UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For
the fiscal year ended |
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the Transition Period from to |
Commission
File Number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| c/o Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Sponsor LLC | ||
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
(
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has 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 was required to file such
reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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 | ☐ | ☒ | ||
| 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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒
Aggregate
market value of the registrant’s shares outstanding based upon the closing price of a share on June 30, 2020 as reported
by the NYSE Arca, Inc. on that date: $
As of February 24, 2021, Aberdeen Standard Precious Metals Basket ETF Trust had Aberdeen Standard Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements usually include the words, “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “understands” and other words suggesting uncertainty. We remind readers that forward-looking statements are merely predictions and therefore inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors and involve known and unknown risks that could cause the actual results, performance, levels of activity, or our achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, levels of activity, or our achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Trust undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Additional significant uncertainties and other factors affecting forward-looking statements are presented in the Risk Factors section herein.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I
Item 1. Business
The purpose of the Aberdeen Standard Precious Metals Basket ETF Trust (the “Trust”) is to own, in an agreed proportion, gold, silver, platinum and palladium (collectively, “Bullion”) transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (“Shares”). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist solely of Bullion. The Trust was formed on October 18, 2010 when an initial deposit of Bullion was made in exchange for the issuance of two Baskets (a “Basket” consists of 50,000 Shares).
The sponsor of the Trust is Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”). The trustee of the Trust is The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Trustee”) and the custodian is JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., London Branch (the “Custodian”).
The Trust’s Shares at redeemable value increased from $499,077,573 at December 31, 2019 to $841,868,238 at December 31, 2020, the Trust’s fiscal year end. Outstanding Shares in the Trust increased from 6,550,000 Shares at December 31, 2019 to 8,600,000 Shares at December 31, 2020.
The Trust is not managed like a corporation or an active investment vehicle. The Trust has no directors, officers or employees. It does not engage in any activities designed to obtain a profit from or to improve the losses caused by changes in the price of gold, silver, platinum and palladium. The Bullion held by the Trust will only be delivered to pay the remuneration due to the Sponsor (the “Sponsor’s Fee”), distributed to Authorized Participants (defined below) in connection with the redemption of Baskets or sold (1) on an as-needed basis to pay Trust expenses not assumed by the Sponsor, (2) in the event the Trust terminates and liquidates its assets, or (3) as otherwise required by law or regulation.
The Trust is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and is not required to register under such act. The Trust does not and will not hold or trade in commodities futures contracts, “commodity interests” or any other instruments regulated by the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”), as administered by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and the National Futures Association (“NFA”). The Trust is not a commodity pool for purposes of the CEA and the Shares are not “commodity interests,” and neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee is subject to regulation as a commodity pool operator or a commodity trading advisor in connection with the Shares. The Trust has no fixed termination date.
The Sponsor of the registrant maintains an Internet website at www.aberdeenstandardetfs.us through which the registrant’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, are made available free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they have been filed or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Additional information regarding the Trust may also be found on the SEC’s EDGAR database at www.sec.gov.
Trust Objective
The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold, silver, platinum and palladium in the proportions held by the Trust, less the expenses of the Trust’s operations. The Trust holds Bullion in a ratio such that, for every 0.03 ounces of gold, it holds 1.1 ounces of silver, 0.004 ounces of platinum and 0.006 ounces of palladium The Shares are intended to constitute a simple and cost-effective means of making an investment similar to an investment in physical Bullion. An investment in physical Bullion requires expensive and sometimes complicated arrangements in connection with the assay, transportation, warehousing and insurance of the metal. Traditionally, such expense and complications have resulted in investments in physical Bullion being efficient only in amounts beyond the reach of many investors.
The Shares are intended to provide institutional and retail investors with a simple and cost-efficient means, with minimal credit risk, of gaining investment benefits similar to those of holding physical Bullion. The Shares offer an investment that:
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● Is Easily Accessible. The Shares trade on the NYSE Arca and provide institutional and retail investors with indirect access to the Bullion markets. The Shares are bought and sold on the NYSE Arca like any other exchange-listed securities. The close of the NYSE Arca trading session is 4:00 p.m. New York time.
● Is Relatively Cost Effective. The Sponsor expects that, for many investors, costs associated with buying and selling the Shares in the secondary market and the payment of the Trust’s ongoing expenses will be lower than the costs associated with buying and selling Bullion and storing and insuring Bullion in a traditional allocated Bullion account.
● Has Minimal Credit Risk. The Shares represent an interest in physical bullion owned by the Trust (other than an amount held in unallocated form which is not sufficient to make up a whole bar or plate or ignot or which is held temporarily to effect a creation or redemption of Shares). Physical Bullion of the Trust in the Custodian’s possession is not subject to borrowing arrangements with third parties. Other than the Bullion temporarily being held in an unallocated Bullion account with the Custodian, the physical bullion of the Trust is not subject to counterparty or credit risks. See“Risk Factors—Bullion held in the Trust’s unallocated Bullion account and any Authorized Participant’s unallocated Bullion account is not segregated from the Custodian’s assets...” This contrasts with most other financial products that gain exposure to bullion through the use of derivatives that are subject to counterparty and credit risks.
Investing in the Shares does not insulate the investor from certain risks, including price volatility. See “Risk Factors.”
Overview of the Bullion Industry
This
section provides a brief introduction to the Bullion industries by looking at some of the key participants, detailing the primary
sources of demand and supply and, with respect to the gold and silver industries, outlining the role of the “official”
sector (i.e., central banks) in the markets.
In this annual report, the term “ounces” refers to fine troy ounces (with respect to gold only) and troy ounces (with respect to silver, platinum and palladium).
The Gold Industry
Market Participants
The participants in the world gold market may be classified in the following sectors: the mining and producer sector, the banking sector, the official sector, the investment sector, and the manufacturing sector. A brief description of each follows.
Mining and Producer Sector
This group includes mining companies that specialize in gold and silver production, mining companies that produce gold as a by-product of other production (such as a copper or silver producer), scrap merchants and recyclers.
Banking Sector
Gold bullion banks provide a variety of services to the gold market and its participants, thereby facilitating interactions between other parties. Services provided by the gold bullion banking community include traditional banking products as well as mine financing, physical gold purchases and sales, hedging and risk management, inventory management for industrial users and consumers, and gold deposit and loan instruments.
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The Official Sector
The official sector encompasses the activities of the various central banking operations of gold-holding countries. According to statistics released by the World Gold Council, central banks are estimated to hold approximately 35,000 tonnes (when used in this annual report “tonne” refers to one metric tonne, which is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms or 32,151 troy ounces) of gold reserves, or approximately 20% of existing above-ground stocks. From 2009 to 2019, the European Central Bank and other central banks of Europe operated under a series of four Central Bank Gold Agreements (“CBGA”). The CBGA limited the amount of gold that these banks were allowed to sell for the duration of each agreement, helping to stabilize the gold market. The CBGA had the desired effect, and the gold market has become more balanced, eliminating the need for a formal agreement going forward.
The Investment Sector
This sector includes the investment and trading activities of both professional and private investors and speculators. These participants range from large hedge and mutual funds to day-traders on futures exchanges, and retail-level coin collectors.
The Manufacturing Sector
The fabrication and manufacturing sector represents all the commercial and industrial users of gold for whom gold is a daily part of their business. The jewelry industry is a large user of gold. Other industrial users of gold include the electronics and dental industries.
World Gold Supply and Demand 2010-2019 (in tonnes)
The following table sets forth a summary of the world gold supply and demand for the period from 2010 to 2019 and is based on information reported by the World Gold Council.
| (tonnes) | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supply | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mine production | 2,771 | 2,868 | 2,882 | 3,076 | 3,180 | 3,222 | 3,251 | 3,247 | 3,332 | 3,530 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scrap | 1,743 | 1,698 | 1,700 | 1,303 | 1,159 | 1,180 | 1,306 | 1,210 | 1,178 | 1,281 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Hedging Supply | (106 | ) | 18 | (40 | ) | (39 | ) | 108 | 21 | 32 | (41 | ) | 8 | (0.7 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Supply | 4,408 | 4,584 | 4,542 | 4,340 | 4,447 | 4,423 | 4,589 | 4,416 | 4,518 | 4,810 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jewelry Fabrication | 2,083 | 2,099 | 2,066 | 2,726 | 2,559 | 2,464 | 1,953 | 2,214 | 2,129 | 2,122 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Industrial Fabrication | 480 | 470 | 432 | 428 | 411 | 376 | 366 | 380 | 391 | 326 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electronics | 346 | 342 | 310 | 306 | 297 | 267 | 264 | 277 | 288 | 262 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dental & Medical | 48 | 43 | 39 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 13.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Industrial | 86 | 85 | 84 | 85 | 80 | 76 | 71 | 73 | 74 | 49.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Official Sector | 77 | 457 | 544 | 409 | 466 | 443 | 269 | 366 | 536 | 668 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retail Investment | 1,263 | 1,617 | 1,407 | 1,871 | 1,162 | 1,160 | 1,043 | 1,028 | 1,097 | 871 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bars | 946 | 1,248 | 1,057 | 1,444 | 886 | 875 | 786 | 780 | 800 | 579.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coins | 317 | 369 | 350 | 426 | 276 | 284 | 257 | 248 | 297 | 292 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Physical Demand | 3,903 | 4,643 | 4,449 | 5,434 | 4,598 | 4,443 | 3,631 | 3,988 | 4,153 | 3,987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Physical Surplus/Deficit | 505 | (59 | ) | 93 | (1,094 | ) | (151 | ) | (20 | ) | 958 | 428 | 365 | 823 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ETF Inventory Build | 384 | 189 | 279 | (879 | ) | (155 | ) | (117 | ) | 539 | 177 | 59 | 398 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exchange Inventory Build | 54 | (6 | ) | (10 | ) | (98 | ) | 1 | (48 | ) | 86 | — | (21 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Balance | 67 | (242 | ) | (176 | ) | (117 | ) | 3 | 145 | 333 | 251 | 327 | 425 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: World Gold Council Gold Survey 2020
The following are some of the main characteristics of the gold market illustrated by the table:
One factor which separates gold from other precious metals is that there are large above-ground stocks which can be quickly mobilized. As a result of gold’s liquidity, gold often acts more like a currency than a commodity.
Over the past ten years, (new) mine production of gold has experienced a modest rise of an average of 2.75% per annum. Of the three sources of supply, mine production accounts for 73% in 2019. Recycled gold volumes have ranged from 1,159 tonnes to 1,743 tonnes over the past 10 years.
On the demand side, jewelry is clearly the greatest source of demand. Industrial demand has fluctuated between 8% and 14% of total demand over the past 10 years. Exchange traded product inventory build had seen strong growth through 2012, followed by outflows in 2013, 2014 and 2015 as the price of gold fell by a cumulative 30% between 2013 and 2015. Exchange traded product inventory build has been positive each year from 2016 to 2019. During the 2013 price crash, retail coin and bar demand rose to a 10-year high as retail investors, especially from China, were enticed by the falling prices. Retail coin and bar demand has since tapered off. Investor inflows into ETFs returned in 2016 amid heightened market uncertainty and continued to see 398 tonnes of inflows in 2019.
Historical Chart of the Price of Gold
The price of gold is volatile and fluctuations are expected to have a direct impact on the value of the Shares. However, movements in the price of gold in the past are not a reliable indicator of future movements. Movements may be influenced by various factors, including announcements from central banks regarding a country’s reserve gold holdings, agreements among central banks, political uncertainties around the world, and economic concerns.
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The following chart illustrates the movements in the price of an ounce of gold in U.S. Dollars from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2020:
The gold price tends to rise during periods of low real interest rates and high monetary expansion, as they are often associated with currency debasement and systemic financial failures. The gold price peaked at US$2,067 per ounce in August 2020 as the uncertainties regarding the pandemic, and U.S. presidential election drove prices higher. 2020 proved to be a stellar year for gold rising 18.0%. Additionally, the trends of 3 years of investor outflows in global ETFs and net negative investor sentiment in gold futures positioning reversed in 2016 and continued through 2020. Low real interest rates, tepid economic growth, and concerns regarding the recovery of the pandemic were key tailwinds for gold that sparked a return of investor interest.
The Silver Industry
Market Participants
The participants in the world silver market may be classified in the following sectors: the mining and producer sector, the banking sector, the official sector, the investment sector, and the manufacturing sector. A brief description of each follows.
Mining and Producer Sector
This group includes mining companies that specialize in silver and silver production, mining companies that produce silver as a by-product of other production (such as a copper or gold producer), scrap merchants and recyclers.
Banking Sector
Bullion banks provide a variety of services to the silver market and its participants, thereby facilitating interactions between other parties. Services provided by the bullion banking community include traditional banking products as well as mine financing, physical silver purchases and sales, hedging and risk management, inventory management for industrial users and consumers and silver leasing.
The Official Sector
There are no official statistics published by the International Monetary Fund, Bank of International Settlements, or national banks on silver holdings by national governments. The main reason for this is that silver is generally not recognized as a reserve asset. Consequently, there are very limited silver stocks held by governments. According to The Silver Institute World Silver Survey 2020, at the end of 2019, government-held silver bullion stocks total 89.1 million ounces.
The Investment Sector
This sector includes the investment and trading activities of both professional and private investors and speculators. These participants range from large hedge and mutual funds to day-traders on futures exchanges, and retail-level coin collectors.
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The Manufacturing Sector
The fabrication and manufacturing sector represents all the commercial and industrial users of silver. Industrial applications comprise the largest use of silver. The jewelry and silverware sector is the second largest, followed by the photographic industry (although the latter has been declining over a number of years as a result of the spread of digital photography).
World Silver Supply and Demand 2010-2019
The following table sets forth a summary of the world silver supply and demand for the period from 2010 to 2019 and is based on information reported by the World Silver Survey 2020, published by The Silver Institute.
| (in millions of ounces) | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supply | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mine Production | 753.0 | 758.3 | 791.7 | 823.3 | 867.8 | 895.1 | 888.6 | 852.1 | 855.7 | 836.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Government Sales | 44.2 | 12.0 | 7.4 | 7.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scrap | 227.2 | 261.2 | 253.8 | 191.0 | 165.4 | 141.1 | 139.7 | 138.1 | 151.3 | 169.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Hedging Supply | 50.4 | 12.2 | (47.1 | ) | (34.8 | ) | 16.8 | 7.8 | (18.9 | ) | 1.4 | (2.8 | ) | 15.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Supply | 1,074.8 | 1,043.8 | 1,005.8 | 987.4 | 1,050.0 | 1,044.0 | 1,009.4 | 991.6 | 1,004.2 | 1,022.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jewelry | 190.0 | 191.5 | 187.4 | 220.6 | 226.4 | 226.7 | 205.0 | 209.1 | 212.5 | 201.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coins & Bars | 150.3 | 212.7 | 159.7 | 241.1 | 234.1 | 292.1 | 207.8 | 151.1 | 181.2 | 186.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Silverware | 51.9 | 47.5 | 43.8 | 59.3 | 61.2 | 63.2 | 52.4 | 58.4 | 61.1 | 59.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Industrial Fabrication | 633.8 | 661.5 | 600.1 | 604.6 | 596.3 | 583.2 | 576.8 | 599.0 | 578.6 | 510.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrical & Electronics | 301.2 | 290.8 | 266.7 | 266.0 | 263.9 | 246.0 | 233.9 | 242.9 | 248.5 | 230.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brazing Alloys & Solders | 61.2 | 63.2 | 61.1 | 63.7 | 66.7 | 61.5 | 55.3 | 57.5 | 58.0 | 50.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Photography | 67.5 | 61.2 | 54.2 | 50.5 | 48.5 | 46.6 | 45.2 | 44.0 | 39.3 | 33.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Photovoltaic | — | 75.8 | 58.2 | 55.9 | 51.8 | 59.2 | 79.3 | 94.1 | 80.5 | 98.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ethylene Oxide | 8.7 | 6.2 | 4.7 | 7.7 | 5.0 | 10.2 | 10.2 | 6.9 | 5.4 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Industrial | 195.2 | 164.2 | 155.1 | 160.8 | 160.6 | 159.8 | 152.9 | 153.7 | 146.9 | 94.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ETP Inventory Build | 129.5 | (24.0 | ) | 55.3 | 2.5 | 1.4 | (17.8 | ) | 49.8 | 2.4 | (20.3 | ) | 81.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exchange Inventory Build | (7.4 | ) | 12.2 | 62.2 | 8.8 | (5.3 | ) | 12.6 | 79.8 | 6.8 | 71.2 | 10.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Demand | 1,148.1 | 1,101.4 | 1,108.5 | 1,136.9 | 1,114.1 | 1,160.0 | 1,171.6 | 1,026.8 | 1,084.3 | 1,049.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Balance | (73.2 | ) | (57.5 | ) | (102.6 | ) | (149.5 | ) | (64.0 | ) | (116.1 | ) | (162.1 | ) | (35.2 | ) | (80.1 | ) | (27.8 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Source: The Silver Institute - World Silver Survey 2020
The following are some of the main characteristics of the silver market illustrated by the table.
Like gold, silver has also been used as a currency in the past. However, the main difference between gold and silver is that while approximately half of gold demand is used for jewelry, approximately half of silver fabrication demand is used for industrial applications.
New mine production accounts for approximately 82% of total silver supply. Recycled silver accounts for around 17% of total supply. The total of producer hedging, government sales and implied “net disinvestment” has been in decline but together account for the balance of total supply.
Industrial applications and jewelry demand accounted for over 68% of total demand in 2019. Photography has been taking a lower share of overall silver demand falling from 6% in 2010 to 3% in 2019, while photovoltaic demand has risen in recent years accounting for 9% in 2019. Investment in coins and bars has amounted to 18% of demand in 2019.
Historical chart of the price of Silver
The price of silver is volatile and fluctuations are expected to have a direct impact on the value of the Shares. However, movements in the price of silver in the past are not a reliable indicator of future movements. Movements may be influenced by various factors, including announcements from central banks regarding a country’s reserve silver holdings, agreements among central banks, political uncertainties around the world, and economic concerns. The following chart illustrates the movements in the price of an ounce of silver in dollars from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2020 and is based on information provided by Bloomberg:
Starting in early 2011, when prices peaked at $48.44 per ounce, silver prices began a downward trend, albeit with multiple upwards rallies (that have often lasted several months). The rise in the value of the U.S. Dollar, sluggish industrial growth and a tame inflation environment (which led some investors to revise their expectations of the effects of monetary expansion) were some of the drivers behind the fall in silver prices from 2011 to 2019. Silver reversed course in 2020, as prices rose 46.75%, closing at $26.49 per ounce, making it the top performer of the four metals (gold, silver, platinum, palladium). The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 contributed to the large returns, as increased stimulus and uncertainty, coupled with a low US dollar and interest rates, increased the appeal of silver.
Platinum Group Metals
Platinum and palladium are the two best known metals of the six platinum group metals (“PGMs”). Platinum and palladium have the greatest economic importance and are found in the largest quantities. The other four—iridium, rhodium, ruthenium and osmium—are produced only as co-products of platinum and palladium.
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PGMs are found primarily in South Africa and Russia. South Africa is the world’s leading platinum producer and one of the largest palladium producers. Russia is the largest producer of palladium and most production is concentrated in the Norilsk region. All of South Africa’s production is sourced from the Bushveld Igneous Complex, which hosts the world’s largest resource of PGMs. Together, South Africa and Russia accounted for over 84% of platinum supply in 2019 and 79% of palladium supply in 2019.
Platinum
World Platinum Supply and Demand 2010-2019
The following table sets forth a summary of the world platinum supply and demand from 2010 to 2019 and is based on information reported by Johnson Matthey, PGM Market Report – May 2020.
| (thousands of ounces) | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supply | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Africa | 4,635 | 4,860 | 4,110 | 4,208 | 3,547 | 4,572 | 4,392 | 4,459 | 4,467 | 4,402 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russia | 825 | 835 | 801 | 736 | 700 | 670 | 717 | 692 | 687 | 716 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Others | 590 | 790 | 769 | 891 | 896 | 865 | 988 | 961 | 959 | 979 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Supply | 6,050 | 6,485 | 5,680 | 5,835 | 5,143 | 6,107 | 6,097 | 6,112 | 6,113 | 6,097 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demand by Application | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Autocatalyst | 3,075 | 3,185 | 3,158 | 3,000 | 3,103 | 3,228 | 3,330 | 3,292 | 3,051 | 2,885 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical | 440 | 470 | 452 | 528 | 523 | 502 | 475 | 504 | 540 | 698 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrical | 230 | 230 | 176 | 218 | 225 | 228 | 230 | 234 | 266 | 145 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Glass | 385 | 515 | 153 | 100 | 212 | 227 | 246 | 364 | 478 | 224 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment | 655 | 460 | 450 | 871 | 277 | 451 | 620 | 356 | 67 | 1,253 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jewelry | 2,420 | 2,475 | 2,783 | 3,028 | 2,897 | 2,746 | 2,412 | 2,296 | 2,269 | 2,100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Medical & Biomedical | 230 | 230 | 223 | 214 | 214 | 215 | 218 | 220 | 221 | 249 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Petroleum | 170 | 210 | 112 | 159 | 165 | 140 | 176 | 220 | 372 | 219 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 300 | 320 | 395 | 433 | 438 | 441 | 458 | 476 | 582 | 577 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Gross Demand | 7,905 | 8,095 | 7,902 | 8,551 | 8,054 | 8,178 | 8,165 | 7,962 | 7,846 | 8,350 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recycling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Autocatalyst | -1,085 | -1,240 | -1,120 | -1,206 | -1,272 | -1,112 | -1,159 | -1,279 | -1,338 | -1,630 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jewelry | -735 | -810 | -895 | -790 | -762 | -574 | -738 | -638 | -36 | -477 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | -10 | -10 | -22 | -24 | -27 | -29 | -32 | -34 | -731 | -58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Recycling | -1,830 | -2,060 | -2,037 | -2,020 | -2,061 | -1,715 | -1,929 | -1,951 | -2,105 | -2,165 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Net Demand | 6,075 | 6,035 | 5,865 | 6,531 | 5,993 | 6,463 | 6,236 | 6,011 | 5,741 | 6,185 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Movements in Stocks | -25 | 450 | -185 | -696 | -850 | -356 | -139 | 101 | 372 | -88 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Johnson Matthey PGM Market Report - May 2020
The following are some of the main characteristics of the platinum market illustrated by the table:
The main supplier of platinum is South Africa, providing over 72% of total mine supply in 2019. Russia is the second largest supplier of platinum. Its share of world mine production has averaged around 12.4% of total mine supply over the past ten years. Scrap supply from recycling of autocatalyst and other sources have accounted for about 34% from 2015 to 2019, on average.
Over the past decade, jewelry demand for platinum peaked at 36% of total demand in 2014. Jewelry demand has since declined to 25% of total demand in 2019, consistent with the year prior. Autocatalyst demand for platinum accounted for around 35% of total demand at the end of 2019. Investment demand soared to 15% of total demand in 2019, far above the 1% of total demand in 2018.
Historical Chart of the Price of Platinum
The price of platinum is volatile and fluctuations are expected to have a direct impact on the value of the Shares. However, movements in the price of platinum in the past are not a reliable indicator of future movements. The following chart illustrates the movements in the price of an ounce of platinum in U.S. Dollars from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2020 and is based on information provided by Bloomberg:
Platinum prices had been on the rise until the Japanese earthquake in early 2011, coupled with the unfolding of the European financial crisis with Portugal being bailed out, weighed on platinum performance in the second half of 2011. Platinum prices dropped by 26% in the six months to December 2011, from a high of $1,840 per troy ounce in June to a low of $1,369 per troy ounce in December 2011. Continued weakness in the European auto market weighed on platinum performance since then, with prices only partially recovering from 2011 lows. In 2012, platinum prices rose on the back of supply disruptions in South Africa, which accounts for over 80% of the world’s supply of platinum. A strike at one of South Africa’s biggest platinum mines caused the price of platinum to rise from $1,387 to $1,709 per ounce in August 2012. At the beginning of 2013, Anglo American Platinum, the world’s biggest producer of the metal, announced its intention to close four mine shafts and its consideration of selling another mine complex as part of a radical overhaul of its South African operations. This statement prompted a strong reaction on platinum prices, which rose from $1,656 to $1,736 per ounce in the days following the announcement, on fears of a further tightening in platinum supply. However, platinum’s correlation to gold weighed on platinum prices in 2013 overall. Prolonged strikes at South African mines in 2014 led to the deepest supply deficit in platinum since 1975 (the earliest date we have supply and demand data). However, that failed to arrest the price slide which saw prices fall 11% in 2014, highlighting the extent of negative sentiment towards industrially-exposed precious metals. Despite autocatalyst demand for platinum increasing in 2015, tightening nitrogen oxide emission standards have led to pessimism about the future demand for platinum-heavy diesel autocatalysts relative to palladium-heavy gasoline autocatalysts. Further pessimistic outlook for South Africa’s economy and its currency the South African Rand weighed on platinum prices throughout 2017, and platinum continued to fall in 2018 driven by lackluster investor sentiment, a stronger US dollar, weaker diesel demand and rising mine supply. Platinum prices bounced back, rising 19.9% to $952 per ounce at the end of 2019. After seeing the price fall as low as $593 per ounce on March 19, 2020, platinum rebounded from pandemic lows and finished the year at $1,068 per ounce. The steep climb in palladium price has led some investors to conclude that platinum appears under-valued, in view of its potential to substitute for palladium in automotive applications in the future. Additionally, the outlook for mining in South Africa is increasingly uncertain, with producers facing steep increases in electricity prices, periodic disruption to power supplies and a risk of industrial action during forthcoming wage negotiations.
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Palladium
World Palladium Supply and Demand 2010-2019
The following table sets forth a summary of the world palladium supply and demand for the period from 2010 to 2019 and is based on information reported by Johnson Matthey, PGM Market Report – May 2020.
| (thousands of ounces) | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supply | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Africa | 2,640 | 2,560 | 2,359 | 2,465 | 2,125 | 2,684 | 2,570 | 2,554 | 2,543 | 2,648 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russia | 3,720 | 3,480 | 2,887 | 2,628 | 2,589 | 2,434 | 2,773 | 2,407 | 2,976 | 2,802 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Others | 995 | 1,320 | 1,239 | 1,305 | 1,389 | 1,337 | 1,417 | 1,410 | 1,458 | 1,444 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Supply | 7,355 | 7,360 | 6,485 | 6,398 | 6,103 | 6,455 | 6,760 | 6,371 | 6,977 | 6,894 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demand by Application | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Autocatalyst | 5,580 | 6,155 | 6,673 | 7,061 | 7,512 | 7,622 | 7,941 | 8,391 | 8,721 | 9,677 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical | 370 | 440 | 524 | 440 | 358 | 451 | 414 | 529 | 565 | 511 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dental | 595 | 540 | 510 | 457 | 468 | 468 | 430 | 398 | 364 | 323 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrical | 1,410 | 1,375 | 1,190 | 1,070 | 1,014 | 903 | 871 | 840 | 807 | 728 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment | 1,095 | -565 | 467 | -8 | 943 | -659 | -646 | -386 | -574 | -57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jewelry | 595 | 505 | 442 | 354 | 272 | 222 | 191 | 173 | 157 | 140 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 90 | 110 | 104 | 109 | 111 | 134 | 151 | 134 | 182 | 180 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Gross Demand | 9,735 | 8,560 | 9,910 | 9,483 | 10,678 | 9,141 | 9,352 | 10,079 | 10,222 | 11,502 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recycling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Autocatalyst | -1,310 | -1,695 | -1,675 | -1,905 | -2,158 | -1,897 | -2,001 | -2,404 | -2,633 | -2,932 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | -540 | -690 | -637 | -620 | -563 | -521 | -502 | -503 | -491 | -484 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Recycling | -1,850 | -2,385 | -2,312 | -2,525 | -2,721 | -2,418 | -2,503 | -2,907 | -3,124 | -3,416 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Net Demand | 7,885 | 6,175 | 7,598 | 6,958 | 7,957 | 6,723 | 6,849 | 7,172 | 7,098 | 8,086 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Movements in stocks | -530 | 1,185 | -1,113 | -560 | -1,854 | -268 | -89 | -801 | -121 | -1,192 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Johnson Matthey PGM Market Report - May 2020
The following are some of the main characteristics of the palladium market illustrated by the table:
Russia has traditionally been the largest producer of palladium, providing on average 43% of supply over the past 10 years. South Africa has, on average, supplied approximately 37% of production over the past 10 years. In 2019, Russia provided 41% of mine supplies, while South Africa produced 38%. North America contributes approximately 14% of mine supply in 2019. Autocatalysts continue to be the largest component of palladium demand, representing more than 84% of total demand in 2019, down slightly from 85% of total demand in 2018. Retail investors returned nearly 57,000 ounces of palladium to the market in 2019, as high prices stimulated profit taking in virtually all palladium ETF products. Jewelry demand for palladium contributed 1.0% of total demand in 2019, down from 1.5% in 2018. Other industrial demand (chemical, dental and electrical) has fallen from 24% of total demand in 2010 to 14% of total demand in 2019.
Historical Chart of the Price of Palladium
The price of palladium is volatile and fluctuations are expected to have a direct impact on the value of the Shares. However, movements in the price of palladium in the past are not a reliable indicator of future movements. The following chart illustrates the movements in the price of an ounce of palladium in U.S. Dollars from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2020 and is based on information provided by Bloomberg:
Rising palladium prices tempered in 2011, but concerns over supply shortages due to labor problems at mines in South Africa and dwindling Russian stocks provided some price support into mid-2012. Palladium rose to a 13 year high of $907 per ounce in September 2014, a 27% increase from the start of the year. The rally was driven by supply side concerns following the longest strike in South African mining history and escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The strong rally in 2014 was completely unwound in 2015, when South African mine supply resumed back to pre-strike levels and pessimism about industrial demand in China overwhelmed the true tightness in the market. Palladium was then the top performer of the precious metals complex for 3 consecutive years from 2017 to 2019, where it rose nearly 182% from $676 per troy ounce on December 31, 2016 to $1,905 per troy ounce on December 31, 2019. The price of palladium reached an all-time high of $2,781/oz on February 19, 2020, before closing out the year at a price of $2,342/oz on December 31, 2020. The deficit in the palladium market looks set to widen dramatically, with stricter emissions legislation forecast to trigger a steep change in demand from Chinese automakers.
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Operation of the Bullion Markets
The global trade in Bullion consists of Over-the-Counter (“OTC”) transactions in spot, forwards, and options and other derivatives, together with exchange-traded futures and options.
Global Over-The-Counter Market
The OTC market trades on a 24-hour per day continuous basis and accounts for most global Bullion trading.
Market makers, as well as others in the OTC market, trade with each other and with their clients on a principal-to-principal basis. All risks and issues of credit are between the parties directly involved in the transaction.
For gold and silver, market makers include the market-making members of the London Bullion Market Association (“LBMA”), the trade association that acts as the coordinator for activities conducted on behalf of its members and other participants in the London bullion market. The twelve market-making members of the LBMA are: BNP Paribas, Citibank N.A., HSBC, Goldman Sachs International, ICBC Standard Bank Plc, JPMorgan Chase Bank, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Merrill Lynch International, Morgan Stanley & Co. International Ltd., Standard Chartered Bank, Toronto-Dominion Bank and UBS AG.
For platinum and palladium, five member participants of the London Platinum and Palladium Market (“LPPM”), the trade association that acts as the coordinator for activities conducted on behalf of its members and other participants in the LPPM, are currently participating in the London Metal Exchange Fix (“LME Fix”). The OTC market provides a relatively flexible market in terms of quotes, price, size, destinations for delivery and other factors. Bullion dealers customize transactions to meet clients’ requirements. The OTC market has no formal structure and no open-outcry meeting place.
The main centers of the OTC market are London, Zurich and New York for gold and silver and London, New York, Hong Kong and Zurich for platinum and palladium. Mining companies, central banks, manufacturers of jewelry and industrial products, together with investors and speculators, tend to transact their business through one of these market centers. Centers such as Dubai and several cities in the Far East also transact substantial OTC market business, typically involving jewelry and small bars of gold or silver and small plates or ingots of platinum or palladium (1 kilogram or less) and will hedge their exposure by selling into one of these main OTC centers. Precious metals dealers have offices around the world and most of the world’s major bullion dealers are either members or associate members of the LBMA and/or the LPPM.
In the OTC market for gold, the standard size of trades between market makers ranges between 5,000 and 10,000 ounces. Bid-offer spreads are typically 50 US cents per ounce. Certain dealers are willing to offer clients competitive prices for much larger volumes, including trades over 100,000 ounces, although this will vary according to the dealer, the client and market conditions, as transaction costs in the OTC market are negotiable between the parties and therefore vary widely. Cost indicators can be obtained from various information service providers as well as dealers.
In the OTC market for silver, the standard size of trades between market makers is 100,000 ounces.
In the OTC market for platinum and palladium, the standard size of trades between market makers is 1,000 ounces.
Liquidity in the OTC market can vary from time to time during the course of the 24-hour trading day. Fluctuations in liquidity are reflected in adjustments to dealing spreads—the differential between a dealer’s “buy” and “sell” prices. The period of greatest liquidity in the Bullion markets generally occurs at the time of day when trading in the European time zones overlaps with trading in the United States, which is when OTC market trading in London, New York, Zurich and other centers coincides with futures and options trading on the Commodity Exchange, Inc. (“COMEX”), a designated contract market within the CME Group. This period lasts for approximately four hours each New York business day morning.
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The Gold Market
The London Gold Bullion Market
Although the market for physical gold is distributed globally, most OTC market trades are cleared through London. In addition to coordinating market activities, the LBMA acts as the principal point of contact between the market and its regulators. A primary function of the LBMA is its involvement in the promotion of refining standards by maintenance of the “Good Delivery List,” which is a list of LBMA accredited refiners of gold. The LBMA also coordinates market clearing and vaulting, promotes good trading practices and develops standard documentation.
The terms “loco London” gold and “loco Zurich” gold refer to gold physically held in London and Zurich, respectively, that meets the specifications for weight, dimensions, fineness (or purity), identifying marks (including the assay stamp of a LBMA acceptable refiner) and appearance set forth in “The Good Delivery Rules for Gold and Silver Bars” published by the LBMA. Gold bars meeting these requirements are described in this annual report from time to time as “London Good Delivery Bars.” The unit of trade in London is the troy ounce, whose gram conversion is: 1,000 grams equals 32.1507465 troy ounces and 1 troy ounce equals 31.1034768 grams. A London Good Delivery Bar is acceptable for delivery in settlement of a transaction on the OTC market. Typically referred to as 400-ounce bars, a London Good Delivery Bar must contain between 350 and 430 fine troy ounces of gold, with a minimum fineness (or purity) of 995 parts per 1,000 (99.5%), be of good appearance and be easy to handle and stack. The fine gold content of a gold bar is calculated by multiplying the gross weight of the bar (expressed in units of 0.025 troy ounces) by the fineness of the bar. A London Good Delivery Bar must also bear the stamp of one of the refiners who are on the LBMA approved list. Unless otherwise specified, the gold spot price always refers to that of a London Good Delivery Bar. Business is generally conducted over the phone and through electronic dealing systems.
On March 20, 2015, ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”) began administering the operation of an “equilibrium auction,” which is an electronic, tradable and auditable, over-the-counter auction market with the ability to settle trades in US Dollars (“USD”), Euros or British Pounds for LBMA-authorized participating gold bullion banks or market makers (“gold participants”) that establishes a reference gold price for that day’s trading. IBA’s equilibrium auction is the gold valuation replacement selected by the LBMA for the London gold fix previously determined by the London Gold Market Fixing Ltd. that was discontinued on March 19, 2015. IBA’s equilibrium auction, like the previous gold fixing process, establishes and publishes fixed prices for troy ounces of gold twice each London trading day during fixing sessions beginning at 10:30 a.m. London time (the “LBMA AM Gold Price”) and 3:00 p.m. London time (the “LBMA PM Gold Price”).
Daily during London trading hours the LBMA AM Gold Price and the LBMA PM Gold Price each provide reference gold prices for that day’s trading. Many long-term contracts will be priced on either the basis of the LBMA AM Gold Price or the LBMA PM Gold Price, and market participants will usually refer to one or the other of these prices when looking for a basis for valuations. The LBMA AM Gold Price and the LBMA PM Gold Price, determined according to the methodologies of IBA and disseminated electronically by IBA to selected major market data vendors, such as Refinitiv and Bloomberg, are widely used benchmarks for daily gold prices and are quoted by various financial information sources as the London gold fix was previously. The Trust values its gold on the basis of the LBMA PM Gold Price.
The LBMA PM Gold Price is the result of an “equilibrium auction” because it establishes a price for a troy ounce of gold that clears the maximum amount of bids and offers for gold entered by order-submitting gold participants each day. The opening bid and subsequent bid prices are generated by an algorithm based method, and each auction is actively supervised by IBA staff. There are currently 15 direct gold participants (Bank of China, Bank of Communications, Citibank N.A., Coins ‘N Things, Goldman Sachs, HSBC Bank USA NA, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), StoneX Financial Ltd., Jane Street Global Trading, LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. London Branch, Koch Supply and Trading LP, Marex Financial Limited, Morgan Stanley, Standard Chartered Bank and Toronto-Dominion Bank), and IBA uses ICE’s front-end system, WebICE, as the technology platform that allows direct participants as well as sponsored clients to manage their orders in the auction in real time via their own screens.
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The IBA auction process begins with a notice of an auction round issued to gold participants before the commencement of the auction round stating a gold price in U.S. Dollars, at which the auction round will be conducted. An auction round lasts 30 seconds. Gold participants electronically place bid and offer orders at the round’s stated price and indicate whether the orders are for their own account or for the account of clients. Aggregate bid and offer volume will be shown live on WebICE, providing a level playing field for all participants.
At the end of the auction round, the IBA system evaluates the equilibrium of the bid and offer orders submitted. If bid and offer orders indicate an imbalance outside of acceptable tolerances established for the IBA system (normally 10,000 oz) (e.g., too many purchase orders submitted compared to sell orders or vice versa), the auction chairman calculates a new auction round price principally based on the volume weighting of bid and offer orders submitted in the immediately completed auction round. For instance, if the order imbalance indicates that purchase orders (bids) outweigh sales orders (offers) then a new auction round price will be issued that will be increased over that used in the prior auction round. Likewise, the new auction round price will be decreased from the prior round’s price if offers outweigh bids. To clear the imbalance, the IBA system then issues another notice of auction round to gold participants at the newly calculated price. During this next 30 second auction round, gold participants again submit orders, and after it ends, the IBA system evaluates for order imbalances. If order imbalances persist, a new auction price is calculated and a further auction round will occur. This auction round process continues until an equilibrium within specified tolerances is determined to exist. Once the IBA system determines that orders are in equilibrium within system tolerances, the auction process ends and the equilibrium auction round price becomes the LBMA PM Gold Price.
The LBMA PM Gold Price and all bid and offer order information for all auction rounds become publicly available electronically via IBA instantly after the conclusion of the equilibrium auction. Since April 1, 2015, the LBMA Gold Price has been regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) in the United Kingdom (“UK”). IBA also has an Oversight Committee, made up of market participants, industry bodies, direct participant representatives, infrastructure providers and IBA. The Oversight Committee allows the LBMA to continue to have significant involvement in the oversight of the auction process, including, among other matters, changes to the methodology and accreditation of direct participants. Additionally, IBA watches over the price discovery process for the LBMA Gold Price and ensures that it meets the International Organization of Securities Commission’s (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks.
The LBMA PM Gold Price is widely viewed as a full and fair representation of all or material market interest at the conclusion of the equilibrium auction. IBA’s LBMA PM Gold Price electronic auction methodology is similar to the non-electronic process previously used to establish the London gold fix where the London gold fix process adjusted the gold price up or down until all the buy and sell orders are matched, at which time the price was declared fixed. Nevertheless, the LBMA PM Gold Price has several advantages over the previous London gold fix. The LBMA PM Gold Price auction process is fully transparent in real time to the gold participants and, at the close of each equilibrium auction, to the general public.
The LBMA PM Gold Price auction process is also fully auditable by third parties since an audit trail exists from the time of each notice of an auction round. Moreover, the LBMA PM Gold Price’s audit trail and active, real time surveillance of the auction process by IBA as well as FCA’s oversight of IBA, deters manipulative and abusive conduct in establishing each day’s LBMA PM Gold Price.
Since March 20, 2015, the Sponsor determined that the London gold fix, which ceased to be published as of March 19, 2015, could no longer serve as a basis for valuing gold bullion received upon purchase of the Trust’s Shares, delivered upon redemption of the Trust’s Shares and otherwise held by the Trust on a daily basis, and that the LBMA PM Gold Price is an appropriate alternative for determining the value of the Trust’s gold each trading day. The Sponsor also determined that the LBMA PM Gold Price fairly represents the commercial value of gold bullion held by the Trust and the “Benchmark Price” (as defined in Trust Agreement) as of any day is the LBMA PM Gold Price for such day.
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The Zurich Bullion Market
After London, the second principal center for spot or physical gold trading is Zurich. For eight hours a day, trading occurs simultaneously in London and Zurich—with Zurich normally opening and closing an hour earlier than London. During these hours, Zurich closely rivals London in its influence over the spot price because of the importance of the three major Swiss banks—Credit Suisse, Swiss Bank Corporation, and Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS)—in the physical gold market. Each of these banks has long maintained its own refinery, often taking physical delivery of gold and processing it for other regional markets. The loco Zurich bullion specification is the same as for the London bullion market, which allows for gold physically located in Zurich to be quoted loco London and vice versa.
Futures Exchanges
The most significant gold futures exchanges are the COMEX, a designated contract market within the CME Group, and the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (“TOCOM”). The COMEX is the largest exchange in the world for trading precious metals futures and options and has been trading gold since 1974. The TOCOM has been trading gold since 1982. Trading on these exchanges is based on fixed delivery dates and transaction sizes for the futures and options contracts traded. Trading costs are negotiable. As a matter of practice, only a small percentage of the futures market turnover ever comes to physical delivery of the gold represented by the contracts traded. Both exchanges permit trading on margin. Margin trading can add to the speculative risk involved given the potential for margin calls if the price moves against the contract holder. The COMEX trades gold futures almost continuously (with one short break in the evening) through its CME Globex electronic trading system and clears through its central clearing system. On June 6, 2003, TOCOM adopted a similar clearing system. In each case, the exchange acts as a counterparty for each member for clearing purposes.
Other Exchanges
There are other gold exchange markets, such as the Istanbul Gold Exchange (trading gold since 1995), the Shanghai Gold Exchange (trading gold since 2002), the Hong Kong Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange Society (trading gold since 1918) and the Singapore Mercantile Exchange (trading gold since 2010).
The Silver Market
The London Silver Bullion Market
Although the market for physical silver is distributed globally, most OTC market trades are cleared through London. In addition to coordinating market activities, the LBMA acts as the principal point of contact between the market and its regulators. A primary function of the LBMA is its involvement in the promotion of refining standards by maintenance of the “Good Delivery List,” which is a list of LBMA accredited refiners of silver. The LBMA also coordinates market clearing and vaulting, promotes good trading practices and develops standard documentation.
The term “loco London” silver refers to silver physically held in London that meets the specifications for weight, dimensions, fineness (or purity), identifying marks (including the assay stamp of a LBMA acceptable refiner) and appearance set forth in “The Good Delivery Rules for Gold and Silver Bars” published by the LBMA. Silver bars meeting these requirements are described in this prospectus from time to time as “Silver Good Delivery Bars.” The unit of trade in London is the troy ounce, whose conversion between grams is: 1,000 grams equals 32.1507465 troy ounces and 1 troy ounce equals 31.1034768 grams. A Silver Good Delivery Bar is acceptable for delivery in settlement of a transaction on the OTC market. A Silver Good Delivery Bar must contain between 750 troy ounces and 1,100 troy ounces of silver with a minimum fineness (or purity) of 999.0 parts per 1,000. A Silver Good Delivery Bar must also bear the stamp of one of the refiners who are on the LBMA-approved list. Unless otherwise specified, the silver spot price always refers to that of a Silver Good Delivery Bar. Business is generally conducted over the phone and through electronic dealing systems.
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On July 14, 2017, the LBMA announced that ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”) had been selected to be the third-party administrator for the “LBMA Silver Price”. Effective from October 2, 2017, IBA is providing the auction platform and methodology as well as the overall administration and governance for the LBMA Silver Price benchmark. IBA operates an “equilibrium auction”, which is an electronic, tradable and auditable, over-the-counter auction for LBMA-authorized participating silver bullion banks or market makers and sponsored clients of direct participants (“silver participants”) that establishes a reference silver price for that day’s trading, often referred to as the “LBMA Silver Price”. The LBMA Silver Price equilibrium auction operated by CME Group Inc. and Refinitiv prior to October 2, 2017 was selected by the LBMA as the silver valuation replacement for the London silver fix previously determined by the London Silver Market Fixing Ltd. that was discontinued on August 14, 2014. The LBMA Silver Price has become a widely used benchmark for daily silver prices and is quoted by various financial information sources as the London silver fix was previously.
The LBMA Silver Price is the result of an “equilibrium auction” because it establishes a price for a troy ounce of Silver Good Delivery Bars that clears the maximum amount of bids and offers for silver entered by order-submitting silver participants each day. IBA uses ICE’s front-end system, WebICE, as the technology platform that allows direct participants, as well as sponsored clients of direct participants, to manage their orders in the auction in real time via their own desktops. As the IBA electronic silver auction market develops, IBA expects to admit additional silver participants to the order submission process. The benchmark is published when the auction finishes, typically a few minutes after 12:00 noon (London time).
At the opening of each auction, IBA in the role of auction chairman (“Chairman”) announces an opening price (in U.S. Dollars), that takes into account current market conditions and begins auction rounds, with an expected duration of at least 30 seconds each. During each auction round, participants may enter the volume they wish to buy or sell at that price, and such orders will be part of the price formation. Aggregate bid and offer volume is shown live on WebICE. At the end of each auction round, the total net volume is calculated. If this “imbalance” is larger than the imbalance tolerance (normally 500,000 oz.) then the Chairman sets a new price (based on the current market conditions, and the direction and magnitude of the imbalance in the round) and begins a new auction round. If the imbalance is less than the tolerance, then the auction is complete with all volume tradeable at that price. The price is then set in U.S. Dollars and also converted into other currencies, including Australian Dollars, British Pounds, Canadian Dollars, Euros, Onshore and Offshore Yuan, Indian Rupees, Japanese Yen, Malaysian Ringgit, Russian Rubles, Singapore Dollars, South African Rand, Swiss Francs, New Taiwan Dollars, Thai Baht and Turkish Lira. The auction is run at 12:00 noon (London time).
During the auction, the price at the start of each round, and the volumes at the end of each round are available through major market data vendors. As soon as the auction finishes, the final prices and volumes are available through major market data vendors. IBA also publishes transparency reports, detailing the prices, volumes and times for each round of the auction. These transparency reports are available through major market data vendors and IBA when the auction finishes. The process can also be observed real-time through a WebICE screen. The auction mechanism provides a complete audit trail.
There are currently twelve direct participants who have been accredited to contribute to the LBMA Silver Price: Citibank N.A. London Branch, Coin ‘N Things Inc., Goldman Sachs International plc, HSBC Bank USA NA, INTL FC Stone, Jane Street Global Trading LLC, JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A London Branch, Koch Supply and Trading LP, Marex Financial Limited, Morgan Stanley, Standard Chartered Bank and The Toronto Dominion Bank.
Since April 1, 2015, the LBMA Silver Price has been regulated by the FCA in the UK. IBA is authorized as a regulated benchmark administrator by the FCA. Under the UK benchmark regulation, the governance structure for a regulated benchmark must include an Oversight Committee, made up of market participants, industry bodies, direct participant representatives, infrastructure providers and the administrator (i.e., IBA). Through the Oversight Committee the LBMA continues to have significant involvement in the oversight of the auction process, including, among other matters, changes to the methodology and accreditation of direct participants. The price discovery process for the LBMA Silver Price is subject to surveillance by IBA. IBA has been formally assessed against the IOSCO Principles for Financial Benchmarks (the “IOSCO Principles”). In order to meet the IOSCO Principles, the price discovery used for the LBMA Silver Price benchmark is auditable and transparent.
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The LBMA Silver Price is viewed as a full and fair representation of all market interest at the conclusion of the auction. IBA’s auction process is similar to CME Group’s auction process, which in turn was similar to the non-electronic process previously used to establish the London silver fix where the London silver fix process adjusted the silver price up or down until all the buy and sell orders are matched, at which time the price was declared fixed. Nevertheless, the LBMA Silver Price has several advantages over the previous London silver fix. IBA’s auction process is fully transparent in real-time to direct participants and sponsored clients and, at the close of each auction, to the general public. IBA’s auction process is also fully auditable since an audit trail exists for every change made in the process. Moreover, the audit trail and active surveillance of the auction process by IBA, as well as the FCA’s oversight of IBA, deters manipulative and abusive conduct in establishing each day’s LBMA Silver Price.
Since August 15, 2014, the Sponsor determined that the London silver fix, which ceased to be published as of that date, would be an inappropriate basis for valuing silver bullion received upon purchase of the Trust’s Shares, delivered upon redemption of the Trust’s Shares and otherwise held by the Trust on a daily basis, and that the LBMA Silver Price is an appropriate alternative for determining the value of the Trust’s silver each trading day. The Sponsor also determined that the LBMA Silver Price fairly represents the commercial value of silver bullion held by the Trust and that the “Benchmark Price” (as defined in the Trust Agreement) as of any day is the LBMA Silver Price for such day.
Futures Exchanges
The most significant silver futures exchanges are the COMEX, a designated contract market within the CME Group, and the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (“TOCOM”). Futures exchanges seek to provide a neutral, regulated marketplace for the trading of derivatives contracts for commodities. Futures contracts are defined by the exchange for each commodity. For each commodity traded, this contract specifies the precise quality and quantity standards. The contract’s terms and conditions also define the location and timing of physical delivery.
An exchange does not buy or sell those contracts, but seeks to offer a transparent forum where members, on their own behalf or on the behalf of customers, can trade the contracts in a safe, efficient and orderly manner. During regular trading hours at the COMEX, the commodity contracts are traded on CME Globex system, an electronic auction in which all bids, offers and trades must be publicly announced to all members and, upon execution, centrally cleared. Electronic trading is offered by the exchange almost 24 hours a day (except for a short break in the evening), six days a week.
In addition to the public nature of the pricing, futures exchanges in the United States are regulated at two levels: internal and external governmental supervision. The internal is performed through self-regulation and consists of regular monitoring of the following: the central algorithmic matching process to ensure that it is conducted in conformance with all exchange rules; the orderly trading and settlement of futures and options; the financial condition of all exchange member firms to ensure that they continuously meet financial commitments; and the volume positions of commercial and non-commercial customers to ensure that physical delivery and other commercial commitments can be met, and that pricing is not being improperly affected by the size of any particular customer positions. External governmental oversight is performed by the CFTC, which reviews all the rules and regulations of United States futures exchanges and clearing houses and monitors their enforcement.
The Platinum Market
The Zurich and London Platinum Bullion Market
Although the market for physical platinum is distributed globally, most platinum is stored and most OTC market trades are cleared through Zurich. As of September 1, 2009, London also serves as a center for the clearing of OTC trades in platinum. In addition to coordinating market activities, the LPPM acts as the principal point of contact between the market and its regulators. A primary function of the LPPM is its involvement in the promotion of refining standards by maintenance of the “London/Zurich Good Delivery Lists,” which are the lists of LPPM accredited refiners of platinum. The LPPM also coordinates market clearing and vaulting, promotes good trading practices and develops standard documentation.
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Platinum is traded generally on a “loco Zurich” basis, meaning the precious metal is physically held in vaults in Zurich or is transferred into accounts established in Zurich. As of September 1, 2009, platinum began trading on a “loco London” basis as well, meaning the precious metal is physically held in vaults in London or is transferred into accounts established in London. The basis for settlement and delivery of a loco Zurich spot trade is payment (generally in U.S. Dollars) two business days after the trade date against delivery. Delivery of the platinum can either be by physical delivery or through the clearing systems to an unallocated account.
The unit of trade in London and Zurich is the troy ounce, whose conversion between grams is: 1,000 grams is equivalent to 32.1507465 troy ounces, and one troy ounce is equivalent to 31.1034768 grams. A good delivery platinum plate or ingot is acceptable for delivery in settlement of a transaction on the OTC market (a “Good Delivery Platinum Plate or Ingot”). A Good Delivery Platinum Plate or Ingot must contain between 32 and 192 troy ounces of platinum with a minimum fineness (or purity) of 999.5 parts per 1,000 (99.95%), be of good appearance, and be easy to handle and stack. The platinum content of a platinum Good Delivery Platinum Plate or Ingot is calculated by multiplying the gross weight by the fineness of the plate or ingot. A Good Delivery Platinum Plate or Ingot must also bear the stamp of one of the refiners who are on the LPPM approved list. Unless otherwise specified, the platinum spot price always refers to the “Good Delivery Standards” set by the LPPM. Business is generally conducted over the phone and through electronic dealing systems.
Since December 1, 2014, the LME has been administering the operation of an electronic platinum bullion price fixing systems (“LMEbullion”) that replicates electronically the manual London platinum fix processes previously employed by the London Platinum and Palladium Fixing Company Ltd (“LPPFCL”), as well as providing electronic market clearing processes for platinum bullion transactions at the fixed prices established by the LME pricing mechanism. The LME’s electronic price fixing processes, like the previous London platinum fix processes, establishes and publishes fixed prices for troy ounces of platinum twice each London trading day during fixing sessions beginning at 9:45 a.m. London time (the “LME AM Fix”) and 2:00 p.m. London time (the “LME PM Fix”). In addition to utilizing the same London platinum fix standards and methods, the LME also supervises the platinum electronic price fixing processes through its market operations, compliance, internal audit and third-party complaint handling capabilities in order to support the integrity of the LME PM Fix. The LME, in administering LMEbullion, uses a pricing methodology that meets the administrative and regulatory needs of platinum market participants, including the International Organization of Securities Commissions’ (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks.
Daily during London trading hours the LME AM Fix and the LME PM Fix each provide reference platinum prices for that day’s trading. Many long-term contracts are priced on the basis of either the LME AM Fix or the LME PM Fix, and market participants will usually refer to one or the other of these prices when looking for a basis for valuations. The Trust values its platinum on the basis of the LME PM Fix.
The LME PM Fix results from LMEbullion. Formal participation in the LME PM Fix is limited to participating LPPM members. Five LPPM member participants are currently participating in establishing the LME PM Fix (Goldman Sachs International, HSBC Bank USA NA, ICBC Standard Bank plc, Johnson Matthey plc and BASF Metals Ltd.). Any other market participant wishing to participate in the trading on the LME PM Fix is required to do so through one of the participating LPPM members.
Orders are placed either with one of the participating LPPM member participants or with another precious metals dealer who will then be in contact with a participating LPPM member during the fixing. The fix begins with the chair of the pricing function submitting an opening price into the administration screen in LMEbullion, reflecting the market price and other data, prevailing at the opening of the fix. This is relayed by the LPPM member participants to their dealing rooms which have direct communication with all interested parties. Any member participant may enter the fixing process at any time, or adjust or withdraw his order. The platinum price is adjusted up or down until all the buy and sell orders are electronically matched, at which time the price is declared fixed. All orders are transacted on the basis of this fixed price, which is instantly relayed to the market through various media.
The LBMA and the LME have asserted that the LME’s electronic price fixing processes are similar to the non-electronic processes previously used to establish the applicable London platinum fix where the London platinum fix process adjusted the platinum price up or down until all the buy and sell orders entered by the participating LPPM members are matched, at which time the price was declared fixed. Nevertheless, the LME PM Fix has several advantages over the previous London platinum fix. The LME’s electronic price fixing processes are intended to be transparent. The LME asserts that its electronic price fixing processes are fully auditable by third parties since an audit trail exists from the beginning of each fixing session. The LME also asserts that the market operation, compliance, internal audit and third-party complaint handling capabilities of the LME will support the integrity of the LME PM Fix.
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Since December 1, 2014, the Sponsor determined that the London platinum fix, which has been revised based on the new LME method and is now known as the LBMA Platinum Price (PM), which we refer to herein as the LME PM Fix, is an appropriate basis for valuing platinum bullion received upon purchase of the Trust’s Shares, delivered upon redemption of the Trust’s Shares and for determining the value of the Trust’s platinum bullion each trading day. The “Benchmark Price” (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Trust’s platinum bullion as of any day is the LME PM Fix for such day.
As of December 1, 2014, the LPPFCL transferred the ownership of the historic and future intellectual property of the twice daily “fix” for platinum and palladium bullion to a subsidiary company of the LBMA.
Futures Exchanges
The most significant platinum futures exchanges are the COMEX, a designated contract market within the CME Group, and the TOCOM. The COMEX is the largest exchange in the world for trading precious metals futures and options and launched platinum futures in 1956, followed with options in 1990. The TOCOM has been trading platinum since 1984. Trading on these exchanges is based on fixed delivery dates and transaction sizes for the futures and options contracts traded. Trading costs are negotiable. As a matter of practice, only a small percentage of the futures market turnover ever comes to physical delivery of the platinum represented by the contracts traded. Both exchanges permit trading on margin. Margin trading can add to the speculative risk involved given the potential for margin calls if the price moves against the contract holder. The COMEX trades platinum futures almost continuously (with one short break in the evening) through its CME Globex electronic trading system and clears through its central clearing system. On June 6, 2003, the TOCOM adopted a similar clearing system. In each case, the exchange acts as a counterparty for each member for clearing purposes.
The Palladium Market
The Zurich and London Palladium Bullion Market
Although the market for physical palladium is distributed globally, most palladium is stored and most OTC market trades are cleared through Zurich. As of September 1, 2009, London also serves as a center for the clearing of OTC trades in palladium. In addition to coordinating market activities, the LPPM acts as the principal point of contact between the market and its regulators. A primary function of the LPPM is its involvement in the promotion of refining standards by maintenance of the “London/Zurich Good Delivery Lists,” which are the lists of LPPM accredited refiners of palladium. The LPPM also coordinates market clearing and vaulting, promotes good trading practices and develops standard documentation.
Palladium is traded generally on a loco Zurich basis, meaning the precious metal is physically held in vaults in Zurich or is transferred into accounts established in Zurich. As of September 1, 2009, palladium began trading on a loco London basis as well, meaning that the precious metal is physically held in vaults in London or is transferred into accounts established in London. The basis for settlement and delivery of a loco Zurich spot trade is payment (generally in U.S. Dollars) two business days after the trade date against delivery. Delivery of the palladium can either be by physical delivery or through the clearing systems to an unallocated account.
The unit of trade in London and Zurich is the troy ounce, whose conversion between grams is: 1,000 grams equals 32.1507465 troy ounces, and one troy ounce equals 31.1034768 grams. A good delivery palladium plate or ingot on the LPPM approved list is acceptable for delivery in settlement of a transaction on the OTC market (a “Good Delivery Plate or Ingot”). A Good Delivery Plate or Ingot must contain between 32 and 192 troy ounces of palladium with a minimum fineness (or purity) of 999.5 parts per 1,000 (99.95%), be of good appearance, and be easy to handle and stack. The palladium content of a palladium plate or ingot is calculated by multiplying the gross weight by the fineness of the plate or ingot. A Good Delivery Plate or Ingot must also bear the stamp of one of the refiners who are on the LPPM approved list. Unless otherwise specified, the palladium spot price always refers to that of “Good Delivery Standards” set by the LPPM. Business is generally conducted over the phone and through electronic dealing systems.
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Since December 1, 2014, the LME has been administering the operation of electronic palladium bullion price fixing systems (“LMEbullion”) that replicate electronically the manual London palladium fix processes previously employed by the London Platinum and Palladium Fixing Company Ltd (“LPPFCL”) as well as providing electronic market clearing processes for palladium bullion transactions at the fixed prices established by the LME pricing mechanism. The LME’s electronic price fixing processes, like the previous London palladium fix processes, establishes and publishes fixed prices for troy ounces of palladium twice each London trading day during fixing sessions beginning at 9:45 a.m. London time (the LME AM Fix) and 2:00 p.m. London time (the LME PM Fix). In addition to utilizing the same London palladium fix standards and methods, the LME also supervises the palladium electronic price fixing processes through its market operations, compliance, internal audit and third-party complaint handling capabilities in order to support the integrity of the LME PM Fix. The LME, in administering LMEbullion, uses a pricing methodology that meets the administrative and regulatory needs of palladium market participants, including the International Organization of Securities Commission’s (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks.
Daily during London trading hours the LME AM Fix and the LME PM Fix each provide reference palladium prices for that day’s trading. Many long-term contracts will be priced on the basis of either the LME AM Fix or the LME PM Fix, and market participants will usually refer to one or the other of these prices when looking for a basis for valuations. The Trust values its palladium on the basis of the LME PM Fix.
Formal participation in the LME PM Fix is limited to participating LPPM members. Five LPPM members are currently participating in establishing the LME PM Fix (Goldman Sachs International, HSBC Bank USA NA, ICBC Standard Bank plc, Johnson Matthey plc and BASF Metals Ltd.). Any other market participant wishing to participate in the trading on the LME PM Fix is required to do so through one of the participating LPPM members.
Orders are placed either with one of the participating LPPM member participants or with another precious metals dealer who will then be in contact with a participating LPPM member during the fixing. The fix begins with the chair reflecting the market price and other data, prevailing at the opening of the fix. This is relayed by the LPPM member participants to their dealing rooms which have direct communication with all interested parties. Any market member may enter the fixing process at any time, or adjust or withdraw his order. The palladium price is adjusted up or down until all the buy and sell orders are electronically matched, at which time the price is declared fixed. All fixing orders are transacted on the basis of this fixed price, which is instantly relayed to the market through various media.
The LBMA and the LME have asserted that the LME’s electronic price fixing processes are similar to the non-electronic processes previously used to establish the applicable London palladium fix where the London palladium fix process adjusted the palladium price up or down until all the buy and sell orders entered by the participating LPPM members are matched, at which time the price was declared fixed. Nevertheless, the LME PM Fix has several advantages over the previous London palladium fix. The LME’s electronic price fixing processes are intended to be transparent. The LME asserts that its electronic price fixing processes are fully auditable by third parties since an audit trail exists from the beginning of each fixing session. The LME also asserts that the market operation, compliance, internal audit and third-party complaint handling capabilities of the LME will support the integrity of the LME PM Fix.
Since December 1, 2014, the Sponsor determined that the London palladium fix, which has been revised based on the new LME method and is now known as the LME PM Fix, is an appropriate basis for valuing palladium bullion received upon purchase of the Trust’s Shares, delivered upon redemption of the Trust’s Shares and for determining the value of the Trust’s palladium bullion each trading day. The Sponsor also has determined that the LME PM Fix will fairly represent the commercial value of palladium bullion held by the Trust and, the “Benchmark Price” (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Trust’s palladium bullion as of any day is the LME PM Fix for such day.
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As of December 1, 2014, the LPPFCL transferred ownership of the historic and future intellectual property of the twice daily “fix” for platinum and palladium bullion to a subsidiary company of the LBMA.
Futures Exchanges
The most significant palladium futures exchanges are the COMEX, a designated contract market within the CME Group, and the TOCOM. The COMEX is the largest exchange in the world for trading precious metals futures and options and launched palladium futures in 1968, followed with options in 2010. The TOCOM has been trading palladium since 1992. Trading on these exchanges is based on fixed delivery dates and transaction sizes for the futures and options contracts traded. Trading costs are negotiable. As a matter of practice, only a small percentage of the futures market turnover ever comes to physical delivery of the palladium represented by the contracts traded. Both exchanges permit trading on margin. Margin trading can add to the speculative risk involved given the potential for margin calls if the price moves against the contract holder. The COMEX trades palladium futures almost continuously (with one short break in the evening) through its CME Globex electronic trading system and clears through its central clearing system. On June 6, 2003, the TOCOM adopted a similar clearing system. In each case, the exchange acts as a counterparty for each member for clearing purposes.
Market Regulation
The global gold, silver, platinum and palladium markets are overseen and regulated by both governmental and self-regulatory organizations. In addition, certain trade associations have established rules and protocols for market practices and participants. In the United Kingdom, responsibility for the regulation of the financial market participants, including the major participating members of the LBMA and the LPPM, falls under the authority of the FCA as provided by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSM Act”). Under this act, all UK-based banks, together with other investment firms, are subject to a range of requirements, including fitness and properness, capital adequacy, liquidity, and systems and controls.
The FCA is responsible for regulating investment products, including derivatives, and those who deal in investment products. Regulation of spot, commercial forwards, and deposits of gold, silver, platinum and palladium not covered by the FSM Act is provided for by The London Code of Conduct for Non-Investment Products, which was established by market participants in conjunction with the Bank of England.
The TOCOM has authority to perform financial and operational surveillance on its members’ trading activities, scrutinize positions held by members and large-scale customers, and monitor the price movements of futures markets by comparing them with cash and other derivative markets’ prices. To act as a Futures Commission Merchant Broker on the TOCOM, a broker must obtain a license from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (“METI”), the regulatory authority that oversees the operations of the TOCOM.
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) regulates trading in commodity contracts, such as futures, options and swaps. In addition, under the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936 (“CEA”), the CFTC has jurisdiction to prosecute manipulation and fraud in any commodity (including precious metals) traded in interstate commerce as spot as well as deliverable forwards. The CFTC is the exclusive regulator of U.S. commodity exchanges and clearing houses.
Secondary Market Trading
While the Trust’s investment objective is for the Shares to reflect the performance of gold, silver, platinum and palladium in the proportions held by the Trust, less the expenses of the Trust, the Shares may trade in the secondary market on the NYSE Arca at prices that are lower or higher relative to their net asset value (the value of the Trust’s assets less its liabilities (“NAV”)) per Share. The amount of the discount or premium in the trading price relative to the NAV per Share may be influenced by non-concurrent trading hours between the NYSE Arca, COMEX and the London and Zurich gold, silver, platinum and palladium markets. While the Shares trade on the NYSE Arca until 4:00 PM New York time, liquidity in the global bullion market is reduced after the close of the COMEX at 1:30 PM New York time. As a result, during this time, trading spreads, and the resulting premium or discount, on the Shares may widen.
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Valuation of Bullion and Computation of Net Asset Value
On each day that the NYSE Arca is open for regular trading, as promptly as practicable after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on such day (“Evaluation Time”), the Trustee will evaluate the Bullion held by the Trust and determine both the ANAV and the NAV of the Trust.
At the Evaluation Time, the Trustee values the Trust’s Bullion on the basis of that day’s London Metal Price for such metal or, if no London Metal Price is made for a metal on such day or has not been announced by the Evaluation Time, the next most recent London Metal Price announced for such metal determined prior to the Evaluation Time will be used, unless the Sponsor determines that such price is inappropriate as a basis for evaluation. In the event the Sponsor determines that the applicable London Metal Price or such other publicly available price as the Sponsor may deem fairly represents the commercial value of the Trust’s Bullion metal is not an appropriate basis for evaluation of the Trust’s Bullion metal, it shall identify an alternative basis for such evaluation to be employed by the Trustee. Neither the Trustee nor the Sponsor shall be liable to any person for the determination that the London Metal Price or such other publicly available price is not appropriate as a basis for evaluation of the Trust’s Bullion or for any determination as to the alternative basis for such evaluation provided that such determination is made in good faith. See “Operation of the Bullion Markets” for a description of the London Metal Price for each Bullion metal.
Once the value of the gold, silver, platinum and palladium has been determined, the Trustee subtracts all estimated accrued but unpaid fees (other than the fees accruing for such day on which the valuation takes place which are computed by reference to the value of the Trust or its assets), expenses and other liabilities of the Trust from the total value of the Bullion and any other assets of the Trust. The resulting figure is the adjusted net asset value (“ANAV”) of the Trust. The ANAV of the Trust is used to compute the Sponsor’s Fee.
All fees accruing for the day on which the valuation takes place which are computed by reference to the value of the Trust or its assets are calculated using the ANAV calculated for such day. The Trustee subtracts from the ANAV the amount of accrued fees so computed for such day and the resulting figure is the NAV of the Trust. The Trustee also determines the NAV per Share by dividing the NAV of the Trust by the number of the Shares outstanding as of the close of trading on the NYSE Arca (which includes the net number of any Shares created or redeemed on such evaluation day).
The Trustee’s estimation of accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and liabilities are conclusive upon all persons interested in the Trust and no revision or correction in any computation made under the Trust Agreement will be required by reason of any difference in amounts estimated from those actually paid.
Trust Expenses
The Trust’s only ordinary recurring expense is the Sponsor’s Fee. In exchange for the Sponsor’s Fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume the following administrative and marketing expenses incurred by the Trust: the Trustee’s monthly fee and out-of-pocket expenses, the Custodian’s fee and reimbursement of the Custodian’s expenses under the Custody Agreements (defined below), Exchange listing fees, SEC registration fees, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and up to $100,000 per annum in legal expenses. The Sponsor also paid the costs of the Trust’s organization and the initial sale of the Shares, including the applicable SEC registration fees.
The Sponsor’s Fee accrues daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.60% of the ANAV of the Trust and is payable monthly in arrears. The Sponsor’s Fee is paid by delivery of Bullion to an account maintained by the Custodian for the Sponsor on an unallocated basis.
The Sponsor, from time to time, may temporarily waive all or a portion of the Sponsor’s Fee at its discretion for a stated period of time. Presently, the Sponsor does not intend to waive any of its fee.
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Furthermore, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, agree to rebate all or a portion of the Sponsor’s Fee attributable to Shares held by certain institutional investors subject to minimum shareholding and lock up requirements as determined by the Sponsor to foster stability in the Trust’s asset levels. The Sponsor expects that any agreement to rebate the Sponsor’s Fee will address key terms such as the requirement that the institutional investor invest in an amount greater than 2,000,000 Shares and that all or a portion of the investment to which the rebate applies be subject to a lockup period. Furthermore, the written agreement would detail how the institutional investor may establish that shareholdings and lockup period requirements have been met (e.g., permitting the Sponsor to monitor the institutional investor’s holdings in Shares from time to time). Each written rebate agreement will be expected to have an initial term of one year and will automatically be extended on a month-to-month basis until terminated by either party on written notice. Any such rebate will be subject to negotiation and written agreement between the Sponsor and the investor on a case by case basis. The Sponsor is under no obligation to provide any rebates of the Sponsor’s Fee. Neither the Trust nor the Trustee will be a party to any Sponsor’s Fee rebate arrangements negotiated by the Sponsor. Any Sponsor’s Fee rebate shall be paid from the funds of the Sponsor and not from the assets of the Trust.
The Trustee will, when directed by the Sponsor, and, in the absence of such direction, may, in its discretion, sell Bullion in such quantity and at such times as may be necessary to permit payment in cash of Trust expenses not assumed by the Sponsor. The Trustee is authorized to sell Bullion at such times and in the smallest amounts required to permit such payments as they become due, it being the intention to avoid or minimize the Trust’s holdings of assets other than Bullion. Accordingly, the amount of Bullion to be sold will vary from time to time depending on the level of the Trust’s expenses and the market price of gold, silver, Bullion and palladium. The Custodian is authorized to purchase from the Trust, at the request of the Trustee, Bullion needed to cover Trust expenses not assumed by the Sponsor at the price used by the Trustee to determine the value of the Bullion held by the Trust on the date of the sale.
The Sponsor’s Fee for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $3,821,435 (December 31, 2019: $2,403,544; December 31, 2018: $2,132,987).
Cash held by the Trustee pending payment of the Trust’s expenses will not bear any interest.
Deposit of Bullion; Issuance of Shares
The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but only in one or more Baskets of 50,000 Shares. Only registered broker-dealers, or other securities market participants not required to register as broker-dealers such as banks or other financial institutions, who (1) are participants in the DTC and (2) have entered into written agreements with the Sponsor and the Trustee (each an “Authorized Participant”) can deposit Bullion in the specified proportion of gold, silver, platinum and palladium and receive Baskets of Shares in exchange.
The creation and redemption of Baskets is only made in exchange for the delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of Bullion represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which is based on the combined NAV of the number of Shares included in the Baskets being created or redeemed determined on the day the order to create or redeem Baskets is properly received.
All Bullion deposited with the Custodian or for the Custodian by the Zurich Sub-Custodian must conform to the rules, regulations practices and customs of the LBMA and LPPM, including the specifications for a London Good Delivery Bar and Plate or Ingot.
Creation and redemption orders are accepted on “business days” the NYSE Arca is open for regular trading. Settlements of such orders requiring receipt or delivery, or confirmation of receipt or delivery, of Bullion in the United Kingdom, Zurich or another jurisdiction occurs on “business days” when (1) banks in the United Kingdom, Zurich or such other jurisdiction and (2) the London or Zurich Bullion markets are regularly open for business. If such banks or the London or Zurich Bullion markets are not open for regular business for a full day, such a day will only be a “business day” for settlement purposes if the settlement procedures can be completed by the end of such day.
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On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Trustee to purchase one or more Baskets. Purchase orders must be placed no later than 3:59:59 p.m. on each business day the NYSE Arca is open for regular trading. A purchase order so received is effective on the date it is received in satisfactory form by the Trustee. By placing a purchase order, an Authorized Participant agrees to deposit Bullion with the Trust, as described below. Prior to the delivery of Baskets for a purchase order, the Authorized Participant must also have wired to the Trustee the non-refundable transaction fee due for the purchase order (as explained under “Creation and Redemption Transaction Fee” below).
An Authorized Participant who places a purchase order is responsible for crediting its Authorized Participant Unallocated Account, either loco London or loco Zurich, with the required Bullion deposit amount in the specified proportion of gold, silver, platinum and palladium by the second business day in London or Zurich following the purchase order date. Upon receipt of the Bullion deposit amount, the Custodian, after receiving appropriate instructions from the Authorized Participant and the Trustee, will transfer on the second business day following the purchase order date the Bullion deposit amount from the Authorized Participant Unallocated Account to the unallocated Bullion account of the Trust established with the Custodian under the Unallocated Account Agreement between the Trustee and the Custodian (the “Trust Unallocated Account”) and the Trustee will direct the Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”) to credit the number of Baskets ordered to the Authorized Participant’s DTC account. Acting on standing instructions given by the Trustee, the Custodian will transfer the Bullion deposit amount from the Trust Unallocated Account to the allocated Bullion account of the Trust established with the Custodian under the Allocated Account Agreement between the Trustee and the Custodian (the “Trust Allocated Account”), by transferring specific Bullion bars and plates or ingots from its inventory or the inventory of the Zurich Sub-Custodian to the Trust Allocated Account. The Trust’s Unallocated Account Agreement and Allocated Account Agreement are referred to collectively as the “Custody Agreements.”
Withdrawal of Bullion; Redemption of Shares
The procedures by which an Authorized Participant can redeem one or more Baskets mirror the procedures for the creation of Baskets. On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Trustee to redeem one or more Baskets. Redemption orders must be placed no later than 3:59:59 p.m. on each business day the NYSE Arca is open for regular trading. A redemption order so received is effective on the date it is received in satisfactory form by the Trustee. The redemption procedures allow Authorized Participants to redeem Baskets and do not entitle an individual owner of beneficial interests in the Shares (a “Shareholder”) to redeem any Shares in an amount less than a Basket, or to redeem Baskets other than through an Authorized Participant.
By placing a redemption order, an Authorized Participant agrees to deliver the Baskets to be redeemed through DTC’s book-entry system to the Trust not later than the second business day following the effective date of the redemption order. Prior to the delivery of the redemption distribution for a redemption order, the Authorized Participant must also have wired to the Trustee the non-refundable transaction fee due for the redemption order (as explained under “Creation and Redemption Transaction Fee” below).
The redemption distribution from the Trust consists of a credit to the redeeming Authorized Participant’s Authorized Participant Unallocated Account, either loco London or loco Zurich, representing the amount of the Bullion (in the specified proportion of gold, silver, platinum and palladium) held by the Trust evidenced by the Shares being redeemed. Fractions of a fine ounce of Bullion included in the redemption distribution smaller than 0.001 of a fine ounce are disregarded. Redemption distributions are subject to the deduction of any applicable tax or other governmental charges which may be due. If a loco swap or physical transfer is necessary to effect a loco London or loco Zurich redemption, the settlement of loco London or loco Zurich redemption deliveries may be delayed more than two, but not more than five, business days.
Creation and Redemption Transaction Fee
To compensate the Trustee for services in processing the creation and redemption of Baskets, an Authorized Participant is required to pay a transaction fee to the Trustee of $500 per order to create or redeem Baskets. An order may include multiple Baskets. The transaction fee may be reduced, increased or otherwise changed by the Trustee with the consent of the Sponsor. The Trustee shall notify DTC of any agreement to change the transaction fee and will not implement any increase in the fee for the redemption of Baskets until 30 days after the date of the notice.
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The Sponsor
The Sponsor is a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. (“ASII”). Aberdeen Standard Investments is a brand of the investment businesses of Standard Life Investments plc, its affiliates and subsidiaries. In the United States, Aberdeen Standard Investments is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: ASII, Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Standard Life Investments (Corporate Funds) Ltd.
The Sponsor’s office is located at c/o Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Sponsor LLC, 712 Fifth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10019. Under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and the governing documents of the Sponsor, the sole member of the Sponsor, ASII, is not responsible for the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Sponsor solely by reason of being the sole member of the Sponsor.
The Sponsor’s Role
The Sponsor arranged for the creation of the Trust, the registration of the Shares for their public offering in the United States and the listing of the Shares on the NYSE Arca. The Sponsor has agreed to assume the following administrative and marketing expenses incurred by the Trust: the Trustee’s monthly fee and out-of-pocket expenses, the Custodian’s fee and the reimbursement of the Custodian’s expenses under the Custody Agreements, Exchange listing fees, SEC registration fees, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and up to $100,000 per annum in legal expenses. The Sponsor also paid the costs of the Trust’s organization and the initial sale of the Shares, including the applicable SEC registration fees.
The Sponsor does not exercise day-to-day oversight over the Trustee or the Custodian. The Sponsor may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee (i) if the Trustee ceases to meet certain objective requirements (including the requirement that it have capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least $150 million), (ii) if, having received written notice of a material breach of its obligations under the Trust Agreement, the Trustee has not cured the breach within 30 days, or (iii) if the Trustee refuses to consent to the implementation of an amendment to the Trust’s initial Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. The Sponsor also has the right to replace the Trustee during the 90 days following any merger, consolidation or conversion in which the Trustee is not the surviving entity or, in its discretion, on the fifth anniversary of the creation of the Trust or on any subsequent third anniversary thereafter. The Sponsor also has the right to approve any new or additional custodian that the Trustee may wish to appoint and any new or additional Zurich Sub-Custodian that the Custodian may wish to appoint.
The Sponsor or one of its affiliates or agents (1) develops a marketing plan for the Trust on an ongoing basis, (2) prepares marketing materials regarding the Shares, including the content of the Trust’s website and (3) executes the marketing plan for the Trust.
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The Trustee
The Bank of New York Mellon, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York with trust powers (“BNYM”), serves as the Trustee. BNYM has a trust office at 2 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, New York 11217. BNYM is subject to supervision by the New York State Financial Services Department and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Information regarding creation and redemption Basket composition, NAV of the Trust, transaction fees and the names of the parties that have each executed an Authorized Participant Agreement may be obtained from BNYM. A copy of the Trust Agreement is available for inspection at BNYM’s trust office identified above. Under the Trust Agreement, the Trustee is required to have capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least $150 million. As of December 31, 2020, the Trustee was in compliance with these conditions.
The Trustee’s Role
The Trustee is generally responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Trust, including keeping the Trust’s operational records. The Trustee’s principal responsibilities include (1) transferring the Trust’s Bullion as needed to pay the Sponsor’s Fee in Bullion (Bullion transfers are expected to occur approximately monthly in the ordinary course), (2) valuing the Trust’s Bullion and calculating the NAV of the Trust and the NAV per Share, (3) receiving and processing orders from Authorized Participants to create and redeem Baskets and coordinating the processing of such orders with the Custodian and DTC, (4) selling the Trust’s Bullion as needed to pay any extraordinary Trust expenses that are not assumed by the Sponsor, (5) when appropriate, making distributions of cash or other property to Shareholders, and (6) receiving and reviewing reports from or on the Custodian’s custody of and transactions in the Trust’s Bullion. The Trustee shall, with respect to directing the Custodian, act in accordance with the instructions of the Sponsor. If the Custodian resigns, the Trustee shall appoint an additional or replacement Custodian selected by the Sponsor. The Trustee intends to regularly communicate with the Sponsor to monitor the overall performance of the Trust. The Trustee does not monitor the performance of the Custodian, the Zurich Sub-Custodian, or any other sub-custodian other than to review the reports provided by the Custodian pursuant to the Custody Agreements. The Trustee, along with the Sponsor, will liaise with the Trust’s legal, accounting and other professional service providers as needed. The Trustee will assist and support the Sponsor with the preparation of all periodic reports required to be filed with the SEC on behalf of the Trust.
The Trustee’s monthly fees and out-of-pocket expenses are paid by the Sponsor.
Affiliates of the Trustee may from time to time act as Authorized Participants or purchase or sell gold, silver, platinum and palladium or Shares for their own account, as agent for their customers and for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. Affiliates of the Trustee are subject to the same transaction fee as other Authorized Participants.
The Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan”) serves as the Custodian of the Trust’s Bullion. JPMorgan is a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America. JPMorgan is subject to supervision by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. JPMorgan’s London office is regulated by the FCA and is located at 25 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5JP, United Kingdom. JPMorgan is a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co. While the United Kingdom operations of the Custodian are regulated by the FCA, the custodial services provided by the Custodian and any sub-custodian, including the Zurich Sub-Custodian under the Custody Agreements, are presently not a regulated activity subject to the supervision and rules of the FCA. The Zurich Sub-Custodian that the Custodian currently uses is UBS AG, which is located at 45 Bahnhofstrasse, 8021 Zurich, Switzerland.
The Custodian’s Role
The Custodian is responsible for the safekeeping of the Trust’s Bullion deposited with it by Authorized Participants in connection with the creation of Baskets. The Custodian is also responsible for selecting the Zurich Sub-Custodians and its other sub-custodians, if any. The Custodian facilitates the transfer of Bullion in and out of the Trust through the unallocated Bullion accounts it will maintain for each Authorized Participant and the unallocated and allocated Bullion accounts it will maintain for the Trust. The Custodian holds at its London, England vault premises that portion of the Trust’s allocated Bullion to be held in London. The Zurich Sub-Custodian holds at its Zurich, Switzerland vault premises that portion of the Trust’s allocated platinum and palladium to be held in Zurich on behalf of the Custodian. The Custodian is responsible for allocating specific bars of physical gold and silver and specific plates or ingots of physical platinum and palladium to the Trust’s allocated Bullion account. The Custodian provides the Trustee with regular reports detailing the Bullion transfers in and out of the Trust’s unallocated and allocated Bullion accounts and identifying the gold and silver bars and the platinum and palladium plates or ingots held in the Trust’s allocated Bullion account.
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The Custodian’s fees and expenses under the Custody Agreements are paid by the Sponsor.
The Custodian and its affiliates may from time to time act as Authorized Participants or purchase or sell Bullion or Shares for their own account, as agent for their customers and for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. The Custodian and its affiliates are subject to the same transaction fee as other Authorized Participants.
Inspection of Bullion
Under the Custody Agreements, the Trustee, the Sponsor and the Sponsor’s auditors and inspectors may, only up to twice a year, visit the premises of the Custodian and the Zurich Sub-Custodian for the purpose of examining the Trust’s Bullion and certain related records maintained by the Custodian. Under the Allocated Account Agreement, the Custodian agreed to procure similar inspection rights from the Zurich Sub-Custodian. Visits by auditors and inspectors to the Zurich Sub-Custodian’s facilities will be arranged through the Custodian. Other than with respect to the Zurich Sub-Custodian, the Trustee and the Sponsor have no right to visit the premises of any sub-custodian for the purposes of examining the Trust’s Bullion or any records maintained by the sub-custodian, and no sub-custodian is obligated to cooperate in any review the Trustee or the Sponsor may wish to conduct of the facilities, procedures, records or creditworthiness of such sub-custodian.
The Sponsor has exercised its right to visit the Custodian and the Zurich Sub-Custodian, in order to examine the Bullion and the records maintained by them. Inspections were conducted by Inspectorate International Limited, a leading commodity inspection and testing company retained by the Sponsor, as of August 14, 2020. Due to unprecedented social lock-down policies implemented in the UK and Switzerland to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, neither the Sponsor, nor Inspectorate, were able to perform a physical inspection of the Trust's Bullion at December 31, 2020. In lieu of a physical inspection, the Sponsor performed alternative procedures to verify the Bullion held by the Trust at December 31, 2020. These procedures included confirmation of the Bullion list and total ounces of Bullion held by the Custodian at December 31, 2020, and an independent recalculation of ounces of Bullion for each creation or redemption transaction from August 14, 2020, the date of the last physical inspection, through December 31, 2020. The Sponsor and Inspectorate also virtually inspected a selection of Bullion held by the Custodian on behalf of the Trust, verifying the weight of the Bullion, and that the serial numbers of the Bullion selected matched the records of the Trust.
Description of the Shares
General
The Trustee is authorized under the Trust Agreement to create and issue an unlimited number of Shares. The Trustee creates Shares only in Baskets (a Basket equals a block of 50,000 Shares) and only upon the order of an Authorized Participant. The Shares represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust and have no par value. Any creation and issuance of Shares above the amount registered on the Trust’s then-current and effective registration statement with the SEC will require the registration of such additional Shares.
Description of Limited Rights
The Shares do not represent a traditional investment and Shareholders should not view them as similar to shares of a corporation operating a business enterprise with management and a board of directors. Shareholders do not have the statutory rights normally associated with the ownership of shares of a corporation, including, for example, the right to bring “oppression” or “derivative” actions. All Shares are of the same class with equal rights and privileges. Each Share is transferable, is fully paid and non-assessable and entitles the holder to vote on the limited matters upon which Shareholders may vote under the Trust Agreement. The Shares do not entitle their holders to any conversion or pre-emptive rights, or, except as provided below, any redemption rights or rights to distributions.
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Distributions
If the Trust is terminated and liquidated, the Trustee will distribute to the Shareholders any amounts remaining after the satisfaction of all outstanding liabilities of the Trust and the establishment of such reserves for applicable taxes, other governmental charges and contingent or future liabilities as the Trustee shall determine. Shareholders of record on the record date fixed by the Trustee for a distribution will be entitled to receive their pro rata portion of any distribution.
Voting and Approvals
Under the Trust Agreement, Shareholders have no voting rights, except in limited circumstances. The Trustee may terminate the Trust upon the agreement of Shareholders owning at least 75% of the outstanding Shares. In addition, certain amendments to the Trust Agreement require advance notice to the Shareholders before the effectiveness of such amendments, but no Shareholder vote or approval is required for any amendment to the Trust Agreement.
Redemption of the Shares
The Shares may only be redeemed by or through an Authorized Participant and only in Baskets.
Book-Entry Form
Individual certificates will not be issued for the Shares. Instead, one or more global certificates is deposited by the Trustee with DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. The global certificates evidence all of the Shares outstanding at any time. Under the Trust Agreement, Shareholders are limited to (1) participants in DTC such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies (DTC Participants), (2) those who maintain, either directly or indirectly, a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant (Indirect Participants), and (3) those banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and others who hold interests in the Shares through DTC Participants or Indirect Participants. The Shares are only transferable through the book-entry system of DTC. Shareholders who are not DTC Participants may transfer their Shares through DTC by instructing the DTC Participant holding their Shares (or by instructing the Indirect Participant or other entity through which their Shares are held) to transfer the Shares. Transfers will be made in accordance with standard securities industry practice.
Custody of the Trust’s Bullion
Custody of the physical gold and silver deposited with and held by the Trust is provided by the Custodian at its London, England vaults and by other sub-custodians on a temporary basis. Custody of the physical platinum and palladium deposited with and held by the Trust is provided by the Custodian at its London, England vaults and by the Zurich Sub-Custodians selected by the Custodian in their Zurich, Switzerland vaults and by other sub-custodians on a temporary basis. The Custodian is a market maker, clearer and approved weigher under the rules of the LBMA and the LPPM.
The Custodian is the custodian of the physical Bullion credited to the Trust Allocated Account in accordance with the Custody Agreements. The Custodian segregates the physical Bullion credited to the Trust Allocated Account from any other precious metal it holds or holds for others by entering appropriate entries in its books and records, and requires each Zurich Sub-Custodian to also segregate the physical platinum and palladium of the Trust that it holds from the other platinum and palladium held by it for other customers of the Custodian and such Zurich Sub-Custodian’s other customers. The Custodian requires each Zurich Sub-Custodian to identify in its books and records the Trust as having the rights to the physical platinum and palladium credited to its Trust Allocated Account. Under the Custody Agreements, the Trustee, the Sponsor and the Sponsor’s auditors and inspectors may inspect the vaults of the Custodian and the Zurich Sub-Custodian. See “Inspection of Bullion”.
The Custodian, as instructed by the Trustee on behalf of the Trust, is authorized to accept, on behalf of the Trust, deposits of Bullion in unallocated form. Acting on standing instructions specified in the Custody Agreements, the Custodian allocates Bullion deposited in unallocated form with the Trust by selecting bars of gold or silver or plates or ingots of platinum or palladium for deposit to the Trust Allocated Account or, with respect to platinum or palladium to be held in Zurich, require the Zurich Sub-Custodians to allocate platinum or palladium deposited in unallocated form with the Trust by selecting plates or ingots of platinum or palladium for deposit for the benefit of the Trust Allocated Amount. All physical gold and silver allocated to the Trust must conform to the rules, regulations, practices and customs of the LBMA. All physical platinum and palladium allocated to the Trust must conform to the rules, regulations, practices and customs of the LPPM.
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The process of withdrawing Bullion from the Trust for a redemption of a Basket follows the same general procedure as for depositing Bullion with the Trust for a creation of a Basket, only in reverse. Each transfer of Bullion between the Trust Allocated Account and the Trust Unallocated Account connected with a creation or redemption of a Basket may result in a small amount of Bullion being held in the Trust Unallocated Account after the completion of the transfer. In making deposits and withdrawals between the Trust Allocated Account and the Trust Unallocated Account, the Custodian will use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the amounts of gold, silver, platinum and palladium held in the Trust Unallocated Account as of the close of each business day. See “Deposit of Bullion; Issuance of Shares” and “Withdrawal of Bullion; Redemption of Shares.”
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion of the material US federal income tax consequences generally applies to the purchase, ownership and disposition of Shares by a US Shareholder (as defined below), and certain US federal income tax consequences that may apply to an investment in Shares by a Non-US Shareholder (as defined below). The discussion is based on the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the “Code”). The discussion below is based on the Code, United States Treasury Regulations (“Treasury Regulations”) promulgated under the Code and judicial and administrative interpretations of the Code, all as in effect on the date of this annual report and all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. The tax treatment of Shareholders may vary depending upon their own particular circumstances. Certain Shareholders (including broker-dealers, traders, banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, tax-exempt entities, Shareholders whose functional currency is not the U.S. Dollar or other investors with special circumstances) may be subject to special rules not discussed below. In addition, the following discussion applies only to investors who hold Shares as “capital assets” within the meaning of Code section 1221 and not as part of a straddle, hedging transaction or a conversion or constructive sale transaction. Moreover, the discussion below does not address the effect of any state, local or foreign tax law or any transfer tax on an owner of Shares. Purchasers of Shares are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to all federal, state, local and foreign tax law or any transfer tax considerations potentially applicable to their investment in Shares, including substantial changes to the Code made in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (P.L. 115-97).
For purposes of this discussion, a “US Shareholder” is a Shareholder that is:
● An individual who is treated as a citizen or resident of the United States for US federal income tax purposes;
● A corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for US federal tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof;
● An estate, the income of which is includible in gross income for US federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or
● A trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more US persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
A Shareholder that is not a US Shareholder as defined above (other than a partnership, or an entity treated as a partnership for US federal tax purposes) generally is considered a “Non-US Shareholder” for purposes of this discussion. For US federal income tax purposes, the treatment of any beneficial owner of an interest in a partnership, including any entity treated as a partnership for US federal income tax purposes, generally depends upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. Partnerships and partners in partnerships should consult their tax advisors about the US federal income tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of Shares.
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Taxation of the Trust
The Trust is classified as a “grantor trust” for US federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Trust itself is not subject to US federal income tax. Instead, the Trust’s income and expenses “flow through” to the Shareholders, and the Trustee reports the Trust’s income, gains, losses and deductions to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) on that basis.
Taxation of US Shareholders
Shareholders generally are treated, for US federal income tax purposes, as if they directly owned a pro rata share of the underlying assets held by the Trust. Shareholders are also treated as if they directly received their respective pro rata share of the Trust’s income, if any, and as if they directly incurred their respective pro rata share of the Trust’s expenses. In the case of a Shareholder that purchases Shares for cash, its initial tax basis in its pro rata share of the assets held by the Trust at the time it acquires its Shares is equal to its cost of acquiring the Shares. In the case of a Shareholder that acquires its Shares as part of a creation of a Basket, the delivery of Bullion to the Trust in exchange for the Shares is not a taxable event to the Shareholder, and the Shareholder’s tax basis and holding period for the Shares are the same as its tax basis and holding period for the Bullion delivered in exchange therefore (except to the extent of any cash contributed for such Shares). For purposes of this discussion, it is assumed that all of a Shareholder’s Shares are acquired on the same date and at the same price per Share. Shareholders that hold multiple lots of Shares, or that are contemplating acquiring multiple lots of Shares, should consult their tax advisors.
When the Trust sells or transfers precious metal, for example to pay expenses, a Shareholder generally will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (1) the Shareholder’s pro rata share of the amount realized by the Trust upon the sale or transfer and (2) the Shareholder’s tax basis for its pro rata share of the precious metal that was sold or transferred. Such gain or loss will generally be long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending upon whether the Shareholder has a holding period in its Shares of longer than one year. A Shareholder’s tax basis for its share or any precious metal sold by the Trust generally will be determined by multiplying the Shareholder’s total basis for its Shares of all of the precious metal held in the Trust immediately prior to the sale, by a fraction the numerator of which is the amount of precious metal sold, and the denominator of which is the total amount of the precious metal held by the Trust immediately prior to the sale. After any such sale, a Shareholder’s tax basis for its pro rata share of the Bullion remaining in the Trust will be equal to its tax basis for its Shares immediately prior to the sale, less the portion of such basis allocable to its share of the precious metal that was sold.
Upon a Shareholder’s sale of some or all of its Shares, the Shareholder will be treated as having sold a pro rata share of the precious metal held in the Trust at the time of the sale. Accordingly, the Shareholder generally will recognize gain or loss on the sale in an amount equal to the difference between (1) the amount realized pursuant to the sale of the Shares, and (2) the Shareholder’s tax basis for the Shares sold, as determined in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.
A redemption of some or all of a Shareholder’s Shares in exchange for the underlying precious metal represented by the Shares redeemed generally will not be a taxable event to the Shareholder. The Shareholder’s tax basis for the precious metal received in the redemption generally will be the same as the Shareholder’s tax basis for the Shares redeemed. The Shareholder’s holding period with respect to the Bullion received should include the period during which the Shareholder held the Shares redeemed. A subsequent sale of the precious metal received by the Shareholder will be a taxable event.
An Authorized Participant and other investors may be able to re-invest, on a tax-deferred basis, in-kind redemption proceeds received from exchange-traded products that are substantially similar to the Trust in the Trust’s Shares. Authorized Participants and other investors should consult their tax advisors as to whether and under what circumstances the reinvestment in the Shares of proceeds from substantially similar exchange-traded products can be accomplished on a tax-deferred basis.
Under current law, gains recognized by individuals, estates or trusts from the sale of “collectibles,” including physical Bullion, held for more than one year are taxed at a maximum federal income tax rate of 28%, rather than the 20% rate applicable to most other long-term capital gains. For these purposes, gains recognized by an individual upon the sale of Shares held for more than one year, or attributable to the Trust’s sale of any physical Bullion which the Shareholder is treated (through its ownership of Shares) as having held for more than one year, generally will be taxed at a maximum rate of 28%. The tax rates for capital gains recognized upon the sale of assets held by an individual US Shareholder for one year or less or by a corporate taxpayer are generally the same as those at which ordinary income is taxed.
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In addition, high-income individuals and certain trusts and estates are subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax that is imposed on net investment income and gain. Shareholders should consult their tax advisor regarding this tax.
Brokerage Fees and Trust Expenses
Any brokerage or other transaction fees incurred by a Shareholder in purchasing Shares is treated as part of the Shareholder’s tax basis in the Shares. Similarly, any brokerage fee incurred by a Shareholder in selling Shares reduces the amount realized by the Shareholder with respect to the sale.
Shareholders will be required to recognize gain or loss upon a sale of Bullion by the Trust (as discussed above), even though some or all of the proceeds of such sale are used by the Trustee to pay Trust expenses. Shareholders may deduct their respective pro rata share of each expense incurred by the Trust to the same extent as if they directly incurred the expense. Shareholders who are individuals, estates or trusts, however, may be required to treat some or all of the expenses of the Trust, to the extent that such expenses may be deducted, as miscellaneous itemized deductions. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (P.L. 115-97), miscellaneous itemized deductions, including expenses for the production of income, will not be deductible for either regular federal income tax or alternative minimum tax purposes for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026.
Investment by Regulated Investment Companies
Mutual funds and other investment vehicles which are “regulated investment companies” within the meaning of Code section 851 should consult with their tax advisors concerning (1) the likelihood that an investment in Shares, although they are a “security” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, may be considered an investment in the underlying Bullion for purposes of Code section 851(b), and (2) the extent to which an investment in Shares might nevertheless be consistent with preservation of their qualification under Code section 851. In recent administrative guidance, the IRS stated that it will no longer issue rulings under Code section 851(b) relating to the determination of whether or not an instrument or position is a “security”, but, instead, intends to defer to guidance from the SEC for such determination.
United States Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax for US and Non-US Shareholders
The Trustee or the appropriate broker will file certain information returns with the IRS, and provides certain tax-related information to Shareholders, in accordance with applicable Treasury Regulations. Each Shareholder will be provided with information regarding its allocable portion of the Trust’s annual income (if any) and expenses.
A US Shareholder may be subject to US backup withholding tax in certain circumstances unless it provides its taxpayer identification number and complies with certain certification procedures. Non-US Shareholders may have to comply with certification procedures to establish that they are not a US person in order to avoid the backup withholding tax.
The amount of any backup withholding tax will be allowed as a credit against a Shareholder’s US federal income tax liability and may entitle such a Shareholder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.
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Income Taxation of Non-US Shareholders
The Trust does not expect to generate taxable income except for gains (if any) upon the sale of precious metal. A Non-US Shareholder generally is not subject to US federal income tax with respect to gains recognized upon the sale or other disposition of Shares, or upon the sale of precious metal by the Trust, unless (1) the Non-US Shareholder is an individual and is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the sale or other disposition, and the gain is treated as being from United States sources; or (2) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-US Shareholder of a trade or business in the United States.
Taxation in Jurisdictions other than the United States
Prospective purchasers of Shares that are based in or acting out of a jurisdiction other than the United States are advised to consult their own tax advisers as to the tax consequences, under the laws of such jurisdiction (or any other jurisdiction not being the United States to which they are subject), of their purchase, holding, sale and redemption of or any other dealing in Shares and, in particular, as to whether any value added tax, other consumption tax or transfer tax is payable in relation to such purchase, holding, sale, redemption or other dealing.
ERISA and Related Considerations
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and/or Code section 4975 impose certain requirements on certain employee benefit plans and certain other plans and arrangements, including individual retirement accounts and annuities, Keogh plans, and certain commingled investment vehicles or insurance company general or separate accounts in which such plans or arrangements are invested (collectively, “Plans”), and on persons who are fiduciaries with respect to the investment of “plan assets” of a Plan. Government plans and some church plans are not subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA or the provisions of section 4975 of the Code, but may be subject to substantially similar rules under other federal law, or under state or local law (“Other Law”).
In contemplating an investment of a portion of Plan assets in Shares, the Plan fiduciary responsible for making such investment should carefully consider, taking into account the facts and circumstances of the Plan and the “Risk Factors” discussed above and whether such investment is consistent with its fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA or Other Law, including, but not limited to: (1) whether the investment is permitted under the Plan’s governing documents, (2) whether the fiduciary has the authority to make the investment, (3) whether the investment is consistent with the Plan’s funding objectives, (4) the tax effects of the investment on the Plan, and (5) whether the investment is prudent considering the factors discussed in this report. In addition, ERISA and Code section 4975 prohibit a broad range of transactions involving assets of a plan and persons who are “parties in interest” under ERISA or “disqualified persons” under section 4975 of the Code. A violation of these rules may result in the imposition of significant excise taxes and other liabilities. Plans subject to Other Law may be subject to similar restrictions.
It is anticipated that the Shares will constitute “publicly offered securities” as defined in the Department of Labor “Plan Asset Regulations,” §2510.3-101 (b)(2) as modified by section 3(42) of ERISA. Accordingly, pursuant to the Plan Asset Regulations, only Shares purchased by a Plan, and not an interest in the underlying assets held in the Trust, should be treated as assets of the Plan, for purposes of applying the “fiduciary responsibility” rules of ERISA and the “prohibited transaction” rules of ERISA and the Code. Fiduciaries of plans subject to Other Law should consult legal counsel to determine whether there would be a similar result under the Other Law.
Investment by Certain Retirement Plans
Code section 408(m) provides that the acquisition of a “collectible” by an individual retirement account (“IRA”) or a participant-directed account maintained under any plan that is tax-qualified under Code section 401(a) (“Tax Qualified Account”) is treated as a taxable distribution from the account to the owner of the IRA, or to the participant for whom the Tax Qualified Account is maintained, of an amount equal to the cost to the account of acquiring the collectible. The term “collectible” is defined to include, with certain exceptions, “any metal or gem”. The IRS has issued several private letter rulings to the effect that a purchase by an IRA, or by a participant-directed account under a Code section 401(a) plan, of publicly-traded shares in a trust holding precious metals will not be treated as resulting in a taxable distribution to the IRA owner or Tax Qualified Account participant under Code section 408(m). However the private letter rulings provide that, if any of the Shares so purchased are distributed from the IRA or Tax Qualified Account to the IRA owner or Tax Qualified Account participant, or if any precious metal is received by such IRA or Tax Qualified Account upon the redemption of any of the Shares purchased by it, the Shares or precious metal so distributed will be subject to federal income tax in the year of distribution, to the extent provided under the applicable provisions of Code sections 408(d), 408(m) or 402. Accordingly, potential IRA or Tax Qualified Account investors are urged to consult with their own professional advisors concerning the treatment of an investment in Shares under Code section 408(m).
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
Shareholders should consider carefully the risks described below before making an investment decision. Shareholders should also refer to the other information included in this report, including the Trust’s financial statements and the related notes.
RISKS RELATED TO BULLION
The price of Bullion may be affected by the sale of ETVs tracking the gold, palladium, platinum and silver markets.
To the extent existing exchange traded vehicles (“ETVs”) tracking the gold, palladium, platinum and silver markets represent a significant proportion of demand for physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium, large redemptions of the securities of these ETVs could negatively affect physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium prices and the price and NAV of the Shares.
Crises may motivate large-scale sales of gold, palladium, platinum and silver which could decrease the price of Bullion and adversely affect an investment in the Shares.
The possibility of large-scale distress sales of Bullion in times of crisis may have a short-term negative impact on the price of Bullion and adversely affect an investment in the Shares. For example, the 2008 financial credit crisis resulted in significantly depressed prices of gold, silver, platinum and palladium largely due to forced sales and deleveraging from institutional investors. Crises in the future may impair Bullion’s price performance which would, in turn, adversely affect an investment in the Shares.
Several factors may have the effect of causing a decline in the prices of Bullion and a corresponding decline in the price of Shares. Among them:
| ● | A significant increase in Bullion hedging activity by Bullion producers. Should there be an increase in the level of hedge activity of Bullion producing companies, it could cause a decline in world Bullion prices, adversely affecting the price of the Shares. |
| ● | A significant change in the attitude of speculators and investors towards Bullion. Should the speculative community take a negative view towards any Bullion metals, it could cause a decline in world prices for such Bullion metals, negatively impacting the price of the Shares. |
| ● | A widening of interest rate differentials between the cost of money and the cost of Bullion could negatively affect the price of Bullion which, in turn, could negatively affect the price of the Shares. |
| ● | A combination of rising money interest rates and a continuation of the current low cost of borrowing Bullion could improve the economics of selling Bullion forward. This could result in an increase in hedging by Bullion mining companies and short selling by speculative interests, which would negatively affect the price of Bullion. Under such circumstances, the price of the Shares would be similarly affected. |
| ● | Autocatalysts, automobile components that use platinum and palladium, accounted for approximately 88% of the net global demand in platinum and palladium in 2019. While the automotive sector in China and the US is showing signs of recovery, the European market is currently experiencing declining demand and, in certain cases, solvency concerns. Reduced automotive industry sales in Europe may result in a decline in autocatalyst demand. |
| ● | A decline in the global automotive industry may impact the price of platinum and palladium and affect the price of the Shares. |
A decline in the automobile industry or a shift from gasoline-powered to electric vehicles may have the effect of causing a decline in the prices of platinum and palladium and a corresponding decline in the price of Shares.
Autocatalysts, automobile components for emissions control that use platinum and palladium, accounted for approximately 35% of the gross global demand in platinum and 84% of the gross global demand in palladium in 2019. Reduced automotive industry sales or a shift from gasoline-powered to electric vehicles may result in a decline in autocatalyst demand. A contraction in the global automotive industry or more widespread acceptance of electric vehicles may impact the price of platinum and palladium and affect the price of the Shares.
The value of the Shares relates directly to the value of the Bullion held by the Trust and fluctuations in the price of gold, silver, platinum or palladium could materially adversely affect an investment in the Shares.
The Shares are designed to mirror as closely as possible the performance of the price of physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium in the proportions held by the Trust, and the value of the Shares relates directly to the value of the Bullion held by the Trust, less the Trust’s liabilities (including estimated accrued but unpaid expenses). The prices of physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium have fluctuated widely over the past several years. Several factors may affect the price of these metals, including:
| ● | Investors’ expectations with respect to the rate of inflation; |
| ● | Currency exchange rates; |
| ● | Interest rates; |
| ● | Investment and trading activities of hedge funds and commodity funds; |
| ● | Global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations; and |
| ● | Global Bullion supply and demand. |
In addition, investors should be aware that there is no assurance that gold, silver, platinum or palladium will maintain their long-term value in terms of purchasing power in the future. In the event that the price of any metal held by the Trust declines, the Sponsor expects the value of an investment in the Shares to decline proportionately.
RISKS RELATED TO THE SHARES
The sale of the Trust’s Bullion to pay expenses not assumed by the Sponsor at a time of low Bullion prices could adversely affect the value of the Shares.
The Trustee sells Bullion held by the Trust to pay Trust expenses not assumed by the Sponsor on an as-needed basis irrespective of then-current gold, silver, platinum and palladium prices. The Trust is not actively managed and no attempt will be made to buy or sell Bullion to protect against or to take advantage of fluctuations in the price of Bullion. Consequently, the Trust’s Bullion may be sold at a time when the Bullion price is low, resulting in a negative effect on the value of the Shares.
The value of the Shares will be adversely affected if the Trust is required to indemnify the Sponsor or the Trustee under the Trust Agreement.
Under the Trust Agreement, each of the Sponsor and the Trustee has a right to be indemnified from the Trust for any liability or expense it incurs without gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct, willful malfeasance or reckless disregard on its part. That means the Sponsor or the Trustee may require the assets of the Trust to be sold in order to cover losses or liability suffered by it. Any sale of that kind would reduce the NAV of the Trust and the value of the Shares.
The Shares may trade at a price which is at, above or below the NAV per Share and any discount or premium in the trading price relative to the NAV per Share may widen as a result of non-concurrent trading hours between the NYSE Arca and London, Zurich and COMEX.
The Shares may trade at, above or below the NAV per Share. The NAV per Share fluctuates with changes in the market value of the Trust’s assets. The trading price of the Shares fluctuates in accordance with changes in the NAV per Share as well as market supply and demand. The amount of the discount or premium in the trading price relative to the NAV per Share may be influenced by non-concurrent trading hours between the NYSE Arca and the major Bullion markets. While the Shares will trade on the NYSE Arca until 4:00 p.m. New York time, liquidity in the market for gold, platinum and palladium will be reduced after the close of the major world markets for gold, platinum and palladium, including London, Zurich and the COMEX and liquidity in the market for silver will be reduced after the close of the major world silver markets, including London and the COMEX. As a result, during these periods, trading spreads and the resulting premium or discount on the Shares may widen.
A possible “short squeeze” due to a sudden increase in demand of Shares that largely exceeds supply may lead to price volatility in the Shares.
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Investors may purchase Shares to hedge existing exposure to Bullion or to speculate on the price of Bullion. Speculation on the price of Bullion may involve long and short exposures. To the extent aggregate short exposure exceeds the number of Shares available for purchase (for example, in the event that large redemption requests by Authorized Participants dramatically affect Share liquidity), investors with short exposure may have to pay a premium to repurchase Shares for delivery to Share lenders. Those repurchases may in turn, dramatically increase the price of the Shares until additional Shares are created through the creation process. This is often referred to as a “short squeeze.” A short squeeze could lead to volatile price movements in Shares that are not directly correlated to the price of Bullion.
Purchasing activity in the platinum and palladium markets associated with Basket creations or selling activity following Basket redemptions may affect the prices of platinum and palladium and Share trading prices. These price changes may adversely affect an investment in the Shares.
Purchasing activity associated with acquiring the Bullion required for deposit into the Trust in connection with the creation of Baskets may increase the market prices of platinum and palladium, which will result in higher prices for the Shares. Increases in the market prices of platinum and palladium may also occur as a result of the purchasing activity of other market participants. Other market participants may attempt to benefit from an increase in the market prices of platinum and palladium that may result from increased purchasing activity of platinum and palladium connected with the issuance of Baskets. If the prices of platinum and palladium decline, the trading price of the Shares will also decline.
Selling activity associated with sales of platinum and palladium withdrawn from the Trust in connection with the redemption of Baskets may decrease the market price of platinum and palladium, which will result in lower prices for the Shares. Decreases in the market price of platinum and palladium may also occur as a result of the selling activity of other market participants. If the price of platinum and palladium declines, the trading price of the Shares will also decline.
Since there is no limit on the amount of platinum and palladium that the Trust may acquire, the Trust, as it grows, may have an impact on the supply and demand of platinum and palladium that ultimately may affect the price of the Shares in a manner unrelated to other factors affecting the global markets for platinum and palladium.
The Trust Agreement places no limit on the amount of platinum and palladium the Trust may hold. Moreover, the Trust may issue an unlimited number of Shares, subject to registration requirements, and thereby acquire an unlimited amount of platinum and palladium. The global market for platinum and palladium is characterized by supply and demand constraints that are generally not present in the markets for other precious metals such as gold and silver. Between 2015 to 2019, world platinum mine supply averaged 6.1 million ounces and world palladium mine supply averaged 6.7 million ounces. During the same period, total gross global demand measured 8.1 million ounces of platinum and 10.1 million ounces of palladium. If the amount of platinum and palladium acquired by the Trust is large enough in relation to global platinum and palladium supply and demand, further in-kind creations and redemptions of Shares could have an impact on the supply and demand of platinum and palladium unrelated to other factors affecting the global markets for platinum and palladium. Such an impact could affect the prices for platinum and palladium that would directly affect the price at which Shares are traded on the Exchange or the price of future Baskets created or redeemed by the Trust. The Trust and the Sponsor cannot provide Shareholders any assurance that the metal holdings of the Trust will have a similar impact or have no long-term metal price impact thereby affecting Share trading prices.
The Shares and their value could decrease if unanticipated operational or trading problems arise.
There may be unanticipated problems or issues with respect to the mechanics of the Trust’s operations and the trading of the Shares that could have a material adverse effect on an investment in the Shares. In addition, although the Trust is not actively “managed” by traditional methods, to the extent that unanticipated operational or trading problems or issues arise, the Sponsor’s past experience and qualifications may not be suitable for solving these problems or issues.
Discrepancies, disruptions or unreliability of the LBMA PM Gold Price, the LBMA Silver Price, or the LME PM Fix could impact the value of the Trust’s Bullion and the market price of the Shares.
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The Trustee values the Trust’s gold, silver, platinum and palladium pursuant to the LBMA PM Gold Price for gold, the LBMA Silver Price for silver, and the LME PM Fix for platinum and palladium. In the event that the LBMA PM Gold Price, the LBMA Silver Price, or the LME PM Fix (the “London Metal Prices”) prove to be inaccurate benchmarks, or such London Metal Prices vary materially from the prices determined by other mechanisms for valuing precious metals, the value of the Trust’s Bullion and the market price of the Shares could be adversely impacted. Any future developments in the London Metal Prices, to the extent they have a material impact on the London Metal Prices, could adversely impact the value of the Trust’s Bullion and the market price of the Shares. It is possible that electronic failures or other unanticipated events may occur that could result in delays in the announcement of, or the inability of the benchmarks to produce, the London Metal Prices on any given date. Furthermore, any actual or perceived disruptions that result in the perception that the London Metal Prices are vulnerable to actual or attempted manipulation could adversely affect the behavior of market participants, which may have an effect on the prices of gold, silver, platinum or palladium. If the London Metal Prices are unreliable for any reason, the prices of gold, silver, platinum and palladium and the market price for the Shares may decline or be subject to greater volatility.
If the process of creation and redemption of Baskets encounters any unanticipated difficulties, the possibility for arbitrage transactions intended to keep the price of the Shares closely linked to the prices of the underlying Bullion may not exist and, as a result, the price of the Shares may fall.
If the processes of creation and redemption of Shares (which depend on timely transfers of Bullion to and by the Custodian) encounter any unanticipated difficulties, including, but not limited to, the Trust’s inability in the future to obtain regulatory approvals for the offer and sale of additional Shares after its present offering is completed, 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 prices of the underlying Bullion may not take the risk that, as a result of those difficulties, they may not be able to realize the profit they expect. If this is the case, the liquidity of Shares may decline and the price of the Shares may fluctuate independently of the prices of the underlying Bullion and may fall. Additionally, redemptions could be suspended in any period during which (1) the NYSE Arca is closed (other than customary weekend or holiday closings) or trading on the NYSE Arca is suspended or restricted, or (2) an emergency exists as a result of which delivery, disposal or evaluation of the Bullion is not reasonably practicable.
The liquidity of the Shares may be affected by the withdrawal from participation of one or more Authorized Participants.
In the event that one or more Authorized Participants having substantial interests in Shares or otherwise responsible for a significant portion of the Shares’ daily trading volume on the Exchange withdraw from participation, the liquidity of the Shares will likely decrease which could adversely affect the market price of the Shares and result in Shareholders incurring a loss on their investment.
Shareholders do not have the protections associated with ownership of shares in an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the protections afforded by the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”).
The Trust is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and is not required to register under such act. Consequently, Shareholders do not have the regulatory protections provided to investors in investment companies. The Trust does not and will not hold or trade in commodity futures contracts, “commodity interests” or any other instruments regulated by the CEA, as administered by the CFTC and the National Futures Association (“NFA”). Furthermore, the Trust is not a commodity pool for purposes of the CEA and the Shares are not “commodity interests”, and neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee is subject to regulation by the CFTC as a commodity pool operator or a commodity trading advisor in connection with the Trust or the Shares. Consequently, Shareholders do not have the regulatory protections provided to investors in CEA-regulated instruments or commodity pools operated by registered commodity pool operators or advised by commodity trading advisors.
The Trust may be required to terminate and liquidate at a time that is disadvantageous to Shareholders.
If the Trust is required to terminate and liquidate, such termination and liquidation could occur at a time which is disadvantageous to Shareholders, such as when Bullion prices are lower than the Bullion prices at the time when Shareholders purchased their Shares. In such a case, when the Trust’s Bullion is sold as part of the Trust’s liquidation, the resulting proceeds distributed to Shareholders will be less than if Bullion prices were higher at the time of sale.
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The lack of an active market for the Shares may limit the ability of Shareholders to sell the Shares.
Although Shares are listed for trading on the NYSE Arca, it cannot be assumed that an active trading market for the Shares will develop or be maintained. If an investor needs to sell Shares at a time when no active market for Shares exists, such lack of an active market will most likely adversely affect the price the investor receives for the Shares (assuming the investor is able to sell them).
Shareholders do not have the rights enjoyed by investors in certain other vehicles.
As interests in an investment trust, the Shares have none of the statutory rights normally associated with the ownership of shares of a corporation (including, for example, the right to bring “oppression” or “derivative” actions). In addition, the Shares have limited voting and distribution rights (for example, Shareholders do not have the right to elect directors or approve amendments to the Trust Agreement and do not receive dividends).
An investment in the Shares may be adversely affected by competition from other methods of investing in Bullion.
The Trust competes with other financial vehicles, including traditional debt and equity securities issued by companies in the gold, silver, platinum and palladium industries and other securities backed by or linked to Bullion, direct investments in Bullion and investment vehicles similar to the Trust. Market and financial conditions, and other conditions beyond the Sponsor’s control, may make it more attractive to invest in other financial vehicles or to invest in Bullion directly, which could limit the market for the Shares and reduce the liquidity of the Shares.
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The amount of Bullion represented by each Share will decrease over the life of the Trust due to the recurring deliveries of Bullion necessary to pay the Sponsor’s Fee in-kind and potential sales of Bullion to pay in cash the Trust expenses not assumed by the Sponsor. Without increases in the price of gold, silver, platinum and palladium sufficient to compensate for that decrease, the price of the Shares will also decline proportionately over the life of the Trust.
The amount of Bullion represented by each Share decreases each day by the Sponsor’s Fee. In addition, although the Sponsor has agreed to assume all organizational and certain administrative and marketing expenses incurred by the Trust (the Trustee’s monthly fee and out-of-pocket expenses, the Custodian’s fee and reimbursement of the Custodian’s expenses under the Custody Agreements, Exchange listing fees, SEC registration fees, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and up to $100,000 per annum in legal expenses), in exceptional cases certain Trust expenses may need to be paid by the Trust. Because the Trust does not have any income, it must either make payments in-kind by deliveries of Bullion (as is the case with the Sponsor’s Fee) or it must sell Bullion to obtain cash (as in the case of any exceptional expenses). The result of these sales of Bullion and recurring deliveries of Bullion to pay the Sponsor’s Fee in-kind is a decrease in the amount of Bullion represented by each Share. New deposits of Bullion, received in exchange for new Shares issued by the Trust, will not reverse this trend.
A decrease in the amount of Bullion represented by each Share results in a decrease in each Share’s price even if the price of gold, palladium, platinum and silver does not change. To retain the Share’s original price, the price of gold, silver, platinum and palladium must increase. Without that increase, the lesser amount of gold, silver, platinum and palladium represented by the Share will have a correspondingly lower price. If this increase does not occur, or is not sufficient to counter the lesser amount of Bullion represented by each Share, Shareholders will sustain losses on their investment in Shares.
An increase in Trust expenses not assumed by the Sponsor, or the existence of unexpected liabilities affecting the Trust, will require the Trustee to sell larger amounts of Bullion, and will result in a more rapid decrease of the amount of Bullion represented by each Share and a corresponding decrease in its value.
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RISKS RELATED TO THE CUSTODY OF BULLION
The Trust’s Bullion may be subject to loss, damage, theft or restriction on access.
There is a risk that part or all of the Trust’s Bullion could be lost, damaged or stolen. Access to the Trust’s Bullion could also be restricted by natural events (such as an earthquake) or human actions (such as a terrorist attack). Any of these events may adversely affect the operations of the Trust and, consequently, an investment in the Shares.
The Trust’s lack of insurance protection and the Shareholders’ limited rights of legal recourse against the Trust, the Trustee, the Sponsor, the Custodian, the Zurich Sub-Custodian and any other sub-custodian exposes the Trust and its Shareholders to the risk of loss of the Trust’s Bullion for which no person is liable.
The Trust does not insure its Bullion. The Custodian maintains insurance with regard to its business on such terms and conditions as it considers appropriate in connection with its custodial obligations and is responsible for all costs, fees and expenses arising from the insurance policy or policies. The Trust is not a beneficiary of any such insurance and does not have the ability to dictate the existence, nature or amount of coverage. Therefore, Shareholders cannot be assured that the Custodian maintains adequate insurance or any insurance with respect to the Bullion held by the Custodian on behalf of the Trust. In addition, the Custodian and the Trustee do not require the Zurich Sub-Custodian or any other direct or indirect sub-custodians to be insured or bonded with respect to their custodial activities or in respect of the Bullion held by them on behalf of the Trust. Further, Shareholders’ recourse against the Trust, the Trustee and the Sponsor under New York law, the Custodian, the Zurich Sub-Custodian and any other sub-custodian under English law, and any other sub-custodian under the law governing their custody operations is limited. Consequently, a loss may be suffered with respect to the Trust’s Bullion which is not covered by insurance and for which no person is liable in damages.
The Custodian’s limited liability under the Custody Agreements and English law may impair the ability of the Trust to recover losses concerning its Bullion and any recovery may be limited, even in the event of fraud, to the market value of the Bullion at the time the fraud is discovered.
The liability of the Custodian is limited under the Custody Agreements. Under the Custody Agreements between the Trustee and the Custodian which establish the Trust’s unallocated Bullion account (“Unallocated Account”) and the Trust’s allocated Bullion account (“Allocated Account”), the Custodian is only liable for losses that are the direct result of its own negligence, fraud or willful default in the performance of its duties. Any such liability is further limited to the market value of the Bullion lost or damaged at the time such negligence, fraud or willful default is discovered by the Custodian provided the Custodian notifies the Trust and the Trustee promptly after the discovery of the loss or damage. Under each Authorized Participant Unallocated Bullion Account Agreement (between the Custodian and an Authorized Participant establishing an Authorized Participant Unallocated Account), the Custodian is not contractually or otherwise liable for any losses suffered by any Authorized Participant or Shareholder that are not the direct result of its own gross negligence, fraud or willful default in the performance of its duties under such agreement, and in no event will its liability exceed the market value of the balance in the Authorized Participant Unallocated Account at the time such gross negligence, fraud or willful default is discovered by the Custodian. For any Authorized Participant Unallocated Bullion Account Agreement between an Authorized Participant and another Bullion clearing bank, the liability of the Bullion clearing bank to the Authorized Participant may be greater or lesser than the Custodian’s liability to the Authorized Participant described in the preceding sentence, depending on the terms of the agreement. In addition, the Custodian will not be liable for any delay in performance or any non-performance of any of its obligations under the Allocated Account Agreement, the Unallocated Account Agreement or the Authorized Participant Unallocated Bullion Account Agreement by reason of any cause beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, war or terrorism. As a result, the recourse of the Trustee or a Shareholder, under English law, is limited. Furthermore, under English common law, the Custodian, the Zurich Sub-Custodian, or any other sub-custodian will not be liable for any delay in the performance or any non-performance of its custodial obligations by reason of any cause beyond its reasonable control.
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The obligations of the Custodian, the Zurich Sub-Custodian and any other sub-custodians are governed by English law, which may frustrate the Trust in attempting to seek legal redress against the Custodian, the Zurich Sub-Custodian or any other sub-custodian concerning its Bullion.
The obligations of the Custodian under the Custody Agreements are, and the Authorized Participant Unallocated Bullion Account Agreements may be, governed by English law. The Custodian has entered into arrangements with the Zurich Sub-Custodian and may enter into arrangements with any other sub-custodians for the custody or temporary holding of the Trust’s Bullion, which arrangements may also be governed by English law. The Trust is a New York common law trust. Any United States, New York or other court situated in the United States may have difficulty interpreting English law (which, insofar as it relates to custody arrangements, is largely derived from court rulings rather than statute), LBMA and the LPPM rules or the customs and practices in the London custody market. It may be difficult or impossible for the Trust to sue the Zurich Sub-Custodian or any other sub-custodian in a United States, New York or other court situated in the United States. In addition, it may be difficult, time consuming and/or expensive for the Trust to enforce in a foreign court a judgment rendered by a United States, New York or other court situated in the United States.
Although the relationship between the Custodian and the Zurich Sub-Custodian concerning the Trust’s allocated Bullion is expressly governed by English law, a court hearing any legal dispute concerning their arrangement may disregard that choice of law and apply Swiss law, in which case the ability of the Trust to seek legal redress against the Zurich Sub-Custodian may be frustrated.
The obligations of the Zurich Sub-Custodian under its arrangement with the Custodian with respect to the Trust’s allocated gold, silver, platinum and palladium is expressly governed by English law. Nevertheless, a court in the United States, England or Switzerland may determine that English law should not apply and, instead, apply Swiss law to that arrangement. Not only might it be difficult or impossible for a United States or English court to apply Swiss law to the Zurich Sub-Custodian’s arrangement, but application of Swiss law may, among other things, alter the relative rights and obligations of the Custodian and the Zurich Sub-Custodian to the extent that a loss to the Trust’s Bullion may not have adequate or any legal redress. Further, the ability of the Trust to seek legal redress against the Zurich Sub-Custodian may be frustrated by application of Swiss law.
The Trust may not have adequate sources of recovery if its Bullion is lost, damaged, stolen or destroyed.
If the Trust’s Bullion is lost, damaged, stolen or destroyed under circumstances rendering a party liable to the Trust, the responsible party may not have the financial resources sufficient to satisfy the Trust’s claim. For example, as to a particular event of loss, the only source of recovery for the Trust might be limited to the Custodian, the Zurich Sub-Custodian or any other sub-custodian or, to the extent identifiable, other responsible third parties (e.g., a thief or terrorist), any of which may not have the financial resources (including liability insurance coverage) to satisfy a valid claim of the Trust.
Shareholders and Authorized Participants lack the right under the Custody Agreements to assert claims directly against the Custodian, the Zurich Sub-Custodian, and any other sub-custodian.
Neither the Shareholders nor any Authorized Participant have a right under the Custody Agreements to assert a claim of the Trust against the Custodian, the Zurich Sub-Custodian or any other sub-custodian. Claims under the Custody Agreements may only be asserted by the Trustee on behalf of the Trust.
The Custodian may be reliant on the Zurich Sub-Custodians for the safekeeping of the Trust’s platinum and palladium held in Zurich on an allocated basis. Furthermore, the Custodian has limited obligations to oversee or monitor the Zurich Sub-Custodians. As a result, failure by a Zurich Sub-Custodian to exercise due care in the safekeeping of the Trust’s platinum and palladium could result in a loss to the Trust.
While some trading occurs in London, platinum and palladium generally trade on a loco Zurich basis, whereby the physical precious metal is held in vaults located in Zurich or is transferred into accounts established in Zurich. The Custodian does not have a vault in Zurich and will be reliant on one or more Zurich Sub-Custodians for the safekeeping of that portion of the Trust’s allocated platinum and palladium that is held in Zurich. Other than obligations to (1) use reasonable care in appointing a Zurich Sub-Custodian, (2) require the Zurich Sub-Custodians to segregate the platinum and palladium held by it for the Trust from any other platinum and palladium held by it for the Custodian and any other customers of the Custodian by making appropriate entries in its books and records and (3) ensure that a Zurich Sub-Custodian provides confirmation to the Trustee that it has undertaken to segregate the platinum and palladium held by it for the Trust, the Custodian is not liable for the acts or omissions of the Zurich Sub-Custodians. Other than as described above, the Custodian does not undertake to monitor the performance by the Zurich Sub-Custodians of their custody functions. The Trustee’s obligation to monitor the performance of the Custodian is limited to receiving and reviewing the reports of the Custodian. The Trustee does not monitor the performance of the Zurich Sub-Custodians or any other sub-custodian. In addition, the ability of the Trustee and the Sponsor to monitor the performance of the Custodian may be limited because, under the Custody Agreements, the Trustee and the Sponsor have only limited rights to visit the premises of the Custodian or a Zurich Sub-Custodian for the purpose of examining the Trust’s platinum or palladium and certain related records maintained by the Custodian or the Zurich Sub-Custodians.
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As a result of the above, any failure by a Zurich Sub-Custodian to exercise due care in the safekeeping of the Trust’s platinum or palladium may not be detectable or controllable by the Custodian, the Sponsor or the Trustee and could result in a loss to the Trust.
Because the Trustee does not, and the Custodian has limited obligations to, oversee and monitor the activities of sub-custodians who may hold the Trust’s Bullion, failure by the sub-custodians to exercise due care in the safekeeping of the Trust’s Bullion could result in a loss to the Trust.
Under the Allocated Account Agreement, the Custodian may appoint from time to time one or more sub-custodians to hold the Trust’s Bullion on a temporary basis pending delivery to the Custodian. The sub-custodians which the Custodian currently uses are (1) The Bank of Nova Scotia – ScotiaMocatta, Brinks Global Services Inc., HSBC Bank plc and ICBC Standard Bank plc for all Bullion; (2) Malca-Amit UK Limited, London, for gold and platinum; (3) the Bank of England for gold only; (4) Loomis for silver only; (5) Malca-Amit SA, Zurich, for palladium and platinum; (6) UBS for gold, palladium and platinum, and the custodian may use LBMA and LPPM market-making members that provide bullion vaulting and clearing services to third parties. The Custodian will select the Zurich Sub-Custodians, and each Zurich Sub-Custodian will custody that portion of the Trust’s allocated platinum and palladium to be held in Zurich for the Custodian. The Custodian is required under the Allocated Account Agreement to use reasonable care in appointing the Zurich Sub-Custodians and any other sub-custodian, making the Custodian liable only for negligence or bad faith in the selection of such sub-custodians, and has an obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain delivery of the Trust’s Bullion from any sub-custodians appointed by the Custodian. Otherwise, the Custodian is not liable for the acts or omissions of its sub-custodians. These sub-custodians may in turn appoint further sub-custodians, but the Custodian is not responsible for the appointment of these further sub-custodians. The Custodian does not undertake to monitor the performance by sub-custodians of their custody functions or their selection of further sub-custodians. The Trustee does not monitor the performance of the Custodian other than to review the reports provided by the Custodian pursuant to the Custody Agreements and does not undertake to monitor the performance of any sub-custodian. Furthermore, except for the Zurich Sub-Custodian, the Trustee may have no right to visit the premises of any sub-custodian for the purposes of examining the Trust’s Bullion or any records maintained by the sub-custodian, and no sub-custodian will be obligated to cooperate in any review the Trustee may wish to conduct of the facilities, procedures, records or creditworthiness of such sub-custodian. In addition, the ability of the Trustee to monitor the performance of the Custodian and the Zurich Sub-Custodian may be limited because under the Allocated Account Agreement and the Unallocated Account Agreement the Trustee has only limited rights to visit the premises of the Custodian for the purpose of examining the Trust’s Bullion and certain related records maintained by the Custodian and the Zurich Sub-Custodian. See “Custody of the Trust’s Bullion” for more information about sub-custodians that may hold the Trust’s bullion.
The obligations of any sub-custodian of the Trust’s Bullion are not determined by contractual arrangements but by LBMA and LPPM rules and London or Zurich Bullion market customs and practices, which may prevent the Trust’s recovery of damages for losses on its Bullion custodied with sub-custodians.
Except for the Custodian’s arrangements with the Zurich Sub-Custodians, there are expected to be no written contractual arrangements between sub-custodians that hold the Trust’s Bullion and the Trustee or the Custodian because traditionally such arrangements are based on the LBMA’s and the LPPM’s rules and on the customs and practices of the London or Zurich Bullion markets. In the event of a legal dispute with respect to or arising from such arrangements, it may be difficult to define such customs and practices. The LBMA’s and the LPPM’s rules may be subject to change outside the control of the Trust. Under English law, neither the Trustee nor the Custodian would have a supportable breach of contract claim against a sub-custodian for losses relating to the safekeeping of Bullion. If the Trust’s Bullion is lost or damaged while in the custody of a sub-custodian, the Trust may not be able to recover damages from the Custodian or the sub-custodian. Whether a sub-custodian will be liable for the failure of sub-custodians appointed by it to exercise due care in the safekeeping of the Trust’s Bullion will depend on the facts and circumstances of the particular situation. Shareholders cannot be assured that the Trustee will be able to recover damages from sub-custodians whether appointed by the Custodian or by another sub-custodian for any losses relating to the safekeeping of Bullion by such sub-custodian.
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Physical Bullion allocated to the Trust in connection with the creation of a Basket may not meet the Good Delivery Standards and, if a Basket is issued against such Bullion, the Trust may suffer a loss.
Neither the Trustee nor the Custodian independently confirms the fineness of the physical gold, silver, platinum or palladium allocated to the Trust in connection with the creation of a Basket. The Bullion allocated to the Trust by the Custodian may be different from the reported fineness or weight required by the LBMA’s standards for gold and silver bars or the LPPM’s standards for platinum and palladium plates and ingots delivered in settlement of a Bullion trade (“Good Delivery Standards”), the standards required by the Trust. If the Trustee nevertheless issues a Basket against such Bullion, and if the Custodian fails to satisfy its obligation to credit the Trust the amount of any deficiency, the Trust may suffer a loss.
Bullion held in the Trust’s unallocated Bullion account and any Authorized Participant’s unallocated Bullion account will not be segregated from the Custodian’s assets. If the Custodian becomes insolvent, its assets may not be adequate to satisfy a claim by the Trust or any Authorized Participant. In addition, in the event of the Custodian’s insolvency, there may be a delay and costs incurred in identifying the gold and silver bars and platinum and palladium plates and ingots held in the Trust’s allocated Bullion account.
Bullion which is part of a deposit for a purchase order or part of a redemption distribution is held for a time in the Trust Unallocated Account and, previously or subsequently, in the Authorized Participant Unallocated Account of the purchasing or redeeming Authorized Participant. During those times, the Trust and the Authorized Participant, as the case may be, have no proprietary rights to any specific bars of gold or silver or plates or ingots of platinum or palladium held by the Custodian and each is an unsecured creditor of the Custodian with respect to the amount of Bullion held in such unallocated accounts. In addition, if the Custodian fails to allocate the Trust’s Bullion in a timely manner, in the proper amounts or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Unallocated Account Agreement, or if a sub-custodian fails to so segregate Bullion held by it on behalf of the Trust, unallocated Bullion will not be segregated from the Custodian’s assets, and the Trust will be an unsecured creditor of the Custodian with respect to the amount so held in the event of the insolvency of the Custodian. In the event the Custodian becomes insolvent, the Custodian’s assets might not be adequate to satisfy a claim by the Trust or the Authorized Participant for the amount of Bullion held in their respective unallocated Bullion accounts.
In the case of the insolvency of the Custodian, a liquidator may seek to freeze access to the Bullion held in all of the accounts held by the Custodian, including the Trust Allocated Account. Although the Trust would be able to claim ownership of properly allocated Bullion, the Trust could incur expenses in connection with asserting such claims, and the assertion of such a claim by the liquidator could delay creations and redemptions of Baskets.
In issuing Baskets, the Trustee relies on certain information received from the Custodian which is subject to confirmation after the Trustee has relied on the information. If such information turns out to be incorrect, Baskets may be issued in exchange for an amount of Bullion which is more or less than the amount of Bullion which is required to be deposited with the Trust.
The Custodian’s definitive records are prepared after the close of its business day. However, when issuing Baskets, the Trustee relies on information reporting the amount of Bullion credited to the Trust’s accounts which it receives from the Custodian during the business day and which is subject to correction during the preparation of the Custodian’s definitive records after the close of business. If the information relied upon by the Trustee is incorrect, the amount of Bullion actually received by the Trust may be more or less than the amount required to be deposited for the issuance of Baskets.
39
GENERAL RISKS
The Trust relies on the information and technology systems of the Trustee, the Custodian, the Marketing Agent and, to a lesser degree, the Sponsor, which could be adversely affected by information systems interruptions, cybersecurity attacks or other disruptions which could have a material adverse effect on the Trust’s record keeping and operations.
The Custodian, the Trustee and the Marketing Agent depend upon information technology infrastructure, including network, hardware and software systems to conduct their business as it relates to the Trust. A cybersecurity incident, or a failure to protect their computer systems, networks and information against cybersecurity threats, could result in a loss of information and adversely impact their ability to conduct their business, including their business on behalf of the Trust. Despite implementation of network and other cybersecurity measures, their security measures may not be adequate to protect against all cybersecurity threats.
Uncertainty regarding the effects of Brexit could adversely affect the price of the Shares.
The United Kingdom left the European Union (the “EU”) (“Brexit”) on January 31, 2020, subject to a transitional period which ended December 31, 2020. During the transitional period, although the United Kingdom was no longer a member state of the EU, it remained subject to EU law and regulations as if it were still a member state. The United Kingdom and the EU were to negotiate the terms of their future trading relationship during the transitional period. On December 24, 2020, negotiators representing the United Kingdom and the EU came to a preliminary trade agreement, which was subsequently ratified by the UK Parliament. The trade agreement must also be ratified by the European Parliament.
The unavoidable uncertainties and events related to Brexit could increase taxes and costs of business and cause volatility in currency exchange rates and interest rates. Brexit could adversely affect the performance of contracts in existence at the date of Brexit and European, United Kingdom or worldwide political, regulatory, economic or market conditions and could contribute to instability in political institutions, regulatory agencies and financial markets. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations as a new relationship between the United Kingdom and EU is defined and the United Kingdom determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Any of these effects of Brexit, and others that cannot be anticipated, could adversely affect the price of the Shares. In addition, the risk that Standard Life Aberdeen plc, the parent of the Sponsor and which is headquartered in the United Kingdom, failed to adequately prepare for the end of Brexit’s transitional period could have significant customer, reputation and capital impacts for Standard Life Aberdeen plc and its subsidiaries, including those providing services to the Trust; however, Standard Life Aberdeen plc and its subsidiaries have detailed contingency planning in place to seek to manage the consequences of Brexit to the Trust and to avoid any disruption on the Trust and to the services they provide. Given the fluidity and complexity of the situation, we cannot provide assurance that the Trust will not be adversely impacted despite these preparations.
40
The Trust as well as the Sponsor and its service providers are vulnerable to the effects of public health crises, including the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.
The respiratory illness COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus has resulted in a global pandemic and major disruption to economies and markets around the world, including the United States. Financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and trading in many instruments has been disrupted. Liquidity for many instruments has been greatly reduced for periods of time. Some interest rates are very low and in some cases yields are negative. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses. These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time, and may continue to affect adversely the value and liquidity of the Trust’s investments. The ultimate economic fallout from the pandemic, and the long-term impact on economies, markets, industries and individual issuers, including the Trust and its service providers, are not known. The information technology and other operational systems upon which the Trust’s service providers rely could be impaired and the ability of employees of the Trust’s service providers to perform essential tasks on behalf of the Trust could be disrupted. Governments and central banks, including the Federal Reserve in the U.S., have taken extraordinary and unprecedented actions to support local and global economies and the financial markets. The impact of these measures, and whether they will be effective to mitigate the economic and market disruption, will not be known for some time.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
Not applicable.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
None
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
On October 22, 2010, the Trust’s Shares commenced trading on the NYSE Arca under the symbol GLTR, and the Trust commenced operations, began accruing expenses and began the calculation of NAV.
The following tables set out the range of high and low closing prices for the Shares as reported for NYSE Arca transactions for each of the quarters during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
41
| Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2020: Quarter Ended | |||||||||
| High | Low | ||||||||
| March 31, 2020 | $ | 85.13 | $ | 65.30 | |||||
| June 30, 2020 | $ | 83.53 | $ | 74.44 | |||||
| September 30, 2020 | $ | 104.83 | $ | 82.72 | |||||
| December 31, 2020 | $ | 99.23 | $ | 90.77 | |||||
| Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019: Quarter Ended | |||||||||
| High | Low | ||||||||
| March 31, 2019 | $ | 66.67 | $ | 63.21 | |||||
| June 30, 2019 | $ | 68.38 | $ | 61.86 | |||||
| September 30, 2019 | $ | 77.41 | $ | 67.19 | |||||
| December 31, 2019 | $ | 76.40 | $ | 71.82 | |||||
The number of outstanding Share of the Trust as of February 24, 2021 was 9,250,000.
Monthly Share Price
The following table sets forth, for each of the most recent six months, the high and low closing prices of the Shares, as reported for NYSE Arca transactions.
| Month | High | Low | |||||||
| August 2020 | $ | 104.83 | $ | 95.69 | |||||
| September 2020 | $ | 101.42 | $ | 92.03 | |||||
| October 2020 | $ | 97.83 | $ | 92.67 | |||||
| November 2020 | $ | 99.23 | $ | 90.77 | |||||
| December 2020 | $ | 98.95 | $ | 93.11 | |||||
| January 2021 | $ | 101.84 | $ | 94.64 | |||||
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Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities
The Trust issues and redeems Shares only with Authorized Participants in exchange for Bullion, only in aggregations of 50,000 Shares or integral multiples thereof. A list of current Authorized Participants is available from the Sponsor or the Trustee and is included in Item 7 of this report. Although the Trust does not purchase Shares directly from its Shareholders, in connection with the redemption of Baskets, the Trust redeemed as follows during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| Month | Total number of Shares redeemed | Gold | Average ounces of Bullion per Share
Silver | Platinum | Palladium | ||||||||||||||||
| January 2020 | 50,000 | 0.028 | 1.041 | 0.004 | 0.006 | ||||||||||||||||
| February 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| March 2020 | 250,000 | 0.028 | 1.039 | 0.004 | 0.006 | ||||||||||||||||
| April 2020 | 250,000 | 0.028 | 1.039 | 0.004 | 0.006 | ||||||||||||||||
| May 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| June 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| July 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| August 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| September 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| October 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| November 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| December 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 550,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Month | Total number of Shares redeemed | Gold | Average ounces of Bullion per Share
Silver | Platinum | Palladium | ||||||||||||||||
| January 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| February 2019 | 150,000 | 0.029 | 1.046 | 0.004 | 0.006 | ||||||||||||||||
| March 2019 | 150,000 | 0.029 | 1.046 | 0.004 | 0.006 | ||||||||||||||||
| April 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| May 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| June 2020 | 100,000 | 0.029 | 1.044 | 0.004 | 0.006 | ||||||||||||||||
| July 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| August 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| September 2019 | 50,000 | 0.028 | 1.043 | 0.004 | 0.006 | ||||||||||||||||
| October 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| November 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| December 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 450,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following selected financial data for the reporting periods should be read in conjunction with the Trust’s financial statements and related notes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Year
Ended | Year
Ended | Year
Ended | Year
Ended | Year
Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$, except for Share and per Share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 842,282 | $ | 499,326 | $ | 359,447 | $ | 362,116 | $ | 261,641 | ||||||||||
| Total gain/(loss) on Bullion | $ | 145,383 | $ | 78,598 | $ | (7,542 | ) | $ | 33,188 | $ | 6,284 | |||||||||
| Change in net assets from operations | $ | 141,562 | $ | 76,194 | $ | (9,675 | ) | $ | 31,245 | $ | 5,000 | |||||||||
| Weighted average number of Shares | 7,247,814 | 5,811,918 | 5,700,685 | 5,131,918 | 3,443,989 | |||||||||||||||
| Net increase / (decrease) in net assets per Share | $ | 19.53 | $ | 13.11 | $ | (1.70 | ) | $ | 6.09 | $ | 1.45 | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Item 7. 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 the financial statements included with this report. 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. We remind readers that forward-looking statements are merely predictions and therefore inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors and involve known and unknown risks that could cause the actual results, performance, levels of activity, or our achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, levels of activity, or our achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Trust undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Introduction.
The Aberdeen Standard Precious Metals Basket ETF Trust (the “Trust”) is a trust formed under the laws of the State of New York. The Trust does not have any officers, directors, or employees, and is administered by The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Trustee”) acting as trustee pursuant to the Depositary Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) between the Trustee and Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Sponsor LLC, the sponsor of the Trust (the “Sponsor”). The Trust issues shares (“Shares”) representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in its net assets. The assets of the Trust consist of gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion (“Bullion”) held by a custodian as an agent of the Trust and responsible only to the Trustee.
The Trust is a passive investment vehicle and the objective of the Trust is merely for the value of each Share to approximately reflect, at any given time, the price of the Bullion owned by the Trust, less the Trust’s liabilities (anticipated to be principally for accrued operating expenses), divided by the number of outstanding Shares. The Trust does not engage in any activities designed to obtain a profit from, or ameliorate losses caused by, changes in the price of Bullion.
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The Trust issues and redeems Shares only in exchange for Bullion, only in aggregations of 50,000 Shares or integral multiples thereof (each, a “Basket”), and only in transactions with registered broker-dealers, or other securities market participants not required to register as broker-dealers, such as a bank or other financial institution, that (1) are participants in DTC and (2) have previously entered into an agreement with the Trust governing the terms and conditions of such issuance (such dealers, the “Authorized Participants”). As of the date of this annual report the Authorized Participants that have signed an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Trust are Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., UBS Securities LLC and Virtu Financial BD, LLC.
Shares of the Trust trade on the NYSE Arca under the symbol “GLTR.”
Investing in the Shares does not insulate the investor from certain risks, including price volatility. The following table illustrates the movement in the NAV of the Shares against the price per ounce of gold, silver, platinum and palladium in the proportions held by the Trust (the “Proportionate Price”) since inception.
The divergence of the NAV per Share from the Proportionate Price over time reflects the cumulative effect of the Trust expenses that arise if an investment had been held since inception.
Critical Accounting Policy
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 assumption that impact the Trust’s financial position and results of operations. These estimates and assumptions affect the Trust’s application of accounting policies. Below we describe the valuation of Bullion, a critical accounting policy that we believe is important to the understanding of our results of operations and financial position. In addition, please refer to Note 2 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of our accounting policies.
Valuation of Bullion
The Trust’s Bullion is recorded, per individual metal type, at fair value. The cost of Bullion is determined according to the average cost method and the fair value is based on the relevant “London Metal Price” for each metal held by the Trust. The cost of gold is determined according to the average cost method and the fair value is based on the LBMA PM Gold Price. For silver this is the LBMA Silver Price as established by the seven LBMA authorised bullion banks. For platinum and palladium this is the “LME PM Fix” for platinum or palladium (as applicable) of the price of an ounce of such metal performed in London, England by fixing members of the LPPM. Realized gains and losses on transfers of Bullion, or Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares, are calculated on a trade date basis as the difference between the fair value and cost of Bullion transferred.
Once the value of Bullion has been determined, the NAV is computed by the Trustee by deducting all accrued fees and other liabilities of the Trust, including the remuneration due to the Sponsor (the “Sponsor’s Fee”), from the fair value of the Bullion and all other assets held by the Trust.
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$) | ||||||||||||
| Investment in Bullion - cost | $ | 603,126 | $ | 407,094 | $ | 351,430 | ||||||
| Unrealized gain on investment in Bullion | 224,472 | 84,612 | 8,017 | |||||||||
| Investment in Bullion - fair value | $ | 827,598 | $ | 491,706 | $ | 359,447 | ||||||
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Inspection of Bullion
Under the Custody Agreements, the Trustee, the Sponsor and the Sponsor’s auditors and inspectors may, only up to twice a year, visit the premises of the Custodian and the Zurich Sub-Custodian for the purpose of examining the Trust’s Bullion and certain related records maintained by the Custodian. Under the Allocated Account Agreement, the Custodian agreed to procure similar inspection rights from the Zurich Sub-Custodian. Visits by auditors and inspectors to the Zurich Sub-Custodian’s facilities will be arranged through the Custodian. Other than with respect to the Zurich Sub-Custodian, the Trustee and the Sponsor have no right to visit the premises of any sub-custodian for the purposes of examining the Trust’s Bullion or any records maintained by the sub-custodian, and no sub-custodian is obligated to cooperate in any review the Trustee or the Sponsor may wish to conduct of the facilities, procedures, records or creditworthiness of such sub-custodian.
The Sponsor has exercised its right to visit the Custodian and the Zurich Sub-Custodian, in order to examine the Bullion and the records maintained by them. Inspections were conducted by Inspectorate International Limited, a leading commodity inspection and testing company retained by the Sponsor, as of August 14, 2020. Due to unprecedented social lock-down policies implemented in the UK and Switzerland to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, neither the Sponsor, nor Inspectorate, were able to perform a physical inspection of the Trust's Bullion at December 31, 2020. In lieu of a physical inspection, the Sponsor performed alternative procedures to verify the Bullion held by the Trust at December 31, 2020. These procedures included confirmation of the Bullion list and total ounces of Bullion held by the Custodian at December 31, 2020, and an independent recalculation of ounces of Bullion for each creation or redemption transaction from August 14, 2020, the date of the last physical inspection, through December 31, 2020. The Sponsor and Inspectorate also virtually inspected a selection of Bullion held by the Custodian on behalf of the Trust, verifying the weight of the Bullion, and that the serial numbers of the Bullion selected matched the records of the Trust.
Liquidity
The Trust is not aware of any trends, demands, conditions, events or uncertainties that are reasonably likely to result in material changes to its liquidity needs. In exchange for the Sponsor’s Fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume most of the expenses incurred by the Trust. As a result, the only expense of the Trust during the period covered by this report was the Sponsor’s Fee. The Trust’s only source of liquidity is its transfers and sales of Bullion.
The Trustee will, at the direction of the Sponsor or in its own discretion, sell the Trust’s Bullion (only in the specified proportion of gold, silver, platinum and palladium held by the Trust) as necessary to pay the Trust’s expenses not otherwise assumed by the Sponsor. The Trustee will not sell Bullion to pay the Sponsor’s Fee but will pay the Sponsor’s Fee through in-kind transfers of Bullion to the Sponsor. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Trust did not have any cash balances.
Review of Financial Results
Financial Highlights
Year
Ended | Year
Ended | Year
Ended | ||||||||||
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$) | ||||||||||||
| Total gain/(loss) on Bullion | $ | 145,383 | $ | 78,598 | $ | (7,542 | ) | |||||
| Net change in assets from operations | $ | 141,562 | $ | 76,194 | $ | (9,675 | ) | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
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The year ended December 31, 2020
The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Trust is obtained by subtracting the Trust’s expenses and liabilities on any day from the value of the Bullion owned by the Trust on that day; the NAV per Share is obtained by dividing NAV of the Trust on a given day by the number of Shares outstanding on that day.
The Trust’s NAV increased from $499,077,573 at December 31, 2019 to $841,868,238 at December 31, 2020, a 68.68% increase for the year. The increase in the Trust’s NAV resulted primarily from an increase in outstanding Shares, which rose from 6,550,000 Shares at December 31, 2019 to 8,600,000 Shares at December 31, 2020, a result of 2,600,000 Shares (52 Baskets) being created and 550,000 Shares (11 Baskets) being redeemed during the year and an increase in the price per ounce of gold, silver, platinum and palladium in the proportions held by the Trust (the “Proportionate Price”), which rose 29.26% during the year.
The NAV per Share increased 28.46% from $76.20 at December 31, 2019 to $97.89 at December 31, 2020. The Trust’s NAV per Share rose slightly less than the Proportionate Price on a percentage basis due to the Sponsor’s Fee, which was $3,821,435 for the year, or 0.60% of the Trust’s ANAV.
The NAV per Share of $103.63 at August 6, 2020 was the highest during the year, compared with a low of $66.20 at March 19, 2020.
The increase in net assets from operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $141,562,097, resulting from a realized gain of $815,237 on Bullion transferred to pay expenses, a realized gain of $4,680,483 on Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares, a change in unrealized gain on investment in Bullion of $139,887,814, offset by the Sponsor’s Fee of $3,821,435. Other than the Sponsor’s Fee, the Trust had no expenses during the year ended December 31, 2020.
The year ended December 31, 2019
The Trust’s NAV increased from $359,264,176 at December 31, 2018 to $499,077,573 at December 31, 2019, a 38.92% increase for the year. The increase in the Trust’s NAV resulted primarily from an increase in outstanding Shares, which rose from 5,700,000 Shares at December 31, 2018 to 6,550,000 Shares at December 31, 2019, a result of 1,300,000 Shares (26 Baskets) being created and 450,000 Shares (9 Baskets) being redeemed during the year and an increase in the price per ounce of gold, silver, platinum and palladium in the proportions held by the Trust (the “Proportionate Price”), which rose 21.62% during the year.
The NAV per Share increased 20.89% from $63.03 at December 31, 2018 to $76.20 at December 31, 2019. The Trust’s NAV per Share rose slightly less than the Proportionate Price on a percentage basis due to the Sponsor’s Fee, which was $2,403,544 for the year, or 0.60% of the Trust’s ANAV.
The NAV per Share of $76.68 at September 4, 2019 was the highest during the year, compared with a low of $61.87 at May 22, 2019.
The increase in net assets from operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $76,193,992, resulting from a realized gain of $194,828 on Bullion transferred to pay expenses, a realized gain of $1,807,417 on Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares, a change in unrealized gain on investment in Bullion of $76,595,291, offset by the Sponsor’s Fee of $2,403,544. Other than the Sponsor’s Fee, the Trust had no expenses during the year ended December 31, 2019.
The year ended December 31, 2018
The Trust’s NAV decreased from $361,931,979 at December 31, 2017 to $359,264,176 at December 31, 2018, a 0.74% decrease for the year. The decrease in the Trust’s NAV resulted primarily from an increase in outstanding Shares, which rose from 5,600,000 Shares at December 31, 2017 to 5,700,000 Shares at December 31, 2018, a result of 1,100,000 Shares (22 Baskets) being created and 1,000,000 Shares (20 Basket) being redeemed during the year and an decrease in the price per ounce of gold, silver, platinum and palladium in the proportions held by the Trust (the “Proportionate Price”), which fell 1.89% during the year.
47
The NAV per Share decreased 2.48% from $64.63 at December 31, 2017 to $63.03 at December 31, 2018. The Trust’s NAV per Share fell slightly more than the Proportionate Price on a percentage basis due to the Sponsor’s Fee, which was $2,132,987 for the year, or 0.60% of the Trust’s ANAV.
The NAV per Share of $67.58 at January 25, 2018 was the highest during the year, compared with a low of $57.16 at August 16, 2018.
The decrease in net assets from operations for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $9,675,779, resulting from a realized gain of $13,067 on Bullion transferred to pay expenses, a realized gain of $115,533 on Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares and offset by a change in unrealized loss on investment in Bullion of $7,671,392 and the Sponsor’s Fee of $2,132,987. Other than the Sponsor’s Fee, the Trust had no expenses during the year ended December 31, 2018.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Trust is not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The Trust Agreement does not authorize the Trustee to borrow for payment of the Trust’s ordinary expenses. The Trust does not engage in transactions in foreign currencies which could expose the Trust or holders of Shares to any foreign currency related market risk. The Trust invests in no derivative financial instruments and has no foreign operations or long-term debt instruments.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data (Unaudited)
Quarterly Income Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2020
| Three months ended | Year ended | |||||||||||||||||||
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$, except for Share and per Share data) | March 31 | June 30 | September 30 | December 31 | December 31 | |||||||||||||||
| EXPENSES | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sponsor’s Fee | $ | 796 | $ | 804 | $ | 1,035 | $ | 1,186 | $ | 3,821 | ||||||||||
| Total expenses | 796 | 804 | 1,035 | 1,186 | 3,821 | |||||||||||||||
| Net investment loss | (796 | ) | (804 | ) | (1,035 | ) | (1,186 | ) | (3,821 | ) | ||||||||||
| REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS / (LOSSES) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Realized gain on Bullion transferred to pay expenses | 150 | 129 | 243 | 293 | 815 | |||||||||||||||
| Realized gain / (loss) on Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares | 1,351 | 3,329 | — | — | 4,680 | |||||||||||||||
| Change in unrealized gain and loss on investment in Bullion | (8,769 | ) | 41,506 | 77,619 | 29,532 | 139,888 | ||||||||||||||
| Total gain / (loss) on investment in Bullion | (7,268 | ) | 44,964 | 77,862 | 29,825 | 145,383 | ||||||||||||||
| Change in net assets from operations | $ | (8,064 | ) | $ | 44,160 | $ | 76,827 | $ | 28,639 | $ | 141,562 | |||||||||
| Net increase / (decrease) in net assets per Share | $ | (1.20 | ) | $ | 6.56 | $ | 10.50 | $ | 3.50 | $ | 19.53 | |||||||||
| Weighted average number of Shares | 6,742,857 | 6,735,714 | 7,319,022 | 8,182,609 | 7,247,814 | |||||||||||||||
48
Year Ended December 31, 2019
| Three months ended | Year ended | |||||||||||||||||||
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$, except for Share and per Share data) | March 31 | June 30 | September 30 | December 31 | December 31 | |||||||||||||||
| EXPENSES | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sponsor’s Fee | $ | 540 | $ | 547 | $ | 615 | $ | 702 | $ | 2,404 | ||||||||||
| Total expenses | 540 | 547 | 615 | 702 | 2,404 | |||||||||||||||
| Net investment loss | (540 | ) | (547 | ) | (615 | ) | (702 | ) | (2,404 | ) | ||||||||||
| REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS / (LOSSES) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Realized gain on Bullion transferred to pay expenses | 21 | 18 | 60 | 97 | 196 | |||||||||||||||
| Realized gain / (loss) on Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares | 954 | 275 | 579 | (1 | ) | 1,807 | ||||||||||||||
| Change in unrealized gain on investment in Bullion | 4,644 | 22,138 | 29,649 | 20,164 | 76,595 | |||||||||||||||
| Total gain on investment in Bullion | 5,619 | 22,431 | 30,288 | 20,260 | 78,598 | |||||||||||||||
| Change in net assets from operations | $ | 5,079 | $ | 21,884 | $ | 29,673 | $ | 19,558 | $ | 76,194 | ||||||||||
| Net increase in net assets per Share | $ | 0.90 | $ | 3.90 | $ | 5.16 | $ | 3.14 | $ | 13.11 | ||||||||||
| Weighted average number of Shares | 5,648,889 | 5,608,242 | 5,751,630 | 6,233,152 | 5,811,918 | |||||||||||||||
Note: Quarterly balances may not add to totals due to independent rounding.
The financial statements required by Regulation S-X, together with the report of the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm appear on pages F-1 to F-13 of this filing.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
The Trust maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Sponsor, and to the audit committee, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Sponsor, the Sponsor conducted an evaluation of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Sponsor concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
49
Internal controls over financial reporting have been maintained throughout the Trust’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. There have been no changes that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s or Sponsor’s internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Sponsor’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined under Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). The Trust’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
(1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Trust’s assets;
(2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that the Trust’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations; and
(3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Trust’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become ineffective because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Sponsor assessed the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020. In making this assessment, they used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013). Their assessment included an evaluation of the design of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operational effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting. Based on their assessment and those criteria, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Sponsor concluded that the Trust maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020.
KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited and reported on the financial statements included in this Form 10-K, as stated in their report which is included herein, issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020.
50
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Sponsor, Trustee and Shareholders
Aberdeen Standard Precious Metals Basket ETF Trust:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Aberdeen Standard Precious Metals Basket ETF Trust’s (the Trust) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Trust maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the statements of assets and liabilities of the Trust, including the schedules of investments, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related statements of operations and changes in net assets for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements) and the financial highlights for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and our report dated February 26, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.
Basis for Opinion
The Sponsor’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements and financial highlights for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements and financial highlights in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements and financial highlights.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
New York, New York
February 26, 2021
51
Item 9B. Other Information
Not applicable.
52
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The Trust has no directors or executive officers. The biographies of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sponsor and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Sponsor are set out below:
Christopher Demetriou – President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Demetriou is Chief Executive Officer – Americas for ASII. Mr. Demetriou is a member of the Group Executive Committee as well as several other committees within the organization. Mr. Demetriou is based in Philadelphia and is responsible for Aberdeen Standard Investments’ operations across North and South America. Mr. Demetriou previously held the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer – Americas for ASII from December 2016 to April 2018, Chief Financial Officer – Americas from January 2016 to December 2016, and Head of Finance – Americas from June 2014 to January 2016. Mr. Demetriou joined ASII in June 2014, as a result of Aberdeen’s acquisition of SVG, a FTSE 250 private equity investor based in London. While at SVG, from June 2010 to June 2014, Mr. Demetriou was Group Financial Controller and Deputy Head of Strategy. Prior to joining SVG, Mr. Demetriou worked at Ernst and Young, specializing in Asset and Wealth Management audits and transactions. Mr. Demetriou is a Chartered Accountant and has a BA in Politics from the University of York in England.
Andrea Melia – Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Ms. Melia is Vice President and Head of Fund Operations, Traditional Assets – Americas for ASII. Ms. Melia has managed the fund administration team since joining ASII in September 2009. Prior to joining ASII, Ms. Melia was Director of fund administration and accounting oversight for Princeton Administrators LLC, a division of BlackRock Inc. and had worked with Princeton Administrators since 1992. Ms. Melia holds a BS in Accounting from University of Scranton and a MBA from Rider University.
As described under Item 1 above, ASII is the parent of the Sponsor.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The Trust has no directors or executive officers. The only ordinary expense paid by the Trust is the Sponsor’s Fee.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
There are no persons known by the Trust to own directly or indirectly beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding Shares of the Trust.
Security Ownership of Management
Not applicable.
Change in Control
Neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee knows of any arrangements which may subsequently result in a change in control of the Trust.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
53
The Trust has no directors or executive officers.
54
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Fees for services performed by KPMG LLP for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | |||||||
| Audit fees – KPMG | $ | 77,825 | $ | 72,900 | ||||
| Audit related fees – KPMG | — | 10,000 | ||||||
| $ | 77,825 | $ | 82,900 | |||||
Audit Fees are fees paid by the Sponsor to KPMG LLP for professional services for the audit of the Trust’s financial statements included in the Form 10-K and review of financial statements included in the Form 10-Qs, and for services that are normally provided by the accountants in connection with regulatory filings or engagements. Audit Related Fees are paid by the Sponsor to KPMG LLP for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Trust’s financial statements. These services include the accountant providing a consent letter related to the Trust's registration statement filing.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
As referenced in Item 10 above, the Trust has no board of directors, and as a result, has no pre-approval policies or procedures with respect to fees paid to KPMG LLP. Such determinations are made by the Sponsor.
55
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
1. Financial Statements
See Index to Financial Statements on Page F-1 for a list of the financial statements being filed herein.
2. Financial Statement Schedules
Schedules have been omitted since they are either not required, not applicable, or the information has otherwise been included.
3. Exhibits
56
| 101 | The following financial statements from the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) Statements of Assets and Liabilities, (ii) Statements of Operations, (iii) Statements of Changes in Net Assets, and (iv) Notes to the Financial Statements. |
| 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
| 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Document |
| 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Document |
| 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Document |
| 101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Document |
| 104 | The cover page from the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101). |
57
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
Not applicable.
58
ABERDEEN STANDARD PRECIOUS METALS BASKET
ETF TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2020
INDEX
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Sponsor, Trustee and Shareholders
Aberdeen Standard Precious Metals Basket ETF Trust:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of Aberdeen Standard Precious Metals Basket ETF Trust (the Trust), including the schedules of investments, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related statements of operations and changes in net assets for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements) and the financial highlights for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Trust as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and the changes in its net assets, for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 26, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Sponsor’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements and financial highlights that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and the financial highlights and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgment. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements and the financial highlights, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Evaluation of the Evidence Pertaining to the Existence of the Bullion Holdings
As presented on the December 31, 2020 schedule of investments, the fair value of the Trust’s investment in bullion was $827.6 million, representing 98.26% of the Trust’s total assets, and 9,064,300.1 ounces of bullion holdings. The investment in bullion is held by a third-party custodian or sub-custodian (collectively, the custodian).
We identified the evaluation of the evidence pertaining to the existence of the bullion holdings as a critical audit matter. Given the nature and volume of the bullion holdings, subjective auditor judgment was required to evaluate the extent and nature of evidence obtained to assess the existence of bullion held by the custodian.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Trust’s bullion holdings process, including controls over (1) the comparison of the Trust’s records of bullion held to the custodian’s records, (2) the approval of bullion deposits and withdrawals by the trustee of the Trust and (3) the roll forward of bullion holdings from the date of the Trust’s most recent physical inspection through December 31, 2020. We obtained a schedule directly from the custodian of the Trust’s bullion holdings held by the custodian as of December 31, 2020. We compared the total ounces on such schedule to the Trust’s record of bullion holdings. We also tested the Trust’s roll forward of bullion holdings from August 14, 2020 (the date of the Trust’s most recent physical inspection performed at the custodian’s locations by a third party engaged by the Trust’s sponsor (the inspector)) through December 31, 2020 by (1) agreeing the Trust’s records of bullion holdings as of the last inspection date to the inspector’s and/or custodian’s records, (2) agreeing bullion holdings transactions to order confirmations and trade tickets, and (3) comparing the Trust’s expected holdings to the schedule obtained directly from the custodian of the Trust’s bullion holdings at December 31, 2020.
We have served as the Trust’s auditor since 2015.
/s/ KPMG LLP
New York, New York
February 26, 2021
F-2
ABERDEEN STANDARD PRECIOUS METALS BASKET ETF TRUST
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
At December 31, 2020 and 2019
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | |||||||
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$, except for Share and per Share data) | ||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Gold (cost: December 31, 2020: $ | $ | $ | ||||||
| Palladium (cost: December 31, 2020: $ | ||||||||
| Platinum (cost: December 31, 2020: $ | ||||||||
| Silver (cost: December 31, 2020: $ | ||||||||
| Total investment in Bullion | ||||||||
| Bullion receivable | ||||||||
| Total assets | ||||||||
| LIABILITIES | ||||||||
| Fees payable to Sponsor | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| NET ASSETS(1) | $ | $ | ||||||
| (1) |
See Notes to the Financial Statements
F-3
ABERDEEN STANDARD PRECIOUS METALS BASKET ETF TRUST
Schedules of Investments
At December 31, 2020 and 2019
| December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| Description | oz | Cost | Fair Value | % of Net Assets | ||||||||||||
| Investment in Bullion (in 000’s of US$, except for oz and percentage data) | ||||||||||||||||
| Gold | $ | $ | % | |||||||||||||
| Palladium | % | |||||||||||||||
| Platinum | % | |||||||||||||||
| Silver | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total investment in Bullion | $ | $ | % | |||||||||||||
| Other assets less liabilities | % | |||||||||||||||
| Net Assets | $ | % | ||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
| Description | oz | Cost | Fair Value | % of Net Assets | ||||||||||||
| Investment in Bullion (in 000’s of US$, except for oz and percentage data) | ||||||||||||||||
| Gold | $ | $ | % | |||||||||||||
| Palladium | % | |||||||||||||||
| Platinum | % | |||||||||||||||
| Silver | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total investment in Bullion | $ | $ | % | |||||||||||||
| Other assets less liabilities | % | |||||||||||||||
| Net Assets | $ | % | ||||||||||||||
See Notes to the Financial Statements
F-4
ABERDEEN STANDARD PRECIOUS METALS BASKET ETF TRUST
Statements of Operations
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018
| Year Ended December 31, 2020 | Year Ended December 31, 2019 | Year Ended December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$, except for Share and per Share data) | ||||||||||||
| EXPENSES | ||||||||||||
| Sponsor’s Fee | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Total expenses | ||||||||||||
| Net investment loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS / (LOSSES) | ||||||||||||
| Realized gain on Bullion transferred to pay expenses | ||||||||||||
| Realized gain on Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares | ||||||||||||
| Change in unrealized gain / (loss) on investment in Bullion | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Total gain / (loss) on investment in Bullion | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Change in net assets from operations | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||||||
| Net increase / (decrease) in net assets per Share | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||||||
| Weighted average number of Shares | ||||||||||||
See Notes to the Financial Statements
F-5
ABERDEEN STANDARD PRECIOUS METALS BASKET ETF TRUST
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
| Year Ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$, except for Share data) | Shares | Amount | ||||||
| Opening balance at January 1, 2020 | $ | |||||||
| Net investment loss | ( | ) | ||||||
| Realized gain on investment in Bullion | ||||||||
| Change in unrealized gain on investment in Bullion | ||||||||
| Change in unrealized gain on unsettled creations | ||||||||
| Creations | ||||||||
| Redemptions | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Closing balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | |||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2019 | ||||||||
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$, except for Share data) | Shares | Amount | ||||||
| Opening balance at January 1, 2019 | $ | |||||||
| Net investment loss | ( | ) | ||||||
| Realized gain on investment in Bullion | ||||||||
| Change in unrealized gain on investment in Bullion | ||||||||
| Creations | ||||||||
| Redemptions | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Closing balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | |||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2018 | ||||||||
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$, except for Share data) | Shares | Amount | ||||||
| Opening balance at January 1, 2018 | $ | |||||||
| Net investment loss | ( | ) | ||||||
| Realized gain on investment in Bullion | ||||||||
| Change in unrealized (loss) on investment in Bullion | ( | ) | ||||||
| Creations | ||||||||
| Redemptions | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Closing balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | |||||||
See Notes to the Financial Statements
F-6
ABERDEEN STANDARD PRECIOUS METALS BASKET ETF TRUST
Financial Highlights
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
| Year Ended December 31, 2020 | Year Ended December 31, 2019 | Year Ended December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||
| Per Share Performance (for a Share outstanding throughout the entire period) | ||||||||||||
| Net asset value per Share at beginning of period | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Income from investment operations: | ||||||||||||
| Net investment loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total realized and unrealized gains or losses on investment in Bullion | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Change in net assets from operations | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Net asset value per Share at end of period | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Weighted average number of Shares | ||||||||||||
| Expense ratio | % | % | % | |||||||||
| Net investment loss ratio | ( | )% | ( | )% | ( | )% | ||||||
| Total return, net asset value | % | % | ( | )% | ||||||||
See Notes to the Financial Statements
F-7
ABERDEEN STANDARD PRECIOUS METALS BASKET ETF TRUST
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. Organization
The Aberdeen Standard Precious Metals Basket ETF Trust (the “Trust”) is a common law trust formed on October 18, 2010 under New York law pursuant to a depositary trust agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) executed by Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”) and The Bank of New York Mellon as Trustee (the “Trustee”). The Trust holds gold, palladium, platinum and silver in set ratios (together, “Bullion”) and issues Aberdeen Standard Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF (“Shares”) in minimum blocks of Shares (also referred to as “Baskets”) in exchange for deposits of Bullion and distributes Bullion in connection with the redemption of Baskets. Shares represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust which are issued by the Trust. The Sponsor is a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. (“ASII”). ASII is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Standard Life Aberdeen plc. The Trust is governed by the Trust Agreement.
The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold, silver, platinum and palladium, less the Trust’s expenses and liabilities. The Trust is designed to provide an individual owner of beneficial interests in the Shares (a “Shareholder”) an opportunity to participate in the gold, silver, platinum and palladium markets through an investment in securities.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires those responsible for preparing financial statements to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Trust.
2.1. Basis of Accounting
The Sponsor has determined that the Trust falls within the scope of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946, Financial Services—Investment Companies, and has concluded that for reporting purposes, the Trust is classified as an Investment Company. The Trust is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and is not required to register under such act.
2.2. Valuation of Bullion
The Trust follows the provisions of ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 provides guidance for determining fair value and requires increased disclosure regarding the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
Bullion is held by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Custodian”),
on behalf of the Trust, at its London, England vaulting premises on a segregated basis. The allocated Bullion may also be held
by UBS AG, or any other firm selected by the Custodian to hold the Trust’s Bullion in the Trust’s allocated account
in the firm’s vault premises on a segregated basis and whose appointment has been approved by the Sponsor. At December
31, 2020, approximately
F-8
The Trust’s Bullion is recorded, per individual metal type, at fair value. The cost of Bullion is determined according to the average cost method and the fair value is based on the relevant “London Metal Price” for each metal held by the Trust. This is the applicable “London Bullion Market Association (“LBMA”) PM Gold Price” for the price of an ounce of gold, the “LBMA Silver Price” for silver, and for platinum and palladium the applicable “London Metal Exchange (“LME”) PM Price”.
Realized gains and losses on transfers of Bullion, or Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares, are calculated on a trade date basis as the difference between the fair value and average cost of Bullion transferred.
The LBMA PM Gold Price is set using the afternoon session of the ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”) equilibrium auction, an electronic, tradable and auditable over-the-counter auction market with the ability to settle trades in US Dollars, Euros or British Pounds for LBMA authorized participating gold bullion banks or market makers that establishes a reference gold price for that day’s trading. The “London Metal Price” for gold held by the Trust is the LBMA PM Gold Price.
The IBA conducts an electronic, over-the-counter silver auction in London, England to establish a fixing price for an ounce of silver once each trading day, which is disseminated by major market vendors (the “LBMA Silver Price”). The LBMA Silver Price is established by the nine LBMA authorized bullion banks and market makers participating in the auction and disseminated by major market vendors. Prior to October 2, 2017, the LBMA Silver Price auction was operated by CME Group Inc. and Refinitiv. The “London Metal Price” for silver held by the Trust is the LBMA Silver Price.
The LME is responsible for the administration of the electronic platinum and palladium bullion price fixing system (“LMEbullion”) as well as providing electronic market clearing processes for platinum and palladium bullion transactions at the fixed prices established by the LME pricing mechanism. LMEbullion establishes and publishes fixed prices for troy ounces of platinum and palladium twice each London trading day during fixing sessions beginning at 9:45 a.m. London time (the “LME AM Fix”) and 2:00 p.m. London time (the “LME PM Fix”). The “London Metal Price” for platinum and palladium held by the Trust is the LME PM Fix.
Once the value of Bullion has been determined, the net asset value (the “NAV”) is computed by the Trustee by deducting all accrued fees, expenses and other liabilities of the Trust, including the remuneration due to the Sponsor (the “Sponsor’s Fee”), from the fair value of the Bullion and all other assets held by the Trust.
The Trust recognizes changes in fair value of the investment in Bullion as changes in unrealized gains or losses on investment in Bullion through the Statement of Operations.
The per Share amount of Bullion exchanged for a purchase or redemption is calculated daily by the Trustee, using the London Metal Price for each metal held by the Trust to calculate the Bullion amount in respect of any liabilities for which covering Bullion sales have not yet been made, and represents the per Share amount of Bullion held by the Trust, after giving effect to its liabilities, to cover expenses and liabilities and any losses that may have occurred.
Fair Value Hierarchy
ASC 820 establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The three levels of inputs are as follows:
– Level 1. Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Trust has the ability to access.
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– Level 2. Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments and similar data.
– Level 3. Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability to the extent that relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Trust’s own assumptions about the assumptions that a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and that would be based on the best information available.
To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in level 3.
The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
The investment in Bullion is classified as a level 1 asset, as the Trust’s investment in Bullion is calculated using unadjusted quoted prices from primary market sources.
The categorization of the Trust’s assets is as shown below:
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$) | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||
| Level 1 | ||||||||
| Investment in Bullion | $ | $ | ||||||
Based on its continuous assessment of the valuation techniques and inputs used to value the Trust's Bullion, the Sponsor determined that the inputs used in determining the value of the Trust's Bullion are more representative of Level 1 inputs, rather than Level 2 inputs. Therefore, all of the Trust's Bullion was transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 at December 31, 2020. The December 31, 2019 information has been reclassified to level 1 for comparative purposes.
2.3. Bullion Receivable and Payable
Bullion receivable or payable represents the quantity of Bullion
covered by contractually binding orders for the creation or redemption of Shares respectively, where the Bullion has not yet
been transferred to or from the Trust’s account. Generally, ownership of Bullion is transferred within two business days
of the trade date. At December 31, 2020, the Trust had $
The Trust expects to create and redeem Shares from time to time, but only in one or more Baskets (a Basket equals a block of Shares). The Trust issues Shares in Baskets to Authorized Participants on an ongoing basis. Individual investors cannot purchase or redeem Shares in direct transactions with the Trust. An Authorized Participant is a person who (1) is a registered broker-dealer or other securities market participant such as a bank or other financial institution which is not required to register as a broker-dealer to engage in securities transactions; (2) is a participant in The Depository Trust Company; (3) has entered into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Trustee and the Sponsor; and (4) has established an Authorized Participant Unallocated Account with the Trust’s Custodian or other Bullion clearing bank. An Authorized Participant Agreement is an agreement entered into by each Authorized Participant, the Sponsor and the Trustee which provides the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets and for the delivery of the Bullion required for such creations and redemptions. An Authorized Participant Unallocated Account is an unallocated Bullion account, either loco London or loco Zurich, established with the Custodian or a Bullion clearing bank by an Authorized Participant.
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The creation and redemption of Baskets is only made in exchange for the delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of Bullion represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which is based on the combined NAV of the number of Shares included in the Baskets being created or redeemed determined on the day the order to create or redeem Baskets is properly received.
Authorized Participants may, on any business day, place an order with the Trustee to create or redeem one or more Baskets. The typical settlement period for Shares is two business days. In the event of a trade date at period end, where a settlement is pending, a respective account receivable and/or payable will be recorded. When Bullion is exchanged in settlement of a redemption, it is considered a sale of Bullion for financial statement purposes.
The amount of Bullion represented by the Baskets created or redeemed can only be settled to the nearest 1/1000th of an ounce. As a result, the value attributed to the creation or redemption of Shares may differ from the value of Bullion to be delivered or distributed by the Trust. In order to ensure that the correct amount of Bullion is available at all times to back the Shares, the Sponsor accepts an adjustment to its management fees in the event of any shortfall or excess on each transaction. For each transaction, this amount is not more than 1/1000th of an ounce of Bullion.
As the Shares of the Trust are subject to redemption at the option of Authorized Participants, the Trust has classified the outstanding Shares as Net Assets. Changes in the number of Shares outstanding are presented in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets.
2.5. Income Taxes
The Trust is classified as a “grantor trust” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Trust itself will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead, the Trust’s income and expenses will “flow through” to the Shareholders, and the Trustee will report the Trust’s proceeds, income, deductions, gains, and losses to the Internal Revenue Service on that basis.
The Sponsor has evaluated whether or not there are uncertain
tax positions that require financial statement recognition and has determined that
2.6. Investment in Bullion
Changes in ounces of Bullion and their respective values for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are set out below:
| Year Ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$, except for ounces data) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ounces of Bullion | Gold | Palladium | Platinum | Silver | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Opening balance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Creations | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemptions | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Transfers of Bullion to pay expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Closing balance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment in Bullion | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Opening balance | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Creations | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemptions | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Realized gain / (loss) on Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Transfers of Bullion to pay expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Realized gain / (loss) on Bullion transferred to pay expenses | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Change in unrealized gain / (loss) on investment in Bullion | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Closing balance | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
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| Year Ended December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Amounts in 000’s of US$, except for ounces data) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Ounces of Bullion | Gold | Palladium | Platinum | Silver | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Opening balance | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Creations | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemptions | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
| Transfers of Bullion to pay expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
| Closing balance | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment in Bullion | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Opening balance | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
| Creations | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemptions | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
| Realized gain / (loss) on Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Transfers of Bullion to pay expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
| Realized gain / (loss) on Bullion transferred to pay expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Change in unrealized gain / (loss) on investment in Bullion | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Closing balance | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
2.7. Expenses / Realized Gains / Losses
The primary expense of the Trust is the Sponsor’s Fee, which is paid by the Trust through in-kind transfers of Bullion to the Sponsor.
The Trust will transfer Bullion to the Sponsor to pay the
Sponsor’s Fee that accrues daily at an annualized rate equal to
The Sponsor has agreed to assume administrative and marketing
expenses incurred by the Trust, including the Trustee’s monthly fee and out of pocket expenses, the Custodian’s fee
and the reimbursement of the Custodian’s expenses, exchange listing fees, United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) registration fees, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and up to $
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018,
the Sponsor’s Fee was $
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At December 31, 2020 and at December 31, 2019, the fees
payable to the Sponsor were $
With respect to expenses not otherwise assumed by the Sponsor,
the Trustee will, at the direction of the Sponsor or in its own discretion, sell the Trust’s Bullion as necessary to
pay these expenses. When selling Bullion to pay expenses, the Trustee will endeavor to sell the smallest amounts of Bullion
needed to pay these expenses in order to minimize the Trust’s holdings of assets other than Bullion. Other than the
Sponsor’s Fee, the Trust had
Unless otherwise directed by the Sponsor, when selling Bullion the Trustee will endeavor to sell at the price established by the London Metal Price for each metal held by the Trust. The Trustee will place orders with dealers (which may include the Custodian) through which the Trustee expects to receive the most favorable price and execution of orders. The Custodian may be the purchaser of such Bullion only if the sale transaction is made at the London Metal Price for each metal held by the Trust used by the Trustee to value the Trust’s Bullion. A gain or loss is recognized based on the difference between the selling price and the average cost of the Bullion sold. Neither the Trustee nor the Sponsor is liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of any sale.
Realized gains and losses result from the transfer of Bullion for Share redemptions and / or to pay expenses and are recognized on a trade date basis as the difference between the fair value and average cost of Bullion transferred.
2.8. Subsequent Events
In accordance with the provisions set forth in FASB ASC 855-10, Subsequent Events, the Trust’s management has evaluated the possibility of subsequent events impacting the Trust’s financial statements through the filing date. During this period, no material subsequent events requiring adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements were identified.
3. Related Parties
The Sponsor and the Trustee are considered to be related parties to the Trust. The Trustee and the Custodian and their affiliates may from time to time act as Authorized Participants and purchase or sell Shares for their own account, as agent for their customers and for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. In addition, the Trustee and the Custodian and their affiliates may from time to time purchase or sell Bullion directly, for their own account, as agent for their customers and for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. The Trustee’s and Custodian’s fees are paid by the Sponsor and are not separate expenses of the Trust.
4. Concentration of Risk
The Trust’s sole business activity is the investment in Bullion, and substantially all the Trust’s assets are holdings of Bullion, which creates a concentration of risk associated with fluctuations in the price of Bullion. Several factors could affect the price of Bullion, including: (i) global Bullion supply and demand, which is influenced by factors such as general changes in economic conditions, such as a recession or other economic downturn, recycling, autocatalyst demand, industrial demand, jewelry demand and investment demand, central bank purchases and sales, and production and cost levels in major Bullion-producing countries; (ii) investors’ expectations with respect to the rate of inflation; (iii) currency exchange rates; (iv) interest rates; (v) investment and trading activities of hedge funds and commodity funds; and (vi) global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations. In addition, there is no assurance that Bullion will maintain its long-term value in terms of purchasing power in the future. In the event that the price of Bullion declines, the Sponsor expects the value of an investment in the Shares to decline proportionately. Each of these events could have a material effect on the Trust’s financial position and results of operations.
5. Indemnification
Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the Trustee (and its directors, employees and agents) and the Sponsor (and its members, managers, directors, officers, employees and affiliates) are indemnified by the Trust against any liability, cost or expense it incurs without gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or willful malfeasance on its part and without reckless disregard on its part of its obligations and duties under the Trust’s organizational documents. 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.
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ABERDEEN STANDARD PRECIOUS METALS BASKET ETF TRUST
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 in the capacities thereunto duly authorized.
| ABERDEEN STANDARD INVESTMENTS ETFs SPONSOR LLC | |
| Date: February 26, 2021 | /s/ Christopher Demetriou |
| Christopher Demetriou * | |
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| Date: February 26, 2021 | /s/ Andrea Melia |
| Andrea Melia * | |
| Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |
| (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
| * | The Registrant is a trust and the persons are signing in their capacities as officers of Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Sponsor LLC, the Sponsor of the Registrant. |