Established in 1958, ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited (“the Company”) is a closed-end precious metals and mining fund registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and domiciled in Bermuda. The Company is one of the oldest investment management firms focused solely on the precious metals and mining industry.

The Company is a non-diversified, closed-end fund that seeks long-term capital appreciation primarily through investing in companies engaged in the exploration for, development of projects or mining of precious metals and minerals.

It is a fundamental policy of the Company that at least 80% of its total assets must be (i) invested in common shares or securities convertible into common shares of companies engaged, directly or indirectly, in the exploration, mining or processing of gold, silver, platinum, diamonds or other precious minerals, (ii) held as bullion or other direct forms of gold, silver, platinum or other precious minerals, (iii) invested in instruments representing interests in gold, silver, platinum or other precious minerals such as certificates of deposit therefor, and/or (iv) invested in securities of investment companies, including exchange traded funds, or other securities that seek to replicate the price movement of gold, silver or platinum bullion.

The Company employs bottom-up fundamental analysis and relies on detailed primary research including meetings with company executives, site visits to key operating assets, and proprietary financial analysis in making its investment decisions.

The common shares of the Company are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “ASA”. The Company is managed by Merk Investments LLC.

History

ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited, originally named American-South African Investment Company, Limited, was founded as a South African corporation in 1958. The Company was the idea of Charles Engelhard, Chairman of Engelhard Industries Inc., which at the time maintained extensive business interests in the United States and South Africa.

The Company was organized to provide Americans with a medium to invest in the common shares of companies engaged in the business of mining gold in South Africa. At the time, Americans were prohibited from owning gold bullion and 80 percent of the world's gold was produced in South Africa. Unlike today, it was difficult for the average investor to purchase shares traded on the Johannesburg stock market.

Originally, ASA's investment policies required it to invest only in South African companies. In 1969, shareholders approved a proposal to allow the Company to invest up to 20 percent of its assets outside of South Africa.

In 2004 the Company moved its place of incorporation to Bermuda because of a change in tax law in South Africa that would have adversely affected ASA and its shareholders. Shortly thereafter, in 2005, shareholders approved changes to the Company's investment policies to permit the Company to invest its assets worldwide without geographical restrictions.

Today ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited is a professionally managed, globally diversified, precious minerals closed-end investment company. The Company is registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and its shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “ASA”.