UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

   

Investment Company Act file number

811-21650

 



 

ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited


(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


     

400 S. El Camino Real, Suite 710, San Mateo, CA

 

94402-1708




(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)


 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N A

3 MetroTech Center, 6th Floor

Brooklyn, NY 11245


(Name and address of agent for service)


   

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(650) 376-3135

 



   

Date of fiscal year end:

November 30

 



   

Date of reporting period:

August 31, 2011

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1. Schedule of Investments

 

ASA GOLD AND PRECIOUS METALS LIMITED

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

AUGUST 31, 2011

 

Name of Company

 

Shares /
Principal
Amount

 

Fair
Value

 

Percent of
Net Assets

 

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 

Gold and Silver investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold mining, exploration, development and royalty companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Centamin Egypt Limited (1)

 

3,250,000

 

$

5,651,018

 

0.8

%

Newcrest Mining Limited - ADRs

 

1,665,000

 

 

71,747,597

 

10.6

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

77,398,615

 

11.4

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited

 

525,000

 

 

36,267,000

 

5.4

 

Alacer Gold Corporation (1)

 

1,343,400

 

 

15,128,193

 

2.2

 

Barrick Gold Corporation

 

1,250,000

 

 

63,437,500

 

9.4

 

Centerra Gold Inc.

 

325,000

 

 

6,854,352

 

1.0

 

Detour Gold Corporation (1)

 

250,000

 

 

9,394,497

 

1.4

 

Eldorado Gold Corporation

 

650,000

 

 

12,909,000

 

1.9

 

Goldcorp Inc.

 

1,082,400

 

 

56,198,208

 

8.3

 

IAMGOLD Corporation

 

600,000

 

 

12,360,000

 

1.8

 

Kinross Gold Corporation

 

1,125,000

 

 

19,451,250

 

2.9

 

Lake Shore Gold Corporation (1)

 

1,500,000

 

 

3,467,321

 

0.5

 

NovaGold Resources Inc., (1)

 

2,307,691

 

 

23,769,217

 

3.5

 

Osisko Mining Corporation (1)

 

250,000

 

 

3,661,655

 

0.5

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

262,898,193

 

38.8

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Channel Islands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Randgold Resources Limited- ADRs

 

594,700

 

 

62,770,585

 

9.3

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latin America

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compañia de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. - ADRs

 

909,000

 

 

42,568,470

 

6.3

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Africa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AngloGold Ashanti Limited

 

793,194

 

 

35,582,683

 

5.3

 

Gold Fields Limited

 

1,629,577

 

 

27,002,091

 

4.0

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

62,584,774

 

9.2

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newmont Mining Corporation

 

520,368

 

 

32,585,444

 

4.8

 

Royal Gold Inc.

 

210,000

 

 

16,102,800

 

2.4

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

48,688,244

 

7.2

 

                 

Total gold mining, exploration, development and royalty companies
(Cost $201,365,661)

 

 

 

 

556,908,881

 

82.2

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silver mining, exploration and development companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tahoe Resources Inc., (1)

 

923,200

 

 

17,563,179

 

2.6

 

                 

Total silver mining, exploration and development companies
(Cost $6,709,422)

 

 

 

 

17,563,179

 

2.6

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 

Total gold and silver investments
(Cost $208,075,083)

 

 

 

 

574,472,060

 

84.8

 

                 

UNAUDITED
1



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASA GOLD AND PRECIOUS METALS LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUGUST 31, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 

Name of Company

 

Shares /
Principal
Amount

 

Fair
Value

 

Percent of
Net Assets

 

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Platinum and Palladium investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Platinum and Palladium mining companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Africa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anglo Platinum Limited

 

345,100

 

 

28,899,003

 

4.3

 

Impala Platinum Holdings Limited

 

1,322,400

 

 

33,999,059

 

5.0

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

62,898,062

 

9.3

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lonmin PLC- ADRs

 

189,700

 

 

4,047,238

 

0.6

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

66,945,300

 

9.9

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exchange Traded Funds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ETFS Palladium Trust, (1)

 

40,000

 

 

3,097,200

 

0.5

 

ETFS Platinum Trust, (1)

 

10,000

 

 

1,827,500

 

0.3

 

                 

Total platinum and palladium investments
(Cost $10,105,591)

 

 

 

 

71,870,000

 

10.6

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diamond Mining, Exploration and Development Companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stornoway Diamond Corporation (1)

 

1,639,500

 

 

3,135,793

 

0.5

 

                 

Total diamond mining, exploration and development companies
(Cost $3,928,898)

 

 

 

 

3,135,793

 

0.5

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversified Mineral Resources Companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anglo American plc (Cost $1,762,502)

 

414,800

 

 

17,305,169

 

2.6

 

                 

Total common shares
(Cost $223,872,074)

 

 

 

 

666,783,022

 

98.5

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total investments (Cost $223,872,074) (2)

 

 

 

 

666,783,022

 

98.5

 

Cash, receivables, and other assets less liabilities

 

 

 

 

10,501,236

 

1.5

 

                 

Net assets

 

 

 

 

677,284,258

 

100

%

                 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Non-income producing security.

 

(2)

Cost of investments shown approximates cost for U.S. federal income tax purposes, determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles. Gross unrealized appreciation of investments and gross unrealized depreciation of investments at August 31, 2011 were $452,761,453 and $9,850,504 respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation on investments of $442,910,949.

 

 

 

 

ADR- American Depository Receipt

UNAUDITED
2


Notes to financial statements

Nine months ended August 31, 2011

1. Summary of significant accounting policies ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited (the “Company”) is a closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and is organized as an exempted limited liability company under the laws of Bermuda. The following is a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies:

A. Investments

The net asset value of the Company generally is determined as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) or the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”), whichever is later, on the date for which the valuation is being made (the “Valuation Time”). Portfolio securities listed on U.S. and foreign stock exchanges generally are valued at the last reported sale price as of the Valuation Time on the exchange on which the securities are primarily traded, or the last reported bid price if a sale price is not available. Securities traded over the counter are valued at the last reported sale price or the last reported bid price if a sale price is not available. Securities listed on foreign stock exchanges may be fair valued based on significant events that have occurred subsequent to the close of the foreign markets.

Securities for which current market quotations are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by, or in accordance with procedures approved by, the Company’s Board of Directors. If a security is valued at a “fair value”, that value may be different from the last quoted price for the security. Various factors may be reviewed in order to make a good faith determination of a security’s fair value. These factors include, but are not limited to, the nature of the security; relevant financial or business developments of the issuer; actively traded similar or related securities; conversion rights on the security; and changes in overall market conditions.

Where the Company holds securities listed on foreign stock exchanges and American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”) representing these securities are actively traded on the NYSE, the securities normally are fair valued based on the last reported sales price of the ADRs.

The difference between cost and fair value is reflected separately as net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments. The net realized gain or loss from the sale of securities is determined for accounting purposes on the identified cost basis.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, fair value is defined as the price that the Company would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in a timely transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. U.S. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy to distinguish between (1) inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs) and (2) inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs) and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Company’s investments. The inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, credit risk, etc.). For example, when a security is traded on two or more markets, the Company seeks to value the security on the active market that closes for trading closest in time to the Company’s Valuation Time (generally 4:00 p.m. EST), so long as in the view of the portfolio manager that there is sufficient liquidity to provide an indicative quote.

UNAUDITED
3


Notes to financial statements (continued)

Nine months ended August 31, 2011

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Company’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of August 31, 2011 in valuing the Company’s investments at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in Securities
Measurements at August 31, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Description (1)

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares and Warrants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold and silver investments

 

$

434,488,671

 

$

139,983,389

 

$

 

$

574,472,060

 

Platinum and palladium investments

 

 

67,822,762

 

 

4,047,238

 

 

 

 

71,870,000

 

Diamond Mining, Exploration and Development Companies

 

 

3,135,793

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,135,793

 

Diversified Mineral Resources Companies

 

 

 

 

 

17,305,169

 

 

 

 

 

17,305,169

 

 

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

Total

 

$

505,477,226

 

$

161,335,796

 

$

 

$

666,783,022

 

 

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

(1) See schedules of investments for country classifications.

In January 2010, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-06 “Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements”. ASU 2010-06 requires reporting entities to make new disclosures about amounts and reasons for significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements as well as inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements that fall in either Level 2 or Level 3, and information on purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis in the reconciliation of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. The new and revised disclosures are required to be implemented for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2009 except for the disclosures surrounding purchases, sales issuances and settlements on a gross basis in the reconciliation of Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of ASU No. 2010-06 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements disclosures.

UNAUDITED
4


Item 2. Controls and Procedures.

   

 

 

(a)

The registrant’s President and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) are effective, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report.

 

 

(b)

There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Item 3. Exhibits.

     

 

 

The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act are attached hereto.



SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

       

 

 

ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ David J. Christensen

 

 

 


 

 

 

David J. Christensen

 

 

 

President, Chief Executive Officer and

 

 

 

Chief Investment Officer

 


Date: October 12, 2011

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

       

 

By

/s/ David J. Christensen

 

 

 


 

 

 

David J. Christensen

 

 

 

President, Chief Executive Officer and

 

 

 

Chief Investment Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 


Date: October 12, 2011

       

 

By

/s/ Rodney D. Yee

 

 

 


 

 

 

Rodney D. Yee

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 


Date: October 12, 2011