abrdn Precious Metals Basket ETF Trust - Quarter Report: 2012 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2012
or

o	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: 001-34917



ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


New York	27-2780046
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
organization)

c/o ETF Securities USA LLC
48 Wall Street, 11^th Floor
New York, NY	10005
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(212) 918-4954

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 x No o

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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes o No x

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


Large accelerated filer	o	Accelerated filer x
Non accelerated filer	o	Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes o No x

As of May 9, 2012, ETFS Precious Metals Basket Trust has 2,100,000 ETFS Physical PM Basket Shares outstanding.

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2012

INDEX


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)	1
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	11
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	13
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	13
Item 4T.	Controls and Procedures	13

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	14
Item 1.A	Risk Factors	14
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	14
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	14
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	14
Item 5.	Other Information	14
Item 6.	Exhibits	15

SIGNATURES		16

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Condensed Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited)
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011


	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011 (3)
ASSETS

Investment in Bullion (1)
Gold	$	90,868,067		$	95,031,713
Silver		64,771,943			67,745,237
Platinum		11,557,216			12,072,539
Palladium		7,964,351			8,339,760

		175,161,577			183,189,249


Total assets	$	175,161,577		$	183,189,249


LIABILITIES

Fees payable to Sponsor	$	100,269		$	107,543
Bullion payable		—			8,694,716


Total liabilities		100,269			8,802,259


REDEEMABLE SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS DEFICIT

Shares at redemption value to investors (2)		199,885,830			182,586,013
Shareholders’ deficit		(24,824,522	)		(8,199,023	)


Total liabilities, redeemable Shares & shareholders’ deficit	$	175,161,577		$	183,189,249


(1)	The market value of investment in Bullion at March 31, 2012 was $199,986,099 and at December 31, 2011 was $191,388,272. Refer to Note 2.1 for a breakdown of market value per metal.

(2)	Authorized share capital is unlimited with no par value per share. Shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012 and at December 31, 2011 were 2,100,000.

(3)	Derived from audited Statement of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2011.

See Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements.

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2012			Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
REVENUES

Value of Bullion transferred to pay expenses	$	304,062		$	245,201
Cost of Bullion transferred to pay expenses		(273,285	)		(233,362	)

Gain on Bullion transferred to pay expenses		30,777			11,839

Gain on Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares		1,171,634			438,080


Total gain on Bullion		1,202,411			449,919


EXPENSES

Sponsor’s Fee		296,788			280,348


Total expenses		296,788			280,348


Net gain from operations	$	905,623		$	169,571


Net gain per Share	$	0.44		$	0.08

Weighted average number of Shares		2,072,527			2,115,556

See Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2012			Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
INCREASE / (DECREASE) IN CASH FROM OPERATIONS:

Cash proceeds received from transfer of Bullion	$	—		$	—

Cash expenses paid		—			—



Increase in cash resulting from operations		—			—

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		—			—



Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	—		$	—



SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Value of Bullion received for creation of Shares - net of Bullion receivable	$	4,726,778		$	53,630,974

Value of Bullion distributed for redemption of Shares - at average cost - net of Bullion payable	$	12,481,165		$	8,216,251

RECONCILIATION OF NET GAIN TO NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Net gain from operations	$	905,623		$	169,571
Adjustments to reconcile net gain to net cash provided by operating activities:
Decrease / (increase) in Bullion assets		8,027,672			(45,181,361	)
Increase in Bullion receivable		—			(434,719	)
Decrease in Bullion payable		(8,694,716	)		—
(Decrease) / increase in amounts payable to Sponsor		(7,274	)		35,146
Increase / (decrease) in redeemable Shares:
Creations		4,726,778			54,065,692
Redemptions		(4,958,083	)		(8,654,329	)

Net cash provided by operating activities	$	—		$	—


SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES:

Value of Bullion transferred to pay expenses	$	304,062		$	245,201

See Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Deficit (Unaudited)
For the three months ended March 31, 2012


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2012

Shareholders’ deficit - opening balance	$	(8,199,023	)
Net gain for the period		905,623
Adjustment of redeemable Shares to redemption value		(17,531,122	)

Shareholders’ deficit – closing balance	$	(24,824,522	)

See Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

1. Organization

The ETFS Precious Metals Basket Trust (the “Trust”) is an investment trust formed on October 18, 2010, under New York law pursuant to a depositary trust agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) executed by ETF Securities USA LLC (the “Sponsor”) and the Bank of New York Mellon (the “Trustee”) at the time of the Trust’s organization. The Trust holds gold, silver, platinum and palladium in set ratios (together, “Bullion”) and issues ETFS Physical PM Basket Shares (“Shares”) (in minimum blocks of 50,000 Shares, also referred to as “Baskets”) in exchange for deposits of Bullion and distributes Bullion in connection with the redemption of Baskets. Shares represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust which are issued by the Trust. The Sponsor is a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETF Securities Limited, a Jersey, Channel Islands based company. The Trust is governed by the Trust Agreement.

The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold, silver, platinum and palladium, less the Trust’s expenses and liabilities. The Trust is designed to provide an individual owner of beneficial interests in the Shares (a “Shareholder”) an opportunity to participate in the gold, silver, platinum and palladium market through an investment in securities. The fiscal year end for the Trust is December 31.

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements were prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions for the Form 10-Q. In the opinion of management of the Sponsor, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and for all periods presented have been made.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted. These condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires those responsible for preparing financial statements to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Trust.

2.1. Valuation of Bullion

Bullion is held by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Custodian”), on behalf of the Trust, at its London, England vaulting premises on a segregated basis. The allocated Platinum and Palladium is held by UBS AG (the “Zurich Sub-Custodian”) at its Zurich, Switzerland vaulting premises on a segregated basis. The Trust’s Bullion is valued, per individual metal type, for financial statement purposes, at the lower of cost or market. The cost of Bullion is determined according to the average cost method and the market value is based on the London Fix for each metal held by the Trust used to determine the net asset value (the “NAV”) of the Trust. Realized gains and losses on transfers of Bullion, or Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares, are calculated on a trade date basis using average cost.

Once the value of Bullion has been determined, the NAV is computed by the Trustee by deducting all accrued fees, expenses and other liabilities of the Trust, including the remuneration due to the Sponsor (the “Sponsor’s Fee”), from the fair value of the Bullion and all other assets held by the Trust.

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

2.1. Valuation of Bullion (Continued)

The table below summarizes the unrealized gains or losses on the Trust’s Bullion holdings as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011:


	March 31, 2012
	Gold		Silver			Platinum			Palladium			Total

Investment in Bullion-average cost	$	90,868,067	$	64,771,943		$	11,557,216		$	7,964,351		$	175,161,577
Unrealized gain on investment in Bullions		13,015,812		9,530,805			2,106,508			171,397			24,824,522

Investment in Bullion-market value	$	103,883,879	$	74,302,748		$	13,663,724		$	8,135,748		$	199,986,099


	December 31, 2011
	Gold		Silver			Platinum			Palladium			Total

Investment in Bullion-average cost	$	95,031,713	$	76,742,076		$	15,338,914		$	9,528,862		$	196,641,565
Realized loss on investment in Bullion		—		(8,996,839	)		(3,266,375	)		(1,189,102	)		(13,452,316	)

Investment in Bullion-lower of cost or market value		95,031,713		67,745,237			12,072,539			8,339,760			183,189,249
Unrealized gain on investment in Bullion		8,199,023		—			—			—			8,199,023

Investment in Bullion-market value	$	103,230,736	$	67,745,237		$	12,072,539		$	8,339,760		$	191,388,272

The Trust recognizes the diminution in value of the investment in Bullion which arises from market declines on an interim basis. Increases in the value of the investment in Bullion through market price recoveries in later interim periods of the same fiscal year are recognized in the later interim period. Increases in value recognized on an interim basis may not exceed the previously recognized diminution in value.

The per Share amount of Bullion exchanged for a purchase or redemption is calculated daily by the Trustee, using the London Fix for each metal held by the Trust to calculate the Bullion amount in respect of any liabilities for which covering Bullion sales have not yet been made, and represents the per Share amount of Bullion held by the Trust, after giving effect to its liabilities, to cover expenses and liabilities and any losses that may have occurred.

2.2. Bullion Receivable and Payable

Bullion receivable or payable represents the quantity of Bullion covered by contractually binding orders for the creation or redemption of Shares respectively, where the Bullion has not yet been transferred to or from the Trust’s account. Generally, ownership of the Bullion is transferred within three business days of the trade date. Bullion receivable or payable at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is set out below:


	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011

Bullion receivable	$	—	$	—

Bullion payable	$	—	$	8,694,716

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

2.3. Creations and Redemptions of Shares

The Trust expects to create and redeem Shares from time to time, but only in one or more Baskets. The Trust issues Shares in Baskets to Authorized Participants on an ongoing basis. Individual investors cannot purchase or redeem Shares in direct transactions with the Trust. An Authorized Participant is a person who (1) is a registered broker-dealer or other securities market participant such as a bank or other financial institution which is not required to register as a broker-dealer to engage in securities transactions, (2) is a participant in The Depository Trust Company, (3) has entered into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Trustee and the Sponsor, and (4) has established an Authorized Participant Unallocated Account with the Trust’s Custodian or other Bullion clearing bank. An Authorized Participant Agreement is an agreement entered into by each Authorized Participant, the Sponsor and the Trustee which provides the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets and for the delivery of the Bullion required for such creations and redemptions. An Authorized Participant Unallocated Account is an unallocated Bullion account, either loco London or loco Zurich, established with the Custodian or a Bullion clearing bank by an Authorized Participant.

The creation and redemption of Baskets is only made in exchange for the delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of Bullion represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which is based on the combined NAV 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 properly received.

Authorized Participants may, on any business day, place an order with the Trustee to create or redeem one or more Baskets. The typical settlement period for Shares is three business days. In the event of a trade date at period end, where a settlement is pending, a respective account receivable and/or payable will be recorded. When Bullion is exchanged in settlement of a redemption, it is considered a sale of Bullion for financial statement purposes.

The amount of bullion represented by the Baskets created or redeemed can only be settled to the nearest 1/1000^thof an ounce. As a result, the value attributed to the creation or redemption of Shares may differ from the value of bullion to be delivered or distributed by the Trust. In order to ensure that the correct metal is available at all times to back the Shares, the Sponsor accepts an adjustment to its management fees in the event of any shortfall or excess. For each transaction, this amount is not more than 1/1000^th of an ounce.

The Shares of the Trust are classified as “Redeemable Capital Shares” for financial statement purposes, since they are subject to redemption at the option of Authorized Participants. Outstanding Shares are reflected at redemption value, which represents the maximum obligation (based on NAV per Share), with the difference from historical cost recorded as an offsetting amount to retained earnings. When Bullion is exchanged in settlement of a redemption, a gain or loss in the amount of the difference between the market value on the trade date and the historical cost is recorded to the Condensed Statement of Operations.

Changes in the Shares for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and for the year ended December 31, 2011 are set out below:


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2012			Year Ended December 31, 2011

Number of redeemable Shares
Opening balance		2,100,000			1,900,000
Creations		50,000			1,450,000
Redemptions		(50,000	)		(1,250,000	)

Closing balance		2,100,000			2,100,000


Redeemable Shares
Opening balance	$	182,586,013		$	166,379,066
Creations		4,726,778			143,112,185
Redemptions		(4,958,083	)		(120,762,519	)
Adjustment to redemption value		17,531,122			(6,142,719	)

Closing balance	$	199,885,830		$	182,586,013


Redemption value per Share at period end	$	95.18		$	86.95

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

2.4. Revenue Recognition Policy

The primary expense of the Trust is the Sponsor’s Fee, which is paid by the Trust through in-kind transfers of Bullion to the Sponsor. With respect to expenses not otherwise assumed by the Sponsor, the Trustee will, at the direction of the Sponsor or in its own discretion, sell the Trust’s Bullion as necessary to pay these expenses. When selling Bullion to pay expenses, the Trustee will endeavor to sell the smallest amounts of Bullion needed to pay these expenses in order to minimize the Trust’s holdings of assets other than Bullion.

Unless otherwise directed by the Sponsor, when selling Bullion the Trustee will endeavor to sell at the price established by the London Fix for each metal held by the Trust. The Trustee will place orders with dealers (which may include the Custodian) through which the Trustee expects to receive the most favorable price and execution of orders. The Custodian may be the purchaser of such Bullion only if the sale transaction is made at the London Fix for each metal held by the Trust used by the Trustee to value the Trust’s Bullion. A gain or loss is recognized based on the difference between the selling price and the average cost of the Bullion sold. Neither the Trustee nor the Sponsor is liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of any sale.

2.5. Income Taxes

The Trust is classified as a “grantor trust” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Trust itself will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead, the Trust’s income and expenses will “flow through” to the Shareholders, and the Trustee will report the Trust’s proceeds, income, deductions, gains, and losses to the Internal Revenue Service on that basis.

The Sponsor has evaluated whether or not there are uncertain tax positions that require financial statement recognition and has determined that no reserves for uncertain tax positions are required as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

2.6. Investment in Bullion

Changes in ounces of Bullion and the respective values for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and for the year ended December 31, 2011 are set out below:


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
	Gold			Silver			Platinum			Palladium			Total
Ounces of Bullion:
Opening balance		65,564.1			2,404,018.4			8,741.9			13,112.8			2,491,437.2
Creations		1,487.3			54,533.4			198.3			297.5			56,516.5
Redemptions		(4,467.1	)		(163,792.1	)		(595.6	)		(893.4	)		(169,748.2	)
Transfers of Bullion		(97.8	)		(3,586.4	)		(13.0	)		(19.6	)		(3,716.8	)

Closing balance		62,486.5			2,291,173.3			8,331.6			12,497.3			2,374,488.7


Investment in Bullion (lower of cost or market):
Opening balance	$	95,031,713		$	67,745,237		$	12,072,539		$	8,339,760		$	183,189,249
Creations		2,452,885			1,743,432			325,217			205,244			4,726,778
Redemptions		(6,474,759	)		(4,615,662	)		(822,534	)		(568,210	)		(12,481,165	)
Transfers of Bullion		(141,772	)		(101,064	)		(18,006	)		(12,443	)		(273,285	)


Closing balance	$	90,868,067		$	64,771,943		$	11,557,216		$	7,964,351		$	175,161,577


	Year Ended December 31, 2011
	Gold			Silver			Platinum			Palladium			Total
Ounces of Bullion:
Opening balance		55,461.9			2,033,601.3			7,395.0			11,092.3			2,107,550.5
Redemptions (excluding bullion payable at December 31, 2011 - 2,978.6, 109,213.9, 397.1, and 595.7, respectively)		44,859.8			1,644,859.4			5,981.2			8,972.0			1,704,672.4
Redemptions		(34,336.6	)		(1,259,007.4	)		(4,578.2	)		(6,867.3	)		(1,304,789.5	)
Transfers of Bullion		(421.0	)		(15,434.9	)		(56.1	)		(84.2	)		(15,996.2	)

Closing balance		65,564.1			2,404,018.4			8,741.9			13,112.8			2,491,437.2


Investment in Bullion (lower of cost or market):
Opening balance	$	76,213,472		$	54,148,351		$	12,716,653		$	7,566,140		$	150,644,616
Creations		68,061,096			61,734,789			10,720,634			6,974,063			147,490,582
Redemptions (excluding bullion payable at December 31, 2011 - $4,317,263, $3,077,647, $548,453, and $378,873, respectively)*		(48,650,097	)		(38,678,514	)		(8,000,519	)		(4,951,043	)		(100,280,173	)
Transfers of Bullion		(592,758	)		(462,550	)		(97,854	)		(60,298	)		(1,213,460	)
Realized loss on investment in Bullion		—			(8,996,839	)		(3,266,375	)		(1,189,102	)		(13,452,316	)

Closing balance	$	95,031,713		$	67,745,237		$	12,072,539		$	8,339,760		$	183,189,249


*	Market value of Bullion payable at December 31, 2011 - $4,689,743, $3,077,647, $548,453 and $378,873, respectively.

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

2.7. Expenses

The Trust will transfer Bullion to the Sponsor to pay the Sponsor’s Fee that will accrue daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.60% of the adjusted net asset value (the “ANAV) of the Trust, paid monthly in arrears.

The Sponsor has agreed to assume administrative and marketing expenses incurred by the Trust, including the Trustee’s monthly fee and out of pocket expenses, the Custodian’s fee and the reimbursement of the Custodian’s expenses, exchange listing fees, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) registration fees, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and certain legal expenses.

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 the Sponsor’s Fee was $296,788 and $280,348, respectively. At March 31, 2012 and at December 31, 2011, the fees payable to the Sponsor were $100,269 and $107,543, respectively.

2.8. Subsequent Events

In accordance with the provisions set forth in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 855-10, Subsequent Events, the Trust’s management has evaluated the possibility of subsequent events existing in the Trust’s financial statements through the filing date. During this period, no material subsequent events were identified.

3. Related Parties

The Sponsor and the Trustee are considered to be related parties to the Trust. The Trustee’s fee is paid by the Sponsor and is not a separate expense of the Trust. The Trustee and the Custodian and their affiliates may from time to time act as Authorized Participants or purchase or sell Bullion or Shares for their own account, as agent for their customers and for accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.

4. Concentration of Risk

The Trust’s sole business activity is the investment in Bullion, and substantially all the Trust’s assets are holdings of Bullion which creates a concentration risk associated with fluctuations in the price of Bullion. Several factors could affect the price of Bullion, including: (i) global Bullion supply and demand, which is influenced by factors such as forward selling by Bullion producers, purchases made by Bullion producers to unwind Bullion hedge positions, central bank purchases and sales, and production and cost levels in major Bullion-producing countries; (ii) investors’ expectations with respect to the rate of inflation; (iii) currency exchange rates; (iv) interest rates; (v) investment and trading activities of hedge funds and commodity funds; and (vi) global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations. In addition, there is no assurance that Bullion will maintain its long-term value in terms of purchasing power in the future. In the event that the price of Bullion declines, the Sponsor expects the value of an investment in the Shares to decline proportionately. Each of these events could have a material effect on the Trust’s financial position and results of operations.

5. Indemnification

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, the Trustee (and its directors, employees and agents) and the Sponsor (and its members, managers, directors, officers, employees and affiliates) is indemnified by the Trust against any liability, cost or expense it incurs without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part and without reckless disregard on its part of its obligations and duties under the Trust’s organizational documents.

The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

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

This information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed financial statements and notes to the unaudited condensed financial statements included in Item 1 of Part 1 of this Form 10-Q. The discussion and analysis that follows may contain forward-looking statements with respect to the Trust’s financial conditions, operations, future performance and business. These statements can be identified by the use of the words “may”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential” or similar words and phrases. These statements are based upon certain assumptions and analyses the Sponsor has made based on its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Neither the Trust nor the Sponsor is under a duty to update any of the forward looking statements, to conform such statements to actual results or to reflect a change in management’s expectations or predictions.

Introduction

The Trust is a common law trust, formed under the laws of the state of New York on the October 18, 2010. The Trust is not managed like a corporation or an active investment vehicle. It does not have any officers, directors, or employees and is administered by the Trustee pursuant to the Trust. The Trust is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and is not required to register under such act. It will not hold or trade in commodity futures contracts, nor is it a commodity pool, subject to regulation as a commodity pool operator or a commodity trading adviser in connection with issuing Shares.

The Trust holds Bullion (consisting of gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion in specified proportions) and is expected to issue Baskets in exchange for deposits of Bullion, and to distribute Bullion in connection with redemptions of Baskets. Shares issued by the Trust represent units of undivided beneficial interest in the ownership of the Trust. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold, silver, platinum and palladium in the proportions held by the Trust, less the Trust’s expenses. The Trust holds Bullion in a ratio such that for every 0.03 ounces of gold, it holds 1.1 ounces of silver, 0.004 ounces of platinum and 0.006 ounces of palladium. The Sponsor believes that, for many investors, the Shares will represent a cost effective investment relative to traditional means of investing in Bullion.

The Trust issues and redeems Shares only with Authorized Participants in exchange for Bullion, only in aggregations of 50,000 or integral multiples thereof. A list of current Authorized Participants is available from the Sponsor or the Trustee.

Shares of the Trust trade on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) Arca under the symbol “GLTR.”

Valuation of Bullion and Computation of Net Asset Value

On each business day, as promptly as practicable after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on such day (the “Evaluation Time”), the Trustee values the Bullion held by the Trust and determines both the ANAV and the NAV of the Trust.

At the Evaluation Time, the Trustee values the Trust’s Bullion on the basis of that day’s “London Fix” for such metal (the applicable fix for each metal of the price of an ounce of such metal and is performed in London, England by fixing members of the London Bullion Market Association (“LBMA”) or London Platinum and Palladium (“LPPM”), as applicable), or if no London Fix is made for a metal on such day or has not been announced by the Evaluation Time, the next most recent London Fix for such metal determined prior to the Evaluation Time will be used, unless the Sponsor determines that such price is inappropriate as a basis for Evaluation. In the case this determination is made, the Sponsor will identify an alternative basis for such evaluation to be used by the Trustee.

Gold held by the Trust will typically be valued on the basis of the price of an ounce of gold as set by the afternoon session of the twice daily fix of the price of an ounce of gold which starts at 3:00 PM London, England time and is performed in London by the five members of the London gold fix. Silver held by the Trust will typically be valued on the basis of the price of an ounce of silver as set at approximately 12:00 noon London time and performed in London by three market making members of the LBMA. Platinum held by the Trust will typically be valued on the basis of the price of an ounce of platinum as set by the afternoon session of the twice daily fix of the price of an ounce of platinum which starts at 2:00 PM London, England time and is performed in London by the four fixing members of the LPPM. Palladium held by the Trust will typically be valued on the basis of the price of an ounce of palladium as set by the afternoon session of the twice daily fix of the price of an ounce of palladium which starts at 2:00 PM London, England time and is performed in London by the four fixing members of the LPPM.

Once the value of Bullion held by the Trust has been determined, the Trustee subtracts all estimated accrued but unpaid fees and other liabilities of the Trust from the total value of the Bullion and all other assets of the Trust. The resulting figure is the ANAV of the Trust. The ANAV is used to compute the Sponsor’s Fee.

The Trustee then subtracts from the ANAV the amount of Sponsor’s Fees computed for such day to determine the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Trust. The Trustee also determines the NAV per Share by dividing the NAV of the Trust by the number of Shares outstanding as of the close of trading on the NYSE Arca.

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

The Quarter Ended March 31, 2012

The NAV of the Trust is obtained by subtracting the Trust’s liabilities on any day from the value of the Bullion owned and receivable by the Trust on that day; the NAV per Share is obtained by dividing the NAV of the Trust on a given day by the number of Shares outstanding on that day.

The Trust’s NAV increased from $182,586,013 at December 31, 2011 to $199,885,830 at March 31, 2012, a 9.47% increase for the quarter. The increase in the Trust’s NAV resulted primarily from an increase in the price per ounce of gold, silver, platinum and palladium in the proportions held by the Trust (the “Proportionate Price”) which rose 9.64%. There was no net change in the number of outstanding Shares from December 31, 2011 to March 31, 2012 with 2,100,000 Shares outstanding, a result of 50,000 Shares (1 Basket) being created and 50,000 Shares (1 Basket) being redeemed during the quarter.

NAV per Share increased 9.47% from $86.95 at December 31, 2011 to $95.18 at March 31, 2012. The Trust’s NAV per Share rose slightly less than the Proportionate Price due to Sponsor’s Fees, which were $296,788 for the quarter, or 0.60% of the Trust’s assets on an annualized basis.

The NAV per Share of $104.43 at February 29, 2012 was the highest during the quarter, compared with a low of $88.56 at January 3, 2012.

Net gain from operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 was $905,623, resulting from a net gain of $30,777 on the transfer of Bullion to pay expenses and a net gain of $1,171,634 on Bullion distributed for the redemption of Shares, offset by Sponsor’s Fees of $296,788. Other than the Sponsor’s Fee, the Trust had no expenses during the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

Liquidity & Capital Resources

The Trust is not aware of any trends, demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that are reasonably likely to result in material changes to its liquidity needs. In exchange for the Sponsor’s Fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume most of the expenses incurred by the Trust. As a result, the only ordinary expense of the Trust during the period covered by this report was the Sponsor’s Fee.

The Trustee will, at the direction of the Sponsor or in its own discretion, sell the Trust’s Bullion as necessary to pay the Trust’s expenses not otherwise assumed by the Sponsor. The Trustee will not sell Bullion to pay the Sponsor’s Fee but will pay the Sponsor’s Fee through in-kind transfers of Bullion to the Sponsor. At March 31, 2012 the Trust did not have any cash balances.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Trust has no off-balance sheet arrangements.

Critical Accounting Policies

The unaudited condensed financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these unaudited condensed financial statements relies on estimates and assumptions that impact the Trust’s financial position and results of operations. These estimates and assumptions affect the Trust’s application of accounting policies. In addition, please refer to Note 2 to the unaudited condensed financial statements for further discussion of accounting policies.

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not applicable.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The Trust maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Sponsor, and to the audit committee, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Sponsor, the Sponsor conducted an evaluation of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e). Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Sponsor concluded that, as of March 31, 2012, the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

There have been no changes in the Trust’s or Sponsor’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Trust’s fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s or Sponsor’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 4T. Controls and Procedures

Not applicable.

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

None.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

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


Item 2(a).	None.

Item 2(b).	Not applicable.

Item 2(c).	For the three months ended March 31, 2012:

	1 Basket was created.

	1 Basket was redeemed.


	Total Baskets Redeemed		Total Shares Redeemed		Average Ounces of Bullion Per Share
Period	Total Baskets Redeemed		Total Shares Redeemed		Gold		Silver		Platinum		Palladium


January 2012		1		50,000		0.030		1.092		0.004		0.006
February 2012		—		—		—		—		—		—
March 2012		—		—		—		—		—		—

Total		1		50,000

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

ETFS PRECIOUS METALS BASKET TRUST

Item 6. Exhibits

(a) Exhibits


31.1	Chief Executive Officer’s Certificate, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2	Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1	Chief Executive Officer’s Certificate, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2	Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate, 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*

101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*

101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Document*

101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Document*

101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Document*

101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Document*


*	In accordance with Regulation S-T, the XBRL-related information in Exhibit 101 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q shall be deemed to be “furnished” and not “filed.”

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned in the capacities thereunto duly authorized.


	ETF SECURITIES USA LLC
	Sponsor of the ETFS Precious Metals Basket Trust
	(Registrant)

Date: May 10, 2012	/s/ Graham Tuckwell

	Graham Tuckwell
	President and Chief Executive Officer
	(Principal Executive Officer)

Date: May 10, 2012	/s/ Thomas Quigley

	Thomas Quigley
	Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
	(Principal Financial Officer and Principal
	Accounting Officer)

* The Registrant is a trust and the persons are signing in their capacities as officers of ETF Securities USA LLC, the Sponsor of the Registrant.