VanEck Merk Gold Trust
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(Name of Issuer)
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VanEck Merk Gold Shares
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(Title of Class of Securities)
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921078101
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(CUSIP Number)
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December 31, 2017
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
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☒
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Rule 13d-1(b)
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☐
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Rule 13d-1(c)
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☐
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Rule 13d-1(d)
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CUSIP No .
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921078101
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Page 2 of 5
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1
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NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
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Merk Hard Currency Fund
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2
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
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(a) ☐
(b) ☐
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3
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SEC USE ONLY
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4
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
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Delaware
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NUMBER OF
SHARES |
5
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SOLE VOTING POWER
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BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY |
6
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SHARED VOTING POWER
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717,800 (1)
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EACH
REPORTING |
7
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
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PERSON
WITH: |
8
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SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
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9
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
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717,800
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10
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CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 9 EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
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☐
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11
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
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6.69%
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12
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
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IV
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(1)
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Represents shares held directly by the Fund, over which the Fund and Merk Investments LLC, as investment advisor and manager of the Fund, share voting power. Merk Investments LLC has sole dispositive power over the shares. The Fund disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares pursuant to Rule 13d-4.
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CUSIP No.
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921078101
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Page 3 of 5
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Item 1(a).
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Name of Issuer:
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VanEck Merk Gold Trust
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Item 1(b).
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Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
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VanEck Merk Gold Trust
c/o Merk Investments LLC
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44 Montgomery Street, #3730, San Francisco, California 94014
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Item 2(a).
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Name of Person Filing:
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This statement is filed by the Merk Hard Currency Fund (the "Fund").
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Item 2(b).
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Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:
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The address for the principal business office of the Merk Hard Currency Fund is:
Merk Hard Currency Fund
P.O. Box 588
Portland, Maine 04112
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Item 2(c).
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Citizenship:
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The Fund is a series of a Delaware statutory trust.
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Item 2(d).
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Title of Class of Securities:
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VanEck Merk Gold Shares, no par value.
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Item 2(e).
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CUSIP Number:
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921078101
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Item 3.
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If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b), or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:
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(a)
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Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).
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(b)
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Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
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(c)
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Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
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CUSIP No .
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921078101
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Page 4 of 5
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(d)
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Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).
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(e)
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An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
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(f)
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An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
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(g)
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A parent holding company or control person in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G);
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(h)
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A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
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(i)
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A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
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(j) |
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A non-U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). | |
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(k)
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Group, in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
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Item 4.
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Ownership.
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Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.
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(a)
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Amount beneficially owned:
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717,800
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(b)
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Percent of class:
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6.69%
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(c)
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Number of shares as to which such person has:
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(i)
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Sole power to vote or to direct the vote
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(ii)
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Shared power to vote or to direct the vote
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717,800 (1)
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(iii)
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Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
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(iv)
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Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
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(1)
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Represents shares held directly by the Fund, over which the Fund and Merk Investments LLC, as investment advisor and manager of the Fund, share voting power. Merk Investments LLC has sole dispositive power over the shares. The Fund disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares pursuant to Rule 13d-4.
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CUSIP No .
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921078101
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Page 5 of 5
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Item 5.
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Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
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If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ]
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Item 6
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Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
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N/A
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Item 7.
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Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.
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N/A
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Item 8.
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Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
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N/A
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Item 9.
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Notice of Dissolution of Group.
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N/A
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Item 10.
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Certification.
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Date: February 13, 2018
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MERK HARD CURRENCY FUND
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Signature:
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/s/Karen Shaw
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Name:
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Karen Shaw
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Title:
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Treasurer Forum Funds, on behalf of the
Merk Hard Currency Fund |