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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
August 6, 2025
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported)
ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Bermuda |
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811-21650 |
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98-6000252 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
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(Commission File Number) |
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
Three Canal Plaza |
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Portland |
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Maine |
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04101 |
(Street Address) |
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(City) |
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(State) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area
code: (207) 347-2000
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last
report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing
is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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☐ |
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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☐ |
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Title
of each class: |
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Trading symbol(s) |
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Name of exchange on which registered |
Common Shares, par value $1.00 per share |
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ASA |
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New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an
emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check
mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
Rights Plan
The shareholder rights plan adopted by the Rights
Plan Committee (the “Rights Plan Committee”) of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of ASA Gold and
Precious Metals Limited (the “Company”) on March 31, 2025 expired in accordance with its own terms on July 29, 2025.
The Rights Plan Committee has not adopted, or recommended the adoption of, another shareholder rights plan and there are no current rights
outstanding.
Resignation and addition of Directors
Ms. Mary Joan Hoene and Mr. William Donovan, each
an independent director of the Company (together, the “Legacy Directors”), resigned from the Board, effective as of
August 6, 2025.
Following the resignations, the Board of Directors
consists of Ms. Maryann Bruce, Ketu Desai and Paul Kazarian. Ms. Bruce was elected at a special general meeting of shareholders (the “SGM”)
convened on June 13, 2025. The Board plans to terminate the Rights Plan Committee.
Litigation Update
Rights Plan Litigation. As previously reported,
on January 31, 2024, Saba Capital Master Fund, Ltd. and Saba Capital Management, L.P. (together “Saba”) filed a lawsuit in
the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “SDNY”), 24-cv-00690, against the Company, the Legacy
Directors, and certain prior directors of the Company concerning the initial shareholder rights plans approved by the Company’s
Board, as then constituted, and the subsequent shareholder rights plans approved later by the directors comprising the Rights Plan Committee,
claiming that the rights plans violate the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). On March 28,
2025, the court ruled that while the Company’s rights plans did not violate the 1940 Act requirement that rights be issued “ratably,”
then-extant rights plan did violate the 1940 Act requirement that rights plans not exceed a 120-day period and ordered that that rights
plan was rescinded. On March 31, 2025, the Rights Plan Committee adopted a new rights plan (the “New Plan”). Saba filed
a motion on March 31, 2025, styled as a motion to enforce judgment, asking the court to rescind the New Plan. The court denied the motion
on April 15, 2025. On April 2, 2025, the named defendants filed a notice of appeal in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
On April 18, 2025, Saba filed a new lawsuit in the
SDNY, 1:25-cv-3265, against the Company and the Legacy Directors, claiming that the New Plan violates the 1940 Act and seeking rescission
of the New Plan and an injunction enjoining defendants from adopting or extending rights plans.
Bermuda Litigation. On April 30, 2025, Mr.
Kazarian (the “Petitioner”), in his capacity as an ASA Director, filed a petition (the “Petition”) in the Supreme
Court of Bermuda (the “Bermuda Court”) seeking relief relating to actions and authority of the Legacy Directors in connection
the SGM convened by Saba and any other shareholder meetings and nominations of directors by or on behalf of the Company. On May 8, 2025
and June 2, 2025, without making any findings of fact, the Bermuda Court granted interim injunctive relief to restrain the Legacy Directors
from engaging with shareholders in connection with the SGM and other shareholder meetings prior to the Court’s final decision on
the merits.
The SDNY litigation and Second Circuit litigation
have been dismissed pursuant to the terms of a confidential settlement agreement. The settlement does not involve any admission of liability
or wrongdoing by the Company or any other party. The parties have sought an order for discontinuance of the Petition in the Bermuda Court.
The information contained in this Item 7.01 is being
“furnished” and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject
to the liability of that Section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The information contained in this Item 7.01 shall
not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act or into any filing or
other document pursuant to the Exchange Act, except as otherwise expressly stated in any such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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ASA GOLD AND PRECIOUS METALS, LTD. |
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Date: August 6, 2025 |
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/s/ Zachary Tackett |
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Name: |
Zachary Tackett |
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Title: |
Corporate Secretary |