View source for Company:General American Investors Company

[[Image:General American Investors.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Logo of the General American Investors Company]]
'''The General American Investors Company, Inc.''' ({{NYSE|GAM}}) is a [[Finance:Closed-end fund|closed-end fund]] that manages a global [[Finance:Portfolio|portfolio]] of investments, consisting mainly of {{wipe|United States}} [[Finance:Security|securities]], and also some international and private securities.<ref name="generalamericaninvestors">[http://www.generalamericaninvestors.com/about "About Us" from General American Investors website]</ref>

==History==

The General American Investors [[Finance:Investment trust|investment trust]] was launched in 1927 under the sponsorship of Lazard Frères and Lehman Brothers.<ref name="library">[http://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/lehman/company.html?company=general_american_investors_company_inc Harvard Business School Profile of the General American Investors Company]</ref>  In its first year of operation, it earned $1.1 million.<ref name="library" />  In September 1928, Lazard Frères and Lehman Brothers launched a second fund, named the '''Second General American Investors Company'''.<ref name="library" />  In August 1928, the two funds [[Social:Mergers and acquisitions|merged]], to form the current General American Investors Company, with Lazard Frères and Lehman Brothers underwriting the $40 million deal.<ref name="library" />

The early years of the [[Finance:Great Depression|Great Depression]] were difficult for the fund, but the fund recovered as the 1930s progressed.<ref name="library" />  The fund had assets valued at $15 million in 1932; at $23.1 million in 1933; and $30.1 million in 1935.<ref name="library" />  Assets dropped to $24.7 million in 1937; $30 million in 1939; then dropped to $25.5 million in 1943; dropping slightly to $25.3 million in 1945.<ref name="library" />

==Leadership==
===Chairmen of the General American Investors Company===

*Frank Altschul, 1948-1961<ref name="generalamericaninvestors" /> 
*Arthur G. Altschul, 1961-1995
*Lawrence B. Buttenwieser, 1995-2007
*Spencer Davidson, 2007–Present

===Presidents / Portfolio Managers of the Fund===

*Frank Altschul, 1927-1948
*Harold F. Linder, 1948-1955
*Harry G. Friedman, 1955-1961
*Malcolm B. Smith, 1961-1989
*William J. Gedale, 1989-1995
*Spencer Davidson, 1995–Present

==References==

<references/>


[[Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]

{{Sourceattribution|General American Investors Company}}