1
|
In my last letter, I discussed some problems in calculating NAV performance for a closed-end fund. The 8.83% is based on the Fund’s NAV at the beginning and end of the period, i.e., $17.22 and $18.74. However, the Fund’s administrator has calculated the NAV performance at 9.27% to reflect 7 cents per share in dilution due to shares being issued at a discount to NAV in January pursuant to the Fund’s 2012 stock dividend. In my mind, 8.83% represents the NAV return to an investor that purchased common shares at the close on December 31, 2012 and held them on June 30, 2013 whereas 9.27% essentially represents the investment advisor’s NAV performance.
|
•
|
Most of our auction rate preferred shares (ARPs) have been redeemed or sold at face value or close to it. We have a few ARPs left that represent a small percentage of our portfolio and we expect them to ultimately be redeemed by the issuers.
|
|
•
|
We still hold some attractive baby bonds and preferred stock issued by asset rich companies. For example, because of the statutory minimum
|
asset coverage requirements for BDCs and the fact that I am a director of MVC, we think our investment in MVC 7.25% 10-year notes is very safe. We also own Preferred Apartment Communities 6% preferred stock (which we were able to purchase directly from the company for 93% of face value due to the size of our order) because the asset coverage is also very high. If we redeem our shares in five years at face value, the estimated effective rate of return would be 7.5% per annum.
|
||
•
|
In January, SUPERVALU (SVU), one of the largest grocery store operations in the United States, announced it would sell a large portion of its retail store chain to an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management. A separate affiliate of Cerberus agreed to commence a tender offer to purchase up to 30% of the outstanding shares of SVU at $4 per share. We concluded that the shares were worth considerably more than $4 based upon our estimate of SVU’s potential earnings and we began to accumulate them at prices between $3.50 and $3.90 per share. Prior to the expiration of the tender offer, SVU’s shares rose above the $4 tender price. Of course, we did not tender our shares, which are currently trading around $7.30. We have taken some profits, but still have a position.
|
Average annual total returns for common stock for the periods ended 6/30/13
|
||||
Net asset value returns
|
1 year
|
Since 1/25/10
|
5 years*
|
10 years*
|
Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.
|
17.17%
|
11.38%
|
10.18%
|
6.13%
|
Market price returns
|
||||
Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.
|
19.14%
|
10.80%
|
10.14%
|
6.39%
|
Index returns
|
||||
S&P 500 Index
|
20.60%
|
14.19%
|
7.01%
|
7.30%
|
Share price as of 6/30/13
|
|
Net asset value
|
$18.74
|
Market price
|
$16.93
|
*
|
The Fund’s investment objective and investment adviser have changed. See Note 1 of the Notes to financial statements for more information about the change in investment objective and see Note 2 of the Notes to financial statements for more information about the change in investment adviser. On January 25, 2010, the Fund began investing using its new investment objective, therefore, performance prior to that date is not relevant.
|
Value
|
Percent
|
|||||||
Investment Companies
|
$ | 123,526,165 | 93.37 | % | ||||
Common Stocks
|
26,561,922 | 20.08 | ||||||
Preferred Stocks
|
11,768,230 | 8.89 | ||||||
Money Market Funds
|
2,083,945 | 1.58 | ||||||
Warrants
|
1,223,940 | 0.92 | ||||||
Corporate Bonds
|
857,535 | 0.65 | ||||||
Promissory Notes
|
234,000 | 0.18 | ||||||
Rights
|
478 | 0.00 | ||||||
Total Investments
|
$ | 166,256,215 | 125.67 | % | ||||
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities
|
3,492,445 | 2.64 | ||||||
Preferred Stock
|
(37,454,300 | ) | (28.31 | ) | ||||
Total Net Assets
|
$ | 132,294,360 | 100.00 | % |
(1)
|
As a percentage of net assets.
|
Shares
|
Fair Value
|
|||||||
INVESTMENT COMPANIES—93.37%
|
||||||||
Closed-End Funds—77.76%
|
||||||||
Aberdeen Israel Fund, Inc.
|
74,611 | $ | 1,093,051 | |||||
Adams Express Company
|
351,652 | 4,205,758 | ||||||
Advance Developing Markets Fund Ltd. (a)(h)
|
187,317 | 1,216,529 | ||||||
Advance Frontier Markets Fund Ltd. (a)(h)
|
500,000 | 395,449 | ||||||
Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund
|
654,931 | 2,560,780 | ||||||
American Select Portfolio, Inc.
|
7,006 | 71,188 | ||||||
American Strategic Income Portfolio II
|
197,298 | 1,619,817 | ||||||
American Strategic Income Portfolio III
|
530,930 | 3,732,438 | ||||||
ARC Capital Holdings Ltd. (a)(h)
|
726,356 | 355,915 | ||||||
Bancroft Fund, Ltd.
|
79,335 | 1,374,876 | ||||||
BlackRock Build America Bond Trust
|
40,001 | 808,020 | ||||||
BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust Plc (h)
|
80,000 | 565,797 | ||||||
BlackRock New Energy Investment Trust Plc (h)
|
224,028 | 128,628 | ||||||
Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc.
|
428,406 | 3,187,341 | ||||||
Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc. (a)(k)
|
184,149 | 3,898,434 | ||||||
Central Europe, Russia, & Turkey Fund, Inc.
|
21,564 | 643,038 | ||||||
Central Securities Corp.
|
123,123 | 2,596,664 | ||||||
Clough Global Equity Fund
|
101,890 | 1,525,293 | ||||||
Clough Global Opportunities Fund
|
10,024 | 129,009 | ||||||
DPF India Opportunities Fund (h)
|
522,816 | 1,690,191 | ||||||
DWS RREEF Real Estate Fund II, Inc. (a)(c)(g)(f)
|
201,612 | 28,831 | ||||||
DWS RREEF Real Estate Fund, Inc. (a)(c)(g)(f)
|
126,913 | 11,803 | ||||||
Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund
|
1,299,939 | 14,169,335 | ||||||
Ellsworth Fund Ltd.
|
55,094 | 422,020 | ||||||
The European Equity Fund, Inc.
|
9,361 | 67,025 | ||||||
First Opportunity Fund, Inc. (a)
|
279,106 | 2,285,878 | ||||||
Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust
|
7,523 | 141,658 | ||||||
Gabelli Healthcare & WellnessRx Trust
|
3,044 | 29,832 | ||||||
General American Investors Co., Inc.
|
184,994 | 5,908,708 | ||||||
Impax Asian Environment Markets Plc (h)
|
1,210,926 | 1,823,351 | ||||||
The India Fund, Inc.
|
92,375 | 1,770,829 | ||||||
INVESCO Asia Trust PLC (h)
|
347,395 | 812,374 | ||||||
JP Morgan Asian Investment Trust Plc (h)
|
34,105 | 106,079 | ||||||
Juridica Investments Ltd. (h)
|
495,258 | 846,597 | ||||||
Kubera Cross-Border Fund (h)
|
380,604 | 180,406 | ||||||
Liberty All-Star Equity Fund
|
2,341,737 | 12,177,032 |
Shares
|
Fair Value
|
|||||||
INVESTMENT COMPANIES—(continued)
|
||||||||
Closed-End Funds—(continued)
|
||||||||
Macquarie Global Infrastructure Total Return Fund, Inc.
|
18,630 | $ | 380,425 | |||||
The New Germany Fund, Inc.
|
13,471 | 237,090 | ||||||
The New Ireland Fund, Inc. (a)
|
26,785 | 278,564 | ||||||
Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunities Fund (a)(h)
|
182,740 | 238,293 | ||||||
Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc.
|
440,426 | 4,761,005 | ||||||
Royce Value Trust, Inc.
|
244,872 | 3,712,260 | ||||||
Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
|
312,067 | 3,844,665 | ||||||
Terra Catalyst Fund (a)(h)
|
40,000 | 27,529 | ||||||
The Thai Capital Fund, Inc.
|
106,942 | 1,250,152 | ||||||
The Thai Fund, Inc.
|
144,393 | 3,118,889 | ||||||
Tri-Continental Corporation
|
387,319 | 6,933,010 | ||||||
The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc.
|
428,141 | 5,505,893 | ||||||
102,867,749 | ||||||||
Closed-End Funds—Preferred Shares—3.76%
|
||||||||
Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust
|
7,138 | 365,466 | ||||||
Oxford Lane Capital Corp.
|
155,222 | 4,020,550 | ||||||
Saratoga Investment Corp.
|
23,667 | 587,178 | ||||||
4,973,194 | ||||||||
Auction Rate Preferred Securities—3.54% (b)
|
||||||||
BlackRock California Municipal 2018 Term Trust—Series M7, 0.082% (c)(f)
|
79 | 1,876,250 | ||||||
BlackRock Municipal 2018 Term Trust—Series W7, 0.088% (c)(f)
|
66 | 1,567,500 | ||||||
Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust—Series C, 0.00% (c)(f)
|
6 | 225,000 | ||||||
Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust—Series C, 0.00% (c)(f)
|
6 | 112,500 | ||||||
Western Asset Premier Bond Fund—Series M, 0.160% (c)(f)
|
46 | 914,250 | ||||||
4,695,500 | ||||||||
Business Development Company—8.31%
|
||||||||
Equus Total Return, Inc. (a)
|
106,919 | 204,215 | ||||||
Firsthand Technology Value Fund, Inc. (a)
|
253,938 | 5,043,209 | ||||||
Gladstone Investment Corp.
|
319,755 | 2,350,199 | ||||||
MVC Capital, Inc.
|
269,428 | 3,392,099 | ||||||
10,989,722 | ||||||||
Total Investment Companies (Cost $110,948,676)
|
123,526,165 |
Shares
|
Fair Value
|
|||||||
PREFERRED STOCKS—8.89%
|
||||||||
Capital Markets—3.80%
|
||||||||
Ladenburg Thalman Financial Services, Inc.
|
43,983 | $ | 1,100,894 | |||||
MVC Capital, Inc.
|
155,757 | 3,931,307 | ||||||
5,032,201 | ||||||||
Commercial Banks—0.66%
|
||||||||
National Bank of Greece SA (a)(h)
|
73,016 | 876,922 | ||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts—4.43%
|
||||||||
MPG Office Trust, Inc. (a)
|
7,955 | 201,978 | ||||||
Preferred Apartment Communities—Series A (a)(c)(f)
|
6,083 | 5,657,129 | ||||||
5,859,107 | ||||||||
Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $11,792,862)
|
11,768,230 | |||||||
COMMON STOCKS—20.08%
|
||||||||
Energy Equipment & Services—0.23%
|
||||||||
Zedi, Inc. (a)(h)
|
525,202 | 304,624 | ||||||
Financials—0.02%
|
||||||||
Universal Business Payment Solutions Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
(Acquired 5/11/2011, Cost $20,101) (a)(c)(j)
|
13,330 | 29,993 | ||||||
Food & Staples Retailing—0.46%
|
||||||||
SUPERVALU, Inc. (a)
|
98,396 | 612,023 | ||||||
Home Builder—2.10%
|
||||||||
Lennar Corp.—Class B
|
98,068 | 2,780,228 | ||||||
Life Insurance—3.01%
|
||||||||
Imperial Holdings, Inc. (a)
|
581,622 | 3,984,111 | ||||||
Marine—0.17%
|
||||||||
Box Ships, Inc. (h)
|
58,612 | 222,726 | ||||||
Pharmaceuticals Preparations—0.05%
|
||||||||
Myrexis, Inc.
|
857,013 | 64,276 | ||||||
Real Estate—0.45%
|
||||||||
Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc.
|
8,345 | 596,668 | ||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts—1.95%
|
||||||||
Brookfield Property Partners LP (h)
|
3,204 | 65,041 | ||||||
Gladstone Land Corp.
|
3,382 | 57,257 | ||||||
JAVELIN Mortgage Investment Corporation
|
173,978 | 2,451,350 | ||||||
2,573,648 |
Shares
|
Fair Value
|
|||||||
COMMON STOCKS—(continued)
|
||||||||
Software—0.28%
|
||||||||
Single Touch Systems, Inc. (a)
|
558,376 | $ | 365,736 | |||||
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle—11.36% (a)
|
||||||||
Andina Acquisition Corporation (h)
|
95,026 | 945,508 | ||||||
Aquasition Corp. (h)(i)
|
400,000 | 3,952,000 | ||||||
BGS Acquisition Corp. (h)
|
120,615 | 1,208,562 | ||||||
Blue Wolf Mongolia Holdings Corp. (c)(h)
|
50,273 | 501,222 | ||||||
Capital Acquisition Corp. II
|
155,123 | 1,566,742 | ||||||
Chart Acquisition Corp.
|
124,265 | 1,185,488 | ||||||
China VantagePoint Acquisition Co. (c)(f)(h)
|
271 | 0 | ||||||
CIS Acquisition Ltd. (h)
|
144,147 | 1,442,912 | ||||||
Collabrium Japan Acquisition Corp. (h)
|
208,234 | 2,103,163 | ||||||
Hyde Park Acquisition Corp. II
|
59,000 | 602,390 | ||||||
Infinity Cross Border Acquisition Corp. (h)
|
49,689 | 389,562 | ||||||
Lone Oak Acquisition Corporation (c)(f)(h)
|
112,297 | 907,360 | ||||||
MedWorth Acquisition Corp.
|
23,185 | 185,480 | ||||||
Selway Capital Acquisition Corp. (Acquired 10/24/2012, Cost $0) (c)(j)
|
10,000 | 37,500 | ||||||
15,027,889 | ||||||||
Total Common Stocks (Cost $27,372,150)
|
26,561,922 | |||||||
Principal
|
||||||||
Amount
|
||||||||
CORPORATE BONDS—0.65% (b)
|
||||||||
American Airlines, Inc.
|
||||||||
10.500%, 10/15/2012 (d)
|
$ | 666,000 | 797,535 | |||||
Washington Mutual Inc.
|
||||||||
0.000%, 09/17/2012 (c)(d)(f)
|
3,000,000 | 60,000 | ||||||
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $786,713)
|
857,535 | |||||||
PROMISSORY NOTES—0.18% (b)
|
||||||||
Symbios Holdings, Inc.
|
||||||||
15.000%, 07/16/2012 (c)(f)
|
450,000 | — | ||||||
UBPS Secured Convertible Promissory Note
|
||||||||
12.000%, 12/31/2014 (Acquired 12/28/2012, Cost $234,000) (c)(f)(j)
|
234,000 | 234,000 | ||||||
Total Promissory Notes (Cost $684,000)
|
234,000 |
Shares
|
Fair Value
|
|||||||
WARRANTS—0.92% (a)
|
||||||||
Andina Acquisition Corporation
|
||||||||
Expiration: March 2016
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $8.00 (h)
|
95,026 | $ | 17,105 | |||||
Aquasition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: January 2018
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $11.50
|
400,000 | 80,000 | ||||||
BGS Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: May 2017
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $10.00 (h)
|
120,615 | 24,123 | ||||||
Blue Wolf Mongolia Holdings Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: July 2016
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $12.00 (h)
|
50,273 | 10,055 | ||||||
Chart Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: December 2017
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $11.50
|
124,265 | 64,618 | ||||||
CIS Acquisition Ltd.—Class A
|
||||||||
Expiration: December 2017
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $10.00 (h)
|
144,147 | 29,550 | ||||||
Collabrium Japan Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: December 2017
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $11.50
|
208,234 | 64,553 | ||||||
EveryWare Global, Inc.
|
||||||||
Expiration: May 2018
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $6.00
|
48,370 | 67,718 | ||||||
Global Eagle Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: January 2018
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $11.50
|
64,450 | 103,120 | ||||||
Hemisphere Media Group, Inc.
|
||||||||
Expiration: April 2018
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $12.00
|
166,726 | 233,416 | ||||||
Infinity Cross Border Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: July 2016
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $7.00 (h)
|
301,149 | 168,643 | ||||||
Integrated Drilling Equipment Holdings Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: December 2017
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $11.50
|
205,929 | 56,630 | ||||||
Lone Oak Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: March 2016
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $5.00 (h)
|
81,430 | 21,253 | ||||||
Nautilus Marine Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: July 2016
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $11.50 (h)
|
30,852 | 2,160 |
Shares
|
Fair Value
|
|||||||
WARRANTS—(continued)
|
||||||||
Net Element International, Inc.
|
||||||||
Expiration: October 2017
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $7.50
|
203,282 | $ | 121,969 | |||||
Preferred Apartment Communities
|
||||||||
Expiration: March 2017
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $9.00 (c)(f)
|
6,083 | 61 | ||||||
Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd.
|
||||||||
Expiration: February 2018
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $12.00 (h)
|
52,798 | 10,560 | ||||||
Prime Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: March 2016
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $7.50 (h)
|
50,142 | 13,538 | ||||||
RLJ Entertainment, Inc.
|
||||||||
Expiration: October 2017
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $12.00
|
436,744 | 78,614 | ||||||
Selway Capital Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: November 2016
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $7.50 (Acquired 10/24/2012, Cost $0) (c)(j)
|
5,000 | 5,625 | ||||||
Expiration: November 2016
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $7.50
|
33,753 | 50,629 | ||||||
Total Warrants (Cost $906,919)
|
1,223,940 | |||||||
RIGHTS—0.00%
|
||||||||
Gabelli Healthcare & WellnessRx Trust (a)
|
3,044 | 478 | ||||||
Total Rights (Cost $1,090)
|
478 |
Shares
|
Fair Value
|
|||||||
MONEY MARKET FUNDS—1.58%
|
||||||||
Fidelity Institutional Government Portfolio—Class I, 0.010% (e)
|
1,024,462 | $ | 1,024,462 | |||||
Fidelity Institutional Tax-Exempt Portfolio—Class I, 0.010% (e)
|
1,059,483 | 1,059,483 | ||||||
Total Money Market Funds (Cost $2,083,945)
|
2,083,945 | |||||||
Total Investments (Cost $154,576,355)—125.67%
|
166,256,215 | |||||||
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities—2.64%
|
3,492,445 | |||||||
Preferred Stock (28.31)%
|
(37,454,300 | ) | ||||||
TOTAL NET ASSETS—100.00%
|
$ | 132,294,360 |
(a)
|
Non-income producing security.
|
(b)
|
The coupon rates shown represent the rates at June 30, 2013.
|
(c)
|
Fair valued securities. The total market value of these securities was $12,169,024, representing 9.20% of net assets.
|
(d)
|
Default or other conditions exist and security is not presently accruing income.
|
(e)
|
The rate shown represents the 7-day yield at June 30, 2013.
|
(f)
|
Illiquid security. The total market value of these securities was $11,594,684, representing 8.76% of nets assets.
|
(g)
|
Security currently undergoing a full liquidation with all proceeds paid out to shareholders.
|
(h)
|
Foreign-issued security.
|
(i)
|
Affiliated security.
|
(j)
|
Restricted security.
|
(k)
|
Security pledged as collateral for short positions.
|
Shares
|
Value
|
|||||||
Lennar Corp.—Class A
|
73,450 | $ | 2,647,138 | |||||
Total Securities Sold Short (Proceeds $3,073,266)
|
$ | 2,647,138 |
Assets:
|
||||
Investments, at value:
|
||||
Non-Affiliated Companies (cost $150,660,608)
|
$ | 162,304,215 | ||
Affiliated Companies (cost $3,915,747)
|
3,952,000 | |||
Total investment, at value (cost $154,576,355)
|
166,256,215 | |||
Cash
|
15,581 | |||
Dividends and interest receivable
|
326,460 | |||
Receivable for investments sold
|
3,373,353 | |||
Deposits at brokers
|
3,101,846 | |||
Other assets
|
19,194 | |||
Total assets
|
173,092,649 | |||
Liabilities:
|
||||
Securities sold short, at value (proceeds $3,073,266)
|
2,647,138 | |||
Payable for investments purchased
|
407,709 | |||
Preferred dividends accrued not yet declared
|
9,236 | |||
Payable to Adviser
|
140,301 | |||
Payable to Custodian
|
10,040 | |||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
|
129,565 | |||
Total liabilities
|
3,343,989 | |||
Preferred Stock:
|
||||
3.00% Convertible Preferred Stock—$0.001 par value,
|
||||
$50 liquidation value per share; 749,086 shares outstanding
|
37,454,300 | |||
Net assets applicable to common shareholders
|
$ | 132,294,360 | ||
Net assets applicable to common shareholders:
|
||||
Common stock—$0.001 par value per common share; 199,995,800 shares authorized;
|
||||
7,059,999 shares issued and outstanding, 13,568,364 shares held in treasury
|
$ | 302,516,854 | ||
Cost of shares held in treasury
|
(191,865,432 | ) | ||
Accumulated undistributed net investment income
|
4,575,780 | |||
Accumulated net realized gain from investment activities
|
4,963,447 | |||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:
|
||||
Investments
|
11,679,859 | |||
Securities Sold Short
|
426,128 | |||
Foreign currencies
|
(2,276 | ) | ||
Net assets applicable to common shareholders
|
$ | 132,294,360 | ||
Net asset value per common share ($132,294,360 applicable to
|
||||
7,059,999 common shares outstanding)
|
$ | 18.74 |
For the six
|
||||
months ended
|
||||
June 30, 2013
|
||||
(unaudited)
|
||||
Investment income:
|
||||
Dividends(1)
|
$ | 5,461,022 | ||
Interest
|
190,429 | |||
Total investment income
|
5,651,451 | |||
Expenses:
|
||||
Investment advisory fees
|
830,148 | |||
Directors’ fees and expenses
|
83,788 | |||
Professional fees and expenses
|
62,268 | |||
Administration fees and expenses
|
49,402 | |||
Compliance fees and expenses
|
22,011 | |||
Insurance fees
|
19,470 | |||
Reports and notices to shareholders
|
17,943 | |||
Stock exchange listing fees
|
14,170 | |||
Accounting fees and expenses
|
11,860 | |||
Custody fees and expenses
|
11,650 | |||
Transfer agency fees and expenses
|
8,711 | |||
Dividend expenses on short securities
|
2,596 | |||
Other expenses
|
2,298 | |||
Total expenses
|
1,136,315 | |||
Net investment income
|
4,515,136 | |||
Net realized and unrealized gains from investment activities:
|
||||
Net realized gain from:
|
||||
Investments
|
4,220,086 | |||
Short transactions
|
31,176 | |||
Distributions received from investment companies
|
127,369 | |||
Net realized gain on investments
|
4,378,631 | |||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:
|
||||
Investments
|
2,313,253 | |||
Short transactions
|
426,128 | |||
Foreign currency translation
|
(2,276 | ) | ||
Net realized and unrealized gains from investment activities
|
7,115,736 | |||
Increase in net assets resulting from operations
|
11,630,872 | |||
Distributions to preferred stockholders
|
(557,198 | ) | ||
Net increase in net assets applicable to common shareholders resulting from operations
|
$ | 11,073,674 |
(1)
|
Net of $24,034 in foreign withholding tax.
|
For the six months
|
||||
ended June 30, 2013
|
||||
(unaudited)
|
||||
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
||||
Net increase in net assets applicable to common shareholders
|
$ | 11,630,872 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets applicable to common shareholders
|
||||
resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
|
||||
Purchases of investments
|
(55,871,630 | ) | ||
Proceeds from sales of investments
|
53,410,140 | |||
Net purchases and sales of short-term investments
|
2,747,652 | |||
Amortization and accretion of premium and discount
|
549,040 | |||
Decrease in dividends and interest receivable
|
721,901 | |||
Increase in receivable for investments sold
|
(2,765,389 | ) | ||
Decrease in other assets
|
10,442 | |||
Increase in payable for investments purchased
|
43,442 | |||
Increase in payable to Adviser
|
7,397 | |||
Decrease in payable for taxes
|
(350,000 | ) | ||
Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities
|
(65,082 | ) | ||
Increase in deposits at brokers
|
(3,101,846 | ) | ||
Proceeds from securities sold short
|
3,237,950 | |||
Purchases to cover securities sold short
|
(133,508 | ) | ||
Net realized gains from investments
|
(4,220,086 | ) | ||
Net realized gains from short transactions
|
(31,176 | ) | ||
Net foreign currency translation
|
(27,030 | ) | ||
Net change in unrealized depreciation of investments
|
(2,313,253 | ) | ||
Net change in unrealized depreciation short transactions
|
(426,128 | ) | ||
Net change in unrealized appreciation foreign translations
|
2,276 | |||
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
(3,055,984 | ) | ||
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
||||
Distributions paid to common shareholders
|
(2,497,244 | ) | ||
Distributions paid to preferred shareholders
|
(557,198 | ) | ||
Increase in dividends accrued not yet paid
|
6,927 | |||
Net cash used in financing activities
|
(3,047,515 | ) | ||
Net change in cash
|
$ | 8,469 | ||
Cash:
|
||||
Beginning of period
|
7,112 | |||
End of period
|
$ | 15,581 | ||
Non-cash financing activities not included herein consist of
|
||||
reinvestment of dividend distributions
|
$ | 3,962,090 |
For the
|
||||||||
six months ended
|
For the
|
|||||||
June 30, 2013
|
year ended
|
|||||||
(unaudited)
|
December 31, 2012
|
|||||||
From operations:
|
||||||||
Net investment income
|
$ | 4,515,136 | $ | 2,815,575 | ||||
Net realized gain before income taxes from:
|
||||||||
Investments
|
4,220,086 | 5,373,449 | ||||||
Short Transactions
|
31,176 | — | ||||||
Distributions received from investment companies
|
127,369 | 791,632 | ||||||
Net realized gain before income taxes
|
4,378,631 | 6,165,081 | ||||||
Current income tax expense
|
— | (350,000 | ) | |||||
Net realized gain on investments
|
4,378,631 | 5,815,081 | ||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation on:
|
||||||||
Investments and foreign currency
|
2,310,977 | 6,816,789 | ||||||
Short Transactions
|
426,128 | — | ||||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
|
11,630,872 | 15,447,445 | ||||||
Distributions paid to preferred shareholders:
|
||||||||
Net investment income
|
(557,198 | ) | (495,627 | ) | ||||
Total dividends and distributions paid to preferred shareholders
|
(557,198 | ) | (495,627 | ) | ||||
Net increase in net assets applicable to common shareholders
|
||||||||
resulting from operations
|
11,073,674 | 14,951,818 | ||||||
Distributions paid to common shareholders:
|
||||||||
Net investment income
|
— | (1,566,269 | ) | |||||
Net realized gains from investment activities
|
— | (4,903,104 | ) | |||||
Total dividends and distributions paid to common shareholders
|
— | (6,469,373 | ) | |||||
Capital Stock Transactions (Note 5)
|
||||||||
Offering costs from issuance of preferred stock
|
— | (98,035 | ) | |||||
Reinvestment of distributions to common stockholders
|
3,962,090 | 2,010,594 | ||||||
Total capital stock transactions
|
3,962,090 | 1,912,559 | ||||||
Net increase in net assets applicable to common shareholders
|
15,035,764 | 10,395,004 | ||||||
Net assets applicable to common shareholders:
|
||||||||
Beginning of period
|
117,258,596 | 106,863,592 | ||||||
End of period
|
$ | 132,294,360 | $ | 117,258,596 | ||||
Accumulated undistributed net investment income
|
$ | 4,575,780 | $ | 837,555 |
For the six months
|
||||
ended June 30, 2013
|
||||
(unaudited)
|
||||
Net asset value, beginning of period
|
$ | 17.22 | ||
Net investment income(2)
|
0.53 | |||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) from investment activities
|
1.14 | |||
Total from investment operations
|
1.67 | |||
Common share equivalent of dividends and distributions
|
||||
paid to auction preferred shareholders from:
|
||||
Net investment income
|
— | |||
Net realized gains from investment activities
|
— | |||
Total dividends and distributions paid to auction preferred shareholders
|
— | |||
Net increase (decrease) from operations
|
1.67 | |||
Dilutive effect of reinvestment of distributions by common shareholders
|
(0.07 | ) | ||
Common share equivalent of dividends paid to preferred shareholders from:
|
||||
Net investment income
|
(0.08 | ) | ||
Dividends and distributions paid to common shareholders from:
|
||||
Net investment income
|
— | |||
Net realized gains from investment activities
|
— | |||
Total dividends and distributions paid to common shareholders
|
— | |||
Net asset value, end of period
|
$ | 18.74 | ||
Market value, end of period
|
$ | 16.93 | ||
Total net asset value return(3)(10)
|
9.27 | % | ||
Total market price return(4)(10)
|
13.25 | % | ||
Ratio to average net assets attributable to common shares:
|
||||
Total expenses, net of fee waivers by investment advisor and administrator including
|
||||
interest, dividends on short positions and tax expense and fees on floating rate notes
|
2.63 | %(5)(7) | ||
Total expenses, before fee waivers by investment advisor and administrator including
|
||||
interest, dividends on short positions and tax expense and fees on floating rate notes
|
2.63 | %(5)(7) | ||
Total expenses, net of fee waivers by investment advisor and administrator excluding
|
||||
interest expense, dividends on short positions and fees on floating rate notes
|
1.76 | %(5)(7) | ||
Net investment income before dividends paid to auction preferred shareholders
|
7.01 | %(2)(5) | ||
Dividends paid to auction preferred shareholders from net investment income
|
— | |||
Net investment income available to common shareholders
|
7.01 | %(2)(5) | ||
Supplemental data:
|
||||
Net assets applicable to common shareholders, end of period (000’s)
|
$ | 132,294 | ||
Liquidation value of preferred stock (000’s)
|
$ | 37,454 | ||
Portfolio turnover(10)
|
33 | % | ||
Preferred Stock:
|
||||
Total shares outstanding
|
749,086 | |||
Asset coverage per share of preferred shares, end of period
|
$ | 227 |
For the nine
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
months ended
|
For the years ended
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
For the years ended December 31,
|
December 31,
|
March 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2012
|
2011
|
2010
|
2009
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||||||
$ | 16.01 | $ | 16.42 | $ | 14.26 | $ | 13.05 | $ | 13.71 | $ | 14.96 | |||||||||||
0.34 | 0.22 | (1)(2) | 0.04 | (1)(2) | 0.52 | (1) | 0.88 | (1) | 0.97 | (1) | ||||||||||||
1.92 | (0.10 | ) | 2.15 | 1.24 | (0.70 | ) | (1.22 | ) | ||||||||||||||
2.26 | 0.12 | 2.19 | 1.76 | 0.18 | (0.25 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | (0.02 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.39 | ) | ||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | (0.01 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | (0.02 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.40 | ) | ||||||||||||||
2.26 | 0.12 | 2.19 | 1.74 | (0.07 | ) | (0.65 | ) | |||||||||||||||
(0.03 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
(0.07 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
(0.23 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.53 | ) | (0.59 | ) | (0.58 | ) | |||||||||||
(0.72 | ) | (0.27 | ) | — | — | — | (0.02 | ) | ||||||||||||||
(0.95 | ) | (0.53 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.53 | ) | (0.59 | ) | (0.60 | ) | |||||||||||
$ | 17.22 | $ | 16.01 | $ | 16.42 | $ | 14.26 | $ | 13.05 | $ | 13.71 | |||||||||||
$ | 15.01 | $ | 14.50 | $ | 14.75 | $ | 14.09 | $ | 11.37 | $ | 12.38 | |||||||||||
13.72 | % | 0.85 | % | 15.36 | % | 13.51 | % | (0.39 | )% | (4.52 | )% | |||||||||||
10.05 | % | 1.89 | % | 4.90 | % | 29.00 | % | (3.32 | )% | (3.86 | )% | |||||||||||
2.54 | %(5)(7)(8) | 1.51 | %(7) | 1.50 | %(7) | 1.03 | %(5)(6) | 1.73 | %(6) | 1.18 | % | |||||||||||
2.54 | %(5)(7)(8) | 1.51 | %(7) | 1.67 | %(7) | 1.92 | %(5)(6) | 2.62 | %(6) | 1.88 | % | |||||||||||
1.82 | %(5)(7) | 1.51 | %(7) | 1.50 | %(7) | 0.99 | %(5) | 1.59 | % | 1.18 | % | |||||||||||
2.41 | %(2)(5) | 1.32 | %(2) | 0.26 | %(2) | 5.00 | %(5) | 6.71 | % | 6.66 | % | |||||||||||
— | — | — | 0.20 | %(5) | 1.87 | % | 2.68 | % | ||||||||||||||
2.41 | %(2)(5) | 1.32 | %(2) | 0.26 | %(2) | 4.80 | %(5) | 4.84 | % | 3.98 | % | |||||||||||
$ | 117,259 | $ | 106,864 | $ | 109,631 | $ | 294,133 | $ | 269,266 | $ | 282,886 | |||||||||||
$ | 37,454 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
62 | % | 55 | % | 73 | % | 7 | % | 27 | % | 30 | % | |||||||||||
749,086 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
$ | 207 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 136,860 | (9) | $ | 117,354 | (9) |
(1)
|
Calculated using the average shares method.
|
(2)
|
Recognition of investment income by the Fund is affected by the timing and declaration of dividends by the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests.
|
(3)
|
Total net asset value return is calculated assuming a $10,000 purchase of common stock at the current net asset value on the first day of each period reported and a sale at the current net asset value on the last day of each period reported, and assuming reinvestment of dividends and other distributions at the net asset value on the payable date for dividends and other distributions payable through December 31, 2009 and reinvested at the NAV on the ex-dividend date for dividends and other distributions payable after December 31, 2009. Total investment return based on net asset value is hypothetical as investors can not purchase or sell Fund shares at net asset value but only at market prices. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder could pay on Fund dividends and other distributions, if any, or the sale of Fund shares.
|
(4)
|
Total market price return is calculated assuming a $10,000 purchase of common stock at the current market price on the first day of each period reported and a sale at the current market price on the last day of each period reported, and assuming reinvestment of dividends and other distributions to common shareholders at prices obtained under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (which was terminated on January 1, 2010) for dividends and other distributions payable through December 31, 2009 and reinvested at the lower of the NAV or the closing market price on the ex-dividend date for dividends and other distributions payable after December 31, 2009. Total investment return does not reflect brokerage commissions and has not been annualized for the period of less than one year. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder could pay on Fund dividends and other distributions, if any, or the sale of Fund shares.
|
(5)
|
Annualized.
|
(6)
|
Interest expense represents interest and fees on short term floating rate notes issued in conjunction with inverse floating rate securities. Interest income from such transactions was included in income from investment operations.
|
(7)
|
Does not include expenses of the investment companies in which the Fund invests.
|
(8)
|
The ratio of expenses to average net assets includes tax expense. The before waiver and expense reimbursement and after waiver and expense reimbursement ratios excluding tax expense were 2.18% and 2.18%, respectively.
|
(9)
|
In 2008 and 2009, the preferred shares were auction preferred shares.
|
(10)
|
Not annualized for periods less than one year.
|
Level 1—
|
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access.
|
Level 2—
|
Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.
|
Level 3—
|
Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.
|
The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.
|
Quoted Prices in
|
||||||||||||||||
Active Markets
|
||||||||||||||||
for Identical
|
Significant Other
|
Unobservable
|
||||||||||||||
Investments
|
Observable Inputs
|
Inputs
|
||||||||||||||
(Level 1)*
|
(Level 2)*
|
(Level 3)**
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||
Investment Companies
|
$ | 116,066,433 | $ | 2,723,598 | $ | 4,736,134 | $ | 123,526,165 | ||||||||
Common Stocks
|
||||||||||||||||
Energy Equipment & Services
|
304,624 | — | — | 304,624 | ||||||||||||
Financials
|
— | — | 29,993 | 29,993 | ||||||||||||
Food & Staples Retailing
|
612,023 | — | — | 612,023 | ||||||||||||
Home Builder
|
2,780,228 | — | — | 2,780,228 | ||||||||||||
Life Insurance
|
3,984,111 | — | — | 3,984,111 | ||||||||||||
Marine
|
222,726 | — | — | 222,726 | ||||||||||||
Pharmaceuticals Preparations
|
64,276 | — | — | 64,276 | ||||||||||||
Real Estate
|
596,668 | — | — | 596,668 | ||||||||||||
Real Estate Investments Trusts
|
2,573,648 | — | — | 2,573,648 | ||||||||||||
Software
|
365,736 | — | — | 365,736 | ||||||||||||
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle
|
2,141,783 | 11,440,024 | 1,446,082 | 15,027,889 | ||||||||||||
Corporate Bonds
|
— | 797,535 | 60,000 | 857,535 | ||||||||||||
Preferred Stocks
|
||||||||||||||||
Capital Markets
|
5,032,201 | — | — | 5,032,201 | ||||||||||||
Commercial Banks
|
876,922 | — | — | 876,922 | ||||||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts
|
201,978 | — | 5,657,129 | 5,859,107 | ||||||||||||
Promissory Notes
|
— | — | 234,000 | 234,000 | ||||||||||||
Warrants
|
456,996 | 761,258 | 5,686 | 1,223,940 | ||||||||||||
Rights
|
478 | — | — | 478 | ||||||||||||
Money Market Funds
|
2,083,945 | — | — | 2,083,945 | ||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 138,364,776 | $ | 15,722,415 | $ | 12,169,024 | $ | 166,256,215 | ||||||||
Liabilities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Securities Sold Short
|
$ | 2,647,138 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,647,138 |
*
|
Transfers between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting period.
|
Transfers into Level 1
|
$ | 511,531 | |||
Transfers out of Level 1
|
1,131,257 | ||||
Net transfers in and/or out of Level 1
|
$ | (619,726 | ) | ||
Transfers into Level 2
|
$ | 1,131,257 | |||
Transfers out of Level 2
|
511,531 | ||||
Net transfers in and/or out of Level 2
|
$ | 619,726 |
**
|
The Fund measures Level 3 activity as of the beginning and end of each financial reporting period.
|
Derivatives not accounted
|
Statement of Assets &
|
||
for as hedging instruments
|
Liabilities Location
|
Value
|
|
Equity Contracts—Warrants
|
Investments, at value
|
$1,223,940
|
Amount of Realized Gain on Derivatives Recognized in Income
|
|||
Derivatives not accounted
|
Statement of
|
||
for as hedging instruments
|
Operations Location
|
Value
|
|
Equity Contracts—Warrants
|
Net Realized Gain
|
$125,004
|
|
on Investments
|
|||
Change in Unrealized Appreciation
|
|||
on Derivatives Recognized in Income
|
|||
Derivatives not accounted
|
Statement of
|
||
for as hedging instruments
|
Operations Location
|
Value
|
|
Equity Contracts—Warrants
|
Net change in unrealized
|
$411,047
|
|
appreciation of investments
|
Change
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
|
Realized
|
in unrealized
|
Transfers
|
Balance
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
as of
|
Acqui-
|
Dispo-
|
Gain
|
appreciation
|
into
|
as of
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Category
|
12/31/2012
|
sitions
|
sitions
|
(Loss)
|
(depreciaton)
|
Level 3
|
6/30/2013
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Closed
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
End Funds
|
$ | 40,633 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 40,633 | ||||||||||||||
Auction Rate
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Securities
|
5,876,750 | — | (1,375,000 | ) | 209,688 | (15,937 | ) | — | 4,695,501 | |||||||||||||||||||
Common
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock*
|
20,101 | — | — | — | 9,892 | — | 29,993 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock
|
— | 5,657,129 | — | — | — | — | 5,657,129 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Special
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purpose
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vehicles
|
— | 1,376,158 | (1,091,105 | ) | 2,778 | 12,436 | 1,145,815 | 1,446,082 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bonds
|
15,000 | — | — | — | 45,000 | — | 60,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Convertible
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes
|
100,000 | — | (100,000 | ) | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Promissory
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes
|
459,000 | — | — | — | (225,000 | ) | — | 234,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Structured Life
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Settlement
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes
|
188,321 | — | (188,321 | ) | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Warrants
|
— | 5,686 | — | — | — | — | 5,686 | |||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 6,699,805 | $ | 7,038,973 | $ | (2,754,426 | ) | $ | 212,466 | $ | (173,609 | ) | $ | 1,145,815 | $ | 12,169,024 |
*
|
Universal Business Payment Solutions Acquisition Corp. was reclassified from a Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle to a Common Stock.
|
Impact to
|
|||||||
Valuation
|
|||||||
Fair Value
|
from an
|
||||||
June 30,
|
Valuation
|
Unobservable
|
increase in
|
||||
2013
|
Methodologies
|
Input(1)
|
Input(2)
|
||||
Closed End Funds
|
$ | 40,633 |
Market Transactions
|
Discount to Last
|
Increase
|
||
Approach
|
Reported Net Asset Value
|
||||||
Auction Rate Preferred
|
$ | 4,695,501 |
Market
|
Comparability Adjustments/
|
Increase
|
||
Securities
|
Comparables
|
Broker Indications/
|
|||||
Company Announcements
|
|||||||
Common Stock
|
$ | 29,993 |
Market Transactions
|
Discount to Market Price
|
Increase
|
||
Approach
|
for Share Restrictions
|
||||||
Preferred Stock
|
$ | 5,657,129 |
Cost
|
Market Assessments/
|
Increase
|
||
Financial Assessments
|
|||||||
Special Purpose
|
$ | 1,446,082 |
Market Transactions
|
Adjustments for Dividends
|
Increase
|
||
Acquisition Vehicles
|
Approach
|
and Announcements
|
|||||
by Company
|
|||||||
Corporate Bonds
|
$ | 60,000 |
Market Transactions
|
Broker Bids
|
Increase
|
||
Approach
|
|||||||
Promissory Notes
|
$ | 234,000 |
Cost
|
Terms of the Note/
|
Increase
|
||
Financial Assessments/
|
|||||||
Company Announcements
|
|||||||
Warrants
|
$ | 5,686 |
Market Transactions
|
Discount to Market Price
|
Increase
|
||
Approach
|
for Share Restrictions
|
(1)
|
In determining certain of these inputs, management evaluates a variety of factors including economic conditions, foreign exchange rates, industry and market developments, market valuations of comparable companies and company specific developments including exit strategies and realization opportunities. Management has determined that market participants would take these inputs into account when valuing the investments.
|
(2)
|
This column represents the directional change in the fair value of the Level 3 investments that would result from an increase to the corresponding unobservable input. A decrease to the unobservable input would have the opposite effect.
|
For the
|
For the
|
|||||||
year ended
|
year ended
|
|||||||
Distributions paid from:
|
December 31, 2012
|
December 31, 2011
|
||||||
Ordinary income
|
$ | 3,423,869 | $ | 1,939,242 | ||||
Long-term capital gains
|
4,541,131 | 1,635,663 | ||||||
Total distributions paid
|
$ | 7,965,000 | $ | 3,574,905 |
Tax cost of investments
|
$ | 151,170,752 | ||
Unrealized appreciation
|
11,465,533 | |||
Unrealized depreciation
|
(2,102,961 | ) | ||
Net unrealized appreciation
|
9,362,572 | |||
Undistributed ordinary income
|
1,401,151 | |||
Undistributed long-term gains
|
184,138 | |||
Total distributable earnings
|
1,585,289 | |||
Other accumulated losses and other temporary differences
|
(387,832 | ) | ||
Total accumulated gains
|
$ | 10,560,029 |
Share
|
Share
|
|||||||
Balance
|
Balance
|
Value
|
||||||
at
|
at
|
at
|
||||||
Dec. 31,
|
June 30,
|
Realized
|
Dividend
|
June 30,
|
Acquisition
|
|||
Issuer Name
|
2012
|
Additions
|
Reductions
|
2013
|
Gain
|
Income
|
2013
|
Cost
|
Aquasition Corp.*
|
400,000
|
—
|
—
|
400,000
|
—
|
—
|
3,952,000
|
3,915,747
|
*
|
Aquasition Corp. is a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC). A SPAC is a publicly-traded buyout company that raises money in order to pursue the acquisition of an existing company.
|
Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.
|
39.78%
|
Term of
|
Number of
|
||||
Office
|
Portfolios
|
||||
and
|
in Fund
|
Other
|
|||
Position(s)
|
Length
|
Principal Occupation
|
Complex
|
Directorships
|
|
Name, Address
|
Held with
|
of Time
|
During the Past
|
Overseen
|
held by
|
and Age*
|
the Fund
|
Served
|
Five Years
|
by Director**
|
Director
|
INTERESTED DIRECTORS
|
|||||
Andrew Dakos***
|
President
|
1 year;
|
Principal of the Adviser since
|
1
|
Director, Mexico
|
(47)
|
as of
|
Since
|
2009; Chief Compliance Officer
|
Equity and Income
|
|
October
|
2009
|
of the Adviser from 2009-2012;
|
Fund, Inc.; Director,
|
||
2009.
|
Principal of Bulldog Holdings, LLC,
|
Brantley Capital
|
|||
the owner of several entities
|
Corporation (in
|
||||
serving as the general partner
|
liquidation);
|
||||
of several investment partnerships
|
Director, Imperial
|
||||
in the Bulldog Investors group of
|
Holdings, Inc.
|
||||
private funds, and the owner of
|
|||||
Kimball & Winthrop, LLC, the
|
|||||
managing general partner of
|
|||||
Bulldog Investors General
|
|||||
Partnership, since 2012;
|
|||||
Principal of the general partner
|
|||||
of several private investment
|
|||||
partnerships in the Bulldog
|
|||||
Investors group of private funds
|
|||||
from 1992-2012.
|
|||||
Phillip Goldstein***
|
Chairman
|
1 year;
|
Principal of the Adviser since
|
1
|
Chairman, Mexico
|
(68)
|
and
|
Since
|
2009; Principal of Bulldog
|
Equity and Income
|
|
Secretary
|
2009
|
Holdings, LLC, the owner of
|
Fund, Inc.;
|
||
as of
|
several entities serving as the
|
Chairman, Brantley
|
|||
October
|
general partner of several
|
Capital Corporation
|
|||
2009.
|
investment partnerships in the
|
(in liquidation);
|
|||
Bulldog Investors group of private
|
Director, ASA Ltd.;
|
||||
funds, and the owner of Kimbal
|
Director, MVC
|
||||
& Winthrop, LLC, the managing
|
Capital, Inc.;
|
||||
general partner of Bulldog
|
Chairman, Imperial
|
||||
Investors General Partnership,
|
Holdings, Inc.
|
||||
since 2012; Principal of the
|
|||||
general partner of several private
|
|||||
investment partnerships in the
|
|||||
Bulldog Investors group of private
|
|||||
funds from 1992-2012.
|
Term of
|
Number of
|
||||
Office
|
Portfolios
|
||||
and
|
in Fund
|
Other
|
|||
Position(s)
|
Length
|
Principal Occupation
|
Complex
|
Directorships
|
|
Name, Address
|
Held with
|
of Time
|
During the Past
|
Overseen
|
held by
|
and Age*
|
the Fund
|
Served
|
Five Years
|
by Director**
|
Director
|
Gerald Hellerman****
|
Chief
|
1 year;
|
Managing Director of Hellerman
|
1
|
Director, Mexico
|
(75)
|
Compliance
|
Since
|
Associates (a financial and
|
Equity and Income
|
|
Officer
|
2009
|
corporate consulting firm).
|
Fund, Inc.; Director,
|
||
and Chief
|
Brantley Capital
|
||||
Financial
|
Corporation;
|
||||
Officer as of
|
Director, MVC
|
||||
January
|
Capital, Inc.;
|
||||
2010.
|
|
Director,
|
|||
Ironsides Partners
|
|||||
Opportunity
|
|||||
Offshore Fund Ltd;
|
|||||
Director, Imperial
|
|||||
Holdings, Inc.
|
|||||
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
|
|||||
James Chadwick
|
—
|
1 year;
|
Managing Director of Main
|
1
|
None
|
(40)
|
Since
|
Street Investment Partners,
|
|||
2009
|
LLC (private equity firm);
|
||||
Managing Director of Opus
|
|||||
Partners, LLC (private equity
|
|||||
firm); Managing Director of
|
|||||
Harlingwood Equity Partners LP;
|
|||||
Managing Partner of Chadwick
|
|||||
Capital Management.
|
|||||
Ben Harris
|
—
|
1 year;
|
Principal and Director of NHI II,
|
1
|
None
|
(44)
|
Since
|
LLC and NBC Bancshares, LLC.
|
|||
2009
|
|||||
Charles C. Walden
|
—
|
1 year;
|
President and Owner of Sound
|
1
|
Lead Trustee, Third
|
(69)
|
Since
|
Capital Associates, LLC
|
Avenue Funds
|
||
2009
|
(consulting firm).
|
(fund complex
|
|||
consisting of five
|
|||||
funds and one
|
|||||
variable series
|
|||||
trust).
|
Term of
|
Number of
|
||||
Office
|
Portfolios
|
||||
and
|
in Fund
|
Other
|
|||
Position(s)
|
Length
|
Principal Occupation
|
Complex
|
Directorships
|
|
Name, Address
|
Held with
|
of Time
|
During the Past
|
Overseen
|
held by
|
and Age*
|
the Fund
|
Served
|
Five Years
|
by Director**
|
Director
|
OFFICERS
|
|||||
Andrew Dakos***
|
President
|
1 year;
|
Principal and Chief Compliance
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(47)
|
as of
|
Since
|
Officer of the Adviser; Principal
|
||
October
|
2009
|
of the general partner of several
|
|||
2009.
|
private investment partnerships
|
||||
in the Bulldog Investors group
|
|||||
of funds.
|
|||||
Rajeev Das
|
Vice-
|
1 year;
|
Principal, Bulldog Investors, a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(44)
|
President
|
Since
|
group of Investment Funds;
|
||
and
|
Managing member of the
|
||||
Treasurer
|
General Partner of Opportunity
|
||||
as of
|
Income Plus L.P., an investment
|
||||
October
|
fund.
|
||||
2009.
|
|||||
Phillip Goldstein***
|
Chairman
|
1 year;
|
Principal of the Adviser;
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(68)
|
and
|
Since
|
Principal of the general partner
|
||
Secretary
|
2009
|
of several private investment
|
|||
as of
|
partnerships in the Bulldog
|
||||
October
|
Investors group of funds.
|
||||
2009.
|
|||||
Gerald Hellerman****
|
Chief
|
1 year;
|
Managing Director of Hellerman
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(75)
|
Compliance
|
Since
|
Associates (a financial and
|
||
Officer
|
2009
|
corporate consulting firm).
|
|||
and Chief
|
|||||
Financial
|
|||||
Officer as of
|
|||||
January
|
|||||
2010.
|
*
|
The address for all directors and officers is c/o Special Opportunities Fund, Inc., 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202
|
|
**
|
The Fund Complex is comprised of only the Fund.
|
|
***
|
Messrs. Dakos and Goldstein are each considered an “interested person” of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC, the Adviser and their positions as officers of the Fund.
|
|
****
|
Mr. Hellerman is considered an “interested person” of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because he serves as the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hellerman is not affiliated with Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC.
|
1.
|
Information from the Consumer: this category includes information the Fund receives from you on or in applications or other forms, correspondence, or conversations (such as your name, address, phone number, social security number, assets, income and date of birth); and
|
|
2.
|
Information about the Consumer’s transactions: this category includes information about your transactions with the Fund, its affiliates, or others (such as your account number and balance, payment history, parties to transactions, cost basis information, and other financial information).
|
(a)
|
Schedule of Investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
|
(b)
|
Not Applicable.
|
Period
|
(a)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased
|
(b)
Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)
|
(c)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
|
(d)
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
|
||||||
1/1/2013 to 1/31/2013
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
||||||
2/1/2013 to 2/28/2013
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
||||||
3/1/2013 to 3/31/2013
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
||||||
4/1/2013 to 4/30/2013
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
||||||
5/1/2013 to 5/31/2013
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
||||||
6/1/2013 to 6/30/2013
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
||||||
Total
|
*
|
Footnote the date each plan or program was announced, the dollar amount (or share or unit amount) approved, the expiration date (if any) of each plan or program, each plan or program that expired during the covered period, each plan or program registrant plans to terminate or let expire.
|
(a)
|
The Registrant’s President and Chief Financial Officer have reviewed the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report, as required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on their review, such officers have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in this report is appropriately recorded, processed, summarized and reported and made known to them by others within the Registrant and by the Registrant’s service provider.
|
(b)
|
There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
|
(a)
|
(1) Any code of ethics or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy Item 2 requirements through filing an exhibit. Not Applicable.
|
(b)
|
Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Furnished herewith.
|