10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017

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 001-32907

 

 

CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust

Sponsored by Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC,

d/b/a Guggenheim Investments

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New York   20-4686336

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200

Rockville, Maryland

  20850
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(301) 296-5100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Swiss Franc Shares   NYSE Arca
(Title of class)   (Name of exchange on which registered)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

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 and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “non-accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    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  ☒

Aggregate market value of 1,550,000 shares of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing price of a share of the registrant’s common stock on April 30, 2017 as reported by NYSE Arca on that date: $148,133,500.

Number of Common Units of Beneficial Interest outstanding as of December 31, 2017: 1,550,000.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

CURRENCYSHARES® SWISS FRANC TRUST

INDEX

 

Caption

       Page  

PART I

  

Item 1.

 

Business

     1  

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

     4  

Item 1B.

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

     8  

Item 2.

 

Properties

     8  

Item 3.

 

Legal Proceedings

     8  

Item 4.

 

Mine Safety Disclosures

     8  

Part II 

  

Item 5.

 

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

     9  

Item 6.

 

Selected Financial Data

     10  

Item 7.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     10  

Item 7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     14  

Item 8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

     14  

Item 9.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures

     15  

Item 9A.

 

Controls and Procedures

     15  

Item 9B.

 

Other Information

     15  

PART III 

  

Item 10.

 

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

     16  

Item 11.

 

Executive Compensation

     16  

Item 12.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

     16  

Item 13.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

     16  

Item 14.

 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

     16  

PART IV 

  

Item 15.

 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

     17  

SIGNATURES

      

 

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PART I

 

Item 1. Business

Overview

The CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust (the “Trust”) is a grantor trust that was formed on June 8, 2006. The Shares commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “FXF” on June 26, 2006. The primary listing of the Shares was transferred to NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”) on October 30, 2007. The Trust issues shares (the “Shares”) in blocks of 50,000 (a “Basket”) in exchange for deposits of Swiss Francs and distributes Swiss Francs in connection with the redemption of Baskets.

The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the price in USD of Swiss Franc plus accrued interest, if any, less the expenses of the Trust’s operations. The Shares are intended to offer investors an opportunity to participate in the market for the Swiss Franc through an investment in securities. The Shares are intended to provide institutional and retail investors with a simple, cost-effective means of gaining investment benefits similar to those of holding the Swiss Franc. The Shares are bought and sold on NYSE Arca like any other exchange-listed security. The Shares are backed by the assets of the Trust, which does not hold or use derivative products. The Trust is a passive investment vehicle and does not have any officers, directors or employees. The Trust does not engage in any activities designed to obtain profit from, or ameliorate losses caused by, changes in the price of the Swiss Franc. Investing in the Shares does not insulate the investor from certain risks, including price volatility. The value of the holdings of the Trust is reported on the Trust’s website, www.currencyshares.com, each business day.

The Trust

General

The Trust holds Swiss Francs and, from time to time, issues Baskets in exchange for deposits of Swiss Francs and distributes Swiss Francs in connection with redemptions of Baskets. The Swiss Francs held by the Trust will be sold only (1) if needed to pay Trust expenses, (2) in the event the Trust terminates and liquidates its assets or (3) as otherwise required by law or regulation.

The Sponsor

The Sponsor of the Trust generally oversees the performance of the Trustee and the Trust’s principal service providers, but does not exercise day-to-day oversight over the Trustee or the Trust’s service providers. The Sponsor is Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The Sponsor changed its name from Rydex Specialized Products LLC as of March 30, 2012.

The Trust’s only ordinary recurring expense is the Sponsor’s fee. The Sponsor is responsible for payment of the following administrative and marketing expenses of the Trust: the Trustee’s monthly fee, typical maintenance and transaction fees of the Depository, NYSE Arca listing fees, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and expenses, up to $100,000 per year in legal fees and expenses, and applicable license fees. The Sponsor also paid the costs of the Trust’s organization, including the applicable SEC registration fees. The Sponsor’s fee accrues daily at an annual nominal rate of 0.40% of the Swiss Francs in the Trust (including all unpaid interest but excluding unpaid fees, each as accrued through the immediately preceding day). The Sponsor was paid $608,541 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

The Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon, a banking corporation with trust powers organized under the laws of the State of New York, serves as the Trustee. The Trustee is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Trust, including keeping the Trust’s operational records.

 

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Net Asset Value

The Trustee calculates, and the Sponsor publishes, the Trust’s Net Asset Value (“NAV”) each business day. To calculate the NAV, the Trustee adds to the amount of Swiss Francs in the Trust at the end of the preceding day accrued but unpaid interest, if any, Swiss Francs receivable under pending purchase orders and the value of other Trust assets, and subtracts the accrued but unpaid Sponsor’s fee, Swiss Francs payable under pending redemption orders and other Trust expenses and liabilities, if any. The NAV is expressed in U.S. Dollars (“USD”) based on the Swiss Francs/USD exchange rate as determined by The WM Company at 4:00 PM (London time / London fixing) (the “Closing Spot Rate”) on each day that NYSE Arca is open for regular trading. If, on a particular evaluation day, the Closing Spot Rate has not been determined and announced by 6:00 PM (London time), then the most recent Closing Spot Rate is used to determine the NAV of the Trust unless the Trustee, in consultation with the Sponsor, determines that such price is inappropriate to use as the basis for the valuation.

The Trustee also determines the NAV per Share, which equals the NAV of the Trust, divided by the number of outstanding Shares. The NAV of the Trust and the NAV per Share are published by the Sponsor on each day that NYSE Arca is open for regular trading and are posted on the Trust’s website, www.currencyshares.com.

Depository and Deposit Accounts

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch, is the Depository. The Depository maintains two deposit accounts for the Trust, a primary deposit account that may earn interest and a secondary deposit account that does not earn interest (collectively, the “Deposit Accounts”). Interest on the primary deposit account, if any, accrues daily and is paid monthly. If the Sponsor believes that the interest rate paid by the Depository is not competitive, the Sponsor’s recourse is to remove the Depository by terminating the Deposit Account Agreement and closing the Deposit Accounts. The Depository is not paid a fee for its services to the Trust. The Depository may earn a “spread” or “margin” over the rate of interest it pays to the Trust on the Swiss Franc deposit balances.

The secondary deposit account is used to account for any interest that may be received and paid out on creations and redemptions of Baskets. The secondary deposit account is also used to account for interest, earned on the primary deposit account, if any, pay Trust expenses and distribute any excess interest to Shareholders on a monthly basis. In the event that the interest deposited exceeds the sum of the Sponsor’s fee for the prior month plus other Trust expenses, if any, then the Trustee will direct that the excess be converted into USD at the prevailing market rate and the Trustee will distribute the USD as promptly as practicable to Shareholders on a pro-rata basis (in accordance with the number of Shares that they own).

Trust Expenses

In certain exceptional cases the Trust may pay expenses in addition to the Sponsor’s fee. These exceptions include expenses not assumed by the Sponsor, expenses resulting from a negative interest rate, taxes and governmental charges, expenses and costs of any extraordinary services performed by the Trustee or the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust or action taken by the Trustee or the Sponsor to protect the Trust or the interests of Shareholders, indemnification of the Sponsor under the Depositary Trust Agreement, and legal expenses in excess of $100,000 per year.

Termination

The Trust will terminate upon the occurrence of any of the termination events listed in the Depositary Trust Agreement and will otherwise terminate on June 8, 2046.

The Shares

General

Each Share represents a proportional interest, based on the total number of Shares outstanding, in the Swiss Francs owned by the Trust, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, less accrued but unpaid expenses (both asset-based and non-asset based) of the Trust. All Shares are of the same class with equal rights and privileges. Each Share is transferable, is fully paid and non-assessable and entitles the holder to vote on the limited matters upon which Shareholders may vote under the Depositary Trust Agreement.

 

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Limited Rights

The Shares are not a traditional investment. They are dissimilar from the shares of a corporation operating a business enterprise, with management and a board of directors. Trust Shareholders do not have rights normally associated with owning shares of a business corporation, including, for example, the right to bring “oppression” or “derivative” actions. Shareholders’ have only those rights explicitly set forth in the Depositary Trust Agreement. The Shares do not entitle their holders to any conversion or pre-emptive rights or, except as described herein, any redemption or distribution rights.

Voting and Approvals

Shareholders have no voting rights under the Depositary Trust Agreement, except in limited circumstances. If the holders of at least 25% of the Shares outstanding determine that the Trustee is in material breach of its obligations under the Depositary Trust Agreement, they may provide written notice to the Trustee (or require the Sponsor to do so) specifying the default and requiring the Trustee to cure such default. If the Trustee fails to cure such breach within 30 days after receipt of notice, the Sponsor, acting on behalf of the Shareholders, may remove the Trustee. The holders of at least 66-2/3% of the Shares outstanding may vote to remove the Trustee. The Trustee must terminate the Trust at the request of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding Shares.

Creation and Redemption of Shares

The creation and redemption of Baskets requires the delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of Swiss Francs represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed. This amount is based on the combined NAV per Share of the number of Shares included in the Baskets being created or redeemed, determined on the day the order to create or redeem Baskets is accepted by the Trustee.

Only Authorized Participants may place orders to create and redeem Baskets. An Authorized Participant is a Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) participant that is a registered broker-dealer or other securities market participant, such as a bank or other financial institution that is not required to register as a broker-dealer to engage in securities transactions.

Before initiating a creation or redemption order, an Authorized Participant must have entered into a Participant Agreement with the Sponsor and the Trustee. The Participant Agreement provides the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets and for the delivery of Swiss Francs required for creations and redemptions. The Participant Agreements may be amended by the Trustee and the Sponsor. Authorized Participants pay a transaction fee of $500 to the Trustee for each order that they place to create or redeem one or more Baskets. In addition to the $500 transaction fee paid to the Trustee, Authorized Participants pay a variable fee to the Sponsor for creation orders and redemption orders of two or more Baskets to compensate the Sponsor for costs associated with the registration of Shares. The variable fee paid to the Sponsor by an Authorized Participant will not exceed $2,000 for each creation or redemption order, as set forth in the Participant Agreement. Authorized Participants who make deposits with the Trust in exchange for Baskets receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either the Sponsor or the Trust. No Authorized Participant has any obligation or responsibility to the Sponsor or the Trust to effect any sale or resale of Shares.

Availability of SEC Reports and Other Information

The Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, files quarterly and annual reports and other information with the SEC. The reports and other information can be accessed through the Trust’s website at www.currencyshares.com.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

You should consider carefully the risks described below before making an investment decision. You should also refer to the other information included in this report, including the Trust’s financial statements and the related notes.

The value of the Shares relates directly to the value of the Swiss Francs held by the Trust. Fluctuations in the price of the Swiss Franc could materially and adversely affect the value of the Shares.

The Shares are designed to reflect the price of the Swiss Franc, plus accumulated interest, if any, less the Trust’s expenses. Several factors may affect the price of the Swiss Franc, including:

 

  Sovereign debt levels and trade deficits;

 

  Domestic and foreign inflation rates and interest rates and investors’ expectations concerning those rates;

 

  Currency exchange rates;

 

  Investment and trading activities of mutual funds, hedge funds and currency funds; and

 

  Global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations.

In addition, the Swiss Franc may not maintain its long-term value in terms of purchasing power in the future. When the price of the Swiss Franc declines, the Sponsor expects the price of a Share to decline as well.

The USD/Swiss Franc exchange rate, like foreign exchange rates in general, can be volatile and difficult to predict. This volatility could materially and adversely affect the performance of the Shares.

Foreign exchange rates are influenced by the factors identified in the preceding risk factor and may also be influenced by: changing supply and demand for a particular currency; monetary policies of governments (including exchange control programs, restrictions on local exchanges or markets and limitations on foreign investment in a country or on investment by residents of a country in other countries); changes in balances of payments and trade; trade restrictions; and currency devaluations and revaluations. Also, governments from time to time intervene in the currency markets, directly and by regulation, in order to influence prices directly. These events and actions are unpredictable. The resulting volatility in the USD/Swiss Franc exchange rate could materially and adversely affect the performance of the Shares.

If interest earned by the Trust does not exceed the Trust’s expenses, the Trustee will withdraw Swiss Francs from the Trust to pay these excess expenses, which will reduce the amount of Swiss Francs represented by each Share on an ongoing basis and may result in adverse tax consequences for Shareholders.

Each outstanding Share represents a fractional, undivided interest in the Swiss Francs held by the Trust. It is possible that the amount of interest earned, if any, may not exceed expenses, in which case the Trustee will withdraw Swiss Francs from the Trust to pay these excess expenses. As a result, the amount of Swiss Francs represented by each Share would gradually decline over time. This is true even if additional Shares are issued in exchange for additional deposits of Swiss Francs into the Trust, as the amount of Swiss Francs required to create Shares will proportionately reflect the amount of Swiss Francs represented by the Shares outstanding at the time of creation. Assuming a constant Swiss Franc price, if expenses exceed interest earned, the trading price of the Shares will gradually decline relative to the price of the Swiss Franc as the amount of Swiss Francs represented by the Shares gradually declines. In this event, the Shares will only maintain their original price if the price of Swiss Franc increases. There is no guarantee that interest earned by the Trust in the future will exceed the Trust’s expenses.

Investors should be aware that a gradual decline in the amount of Swiss Francs represented by the Shares may occur regardless of whether the trading price of the Shares rises or falls in response to changes in the price of the Swiss Franc. The estimated ordinary operating expenses of the Trust, which accrue daily, are described in “Business – The Trust – Trust Expenses.”

The payment of expenses by the Trust will result in a taxable event to Shareholders. To the extent Trust expenses exceed interest paid to the Trust, a gain or loss may be recognized by Shareholders depending on the tax basis of the tendered Swiss Francs.

 

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The interest rate paid by the Depository, if any, may not be the best rate available. If the Sponsor determines that the interest rate is inadequate, then its sole recourse is to remove the Depository and terminate the Deposit Accounts.

The Depository is committed to endeavor to pay a competitive interest rate on the balance of Swiss Francs in the primary deposit account of the Trust, but there is no guarantee of the amount of interest that will be paid, if any, on this account. Interest on the primary deposit account, if any, accrues daily and is paid monthly. The Depository may change the rate at which interest accrues, including reducing the interest rate to zero or below zero, based upon changes in market conditions or the Depository’s liquidity needs. The Depository notifies the Sponsor of the interest rate applied each business day after the close of such business day. The Sponsor discloses the current interest rate on the Trust’s website. If the Sponsor believes that the interest rate paid by the Depository is not adequate, the Sponsor’s sole recourse is to remove the Depository and terminate the Deposit Accounts. The Depository is not paid a fee for its services to the Trust; rather, it generates income or loss based on its ability to earn a “spread” or “margin” over the interest it pays to the Trust by using the Trust’s Swiss Francs to make loans or in other banking operations. For these reasons, you should not expect that the Trust will be paid the best available interest rate at any time or over time.

If the Trust incurs expenses in USD, the Trust would be required to sell Swiss Francs to pay these expenses. The sale of the Trust’s Swiss Francs to pay expenses in USD at a time of low Swiss Franc prices could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

The Trustee will sell Swiss Francs held by the Trust to pay Trust expenses, if any, incurred in USD, irrespective of then-current Swiss Franc prices. The Trust is not actively managed and no attempt will be made to buy or sell Swiss Francs to protect against or to take advantage of fluctuations in the price of the Swiss Franc. Consequently, if the Trust incurs expenses in USD, the Trust’s Swiss Francs may be sold at a time when the Swiss Franc price is low, resulting in a negative effect on the value of the Shares.

The Deposit Accounts are not entitled to payment at any office of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. located in the United States.

The federal laws of the United States prohibit banks located in the United States from paying interest on unrestricted demand deposit accounts. Therefore, payments out of the Deposit Accounts will be payable only at the London branch of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., located in England. The Trustee will not be entitled to demand payment of these accounts at any office of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. that is located in the United States. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. will not be required to repay the deposit if its London branch cannot repay the deposit due to an act of war, insurrection or civil strife or an action by a foreign government or instrumentality (whether de jure or de facto) in England.

Shareholders do not have the protections associated with ownership of a demand deposit account insured in the United States by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the protection provided for bank deposits under English law.

Neither the Shares nor the Deposit Accounts and the Swiss Francs deposited in them are deposits insured against loss by the FDIC, any other federal agency of the United States or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme of England.

If the Depository becomes insolvent, its assets may not be adequate to satisfy a claim by the Trust or any Authorized Participant. In addition, in the event of the insolvency of the Depository, the U.S. bank of which it is a branch or any local cash correspondent holding the currency on deposit for the benefit of the Trust, there may be a delay and costs incurred in recovering the Swiss Francs held in the Deposit Accounts.

Swiss Francs deposited in the Deposit Accounts by an Authorized Participant are commingled with Swiss Francs deposited by other Authorized Participants and are held by the Depository in either the primary deposit account or the secondary deposit account of the Trust. Swiss Francs held in the Deposit Accounts are not segregated from the Depository’s other assets.

 

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The Trust has no proprietary rights in or to any specific Swiss Francs held by the Depository and will be an unsecured creditor of the Depository with respect to the Swiss Francs held in the Deposit Accounts in the event of the insolvency of the Depository or the U.S. bank of which it is a branch. In the event the Depository, the U.S. bank of which it is a branch or any local cash correspondent holding the currency on deposit for the benefit of the Trust becomes insolvent, the Depository’s assets may not be adequate to satisfy a claim by the Trust or any Authorized Participant for the amount of Swiss Francs deposited by the Trust or the Authorized Participant and, in such event, the Trust and any Authorized Participant will generally have no right in or to assets other than those of the Depository.

In the case of insolvency of the Depository or JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., the U.S. bank of which the Depository is a branch, a liquidator may seek to freeze access to the Swiss Francs held in all accounts by the Depository, including the Deposit Accounts. In the case of insolvency of a local cash correspondent, a liquidator may seek to freeze access to the Swiss Francs held in all accounts by such local cash correspondent, including the Deposit Accounts held by such cash correspondent. The Trust and the Authorized Participants could incur expenses and delays in connection with asserting their claims. These problems would be exacerbated by the fact that the Deposit Accounts are not held in the U.S. but instead are held at the London branch of a U.S. national bank or with a local cash correspondent, where they are subject to English and Swiss insolvency law. Further, under U.S. law, in the case of the insolvency of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., the claims of creditors in respect of accounts (such as the Trust’s Deposit Accounts) that are maintained with an overseas branch of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or with a local cash correspondent will be subordinate to claims of creditors in respect of accounts maintained with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in the U.S., greatly increasing the risk that the Trust and the Trust’s beneficiaries would suffer a loss.

Shareholders do not have the protections associated with ownership of shares in an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The Investment Company Act is designed to protect investors by preventing: insiders from managing investment companies to their benefit and to the detriment of public investors; the issuance of securities having inequitable or discriminatory provisions; the management of investment companies by irresponsible persons; the use of unsound or misleading methods of computing earnings and asset value; changes in the character of investment companies without the consent of investors; and investment companies from engaging in excessive leveraging. To accomplish these ends, the Investment Company Act requires the safekeeping and proper valuation of fund assets, restricts greatly transactions with affiliates, limits leveraging, and imposes governance requirements as a check on fund management.

The Trust is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act and is not required to register under that act. Consequently, Shareholders do not have the regulatory protections afforded to investors in registered investment companies.

Shareholders do not have the rights enjoyed by investors in certain other financial instruments.

As interests in a grantor trust, the Shares have none of the statutory rights normally associated with the ownership of shares of a business corporation, including, for example, the right to bring “oppression” or “derivative” actions. Apart from the rights afforded to them by federal and state securities laws, Shareholders have only those rights relative to the Trust, the Trust property and the Shares that are set forth in the Depositary Trust Agreement. In this connection, the Shareholders have limited voting and distribution rights. They do not have the right to elect directors. See “Business – The Shares – Limited Rights” for a description of the limited rights of the Shareholders.

The Shares may trade at a price which is at, above, or below the NAV per Share.

The NAV per Share fluctuates with changes in the market value of the Trust’s assets. The market price of Shares can be expected to fluctuate in accordance with changes in the NAV per Share, but also in response to market supply and demand. As a result, the Shares might trade at prices at, above or below the NAV per Share.

The Depository owes no fiduciary duties to the Trust or the Shareholders, is not required to act in their best interest and could resign or be removed by the Sponsor, which would trigger early termination of the Trust.

The Depository is not a trustee for the Trust or the Shareholders. As stated above, the Depository is not obligated to maximize the interest rate paid to the Trust. In addition, the Depository has no duty to continue to act as the depository of the Trust. The Depository can terminate its role as depository for any reason whatsoever upon 90 days’ notice to the Trust. If directed by the Sponsor, the Trustee must terminate the Depository. Such a termination might result, for example, if the Sponsor determines that the interest rate paid by the Depository is inadequate. In the event that the Depository was to resign or be removed, the Trust will be terminated.

 

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Shareholders may incur significant fees upon the termination of the Trust.

The occurrence of any one of several events would either require the Trust to terminate or permit the Sponsor to terminate the Trust. For example, if the Depository were to resign or be removed, then the Sponsor would be required to terminate the Trust. Shareholders tendering their Shares within 90 days of the Trust’s termination will receive the amount of Swiss Francs represented by their Shares. Shareholders may incur significant fees if they choose to convert the Swiss Francs they receive to USD.

If Switzerland considers adopting or adopts the euro as its currency, the value of the Shares may decline and Shareholders may lose money on their investment. Furthermore, if Switzerland adopts the euro as its currency, the Trust will terminate when the Council of the European Union adopts an irrevocable conversion rate of Swiss Francs to euro. If this occurs, Shareholders may lose money on their investment.

If Switzerland joins the European Union, it will have the option to adopt the euro as its currency in lieu of the Swiss Franc. If Switzerland considers adopting or adopts the euro as its currency, the value of the Swiss Franc could decline, depending on, among other things, the relative value of the Swiss Franc and the euro, the conversion ratio of Swiss Francs per euro and the timing of the adoption of the euro. If the Swiss Franc loses value, the value of the Shares would also decline and Shareholders may lose money on their investment. Furthermore, if Switzerland adopts the euro as its currency, the Trust will terminate when the Council of the European Union adopts an irrevocable conversion rate of Swiss Francs to euro. Upon termination of the Trust, it will liquidate, and it may liquidate at a time disadvantageous to Shareholders, such as when the price of the Swiss Franc has declined below the price prevailing when Shareholders purchased their Shares. If this occurs, Shareholders may lose money on their investment.

Redemption orders are subject to rejection by the Trustee under certain circumstances.

The Trustee will reject a redemption order if the order is not in proper form as described in the Participant Agreement or if the fulfillment of the order, in the opinion of its counsel, might be unlawful. Any such rejection could adversely affect a redeeming Shareholder. For example, the resulting delay would adversely affect the value of the Shareholder’s redemption distribution if the NAV were to decline during the delay. In the Depositary Trust Agreement, the Sponsor and the Trustee disclaim any liability for any loss or damage that may result from any such rejection.

Substantial sales of Swiss Francs by the official sector could adversely affect an investment in the Shares.

The official sector consists of central banks, other governmental agencies and multi-lateral institutions that buy, sell and hold Swiss Francs as part of their reserve assets. The official sector holds a significant amount of Swiss Francs that can be mobilized in the open market. In the event that future economic, political or social conditions or pressures require members of the official sector to sell their Swiss Francs simultaneously or in an uncoordinated manner, the demand for Swiss Francs might not be sufficient to accommodate the sudden increase in the supply of Swiss Francs to the market. Consequently, the price of the Swiss Franc could decline, which would adversely affect an investment in the Shares.

Shareholders that are not Authorized Participants may only purchase or sell their Shares in secondary trading markets.

Only Authorized Participants may create or redeem Baskets through the Trust. All other investors that desire to purchase or sell Shares must do so through NYSE Arca or in other markets, if any, in which the Shares are traded.

The liability of the Sponsor and the Trustee under the Depositary Trust Agreement is limited and, except as set forth in the Depositary Trust Agreement, they are not obligated to prosecute any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Trust property.

The Depositary Trust Agreement provides that neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee assumes any obligation or is subject to any liability under the Trust Agreement to any Shareholder, except that they each agree to perform their respective obligations specifically set forth in the Depositary Trust Agreement without negligence or bad faith. Additionally, neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee is obligated to, although each may in its respective discretion, prosecute any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Trust property. The Depositary Trust Agreement does not confer upon Shareholders the right to prosecute any such action, suit or other proceeding.

 

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The Depositary Trust Agreement may be amended to the detriment of Shareholders without their consent.

The Sponsor and the Trustee may amend most provisions (other than those addressing core economic rights) of the Depositary Trust Agreement without the consent of any Shareholder. Such an amendment could impose or increase fees or charges borne by the Shareholders. Any amendment that increases fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees or other expenses), or that otherwise prejudices any substantial existing rights of Shareholders, will not become effective until 30 days after written notice is given to Shareholders.

The License Agreement with The Bank of New York Mellon may be terminated by The Bank of New York Mellon in the event of a material breach. Termination of the License Agreement might lead to early termination and liquidation of the Trust.

The Bank of New York Mellon and an affiliate of the Sponsor have entered into a License Agreement granting the Sponsor’s affiliate a license to certain patent applications made by The Bank of New York Mellon covering systems and methods for securitizing a commodity. The Sponsor’s affiliate has sublicensed the license to the Sponsor. The license is limited to a non-exclusive grant for the life of The Bank of New York Mellon’s patents and patent applications. The License Agreement provides that each of the parties may provide notice of intent to terminate the License Agreement in the event the other party commits a material breach. If the License Agreement is terminated and one or more of The Bank of New York Mellon’s patent applications issue as patents, then The Bank of New York Mellon may claim that the operation of the Trust violates its patent or patents and seek an injunction forcing the Trust to cease operation and the Shares to cease trading. In that case, the Trust might be forced to terminate and liquidate, which would adversely affect Shareholders.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 

Item 2. Properties

The principal offices of the Sponsor and the Trust are at 702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200, Rockville, Maryland 20850, which is leased by an affiliate of the Sponsor. Neither the Sponsor nor the Trust owns or leases any other property.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

 

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PART II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Following are the high and low sale prices of the Shares as reported by NYSE Arca for each of the quarters during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016:

 

Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2017:

   High      Low  

Quarter Ended

     

January 31, 2017

   $ 98.69      $ 92.65  

April 30, 2017

   $ 96.60      $ 93.87  

July 31, 2017

   $ 100.33      $ 94.23  

October 31, 2017

   $ 100.13      $ 94.72  

Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2016:

   High      Low  

Quarter Ended

     

January 31, 2016

   $ 98.21      $ 93.91  

April 30, 2016

   $ 100.94      $ 94.62  

July 31, 2016

   $ 100.77      $ 96.60  

October 31, 2016

   $ 100.49      $ 96.22  

The number of record holders of Shares of the registrant as of November 30, 2017 was approximately 80.

The Trust did not redeem Baskets from Authorized Participants in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.

The Trust did not distribute any cash dividends per Share during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016.

In the future, to the extent that the interest earned by the Trust exceeds the sum of the Sponsor’s fee for the prior month plus other Trust expenses, if any, the Trust will distribute, as a dividend, the excess interest earned in Swiss Francs effective on the first business day of the subsequent month. The Trustee will direct that the excess

Swiss Francs be converted into USD at the prevailing market rate and the Trustee will distribute the USD as promptly as practicable to Shareholders on a pro-rata basis (in accordance with the number of Shares that they own).

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Following are financial highlights for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017, October 31, 2016, October 31, 2015, October 31, 2014 and October 31, 2013.

 

     Fiscal Year ended
October 31, 2017
    Fiscal Year ended
October 31, 2016
    Fiscal Year ended
October 31, 2015
    Fiscal Year ended
October 31, 2014
    Fiscal Year ended
October 31, 2013
 

Income

          

Interest income

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Income

     —         —         —         —         —    

Expenses

          

Sponsor’s fee

     (608,541     (664,185     (711,574     (997,278     (1,189,346

Interest Expense

     (1,106,853     (1,269,007     (885,034     —         (32
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     (1,772,394     (1,933,192     (1,596,608     (997,278     (1,189,378

Net Loss

   $ (1,772,394   $ (1,933,192   $ (1,596,608   $ (997,278   $ (1,189,378
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

   $ (1.12   $ (1.14   $ (0.91   $ (0.43   $ (0.42

Weighted-average Shares Outstanding

     1,578,356       1,698,497       1,750,959       2,298,904       2,817,260  

Cash Dividends per Share

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Other Comprehensive (Loss)/Income:

Currency translation adjustment

     (2,936     795       2,298       (10,025     (16,883
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Comprehensive Loss

   $ (1,775,330   $ (1,932,397   $ (1,594,310   $ (987,253   $ (1,206,261
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of October 31, 2017, total assets were $151,886,127, and for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, net cash flows were $(3,077,444).

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “outlook” and “estimate” and other similar words. Forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Various factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. These factors include fluctuations in the price of the Swiss Franc, as the value of the Shares relates directly to the value of the Swiss Francs held by the Trust and price fluctuations could materially adversely affect an investment in the Shares. Readers are urged to review the “Risk Factors” section in this report for a description of other risks and uncertainties that may affect an investment in the Shares.

Neither Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC d/b/a Guggenheim Investments (the “Sponsor”) nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of forward-looking statements contained in this report. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this report, and will not be revised or updated to reflect actual results or changes in the Sponsor’s expectations or predictions.

 

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Movements in the Price of Swiss Franc

The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the price in USD of the Swiss Franc plus accrued interest, if any, less the expenses of the Trust’s operations. The Shares are intended to provide institutional and retail investors with a simple, cost-effective means of gaining investment benefits similar to those of holding Swiss Francs. Each outstanding Share represents a proportional interest in the Swiss Francs held by the Trust. The following chart provides recent trends on the price of the Swiss Franc. The chart illustrates movements in the price of the Swiss Franc in USD and is based on the Closing Spot Rate:

 

LOGO

 

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Table of Contents

NAV per Share; Valuation of the Swiss Franc

The following chart illustrates the movement in the price of the Shares based on (1) NAV per Share, (2) the “bid” and “ask” midpoint offered on NYSE Arca and (3) the Closing Spot Rate, expressed as a multiple of 100 Swiss Francs:

 

LOGO

 

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Liquidity

The Sponsor is not aware of any trends, demands, conditions or events that are reasonably likely to result in material changes to the Trust’s liquidity needs. The Trust’s Depository, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch, maintains two deposit accounts for the Trust, a primary deposit account that may earn interest and a secondary deposit account that does not earn interest. Interest on the primary deposit account, if any, accrues daily and is paid monthly. The interest rate in effect as of October 31, 2017 was an annual nominal rate of -0.75%. The following chart provides the daily rate paid by the Depository since October 31, 2012:

 

LOGO

In exchange for a fee, the Sponsor bears most of the expenses incurred by the Trust. As a result, the only ordinary expense of the Trust during the periods covered by this report was the Sponsor’s fee. Each month the Depository deposits into the secondary deposit account accrued but unpaid interest, if any, and the Trustee withdraws Swiss Franc from the secondary deposit account to pay the accrued Sponsor’s fee for the previous month plus other Trust expenses, if any. When the interest deposited, if any, exceeds the sum of the Sponsor’s fee for the prior month plus other Trust expenses, if any, the Trustee converts the excess into USD at the prevailing market rate and distributes the USD as promptly as practicable to Shareholders on a pro-rata basis (in accordance with the number of Shares that they own). The Trust did not make any distributions during the quarter ended October 31, 2017.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Sponsor’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period covered by this report.

In addition to the description below, please refer to Note 2 to the financial statements for further discussion of our accounting policies.

The functional currency of the Trust is the Swiss Franc in accordance with ASC 830, Foreign Currency Translation.

 

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Results of Operations

As of October 31, 2015, the number of Swiss Francs owned by the Trust was 179,181,973, resulting in a redeemable capital share value of $181,593,105. During the year ended October 31, 2016, no shares were created and 250,000 shares were redeemed in exchange for 24,078,533 Swiss Francs. In addition, 1,929,188 Swiss Francs were withdrawn to pay the portion of the Sponsor’s fee that exceeded the interest earned. As of October 31, 2016, the number of Swiss Francs owned by the Trust was 153,174,252, resulting in a redeemable capital share value of $154,741,073. During the year ended October 31, 2017, an additional 300,000 shares were created in exchange for 28,480,692 Swiss Francs and 300,000 shares were redeemed in exchange for 28,503,512 Swiss Francs. In addition, 1,751,340 Swiss Francs were withdrawn to pay the portion of the Sponsor’s fee that exceeded the interest earned. As of October 31, 2017, the number of Swiss Francs owned by the Trust was 151,400,092, resulting in a redeemable capital share value of $151,736,452.

A decrease in the Trust’s redeemable capital share value from $154,741,073 at October 31, 2016 to $151,736,452 at October 31, 2017, was primarily the result of a decrease in the Closing Spot Rate from 1.0112 at October 31, 2016 to 1.0032 at October 31, 2017. A decrease in the Trust’s redeemable capital share value from $181,593,105 at October 31, 2015 to $154,741,073 at October 31, 2016, was primarily the result of a decrease in the number of Shares outstanding from 1,850,000 at October 31, 2015 to 1,600,000 at October 31, 2016 coupled with a decrease in the Closing Spot Rate from 1.0145 at October 31, 2015 to 1.0112 at October 31, 2016.

No interest income was earned during the years ended October 31, 2017, October 31, 2016 and October 31, 2015, due to an annual nominal interest rate which remained at or below 0.00% through those periods, as set forth in the chart above.

The Sponsor’s fee accrues daily at an annual nominal rate of 0.40% of the Swiss Francs in the Trust. Due primarily to a decrease in the weighted-average Swiss Franc in the Trust, the Sponsor’s fee decreased from $664,185 for the year ended October 31, 2016 to $608,541 for the year ended October 31, 2017. Due primarily to a decrease in the weighted-average Swiss Francs in the Trust, interest expense decreased from $1,269,007 for the year ended October 31, 2016 to $1,163,853 for the year ended October 31, 2017. The only expenses of the Trust during the year ended October 31, 2017 were the Sponsor’s fee and interest expense. Due primarily to a decrease in the weighted-average Swiss Francs in the Trust, the Sponsor’s fee decreased from $711,574 for the year ended October 31, 2015 to $664,185 for the year ended October 31, 2016. Because the annual interest rate paid by the depository fell below 0% (as set forth in the chart above), the Trust incurred interest expense. Due primarily to a steady interest rate below 0%, interest expense increased from $885,034 for the year ended October 31, 2015 to $1,269,007 for the year ended October 31, 2016 . The only expenses of the Trust during the year ended October 31, 2016 were the Sponsor’s fee and interest expense.

The Trust’s net loss for the year ended October 31, 2017 was $1,772,394, due to the Sponsor’s fee of $608,541 and interest expense of $1,163,853 exceeding interest income of $0. The Trust’s net loss for the year ended October 31, 2016 was $1,933,192 as a result of the Sponsor’s fee of $664,185 and interest expense of $1,269,007 exceeding interest income of $0. The Trust’s net loss for the year ended October 31, 2015 was $1,596,608 due to the Sponsor’s fee of $711,574 and interest expense of $885,034 exceeding the interest income of $0.

Cash dividends were not paid by the Trust in the years ended October 31, 2017, October 31, 2016 and October 31, 2015 as the Trust’s interest income did not exceed the Trust’s expenses during those periods.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Except as described above with respect to the USD/Swiss Franc exchange rate and the nominal annual interest rate paid by the Depository on Swiss Francs held by the Trust, the Trust is not subject to market risk. The Trust does not hold securities and does not invest in derivative instruments.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

See Index to Financial Statements on page F-1 for a list of the financial statements filed with this report.

 

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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures

None.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Sponsor have evaluated the effectiveness of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of October 31, 2017. Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Sponsor have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the Trust were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The Sponsor’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined under Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. The Trust’s internal control over financial reporting is based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (COSO), and is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Trust’s assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that the Trust’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Trust’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become ineffective because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.

The chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Sponsor have assessed the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2017. Their assessment included an evaluation of the design of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operation effectiveness of its internal controls over financial reporting. Based on their assessment and those criteria, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Sponsor believe that the Trust maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2017.

Effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2017 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report included herein.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Trust’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B. Other Information

Not applicable

 

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PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

John Sullivan and Keith D. Kemp serve as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Sponsor, respectively. The Sponsor’s Board of Managers is composed of John Sullivan, Keith D. Kemp and Michael Byrum.

John Sullivan, age 62, has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Sponsor since September 2016. Mr. Sullivan has been Senior Managing Director of Guggenheim Investments since 2010. Mr. Sullivan has also served as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer of certain funds in the Guggenheim fund complex since 2010. Mr. Sullivan served as Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer of each of the funds in the Van Kampen Investments, Inc. fund complex from 2004 to 2010 and as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Van Kampen Investments, Inc. fund complex from 1996 to 2004. Mr. Sullivan also served as Managing Director and Head of Fund Accounting and Administration for Morgan Stanley Investment Management from 2002 to 2004. Mr. Sullivan holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Western Illinois University.

Keith D. Kemp, age 57, has been the Chief Financial Officer of the Sponsor since September 2016. Mr. Kemp has served as Managing Director of Guggenheim Investments from April 2015 to the present and as Director of Guggenheim Investments from 2010 to 2015. Mr. Kemp has also served as Managing Director of Transparent Value, LLC from 2015 to 2016 and as Director of Transparent Value, LLC from 2010 to 2015. Mr. Kemp also served as Chief Operating Officer of Macquarie Capital Investment Management from 2007 to 2009. Mr. Kemp holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the State University of New York at Oswego.

Michael Byrum, age 47, has been the Manager of the Sponsor since September 2005. Mr. Byrum has served as Senior Vice President of Security Investors, LLC since 2010. Mr. Byrum has also served as President and Chief Investment Officer of Rydex Holdings, LLC since 2008. Mr. Byrum has served as Director and Chairman of Advisory Research Center, Inc. since 2006. Mr. Byrum served as Vice President of Guggenheim Distributors in 2009. Mr. Byrum has also served as Director of Rydex Fund Services, LLC (now, MUFG Investor Services (US), LLC) from 2009 to 2010 and Secretary of Rydex Fund Services, LLC from 2002 to 2010. Mr. Byrum also served as Director of Rydex Advisors, LLC from 2008 to 2010, Chief Investment Officer of Rydex Advisors, LLC from 2006 to 2010, President of Rydex Advisors, LLC from 2004 to 2010, and Secretary of Rydex Advisors, LLC from 2002 to 2010. Mr. Byrum has also served as Director of Rydex Advisors II, LLC from 2008 to 2010, Chief Investment Officer of Rydex Advisors II, LLC from 2006 to 2010, President of Rydex Advisors II, LLC from 2004 to 2010, and Secretary of Rydex Advisors II, LLC from 2002 to 2010. Mr. Byrum is a Chartered Financial Analyst and has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance from Miami University of Ohio.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Not applicable.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

None.

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Not applicable.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The following fees were paid by the Sponsor and were for services performed by Ernst & Young LLP for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016:

 

     2017      2016  

Audit Fees

   $ 26,767      $ 25,988  

Audit-related fees

     0        2,100  

Tax fees

     0        0  

All other Fees

     0        0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 26,767      $ 28,088  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Financial Statements

See Index to Financial Statements on Page F-1 for a list of the financial statements being filed as a part of this report. Schedules have been omitted since they are either not required, not applicable or the information has otherwise been included.

Exhibits

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

    3.1    Certificate of Formation of Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC dated September  14, 2005, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File number 333-132364) filed by the Trust on June 9, 2006.
    3.2    Amendment to Certificate of Formation of Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC dated March  27, 2012, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Trust on January 14, 2013.
    3.3    Limited Liability Company Agreement of Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File number 333-132364) filed by the Trust on June 9, 2006.
    4.1    Depositary Trust Agreement dated as of June  8, 2006 among Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, all registered owners and beneficial owners of Swiss Franc Shares issued thereunder and all depositors, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed by the Trust on March 10, 2011.
    4.2    Amendment to Depositary Trust Agreement dated as of November  13, 2008 between Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Trust on September  9, 2010.
    4.3    Global Amendment to Depositary Trust Agreements dated as of March  6, 2012 between Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Trust on March  12, 2012.
    4.4    Participant Agreement dated as of March  25, 2010 among Knight Clearing Services, LLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, and Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC (together with Schedule pursuant to Instruction 2 to Item 601 of Regulation S-K), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Trust on January 14, 2014.
    4.5    Amendment to Participant Agreements dated as of December  9, 2010 among The Bank of New York Mellon, the trusts set forth on Schedule A thereto and Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed by the Trust on March 10, 2011.

 

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    4.6    Amendment to Participant Agreements dated as of January  15, 2011 among The Bank of New York Mellon, the trusts set forth on Schedule A thereto and Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed by the Trust on March 10, 2011.
    4.7    Global Amendment to Depositary Trust Agreements dated as of September  5, 2017 between Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Trust on September  11, 2017.
    4.8    Global Amendment to Participant Agreements dated as of September  5, 2017 between Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Trust on September  11, 2017.
  10.1    Deposit Account Agreement dated as of June  8, 2006 between The Bank of New York and the London Branch of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed by the Trust on March  10, 2011.
  10.2    Amendment to Deposit Account Agreement dated as of November  13, 2008 between The Bank of New York Mellon and the London Branch of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Trust on September 9, 2010.
  10.3    Amendment 2 to Deposit Account Agreement dated as of September  1, 2010 between The Bank of New York Mellon and the London Branch of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed by the Trust on March 10, 2011.
  10.4    Amendment 3 to Deposit Account Agreement dated as of August  10, 2011 between The Bank of New York Mellon and the London Branch of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration on Form S-3 (File No. 333-176370) filed by the Trust on August 17, 2011.
  10.5    Sublicense Agreement dated as of June  9, 2006 between PADCO Advisors II, Inc. and Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed by the Trust on March 10, 2011.
  23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
  31.1    Certification by Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  31.2    Certification by Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32.1    Certification by Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32.2    Certification by Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS    XBRL Instance Document.

 

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101.SCH    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

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CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust

Financial Statements as of October 31, 2017

Index

 

     Page  

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Reports

     F-2  

Statements of Financial Condition at October 31, 2017 and October  31, 2016

     F-4  

Statements of Comprehensive Income for the year ended October  31, 2017, the year ended October 31, 2016 and the year ended October 31, 2015

     F-5  

Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the year ended October 31, 2017, the year ended October 31, 2016 and the year ended October 31, 2015

     F-6  

Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended October  31, 2017, the year ended October 31, 2016 and the year ended October 31, 2015

     F-7  

Notes to the Financial Statements

     F-8  

 

F-1


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and the Shareholders of CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statements of financial condition of CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust (the “Trust”) as of October 31, 2017 and 2016 and the related statements of comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2017. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust at October 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2017, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated January 11, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Tysons, VA

January 11, 2018

 

F-2


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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and the Shareholders of CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust:

We have audited CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust’s (the “Trust”) internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). The Trust’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting appearing under Item 9A Controls and Procedures. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the statements of financial condition as of October 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2017 of CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust and our report dated January 11, 2018, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Tysons, VA

January 11, 2018

 

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CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust

Statements of Financial Condition

 

     October 31,
2017
     October 31,
2016
 

Assets

     

Current Assets:

     

Swiss Franc deposits, interest bearing

   $ 151,886,127      $ 154,893,571  

Swiss Franc deposits, non-interest bearing

     —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Current Assets

   $ 151,886,127      $ 154,893,571  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities, Redeemable Capital Shares and Shareholders’ Equity

     

Current Liabilities:

     

Accrued Sponsor’s fee

   $ 51,576      $ 52,453  

Accrued interest expense

     98,099        100,045  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Current Liabilities

     149,675        152,498  

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (note 9)

     —          —    

Redeemable Capital Shares, at redemption value, no par value, 29,500,000 authorized – 1,600,000 issued and outstanding

     151,736,452        154,741,073  

Shareholders’ Equity:

     

Retained Earnings

     —          —    

Cumulative Translation Adjustment

     —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities, Redeemable Capital Shares and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 151,886,127      $ 154,893,571  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

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CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust

Statements of Comprehensive Income

 

     Year ended
October 31,
2017
    Year ended
October 31,
2016
    Year ended
October 31,
2015
 

Income

      

Interest Income

   $ —       $ —       $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Income

     —         —         —    

Expenses

      

Sponsor’s fee

     (608,541     (664,185     (711,574

Interest Expense

     (1,163,853     (1,269,007     (885,034
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     (1,772,394     (1,933,192     (1,596,608

Net Loss

   $ (1,772,394   $ (1,933,192   $ (1,596,608
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

   $ (1.12   $ (1.14   $ (0.91

Weighted-average Shares Outstanding

     1,578,356       1,698,497       1,750,959  

Cash Dividends per Share

   $ —       $ —       $ —    

Other Comprehensive (Loss)/Income:

      

Currency translation adjustment

     (2,936     795       2,298  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Comprehensive Loss

   $ (1,775,330   $ (1,932,397   $ (1,594,310
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

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CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust

Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

 

     Year ended
October 31,
2017
    Year ended
October 31,
2016
    Year ended
October 31,
2015
 

Retained Earnings, Beginning of Year

   $ —       $ —       $ —    

Net Loss

     (1,772,394     (1,933,192     (1,596,608

Adjustment of redeemable capital shares to redemption value

     1,772,394       1,933,192       1,596,608  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Retained Earnings, End of Year

   $ —       $ —       $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cumulative Translation Adjustment, Beginning of Year

   $ —       $ —       $ —    

Currency translation adjustment

     (2,936     795       2,298  

Adjustment of redeemable capital shares to redemption value

     2,936       (795     (2,298
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cumulative Translation Adjustment, End of Year

   $ —       $ —       $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

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CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust

Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Year ended
October 31,
2017
    Year ended
October 31,
2016
    Year ended
October 31,
2015
 

Cash flows from operating activities

      

Cash received for accrued income

   $ —       $ —       $ —    

Cash paid for expenses

     (1,773,330     (1,960,158     (1,480,015
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (1,773,330     (1,960,158     (1,480,015

Cash flows from financing activities

      

Cash received to purchase redeemable shares

     28,838,287       —         45,660,306  

Cash paid to redeem redeemable shares

     (28,861,393     (24,465,081     (61,084,698
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (23,106     (24,465,081     (15,424,392

Adjustment to period cash flows due to currency movement

     (1,211,008     (453,417     (4,306,565
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in cash

     (3,007,444     (26,878,656     (21,210,972

Cash at beginning of year

     154,893,571       181,772,227       202,983,199  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash at end of year

   $ 151,886,127     $ 154,893,571     $ 181,772,227  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities

      

Net Loss

   $ (1,772,394   $ (1,933,192   $ (1,596,608

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

      

Currency translation adjustment

     1,887       (342     6,419  

Accrued sponsor fee

     51,576       52,453       61,724  

Accrued interest expense

     98,099       100,045       117,398  

Prior period accrued sponsor fee

     (52,453     (61,724     (68,948

Prior period accrued interest expense

     (100,045     (117,398     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

   $ (1,773,330   $ (1,960,158   $ (1,480,015
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

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CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust

Notes to Financial Statements

1.    Organization and Description of the Trust

The CurrencyShares® Swiss Franc Trust (the “Trust”) was formed under the laws of the State of New York on June 8, 2006 when Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC d/b/a “Guggenheim Investments” (the “Sponsor”) deposited 100 Swiss Franc in the Trust’s primary deposit account held by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch (the “Depository”). The Sponsor is a Delaware limited liability company whose sole member is Security Investors, LLC (also d/b/a “Guggenheim Investments”). The Sponsor is responsible for, among other things, overseeing the performance of The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Trustee”) and the Trust’s principal service providers, including the preparation of financial statements. The Trustee is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Trust.

The investment objective of the Trust is for the Trust’s shares (the “Shares”) to reflect the price in USD of the Swiss Franc plus accrued interest, if any, less the Trust’s expenses and liabilities. The Shares are intended to provide investors with a simple, cost-effective means of gaining investment benefits similar to those of holding Swiss Francs. The Trust’s assets primarily consist of Swiss Francs on demand deposit in two deposit accounts maintained by the Depository: a primary deposit account which may earn interest and a secondary deposit account which does not earn interest. The secondary deposit account is used to account for any interest that may be received and paid out on creations and redemptions of blocks of 50,000 Shares (“Baskets”). The secondary account is also used to account for interest earned, if any, on the primary deposit account, pay Trust expenses and distribute any excess interest to holders of Shares (“Shareholders”) on a monthly basis.

The accompanying audited financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

2.    Significant Accounting Policies

A.    Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets, liabilities and disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements, the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period and the evaluation of subsequent events through the issuance date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

B.    Foreign Currency Translation

The Trustee calculates the Trust’s net asset value (“NAV”) each business day, as described in Note 4. For NAV calculation purposes, Swiss Franc deposits (cash) are translated at the Closing Spot Rate, which is the USD/Swiss Franc exchange rate as determined and published by The WM Company at 4:00 PM (London time / London fixing) on each day that NYSE Arca is open for regular trading.

The functional currency of the Trust is the Swiss Franc in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards. For financial statement reporting purposes, the U.S. Dollar is the reporting currency. As a result, the financial records of the Trust are translated from Swiss Francs to USD. The Closing Spot Rate on the last day of the period is used for translation in the statements of financial condition. The average Closing Spot Rate for the period is used for translation in the statements of comprehensive income and the statements of cash flows. Any currency translation adjustment is included in comprehensive income.

C.    Federal Income Taxes

The Trust is treated as a “grantor trust” for federal income tax purposes and, therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required. Interest, gains and losses are passed through to the Shareholders.

 

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Shareholders generally will be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as if they directly owned a pro-rata share of the assets held in the Trust. Shareholders also will be treated as if they directly received their respective pro-rata portion of the Trust’s income, if any, and as if they directly incurred their respective pro-rata portion of the Trust’s expenses. The acquisition of Shares by a U.S. Shareholder as part of a creation of a Basket will not be a taxable event to the Shareholder.

The Sponsor’s fee accrues daily and is payable monthly. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, an accrual-basis U.S. Shareholder generally will be required to take into account as an expense its allocable portion of the USD-equivalent of the amount of the Sponsor’s fee that is accrued on each day, with such USD-equivalent being determined by the currency exchange rate that is in effect on the respective day. To the extent that the currency exchange rate on the date of payment of the accrued amount of the Sponsor’s fee differs from the currency exchange rate in effect on the day of accrual, the U.S. Shareholder will recognize a currency gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

The Trust does not expect to generate taxable income except for interest income (if any) and gain (if any) upon the sale of Swiss Francs. A non-U.S. Shareholder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to gain recognized upon the sale or other disposition of Shares, or upon the sale of Swiss Francs by the Trust, unless: (1) the non-U.S. Shareholder is an individual and is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the sale or other disposition, and the gain is treated as being from United States sources; or (2) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. Shareholder of a trade or business in the United States.

A non-U.S. Shareholder’s portion of any interest income earned by the Trust generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless the Shares owned by such non-U.S. Shareholder are effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. Shareholder of a trade or business in the United States.

D.    Revenue Recognition

Interest on the primary deposit account, if any, accrues daily as earned and is received or paid on a monthly basis. Any interest below zero for the period is reflected as interest expense.

E.    Dividends

To the extent that the interest earned by the Trust, if any, exceeds the sum of the Sponsor’s fee for the prior month plus other Trust expenses, if any, the Trust will distribute, as a dividend (herein referred to as dividends or distributions), the excess interest earned in Swiss Francs effective on the first business day of the subsequent month. The Trustee will direct that the excess Swiss Francs be converted into USD at the prevailing market rate and the Trustee will distribute the USD as promptly as practicable to Shareholders on a pro-rata basis (in accordance with the number of Shares that they own).

3.    Swiss Franc Deposits

Swiss Franc principal deposits are held in a Swiss Franc-denominated, interest-bearing demand account. The interest rate in effect as of October 31, 2017 was an annual nominal rate of -0.75%. For the year ended October 31, 2017, there were Swiss Franc principal deposits of 28,480,692, Swiss Franc principal redemptions of 28,503,512 and Swiss Franc withdrawals (to pay expenses) of 1,751,340, resulting in an ending Swiss Franc principal balance of 151,400,092. This equates to 151,886,127 USD. For the year ended October 31, 2016, there were no Swiss Franc principal deposits, Swiss Franc principal redemptions of 24,078,533 and Swiss Franc withdrawals (to pay expenses) of 1,929,188, resulting in an ending Swiss Franc principal balance of 153,174,252. This equates to 154,893,571 USD. For the year ended October 31, 2015, there were Swiss Franc principal deposits of 43,701,479, Swiss Franc principal redemptions of 58,464,164 and Swiss Franc withdrawals (to pay expenses) of 1,416,522, resulting in an ending Swiss Franc principal balance of 179,181,973. This equates to 181,772,227 USD.

Net interest, if any, associated with creation and redemption activity is held in a Swiss Franc-denominated non-interest-bearing account, and any balance is distributed in full as part of the monthly income distributions, if any.

 

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4.    Redeemable Capital Shares

Shares are classified as “redeemable” for financial statement purposes, since they are subject to redemption. Shares are issued and redeemed continuously in Baskets in exchange for Swiss Francs. Individual investors cannot purchase or redeem Shares in direct transactions with the Trust. Only Authorized Participants (as defined below) may place orders to create and redeem Baskets. An Authorized Participant is a Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) participant that is a registered broker-dealer or other institution eligible to settle securities transactions through the book-entry facilities of the DTC and which has entered into a contractual arrangement with the Trust and the Sponsor governing, among other matters, the creation and redemption process. Authorized Participants may redeem their Shares at any time in Baskets.

Due to expected continuing creations and redemptions of Baskets and the two-day period for settlement of each creation or redemption, the Trust reflects Shares created as a receivable on the trade date. Shares redeemed are reflected as a liability on the trade date. Outstanding Shares are reflected at a redemption value, which is the NAV per Share at the period end date. Adjustments to redeemable capital Shares at redemption value are recorded against retained earnings or, in the absence of retained earnings, by charges against the cumulative translation adjustment.

Activity in redeemable capital Shares is as follows:

 

     Year ended     Year ended     Year ended  
     October 31, 2017     October 31, 2016     October 31, 2015  
           U.S. Dollar           U.S. Dollar           U.S. Dollar  
     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Opening Balance

     1,600,000     $ 154,741,073       1,850,000     $ 181,593,105       2,000,000     $ 202,914,251  

Shares Issued

     300,000       28,838,287       —         —         450,000       45,660,306  

Shares Redeemed

     (300,000     (28,861,393     (250,000     (24,465,081     (600,000     (61,084,698

Adjustment to period Shares due to currency movement and other

     —         (2,981,515     —         (2,386,951     —         (5,896,754
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending Balance

     1,600,000     $ 151,736,452       1,600,000     $ 154,741,073       1,850,000     $ 181,593,105  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Trustee calculates the Trust’s NAV each business day. To calculate the NAV, the Trustee subtracts the Sponsor’s accrued fee through the previous day from the Swiss Francs held by the Trust (including all unpaid interest, if any, accrued through the preceding day) and calculates the value of the Swiss Francs in USD based upon the Closing Spot Rate. If, on a particular evaluation day, the Closing Spot Rate has not been determined and announced by 6:00 PM (London time), then the most recent Closing Spot Rate will be used to determine the NAV of the Trust unless the Trustee, in consultation with the Sponsor, determines that such price is inappropriate to use as the basis for the valuation. If the Trustee and the Sponsor determine that the most recent Closing Spot Rate is not an appropriate basis for valuation of the Trust’s Swiss Francs, they will determine an alternative basis for the valuation. The Trustee also determines the NAV per Share, which equals the NAV of the Trust, divided by the number of outstanding Shares. Shares deliverable under a purchase order are considered outstanding for purposes of determining NAV per Share; Shares deliverable under a redemption order are not considered outstanding for this purpose.

 

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5.    Selected Quarterly Information (Unaudited)

Fiscal Period Ended October 31, 2017:

 

     Three months
ended
     Three months
ended
     Three months
ended
     Three months
ended
 
     October 31, 2017      July 31, 2017      April 30, 2017      January 31, 2017  

Income

           

Interest Income

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Income

     —          —          —          —    

Expenses

           

Sponsor’s fee

     (157,478      (156,220      (143,777      (151,066

Interest Expense

     (299,531      (303,040      (273,462      (287,820
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     (457,009      (459,260      (417,239      (438,886

Net Loss

   $ (457,009    $ (459,260    $ (417,239    $ (438,886
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

   $ (0.29    $ (0.29    $ (0.27    $ (0.28

Weighted-average Shares Outstanding

     1,600,000        1,580,978        1,550,000        1,581,522  

Cash Dividends per Share

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —    

Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss):

           

Currency translation adjustment

     12,379        (3,165      (2,452      (9,698
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Comprehensive Loss

   $ (444,630    $ (462,425    $ (419,691    $ (448,584
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fiscal Period Ended October 31, 2016:

 

     Three months
ended
     Three months
ended
     Three months
ended
     Three months
ended
 
     October 31, 2016      July 31, 2016      April 30, 2016      January 31, 2016  

Income

           

Interest Income

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Income

     —          —          —          —    

Expenses

           

Sponsor’s fee

     (159,619      (163,223      (164,014      (177,329

Interest Expense

     (304,940      (311,308      (314,041      (338,718
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     (464,559      (474,531      (478,055      (516,047

Net Loss

   $ (464,559    $ (474,531    $ (478,055    $ (516,047
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

   $ (0.29    $ (0.29    $ (0.28    $ (0.28

Weighted-average Shares Outstanding

     1,619,565        1,650,000        1,692,222        1,832,065  

Cash Dividends per Share

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —    

Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss):

           

Currency translation adjustment

     5,355        (4,885      (10,075      10,400  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Comprehensive Loss

   $ (459,204    $ (479,416    $ (488,130    $ (505,647
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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6.    Sponsor’s Fee

The Sponsor’s fee accrues daily at an annual nominal rate of 0.40% of the Swiss Francs in the Trust (including all unpaid interest but excluding unpaid fees, each as accrued through the immediately preceding day) and is paid monthly.

The Sponsor assumes and pays the following administrative and marketing expenses incurred by the Trust: the Trustee’s monthly fee, NYSE Arca listing fees, SEC registration fees, typical maintenance and transaction fees of the Depository, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and expenses, up to $100,000 per year in legal fees and expenses, and applicable license fees.

In certain exceptional cases the Trust will pay for some expenses in addition to the Sponsor’s fee. These exceptions include expenses not assumed by the Sponsor (i.e., expenses other than those identified in the preceding paragraph), expenses resulting from a negative interest rate, taxes and governmental charges, expenses and costs of any extraordinary services performed by the Trustee or the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust or action taken by the Trustee or the Sponsor to protect the Trust or the interests of Shareholders, indemnification of the Sponsor under the Depositary Trust Agreement, audit fees and legal expenses in excess of $100,000 per year.

7.    Related Parties

The Sponsor is a related party of the Trust. The Sponsor oversees the performance of the Trustee and the Trust’s principal service providers, including the preparation of financial statements, but does not exercise day-to-day oversight over the Trustee or the Trust’s service providers.

8.    Concentration Risk

All of the Trust’s assets are Swiss Francs, which creates a concentration risk associated with fluctuations in the price of the Swiss Franc. Accordingly, a decline in the Swiss Franc to USD exchange rate will have an adverse effect on the value of the Shares. Factors that may have the effect of causing a decline in the price of the Swiss Franc include national debt levels and trade deficits, domestic and foreign inflation rates, domestic and foreign interest rates, investment and trading activities of institutions and global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations. Substantial sales of Swiss Francs by the official sector (central banks, other governmental agencies and related institutions that buy, sell and hold Swiss Francs as part of their reserve assets) could adversely affect an investment in the Shares.

All of the Trust’s Swiss Francs are held by the Depository. Accordingly, a risk associated with the concentration of the Trust’s assets in accounts held by a single financial institution exists and increases the potential for loss by the Trust and the Trust’s beneficiaries in the event that the Depository becomes insolvent.

9.    Commitments and Contingencies

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the Sponsor is indemnified against any liability or expense it incurs without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part. The Trust’s maximum exposure under this arrangement is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

10.    Subsequent Event

On September 28, 2017, Guggenheim Capital LLC entered into an agreement to sell its exchange-traded funds business to Invesco Ltd. (“Invesco”), a leading independent global investment management company (the “Transaction”). In connection with the Transaction, Invesco will acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests of Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC, the sponsor of the Trust. The Transaction is expected to close late in the second quarter of 2018.

 

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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, thereunto duly.

 

CURRENCYSHARES®
SWISS FRANC TRUST
By    Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC
   Sponsor of the CurrencyShares®
   Swiss Franc Trust
   By:   

/s/ JOHN SULLIVAN

      John Sullivan
      Chief Executive Officer
   Date: January 11, 2018

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities* and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Capacity

 

Date

/s/ JOHN SULLIVAN

John Sullivan

   Director and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)   January 11, 2018

/s/ KEITH D. KEMP

Keith D. Kemp

  

Director and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer and principal

accounting officer)

  January 11, 2018

/s/ MICHAEL BYRUM

Michael Byrum

   Director   January 11, 2018

 

* The registrant is a trust and the persons are signing in their capacities as officers or directors of Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC, the Sponsor of the registrant.