ASA Limited (NYSE: ASA), a closed-end fund specializing in gold and
other precious mineral investments worldwide, today announced the
results of the tender offer measurement period ended June 26, 2009.
Pursuant to the tender offer program announced on March 31, 2008, the
Company will conduct cash tender offers in fiscal year 2009 and 2010, if
its shares have traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) during a
12-week measurement period in each year at an average discount from net
asset value (NAV) of greater than 10%, determined on the basis of the
average of the discounts on the last trading day in each week. The
discount is calculated using the NAV as of the close of regular trading
on the NYSE and the last reported sale price of the Company's shares on
the NYSE during regular trading hours. Each tender offer would be for
10% of the Company's outstanding shares at a purchase price of 98% of
NAV on the date the tender offer expires. For the 12-week measurement
period ended June 26, 2009, the Company's shares traded at an average
discount to NAV of 10.18%. Consequently, the Company will commence a
tender offer in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year 2009 for up to 10%
of its outstanding shares. Additional information about the dates and
terms of the tender offer will be provided in a subsequent press release.
This announcement is not a recommendation, an offer to purchase or a
solicitation of an offer to sell shares of the Company. The Company has
not commenced the self-tender offer described in this press release.
Upon commencement of the tender offer, the Company will file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission a tender offer statement on Schedule
TO and related exhibits, including an offer to purchase, letter of
transmittal, and other related documents. Shareholders of the Company
should read the offer to purchase and the tender offer statement on
Schedule TO and related exhibits when such documents are filed and
become available, as they will contain important information about the
Company's tender offer. Shareholders can obtain these documents when
they are filed and become available free of charge from the Securities
and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov.
The Company will also make available to its shareholders, without
charge, the offer to purchase and letter of transmittal. The offer to
purchase shares will not be made to (nor will tenders be accepted from
or on behalf of) holders of shares in any jurisdiction in which the
making of the offer to purchase or the acceptance thereof would not be
in compliance with the laws of the jurisdiction.
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements as defined in U.S. federal securities laws.
You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on
forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and
other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and
could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in
the forward-looking statements.
ASA Limited
David J. Christensen, 800-432-3378 or 716-883-2428
President
and Chief Executive Officer
or
Julian Reid, +44-7768 068 200
Chairman
of the Board