−Removed: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
−Removed: Condition and Results of Operations
−Removed: This information should be read in conjunction
−Removed: with the unaudited financial statements and notes to the unaudited financial statements included in Item 1 of Part 1 of this Form 10-Q.
−Removed: The discussion and analysis that follows may contain forward-looking statements with respect to the VanEck Merk Gold Trust’s financial
−Removed: conditions, operations, future performance and business.
−Removed: These statements can be identified by the use of the words “may , ”
−Removed: “should , ” “expect , ” “plan , ” “anticipate , ” “believe , ”
−Removed: “estimate , ” “predict , ” “potential” or similar words and phrases.
−Removed: These statements are
−Removed: based upon certain assumptions and analyses Merk Investments LLC, the Sponsor, has made based on its perception of historical trends,
−Removed: current conditions and expected future developments.
−Removed: Neither the Trust nor the Sponsor is under a duty to update any of the forward looking
−Removed: statements, to conform such statements to actual results or to reflect a change in management’s expectations or predictions.
−Removed: The VanEck Merk Gold Trust (the “Trust”),
−Removed: formerly known as the Merk Gold Trust prior to October 26, 2015 and then as the Van Eck Merk Gold Trust prior to April 28, 2016, is an
−Removed: investment trust formed on May 6, 2014 under New York law pursuant to a depositary trust agreement (as amended, the “Trust Agreement”).
−Removed: The Trust is not managed like a corporation or an active investment vehicle.
−Removed: It does not have any officers, directors, or employees and
−Removed: is administered by The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Trustee”) pursuant to the Trust Agreement.
−Removed: The Trust is not registered
−Removed: as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and is not required to register under such act.
−Removed: not hold or trade in commodity futures contracts, nor is it a commodity pool, or subject to regulation as a commodity pool operator or
−Removed: a commodity trading adviser in connection with issuing shares.
−Removed: The Trust’s primary objective is to provide
−Removed: investors with an opportunity to invest in gold through the shares and be able to take delivery of physical gold bullion and gold coins
−Removed: (“physical gold”) in exchange for those shares.
−Removed: The Trust’s secondary objective is for the shares to reflect the performance
−Removed: of the price of gold less the expenses of the Trust’s operations.
−Removed: Each share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest
−Removed: in the Trust’s net assets.
−Removed: The Trust’s assets consist principally of gold held on the Trust’s behalf in financial institutions
−Removed: for safekeeping.
−Removed: Physical gold that the Trust will hold includes London Bars and, for the limited purposes described herein, other gold
−Removed: bars and coins, without numismatic value, having a minimum fineness (or purity) of 995 parts per 1,000 (99.5%) or, for American Gold Eagle
−Removed: gold coins, with a minimum fineness of 91.67%.
−Removed: Shares are issued by the Trust only in blocks of 50,000 shares called “Baskets”
−Removed: in exchange for gold from certain registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants (“Authorized Participants”).
−Removed: See “Creation and Redemption of Shares— Authorized Participants ” in the notes to our financial statements for
−Removed: requirements to qualify as an Authorized Participant.
−Removed: Baskets may be redeemed by the Trust in exchange for the amount of gold corresponding
−Removed: to their redemption value.
−Removed: The Trust issues and redeems Baskets on an ongoing basis at net asset value to Authorized Participants who
−Removed: have entered into a contract with the Sponsor and the Trustee.
−Removed: Shares of the Trust trade on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”)
−Removed: Arca under the symbol “OUNZ”.
−Removed: Valuation of Gold and Computation of Net Asset Value
−Removed: On each business day that the NYSE Arca is open
−Removed: for regular trading, as promptly as practicable after 4:00 PM (New York time) the Trustee will value the gold held by the Trust and will
−Removed: determine the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Trust, as described below.
−Removed: The NAV of the Trust is the aggregate value of
−Removed: gold and other assets, if any, of the Trust (other than any amounts credited to the Trust’s reserve account, if any) and cash, if
−Removed: any, less liabilities of the Trust, which include estimated accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and other liabilities.
−Removed: All gold is valued based on its Fine Ounce content,
−Removed: calculated by multiplying the weight of gold by its purity;
−Removed: the same methodology is applied independent of the type of gold held by the
−Removed: similarly, the value of up to 430 Fine Ounces of unallocated gold the Trust may hold is calculated by multiplying the number of
−Removed: Fine Ounces with the price of gold determined by the Trustee as follows.
−Removed: The Trustee values the gold held by the Trust based on the afternoon
−Removed: session of the twice daily fix of the price of a Fine Ounce of gold which starts at 3:00 PM London, England time and is performed in London
−Removed: by the ICE Benchmark Administration as an independent third-party administrator (the “LBMA PM Gold Price”).
−Removed: The Trustee also
−Removed: determines the NAV per Share.
−Removed: If on a day when the Trust’s NAV is being calculated the LBMA PM Gold Price for that day is not available,
−Removed: the Trustee will value the gold held by the Trust based on that day’s morning session of the twice daily fix of the price of a Fine
−Removed: Ounce of gold, which starts at 10:30 AM London, England time and is performed in London by the ICE Benchmark Administration as an independent
−Removed: third-party administrator (the “LBMA AM Gold Price”).
−Removed: If no fix is available for the day, the Trustee will value the Trust’s
−Removed: gold based on the most recently announced LBMA AM Gold Price or LBMA PM Gold Price.
−Removed: Prior to March 20, 2015, the Trustee utilized the
−Removed: daily fix of the price of a Fine Ounce of gold as performed by the five members of the London gold fix, which has now been replaced by
−Removed: the ICE Benchmark Administration as an independent third-party administrator.
−Removed: If the Sponsor determines that such price is inappropriate
−Removed: to use, it shall identify an alternate basis for evaluation to be employed by the Trustee.
−Removed: The Sponsor may instruct the Trustee to use
−Removed: a different publicly available price which the Sponsor determines to fairly represent the commercial value of the Trust’s gold.
−Removed: Material Events
−Removed: On October 22, 2015, the Sponsor and the Trustee
−Removed: entered into a First Amendment To Depositary Trust Agreement (the “First Trust Amendment”), amending the Trust Agreement,
−Removed: dated as of May 6, 2014, to effectuate a change in the name of the Trust from “Merk Gold Trust” to “Van Eck Merk Gold
−Removed: Trust,” effective as of October 26, 2015.
−Removed: As a result of the name change, all references to “Merk Gold Trust” in the
−Removed: Trust Agreement were amended to read “Van Eck Merk Gold Trust,” and the shares offered by the Trust were known as the “Van
−Removed: Eck Merk Gold Shares” (“Shares”).
−Removed: On October 22, 2015, the Sponsor, for the benefit
−Removed: of the Trust, entered into a Marketing Agent Agreement (as amended to date, the “Marketing Agreement”) with Van Eck Securities
−Removed: Corporation (“VanEck” or “Marketing Agent”).
−Removed: Pursuant to the Marketing Agreement, VanEck now provides assistance
−Removed: in the marketing of the Shares.
−Removed: The obligations created by the Marketing Agreement are obligations of the Sponsor of the Trust and any
−Removed: fees payable under the Marketing Agreement to VanEck are payable from the Sponsor’s fee (as calculated and defined in the Trust
−Removed: The Trust will not incur additional financial or other performance obligations pursuant to the Marketing Agreement.
−Removed: The Sponsor entered into the First Trust Amendment
−Removed: and effectuated the name change of the Trust in satisfaction of a term of the Marketing Agreement.
−Removed: The Marketing Agreement further grants
−Removed: VanEck the right to elect to replace Merk as the sponsor of the Trust under specific qualifying circumstances, subject to the execution
−Removed: and consummation of definitive agreements addressing all regulatory requirements applicable to such transaction and satisfaction of such
−Removed: requirements, and announcement and related reporting at such time.
−Removed: Specifically, VanEck has a right of first refusal for the purchase
−Removed: of the sponsorship of the Trust, and all rights attributable thereto, upon the earlier of a commitment for a change of control of Merk
−Removed: or 15 years from the date of the Marketing Agreement.
−Removed: Additionally, VanEck may elect to replace Merk as the sponsor of the Trust upon
−Removed: the earlier of the average daily net assets of the Trust during a calendar quarter not attributable to Shares held by Merk or its affiliates
−Removed: (“Third Party Assets”) equaling $500 million, or VanEck’s compensation under the fee provisions of the Marketing Agreement
−Removed: reaching in aggregate 10% of the gross proceeds from sale of the Shares (the “Maximum Fee”).
−Removed: Merk further agreed that if the Third Party Assets
−Removed: equal or exceed $500 million, for such period as Merk remains sponsor of the Trust, VanEck may propose the rate of the Sponsor’s
−Removed: fee to Merk, which Merk shall not unreasonably reject and shall timely adopt if reasonable, provided, VanEck acknowledges that only the
−Removed: formal named sponsor of the Trust shall have the right to set the Sponsor’s fee at any time.
−Removed: On April 28, 2016, the Sponsor and the Trustee
−Removed: entered into a Second Amendment to Depositary Trust Agreement (the “Second Trust Amendment”), amending the Trust Agreement
−Removed: to effectuate a second change in the name of the Trust from “Van Eck Merk Gold Trust” to “VanEck Merk Gold Trust,”
−Removed: at the request of the Marketing Agent to reflect its rebranding as “VanEck”.
−Removed: As a result of the name change, all references
−Removed: to “Van Eck Merk Gold Trust” in the Trust Agreement were amended to read “VanEck Merk Gold Trust,” and the Shares
−Removed: offered by the Trust are now known as the “VanEck Merk Gold Shares”.
−Removed: Except for the name change effected pursuant to the Second
−Removed: Trust Amendment, the Trust Agreement remains in full force and effect on its existing terms.
−Removed: Effective July 24, 2020, the Sponsor exercised
−Removed: its rights under the Trust Agreement to adjust the Sponsor’s fee upon written notice to the Trustee and publication of the proposed
−Removed: change on its website.
−Removed: Prior to July 24, 2020, the Sponsor’s fee accrued at an annualized rate of 0.40% of the Trust’s NAV.
−Removed: Effective July 24, 2020, the Sponsor’s fee is payable at an annualized rate of 0.25% of the Trust’s NAV, accrued on a daily
−Removed: basis computed on the prior Business Day’s NAV and paid monthly in arrears.
−Removed: Change in Settlement Cycle and Amendment to
−Removed: Authorized Participant Agreements
−Removed: On March 22, 2017, the Securities and Exchange
−Removed: Commission adopted an amendment to reduce by one business day the standard settlement cycle for most broker-dealer securities transactions.
−Removed: Prior to the implementation of the shorter settlement cycle, the standard settlement cycle for such transactions was three business days,
−Removed: known as T+3.
−Removed: The amended rule shortens the settlement cycle to two business days, or T+2.
−Removed: This change in the settlement cycle affects
−Removed: both the creation and redemption procedures for Baskets and trading in the Shares.
−Removed: Compliance with the new settlement cycle went into
−Removed: effect on September 5, 2017.
−Removed: Due to the fact that the aforementioned creation
−Removed: and redemption procedures are addressed in the Authorized Participant Agreements by among the Authorized Participants, the Trustee and
−Removed: the Sponsor, the Trustee and the Sponsor exercised their rights to amend each such agreement to address the new T+2 settlement cycle and
−Removed: executed First Amendments to each of the Authorized Participant Agreements, effective as of September 5, 2017, and provided timely notice
−Removed: of such amendment to the Authorized Participants.
−Removed: Except for the foregoing amendments, the Authorized Participant Agreements remain in
−Removed: full force and effect on their existing terms.
−Removed: Results from Operations
−Removed: The Trust is a trust formed on May 6, 2014 under
−Removed: New York law pursuant to the Trust Agreement.
−Removed: After consideration of Financial Accounting Standards Topic 946, however, the Sponsor has
−Removed: concluded that for financial statement reporting purposes the Trust meets the fundamental characteristics of an investment company.
−Removed: addition, while the Trust does not currently possess all of the typical characteristics of an investment company, the Sponsor believes
−Removed: the Trust’s activities are consistent with those of an investment company and will therefore apply the guidance in Financial Accounting
−Removed: Standards Topic 946, including disclosure of the financial support contractually required to be provided by an investment company to any
−Removed: of its investees.
−Removed: The Sponsor is responsible for, among other things, overseeing the performance of the Trustee and the Trust’s
−Removed: principal service providers, including the preparation of financial statements.
−Removed: The Trustee is responsible for the day-to-day administration
−Removed: of the Trust.
−Removed: The Three Months Ended July 31, 2022 Compared to the Three Months
−Removed: Ended July 31, 2021
−Removed: The Trust’s NAV decreased from $676,703,604
−Removed: at April 30, 2022 to $623,229,731 at July 31, 2022, a 7.90% decrease, compared to a 12.21% increase from $447,555,111 at April 30, 2021
−Removed: to $502,216,306 at July 31, 2021.
−Removed: The decrease in the Trust’s NAV in the quarter ended July 31, 2022 resulted from a decrease in
−Removed: the value of investments in gold bullion as compared to the prior period.
−Removed: The number of outstanding Shares increased from 36,451,520 Shares
−Removed: at April 30, 2022 to 36,617,439 Shares at July 31, 2022 due to the creation of Shares by Authorized Participants and the creation of 23,234
−Removed: Shares in the quarter for Sponsor’s fees, as compared to 17,044 Shares for such purpose in the quarter ended July 31, 2021.
−Removed: number of outstanding Shares on July 31, 2021 was 28,267,310.
−Removed: Effective July 24, 2020, the Sponsor’s fees are payable at an annualized
−Removed: rate of 0.25% of the Trust’s NAV, accrued on a daily basis computed on the prior Business Day’s NAV and paid monthly in arrears.
−Removed: Prior to July 24, 2020, the Sponsor’s fees accrued at an annualized rate of 0.40% of the Trust’s NAV.
−Removed: Due to the daily accrual
−Removed: but monthly payment, the number of Sponsor’s fee Shares issued can vary and possibly decrease, even as the number of Shares outstanding
−Removed: increases slightly.
−Removed: The Trust’s NAV per Share decreased 8.30%
−Removed: during the quarter ended July 31, 2022, starting at $18.56 per Share and ending at $17.02 per Share, compared to an increase of 3.25%,
−Removed: from $17.21 to $17.77 during the quarter ended July 31, 2021.
−Removed: The Trust’s NAV per share decreased slightly more than the price per
−Removed: ounce of gold on a percentage basis due to the Sponsor’s fees, which were 23,234 Shares in total for the quarter ended July 31,
−Removed: 2022, compared with 17,044 Shares paid as Sponsor’s fees in the quarter ended July 31, 2021.
−Removed: The NAV per share of $18.56 on May
−Removed: 5, 2022 was the highest during the quarter, compared with a low of $16.51 on July 14, 2022.
−Removed: The change in net assets from operations for the
−Removed: quarter ended July 31, 2022 was $(57,298,926), resulting from the Sponsor’s fees of $(406,742), a net realized gain of $1,265,274
−Removed: from gold bullion distributed for redemptions, and a net change in unrealized depreciation on investment in gold bullion of $(58,157,458).
−Removed: In comparison, the change in net assets from operations for the quarter ended July 31, 2021 was $13,878,877, resulting from the Sponsor’s
−Removed: fees of $(303,240), a net realized gain of $859,881 from gold bullion distributed for redemptions, and a net change in unrealized appreciation
−Removed: on investment in gold bullion of $13,322,236.
−Removed: Other than the Sponsor’s fee, the Trust
−Removed: had no expenses during the quarter ended July 31, 2022 or the quarter ended July 31, 2021.
−Removed: The Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 Compared to the Six Months Ended
−Removed: July 31, 2021
−Removed: The Trust’s NAV increased from $586,245,772
−Removed: at January 31, 2022 to $623,229,731 at July 31, 2022, a 6.31% increase, compared to a 13.50% increase from $442,483,105 at January 31,
−Removed: 2021 to $502,216,306 at July 31, 2021.
−Removed: The increase in the Trust’s NAV in the six months ended July 31, 2022 resulted from a decrease
−Removed: in the value of investments in gold bullion that was offset by the creation of Shares as compared to the prior period.
−Removed: The number of outstanding
−Removed: Shares increased from 33,599,843 Shares at January 31, 2022 to 36,617,439 Shares at July 31, 2022 due to the redemption of 1,426,878 Shares
−Removed: offset by the creation of 4,444,474 Shares which include 44,474 Shares created for Sponsor’s fees in the six months ended July 31,
−Removed: 2022, as compared to 482,046 Shares redeemed, offset by 4,382,984 shares created which include 32,984 Shares created for Sponsor’s
−Removed: fees in the six months ended July 31, 2021.
−Removed: The number of outstanding Shares on July 31, 2021 was 28,267,310.
−Removed: Effective July 24, 2020,
−Removed: the Sponsor’s fees are payable at an annualized rate of 0.25% of the Trust’s NAV, accrued on a daily basis computed on the
−Removed: prior Business Day’s NAV and paid monthly in arrears.
−Removed: Prior to July 24, 2020, the Sponsor’s fees accrued at an annualized
+Added: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
+Added: information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and notes to the unaudited financial statements included
+Added: in Item 1 of Part 1 of this Form 10-Q.
+Added: The discussion and analysis that follows may contain forward-looking statements with respect to
+Added: the VanEck Merk Gold Trust’s financial conditions, operations, future performance and business.
+Added: These statements can be identified
+Added: by the use of the words “may , ” “should , ” “expect , ” “plan , ”
+Added: “anticipate , ” “believe , ” “estimate , ” “predict , ” “potential”
+Added: or similar words and phrases.
+Added: These statements are based upon certain assumptions and analyses Merk Investments LLC, the Sponsor, has
+Added: made based on its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments.
+Added: Neither the Trust nor the Sponsor
+Added: is under a duty to update any of the forward looking statements, to conform such statements to actual results or to reflect a change
+Added: in management’s expectations or predictions.
+Added: VanEck Merk Gold Trust (the “Trust”), formerly known as the Merk Gold Trust prior to October 26, 2015 and then as the Van
+Added: Eck Merk Gold Trust prior to April 28, 2016, is an investment trust formed on May 6, 2014 under New York law pursuant to a depositary
+Added: trust agreement (as amended, the “Trust Agreement”).
+Added: The Trust is not managed like a corporation or an active investment
+Added: It does not have any officers, directors, or employees and is administered by The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Trustee”)
+Added: pursuant to the Trust Agreement.
+Added: The Trust is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
+Added: and is not required to register under such act.
+Added: It will not hold or trade in commodity futures contracts, nor is it a commodity pool,
+Added: or subject to regulation as a commodity pool operator or a commodity trading adviser in connection with issuing shares.
+Added: Trust’s primary objective is to provide investors with an opportunity to invest in gold through the shares and be able to take
+Added: delivery of physical gold bullion and gold coins (“physical gold”) in exchange for those shares.
+Added: The Trust’s secondary
+Added: objective is for the shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold less the expenses of the Trust’s operations.
+Added: represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the Trust’s net assets.
+Added: The Trust’s assets consist principally of
+Added: gold held on the Trust’s behalf in financial institutions for safekeeping.
+Added: Physical gold that the Trust will hold includes London
+Added: Bars and, for the limited purposes described herein, other gold bars and coins, without numismatic value, having a minimum fineness (or
+Added: purity) of 995 parts per 1,000 (99.5%) or, for American Gold Eagle gold coins, with a minimum fineness of 91.67%.
+Added: are issued by the Trust only in blocks of 50,000 shares called “Baskets” in exchange for gold from certain registered broker-dealers
+Added: or other securities market participants (“Authorized Participants”).
+Added: See “Creation and Redemption of Shares— Authorized
+Added: Participants ” in the notes to our financial statements for requirements to qualify as an Authorized Participant.
+Added: be redeemed by the Trust in exchange for the amount of gold corresponding to their redemption value.
+Added: The Trust issues and redeems Baskets
+Added: on an ongoing basis at net asset value to Authorized Participants who have entered into a contract with the Sponsor and the Trustee.
+Added: the Trust trade on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) Arca under the symbol “OUNZ”.
+Added: of Gold and Computation of Net Asset Value
+Added: each business day that the NYSE Arca is open for regular trading, as promptly as practicable after 4:00 PM (New York time) the Trustee
+Added: will value the gold held by the Trust and will determine the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Trust, as described below.
+Added: NAV of the Trust is the aggregate value of gold and other assets, if any, of the Trust (other than any amounts credited to the Trust’s
+Added: reserve account, if any) and cash, if any, less liabilities of the Trust, which include estimated accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and
+Added: other liabilities.
+Added: gold is valued based on its Fine Ounce content, calculated by multiplying the weight of gold by its purity;
+Added: the same methodology is applied
+Added: independent of the type of gold held by the Trust;
+Added: similarly, the value of up to 430 Fine Ounces of unallocated gold the Trust may hold
+Added: is calculated by multiplying the number of Fine Ounces with the price of gold determined by the Trustee as follows.
+Added: The Trustee values
+Added: the gold held by the Trust based on the afternoon session of the twice daily fix of the price of a Fine Ounce of gold which starts at
+Added: 3:00 PM London, England time and is performed in London by the ICE Benchmark Administration as an independent third-party administrator
+Added: (the “LBMA PM Gold Price”).
+Added: The Trustee also determines the NAV per Share.
+Added: If on a day when the Trust’s NAV is being
+Added: calculated the LBMA PM Gold Price for that day is not available, the Trustee will value the gold held by the Trust based on that day’s
+Added: morning session of the twice daily fix of the price of a Fine Ounce of gold, which starts at 10:30 AM London, England time and is performed
+Added: in London by the ICE Benchmark Administration as an independent third-party administrator (the “LBMA AM Gold Price”).
+Added: no fix is available for the day, the Trustee will value the Trust’s gold based on the most recently announced LBMA AM Gold Price
+Added: or LBMA PM Gold Price.
+Added: Prior to March 20, 2015, the Trustee utilized the daily fix of the price of a Fine Ounce of gold as performed
+Added: by the five members of the London gold fix, which has now been replaced by the ICE Benchmark Administration as an independent third-party
+Added: administrator.
+Added: If the Sponsor
+Added: determines that such price is inappropriate to use, it shall identify an alternate basis for evaluation to be employed by the Trustee.
+Added: The Sponsor may instruct the Trustee to use a different publicly available price which the Sponsor determines to fairly represent the
+Added: commercial value of the Trust’s gold.
+Added: October 22, 2015, the Sponsor and the Trustee entered into a First Amendment To Depositary Trust Agreement (the “First Trust Amendment”),
+Added: amending the Trust Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2014, to effectuate a change in the name of the Trust from “Merk Gold Trust”
+Added: to “Van Eck Merk Gold Trust,” effective as of October 26, 2015.
+Added: As a result of the name change, all references to “Merk
+Added: Gold Trust” in the Trust Agreement were amended to read “Van Eck Merk Gold Trust,” and the shares offered by the Trust
+Added: were known as the “Van Eck Merk Gold Shares” (“Shares”).
+Added: October 22, 2015, the Sponsor, for the benefit of the Trust, entered into a Marketing Agent Agreement (as amended to date, the “Marketing
+Added: Agreement”) with Van Eck Securities Corporation (“VanEck” or “Marketing Agent”).
+Added: Pursuant to the Marketing
+Added: Agreement, VanEck now provides assistance in the marketing of the Shares.
+Added: The obligations created by the Marketing Agreement are obligations
+Added: of the Sponsor of the Trust and any fees payable under the Marketing Agreement to VanEck are payable from the Sponsor’s fee (as
+Added: calculated and defined in the Trust Agreement).
+Added: The Trust will not incur additional financial or other performance obligations pursuant
+Added: to the Marketing Agreement.
+Added: Sponsor entered into the First Trust Amendment and effectuated the name change of the Trust in satisfaction of a term of the Marketing
+Added: The Marketing Agreement further grants VanEck the right to elect to replace Merk as the sponsor of the Trust under specific
+Added: qualifying circumstances, subject to the execution and consummation of definitive agreements addressing all regulatory requirements applicable
+Added: to such transaction and satisfaction of such requirements, and announcement and related reporting at such time.
+Added: Specifically, VanEck
+Added: has a right of first refusal for the purchase of the sponsorship of the Trust, and all rights attributable thereto, upon the earlier
+Added: of a commitment for a change of control of Merk or 15 years from the date of the Marketing Agreement.
+Added: Additionally, VanEck may elect
+Added: to replace Merk as the sponsor of the Trust upon the earlier of the average daily net assets of the Trust during a calendar quarter not
+Added: attributable to Shares held by Merk or its affiliates (“Third Party Assets”) equaling $500 million, or VanEck’s compensation
+Added: under the fee provisions of the Marketing Agreement reaching in aggregate 10% of the gross proceeds from sale of the Shares (the “Maximum
+Added: further agreed that if the Third Party Assets equal or exceed $500 million, for such period as Merk remains sponsor of the Trust, VanEck
+Added: may propose the rate of the Sponsor’s fee to Merk, which Merk shall not unreasonably reject and shall timely adopt if reasonable,
+Added: provided, VanEck acknowledges that only the formal named sponsor of the Trust shall have the right to set the Sponsor’s fee at
+Added: April 28, 2016, the Sponsor and the Trustee entered into a Second Amendment to Depositary Trust Agreement (the “Second Trust Amendment”),
+Added: amending the Trust Agreement to effectuate a second change in the name of the Trust from “Van Eck Merk Gold Trust” to “VanEck
+Added: Merk Gold Trust,” at the request of the Marketing Agent to reflect its rebranding as “VanEck”.
+Added: As a result of the name
+Added: change, all references to “Van Eck Merk Gold Trust” in the Trust Agreement were amended to read “VanEck Merk Gold Trust,”
+Added: and the Shares offered by the Trust are now known as the “VanEck Merk Gold Shares”.
+Added: Except for the name change effected pursuant
+Added: to the Second Trust Amendment, the Trust Agreement remains in full force and effect on its existing terms.
+Added: July 24, 2020, the Sponsor exercised its rights under the Trust Agreement to adjust the Sponsor’s fee upon written notice to the
+Added: Trustee and publication of the proposed change on its website.
+Added: Prior to July 24, 2020, the Sponsor’s fee accrued at an annualized
rate of 0.40% of the Trust’s NAV.
−Removed: Due to the daily accrual but monthly payment, the number of Sponsor’s fee Shares issued
−Removed: can vary and possibly decrease, even as the number of Shares outstanding increases slightly.
−Removed: The Trust’s NAV per Share decreased approximately
−Removed: 2.46% during the six months ended July 31, 2022, starting at $17.45 per Share and ending at $17.02 per Share, compared to a decrease of
−Removed: 2.15%, from $18.16 to $17.77 during the six months ended July 31, 2021.
−Removed: The Trust’s NAV per share decreased slightly more than the
−Removed: price per ounce of gold on a percentage basis due to the Sponsor’s fees, which were 44,474 Shares in total for the six months ended
−Removed: July 31, 2022, compared with 32,984 Shares paid as Sponsor’s fees in the six months ended July 31, 2021.
−Removed: The NAV per share of $19.81
−Removed: on March 8, 2022 was the highest during the six months ended July 31, 2022, compared with a low of $16.51 on July 14, 2022.
−Removed: The change in net assets from operations for the
−Removed: six months ended July 31, 2022 was $(20,906,384), resulting from the Sponsor’s fees of $(803,310) and a net realized and unrealized
−Removed: loss on investment in gold bullion of $(20,103,074).
−Removed: In comparison, the change in net assets from operations for the six months ended
−Removed: July 31, 2021 was $(9,950,163), resulting from the Sponsor’s fees of $(572,240) and a net realized and unrealized loss on investment
−Removed: in gold bullion of $(9,377,923).
−Removed: Other than the Sponsor’s fee, the Trust
−Removed: had no expenses during the quarter ended July 31, 2022 or the quarter ended July 31, 2021.
−Removed: For the calendar quarter ended June 30 2022, the
−Removed: Marketing Agent earned a fee of $112,310 which was paid by the Sponsor on August 29, 2022;
−Removed: since the initiation of the Marketing Agent’s
−Removed: efforts on behalf of the Trust on October 22, 2015, a total of $578,666 in Fees has been paid, representing 0.8047% of the maximum fee
−Removed: potentially payable to the Marketing Agent pursuant to the Marketing Agent Agreement.
−Removed: Effective July 24, 2020, the Sponsor and the
−Removed: Marketing Agent amended the fee structure under the Marketing Agent Agreement, however the financial obligations created thereunder remain
−Removed: the obligations of the Sponsor of the Trust, any fees payable thereunder remain payable from the Sponsor’s fee and the cap on the
−Removed: fees payable to the Marketing Agent remains unchanged.
−Removed: Liquidity and Capital Resources
−Removed: The Trust is not aware of any trends, demands,
−Removed: commitments, events or uncertainties that are reasonably likely to result in material changes to its liquidity needs.
−Removed: In exchange for
−Removed: the Sponsor’s fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume most of the expenses incurred by the Trust.
−Removed: As a result, the only ordinary expense
−Removed: of the Trust during the period covered by this report was the Sponsor’s fee.
−Removed: The Trustee will, at the direction of the Sponsor
−Removed: or in its own discretion, sell the Trust’s gold as necessary to pay the Trust’s expenses not otherwise assumed by the Sponsor.
−Removed: The Trustee will not sell gold to pay the Sponsor’s fee but will pay the Sponsor’s fee in Shares in lieu of cash.
−Removed: 31, 2022 and July 31, 2021, the Trust did not have any cash balances.
−Removed: Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
−Removed: The Trust has no off-balance sheet arrangements.
−Removed: Critical Accounting Policies
−Removed: The unaudited financial statements and accompanying
−Removed: notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
−Removed: The preparation of these
−Removed: unaudited financial statements relies on estimates and assumptions that impact the Trust’s financial position and results of operations.
−Removed: These estimates and assumptions affect the Trust’s application of accounting policies.
−Removed: In addition, please refer to Note 2 to the
−Removed: unaudited financial statements for further discussion of accounting policies.
−Removed: Effective May 6, 2014, the Trust has adopted the
−Removed: provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Topic 946, Investment Companies, and follows specialized accounting.
−Removed: Investment by Certain Retirement Plans
−Removed: Section 408(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as
−Removed: amended (the “Code”), provides that the purchase of a “collectible” as an investment for an individual retirement
−Removed: account (an “IRA”), or for a participant-directed account maintained under any plan that is tax-qualified under Code section
−Removed: 401(a) (“Tax-Qualified Account”), is treated as a taxable distribution from the account to the owner of the IRA, or to the
−Removed: participant for whom the Tax-Qualified Account is maintained, of an amount equal to the cost to the account of acquiring the collectible.
−Removed: The Trust, through the Sponsor, has received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that provides that (1) the
−Removed: acquisition of Shares by an IRA or a Tax-Qualified Account will not constitute the acquisition of a collectible and (2) an IRA or such
−Removed: an account’s owning Shares will not be treated as having made a distribution to the IRA owner or plan participant under Code section
−Removed: 408(m) solely by virtue of owning those Shares.
−Removed: If a redemption of Shares results in the delivery of gold to an IRA or Tax-Qualified Account,
−Removed: however, that exchange would constitute the acquisition of a collectible to the extent provided under that section.
−Removed: See also “ERISA
+Added: Effective July 24, 2020, the Sponsor’s fee is payable at an annualized rate of 0.25% of
+Added: the Trust’s NAV, accrued on a daily basis computed on the prior Business Day’s NAV and paid monthly in arrears.
+Added: in Settlement Cycle and Amendment to Authorized Participant Agreements
+Added: March 22, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted an amendment to reduce by one business day the standard settlement cycle
+Added: for most broker-dealer securities transactions.
+Added: Prior to the implementation of the shorter settlement cycle, the standard settlement
+Added: cycle for such transactions was three business days, known as T+3.
+Added: The amended rule shortens the settlement cycle to two business days,
+Added: This change in the settlement cycle affects both the creation and redemption procedures for Baskets and trading in the Shares.
+Added: Compliance with the new settlement cycle went into effect on September 5, 2017.
+Added: fact that the aforementioned creation and redemption procedures are addressed in the Authorized Participant Agreements by among the Authorized
+Added: Participants, the Trustee and the Sponsor, the Trustee and the Sponsor exercised their rights to amend each such agreement to address
+Added: the new T+2 settlement cycle and executed First Amendments to each of the Authorized Participant Agreements, effective as of September
+Added: 5, 2017, and provided timely notice of such amendment to the Authorized Participants.
+Added: Except for the foregoing amendments, the Authorized
+Added: Participant Agreements remain in full force and effect on their existing terms.
+Added: from Operations
+Added: Trust is a trust formed on May 6, 2014 under New York law pursuant to the Trust Agreement.
+Added: After consideration of Financial Accounting
+Added: Standards Topic 946, however, the Sponsor has concluded that for financial statement reporting purposes the Trust meets the fundamental
+Added: characteristics of an investment company.
+Added: In addition, while the Trust does not currently possess all of the typical characteristics
+Added: of an investment company, the Sponsor believes the Trust’s activities are consistent with those of an investment company and will
+Added: therefore apply the guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Topic 946, including disclosure of the financial support contractually
+Added: required to be provided by an investment company to any of its investees.
+Added: The Sponsor is responsible for, among other things, overseeing
+Added: the performance of the Trustee and the Trust’s principal service providers, including the preparation of financial statements.
+Added: The Trustee is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Trust.
+Added: Months Ended October 31, 2022 Compared to the Three Months Ended October 31, 2021
+Added: Trust’s NAV decreased from $623,229,731 at July 31, 2022 to $529,960,054 at October 31, 2022, a 15% decrease, compared to an 12.6
+Added: % increase from $502,216,306 at July 31, 2021 to $565,682,896 at October 31, 2021.
+Added: The decrease in the Trust’s NAV in the quarter
+Added: ended October 31, 2022 resulted from a decrease in the value of investments in gold bullion as compared to the prior period.
+Added: of outstanding Shares decreased from 36,617,439 Shares at July 31, 2022 to 33,332,198 Shares at October 31, 2022 due to the redemption
+Added: of Shares by Authorized Participants and offset slightly by the creation of 23,418 Shares in the quarter for Sponsor’s fees, as
+Added: compared to 19,092 Shares for such purpose in the quarter ended October 31, 2021.
+Added: The number of outstanding Shares on October 31, 2021
+Added: was 32,878,894.
+Added: Effective July 24, 2020, the Sponsor’s fees are payable at an annualized rate of 0.25% of the Trust’s NAV,
+Added: accrued on a daily basis computed on the prior Business Day’s NAV and paid monthly in arrears.
+Added: Prior to July 24, 2020, the Sponsor’s
+Added: fees accrued at an annualized rate of 0.40% of the Trust’s NAV.
+Added: Due to the daily accrual but monthly payment, the number of Sponsor’s
+Added: fee Shares issued can vary and possibly decrease, even as the number of Shares outstanding increases slightly.
+Added: Trust’s NAV per Share decreased 6.6% during the quarter ended October 31, 2022, starting at $17.02 per Share and ending at $15.90
+Added: per Share, compared to a decrease of 3.2%, from $17.77 to $17.21 during the quarter ended October 31, 2021.
+Added: The Trust’s NAV per
+Added: share decreased slightly more than the price per ounce of gold on a percentage basis due to the Sponsor’s fees, which were 23,418
+Added: Shares in total for the quarter ended October 31, 2022, compared with 19,092 Shares paid as Sponsor’s fees in the quarter ended
+Added: October 31, 2021.
+Added: The NAV per share of $17.44 on August 11, 2022 was the highest during the quarter, compared with a low of $15.83 on
+Added: October 19, 2022.
+Added: change in net assets from operations for the quarter ended October 31, 2022 was $(40,580,678), resulting from the Sponsor’s fees
+Added: of $(380,901), a net realized loss from gold bullion distributed for redemptions of $(141,249) and a net change in unrealized depreciation
+Added: on investment in gold bullion of $(40,058,528).
+Added: In comparison, the change in net assets from operations for the quarter ended October
+Added: 31, 2021 was $(15,768,959), resulting from the Sponsor’s fees of $(329,573), a net realized gain from gold bullion distributed
+Added: for redemptions of $11,912, offset by a net change in unrealized depreciation on investment in gold bullion of $(15,451,298).
+Added: than the Sponsor’s fee, the Trust had no expenses during the quarter ended October 31, 2022 or the quarter ended October 31, 2021.
+Added: Months Ended October 31, 2022 Compared to the Nine Months Ended October 31, 2021
+Added: Trust’s NAV decreased from $586,245,772 at January 31, 2022 to $529,960,054 at October 31, 2022, a 9.6% decrease, compared to a
+Added: 27.8% increase from $442,483,105 at January 31, 2021 to $565,682,896 at October 31, 2021.
+Added: The decrease in the Trust’s NAV in the
+Added: nine months ended October 31, 2022 resulted from a decrease in the value of investments in gold bullion as compared to the prior period.
+Added: The number of outstanding Shares decreased from 33,599,843 Shares at January 31, 2022 to 33,332,198 Shares at October 31, 2022 due to
+Added: the redemption of Shares by Authorized Participants and offset slightly by the creation of 67,892 Shares for Sponsor’s fees, as
+Added: compared to 52,076 Shares for such purpose in the nine months ended October 31, 2021.
+Added: The number of outstanding Shares at October 31,
+Added: 2021 was 32,878,894.
+Added: Effective July 24, 2020, the Sponsor’s fees are payable at an annualized rate of 0.25% of the Trust’s
+Added: NAV, accrued on a daily basis computed on the prior Business Day’s NAV and paid monthly in arrears.
+Added: Prior to July 24, 2020, the
+Added: Sponsor’s fees accrued at an annualized rate of 0.40% of the Trust’s NAV.
+Added: Due to the daily accrual but monthly payment, the
+Added: number of Sponsor’s fee Shares issued can vary and possibly decrease, even as the number of Shares outstanding increases slightly.
+Added: Trust’s NAV per Share decreased 8.9% during the nine months ended October 31, 2022, starting at $17.45 per Share and ending at
+Added: $15.90 per Share, compared to a decrease of 5.2%, from $18.16 to $17.21 during the nine months ended October 31, 2021.
+Added: NAV per share decreased slightly more than the price per ounce of gold on a percentage basis due to the Sponsor’s fees, which were
+Added: 67,892 Shares in total for the nine months ended October 31, 2022, compared with 52,076 Shares paid as Sponsor’s fees in the nine
+Added: months ended October 31, 2021.
+Added: The NAV per share of $19.81 on March 8, 2022 was the highest during the nine months ended October 31,
+Added: 2022, compared with a low of $15.83 on October 19, 2022.
+Added: change in net assets from operations for the nine months ended October 31, 2022 was $(61,487,062), resulting from the Sponsor’s
+Added: fees of $(1,184,211), a net realized gain from gold bullion distributed for redemptions of $1,178,406 and a net change in unrealized
+Added: depreciation on investment in gold bullion of $(61,481,257).
+Added: In comparison, the change in net assets from operations for the nine months
+Added: ended October 31, 2021 was $(25,719,122), resulting from the Sponsor’s fees of $(901,813), a net realized gain from gold bullion
+Added: distributed for redemptions of $921,833 and a net change in unrealized depreciation on investment in gold bullion of $(25,739,142).
+Added: than the Sponsor’s fee, the Trust had no expenses during the nine months ended October 31, 2022 or the nine months ended October
+Added: the calendar quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Marketing Agent earned a fee of $80,229 which was paid by the Sponsor on November
+Added: since the initiation of the Marketing Agent’s efforts on behalf of the Trust on October 22, 2015, a total of $658,895
+Added: in Fees has been paid, representing 0.90% of the Maximum Fee potentially payable to the Marketing Agent pursuant to the Marketing Agent
+Added: Effective July 24, 2020, the Sponsor and the Marketing Agent amended the fee structure under the Marketing Agent Agreement,
+Added: however the financial obligations created thereunder remain the obligations of the Sponsor of the Trust, any fees payable thereunder
+Added: remain payable from the Sponsor’s fee and the cap on the fees payable to the Marketing Agent remains unchanged.
+Added: and Capital Resources
+Added: Trust is not aware of any trends, demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that are reasonably likely to result in material changes
+Added: to its liquidity needs.
+Added: In exchange for the Sponsor’s fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume most of the expenses incurred by the
+Added: As a result, the only ordinary expense of the Trust during the period covered by this report was the Sponsor’s fee.
+Added: Trustee will, at the direction of the Sponsor or in its own discretion, sell the Trust’s gold as necessary to pay the Trust’s
+Added: expenses not otherwise assumed by the Sponsor.
+Added: The Trustee will not sell gold to pay the Sponsor’s fee but will pay the Sponsor’s
+Added: fee in Shares in lieu of cash.
+Added: At October 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021, the Trust did not have any cash balances.
+Added: Sheet Arrangements
+Added: Trust has no off-balance sheet arrangements.
+Added: Accounting Policies
+Added: unaudited financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
+Added: United States of America.
+Added: The preparation of these unaudited financial statements relies on estimates and assumptions that impact the
+Added: Trust’s financial position and results of operations.
+Added: These estimates and assumptions affect the Trust’s application of accounting
+Added: In addition, please refer to Note 2 to the unaudited financial statements for further discussion of accounting policies.
+Added: May 6, 2014, the Trust has adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Topic 946, Investment Companies, and follows specialized
+Added: by Certain Retirement Plans
+Added: 408(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”), provides that the purchase of a “collectible” as
+Added: an investment for an individual retirement account (an “IRA”), or for a participant-directed account maintained under any
+Added: plan that is tax-qualified under Code section 401(a) (“Tax-Qualified Account”), is treated as a taxable distribution from
+Added: 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
+Added: cost to the account of acquiring the collectible.
+Added: The Trust, through the Sponsor, has received a private letter ruling from the Internal
+Added: Revenue Service that provides that (1) the acquisition of Shares by an IRA or a Tax-Qualified Account will not constitute the acquisition
+Added: of a collectible and (2) an IRA or such an account’s owning Shares will not be treated as having made a distribution to the IRA
+Added: owner or plan participant under Code section 408(m) solely by virtue of owning those Shares.
+Added: If a redemption of Shares results in the
+Added: delivery of gold to an IRA or Tax-Qualified Account, however, that exchange would constitute the acquisition of a collectible to the
+Added: extent provided under that section.
+Added: See also “ERISA and Related Considerations.”
+Added: who are considering exchanging their Shares for gold coins or gold bullion should consult with their tax advisors regarding the tax implications
+Added: thereof before doing so.
and Related Considerations
−Removed: Investors who are considering exchanging their
−Removed: Shares for gold coins or gold bullion should consult with their tax advisors regarding the tax implications thereof before doing so.
−Removed: ERISA and Related Considerations
−Removed: The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
−Removed: 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and section 4975 of the Code impose certain requirements on employee benefit plans and certain
−Removed: other plans and arrangements, including IRAs and individual retirement annuities, Keogh plans and certain collective investment funds
−Removed: or insurance company general or separate accounts in which such plans, accounts, annuities or arrangements are invested, that are subject
−Removed: to ERISA or the Code, respectively (collectively, “Plans”), and on persons who are fiduciaries with respect to the investment
−Removed: of assets treated as “plan assets” of a Plan.
−Removed: Investments by Plans are subject to the fiduciary requirements and the applicability
−Removed: of prohibited transaction restrictions under ERISA.
−Removed: Government plans and some church plans are not
−Removed: subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA or the provisions of Code section 4975 but may be subject to substantially
−Removed: similar rules under state or other federal law.
−Removed: Fiduciaries of any such plans are advised to consult with their counsel prior to an investment
−Removed: In contemplating an investment of a portion of
−Removed: Plan assets in Shares, the Plan fiduciary responsible for making such investment should carefully consider, taking into account the facts
−Removed: and circumstances of the Plan, the “Risk Factors” discussed below and whether such investment is consistent with its fiduciary
−Removed: responsibilities, including (1) whether the fiduciary has the authority to make the investment under the appropriate governing Plan instrument,
−Removed: (2) whether the investment would constitute a direct or indirect non-exempt prohibited transaction with a “party in interest”
−Removed: or “disqualified person,” (3) the Plan’s funding objectives, and (4) whether under the general fiduciary standards of
−Removed: investment prudence and diversification such investment is appropriate for the Plan, taking into account the Plan’s overall investment
−Removed: policy, the composition of its investment portfolio and its need for sufficient liquidity to pay benefits when due.
+Added: Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and section 4975 of the Code impose certain requirements
+Added: on employee benefit plans and certain other plans and arrangements, including IRAs and individual retirement annuities, Keogh plans and
+Added: certain collective investment funds or insurance company general or separate accounts in which such plans, accounts, annuities or arrangements
+Added: are invested, that are subject to ERISA or the Code, respectively (collectively, “Plans”), and on persons who are fiduciaries
+Added: with respect to the investment of assets treated as “plan assets” of a Plan.
+Added: Investments by Plans are subject to the fiduciary
+Added: requirements and the applicability of prohibited transaction restrictions under ERISA.
+Added: plans and some church plans are not subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA or the provisions of Code section 4975
+Added: but may be subject to substantially similar rules under state or other federal law.
+Added: Fiduciaries of any such plans are advised to consult
+Added: with their counsel prior to an investment in Shares.
+Added: contemplating an investment of a portion of Plan assets in Shares, the Plan fiduciary responsible for making such investment should carefully
+Added: consider, taking into account the facts and circumstances of the Plan, the “Risk Factors” discussed below and whether such
+Added: investment is consistent with its fiduciary responsibilities, including (1) whether the fiduciary has the authority to make the investment
+Added: under the appropriate governing Plan instrument, (2) whether the investment would constitute a direct or indirect non-exempt prohibited
+Added: transaction with a “party in interest” or “disqualified person,” (3) the Plan’s funding objectives, and
+Added: (4) whether under the general fiduciary standards of investment prudence and diversification such investment is appropriate for the Plan,
+Added: taking into account the Plan’s overall investment policy, the composition of its investment portfolio and its need for sufficient
+Added: liquidity to pay benefits when due.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
−Removed: The Trust does not engage in transactions in foreign
−Removed: currencies which could expose the Trust or holders of Shares to any foreign currency related market risk.
−Removed: The Trust does not invest in
−Removed: any derivative financial instruments or long-term debt instruments.
+Added: Trust does not engage in transactions in foreign currencies which could expose the Trust or holders of Shares to any foreign currency
+Added: related market risk.
+Added: The Trust does not invest in any derivative financial instruments or long-term debt instruments.
Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.