1.
|
Virtus Total Return Fund (formerly DCA) – in 2016, we narrowly lost a vote to elect a director of DCA but shareholders voted in favor of our proposal to liquidate it. We subsequently reached a settlement with management that provided for a self-tender offer that expired in March 2017 for up to 40% of DCA’s outstanding shares at a price equal to 99% of its NAV. We sold 63% of our shares in the tender offer and subsequently sold the rest of our shares at a modest discount.
|
2.
|
Advent/Claymore Enhanced Growth and Income Fund (LCM) – On May 12th, LCM announced it would commence a cash (rather than, as previously contemplated, an in kind) self-tender offer no later than mid-June for up to 32.5% of its outstanding shares equal to 98% of NAV. Investors responded positively and, as a result, we succeeded in selling our entire position at a narrow discount.
|
3.
|
Pacholder High Yield Fund (formerly PHF) – As noted in our last letter, we acquired the bulk of our shares at a double-digit discount to NAV. After discussions with management, on January 23rd, PHF announced that the Board of Directors proposed that it be liquidated. The liquidation of PHF was recently completed and we cashed out at NAV.
|
4.
|
JPMorgan China Region Fund (formerly JFC) – After reaching an impasse with major shareholders about its future, on December 30, 2017, JFC announced that its board of directors would propose that it be liquidated. On July 14th, JFC made an initial distribution of $14.88 per share. Management expects to make a final distribution of approximately $5.12 by the end of 2017.
|
5.
|
Korea Equity Fund (formerly KEF) – Like JFC, an impasse with major shareholders about KEF’s future led to it announcing on January 24th that its board of directors would propose that it be liquidated. KEF paid its final liquidating distribution on August 7, 2017.
|
6.
|
Putnam CEFs – We lost a proxy contest for Putnam High Income Securities Fund (PCF). Our goal was to achieve a liquidity event at or close to NAV. We are considering our options, including conducting another proxy contest in 2018. We had better success with two other closed-end funds managed by Putnam. Shortly after buying sizeable stakes of the auction rate preferred stock issued by Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust (PMO) and Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust (PMM) at 81.25% of their face value, we launched proxy contests to elect two directors to represent the preferred stockholders of those funds. Our goal was to push for a liquidity event for the ARPs at a price above our cost. After extensive negotiations, the boards of PMO and PMM agreed to authorize a self-tender offer at 89.75% of face value in return for us abandoning the proxy contests and agreeing to a standstill. The tender offers closed on August 9th and we booked a nice profit.
|
7.
|
Clough Global Equity Fund (GLQ) – In our previous letter, we said: “We think management will probably have to announce a liquidity event or face losing a proxy contest.” Our assessment proved to be accurate. On July 10th, GLQ announced that it would tender for 37.5% of its outstanding shares at 98.5% of NAV. As a result, the discount has narrowed to about 6% giving us an opportunity to reduce our position.
|
8.
|
The Swiss Helvetia Fund (SWZ) – Special Opportunities Fund is part of a group that owns about 7.5% of the outstanding shares of The Swiss Helvetia Fund (SWZ), a $350 million closed-end fund that invests in Swiss companies, several of which, like Nestlé, are global giants. At the annual meeting held on June 27th, we succeeded in electing two of SWZ’s five directors. Since then, the discount has narrowed to about 9%. We would like to see it
|
narrow further. If that does not happen, we may conduct another proxy contest to gain control of the board and provide a significant liquidity event at or close to NAV.
|
|
9.
|
Aberdeen CEFs – A few months ago, Aberdeen and Standard Life, two large money management firms, announced that they would merge. Since then, we have been acquiring shares of several closed-end funds managed by Aberdeen at discounts to their net asset value. On August 14th, the merger closed. Meanwhile, some major stockholders of these funds (including ourselves) have indicated a desire for a liquidity event to allow stockholders to dispose of their stock of the Aberdeen-managed funds at a price close to NAV. Since Aberdeen has a reputation for being shareholder-friendly, we expect announcements of liquidity events for these funds before the end of the year.
|
Net asset value returns
|
1 year
|
5 years
|
Since 1/25/10
|
10 years*
|
|
Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.
|
12.97%
|
8.13%
|
8.44%
|
7.22%
|
|
Market price returns
|
|||||
Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.
|
17.07%
|
8.87%
|
8.38%
|
7.51%
|
|
Index returns
|
|||||
S&P 500® Index
|
17.90%
|
14.63%
|
13.65%
|
7.18%
|
|
Share price as of 6/30/17
|
|||||
Net asset value
|
|
$16.97 | |||
Market price
|
|
$15.20 |
*
|
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
|
$
|
114,202,804
|
79.10
|
%
|
||||
Common Stocks
|
43,637,493
|
30.23
|
||||||
Money Market Funds
|
29,814,314
|
20.65
|
||||||
Preferred Stocks
|
8,142,666
|
5.64
|
||||||
Liquidating Trusts
|
2,996,847
|
2.08
|
||||||
Convertible Bonds
|
1,227,500
|
0.85
|
||||||
Promissory Notes
|
770,000
|
0.53
|
||||||
Warrants
|
302,203
|
0.21
|
||||||
Rights
|
104,349
|
0.07
|
||||||
Corporate Notes
|
25,350
|
0.02
|
||||||
Corporate Bonds
|
15,000
|
0.01
|
||||||
Total Investments
|
$
|
201,238,526
|
139.39
|
%
|
||||
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets
|
(1,273,112
|
)
|
(0.88
|
)
|
||||
Preferred Stocks
|
(55,599,400
|
)
|
(38.51
|
)
|
||||
Total Net Assets
|
$
|
144,366,014
|
100.00
|
%
|
(1)
|
As a percentage of net assets.
|
Shares
|
Value
|
|||||||
INVESTMENT COMPANIES—79.10%
|
||||||||
Closed-End Funds—68.73%
|
||||||||
Aberdeen Chile Fund, Inc.
|
278,838
|
$
|
1,974,173
|
|||||
Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Co. Opportunities Fund, Inc.
|
7,922
|
109,381
|
||||||
Aberdeen Greater China Fund, Inc.
|
19,479
|
223,424
|
||||||
Aberdeen Indonesia Fund, Inc.
|
5,110
|
38,867
|
||||||
Aberdeen Israel Fund, Inc.
|
72,064
|
1,393,430
|
||||||
Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, Inc.
|
96,671
|
821,704
|
||||||
Aberdeen Singapore Fund, Inc.
|
142,352
|
1,576,534
|
||||||
Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc.
|
193,976
|
2,771,917
|
||||||
Advent/Claymore Enhanced Growth & Income Fund
|
114,791
|
1,004,421
|
||||||
Alpine Global Premier Properties Fund
|
226,679
|
1,437,145
|
||||||
Alternative Asset Opps PCC Ltd. (a)(c)(f)(g)(h)
|
48,436
|
315
|
||||||
Asia Tigers Fund, Inc.
|
57,434
|
682,936
|
||||||
BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.
|
32,116
|
370,619
|
||||||
Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc.
|
423,000
|
4,107,330
|
||||||
British Empire Trust PLC (g)
|
9,873
|
88,085
|
||||||
Candover Investments PLC/Fund (a)(g)
|
40,468
|
73,264
|
||||||
Central Securities Corp.
|
233,873
|
5,830,454
|
||||||
China Fund, Inc.
|
80,904
|
1,511,287
|
||||||
Clough Global Equity Fund
|
447,801
|
5,646,771
|
||||||
Clough Global Opportunities Fund
|
46,934
|
497,500
|
||||||
Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc.
|
72,916
|
245,727
|
||||||
The Cushing Renaissance Fund
|
61,947
|
1,083,453
|
||||||
Delaware Enhanced Global Dividend & Income Fund
|
206,895
|
2,358,603
|
||||||
Delaware Investments Dividend & Income Fund, Inc.
|
100,141
|
1,047,225
|
||||||
Deutsche Global High Income Fund, Inc.
|
18,712
|
162,982
|
||||||
Deutsche High Income Opportunities Fund, Inc.
|
269,657
|
4,012,496
|
||||||
Deutsche Multi-Market Income Trust
|
144,239
|
1,269,303
|
||||||
Deutsche Strategic Income Trust
|
839
|
10,395
|
||||||
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd.
|
76,045
|
696,572
|
||||||
First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund
|
42,400
|
621,160
|
||||||
Franklin Universal Trust
|
67,153
|
480,144
|
||||||
The GDL Fund
|
15,000
|
153,900
|
||||||
General American Investors Co., Inc.
|
46,245
|
1,588,516
|
||||||
Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc.
|
45,996
|
331,171
|
||||||
Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust
|
4,884
|
60,317
|
||||||
Japan Smaller Capitalization Fund, Inc.
|
482,826
|
5,542,842
|
Shares
|
Value
|
|||||||
INVESTMENT COMPANIES—(continued)
|
||||||||
Closed-End Funds—(continued)
|
||||||||
JP Morgan Asian Investment Trust PLC (g)
|
15,214
|
$
|
64,995
|
|||||
JP Morgan China Region Fund, Inc. (h)
|
192,486
|
3,863,194
|
||||||
Juridica Investments Ltd. (g)(h)
|
495,258
|
63,692
|
||||||
Korea Equity Fund, Inc. (h)
|
291,361
|
2,051,181
|
||||||
Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc.
|
239,139
|
3,911,118
|
||||||
Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund, Inc.
|
23,192
|
255,576
|
||||||
Liberty All Star Equity Fund
|
1,119,502
|
6,336,381
|
||||||
MFS Charter Income Trust
|
2,693
|
23,268
|
||||||
Morgan Stanley Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.
|
186,237
|
3,097,121
|
||||||
Morgan Stanley East Europe Fund Escrow (a)
|
97,901
|
0
|
||||||
Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund, Inc.
|
419,545
|
2,265,543
|
||||||
NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund
|
22,358
|
486,957
|
||||||
Pacholder High Yield Fund, Inc. (h)
|
389,643
|
3,101,558
|
||||||
The Prospect Japan Fund Ltd. (a)(g)
|
700,971
|
890,233
|
||||||
Putnam High Income Securities Fund
|
397,476
|
3,493,814
|
||||||
Royce Value Trust, Inc.
|
74,200
|
1,082,578
|
||||||
Source Capital, Inc.
|
36,707
|
1,418,726
|
||||||
The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
|
704,568
|
8,948,014
|
||||||
Taiwan Fund, Inc. (a)
|
8,088
|
160,062
|
||||||
Terra Catalyst Fund (a)(g)
|
20,319
|
26,133
|
||||||
Tri-Continental Corp.
|
313,154
|
7,625,300
|
||||||
Turkish Investment Fund, Inc.
|
24,392
|
235,139
|
||||||
99,224,946
|
||||||||
Auction Rate Preferred Securities—6.08% (c)(f)
|
||||||||
Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust—Series C
|
32
|
1,412,000
|
||||||
Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust—Series B
|
170
|
3,750,625
|
||||||
Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust—Series C
|
164
|
3,618,250
|
||||||
8,780,875
|
||||||||
Business Development Companies—4.29%
|
||||||||
Equus Total Return, Inc. (a)
|
106,919
|
252,329
|
||||||
Firsthand Technology Value Fund, Inc. (a)
|
58,291
|
489,062
|
||||||
Great Elm Capital Corp.
|
139,007
|
1,476,254
|
||||||
MVC Capital, Inc.
|
403,584
|
3,979,338
|
||||||
6,196,983
|
||||||||
Total Investment Companies (Cost $101,653,504)
|
114,202,804
|
Shares
|
Value
|
|||||||
PREFERRED STOCKS—5.64%
|
||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts—5.64%
|
||||||||
Brookfield DTLA Fund Office Trust Investor, Inc. (a)
|
83,276
|
$
|
2,123,538
|
|||||
Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. (c)(f)
|
6,083
|
6,019,128
|
||||||
Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $7,752,616)
|
8,142,666
|
|||||||
COMMON STOCKS—30.23%
|
||||||||
Consumer Finance—0.24%
|
||||||||
Emergent Capital, Inc. (a)
|
1,032,379
|
340,685
|
||||||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies—0.00%
|
||||||||
Xtant Medical Holdings, Inc. (a)
|
99
|
66
|
||||||
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers—0.05%
|
||||||||
VivoPower International PLC (a)(g)
|
18,304
|
69,921
|
||||||
Insurance—7.73%
|
||||||||
Stewart Information Services Corp.
|
246,055
|
11,165,976
|
||||||
Professional Services—3.52%
|
||||||||
Hill International, Inc. (a)
|
976,005
|
5,075,226
|
||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts—7.25%
|
||||||||
New York REIT, Inc.
|
1,211,094
|
10,463,852
|
||||||
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicles—11.44% (a)
|
||||||||
Andina Acquisition Corp. II (g)
|
67,789
|
685,293
|
||||||
Avista Healthcare Public Acquisition Corp. (g)
|
121,090
|
1,192,737
|
||||||
Barington/Hilco Acquisition Corp.
|
15,611
|
159,232
|
||||||
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (g)
|
100,000
|
1,020,000
|
||||||
Constellation Alpha Capital Corp. (g)
|
30,000
|
304,200
|
||||||
FlatWorld Acquisition Corporation (g)
|
105,702
|
10,676
|
||||||
Forum Merger Corp.
|
157,228
|
1,602,153
|
||||||
Hunter Maritime Acquisition Corp. (g)
|
1
|
10
|
||||||
Hunter Maritime Acquisition Corp. (g)
|
92,442
|
904,083
|
||||||
KBL Merger Corp. IV
|
275,000
|
2,805,138
|
||||||
M I Acquisitions, Inc.
|
188,817
|
1,944,815
|
||||||
M III Acquisition Corp.
|
148,436
|
1,522,953
|
||||||
Modern Media Acquisition Corp.
|
108,186
|
1,109,988
|
||||||
Origo Acquisition Corp. (g)
|
922
|
9,589
|
Shares
|
Value
|
|||||||
COMMON STOCKS—(continued)
|
||||||||
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicles—(continued)
|
||||||||
Pacific Special Acquisition Corp. (g)
|
120,680
|
$
|
1,206,800
|
|||||
Stellar Acquisition III, Inc. (g)
|
204,002
|
2,044,100
|
||||||
16,521,767
|
||||||||
Total Common Stocks (Cost $43,416,713)
|
43,637,493
|
|||||||
LIQUIDATING TRUSTS—2.08% (a)(c)(f)(h)
|
||||||||
Crossroads Capital, Inc.
|
292,681
|
655,606
|
||||||
Winthrop Realty Trust
|
295,985
|
2,341,241
|
||||||
Total Liquidating Trusts (Cost $4,297,321)
|
2,996,847
|
|||||||
Principal
|
||||||||
Amount
|
||||||||
CONVERTIBLE BONDS—0.85%
|
||||||||
Emergent Capital, Inc. (b)
|
||||||||
8.500%, 02/15/2019
|
$
|
2,941,000
|
1,169,048
|
|||||
8.500%, 02/15/2019
|
147,050
|
58,452
|
||||||
Total Convertible Bonds (Cost $3,016,994)
|
1,227,500
|
|||||||
CORPORATE BONDS—0.01%
|
||||||||
Washington Mutual, Inc. (b)(c)(d)(f)
|
||||||||
0.000%, 03/17/2014
|
3,000,000
|
15,000
|
||||||
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $0)
|
15,000
|
|||||||
CORPORATE NOTES—0.02%
|
||||||||
MVC Capital, Inc. (b)
|
||||||||
7.25%, 01/15/2023
|
1,000
|
25,350
|
||||||
Total Corporate Notes (Cost $25,280)
|
25,350
|
|||||||
PROMISSORY NOTES—0.53% (b)(c)(f)
|
||||||||
Emergent Capital, Inc.
|
||||||||
15.000%, 09/30/2018
|
500,000
|
490,000
|
||||||
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust
|
||||||||
9.000%, 12/15/2018
|
280,000
|
280,000
|
||||||
Total Promissory Notes (Cost $780,000)
|
770,000
|
Shares
|
Value
|
|||||||
WARRANTS—0.21% (a)
|
||||||||
Andina Acquisition Corp. II
|
||||||||
Expiration: November 2020
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $5.75 (g)
|
67,789
|
$
|
14,236
|
|||||
Avista Healthcare Public Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: December 2021
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $5.75 (g)
|
121,090
|
54,490
|
||||||
Barington/Hilco Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: February 2018
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $12.50
|
15,611
|
2,357
|
||||||
China Lending Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: July 2021
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $12.00 (g)
|
79,818
|
7,184
|
||||||
COPsync, Inc.
|
||||||||
Expiration: October 2020
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $3.125
|
10,794
|
216
|
||||||
Electrum Special Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: June 2021
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
|
46,800
|
16,848
|
||||||
Emergent Capital, Inc.
|
||||||||
Expiration: October 2019
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $10.75 (c)(f)
|
8
|
0
|
||||||
Harmony Merger Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: January 2021
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $11.50
|
62,937
|
50,350
|
||||||
Hemisphere Media Group, Inc.
|
||||||||
Expiration: April 2018
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $12.00
|
39,430
|
14,589
|
||||||
Hunter Maritime Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: October 2021
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
|
46,221
|
14,328
|
||||||
Origo Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: December 2021
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $5.75 (g)
|
23,814
|
4,287
|
||||||
Pacific Special Acquisition Corp.
|
||||||||
Expiration: October 2020
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $12.00 (g)
|
104,449
|
54,313
|
||||||
Quinpario Acquisition Corp. 2
|
||||||||
Expiration: January 2023
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $5.75
|
10,066
|
3,724
|
Shares
|
Value
|
|||||||
WARRANTS—(continued)
|
||||||||
Stellar Acquisition III, Inc.
|
||||||||
Expiration: March 2022
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
|
204,002
|
$
|
65,281
|
|||||
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.
|
||||||||
Expiration: December 2018
|
||||||||
Exercise Price: $4.75 (c)(f)
|
10,526
|
0
|
||||||
Total Warrants (Cost $209,851)
|
302,203
|
|||||||
RIGHTS—0.07% (a)
|
||||||||
Andina Acquisition Corp. II (g)
|
67,789
|
29,827
|
||||||
Barington/Hilco Acquisition Corp.
|
15,611
|
6,245
|
||||||
Origo Acquisition Corp. (g)
|
23,814
|
5,608
|
||||||
Pacific Special Acquisition Corp. (g)
|
104,449
|
62,669
|
||||||
Total Rights (Cost $34,474)
|
104,349
|
|||||||
MONEY MARKET FUNDS—20.65%
|
||||||||
Fidelity Institutional Government Portfolio—Class I, 0.810% (e)
|
14,907,157
|
14,907,157
|
||||||
STIT-Treasury Portfolio—Institutional Class, 0.840% (e)
|
14,907,157
|
14,907,157
|
||||||
Total Money Market Funds (Cost $29,814,314)
|
29,814,314
|
|||||||
Total Investments (Cost $191,001,067)—139.39%
|
201,238,526
|
|||||||
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets—(0.88)%
|
(1,273,112
|
)
|
||||||
Preferred Stock—(38.51)%
|
(55,599,400
|
)
|
||||||
TOTAL NET ASSETS—100.00%
|
$
|
144,366,014
|
(a)
|
Non-income producing security.
|
(b)
|
The coupon rate shown represents the rate at June 30, 2017.
|
(c)
|
Fair valued securities. The total market value of these securities was $18,582,165, representing 12.87% 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, 2017.
|
(f)
|
Illiquid securities. The total market value of these securities was $18,582,165, representing 12.87% of net assets.
|
(g)
|
Foreign-issued security.
|
(h)
|
Security currently undergoing a full liquidation with all proceeds paid out to shareholders.
|
Assets:
|
||||
Investments, at value (Cost $191,001,067)
|
$
|
201,238,526
|
||
Foreign currency (Cost $257)
|
257
|
|||
Dividends and interest receivable
|
151,345
|
|||
Receivable for investments sold
|
336,452
|
|||
Other assets
|
12,807
|
|||
Total assets
|
201,739,387
|
|||
Liabilities:
|
||||
Preferred dividends accrued not yet declared
|
42,652
|
|||
Payable for investments purchased
|
1,453,546
|
|||
Advisory fees payable
|
163,688
|
|||
Administration fees payable
|
19,871
|
|||
Chief Compliance Officer fees payable
|
12,111
|
|||
Director fees payable
|
13,955
|
|||
Fund accounting fees payable
|
7,756
|
|||
Custody fees payable
|
6,736
|
|||
Transfer Agent fees payable
|
732
|
|||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
|
52,926
|
|||
Total liabilities
|
1,773,973
|
|||
Preferred Stock:
|
||||
3.50% Convertible Preferred Stock—$0.001 par value, $25 liquidation value per share;
|
||||
2,223,976 shares outstanding
|
||||
Total preferred stock
|
55,599,400
|
|||
Net assets applicable to common shareholders
|
$
|
144,366,014
|
||
Net assets applicable to common shareholders:
|
||||
Common stock—$0.001 par value per common share; 199,995,800 shares authorized;
|
||||
8,508,550 shares issued and outstanding, 14,336,281 shares held in treasury
|
$
|
349,592,177
|
||
Cost of shares held in treasury
|
(220,400,463
|
)
|
||
Accumulated undistributed net investment income
|
680,620
|
|||
Accumulated net realized gain from investment activities
|
4,256,221
|
|||
Net unrealized appreciation on investments
|
10,237,459
|
|||
Net assets applicable to common shareholders
|
$
|
144,366,014
|
||
Net asset value per common share ($144,366,014 applicable to
|
||||
8,508,550 common shares outstanding)
|
$
|
16.97
|
For the six months
|
||||
ended June 30, 2017
|
||||
(unaudited)
|
||||
Investment income:
|
||||
Dividends
|
$
|
2,583,101
|
||
Interest
|
221,148
|
|||
Total investment income
|
2,804,249
|
|||
Expenses:
|
||||
Investment advisory fees
|
960,772
|
|||
Directors’ fees and expenses
|
82,633
|
|||
Administration fees and expenses
|
55,228
|
|||
Legal fees and expenses
|
46,134
|
|||
Compliance fees and expenses
|
25,954
|
|||
Audit fees
|
25,740
|
|||
Insurance fees
|
24,999
|
|||
Stock exchange listing fees
|
23,046
|
|||
Accounting fees and expenses
|
22,118
|
|||
Custody fees and expenses
|
20,477
|
|||
Reports and notices to shareholders
|
15,369
|
|||
Transfer agency fees and expenses
|
8,863
|
|||
Other expenses
|
13,791
|
|||
Net expenses
|
1,325,124
|
|||
Net investment income
|
1,479,125
|
|||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) from investment activities:
|
||||
Net realized gain from:
|
||||
Investments
|
2,072,832
|
|||
Distributions received from investment companies
|
702,644
|
|||
Net realized gain
|
2,775,476
|
|||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:
|
||||
Investments
|
8,717,124
|
|||
Net realized and unrealized gains from investment activities
|
11,492,600
|
|||
Increase in net assets resulting from operations
|
12,971,725
|
|||
Distributions to preferred stockholders
|
(972,990
|
)
|
||
Net increase in net assets applicable to common shareholders resulting from operations
|
$
|
11,998,735
|
For the six months
|
||||
ended June 30, 2017
|
||||
(unaudited)
|
||||
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
||||
Net increase in net assets applicable to common shareholders
|
$
|
12,971,725
|
||
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
|
(42,710,666
|
)
|
||
Proceeds from sales of investments
|
42,255,950
|
|||
Net purchases and sales of short-term investments
|
(1,566,032
|
)
|
||
Return of capital distributions received from underlying investments
|
332,123
|
|||
Amortization and accretion of premium and discount
|
(9,913
|
)
|
||
Decrease in dividends and interest receivable
|
212,862
|
|||
Increase in receivable for investments sold
|
(289,177
|
)
|
||
Decrease in other assets
|
24,999
|
|||
Increase in payable for investments purchased
|
663,805
|
|||
Increase in payable to Adviser
|
3,104
|
|||
Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities
|
(55,100
|
)
|
||
Net distributions received from investment companies
|
702,644
|
|||
Net realized gains from investments
|
(2,775,476
|
)
|
||
Net foreign currency translation
|
(70,477
|
)
|
||
Net change in unrealized depreciation of investments
|
(8,717,124
|
)
|
||
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
973,247
|
|||
|
||||
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
||||
Distributions paid to preferred shareholders
|
(972,990
|
)
|
||
Net cash used in financing activities
|
(972,990
|
)
|
||
Net change in cash
|
$
|
257
|
||
Cash:
|
||||
Beginning of period
|
—
|
|||
End of period
|
$
|
257
|
For the
|
||||||||
six months ended
|
For the
|
|||||||
June 30, 2017
|
year ended
|
|||||||
(unaudited)
|
December 31, 2016
|
|||||||
From operations:
|
||||||||
Net investment income
|
$
|
1,479,125
|
$
|
5,352,314
|
||||
Net realized gain (loss) from:
|
||||||||
Investments
|
2,072,832
|
(1,598,738
|
)
|
|||||
Distributions received from investment companies
|
702,644
|
4,624,828
|
||||||
Net realized gain on investments and
|
||||||||
distributions received from investment companies
|
2,775,476
|
3,026,090
|
||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation on:
|
||||||||
Investments and foreign currency
|
8,717,124
|
2,743,597
|
||||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
|
12,971,725
|
11,122,001
|
||||||
Distributions paid to preferred shareholders:
|
||||||||
Net investment income
|
(972,990
|
)
|
(500,199
|
)
|
||||
Net realized gains from investment activities
|
—
|
(174,739
|
)
|
|||||
Total dividends and distributions paid to preferred shareholders
|
(972,990
|
)
|
(674,938
|
)
|
||||
Net increase in net assets applicable to common shareholders
|
||||||||
resulting from operations
|
11,998,735
|
10,447,063
|
||||||
Distributions paid to common shareholders:
|
||||||||
Net investment income
|
—
|
(4,939,527
|
)
|
|||||
Net realized gains from investment activities
|
—
|
(1,952,399
|
)
|
|||||
Total dividends and distributions paid to common shareholders
|
—
|
(6,891,926
|
)
|
|||||
Capital Stock Transactions (Note 4)
|
||||||||
Repurchase of common stock through tender offer
|
—
|
(17,951,500
|
)
|
|||||
Repurchase of common stock
|
—
|
(4,661,968
|
)
|
|||||
Total capital stock transactions
|
—
|
(22,613,468
|
)
|
|||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable
|
||||||||
to common shareholders
|
11,998,735
|
(19,058,331
|
)
|
|||||
Net assets applicable to common shareholders:
|
||||||||
Beginning of period
|
132,367,279
|
151,425,610
|
||||||
End of period
|
$
|
144,366,014
|
$
|
132,367,279
|
||||
Accumulated undistributed net investment income
|
$
|
680,620
|
$
|
174,485
|
For the six months
|
||||
ended June 30, 2017
|
||||
(unaudited)
|
||||
Net asset value, beginning of period
|
$
|
15.56
|
||
Net investment income(1)
|
0.17
|
|||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) from investment activities
|
1.35
|
|||
Total from investment operations
|
1.52
|
|||
Common share equivalent of dividends paid to preferred shareholders from:
|
||||
Net investment income
|
(0.11
|
)
|
||
Net realized gains from investment activities
|
—
|
|||
Net Increase in net assets attributable to common
|
||||
stockholders resulting form operations
|
1.41
|
|||
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
|
—
|
|||
Anti-Dilutive effect of Common Share Repurchase
|
—
|
|||
Dilutive effect of conversions of preferred shares to common shares
|
—
|
|||
Dilutive effect of reinvestment of distributions by common shareholders
|
—
|
|||
Net asset value, end of period
|
$
|
16.97
|
||
Market value, end of period
|
$
|
15.20
|
||
Total net asset value return(2)
|
9.06
|
%
|
||
Total market price return(3)
|
11.36
|
%
|
||
Ratio to average net assets attributable to common shares:
|
||||
Total expenses, net of fee waivers by investment advisor and administrator including
|
||||
preferred distribution expense, interest and dividends on short positions, and tax expense(4)
|
3.35
|
%
|
||
Total expenses, before fee waivers by investment advisor and administrator including
|
||||
preferred distribution expense, interest and dividends on short positions, and tax expense(4)
|
3.35
|
%
|
||
Total expenses, net of fee waivers by investment advisor and administrator excluding
|
||||
preferred distribution expense, interest expense and dividends on short positions(5)(8)
|
1.93
|
%
|
||
Ratio to net investment income to average net assets before waiver(1)
|
2.16
|
%
|
||
Ratio to net investment income to average net assets after waiver(1)
|
2.16
|
%
|
||
Supplemental data:
|
||||
Net assets applicable to common shareholders, end of period (000’s)
|
$
|
144,366
|
||
Liquidation value of preferred stock (000’s)
|
$
|
55,599
|
||
Portfolio turnover(9)
|
26
|
%
|
||
Preferred Stock:
|
||||
Total Shares Outstanding
|
2,223,976
|
|||
Asset coverage per share of preferred shares, end of period
|
$
|
90
|
For the year ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||
2016
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
2012
|
||||||||||||||
$
|
15.11
|
$
|
16.94
|
$
|
18.70
|
$
|
17.22
|
$
|
16.01
|
|||||||||
0.63
|
0.41
|
0.22
|
0.92
|
0.34
|
||||||||||||||
0.64
|
(1.09
|
)
|
1.02
|
3.00
|
1.92
|
|||||||||||||
1.27
|
(0.68
|
)
|
1.24
|
3.92
|
2.26
|
|||||||||||||
(0.06
|
)
|
—
|
—
|
(0.16
|
)
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|||||||||||
(0.02
|
)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||
1.19
|
(0.68
|
)
|
1.24
|
3.76
|
2.19
|
|||||||||||||
(0.58
|
)
|
(0.35
|
)
|
(0.19
|
)
|
(1.10
|
)
|
(0.23
|
)
|
|||||||||
(0.23
|
)
|
(0.84
|
)
|
(1.29
|
)
|
(1.11
|
)
|
(0.72
|
)
|
|||||||||
(0.81
|
)
|
(1.19
|
)
|
(1.48
|
)
|
(2.21
|
)
|
(0.95
|
)
|
|||||||||
0.07
|
0.08
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
||||||||||||||
—
|
—
|
(1.44
|
)
|
0.00
|
(7)
|
—
|
||||||||||||
—
|
(0.04
|
)
|
(0.08
|
)
|
(0.07
|
)
|
(0.03
|
)
|
||||||||||
$
|
15.56
|
$
|
15.11
|
$
|
16.94
|
$
|
18.70
|
$
|
17.22
|
|||||||||
$
|
13.65
|
$
|
13.20
|
$
|
15.37
|
$
|
17.45
|
$
|
15.01
|
|||||||||
8.45
|
%
|
(3.47
|
)%
|
(1.01
|
)%
|
21.98
|
%
|
13.72
|
%
|
|||||||||
9.51
|
%
|
(6.13
|
)%
|
(3.59
|
)%
|
31.27
|
%
|
10.05
|
%
|
|||||||||
1.75
|
%
|
1.50
|
%
|
1.42
|
%
|
2.66
|
%
|
2.54
|
%(6)
|
|||||||||
1.75
|
%
|
1.50
|
%
|
1.51
|
%
|
2.66
|
%
|
2.54
|
%(6)
|
|||||||||
1.75
|
%
|
1.50
|
%
|
1.40
|
%
|
1.83
|
%
|
1.82
|
%
|
|||||||||
3.61
|
%
|
2.40
|
%
|
1.18
|
%
|
5.66
|
%
|
2.41
|
%
|
|||||||||
3.61
|
%
|
2.40
|
%
|
1.27
|
%
|
5.66
|
%
|
2.41
|
%
|
|||||||||
$
|
132,367
|
$
|
151,426
|
$
|
172,203
|
$
|
132,074
|
$
|
117,259
|
|||||||||
$
|
55,599
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
$
|
37,424
|
$
|
37,454
|
|||||||||||
49
|
%
|
48
|
%
|
59
|
%
|
58
|
%
|
62
|
%
|
|||||||||
2,223,976
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
748,486
|
749,086
|
||||||||||||||
$
|
85
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
$
|
226
|
$
|
207
|
(1)
|
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.
|
(2)
|
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 ex-dividend date. 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.
|
(3)
|
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 the lower of the NAV or the closing market price on the ex-dividend date. 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.
|
(4)
|
Does not include expenses of the investment companies in which the Fund invests. Annualized for periods less than one year.
|
(5)
|
Does not include expenses of the investment companies in which the Fund invests, interest expenses, or dividends on short positions. Annualized for periods less than one year.
|
(6)
|
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.
|
(7)
|
Less than 0.5 cents per share.
|
(8)
|
Expense ratios net of fee waivers by investment advisor and administrator excluding interest expense and dividends on short positions based on total average net assets including liquidation value of preferred stock were 1.39% for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 1.56%, N/A, N/A, 1.43%, and 1.59% for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.
|
(9)
|
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.
|
Quoted Prices in
|
||||||||||||||||
Active Markets
|
||||||||||||||||
for Identical
|
Significant Other
|
Unobservable
|
||||||||||||||
Investments
|
Observable Inputs
|
Inputs
|
||||||||||||||
(Level 1)*
|
(Level 2)*
|
(Level 3)**
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||
Investment Companies
|
$
|
105,331,789
|
$
|
89,825
|
$
|
8,781,190
|
$
|
114,202,804
|
||||||||
Preferred Stocks
|
||||||||||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts
|
2,123,538
|
—
|
6,019,128
|
8,142,666
|
||||||||||||
Common Stocks
|
||||||||||||||||
Consumer Finance
|
340,685
|
—
|
—
|
340,685
|
||||||||||||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies
|
66
|
—
|
—
|
66
|
||||||||||||
Independent Power & Renewable
|
||||||||||||||||
Electricity Producers
|
69,921
|
—
|
—
|
69,921
|
||||||||||||
Insurance
|
11,165,976
|
—
|
—
|
11,165,976
|
||||||||||||
Professional Services
|
5,075,226
|
—
|
—
|
5,075,226
|
||||||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts
|
10,463,852
|
—
|
—
|
10,463,852
|
||||||||||||
Special Purpose
|
||||||||||||||||
Acquisition Vehicles
|
10,253,148
|
6,268,619
|
—
|
16,521,767
|
||||||||||||
Liquidating Trusts
|
—
|
—
|
2,996,847
|
2,996,847
|
||||||||||||
Convertible Bonds
|
—
|
1,227,500
|
—
|
1,227,500
|
||||||||||||
Corporate Bonds
|
—
|
—
|
15,000
|
15,000
|
||||||||||||
Corporate Notes
|
25,350
|
—
|
—
|
25,350
|
||||||||||||
Promissory Notes
|
—
|
—
|
770,000
|
770,000
|
||||||||||||
Warrants
|
287,751
|
14,452
|
0
|
302,203
|
||||||||||||
Rights
|
104,349
|
—
|
—
|
104,349
|
||||||||||||
Money Market Funds
|
29,814,314
|
—
|
—
|
29,814,314
|
||||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
175,055,965
|
$
|
7,600,396
|
$
|
18,582,165
|
$
|
201,238,526
|
*
|
Transfers between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting period.
|
**
|
The Fund measures Level 3 activity as of the beginning and end of each financial reporting period.
|
Transfers into Level 1
|
||||
Common Stock
|
||||
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle
|
$
|
685,293
|
||
Transfers out of Level 1
|
||||
Investment Companies
|
(63,692
|
)
|
||
Common Stock
|
||||
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle
|
(2,104,047
|
)
|
||
Warrants
|
(14,452
|
)
|
||
Net transfers in and/or out of Level 1
|
$
|
(1,496,898
|
)
|
|
Transfers into Level 2
|
||||
Investment Companies
|
$
|
63,692
|
||
Common Stock
|
||||
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle
|
2,104,047
|
|||
Warrants
|
14,452
|
|||
Transfers out of Level 2
|
||||
Common Stock
|
||||
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle
|
(685,293
|
)
|
||
Net transfers in and/or out of Level 2
|
$
|
1,496,898
|
Derivatives not accounted
|
Statement of Assets &
|
|
for as hedging instruments
|
Liabilities Location
|
Value
|
Equity Contracts—Warrants
|
Investments, at value
|
$302,203
|
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
|
$21,660
|
on Investments
|
||
Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Derivatives Recognized in Income
|
||
Derivatives not accounted
|
Statement of
|
|
for as hedging instruments
|
Operations Location
|
Total
|
Equity Contracts—Warrants
|
Net change in unrealized
|
$43,456
|
appreciation of investments
|
Change in
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
|
Realized
|
unrealized
|
Balance
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
as of
|
Acquis-
|
Dispo-
|
Corporate
|
Gain
|
appreciation
|
as of
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Category
|
12/31/2016
|
itions
|
sitions
|
Actions
|
(Loss)
|
(depreciation)
|
6/30/2017
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Closed End
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Funds
|
$
|
31,339
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
(31,690
|
)
|
$
|
576
|
$
|
90
|
$
|
315
|
|||||||||||||
Auction Rate
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Securities
|
348,000
|
7,718,750
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
714,125
|
8,780,875
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Partnerships
|
11,736,382
|
—
|
(11,736,382
|
)
|
—
|
(1,126,211
|
)
|
1,126,211
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Preferred
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stocks
|
5,976,547
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
42,581
|
6,019,128
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Liquidating
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trusts
|
1,957,500
|
342,128
|
—
|
1,511,052
|
—
|
(813,833
|
)
|
2,996,847
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bonds
|
22,500
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(7,500
|
)
|
15,000
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Promissory
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes
|
780,000
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(10,000
|
)
|
770,000
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Warrants
|
0
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
$
|
20,852,268
|
$
|
8,060,878
|
$
|
(11,736,382
|
)
|
$
|
1,479,362
|
$
|
(1,125,635
|
)
|
$
|
1,051,674
|
$
|
18,582,165
|
Impact to
|
|||||||
Valuation
|
|||||||
Fair Value
|
from an
|
||||||
June 30,
|
Valuation
|
Unobservable
|
increase in
|
||||
2017
|
Methodologies
|
Input(1)
|
Input(2)
|
||||
Closed End Funds
|
$
|
315
|
Market Assessment
|
Liquidation Value
|
Increase
|
||
and Company-
|
|||||||
Specific Information
|
|||||||
Auction Rate Preferred
|
8,780,875
|
Market
|
Discount to Par
|
Decrease
|
|||
Securities
|
Comparables/Cost
|
||||||
Preferred Stocks
|
6,019,128
|
Cost
|
Market Assessments/
|
Increase
|
|||
Financial Assessments
|
|||||||
Liquidating Trusts
|
2,996,847
|
Last Traded Price
|
Financial Assessments/
|
Increase
|
|||
Company Announcements
|
|||||||
Corporate Bonds
|
15,000
|
Market Transactions
|
Single Broker Quote
|
Increase
|
|||
Approach
|
|||||||
Promissory Notes
|
770,000
|
Cost
|
Terms of the Note/ Financial
|
Increase
|
|||
Assessments/ Company
|
|||||||
Announcements
|
|||||||
Warrants
|
0
|
Market Transactions
|
Discount to Market Price
|
Decrease
|
|||
Approach
|
for Share Restrictions
|
(1)
|
In determining certain 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 to common shareholders from:
|
December 31, 2016
|
December 31, 2015
|
||||||
Ordinary income
|
$
|
4,939,527
|
$
|
4,022,798
|
||||
Long-term capital gains
|
1,952,399
|
7,945,025
|
||||||
Total distributions paid
|
$
|
6,891,926
|
$
|
11,967,823
|
For the
|
For the
|
|||||||
year ended
|
year ended
|
|||||||
Distributions paid to preferred shareholders from:
|
December 31, 2016(1)
|
December 31, 2015
|
||||||
Ordinary income
|
$
|
446,885
|
N/A
|
|||||
Long-term capital gains
|
174,739
|
N/A
|
||||||
Total distributions paid
|
$
|
621,624
|
N/A
|
(1)
|
The difference between book and tax distributions is due to accrued, but not yet paid distributions to preferred shareholders.
|
Tax cost of investments
|
$
|
187,697,542
|
||
Unrealized appreciation
|
15,124,392
|
|||
Unrealized depreciation
|
(14,142,379
|
)
|
||
Net unrealized appreciation
|
982,013
|
|||
Undistributed ordinary income
|
469,068
|
|||
Undistributed long-term gains
|
1,724,484
|
|||
Total distributable earnings
|
2,193,552
|
|||
Other accumulated/gains losses and other temporary differences
|
—
|
|||
Total accumulated gains
|
$
|
3,175,565
|
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;
|
Member of the Adviser since
|
1
|
Director, Emergent
|
(51)
|
as of
|
Since
|
2009; Chief Compliance Officer
|
Capital, Inc.
|
|
October
|
2009
|
of the Adviser from 2009-2012;
|
(f/k/a Imperial
|
||
2009.
|
Principal of the general partner
|
Holdings, Inc.);
|
|||
of several private investment
|
Director,
|
||||
partnerships in the Bulldog
|
Crossroads Capital,
|
||||
Investors group of private funds.
|
Inc. (f/k/a BDCA
|
||||
Venture, Inc.).
|
|||||
Phillip Goldstein***
|
Chairman
|
1 year;
|
Member of the Adviser since
|
1
|
Chairman, Mexico
|
(72)
|
and
|
Since
|
2009; Principal of the general
|
Equity and Income
|
|
Secretary
|
2009
|
partner of several private
|
Fund, Inc.; Director,
|
||
as of
|
investment partnerships in the
|
MVC Capital, Inc.;
|
|||
October
|
Bulldog Investors group of
|
Director, Emergent
|
|||
2009.
|
private funds.
|
Capital, Inc.
|
|||
(f/k/a Imperial
|
|||||
Holdings, Inc.);
|
|||||
Director,
|
|||||
Crossroads Capital,
|
|||||
Inc. (f/k/a BDCA
|
|||||
Venture, Inc.).
|
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
|
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
|
|||||
Gerald Hellerman****
|
Chief
|
1 year;
|
Managing Director of Hellerman
|
1
|
Director, Mexico
|
(79)
|
Compliance
|
Since
|
Associates (a financial and
|
Equity and Income
|
|
Officer
|
2009
|
corporate consulting firm) since
|
Fund, Inc.; Director,
|
||
as of
|
1993 (which terminated activities
|
MVC Capital, Inc.;
|
|||
January
|
as of December, 31, 2013).
|
Director, Emergent
|
|||
2010.
|
Capital, Inc. (f/k/a
|
||||
Imperial Holdings,
|
|||||
Inc.); Director,
|
|||||
Crossroads Capital,
|
|||||
Inc. (f/k/a BDCA
|
|||||
Venture, Inc.);
|
|||||
Trustee, Fiera
|
|||||
Capital Series Trust;
|
|||||
Director, Ironsides
|
|||||
Partners Opportunity
|
|||||
Offshore Fund Ltd.
|
|||||
(until 2016);
|
|||||
Director, Brantley
|
|||||
Capital Corporation
|
|||||
(until 2013).
|
|||||
Marc Lunder
|
—
|
1 year;
|
Managing Member of Lunder
|
1
|
None
|
(53)
|
Effective
|
Capital LLC.
|
|||
January 1,
|
|||||
2015
|
|||||
Ben Harris
|
—
|
1 year;
|
Principal and Director of NHI II,
|
1
|
None
|
(48)
|
Since
|
LLC and NBC Bancshares, LLC.
|
|||
2009
|
Chief Executive Officer of
|
||||
Crossroads Capital, Inc.
|
|||||
Charles C. Walden
|
—
|
1 year;
|
President and Owner of Sound
|
1
|
Independent
|
(73)
|
Since
|
Capital Associates, LLC
|
Chairman, Third
|
||
2009
|
(consulting firm).
|
Avenue Funds
|
|||
(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;
|
Member of the Adviser since
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(51)
|
as of
|
Since
|
2009; Chief Compliance
|
||
October
|
2009
|
Officer of the Adviser from
|
|||
2009.
|
2009-2012; Principal of the
|
||||
general partner of several
|
|||||
private investment partnerships
|
|||||
in the Bulldog Investors group
|
|||||
of private funds.
|
|||||
Rajeev Das***
|
Vice-
|
1 year;
|
Principal of the Adviser.
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(48)
|
President
|
Since
|
|||
as of
|
2009
|
||||
October
|
|||||
2009.
|
|||||
Phillip Goldstein***
|
Chairman
|
1 year;
|
Member of the Adviser
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(72)
|
and
|
Since
|
since 2009; Principal of the
|
||
Secretary
|
2009
|
general partner of several
|
|||
as of
|
private investment
|
||||
October
|
partnerships in the Bulldog
|
||||
2009.
|
Investors group of funds.
|
||||
Gerald Hellerman****
|
Chief
|
1 year;
|
Managing Director of Hellerman
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(79)
|
Compliance
|
Since
|
Associates (a financial
|
||
Officer
|
2009
|
and corporate consulting
|
|||
as of
|
firm) since 1993 (which
|
||||
January
|
terminated activities as of
|
||||
2010.
|
December, 31, 2013).
|
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
|
Thomas Antonucci***
|
Chief
|
1 year;
|
Director of Operations
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(47)
|
Financial
|
Since
|
of the Adviser.
|
||
Officer
|
2014
|
||||
and
|
|||||
Treasurer
|
|||||
as of
|
|||||
January
|
|||||
2014.
|
*
|
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, Goldstein, Das, and Antonucci are each considered an “interested person” of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with Bulldog Investors, 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. Mr. Hellerman is not affiliated with Bulldog Investors, 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).
|
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
|
1/1/2017 to 1/31/2017
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
2/1/2017 to 2/28/2017
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
3/1/2017 to 3/31/2017
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
4/1/2017 to 4/30/2017
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
5/1/2017 to 5/31/2017
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
6/1/2017 to 6/30/2017
|
0
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Total
|
(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.
|