time, Shares from any Creation Unit they create at a per-Share market price.
−Removed: The form of Authorized Participant Agreement and the related
−Removed: Authorized Participant Procedures Handbook set forth the terms and conditions under which an Authorized Participant may purchase or redeem
−Removed: a Creation Unit.
−Removed: Authorized Participants will not receive from a Fund, the Sponsor, or any of their affiliates, any fee or other compensation
−Removed: in connection with their sale of Shares to the public.
+Added: The Funds seek to achieve their investment objective
+Added: through the appropriate amount of exposure to the VIX futures contracts included in their respective index.
+Added: The Funds also have the ability
+Added: to engage in options transactions, swaps, forward contracts and other instruments in order to achieve their investment objective, in the
+Added: manner and to the extent described herein.
+Added: SVIX is not benchmarked to the inverse of, and
+Added: UVIX is not benchmarked to twice, the widely referenced VIX.
+Added: The Short Index and the inverse of the VIX are separate measurements and
+Added: can be expected to perform very differently.
+Added: The Long Index and twice the VIX also are separate measurements and can be expected to perform
+Added: very differently.
+Added: As such, SVIX can be expected to perform very differently from the inverse (-1x) of the performance of the VIX over
+Added: any period, and UVIX can be expected to perform very differently from twice (2x) of the performance of the VIX over any period.
+Added: The Funds continuously offer and redeem Shares
+Added: in blocks of at least 10,000 Shares (each such block, a “Creation Unit”).
+Added: Only Authorized Participants (as defined herein)
+Added: may purchase and redeem Shares from a Fund and then only in Creation Units.
+Added: An Authorized Participant is an entity that has entered into
+Added: an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Trust and Volatility Shares LLC (the “Sponsor”).
+Added: Shares are offered on a continuous
+Added: basis to Authorized Participants in Creation Units at NAV.
+Added: Authorized Participants may then offer to the public, from time to time, Shares
+Added: from any Creation Unit they create at a per-Share market price.
+Added: The form of Authorized Participant Agreement and the related Authorized
+Added: Participant Procedures Handbook set forth the terms and conditions under which an Authorized Participant may purchase or redeem a Creation
+Added: Authorized Participants will not receive from a Fund, the Sponsor, or any of their affiliates, any fee or other compensation in
+Added: connection with their sale of Shares to the public.
An Authorized Participant may receive commissions or fees from investors who purchase
Shares through their commission or fee-based brokerage accounts.
−Removed: The form of Authorized Participant Agreement
−Removed: and related Authorized Participant Handbook set forth the terms and conditions under which an Authorized Participant may purchase or
−Removed: redeem a Creation Unit.
−Removed: Authorized Participants do not receive from any Fund, the Sponsor, or any of their affiliates, any
−Removed: underwriting fees or compensation in connection with their sale of Shares to the public.
−Removed: The Sponsor maintains a website at
−Removed: www.volatilityshares.com, through which monthly account statements and the Trust’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current
−Removed: Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
−Removed: Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), can be accessed free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after such
−Removed: material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the U.S.
+Added: The form of Authorized Participant Agreement and
+Added: related Authorized Participant Handbook set forth the terms and conditions under which an Authorized Participant may purchase or redeem
+Added: a Creation Unit.
+Added: Authorized Participants do not receive from any Fund, the Sponsor, or any of their affiliates, any underwriting fees
+Added: or compensation in connection with their sale of Shares to the public.
+Added: The Sponsor maintains a website at www.volatilityshares.com, through
+Added: which monthly account statements and the Trust’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those
+Added: reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”),
+Added: can be accessed free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
−Removed: Additional information regarding the Trust may also be found on the SEC’s EDGAR database at www.sec.gov.
+Added: Additional information regarding the Trust may also be found on the SEC’s
+Added: EDGAR database at www.sec.gov.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
−Removed: In order to collateralize derivatives
−Removed: positions in indices, commodities or currencies, a portion of the NAV of each Fund is held in cash and/or U.S.
−Removed: Treasury securities, agency
−Removed: securities, or other high credit quality short term fixed-income or similar securities (such as shares of money market funds, bank deposits,
−Removed: bank money market accounts, certain variable rate-demand notes and repurchase agreements collateralized by government securities.
+Added: In order to collateralize derivatives positions
+Added: in indices, commodities or currencies, a portion of the NAV of each Fund is held in cash and/or U.S.
+Added: Treasury securities, agency securities,
+Added: or other high credit quality short term fixed-income or similar securities (such as shares of money market funds, bank deposits, bank
+Added: money market accounts, certain variable rate-demand notes and repurchase agreements collateralized by government securities.
of these investments may be posted as collateral in connection with swap agreements, futures, and/or forward contracts.
2 unchanged sentences
period to period as the market values of the underlying swaps, futures contracts and forward contracts change.
−Removed: Interest Income for the three months ended March 31, 2024
−Removed: (Unaudited) and March 31, 2023 (Unaudited) were as follows:
+Added: Interest Income for the three months ended June 30, 2024
+Added: (Unaudited) and June 30, 2023 (Unaudited) were as follows:
Interest Income
−Removed: Three Months Ended
−Removed: Three Months Ended
-1x Short VIX Futures ETF
2x Long VIX Futures ETF
+Added: Interest Income for the six months ended June 30, 2024 (Unaudited),
+Added: and June 30, 2023 (Unaudited) were as follows.
+Added: -1x Short VIX Futures ETF
+Added: 2x Long VIX Futures ETF
Futures Contracts
−Removed: A futures contract is a standardized contract
−Removed: traded on, or subject to the rules of, an exchange that calls for the future delivery of a specified quantity and type of a
−Removed: particular underlying asset at a specified time and place or alternatively may call for cash settlement.
−Removed: Futures contracts are
−Removed: traded on a wide variety of underlying assets, including bonds, interest rates, agricultural products, stock indexes, currencies,
−Removed: energy, metals, economic indicators and statistical measures.
−Removed: The notional size and calendar term futures contracts on a particular
−Removed: underlying asset are identical and are not subject to any negotiation, other than with respect to price and the number of contracts
−Removed: traded between the buyer and seller.
−Removed: A Fund generally deposits cash and/or securities with an FCM for its open positions in futures
−Removed: contracts, which may, in turn, transfer such deposits to the clearinghouse to protect the clearing house against non-payment by the
−Removed: The clearing house becomes substituted for each counterparty to a futures contract, and, in effect, guarantees performance.
−Removed: addition, the FCM may require a Fund to deposit collateral in excess of the clearing house’s margin requirements for the
−Removed: FCM’s own protection.
−Removed: Certain futures contracts, including
−Removed: stock index contracts, VIX futures contracts and certain commodity futures contracts settle in cash.
−Removed: The cash settlement amount reflects
−Removed: the difference between the contract purchase/sale price and the contract settlement price.
−Removed: The cash settlement mechanism avoids the potential
−Removed: for either side to have to deliver the underlying asset.
−Removed: For other futures contracts, the contractual obligations of a buyer or seller
−Removed: may generally be satisfied by taking or making physical delivery of the underlying asset or by making an offsetting sale or purchase of
−Removed: an identical futures contract on the same or linked exchange before the designated date of delivery.
−Removed: The difference between the price
−Removed: at which the futures contract is purchased or sold and the price paid for the offsetting sale or purchase, after allowance for brokerage
−Removed: commissions and exchange fees, constitutes the profit or loss to the trader.
−Removed: Futures contracts involve, to
−Removed: varying degrees, elements of market risk and exposure to loss in excess of the amounts of variation margin, which are the amounts of cash
−Removed: that a Fund agrees to pay to or receive from FCMs equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of a futures contract.
−Removed: Additional risks
−Removed: associated with the use of futures contracts are imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures contracts and the
−Removed: level of the underlying benchmark and the possibility of an illiquid market for a futures contract.
−Removed: With futures contracts, there is minimal
−Removed: but some counterparty risk to a Fund since futures contracts are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearing house, as counterparty
−Removed: to all exchange-traded futures contracts, effectively guarantees futures contracts against default.
−Removed: Many futures exchanges and boards
−Removed: of trade limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day.
−Removed: Once the daily limit has been
−Removed: reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond that limit or trading may be suspended for specified
−Removed: times during the trading day.
−Removed: Futures contracts prices could move to the limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no
−Removed: trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and potentially subjecting a Fund to substantial losses.
−Removed: is not possible or if a Fund determines not to close a futures position in anticipation of adverse price movements, the Fund may be required
−Removed: to make daily cash payments of variation margin.
+Added: A futures contract is a standardized contract traded
+Added: on, or subject to the rules of, an exchange that calls for the future delivery of a specified quantity and type of a particular underlying
+Added: asset at a specified time and place or alternatively may call for cash settlement.
+Added: Futures contracts are traded on a wide variety of underlying
+Added: assets, including bonds, interest rates, agricultural products, stock indexes, currencies, energy, metals, economic indicators and statistical
+Added: The notional size and calendar term futures contracts on a particular underlying asset are identical and are not subject to
+Added: any negotiation, other than with respect to price and the number of contracts traded between the buyer and seller.
+Added: A Fund generally deposits
+Added: cash and/or securities with an FCM for its open positions in futures contracts, which may, in turn, transfer such deposits to the clearinghouse
+Added: to protect the clearing house against non-payment by the Fund.
+Added: The clearing house becomes substituted for each counterparty to a futures
+Added: contract, and, in effect, guarantees performance.
+Added: In addition, the FCM may require a Fund to deposit collateral in excess of the clearing
+Added: house’s margin requirements for the FCM’s own protection.
+Added: Certain futures contracts, including stock index
+Added: contracts, VIX futures contracts and certain commodity futures contracts settle in cash.
+Added: The cash settlement amount reflects the difference
+Added: between the contract purchase/sale price and the contract settlement price.
+Added: The cash settlement mechanism avoids the potential for either
+Added: side to have to deliver the underlying asset.
+Added: For other futures contracts, the contractual obligations of a buyer or seller may generally
+Added: be satisfied by taking or making physical delivery of the underlying asset or by making an offsetting sale or purchase of an identical
+Added: futures contract on the same or linked exchange before the designated date of delivery.
+Added: The difference between the price at which the
+Added: futures contract is purchased or sold and the price paid for the offsetting sale or purchase, after allowance for brokerage commissions
+Added: and exchange fees, constitutes the profit or loss to the trader.
+Added: Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees,
+Added: elements of market risk and exposure to loss in excess of the amounts of variation margin, which are the amounts of cash that a Fund agrees
+Added: to pay to or receive from FCMs equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of a futures contract.
+Added: Additional risks associated with the
+Added: use of futures contracts are imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures contracts and the level of the underlying
+Added: benchmark and the possibility of an illiquid market for a futures contract.
+Added: With futures contracts, there is minimal but some counterparty
+Added: risk to a Fund since futures contracts are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearing house, as counterparty to all exchange-traded
+Added: futures contracts, effectively guarantees futures contracts against default.
+Added: Many futures exchanges and boards of trade limit the amount
+Added: of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day.
+Added: Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular
+Added: contract, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond that limit or trading may be suspended for specified times during the trading
+Added: Futures contracts prices could move to the limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing
+Added: prompt liquidation of futures positions and potentially subjecting a Fund to substantial losses.
+Added: If trading is not possible or if a Fund
+Added: determines not to close a futures position in anticipation of adverse price movements, the Fund may be required to make daily cash payments
+Added: of variation margin.
Futures Account Agreements
−Removed: Each Fund has entered into a written
−Removed: agreement (each, a “Futures Account Agreement”) with one or more FCMs governing the terms of futures transactions of a Fund
−Removed: cleared by such FCM.
+Added: Each Fund has entered into a written agreement
+Added: (each, a “Futures Account Agreement”) with one or more FCMs governing the terms of futures transactions of a Fund cleared
Each FCM has its own agreement and other documentation used for establishing customer relationships.
−Removed: terms of the Futures Account Agreement and other documentation that a Fund has with a particular FCM may differ in material respects from
−Removed: that with another FCM.
−Removed: Most Futures Account Agreements
−Removed: do not require the FCM to enter into new transactions or maintain existing transactions with a Fund.
−Removed: In general, each FCM is permitted
−Removed: to terminate its agreement with a Fund at any time in its sole discretion.
−Removed: In addition, an FCM generally will have the discretion to set
−Removed: margin requirements and/or position limits that would be in addition to any margin requirements and/or position limits required by applicable
−Removed: law, set by the exchange, or set by the clearing house that clears the futures contracts in which a Fund transacts.
−Removed: As a result, a Fund’s
−Removed: ability to engage in futures transactions or maintain open positions in such contracts will be dependent on the willingness of its FCMs
−Removed: to continue to accept or maintain such transactions on terms that are economically appropriate for a Fund’s investment strategy.
−Removed: When a Fund has an open futures
−Removed: contract position, it is subject to at least daily variation margin calls by an FCM that could be substantial in the event of adverse
−Removed: price movements.
−Removed: Because futures contracts may require only a small initial investment in the form of a deposit or margin, they may involve
−Removed: a high degree of leverage.
+Added: As such, the terms of
+Added: the Futures Account Agreement and other documentation that a Fund has with a particular FCM may differ in material respects from that
+Added: with another FCM.
+Added: Most Futures Account Agreements do not require
+Added: the FCM to enter into new transactions or maintain existing transactions with a Fund.
+Added: In general, each FCM is permitted to terminate its
+Added: agreement with a Fund at any time in its sole discretion.
+Added: In addition, an FCM generally will have the discretion to set margin requirements
+Added: and/or position limits that would be in addition to any margin requirements and/or position limits required by applicable law, set by
+Added: the exchange, or set by the clearing house that clears the futures contracts in which a Fund transacts.
+Added: As a result, a Fund’s ability
+Added: to engage in futures transactions or maintain open positions in such contracts will be dependent on the willingness of its FCMs to continue
+Added: to accept or maintain such transactions on terms that are economically appropriate for a Fund’s investment strategy.
+Added: When a Fund has an open futures contract position,
+Added: it is subject to at least daily variation margin calls by an FCM that could be substantial in the event of adverse price movements.
+Added: futures contracts may require only a small initial investment in the form of a deposit or margin, they may involve a high degree of leverage.
A Fund with open positions is subject to maintenance or variance margin on its open positions.
−Removed: If a Fund has
−Removed: insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may need to sell Financial Instruments at a time when such sales are
−Removed: disadvantageous.
−Removed: Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of or exposure to futures contracts may increase volatility of a Fund’s
−Removed: Margin posted by a Fund to an FCM typically
−Removed: will be held by relevant exchange’s clearing house (in the case of clearing house-required margin) or the FCM (in the case of “house”
+Added: If a Fund has insufficient cash to meet
+Added: daily variation margin requirements, it may need to sell Financial Instruments at a time when such sales are disadvantageous.
+Added: markets are highly volatile and the use of or exposure to futures contracts may increase volatility of a Fund’s NAV.
+Added: Margin posted by a Fund to an FCM typically will
+Added: be held by relevant exchange’s clearing house (in the case of clearing house-required margin) or the FCM (in the case of “house”
margin requirements of the FCM).
4 unchanged sentences
where margin is not immediately returned by an FCM.
−Removed: In the event that a Fund fails to comply
−Removed: with its obligations under a Futures Account Agreement (including, for example, failing to deliver the margin required by an FCM on a
−Removed: timely basis), the Futures Account Agreement typically will provide the FCM with broad discretion to take remedial action against the
−Removed: Among other things, the FCM typically will have the right, upon the occurrence of such a failure by a Fund, to terminate any or
−Removed: all futures contracts in the Fund’s account with that FCM, to sell the collateral posted as margin by the Fund, to close out any
−Removed: open positions of the Fund in whole or in part, and to cancel any or all pending transactions with the Fund.
−Removed: Futures Account Agreements
−Removed: typically provide that the Fund will remain liable for paying to the relevant FCM, on demand, the amount of any deficiency in a Fund’s
−Removed: account with that FCM.
−Removed: The Futures Account Agreement between
−Removed: the Fund and an FCM generally requires the Fund to indemnify and hold harmless the FCM, its directors, officers, employees, agents and
−Removed: affiliates (collectively, “indemnified persons”) from and against all claims, damages, losses and costs (including reasonable
−Removed: attorneys’ fees) incurred by the indemnified persons, in connection with:
−Removed: (1) any failure by the Fund to perform its obligations
−Removed: under the Futures Account Agreement and the FCM’s exercise of its rights and remedies thereunder;
−Removed: (2) any failure by the Fund to
−Removed: comply with applicable law;
−Removed: (3) any action reasonably taken by the indemnified persons pursuant to the Futures Account Agreement to comply
−Removed: with applicable law;
−Removed: and (4) any actions taken by the FCM in reliance on instructions, notices and other communications that the FCM and
−Removed: its relevant personnel, as applicable, reasonably believes to originate from a person authorized to act on behalf of the Fund.
−Removed: To the extent
−Removed: that the Fund trades in futures contracts on U.S.
−Removed: exchanges, the assets deposited by the Fund with the FCMs (or another eligible financial
−Removed: institution, as applicable) as margin must be segregated pursuant to the regulations of the CFTC.
−Removed: Such segregated funds may be invested
−Removed: only in a limited range of instruments — principally U.S.
+Added: In the event that a Fund fails to comply with its
+Added: obligations under a Futures Account Agreement (including, for example, failing to deliver the margin required by an FCM on a timely basis),
+Added: the Futures Account Agreement typically will provide the FCM with broad discretion to take remedial action against the Fund.
+Added: things, the FCM typically will have the right, upon the occurrence of such a failure by a Fund, to terminate any or all futures contracts
+Added: in the Fund’s account with that FCM, to sell the collateral posted as margin by the Fund, to close out any open positions of the
+Added: Fund in whole or in part, and to cancel any or all pending transactions with the Fund.
+Added: Futures Account Agreements typically provide that
+Added: the Fund will remain liable for paying to the relevant FCM, on demand, the amount of any deficiency in a Fund’s account with that
+Added: The Futures Account Agreement between the Fund
+Added: and an FCM generally requires the Fund to indemnify and hold harmless the FCM, its directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates
+Added: (collectively, “indemnified persons”) from and against all claims, damages, losses and costs (including reasonable attorneys’
+Added: fees) incurred by the indemnified persons, in connection with:
+Added: (1) any failure by the Fund to perform its obligations under the Futures
+Added: Account Agreement and the FCM’s exercise of its rights and remedies thereunder;
+Added: (2) any failure by the Fund to comply with applicable
+Added: (3) any action reasonably taken by the indemnified persons pursuant to the Futures Account Agreement to comply with applicable law;
+Added: and (4) any actions taken by the FCM in reliance on instructions, notices and other communications that the FCM and its relevant personnel,
+Added: as applicable, reasonably believes to originate from a person authorized to act on behalf of the Fund.
+Added: To the extent that the Fund
+Added: trades in futures contracts on U.S.
+Added: exchanges, the assets deposited by the Fund with the FCMs (or another eligible financial institution,
+Added: as applicable) as margin must be segregated pursuant to the regulations of the CFTC.
+Added: Such segregated funds may be invested only in a limited
+Added: range of instruments — principally U.S.
government obligations to margin futures and forward contract positions.
−Removed: An option is a contract that gives
−Removed: the purchaser of the option, in return for the premium paid, the right to buy an underlying reference instrument, such as a specified
−Removed: security index, or other instrument, from the writer of the option (in the case of a call option), or to sell a specified reference instrument
−Removed: to the writer of the option (in the case of a put option) at a designated price during the term of the option.
−Removed: The premium paid by the
−Removed: buyer of an option will reflect, among other things, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price and the volatility of
−Removed: the underlying reference instrument, the remaining term of the option, supply, demand or interest rates.
−Removed: An American style put or call
−Removed: option may be exercised at any time during the option period while a European style put or call option may be exercised only upon expiration
−Removed: or during a fixed period prior thereto.
+Added: An option is a contract that gives the purchaser
+Added: of the option, in return for the premium paid, the right to buy an underlying reference instrument, such as a specified security index,
+Added: or other instrument, from the writer of the option (in the case of a call option), or to sell a specified reference instrument to the
+Added: writer of the option (in the case of a put option) at a designated price during the term of the option.
+Added: The premium paid by the buyer
+Added: of an option will reflect, among other things, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price and the volatility of the underlying
+Added: reference instrument, the remaining term of the option, supply, demand or interest rates.
+Added: An American style put or call option may be
+Added: exercised at any time during the option period while a European style put or call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during
+Added: a fixed period prior thereto.
Put and call options are traded on national securities exchanges and in the OTC market.
−Removed: traded on national securities exchanges are within the jurisdiction of the SEC or other appropriate national securities regulator, as
−Removed: are securities traded on such exchanges.
−Removed: As a result, many of the protections provided to traders on organized exchanges will be available
−Removed: with respect to such transactions.
−Removed: In particular, all option positions entered into on a national securities exchange in the United States
−Removed: are cleared and guaranteed by the Options Clearing Corporation, thereby reducing the risk of counterparty default.
−Removed: Furthermore, a liquid
−Removed: secondary market in options traded on a national securities exchange may be more readily available than in the OTC market, potentially
−Removed: permitting a Fund to liquidate open positions at a profit prior to exercise or expiration, or to limit losses in the event of adverse
−Removed: market movements.
−Removed: There is no assurance, however, that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might not temporarily
−Removed: render the capabilities of the Options Clearing Corporation inadequate, and thereby result in the exchange instituting special procedures
−Removed: which may interfere with the timely execution of a Fund’s orders to close out open options positions.
+Added: Options traded on
+Added: national securities exchanges are within the jurisdiction of the SEC or other appropriate national securities regulator, as are securities
+Added: traded on such exchanges.
+Added: As a result, many of the protections provided to traders on organized exchanges will be available with respect
+Added: to such transactions.
+Added: In particular, all option positions entered into on a national securities exchange in the United States are cleared
+Added: and guaranteed by the Options Clearing Corporation, thereby reducing the risk of counterparty default.
+Added: Furthermore, a liquid secondary
+Added: market in options traded on a national securities exchange may be more readily available than in the OTC market, potentially permitting
+Added: a Fund to liquidate open positions at a profit prior to exercise or expiration, or to limit losses in the event of adverse market movements.
+Added: There is no assurance, however, that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might not temporarily render
+Added: the capabilities of the Options Clearing Corporation inadequate, and thereby result in the exchange instituting special procedures which
+Added: may interfere with the timely execution of a Fund’s orders to close out open options positions.
Swap Agreements
−Removed: Swaps are contracts that have traditionally
−Removed: been entered into primarily by institutional investors in OTC markets for a specified period ranging from a day to many years.
−Removed: types of swaps may be cleared, and certain types are, in fact, required to be cleared.
+Added: Swaps are contracts that have traditionally been
+Added: entered into primarily by institutional investors in OTC markets for a specified period ranging from a day to many years.
+Added: Certain types
+Added: of swaps may be cleared, and certain types are, in fact, required to be cleared.
The types of swaps that may be cleared are generally
1 unchanged sentence
Swaps with customized terms or those for which significant market liquidity does not exist are generally not able to be cleared.
−Removed: In a standard swap transaction, the
−Removed: parties agree to exchange the returns on, among other things, a particular predetermined security, commodity, interest rate, or index
−Removed: for a fixed or floating rate of return (the “interest rate leg,” which will also include the cost of borrowing for short swaps)
−Removed: in respect of a predetermined notional amount.
−Removed: The notional amount of the swap reflects the extent of a Fund’s total investment
−Removed: exposure under the swap.
−Removed: In the case of futures contracts-based
−Removed: indexes, such as those used by a Fund, the reference interest rate typically is zero, although a financing spread or fee is generally
−Removed: still applied.
+Added: In a standard swap transaction, the parties agree
+Added: to exchange the returns on, among other things, a particular predetermined security, commodity, interest rate, or index for a fixed or
+Added: floating rate of return (the “interest rate leg,” which will also include the cost of borrowing for short swaps) in respect
+Added: of a predetermined notional amount.
+Added: The notional amount of the swap reflects the extent of a Fund’s total investment exposure under
+Added: In the case of futures contracts-based indexes,
+Added: such as those used by a Fund, the reference interest rate typically is zero, although a financing spread or fee is generally still applied.
Transaction or commission costs are reflected in the benchmark level at which the transaction is entered into.
−Removed: returns to be exchanged are calculated with respect to the notional amount and the benchmark returns to which the swap is linked.
−Removed: are usually closed out on a net basis, i.e.
−Removed: , the two payment streams are netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date specified
−Removed: in the agreement, with the parties receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.
+Added: The gross returns to be
+Added: exchanged are calculated with respect to the notional amount and the benchmark returns to which the swap is linked.
+Added: Swaps are usually
+Added: closed out on a net basis, i.e.
+Added: , the two payment streams are netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date specified in the
+Added: agreement, with the parties receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.
Thus, while the notional
4 unchanged sentences
agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement on any given termination date.
−Removed: Swaps may also expose a Fund to liquidity
−Removed: Although a Fund may have the ability to terminate a swap at any time, doing so may subject the Fund to certain early termination
−Removed: In addition, there may not be a liquid market within which to dispose of an outstanding swap even if a permitted disposal might
−Removed: avoid an early termination charge.
−Removed: Uncleared swaps generally are not assignable except by agreement between the parties to the swap, and
−Removed: generally no party or purchaser has any obligation to permit such assignments.
−Removed: Swaps involve, to varying degrees,
−Removed: elements of market risk and exposure to loss in excess of the amount which would be reflected on a Fund’s Statement of Financial
+Added: Swaps may also expose a Fund to liquidity risk.
+Added: Although a Fund may have the ability to terminate a swap at any time, doing so may subject the Fund to certain early termination charges.
+Added: In addition, there may not be a liquid market within which to dispose of an outstanding swap even if a permitted disposal might avoid
+Added: an early termination charge.
+Added: Uncleared swaps generally are not assignable except by agreement between the parties to the swap, and generally
+Added: no party or purchaser has any obligation to permit such assignments.
+Added: Swaps involve, to varying degrees, elements of
+Added: market risk and exposure to loss in excess of the amount which would be reflected on a Fund’s Statement of Financial Condition.
In addition to market risk and other risks, the use of swaps also comes with counterparty credit risk — i.e.
−Removed: the inability of a counterparty to a swap to perform its obligations.
−Removed: A Fund that invests in swaps bears the risk of loss of the net amount,
−Removed: if any, expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap counterparty.
−Removed: A Fund enters
−Removed: or intends to enter into swaps only with major, global financial institutions.
−Removed: However, there are no limitations on the percentage of
−Removed: its assets a Fund may invest in swaps with a particular counterparty.
−Removed: A Fund that invests in swaps may use
−Removed: various techniques to minimize counterparty credit risk.
−Removed: A Fund that invests in swaps generally enters into arrangements with its counterparties
−Removed: whereby both sides exchange collateral on a mark-to-market basis.
+Added: , the inability
+Added: of a counterparty to a swap to perform its obligations.
+Added: A Fund that invests in swaps bears the risk of loss of the net amount, if any,
+Added: expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap counterparty.
+Added: A Fund enters or intends
+Added: to enter into swaps only with major, global financial institutions.
+Added: However, there are no limitations on the percentage of its assets
+Added: a Fund may invest in swaps with a particular counterparty.
+Added: A Fund that invests in swaps may use various techniques
+Added: to minimize counterparty credit risk.
+Added: A Fund that invests in swaps generally enters into arrangements with its counterparties whereby
+Added: both sides exchange collateral on a mark-to-market basis.
In addition, the Fund may post “initial margin” or “independent
8 unchanged sentences
and/or securities.
−Removed: Collateral posted by a Fund to a counterparty
−Removed: in connection with uncleared derivatives transactions is generally held for the benefit of the counterparty in a segregated tri-party
−Removed: account at a third-party custodian to protect the counterparty against non-payment by the Fund.
−Removed: In the event of a default by a Fund where
−Removed: the counterparty is owed money in the uncleared swap transaction, such counterparty will seek withdrawal of this collateral from the segregated
−Removed: Collateral posted
−Removed: by the counterparty to a Fund is typically held for the benefit of the Fund in a segregated tri-party account at a third-party custodian.
−Removed: In the event of a default by the counterparty where the Fund is owed money in the uncleared swap transaction, the Fund will seek withdrawal
−Removed: of this collateral from the segregated account.
+Added: Collateral posted by a Fund to a counterparty in
+Added: connection with uncleared derivatives transactions is generally held for the benefit of the counterparty in a segregated tri-party account
+Added: at a third-party custodian to protect the counterparty against non-payment by the Fund.
+Added: In the event of a default by a Fund where the
+Added: counterparty is owed money in the uncleared swap transaction, such counterparty will seek withdrawal of this collateral from the segregated
+Added: Collateral posted by the counterparty
+Added: to a Fund is typically held for the benefit of the Fund in a segregated tri-party account at a third-party custodian.
+Added: In the event of
+Added: a default by the counterparty where the Fund is owed money in the uncleared swap transaction, the Fund will seek withdrawal of this collateral
+Added: from the segregated account.
The Fund may incur certain costs exercising its right with respect to the collateral.
−Removed: Notwithstanding the use of collateral
−Removed: arrangements, to the extent any collateral provided to a Fund is insufficient or there are delays in accessing the collateral, a Fund
−Removed: will be exposed to counterparty risk as described above, including possible delays in recovering amounts as a result of bankruptcy proceedings.
+Added: Notwithstanding the use of collateral arrangements,
+Added: to the extent any collateral provided to a Fund is insufficient or there are delays in accessing the collateral, a Fund will be exposed
+Added: to counterparty risk as described above, including possible delays in recovering amounts as a result of bankruptcy proceedings.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
−Removed: As of March 31, 2024, the Funds have
−Removed: not used, nor do they expect to use in the future, special purpose entities to facilitate off-balance sheet financing arrangements and
−Removed: have no loan guarantee arrangements or off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind other than agreements entered into in the normal course
−Removed: of business, which may include indemnification provisions related to certain risks service providers undertake in performing services
−Removed: which are in the best interests of the Funds.
−Removed: While each Fund’s exposure under such indemnification provisions cannot be estimated,
−Removed: these general business indemnifications are not expected to have a material impact on a Fund’s financial position.
−Removed: Management fee payments made to the
−Removed: Sponsor are calculated as a fixed percentage of each Fund’s NAV.
−Removed: As such, the Sponsor cannot anticipate the payment amounts that
−Removed: will be required under these arrangements for future periods as NAVs are not known until a future date.
−Removed: The agreement with the Sponsor
−Removed: may be terminated by either party upon 30 days written notice to the other party.
+Added: As of June 30, 2024, the Funds have not used, nor
+Added: do they expect to use in the future, special purpose entities to facilitate off-balance sheet financing arrangements and have no loan
+Added: guarantee arrangements or off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind other than agreements entered into in the normal course of business,
+Added: which may include indemnification provisions related to certain risks service providers undertake in performing services which are in
+Added: the best interests of the Funds.
+Added: While each Fund’s exposure under such indemnification provisions cannot be estimated, these general
+Added: business indemnifications are not expected to have a material impact on a Fund’s financial position.
+Added: Management fee payments made to the Sponsor are
+Added: calculated as a fixed percentage of each Fund’s NAV.
+Added: As such, the Sponsor cannot anticipate the payment amounts that will be required
+Added: under these arrangements for future periods as NAVs are not known until a future date.
+Added: The agreement with the Sponsor may be terminated
+Added: by either party upon 30 days written notice to the other party.
Critical Accounting Policies
−Removed: Preparation of the financial statements
−Removed: and related disclosures in compliance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the application
−Removed: of appropriate accounting rules and guidance, as well as the use of estimates.
−Removed: The Trust’s and the Funds’ application of these
−Removed: policies involves judgments and actual results may differ from the estimates used.
−Removed: Each Fund has significant exposure
−Removed: to Financial Instruments.
−Removed: The Funds hold a significant portion of their assets in futures, all of which are recorded on a trade date basis
−Removed: and at fair value in the financial statements, with changes in fair value reported in the Statements of Operations.
−Removed: The use of fair
−Removed: value to measure Financial Instruments, with related unrealized gains or losses recognized in earnings in each period, is fundamental
−Removed: to the Trust’s and the Funds’ financial statements.
−Removed: The fair value of a Financial Instrument is the amount that would be received
−Removed: to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (the exit
−Removed: For financial
−Removed: reporting purposes, the Funds value investments based upon the closing price in their primary markets.
−Removed: Accordingly, the investment valuations
−Removed: in these financial statements may differ from those used in the calculation of certain Funds’ final creation/redemption NAV for
−Removed: the period ended March 31, 2024.
−Removed: Short-term investments are valued at
−Removed: amortized cost which approximates fair value for daily NAV purposes.
−Removed: For financial reporting purposes, short- term investments are valued
−Removed: at their market price using information provided by a third-party pricing service or market quotations.
−Removed: Derivatives (e.g., futures contracts,
−Removed: options, swap agreements) are generally valued using independent sources and/or agreements with counterparties or other procedures as
−Removed: determined by the Sponsor.
−Removed: Futures contracts, are generally valued at the last settled price on the applicable exchange on which that
−Removed: future trades.
+Added: Preparation of the financial statements and related
+Added: disclosures in compliance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the application of appropriate
+Added: accounting rules and guidance, as well as the use of estimates.
+Added: The Trust’s and the Funds’ application of these policies involves
+Added: judgments and actual results may differ from the estimates used.
+Added: Each Fund has significant exposure to Financial
+Added: The Funds hold a significant portion of their assets in futures, all of which are recorded on a trade date basis and at fair
+Added: value in the financial statements, with changes in fair value reported in the Statements of Operations.
+Added: The use of fair value to measure
+Added: Financial Instruments, with related unrealized gains or losses recognized in earnings in each period, is fundamental to the Trust’s
+Added: and the Funds’ financial statements.
+Added: The fair value of a Financial Instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset
+Added: or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (the exit price).
+Added: For financial reporting purposes,
+Added: the Funds value investments based upon the closing price in their primary markets.
+Added: Accordingly, the investment valuations in these financial
+Added: statements may differ from those used in the calculation of certain Funds’ final creation/redemption NAV for the period ended June
+Added: Short-term investments are valued at amortized
+Added: cost which approximates fair value for daily NAV purposes.
+Added: For financial reporting purposes, short- term investments are valued at their
+Added: market price using information provided by a third-party pricing service or market quotations.
+Added: Derivatives (e.g., futures contracts, options,
+Added: swap agreements) are generally valued using independent sources and/or agreements with counterparties or other procedures as determined
+Added: by the Sponsor.
+Added: Futures contracts, are generally valued at the last settled price on the applicable exchange on which that future trades.
Futures contracts valuations are typically categorized as Level I in the fair value hierarchy.
−Removed: Swap agreement valuations
−Removed: are typically categorized as Level II in the fair value hierarchy.
−Removed: The Sponsor may in its sole discretion choose to determine a fair value
−Removed: price as the basis for determining the market value of such position.
−Removed: Such fair value prices would be generally determined based on available
−Removed: inputs about the current value of the underlying financial instrument or commodity and would be based on principles that the Sponsor deems
−Removed: fair and equitable so long as such principles are consistent with normal industry standards.
−Removed: The Sponsor may fair value an asset of a
−Removed: Fund pursuant to the policies the Sponsor has adopted, which are consistent with normal industry standards.
−Removed: Depending on the source and
−Removed: relevant significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level II or Level III in the fair value hierarchy.
−Removed: Fair value pricing may require subjective
−Removed: determinations about the value of an investment.
−Removed: While each Fund’s policy is intended to result in a calculation of the Fund’s
−Removed: NAV that fairly reflects investment values as of the time of pricing, the Funds cannot ensure that fair values determined by the Sponsor
−Removed: or persons acting at their direction would accurately reflect the price that the Fund could obtain for an investment if it were to dispose
−Removed: of that investment as of the time of pricing (for instance, in a forced or distressed sale).
−Removed: The prices used by a Fund may differ
−Removed: from the value that would be realized if the investments were sold and the differences could be material to the financial statements.
+Added: Swap agreement valuations are typically
+Added: categorized as Level II in the fair value hierarchy.
+Added: The Sponsor may in its sole discretion choose to determine a fair value price as
+Added: the basis for determining the market value of such position.
+Added: Such fair value prices would be generally determined based on available inputs
+Added: about the current value of the underlying financial instrument or commodity and would be based on principles that the Sponsor deems fair
+Added: and equitable so long as such principles are consistent with normal industry standards.
+Added: The Sponsor may fair value an asset of a Fund
+Added: pursuant to the policies the Sponsor has adopted, which are consistent with normal industry standards.
+Added: Depending on the source and relevant
+Added: significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level II or Level III in the fair value hierarchy.
+Added: Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations
+Added: about the value of an investment.
+Added: While each Fund’s policy is intended to result in a calculation of the Fund’s NAV that fairly
+Added: reflects investment values as of the time of pricing, the Funds cannot ensure that fair values determined by the Sponsor or persons acting
+Added: at their direction would accurately reflect the price that the Fund could obtain for an investment if it were to dispose of that investment
+Added: as of the time of pricing (for instance, in a forced or distressed sale).
+Added: The prices used by a Fund may differ from the value
+Added: that would be realized if the investments were sold and the differences could be material to the financial statements.
The Funds disclose the fair value of their investments
2 unchanged sentences
are amortized and reflected as Interest Income in the Statements of Operations.
−Removed: Realized gains (losses) and changes
−Removed: in unrealized gain (loss) on open investments are determined on a specific identification basis and recognized in the Statements of Operations
−Removed: in the period in which the contract is closed or the changes occur, respectively.
−Removed: Each Fund pays its respective brokerage
−Removed: commissions, including applicable exchange fees, NFA fees, give up fees, pit futures account fees and other transaction related fees and
−Removed: expenses charged in connection with trading activities for each Fund’s investment in U.S.
−Removed: Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulated
+Added: Realized gains (losses) and changes in unrealized
+Added: gain (loss) on open investments are determined on a specific identification basis and recognized in the Statements of Operations in the
+Added: period in which the contract is closed or the changes occur, respectively.
+Added: Each Fund pays its respective brokerage commissions,
+Added: including applicable exchange fees, NFA fees, give up fees, pit futures account fees and other transaction related fees and expenses charged
+Added: in connection with trading activities for each Fund’s investment in U.S.
+Added: Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulated investments.
Brokerage commissions on futures contracts are recognized on a half-turn basis.
−Removed: The Sponsor is currently paying brokerage
−Removed: commissions in VIX futures contracts exceed variable create/redeem fees collected by more than 0.02% of the Fund’s average net assets
+Added: The Sponsor is currently paying brokerage commissions
+Added: in VIX futures contracts exceed variable create/redeem fees collected by more than 0.02% of the Fund’s average net assets annually.
Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.