Invesco CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust: Form 10-K for the period ended Oct 31, 2018

Overview

The Invesco CurrencyShares® Japanese Yen Trust (the “Trust”) is a grantor trust that was formed on February 1, 2007. The Shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “FXY” on February 13, 2007. 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 Japanese Yen and distributes Japanese Yen in connection with the redemption of Baskets.

The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the price in USD of Japanese Yen 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 Japanese Yen 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 Japanese Yen. 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 Japanese Yen. 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.

The Trust

General

The Trust holds Japanese Yen and, from time to time, issues Baskets in exchange for deposits of Japanese Yen and distributes Japanese Yen in connection with redemptions of Baskets. The Japanese Yen held by the Trust will be sold only (1) if needed to pay Trust expenses, (2) in the event the Trust terminates and liquidates its assets or (3) as otherwise required by law or regulation.

The Sponsor

The Sponsor of the Trust generally oversees the performance of the Trustee and the Trust’s principal service providers. The Sponsor is Invesco Specialized Products, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The Sponsor changed its name from Rydex Specialized Products LLC to Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC on March 30, 2012, and subsequently changed its name to Invesco Specialized Products, LLC as of April 6, 2018.

The Trust’s only ordinary recurring expense is the Sponsor’s fee. The Sponsor is responsible for payment of the following administrative and marketing expenses of the Trust: the Trustee’s monthly fee, typical maintenance and transaction fees of the Depository, NYSE Arca listing fees, printing and mailing costs, audit fees and expenses, up to $100,000 per year in legal fees and expenses, and applicable license fees. The Sponsor also paid the costs of the Trust’s organization, including the applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registration fees. The Sponsor’s fee accrues daily at an annual nominal rate of 0.40% of the Japanese Yen in the Trust (including all unpaid interest but excluding unpaid fees, each as accrued through the immediately preceding day). The Trust incurred $562,074 for the year ended October 31, 2018 in Sponsor’s fees.

The Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon, a banking corporation with trust powers organized under the laws of the State of New York, serves as the Trustee. The Trustee is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Trust, including keeping the Trust’s operational records.

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 Japanese Yen in the Trust at the end of the preceding day accrued but unpaid interest, if any, Japanese Yen receivable under pending purchase orders and the value of other

Trust assets, and subtracts the accrued but unpaid Sponsor’s fee, Japanese Yen payable under pending redemption orders and other Trust expenses and liabilities, if any. The NAV is expressed in U.S. Dollars (“USD”) based on the Japanese Yen/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).

Depository and Deposit Accounts

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch, is the Depository. The Depository 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 (collectively, the “Deposit Accounts”). Interest on the primary deposit account, if any, accrues daily and is paid monthly. If the Sponsor believes that the interest rate paid by the Depository is not competitive, the Sponsor’s recourse is to remove the Depository by terminating the Deposit Account Agreement and closing the Deposit Accounts. The Depository is not paid a fee for its services to the Trust. The Depository may earn a “spread” or “margin” over the rate of interest it pays to the Trust on the Japanese Yen deposit balances.

The secondary deposit account is used to account for any interest that may be received and paid on creations and redemptions of Baskets. The secondary deposit account is also used to account for interest earned on the primary deposit account, if any, pay Trust expenses and distribute any excess interest to Shareholders on a monthly basis. In the event that the interest deposited exceeds the sum of the Sponsor’s fee for the prior month plus other Trust expenses, if any, then the Trustee will direct that the excess be converted into USD at the prevailing market rate and the Trustee will distribute the USD as promptly as practicable to Shareholders on a pro-rata basis (in accordance with the number of Shares that they own).

Trust Expenses

In certain exceptional cases the Trust may pay expenses in addition to the Sponsor’s fee. These exceptions include expenses not assumed by the Sponsor, expenses resulting from a negative interest rate, taxes and governmental charges, expenses and costs of any extraordinary services performed by the Trustee or the Sponsor on behalf of the Trust or action taken by the Trustee or the Sponsor to protect the Trust or the interests of Shareholders, indemnification of the Sponsor under the Depositary Trust Agreement, and legal expenses in excess of $100,000 per year.

Termination

The Trust will terminate upon the occurrence of any of the termination events listed in the Depositary Trust Agreement and will otherwise terminate on February 1, 2047.

The Shares

General

Each Share represents a proportional interest, based on the total number of Shares outstanding, in the Japanese Yen owned by the Trust, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, less accrued but unpaid expenses (both asset-based and non-asset based) of the Trust. All Shares are of the same class with equal rights and privileges. Each Share is transferable, is fully paid and non-assessable and entitles the holder to vote on the limited matters upon which Shareholders may vote under the Depositary Trust Agreement.

Limited Rights

The Shares are not a traditional investment. They are dissimilar from the shares of a corporation operating a business enterprise, with management and a board of directors. Trust Shareholders do not have rights normally associated with owning shares of a business corporation, including, for example, the right to bring “oppression” or “derivative” actions. Shareholders have only those rights explicitly set forth in the Depositary Trust Agreement. The Shares do not entitle their holders to any conversion or pre-emptive rights or, except as described herein, any redemption or distribution rights.

Voting and Approvals

Shareholders have no voting rights under the Depositary Trust Agreement, except in limited circumstances. If the holders of at least 25% of the Shares outstanding determine that the Trustee is in material breach of its obligations under the Depositary Trust Agreement, they may provide written notice to the Trustee (or require the Sponsor to do so) specifying the default and requiring the Trustee to cure such default. If the Trustee fails to cure such breach within 30 days after receipt of such notice, the Sponsor, acting on behalf of the Shareholders, may remove the Trustee. The holders of at least 66 2/3% of the Shares outstanding may vote to remove the Trustee. The Trustee must terminate the Trust at the request of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding Shares.

Creation and Redemption of Shares

The creation and redemption of Baskets requires the delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of Japanese Yen represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed. This amount is based on the combined NAV per Share 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 accepted by the Trustee.

Only Authorized Participants may place orders to create and redeem Baskets. An Authorized Participant is a Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) participant that is a registered broker-dealer or other securities market participant, such as a bank or other financial institution that is not required to register as a broker-dealer to engage in securities transactions.

Before initiating a creation or redemption order, an Authorized Participant must have entered into a Participant Agreement with the Sponsor and the Trustee. The Participant Agreement provides the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets and for the delivery of Japanese Yen required for creations and redemptions. The Participant Agreements may be amended by the Trustee and the Sponsor. Authorized Participants pay a transaction fee of $500 to the Trustee for each order that they place to create or redeem one or more Baskets. In addition to the $500 transaction fee paid to the Trustee, Authorized Participants pay a variable fee to the Sponsor for creation orders and redemption orders of two or more Baskets to compensate the Sponsor for costs associated with the registration of Shares. The variable fee paid to the Sponsor by an Authorized Participant will not exceed $2,000 for each creation or redemption order, as set forth in the Participant Agreement. Authorized Participants who make deposits with the Trust in exchange for Baskets receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either the Sponsor or the Trust. No Authorized Participant has any obligation or responsibility to the Sponsor or the Trust to effect any sale or resale of Shares.

Availability of SEC Reports and Other Information

The Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, files quarterly and annual reports and other information with the SEC. The reports and other information can be accessed through the Trust’s website at www.invesco.com/etfs (http://www.invesco.com/etfs).

You should consider carefully the risks described below before making an investment decision. You should also refer to the other information included in this report, including the Trust’s financial statements and the related notes.

The value of the Shares relates directly to the value of the Japanese Yen held by the Trust. Fluctuations in the price of the Japanese Yen could materially and adversely affect the value of the Shares.

The Shares are designed to reflect the price of the Japanese Yen, plus accumulated interest, if any, less the Trust’s expenses. Several factors may affect the price of the Japanese Yen, including:

• Sovereign debt levels and trade deficits;
• Domestic and foreign inflation rates and interest rates and investors’ expectations concerning those rates;
• Currency exchange rates;
• Investment and trading activities of mutual funds, hedge funds and currency funds; and
• Global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations.

In addition, the Japanese Yen may not maintain its long-term value in terms of purchasing power in the future. When the price of the Japanese Yen declines, the Sponsor expects the price of a Share to decline as well.

The Japanese Yen/USD exchange rate, like foreign exchange rates in general, can be volatile and difficult to predict. This volatility could materially and adversely affect the performance of the Shares.

Foreign exchange rates are influenced by the factors identified in the preceding risk factor and may also be influenced by: changing supply and demand for a particular currency; monetary policies of governments (including exchange control programs, restrictions on local exchanges or markets and limitations on foreign investment in a country or on investment by residents of a country in other countries); changes in balances of payments and trade; trade restrictions; and currency devaluations and revaluations. Also, governments from time to time intervene in the currency markets, directly and by regulation, in order to influence prices directly. These events and actions are unpredictable. The resulting volatility in the Japanese Yen/USD exchange rate could materially and adversely affect the performance of the Shares.

Changes to United States tariff and trade policies may increase the volatility of foreign exchange rates. This volatility could materially and adversely affect the performance of the Shares.

There have been ongoing discussions and commentary regarding potential significant changes to United States trade policies, treaties and tariffs. The current administration, along with Congress, has created significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and other countries with respect to trade policies, treaties and tariffs. These developments, or the perception that any of them could occur, may have a material adverse effect on global economic conditions and the stability of global financial markets, and may increase the volatility of foreign exchange rates, including the USD/Japanese Yen exchange rate. The resulting volatility could materially and adversely affect the performance of the Shares.

If interest earned by the Trust does not exceed the Trust’s expenses, the Trustee will withdraw Japanese Yen from the Trust to pay these excess expenses, which will reduce the amount of Japanese Yen represented by each Share on an ongoing basis and may result in adverse tax consequences for Shareholders.

Each outstanding Share represents a fractional, undivided interest in the Japanese Yen held by the Trust. Recently, the amount of interest earned by the Trust has not exceeded the Trust’s expenses; accordingly, the Trustee has been required to withdraw Japanese Yen from the Trust to pay these excess expenses. As long as the amount of interest earned does not exceed expenses, the amount of Japanese Yen represented by each Share will gradually decline over time. This is true even if additional Shares are issued in exchange for additional deposits of Japanese Yen into the Trust, as the amount of Japanese Yen required to create Shares will proportionately reflect the amount of Japanese Yen represented by the Shares outstanding at the time of creation. Assuming a constant Japanese Yen price, if expenses exceed interest earned, the trading price of the Shares will gradually decline relative to the price of the

Japanese Yen as the amount of Japanese Yen represented by the Shares gradually declines. In this event, the Shares will only maintain their original price if the price of the Japanese Yen increases. There is no guarantee that interest earned by the Trust in the future will exceed the Trust’s expenses.

Investors should be aware that a gradual decline in the amount of Japanese Yen represented by the Shares may occur regardless of whether the trading price of the Shares rises or falls in response to changes in the price of the Japanese Yen. The estimated ordinary operating expenses of the Trust, which accrue daily, are described in “Business — The Trust —Trust Expenses.”

The payment of expenses by the Trust will result in a taxable event to Shareholders. To the extent Trust expenses exceed interest paid to the Trust, a gain or loss may be recognized by Shareholders depending on the tax basis of the tendered Japanese Yen.

The interest rate paid by the Depository, if any, may not be the best rate available. If the Sponsor determines that the interest rate is inadequate, then its sole recourse is to remove the Depository and terminate the Deposit Accounts.

The Depository is committed to endeavor to pay a competitive interest rate on the balance of Japanese Yen in the primary deposit account of the Trust, but there is no guarantee of the amount of interest that will be paid, if any, on this account. Interest on the primary deposit account, if any, accrues daily and is paid monthly. The Depository may change the rate at which interest accrues, including reducing the interest rate to zero or below zero, based upon changes in market conditions or the Depository’s liquidity needs. The Depository notifies the Sponsor of the interest rate applied each business day after the close of such business day. The Sponsor discloses the current interest rate on the Trust’s website. If the Sponsor believes that the interest rate paid by the Depository is not adequate, the Sponsor’s sole recourse is to remove the Depository and terminate the Deposit Accounts. The Depository is not paid a fee for its services to the Trust; rather, it generates income or loss based on its ability to earn a “spread” or “margin” over the interest it pays to the Trust by using the Trust’s Japanese Yen to make loans or in other banking operations. For these reasons, you should not expect that the Trust will be paid the best available interest rate at any time or over time.

If the Trust incurs expenses in USD, the Trust would be required to sell Japanese Yen to pay these expenses. The sale of the Trust’s Japanese Yen to pay expenses in USD at a time of low Japanese Yen prices could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

The Trustee will sell Japanese Yen held by the Trust to pay Trust expenses, if any, incurred in USD, irrespective of then-current Japanese Yen prices. The Trust is not actively managed and no attempt will be made to buy or sell Japanese Yen to protect against or to take advantage of fluctuations in the price of the Japanese Yen. Consequently, if the Trust incurs expenses in USD, the Trust’s Japanese Yen may be sold at a time when the Japanese Yen price is low, resulting in a negative effect on the value of the Shares.

The Deposit Accounts are not entitled to payment at any office of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. located in the United States.

The federal laws of the United States prohibit banks located in the United States from paying interest on unrestricted demand deposit accounts. Therefore, payments out of the Deposit Accounts will be payable only at the London branch of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., located in England. The Trustee will not be entitled to demand payment of these accounts at any office of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. that is located in the United States. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. will not be required to repay the deposit if its London branch cannot repay the deposit due to an act of war, insurrection or civil strife or an action by a foreign government or instrumentality (whether de jure or de facto) in England.

Shareholders do not have the protections associated with ownership of a demand deposit account insured in the United States by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the protection provided for bank deposits under English law.

Neither the Shares nor the Deposit Accounts and the Japanese Yen deposited in them are deposits insured against loss by the FDIC, any other federal agency of the United States or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme of England.

If the Depository becomes insolvent, its assets may not be adequate to satisfy a claim by the Trust or any Authorized Participant. In addition, in the event of the insolvency of the Depository, the U.S. bank of which it is a branch or any local cash correspondent holding the currency on deposit for the benefit of the Trust, there may be a delay and costs incurred in recovering the Japanese Yen held in the Deposit Accounts.

Japanese Yen deposited in the Deposit Accounts by an Authorized Participant are commingled with Japanese Yen deposited by other Authorized Participants and are held by the Depository in either the primary deposit account or the secondary deposit account of the Trust. Japanese Yen held in the Deposit Accounts are not segregated from the Depository’s other assets.

The Trust has no proprietary rights in or to any specific Japanese Yen held by the Depository and will be an unsecured creditor of the Depository with respect to the Japanese Yen held in the Deposit Accounts in the event of the insolvency of the Depository or the U.S. bank of which it is a branch. In the event the Depository, the U.S. bank of which it is a branch or any local cash correspondent holding the currency on deposit for the benefit of the Trust becomes insolvent, the Depository’s assets may not be adequate to satisfy a claim by the Trust or any Authorized Participant for the amount of Japanese Yen deposited by the Trust or the Authorized Participant and, in such event, the Trust and any Authorized Participant will generally have no right in or to assets other than those of the Depository.

In the case of insolvency of the Depository or JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., the U.S. bank of which the Depository is a branch, a liquidator may seek to freeze access to the Japanese Yen held in all accounts by the Depository, including the Deposit Accounts. In the case of insolvency of a local cash correspondent, a liquidator may seek to freeze access to the Japanese Yen held in all accounts by such local cash correspondent, including the Deposit Accounts held by such cash correspondent. The Trust and the Authorized Participants could incur expenses and delays in connection with asserting their claims. These problems would be exacerbated by the fact that the Deposit Accounts are not held in the U.S. but instead are held at the London branch of a U.S. national bank or with a local cash correspondent, where they are subject to English and Japanese insolvency law. Further, under U.S. law, in the case of the insolvency of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., the claims of creditors in respect of accounts (such as the Trust’s Deposit Accounts) that are maintained with an overseas branch of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or with a local cash correspondent will be subordinate to claims of creditors in respect of accounts maintained with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in the U.S., greatly increasing the risk that the Trust and the Trust’s beneficiaries would suffer a loss.

Shareholders do not have the protections associated with ownership of shares in an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The Investment Company Act is designed to protect investors by preventing insiders from managing investment companies to their benefit and to the detriment of public investors; the issuance of securities having inequitable or discriminatory provisions; the management of investment companies by irresponsible persons; the use of unsound or misleading methods of computing earnings and asset value; changes in the character of investment companies without the consent of investors; and investment companies from engaging in excessive leveraging. To accomplish these ends, the Investment Company Act requires the safekeeping and proper valuation of fund assets, restricts greatly transactions with affiliates, limits leveraging, and imposes governance requirements as a check on fund management.

The Trust is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act and is not required to register under that act. Consequently, Shareholders do not have the regulatory protections afforded to investors in registered investment companies.

Shareholders do not have the rights enjoyed by investors in certain other financial instruments.

As interests in a grantor trust, the Shares have none of the statutory rights normally associated with the ownership of shares of a business corporation, including, for example, the right to bring “oppression” or “derivative” actions. Apart from the rights afforded to them by federal and state securities laws, Shareholders have only those rights relative to the Trust, the Trust property and the Shares that are set forth in the Depositary Trust Agreement. In this connection, the Shareholders have limited voting and distribution rights. They do not have the right to elect directors. See “Business – The Shares – Limited Rights” for a description of the limited rights of the Shareholders.

The Shares may trade at a price which is at, above, or below the NAV per Share.

The NAV per Share fluctuates with changes in the market value of the Trust’s assets. The market price of Shares can be expected to fluctuate in accordance with changes in the NAV per Share, but also in response to market supply and demand. As a result, the Shares might trade at prices at, above or below the NAV per Share.

The Depository owes no fiduciary duties to the Trust or the Shareholders, is not required to act in their best interest and could resign or be removed by the Sponsor, which would trigger early termination of the Trust.

The Depository is not a trustee for the Trust or the Shareholders. As stated above, the Depository is not obligated to maximize the interest rate paid to the Trust. In addition, the Depository has no duty to continue to act as the depository of the Trust. The Depository can terminate its role as depository for any reason whatsoever upon 90 days’ notice to the Trust. If directed by the Sponsor, the Trustee must terminate the Depository. Such a termination might result, for example, if the Sponsor determines that the interest rate paid by the Depository is inadequate. In the event that the Depository was to resign or be removed, the Trust will be terminated.

Shareholders may incur significant fees upon the termination of the Trust.

The occurrence of any one of several events would either require the Trust to terminate or permit the Sponsor to terminate the Trust. For example, if the Depository were to resign or be removed, then the Sponsor would be required to terminate the Trust. Shareholders tendering their Shares within 90 days of the Trust’s termination will receive the amount of Japanese Yen represented by their Shares. Shareholders may incur significant fees if they choose to convert the Japanese Yen they receive to USD.

Redemption orders are subject to rejection by the Trustee under certain circumstances.

The Trustee will reject a redemption order if the order is not in proper form as described in the Participant Agreement or if the fulfillment of the order, in the opinion of its counsel, might be unlawful. Any such rejection could adversely affect a redeeming Shareholder. For example, the resulting delay would adversely affect the value of the Shareholder’s redemption distribution if the NAV were to decline during the delay. In the Depositary Trust Agreement, the Sponsor and the Trustee disclaim any liability for any loss or damage that may result from any such rejection.

Substantial sales of Japanese Yen by the official sector could adversely affect an investment in the Shares.

The official sector consists of central banks, other governmental agencies and multi-lateral institutions that buy, sell and hold Japanese Yen as part of their reserve assets. The official sector holds a significant amount of Japanese Yen that can be mobilized in the open market. In the event that future economic, political or social conditions or pressures require members of the official sector to sell their Japanese Yen simultaneously or in an uncoordinated manner, the demand for Japanese Yen might not be sufficient to accommodate the sudden increase in the supply of Japanese Yen to the market. Consequently, the price of the Japanese Yen could decline, which would adversely affect an investment in the Shares.

Shareholders that are not Authorized Participants may only purchase or sell their Shares in secondary trading markets.

Only Authorized Participants may create or redeem Baskets through the Trust. All other investors that desire to purchase or sell Shares must do so through NYSE Arca or in other markets, if any, in which the Shares are traded.

The liability of the Sponsor and the Trustee under the Depositary Trust Agreement is limited and, except as set forth in the Depositary Trust Agreement, they are not obligated to prosecute any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Trust property.

The Depositary Trust Agreement provides that neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee assumes any obligation or is subject to any liability under the Trust Agreement to any Shareholder, except that they each agree to perform their respective obligations specifically set forth in the Depositary Trust Agreement without negligence or bad faith. Additionally, neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee is obligated to, although each may in its respective discretion, prosecute any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Trust property. The Depositary Trust Agreement does not confer upon Shareholders the right to prosecute any such action, suit or other proceeding.

The Depositary Trust Agreement may be amended to the detriment of Shareholders without their consent.

The Sponsor and the Trustee may amend most provisions (other than those addressing core economic rights) of the Depositary Trust Agreement without the consent of any Shareholder. Such an amendment could impose or increase fees or charges borne by the Shareholders. Any amendment that increases fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees or other expenses), or that otherwise prejudices any substantial existing rights of Shareholders, will not become effective until 30 days after written notice is given to Shareholders.

The License Agreement with The Bank of New York Mellon may be terminated by The Bank of New York Mellon in the event of a material breach. Termination of the License Agreement might lead to early termination and liquidation of the Trust.

The Bank of New York Mellon and the Sponsor have entered into a License Agreement granting the Sponsor a non-exclusive, personal and non-transferable license to certain patent applications made by The Bank of New York Mellon covering systems and methods for securitizing a commodity for the life of such patents and patent applications. The license grant is solely for the purpose of allowing the Sponsor to establish, operate and market a currency-based securities product based solely on the securitization, in whole or in part, of a single non-U.S. currency. The License Agreement provides that either party may provide notice of intent to terminate the License Agreement in the event the other party commits a material breach. If the License Agreement is terminated and one or more of The Bank of New York Mellon’s patent applications issue as patents, then The Bank of New York Mellon may claim that the operation of the Trust violates its patent or patents and seek an injunction forcing the Trust to cease operation and the Shares to cease trading. In that case, the Trust might be forced to terminate and liquidate, which would adversely affect Shareholders.

Current Discussions between the SEC and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP regarding PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s Independence Could Have Potentially Adverse Consequences for the Trust.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP informed the Trust that it has identified an issue related to its independence under Rule 2-01(c)(1)(ii)(A) of Regulation S-X (referred to as the Loan Rule). The Loan Rule prohibits accounting firms, such as PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from being deemed independent if they have certain financial relationships with their audit clients or certain affiliates of those clients. The Trust is required under various securities laws to have its financial statements audited by an independent accounting firm.

The Loan Rule specifically provides that an accounting firm would not be independent if it or certain affiliates and covered persons receives a loan from a lender that is a record or beneficial owner of more than ten percent of an audit client’s equity securities (referred to as a “more than ten percent owner”). For purposes of the Loan Rule, audit clients include the Trust as well as all registered investment companies advised by the Sponsor and its affiliates, including other subsidiaries of the Sponsor’s parent company, Invesco Ltd. (collectively, the Invesco Fund Complex). PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP informed the Trust it and certain affiliates and covered persons have relationships with lenders who hold, as record owner, more than ten percent of the shares of certain funds within the Invesco Fund Complex, which may implicate the Loan Rule.

On June 20, 2016, the SEC Staff issued a “no-action” letter to another mutual fund complex (see Fidelity Management & Research Company et al., No-Action Letter) related to the audit independence issue described above. In that letter, the SEC confirmed that it would not recommend enforcement action against a fund that relied on audit services performed by an audit firm that was not in compliance with the Loan Rule in certain specified circumstances. On May 2, 2018, the SEC proposed amendments to the Loan Rule that, if adopted as proposed, would address many of the issues that led to issuance of the no-action letter. In connection with prior independence determinations, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP communicated, as contemplated by the no-action letter, that it believes that it remains objective and impartial and that a reasonable investor possessing all the facts would conclude that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is able to exhibit the requisite objectivity and impartiality to report on the Trust’s financial statements as the independent registered public accounting firm. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP also represented that it has complied with PCAOB Rule 3526(b)(1) and (2), which are conditions to the Trust relying on the no-action letter, and affirmed that it is an independent accountant within the meaning of PCAOB Rule 3520. Therefore, the Sponsor, the Trust and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP concluded that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP could continue as the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Invesco Fund Complex relied upon the no-action letter in reaching this conclusion.

If in the future the independence of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is called into question under the Loan Rule by circumstances that are not addressed in the SEC’s no-action letter, the Trust will need to take other action in order for the Trust’s filings with the SEC containing financial statements to be deemed compliant with applicable securities laws. Such additional actions could result in additional costs, impair the ability of the Trust to issue new shares or have other material adverse effects on the Trust. The SEC no-action relief was initially set to expire 18 months from issuance but has been extended by the SEC without an expiration date, except that the no-action letter will be withdrawn upon the effectiveness of any amendments to the Loan Rule designed to address the concerns expressed in the letter. PwC advised the Registrant’s Audit Committee that PwC had identified two matters for consideration under the SEC’s auditor independence rules. PwC stated that a PwC manager and a PwC Senior Manager each held financial interests in investment companies within the Invesco Fund complex that were inconsistent with the requirements of Rule 2-01(c)(1) of Regulation S-X.

PwC advised the Audit Committee that it believes its objectivity and impartiality had not been adversely affected by these matters as they related to the audit of the Registrant. In reaching this conclusion, PwC noted, among other things, that during the time of its audit, the engagement team was not aware of the investments, neither individual was in the chain of command of the audit or the audit partners of Invesco or the affiliate of the Registrant, the services each individual provided were not relied upon by the audit engagement team with respect to the audit of the affiliate of the Registrant and the investments were not material to the net worth of either individual or their immediate family members.

The principal offices of the Sponsor and the Trust are the offices of Invesco Specialized Products, LLC at 3500 Lacey Road, Suite 700, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515, which is leased by an affiliate of the Sponsor. Neither the Sponsor nor the Trust owns or leases any other property.

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 Japanese Yen, as the value of the Shares relates directly to the value of the Japanese Yen 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 in 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.

Movements in the Price of the Japanese Yen

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

NAV per Share; Valuation of the Japanese Yen

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 10,000 Japanese Yen.

Liquidity

The Sponsor is not aware of any trends, demands, conditions or events that are reasonably likely to result in material changes to the Trust’s liquidity 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 October 31, 2018 was an annual nominal rate of -0.10%. The following chart provides the daily rate paid by the Depository since October 31, 2013:

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 periods 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 Japanese Yen 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). The Trust did not make any distributions during the quarter ended October 31, 2018.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Sponsor’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period covered by this report.

In addition to the description below, please refer to Note 3 to the financial statements for further discussion of our accounting policies.

The functional currency of the Trust is the Japanese Yen in accordance with ASC 830, Foreign Currency Translation.

Results of Operations

As of October 31, 2016, the number of Japanese Yen owned by the Trust was 11,588,845,853, resulting in a redeemable capital Share value of $110,230,193. During the year ended October 31, 2017, an additional 3,300,000 Shares were created in exchange for 31,802,013,465 Japanese Yen and 3,200,000 Shares were redeemed in exchange for 30,833,153,795 Japanese Yen. In addition, 66,298,233 Japanese Yen were withdrawn to pay the portion of the Sponsor’s fee that exceeded interest earned. As of October 31, 2017, the number of Japanese Yen owned by the Trust was 12,491,407,290, resulting in a redeemable capital Share value of $109,883,188. During the year ended October 31, 2018, an additional 1,300,000 Shares were created in exchange for 12,462,736,515 Japanese Yen and 1,100,000 Shares were redeemed in exchange for 10,536,230,459 Japanese Yen. In addition, 76,898,821 Japanese Yen were withdrawn to pay the portion of the Sponsor’s fee that exceeded interest earned. As of October 31, 2018, the number of Japanese Yen owned by the Trust was 14,341,014,525, resulting in a redeemable capital Share value of $127,020,589.

An increase in the Trust’s redeemable capital share value from $109,883,188 at October 31, 2017 to $127,020,589 at October 31, 2018 was primarily the result of an increase in the number of Shares outstanding from 1,300,000 at October 31, 2017 to 1,500,000 at October 31, 2018 coupled with an increase in the Closing Spot Rate from 0.00880 at October 31, 2017 to 0.00886 at October 31, 2018. A decrease in the Trust’s redeemable capital Share value from $110,230,193 at October 31, 2016 to $109,883,188 at October 31, 2017, was primarily the result of a decrease in the Closing Spot Rate from 0.00952 at October 31, 2016 to 0.00880 at October 31, 2017, but partially offset by an increase in the number of Shares outstanding from 1,200,000 at October 31, 2016 to 1,300,000 at October 31, 2017.

No interest income was earned during the years ended October 31, 2018, October 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016, due to an annual nominal interest rate at or below 0.00% through those periods as set forth in the chart above.

The Sponsor’s fee accrues daily at an annual nominal rate of 0.40% of the Japanese Yen in the Trust. Due primarily to an increase in the weighted-average Japanese Yen in the Trust, the Sponsor’s fee increased from $472,348 for the year ended October 31, 2017 to $562,074 for the year ended October 31, 2018. Due primarily to an increase in the weighted-average Japanese Yen in the Trust and a steady interest rate below 0%, interest expense on currency deposits increased from $119,844 for the year ended October 31, 2017 to $142,359 for the year ended October 31, 2018. The only expenses of the Trust during the year ended October 31, 2018 were the Sponsor’s fee and interest expense on currency deposits. Due primarily to a decrease in the weighted-average Japanese Yen in the Trust, the Sponsor’s fee decreased from $749,584 for the year ended October 31, 2016 to $472,348 for the year ended October 31, 2017. Interest expense on currency deposits increased from $76,904 for the year ended October 31, 2016 to $119,844 for the year ended October 31, 2017 due primarily to an interest rate declining further below 0%, but partially offset by a decrease in the weighted-average Japanese Yen in the Trust. The only expenses of the Trust during the year ended October 31, 2017 were the Sponsor’s fee and interest expense on currency deposits.

The Trust’s net comprehensive loss for the year ended October 31, 2018 was $704,433, due to the Sponsor’s fee of $562,074 and interest expense on currency deposits of $142,359 exceeding interest income of $0. The Trust’s net comprehensive loss for the year ended October 31, 2017 was $592,192 due to the Sponsor’s fee of $472,348 and interest expense on currency deposits of $119,844 exceeding interest income of $0. The Trust’s net comprehensive loss during October 31, 2016 was $826,488, due to the Sponsor’s fee of $749,584 and interest expense on currency deposits of $76,904 exceeding the interest income of $0.

Cash dividends were not paid by the Trust in the years ended October 31, 2018, October 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016, as the Trust’s interest income did not exceed the Trust’s expenses during those periods.

Except as described above with respect to the Japanese Yen/USD exchange rate and the nominal annual interest rate paid by the Depository on Japanese Yen 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.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of the management of the Sponsor, including Daniel Draper, 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 Rule 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 annual report, and, based upon that evaluation, Daniel Draper, 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 ensure that information the Trust is required to disclose in the reports that it files or submits with 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 ensure 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 last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management of the Sponsor is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined under Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act, for the Trust. Daniel Draper, the Principal Executive Officer of the Sponsor, and Kelli Gallegos, the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools, of the Sponsor, assessed the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2018. Their report in connection with their assessment may be found in the “Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” on page F-2 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, has audited the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2018, as stated in their report on page F-3 of this Form 10-K.