Form 8-K - Current report

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 14, 2023

 

United States Commodity Index Funds Trust

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

001-34833		27-1537655
(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
1850 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Suite 640 Walnut Creek, California		94596
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

 

[phone]

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Shares of United States Commodity Index Fund		USCI		NYSE Arca, Inc.
Shares of United States Copper Index Fund		CPER		NYSE Arca, Inc.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company o

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

 

Item 4.01     Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant 

 

(a) Dismissal of Previous Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

On November 14, 2023, United States Commodity Index Funds Trust (the “Registrant”), and United States Commodity Index Fund (“USCI”) and United States Copper Index Fund (“CPER”), each a series of the Registrant (the “Funds”), dismissed Spicer Jeffries LLP (“Spicer Jeffries”) as the Funds’ and Registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.

 

The audit reports of Spicer Jeffries on the Funds’ and Registrant’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. During the prior two fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and in the subsequent interim period, there were (i) no disagreements within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K between the Funds and Registrant and Spicer Jeffries on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope and procedure that, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Spicer Jeffries, would have caused it to make reference to the matter thereof in connection with its report for such year, and (ii) no “reportable events” within the meaning of Item 304(a)(i)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

The Board of Directors of United States Commodity Funds LLC (“USCF”), which serves as the sponsor of the Registrant and the Funds, based on the recommendation of the Audit Committee of USCF, approved the decision to change independent registered public accounting firms.

 

The Registrant provided Spicer Jeffries with a copy of the disclosures in this Current Report on Form 8-K (“Form 8-K”) prior to filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). A copy of Spicer Jeffries’s letter to the SEC, stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the Registrant in this Form 8-K, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.

 

(b) Appointment of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

On November 14, 2023, (the “Engagement Date”), the Board of Directors of USCF, as sponsor of the Registrant and the Funds, based on the recommendation of the Audit Committee of USCF, engaged Cohen & Company, Ltd. (“Cohen”) as the Funds’ and Registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds’ and Registrant’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.

 

During the prior two fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, as well as in the subsequent interim period through the Engagement Date, neither the Funds, the Registrant, nor any representative acting on behalf of the Funds or the Registrant, consulted Cohen regarding any of the matters outlined in Item 304(a)(2)(i) or 304(a)(2)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

ITEM 9.01     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
16.1	Letter from Spicer Jeffries LLP addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated November 16, 2023.

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	UNITED STATES COMMODITY INDEX FUNDS TRUST By: United States Commodity Funds LLC, its sponsor
Dated: November 16, 2023
	By:	/s/ Stuart P. Crumbaugh
	Name:	Stuart P. Crumbaugh
	Title:	Chief Financial Officer

 

November 16, 2023

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549-7561

Commissioners:

We have read Item 4.01 of United States Commodity Index Funds Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 16, 2023, and have the following comments:

1.

We agree with the statements made in Item 4.01(a) insofar as they pertain to our firm.

2.

We have no basis to agree or disagree with the statements contained in Item 4.01(b).

Yours truly,

/s/ Spicer Jeffries LLP

Cover	Nov. 14, 2023
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Nov. 14, 2023
Entity File Number	001-34833
Entity Registrant Name	United States Commodity Index Funds Trust
Entity Central Index Key	0001479247
Entity Tax Identification Number	27-1537655
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	1850 Mt. Diablo Boulevard
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 640
Entity Address, City or Town	Walnut Creek
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94596
City Area Code	(510)
Local Phone Number	522-9600
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Shares of United States Commodity Index Fund
Title of 12(b) Security	Shares of United States Commodity Index Fund
Trading Symbol	USCI
Security Exchange Name	NYSEArca
Shares of United States Copper Index Fund
Title of 12(b) Security	Shares of United States Copper Index Fund
Trading Symbol	CPER
Security Exchange Name	NYSEArca

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