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, 2012

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASA GOLD AND PRECIOUS METALS LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

AUGUST 31, 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

 

$

3,296,922

 

 

0.7

%

Newcrest Mining Limited - ADRs

 

 

1,315,000

 

 

34,268,900

 

 

7.1

 

Silver Lake Resources Limited, (1)

 

 

1,550,000

 

 

4,751,733

 

 

1.0

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

42,317,555

 

 

8.8

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited

 

 

329,300

 

 

15,911,776

 

 

3.3

 

Alacer Gold Corporation, (1)

 

 

1,343,400

 

 

8,063,397

 

 

1.7

 

Barrick Gold Corporation

 

 

1,250,000

 

 

48,150,000

 

 

10.0

 

Centerra Gold Inc.

 

 

625,000

 

 

4,752,611

 

 

1.0

 

Detour Gold Corporation, (1)

 

 

250,000

 

 

6,286,120

 

 

1.3

 

Eldorado Gold Corporation

 

 

650,000

 

 

8,632,000

 

 

1.8

 

Franco-Nevada Corporation

 

 

225,000

 

 

11,666,329

 

 

2.4

 

Goldcorp Inc.

 

 

1,182,400

 

 

48,608,464

 

 

10.1

 

IAMGOLD Corporation

 

 

600,000

 

 

7,860,000

 

 

1.6

 

Kinross Gold Corporation

 

 

1,325,000

 

 

11,792,500

 

 

2.5

 

Osisko Mining Corporation, (1)

 

 

692,400

 

 

6,718,307

 

 

1.4

 

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

 

 

909,091

 

 

313,384

 

 

0.1

 

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

 

 

454,545

 

 

 

 

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

178,754,888

 

 

37.2

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Channel Islands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Randgold Resources Limited - ADRs

 

 

444,700

 

 

45,790,759

 

 

9.5

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latin America

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

909,000

 

 

31,505,940

 

 

6.6

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Africa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AngloGold Ashanti Limited

 

 

793,194

 

 

25,302,889

 

 

5.3

 

Gold Fields Limited

 

 

1,629,577

 

 

20,076,389

 

 

4.2

 

Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited

 

 

400,000

 

 

3,416,000

 

 

0.7

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

48,795,278

 

 

10.2

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newmont Mining Corporation

 

 

520,368

 

 

26,372,250

 

 

5.5

 

Royal Gold Inc.

 

 

210,000

 

 

18,484,200

 

 

3.8

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

44,856,450

 

 

9.3

 












Total gold mining, exploration, development and royalty companies
(Cost $213,781,308)

 

 

 

 

 

392,020,870

 

 

81.6

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silver mining, exploration and development companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tahoe Resources Inc., (1)

 

 

923,200

 

 

16,810,982

 

 

3.5

 












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

 

 

 

 

 

16,810,982

 

 

3.5

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 












Total gold and silver investments
(Cost $220,490,730)

 

 

 

 

 

408,831,852

 

 

85.1

 












UNAUDITED
1



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASA GOLD AND PRECIOUS METALS LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)

AUGUST 31, 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

 

$

17,211,452

 

 

3.6

 

Impala Platinum Holdings Limited

 

 

1,322,400

 

 

20,938,000

 

 

4.4

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

38,149,452

 

 

7.9

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exchange traded funds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ETFS Palladium Trust, (1)

 

 

40,000

 

 

2,469,600

 

 

0.5

 

ETFS Platinum Trust, (1)

 

 

10,000

 

 

1,515,200

 

 

0.3

 












            3,984,800     0.8  











Total platinum and palladium investments (Cost $5,801,107)

 

 

 

 

 

42,134,252

 

 

8.8

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diamond mining, exploration and development companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stornoway Diamond Corporation, (1)

 

 

1,639,500

 

 

1,163,591

 

 

0.2

 












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

 

 

 

 

 

1,163,591

 

 

0.2

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversified mineral resources companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NovaCopper Inc., (1)

 

 

205,861

 

 

508,477

 

 

0.1

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anglo American plc

 

 

414,800

 

 

11,517,855

 

 

2.4

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

 

 

300,000

 

 

10,833,000

 

 

2.3

 












Total diversified mineral resources companies
(Cost $12,356,213)

 

 

 

 

 

22,859,332

 

 

4.8

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total common shares & warrants
(Cost $242,576,948)

 

 

 

 

 

474,989,027

 

 

98.9

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total investments (Cost $242,890,333), (3)

 

 

 

 

 

474,989,027

 

 

98.9

 

Cash, receivables, and other assets less liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

5,334,127

 

 

1.1

 












Net assets

 

 

 

 

$

480,323,154

 

 

100.0

%













 

 

 

 

(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 August 31, 2012 were $263,569,419 and $31,157,340, respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation on investments of $232,412,079.

 

 

 

 

ADR -

American Depository Receipt

UNAUDITED
2


Notes to consolidated financial statements

Nine months ended August 31, 2012

 

 

1.

OrganizationThese 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 August 31, 2012 the Company held investments in restricted securities of 0.1% of net assets, valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Company’s Board of Directors as follows:


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted Securities
August 31, 2012


 

Shares /
Warrants

 

Cost

 

 

Issuer

 

Value
Per Unit

 

Value

 

 

Acquisition
Date

 

909,091

 

$

1,008,370

 

 

West Kirkland Gold Mining Inc.

 

$

0.34

 

$

313,384

 

 

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

UNAUDITED
3


Notes to consolidated financial statements (continued)

 

 

Nine months ended August 31, 2012

 

 

 

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 – 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 August 31, 2012 in valuing the Company’s investments at fair value:


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in Securities
Measurements at August 31, 2012


Description (1)

 

Level 1(a)

 

Level 2(a)

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Common Shares and Warrants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold and silver investments

 

$

359,723,190

 

$

49,108,662

 

$

 

$

408,831,852

 

Platinum and palladium investments

 

 

42,134,252

 

 

 

 

 

 

42,134,252

 

Diamond mining, exploration and development companies

 

 

1,163,591

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,163,591

 

Diversified mineral resources companies

 

 

11,341,477

 

 

11,517,855

 

 

 

 

 

22,859,332

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Total

 

$

414,362,510

 

$

60,626,517

 

$

 

$

474,989,027

 

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 

Transfers in and out of levels are recognized at the end of the period.


 

 

 

 

 

(a) There were transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2, and no transfers in and out of Level 3 at August 31, 2012.


 

 

 

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

 

 


 

 

 

Transfer into and out of each level if the investments in securities at August 31, 2012 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfers
Into
Level 1

 

Transfers
(out of)
Level 1

 

Transfers
Into
Level 2

 

Transfers
(out of)
Level 2

 

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in securitites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stocks (b)

 

$

 

 

$

(313,384

)

 

$

313,384

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

Total investments in securities

 

$

 

 

$

(313,384

)

 

$

313,384

 

 

$

 

 

 

(b) Upon further review, the Company has decided to take a more conservative approach with respect to the classification of West Kirkland Mining, Inc. to be a Level 2 security.  This change has no material impact to the Company.

 

 

 

 

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 and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 


Date: October 29, 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 and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 


Date: October 29, 2012

       

 

By

/s/ Rodney D. Yee

 

 

 


 

 

 

Rodney D. Yee

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 


Date: October 29, 2012