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:

February 29, 2012

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASA GOLD AND PRECIOUS METALS LIMITED

 

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

 

 

 





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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CGA Mining Limited, (1)

 

 

1,343,700

 

$

2,809,838

 

 

0.5

%

Newcrest Mining Limited - ADRs

 

 

1,565,000

 

 

54,728,050

 

 

9.3

 

Silver Lake Resources Limited, (1)

 

 

1,350,000

 

 

5,404,099

 

 

0.9

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

62,941,987

 

 

10.7

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited

 

 

329,300

 

 

11,953,590

 

 

2.0

 

Alacer Gold Corporation, (1)

 

 

1,343,400

 

 

12,960,370

 

 

2.2

 

Barrick Gold Corporation

 

 

1,250,000

 

 

59,662,500

 

 

10.1

 

Centerra Gold Inc.

 

 

325,000

 

 

6,533,488

 

 

1.1

 

Detour Gold Corporation, (1)

 

 

250,000

 

 

6,856,753

 

 

1.2

 

Eldorado Gold Corporation

 

 

650,000

 

 

9,951,500

 

 

1.7

 

Franco-Nevada Corporation

 

 

125,000

 

 

5,520,760

 

 

0.9

 

Goldcorp Inc.

 

 

1,082,400

 

 

52,496,400

 

 

8.9

 

IAMGOLD Corporation

 

 

600,000

 

 

9,072,000

 

 

1.5

 

Kinross Gold Corporation

 

 

1,325,000

 

 

14,681,000

 

 

2.5

 

Lake Shore Gold Corporation, (1)

 

 

1,500,000

 

 

2,333,568

 

 

0.4

 

NovaGold Resources Inc., (1)

 

 

1,235,168

 

 

10,251,894

 

 

1.7

 

Osisko Mining Corporation, (1)

 

 

250,000

 

 

3,166,987

 

 

0.5

 

West Kirkland Gold Mining Inc., (1)(2)

 

 

909,091

 

 

927,550

 

 

0.2

 

West Kirkland Gold Mining Inc., C$1.50 Warrants, 11/22/2012, (1)(2)

 

 

454,545

 

 

 

 

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

206,368,360

 

 

34.9

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Channel Islands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Centamin plc, (1)

 

 

3,250,000

 

 

4,563,592

 

 

0.8

 

Randgold Resources Limited - ADRs

 

 

494,700

 

 

56,756,931

 

 

9.6

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

61,320,523

 

 

10.4

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latin America

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

909,000

 

 

36,478,170

 

 

6.2

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Africa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AngloGold Ashanti Limited

 

 

793,194

 

 

33,671,085

 

 

5.7

 

Gold Fields Limited

 

 

1,629,577

 

 

25,046,599

 

 

4.2

 

Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited

 

 

300,000

 

 

3,816,000

 

 

0.6

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

62,533,684

 

 

10.6

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newmont Mining Corporation

 

 

520,368

 

 

30,909,859

 

 

5.2

 

Royal Gold Inc.

 

 

210,000

 

 

14,584,500

 

 

2.5

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

45,494,359

 

 

7.7

 












Total gold mining, exploration, development and royalty companies
(Cost $210,179,201)

 

 

 

 

 

475,137,083

 

 

80.4

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silver mining, exploration and development companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tahoe Resources Inc., (1)

 

 

923,200

 

 

19,696,923

 

 

3.3

 












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

 

 

 

 

 

19,696,923

 

 

3.3

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 












Total gold and silver investments
(Cost $216,888,623)

 

 

 

 

 

494,834,006

 

 

83.8

 












UNAUDITED
1



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASA GOLD AND PRECIOUS METALS LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)

FEBRUARY 29, 2012












Name of Company

 

             Shares /
             Principal
             Amount

 

             Fair
             Value

 

        Percent
        of Net
        Assets









 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Platinum and Palladium investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Platinum and Palladium mining companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Africa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anglo American Platinum Limited

 

 

345,100

 

 

27,219,790

 

 

4.6

 

Impala Platinum Holdings Limited

 

 

1,322,400

 

 

29,438,344

 

 

5.0

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

56,658,134

 

 

9.6

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lonmin PLC- ADRs

 

 

189,700

 

 

3,330,250

 

 

0.6

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

59,988,384

 

 

10.2

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exchange traded funds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ETFS Palladium Trust, (1)

 

 

40,000

 

 

2,768,000

 

 

0.5

 

ETFS Platinum Trust, (1)

 

 

10,000

 

 

1,656,200

 

 

0.3

 












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

 

 

 

 

 

64,412,584

 

 

10.9

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diamond mining, exploration and development companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stornoway Diamond Corporation, (1)

 

 

1,639,500

 

 

1,656,228

 

 

0.3

 












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

 

 

 

 

 

1,656,228

 

 

0.3

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversified mineral resources companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anglo American plc

 

 

414,800

 

 

17,491,885

 

 

3.0

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

 

 

100,000

 

 

4,256,000

 

 

0.7

 












Total diversified mineral resources companies
(Cost $5,240,272)

 

 

 

 

 

21,747,885

 

 

3.7

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total common shares & warrants
(Cost $236,163,384)

 

 

 

 

 

582,650,703

 

 

98.6

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total investments (Cost $236,163,384), (3)

 

 

 

 

 

582,650,703

 

 

98.6

 

Cash, receivables, and other assets less liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

8,034,834

 

 

1.4

 












Net assets

 

 

 

 

$

590,685,537

 

 

100

%













 

 

 

 

(1)

Non-income producing security.

 

(2)

Restricted security.

 

(3)

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 February 29, 2012 were $373,411,265 and $26,923,946, respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation on investments of $346,487,319.

 

 

 

 

ADR -

American Depository Receipt

UNAUDITED
2


Notes to consolidated financial statements

Three months ended February 29, 2012

 

 

1.

Organization These consolidated financial statements include ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited (the “Company”), and its wholly owned subsidiary, ASA Gold and Precious Metals Advisers, LLC. The Company is a closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and was organized as an exempted limited liability company under the laws of Bermuda. ASA Gold and Precious Metals Advisers, LLC is registered as an investment adviser with the state of California and is organized under the laws of Delaware.

 

 

2.

Summary of significant accounting policies

The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies:

A. Security valuation

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.

B. Restricted securities

At February 29, 2012, the Company held investments in restricted securities of 0.2% of net assets, valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Company’s Board of Directors as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted Securities
February 29, 2012

 



 

 

Shares /
Warrants

 

Cost

 

 

Issuer

 

Value
Per Unit

 

Value

 

 

Acquisition Date

 

909,091

 

$

1,008,370

 

 

West Kirkland Gold Mining Inc.

 

$

1.02

 

$

927,550

 

 

11/22/2011

 

454,545

 

$

0

 

 

West Kirkland Gold Mining Inc.,
C$1.50 Warrants, 11/22/2012

 

$

0.00

 

$

0

 

 

11/22/2011

 

C. Fair value measurement

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.

UNAUDITED
3


Notes to consolidated financial statements (continued)

Three months ended February 29, 2012

Level 1 – unadjusted 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.)

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 February 29, 2012 in valuing the Company’s investments at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in Securities
Measurements at February 29, 2012

 



Description (1)

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Common Shares and Warrants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold and silver investments

 

$

373,008,681

 

$

121,825,326

 

$

 

$

494,834,007

 

Platinum and palladium investments

 

 

61,082,333

 

 

3,330,250

 

 

 

 

64,412,583

 

Diamond mining, exploration and development companies

 

 

1,656,228

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,656,228

 

Diversified mineral resources companies

 

 

4,256,000

 

 

17,491,885

 

 

 

 

 

21,747,885

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

440,003,242

 

$

143,647,461

 

$

 

$

582,650,703

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Transfers in and out of the levels are recognized at the value at the end of the period. There were no transfers in and out of Levels 1, 2, and 3 at the end of the period.

(1) See consolidated schedules of investments for country classifications.

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-04 “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”)”. ASU 2011-04 includes common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. ASU 2011-04 will require reporting entities to disclose the following information for fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy; quantitative information about the unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement, the valuation processes used by the reporting entity, and a narrative description of the sensitivity of the fair value measurement to changes in unobservable inputs and the interrelationships between those unobservable inputs. In addition, ASU 2011-04 will require reporting entities to make disclosures about amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. The new and revised disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Management is evaluating the implications of ASU 2011-04, and its impact on future financial statements.

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: April 30, 2012

          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: April 30, 2012

       

 

By

/s/ Rodney D. Yee

 

 

 


 

 

 

Rodney D. Yee

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 


Date: April 30, 2012