Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

2.1. Basis of Accounting

Since the Trust’s inception, the Sponsor determined that the Trust was not an investment company within the scope of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Codification of Accounting Standards, Topic 946, Financial Services—Investment Companies (“Topic 946”). Consequently, the Trust did not prepare the its financial statements applying standards applicable to investment companies in accordance with Topic 946, including recording its investment in palladium at “fair value” as defined in Topic 946. Instead, the Trust recorded its investment in palladium at the lower of cost or fair value in accordance with ASC 330, Inventory and ASC 270, Interim Reporting.

Following the release of FASB Accounting Standards Update ASU 2013-08, Financial Services—Investments Companies (Topic 946): Amendments to the Scope, Measurement and Disclosure Requirements, the Sponsor has re-evaluated whether the Trust falls within scope and has concluded that for reporting purposes, the Trust is classified as an investment company effective January 1, 2014. 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.

As a result of the change in the evaluation of investment company status, the Trust must, from January 1, 2014, present its investment in palladium at “fair value” as defined in Topic 946.

The adoption of Topic 946 accounting changed the presentation of the Trust’s financial statements prospectively from January 1, 2014 (the date of the adoption), the most significant aspects of which are as follows:

	1.	Presentation of prior year information has been conformed to the current year accounting standards in the Condensed Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Condensed Statement of Operations. A Condensed Statement of Changes in Net Assets is required and has been presented for the six month period ended June 30, 2014.
	2.	A Schedule of Investments is required as of June 30, 2014. The Schedule has also been included as of December 31, 2013, for comparative presentation.
	3.	Financial Highlights are required for the period ended June 30, 2014.
	4.	As the Trust meets the exemption criteria under Topic 946, a cash flow statement is not required for the period ended June 30, 2014. Since the adoption of the new accounting principle is prospective, the prior year statement of cash flows is still presented.
	5.	Required disclosures under Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements, have been included in the footnotes to the financial statements as of June 30, 2014. December 31, 2013 disclosures have also been included for comparative purposes.

The quantitative effect of the adoption of investment company accounting is presented below:



	Value at				Gain / (loss)
	December 31, 2013		Value at		as a result of
	at lower of cost		January 1, 2014		change in
(Amounts in 000's of US$)	or market value		at fair value		accounting principle
Investment in palladium	$	463,598	$	510,475	$	46,877

Valuation Of Palladium

2.2. Valuation of Palladium

The Trust follows the provisions of ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures ("ASC 820"). ASC 820 provides guidance for determining fair value and requires increased disclosure regarding the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

Palladium is held by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Custodian”), on behalf of the Trust, and is recorded at fair value. The cost of palladium is determined according to the average cost method and the fair value is based on the London PM Fix. Realized gains and losses on transfers of palladium, or palladium distributed for the redemption of Shares, are calculated on a trade date basis using cost. The London PM Fix price for palladium is set using the afternoon session of the twice daily fix of the price of an ounce of palladium by the four members of the London Platinum and Palladium Market at approximately 2:00 PM London time, on each working day.

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

The table below summarizes the unrealized gains on the Trust’s palladium holdings as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013



(Amounts in 000's of US$)	June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
Investment in palladium - cost	$	408,418	$	463,598
Unrealized gain on investment in palladium		121,752		46,877
Investment in palladium - fair value	$	530,170	$	510,475

Effective January 1, 2014, the Trust records its investment in palladium at fair value and recognizes changes in fair value of the investment in palladium as changes in unrealized gains or losses on investment in palladium through the Statement of Operations.

Prior to 2014, the Trust recognized the movements in value of the investment in palladium arising from market declines on an interim basis. Increases in the value of the investment in palladium through market price recoveries in later interim periods of the same fiscal year were recognized in the later interim period. Increases in value recognized on an interim basis were not permitted to exceed the previously recognized diminution in value.

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

2.2. Valuation of Palladium (continued)

Fair Value Hierarchy

Inputs

Generally accepted accounting principles establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The three levels of inputs are as follows:

–	Level 1	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the company has the ability to access.
–	Level 2	Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments and similar data.
–	Level 3	Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability to the extent that relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and that would be based on the best information available.

To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in level 3.

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

The investment in palladium is classified as a level 2 asset, as the Trust’s investment in palladium is calculated using third party pricing sources supported by observable, verifiable inputs.

The categorization of the Trust’s assets is as shown below:



(Amounts in 000's of US$)	June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013

Level 2
Investment in palladium	$	530,170	$	510,475

There were no re-allocations or transfers between levels during the period.

Palladium Receivable And Payable

2.3. Palladium Receivable and Payable

Palladium receivable or payable represents the quantity of palladium covered by contractually binding orders for the creation or redemption of Shares respectively, where the palladium has not yet been transferred to or from the Trust’s account. Generally, ownership of the palladium is transferred within three business days of the trade date.

There was no palladium receivable or payable at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013

Creations And Redemptions Of Shares

2.4. Creations and Redemptions of Shares

The Trust’s contractual obligation is to create or redeem Baskets with Authorized Participants at set prices on each trading day. These prices are based on an agreed formula published in the prospectus, which is equal to the net asset value of the Trust. 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 palladium 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 palladium required for such creations and redemptions. An Authorized Participant Unallocated Account is an unallocated palladium account, either loco London or loco Zurich, established with the Custodian or a palladium 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 palladium 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 palladium is exchanged in settlement of a redemption, it is considered a sale of palladium for financial statement purposes.

The amount of palladium represented by the Baskets created or redeemed can only be settled to the nearest 1/1000th of an ounce. As a result, the value attributed to the creation or redemption of Shares may differ from the value of palladium to be delivered or distributed by the Trust. In order to ensure that the correct amount of palladium 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 1/1000th of an ounce.

The Shares of the Trust are classified as “Redeemable 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 palladium is exchanged in settlement of a redemption, a realized gain or loss in the amount of the difference between the fair value on the trade date and the historical cost is recorded through the Condensed Statement of Operations.

Changes in the Shares for the year ended December 31, 2013 is set out below:



	Year
	Ended
(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for Share and per Share data)	December 31, 2013
Number of Redeemable Shares
Opening balance		7,250,000
Creations		2,000,000
Redemptions		(1,900,000)
Closing balance		7,350,000

Redeemable Shares
Opening balance	$	497,765
Creations		140,584
Redemptions		(133,958)
Adjustment to redemption value		5,823
Closing balance	$	510,214

Redemption value per Share at period end	$	69.42

Revenue Recognition Policy

2.5. 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 palladium 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 palladium as necessary to pay these expenses. When selling palladium to pay expenses, the Trustee will endeavor to sell the smallest amounts of palladium needed to pay these expenses in order to minimize the Trust’s holdings of assets other than palladium. Other than the Sponsor’s Fee, the Trust had no expenses during the quarter ended June 30, 2014.

Unless otherwise directed by the Sponsor, when selling palladium the Trustee will endeavor to sell at the price established by the London PM Fix. 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 palladium only if the sale transaction is made at the next London PM Fix or such other publicly available price that the Sponsor deems fair, in each case as set following the sale order. A gain or loss is recognized based on the difference between the selling price and the cost of the palladium sold. Neither the Trustee nor the Sponsor is liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of any sale.

Income Taxes

2.6. 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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Investment In Palladium

2.7. Investment in Palladium

Changes in ounces of palladium and the respective values for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and for the year ended December 31, 2013 are set out below:



	Six Months		Year
	Ended		Ended
(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for ounces data)	June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
Ounces of palladium
Opening balance		717,967.6		712,474.5
Creations		19,491.9		196,033.9
Redemptions		(107,284.7)		(185,992.9)
Transfers of palladium to pay expenses		(2,011.5)		(4,547.9)
Closing balance		628,163.3		717,967.6

Investment in palladium
Opening balance	$	510,475	$	445,038
Creations		15,458		140,584
Redemptions		(80,072)		(133,958)
Realized gain on palladium distributed for the redemption of Shares		10,737		14,838
Transfers of palladium to pay expenses		(1,526)		(3,291)
Realized gain on palladium transferred to pay expenses		223		387
Unrealized gain on investment in palladium		74,875		-
Closing balance	$	530,170	$	463,598

Expenses

2.8. Expenses

The Trust will transfer palladium 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 (“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 June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Sponsor’s Fee was $771,352 and $804,952, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Sponsor’s Fee was $1,524,910 and $1,626,050, respectively.

At June 30, 2014 and at December 31, 2013, the fees payable to the Sponsor were $260,484 and $260,849, respectively.

Subsequent Events

2.9. Subsequent Events

In accordance with the provisions set forth in FASB ASC 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 requiring adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements were identified.