NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the Board of Directors of General American Investors Company, Inc. (NYSE symbol – GAM), a closed-end investment company, declared a combined dividend and distribution of $1.40 per share on its outstanding shares of common stock as follows:
- A distribution of $1.23 per share from net long-term capital gains on securities sold.
- A dividend and distribution of $0.17 per share from estimated accumulated undistributed income for the full year 2012 and net short-term gains on securities sold.
Determination as to taxability will be provided in January 2013. Both amounts are payable on December 28, 2012 to stockholders of record on November 19, 2012, and are to be included in stockholders’ Federal income tax returns for 2012. Holders of common stock may elect to receive the dividend and distribution under one of two options:
1. Receive additional full and fractional shares of the Company’s common stock for the combined total dividend and distribution of $1.40 per share;
2. Receive cash for the dividend and distribution.
The Board of Directors declared on its 5.95% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B, a dividend and distribution of $0.371875 per share payable in cash on December 24, 2012 to holders of record on December 7, 2012. This quarterly dividend and distribution represents a payment for the accrual period from September 24, 2012 through December 23, 2012. Preferred shareholders will be informed in early 2013 of the taxable portions of the dividend and distribution.
General American Investors was founded in 1927, has been publicly traded since its inception and has been listed on the NYSE since 1930. The objective of the Company is long-term capital appreciation through investment in companies with above average growth potential. As of October 31, 2012, the Company had net assets of approximately $954 million applicable to its 28.5 million shares of common stock outstanding. The net asset value of the common stock of the Company on October 31, 2012 was $33.52 per share and the closing price was $28.57 per share. The aggregate liquidation value of the Company’s preferred stock is $190.1 million (liquidation preference $25.00 per share). Its preferred shares (symbol GAM Pr B) are also listed on the NYSE.