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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


Form 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of April, 2005

CENTRAL FUND OF CANADA LIMITED



(Translation of registrant's name into English)

Suite 805, 1323 - 15th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3C 0X8



(Address of principal executive office)

[Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F o                        Form 40-F ý

[Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information in this Form is also hereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

YES o                        NO ý

[If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): N/A]





SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

    CENTRAL FUND OF CANADA LIMITED
(Registrant)

Date     JUNE 7, 2005    

 

By:

 

"(Signed)" J.C. STEFAN SPICER

                    (Signature)*
*Print the name and title under the signature of the signing officer   J.C. Stefan Spicer, President & CEO


EXHIBIT INDEX

CENTRAL FUND OF CANADA LIMITED

Exhibit A:   Form 52-109F2 — Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings, Chief Executive Officer.

 

 

 
Exhibit B:   Form 52-109F2 — Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings, Chief Financial Officer.

  GRAPHIC


Portfolio
at
April 30, 2005
  GRAPHIC

Corporate Information


Investor Inquiries   Head Office   Stock Exchange Listings    
The Central Group (Alberta) Ltd.
55 Broad Leaf Crescent
P.O. Box 7319
Ancaster, Ontario
Canada L9G 3N6

Telephone: (905) 648-7878
Fax: (905) 648-4196
Website: www.centralfund.com
E-mail: info@centralfund.com
  Hallmark Estates
805, 1323-15th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T3C 0X8

Telephone: (403) 228-5861
Fax: (403) 228-2222
 

AMEX:
Class A shares
TSX:
Class A shares
  Electronic
Ticker Symbol


CEF

CEF.NV.A and CEF.NV.U
  Newspaper
Quote Symbol


CFCda

CFund A

Net Asset Value Information

The net asset value per Class A share is available daily by calling Investor Inquiries.
The Thursday net asset value is published in financial newspapers in the United States and Canada.

        In Canada, the net asset value is also published daily in the Globe and Mail Report on Business Fund Asset Values table.


GRAPHIC


2ND QUARTER   GRAPHIC   INTERIM REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
for the six months ended April 30, 2005

GRAPHIC


2nd QUARTER REPORT

        Central Fund is currently 97.7% invested in gold and silver bullion. At April 30, 2005 Central Fund's gold holdings were 614,242 fine oz. of physical bullion and 5,349 fine oz. of gold bullion certificates. Silver holdings were 30,728,142 oz. of physical bullion and 245,572 oz. of silver bullion certificates. The physical bullion is insured and held in safekeeping by a Canadian chartered bank in segregated vault storage. Central Fund continues to fulfil its mandate as "The Sound Monetary Fund".

On behalf of the Board of Directors:    

 

 

J.C. Stefan Spicer, President

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

Selected Financial Information

        The following table summarizes quarterly financial information:

 
  Quarter ended (US$)
 
  April 30, 2005
  January 31, 2005
  October 31, 2004
  July 31, 2004
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments (in millions)   $ 16.4   $ (16.7 ) $ 37.3   $ 13.8
Net income (loss) for the period (in millions)   $ 15.6   $ (17.5 ) $ 36.7   $ 13.2
Net income (loss) per share   $ 0.17   $ (0.19 ) $ 0.53   $ 0.20
 
 
  April 30, 2004
  January 31, 2004
  October 31, 2003
  July 31, 2003
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments (in millions)   $ (26.7 ) $ 21.8   $ 10.2   $ 12.4
Net income (loss) for the period (in millions)   $ (27.3 ) $ 21.3   $ 9.8   $ 12.0
Net income (loss) per share   $ (0.39 ) $ 0.41   $ 0.23   $ 0.29

Review of Operations

        Central Fund's earned income objective is secondary to its investment objective of holding the vast majority of its net assets in gold and silver bullion. Generally, Central Fund only seeks to maintain adequate cash reserves to enable it to pay operating expenses, taxes and Class A share dividends. Because gold and silver bullion do not generate revenue, Central Fund's actual revenues are a miniscule percentage of its net assets. However, CICA Accounting Guideline 18, Investment Companies now requires Central Fund to record unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments in income.

        The net loss (inclusive of unrealized depreciation of investments) for the six months ended April 30, 2005 was $1,886,250 compared to $5,980,140 for the same period in 2004. Since April 30, 2004, net assets have increased by $128,321,080 or 35%. The Company has used the bulk of the proceeds of the two Class A share issues over the past twelve months to purchase gold and silver bullion, primarily in bar form. Certain expenses, such as administration fees are scaled and, together with income taxes, vary in proportion to net asset levels, or, in the case of stock exchange fees (included in shareholder information), with the number of Class A shares issued. Safekeeping fees and bullion insurance costs increased as a result of the purchases of additional physical gold and silver bullion. Administration fees remitted to The Central Group Alberta Limited for the six months increased to $772,802 from $484,508, such increase being at the rate of one-quarter of one percent per annum on the increased assets under administration. The Company incurred fees totaling $45,739 (2004: $10,806) to a legal firm of which one of the Company's directors is a partner. Professional fees increased as a result of legal and audit work required to adopt recently imposed accounting guidelines and corporate governance rules and regulations as well as preparations for the Special Meeting of Class A Shareholders in February 2005.

        Despite an increase in overall expense levels, the operating expenses (which exclude income taxes) as a percentage of average net assets, declined to 0.26% for the six months ended April 30, 2005 compared to 0.28% for the same six-month period in 2004. For the twelve months ended April 30, 2005, the operating expense ratio was 0.49% compared to 0.57% for the prior twelve-month period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        All of Central Fund's assets are immediately marketable and highly liquid.

        Central Fund's dollar liquidity objective is to hold cash reserves primarily for the payment of operating expenses, taxes and Class A share dividends. Should Central Fund not have sufficient cash to meet its needs, a nominal portion of Central Fund's bullion holdings may be sold to fund tax and dividend payments, provide working capital, and pay for redemptions, if any, of Class A shares.

        For the six months ended April 30, 2005, Central Fund's cash reserves increased by $2,297,214 as amounts used to pay operating expenses, taxes and the Class A share dividend were more than offset by amounts retained in interest-bearing cash deposits for working capital purposes from the public offering completed in November 2004. Management monitors Central Fund's cash position with an emphasis on maintaining its mandate to hold maximum amounts of gold and silver bullion.

Forward — looking Observations

        Changes in the market prices of gold and silver have an impact on the net asset value per Class A share. Assuming as a constant exchange rate the rate which existed on April 30, 2005 of $1.2569 Cdn. for each U.S. dollar together with holdings of gold and silver bullion which existed on that date, a 10% change in the price of gold would increase or decrease the net asset value per share by approximately $0.29 per share or Cdn. $0.36 per share. On the same basis, a 10% change in the price of silver would increase or decrease the net asset value per share by approximately $0.23 per share or Cdn. $0.29 per share. If both gold and silver prices were to change by 10% simultaneously in the same direction, the net asset value per share would increase or decrease by approximately $0.52 per share or Cdn. $0.65 per share.


GRAPHIC


Statement of Net Assets
(expressed in U.S. dollars, unaudited)(note 1)

 
  April 30
2005

  October 31
2004

 
Net Assets:            
Gold bullion at market, average cost $246,833,606 (2004: $206,043,206) (note 2)   $ 269,955,954   222,814,301  
Silver bullion at market, average cost $216,589,466 (2004: $181,213,467) (note 2)     216,196,524   187,403,793  
Marketable securities at market, average cost $89,430 (2004: $89,430)     54,129   68,221  
Interest-bearing cash deposits     11,779,750   9,482,536  
Prepaid insurance, interest receivable and other     29,014   81,351  
   
 
 
      498,015,371   419,850,202  
Accrued liabilities     (648,042 ) (707,660 )
Dividends payable       (792,963 )
   
 
 
Net assets representing shareholders' equity   $ 497,367,329   418,349,579  
   
 
 

Represented by:

 

 

 

 

 

 
Capital stock (note 3):            
  94,296,320 (2004: 79,296,320) Class A shares issued   $ 452,615,394   371,711,394  
  40,000 Common shares issued     19,458   19,458  
   
 
 
      452,634,852   371,730,852  
Contributed surplus (note 4)     22,038,372   23,678,513  
Retained earnings inclusive of unrealized appreciation of investments     22,694,105   22,940,214  
   
 
 
    $ 497,367,329   418,349,579  
   
 
 

Net asset value per share (expressed in U.S. dollars):

 

 

 

 

 

 
Class A shares   $ 5.27   5.27  
Common shares   $ 2.27   2.27  
   
 
 

Net asset value per share (expressed in Canadian dollars):

 

 

 

 

 

 
Class A shares   $ 6.63   6.44  
Common shares   $ 2.86   2.78  
   
 
 
Exchange rate:                        U.S. $1.00 = Cdn.   $ 1.2569   1.2207  
   
 
 

Notes:

1.
The accounting policies used in the preparation of these unaudited interim financial statements conform with those presented in Central Fund's October 31, 2004 audited annual financial statements. These interim financial statements do not include all of the disclosures included in the annual financial statements and accordingly should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements.

2.
Details of gold and silver bullion holdings at April 30, 2005, are as follows:

 
  Holdings

  Gold
   
  Silver
    100 & 400 fine oz bars   614,242   1000 oz bars   30,728,142
    Certificates   5,349   Certificates   245,572
       
     
    Total fine ounces   619,591   Total ounces   30,973,714
       
     
 
 
  Market Value

  Per Fine Ounce
  Per Ounce
    October 31, 2004   U.S. $425.55   U.S. $7.16
    April 30, 2005   U.S. $435.70   U.S. $6.98
   
 
 
3.
On November 3, 2004, the Company, through a public offering, issued 15,000,000 Class A shares for proceeds of $81,504,000 net of underwriting fees of $3,396,000. Costs relating to this public offering were approximately $600,000 and net proceeds were approximately $80,904,000.

The Company used the net proceeds from this public offering to purchase 96,000 fine ounces of gold at a cost of $40,790,400 and 4,800,000 ounces of silver at a cost of $35,376,000, both in physical bar form except for 67 ounces of gold which were received in certificate form. The balance of approximately $4,737,600, was retained by the Company in interest-bearing cash deposits for working capital purposes.

4.
Contributed surplus is used to eliminate any deficit that may arise from net losses before unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments and on the payment of the Class A shares' stated dividend per share. Accordingly, $1,640,141 (2004, $1,121,408) has been transferred from contributed surplus on April 30, 2005 and 2004 representing the net loss before unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments for the six months then ended. This change does not affect the net asset value of the Company.


Statement of Changes in Net Assets
(expressed in U.S. dollars, unaudited)(note 1)

 
  Six months ended April 30
  Three months ended April 30
 
 
  2005
  2004
  2005
  2004
 
Net assets at beginning of period   $ 418,349,579   194,663,349   $ 481,788,154   287,409,904  
   
 
 
 
 

Add (deduct):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Net income (loss)     (1,886,250 ) (5,980,140 )   15,579,175   (27,275,655 )
  Net issuance of Class A shares     80,904,000   180,363,040       108,912,000  
   
 
 
 
 
  Increase in net assets during the period     79,017,750   174,382,900     15,579,175   81,636,345  
   
 
 
 
 
Net assets at end of period   $ 497,367,329   369,046,249   $ 497,367,329   369,046,249  
   
 
 
 
 

Statement of Income (Loss)
(expressed in U.S. dollars, unaudited)(note 1)

 
  Six months ended April 30
  Three months ended April 30
 
 
  2005
  2004
  2005
  2004
 
Income:                      
  Interest   $ 104,202   22,240   $ 54,180   12,489  
  Dividends     764   281     634   184  
  Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments     (246,109 ) (4,858,732 )   16,442,524   (26,653,548 )
   
 
 
 
 
      (141,143 ) (4,836,211 )   16,497,338   (26,640,875 )
   
 
 
 
 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Administration fees     772,802   484,508     385,984   270,943  
  Shareholders' Information     186,755   126,962     110,809   72,563  
  Safekeeping, insurance and bank charges     154,064   100,159     86,810   56,296  
  Professional fees     89,035   29,543     72,870   19,977  
  Directors' fees and expenses     47,834   26,269     20,569   10,942  
  Registrar and transfer agents' fees     47,275   28,220     38,287   21,550  
  Miscellaneous     611   971     312   625  
  Foreign exchange loss     31,132   14,786     35   6,785  
   
 
 
 
 
      1,329,508   811,418     715,676   459,681  
   
 
 
 
 
  Income (loss) before income taxes     (1,470,651 ) (5,647,629 )   15,781,662   (27,100,556 )
  Income taxes     (415,599 ) (332,511 )   (202,487 ) (175,099 )
   
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) (note 5)   $ (1,886,250 ) (5,980,140 ) $ 15,579,175   (27,275,655 )
   
 
 
 
 

Net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Class A shares   $ (.02 ) (.08 ) $ .17   (.39 )
  Common shares   $ (.02 ) (.08 ) $ .17   (.39 )
   
 
 
 
 

Notes:

5.
For the year ended October 31, 2004, with retroactive application to prior periods, the Company early adopted CICA Accounting Guideline 18, Investment Companies ("AcG — 18"), which requires that, for qualifying entities, investments held are to be measured and reported in the financial statements at their 'fair value' with changes in 'fair value' recognized in income in the period in which the change occurred. While the Company's accounting policy, prior to adoption of AcG — 18, had been to measure its investments at market value, the Company did not recognize the unrealized gains and losses in income, but instead recognized them only as a separate component of shareholders' equity until realized, at which time they were recognized in income.

6.
For the six months ended April 30, 2005, the Company incurred fees totaling $45,739 (2004: $10,806) to a legal firm of which one of the Company's directors is a partner, and to the administrator $772,802 (2004: $484,508).



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SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX CENTRAL FUND OF CANADA LIMITED