I have held shares in the 5.95% General American Investors (GAM-B) for a long time–I think it has been years–certainly off and on for years.
GAM is a solid closed end fund with $1.6 billion in assets and the only leverage they use is this issue of preferred shares—they have a asset coverage ratio of 837% as of 6/30/2024.
The interesting item of note is that the Board of Directors has a buyback in place for the preferred shares anytime they are under $25/share. They have authorized up to 2 million shares being bought (original issue was 8 million shares)–thus far to date they have bought just shy of 400,000 leaving lots of dry powder for further purchases.
Does this buyback authorization help to keep this high quality modest coupon price above $25? Not positive of the answer, but I do know that it doesn’t hurt.
I knew from reading your old site a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. I routinely buy GAM-B when it rarely falls below par, which it doesn’t do enough in my opinion. It does seem like it gets the price back above par pretty quick. However, it isn’t instantaneous, usually when it falls below far you have a few days, and sometimes a few weeks to grab some before the buybacks clam it back up. Given that it only usually goes below par in some sort of general market sell-off or crash, I use it as a place to park cash until ready to jump back in to riskier stuff.
Free money for the common shareholders.
It seems every Gabelli fund does it.
Search for “registrant purchases” (item 14)
https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/794685/000199937124011540/gab-ncsrs_063024.htm
I saw this recently on another site some here use. Prior to that, I did not know the buyback authorization existed. It certainly doesn’t hurt the pricing. I feel very lucky to have been able to get some shares below par.
Tim – similar buyback with GGN-B (GAMCO Gold & Natural Resources CEF).
When I first started tracking this preferred it had 3.5M shares outstanding; as of yesterday that figure was 3.14M. Also 8X coverage ratio on this one.
From the GGN 6/30/24 Semi Annual Report:
“The Series B Preferred are callable at any time at the liquidation value of $25 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends. The Board has authorized the repurchase of the Series B Preferred in the open market at prices less than the $25 liquidation value per share.
During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and the year ended December 31, 2023 the Fund repurchased and retired 161,633 and 76,939 of Series B
Preferred at investments of $3,592,083 and $1,683,202 and at discounts of approximately 11.15% and 12.53% to its liquidation preference. At June 30, 2024, 3,173,851 Series B Preferred were outstanding and accrued
dividends amounted to $77,840.”
Papa Doc–didn’t know that – thanks.
Interesting info.
For GNT-A..
From the GGN 6/30/24 Semi Annual Report:
“The Board has authorized the repurchase of the Series A Preferred in the open market at prices less than $25 liquidation value per share. During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and the year ended December 31, 2023, the Fund repurchased and retired 68,082 and 83,431 Series A Preferred at investments of $1,522,511 and $1,826,536 and at average discounts of approximately 10.59% and 12.47% to its liquidation preference. At June 30, 2024, 1,016,450 Series A Preferred shares were outstanding”…
GGN-B – Off $4 since hi in Sept – a bit surprising- looks like a real dump. But – over 6%.
Off $4 since hi in Sept – a bit surprising- looks like a real dump. But – over 6%.
The CEO bot 6,000 shares at $25 two days ago.
Maine–of course we always like that.