Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust: Form 10-Q for the period ended Jun 30, 2025

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 British Pound Sterling, as the value of the Shares relates directly to the value of the British Pounds Sterling 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 contained in the Trust’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, together with the modified risk factor included in Item IA of this report, for a description of other risks and uncertainties that may affect an investment in the Shares.

Neither Invesco Specialized Products, LLC (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.

Overview/Introduction

The Invesco CurrencyShares® British Pound Sterling Trust (the “Trust”) is a grantor trust that was formed on June 8, 2006. The Shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “FXB” 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 British Pound Sterling and distributes British Pound Sterling in connection with the redemption of Baskets.

The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the price in USD of the British Pound Sterling 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 British Pound Sterling 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 British Pound Sterling. 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 British Pound Sterling. 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.invesco.com/etfs (http://www.invesco.com/etfs), each business day.

Definition of 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 British Pounds Sterling in the Trust at the end of the preceding day accrued but unpaid interest, if any, British Pounds Sterling receivable under pending purchase orders and the value of other Trust assets, and subtracts the accrued but unpaid Sponsor’s fee, British Pounds Sterling payable under pending redemption orders and other Trust expenses and liabilities, if any. The NAV is expressed in USD based on the British Pound Sterling/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.invesco.com/etfs (http://www.invesco.com/etfs).

Movements in the Price of the British Pound Sterling

The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the price in USD of the British Pound Sterling 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 British Pounds Sterling. Each outstanding Share represents a proportional interest in the British Pounds Sterling held by the Trust. The following chart provides recent trends on the price of the British Pound Sterling. The chart illustrates movements in the price of the British Pound Sterling in USD and is based on the Closing Spot Rate:

NAV per Share; Valuation of the British Pound Sterling

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 British Pounds Sterling:

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Trust does not have any material cash requirements as of the end of the latest fiscal period. The Sponsor is not aware of any known trends, demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that will result in, or are reasonably likely to result in, material changes to the Trust’s liquidity and capital resources 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 June 30, 2025 was an annual nominal rate of 2.86%. The following chart provides the daily rate paid by the Depository since June 30, 2020:

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 period 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 British Pounds Sterling 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). Distributions paid during the current reporting period follow (annualized yield reflects the estimated annual yield an investor would receive if a monthly distribution stayed the same for the entire year going forward, and is calculated by annualizing the monthly distribution and dividing by the Trust NAV for the dates listed below):

FXB Distribution History

Critical Accounting Estimates

The financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these 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 3 to the financial statements of the Trust for further discussion of the Trust’s accounting policies and Item 7 – Management’s Discussions and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Estimates included in the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Results of Operations

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, the Trust's net comprehensive income (loss) was, in part, impacted by market volatility resulting from global tariff gyrations and mounting US recession concerns for 2025, and expectations around the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) easing and heightened geopolitical concerns for 2024, which are considered to be unusual or infrequent events. Although the full and direct impact of global tariffs, US recession concerns, Fed easing expectations and rising geopolitical tensions, on the Trust's net comprehensive income (loss) during the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, cannot be known, it is believed that they have each independently impacted the Closing Spot Rate, the interest rate paid by the Depository, and the global economy and markets generally, including the number of Shares created and redeemed by the Trust.

The British Pound Sterling (GBP/USD) ended the second quarter of 2025 significantly higher, driven primarily by continued weakness in the U.S. Dollar. Despite a 25 basis-point rate cut by the Bank of England (BoE) during the quarter, the pound appreciated as investors moved away from the dollar amid persistent concerns over U.S. economic policy and deteriorating sentiment toward American assets. The dollar’s broad-based decline was the dominant force behind the pound’s strength, overshadowing domestic monetary policy decisions in the UK.

The British Pound Sterling (GBP/USD) was flat in the second quarter of 2024. While most of the moves were driven by the US dollar, British inflation also held up better than expected, helping the pair stay somewhat lifted despite dollar gains. As US inflation continued to print above target, the Fed stuck to its more cautious tone, causing the markets to repeatedly push out rate cut expectations. Higher interest rates generally boost the appeal of the country’s currency.

The British Pound Sterling (GBP/USD) posted strong gains year-to-date through the second quarter of 2025, largely driven by sustained weakness in the U.S. dollar. In the first quarter of 2025, the pound advanced steadily as investors reacted to shifting expectations around U.S. monetary policy and growing concerns over the fiscal outlook in the U.S. That trend continued into the second quarter of 2025, with the dollar facing additional pressure from unclear trade policies and deteriorating sentiment toward American assets. Despite a 25 basis-point rate cut by the BoE during the second quarter, the pound continued to strengthen, reflecting that the primary driver of performance has been the broad-based decline in the U.S. Dollar.

The British Pound Sterling (GBP/USD) ended the first half of 2024 flat with most of the moves driven by the US dollar. The Fed’s higher-for-longer rhetoric and stickier-than-expected US inflation pushed out expectations for rate cuts. US economic resilience also boosted demand for the dollar, pressuring the pair. However, British inflation also held up better than expected, dimming rate cut bets for the Bank of England, and provided some support on the downside

Additionally, the interest rate paid by the Depository has generally trended downward over the past year with the current interest rate of 2.86%, as set forth in the FXB Rate Chart above. As long as the interest income, if any, exceed the Sponsor's fee and the interest expense on currency deposits, the Trust will incur a net comprehensive income.

Except as described above with respect to fluctuations in the British Pound Sterling/USD exchange rate and changes in the nominal annual interest rate paid by the Depository on British Pounds Sterling 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.

Under the supervision and with the participation of the management of the Sponsor, including Brian Hartigan, its Principal Executive Officer, and Kelli Gallegos, its Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools, the Trust carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, and, based upon that evaluation, Brian Hartigan, the Principal Executive Officer of the Sponsor, and Kelli Gallegos, the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools, of the Sponsor, concluded that the Trust's disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information the Trust is required to disclose in the reports that it files or submits with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management of the Sponsor, including its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in internal control over financial reporting (as defined in the Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during the Trust's quarter ended June 30, 2025 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust's internal control over financial reporting.

Except for the modified risk factor set forth below, there have been no material changes from risk factors as previously disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed February 26, 2025.

Regulatory Matters

Changes to United States tariff and trade policies have increased the volatility of foreign exchange rates and may continue to do so. This volatility could materially and adversely affect the performance of the Shares.

The United States, under the Trump administration, has implemented significant tariff increases on imports from a large number of countries, affecting a broad array of goods, and has signaled that additional tariffs may be imposed. These actions are part of a broader shift in U.S. trade policy that has at times been difficult to predict. The potential for further escalation, including the imposition of new or higher tariffs with limited notice, has contributed to increased uncertainty in global markets. In response, other countries, including China, have announced retaliatory measures. While some tariff reductions have been implemented pursuant to temporary arrangements between the United States and various trading partners, including a limited agreement with China in May 2025, such measures remain subject to reversal. These developments have contributed to increased volatility in foreign exchange markets, including fluctuations in the USD/British Pound Sterling exchange rate. Sustained or increased volatility could materially and adversely affect the performance of the Shares.