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CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS  
CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS

NOTE 4 — CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS

Marketing Agent Agreement

UNG is party to a marketing agent agreement, dated as of April 17, 2007, as amended from time to time, with the Marketing Agent and USCF, whereby the Marketing Agent provides certain marketing services for UNG as outlined in the agreement. The fee of the Marketing Agent through September 30, 2022, which was borne by USCF, was equal to 0.06% on UNG’s assets up to $3 billion and 0.04% on UNG’s assets in excess of $3 billion. The agreement with the Marketing Agent was amended and, commencing October 1, 2022, the fee of the Marketing Agent, which is calculated daily and payable monthly by USCF, is equal to 0.025% of UNG’s total net assets. In no event may the aggregate compensation paid to the Marketing Agent and any affiliate of USCF for distribution-related services exceed 10 percent of the gross proceeds of UNG’s offering.

The above fee does not include website construction and development, which are also borne by USCF.

Custody, Transfer Agency and Fund Administration and Accounting Services Agreements

USCF engaged The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York corporation authorized to conduct a banking business (“BNY Mellon”), to provide UNG and each of the Related Public Funds with certain custodial, administrative and accounting, and transfer agency services, pursuant to the following agreements with BNY Mellon dated as of March 20, 2020 (together, the “BNY Mellon Agreements”), which were effective as of April 1, 2020: (i) a Custody Agreement; (ii) a Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement; and (iii) a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement. USCF pays the fees of BNY Mellon for its services under the BNY Mellon Agreements and such fees are determined by the parties from time to time.

Brokerage and Futures Commission Merchant Agreements

UNG entered into a brokerage agreement with RBC Capital Markets LLC (“RBC”) to serve as UNG’s FCM effective October 10, 2013. UNG has engaged each of Marex North America, LLC, formerly RCG Division of Marex Spectron (“MNA”), Marex Capital Markets Inc., formerly E D & F Man Capital Markets Inc. (“MCM”), Macquarie Futures USA LLC (“MFUSA”), and ADM Investor Services Inc. (“ADMIS”) to serve as additional FCMs to UNG effective on May 28, 2020, June 5, 2020, December 3, 2020 and August 8, 2023, respectively. The agreements with UNG’s FCMs require the FCMs to provide services to UNG in connection with the purchase and sale of Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments that may be purchased and sold by or through the applicable FCM for UNG’s account. In accordance with the FCM agreements, UNG pays each FCM commissions of approximately $7 to $8 per round-turn trade, including applicable exchange, clearing and NFA fees for Futures Contracts and options on Futures Contracts. Such fees include those incurred when purchasing Futures Contracts and options on Futures Contracts when UNG issues shares as a result of a Creation Basket, as well as fees incurred when selling Futures Contracts and options on Futures Contracts when UNG redeems shares as a result of a Redemption Basket. Such fees are also incurred when Futures Contracts and options on Futures Contracts are purchased or redeemed for the purpose of rebalancing the portfolio. UNG also incurs commissions to brokers for the purchase and sale of Futures Contracts, Other Natural Gas-Related Investments or short-term obligations of the United States of two years or less (“Treasuries”).

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Three months ended

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Three months ended

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March 31, 2024

    

March 31, 2023

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Total commissions accrued to brokers

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$

809,389

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$

808,749

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Total commissions as annualized percentage of average total net assets

 

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0.40

%

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0.37

%

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The increase in total commissions accrued to brokers for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, was due primarily to a higher number of natural gas futures contracts being held and traded.

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For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the monthly average volume of open futures contract notional value was $724,968,196 and $848,637,568, respectively.

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Swap Dealer Agreements

UNG entered into ISDA 2002 Master Agreements with each of Macquarie Bank Limited the (“Macquarie ISDA”) and Société Générale (“Société Générale ISDA”) on November 30, 2021 and June 13, 2022, respectively, pursuant to which each of Macquarie Bank Limited and Société Générale has agreed to serve as an over-the-counter (“OTC”) swap counterparty for UNG. The Macquarie ISDA and Societe Generale ISDA each provide UNG with the ability to invest in OTC swaps in furtherance of UNG’s investment objective by providing it with investment flexibility in light of market conditions, liquidity, regulatory requirements, and risk diversification. UNG may enter into OTC swap transactions under each of the Macquarie ISDA and Société Générale ISDA in light of the foregoing. Any OTC swap transactions of UNG that are outstanding under the Macquarie ISDA and the Société Générale ISDA, along with UNG’s other holdings, are posted on UNG’s webpage, www.uscfinvestments.com. In accordance with each of the swap agreements described above, UNG pays each swap dealer a flat fee in a range between 0.20% and 0.30% on the daily notional value of each OTC swap transaction.

NYMEX Licensing Agreement

UNG and the NYMEX entered into a licensing agreement on April 10, 2006, as amended on October 20, 2011, whereby UNG was granted a non-exclusive license to use certain of the NYMEX’s settlement prices and service marks. Under the licensing agreement, UNG and the Related Public Funds, other than BNO, USCI, and CPER, pay the NYMEX an asset-based fee for the license, the terms of which are described in Note 3. UNG expressly disclaims any association with the NYMEX or endorsement of UNG by the NYMEX and acknowledges that “NYMEX” and “New York Mercantile Exchange” are registered trademarks of the NYMEX.