Final Results

RNS Number : 6831B

Canadian General Investments Ld

22 February 2011

 



NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY MARKETWIRE

FOR: CANADIAN GENERAL INVESTMENTS, LIMITED

TSX SYMBOLS: CGI, CGI.PR.B, CGI.PR.C

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE: CGI

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

Canadian General Investments, Limited Reports Audited 2010 Financial Results

TORONTO, CANADA - Canadian General Investment, Limited's (CGI) net asset value at December 31, 2010 was $501,548,000, representing a 24.8% increase from the $402,001,000 at the end of 2009. CGI's net asset value per share (NAV) at December 31, 2010 was $24.04, up from $19.27 at year end 2009.  The NAV return, with dividends reinvested, for the year ended December 31, 2010 was 30.3%, compared with a 17.6% total return for the benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index.

Strong performance was achieved across a broad range of stocks in CGI's investment portfolio, as nine of the ten sectors of the S&P/TSX were up in excess of 10% for 2010.  CGI's outperformance can largely be attributed to an overweighting in the Materials sector and an underweighting in the Financials sector relative to the Index. Materials was the second best performing sector in the Index, returning 36.5% for the year and contributed nearly half of the total return of the Index.  Conversely, the Financials sector, while returning an acceptable 10.5% for the year, underperformed the overall Index, and managed to contribute to a proportionally small fraction of the overall performance of the Index. Additionally, the leverage afforded by the $150 million in preference shares the Company has outstanding, served to enhance the move up of the NAV.  With a strong rebound in 2009 and 2010, cash and short-term securities balances were returned to their historical low levels.

In addition to the payment of four regular quarterly dividends of $0.06 per common share, CGI paid a year-end special capital gains distribution of $0.76 per common share on December 24, 2010.  Based on the year-end common share price of $19.18, total dividend payments during 2010 represented a yield of 5.2%.

CGI is a closed-end equity fund, focused on medium to long-term investments in primarily Canadian corporations.  Its objective is to provide better than average returns to investors through prudent security selection, timely recognition of capital gains/losses and appropriate income generating instruments.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

                                                                                                               For the Year Ended

		December 31, 2010	December 31, 2009
Net investment loss		(1,415)	(640)
Net gain on investments		121,801	124,110
Increase in net assets resulting from operations		120,386	123,470
Increase in net assets resulting from operations    per share		5.77	5.92

                                                                            As at

		December 31, 2010	December 31, 2009
Selected data(1)
Net asset value		501,548	402,001
Net asset value per share		24.04	19.27
Selected data according to GAAP(1)
Net assets		500,049	399,804
Net assets per share		23.97	19.17

⁽¹⁾ The Company calculates the net asset value and net asset value per share on the basis of the valuation principles set out in its annual information form.  These valuation principles differ from the requirements of Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), with the main difference relating to securities that are listed on a public stock exchange.  While the Company values such securities based on the latest sale price, GAAP requires the use of the closing bid price.  Accordingly, bid prices are used in determining net assets and net assets per share for purposes of the interim and annual financial statements.

In the United Kingdom, copies of the Company's financial reports will be made available at the U.K. branch transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services PLC, P.O. Box 82, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZY. Phone [phone].

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Canadian General Investments, Limited

Jonathan A. Morgan

President & CEO

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

e-mail: [e-mail]

website: www.mmainvestments.com

 

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