SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. ___)
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to section 240.14a-11(c)
or section 240.14a-12
General American Investors Company, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
[Insert Name]
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i), or 14a-6(i)(2) or
Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
[ ] $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 14a-6(i)(3).
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which registrant applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
<PAGE>
GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS Company, Inc.
450 Lexington Avenue . New York . N.Y. 10017
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
February 3, 1997
To the Stockholders of
GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS Company, Inc.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of stockholders of General
American Investors Company, Inc. will be held in the North Room on the
Third Floor of the Harvard Club of New York City, 27 West 44th Street, New York
City, N.Y., on Wednesday, March 12, 1997 at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon, New
York Time, for the purpose of
(a) Electing directors to hold office until the annual meeting of
stockholders next ensuing after their election and until their
respective successors are elected and shall have qualified;
and
(b) Ratifying or rejecting the selection by the Board of Directors
of the Company of the firm of Ernst & Young LLP to be the
auditors of the Company for the year ending December 31, 1997;
and
(c) Approving or rejecting the shareholder proposal recommending
that the Board of Directors convert the Company into an open-
end investment company; and
(d) Transacting any and all such other business as may properly
come before the meeting or any adjournment or adjournments
thereof in connecting with the foregoing or otherwise.
The minute books of the Company, containing the minutes of all meetings of
the Board of Directors since the last annual meeting of the stockholders, will
be presented to the meeting and will there be open to the inspection of the
stockholders.
The close of business on January 27, 1997 has been fixed as the record date
for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at,
the meeting.
This notice and related proxy material is expected to be mailed on or about
February 3, 1997.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Carole Anne Clementi
Secretary
If you do not expect to attend the meeting in person and wish your stock to be
voted, you are requested to fill in and sign the accompanying form of proxy and
return it in the accompanying envelope.
<PAGE>
GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS Company, Inc.
450 Lexington Avenue . New York . N.Y. 10017
PROXY STATEMENT
February 3, 1997
This statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of
Directors of General American Investors Company, Inc. (hereinafter called the
"Company" or the "Corporation") of proxies to be used at the annual meeting of
stockholders of the Company, to be held in the North Room on the Third
Floor of the Harvard Club of New York City, 27 West 44th Street, New York City,
N.Y., on Wednesday, March 12, 1997 at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon (and at any
adjournment or adjournments thereof) for the purposes set forth in the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Stockholders who execute
proxies retain the right to revoke them at any time insofar as they have not
been exercised, by written notice to the Secretary of the Company or by
attendance at the Annual Meeting.
The close of business on January 27, 1997 has been fixed as the record date for
the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
meeting.
This proxy statement and the form of proxy are expected to be mailed on or about
February 3, 1997.
Proxies returned will be voted in accordance with the instructions thereon or,
if no instructions are indicated, in favor of the directors named herein, to
approve the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as auditors and against the
shareholder proposal relating to the conversion of the Company into an open-end
investment company.
As of January 27, 1997, the Company had outstanding 23,624,490 shares of Common
Stock, $1 par value, each share carrying one vote.
A. Respecting the Election of Directors
At the meeting, thirteen directors are to be elected to hold office until
the annual meeting of stockholders next ensuing after their election and until
their respective successors are elected and shall have qualified. It is the
intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to nominate and
to vote such proxy for the election of persons named below or, if any such
persons should be unable to serve, for the election of such other person or
persons as shall be determined by the persons named in the proxy in accordance
with their judgment. All of the persons named below are incumbent directors.
They have agreed to serve if elected.
1 (continued on page 2)
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON
STOCK, SHARES
NAME AND BUSINESS ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION*, BUSINESS EXPERIENCE BECAME BENEFICIALLY OWNED PERCENT
DURING PAST FIVE YEARS AND AGE DIRECTOR DEC. 31, 1996 ** OF CLASS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Arthur G. Altschul, Jr. Mr. Altschul is managing member of Owen, Diaz 1995 105,876 .45
Owen Diaz & Altschul, LLC & Altschul, LLC which was founded in May 1996.
(investments and securities) From 1992 to May 1996, he was employed by
745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3001 SUGEN, Inc. (biopharmaceuticals), Redwood City,
New York, NY 10151 CA, most recently as senior director of corporate
affairs. He was Assistant Secretary of SUGEN
from May 1992 to May 1996. Mr. Altschul has
been managing general partner of Altschul
Investment Group, L.P. (a private investment
partnership), New York, NY since 1988. He is
a director of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation,
Phoenix, AZ and Owen, Diaz & Altschul Fund I, Ltd.,
Hamilton, Bermuda. Mr. Altschul is 32 years old.
Lawrence B. Buttenwieser Mr. Buttenwieser has been a partner of Rosenman 1967 685,381 2.90
Rosenman & Colin LLP & Colin LLP and predecessor firms since 1966. He
(lawyers) has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors
575 Madison Avenue of the Company since May 1995 and a director
New York, NY 10022 of the Company since 1967. He is also a director
of Time Warner Inc., New York, NY. Mr.
Buttenwieser is 65 years old.
Lewis B. Cullman Mr. Cullman has been president of Cullman 1961 102,807 .44
Cullman Ventures, Inc. Ventures, Inc. (formerly solely a holding
(calendars and catalogs) company) since 1968. He is chairman and a
767 Third Avenue director of Chess-in-the-Schools
New York, NY 10017 (charitable foundation), New York, NY. Mr.
Cullman is vice chairman of the international
council and an honorary trustee of the Museum
of Modern Art, New York, NY. Mr.Cullman is 78
years old.
Spencer Davidson # Mr. Davidson has been President and Chief Executive 1995 206,436 .87
General American Investors Officer of the Company since August 1995; prior
Company, Inc. thereto he was senior investment counsellor since
450 Lexington Avenue joining the Company in 1994. He was elected a
New York, NY 10017 Director of the Company in September 1995. Before
joining General American, Mr. Davidson was the
General Partner of The Hudson Partnership (a private
investment partnership), New York, NY. He is
a trustee of the Innisfree Foundation, Inc.
(not-for-profit foundation), Millbrook, NY and
of the Neurosciences Research Foundation
(scientific research foundation), San Diego, CA.
Mr. Davidson is 54 years old.
</TABLE>
2 (continued on page 3)
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON
STOCK, SHARES
NAME AND BUSINESS ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION*, BUSINESS EXPERIENCE BECAME BENEFICIALLY OWNED PERCENT
DURING PAST FIVE YEARS AND AGE DIRECTOR DEC. 31, 1996 ** OF CLASS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gerald M. Edelman Dr. Edelman has been a member and the chairman 1976 1,068 .00
Department of Neurobiology of the Department of Neurobiology of The Scripps
The Scripps Research Institute Research Institute since July 1992; prior thereto,
10666 North Torrey Pines Rd. he was Vincent Astor Professor of The Rockefeller
La Jolla, CA 92037 University, New York, NY. Dr. Edelman is director
and president of the Neurosciences Institute of
the Neurosciences Research Foundation
(scientific research foundation), San Diego,
CA; president and a director of the
Neurosciences Support Corporation (scientific
research support foundation), San Diego, CA;
a director of Becton, Dickinson and Company,
Franklin Lakes, NJ; and a member emeritus of
the board of governors of the Weizmann
Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. Dr.
Edelman is 67 years old.
Anthony M. Frank Mr. Frank has been chairman and a director of 1992 4,047 .02
Belvedere Partners Belvedere Partners since 1994. He has been Chairman
(private financial consulting) of Acrogen Inc. (biotechnology company), Oakland,
1 Maritime Plaza, Suite 1201 CA since March 1992; prior thereto, he was The
San Francisco, CA 94111 Postmaster General of the United States from
March 1988. Prior to entering government service,
he was chairman of First Nationwide Bank. Mr. Frank
is a director of Bedford Properties,
Lafayette, CA; Cotelligent Group, Inc., San
Francisco, CA; Crescent Real Estate Equities,
Inc., New York, NY; Financial Security
Assurance Holdings Ltd., New York, NY; Irvine
Apartment Communities, Inc., Newport Beach,
CA; Living Centers of America, Houston, TX;
The Schwab (Charles) Corporation, San
Francisco, CA and Temple-Inland Inc., Diboll,
TX. He is a director and consultant of
Transamerica Home First Inc., San Francisco,
CA and an overseer of the Amos Tuck School of
Business, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH. Mr.
Frank is 65 years old.
John D. Gordan, III Mr. Gordan has been a partner of Morgan, Lewis 1986 5,060 .02
Morgan, Lewis and Bockius and Bockius since October 1994; prior thereto,
(lawyers) he was a partner of Lord Day & Lord, Barrett
101 Park Avenue Smith and predecessor firm from 1979.
New York, NY 10178 Mr. Gordan is 51 years old.
Bill Green Mr. Green represented the 15th New York 1993 2,310 .01
Corporate Director and Congressional District (east side of Manhattan)
Trustee in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1978
14 E. 60th Street - Suite 702 through 1992. He is a director of ClientSoft,
New York, NY 10022 Inc., Tarrytown, NY; Commercial Capital Corp.,
New York, NY; and Energy Answers Corporation,
Albany, NY. He is also a member of the New
York City Campaign Finance Board, New York, NY
and a member and vice chair of the New York
City Housing Development Corporation, New York,
NY. Mr. Green is 67 years old.
Victoria Hamilton # Ms. Hamilton, has been Executive Vice-President 1996 559 .00
General American Investors and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since
Company, Inc. August 1995; prior thereto, she was a Vice-
450 Lexington Avenue President from the time she joined the Company
New York, NY 10017 in February 1992. Before joining General
American, she was a principal with SRK Management
Company (a private investment company), New York,
NY from 1982. Ms. Hamilton is a director of
Microbiological Associates, Inc., Rockville, MD.
Ms. Hamilton is 43 years old.
</TABLE>
3 (continued on page 4)
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON
STOCK, SHARES
NAME AND BUSINESS ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION*, BUSINESS EXPERIENCE BECAME BENEFICIALLY OWNED PERCENT
DURING PAST FIVE YEARS AND AGE DIRECTOR DEC. 31, 1996 ** OF CLASS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sidney R. Knafel Mr. Knafel has been managing partner of SRK 1994 14,299 .06
SRK Management Company Management Company since 1981. He is chairman
(private investment company) of the board of directors of Insight
126 East 56th Street Communications, Inc., New York, NY; and
New York, NY 10022 Microbiological Associates, Inc., Rockville, MD.
Mr. Knafel is a director of Cellular
Communications International, Inc., New York,
NY; Cellular Communications of Puerto Rico,
Inc., New York, NY; IGENE Biotechnology,
Inc., Columbia, MD; International CableTel,
Inc., New York, NY; and several privately
owned companies. Mr. Knafel is 66 years old.
Richard R. Pivirotto Mr. Pivirotto was chairman of the board of 1971 1,080 .00
President, Richard R. Pivirotto directors of Associated Dry Goods Corporation,
Co., Inc. New York, NY from 1976 until his retirement in
(self-employed consultant) 1981. He is a director of The Gillette Company,
111 Clapboard Ridge Road Boston, MA; Immunomedics, Inc. (biopharmaceuticals),
Greenwich, CT 06830 Morris Plains, NJ; New York Life Insurance Company,
New York, NY; and Westinghouse Electric
Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA. He is a trustee
of Greenwich Hospital Corporation, Greenwich,
CT, a trustee of the General Theological
Seminary, New York, NY, and a charter trustee
emeritus of Princeton University, Princeton,
NJ. Mr. Pivirotto is 66 years old.
Joseph T. Stewart, Jr. Mr. Stewart has been an executive consultant 1987 12,360 .05
Corporate Director and to Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ since
Trustee September 1990; prior thereto, he was a
147 Rolling Hill Road consultant to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Skillman, NJ 08558 from January 1990 to March 1990. Mr. Stewart
was senior vice president, corporate affairs
of Squibb Corporation from 1982 until he
retired in January 1990. He was a director of
Squibb Corporation from 1984 until its merger
into Bristol-Myers Squibb Company in 1989. He
is a director of Liposome Co., Inc.,
Princeton, NJ, a trustee of the Foundation of
the University of Medicine and Dentistry of
New Jersey, Newark, NJ, a trustee of the New
School for Social Research, New York, NY, and
a member of the advisory council to the
Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA.
Mr. Stewart is 67 years old.
Raymond S. Troubh Mr. Troubh has been a financial consultant 1989 15,333 .06
10 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 712 since 1974. He is a director of ADT Limited,
New York, NY 10020 Boca Raton, FL; America West Airlines, Inc.,
Phoenix, AZ; Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
Cambridge, MA; Becton, Dickinson and Company,
Franklin Lakes, NJ; Diamond Offshore Drilling,
Inc., Houston, TX; Foundation Health
Corporation, Rancho Cordova, CA; The MicroCap
Fund, Inc., New York, NY; Olsten Corporation,
Westbury, NY; Petrie Stores Corporation,
Secaucus, NJ; Time Warner Inc., New York, NY;
Triarc Companies, Inc., New York, NY; and WHX
Corporation, New York, NY. Mr. Troubh is 70
years old.
<FN>
* If the principal occupation shown has been held for less than five
years, additional background information relating to the director's
principal occupation is included in the supplemental paragraph together
with his other directorships.
** This information has been furnished by each director. In addition to
shares owned beneficially, shares as to which directors have or
share the power to vote or dispose are as follows:
</FN>
</TABLE>
4 (continued on page 5)
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
NAME Shares Percent of Class
- ---- ------ ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Lewis B. Cullman 61,722 .26
John D. Gordan, III 310,273 1.31
Sidney R. Knafel 8,198 .03
<FN>
# Mr. Davidson and Ms. Hamilton are "interested persons" of the
Company, as defined under Section 2a(19) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, by reason of their being officers of the
Company.
</FN>
</TABLE>
The directors and officers as a group owned beneficially or have or share
the power to vote or dispose of an aggregate 1,621,209 shares of Common Stock
(6.86% of the class). In addition, the Company has the power to vote 300,099
shares of Common Stock (1.27% of the class) held by the trustee for the
Company's Employees' Thrift Plan, as described below.
Meetings of Committees of the Board of Directors
During 1996, the Company's Board of Directors held seven meetings.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors consists of the following
directors, all of whom are "non- interested" directors: Mr. John D. Gordan, III,
Chairman, Mr. Arthur G. Altschul, Jr., Mr. Lawrence B. Buttenwieser, Mr. Lewis
B. Cullman, Mr. Bill Green, Mr. Sidney R. Knafel and Mr. Raymond S. Troubh; and
Mr. Anthony M. Frank, alternate. Generally, for the Company, the Audit Committee
monitors financial reporting, reviews reports on the system of internal
accounting control, reviews the scope of the audit work, reviews fees in
relation to services performed by the auditors, reviews the results of auditors'
work, reviews and oversees responses to recommendations, if any, made to the
Company by the auditors, recommends the selection of the auditors to the Board
of Directors and acts as a liaison between the Board of Directors and the
auditors and management personnel. The Committee met two times during the fiscal
year, on March 13 and December 11, 1996.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors consists of the
following directors: Mr. Bill Green, Chairman, Mr. Lawrence B. Buttenwieser, Mr.
Anthony M. Frank, Mr. Sidney R. Knafel, Mr. Richard R. Pivirotto, Mr. Malcolm B.
Smith, Mr. Joseph T. Stewart, Jr. and Mr. Raymond S. Troubh; and Mr. Lewis B.
Cullman and Dr. Gerald M. Edelman, alternates. Generally, for the Company, the
Compensation Committee reviews the operations of the Company and performance and
contributions made during each year by its officers and employees, reviews
management proposals for year-end supplemental compensation and levels of
compensation for the ensuing year, reviews comparable operating and compensation
data of other companies in the investment industry, and makes recommendations on
matters of compensation to the Board of Directors. The Committee met once during
the fiscal year, on December 11, 1996.
The Executive Committee/Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors
consists of the following Directors: Mr. Richard R. Pivirotto, Chairman, Mr.
Lawrence B. Buttenwieser, Mr. Spencer Davidson, Dr. Gerald M. Edelman, Ms.
Victoria Hamilton, Mr. Malcolm B. Smith and Mr. Joseph T. Stewart, Jr.; and Mr.
John D. Gordan, III, and Mr. Bill Green, alternates. In addition to functioning
as an Executive Committee with authority to exercise the powers of the Board of
Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Company when the
Board is not in session, the Executive Committee/Nominating Committee is
responsible for identifying individuals who may be nominated to serve as
Directors of the Company, responding to inquiries relating to nominations to the
Board and making recommendations to the Board with respect to individuals to be
nominated to serve as Directors. The Committee met two times during the fiscal
year, on February 22, and December 11, 1996.
Each Director attended at least seventy-five percent of the aggregate
number of meetings of the Board of Directors and of the committee(s) on which he
or she serves.
Compliance with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires
the Company's officers and directors and certain other persons to file timely
certain reports regarding ownership of, and transactions in, the Company's
securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the required
filings must also be furnished to the Company.
5
<PAGE>
Based solely on its review of such forms received by it, or written
representations from certain reporting persons, the Company believes that during
1996 all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements were complied with, except
that the Form 4s required to be filed by Lawrence B. Buttenwieser for two
transactions, one in June 1994 and one in August 1994, were filed late due to
the delay in the receipt by Mr. Buttenwieser of information from an investment
adviser to a trust in which the transactions occurred.
Executive Officers
In addition to Mr. Spencer Davidson, President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company, and Ms. Victoria Hamilton, Executive Vice-President and Chief
Operating Officer, information with respect to whom is set forth above, the
executive officers of the Company include the following. (Officers are elected
each year by the Board of Directors at its annual organization meeting in
March.)
Mr. John J. Smith, 46, Vice-President since January 1989 and, prior
thereto, Secretary from January 1986, has been a security analyst with the
Company since March 1981. Mr. Smith is principally responsible for securities in
the chemical, medical, pharmaceutical and environmental control industries.
Mr. Andrew V. Vindigni, 37, Vice-President since September 1995 and, prior
thereto, Assistant Vice-President from January 1991, has been a security analyst
with the Company since 1988. Mr. Vindigni is principally responsible for
securities in the financial services industry.
Mr. Eugene L. DeStaebler, Jr., 58, has been Vice-President, Administration
since January 1978.
Mr. Peter P. Donnelly, 48, Vice-President since January 1991 and, prior
thereto, Assistant Vice-President from January 1984, has been the securities
trader for the Company since 1974.
Mrs. Diane G. Radosti, 44, Treasurer since January 1990, has been an
employee of the Company since 1980.
Mrs. Carole Anne Clementi, 50, Secretary since October 1994 and, prior
thereto, Assistant Secretary from July 1993, has been an employee of the Company
since 1982.
Executive Compensation
The following table sets forth the compensation received during 1996 from
the Company by its executive officers and directors.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Pension or
Name of Individual Capacities retirement
or number of persons in which Aggregate benefits accrued
in group served Compensation during 1996 *
- -------------------- ----------- ------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Spencer Davidson President and $ 466,000 $49,914
Chief Executive Officer
Victoria Hamilton Executive Vice-President and 336,000 34,326
Chief Operating Officer
S. Lawrence Feit Senior Vice-President** 280,288 32,994
9 executive officers 2,475,288 251,658
as a group
14 directors as 185,000 ***
a group
<FN>
* The amounts shown in this column represent the Company's payments
made during 1996 to the trustee of the Company's Employees' Thrift
Plan, as described below, or accounting reserves established during
1996 under the Company's Excess Contribution Plan, as described
below, on behalf of the respective individuals or group members.
** Mr. Feit retired as an officer and employee of the Company as
of December 31, 1996.
*** Each director who is not a paid officer of the Company received a
fee of $10,000 as an annual retainer, a fee of $500 for attendance
at each Directors' meeting and $500 for each Committee meeting
which he attended in his capacity as a Director.
</FN>
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
With respect to the Company's Employees' Thrift Plan, the Company matches
150% of an employee's contributions up to 8% of basic salary to the plan.
Company contributions are invested in shares of the Company's common stock. An
employee's interest in Company contributions to his account is fully vested
after six years of service. Partial vesting begins after two years of
participation in the plan. All employees, including officers, are eligible to
participate in the Thrift Plan after six months of services with the Company.
Employees whose annual compensation exceeds $150,000 are required to invest
their future contributions to the plan in shares of the Company's common stock,
and their existing plan balances will be converted into the Company's common
stock over the three years next succeeding the attainment of that compensation
level.
The Company has an Employees' Retirement Plan which is broadly
characterized as a defined benefit plan. The Company contributes to the trustee
for the plan annual costs which include actuarially determined current service
costs and amortization of prior service costs. Retirement benefits are based on
final average earnings (basic salary, exclusive of overtime, bonuses,
commissions, pension, retainer fees, fees under contracts or any other forms of
additional or special compensation, for the five consecutive years in which the
participant had the highest basic salary during the last ten years of service)
and years of credited service, less an offset for social security covered
compensation, plus an additional amount equal to $50 for each year of credited
service. All employees, including officers, over age 21 commence participation
in the plan after one year of service and are fully vested after six years of
service. Partial vesting begins after two years of service. Participants are
eligible to receive normal retirement benefits at age 65. In certain instances,
a reduced benefit may begin upon retirement between ages 55 and 65.
The following table shows the estimated annual retirement benefits
(including amounts attributable to the Company's Excess Benefit Plan, as
described below), which are subject to a deduction based on a portion of social
security covered compensation, payable on a straight life annuity basis, at
normal retirement date to all eligible employees, including officers, in
specified compensation and years-of-service classifications:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Estimated Annual Benefits Based Upon Years of Credited Service
-------------------------------------------------------------
Final Average 10 20 30 40
Earnings
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 50,000 $ 8,645 $ 17,290 $ 25,935 $ 31,865
100,000 16,790 33,580 50,370 61,730
150,000 24,935 49,870 74,805 91,595
200,000 33,080 66,160 99,240 121,460
250,000 41,225 82,450 123,675 151,325
300,000 49,370 98,740 148,110 181,190
350,000 57,515 115,030 172,545 211,055
400,000 65,660 131,320 196,980 240,920
</TABLE>
For those officers of the Company listed in the compensation table on page
6, the following indicates his years of credited service in the Company's
Retirement Plan and basic salary for 1996. Spencer Davidson (2) $416,000,
Victoria Hamilton (4) $286,000, and S. Lawrence Feit (10) $275,000.
The Company also has Excess Contribution and Excess Benefit Plans. Under
such plans, the Company may establish accounting reserves and make payments
directly to selected participants in the Company's Thrift and Retirement Plans,
respectively, to the extent the levels of contributions or benefits for such
participants under such plans are limited by sections 415, 416 and/or 401(a)(17)
of the Internal Revenue Code. Such benefits commence at the time benefits
commence under the related tax-qualified plan. Mr. Davidson, Ms. Hamilton and
Mr. Feit are participants in both the Excess Contribution and Excess Benefit
Plans.
In 1991, the Company's Board of Directors adopted a retirement plan for the
independent directors with five or more years of service at retirement and for
the Chairman at the time (the "Eligible Directors"). Under the plan, Eligible
Directors were entitled to receive an annual retirement benefit based on their
years of service and the annual retainer at the time of retirement. On January
10, 1996, the Board of Directors terminated the plan and, as a result, the
Company distributed the current lump sum value of vested benefits to
participants and beneficiaries except for two directors who waived their rights
to payments of any benefits under the plan. The aggregate amount of the lump sum
value paid on January 25, 1996 was $543,682.
7
<PAGE>
B. Respecting the Ratification and Approval of Appointment of Auditors
by the Board of Directors
Proposal (b) set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of
Stockholders is the ratification or rejection of the action taken in the
following resolutions unanimously adopted by the Board of Directors (a majority
of non-interested directors voting in person) appointing the firm of Ernst &
Young LLP to be the auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending December
31, 1997.
"RESOLVED, that the firm of Ernst & Young LLP be and they hereby
are appointed the auditors of the Company with respect to its
operations for the year 1997; and further
"RESOLVED, that such auditors be and they hereby are authorized
and instructed to conduct an audit, in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards, of the financial statements of the Company
as of and for the year ending December 31, 1997; and further
"RESOLVED, that such auditors be and they hereby are authorized
and instructed to conduct a review, in accordance with standards
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants,
of the interim financial statements of the Company as of and for the
six months ending June 30, 1997; and further
"RESOLVED, that such appointment shall terminate (without penalty
to the Company) in the event that it shall be rejected at the annual
meeting of the stockholders of the Company in 1997; and further
"RESOLVED, that such appointment shall terminate (without penalty
to the Company) if a majority (as defined in the Investment Company Act
of 1940) of the outstanding voting securities of the Company at any
meeting called for the purpose shall vote to terminate such
appointment; and further
"RESOLVED, that the report of such auditors expressing their
opinion with respect to the financial statements above described and
the report of such auditors with respect to the review above described
shall be addressed to the Board of Directors of the Company and to the
stockholders thereof."
Ernst & Young LLP were the auditors for the Company for 1996. A
representative of Ernst & Young LLP will attend the Annual Meeting to respond to
appropriate questions and will have the opportunity to make a statement.
Stockholders who wish to submit questions in advance to the auditors may do so
in writing to Mr. Stephen D. Karpf, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, 787 Seventh
Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10019.
C. Shareholder Proposal Recommending that the Board Convert the Company
into an Open-End Investment Company
The Board of Directors of General American Investors unanimously recommends
that you vote AGAINST this shareholder proposal relating to the conversion of
the Company to an open-end investment company for the reasons set forth below.
Approval of this shareholder proposal requires the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the shares of the Company present in person or
represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote. However, in the event
that this shareholder proposal is approved and the Board of Directors determines
to proceed with converting the Company to open-end status, it will be necessary
to call another meeting of shareholders at which shareholders will be asked to
vote whether or not to approve converting the Company to an open-end fund.
Approval of that proposal would require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of
the outstanding shares of the Company.
The Board of Directors has been informed by Jack N. Bonne', 45 Horseshoe
Hill Road, Pound Ridge, New York 10576, owner of 536 shares and representing an
additional family interest of 3,278 shares at October 1, 1996, that he intends
to submit the following proposal at the meeting:
"RESOLVED, that the stockholders of General American Investors
Company, Inc., assembled in annual meeting in person and by proxy,
request the Board of Directors take the steps necessary to amend
the Articles of Incorporation, by-laws or comply with other legal
requirements to convert the fund from closed-end status to an open-end
mutual fund."
8
<PAGE>
The proponent has requested that the following statement be included in the
proxy statement in support of his proposal:
"Shareholders should vote in favor of this proposal to provide them with
the opportunity to eliminate the large market discount, 15% at October 4, from
the actual net asset value of their shares. On October 4 the market price was
$23.125 versus net asset value of $27.20. Furthermore, the average annual return
over the past 5 years for General American shares was only 6.9% versus 14.7% per
year for an average of open-end funds with a Standard & Poor's 500 Index
objective.
Strong support along the lines we suggest was shown at last year's annual
meeting when 2,653,130 shares or over 18 percent of the shareholder votes were
cast in favor of this proposal.
Furthermore, in spite of an aggressive buy-back program initiated last
year, the large discount to net asset value remains.
Funds that have opened include: the Japan Fund, the Pacific European Growth
Fund, The Germany Fund of Canada, The Nicholas-Applegate Growth Equity Fund and
GT Global Europe Fund.
Conversion of General American to an open-end mutual fund would permit
shareholders to monitor investment performance of their fund versus being
currently required to measure both market performance and portfolio performance
which makes it difficult for shareholders to compare performance of their fund
to others.
If you agree that to best enhance the value of your shares your
Directors take the steps necessary to convert General American fund from a
closed-end mutual fund to an open-end mutual fund, then please mark your proxy
FOR; if you disagree mark AGAINST.
PLEASE NOTE: PROXIES NOT MARKED WILL BE VOTED AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION."
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST ADOPTION OF THE SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSAL FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH BELOW.
As stated at the last two annual meetings and as set forth in the Company's
1995 and 1996 proxy statements, your Directors are extremely concerned about the
proposal to convert the Company into an open-end (mutual) fund. Their reasons
for opposition to the proposal are listed below. However, the basis for their
opposition rests on a fundamental view of the Company as an investment vehicle
with a focus on long-term capital appreciation and a commitment to the long-term
investor.
General American Investors Company was established in 1927. Over its
70-year history, the Company has operated successfully as a closed-end
investment company and provided its shareholders with good long-term investment
results. Your Directors believe that the proposal to convert the Company into an
open-end (mutual) fund is not in the best interests of the shareholders. The
shareholders of the Company have rejected virtually identical proposals by
margins of approximately 5:1 in each of the past two years. While the effect of
changing the Company into a mutual fund might be to provide some shareholders
with a quick one-time profit, it would be at the probable expense of other
shareholders whose interests are long-term in nature.
The closed-end structure permits portfolio managers to focus on investment
considerations without concern for significant fluctuations in invested capital.
On the other hand, open-end funds must maintain cash reserves to provide for
possible redemptions and may be required to buy or sell portfolio securities, at
inopportune times, due to cash flows resulting from shareholder purchases or
redemptions of fund shares. Your Directors believe that the stable capital base
provided by the closed-end structure is consistent with the Company's principal
investment objective of long-term capital appreciation and the focus of its
staff on fundamental security analysis.
Shares of closed-end funds trade in the market place based on the forces of
supply and demand. Frequently, shares of closed-end funds sell at prices below
their underlying net asset value (at a discount). Sometimes, shares sell at a
premium (above their underlying net asset value). When shares sell at a
discount, they represent a buying opportunity, not only for individuals, but,
also, for the issuing company acting
9
<PAGE>
on behalf of its shareholders. Indeed, during the period from March 31, 1995
through December 31, 1996, the Company repurchased approximately 3.4 million of
its shares at an average discount of 15.9%. The Company's shareholders have
also recognized this buying opportunity as they have elected to receive in
additional shares of the Company's common stock over 60% of the optional
dividends from net investment income and capital gain paid during each of the
past 5 years.
As well as defeating proposals relating to the conversion of the Company to
open-end (mutual) fund status in each of the past two years, the shareholders of
the Company voted overwhelmingly in 1978 to make it more difficult to achieve
such a conversion, strongly endorsing the closed-end structure for the Company.
At that time, at the recommendation of management, shareholders approved a
proposal to amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to require the vote
of two-thirds of the outstanding shares to dissolve the Company or to convert it
into an open-end fund. Votes were cast in favor of this proposal by a margin of
10:1.
As stated in the Company's 1995 and 1996 proxy statements, the
disadvantages of converting the Company to a mutual fund include:
(1) Redemptions could force the sale of portfolio securities in
amounts and at times disadvantageous for shareholders who did
not redeem.
(2) Redemptions would likely lead to forced realization of capital
gains, with unfavorable tax consequences to non-redeeming
shareholders.
(3) Greater liquidity would have to be maintained against the
possibility of continuing redemptions, thus potentially
reducing overall returns.
(4) The Company would be forced to make arrangements to sell new
shares if it wished to offset redemptions.
(5) The costs of conversion itself, including the legal,
accounting and printing costs, would be borne by the Company
and its shareholders.
(6) The Company would have to expend time and money to develop
infrastructures to deal with the distribution, accounting,
transfer agency and shareholder servicing necessary to deal
with redemptions and sales of open-end funds and the resulting
cash inflows and outflows.
(7) As the Company is not affiliated with any broker-dealer or
mutual fund sponsor, through which most mutual funds are sold,
management time would be diverted to finding an underwriter
and assisting in the distribution of shares.
(8) The expense ratio (the ratio of operating expenses to average
net assets) would probably increase as redemptions took place.
(9) The Company would lose its listing on the New York Stock
Exchange. Thus, shareholders would lose the advantages of
owning a listed security. In addition, certain investors, such
as pension funds, have internal restrictions on the amount of
their portfolio which can be invested in non - listed
securities; accordingly, such investors could be forced to
redeem their shares.
(10) The portion of the Company's assets which could be invested in
smaller companies with excellent prospects but with limited
marketability would be restricted. For example, under
Securities and Exchange Commission interpretations, an
open-end company may invest no more than 15% of its total
assets in illiquid assets.
(11) Uncertainty regarding the size and stability of the Company
would affect the Company's ability to attract and retain
capable personnel.
As you are aware, the key attraction for those interested in converting the
Company to an open-end fund is the realization of a one-time profit resulting
from the elimination of the discount from net asset value at which the stocks of
most closed-end investment companies have traded in the market in recent years.
10
<PAGE>
Your Directors are very much aware of the discount factor. The Company's
shares have traded at a discount in each of the last 20 years. They have traded
at discounts of at least 10% in all but 4 of the years in that period. On the
other hand, in 7 of those years (and as recently as April 1993) the shares have
traded at a premium over net asset value. The Company has, over the years,
devoted much effort to determining the reasons for the discount. Over time, the
discounts for all closed-end funds have tended to fluctuate widely. Despite a
significant amount of research and analysis, there is no generally accepted
explanation for these fluctuations. While there can be no assurance that there
will be a substantial reduction in the current discount, there is, likewise, no
reason to believe that, in the future, shares will not trade at or above their
net asset value as they have in the past.
In order to take advantage of the discount, as mentioned above, the Company
repurchased a significant number of its shares during the past 21 months in an
effort to enhance shareholder value (by improving the net asset value per share
for remaining shareholders through share repurchase at less than net asset value
per share). Prior to 1995, the last time the Company's shares traded at a
significant discount level was the period from 1987 to 1991. During that 5 year
period, the Company repurchased over 2,500,000 shares for over $42,500,000 at an
average discount of approximately 17%.
In addition, your Directors believe that the underlying performance of the
Company is more important than eliminating the discount. Premiums and discounts
are short term indicators and are not significant to the long term investor.
Meanwhile, the discount factor permits investors to purchase additional shares
worth significantly more than a dollar of net assets for every dollar invested.
Presumably this is a valued opportunity for General American's investors as over
three-fifths of all dividends distributed in December were distributed as shares
rather than cash at the shareholders' option.
As you know, when the same proposal was put before the Company's
shareholders at the 1995 and 1996 annual meetings, 83% and 82%, respectively, of
the shares voted were cast against this proposal.
Your Directors believe that there is an important continuing service to be
provided to the investing public by General American Investors as a medium-sized
closed-end investment fund. Your vote AGAINST the proposal to convert the
Company from closed-end status to open-end mutual fund status will help to
assure its continuity as a closed-end fund in the long-term interests of all its
shareholders.
D. Respecting Other Matters Which May Come Before the Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Company does not know of any other matters
which may come before the meeting. However, if any other matters, of which the
Board of Directors is not now aware, are properly presented for action before
the meeting, including any questions as to the adjournment of the meeting, it is
the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to vote
such proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters.
E. Allocation of Portfolio Brokerage
Brokerage commissions paid by the Company during 1996 were $425,409,
including $45,077 (10.60%) paid to Goldman, Sachs & Co. The Chairman Emeritus of
the Company is a limited partner of The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. which is an
affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co. Of the aggregate dollar amount of the
Company's transactions involving brokerage commissions during 1996, 8.76% were
effected through Goldman, Sachs & Co.
The Company's general policy regarding the execution of securities
transactions is to select brokers and dealers on the basis of the most favorable
markets, prices and execution of orders. A certain amount of the Company's
securities transactions are placed with brokers and dealers who provide
brokerage and research services and in these circumstances the commissions paid
may be higher than those which might otherwise have been paid to another broker
or dealer if those services had not been provided.
Research services generally include receipt of written reports, attendance
at meetings or participation in discussions with respect to specific subjects,
such as a company, an industry or the economic outlook. Block availability is
also a consideration in determining the selection of brokers. The Company seeks
to utilize services obtained from brokers and dealers fairly with respect to all
accounts under its management. To the extent that the ability to direct
brokerage enhances its access to such services, the benefits are fairly shared.
11
<PAGE>
In negotiating brokerage commissions on securities transactions, the
Company's trader with his awareness of competitive rates negotiates the most
favorable commission to effect a particular transaction. Size of order and
difficulty of execution are considerations in the negotiation. All transactions,
including the commission factor, are subject to supervision and review by the
Company's officers.
F. Portfolio Turnover Rate
The annual rate of the total portfolio turnover for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996 was 33.40%.
G. Stockholder Proposals
In order for a stockholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in the
Company's proxy material relating to its 1998 annual meeting of stockholders,
the stockholder proposal must be received by the Company no later than October
6, 1997, and must comply with certain other rules and regulations promulgated by
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The expense of the solicitation of proxies for this meeting will be borne
by the Company. In addition to mailing copies of this material to stockholders,
the Company will request persons who hold stock for others, in their names or
custody or in the names of nominees, to forward copies of such material to those
persons for whom they hold stock of the Company and to request authority for the
execution of the proxies. The Company may reimburse such persons for their
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection therewith. ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C. has been retained to assist in the solicitation of proxies at a
fee to be paid by the Company and estimated at $6,500, plus disbursements.
It is important that proxies be returned promptly. Therefore, stockholders
who do not expect to attend in person and who wish their stock to be voted are
urged to fill in, sign and return the accompanying form of proxy in the enclosed
envelope.
12
<PAGE>
GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS COMPANY, INC.
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Lawrence B. Buttenwieser, Spencer Davidson
and Victoria Hamilton as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute,
and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated
below, all stock of the above Company which the undersigned is entitled to vote,
at the annual meeting of stockholders on March 12, 1997, and at any adjournment
thereof.
The shares represented by this proxy will be voted as directed by the
shareholder. If no direction is given when the duly executed proxy is returned,
such shares will be voted "FOR all nominees" in item A, "FOR" item B and
"AGAINST" item C.
Please mark your votes as indicated in this example [X]
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR ALL NOMINEES" in item A, "FOR"
item B and "AGAINST" item C.
A. Election of the following nominees as Directors:
Mr. Altschul, Mr. Buttenwieser, Mr. Cullman, Mr. Davidson, Dr. Edelman,
Mr. Frank, Mr. Gordan, Mr. Green, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Knafel, Mr. Pivirotto,
Mr. Stewart and Mr. Troubh
[ ] FOR all nominees except any indicated
[ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all listed nominees
(Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for individual nominees, write
the nominees' names on the line below)
_________________________________________________________________________
B. Ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as auditors.
[ ] FOR
[ ] AGAINST
[ ] ABSTAIN
C. Approval of the shareholder proposal relating to the conversion of the
Company into an open-end investment company.
[ ] FOR
[ ] AGAINST
[ ] ABSTAIN
D. In their discretion, the appointees are authorized to vote upon any other
matters which may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments
thereof.
Signature __________________________________________
Signature __________________________________________
Date______________________
Please date and sign your name as it appears above and return in the enclosed
envelope. When signing as an attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, or
guardian, please give title as such. If a signer is a corporation, please sign
full corporate name by authorized officer and attach corporate seal. For joint
accounts, each joint owner should sign.
