As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 20, 2020
 
Registration No. 333-248948
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 

 
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to FORM S-1
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 

 
Teucrium Commodity Trust
(Registrant)
 
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
6799
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)
 
[●]
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
c/o Teucrium Trading, LLC
Three Main Street
Suite 215
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 540-0019
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
 

Sal Gilbertie
Chief Executive Officer
Teucrium Trading, LLC
Three Main Street
Suite 215
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 540-0019
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
 

Copy to:
W. Thomas Conner, Esq.
VedderPrice P.C.
1401 I Street NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
 
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
 
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.
 
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
 
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
 
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
 
 i
 
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated filer ☒
 
Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting company ☒
Emerging growth company ☐
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
 
 
 

                This Pre-Effective Amendment incorporates by reference Part I included in the initial Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-248948) dated September 21, 2020. The Amendment is not intended to amend or delete any part of the Registration Statement except as specifically noted herein.
 

 
The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 
 
ii
 

 Part I - Information Required in Prospectus.
 
(As noted above, Part I is incorporated by reference from Registrant's intitial Registration Statement.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
 
 
PART II
 
Information Not Required in the Prospectus
 
Item 13.
Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
 
Set forth below is an estimate (except as indicated) of the amount of fees and expenses (other than underwriting commissions and discounts) payable by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the units pursuant to the prospectus contained in this registration statement.
 
[To be added by pre-effective amendment]
 
 
 
Amount
 
SEC registration fee (actual)
 
 
$[●]
 
NYSE Arca Listing Fee (actual)
 
 
$[●]
 
FINRA filing fees (actual)
 
 
$[●]
 
Blue Sky expenses
 
 
$[●]
 
Auditor’s fees and expenses
 
 
$[●]
 
Legal fees and expenses
 
 
$[●]
 
Printing expenses
 
 
$[●]
 
Miscellaneous expenses
 
 
$[●]
 
Total
 
 
$[●]
 
 
Item 14.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
 
The Trust’s Sixth Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) provides that the Sponsor shall be indemnified by the Trust (or, by a series of the Trust separately to the extent the matter in question relates to a single series or disproportionately affects a series in relation to other series) against any losses, judgments, liabilities, expenses and amounts paid in settlement of any claims sustained by it in connection with its activities for the Trust, provided that (i) the Sponsor was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Trust and has determined, in good faith, that such course of conduct was in the best interests of the Trust and such liability or loss was not the result of gross negligence, willful misconduct, or a breach of the Trust Agreement on the part of the Sponsor and (ii) any such indemnification will only be recoverable from the applicable trust estate or trust estates. All rights to indemnification permitted by the Trust Agreement and payment of associated expenses shall not be affected by the dissolution or other cessation to exist of the Sponsor, or the withdrawal, adjudication of bankruptcy or insolvency of the Sponsor, or the filing of a voluntary or involuntary petition in bankruptcy under Title 11 of the Bankruptcy Code by or against the Sponsor.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sponsor shall not be indemnified for any losses, liabilities or expenses arising from or out of an alleged violation of U.S. federal or state securities laws unless (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee and the court approves the indemnification of such expenses (including, without limitation, litigation costs), (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular indemnitee and the court approves the indemnification of such expenses (including, without limitation, litigation costs) or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and related costs should be made.
 
The Trust and its series shall not incur the cost of that portion of any insurance which insures any party against any liability, the indemnification of which is prohibited by the Trust Agreement.
 
Expenses incurred in defending a threatened or pending civil, administrative or criminal action, suit or proceeding against the Sponsor shall be paid by the Trust or the applicable series of the Trust in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, if (i) the legal action relates to the performance of duties or services by the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust or a series of the Trust; (ii) the legal action is initiated by a party other than the Trust; and (iii) the Sponsor undertakes to repay the advanced funds with interest to the Trust or the applicable series of the Trust in cases in which it is not entitled to indemnification under the Trust Agreement.
 
 
76
 
 
For purposes of the indemnification provisions of the Trust Agreement, the term “Sponsor” includes, in addition to the Sponsor, any other covered person performing services on behalf of the Trust and acting within the scope of the Sponsor’s authority as set forth in the Trust Agreement.
 
In the event the Trust or a series of the Trust is made a party to any claim, dispute, demand or litigation or otherwise incurs any loss, liability, damage, cost or expense as a result of or in connection with any Shareholder’s (or assignee’s) obligations or liabilities unrelated to Trust business, such Shareholder (or assignees cumulatively) shall indemnify, defend, hold harmless, and reimburse the Trust or the applicable series of the Trust for all such loss, liability, damage, cost and expense incurred, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees.
 
The payment of any amount pursuant to the Trust Agreement shall take into account the allocation of liabilities and other amounts, as appropriate, among the series of the Trust.
 
Item 15
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 16
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
 
(a) Exhibits
 
 
3.1
 
Sixth Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement.*
 
 
5.1
 
Opinion of [_____] relating to the legality of the Shares.*
 
 
8.1
 
Opinion of [_____] with respect to federal income tax consequences.*
 
 
 
77
 
 
 
* To be filed by amendment.
 
(1) Previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (333-162033), filed on September 21, 2009 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(2) Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (333-230626), filed on April 26, 2019 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(3) Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2(1) to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K for the Teucrium Corn Fund (File No. 001-34765), filed on November 1, 2011 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(4) Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2(2) to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K for the Teucrium Corn Fund (File No. 001-34765), filed on November 1, 2011 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(5) Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2(3) to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K for the Teucrium Corn Fund (File No. 001-34765), filed on November 1, 2011 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(6) Previously filed as like-numbered exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (333-187463), filed on April 26, 2013 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(7) Previously filed as Exhibit 10.9 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-201953) filed on February 9, 2015 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(8) Previously filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed on March 15, 2016, and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(9) Previously filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed on March 15, 2016, and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(10) Previously filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed on March 15, 2016, and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(11) Previously filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed on March 15, 2016, and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(12) Previously filed as Exhibit 10.6 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (333-162033) filed on October 22, 2010 and incorporated by reference herein.
 
(b) Financial Statement Schedules
 
The financial statement schedules are either not applicable or the required information is included in the financial statements and footnotes related thereto.
 
 
78
 
 
Item 17.
Undertakings.
 
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
 
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.
 
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
 
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-1, Form S-3, Form SF-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or, as to a registration statement on Form S-3, is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to § 230.424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
 
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
 
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
 
(i) If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
 
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
 
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
 
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
 
 
79
 
 
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
 
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
 
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
 
 

80
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Burlington, State of Vermont, on October 20, 2020.
 
 
 
 
 
Teucrium Commodity Trust
 
By: Teucrium Trading, LLC, Sponsor
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Sal Gilbertie
Date: October 20, 2020
 
Sal Gilbertie
Principal Executive Officer, Secretary and Member
 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates as indicated. The document may be executed by signatories hereto on any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. The undersigned members and officers of Teucrium Trading, LLC, the sponsor of Teucrium Commodity Trust, hereby constitute and appoint Sal Gilbertie, Cory Mullen Rusin and Steve Kahler and each of them with full power to act with full power of substitution and resubstitution, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact with full power to execute in our name and behalf in the capacities indicated below this Registration Statement on Form S-1 and any and all amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement and to sign any and all additional registration statements relating to the same offering of securities as this Registration Statement that are filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and thereby ratify and confirm that such attorneys-in-fact, or any of them, or their substitutes shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Sal Gilbertie
Sal Gilbertie
 
 
 
President/Chief Executive Officer/Chief Investment Officer/Member of the Sponsor
 
 
 
October 20, 2020
 
 
 
/s/ Cory Mullen-Rusin
Cory Mullen-Rusin
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Accounting Officer/Chief Compliance Officer/Principal Financial Officer
 
 
October 20, 2020
 
 
 
/s/ Steve Kahler
Steve Kahler
 
 
 
Chief Operating Officer
 
 
October 20, 2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit Index
 
 
 
 

81