Table of Contents
falseQ30001708646--12-31Annualized. Total Return, at net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the NAV at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of any dividends and distributions at NAV during the period, and redemption of Shares on the last day of the period. Total Return, at NAV includes adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP and as such, the NAV for financial reporting purposes and the returns based upon those NAVs may differ from the NAVs and returns for shareholder transactions. Total Return, at market value is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the market value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at market value during the period and redemption of Shares at the market value on the last day of the period. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized. Calculated using average shares outstanding. 0001708646 2023-01-01 2023-09-30 0001708646 2023-09-30 0001708646 2022-12-31 0001708646 2023-07-01 2023-09-30 0001708646 2022-01-01 2022-09-30 0001708646 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001708646 2022-01-01 2022-12-31 0001708646 2023-11-01 0001708646 2021-12-31 0001708646 2022-06-30 0001708646 2023-06-30 0001708646 2022-09-30 0001708646 aaau:GoldBullionMember 2023-09-30 0001708646 us-gaap:InvestmentsMember 2023-09-30 0001708646 aaau:NetAssetsMember 2023-09-30 0001708646 aaau:LiabilitiesInExcessOfOtherAssetsMember 2023-09-30 0001708646 aaau:GoldBullionMember 2022-12-31 0001708646 us-gaap:InvestmentsMember 2022-12-31 0001708646 aaau:NetAssetsMember 2022-12-31 0001708646 aaau:LiabilitiesInExcessOfOtherAssetsMember 2022-12-31 0001708646 srt:MinimumMember 2023-01-01 2023-09-30 iso4217:USD utr:oz xbrli:shares xbrli:pure iso4217:USD xbrli:shares aaau:Baskets
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM
10-Q
 
 
 
☒
Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023.
or
 
☐
Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from
     
to
     
.
Commission file number:
001-38620
 
 
GOLDMAN SACHS PHYSICAL GOLD ETF
SPONSORED BY GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
New York
  
61-1848163
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
240 Greenwich Street, 8th Floor
New York, New York 10286
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(212)
635-6314
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
 
Title of each class
  
Trading Symbol(s)
  
Name of each exchange on which registered
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF
  
AAAU
  
Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation
S-T
(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a
non-accelerated
filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule
12b-2
of the Exchange Act.
 
Large Accelerated Filer   ☐    Accelerated Filer   ☐
       
Non-Accelerated
Filer		   ☒    Smaller Reporting Company   ☒
       
Emerging Growth Company   ☒         
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2
of the Exchange Act.). ☐ Yes ☒ No
The registrant had 27,720,000 outstanding shares as of November 1, 2023.
 
 
 

Table of Contents

Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF

Table of Contents

 

     Page  

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

      1  

Item 1. Unaudited Financial Statements.

      1  

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

      13  

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk.

      16  

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

      16  

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION.

      16  

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

      16  

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

      17  

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

      17  

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

      17  

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

      17  

Item 5. Other Information.

      17  

Item 6. Exhibits.

      17  

SIGNATURES.

      19  

 

Table of Contents
UnlimitedUnlimited
 
Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
Item 1. Unaudited Financial Statements.
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF
Index to Unaudited Financial Statements
 
Documents
   
Page
  
  
 
2
 
  
 
3
 
  
 
4
 
  
 
5
 
  
 
6
 
  
 
7
 
  
 
8
 
 
1
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
 
    
September 30, 2023
(unaudited)
     
December 31, 2022
  
Assets
      
Investment in gold, at fair value (cost $539,505,371 and $449,702,252, respectively)
    $ 524,010,983      $ 437,004,008  
  
 
 
     
 
 
  
Total assets
      524,010,983        437,004,008  
  
 
 
     
 
 
  
Liabilities
      
Sponsor fee payable
      81,210        65,729  
  
 
 
     
 
 
  
Total liabilities
      81,210        65,729  
  
 
 
     
 
 
  
Net Assets
    $ 523,929,773      $ 436,938,279  
  
 
 
     
 
 
  
Shares issued and outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)
      28,270,000        24,300,000  
Net asset value per Share
    $ 18.53      $ 17.98  
See notes to unaudited financial statements.
 
2
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF
Schedules of Investments
September 30, 2023 (unaudited)
 
    
Ounces
     
Cost
     
Fair Value
    
% of Net Assets
  
Investment in gold, at fair value
      280,144.9      $ 539,505,371      $ 524,010,983       100.02 % 
     
 
 
     
 
 
    
 
 
  
Total Investments
       $ 539,505,371      $ 524,010,983       100.02 % 
Liabilities in excess of other assets
            (81,210 )      (0.02 )% 
        
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net Assets
          $ 523,929,773       100.00 % 
        
 
 
    
 
 
  
December 31, 2022
 
    
Ounces
     
Cost
     
Fair Value
    
% of Net Assets
  
Investment in gold, at fair value
      241,125.6      $ 449,702,252      $ 437,004,008       100.02 % 
     
 
 
     
 
 
    
 
 
  
Total Investments
       $ 449,702,252      $ 437,004,008       100.02 % 
Liabilities in excess of other assets
            (65,729 )      (0.02 )% 
        
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net Assets
          $ 436,938,279       100.00 % 
        
 
 
    
 
 
  
See notes to unaudited financial statements.
 
3
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF
Statements of Operations
 
    
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2023
(unaudited)
    
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2022
(unaudited)
    
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2023
(unaudited)
    
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2022
(unaudited)
  
Expenses
         
Sponsor fee
    $ (268,238 )    $ (225,175 )    $ (773,294 )    $ (780,094 ) 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Total expenses
      (268,238 )      (225,175 )      (773,294 )      (780,094 ) 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net investment loss
      (268,238 )      (225,175 )      (773,294 )      (780,094 ) 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
         
Net realized gain (loss) on gold bullion distributed for redemptions
      3,044,112       (4,334,332 )      3,863,639       19,888,824  
Net realized gain (loss) on gold sold to pay expenses
      (11,823 )      (29,400 )      (26,980 )      (64,667 ) 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net realized gain (loss)
      3,032,289       (4,363,732 )      3,836,659       19,824,157  
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in gold
      (14,720,855 )      (36,979,756 )      (2,796,144 )      (62,688,082 ) 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from operations
      (11,688,566 )      (41,343,488 )      1,040,515       (42,863,925 ) 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net Income (Loss)
    $ (11,956,804 )    $ (41,568,663 )    $ 267,221     $ (43,644,019 ) 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net income (loss) per share
    $ (0.39 )    $ (1.44 )    $ 0.01     $ (1.37 ) 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Average number of shares
      30,940,543       28,829,457       29,963,700       31,767,070  
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
See notes to unaudited financial statements.
 
4
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
 
    
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2023
(unaudited)
    
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2022
(unaudited)
    
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2023
(unaudited)
    
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2022
(unaudited)
  
Net Assets, beginning of period
    $ 629,127,574     $ 597,240,256     $ 436,938,279     $ 424,223,380  
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Creations
      —        84,962,562       351,993,540       486,042,991  
Redemptions
      (93,240,997 )      (240,399,335 )      (265,269,267 )      (466,387,532 ) 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net creations (redemptions)
      (93,240,997 )      (155,436,773 )      86,724,273       19,655,459  
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net investment loss
      (268,238 )      (225,175 )      (773,294 )      (780,094 ) 
Net realized gain (loss)
      3,032,289       (4,363,732 )      3,836,659       19,824,157  
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in gold
      (14,720,855 )      (36,979,756 )      (2,796,144 )      (62,688,082 ) 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net Assets, end of period
    $ 523,929,773     $ 400,234,820     $ 523,929,773     $ 400,234,820  
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
See notes to unaudited financial statements.
 
5
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF
Statements of Cash Flows
 
    
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2023

(unaudited)
    
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2022

(unaudited)
    
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2023

(unaudited)
    
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2022

(unaudited)
  
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
                                 
Proceeds from gold bullion sold to pay expenses
    $ 283,646     $ 248,189     $ 757,813     $ 780,251  
Expenses – Sponsor’s fee paid
      (283,646 )      (248,189 )      (757,813 )      (780,251 ) 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net cash provided by operating activities
      —        —        —        —   
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Increase (decrease) in cash
      —        —        —        —   
Cash, beginning of period
      —        —        —        —   
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Cash, end of period
      —        —        —        —   
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Reconciliation of Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations to Net Cash provided by (Used in) Operating Activities:
                                 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
    $ (11,956,804 )    $ (41,568,663 )    $ 267,221     $ (43,644,019 ) 
Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
                                 
Proceeds from gold bullion sold to pay expenses
      283,646       248,189       757,813       780,251  
Net realized (gain) loss
      (3,032,289 )      4,363,732       (3,836,659 )      (19,824,157 ) 
Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investment in gold
      14,720,855       36,979,756       2,796,144       62,688,082  
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
                                 
Sponsor’s fee payable
      (15,408 )      (23,014 )      15,481       (157 ) 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —   
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Supplemental disclosure of
non-cash
information:
                                 
Gold bullion contributed for Shares issued net of changes in gold receivable
    $ —      $ 84,962,562     $ 351,993,540     $ 486,042,991  
Gold bullion contributed for Shares redeemed net of changes in gold payable
    $ (93,240,997 )    $ (240,399,335 )    $ (265,269,267 )    $ (466,387,532 ) 
See notes to unaudited financial statements.
 
6
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF
Financial Highlights
 
    
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2023
(unaudited)
    
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2022
(unaudited)
    
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2023
(unaudited)
    
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2022
(unaudited)
  
Per Share Performance (for a share outstanding throughout each period)
         
Net asset value per share, beginning of period
    $ 18.96     $ 18.04     $ 17.98     $ 18.09  
Net investment loss
(a)
      (0.01 )      (0.01 )      (0.03 )      (0.02 ) 
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment in gold
      (0.42 )      (1.44 )      0.58       (1.48 ) 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Change in net assets from operations
      (0.43 )      (1.45 )      0.55       (1.50 ) 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net asset value per share, end of period
    $ 18.53     $ 16.59     $ 18.53     $ 16.59  
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Market value per share, beginning of period
    $ 19.04     $ 17.94     $ 18.09     $ 18.18  
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Market value per share, end of period
    $ 18.31     $ 16.50     $ 18.31     $ 16.50  
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Total Return, at net asset value
(b)
      (2.27 )%      (8.04 )%      3.06 %      (8.29 )% 
Total Return, at market value
(b)
      (3.81 )%      (8.05 )%      1.22 %      (9.27 )% 
Net assets ($000’s)
    $ 523,930     $ 400,235     $ 523,930     $ 400,235  
Ratios to average net assets
(c)
         
Net investment loss
      (0.18 )%      (0.18 )%      (0.18 )%      (0.18 )% 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Total expenses
      (0.18 )%      (0.18 )%      (0.18 )%      (0.18 )% 
  
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
 
(a)
Calculated using average shares outstanding.
(b)
Total Return, at net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the NAV at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of any dividends and distributions at NAV during the period, and redemption of Shares on the last day of the period. Total Return, at NAV includes adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP and as such, the NAV for financial reporting purposes and the returns based upon those NAVs may differ from the NAVs and returns for shareholder transactions. Total Return, at market value is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the market value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at market value during the period and redemption of Shares at the market value on the last day of the period. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(c)
Annualized.
See notes to unaudited financial statements.
 
7
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
1. ORGANIZATION
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (the “Trust”) is organized as a New York trust. The Trust is governed by the provisions of the First Amended and Restated Depositary Trust Agreement (as amended from time to time, the “Trust Agreement”) executed after the close of business on December 11, 2020 by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (the “Sponsor”) and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Trustee”). The Trust issues Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF Shares (the “Shares”), which represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in the Trust. The Trust commenced operations on July 26, 2018.
The Sponsor of the Trust is Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (“GS Group Inc.”) and an affiliate of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.
The Trustee is generally responsible for the
day-to-day
administration of the Trust, including keeping the Trust’s operational records. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., London branch (the “Custodian”) serves as the Custodian for the Trust’s gold bullion. The Custodian is responsible for holding the Trust’s gold, as well as receiving and converting allocated and unallocated gold on behalf of the Trust.
Physical gold that the Trust holds consists of gold bullion that meets the specifications for “good delivery” gold bars (“London Good Delivery Standards”), including the specifications for weight, dimension, fineness (or purity), identifying marks and appearance of gold bars, set forth in the good delivery rules promulgated by the London Bullion Market Association (“LBMA”). The Trust issues Shares in blocks of at least 25,000 shares called “Baskets” in exchange for gold from certain registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants (the “Authorized Participants”), which is then allocated as physical gold and stored by the Custodian. The Trust issues and redeems Baskets on an ongoing basis at net asset value (“NAV” or “Net Asset Value”) to and from Authorized Participants who have entered into a contract with the Sponsor and the Trustee. As of September 30, 2023, each of Virtu Americas LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC has signed an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Sponsor and the Trustee, and may create and redeem Baskets.
The Trust’s investment objective is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold less the expenses of the Trust’s operations. The Trust is not actively-managed. The Shares trade on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (“Cboe BZX Exchange”) under the symbol “AAAU.” Effective February 3, 2022, the listing of the Trust was transferred from NYSE Arca to Cboe BZX Exchange.
The Trust’s fiscal
year-end
is December 31.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), management of the Sponsor makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amount of revenue and expenses reported during the period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Trust.
2.1. Basis of Presentation
The Sponsor has determined that the Trust falls within the scope of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946, Financial Services-Investment Companies, and has concluded that solely for reporting purposes (and not for any other purpose), the Trust is classified as an Investment Company (as defined in ASC 946). The Trust is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and is not required to register under such act.
2.2. Valuation of Gold
The Trust follows the provisions of ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 provides guidance for determining fair value and requires increased disclosure regarding the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
On each business day that the Cboe BZX Exchange is open for regular trading, as promptly as practicable after 4:00 p.m. New York City time, the Trustee will value the gold held by the Trust and will determine the Net Asset Value of the Trust. The Net Asset Value 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 reserve account, if any) including cash, if any, less liabilities of the Trust, which include estimated accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and other liabilities. The reserve account, if established, will be a
 
8
separate
non-interest
bearing account with the Trustee or such other banking institution specified by the Sponsor, or if the Sponsor fails so to specify, as selected by the Trustee, in the name, and for the benefit, of the Trust, subject only to draft or order by the Trustee acting pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement. All gold is valued based on its fine troy ounce (“Fine Ounce”) content, calculated by multiplying the weight of gold by its purity. The same methodology is applied independent of the type of gold held by the Trust; similarly, the value of up to 430 Fine Ounce of unallocated gold the Trust may hold is calculated by multiplying the number of Fine Ounce with the price of gold determined by the Trustee. The Trustee values the gold held by the Trust based on the LBMA Gold Price PM. The LBMA Gold Price PM is set at 3:00 p.m. London time via an auction independently operated and administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”). The price is set in U.S. dollars per Fine Ounce. If no LBMA Gold Price PM is available for the required day, the Trustee uses the LBMA Gold Price AM. If no LBMA Gold Price PM or LBMA Gold Price AM is available for the day, the Trustee values the Trust’s gold based on the most recently announced LBMA Gold Price PM or LBMA Gold Price AM. If the Sponsor determines that such price is inappropriate to use, it must identify an alternate basis for evaluation to be employed by the Trustee. The Sponsor may instruct the Trustee to use a different price which is reasonably available to the Trustee at no cost to the Trustee that the Sponsor determines to represent fairly the commercial value of the Trust’s gold.
U.S. GAAP defines the fair value of a financial instrument as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., the exit price); the Trust’s policy is to use the market approach. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls shall be determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The levels used for classifying investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in these investments. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which significant inputs are observable (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, volatility and credit spreads), either directly or indirectly;
Level 3: Prices or valuations that require significant unobservable inputs (including Sponsor’s assumptions in determining fair value measurement).
The Trustee categorizes the Trust’s investment in gold as a Level 1 asset within the ASC 820 hierarchy.
2.3. Expenses, Realized Gains and Losses
The Trust’s only ordinary recurring fee is expected to be the fee paid to the Sponsor, which will accrue daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.18% of the daily Net Asset Value of the Trust, paid monthly in arrears (the “Sponsor Fee”). The Sponsor Fee accrues daily based on the prior business day’s Net Asset Value and is payable in cash from the Trust property or the sale of gold in accordance with the Trust Agreement. Realized gains and losses result from the transfer of gold for share redemptions and the sale of gold for the payment of Trust expenses and are recognized on a trade date basis as the difference between the fair value and cost of gold transferred or between the sale price and cost of gold sold. The cost of gold is determined using the specific identification method.
2.4. Gold Receivable and Payable
Gold receivable or payable represents the quantity of gold covered by contractually binding orders for the creation or redemption of shares respectively, where the gold has not yet been transferred to or from the Trust’s account. Generally, ownership of the gold is transferred within two business days of the trade date.
2.5. Creations and Redemptions of Shares
The Trust issues and redeems Shares in one or more blocks of at least 25,000 shares (a block of 25,000 shares is called a “Basket”) only to Authorized Participants. The creation and redemption of Baskets will only be made in exchange for the delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of gold represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which will be based on the combined fine ounces represented by the number of shares included in the Baskets being created or redeemed determined on the day the order to create or redeem Baskets is properly received.
 
9
Orders to create or redeem Baskets may be placed only by Authorized Participants. To become an Authorized Participant, a person must enter into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Sponsor and the Trustee. The Authorized Participant Agreement provides the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets and for the delivery of the gold required for such creations and redemptions. The Authorized Participant Agreement and the related procedures attached thereto may be amended by the Trustee and the Sponsor, without the consent of any investor or Authorized Participant. A transaction fee of $500 will be assessed on all creation and redemption transactions and paid to the Trustee.
Authorized Participants who make deposits with the Trust in exchange for Baskets will receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either a Sponsor or the Trust, and no such person has any obligation or responsibility to a Sponsor or the Trust to affect any sale or resale of shares.
Changes in the shares during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are:
 
 
  
Three Months Ended
 
 
  
September 30,
2023
 
  
September 30,
2022
 
Beginning Share Balance
      33,190,000        33,100,000  
Creations (representing – and 196 baskets, respectively)
      —         4,900,000  
Redemptions (representing 197 and 555 baskets, respectively)
      (4,920,000 )       (13,880,000 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Ending Share Balance
      28,270,000        24,120,000  
Changes in the shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are:
 
 
  
Nine Months Ended
 
 
  
September 30,
2023
 
  
September 30,
2022
 
Beginning Share Balance
      24,300,000        23,450,000  
Creations (representing 732 and 1,066 baskets, respectively)
      18,290,000        26,650,000  
Redemptions (representing 573 and 1,039 baskets, respectively)
      (14,320,000 )       (25,980,000 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Ending Share Balance
      28,270,000        24,120,000  
2.6. Income Taxes
The Trust is classified as a “grantor trust” for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Trust itself is not subject to United States federal income tax. Instead, the Trust’s income, gain, losses, and expenses will “flow through” to the shareholders, and the Trustee reports these to the Internal Revenue Service on that basis.
The Sponsor has analyzed applicable tax laws and regulations and their application to the Trust as of September 30, 2023 and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.
3. INVESTMENT IN GOLD
The following represents the changes in ounces of gold and the respective fair value during the three months ended September 30, 2023:
 
    
Amount in
ounces
     
Amount in
US$
  
Balance at June 30, 2023
      329,049.1      $ 629,224,192  
Creations
      —         —   
Redemptions
      (48,758.0 )       (93,240,997 ) 
Net realized gain (loss) from gold bullion distributed for redemptions
      —         3,044,112  
Sale of gold to pay expenses
      (146.2 )       (283,646 ) 
Net realized gain (loss) from gold sold to pay expenses
      —         (11,823 ) 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in gold
      —         (14,720,855 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Balance at September 30, 2023
      280,144.9      $ 524,010,983  
 
10
The following represents the changes in ounces of gold and the respective fair value during the nine months ended September 30, 2023:
 
    
Amount in
ounces
     
Amount in
US$
  
Balance at December 31, 2022
      241,125.6      $ 437,004,008  
Creations
      181,396.6        351,993,540  
Redemptions
      (141,985.5 )       (265,269,267 ) 
Net realized gain (loss) from gold bullion distributed for redemptions
      —         3,863,639  
Sale of gold to pay expenses
      (391.8 )       (757,813 ) 
Net realized gain (loss) from gold sold to pay expenses
      —         (26,980 ) 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in gold
      —         (2,796,144 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Balance at September 30, 2023
      280,144.9      $ 524,010,983  
4. RELATED PARTIES – SPONSOR, TRUSTEE, CUSTODIAN AND
MARKETING
FEES

A fee is paid to the Sponsor as compensation for services performed under the Trust Agreement. The Sponsor’s Fee is payable at an annualized rate of
0.18
% of the Trust’s Net Asset Value, accrued on a daily basis computed on the prior business day’s Net Asset Value and paid in cash monthly in arrears. In exchange for the Sponsor Fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume and be responsible for the payment of the following expenses, up to the Fee Cap (as defined below): fees for the Trustee’s ordinary services and reimbursement of its ordinary
out-of-pocket
expenses; the Custodian’s fees and expenses reimbursable to the Custodian pursuant to the Custody Agreement; the marketing expenses of the Trust; the listing fees of the Trust on the Cboe BZX Exchange; registration fees associated with the Trust charged by the SEC; printing and mailing costs; expenses for the maintenance of any website of the Trust; audit fees and expenses; routine legal fees and expenses associated with the ordinary course of the Trust’s operations; and the expense of the first two examinations of the Custodian’s records relating to the unallocated account and the first two audits of the Physical Gold held in the allocated account during any fiscal year (with the expense of any further examination or audits during such fiscal year to be an expense of the Trust). The Sponsor shall not be responsible for any other expenses, including litigation expenses associated with the Trust, taxes and other governmental charges (except and solely to the extent as may otherwise be agreed to in writing between the Sponsor and the Custodian), the Trustee’s expenses not reimbursed by the Sponsor pursuant to the Trust Agreement, indemnification of the Trustee or the Sponsor pursuant to the Trust Agreement, any expenses that are in excess of the Fee Cap, extraordinary expenses incurred on behalf of the Trust, and otherwise as set forth in the Trust Agreement. Extraordinary expenses shall include any fixing fees charged in connection with sales of gold required by applicable law or regulation or required upon termination of the Trust. The Fee Cap is a maximum amount equal to the greater of $
500,000
per annum and the amount that is equal to
0.15
% of the average total value of the gold held by the Trust, as determined by the Trustee on each business day, plus the value of all other assets of the Trust (other than any amount credited to the Trust’s reserve account), including cash, if any.
From time to time, the Sponsor may waive all or a portion of the Sponsor Fee at its discretion. The Sponsor is under no obligation to continue a waiver after the end of a stated period, and, if such waiver is not continued, the Sponsor Fee will thereafter be paid in full. Presently, the Sponsor does not intend to waive any of its fees.
Affiliates of the Trustee may from time to time act as Authorized Participants or purchase or sell gold or Trust shares for their own account, as agent for their customers and for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
5. CONCENTRATION OF RISK
The Trust’s sole business activity is the investment in gold bullion. Several factors could affect the price of gold: (i) global gold supply and demand, which is influenced by such factors as forward selling by gold producers, purchases made by gold producers to unwind gold hedge positions, central bank purchases and sales, and production and cost levels in major gold-producing countries, and new production projects; (ii) investors’ expectations regarding future inflation rates; (iii) currency exchange rate volatility; (iv) interest rate volatility; and (v) political, economic, global or regional incidents. In addition, there is no assurance that gold will maintain its long-term value in terms of purchasing power in the future. In the event that the price of gold declines, the Sponsor expects the value of an investment in the shares to decline proportionately. Each of these events could have a material effect on the Trust’s financial position and results of operations.
6. INDEMNIFICATION
The Trust Agreement provides that the Trustee, its directors, officers, employees, shareholders, agents and affiliates (as defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) arising out of or in connection with the performance of its obligations under the Trust Agreement and under each other agreement entered into by the Trustee in furtherance of the administration of the Trust (including the Custody Agreement and any Authorized Participant Agreement, including the Trustee’s indemnification obligations under these agreements), or otherwise by reason of the Trustee’s acceptance or administration of the Trust to the extent such loss, liability or expense was incurred without (i) gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or willful malfeasance on the part of such indemnified party in connection with the performance of its obligations under the Trust Agreement or any such other agreement, or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or any such other agreement, or (ii) reckless disregard on the part of such indemnified party of its obligations and duties under the Trust Agreement or any such other agreement. Each indemnified party shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) arising out of or in connection with any services the Custodian may, directly or indirectly, separately offer or provide to any
 
11
beneficial owner. Such indemnities shall include payment from the Trust of the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by such indemnified party in investigating or defending itself against any such loss, liability or expense or any claim therefor, provided that such indemnified party shall repay to the Trust the amount of any such reasonable costs and expenses paid by the Trust to the extent it may be ultimately determined that such indemnified party was not entitled to be indemnified under the Trust Agreement because clause (i) or clause (ii) of the sentence preceding the prior sentence applied. Any amounts payable to an indemnified party may be payable in advance or shall be secured by a lien on the Trust.
The Sponsor and its members, managers, directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) arising out of or in connection with the performance of its obligations under the Trust Agreement and under each other agreement entered into by the Sponsor in furtherance of the administration of the Trust (including Authorized Participant Agreements to which the Sponsor is a party, including the Sponsor’s indemnification obligations thereunder) or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement, to the extent such loss, liability or expense was incurred without (i) gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or willful malfeasance on the part of such indemnified party in connection with the performance of its obligations under the Trust Agreement or any such other agreement or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement, or any such other agreement or (ii) reckless disregard on the part of such indemnified party of its obligations and duties under the Trust Agreement, or any such other agreement. The Sponsor and its members, managers, directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) arising out of or in connection with any services the Custodian may, directly or indirectly, separately offer or provide to any beneficial owner. Such indemnities shall include payment from the Trust of the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by such indemnified party in investigating or defending itself against any such loss, liability or expense or any claim therefor, provided that such indemnified party shall repay to the Trust the amount of any such reasonable costs and expenses paid by the Trust to the extent it may be ultimately determined that such indemnified party was not entitled to be indemnified under the Trust Agreement because clause (i) or clause (ii) of this paragraph applied.
In addition, the Trustee or the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, undertake any action that it may deem necessary or desirable in respect of the Trust Agreement and in such event, the reasonable legal expenses and costs and other disbursements of any such actions shall be expenses and costs of the Trust and the Trustee or the Sponsor, as the case may be, shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Trust. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.
 
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Table of Contents

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

This information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in Item 1 of Part I of this Form 10-Q. This Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All statements (other than statements of historical fact) included in this Form 10-Q that address activities, events or developments that may occur in the future, including such matters as future gold prices, gold sales, costs, objectives, changes in commodity prices and market conditions (for gold and the shares), the Trust’s operations, the Sponsors’ plans and references to the Trust’s future success and other similar matters are forward-looking statements. Words such as “could,” “would,” “may,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “predict,” and variations on such words or negatives thereof, and similar expressions that reflect our current views with respect to future events and Trust performance, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed therein. We express our estimates, expectations, beliefs, and projections in good faith and believe them to have a reasonable basis. However, we make no assurances that management’s estimates, expectations, beliefs, or projections will be achieved or accomplished. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors are discussed in: Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (“2022 Form 10-K”); Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the 2022 Form 10-K; Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Form 10-Q, and other parts of this Form 10-Q. We do not intend to update any forward-looking statements even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future, except as required by the federal securities laws.

Organization and Trust Overview

Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (the “Trust”) is organized as a New York trust. The Trust is governed by the provisions of the First Amended and Restated Depositary Trust Agreement (as amended from time to time, the “Trust Agreement”) executed after the close of business on December 11, 2020 by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (the “Sponsor”) and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Trustee”). The Trust issues Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF Shares (the “Shares”), which represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in the Trust. The Trust commenced operations on July 26, 2018.

The Sponsor of the Trust is Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (“GS Group Inc.”) and an affiliate of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.

The Trustee is generally responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Trust, including keeping the Trust’s operational records. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., London branch (the “Custodian”) serves as the Custodian for the Trust’s gold bullion. The Custodian is responsible for holding the Trust’s gold, as well as receiving and converting allocated and unallocated gold on behalf of the Trust.

Physical gold that the Trust holds consists of gold bullion that meets the specifications for “good delivery” gold bars (“London Good Delivery Standards”), including the specifications for weight, dimension, fineness (or purity), identifying marks and appearance of gold bars, set forth in the good delivery rules promulgated by the London Bullion Market Association (“LBMA”). The Trust issues the Shares in blocks of at least 25,000 shares called “Baskets” in exchange for gold from certain registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants (the “Authorized Participants”), which is then allocated as physical gold and stored by the Custodian. The Trust issues and redeems Baskets on an ongoing basis at net asset value (“NAV” or “Net Asset Value”) to and from Authorized Participants who have entered into a contract with the Sponsor and the Trustee. As of September 30, 2023, each of Virtu Americas LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC has signed an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Sponsor and the Trustee, and may create and redeem Baskets.

The Trust’s investment objective is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold less the expenses of the Trust’s operations. The Trust is not actively-managed. The Shares trade on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (“Cboe BZX Exchange”) under the symbol “AAAU.” Effective February 3, 2022, the listing of the Trust was transferred from NYSE Arca to Cboe BZX Exchange.

The Trust’s fiscal year-end is December 31.

Valuation of Gold and Computation of Net Asset Value

On each business day that the Cboe BZX Exchange is open for regular trading, as promptly as practicable after 4:00 p.m. New York City time, the Trustee values the gold held by the Trust and determines the Net Asset Value of the Trust, as described below.

The Net Asset Value of the Trust is the aggregate value of gold and other assets, if any, of the Trust (other than amounts credited to the Trust’s reserve account, if any) including cash, if any, less liabilities of the Trust, which include estimated accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and other liabilities. The reserve account, if established, will be a separate non-interest bearing account with the Trustee or such other banking institution specified by the Sponsor, or if the Sponsor fails so to specify, as selected by the Trustee, in the name, and for the benefit, of the Trust, subject only to draft or order by the Trustee acting pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement. The Trustee will hold in such account all cash that it has credited to such account to reflect the reserves for taxes or other governmental charges and other contingent liabilities payable out of the Trust that the Trustee has determined from time to time to be required by GAAP. The Trustee determines the Net Asset Value per Share by dividing the Net Asset Value of the Trust by the number of the Shares outstanding as of the close of trading on the Cboe BZX Exchange (which includes the net number of any Shares deemed created or redeemed on such evaluation day).

 

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Table of Contents

All gold is valued based on its fine troy ounce (“Fine Ounce”) content, calculated by multiplying the weight of gold by its purity. The same methodology is applied independent of the type of gold held by the Trust; similarly, the value of up to 430 Fine Ounces of unallocated gold the Trust may hold is calculated by multiplying the number of Fine Ounces with the price of gold determined by the Trustee. The Trustee values the gold held by the Trust based on the LBMA Gold Price PM. The LBMA Gold Price PM is set at 3:00 p.m. London time via an auction independently operated and administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”). The price is set in U.S. dollars per Fine Ounce. If no LBMA Gold Price PM is available for the required day, the Trustee uses the LBMA Gold Price AM. If no LBMA Gold Price PM or LBMA Gold Price AM is available for the day, the Trustee values the Trust’s gold based on the most recently announced LBMA Gold Price PM or LBMA Gold Price AM. If the Sponsor determines that such price is inappropriate to use, it must identify an alternate basis for evaluation to be employed by the Trustee. The Sponsor may instruct the Trustee to use a different price which is reasonably available to the Trustee at no cost to the Trustee that the Sponsor determines to represent fairly the commercial value of the Trust’s gold.

The Trustee’s estimation of accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and liabilities is conclusive upon all persons interested in the Trust, and no revision or correction in any computation made under the Trust Agreement is required by reason of any difference in amounts estimated from those actually paid.

The Sponsor and the investors may rely on any evaluation or determination of any amount made by the Trustee, and, except for any determination by the Sponsor as to the price to be used to evaluate gold, the Sponsor has no responsibility for the evaluation’s accuracy. The determinations the Trustee makes are made in good faith upon the basis of, and the Trustee will not be liable for any errors contained in, information reasonably available to it. The Trustee is not liable to the Sponsor, Authorized Participants, investors or any other person for errors in judgment. However, the preceding liability exclusion will not protect the Trustee against any liability resulting from bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties.

Results of Operations

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022

For the three months ended September 30, 2023, – shares (– Baskets) were created in exchange for – ounces of gold, 4,920,000 shares (197 Baskets) were redeemed in exchange for 48,758.0 ounces of gold, and 146.2 ounces of gold were sold to pay expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, 18,290,000 shares (732 Baskets) were created in exchange for 181,396.6 ounces of gold, 14,320,000 shares (573 Baskets) were redeemed in exchange for 141,985.5 ounces of gold, and 391.8 ounces of gold were sold to pay expenses. The Trust’s NAV per share ended the period at $18.53 compared to $18.96 at June 30, 2023 and $17.98 at December 31, 2022. The change in the NAV per share was due to a change in the price of gold to $1,870.50 at period end, which represented a decrease of (2.18)% from $1,912.25 at June 30, 2023 and an increase of 3.21% from $1,812.35 at December 31, 2022.

For the three months ended September 30, 2022, 4,900,000 shares (196 Baskets) were created in exchange for 48,646.5 ounces of gold, 13,880,000 shares (555 Baskets) were redeemed in exchange for 137,799.9 ounces of gold, and 141.3 ounces of gold were sold to pay expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, 26,650,000 shares (1,066 Baskets) were created in exchange for 264,757.9 ounces of gold, 25,980,000 shares(1,039 Baskets) were redeemed in exchange for 257,995.2 ounces of gold, and 425.9 ounces of gold were sold to pay expenses. The Trust’s NAV per share ended the period at $16.59 compared to $18.04 at June 30, 2022 and $18.09 at December 31, 2021. The change in the NAV per share was due to a change in the price of gold to $1,671.75 at period end, which represented a decrease of (7.99)% from $1,817.00 at June 30, 2022 and a decreaseof (8.15)% from $1,820.10 at December 31, 2021.

At September 30, 2023, the Custodian held 280,144.9 ounces of gold on behalf of the Trust in its vault, with a market value of $524,010,983 (cost: $539,505,371) based on the LBMA PM Gold Price at period end.

At September 30, 2022, the Custodian held 239,448.7 ounces of gold on behalf of the Trust in its vault, with a market value of $400,298,339 (cost: $447,396,288) based on the LBMA PM Gold Price at period end.

The change in net assets from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2023 was $(11,956,804), which was due to (i) the Sponsor Fee of $(268,238) and (ii) a net realized and unrealized loss of $(11,688,566) from operations, which in turn resulted from a net realized loss on gold distributed for redemptions of $3,044,112, a net realized loss on gold sold to pay expenses of $(11,823) and a net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments in gold bullion of $(14,720,855). Other than the Sponsor Fee, the Trust had no expenses during the three months ended September 30, 2023.

The change in net assets from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2022 was $(41,568,663), which was due to (i) the Sponsor Fee of $(225,175) and (ii) a net realized and unrealized loss of $(41,343,488) from operations, which in turn resulted from a net realized loss on gold distributed for redemptions of $(4,334,332), a net realized loss on gold sold to pay expenses of $(29,400) and a net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments in gold bullion of $(36,979,756). Other than the Sponsor Fee, the Trust had no expenses during the three months ended September 30, 2022.

The change in net assets from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $267,221, which was due to (i) the Sponsor Fee of $(773,294) and (ii) a net realized and unrealized gain of $1,040,515 from operations, which in turn resulted from a net realized gain on gold distributed for redemptions of $3,863,639, a net realized loss on gold sold to pay expenses of $(26,980) and a net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments in gold bullion of $(2,796,144). Other than the Sponsor Fee, the Trust had no expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

 

14

Table of Contents

The change in net assets from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $(43,644,019), which was due to (i) the Sponsor Fee of $(780,094) and (ii) a net realized and unrealized loss of $(42,863,925) from operations, which in turn resulted from a net realized gain on gold distributed for redemptions of $19,888,824, a net realized loss on gold sold to pay expenses of $(64,667) and a net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments in gold bullion of $(62,688,082). Other than the Sponsor Fee, the Trust had no expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Trust is not aware of any trends, demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that are reasonably likely to result in material changes to its liquidity needs. In exchange for the Sponsor Fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume and be responsible for the payment of most of the expenses incurred by the Trust, up to a maximum amount equal to the greater of $500,000 per annum and the amount that is equal to 0.15% of the average total value of the gold held by the Trust, as determined by the Trustee on each business day, plus the value of all other assets of the Trust (other than any amount credited to the Trust’s reserve account), including cash, if any. As such, the only ordinary expense of the Trust during the period covered by this report was the Sponsor Fee. The Sponsor Fee accrues daily based on the prior business day’s NAV and is payable in cash from the Trust Property or the sale of gold in accordance with the Trust Agreement.

The Trustee will, when directed by the Sponsor, and, in the absence of such direction may, in its discretion, sell gold in such quantity and at such times as may be necessary to permit payment in cash of the Trust’s extraordinary expenses not assumed by the Sponsor. At September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Trust did not have any cash balances.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement

At September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Trust did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Analysis of Movements in the Price of Gold

As movements in the price of gold are expected to directly affect the price of the Trust’s shares, it is important for investors to understand and follow movements in the price of gold. Past movements in the gold price are not indicators of future movements.

The following chart shows movements in the price of gold based on the LBMA PM Gold Price in U.S. dollars per ounce over the period from December 30, 2022 to September 30, 2023.

 

LOGO

Source: Bloomberg, LBMA Gold Price PM USD, December 31, 2022 – September 30, 2023

 

15

Table of Contents

The average, high, low and end-of-period gold prices for each quarterly period from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023, based on the LBMA PM Gold Price were:

 

Period

    Average      High      Date      Low      Date      End of
period		     Last
business
day(1)		  

July 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023

    $ 1,928.78      $ 1,976.10        Jul. 20, 2023      $ 1,870.50        Sep. 29, 2023      $ 1,870.50       Sep. 29, 2023  

April 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023

    $ 1,975.93      $ 2,048.45        Apr. 13, 2023      $ 1,899.60        Jun. 29, 2023      $ 1,912.25       Jun. 30, 2023  

January 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023

    $ 1,889.92      $ 1,993.80        Mar. 24, 2023      $ 1,810.95        Feb. 24, 2023      $ 1,979.70       Mar. 31, 2023  

October 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022

    $ 1,728.35      $ 1,823.55        Dec. 13, 2022      $ 1,628.75        Nov. 3, 2022      $ 1,812.35 (2)      Dec. 30, 2022  

 

  (1)

The end of period gold price is the LBMA PM Gold Price on the last business day of the period. This is in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the basis used for calculating the NAV of the Trust.

  (2)

December 31, 2022 was the last day of the period; however, no LBMA PM Gold Price was recorded on that date. Numbers provided are from LBMA AM Gold Price on December 30, 2022, the last price recorded for the period.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The Trust is a passive investment vehicle. It is not actively managed. The Trust’s investment objective is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold less the expenses of the Trust’s operations. Accordingly, fluctuations in the price of gold will affect the value of the Trust’s shares.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Trust maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the duly authorized officers of the Sponsor, who perform functions similar to those the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Trust would perform if the Trust had officers, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Under the supervision and with the participation of such duly authorized officers of the Sponsor, the Sponsor conducted an evaluation of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), as of September 30, 2023. Based on this evaluation, the duly authorized officers of the Sponsor, who perform functions similar to those the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Trust would perform if the Trust had officers concluded that the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2023.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There was no change in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Trust’s most recently completed fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, these internal controls.

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION.

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

Not applicable.

 

16

Table of Contents

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

The operations of the Trust are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. As a result, the risks and uncertainties discussed in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in the 2022 Form 10-K should be carefully considered. There have been no material changes in the assessment of the Trust’s risk factors from those set forth in the 2022 Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

a) None.

b) Not applicable.

c) Although the Trust does not purchase shares directly from its shareholders, in connection with its redemption of Baskets, the Trust redeemed 197 Baskets (4,920,000 Shares) during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2023 as set forth in the table below:

 

Period

    Total
Number of
Shares
Redeemed		      Average Price Per
Share		  

7/1/23 to 7/31/23

      800,000      $ 19.29  

8/1/23 to 8/31/23

      3,340,000      $ 18.86  

9/1/23 to 9/30/23

      780,000      $ 18.99  
  

 

 

     

Total

      4,920,000     
  

 

 

     

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

Item 6. Exhibits.

See the Exhibit Index below, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

17

Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

   

Exhibit Description

  4.1    First Amended and Restated Depository Trust Agreement (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2020)
  4.2    Form of Authorized Participant Agreement (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to the Form S-1 filed on April 20, 2018)
  4.3    Form Amendment to the Form Authorized Participant Agreement (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to the Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2020)
  4.4    Form of Certificate of Shares of the Trust (included as Exhibit A to the First Amended and Restated Depository Trust Agreement)
 10.1    Allocated Gold Account Agreement (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2020)
 10.2    Unallocated Gold Account Agreement (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2020)
 31.1    Certifications of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
 31.2    Certifications of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 32.1    Certifications of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 32.2    Certifications of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS    Inline XBRL Instance Document—the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File included as Exhibit 101 (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

18

Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned in the capacities* indicated thereunto duly authorized.

GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.

Sponsor of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF

 

By:  

/s/ Michael Crinieri*

  Michael Crinieri
  Global Head of Exchange Traded Funds
  (Principal Executive Officer)

 

By:  

/s/ Joseph DiMaria*

  Joseph DiMaria
  Managing Director
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Date: November 8, 2023

* The Registrant is a trust and the persons are signing in their capacities as Managing Directors of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., the Sponsor of the Registrant.

 

19

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED

I, Michael Crinieri, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report of the Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (“Trust”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves persons who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 8, 2023

 

/s/ Michael Crinieri*

Michael Crinieri**
Global Head of Exchange Traded Funds
(Principal Executive Officer)

 

*

The originally executed copy of this Certification will be maintained at the Sponsor’s offices and will be made available for inspection upon request.

**

The Registrant is a trust and Michael Crinieri is signing in his capacity as Managing Director of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., the Sponsor of the Registrant.

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED

I, Joseph DiMaria, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report of the Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (“Trust”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves persons who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 8, 2023

 

/s/ Joseph DiMaria*

Joseph DiMaria**
Managing Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

*

The originally executed copy of this Certification will be maintained at the Sponsor’s offices and will be made available for inspection upon request.

**

The Registrant is a trust and Joseph DiMaria is signing in his capacity as Managing Director of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., the Sponsor of the Registrant.

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (the “Trust”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Michael Crinieri, in the capacity and on the date indicated below, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Trust.

 

/s/ Michael Crinieri*

Michael Crinieri**
Global Head of Exchange Traded Funds
(Principal Executive Officer)

Date: November 8, 2023

 

*

The originally executed copy of this Certification will be maintained at the Sponsor’s offices and will be made available for inspection upon request.

**

The Registrant is a trust and Michael Crinieri is signing in his capacity as Managing Director of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., the Sponsor of the Registrant.

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with this Quarterly Report of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (the “Trust”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Joseph DiMaria, in the capacity and on the date indicated below, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Trust.

 

/s/ Joseph DiMaria*

Joseph DiMaria**
Managing Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Date: November 8, 2023

 

*

The originally executed copy of this Certification will be maintained at the Sponsor’s offices and will be made available for inspection upon request.

**

The Registrant is a trust and Joseph DiMaria is signing in his capacity as Managing Director of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., the Sponsor of the Registrant.

v3.23.3
Cover Page - shares
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Nov. 01, 2023
Cover [Abstract]    
Document Type 10-Q  
Amendment Flag false  
Document Period End Date Sep. 30, 2023  
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2023  
Document Fiscal Period Focus Q3  
Document Quarterly Report true  
Document Transition Report false  
Entity Registrant Name GOLDMAN SACHS PHYSICAL GOLD ETF  
Entity Central Index Key 0001708646  
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31  
Entity File Number 001-38620  
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code NY  
Entity Tax Identification Number 61-1848163  
Entity Address, Address Line One 240 Greenwich Street  
Entity Address, Address Line Two 8th Floor  
Entity Address, City or Town New York  
Entity Address, State or Province NY  
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 10286  
City Area Code 212  
Local Phone Number 635-6314  
Title of 12(b) Security Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF  
Trading Symbol AAAU  
Security Exchange Name CboeBZX  
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes  
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes  
Entity Filer Category Non-accelerated Filer  
Entity Small Business true  
Entity Emerging Growth Company true  
Entity Ex Transition Period true  
Entity Shell Company false  
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   27,720,000
v3.23.3
Statements of Assets and Liabilities - USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2023
Dec. 31, 2022
Assets    
Investment in gold, at fair value (cost $539,505,371 and $449,702,252, respectively) $ 524,010,983 $ 437,004,008
Total assets 524,010,983 437,004,008
Liabilities    
Sponsor fee payable 81,210 65,729
Total liabilities 81,210 65,729
Net Assets $ 523,929,773 $ 436,938,279
Common stock, issued 28,270,000 24,300,000
Common stock, outstanding 28,270,000 24,300,000
Net asset value per share $ 18.53 $ 17.98
v3.23.3
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (Parentheticals) - USD ($)
 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Dec. 31, 2022
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]    
Investment in gold at cost $ 539,505,371 $ 449,702,252
Common stock, share authorized Unlimited Unlimited
Common stock, par value $ 0 $ 0
v3.23.3
Statements of Operations - USD ($)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Expenses        
Sponsor fee $ (268,238) $ (225,175) $ (773,294) $ (780,094)
Total expenses (268,238) (225,175) (773,294) (780,094)
Net investment loss (268,238) (225,175) (773,294) (780,094)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)        
Net realized gain (loss) on gold bullion distributed for redemptions 3,044,112 (4,334,332) 3,863,639 19,888,824
Net realized gain (loss) on gold sold to pay expenses (11,823) (29,400) (26,980) (64,667)
Net realized gain (loss) 3,032,289 (4,363,732) 3,836,659 19,824,157
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in gold (14,720,855) (36,979,756) (2,796,144) (62,688,082)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from operations (11,688,566) (41,343,488) 1,040,515 (42,863,925)
Net Income (Loss) $ (11,956,804) $ (41,568,663) $ 267,221 $ (43,644,019)
Net income (loss) per share $ (0.39) $ (1.44) $ 0.01 $ (1.37)
Average number of shares (in Shares) 30,940,543 28,829,457 29,963,700 31,767,070
v3.23.3
Statements of Changes in Net Assets - USD ($)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]        
Net Assets, beginning of year $ 629,127,574 $ 597,240,256 $ 436,938,279 $ 424,223,380
Creations 0 84,962,562 351,993,540 486,042,991
Redemptions (93,240,997) (240,399,335) (265,269,267) (466,387,532)
Net creations (redemptions) (93,240,997) (155,436,773) 86,724,273 19,655,459
Net investment loss (268,238) (225,175) (773,294) (780,094)
Net realized gain (loss) 3,032,289 (4,363,732) 3,836,659 19,824,157
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in gold (14,720,855) (36,979,756) (2,796,144) (62,688,082)
Net Assets, end of year $ 523,929,773 $ 400,234,820 $ 523,929,773 $ 400,234,820
v3.23.3
Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:        
Proceeds from gold bullion sold to pay expenses $ 283,646 $ 248,189 $ 757,813 $ 780,251
Expenses – Sponsor's fee paid (283,646) (248,189) (757,813) (780,251)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 0 0 0 0
Increase (decrease) in cash 0 0 0 0
Cash, beginning of period 0 0 0 0
Cash, end of period 0 0 0 0
Reconciliation of Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations to Net Cash provided by (Used in) Operating Activities:        
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations (11,956,804) (41,568,663) 267,221 (43,644,019)
Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:        
Proceeds from gold bullion sold to pay expenses 283,646 248,189 757,813 780,251
Net realized (gain) loss (3,032,289) 4,363,732 (3,836,659) (19,824,157)
Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investment in gold 14,720,855 36,979,756 2,796,144 62,688,082
Change in operating assets and liabilities:        
Sponsor's fee payable (15,408) (23,014) 15,481 (157)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 0 0 0 0
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information:        
Gold bullion contributed for Shares issued net of changes in gold receivable 0 84,962,562 351,993,540 486,042,991
Gold bullion contributed for Shares redeemed net of changes in gold payable $ (93,240,997) $ (240,399,335) $ (265,269,267) $ (466,387,532)
v3.23.3
Financial Highlights - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Per Share Performance (for a share outstanding throughout each period)        
Net asset value per share, beginning of period $ 18.96 $ 18.04 $ 17.98 $ 18.09
Net investment loss [1] (0.01) (0.01) (0.03) (0.02)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment in gold (0.42) (1.44) 0.58 (1.48)
Change in net assets from operations (0.43) (1.45) 0.55 (1.5)
Net asset value per share, end of period 18.53 16.59 18.53 16.59
Market value per share, beginning of period 19.04 17.94 18.09 18.18
Market value per share, end of period $ 18.31 $ 16.5 $ 18.31 $ 16.5
Total Return, at net asset value [2] (2.27%) (8.04%) 3.06% (8.29%)
Total Return, at market value [2] (3.81%) (8.05%) 1.22% (9.27%)
Net assets ($000's) $ 523,930 $ 400,235 $ 523,930 $ 400,235
Ratios to average net assets        
Net investment loss [3] (0.18%) (0.18%) (0.18%) (0.18%)
Total expenses [3] (0.18%) (0.18%) (0.18%) (0.18%)
[1] Calculated using average shares outstanding.
[2] Total Return, at net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the NAV at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of any dividends and distributions at NAV during the period, and redemption of Shares on the last day of the period. Total Return, at NAV includes adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP and as such, the NAV for financial reporting purposes and the returns based upon those NAVs may differ from the NAVs and returns for shareholder transactions. Total Return, at market value is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the market value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at market value during the period and redemption of Shares at the market value on the last day of the period. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
[3] Annualized.
v3.23.3
Schedules of Investments
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Schedule of Investments [Abstract]  
Schedules of Investments
September 30, 2023 (unaudited)
 
    
Ounces
     
Cost
     
Fair Value
    
% of Net Assets
  
Investment in gold, at fair value
      280,144.9      $ 539,505,371      $ 524,010,983       100.02 % 
     
 
 
     
 
 
    
 
 
  
Total Investments
       $ 539,505,371      $ 524,010,983       100.02 % 
Liabilities in excess of other assets
            (81,210 )      (0.02 )% 
        
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net Assets
          $ 523,929,773       100.00 % 
        
 
 
    
 
 
  
December 31, 2022
 
    
Ounces
     
Cost
     
Fair Value
    
% of Net Assets
  
Investment in gold, at fair value
      241,125.6      $ 449,702,252      $ 437,004,008       100.02 % 
     
 
 
     
 
 
    
 
 
  
Total Investments
       $ 449,702,252      $ 437,004,008       100.02 % 
Liabilities in excess of other assets
            (65,729 )      (0.02 )% 
        
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net Assets
          $ 436,938,279       100.00 % 
        
 
 
    
 
 
  
v3.23.3
Organization
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
ORGANIZATION
1. ORGANIZATION
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (the “Trust”) is organized as a New York trust. The Trust is governed by the provisions of the First Amended and Restated Depositary Trust Agreement (as amended from time to time, the “Trust Agreement”) executed after the close of business on December 11, 2020 by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (the “Sponsor”) and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Trustee”). The Trust issues Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF Shares (the “Shares”), which represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in the Trust. The Trust commenced operations on July 26, 2018.
The Sponsor of the Trust is Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (“GS Group Inc.”) and an affiliate of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.
The Trustee is generally responsible for the
day-to-day
administration of the Trust, including keeping the Trust’s operational records. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., London branch (the “Custodian”) serves as the Custodian for the Trust’s gold bullion. The Custodian is responsible for holding the Trust’s gold, as well as receiving and converting allocated and unallocated gold on behalf of the Trust.
Physical gold that the Trust holds consists of gold bullion that meets the specifications for “good delivery” gold bars (“London Good Delivery Standards”), including the specifications for weight, dimension, fineness (or purity), identifying marks and appearance of gold bars, set forth in the good delivery rules promulgated by the London Bullion Market Association (“LBMA”). The Trust issues Shares in blocks of at least 25,000 shares called “Baskets” in exchange for gold from certain registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants (the “Authorized Participants”), which is then allocated as physical gold and stored by the Custodian. The Trust issues and redeems Baskets on an ongoing basis at net asset value (“NAV” or “Net Asset Value”) to and from Authorized Participants who have entered into a contract with the Sponsor and the Trustee. As of September 30, 2023, each of Virtu Americas LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC has signed an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Sponsor and the Trustee, and may create and redeem Baskets.
The Trust’s investment objective is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold less the expenses of the Trust’s operations. The Trust is not actively-managed. The Shares trade on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (“Cboe BZX Exchange”) under the symbol “AAAU.” Effective February 3, 2022, the listing of the Trust was transferred from NYSE Arca to Cboe BZX Exchange.
The Trust’s fiscal
year-end
is December 31.
v3.23.3
Significant Accounting Policies
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), management of the Sponsor makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amount of revenue and expenses reported during the period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Trust.
2.1. Basis of Presentation
The Sponsor has determined that the Trust falls within the scope of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946, Financial Services-Investment Companies, and has concluded that solely for reporting purposes (and not for any other purpose), the Trust is classified as an Investment Company (as defined in ASC 946). The Trust is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and is not required to register under such act.
2.2. Valuation of Gold
The Trust follows the provisions of ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 provides guidance for determining fair value and requires increased disclosure regarding the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
On each business day that the Cboe BZX Exchange is open for regular trading, as promptly as practicable after 4:00 p.m. New York City time, the Trustee will value the gold held by the Trust and will determine the Net Asset Value of the Trust. The Net Asset Value 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 reserve account, if any) including cash, if any, less liabilities of the Trust, which include estimated accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and other liabilities. The reserve account, if established, will be a
 
separate
non-interest
bearing account with the Trustee or such other banking institution specified by the Sponsor, or if the Sponsor fails so to specify, as selected by the Trustee, in the name, and for the benefit, of the Trust, subject only to draft or order by the Trustee acting pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement. All gold is valued based on its fine troy ounce (“Fine Ounce”) content, calculated by multiplying the weight of gold by its purity. The same methodology is applied independent of the type of gold held by the Trust; similarly, the value of up to 430 Fine Ounce of unallocated gold the Trust may hold is calculated by multiplying the number of Fine Ounce with the price of gold determined by the Trustee. The Trustee values the gold held by the Trust based on the LBMA Gold Price PM. The LBMA Gold Price PM is set at 3:00 p.m. London time via an auction independently operated and administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”). The price is set in U.S. dollars per Fine Ounce. If no LBMA Gold Price PM is available for the required day, the Trustee uses the LBMA Gold Price AM. If no LBMA Gold Price PM or LBMA Gold Price AM is available for the day, the Trustee values the Trust’s gold based on the most recently announced LBMA Gold Price PM or LBMA Gold Price AM. If the Sponsor determines that such price is inappropriate to use, it must identify an alternate basis for evaluation to be employed by the Trustee. The Sponsor may instruct the Trustee to use a different price which is reasonably available to the Trustee at no cost to the Trustee that the Sponsor determines to represent fairly the commercial value of the Trust’s gold.
U.S. GAAP defines the fair value of a financial instrument as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., the exit price); the Trust’s policy is to use the market approach. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls shall be determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The levels used for classifying investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in these investments. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which significant inputs are observable (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, volatility and credit spreads), either directly or indirectly;
Level 3: Prices or valuations that require significant unobservable inputs (including Sponsor’s assumptions in determining fair value measurement).
The Trustee categorizes the Trust’s investment in gold as a Level 1 asset within the ASC 820 hierarchy.
2.3. Expenses, Realized Gains and Losses
The Trust’s only ordinary recurring fee is expected to be the fee paid to the Sponsor, which will accrue daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.18% of the daily Net Asset Value of the Trust, paid monthly in arrears (the “Sponsor Fee”). The Sponsor Fee accrues daily based on the prior business day’s Net Asset Value and is payable in cash from the Trust property or the sale of gold in accordance with the Trust Agreement. Realized gains and losses result from the transfer of gold for share redemptions and the sale of gold for the payment of Trust expenses and are recognized on a trade date basis as the difference between the fair value and cost of gold transferred or between the sale price and cost of gold sold. The cost of gold is determined using the specific identification method.
2.4. Gold Receivable and Payable
Gold receivable or payable represents the quantity of gold covered by contractually binding orders for the creation or redemption of shares respectively, where the gold has not yet been transferred to or from the Trust’s account. Generally, ownership of the gold is transferred within two business days of the trade date.
2.5. Creations and Redemptions of Shares
The Trust issues and redeems Shares in one or more blocks of at least 25,000 shares (a block of 25,000 shares is called a “Basket”) only to Authorized Participants. The creation and redemption of Baskets will only be made in exchange for the delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of gold represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which will be based on the combined fine ounces represented by the number of shares included in the Baskets being created or redeemed determined on the day the order to create or redeem Baskets is properly received.
 
Orders to create or redeem Baskets may be placed only by Authorized Participants. To become an Authorized Participant, a person must enter into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Sponsor and the Trustee. The Authorized Participant Agreement provides the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets and for the delivery of the gold required for such creations and redemptions. The Authorized Participant Agreement and the related procedures attached thereto may be amended by the Trustee and the Sponsor, without the consent of any investor or Authorized Participant. A transaction fee of $500 will be assessed on all creation and redemption transactions and paid to the Trustee.
Authorized Participants who make deposits with the Trust in exchange for Baskets will receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either a Sponsor or the Trust, and no such person has any obligation or responsibility to a Sponsor or the Trust to affect any sale or resale of shares.
Changes in the shares during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are:
 
 
  
Three Months Ended
 
 
  
September 30,
2023
 
  
September 30,
2022
 
Beginning Share Balance
      33,190,000        33,100,000  
Creations (representing – and 196 baskets, respectively)
      —         4,900,000  
Redemptions (representing 197 and 555 baskets, respectively)
      (4,920,000 )       (13,880,000 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Ending Share Balance
      28,270,000        24,120,000  
Changes in the shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are:
 
 
  
Nine Months Ended
 
 
  
September 30,
2023
 
  
September 30,
2022
 
Beginning Share Balance
      24,300,000        23,450,000  
Creations (representing 732 and 1,066 baskets, respectively)
      18,290,000        26,650,000  
Redemptions (representing 573 and 1,039 baskets, respectively)
      (14,320,000 )       (25,980,000 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Ending Share Balance
      28,270,000        24,120,000  
2.6. Income Taxes
The Trust is classified as a “grantor trust” for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Trust itself is not subject to United States federal income tax. Instead, the Trust’s income, gain, losses, and expenses will “flow through” to the shareholders, and the Trustee reports these to the Internal Revenue Service on that basis.
The Sponsor has analyzed applicable tax laws and regulations and their application to the Trust as of September 30, 2023 and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.
v3.23.3
Investment in Gold
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Investment Holdings [Abstract]  
INVESTMENT IN GOLD
3. INVESTMENT IN GOLD
The following represents the changes in ounces of gold and the respective fair value during the three months ended September 30, 2023:
 
    
Amount in
ounces
     
Amount in
US$
  
Balance at June 30, 2023
      329,049.1      $ 629,224,192  
Creations
      —         —   
Redemptions
      (48,758.0 )       (93,240,997 ) 
Net realized gain (loss) from gold bullion distributed for redemptions
      —         3,044,112  
Sale of gold to pay expenses
      (146.2 )       (283,646 ) 
Net realized gain (loss) from gold sold to pay expenses
      —         (11,823 ) 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in gold
      —         (14,720,855 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Balance at September 30, 2023
      280,144.9      $ 524,010,983  
 
The following represents the changes in ounces of gold and the respective fair value during the nine months ended September 30, 2023:
 
    
Amount in
ounces
     
Amount in
US$
  
Balance at December 31, 2022
      241,125.6      $ 437,004,008  
Creations
      181,396.6        351,993,540  
Redemptions
      (141,985.5 )       (265,269,267 ) 
Net realized gain (loss) from gold bullion distributed for redemptions
      —         3,863,639  
Sale of gold to pay expenses
      (391.8 )       (757,813 ) 
Net realized gain (loss) from gold sold to pay expenses
      —         (26,980 ) 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in gold
      —         (2,796,144 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Balance at September 30, 2023
      280,144.9      $ 524,010,983  
v3.23.3
Related Parties - Sponsor, Trustee, Custodian and Marketing Fees
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
RELATED PARTIES –SPONSOR, TRUSTEE, CUSTODIAN AND MARKETING FEES
4. RELATED PARTIES – SPONSOR, TRUSTEE, CUSTODIAN AND
MARKETING
FEES

A fee is paid to the Sponsor as compensation for services performed under the Trust Agreement. The Sponsor’s Fee is payable at an annualized rate of
0.18
% of the Trust’s Net Asset Value, accrued on a daily basis computed on the prior business day’s Net Asset Value and paid in cash monthly in arrears. In exchange for the Sponsor Fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume and be responsible for the payment of the following expenses, up to the Fee Cap (as defined below): fees for the Trustee’s ordinary services and reimbursement of its ordinary
out-of-pocket
expenses; the Custodian’s fees and expenses reimbursable to the Custodian pursuant to the Custody Agreement; the marketing expenses of the Trust; the listing fees of the Trust on the Cboe BZX Exchange; registration fees associated with the Trust charged by the SEC; printing and mailing costs; expenses for the maintenance of any website of the Trust; audit fees and expenses; routine legal fees and expenses associated with the ordinary course of the Trust’s operations; and the expense of the first two examinations of the Custodian’s records relating to the unallocated account and the first two audits of the Physical Gold held in the allocated account during any fiscal year (with the expense of any further examination or audits during such fiscal year to be an expense of the Trust). The Sponsor shall not be responsible for any other expenses, including litigation expenses associated with the Trust, taxes and other governmental charges (except and solely to the extent as may otherwise be agreed to in writing between the Sponsor and the Custodian), the Trustee’s expenses not reimbursed by the Sponsor pursuant to the Trust Agreement, indemnification of the Trustee or the Sponsor pursuant to the Trust Agreement, any expenses that are in excess of the Fee Cap, extraordinary expenses incurred on behalf of the Trust, and otherwise as set forth in the Trust Agreement. Extraordinary expenses shall include any fixing fees charged in connection with sales of gold required by applicable law or regulation or required upon termination of the Trust. The Fee Cap is a maximum amount equal to the greater of $
500,000
per annum and the amount that is equal to
0.15
% of the average total value of the gold held by the Trust, as determined by the Trustee on each business day, plus the value of all other assets of the Trust (other than any amount credited to the Trust’s reserve account), including cash, if any.
From time to time, the Sponsor may waive all or a portion of the Sponsor Fee at its discretion. The Sponsor is under no obligation to continue a waiver after the end of a stated period, and, if such waiver is not continued, the Sponsor Fee will thereafter be paid in full. Presently, the Sponsor does not intend to waive any of its fees.
Affiliates of the Trustee may from time to time act as Authorized Participants or purchase or sell gold or Trust shares for their own account, as agent for their customers and for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.
v3.23.3
Concentration of Risk
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]  
CONCENTRATION OF RISK
5. CONCENTRATION OF RISK
The Trust’s sole business activity is the investment in gold bullion. Several factors could affect the price of gold: (i) global gold supply and demand, which is influenced by such factors as forward selling by gold producers, purchases made by gold producers to unwind gold hedge positions, central bank purchases and sales, and production and cost levels in major gold-producing countries, and new production projects; (ii) investors’ expectations regarding future inflation rates; (iii) currency exchange rate volatility; (iv) interest rate volatility; and (v) political, economic, global or regional incidents. In addition, there is no assurance that gold will maintain its long-term value in terms of purchasing power in the future. In the event that the price of gold declines, the Sponsor expects the value of an investment in the shares to decline proportionately. Each of these events could have a material effect on the Trust’s financial position and results of operations.
v3.23.3
Indemnification
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
INDEMNIFICATION
6. INDEMNIFICATION
The Trust Agreement provides that the Trustee, its directors, officers, employees, shareholders, agents and affiliates (as defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) arising out of or in connection with the performance of its obligations under the Trust Agreement and under each other agreement entered into by the Trustee in furtherance of the administration of the Trust (including the Custody Agreement and any Authorized Participant Agreement, including the Trustee’s indemnification obligations under these agreements), or otherwise by reason of the Trustee’s acceptance or administration of the Trust to the extent such loss, liability or expense was incurred without (i) gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or willful malfeasance on the part of such indemnified party in connection with the performance of its obligations under the Trust Agreement or any such other agreement, or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or any such other agreement, or (ii) reckless disregard on the part of such indemnified party of its obligations and duties under the Trust Agreement or any such other agreement. Each indemnified party shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) arising out of or in connection with any services the Custodian may, directly or indirectly, separately offer or provide to any
 
beneficial owner. Such indemnities shall include payment from the Trust of the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by such indemnified party in investigating or defending itself against any such loss, liability or expense or any claim therefor, provided that such indemnified party shall repay to the Trust the amount of any such reasonable costs and expenses paid by the Trust to the extent it may be ultimately determined that such indemnified party was not entitled to be indemnified under the Trust Agreement because clause (i) or clause (ii) of the sentence preceding the prior sentence applied. Any amounts payable to an indemnified party may be payable in advance or shall be secured by a lien on the Trust.
The Sponsor and its members, managers, directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) arising out of or in connection with the performance of its obligations under the Trust Agreement and under each other agreement entered into by the Sponsor in furtherance of the administration of the Trust (including Authorized Participant Agreements to which the Sponsor is a party, including the Sponsor’s indemnification obligations thereunder) or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement, to the extent such loss, liability or expense was incurred without (i) gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or willful malfeasance on the part of such indemnified party in connection with the performance of its obligations under the Trust Agreement or any such other agreement or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement, or any such other agreement or (ii) reckless disregard on the part of such indemnified party of its obligations and duties under the Trust Agreement, or any such other agreement. The Sponsor and its members, managers, directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) arising out of or in connection with any services the Custodian may, directly or indirectly, separately offer or provide to any beneficial owner. Such indemnities shall include payment from the Trust of the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by such indemnified party in investigating or defending itself against any such loss, liability or expense or any claim therefor, provided that such indemnified party shall repay to the Trust the amount of any such reasonable costs and expenses paid by the Trust to the extent it may be ultimately determined that such indemnified party was not entitled to be indemnified under the Trust Agreement because clause (i) or clause (ii) of this paragraph applied.
In addition, the Trustee or the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, undertake any action that it may deem necessary or desirable in respect of the Trust Agreement and in such event, the reasonable legal expenses and costs and other disbursements of any such actions shall be expenses and costs of the Trust and the Trustee or the Sponsor, as the case may be, shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Trust. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.
v3.23.3
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
2.1. Basis of Presentation
The Sponsor has determined that the Trust falls within the scope of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946, Financial Services-Investment Companies, and has concluded that solely for reporting purposes (and not for any other purpose), the Trust is classified as an Investment Company (as defined in ASC 946). The Trust is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and is not required to register under such act.
Valuation of Gold
2.2. Valuation of Gold
The Trust follows the provisions of ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 provides guidance for determining fair value and requires increased disclosure regarding the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
On each business day that the Cboe BZX Exchange is open for regular trading, as promptly as practicable after 4:00 p.m. New York City time, the Trustee will value the gold held by the Trust and will determine the Net Asset Value of the Trust. The Net Asset Value 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 reserve account, if any) including cash, if any, less liabilities of the Trust, which include estimated accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and other liabilities. The reserve account, if established, will be a
 
separate
non-interest
bearing account with the Trustee or such other banking institution specified by the Sponsor, or if the Sponsor fails so to specify, as selected by the Trustee, in the name, and for the benefit, of the Trust, subject only to draft or order by the Trustee acting pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement. All gold is valued based on its fine troy ounce (“Fine Ounce”) content, calculated by multiplying the weight of gold by its purity. The same methodology is applied independent of the type of gold held by the Trust; similarly, the value of up to 430 Fine Ounce of unallocated gold the Trust may hold is calculated by multiplying the number of Fine Ounce with the price of gold determined by the Trustee. The Trustee values the gold held by the Trust based on the LBMA Gold Price PM. The LBMA Gold Price PM is set at 3:00 p.m. London time via an auction independently operated and administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”). The price is set in U.S. dollars per Fine Ounce. If no LBMA Gold Price PM is available for the required day, the Trustee uses the LBMA Gold Price AM. If no LBMA Gold Price PM or LBMA Gold Price AM is available for the day, the Trustee values the Trust’s gold based on the most recently announced LBMA Gold Price PM or LBMA Gold Price AM. If the Sponsor determines that such price is inappropriate to use, it must identify an alternate basis for evaluation to be employed by the Trustee. The Sponsor may instruct the Trustee to use a different price which is reasonably available to the Trustee at no cost to the Trustee that the Sponsor determines to represent fairly the commercial value of the Trust’s gold.
U.S. GAAP defines the fair value of a financial instrument as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., the exit price); the Trust’s policy is to use the market approach. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls shall be determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The levels used for classifying investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in these investments. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which significant inputs are observable (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, volatility and credit spreads), either directly or indirectly;
Level 3: Prices or valuations that require significant unobservable inputs (including Sponsor’s assumptions in determining fair value measurement).
The Trustee categorizes the Trust’s investment in gold as a Level 1 asset within the ASC 820 hierarchy.
Expenses, Realized Gains and Losses
2.3. Expenses, Realized Gains and Losses
The Trust’s only ordinary recurring fee is expected to be the fee paid to the Sponsor, which will accrue daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.18% of the daily Net Asset Value of the Trust, paid monthly in arrears (the “Sponsor Fee”). The Sponsor Fee accrues daily based on the prior business day’s Net Asset Value and is payable in cash from the Trust property or the sale of gold in accordance with the Trust Agreement. Realized gains and losses result from the transfer of gold for share redemptions and the sale of gold for the payment of Trust expenses and are recognized on a trade date basis as the difference between the fair value and cost of gold transferred or between the sale price and cost of gold sold. The cost of gold is determined using the specific identification method.
Gold Receivable and Payable
2.4. Gold Receivable and Payable
Gold receivable or payable represents the quantity of gold covered by contractually binding orders for the creation or redemption of shares respectively, where the gold has not yet been transferred to or from the Trust’s account. Generally, ownership of the gold is transferred within two business days of the trade date.
Creations and Redemptions of Shares
2.5. Creations and Redemptions of Shares
The Trust issues and redeems Shares in one or more blocks of at least 25,000 shares (a block of 25,000 shares is called a “Basket”) only to Authorized Participants. The creation and redemption of Baskets will only be made in exchange for the delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of gold represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which will be based on the combined fine ounces represented by the number of shares included in the Baskets being created or redeemed determined on the day the order to create or redeem Baskets is properly received.
 
Orders to create or redeem Baskets may be placed only by Authorized Participants. To become an Authorized Participant, a person must enter into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Sponsor and the Trustee. The Authorized Participant Agreement provides the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets and for the delivery of the gold required for such creations and redemptions. The Authorized Participant Agreement and the related procedures attached thereto may be amended by the Trustee and the Sponsor, without the consent of any investor or Authorized Participant. A transaction fee of $500 will be assessed on all creation and redemption transactions and paid to the Trustee.
Authorized Participants who make deposits with the Trust in exchange for Baskets will receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either a Sponsor or the Trust, and no such person has any obligation or responsibility to a Sponsor or the Trust to affect any sale or resale of shares.
Changes in the shares during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are:
 
 
  
Three Months Ended
 
 
  
September 30,
2023
 
  
September 30,
2022
 
Beginning Share Balance
      33,190,000        33,100,000  
Creations (representing – and 196 baskets, respectively)
      —         4,900,000  
Redemptions (representing 197 and 555 baskets, respectively)
      (4,920,000 )       (13,880,000 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Ending Share Balance
      28,270,000        24,120,000  
Changes in the shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are:
 
 
  
Nine Months Ended
 
 
  
September 30,
2023
 
  
September 30,
2022
 
Beginning Share Balance
      24,300,000        23,450,000  
Creations (representing 732 and 1,066 baskets, respectively)
      18,290,000        26,650,000  
Redemptions (representing 573 and 1,039 baskets, respectively)
      (14,320,000 )       (25,980,000 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Ending Share Balance
      28,270,000        24,120,000  
Income Taxes
2.6. Income Taxes
The Trust is classified as a “grantor trust” for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Trust itself is not subject to United States federal income tax. Instead, the Trust’s income, gain, losses, and expenses will “flow through” to the shareholders, and the Trustee reports these to the Internal Revenue Service on that basis.
The Sponsor has analyzed applicable tax laws and regulations and their application to the Trust as of September 30, 2023 and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.
v3.23.3
Schedules of Investments (Tables)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Schedule of Investments [Abstract]  
Schedules of Investments
September 30, 2023 (unaudited)
 
    
Ounces
     
Cost
     
Fair Value
    
% of Net Assets
  
Investment in gold, at fair value
      280,144.9      $ 539,505,371      $ 524,010,983       100.02 % 
     
 
 
     
 
 
    
 
 
  
Total Investments
       $ 539,505,371      $ 524,010,983       100.02 % 
Liabilities in excess of other assets
            (81,210 )      (0.02 )% 
        
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net Assets
          $ 523,929,773       100.00 % 
        
 
 
    
 
 
  
December 31, 2022
 
    
Ounces
     
Cost
     
Fair Value
    
% of Net Assets
  
Investment in gold, at fair value
      241,125.6      $ 449,702,252      $ 437,004,008       100.02 % 
     
 
 
     
 
 
    
 
 
  
Total Investments
       $ 449,702,252      $ 437,004,008       100.02 % 
Liabilities in excess of other assets
            (65,729 )      (0.02 )% 
        
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net Assets
          $ 436,938,279       100.00 % 
        
 
 
    
 
 
  
v3.23.3
Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Schedule of changes in shares
Changes in the shares during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are:
 
 
  
Three Months Ended
 
 
  
September 30,
2023
 
  
September 30,
2022
 
Beginning Share Balance
      33,190,000        33,100,000  
Creations (representing – and 196 baskets, respectively)
      —         4,900,000  
Redemptions (representing 197 and 555 baskets, respectively)
      (4,920,000 )       (13,880,000 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Ending Share Balance
      28,270,000        24,120,000  
Changes in the shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are:
 
 
  
Nine Months Ended
 
 
  
September 30,
2023
 
  
September 30,
2022
 
Beginning Share Balance
      24,300,000        23,450,000  
Creations (representing 732 and 1,066 baskets, respectively)
      18,290,000        26,650,000  
Redemptions (representing 573 and 1,039 baskets, respectively)
      (14,320,000 )       (25,980,000 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Ending Share Balance
      28,270,000        24,120,000  
v3.23.3
Investment in Gold (Tables)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Investment Holdings [Abstract]  
Schedule of changes in ounces of gold and respective fair value
The following represents the changes in ounces of gold and the respective fair value during the three months ended September 30, 2023:
 
    
Amount in
ounces
     
Amount in
US$
  
Balance at June 30, 2023
      329,049.1      $ 629,224,192  
Creations
      —         —   
Redemptions
      (48,758.0 )       (93,240,997 ) 
Net realized gain (loss) from gold bullion distributed for redemptions
      —         3,044,112  
Sale of gold to pay expenses
      (146.2 )       (283,646 ) 
Net realized gain (loss) from gold sold to pay expenses
      —         (11,823 ) 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in gold
      —         (14,720,855 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Balance at September 30, 2023
      280,144.9      $ 524,010,983  
 
The following represents the changes in ounces of gold and the respective fair value during the nine months ended September 30, 2023:
 
    
Amount in
ounces
     
Amount in
US$
  
Balance at December 31, 2022
      241,125.6      $ 437,004,008  
Creations
      181,396.6        351,993,540  
Redemptions
      (141,985.5 )       (265,269,267 ) 
Net realized gain (loss) from gold bullion distributed for redemptions
      —         3,863,639  
Sale of gold to pay expenses
      (391.8 )       (757,813 ) 
Net realized gain (loss) from gold sold to pay expenses
      —         (26,980 ) 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in gold
      —         (2,796,144 ) 
    
 
 
     
 
 
  
Balance at September 30, 2023
      280,144.9      $ 524,010,983  
v3.23.3
Schedules of Investments - Schedules of Investments (Details)
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
oz
Jun. 30, 2023
oz
Dec. 31, 2022
USD ($)
oz
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items]      
Ounces (in Grams) | oz 280,144.9 329,049.1 241,125.6
Cost $ 539,505,371   $ 449,702,252
Investment in gold, at fair value [Member]      
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items]      
Ounces (in Grams) | oz 280,144.9   241,125.6
Cost $ 539,505,371   $ 449,702,252
Fair Value $ 524,010,983   $ 437,004,008
% of Net Assets 100.02%   100.02%
Total Investments [Member]      
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items]      
Cost $ 539,505,371   $ 449,702,252
Fair Value $ 524,010,983   $ 437,004,008
% of Net Assets 100.02%   100.02%
Liabilities in excess of other assets [Member]      
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items]      
Fair Value $ (81,210)   $ (65,729)
% of Net Assets (0.02%)   (0.02%)
Net Assets [Member]      
Summary of Investment Holdings [Line Items]      
Fair Value $ 523,929,773   $ 436,938,279
% of Net Assets 100.00%   100.00%
v3.23.3
Organization (Details)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
shares
Organization (Details) [Line Items]  
Operations commenced date Jul. 26, 2018
Minimum [Member]  
Organization (Details) [Line Items]  
Shares issued in basket in exchange for gold 25,000
v3.23.3
Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of changes in shares (Details) - shares
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Schedule Of Changes In Shares [Abstract]        
Beginning Share Balance 33,190,000 33,100,000 24,300,000 23,450,000
Creations 0 4,900,000 18,290,000 26,650,000
Redemptions (4,920,000) (13,880,000) (14,320,000) (25,980,000)
Ending Share Balance 28,270,000 24,120,000 28,270,000 24,120,000
v3.23.3
Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of changes in ounces of gold and respective fair value (Parentheticals) (Details) - Baskets
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Schedule Of Changes In Ounces Of Gold And Respective Fair Value [Abstract]        
Number of baskets issued 0 196 732 1,066
Number of baskets redeemed 197 555 573 1,039
v3.23.3
Significant Accounting Policies (Details)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
shares
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Annualized rate of sponsors fee 0.18%
Basket of shares | shares 25,000
Transaction fee (in Dollars) | $ $ 500
v3.23.3
Investment in Gold - Schedule of changes in ounces of gold and respective fair value (Details)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
oz
Sep. 30, 2022
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
oz
Sep. 30, 2022
USD ($)
Schedule Of Changes In Ounces Of Gold And Respective Fair Value [Abstract]        
Balance at beginning (in Ounces) | oz 329,049.1   241,125.6  
Creations (in Ounces) | oz 0   181,396.6  
Redemptions (in Ounces) | oz (48,758)   (141,985.5)  
Net realized gain (loss) from gold bullion distributed for redemptions | oz    
Sale of gold to pay expenses | oz (146.2)   (391.8)  
Net realized gain (loss) from gold sold to pay expenses | oz    
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in gold (in Ounces) | oz    
Balance at ending (in Ounces) | oz 280,144.9   280,144.9  
Investment in gold, fair value, beginning balance | $ $ 629,224,192   $ 437,004,008  
Creations | $ 0   351,993,540  
Redemptions | $ (93,240,997)   (265,269,267)  
Net realized gain (loss) from gold bullion distributed for redemptions | $ 3,044,112   3,863,639  
Sale of gold to pay expenses | $ (283,646)   (757,813)  
Net realized gain (loss) from gold sold to pay expenses | $ (11,823) $ (29,400) (26,980) $ (64,667)
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in gold | $ (14,720,855) $ (36,979,756) (2,796,144) $ (62,688,082)
Investment in gold, fair value, ending balance | $ $ 524,010,983   $ 524,010,983  
v3.23.3
Related Parties - Sponsor, Trustee, Custodian and Marketing Fees (Details)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Payment of maximum amount of expenses $ 500,000
Percentage of funds asset 0.15%
Annualized rate of sponsors fee 0.18%
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