VanEck Merk Gold ETF
For the period ended Jan 31, 2026. Filed Mar 27, 2026.
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A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.
FY2026 · Filed Mar 27, 2026
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended January 31,2026
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 No.001-36459
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| New York | 46-6582016 |
|---|---|
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| c/o Merk Investments LLC 1150 Chestnut St, Menlo Park, California | 94025 |
|---|---|
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(650) 323-4341
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered |
|---|---|---|
| VanEck Merk Gold Shares | OUNZ | NYSE Arca |
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 checkmark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ |
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | ||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b).☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes☐ No☒
As of July 31, 2025, the aggregate market value of the VanEck Merk Gold Shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $1,752,291,265.90
As of March 25, 2026, there were 63,171,210 VanEck Merk Gold Shares outstanding.
Documents incorporated by reference: None.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Report”) includes statements which relate to future events or future performance. In some cases, you can identify such forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements (other than statements of historical fact) included in this Report that address activities, events or developments that may occur in the future, including such matters as changes in commodity prices and market conditions (for gold and the shares), the operations of VanEck Merk Gold ETF (the “Trust”), the plans of Merk Investments LLC, the sponsor of the Trust (the “Sponsor”), and references to the Trust’s future success and other similar matters are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially. These statements are based upon certain assumptions and analyses made by the Sponsor on the basis of its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Whether or not actual results and developments will conform to the Sponsor’s expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the special considerations referenced in this Report, general economic, market and business conditions, changes in laws or regulations, including those concerning taxes, and other world economic and political developments. Consequently, all the forward-looking statements made in this Report are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments the Sponsor anticipates will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the expected consequences to, or have the expected effects on, the Trust’s operations or the value of the shares issued by the Trust. Moreover, neither the Sponsor, nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the forward-looking statements. Neither the Trust nor the Sponsor undertakes an obligation to publicly update or conform to actual results any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| PART I | 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Item 1 | Business | 1 |
| Item 1A | Risk Factors | 21 |
| Item 1B | Unresolved Staff Comments | 36 |
| Item 1C | Cybersecurity | 36 |
| Item 2 | Properties | 37 |
| Item 3 | Legal Proceedings | 37 |
| Item 4 | Mine Safety Disclosures | 37 |
| PART II | 38 | |
| Item 5 | Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | 38 |
| Item 6 | Reserved | 38 |
| Item 7 | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 39 |
| Item 7A | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 45 |
| Item 8 | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | 46 |
| Item 9 | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure | 47 |
| Item 9A | Controls and Procedures | 47 |
| Item 9B | Other Information | 48 |
| Item 9C | Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections | 48 |
| PART III | 49 | |
| Item 10 | Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance | 49 |
| Item 11 | Executive Compensation | 50 |
| Item 12 | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters | 50 |
| Item 13 | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence | 50 |
| Item 14 | Principal Accountant Fees and Services | 50 |
| PART IV | 51 | |
| Item 15 | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules | 51 |
| SIGNATURES | 52 |
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