UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the month of May 2020

 

Commission File Number: 001-34928

 

SPROTT PHYSICAL SILVER TRUST

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

Suite 2600, South Tower,

Royal Bank Plaza,

200 Bay Street,

Toronto, Ontario,

Canada M5J 2J1

(Address of principal executive office)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F ☐ Form 40-F ☒

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ☐

 

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ☐

 

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT

 

Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 are the Management Report of Fund Performance and Unaudited Financial Statements as of March 31, 2020 of Sprott Physical Silver Trust (the “Trust”).

 

Exhibit 99.1 is hereby incorporated by reference into the Trust’s registration statement on Form F-10 (File No. 333-225772), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 20, 2018.

 

2

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

SPROTT PHYSICAL SILVER TRUST

(Registrant)

By Sprott Asset Management GP Inc.,

as general partner of

the manager of the Registrant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kevin Hibbert

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin Hibbert

 

 

Director

 

 

Dated: May 15, 2020

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Exhibit 99.1

PICTURE 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprott Physical Silver Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interim Report to Unitholders

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PICTURE 5

Table of Contents

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Management Report of Fund Performance

3

 

 

Financial Statements

7

 

The management report of fund performance is an analysis and explanation that is designed to complement and supplement an investment fund’s financial statements. This report contains financial highlights but does not contain the complete financial statements of the investment fund. A copy of the financial statements has been included separately within the Report to Unitholders. You can also get a copy of the financial statements at your request, and at no cost, by calling 1-866-299-9906, by visiting our website at www.sprottphysicalbullion.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.

 

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Sprott Physical Silver Trust

March 31, 2020

 

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

Investment Objective and Strategies

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

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

Risks

The risks of investing in the Trust are detailed in the Trust’s annual information form dated March 30,  2020. There have been no material changes to the Trust since inception that have affected the overall level of risk. The principal risks associated with investing in the Trust are the price of silver, the net asset value and/or the market price of the units, the purchase, transport, insurance and storage of physical silver bullion, liabilities of the Trust, and redemption of units.

Results of Operations

For the period from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020, the total change in unrealized losses on physical silver bullion amounted to $237.6 million compared to the change in unrealized losses of $16.2 million during the same period in 2019. 

During the period from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020, the Trust issued 14,073,325 units for gross proceeds of $77.3 million and redeemed no units. Comparatively, for the same period in 2019,  the Trust issued no units and redeemed 1,191,251 units for silver bullion. 

The value of the net assets of the Trust as of March 31, 2020 was $914.5 million or $5.19 per unit, compared to $1,077.3 million or $6.64 per unit as at December 31, 2019, the Trust’s most recent fiscal year end. The Trust held 65,073,570 ounces of physical silver bullion as of March 31, 2020 compared to 60,223,809 ounces at December 31, 2019. As at March 31, 2020,  the spot price of silver was $13.97 an ounce compared to a price of $17.85 an ounce as at December 31, 2019. The Trust returned (21.8%) compared to the return on spot silver of (21.7%) for the period from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020.

The Trust’s net asset value per unit on March 31, 2020 was $5.19 compared to $6.64 per unit as at December 31, 2019. The units closed at $5.23 on the NYSE Arca and $5.24 on the TSX on March 31, 2020 compared to closing prices of $6.54 on the NYSE Arca and $6.60 on the TSX on December 31, 2019. The units are denominated in U.S. dollars on both exchanges. During the period from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020, the Trust’s units traded on the NYSE Arca at an average discount to net asset value of approximately 1.5%.

On June 24, 2016, the Trust entered into a sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. whereby the Trust may, in its sole discretion and subject to its operating and investment restrictions, offer and sell trust units through an “at the market offering” program (the “ATM Program”) in transactions on the NYSE Arca or any other existing trading market for the trust units in the United States or to or through a market maker in the United States pursuant to a registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and a prospectus supplement to a short form base shelf prospectus filed with the Ontario 

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Sprott Physical Silver Trust

March 31, 2020

 

Securities Commission, as principal regulator, and with each of the securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada.  On January 29, 2020, an amendment was made in which Virtu Americas LLC became an additional agent to the sales agreement. There were no further material changes to the sales agreement. During the period from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020, the Trust sold 14,073,325 units through the ATM Program.

 

Operating  Expenses

The Trust pays its own operating 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 silver bullion, costs incurred in connection with the Trust’s continuous disclosure public filing requirements and investor relations and any expenses associated with the implementation and on-going operation of the Independent Review Committee of the Trust. Operating expenses for the period from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020 amounted to $413,7941 (not including applicable Canadian taxes) compared to $411,4711 for the same period in 2019. Operating expenses for the period from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020 amounted to 0.16% of the average net assets during the period on an annualized basis, compared to 0.20% for the same period in 2019.  

Related Party Transactions

MANAGEMENT FEES

The Trust pays the Manager, Sprott Asset Management LP, a monthly management fee equal to 1/12 of 0.45% 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 period from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020, the Trust incurred management fees of $1,160,731 (not including applicable Canadian taxes) compared to $947,219 for the same period in 2019.  


1 Amounts are adjusted to exclude redemption fees and sales taxes

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Sprott Physical Silver Trust

March 31, 2020

 

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 three month period ended March 31, 2020 and the years shown.

Net assets per unit1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

December 31, 

 

December 31, 

 

December 31, 

 

December 31, 

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

 

2018

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

  

$

 

$

 

$

  

$

  

$

 

Net assets per Unit, beginning of period

 

6.64

 

5.82

 

6.40

 

6.06

 

5.33

 

Increase (decrease) from operations2:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

 –

 

 –

 

 –

 

 –

 

 –

 

Total expenses

 

(0.01)

 

(0.04)

 

(0.04)

 

(0.04)

 

(0.04)

 

Realized losses for the period

 

 –

 

(0.03)

 

(0.04)

 

(0.01)

 

(0.02)

 

Unrealized gains (losses) for the period

 

(1.44)

 

0.89

 

(0.50)

 

0.39

 

0.67

 

Total increase (decrease) from operations 

 

(1.45)

 

0.82

 

(0.58)

 

0.34

 

0.62

 

Net assets per Unit, end of period

 

5.19

 

6.64

 

5.82

 

6.40

 

6.06

 

 

1.

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

2.

Net assets per unit is calculated based on the actual number of units outstanding at the relevant time. 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

March 31, 

 

December 31, 

 

December 31, 

    

December 31, 

    

December 31, 

 

 

2020

 

2019

 

2018

 

2017

 

2016

Total net asset value (000’s)1

 

$914,454

 

$1,077,253

 

$874,946

 

$957,091

 

$888,534

Number of Units outstanding1

 

176,286,636

 

162,213,311

 

150,436,856

 

149,618,786

 

146,724,023

Management expense ratio2

 

 -

 

0.67%

 

0.68%

 

0.69%

 

0.70%

Trading expense ratio3

 

nil

 

nil

 

nil

 

nil

 

nil

Portfolio turnover rate4

 

nil

 

0.73%

 

0.85%

 

0.17%

 

0.29%

Trust return rate5

 

-21.80%

 

13.70%

 

-9.10%

 

5.20%

 

13.60%

Net asset value per Unit

 

$5.19

 

$6.64

 

$5.82

 

$6.40

 

$6.06

Closing market price  NYSE Arca

 

$5.23

 

$6.54

 

$5.59

 

$6.34

 

$6.08

Closing market price – TSX

 

$5.24

 

$6.60

 

$5.48

 

$6.35

 

$6.10

 

1.

This information is provided as at the date shown, as applicable.

2.

Management expense ratio (“MER”) is based on total annual expenses (including applicable Canadian taxes and excluding commissions and other portfolio transaction costs) for the stated period and is expressed as a percentage of daily average net asset value during the period (only disclosed annually).

3.

The trading expense ratio represents total commissions and other portfolio transaction costs 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.

4.

The 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 year. The higher the Trust’s portfolio turnover rate in a year, the greater the chance of an investor receiving taxable capital gains in the year. There is not necessarily a relationship between a high turnover rate and the performance of the Trust.

5.

Trust return rate indicates the performance of the trust units for the period ended and for the years shown. It 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.

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Sprott Physical Silver Trust

March 31, 2020

 

Past Performance

The indicated rates of return are the historical total returns including changes in unit values and assume 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.

Summary of Investment Portfolio

As of March 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

 

        

 

        

 

        

 

        

% of

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

Fair

 

Net Asset

 

 

 

 

 

per ounce

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Value

 

 

 

Ounces

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

%

 

Physical silver bullion

 

65,073,570

 

13.974

 

1,602,432,806

 

909,338,068

 

99.4

 

Cash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,838,651

 

1.4

 

Other Net Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7,722,423)

 

(0.8)

 

Total Net Asset Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

914,454,296

 

100.0

 

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

 

 

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Sprott Physical Silver Trust

Unaudited interim financial statements

March 31, 2020

 

 

7

Table of Contents

 

 

Sprott Physical Silver Trust

 

 

Unaudited statements of comprehensive income (loss)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the

 

For the

 

 

three months ended

    

three months ended

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

March 31, 2019

 

 

$

 

$

 

Income

 

 

 

 

Net realized losses on redemptions and sales of silver bullion

 —

 

(4,536,914)

 

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on silver bullion

(237,592,509)

 

(16,183,855)

 

 

(237,592,509)

 

(20,720,769)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

Management fees (note 8)

1,160,731

 

947,219

 

Bullion storage fees

275,467

 

303,000

 

Sales tax

94,101

 

61,453

 

Listing and regulatory filing fees

36,559

 

24,667

 

Unitholder reporting costs

29,210

 

28,000

 

Administrative fees

26,180

 

26,426

 

Legal fees

22,394

 

17,346

 

Custodial fees

1,006

 

 —

 

Audit fees

18,845

 

11,028

 

Trustee fees

1,387

 

1,004

 

Independent Review Committee fees

2,746

 

 —

 

Net foreign exchange (gains) losses

(517)

 

945

 

 

1,668,109

 

1,421,088

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)

(239,260,618)

 

(22,141,857)

 

Weighted average number of Units

165,093,525

 

149,374,984

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in total equity from operations per Unit

(1.45)

 

(0.15)

 

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

 

 

8

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Sprott Physical Silver Trust

 

 

Unaudited statements of financial position

(in U.S. dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

As at

    

As at

 

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

12,838,651

 

2,512,977

 

Silver bullion

 

909,338,068

 

1,075,133,513

 

Prepaid assets

 

72,198

 

72,198

 

Total assets

 

922,248,917

 

1,077,718,688

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Due to broker

 

6,807,819

 

 –

 

Accounts payable

 

986,802

 

465,190

 

Total liabilities

 

7,794,621

 

465,190

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Unitholders’ capital

 

1,743,580,412

 

1,666,251,251

 

Unit premiums and reserves

 

67,197

 

67,197

 

Retained earnings (deficit)

 

(760,835,472)

 

(521,574,854)

 

Underwriting commissions and issue expenses

 

(68,357,841)

 

(67,490,096)

 

Total equity (note 7)

 

914,454,296

 

1,077,253,498

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

922,248,917

 

1,077,718,688

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity per Unit

 

5.19

 

6.64

 

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

PICTURE 8

 

Kevin Hibbert

John Ciampaglia

 

Director

Director

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

Sprott Physical Silver Trust

 

 

Unaudited statements of changes in equity

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

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting

 

Unit

 

 

 

 

    

Number of

    

 

    

 

    

Commissions

    

Premiums

    

 

 

 

 

Units

 

Unitholders’

 

Retained

 

and Issue

 

and

 

 

 

 

 

outstanding

 

Capital

 

Earnings

 

Expenses

 

Reserves

 

Total Equity

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Balance as at January 1, 2019

 

150,436,856

 

1,594,445,778

 

(652,728,619)

 

(66,838,702)

 

67,142

 

874,945,599

 

Cost of Redemption of Units (note 7)

 

(1,191,251)

 

(11,912,510)

 

5,055,438

 

 –

 

55

 

(6,857,017)

 

Net income for the period

 

 –

 

 –

 

(22,141,857)

 

 –

 

 –

 

(22,141,857)

 

Balance as at March 31, 2019

 

149,245,605

 

1,582,533,268

 

(669,815,038)

 

(66,838,702)

 

67,197

 

845,946,725

 

Balance as at January 1, 2020

 

162,213,311

 

1,666,251,251

 

(521,574,854)

 

(67,490,096)

 

67,197

 

1,077,253,498

 

Proceeds from issuance of Units (note 7)

 

14,073,325

 

77,329,161

 

 –

 

 –

 

 –

 

77,329,161

 

Net income for the period

 

 –

 

 –

 

(239,260,618)

 

 –

 

 –

 

(239,260,618)

 

Underwriting commissions and issue expenses

 

 –

 

 –

 

 –

 

(867,745)

 

 –

 

(867,745)

 

Balance as at March 31, 2020

 

176,286,636

 

1,743,580,412

 

(760,835,472)

 

(68,357,841)

 

67,197

 

914,454,296

 

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

 

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Sprott Physical Silver Trust

 

 

Unaudited statements of cash flows

(in U.S. dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

For the three months ended

    

For the three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

March 31, 2019

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss for the period

 

(239,260,618)

 

(22,141,857)

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income for the period to net cash from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized losses on redemptions and sales of bullion

 

 –

 

4,536,914

 

Change in unrealized losses on silver bullion

 

237,592,509

 

16,183,855

 

Net changes in operating assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in accounts payable

 

521,612

 

311,052

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(1,146,497)

 

(1,110,036)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of bullion

 

(64,989,245)

 

 –

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(64,989,245)

 

 –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of Units (note 7)

 

77,329,161

 

 –

 

Payments on redemption of Units (note 7)

 

 –

 

(32,216)

 

Underwriting commissions and issue expenses

 

(867,745)

 

 –

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

76,461,416

 

(32,216)

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash during the period

 

10,325,674

 

(1,142,252)

 

Cash at beginning of period

 

2,512,977

 

3,798,412

 

Cash at end of period

 

12,838,651

 

2,656,160

 

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

 

 

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Sprott Physical Silver Trust
Notes to financial statements – Trust specific information
 March 31, 2020

 

(in-U.S. dollars)

Financial Risk Management (note 6)

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Trust is to seek to provide a secure, convenient and exchange-traded investment alternative for investors interested in holding physical silver bullion without the inconvenience that is typical of a direct investment in physical silver bullion. The Trust invests and intends to continue to invest primarily in long-term holdings of unencumbered, fully allocated, physical silver bullion and does not speculate with regard to short-term changes in silver prices. The Trust has only purchased 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 the three months ended March 31, 2020 and the year ended December 31, 2019 is presented as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

 

1,075,133,513

 

871,613,584

 

Purchases

 

 

71,797,064

 

77,968,605

 

Sales

 

 

 -

 

(25,102)

 

Redemptions for physical bullion

 

 

 -

 

(6,824,800)

 

Realized losses on sales and redemptions for physical bullion

 

 

 -

 

(4,536,914)

 

Change in unrealized gains (losses)

 

 

(237,592,509)

 

136,938,140

 

Balance at end of period

 

 

909,338,068

 

1,075,133,513

 

 

Realized gains (losses) on physical bullion include both realized gains (losses) on sales of physical bullion, and realized gains (losses) occurring upon unitholder redemptions for physical bullion.

Market Risk

a) Other Price Risk

If the market value of silver increased by 1%, with all other variables held constant, this would have increased total equity and comprehensive income by approximately $9.1 million (December 31, 2019: $10.8 million); conversely, if the value of silver bullion decreased by 1%, this would have decreased total equity and comprehensive income by the same amount.

b) Currency Risk

As at March 31, 2020, approximately $229,000 (December 31, 2019: $352,000) of the Trust’s liabilities were denominated in Canadian dollars. As a result, a 1% change in the exchange rate between the Canadian and U.S. dollars would have no material impact to the Trust.

 

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Sprott Physical Silver Trust
Notes to financial statements – Trust specific information
 March 31, 2020

 

 

c) Concentration Risk

The Trust’s risk is concentrated in physical silver bullion, whose value constitutes 99.4% of total equity as at March 31, 2020 (99.8% as at December 31, 2019).

d) Other Risk

On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic.  As a result of this crisis, a challenging global economic climate continues and this may have an impact on the Trust’s future operating results and financial position.  The Manager will continue to monitor the impact of this pandemic on the operations and financial position of the Trust.

Management Fees (note 8)

The Trust pays the Manager a monthly management fee equal to 1/12 of 0.45% 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.

Tax Loss Carryforwards

As of the taxation year ended December 31, 2019, the Trust had capital losses available for tax purposes of $4,246,495 (2018: $3,780,633).

Related Party Disclosures (note 8)

There have been no transactions between the Trust and its related parties during the reporting period, other than management fees as discussed above.

 

 

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Sprott Physical Bullion Trusts
Generic Notes to Financial Statements
 March 31, 2020

 

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 and as further amended and restated as of February 1, 2010


 

March 3, 2010

 

PHYS, PHYS.U

Sprott Physical Silver Trust

 

June 30, 2010, as amended and restated as of October 1, 2010



 

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 Statements of Financial Position for the Trusts are as at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The Statements of Comprehensive Income, the Statements of Changes in Equity and Statements of Cash Flows for the Trusts are for the three month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. These financial statements were authorized for issue by the Manager on May 15, 2020.

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 Net Assets 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 dollar unless otherwise indicated.

 

 

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Sprott Physical Bullion Trusts
Generic Notes to Financial Statements
 March 31, 2020 

 

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 40 Investment Property fair value model as IAS 40 is the most relevant standard to apply. Investment transactions in physical bullion are accounted for on the business day following the date the order to buy or sell is executed. Realized and unrealized gains and losses of holdings are calculated on an 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 Trusts’ 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.

All other accounting policies, judgments, and estimates described in the annual audited financial statements have been applied consistently to these financial statements unless otherwise noted.

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 tax purposes, the Trusts generally treat gains from the disposition of bullion as capital gains, rather than income, as the Trusts intend to be long-term passive holders of bullion, and generally dispose 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, although the treatment in each particular case remains a question of fact to be determined having regard to all the circumstances.

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Sprott Physical Bullion Trusts
Generic Notes to Financial Statements
 March 31, 2020 

 

The Trusts based their assumptions and estimates on parameters 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.

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 values of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable 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 set out 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 liabilities denominated in Canadian dollars will fluctuate due to changes in exchange rates. Most of such liabilities, however,

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Sprott Physical Bullion Trusts
Generic Notes to Financial Statements
 March 31, 2020 

 

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.

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 its primary investment is physical bullion, which trades in a highly liquid market. All of the Trusts’ financial liabilities, including due to brokers, 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.

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Sprott Physical Bullion Trusts
Generic Notes to Financial Statements
 March 31, 2020 

 

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 (“IAS 32”) for classification as equity.

Net Asset Value

NAV is defined as a Trust’s net assets (fair value of total assets less fair value of total liabilities, excluding all liabilities represented by outstanding Units, if any) calculated using the value of physical silver bullion based on the end-of-day price provided by a widely recognized pricing service.

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 Trusts’ 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

Management Fees

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.

 

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Corporate Information

Head Office

Sprott Physical Silver Trust

Royal Bank Plaza, South Tower

200 Bay Street

Suite 2600, PO Box 26

Toronto, Ontario M5J 2J1

Telephone: (416) 203-2310

Toll Free: (877) 403-2310

Email: ir@sprott.com

 

Auditors

KPMG LLP

Bay Adelaide Centre

333 Bay Street

Suite 4600

Toronto, Ontario M5H 2S5

 

Legal Counsel

Baker & McKenzie LLP

Brookfield Place

Bay Wellington Tower

181 Bay Street, Suite 2100

Toronto, Ontario Canada M5J 2T3

 

Seward & Kissel LLP

901 K Street NW, 8th Floor

Washington, DC 20001