The Trust’s net asset value per unit on June 30, 2020 was $14.37 compared to $14.87 per unit as at December 31, 2019. The units closed at $14.07 on the NYSE Arca and $13.99 on the TSX on June 30, 2020 compared to closing prices of $14.39 on the NYSE Arca and $14.30 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 June 30, 2020, the Trust’s units traded on the NYSE Arca at an average discount to net asset value of approximately 6.2%.
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 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 June 30, 2020, the Trust sold 211,443 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 bullion, costs incurred in connection with the Trust’s continuous disclosure public filing requirements and investor relations and any expenses associated with the Independent Review Committee of the Trust. Operating expenses for the period from April 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 amounted to $165,3311 (not including applicable Canadian taxes) compared to $246,8821 for the same period in 2019. Operating expenses for the period from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 amounted to $344,5771 (not including applicable Canadian taxes) compared to $414,9931 for the same period in 2019. Operating expenses for the period from April 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 amounted to 0.68% of the average net assets during that period on an annualized basis, compared to 0.99% for the same period in 2019. Operating expenses for the period from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 amounted to 0.62% of the average net assets during that period on an annualized basis, compared to 0.80% 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 0.50% 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 April 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020, the Trust incurred management fees of $121,489 (not including applicable Canadian taxes) compared to $125,167 for the same period in 2019. For the period from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020, the Trust incurred management fees of $278,754 (not including applicable Canadian taxes) compared to $255,882 for the same period in 2019.
1 Amounts are adjusted to exclude redemption fees and sales taxes