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iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust - Quarter Report: 2011 March (Form 10-Q)

Form 10-Q for iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011

 

¨ Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file numbers: 001-32947 (Registrant)

                                                     001-32948 (Co-Registrant)

 

 

iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust

iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

(Rule 140 Co-Registrant)

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

  51-6573369 (Registrant)
Delaware   34-2061331 (Co-Registrant)

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Numbers)

c/o BlackRock Asset Management International Inc.

400 Howard Street

San Francisco, California 94105

Attn: Product Management Team

iShares® Product Research & Development

(Address of principal executive offices)

(415) 670-2000

(Registrant and Co-Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant and Co-Registrant (1) have 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 and Co-Registrant were required to file such reports), and (2) have 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 whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   x  (Registrant)    Accelerated filer   ¨  

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

 

¨

  

 

Smaller reporting company

 

 

¨

 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)       

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant and Co-Registrant are shell companies (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

          Page  

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

   Financial Statements      1   
   iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust   
   Statements of Financial Condition at March 31, 2011 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2010      1   
   Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010      2   
   Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Capital for the three months ended March 31, 2011 (Unaudited) and the year ended December 31, 2010      3   
   Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010      4   
   Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)      5   
   iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC   
   Statements of Financial Condition at March 31, 2011 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2010      10   
   Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010      11   
   Statements of Changes in Members’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2011 (Unaudited) and the year ended December 31, 2010      12   
   Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010      13   
   Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) at March 31, 2011      14   
   Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)      15   

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      21   

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      23   

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures      24   

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings      25   

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors      25   

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds      38   

Item 3.

   Defaults Upon Senior Securities      38   

Item 5.

   Other Information      38   

Item 6.

   Exhibits      39   

SIGNATURES

     41   


Table of Contents

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust

Statements of Financial Condition

At March 31, 2011 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2010

 

     March 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Assets

     

Current Assets

     

Investment in iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

   $ 2,032,290,142       $ 1,799,879,995   
                 

Total Assets

   $ 2,032,290,142       $ 1,799,879,995   
                 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Capital

     

Current Liabilities

     

Payable for capital Shares redeemed

   $ 1,880,009       $ —     
                 

Total Liabilities

     1,880,009         —     
                 

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Note 7)

     —           —     

Redeemable capital Shares, no par value, unlimited amount authorized (at redemption value) – 54,000,000 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2011 and 52,700,000 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010

     2,030,410,133         1,799,879,995   
                 

Total Shareholders’ Capital

     2,030,410,133         1,799,879,995   
                 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Capital

   $ 2,032,290,142       $ 1,799,879,995   
                 

See notes to financial statements.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust

Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2011     2010  

Investment Income Allocated from iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

    

Interest

   $ 741,983      $ 247,327   
                

Total investment income

     741,983        247,327   
                

Expenses Allocated from iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

    

Management fee

     3,511,304        3,164,322   

Brokerage commissions and fees

     755,424        —     
                

Total expenses

     4,266,728        3,164,322   
                

Net investment loss

     (3,524,745     (2,916,995
                

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) Allocated from iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

    

Net realized gain (loss) on short-term investments

     20,359        (418

Net realized gain on futures contracts

     176,379,903        —     

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

     13,828,490        (17,020,104
                

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     190,228,752        (17,020,522
                

Net gain (loss)

   $ 186,704,007      $ (19,937,517
                

Net gain (loss) per Share

   $ 3.47      $ (0.36

Weighted-average Shares outstanding

     53,761,111        55,550,000   

See notes to financial statements.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust

Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Capital

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 (Unaudited)

and the year ended December 31, 2010

 

     Three Months
Ended

March 31, 2011
    Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 

Shareholders’ Capital, Beginning of Period

   $ 1,799,879,995      $ 1,759,350,446   

Contributions

     76,373,143        249,730,155   

Redemptions

     (32,547,012     (327,772,261

Net investment loss

     (3,524,745     (10,288,962

Net realized gain on short-term investments

     20,359        3,317   

Net realized gain (loss) on futures contracts

     176,379,903        (102,883,332

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

     13,828,490        231,740,632   
                

Shareholders’ Capital, End of Period

   $ 2,030,410,133      $ 1,799,879,995   
                

Net Asset Value per Share, End of Period

   $ 37.60      $ 34.15   

See notes to financial statements.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust

Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2011     2010  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

    

Net gain (loss)

   $ 186,704,007      $ (19,937,517

Adjustments to reconcile net gain (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:

    

(Increase) decrease in investment in iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

     (232,410,147     19,937,517   

Increase in payable for capital Shares redeemed

     1,880,009        —     
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (43,826,131     —     
                

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

    

Contributions

     76,373,143        —     

Redemptions

     (32,547,012     —     
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     43,826,131        —     
                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     —          —     
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents

    

Beginning of period

     —          —     
                

End of period

   $ —        $ —     
                

See notes to financial statements.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

March 31, 2011

1 - Organization

The iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on July 7, 2006 and commenced operations on July 10, 2006. Prior to May 9, 2007, the Trust was known as the iShares® GSCI® Commodity-Indexed Trust. BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. (“BAMII”) is the “Sponsor” of the Trust and “Manager” of the iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC (the “Investing Pool”). BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. is the “Trustee” of the Trust. The Trust is governed by the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2007 (the “Trust Agreement”), among the Sponsor, the Trustee and Wilmington Trust Company (the “Delaware Trustee”). The Trust issues units of beneficial interest (“Shares”) representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in its net assets. Substantially all of the net assets of the Trust consist of its holdings of the limited liability company interests of a commodity pool, which are the only securities in which the Trust may invest. That commodity pool, iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC, holds long positions in futures contracts on the S&P GSCI™ Excess Return Index listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange called Commodity Excess Return Futures (“CERFs”) and posts margin in the form of cash or short-term or similar securities, referred to as “Short-Term Securities,” to collateralize its CERF positions. Margin has to be posted at the time the CERF position is established.

It is the objective of the Trust that the performance of the Shares will correspond generally to the performance of the S&P GSCI™ Total Return Index before payment of the Trust’s and the Investing Pool’s expenses.

The Trust and the Investing Pool are each commodity pools, as defined in the regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and are operated by BAMII, a commodity pool operator registered with the CFTC. BAMII is an indirect subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc.

The Trustee has the absolute right to reject any creation order, including, without limitation, creation orders that the Trustee has determined would have adverse tax or other consequences to the Trust, its shareholders or the Investing Pool. The Trust disclosed through a filing on Form 8-K on August 21, 2009 that the Trustee expected to reject any creation orders for Shares of the Trust upon the Trust reaching Shares outstanding of approximately 55,900,000 in order to continue to manage the assets of the Trust and the Investing Pool consistent with their investment objective. The Trust received creation orders on August 24, 2009 that would have exceeded that number of Shares, and accordingly stopped accepting further creation orders temporarily. The Trust resumed accepting creation orders on April 27, 2010.

The accompanying unaudited financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, all material adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair statement of the interim period financial statements have been made. Interim period results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full-year period. These financial statements and the notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Trust’s financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 as filed with the SEC on February 25, 2011.

The Trust is not an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

March 31, 2011

 

2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

A. Basis of Accounting

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Trust in the preparation of its financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and these differences could be material.

 

B. Investment in the Investing Pool

The Trust’s investment in the Investing Pool is valued at an amount equal to the value of the Trust’s capital account in the Investing Pool, which is measured at fair value.

The financial statements of the Investing Pool should be read in conjunction with the Trust’s financial statements.

At March 31, 2011, the Trust owned 99.99% of the Investing Pool’s net assets. Because the Trust invests substantially all of its assets in the Investing Pool, the accounting policies of the Investing Pool, including the Investing Pool’s security valuation policies, will directly affect the recorded value of the Trust’s investment in the Investing Pool. The Trust also receives a daily allocation of its respective income, expenses and net realized and unrealized gains and losses in proportion to its investment in the Investing Pool.

 

C. Income Taxes

The Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation for federal, state and local income tax purposes.

No provision for federal, state, and local income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements because the Trust is not subject to income taxes. Shareholders are individually responsible for their own tax payments on their proportionate share of gains, losses, credits, or deductions.

 

D. Calculation of Net Asset Value

The net asset value of the Trust on any given day is obtained by subtracting the Trust’s accrued expenses and other liabilities on that day from the value of (1) the Trust’s equity investment in the Investing Pool and (2) any other assets of the Trust, as of 4:15 p.m. (New York time) that day. The Trustee determines the net asset value per Share (the “NAV”) by dividing the net asset value of the Trust on a given day by the number of Shares outstanding or deemed to be outstanding at 4:15 p.m. (New York time) that day. The NAV is calculated each day on which NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”) is open for regular trading, as soon as practicable after 4:15 p.m. (New York time).

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

March 31, 2011

 

E. Distributions

Interest and distributions received by the Investing Pool on the assets posted as margin may be used to acquire additional CERFs or, in the discretion of the Sponsor, distributed to Shareholders. The Trust is under no obligation to make periodic distributions to Shareholders.

3 - Offering of the Shares

Shares are issued and redeemed continuously in one or more blocks of 50,000 Shares in exchange for a combination of CERFs and cash (or, in the discretion of the Sponsor, Short-Term Securities in lieu of cash). The baskets of CERFs and cash (or, in the discretion of the Sponsor, Short-Term Securities in lieu of cash) are transferred to or from the Investing Pool in exchange for limited liability company interests in the Investing Pool. In addition, the Investing Pool, and some other types of market participants, are required to deposit cash margin with their futures commission merchant with a value equal to 100% of the value of each CERF position at the time it is established.

Individual investors cannot purchase or redeem Shares in direct transactions with the Trust. The Trust transacts only with registered broker-dealers that have entered into a contractual arrangement with the Trust and the Sponsor governing, among other matters, the creation and redemption of Shares (such authorized broker-dealers are the “Authorized Participants”). Authorized Participants may redeem their Shares (as well as Shares on behalf of other investors) at any time on any business day in one or more blocks of 50,000 Shares. Redemptions of Shares in exchange for baskets of CERFs and cash (or, in the discretion of the Sponsor, Short-Term Securities in lieu of cash) are treated as sales for financial statement purposes.

On April 27, 2010, the Trust resumed accepting creation orders. Creation of new Shares of the Trust had been suspended since August 24, 2009.

On March 31, 2011, the Trust had 54,000,000 Shares outstanding.

4 - Trust Expenses

The Trust is not expected to directly bear any ordinary recurring expenses. The Sponsor has agreed to pay the following administrative, operational and marketing expenses: (1) the fees of the Trustee, Delaware Trustee, Trust administrator and processing agent, (2) NYSE Arca listing fees, (3) printing and mailing costs, (4) audit fees, (5) tax reporting costs, (6) license fees, and (7) up to $100,000 per annum in legal fees. The Sponsor has also paid the costs of the Trust’s organization and the initial sales of the Shares, including applicable SEC registration fees.

5 - Related Parties

The Sponsor, the Manager and the Trustee are considered to be related parties to the Trust. The Trustee’s fee is paid by the Sponsor and is not a separate expense of the Trust. The Manager is paid by the Investing Pool and that fee is an indirect expense of the Trust.

6 - Indemnification

The Sponsor and its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, affiliates (as such term is defined under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and subsidiaries are entitled to be indemnified by the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense arising out of or in connection with the performance of their obligations under the Trust Agreement or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement and incurred without their (1) negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or willful malfeasance or (2) reckless disregard of their obligations and duties under the Trust Agreement.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

March 31, 2011

 

7 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

In the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8 - Net Asset Value and Financial Highlights

The Trust is presenting the following net asset values and financial highlights related to investment performance and operations for a Share outstanding for the period from January 1, 2011 to March 31, 2011. The net investment income (loss) and total expense ratios are calculated using average net assets. The net asset value presentation is calculated using daily Shares outstanding. The net investment income (loss) and total expense ratios have been annualized and include the allocation of net investment income (loss) and expenses from the Investing Pool. The total return is based on the change in net asset value of a Share during the period. An investor’s return and ratios may vary based on the timing of capital transactions.

 

Net asset value per Share, beginning of period

   $  34.15   

Net investment loss

     (0.07

Realized and unrealized gain

     3.52   
        

Net increase in net assets from operations

     3.45   
        

Net asset value per Share, end of period

   $ 37.60   
        

Ratio to average net assets:

  

Net investment loss (i)

     (0.75 )% 

Expenses (i)(ii)

     0.91

Total return, at net asset value (iii)

     10.10

 

(i) Percentage is annualized.
(ii) The ratio of expenses to average net assets includes brokerage commissions and fees in connection with the roll of CERFs which expired in March 2011. Excluding such brokerage commissions and fees, the ratio of expenses to average net assets for the three months ended March 31, 2011 would have been 0.75%.
(iii) Percentage is not annualized.

9 - Investment Valuation

In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, the Trust values investments using a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Inputs may be based on independent market data (“observable inputs”) or they may be internally developed (“unobservable inputs”). The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

Level 1     Inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Trust has the ability to access as of the measurement date;
Level 2     Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including inputs in markets that are not considered to be active; and
Level 3     Inputs that are unobservable for the asset or liability.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

March 31, 2011

 

Substantially all of the net assets of the Trust consist of its interests in the Investing Pool, which are measured at fair value. Interests in the Investing Pool are classified as Level 2, as there are no active markets for interests in the Investing Pool, while all significant inputs for the value of the Investing Pool are directly observable to the Trust.

At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the fair value of the Trust’s interests in the Investing Pool equaled $2,032,290,142 and $1,799,879,995, respectively.

Disclosure regarding fair value measurements relating to the Investing Pool’s investment portfolio can be found in Note 10 of the Investing Pool’s Notes to Financial Statements.

10 - Subsequent Events

In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Trust as of and for the period ended March 31, 2011, management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Trust through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

Statements of Financial Condition

At March 31, 2011 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2010

 

     March 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Assets

     

Current Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,496,307       $ 1,662,838   

Cash and cash equivalents held at FCM (restricted)

     36,058,899         76,335,484   

Short-term investments held at FCM (restricted)

     1,972,626,706         1,687,824,740   

Receivable for variation margin on open futures contracts (Note 9)

     23,411,200         35,184,200   

Interest receivable

     118         314   
                 

Total Assets

   $ 2,033,593,230       $ 1,801,007,576   
                 

Liabilities and Members’ Equity

     

Current Liabilities

     

Management fee payable

   $ 1,283,934       $ 1,110,188   
                 

Total Liabilities

     1,283,934         1,110,188   
                 

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Note 7)

     —           —     

Members’ Equity

     

General member

     19,154         17,393   

Limited member

     2,032,290,142         1,799,879,995   
                 

Total Members’ Equity

     2,032,309,296         1,799,897,388   
                 

Total Liabilities and Members’ Equity

   $ 2,033,593,230       $ 1,801,007,576   
                 

See notes to financial statements.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2011     2010  

Investment Income

    

Interest

   $ 741,990      $ 247,329   
                

Total investment income

     741,990        247,329   
                

Expenses

    

Management fee

     3,511,337        3,164,351   

Brokerage commissions and fees

     755,424        —     
                

Total expenses

     4,266,761        3,164,351   
                

Net investment loss

     (3,524,771     (2,917,022
                

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    

Net realized gain (loss) on short-term investments

     20,359        (418

Net realized gain on futures contracts

     176,381,549        —     

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

     13,828,631        (17,020,260
                

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     190,230,539        (17,020,678
                

Net gain (loss)

   $ 186,705,768      $ (19,937,700
                

See notes to financial statements.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

Statements of Changes in Members’ Equity

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 (Unaudited)

and the year ended December 31, 2010

 

     General
Member
    Limited
Member
    Total
Members’
Equity
 

Members’ Equity, December 31, 2010

   $ 17,393      $ 1,799,879,995      $ 1,799,897,388   

Contributions

     —          76,373,143        76,373,143   

Redemptions

     —          (30,667,003     (30,667,003

Net investment loss

     (26     (3,524,745     (3,524,771

Net realized gain on short-term investments

     —          20,359        20,359   

Net realized gain on futures contracts

     1,646        176,379,903        176,381,549   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

     141        13,828,490        13,828,631   
                        

Members’ Equity, March 31, 2011

   $ 19,154      $ 2,032,290,142      $ 2,032,309,296   
                        

 

     General
Member
    Limited
Member
    Total
Members’
Equity
 

Members’ Equity, December 31, 2009

   $ 16,132      $ 1,759,350,446      $ 1,759,366,578   

Contributions

     —          249,730,155        249,730,155   

Redemptions

     —          (327,772,261     (327,772,261

Net investment loss

     (97     (10,288,962     (10,289,059

Net realized gain on short-term investments

     —          3,317        3,317   

Net realized loss on futures contracts

     (994     (102,883,332     (102,884,326

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts

     2,352        231,740,632        231,742,984   
                        

Members’ Equity, December 31, 2010

   $ 17,393      $ 1,799,879,995      $ 1,799,897,388   
                        

See notes to financial statements.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2011     2010  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

    

Net gain (loss)

   $ 186,705,768      $ (19,937,700

Adjustments to reconcile net gain (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Purchases of short-term investments

     (1,430,876,844     (1,682,080,161

Sales/maturities of short-term investments

     1,146,810,747        1,772,399,847   

Accretion of discount

     (715,510     (228,179

Net realized (gain) loss on short-term investments

     (20,359     418   

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Cash and cash equivalents held at FCM (restricted)

     40,276,585        (49,189,881

Receivable for variation margin on open futures contracts

     11,773,000        (235

Interest receivable

     196        (12,270,420

Payable for variation margin on open futures contracts

     —          (8,708,040

Management fee payable

     173,746        9,105   
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (45,872,671     (5,246
                

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

    

Contributions

     76,373,143        —     

Redemptions

     (30,667,003     —     
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     45,706,140        —     
                

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (166,531     (5,246
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents

    

Beginning of period

     1,662,838        201,766   
                

End of period

   $ 1,496,307      $ 196,520   
                

See notes to financial statements.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

At March 31, 2011

 

Face Amount

    

Security Description

   Fair Value  
  

United States Treasury Bills

  
  $265,000,000      

0.15% - 0.17% due 4/14/11

   $ 264,984,589   
  250,000,000      

0.15% - 0.19% due 5/05/11

     249,962,605   
  206,584,000      

0.15% - 0.19% due 6/02/11

     206,519,846   
  351,822,000      

0.08% - 0.18% due 7/07/11

     351,684,857   
  385,000,000      

0.15% - 0.17% due 8/04/11

     384,782,031   
  515,000,000      

0.13% - 0.14% due 9/08/11

     514,692,778   
           
  

Total United States Treasury Bills – 97.06%*

   $ 1,972,626,706   
           

 

* Percentage is based on members’ equity.

 

As of March 31, 2011, the open CERFs were as follows:

 

Contracts

        

Expiration Date

        

Current Notional Amount

          

Net Unrealized Gain

 

37,726

      March 2014       $  2,028,149,760          $ 132,381,722   

See notes to financial statements.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

March 31, 2011

1 - Organization

The iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC (the “Investing Pool”) is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware on July 7, 2006 and commenced operations on July 10, 2006. Prior to May 9, 2007, the Investing Pool was known as the iShares® GSCI® Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC. BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. (the “Manager”) is responsible for the administration of the Investing Pool. The Investing Pool holds long positions in futures contracts on the S&P GSCI™ Excess Return Index (“S&P GSCI-ER”) listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (the “CME”) called Commodity Excess Return Futures (“CERFs”) and posts margin in the form of cash or short-term or similar securities, referred to as “Short-Term Securities,” to collateralize its CERF positions.

It is the objective of the Investing Pool that its performance will correspond generally to the performance of the S&P GSCI™ Total Return Index (the “Index”) before payment of the Investing Pool’s expenses.

The Investing Pool is a commodity pool, as defined in the regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and is operated by the Manager, a commodity pool operator registered with the CFTC. The Manager is an indirect subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. BlackRock Fund Advisors (the “Advisor”), an indirect subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc., serves as the commodity trading advisor of the Investing Pool and is registered with the CFTC.

The Investing Pool is not an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

A. Basis of Accounting

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Investing Pool in the preparation of its financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and these differences could be material.

Certain amounts in the financial statements for the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation.

 

B. Investment in CERFs

CERFs are futures contracts listed on the CME whose settlement at expiration is based on the value of the S&P GSCI-ER at that time. The terms of the CERFs require the Investing Pool to deposit initial margin with a value equal to 100% of the value of each CERF position at the time the position is established, thereby making those positions unleveraged. Because of this, additional variation margin payments are not required. Although daily variation margins are not required, daily fluctuations in the value of the CERFs are recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. When a CERF is closed, the Investing Pool records a realized gain or loss based on the difference between the value of the CERF at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. The Investing Pool will deposit with the clearing futures commission merchant (“FCM”) the required margin for the CERFs in the form of cash or Short-Term Securities. CERFs are derivative instruments valued at fair value, which the Manager has determined to be that day’s announced CME settlement price for the CERF. If there is no announced CME settlement price for the CERF on that day, the Manager will use the most recently announced CME settlement price unless the Manager determines that the price is inappropriate as a basis for the valuation of the CERFs. The Investing Pool’s investment in the CERFs has not been designated as a hedging instrument. As a result, all changes in the fair value are reflected in the Statements of Operations.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

March 31, 2011

 

The investment objective of the Investing Pool is to seek investment results that correspond generally to the performance of the Index before payment of the Investing Pool’s expenses through holdings of long positions in CERFs.

For futures contracts, counterparty credit risk is mitigated because futures contracts are exchange-traded and the exchange’s clearing house acts as central counterparty to all exchange-traded futures contracts (although customers continue to have credit exposure to the clearing member who holds their account).

Please refer to Note 9 for additional disclosures regarding the Investing Pool’s investments in CERFs.

 

C. Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Investing Pool defines cash and cash equivalents to be highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Investing Pool had cash and cash equivalents held at its clearing FCM of $36,058,899 and $76,335,484, respectively, which were posted as margin to collateralize its CERF positions.

 

D. Short-Term Investments

Short-term investments on the Statements of Financial Condition consist principally of short-term fixed income securities with original maturities of one year or less. These investments are valued at fair value.

As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Investing Pool had short-term investments held at its clearing FCM of $1,972,626,706 and $1,687,824,740, respectively, which were posted as margin to collateralize its CERF positions.

 

E. Securities Transactions, Income and Expense Recognition

Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Other income and expenses are recognized on the accrual basis.

 

F. Income Taxes

The Investing Pool is not an association taxable as a corporation and is treated as a partnership for federal, state and local income tax purposes.

No provision for federal, state, and local income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements because the Investing Pool is not subject to income taxes. Holders of interests in the Investing Pool are individually responsible for their own tax payments on their proportionate share of gains, losses, credits, or deductions.

 

G. Calculation of Net Asset Value

The net asset value of the Investing Pool on any given day is obtained by subtracting the Investing Pool’s accrued expenses and other liabilities on that day from the value of the assets of the Investing Pool, calculated as of 4:15 p.m. (New York time) on each day on which NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca) is open for regular trading, as soon as practicable after that time.

 

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

March 31, 2011

 

3 - Offering of the Investing Pool Interests

Interests in the Investing Pool (“Investing Pool Interests”) are issued only to and redeemable only by the iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust (the “Trust”) in exchange for a combination of CERFs and cash or Short-Term Securities in lieu of cash. The baskets of CERFs and cash or Short-Term Securities in lieu of cash are transferred to or from the Trust in exchange for Investing Pool Interests. Individual investors cannot purchase or redeem Investing Pool Interests. The Investing Pool transacts only with the Trust and the Manager.

Redemptions of Investing Pool Interests in exchange for CERFs and cash or Short-Term Securities in lieu of cash are treated as sales for financial statement purposes.

4 - Investing Pool Expenses

The Manager pays the amounts that would otherwise be considered the ordinary operating expenses, if any, of the Investing Pool. The Manager receives an allocation from the Investing Pool that accrues daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.75% of the net asset value of the Investing Pool.

5 - Related Parties

BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. is the “Administrator” of the Investing Pool. The Manager and the Administrator are considered to be related parties to the Trust and Investing Pool. The Advisor is considered to be a related party to the Investing Pool. The Administrator’s and Advisor’s fees are paid by the Manager from the Investing Pool’s expense allocation to the Manager and are not a separate expense of the Investing Pool.

6 - Indemnification

The Trust, the Manager and any officers, agents and delegates of the Investing Pool (the “Indemnitees”) are entitled to indemnification from the Investing Pool for any loss, damage, claim or expense (including reasonable attorney’s fees) incurred by any Indemnitee by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnitee on behalf of the Investing Pool, unless such act or omission is the result of such Indemnitee’s gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, and provided that such indemnity shall be provided out of, and only to the extent of, the Investing Pool’s assets.

7 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

In the normal course of business, the Investing Pool may enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Investing Pool’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Investing Pool that have not yet occurred.

8 - Financial Highlights

The Investing Pool is presenting the following financial highlights related to investment performance and operations for the period from January 1, 2011 to March 31, 2011. The net investment income (loss) and total expense ratios are calculated using average net

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

March 31, 2011

 

assets and have been annualized. The total return is based on the change in the net asset value during the period.

 

Ratio to average net assets:

  

Net investment loss (i)

     (0.75 )% 

Expenses (i)(ii)

     0.91

Total return (iii)

     10.24

 

(i) Percentage is annualized.
(ii) The ratio of expenses to average net assets includes brokerage commissions and fees in connection with the roll of CERFs which expired in March 2011. Excluding such brokerage commissions and fees, the ratio of expenses to average net assets for the three months ended March 31, 2011 would have been 0.75%.
(iii) Percentage is not annualized.

9 - Investing in CERFs

Substantially all of the Investing Pool’s assets are invested in CERFs. The CERFs’ settlement value at expiration is based on the value of S&P GSCI-ER at that time. Therefore, the value of the Investing Pool will fluctuate based upon the value of the S&P GSCI-ER and the prices of the commodities underlying the S&P GSCI-ER. The commodities markets have historically been extremely volatile. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010, the average month-end notional amount of open CERFs were $1,914,108,365 and $1,637,577,662, respectively.

The following table shows the variation margin on open futures contracts, by risk exposure category, on the Statements of Financial Condition for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

   Fair
Value
    

Liability Derivatives

   Fair
Value
 

March 31, 2011

                       

Commodity contracts

   Receivable for variation margin on open futures contracts    $ 23,411,200       Payable for variation margin on open futures contracts    $ —     

December 31, 2010

                       

Commodity contracts

   Receivable for variation margin on open futures contracts    $ 35,184,200       Payable for variation margin on open futures contracts    $ —     

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

March 31, 2011

 

The following table shows the effect of the futures contracts, by risk exposure category, on the Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2011

  

Statements of

Operations Location

   Realized Gain (Loss)      Change in Unrealized
Appreciation/Depreciation
 

Commodity contracts

   Net realized gain on futures contracts    $ 176,381,549       $ —     
   Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts      —           13,828,631   

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2010

                  

Commodity contracts

   Net realized gain on futures contracts    $ —         $ —     
   Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts      —           (17,020,260

10 - Investment Valuation

In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, the Investing Pool values investments using a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Inputs may be based on independent market data (“observable inputs”) or they may be internally developed (“unobservable inputs”). The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

Level 1     Inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Investing Pool has the ability to access as of the measurement date;
Level 2     Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including inputs in markets that are not considered to be active; and
Level 3     Inputs that are unobservable for the asset or liability.

Investments in CERFs are measured at fair value using CME settlement prices for CERFs. CERFs are classified as Level 1 investments, as CME settlement prices are quoted prices for identical assets in active markets. At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the fair value of CERFs equaled $2,028,149,760 and $1,798,137,200, respectively.

The terms of the CERFs require the Investing Pool to deposit initial margin with a value equal to 100% of the value of each CERF position at the time the position is established, thereby making those positions unleveraged. This margin collateral, in the form of short-term investments in U.S. Treasury bills, is valued at fair value. U.S. Treasury bills are classified as Level 2 investments, as these trade in markets that are not considered active, but whose values are based on inputs such as quoted market prices, dealer quotations or valuations provided by alternative pricing sources that are supported by observable inputs. At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the fair value of short-term investments equaled $1,972,626,706 and $1,687,824,740, respectively.

 

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iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

March 31, 2011

 

11 - Subsequent Events

In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Investing Pool as of and for the period ended March 31, 2011, management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Investing Pool through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes to financial statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this Form 10-Q. The discussion and analysis that follows may contain statements that relate to future events or future performance. In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. None of the Trust, the Sponsor, the Manager, the Trustee or the Delaware Trustee assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any forward-looking statements. None of the Trust, the Sponsor, the Manager, the Trustee or the Delaware Trustee is under a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform such statements to actual results or to a change in expectations or predictions.

Introduction

The iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust (the “Trust”) is a Delaware statutory trust that issues units of beneficial interest (called “Shares”) representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in its net assets. Substantially all of the assets of the Trust consist of interests in the iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC, or the “Investing Pool.” The Investing Pool holds long positions in futures contracts called “CERFs” on the S&P GSCI™ Excess Return Index (“S&P GSCI-ER”) listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, (the “CME”), and posts margin in the form of cash or short-term or similar securities, referred to as “Short-Term Securities,” to collateralize its CERF positions. It is the objective of the Trust that the performance of the Shares will correspond generally to the performance of the S&P GSCI™ Total Return Index (the “Index”) before payment of the Trust’s and the Investing Pool’s expenses and liabilities. The Index is intended to reflect the performance of a diversified group of commodities. BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. (“BAMII”) is the “Sponsor” of the Trust and the “Manager” of the Investing Pool. BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. is the “Trustee” of the Trust. The Trust and the Investing Pool are commodity pools, as defined in the regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and are operated by BAMII, a commodity pool operator registered with the CFTC. The Trust and the Investing Pool has delegated some of the administration to State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Trust Administrator” or “Investing Pool Administrator”). Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, serves as the “Delaware Trustee” of the Trust. Neither the Trust nor the Investing Pool is an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

The Trust intends to offer Shares on a continuous basis but is not required to do so and may suspend the offering of shares at any time. The Trust issues and redeems Shares only in one or more blocks of 50,000 Shares (called “Baskets”). These transactions are generally in exchange for consideration (or redemption proceeds) consisting of CERFs and cash (or, in the discretion of the Sponsor, Short-Term Securities in lieu of cash) with a value equal to the net asset value per Basket on the date the creation or redemption order is received in proper form. Only certain institutions, called “Authorized Participants,” that enter into an agreement with the Trust may purchase or redeem Baskets. Owners of beneficial interests in shares (“Shareholders”) who are not Authorized Participants have no right to redeem their Shares; they may redeem their Shares only through an Authorized Participant and only in Baskets.

Shares of the Trust trade on NYSE Arca under the symbol “GSG.”

Valuation of CERFs; Computation of Trust’s Net Asset Value

The Trustee determines the net asset value of the Trust and the net asset value per Share, or NAV, as of 4:15 p.m., New York City time, on each business day on which NYSE Arca is open for regular trading, as soon as practicable after that time. The Trustee values the Trust’s assets based upon the determination by the Manager, which may act through the Investing Pool Administrator, of the net asset value of the Investing Pool. The Manager determines the net asset value of the Investing Pool as of the same time that the Trustee determines the net asset value of the Trust.

The Manager values the Investing Pool’s long position in CERFs on the basis of that day’s announced CME settlement price for the CERF. The value of the Investing Pool’s CERF position (including any related margin) equals the product of (a) the number of CERF contracts owned by the Investing Pool and (b) the settlement price on the date of calculation. If there is no announced CME settlement price for the CERF on a business day, the Manager uses the most recently announced CME settlement price unless the Manager determines that such price is inappropriate as a basis for valuation. The daily settlement price for the CERF is established by the CME shortly after the close of trading in Chicago on each trading day.

 

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The Manager values all other property of the Investing Pool at (a) its current market value, if quotations for such property are readily available, or (b) its fair value, as reasonably determined by the Manager, if the current market value cannot be determined.

Once the value of the CERFs and interest earned on any assets posted as margin and any other assets of the Investing Pool has been determined, the Manager subtracts all accrued expenses and liabilities of the Investing Pool as of the time of calculation in order to calculate the net asset value of the Investing Pool. The Manager, or the Investing Pool Administrator on its behalf, then calculates the value of the Trust’s interests in the Investing Pool (“Investing Pool Interests”) and provides this information to the Trustee.

Once the value of the Trust’s Investing Pool Interests has been determined and provided to the Trustee, the Trustee subtracts all accrued expenses and other liabilities of the Trust from the total value of the assets of the Trust, in each case as of the calculation time. The resulting amount is the net asset value of the Trust. The Trustee determines the NAV by dividing the net asset value of the Trust by the number of Shares outstanding at the time the calculation is made. Shares to be delivered under a creation order are considered to be outstanding for purposes of determining the NAV if the applicable creation order was received by the Trustee prior to 2:40 p.m., New York City time (or, on any day on which the CME is scheduled to close early, prior to the close of trading of CERFs on the CME on such day), on the date of calculation. Shares to be delivered under a redemption request are not considered to be outstanding for purposes of calculating the NAV if the applicable redemption request was received by the Trustee prior to 2:40 p.m., New York City time (or, on any day on which the CME is scheduled to close early, prior to the close of trading of CERFs on the CME on such day), on the date of calculation.

Results of Operations

The Quarter Ended March 31, 2011

The Trust’s net asset value increased from $1,799,879,995 at December 31, 2010 to $2,030,410,133 at March 31, 2011. The increase in the Trust’s net asset value was primarily due to an increase in the price of CERFs during the quarter from $480.40 at December 31, 2011 to $537.60 at March 31, 2011, an 11.91% increase. The Trust’s net asset value was also affected by an increase in outstanding Shares, which rose from 52,700,000 at December 31, 2010 to 54,000,000 at March 31, 2011 due to 2,200,000 Shares (44 Baskets) being created and 900,000 Shares (18 Baskets) being redeemed during the quarter.

In February 2011, the Investing Pool began trading in CERFs expiring in March 2014 in connection with the rolling process from CERFs expiring in March 2011. As a result, for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, the Trust had a net realized gain on futures contracts of $176,379,903 and brokerage commissions and fees of $755,424 allocated from the Investing Pool primarily in connection with the rolling process.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Trust’s sole asset as of March 31, 2011 was its investment in the Investing Pool. The Investing Pool’s assets consist of CERFs, cash and Short-Term Securities that are posted as collateral for the Investing Pool’s CERF positions. The Trust and the Investing Pool do not anticipate any further need for liquidity because creations and redemptions of Shares generally occur in kind and ordinary expenses are met by cash on hand. Interest earned on the assets posted as collateral is paid to the Investing Pool and is used to pay the fixed fee to the Manager and purchase additional CERFs, or, in the discretion of the Sponsor, distributed to Shareholders. In exchange for a fee based on the net asset value of the Investing Pool, the Sponsor and the Manager have assumed most of the ordinary expenses incurred by the Trust and the Investing Pool. In the case of an extraordinary expense and/or insufficient interest income to cover ordinary expenses, however, the Investing Pool could be forced to liquidate its CERF positions to pay such expenses. As of March 31, 2011, the market for CERFs had not developed significant liquidity and the Investing Pool represented substantially all of the long-side open interest in CERFs. In addition, it is expected that Goldman, Sachs & Co. or its accountholders may represent, directly or indirectly, a substantial portion of the short-side interest in such market. The existence of such a limited number of market participants could cause or exacerbate losses to the Trust if the Trust were required to liquidate its CERF positions.

The Sponsor is unaware of any other trends, demands, conditions or events that are reasonably likely to result in material changes to the Trust’s or the Investing Pool’s liquidity needs.

Because the Investing Pool trades CERFs, its capital is at risk due to changes in the value of the CERFs or other assets (market risk) or the inability of counterparties to perform (credit risk).

 

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Market Risk

The Investing Pool holds CERF positions and posts cash and Short-Term Securities as margin to collateralize the CERF positions. Because of this limited diversification of the Investing Pool’s assets, fluctuations in the value of the CERFs are expected to directly affect the value of the Shares. The value of the CERFs is expected to track generally the S&P GSCI-ER, although this correlation may not be exact. The S&P GSCI-ER, in turn, reflects the value of a diversified group of commodities. The market risk associated with the Investing Pool’s CERF positions is limited to the amount of cash and Short-Term Securities posted as margin. The Investing Pool’s exposure to market risk will be influenced by a number of factors, including the lack of liquidity of the CERF market and activities of other market participants.

Credit Risk

When the Investing Pool purchases or holds CERFs, it is exposed to the credit risk of a default by the CME Clearing House, which serves as the counterparty to each CERF position, and of a default by its clearing futures commission merchant. In the case of such a default, the Investing Pool could be unable to recover amounts due to it on its CERF positions and assets posted as margin. The Investing Pool is also exposed to the credit risk of the obligors of any Short-Term Securities posted as margin.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

The Trust and the Investing Pool have not used, nor do they expect to use, special purpose entities to facilitate off-balance sheet financing arrangements. The Trust and the Investing Pool have no loan guarantee arrangements or other off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind other than agreements entered into in the normal course of business, which may include indemnification provisions related to certain risks service providers undertake in performing services that are in the interest of the Trust and the Investing Pool. While the Trust’s and the Investing Pool’s exposure under such indemnification provisions cannot be estimated, these general business indemnifications are not expected to have a material impact on either the Trust’s or the Investing Pool’s financial position.

Critical Accounting Policies

The financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements relies on estimates and assumptions that impact the Trust’s and the Investing Pool’s financial position and results of operations. These estimates and assumptions affect the Trust’s and the Investing Pool’s application of accounting policies. In addition, please refer to Note 2 to the financial statements of the Trust and the Investing Pool for further discussion of the Trust’s and the Investing Pool’s accounting policies.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Quantitative Disclosure

The Trust and Investing Pool are exposed to commodity price risk through the Investing Pool’s holdings of CERFs. The following table provides information about the Investing Pool’s futures contract positions, which are sensitive to changes in commodity prices. As of March 31, 2011, the Investing Pool’s open CERF positions (long) were as follows:

 

Number of Contracts:

     37,726   

Expiration Date:

     March 2014   

Weighted-Average Price per Contract:

   $ 502.64   

Notional Amount (Fair Value):

   $ 2,028,149,760   

The notional amount is calculated using the settlement price for the CERFs on the CME on March 31, 2011, which was $537.60 per contract, and the $100 multiplier applicable under the contract terms.

 

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Qualitative Disclosure

As described herein, it is the objective of the Trust, through its investment in the Investing Pool, that the performance of the Shares will correspond generally to the performance of the Index, before payment of expenses and liabilities. The Index itself is intended to reflect the performance of a diversified group of physical commodities, including energy commodities, precious and industrial metal commodities, agricultural commodities and livestock commodities. The Trust obtains this exposure to commodity prices through the Investing Pool’s CERF positions. As a result, fluctuations in the value of the CERFs are expected to directly affect the value of the Shares.

Neither the Trust nor the Investing Pool will engage in any activities designed to obtain a profit from, or ameliorate losses caused by, changes in the value of the CERFs, any commodities underlying the Index or the S&P GSCI-ER, or any assets posted as margin. Because of the 100% margin requirement applicable to the Investing Pool’s CERF positions, the market risk associated with the Investing Pool’s CERF position is limited to the amount of cash and Short-Term Securities posted as margin. The Investing Pool’s exposure to market risk may be influenced by a number of factors, including the lack of liquidity of the CERF market and activities of other market participants.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The duly authorized officers of the Sponsor and Manager performing functions equivalent to those a principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Trust and the Investing Pool would perform if the Trust and the Investing Pool had any officers, and with the participation of the Trustee and the Investing Pool Administrator, have evaluated the effectiveness of the Trust’s and Investing Pool’s disclosure controls and procedures, and have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the Trust and the Investing Pool were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Trust and the Investing Pool file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to the duly authorized officers of the Sponsor and Manager performing functions equivalent to those a principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Trust and the Investing Pool would perform if the Trust and the Investing Pool had any officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures.

There were no changes in the Trust’s and Investing Pool’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s and Investing Pool’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

None.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to Risk Factors since last reported in Part I, Item 1A of the Registrants’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2011, except as set forth below.

Risk Factors Relating to Commodities Markets

The value of the Shares depends on the value of CERFs, which will fluctuate based on the prices of commodity futures contracts reflected in the S&P GSCI-ER. These prices may be volatile, thereby creating the potential for losses regardless of the length of time you intend to hold your Shares.

Because the price of the Shares depends on the value of the CERFs held by the Investing Pool, the value of the Shares will fluctuate based on the prices of commodity futures contracts reflected in the S&P GSCI-ER. The value of the S&P GSCI-ER has been extremely volatile at times during the past several years. Some commodity prices reflected in the S&P GSCI-ER have been at historically high levels and there is no certainty that those prices will remain at those high levels. If they do not, the level of the S&P GSCI-ER, and consequently the value of the Shares, may be adversely affected. Commodity prices are generally affected by, among other factors, the cost of producing, transporting and storing commodities, changes in consumer or commercial demand for commodities, the hedging and trading strategies of producers and consumers of commodities, speculative trading in commodities by commodity pools and other market participants, disruptions in commodity supply, weather, political and other global events, global economic factors and government intervention in or regulation of the commodity or commodity futures markets. These factors cannot be controlled by the Trust or the Investing Pool. Accordingly, the price of the Shares could change substantially and in a rapid and unpredictable manner. This exposes you to a potential loss if you need to sell your Shares when the value of the CERFs is lower than it was when you made your investment. These fluctuations can affect your investment regardless of the length of time you intend to hold your Shares.

The following events, among others, would generally result in a decline in the price of the Shares:

• A significant increase in hedging activity by producers of the underlying commodities. Should producers of the S&P GSCI™ underlying commodities increase their hedging of their future production through forward sales or other short positions, this increased selling pressure could depress the price of one or more of the underlying commodities, which could adversely affect the price of the Shares.

• A significant change in the attitude of speculators and investors toward the S&P GSCI™ underlying commodities. Should the speculative community take a negative view towards one or more of the underlying commodities, it could cause a decline in the price of the CERFs, which may reduce the price of the Shares.

• Significant reductions in the size of positions permitted to be owned by the Investing Pool or others in CERFs or in the futures contracts and/or commodities comprising the S&P GSCI™, for example as a result of more restrictive position limits or position limit exemptions or more expansive position aggregation requirements, could reduce liquidity and depress the price of the S&P GSCI™ and/or the underlying commodities, adversely affecting the value of your Shares.

Conversely, several factors could trigger a temporary increase in the price of the S&P GSCI™ underlying commodities and, consequently, the CERFs. In that case, you could buy Shares at prices affected by the temporarily high commodity prices, and you could subsequently incur losses when the causes for the temporary increase disappear.

Historical performance of the Index and the S&P GSCI-ER is no guide to their future performance or to the performance of the Shares.

Past performance of the Index and the S&P GSCI-ER is not necessarily indicative of their future performance over the life of the Shares or of the performance of the Shares. There can be no guarantee that the level of the Index or the S&P GSCI-ER will increase. You may lose some or all of your investment in the Shares.

 

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Commodity futures trading may be illiquid. In addition, suspensions or disruptions of market trading in the commodities markets and related futures markets may adversely affect the value of your Shares.

The commodity futures markets are subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to various factors, including the lack of liquidity, congestion, disorderly markets, limitations on deliverable supplies, the participation of speculators, government regulation and intervention, technical and operational or system failures, nuclear accidents, terrorism, riots and acts of God. 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 S&P GSCI-ER. These circumstances could thereby adversely affect the value of the CERFs held by the Investing Pool and, therefore, the value of your Shares. In addition, these circumstances could also limit trading in the CERFs, which could affect the calculation of the NAV and the trading price of the Shares. Accordingly, these limits may result in an NAV that differs, and may differ significantly, from the NAV that would prevail in the absence of such limits. If Baskets are created or redeemed at a time when these price limits are in effect, the creation or redemption price will reflect the price limits as well.

In calculating the S&P GSCI-ER, if the relevant trading facility does not publish a settlement price as scheduled, or publishes a settlement price that, in the reasonable judgment of the Index Sponsor, is manifestly incorrect, the Index Sponsor may determine the settlement price in its reasonable judgment. In addition, if any day on which the Index Sponsor calculates the S&P GSCI-ER is a day on which a relevant trading facility for a contract on a commodity that underlies the S&P GSCI-ER is not open, then the Index Sponsor will use the settlement price for that contract as of the last day on which that trading facility was open. In these circumstances, the value of the CERFs and the value of your Shares may be adversely affected.

During a period when commodity prices are fairly stationary, an absence of “backwardation” in the prices of the commodities included in the S&P GSCI-ER may itself cause the price of your Shares to decrease.

As the futures contracts that underlie the S&P GSCI-ER near expiration, they are replaced by contracts that have a later expiration. Thus, for example, a contract purchased in March may specify a June expiration. As that contract nears expiration, it may be replaced by selling the June contract and purchasing the contract expiring in September. This process is referred to as “rolling.” Historically, the prices of some futures contracts (generally those relating to commodities that are typically consumed immediately rather than stored) have frequently 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 June contract would take place at a price that is higher than the price at which the September contract is purchased, thereby allowing the contract holder to purchase a greater quantity of the September contract. While many of the contracts included in the S&P GSCI-ER have historically exhibited consistent periods of backwardation, backwardation will likely not exist at all times. Moreover, some of the commodities reflected in the S&P GSCI-ER 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. The forward price of a commodity may also fluctuate between backwardation and contango.

The absence of backwardation, or the existence of contango, in the commodity markets could result in losses, which could adversely affect the value of the S&P GSCI-ER and, accordingly, decrease the value of your Shares.

Regulatory developments with respect to the futures and over-the-counter derivatives markets, and in particular, with respect to speculative trading in futures contracts and over-the-counter derivatives involving commodities and commodity indices, could adversely affect the value of your Shares.

A number of bills have been introduced in the U.S. Congress in response to high energy and commodity prices. These bills generally target perceived excessive speculation in commodities and commodity indices, including by institutional “index funds,” on regulated futures markets and in the over-the-counter derivatives markets. These bills include a broad range of measures intended to limit speculation, including possible increases in the margin levels required for regulated futures contracts; imposing, or tightening existing, speculative position limits applicable to regulated futures and over-the-counter derivatives positions; transferring from U.S. futures exchanges to the CFTC the authority to establish certain speculative position limits; imposing aggregate speculative position limits across regulated futures, over-the-counter positions and certain contracts traded on non-U.S. exchanges; eliminating or narrowing existing exemptions from speculative position limits; restricting the access of certain classes of investors to futures markets and over-the-counter derivatives markets; and imposing additional reporting requirements on market participants, such as the Investing Pool.

 

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Some of the measures have not been adopted but could be in the future. Some of these measures have been adopted in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), which was signed into law on July 21, 2010. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFTC is required to establish speculative position limits on listed futures and options on physical commodities (including certain energy, metals and agricultural products) and economically equivalent over-the-counter derivatives. The Dodd-Frank Act will also require the CFTC to establish aggregate position limits for contracts based on the same underlying commodity, including certain contracts traded on non-U.S. exchanges and “economically equivalent” OTC derivatives contracts. The Dodd-Frank Act also significantly narrows the availability of the bona fide hedging exemptions applicable to contracts in such physical commodities to a narrower category of commercial market participants and physical hedging strategies. Although the CFTC may exempt persons, contracts or transactions or classes thereof from the speculative position limit requirements, regulatory action pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act may impose new limitations on the size of positions that may be taken with respect to CERFs, or on the size of positions that may be carried by the Investing Pool’s Clearing FCM. Such position limits may adversely affect the value of the Shares or liquidity in the market for them.

Pursuant to the statutory mandate described above, the CFTC proposed regulations in January 2011 (the “2011 Proposed Rules”) that would, among other proposed changes, impose new federal position limits on futures and options on a subset of energy, metal, and agricultural commodities (“referenced contracts”) and economically equivalent swaps. The referenced contracts subject to the 2011 Proposed Rules represent over 50% of the S&P GSCI-ER. In addition, under the 2011 Proposed Rules, any risk management exemptions granted by designated contract markets, such as the exemption applicable to the Investing Pool’s position in CERFs, would be subject to CFTC review and approval. As a result, if adopted, the maximum position in CERFs permitted to be held by the Investing Pool could be significantly reduced in size, which could in turn require the Investing Pool to liquidate some or all of its position in CERFs. Any such reduction could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

The 2011 Proposed Rules would also expand the circumstances requiring certain persons to aggregate listed futures and economically equivalent swap positions owned or controlled by such persons. In addition, the proposed aggregation standards would require, if adopted, certain investors in the Trust to aggregate Investor Pool positions in CERFs with other positions in CERFs or other contracts subject to aggregation with CERFs. These proposed measures, if adopted, could directly reduce liquidity in CERFs and the futures contracts and commodities underlying the S&P GSCI-ER, adversely affecting the value of the Shares.

The 2011 Proposed Rules would further narrow the existing bona fide hedge exemption for referenced futures contracts and significantly narrow the risk management exemption relief from speculative position limits currently permitted to be granted for transactions in listed futures and options offsetting risks arising from over-the-counter swap positions. These proposed measures could affect the hedging and investing activities of participants in the markets for the CERFs and the futures contracts and commodities underlying the S&P GSCI-ER, which in turn could reduce the liquidity and adversely affect the pricing of the CERFs and such futures contracts and commodities. Any of these effects could adversely affect the price of the Shares.

Additionally, the Commission may further lower the applicable position limits, apply position limits to a broader range of contracts (including commodity index contracts) and further restrict position limit exemptions. Any such measures could further reduce the size of positions that the Investing Pool and other investors could hold directly in CERFs and underlying futures and commodities, with potential reductions in liquidity and adverse effects on the pricing of CERFs. See also “Risk Factors—The value of the Shares depends on the value of CERFs, which will fluctuate based on the prices of commodity futures contracts reflected in the S&P GSCI-ER. These prices may be volatile, thereby creating the potential for losses, regardless of the length of time you intend to hold your Shares.

On December 22, 2010, the CFTC proposed rules (the “DCM Proposed Rules”) that would require that at least 85% of the total volume of any contract listed on a designated contract market (“DCM”), including CERFs listed on the CME, be executed through the central order book, rather than as a block transaction or other non-competitively executed transaction. Contracts that do not meet the 85% threshold would be required to be delisted by the DCM and transferred to a swap execution facility or liquidated.

 

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Generally, the Investing Pool’s transactions in CERFs have been executed through block or “exchange of futures for physicals” transactions that are not executed through the CME’s central order book. While subject to revision by the CFTC in response to public comment, this provision of the DCM Proposed Rules could, if adopted as proposed, significantly and adversely affect the availability, liquidity and price of CERFs, as well as futures contracts currently included or which may in the future be included in the S&P GSCI-ER, and could inhibit the Trust’s ability to redeem and offer Shares, which in turn could adversely affect the value and continued availability of the Shares.

Certain other regulatory measures under the Dodd-Frank Act could increase the costs of the Investing Pool, result in significant direct limitations on the maximum permitted size of the Investing Pool’s futures positions and therefore on the size of the Trust, or affect liquidity in the market for the CERFs or the underlying futures contracts, as well as the correlation between the price of the Shares and the net asset value of the Trust. It is impossible to predict which measures will be adopted or precisely how they will ultimately affect the value of your Shares. However, if adopted, such measures could adversely affect the value of your Shares.

From August 24, 2009 to April 26, 2010, the Trust suspended the issuance of new Baskets because it could not invest the proceeds of such issuances in additional CERF positions due to restrictions on speculative position limits imposed by the CME.

Risk Factors Relating to CERFs and the S&P GSCI-ER

The trading of various CERFs—the sole contracts traded by the Investing Pool—presents risks unrelated to the S&P GSCI-ER that could adversely affect the value of your Shares.

Substantially all of the assets of the Investing Pool will be allocated to the trading of CERFs, and the Investing Pool will not trade any other futures contracts. CERFs have a limited trading history. Until February 2011, only one CERF contract was held by the Investing Pool. That CERF, first listed in March 2006, expired in March 2011. In October 2010 the CME listed a new CERF with an expiration of March 2014. The Investing Pool began purchasing the CERF expiring in March 2014 in February 2011. The Investing Pool has completed its “roll” of the CERFs which expired in March 2011 into CERFs that expire in March 2014. There can be no assurance as to the size or liquidity of the market for CERFs. Illiquidity of the market for CERFs may adversely affect the price of CERFs, the Trust’s ability to track the Index and the Trust’s ability to create or redeem Shares. There can be no assurance that the Clearing FCM, any Authorized Participants or any other market participant will make a market or otherwise trade in CERFs at any time or continue to do so. Withdrawal from the market of any participants, or reduced participation by those persons (particularly where there is only a single participant or a small number of participants), may reduce the liquidity of CERFs and, accordingly, adversely affect the Shareholders. These risks may be heightened if the Investing Pool’s CERF positions represent a substantial portion of the long-side open interest in the CERFs, as they historically have been. The longer duration of the CERFs is also not traditional for futures contracts and may affect their liquidity and trading dynamics, which may in turn adversely affect the Shares. In particular, the rolling of each CERF contract, as it approaches expiration, could exacerbate any adverse impacts of illiquidity in the market.

Although CERFs are based on the S&P GSCI-ER, and the value of CERFs should generally track the level of the S&P GSCI-ER, it is possible that the value of CERFs could be affected by factors that do not directly affect the S&P GSCI-ER. Accordingly, the value of the CERFs and the level of the S&P GSCI-ER will not be precisely correlated at all times, although arbitrage by market participants is expected to limit any divergence. Nonetheless, the activities of market participants in trading CERFs, or in trading other instruments indexed to the S&P GSCI-ER, could affect the value of the CERFs independent of any change in the S&P GSCI-ER and adversely affect the correlation between the value of the CERFs and the level of the S&P GSCI-ER. The prices of the various CERFs will reflect supply and demand in the market for such CERFs, which in turn may reflect market expectations at any given time about prospective changes in the level of the S&P GSCI-ER and other market conditions. In this way, trading in the CERF market might cause a divergence between the CERF price and the level of the S&P GSCI-ER. Similarly, actions by the CME with respect to CERFs, such as the imposition of trading or price limits, could adversely affect this correlation. In that event, it is possible that changes in the NAV, which is calculated based on the value of the CERFs, will not adequately reflect changes in the level of the S&P GSCI-ER. In the event of market disruptions with respect to the CERFs, such as a suspension of trading by the CME as a result of market activity, systems or communications failures or other causes, the value of the CERFs and the level of the S&P GSCI-ER could diverge, which could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

 

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In addition, because CERFs are cleared through the CME Clearing House, and the Investing Pool’s CERF positions are carried on its behalf by the Clearing FCM, the Investing Pool, and therefore the Trust, will be subject to the risk of a default by the CME Clearing House or the Clearing FCM. In that event, the Investing Pool, and therefore the Trust, could be unable to recover amounts due to it on its CERF positions, including assets posted as margin, and could sustain substantial losses, even if the level of the S&P GSCI-ER increases. The magnitude of the losses may be significantly increased by the requirement to post 100% margin.

The impact of the foregoing considerations may be heightened because of the concentration of the Investing Pool’s assets in CERFs. The Investing Pool will not be able to avoid these risks by diversifying into other assets or contracts.

The S&P GSCI-ER may in the future include contracts that are not traded on regulated futures exchanges and that offer different or diminished protections to investors.

The S&P GSCI-ER is comprised exclusively of futures contracts traded on regulated futures exchanges. Such exchanges in the United States are referred to as “designated contract markets.” As described below under “The Index and the S&P GSCI-ER,” however, the S&P GSCI-ER may in the future include contracts (such as swaps and forward contracts) traded in the over-the-counter market or on trading facilities that are subject to lesser degrees of regulation or, in some cases, no substantive regulation. As a result, trading in such contracts, and the manner in which prices and volumes are reported by the relevant trading facilities, may not be subject to the same provisions of, and the protections afforded by, the CEA or other applicable statutes and related regulations that govern trading on regulated futures exchanges. In addition, many electronic trading facilities have only recently initiated trading and do not have significant trading histories. As a result, the trading of contracts on such facilities and the inclusion of such contracts in the S&P GSCI-ER may be subject to risks not presented by most exchange-traded futures contracts, including risks related to the liquidity and price histories of the relevant contracts.

Changes in the composition and valuation of the S&P GSCI-ER may adversely affect your Shares.

The composition of the S&P GSCI-ER may change over time as additional commodities satisfy the eligibility criteria or commodities currently included in the S&P GSCI-ER fail to satisfy those criteria. The weighting factors applied to each commodity included in the S&P GSCI-ER change annually, based on changes in commodity production statistics. In addition, the Index Sponsor may modify the method for determining the composition and weighting of the S&P GSCI-ER and for calculating its value in order to ensure that the S&P GSCI-ER represents a measure of the performance over time of the markets for the underlying commodities. A number of modifications to the methodology for determining the contracts to be included in the S&P GSCI-ER, and for valuing the S&P GSCI-ER, have been made in the past several years, and further modifications may be made. Such changes could adversely affect the value of your Shares. For more information about the methodology for determining the composition and weighting of the S&P GSCI-ER, see “The Index and the S&P GSCI-ER.”

A cessation of publication of the S&P GSCI-ER could materially and adversely affect the activities of the Trust.

The S&P GSCI-ER is administered, calculated and published by the Index Sponsor, which has the right to cease publication of the S&P GSCI-ER at its discretion at any time. Under the terms of its agreement with the CME, the Index Sponsor is required, if it ceases publication of the S&P GSCI-ER, to negotiate in good faith with the CME to permit the CME to continue to calculate the S&P GSCI-ER in order to permit CERFs to continue to trade. However, even if the Index Sponsor satisfies its obligations under its agreement with the CME, the Manager may determine that, upon a cessation of publication of the S&P GSCI-ER, it is no longer advisable to invest in CERFs and no other futures contract that reflects the performance of a successor or reasonably similar index presents an acceptable alternative investment, in which event the Investing Pool and the Trust may be liquidated.

 

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The “rolling” of the Investing Pool’s position in CERFs from an expiring CERF into a newly listed CERF could expose the Investing Pool to risks arising from trading activity in CERFs.

It is anticipated that prior to the expiration date of the CERFs in March 2014, the CME will list a new CERF with a later expiration date and the Investing Pool will roll its positions in CERFs from the expiring contract into the new contract. However, the CME is under no obligation to list a later expiring CERF, and any CERFs listed on later dates may have terms that differ from the CERFs now listed on the CME. The rolling of expiring CERFs into new CERFs with a later expiration may be effected in a number of different ways, depending on the circumstances prevailing as each CERF approaches expiration. However, it is possible that the prices obtained by the Investing Pool on the transactions executed to effect this roll will be adversely affected by market conditions (including the possibility of market disruptions) and by the trading activities of other market participants, which may reflect market awareness of the Investing Pool’s position in CERFs. For example, if other market participants are able to anticipate the timing of the Investing Pool’s roll, they may be able to execute transactions in advance of the Investing Pool’s rolling transactions, which will allow these market participants to benefit from the transactions executed by the Investing Pool but adversely affect the prices obtained by the Investing Pool, which will in turn adversely affect the value of the Shares. In addition, if the Investing Pool’s CERF position represents a significant part of the open long interest, as has historically been the case, other market participants may take this into account, with a potential adverse impact on the prices at which the Investing Pool is able to liquidate its expiring CERF position and establish a new position in the next expiring CERF contract. There can be no assurance that the Investing Pool will effect the rolling of positions at a time or in a manner that will allow it to avoid adverse consequences.

The liquidation of CERFs could expose the Investing Pool to the effects of temporary aberrations or distortions in the market, which could adversely affect the prices at which the Investing Pool’s CERF positions are liquidated.

If the Investing Pool liquidates positions in CERFs in order to satisfy redemption requests or to pay expenses and liabilities, it will do so by entering sell orders with the Clearing FCM for execution on the CME. The resulting sales will serve to offset a portion of the Investing Pool’s long positions in CERFs. However, in entering sell orders, the Investing Pool will be subject to the risk that temporary aberrations or distortions will occur in the market at the time these sales are effected and that the prices received by the Investing Pool on its sales could be adversely affected, thereby adversely affecting the value of the Shares. Such aberrations or distortions could occur as a result of trading activities by other market participants or actions by the CME or regulatory authorities.

The Investing Pool’s Clearing FCM or the CME Clearing House could fail, which could expose the Investing Pool to greater risk. The Investing Pool must deposit as margin an amount equal to 100% of the value of the CERFs that it enters into on the date the position is established. In addition, the Clearing FCM is required to deliver or pledge to the CME Clearing House 100% of the value of each CERF it carries on behalf of the Investing Pool. Under the rules of the CME, the CME will have the right to apply assets transferred or pledged to the CME by the Clearing FCM to satisfy certain of the Clearing FCM’s obligations in the event of a default by the Clearing FCM.

As explained elsewhere in this report, this 100% margin requirement is substantially different from the initial margin requirements applicable to most other futures contracts, which are typically 3% to 7% of the value of the relevant contract. As a result, a greater percentage of the assets of the Investing Pool will be held by the Clearing FCM and held by or pledged to the CME Clearing House than would be the case if the Investing Pool entered into other types of futures contracts. In the event of the bankruptcy of the Clearing FCM or the CME Clearing House, therefore, the Investing Pool could be exposed to a risk of loss with respect to a greater portion of its assets. If such a bankruptcy were to occur, the Investing Pool should be afforded the protections granted to customers of an FCM, and participants to transactions cleared through an exchange clearing house, under the United States Bankruptcy Code and applicable CFTC regulations. Because such provisions generally provide for a pro rata distribution to customers of customer property held by the bankrupt FCM or clearing house if the customer property held by the FCM or clearing house is insufficient to satisfy the customer claims, the Investing Pool may be disproportionately affected by such a bankruptcy as compared to other customers because the Investing Pool has provided a significantly higher level of margin than have other customers. In any case, there can be no assurance that these protections will be effective in allowing the Investing Pool to recover all, or even any, of the amounts it has deposited as initial margin.

You have no recourse to the Index Sponsor.

You have no rights against the Index Sponsor or its successors.

 

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The Shares are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the Index Sponsor. The Index Sponsor makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Shares or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Shares particularly or the ability of the S&P GSCI™, the S&P GSCI-ER or the Index, including, without limitation, all sub-indices, to track the appropriate market performance. The Index Sponsor’s only relationship to BAMII, BTC, the Trust or the Investing Pool is the licensing of certain trademarks, trade names of the Index Sponsor and the S&P GSCI™ and other intellectual property. The S&P GSCI™, the S&P GSCI-ER and the Index are determined and composed by the Index Sponsor and calculated by the Index Sponsor or its agents without regard to BAMII, BTC, the Trust or the Investing Pool. The Index Sponsor has no obligation to take the needs of BAMII, BTC, the Trust, the Investing Pool or the Shareholders into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the S&P GSCI™, the S&P GSCI-ER or the Index. The Index Sponsor is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices and the number of Shares or the timing of the issuance of sale of Shares or in the determination or calculation of the Basket Amount. The Index Sponsor has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Shares.

The Index Sponsor does not guarantee the accuracy or the completeness of the S&P GSCI™, the S&P GSCI-ER or the Index or any data included therein, and the Index Sponsor disclaims any and all liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein. The Index Sponsor makes no warranty, express or implied, as to the results to be obtained by the Trust, the Investing Pool, the Shareholders or any other person or entity from use of the S&P GSCI™, the S&P GSCI-ER or the Index or any data included therein. The Index Sponsor makes no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the S&P GSCI™, the S&P GSCI-ER or the Index or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, the Index Sponsor expressly disclaims any and all liability for any special, punitive, indirect, or consequential damages (including lost profits), even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

Risk Factors Relating to the Trust and the Investing Pool

The returns on the Shares will not precisely correlate with the performance of the Index.

The value of and returns on the Shares are expected to reflect the value of and returns on the Trust’s underlying investments, through the Investing Pool, in CERFs and the cash or Short-Term Securities used to collateralize the CERF positions. The returns on the Shares will not precisely correlate with the performance of the Index due to differences between the return on the assets used by the Investing Pool to collateralize its CERF positions and the U.S. Treasury rate used to calculate the return component of the Index, timing differences, differences between the portion of the Investing Pool’s assets invested in CERFs versus the portion of the return on the Index contributed by the S&P GSCI-ER, the payment of expenses and liabilities by the Investing Pool and the transaction fees to be paid in connection with the creation and redemption of Baskets.

Because the Trust and the Investing Pool are passive investment vehicles, the value of the Shares may be adversely affected by losses that, if these vehicles had been actively managed, might have been possible to avoid.

The Trustee passively invests substantially all of the Trust’s assets in Investing Pool Interests, and the Advisor will manage the Investing Pool’s assets in a manner that seeks to obtain returns that correspond generally to the performance of the Index, before the payment of expenses and liabilities of the Trust and the Investing Pool. This means that the net asset value of the Investing Pool and, consequently, the NAV are intended to generally track the Index when it is flat or declining, as well as when it is rising, and, therefore, it is highly likely that the value of the Shares will be adversely affected by a decline in commodity futures prices reflected in the Index. The Advisor will not engage in any activity designed to obtain a profit from, or to ameliorate losses caused by, changes in the value of the CERFs, any of the commodities represented by the S&P GSCI™ or the other assets held by the Investing Pool, including making use of any of the hedging techniques available to professional commodity futures traders to attempt to reduce the risks of losses resulting from commodity price decreases.

 

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Fees and expenses payable by the Investing Pool are charged regardless of profitability and may result in a depletion of its assets.

The Investing Pool is subject to the fees and expenses described in this report, which are payable irrespective of profitability. These fees and expenses include an allocation to the Manager that accrues daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.75% of the net asset value of the Investing Pool and is payable by the Investing Pool monthly in arrears.

The price you receive upon the sale of your Shares may be less than their NAV.

Shares may trade at, above or below their NAV. The NAV will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Investing Pool’s assets. The trading price of Shares will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the NAV, intraday changes in the value of the CERFs and market supply and demand. The amount of the discount or premium in the trading price of the Shares relative to their NAV may be influenced by non-concurrent trading hours between NYSE Arca, the exchange on which the Shares trade, the CME, on which CERFs trade, and the principal commodities markets on which the futures contracts in the S&P GSCI-ER trade. While the Shares are expected to trade on NYSE Arca until 8:00 p.m. (New York time), liquidity in the markets for the CERFs trading on the CME and for the underlying commodities in the S&P GSCI-ER will be reduced whenever the principal markets for those contracts are closed (normally 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Chicago time), for the CERFs). As a result, trading spreads, and the resulting premium or discount on Shares, may widen during these “gaps” in market trading hours.

The Trust is not obligated to pay periodic distributions or dividends to Shareholders.

Interest or other income received with respect to the Trust’s assets may be used to acquire additional CERFs or, in the discretion of the Sponsor, distributed to the Shareholders. The Trust will not be obligated, however, to make any distributions to Shareholders at any time prior to the dissolution of the Trust.

The Trust could be liquidated at a time when the disposition of its interests will result in losses to investors in Shares.

If, at any time, any of the events described under “Description of the Shares, the Trust Agreement and the Investing Pool Agreement—Amendment and Dissolution” occurs, the Trustee or, if applicable, the Shareholders may prompt the Trust’s dissolution. Upon dissolution of the Trust, the Trust will in most circumstances redeem its holdings in Investing Pool Interests, and the Investing Pool will sell the CERFs and securities held by it in the amount necessary to cover all expenses of liquidation and to pay any outstanding liabilities of the Trust. The remaining assets will be distributed among investors surrendering Shares. Any property remaining in the possession of the Trustee after ninety days may be sold by the Trustee, and the proceeds of the sale will be held by the Trustee until claimed by any remaining Shareholders. Sales of CERFs in connection with the liquidation of the Trust at a time of low prices will likely result in losses, or adversely affect your gains, on your investment in Shares.

The Manager has broad discretion to liquidate the Investing Pool at any time.

The Investing Pool Agreement provides the Manager with broad discretion to liquidate the Investing Pool at any time the Manager determines that liquidation of the Investing Pool is advisable. Liquidation of the Investing Pool will require the Trustee to dissolve the Trust and redeem your Shares. It cannot be predicted when or under what circumstances, if any, the Manager would use this discretion to liquidate the Investing Pool. Any such liquidation may occur at a time when you are suffering a loss on your investment in the Shares and may upset the overall maturity and timing of your investment portfolio.

Shareholders with large holdings may choose to dissolve the Trust and thereby adversely affect your investment in the Shares.

Owners of 75% or more of the Shares have the power to dissolve the Trust. This power may be exercised by a relatively small number of holders. If it is so exercised, investors who wished to continue to invest in CERFs, or the performance of the S&P GSCI-ER, through the vehicle of the Trust will have to find another vehicle, and may not be able to find another vehicle that offers the same features as the Trust. Moreover, such a dissolution may occur at a time when you are suffering a loss on your investment in the Shares and may upset the overall maturity and timing of your investment portfolio.

 

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The Shares may not provide anticipated benefits of diversification from other asset classes.

Historically, the performance of physical commodity futures prices generally has not been correlated to the performance of financial asset classes, such as stocks and bonds. Non-correlation means that there is no statistically significant relationship, positive or negative, between the past performance of futures contracts on physical commodities, on the one hand, and stocks or bonds, on the other hand. Because of this lack of correlation, Shares cannot be expected to be automatically profitable during unfavorable periods for the stock or bond market, or vice-versa. The commodity futures markets are fundamentally different from the securities markets in that for every gain in commodity futures trading, there is an equal and offsetting loss. If the performance of the Shares reflects positive or negative correlation to one or more financial asset classes, however, investing in Shares for purposes of diversification of the investment risk from such other financial asset classes may be unsuccessful.

The liquidity of the Shares may be affected by the withdrawal from participation of Authorized Participants or by the suspension of issuance, transfers or redemptions of Shares by the Trustee.

If one or more Authorized Participants withdraw from participation, it may become more difficult to create or redeem Baskets, which may reduce the liquidity of the Shares. If it becomes more difficult to create or redeem Baskets, the correlation between the price of the Shares and the NAV may be affected, which may affect the trading market for the Shares. Having fewer participants in the market for the Shares could also adversely affect the ability to arbitrage any price difference between the CERFs and the Shares, which may affect the trading market and liquidity of the Shares.

In addition, the Trustee has the power to suspend the delivery of Shares, registration of transfers of Shares and surrenders of Shares for the purpose of withdrawing Trust property generally, or to refuse a particular deposit, transfer or withdrawal at any time, if the Trustee or the Sponsor determines that it is advisable to do so for any reason. From August 24, 2009 to April 26, 2010, the Trust suspended the issuance of new Shares because the Trust could not invest the proceeds of new issuances in additional CERF positions due to restrictions on speculative position limits imposed by the CME. The liquidity of the Shares and the correlation between the value of the Shares and the level of the Index may be adversely affected in the event of any such suspension of issuance, transfer or redemption.

The lack of an active trading market for the Shares may result in losses on your investment at the time of disposition of your Shares.

Although the Shares are listed on NYSE Arca, there can be no guarantee that an active trading market for the Shares will develop or 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, will likely be lower than that you would receive if an active market did exist.

You may be adversely affected by redemption orders that are subject to postponement, suspension or rejection under certain circumstances.

The Trustee may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the redemption settlement date for such periods as it or the Sponsor deems to be necessary for any reason. In addition, the Trustee has the absolute right to reject any redemption order, including, without limitation, (1) if the order is not in proper form as described in the Authorized Participant Agreement, (2) during any period in which circumstances make transactions or delivery of CERFs impossible or impractical, or (3) if the acceptance of the redemption order would, in the opinion of counsel to the Trustee or the Sponsor, result in a violation of law. 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 redemption proceeds if the NAV declines during the period of the delay. Under the Authorized Participant Agreement, the Trustee disclaims any liability that may result from any such suspension, postponement or rejection.

Competition from other commodities-related investments could limit the market for, and reduce the liquidity of, the Shares.

Demand for the Shares will be affected by the attractiveness of an investment in the Shares relative to other investment vehicles, including other commodity pools, hedge funds, traditional debt and equity securities issued by companies in the commodities industry, other securities backed by or linked to commodities, and direct investments in commodities or commodity futures contracts. Market, financial and other conditions or factors may make it more attractive to invest in other investment vehicles or to invest in such commodities directly, which could limit the market for, and reduce the liquidity of, the Shares.

 

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The price of the Shares could decrease if unanticipated operational or trading problems arise.

If the processes of creation and redemption of Shares encounter any unanticipated difficulties, potential market participants who would otherwise be willing to purchase or redeem Baskets to take advantage of any arbitrage opportunity arising from discrepancies between the price of the Shares and the price of the underlying CERFs may choose not to do so. If this is the case, the price of the Shares may vary from the price of the CERFs and may trade at a discount to their NAV. In addition, in some circumstances, such as the failure of the registration statement covering the Shares to be effective, the Trust may be unable to create or redeem Shares, which may have similar consequences.

Exchange position limits and other rules may restrict the creation of Baskets and the operation of the Investing Pool.

The CME imposes speculative position limits on market participants trading in CERFs, including the Investing Pool, that typically prohibit any person from holding a position of more than 10,000 contracts. The Investing Pool has obtained a risk management exemption from these position limits that should permit the Investing Pool to hold up to 70,000 contracts until December 30, 2011. If the Investing Pool is unable to obtain further exemptions, or if the exemption that the Investing Pool obtained expires, is revoked or modified or cannot be renewed for any reason, then the Trust’s ability to issue new Baskets or reinvest income in additional CERFs may be limited to the extent these activities would cause the Investing Pool to exceed the then-applicable position limit. The Investing Pool may also be required to liquidate any existing contracts in excess of the then-applicable position limits or take other actions with potentially adverse effects on the liquidity or value of the Shares.

Additionally, future legislative or regulatory action (including regulatory action pursuant to the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act) may impose new limitations on the size of positions that the Investing Pool may take in CERFs or the CME may reduce its position limits applicable to CERFs and/or impose limitations on the size of positions that may be carried by the Investing Pool’s Clearing FCM or other market participants, adversely affecting the liquidity and price of CERFs and the underlying futures. Such events could force the Investing Pool to sell CERFs, or encourage market participants to sell or redeem their Shares. The CFTC has proposed that any risk management exemptions granted by designated contract markets, such as the exemption applicable to the Investing Pool’s position in CERFs, would be subject to CFTC review and approval. As a result, if adopted, the maximum position in CERFs permitted to be held by the Investing Pool could be significantly reduced in size, which could in turn require the Investing Pool to liquidate some or all of its positions in CERFs. Any such reduction could affect the liquidity of CERFs and adversely impact the price of the Shares as well as the correlation between the price of the Shares and the net asset value of the Trust. See also “Risk Factors—Regulatory developments with respect to the futures and over-the-counter derivatives markets, and in particular, with respect to speculative trading in futures contracts and over-the-counter derivatives involving commodities and commodity indices, could adversely affect the value of your Shares.

Exchanges may also take steps, such as requiring liquidation of open positions, in the case of disorderly markets, market congestion and other market disruptions. These actions could require the Investing Pool to liquidate all or part of its CERF positions or require holders of positions in the futures contracts underlying the S&P GSCI-ER to liquidate their positions. This could affect the level of the Index and the NAV. See also “Risk Factors—Regulatory developments with respect to the futures and over-the-counter derivatives markets, and in particular, with respect to speculative trading in futures contracts and over-the-counter derivatives involving commodities and commodity indices, could adversely affect the value of your Shares.

As a Shareholder, you will not have the rights normally associated with ownership of common shares.

Shareholders are not entitled to the same rights as owners of shares issued by a corporation. By acquiring Shares, you are not acquiring the right to elect directors, to receive dividends, to vote on certain matters regarding the Trust or to take other actions normally associated with the ownership of common shares. You will have only the limited rights described under “Description of the Shares, the Trust Agreement and the Investing Pool Agreement.”

 

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As a Shareholder, you will not have the protections normally associated with the ownership of shares in an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act.

Neither the Trust nor the Investing Pool is registered as an investment company for purposes of United States federal securities laws, and neither is subject to regulation by the SEC as an investment company. Consequently, Shareholders will not have the regulatory protections provided to investors in investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act. For example, the provisions of the Investment Company Act that limit transactions with affiliates, prohibit the suspension of redemptions (except under limited circumstances) and limit sales loads will not apply to the Trust or the Investing Pool. BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., as the Sponsor and the Manager, is registered with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator, and BlackRock Fund Advisors, as the Advisor, is registered with the CFTC as a commodity trading advisor. The CFTC therefore has jurisdiction over these entities and regulatory authority over certain activities of the Trust and the Investing Pool. The nature and degree of this regulation differs from the regulatory scheme imposed under the Investment Company Act.

Competing claims over ownership of relevant intellectual property rights could adversely affect the Trust, the Investing Pool or an investment in the Shares.

While the Sponsor believes that it has all the intellectual property rights needed to operate the Trust and the Investing Pool in the manner described in this report, third parties may allege or assert ownership of intellectual property rights that may be related to the design, structure and operation of the Trust, the Investing Pool or the Index. 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, the issuance of any restraining orders or injunctions, or the ultimate disposition of such claims in a court of law, may adversely affect the Trust, the Investing Pool and the value of the Shares. For example, such actions could result in expenses or damages payable by the Trust or the Investing Pool or the suspension of activities or dissolution of the Trust or the Investing Pool.

The value of the Shares will be adversely affected if the Trust is required to indemnify the Sponsor or if the Investing Pool is required to indemnify the Manager.

Under the Trust Agreement, the Sponsor has the right to be indemnified by the Trust for any liability or expense it incurs without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part. That means the Sponsor may require the assets of the Trust to be sold in order to cover losses or liability suffered by it, which would reduce the net asset value of the Trust and the value of the Shares. Likewise, under the Investing Pool Agreement, the Manager and agents of the Investing Pool have the right to be indemnified by the Investing Pool for any liability or expense they incur without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on their part. That means the Manager may require the assets of the Investing Pool to be sold in order to cover losses or liabilities suffered by it, which would reduce the net asset value of the Investing Pool and thereby affect the net asset value of the Trust and the value of the Shares.

Regulatory changes or actions may affect the Shares.

The futures markets are subject to comprehensive regulation. In addition, the CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, implementing retroactively speculative position limits or higher margin requirements, establishing daily price limits and suspending trading. The regulation of futures transactions in the United States is subject to modification by government, exchange and judicial action. The effect of any future regulatory change on the Trust or the Investing Pool is impossible to predict, but could be substantial and adverse. See also “Risk Factors—Regulatory developments with respect to the futures and over-the-counter derivatives markets, and in particular, with respect to speculative trading in futures contracts and over-the-counter derivatives involving commodities and commodity indices, could adversely affect the value of your Shares” and “Risk Factors—Exchange position limits and other rules may restrict the creation of Baskets and the operation of the Investing Pool.

 

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NYSE Arca may halt trading in the Shares, which would adversely impact your ability to sell your Shares.

The Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca under the symbol “GSG.” 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 NYSE Arca, make trading in the Shares inadvisable, or in the event certain information about the Index, the value of the Shares and the NAV is not made available as required by such rules and procedures. In addition, trading generally on NYSE Arca 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 Trust will be dissolved if the Shares are delisted from NYSE Arca and are not approved for listing on another national securities exchange within five business days of their delisting.

Risk Factors Relating to Conflicts of Interest

The relationships between the Sponsor and the Trustee and the Manager and the Advisor and the proprietary and managed trading activities of the Sponsor and its affiliates could conflict with your interests as a Shareholder.

The Sponsor is an affiliate of the Trustee and therefore may have a conflict of interest with respect to its oversight of the Trustee. In particular, the Sponsor, which has authority to remove the Trustee in its discretion, has an incentive not to exercise this authority, even when it is in the best interests of the Shareholders to do so, because of the affiliation between the entities. The Trustee is authorized to appoint an unaffiliated Trust Administrator or agent to carry out all or some of its duties under the Trust Agreement, but it can terminate or replace the Trust Administrator or agent at any time, and it is not required to delegate any of its duties to an unaffiliated third party.

The Manager is an affiliate of the Advisor and therefore may have a similar conflict of interest with respect to its oversight of the Advisor. For example, although the Manager has the authority to terminate the Investing Pool’s advisory agreement with the Advisor, it has an incentive not to exercise this authority, even when it is in the best interests of the Shareholders to do so, because of the affiliation between the entities.

As described elsewhere in this report, in return for paying certain amounts that would otherwise be considered ordinary operating expenses of the Trust and the Investing Pool, the Manager receives an allocation from the Investing Pool that accrues daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.75% of the net asset value of the Investing Pool and is payable monthly in arrears. The allocation received by the Manager from the Investing Pool may be higher than the amount the Investing Pool would negotiate with an unaffiliated third party manager on an arms-length basis.

In addition, the Sponsor and its affiliates may engage in trading activities relating to the CERFs, the components of the Index or the S&P GSCI-ER or other derivative instruments related to those indices that are not for the account of, or on behalf of, the Trust, the Investing Pool or the Shareholders and that may compete with trading activity in the Shares. These activities may present a conflict between the Shareholders’ interest in the Shares and the interest of the Sponsor and its affiliates in their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including derivatives transactions, for their customers’ accounts and in accounts under their management. These trading activities, if they influence the value of the CERFs or the Shares, could be adverse to the interests of the Shareholders. Moreover, the Sponsor and its affiliates have published and in the future expect to publish research reports with respect to commodities markets. This research may express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding Shares. The research should not be viewed as a recommendation or endorsement of the Shares in any way, and investors must make their own independent investigation of the merits of this investment. Any of these activities by the Sponsor and its affiliates may affect the level of the S&P GSCI-ER or its components and, therefore, the value of the CERFs and the price of the Shares.

Proprietary trading and other activities by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and its affiliates could conflict with your interests as a Shareholder.

Activities conducted by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and its affiliates may conflict with your interests as a Shareholder. For example, the Advisor may execute a substantial amount, and potentially all, of the purchases and sales of CERFs through Goldman, Sachs & Co., as the Investing Pool’s Clearing FCM. In addition, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and its affiliates actively trade futures contracts and options on futures contracts on the commodities that underlie the S&P GSCI™, over-the-counter contracts on these commodities, the underlying commodities included in the S&P GSCI™ and other instruments and derivative products based on the S&P GSCI™ and the S&P GSCI-ER. Any of these activities of Goldman, Sachs & Co. or its affiliates could adversely affect the level of the S&P GSCI-ER or CERFs, directly or indirectly, by affecting the price of the underlying commodities and, therefore, the value of the S&P GSCI-ER, CERFs and the price of the Shares.

 

 

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Goldman, Sachs & Co. and its affiliates may also issue or underwrite other securities or financial or derivative instruments with returns indexed to the S&P GSCI™, the S&P GSCI-ER or the Index, which would compete with the Shares. By introducing competing products into the marketplace, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and its affiliates could adversely affect the price of the Shares. To the extent that Goldman, Sachs & Co. or its affiliates serve as issuer, agent or underwriter of those securities or other similar instruments, their interests with respect to those products may be adverse to your interests as a Shareholder.

Risk Factors Relating to Taxes

Please refer to “United States Federal Income Tax Consequences” for information on the potential U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Shares.

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) could take the position that CERFs must be taxed under special “mark-to-market” rules that would require gain to be taken into account on an annual basis.

Futures contracts that require a person such as the Investing Pool to make an initial deposit of 100% margin and that do not require or permit the payment by that person of additional variation margin are a novel form of futures contract. Consequently, no statutory, judicial or administrative authority addresses the characterization of a CERF owned by the Investing Pool or the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the CERFs by the Investing Pool. The Investing Pool has received an opinion that, while there is no authority on point, the CERFs held by the Investing Pool will not be treated as regulated futures contracts within the meaning of section 1256 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) because the CERFs are not contracts with respect to which the amount required to be deposited and the amount which may be withdrawn depends on a system of marking to market. You should be aware that an opinion is not binding on the IRS or a court. Accordingly, it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service or a court would reach the conclusion that the CERFs should be treated as regulated futures contracts within the meaning of section 1256 of the Code. In that case, the timing, amount, character, holding period or other material aspects of your income, gain, loss or expense from an investment in the Shares could be significantly affected. In particular, you would be taxable on any gain on the CERFs on an annual mark-to-market basis, regardless of the fact that the CERFs have expirations of several years at the time of listing.

Your tax liability could exceed cash distributions on your Shares.

You will be required to pay U.S. federal income taxes on your allocable share of the Trust’s and the Investing Pool’s income, without regard to the receipt of cash distributions on the Shares. There is no obligation to make distributions on the Shares. Accordingly, it is anticipated that you will not receive cash distributions sufficient to cover your allocable share of such taxable income or even the tax liability resulting from that income.

The IRS could adjust or reallocate items of income, gain, deduction, loss and credit with respect to the Shares if the IRS does not accept the assumptions or conventions utilized by the Trust or the Investing Pool.

The U.S. tax rules that apply to partnerships are complex and their application is not always clear. Moreover, the rules generally were not written for, and in some respects are difficult to apply to, publicly traded interests in partnerships. The Trust and the Investing Pool will apply certain assumptions and conventions intended to comply with the intent of the rules and to report income, gain, deduction, loss and credit to investors in a manner that reflects the investors’ economic gains and losses, but these assumptions and conventions may not comply with all aspects of the applicable Treasury regulations. It is possible therefore that the IRS will successfully assert that these assumptions or conventions do not satisfy the technical requirements of the Code or the Treasury regulations and will require that items of income, gain, deduction, loss and credit be adjusted or reallocated in a manner that could be adverse to you.

 

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You may recognize timing mismatches in connection with the “rolling” of the Investing Pool’s position in CERFs from an expiring CERF into a newly listed CERF.

Timing mismatches may arise from an investment in Shares because of the fact that the Investing Pool generally invests in CERFs that have the same expiration date. If the Investing Pool effects a roll of its position in CERFs from an expiring CERF into a newly listed CERF through a sale or disposition of an expiring CERF or by having an expiring CERF terminate while held by the Investing Pool, the Investing Pool may recognize in the taxable year of the roll substantial amounts of gains or losses depending on whether the CERFs have appreciated or depreciated in value since the date that the Investing Pool acquired such CERFs. Any gain or loss recognized with respect to a CERF will be treated as capital gain or loss and will be treated as long-term gain or loss if at the time of the disposition or expiration the Investing Pool has held the CERFs for more than six months. Because you will be treated as a beneficial owner of an interest in a partnership, you will be required to include in income the Investing Pool’s gains or losses that are allocated to you pursuant to the Investing Pool Agreement for the Trust’s and the Investing Pool’s taxable year ending with or within your taxable year. Capital losses are deductible only to the extent of any capital gains, plus in the case of non-corporate taxpayers only, ordinary income of up to $3,000 per year. Capital losses of non-corporate taxpayers can be carried forward until they are used. Taxpayers other than individuals can carry capital losses back three years and forward five years. Consequently, if you are a corporate taxpayer that recognizes significant losses in connection with a roll, a timing mismatch may arise if you recognize gains from CERFs in later years, as you may carry capital losses forward only a specified number of years.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

a) None.

b) As described in the Trust’s first registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-126810), which was declared effective on July 19, 2006, proceeds received by the Trust from the issuance and sale of Shares to Authorized Participants generally consist of long positions in CERFs and cash (or Short-Term Securities in lieu of cash). Such proceeds are delivered to the Investing Pool in return for interests in the Investing Pool. These assets are held on behalf of the Investing Pool in an account with its clearing futures commission merchant until withdrawn in connection with redemptions of Shares or liquidated to pay expenses and liabilities of the Trust and the Investing Pool not assumed by the Sponsor or the Manager.

c) 900,000 Shares (18 Baskets) were redeemed during the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

 

Period

   Total Number of
Shares  Redeemed
     Average Price
Per Share
 

1/01/11 to 1/31/11

     50,000       $ 33.53   

2/01/11 to 2/28/11

     300,000         34.83   

3/01/11 to 3/31/11

     550,000         37.13   
           

Total

     900,000         36.16   
           

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

3.1    Restated Certificate of Trust of iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1(i) to the registrants’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 2007
3.2    Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation of iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2(i) to the registrants’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 2007
4.1    Amended and Restated Trust Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrants’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 12, 2007
4.2    Limited Liability Company Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the registrants’ Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Nos. 333-126810, 333-126810-01) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 2006
4.3    Form of Authorized Participant Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the registrants’ Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Nos. 333-142259, 333-142259-01) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 27, 2007
4.4    Amendment, dated December 27, 2007, to the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrants’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 27, 2007
4.5    Amendment, dated December 27, 2007, to the Limited Liability Company Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the registrants’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 27, 2007
10.1    Investment Advisory Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrants’ Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Nos. 333-126810, 333-126810-01) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 2006
10.2    Form of Sublicense Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrants’ Registration Statement Form S-1 (Nos. 333-126810, 333-126810-01) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 2006
10.3    Form of Sublicense Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the registrants’ Registration Statement Form S-1 (Nos. 333-126810, 333-126810-01) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 2006
10.4    Form of Futures Commission Merchant Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the registrants’ Registration Statement Form S-1 (Nos. 333-126810, 333-126810-01) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 2006
31.1    Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust
31.2    Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust
31.3    Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC
31.4    Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC
32.1    Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2    Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS*    XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

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101.PRE*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

* Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant and Co-Registrant have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned in the capacities* indicated, thereunto duly authorized.

BlackRock Asset Management International Inc.

Sponsor of the iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Trust (Registrant)

Manager of the iShares® S&P GSCI™ Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC (Co-Registrant)

 

/s/    Michael A. Latham

Michael A. Latham
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal executive officer)
Date: May 9, 2011

 

/s/    Geoffrey D. Flynn

Geoffrey D. Flynn
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal financial and accounting officer)
Date: May 9, 2011

 

* The Registrant is a trust and the Co-Registrant is a limited liability company, and the persons are signing in their capacities as officers of BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., the Sponsor of the Registrant and Manager of the Co-Registrant.

 

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