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Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust 40-F

 

Exhibit 99.6

 

Annual Report to Unitholders

December 31, 2022

2

Table of Contents

Annual Management Report of Fund Performance

3

 

Annual Financial Statements

8

The annual management report of fund performance is an analysis and explanation that is designed to complement and supplement an investment fund’s annual financial statements. A copy of the annual financial statements has been included within the Annual Report to Unitholders. You can also get a copy of the annual financial statements at your request, and at no cost, by calling 1-888-622-1813, by visiting our website at www.sprott.com or SEDAR at www.sedar.com or by writing to us at: Sprott Asset Management LP, Royal Bank Plaza, South Tower, 200 Bay Street, Suite 2600, P.O. Box 26, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2J1.

Unitholders may also contact us using one of these methods to request a copy of the investment fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, proxy voting disclosure record, or quarterly portfolio disclosure.

3

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver TrustDecember 31, 2022

_____________________

1Net assets are equal to total assets less total liabilities (or total equity) on the statements of financial position.

Annual Management Report of Fund Performance (in U.S. dollars)

Management Discussion of Fund Performance

Investment Objective and Strategies

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust (the “Trust”) is a closed-end mutual fund trust established on October 26, 2017 under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada. Sprott Asset Management LP (the “Manager”) is the manager of the Trust. The Trust was created to invest and hold substantially all of its assets in physical gold and silver bullion and seeks to provide a secure, convenient and exchange-traded investment alternative for investors interested in holding physical bullion without the inconvenience that is typical of a direct investment in physical bullion. The Trust intends to achieve its objective by investing primarily in long-term holdings of unencumbered, fully allocated, physical gold and silver bullion and does not speculate with regard to short-term changes in bullion prices.

The units of the Trust are listed on the New York Stock Exchange Arca (“NYSE Arca”) under the ticker symbol “CEF”, and the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the ticker symbols “CEF” and “CEF.U”.

Risks

There have been no changes to the Trust over the financial period that materially affected the risk level of the Trust.

Results of Operations

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the total change in unrealized losses on physical gold bullion amounted to $27.3 million and the total change in unrealized gains on physical silver bullion amounted to $26.9 million, compared to the total change in unrealized losses on physical gold bullion of $109.9 million and the total change in unrealized losses on physical silver bullion of $190.4 million during the same period in 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the realized gains on physical gold bullion amounted to $16.9 million and realized gains on physical silver bullion was $7.2 million. Comparatively, for the same period in 2021, the realized gains on physical gold bullion amounted to $6.1 million and realized gains on physical silver bullion was $4.7 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Trust issued 796,849 units through the at-the-market offering program (the “ATM Program”) for gross proceeds of $14.6 million, and redeemed 6,584,784 units for $115.3 million of gold and silver bullion and 100 units for a nominal amount of cash. Comparatively, for the same period in 2021, the Trust issued 958,693 units for gross proceeds of $18.6 million, and redeemed 1,917,645 units for $36.6 million of gold and silver bullion and 11,950 units for $0.2 million of cash.

The value of the net assets1 of the Trust as at December 31, 2022 was $3,998.3 million or $18.60 per unit, compared to $4,094.4 million or $18.55 per unit as at December 31, 2021. The Trust held 1,426,093 ounces of physical gold bullion and 58,230,787 ounces of physical silver bullion as at December 31, 2022, compared to 1,473,682 ounces of physical gold bullion and 59,982,819 ounces of physical silver bullion as at December 31, 2021. As at December 31, 2022, the spot price of physical gold bullion was $1,824.02 per ounce and the spot price of physical silver bullion was $23.95 per ounce, compared to a spot price for physical gold bullion of $1,829.20 per ounce and the spot price of physical silver bullion was $23.31 per ounce as at December 31, 2021.

4

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver TrustDecember 31, 2022

_____________________

1The operating expenses non-GAAP measure is calculated for the year ended December 31, 2022 as total expenses per the statements of comprehensive income (loss) less management fees of $15.6 million, sales tax of $1.0 million, and net foreign exchange losses (gains) of $nil (amounts for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $16.7 million, $1.5 million and $nil, respectively).

2Average net assets is the average of the daily net asset value of the Trust for the applicable period.

The Trust returned 0.3% compared to the return on spot gold and silver of -0.3% and 2.8% respectively for the year ended December 31, 2022. Comparatively, for the same period in 2021, the Trust returned -7% compared to the return on spot gold and silver of -3.6% and -11.7% respectively.

The units of the Trust closed at $17.93 on the NYSE Arca and $17.91 on the TSX on December 31, 2022 compared to closing prices of $17.74 on the NYSE Arca and $17.77 on the TSX on December 31, 2021. These units are denominated in U.S. dollars on both exchanges. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Trust’s units traded on the NYSE Arca at an average discount to net asset value of approximately 3.2%, compared to approximately 2.9% for the same period in 2021.

The Trust pays its own expenses, which include, but are not limited to, audit, legal, trustee fees, unitholder reporting expenses, general and administrative fees, filing and listing fees payable to applicable securities regulatory authorities and stock exchanges, storage fees for the physical gold and silver bullion, and any expenses associated with the Independent Review Committee of the Trust. Operating expenses1 for the year ended December 31, 2022 amounted to $2.4 million compared to $3.0 million for the same period in 2021. Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 amounted to 0.06% of the average net assets2 during the period on an annualized basis, compared to 0.07% for the same period in 2021.

Recent Developments

There were no changes to the Manager of the Trust, nor were there any material changes to the investment philosophy or process.

Related Party Transactions

The transactions between the Trust and its related parties during the reporting period are outlined below:

Management Fees

The Trust pays the Manager a monthly management fee equal to 112 of 0.40% of the value of the net assets of the Trust (determined in accordance with the Trust’s trust agreement), plus any applicable Canadian taxes. The management fee is calculated and accrued daily and payable monthly in arrears on the last day of each month. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Trust incurred management fees of $15.6 million (not including applicable Canadian taxes) compared to $16.7 million for the same period in 2021.

5

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver TrustDecember 31, 2022

Financial Highlights

The following tables show selected key financial information about the Trust and are intended to help you understand the Trust’s financial performance for the periods indicated. All dollar amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars.

The Trust’s Net Assets Per Unit1

 

 

2022
$

 

2021
$

 

2020
$

 

2019
$

 

20182
$

 

Net assets, beginning of year

18.55

19.95

15.19

13.03

10.00

Increase from acquisition of CFCL

4.03

Increase from operations3:

Total revenue

Total expenses

(0.09

)

(0.10

)

(0.09

)

(0.10

)

(0.10

)

Realized gains (losses) for the year

0.11

0.05

(0.08

)

(0.17

)

Unrealized gains (losses) for the year

(1.36

)

4.90

2.32

(0.84

)

Total increase (decrease) from operations

0.02

(1.41

)

4.81

2.14

(1.11

)

Net assets at December 31 of year shown

18.60

18.55

19.95

15.19

13.03

1This information is derived from the Trust’s audited annual financial statements.

2The information is for the period from January 16, 2018 (inception) to December 31, 2018.

3Net assets per unit is calculated based on the actual number of units outstanding at the relevant period end date. The increase/decrease from operations is based on the weighted average number of units outstanding over the period shown. This table is not intended to be a reconciliation of the beginning to ending net assets per unit.

Ratios and Supplemental Data

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

2020

 

2019

 

20181

 

Total net asset value (000’s)2

$3,998,326

$4,094,374

$4,423,279

$2,959,783

$2,806,717

Number of Units outstanding2

214,949,762

220,737,797

221,708,699

194,827,300

215,330,776

Management expense ratio3

0.49%

0.51%

0.51%

0.53%

0.62%

Trading expense ratio4

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Portfolio turnover rate5

Nil

0.10%

0.14%

1.67%

0.02%

Net asset value per Unit

$18.60

$18.55

$19.95

$15.19

$13.03

Closing market price – NYSE Arca

$17.93

$17.74

$19.35

$14.66

$12.54

Closing market price – TSX

$17.91

$17.77

$19.20

$14.69

$12.53

1The information is for the period from January 16, 2018 (inception) to December 31, 2018.

2This information is provided as at December 31 of the year shown.

3Management expense ratio (“MER”) is based on total expenses (including applicable Canadian taxes and excluding commissions) for the stated period and is expressed as an annualized percentage of the average daily net asset value during the period.

4The trading expense ratio represents total commissions and is expressed as an annualized percentage of daily average net asset value during the period shown. Since there are no direct trading costs associated with physical bullion trades, the trading expense ratio is nil.

5The Trust’s portfolio turnover rate indicates how actively the Trust’s portfolio adviser trades its portfolio investments. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is equivalent to the Trust buying and selling all of the securities in its portfolio once in the course of the period. The higher the Trust’s portfolio turnover rate in a period, the greater the chance of an investor receiving taxable capital gains in the period. There is not necessarily a relationship between a high turnover rate and the performance of the Trust.

Past Performance

The indicated rates of return are the historical total returns including changes in unit values and assumes reinvestment of all distributions in additional units of the Trust. These returns do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any unitholder that may reduce returns. Please note that past performance is not indicative of future performance. All rates of returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the units of the Trust.

6

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver TrustDecember 31, 2022

Year-by-Year Returns

The bar chart below indicates the performance of the Trust units for the periods shown. The chart shows, in percentage terms, how much an investment made on the first day of each period would have grown or decreased by the last day of each period.

1For the period from January 16, 2018 (inception) to December 31, 2018.

Annual Compound Returns

The following table presents the Trust’s annual compound return since inception and for the periods shown ended December 31, 2022 along with a comparable market index. The table is used only to illustrate the effects of the compound growth rate and is not intended to reflect future values of the Trust or future returns on investments in the Trust.

 

 

1 Year

 

3 Year

 

5 Year

 

10 Year

 

Since Inception1

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust

0.28%

6.98%

N/A

N/A

5.93%

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust - Market2

1.07%

6.94%

N/A

N/A

5.61%

Spot Gold

(0.28)%

6.33%

N/A

N/A

6.41%

Spot Silver

2.77%

10.30%

N/A

N/A

6.72%

1For the period from January 16, 2018 (inception) to December 31, 2022.

2Annual compound return based on market price is calculated using the USD closing price of units of the Trust traded on the NYSE Arca.

7

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver TrustDecember 31, 2022

Summary of Investment Portfolio

The following Top Holdings table shows the 25 largest positions (or all positions if the total number of positions is less than 25) held by the Trust as at December 31, 2022 based on the fair value of the position, expressed as a percentage of the Trust’s net asset value.

PORTFOLIO ALLOCATION

TOP HOLDINGS

Asset Class

% of
Net Asset
Value

 

Position

% of
Net Asset
Value

 

Gold

65.0

Physical gold bullion

65.0

Silver

34.9

Physical silver bullion

34.9

Cash

0.1

Cash

0.1

Other assets, less liabilities

Other assets, less liabilities

 

Total

100.0

 

Total Net Asset Value (000’s)

$3,998,326

This summary of investment portfolio may change due to the ongoing portfolio transactions of the Trust.

8

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust

Annual financial statements

December 31, 2022

9

MANAGEMENT'S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Sprott Asset Management LP, the “Manager” of the Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust (the “Trust”) is responsible for the integrity, consistency, objectivity and reliability of the Financial Statements of the Trust. International Financial Reporting Standards have been applied and management has exercised its judgment and made best estimates where appropriate.

The Manager’s internal controls and supporting procedures maintained provide reasonable assurance that financial records are complete and accurate. These supporting procedures include the oversight of RBC Investor Services, the Trust’s valuation agent.

Management has assessed the effectiveness of the internal controls over financial reporting for the period January 1 to December 31, 2022 using the framework found in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based upon this assessment, management has concluded the Manager’s internal controls over financial reporting were effective.

KPMG LLP, the independent auditors appointed by the Manager of the Trust, have audited the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2022 in addition to auditing the Trust’s Financial Statements as of the same period. Their reports, which expressed unqualified opinions, can be found on pages 10 to 13 of the Financial Statements. KPMG LLP have full and free access to, and meet periodically with, the Manager of the Trust to discuss their audit and matters arising there from, such as, comments they may have on the fairness of financial reporting and the adequacy of internal controls.

/s/ Kevin Hibbert
Kevin Hibbert
Director
March
21, 2023

10

 

kpmg LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
Bay Adelaide Centre
333 Bay Street Suite 4600
Toronto, ON M5H 2S5
Canada

Telephone:

(416) 777-8500

Fax:

(416) 777-8818

Internet:

www.kpmg.ca

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To Sprott Asset Management LP and the Unitholders of Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of financial position of Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust (the Trust) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related statements of comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Trust as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

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, 2022, 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 March 21, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements 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 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, 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. 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. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

© 2023 KPMG LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms
affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.

11

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to Sprott Asset Management LP (the Manager) and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Evaluation of the existence of physical bullion

As discussed in Note 6 to the financial statements, the fair value of physical gold and silver bullion held by the Trust was $3,996,111 thousand as at December 31, 2022. The physical bullion was held by a third-party custodian (the custodian) as at December 31, 2022.

We identified the evaluation of the existence of physical bullion as a critical audit matter. Given the nature and volume of gold and silver bullion holdings, subjective auditor judgment was required to evaluate the extent and nature of evidence obtained to assess the existence of gold and silver 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 physical bullion process, including controls over (1) physical bullion trade approvals, (2) periodic reconciliation of physical bullion performed by the Manager between the Trust’s and the custodian’s records, and (3) annual physical bullion count. We obtained a confirmation directly from the custodian of physical bullion existence as at December 31, 2022 and compared the total ounces in the confirmation to those recorded by the Trust. We inspected the physical bullion reconciliation performed by the Manager as at December 31, 2022 and compared the total ounces to both the Trust’s and the custodian’s records. We attended and observed the annual physical count of the Trust’s physical gold and silver bullion performed at the custodian’s locations by the Manager. We obtained the physical bullion count result of the Manager and reconciled it to the Trust’s records. We performed a physical count for all the physical bullion and an examination of a selection of bullion for Good Delivery Bars as defined by the London Bullion Market Association (“LBMA”). We also tested the Trust’s roll forward of physical bullion holdings from November 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28, 2022 (gold) and November 17 and 18, 2022 (silver) (the dates of the Trust’s most recent physical inspection performed at the custodian’s locations by the Manager) through December 31, 2022 by (1) agreeing the Trust’s records of bullion holdings as of the last physical inspection date to the custodian’s records, (2) agreeing bullion holdings transactions to order confirmations and trade tickets, and (3) comparing the Trust’s holdings to the confirmation obtained directly from the custodian of the Trust’s bullion holdings at December 31, 2022.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Chartered Professional Accounts, Licensed Public Accountants

We have served as the Trust’s auditor since 2017.

Toronto, Canada
March 21, 2023

12

 

kpmg LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
Bay Adelaide Centre
333 Bay Street Suite 4600
Toronto, ON M5H 2S5
Canada

Telephone:

(416) 777-8500

Fax:

(416) 777-8818

Internet:

www.kpmg.ca

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To Sprott Asset Management LP and the Unitholders of Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust’s (the Trust) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, 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, 2022, 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 financial position of the Trust as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related statements of comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements), and our report dated March 21, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

The Trust’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 included in Exhibit 99.7 of the Form 40-F for the year-ended December 31, 2022. 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.

© 2023 KPMG LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms
affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.

13

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 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 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.

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

Chartered Professional Accounts, Licensed Public Accountants

Toronto, Canada
March 21, 2023

14

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust

Statements of comprehensive income (loss)

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit amounts)

         

 

For the year ended
December 31, 2022

 

For the year ended
December 31, 2021

 

 

$

$

Income

Net realized gains (losses) on redemptions and sales of gold and silver bullion

24,121

10,784

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on gold and silver bullion (note 6)

(448

)

(300,318

)

Other income

51

 

23,724

(289,534

)

 

Expenses

Management fees (note 8)

15,568

16,695

Bullion storage fees

1,810

1,921

Sales tax

1,047

1,471

Unitholder reporting costs

162

194

Administrative fees

137

174

Listing and regulatory filing fees

100

187

Audit fees

96

127

Legal fees

56

378

Independent Review Committee fees

10

14

Net foreign exchange losses (gains)

6

(1

)

Trustee fees

4

4

Custodial fees

1

2

 

18,997

21,166

 

Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)

4,727

(310,700

)

Weighted average number of Units

217,714,815

220,847,830

 

Increase (decrease) in total equity from operations per Unit

0.02

(1.41

)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

15

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust

Statements of financial position

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

As at
December 31, 2022

 

As at
December 31, 2021

 

 

$

$

Assets

Cash

3,404

679

Gold bullion (note 6)

2,601,222

2,695,659

Silver bullion (note 6)

1,394,889

1,398,098

Total assets

3,999,515

4,094,436

 

Liabilities

Due to broker

406

Accounts payable

783

62

Total liabilities

1,189

62

 

Equity

Unitholders’ capital

3,105,527

3,183,333

Unit premiums and reserves

91

91

Retained earnings (deficit)

895,981

914,188

Underwriting commissions and issue expenses

(3,273

)

(3,238

)

Total equity (note 7)

3,998,326

4,094,374

 

Total liabilities and equity

3,999,515

4,094,436

 

Total equity per Unit

18.60

18.55

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

On behalf of the Manager, Sprott Asset Management LP,
by its General Partner, Sprott Asset Management GP Inc.:

Kevin Hibbert

Director

John Ciampaglia

Director

16

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust

Statements of changes in equity

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except unit amounts)
For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

 

 

Number of
Units
Outstanding

 

Unitholders’
Capital

 

Retained
Earnings
(Deficit)

 

Underwriting
Commissions
and Issue
Expenses

 

Unit
Premiums
and
Reserves

 

Total Equity

 

 

$

$

$

$

$

Balance as at January 1, 2021

221,708,699

3,191,809

1,234,584

(3,193

)

80

4,423,280

Proceeds from issuance of Units (note 7)

958,693

18,593

18,593

Cost of redemption of Units (note 7)

(1,929,595

)

(27,069

)

(9,696

)

11

(36,754

)

Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) for the year

(310,700

)

(310,700

)

Underwriting commissions and issue expenses

(45

)

(45

)

Balance as at December 31, 2021

220,737,797

3,183,333

914,188

(3,238

)

91

4,094,374

Balance as at January 1, 2022

220,737,797

3,183,333

914,188

(3,238

)

91

4,094,374

Proceeds from issuance of Units (note 7)

796,849

14,569

14,569

Cost of redemption of Units (note 7)

(6,584,884

)

(92,375

)

(22,934

)

(115,309

)

Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) for the year

4,727

4,727

Underwriting commissions and issue expenses

(35

)

(35

)

Balance as at December 31, 2022

214,949,762

3,105,527

895,981

(3,273

)

91

3,998,326

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

17

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust

Statements of cash flows

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

For the year ended December 31, 2022

 

For the year ended
December 31, 2021

 

 

$

$

Cash flows from operating activities

Net income (loss) for the year

4,727

(310,700

Adjustment to reconcile net income (loss) for the year to net cash from operating activities

Net realized (gains) losses on redemptions and sales of gold and silver bullion

(24,121

)

(10,784

Change in unrealized (gains) losses on gold and silver bullion

448

300,318

 

Net changes in operating assets and liabilities

Increase (decrease) in due to broker

406

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

721

(63

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

(17,819

)

(21,229

 

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchases of gold and silver bullion

(2,786

)

Sales of gold and silver bullion

10,760

7,942

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

10,760

5,156

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds from issuance of Units (note 7)

14,569

18,593

Payments on redemption of Units (note 7)

(4,750

)

(3,196

Underwriting commissions and issue expenses

(35

)

(45

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

9,784

15,352

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash during the year

2,725

(721

Cash at beginning of the year

679

1,400

 

Cash at end of the year

3,404

679

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

18

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust
Notes to financial statements – Trust specific information




December 31, 2022

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

Financial Risk Management (note 6)

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Trust is to provide a secure, convenient and exchange-traded investment alternative for investors interested in holding physical gold and silver bullion without the inconvenience that is typical of a direct investment in physical bullion. The Trust invests and intends to continue to invest primarily in long-term holdings of unencumbered, fully allocated, physical gold and silver bullion and does not speculate with regard to short-term changes in gold and silver prices. The Trust will only purchase and expects only to own “Good Delivery Bars” as defined by the London Bullion Market Association (“LBMA”), with each bar purchased being verified against the LBMA source.

Significant risks that are relevant to the Trust are discussed here. General information on risks and risk management is described in Note 6 of the Generic Notes.

Fair Value Measurements

The reconciliation of bullion holdings for years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 is presented as follows:

 

December 31, 2022

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

$

$

Balance at beginning of year

4,093,757

4,422,005

Purchases

2,786

Sales

(10,760

)

(7,942

)

Redemptions for physical bullion

(110,559

)

(33,558

)

Realized gains (losses) on sales and redemptions for physical bullion

24,121

10,784

Change in unrealized gains (losses)

(448

)

(300,318

)

Balance at end of year

3,996,111

4,093,757

 

The cost for physical gold bullion as at December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $2,011,115 and $2,078,227, respectively. The cost for physical silver bullion as at December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $999,939 and $1,030,025, respectively.

Market Risk

a) Other Price Risk

If the market value of gold and silver bullion increased by 1%, with all other variables held constant, this would have increased total equity and comprehensive income by approximately $40.0 million (December 31, 2021: $40.9 million); conversely, if the value of gold and silver bullion decreased by 1%, this would have decreased total equity and comprehensive income by the same amount.

b) Currency Risk

As at December 31, 2022, approximately $266 (December 31, 2021: $242) of the Trust’s other assets and accounts payable were denominated in Canadian dollars. As a result, a 1% change in the exchange rate between the Canadian and U.S. Dollars would not have a material impact to the Trust.

 

19

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust
Notes to financial statements – Trust specific information




December 31, 2022

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

Concentration Risk

The Trust’s risk is concentrated in physical gold and silver bullion held across three locations, whose value constitutes 65.0% of total equity for physical gold bullion and 26.7% and 8.2% of total equity for physical silver bullion as at December 31, 2022 (65.8% of total equity for physical gold bullion and 26.3% and 7.8% of total equity for physical silver bullion held across three locations as at December 31, 2021).

Management Fees (note 8)

The Trust pays the Manager a monthly management fee equal to 112 of 0.40% of the value of net assets of the Trust (determined in accordance with the Trust’s trust agreement) plus any applicable Canadian taxes, calculated and accrued daily and payable monthly in arrears on the last day of each month.

Also, the Manager has agreed that if the expenses of the Trust, including the management fee, at the end of any month exceed an amount equal to 112 of 0.65% of the value of the net assets of the Trust, the management fee payable to the Manager for such month will be reduced by the amount of such excess up to the gross amount of the management fee earned by the Manager from the Trust for such month. Any such reduction in the management fee will not be carried forward or remain payable to the Manager in future months. The Manager did not waive any amounts payable during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. In calculating the expenses of the Trust for purposes of the expense cap, the following will be excluded: any applicable taxes payable by the Trust or to which the Trust may be subject, and any extraordinary expenses of the Trust.

Tax Loss Carryforwards

As of the taxation year ended December 31, 2022, the Trust had capital losses available for tax purposes of $nil
(December 31, 2021: $nil).

Related Party Disclosures (note 8)

During the reporting period, the Trust paid the Manager management fees, as discussed above.

 

20

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust
Generic Notes to financial statements




December 31, 2022

1. Organization of the Trusts

Sprott Physical Gold Trust, Sprott Physical Silver Trust, Sprott Physical Platinum and Palladium Trust and Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust (collectively, the ‘‘Trusts” and each a ‘‘Trust’’) are closed-end mutual fund trusts created under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada, pursuant to trust agreements. Sprott Asset Management LP (the “Manager”) acts as the manager of the Trusts. RBC Investor Services Trust, a trust company organized under the laws of Canada, acts as the trustee of the Trusts. RBC Investor Services Trust also acts as custodian on behalf of the Trusts for the Trusts’ assets other than physical bullion. The Royal Canadian Mint acts as custodian on behalf of the Trusts for the physical bullion owned by the Trusts. The Trusts’ registered office is located at Suite 2600, South Tower, Royal Bank Plaza, 200 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5J 2J1.

The Trusts are authorized to issue an unlimited number of redeemable, transferable trust units (the “Units”). All issued Units have no par value, are fully paid for, and are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange Arca (the “NYSE Arca”) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”). The date of inception and trading symbols of each of the Trusts is as follows.

Trust

Trust Agreement date

Initial Public Offering date

NYSE Arca and TSX symbols, respectively

Sprott Physical Gold Trust

August 28, 2009, as amended and restated as of December 7, 2009, February 1, 2010, February 27, 2015 and November 13, 2020

March 3, 2010

PHYS, PHYS.U

Sprott Physical Silver Trust

June 30, 2010, as amended and restated as of October 1, 2010, February 27, 2015 and November 13, 2020

October 28, 2010

PSLV, PSLV.U

Sprott Physical Platinum and Palladium Trust

December 23, 2011, as amended and restated as of June 6, 2012

December 19, 2012

SPPP, SPPP.U

Sprott Physical Gold & Silver Trust

October 26, 2017

January 16, 2018

CEF, CEF.U

 

The financial statements of each of the Trusts are as at and for the year ended December 31, 2022. These financial statements were authorized for issue by the Manager on March 21, 2023.

 

2. Basis of Preparation

These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and include estimates and assumptions made by the Manager that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income, expenses and the reported amounts of changes in equity during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis using the historical cost convention, except for physical bullion and financial assets and financial liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss, which have been measured at fair value.

The financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand ($000s) unless otherwise indicated.

 

21

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust
Generic Notes to financial statements




December 31, 2022

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Trusts:

Physical bullion

Investments in physical bullion are measured at fair value determined by reference to published price quotations, with unrealized and realized gains and losses recorded in income based on the International Accounting Standards (“IAS”) 40, Investment Property fair value model because it is the most relevant standard to apply. Investment transactions in physical bullion are accounted for on the same business day the order to buy or sell is executed. Realized and unrealized gains and losses of holdings are calculated on a weighted average cost basis.

Other assets and liabilities

Other assets and liabilities are recognized at fair value upon initial recognition. Other assets such as due from broker and other receivables are classified as loans and receivables and measured at amortized cost. Other financial liabilities are measured at amortized cost.

Income taxes

In each taxation year, the Trusts will be subject to income tax on taxable income earned during the year, including net realized taxable capital gains. However, the Trusts intend to distribute their taxable income to unitholders at the end of every fiscal year and therefore the Trusts themselves would not have any income tax liability.

Functional and presentation currency

Each Trust’s functional and presentation currency is the U.S. Dollar. Each Trust’s performance is evaluated and its liquidity is managed in U.S. Dollars. Therefore, the U.S. Dollar is considered as the currency that most faithfully represents the economic effects of the underlying transactions, events and conditions.

 

4. Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments

The preparation of financial statements requires management to use judgment in applying its accounting policies and to make estimates and assumptions about the future. The following discusses the most significant accounting judgments and estimates that the Trusts have made in preparing the financial statements:

Estimation uncertainty

For income tax purposes, the Trusts generally treats gains (or losses) from the disposition of bullion as capital gains (or losses), rather than income, as the Trusts intend to be long-term passive holders of bullion, and generally disposes of their holdings in bullion only for the purposes of meeting redemptions and to pay expenses. The Canada Revenue Agency has, however, expressed its opinion that gains (or losses) of mutual fund trusts resulting from transactions in commodities should generally be treated for tax purposes as ordinary income rather than as capital gains (or losses), although the treatment in each particular case remains a question of fact to be determined having regard to all the circumstances.

The Trusts based their assumptions and estimates on information available when the financial statements were prepared. However, existing circumstances and assumptions about future developments may change due to market changes or circumstances arising beyond the control of the Trusts. Such changes are reflected in the assumptions when they occur.

 

22

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust
Generic Notes to financial statements




December 31, 2022

5. Fair Value Measurements

The Trusts use a three-tier hierarchy as a framework for disclosing fair value based on inputs used to value their investments.

The fair value hierarchy has the following levels:

Level 1Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the Trusts have the ability to access at the measurement date;

Level 2Quoted prices which are not active, or inputs that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

Level 3Prices, inputs or complex modeling techniques which are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).

Physical bullion is measured at fair value. The fair value measurement of all bullion falls within Level 1 of the hierarchy, and is based on published price quotations. All fair value measurements are recurring. The carrying value of cash, accounts receivable, prepaid assets, due from broker, accounts payable, and due to broker, where applicable, approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.

 

6. Financial Risk, Management and Objectives

The Trusts’ objective in managing risk is the creation and protection of unitholder value. Risk is inherent in the Trusts’ activities, but it is managed through a process of ongoing identification, measurement and monitoring, subject to risk limits and other controls. The Trusts have investment guidelines that set out their overall business strategies, their tolerance for risk and their general risk management philosophy, as noted in each Trust’s offering documents. The Trusts’ Manager is responsible for identifying and controlling risks. The Trusts are exposed to market risk (which includes price risk, interest rate risk and currency risk), credit risk, liquidity risk and concentration risk arising from the bullion that they hold. Only certain risks of the Trusts are actively managed by the Manager, as the Trusts are passive investment vehicles. Significant risks that are relevant to the Trusts are discussed below. Refer to the Notes to financial statements — Trust specific information of each Trust for specific risk disclosures.

Price risk

Price risk arises from the possibility that changes in the market price of each Trust’s investments, which consist almost entirely of bullion, will result in changes in fair value of such investments.

Interest rate risk

Interest rate risk arises from the possibility that changes in interest rates will affect the value of financial instruments. The Trusts do not hedge their exposure to interest rate risk as that risk is minimal.

Currency risk

Currency risk arises from the possibility that changes in the price of foreign currencies will result in changes in carrying value. Each Trust’s assets, substantially all of which consist of an investment in bullion, are priced in U.S. dollars. Some of the Trusts’ expenses are payable in Canadian dollars. Therefore, the Trusts are exposed to currency risk, as the value of their assets and liabilities denominated in Canadian dollars will fluctuate due to changes in exchange rates. Most of such assets and liabilities, however, are short term in nature and are not significant in relation to the net assets of the Trusts, and, as such, exposure to foreign exchange risk is limited. The Trusts do not enter into currency hedging transactions.

23

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust
Generic Notes to financial statements




December 31, 2022

Credit risk

Credit risk arises from the potential that counterparties will fail to satisfy their obligations as they come due. The Trusts primarily incur credit risk when entering into and settling bullion transactions. It is each Trust’s policy to only transact with reputable counterparties. The Manager closely monitors the creditworthiness of the Trusts’ counterparties, such as bullion dealers, by reviewing their financial statements when available, regulatory notices and press releases. The Trusts seek to minimize credit risk relating to unsettled transactions in bullion by only engaging in transactions with bullion dealers with high creditworthiness. The risk of default is considered minimal, as payment for bullion is only made against the receipt of the bullion by the custodian.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is defined as the risk that the Trusts will encounter difficulty in meeting obligations associated with financial liabilities and redemptions. Liquidity risk arises because of the possibility that the Trusts could be required to pay their liabilities earlier than expected. The Trusts are also subject to redemptions for both cash and bullion on a regular basis. The Trusts manage their obligation to redeem units when required to do so and their overall liquidity risk by only allowing for redemptions monthly, which require 15-day advance notice to the Trusts. Each Trust’s liquidity risk is minimal, since their primary investment is physical bullion, which trades in a highly liquid market. All of the Trusts’ financial liabilities, including due to broker, accounts payable and management fees payable have maturities of less than three months.

Concentration risk

Each Trust’s risk is concentrated in the physical bullion of precious metals.

 

7. Unitholders’ Capital

The Trusts are authorized to issue an unlimited number of redeemable, transferrable Trust Units in one or more classes and series of Units. The Trusts’ capital is represented by the issued, redeemable, transferable Trust Units. Quantitative information about the Trusts’ capital is provided in their Statements of changes in equity. Under the trust agreements of each Trust, Units may be redeemed at the option of the unitholder on a monthly basis for physical bullion or cash. Units redeemed for physical bullion will be entitled to a redemption price equal to 100% of the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) of the redeemed Units on the last business day of the month in which the redemption request is processed. A unitholder redeeming Units for physical bullion will be responsible for expenses in connection with effecting the redemption and applicable delivery expenses, including the handling of the notice of redemption, the delivery of the physical bullion for Units that are being redeemed and the applicable bullion storage in-and-out fees. Units redeemed for cash will be entitled to a redemption price equal to 95% of the lesser of (i) the volume-weighted average trading price of the Units traded on the NYSE Arca, or, if trading has been suspended on the NYSE Arca, on the TSX for the last five business days of the month in which the redemption request is processed and (ii) the NAV of the redeemed Units as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern Standard time, on the last business day of the month in which the redemption request is processed.

When Units are redeemed and cancelled and the cost of such Units is either above or below their stated or assigned value, the unitholders’ capital is reduced by an amount equal to the stated or assigned value of the Units. The difference between the redemption price and the stated or assigned values of the Units is allocated to the Unit premiums and reserves account (equal to the 5% reduction to the redemption price for Units redeemed for cash as described above) and the retained earnings account based on the allocated portion attributable to the redemption.

The Trusts’ units are classified as equity on the statements of financial position, since the Trusts’ units meet the criteria in IAS 32, Financial Instruments: Presentation for classification as equity.

24

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust
Generic Notes to financial statements




December 31, 2022

Net Asset Value

NAV is defined as a Trust’s net assets (fair value of total assets less fair value of total liabilities) calculated using the value of physical bullion based on the end-of-day price provided by a widely recognized pricing source.

Capital management

As a result of the ability to issue, repurchase and resell Units of the Trusts, the capital of the Trusts as represented by the Unitholders’ capital in the Statements of financial position can vary depending on the demand for redemptions and subscriptions to the Trusts. The Trusts are not subject to externally imposed capital requirements and have no legal restrictions on the issue, repurchase or resale of redeemable Units beyond those included in their trust agreements. The Trusts may not issue additional Units except (i) if the net proceeds per Unit to be received by the Trusts are not less than 100% of the most recently calculated NAV immediately prior to, or upon, the determination of the pricing of such issuance or (ii) by way of Unit distribution in connection with an income distribution.

Each Trust’s objectives for managing capital are:

To invest and hold substantially all of the Trust’s assets in physical bullion; and

To maintain sufficient liquidity to meet the expenses of each Trust, and to meet redemption requests as they arise.

Refer to “Financial risk, management and objectives” (Note 6) for the policies and procedures applied by the Trusts in managing their capital.

 

8. Related Party Disclosures

The Trusts pay the Manager a monthly management fee, calculated and accrued daily and payable monthly in arrears on the last day of each month. Management fees are unique to each Trust and are subject to applicable taxes.

 

9. Independent Review Committee (“IRC”)

In accordance with National Instrument 81-107, Independent Review Committee for Investment Funds (“NI 81-107”), the Manager has established an IRC for a number of funds managed by it, including the Trusts. The mandate of the IRC is to consider and provide recommendations to the Manager on conflicts of interest to which the Manager is subject when managing certain funds, including the Trusts. The IRC is composed of three individuals, each of whom is independent of the Manager and all funds managed by the Manager, including the Trusts. Each fund subject to IRC oversight pays a share of the IRC member fees, costs and other fees in connection with operation of the IRC. The IRC reports annually to unitholders of the funds subject to its oversight on its activities, as required by NI 81-107.

 

10. Personnel

The Trusts did not employ any personnel during the period, as their affairs were administered by the personnel of the Manager and/or the Trustee, as applicable.

 

25


Corporate Information

Head Office

Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust
Royal Bank Plaza, South Tower
200 Bay Street
Suite 2600, PO Box 26
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2J1
Toll Free: (888) 622-1813
Email: bullion@sprott.com

Auditors

KPMG LLP
Bay Adelaide Centre
333 Bay Street
Suite 4600
Toronto, Ontario M5H 2S5

Legal Counsel

Stikeman Elliott LLP
5300 Commerce Court West
199 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M5L 1B9

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
222 Bay Street, Suite 1750
Toronto, Ontario M5K 1J5

www.sprott.com