<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001999371-24-002190.txt : 20241206
<SEC-HEADER>0001999371-24-002190.hdr.sgml : 20241206
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20240213193043
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001999371-24-002190
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1
FILED AS OF DATE: 20240213
FILER:
COMPANY DATA:
COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ASA Gold & Precious Metals Ltd
CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001230869
ORGANIZATION NAME:
IRS NUMBER: 000000000
STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE
FISCAL YEAR END: 1130
FILING VALUES:
FORM TYPE: CORRESP
BUSINESS ADDRESS:
STREET 1: APEX FUND SERVICES
STREET 2: THREE CANAL PLAZA
CITY: PORTLAND
STATE: ME
ZIP: 04101
BUSINESS PHONE: 207-347-2000
MAIL ADDRESS:
STREET 1: APEX FUND SERVICES
STREET 2: THREE CANAL PLAZA
CITY: PORTLAND
STATE: ME
ZIP: 04101
FORMER COMPANY:
FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ASA LTD
DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20070301
FORMER COMPANY:
FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ASA BERMUDA LTD
DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20030505
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-indent: 0pt; margin: 0pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font: small-caps 17pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom llp</FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-indent: 0pt; margin: 0pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin: 0pt; text-align: center; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 12pt; text-transform: uppercase">One
Manhattan West</FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-indent: 0pt; margin: 0pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 12pt; text-transform: uppercase">New
York, NY 10001</FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-indent: 0pt; margin: 0pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt; text-transform: uppercase">________</FONT></P>
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<TD STYLE="text-align: center; width: 50%; vertical-align: middle"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">TEL:
(212) 735-3000</FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">FAX:
(212) 735-2000</FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">www.skadden.com</FONT></P>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">February
13, 2024</FONT></P></TD>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">FIRM/AFFILIATE OFFICES</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">-----------</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">BOSTON</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">CHICAGO</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">HOUSTON</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">LOS ANGELES</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">PALO ALTO</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">WASHINGTON, D.C.</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">WILMINGTON</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">-----------</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">BEIJING</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">BRUSSELS</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">FRANKFURT</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">HONG KONG</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">LONDON</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">MUNICH</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">PARIS</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">SÃO PAULO</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">SEOUL</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">SHANGHAI</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">SINGAPORE</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">TOKYO</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">TORONTO</P></TD></TR></TABLE>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B><U>SUBMISSION VIA EDGAR</U></B></P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><BR>
Division of Investment Management</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">United States Securities and Exchange Commission<BR>
100 F Street, N.E.<BR>
Washington, D.C. 20549</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Attn:	David Matthews</P>
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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">Re:</TD><TD><B>ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited</B></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><B>Preliminary Proxy Statement Filed February
1, 2024</B></P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><B>File No. 811-21650</B></P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 11pt; margin-right: 0; margin-left: 0">Ladies and Gentlemen:</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">On behalf of ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited
(the “<B><I>Company</I></B>” or “<B><I>ASA</I></B>”), and in response to the comments of the staff (the “<B><I>Staff</I></B>”)
of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “<B><I>Commission</I></B>”) on the Company’s preliminary proxy statement
filed February 1, 2024 (the “<B><I>Preliminary Proxy Statement</I></B>”), as communicated by the Staff to the Company’s
outside counsel on February 12, 2024 (the “<B><I>Staff Comments</I></B>”), set forth below are the Company’s responses
to the Staff Comments. The Company has revised the Preliminary Proxy Statement and is filing a revised preliminary proxy statement (the
“<B><I>Revised Preliminary Proxy Statement</I></B>”) concurrently herewith.</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The headings and paragraph numbers in this letter
correspond to those contained in Preliminary Proxy Statement and, to facilitate the Staff’s review, we have used our best efforts
to reproduce the Staff Comments in italics below. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the
Preliminary Proxy Statement.</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"> </P>
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<DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Division of Investment Management</P><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Securities and Exchange Commission</P><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">February 13, 2024</P><P STYLE="margin: 0; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Page <!-- Field: Sequence; Type: Arabic; Name: PageNo -->2<!-- Field: /Sequence --></P></DIV>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>Letter to Shareholders</U></P>
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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">1.</TD><TD><I>In the response letter, please confirm that the Company’s governing documents and Bermuda law permit holding a fully virtual
shareholder meeting and direct the Commission to any relevant provisions supporting that conclusion.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 12pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><U>Response</U>: The Company respectfully
acknowledges the Staff’s comment and confirms that both Section 37 of the Company’s bye-laws and Section 75A of the Companies
Act permit holding annual general meetings of shareholders in a fully virtual format.</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>Page 6</U></P>
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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">2.</TD><TD><I>In the second paragraph of the question entitled “Why am I being asked to approve an increase to the shareholder vote required
to change the Company’s fundamental investment policies?” please briefly explain what a “supermajority vote” is
that is referenced in that paragraph.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 7.5pt 0 0.5in"><U>Response</U>: The Company respectfully acknowledges the
Staff’s comment and has revised the disclosure accordingly in the Revised Preliminary Proxy Statement.</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 7.5pt 0 0"> </P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>Page 10</U></P>
<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">3.</TD><TD><I>For the broker non-vote disclosure, please revise throughout to state that broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of
a quorum. Alternatively, if that disclosure is retained and broker non-votes are intended to be counted for a quorum, please indicate
how this disclosure is appropriate in a contested election.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 12pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><U>Response</U>: Pursuant to Item 21(b)
of Schedule 14A, the Company is required to disclose in the proxy statement the treatment and effect of broker non-votes under applicable
state law and the registrant’s charter and bylaw provisions. Broker non-votes can only occur if a broker, bank or other nominee
has discretionary authority to vote on behalf of a beneficial owner with respect to one or more proposals being acted upon at a meeting
of shareholders but not with respect to one or more of the other proposals being acted upon at such meeting. Given the contested nature
of the Meeting being held by ASA, a broker, bank or other nominee will not have discretionary authority to vote on behalf of a beneficial
owner at the Meeting with respect to any of the proposals being considered to the extent such broker, bank or other nominee provides the
beneficial owner with Saba’s proxy materials. However, to the extent such broker, bank or other nominee does not provide the beneficial
owner with Saba’s proxy materials, then it would have discretionary authority to vote on behalf of a beneficial owner with respect
to Proposal 2 (because that is considered a “routine” proposal). Accordingly, despite the contested nature of the Meeting,
to the extent that any beneficial owners are not provided with Saba’s proxy materials, it is still possible that there would be
broker non-votes at the Meeting and any such broker non-votes would be counted as present for quorum purposes, but not counted as votes cast for or against
Proposals 1, 3 and 4 (because those are not considered “routine” proposals). In light of (i) the requirements for the Company
to disclose the treatment and effect of broker non-votes and (ii) the fact that at the time of mailing its proxy statement, the Company
may not be able to verify whether Saba’s proxy materials will be provided to all street name holders of common shares, the Company
believes that the current disclosure regarding how broker non-votes will be counted for quorum purposes is correct. The Company has also
revised the disclosure to further clarify that broker non-votes would only be counted for quorum purposes in the event that there are
in fact broker non-votes at the Meeting.</P>
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<DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Division of Investment Management</P><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Securities and Exchange Commission</P><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">February 13, 2024</P><P STYLE="margin: 0; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Page <!-- Field: Sequence; Type: Arabic; Name: PageNo -->3<!-- Field: /Sequence --></P></DIV>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>Page 21</U></P>
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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">4.</TD><TD><I>In the December 31, 2023 entry of the background section, please briefly explain the specific interests of the Company and its
shareholders that the shareholder rights plan is intended to protect and also add further detail describing what is meant by the reference
to “creeping control.” </I></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 12pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><U>Response</U>: The Company respectfully
acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised the disclosure accordingly in the Revised Preliminary Proxy Statement.</P>
<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">5.</TD><TD><I>In the section entitled “Reasons for the Board’s Recommendation,” with respect to the statement that Saba’s
nominees have limited (if any) experience with registered closed-end funds, please revise to couch this as an opinion or belief, or else
provide adequate factual support for such statement.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 12pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><U>Response</U>: The Company respectfully
acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised the disclosure to qualify such statement as the Board’s belief in the Revised
Preliminary Proxy Statement.</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>Page 28</U></P>
<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">6.</TD><TD><I>With respect to the sentence stating that “Among other attributes common to all directors is their ability to review critically,
evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other directors and management of the Company,
and to exercise reasonable business judgment in the performance of their duties as directors” this statement should be qualified
as an opinion or belief. </I></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 12pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><U>Response</U>: The Company respectfully
acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised the disclosure to qualify such statement as the Board’s belief in the Revised
Preliminary Proxy Statement.</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"> </P>
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<DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Division of Investment Management</P><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Securities and Exchange Commission</P><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">February 13, 2024</P><P STYLE="margin: 0; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Page <!-- Field: Sequence; Type: Arabic; Name: PageNo -->4<!-- Field: /Sequence --></P></DIV>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>Page 34</U></P>
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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">7.</TD><TD><I>If the following statement is included “On other occasions Saba director nominees that have gained control of a closed-end
fund board have acted swiftly to hire Saba as investment adviser, which has then precipitated a fundamental realignment of the fund’s
investment program,” please provide more specific examples regarding Saba becoming investment adviser of funds where it has initiated
proxy contests and whether this did in fact precipitate a fundamental realignment of the fund’s investment program.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 12pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><U>Response</U>: The Company respectfully
acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has removed the referenced statement in the Revised Preliminary Proxy Statement.</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>Page 35</U></P>
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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">8.</TD><TD><I>In the response letter, please indicate whether ASA currently has enough authorized shares to implement the future shareholder
rights plan referenced here. </I></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 12pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><U>Response</U>: The Company does not
currently have any specific plans to adopt a future shareholder rights plan. The reference to “future shareholder rights plans”
in the proxy statement was generally referencing any future plans that the Board may determine to adopt. Whether the Company would have
enough authorized shares to implement such a shareholder rights plan would depend on the specific terms of the plan at the time it was
adopted as well as any other changes that may occur prior to such time (e.g., additional share issuances by the Company that may occur
unrelated to a shareholder rights plan).</P>
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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">9.</TD><TD><I>Please also explain why more definitive disclosure regarding ASA’s plans to adopt a shareholder rights plan has not been
included, with reference to Note A of Schedule 14A.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 12pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><U>Response</U>: As referenced above,
the Company does not currently have specific plans to adopt a new shareholder rights plan or to extend the term of its existing rights
plan. Such decision will be made by the Board based on a variety of facts and circumstances existing at the time, not all of which can
be known at this time. Accordingly, Note A of Schedule 14A is inapplicable here and no further definitive disclosure is required.</P>
<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">10.</TD><TD><I>With respect to the statement in paragraph 2 of the section entitled “Reasons for the Authorized Share Capital Increase”
about “takeover attempts that would not be in the best interests of all shareholders” please revise to qualify this as the
Board’s opinion or belief.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 12pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><U>Response</U>: The Company respectfully
acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised the disclosure to qualify such statement as the Board’s belief in the Revised
Preliminary Proxy Statement.</P>
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<DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Division of Investment Management</P><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Securities and Exchange Commission</P><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">February 13, 2024</P><P STYLE="margin: 0; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Page <!-- Field: Sequence; Type: Arabic; Name: PageNo -->5<!-- Field: /Sequence --></P></DIV>
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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">11.</TD><TD><I>In the section entitled “Certain Risks and Possible Disadvantages Associated with the Authorized Share Capital Increase,”
with respect to the following statement “The perception that there might be additional dilution to our existing shareholders may
put pressure on the price of the common shares” please clarify whether the “pressure” referenced would be upward or
downward.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 12pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><U>Response</U>: The Company respectfully
acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised the disclosure accordingly in the Revised Preliminary Proxy Statement.</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>Page 36</U></P>
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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">12.</TD><TD><I>In paragraph 3, please include additional and more prominent disclosure regarding the existing shareholder rights plan adopted
by ASA, including (1) details of the provisions limiting certain shareholders’ rights to acquire additional shares on the same terms
as other shareholders, (2) the potential impact of imposing such limitations on some but not all shareholders, (3) the recent litigation
challenging the legality of the shareholder rights plan and (4) the impact of the litigation on ASA and its shareholders if the litigation
is successful.</I></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 12pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0in"><U>Response</U>: The Company respectfully
acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised the disclosure accordingly in the Revised Preliminary Proxy Statement.</P>
<P STYLE="text-align: center; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt">***</P>
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<DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Division of Investment Management</P><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Securities and Exchange Commission</P><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">February 13, 2024</P><P STYLE="margin: 0; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Page <!-- Field: Sequence; Type: Arabic; Name: PageNo -->6<!-- Field: /Sequence --></P></DIV>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in">We trust that the foregoing has been responsive
to the Staff’s comments and look forward to resolving any outstanding issues as quickly as possible as the Company would like to
be in a position to file its definitive proxy statement no later than February 16, 2024. Please direct any questions or comments regarding
the foregoing to me at (212) 735-2116 or richard.grossman@skadden.com.</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"> </P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 24pt 0pt 0pt 50%">Very truly yours,</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 24pt 0pt 0pt 50%"><U>/s/ Richard J. Grossman</U></P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0pt 0pt 50%"> </P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 6pt 0pt 0pt 50%">Richard J. Grossman<BR>
<BR>
</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"> </P>
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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD>cc:</TD>
<TD COLSPAN="2">Axel Merk</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 5%"> </TD>
<TD STYLE="width: 10%"> </TD>
<TD STYLE="width: 85%">Chief Operating Officer</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD> </TD>
<TD> </TD>
<TD>ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD> </TD>
<TD COLSPAN="2">Zachary Tackett</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD> </TD>
<TD> </TD>
<TD>Corporate Secretary</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD> </TD>
<TD> </TD>
<TD>ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD> </TD>
<TD COLSPAN="2">Jennifer Gonzalez</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD> </TD>
<TD> </TD>
<TD>K&L Gates LLP</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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