First Opportunity Fund, Inc.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number: 811-04605

First Opportunity Fund, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

2344 Spruce Street, Suite A, Boulder, CO 80302

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Stephen C. Miller, Esq.

2344 Spruce Street, Suite A

Boulder, CO 80302

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 444-5483

Date of fiscal year end: March 31

Date of reporting period: December 31, 2014


Item 1 – Schedule of Investments.


Consolidated Portfolio of Investments as of December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

FIRST OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

Shares   Description

Value

(Note 1)

 

 

LONG TERM INVESTMENTS (68.8%)

  

 

DOMESTIC COMMON STOCKS (61.5%)

  

 

Banks & Thrifts (15.2%)

  

  29,289    Bank of Commerce Holdings $ 174,855   
  20,018    Centerstate Banks, Inc.   238,412   
  43,644    Central Valley Community Bancorp   483,576   
  12,300    Citizens & Northern Corp.   254,241   
  60,000    Community Bank*(a)(b)(c)   8,127,000   
  77,436    Eastern Virginia Bankshares, Inc.*   501,011   
  39,700    First American International*   688,795   
  116,276    First Capital Bancorp, Inc.*   511,614   
  26,549    First Merchants Corp.   603,990   
  193,261    Florida Capital Group*(a)(b)(c)   8,059   
  60,000    Independence Bank*   882,000   
  126,100    Metro Bancorp, Inc.*   3,268,512   
  48,450    National Bancshares, Inc., Escrow*(a)(b)(c)   15,848   
  4,000    North Dallas Bank & Trust Co.   234,720   
  30,400    Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc.*   238,640   
  1,900    Old Point Financial Corp.   28,500   
  55,000    San Diego Private Bank*   775,500   
  92,195    Southern First Bancshares, Inc.*   1,505,544   
  79,900    Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc.   902,870   
  365,646    Square 1 Financial, Inc. - Class A*   9,031,456   
  43,178    Valley Commerce Bancorp   658,465   
  419,789    Wells Fargo & Co.   23,012,833   
  12,404    Xenith Bankshares, Inc.*   79,386   
     

 

 

 
  52,225,827   
     

 

 

 

 

Construction Machinery (2.8%)

  

  103,700    Caterpillar, Inc.   9,491,661   
     

 

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services (7.1%)

  

  303,800    JPMorgan Chase & Co.   19,011,804   
  125,890    Mackinac Financial Corp.   1,519,492   
  25,000    South Street Securities Holdings, Inc.*(a)(c)(d)   2,816,500   
  134,192    Tiptree Financial, Inc.*   1,086,955   
     

 

 

 
  24,434,751   
     

 

 

 

 

Environmental Control (0.4%)

  

  30,000    Republic Services, Inc.   1,207,500   
     

 

 

 

 

Healthcare Products & Services (2.1%)

  

  70,900    Johnson & Johnson   7,414,013   
     

 

 

 

 

Insurance (0.1%)

  

  19,678    Forethought Financial Group, Inc., Escrow - Class A*(a)(b)(c)   445,659   
     

 

 

 

 

Mining (2.9%)

  

  425,300    Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.   9,935,008   
     

 

 

 

 

Mortgages & REITS (0.0%)

  

  155,504    Newcastle Investment Holdings Corp., REIT*(c)   0   
     

 

 

 


Shares   Description

Value

(Note 1)

 

 

Oil & Gas (5.3%)

  

  162,400    Chevron Corp. $ 18,218,032   
     

 

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals (5.6%)

  

  20,447    Merck & Co., Inc.   1,161,185   
  581,400    Pfizer, Inc.   18,110,610   
     

 

 

 
  19,271,795   
     

 

 

 

 

Registered Investment Companies (RICs) (0.3%)

  

  40,000    Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc.   908,800   
     

 

 

 

 

Retail (0.2%)

  

  10,000    Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.   858,800   
     

 

 

 

 

Savings & Loans (6.9%)

  

  10,000    Auburn Bancorp, Inc.*   80,000   
  33,500    Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc.   363,475   
  31,254    Georgetown Bancorp, Inc.   514,128   
  84,989    Hampden Bancorp, Inc.   1,818,765   
  22,030    HF Financial Corp.   307,319   
  47,216    Home Bancorp, Inc.   1,083,135   
  42,000    Liberty Bancorp, Inc.   598,500   
  16,122    Malvern Bancorp, Inc.*   196,205   
  310,300    MidCountry Financial Corp.*(a)(b)(c)   3,407,094   
  106,998    Ocean Shore Holding Co.   1,541,841   
  29,100    Old Line Bancshares, Inc.   460,362   
  168,810    Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.*   2,925,477   
  165,930    Perpetual Federal Savings Bank(e)   3,484,530   
  40,650    Redwood Financial, Inc.(e)   1,158,525   
  89,993    River Valley Bancorp   1,905,152   
  6,300    Royal Financial, Inc.*   48,195   
  276,588    SI Financial Group, Inc.   3,081,190   
  110,500    Third Century Bancorp(e)   846,430   
     

 

 

 
  23,820,323   
     

 

 

 

 

Software & Services (6.1%)

  

  57,000    International Business Machines Corp.   9,145,080   
  266,300    Oracle Corp.   11,975,511   
     

 

 

 
  21,120,591   
     

 

 

 

 

Technology, Hardware & Equipment (5.6%)

  

  638,825    Cisco Systems, Inc.   17,768,917   
  23,000    Harris Corp.   1,651,860   
     

 

 

 
  19,420,777   
     

 

 

 

 

Tobacco Products (0.9%)

  

  42,000    Altria Group, Inc.   2,069,340   
  11,000    Philip Morris International, Inc.   895,950   
     

 

 

 
  2,965,290   
     

 

 

 

 
 

TOTAL DOMESTIC COMMON STOCKS
(Cost $164,664,083)

  211,738,827   
     

 

 

 

 

LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS (0.7%)

  66,500    Enterprise Products Partners LP   2,401,980   
     

 

 

 
  2,401,980   
     

 

 

 

 
 

TOTAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS
(Cost $1,617,773)

  2,401,980   
     

 

 

 


Shares   Description

Value

(Note 1)

 

 

FOREIGN COMMON STOCKS (6.5%)

  

 

Banks & Thrifts (0.2%)

  

  5,490    GronlandsBANKEN A/S $ 545,927   
     

 

 

 

 

Insurance (0.4%)

  

  6,700    Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft
AG in Muenchen
  1,343,791   
     

 

 

 

 

Iron/Steel (1.3%)

  

  72,000    POSCO, Sponsored ADR   4,594,320   
     

 

 

 

 

National Stock Exchange (0.5%)

  

  17,776    NSE India, Ltd.(a)(b)(c)   1,693,598   
     

 

 

 

 

Oil & Gas (0.3%)

  

  18,000    Total SA, Sponsored ADR   921,600   
     

 

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals (3.0%)

  

  24,000    Sanofi   2,197,258   
  180,300    Sanofi, ADR   8,223,483   
     

 

 

 
  10,420,741   
     

 

 

 

 

Real Estate (0.8%)

  

  98,000    Cheung Kong Holdings, Ltd.   1,646,676   
  2,490,000    Midland Holdings, Ltd.*   1,265,125   
     

 

 

 
  2,911,801   
     

 

 

 

 
 

TOTAL FOREIGN COMMON STOCKS
(Cost $21,205,511)

  22,431,778   
     

 

 

 

 

DOMESTIC WARRANTS (0.1%)

  116,276    First Capital Bancorp, Inc., strike price $1.00, Expires 2/8/2022*(c)   131,095   
  26,230    Flagstar Bancorp, strike price $10.00, Expires
1/30/2019*(c)
  165,491   
     

 

 

 
  296,586   
     

 

 

 

 
 

TOTAL DOMESTIC WARRANTS
(Cost $0)

  296,586   
     

 

 

 

 
 

TOTAL LONG TERM INVESTMENTS
(Cost $187,487,367)

  236,869,171   
     

 

 

 

 

SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (14.9%)

 

Money Market Funds (14.9%)

  

  2,263,247    Dreyfus Treasury & Agency Cash Management Money
Market Fund, Institutional Class (7 day Yield 0.010%)
  2,263,247   


Shares      Description   

Value

(Note 1)

 

 

Money Market Funds (continued)

  

  49,050,000       JPMorgan Prime Money Market Fund (7 day Yield 0.063%)    $ 49,050,000   
     

 

 

 

 
 

TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS
(Cost $51,313,247)

  51,313,247   
     

 

 

 

 
 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (83.7%)
(Cost $238,800,614)

  288,182,418   

 

TOTAL OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (16.3%)

  56,739,499   
     

 

 

 

 

TOTAL NET ASSETS (100.0%)

$ 344,921,917   
     

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing security.
(a) Restricted security; these securities may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. (See Note 4).
(b) Private Placement: these securities may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. As of December 31, 2014, these securities had a total value of $13,697,258 or 3.97% of Total Net Assets.
(c) Fair valued security under procedures established by the Fund’s Board of Directors. Total value of fair valued securities as of December 31, 2014 was $16,810,344 or 4.87% of Total Net Assets.
(d) Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014 these securities had a total value of $2,816,500 or 0.82% of Total Net Assets.
(e) Affiliated Company. (See Note 3).

Percentages are stated as a percent of the Total Net Assets.

Common Abbreviations:

A/S - Aktieselskab is a Danish term for joint stock company.
ADR - American Depositary Receipt.
AG - Aktiengesellschaft is a German term that refers to a corporation that is limited by shares, i.e., owned by shareholders.
LP - Limited Partnership.
Ltd. - Limited.
REIT - Real Estate Investment Trust.
SA - Generally designates corporations in various countries, mostly those employing the civil law. This translates literally in all languages mentioned as anonymous company.

See accompanying Notes to Quarterly Consolidated Portfolio of Investments.

 

Regional Breakdown as a % of Total Net Assets

  

United States

     77.2

France

     3.3

South Korea

     1.3

Hong Kong

     0.8

India

     0.5

Germany

     0.4

Denmark

     0.2

Other Assets Less Liabilities

     16.3


Notes to Quarterly Consolidated Portfolio of Investments

December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

Note 1. Valuation and Investment Practices

Basis for Consolidation: The accompanying Consolidated Portfolio of Investments includes the investment position of FOFI 1, Ltd. (the “Subsidiary”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Opportunity Fund, Inc. (the “Fund” or “FOFI”), organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. FOFI 1, Ltd. invested in Bay Pond Partners, LP, until redemption of the hedge fund on September 30, 2014. FOFI 2, Ltd., which contained cash and accruals for expenses related to the subsidiary, was dissolved on September 30, 2014. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary. The net assets of the Subsidiary as of December 31, 2014 was $57,028,153 or 16.53% of the Fund’s consolidated total net assets.

Securities Valuation: Equity securities for which market quotations are readily available (including securities listed on national securities exchanges and those traded over-the-counter) are valued based on the last sales price at the close of the applicable exchange. If such equity securities were not traded on the valuation date, but market quotations are readily available, they are valued at the bid price provided by an independent pricing service or by principal market makers. Equity securities traded on NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. Debt securities are valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices, or based on a matrix system which utilizes information (such as credit ratings, yields and maturities) from independent pricing services, principal market makers or other independent sources. Short-term securities which mature in more than 60 days are valued at current market quotations. Short-term securities which mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

The Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has delegated to the advisers, through approval of the appointment of the members of the advisers’ Valuation Committee, the responsibility of determining fair value of any security or financial instrument owned by the Fund for which market quotations are not readily available or where the pricing agent or market maker does not provide a valuation or methodology, or provides a valuation or methodology that, in the judgment of the advisers, does not represent fair value (“Fair Value Securities”). The advisers use a third party pricing consultant to assist the advisers in analyzing, developing, applying and documenting a methodology with respect to certain Fair Value Securities. The advisers and their valuation consultant, as appropriate, use valuation techniques that utilize both observable and unobservable inputs including discount for lack of marketability, price to tangible book value multiple, future cash distribution, book value multiple and price to earnings multiple. In such circumstances, the Valuation Committee of the advisers is responsible for (i) identifying Fair Value Securities, (ii) analyzing the Fair Value Security and developing, applying and documenting a methodology for valuing Fair Value Securities, and (iii) periodically reviewing the appropriateness and accuracy of the methods used in valuing Fair Value Securities. The appointment of any officer or employee of the advisers to the Valuation Committee shall be promptly reported to the Board and ratified by the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The advisers are responsible for reporting to the Board, on a quarterly basis, valuations and certain findings with respect to the Fair Value Securities. Such valuations and findings are reviewed by the entire Board on a quarterly basis.

The Consolidated Portfolio of Investments includes investments valued at $16,810,344 (4.87% of total net assets), whose fair values have been estimated by management in the absence of readily determinable fair values. Due to the inherent uncertainty of the valuation of these investments, these values may differ from the values that would have been used had a ready market for these investments existed and the differences could be material.

For valuation purposes, the last quoted prices of non-U.S. equity securities may be adjusted under certain circumstances described below. If the Fund determines that developments between the close of a foreign market and the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) will, in its judgment, materially affect the value of


some or all of its portfolio securities, the Fund will adjust the previous closing prices to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities as of the close of the NYSE. In deciding whether it is necessary to adjust closing prices to reflect fair value, the Fund reviews a variety of factors, including developments in foreign markets, the performance of U.S. securities markets, and the performance of instruments trading in U.S. markets that represent foreign securities and baskets of foreign securities. The Fund may also fair value securities in other situations, such as when a particular foreign market is closed but the U.S. market is open. The Fund uses outside pricing services to provide it with closing prices. The advisers may consider whether it is appropriate, in light of relevant circumstances, to adjust such valuation in accordance with the Fund’s valuation procedures. The Fund cannot predict how often it will use closing prices and how often it will determine it necessary to adjust those prices to reflect fair value. If the Fund uses adjusted prices, the Fund will periodically compare closing prices, the next day’s opening prices in the same markets and those adjusted prices as a means of evaluating its security valuation process.

Various inputs are used to determine the value of the Fund’s investments. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions based on the best information available in the circumstances.

These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

    Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
    Level 2 – Significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
    Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of December 31, 2014 in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at value:

 

     Valuation Inputs         
Investments in Securities at Value    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

 

 

Banks & Thrifts

   $ 43,386,125       $   688,795       $ 8,150,907       $ 52,225,827   

Construction Machinery

     9,491,661                         9,491,661   

Diversified Financial Services

     21,618,251                 2,816,500         24,434,751   

Environmental Control

     1,207,500                         1,207,500   

Healthcare Products & Services

     7,414,013                         7,414,013   

Insurance

                     445,659         445,659   

Mining

     9,935,008                         9,935,008   

Mortgages & REITS

                     0         0   

Oil & Gas

     18,218,032                         18,218,032   

Pharmaceuticals

     19,271,795                         19,271,795   

Registered Investment Companies (RICs)

     908,800                         908,800   

Retail

     858,800                         858,800   

Savings & Loans

     20,413,229                 3,407,094         23,820,323   

Software & Services

     21,120,591                         21,120,591   

Technology, Hardware & Equipment

     19,420,777                         19,420,777   

Tobacco Products

     2,965,290                         2,965,290   
  

 

 

 

Domestic Common Stocks

     196,229,872         688,795         14,820,160         211,738,827   


Banks & Thrifts

     545,927                         545,927   

Insurance

     1,343,791                         1,343,791   

Iron/Steel

     4,594,320                         4,594,320   

National Stock Exchange

                     1,693,598         1,693,598   

Oil & Gas

     921,600                         921,600   

Pharmaceuticals

     10,420,741                         10,420,741   

Real Estate

     2,911,801                         2,911,801   
  

 

 

 

Foreign Common Stocks

     20,738,180                 1,693,598         22,431,778   

Limited Partnerships

     2,401,980                         2,401,980   

Domestic Warrants

             296,586                 296,586   

Short Term Investments

     51,313,247                         51,313,247   

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 270,683,279       $ 985,381       $ 16,513,758       $ 288,182,418   

 

 

The Fund evaluates transfers into or out of Levels 1, 2 and 3 as of the end of the reporting period. Financial assets were transferred from Level 1 to Level 2 since certain equity prices used a bid price from a data provider at the end of the period and a last quoted sales price from a data provider at the beginning of the period. Financial assets were transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 since certain equity prices used a last sales price from a data provider at the end of the period and a bid price from a data provider at the beginning of the period.

Transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 as of December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

     Level 1 – Quoted and Unadjusted Prices     Level 2 – Other Significant Observable Inputs  
              Transfers In                              Transfers (Out)                             Transfers In                              Transfers (Out)           

Domestic Common Stocks    

   $           5,261,155           $           –          $           –           $           (5,261,155 )     

Total

   $           5,261,155           $           –          $           –           $           (5,261,155 )     

The following is a reconciliation of assets in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:

 

Investments
in Securities
  

Balance as of

March 31,
2014

   Corporate
Action
  Realized
Gain
   Change in
unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
  Sales proceeds   Transfer
into
Level 3
   Transfer out of
Level 3
  Balance as
of
December 31,
2014

Domestic Common Stocks

   $  16,643,418    $  (2,058,848)   $  402,176    $  924,385   $  (402,176)   $  –    $  (688,795)   $  14,820,160

Foreign Common Stocks

   1,462,197         231,401          1,693,598

Domestic Hedge Funds

   57,663,820      17,652,175    (18,276,635)   (57,039,360)       

Foreign Hedge Funds

   58,180,252      17,914,383    (18,136,602)   (57,958,033)       

Total

   $  133,949,687    $  (2,058,848)   $  35,968,734    $  (35,257,451)   $  (115,399,569)   $  –    $  (688,795)   $  16,513,758


The table below provides additional information about the Level 3 Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2014:

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements

 

Fair Value (USD)  

Valuation

Technique

Unobservable Inputs(a) Range

Domestic Common Stocks:

  

     
Banks & Thrifts   $8,135,059    Comparable

Company

Approach

Discount for lack of

marketability

10%
        Price to Tangible Book

Value Multiple

1.3232x-
1.6766x
  $15,848    Future Cash

Distribution less

a 20% discount

Discount for lack of
marketability
20%
          Future Cash Distribution $0.02
Diversified Financial
Services
  $2,816,500    Comparable

Company

Approach

Discount for lack of

marketability

10%
          Price to Tangible Book

Value Multiple

1.6305x
Insurance   $445,659    Future Cash

Distribution less

a 20% discount

Discount for lack of

marketability

20%
          Future Cash Distribution $28.31
Mortgages & REITS   $0    Book Value

Approach

Book Value Multiple 0.00x
Savings & Loans   $3,407,094    Comparable

Company

Approach

Discount for lack of

marketability

10%
          Price to Tangible Book

Value Multiple

1.3972x

Foreign Common Stocks:

  

     
National Stock Exchange   $1,693,598    Comparable

Company

Approach

Discount for lack of

marketability

10%
          Price to Earnings

Multiple

31.6082x

 

  (a) A change to the unobservable input may result in a significant change to the value of the investment as follows:


Unobservable Input

 

   Impact to Value if Input Increases    Impact to Value if Input Decreases

Discount for lack of marketability

 

   Decrease    Increase

Price to Tangible Book Value Multiple

 

   Increase    Decrease

Future Cash Distribution

 

   Increase    Decrease

Book Value Multiple

 

   Increase    Decrease

Price to Earnings Multiple

 

   Increase    Decrease

Securities Transactions and Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses from securities sold are recorded on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded as of the ex-dividend date, or for certain foreign securities, when the information becomes available to the Fund. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair market value of the securities received. Interest income including amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, as required, is recorded on the accrual basis, using the interest method.

Foreign Currency Translations: The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in foreign securities. In the event that the Fund executes a foreign security transaction, the Fund will generally enter into a forward foreign currency contract to settle the foreign security transaction. Foreign securities may carry more risk than U.S. securities, such as political, market and currency risks. See Foreign Issuer Risk below.

The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing at the end of the period, and purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses transacted in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate on the dates of such transactions. Foreign currency gains and losses result from fluctuations in exchange rates between trade date and settlement date on securities transactions, foreign currency transactions and the difference between amounts of foreign interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received.

Foreign Issuer Risk: Investment in non-U.S. issuers may involve unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. These risks may include, but are not limited to: (i) less information about non-U.S. issuers or markets may be available due to less rigorous disclosure, accounting standards or regulatory practices; (ii) many non-U.S. markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile thus, in a changing market, the advisers may not be able to sell the Fund’s portfolio securities at times, in amounts and at prices they consider reasonable; (iii) currency exchange rates or controls may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments; (iv) the economies of non-U.S. countries may grow at slower rates than expected or may experience downturns or recessions; and, (v) withholdings and other non-U.S. taxes may decrease the Fund’s return.

Concentration Risk: The Fund previously had highly concentrated positions in certain hedge funds and may take concentrated positions in other securities. Concentrating investments in a fewer number of securities (including investments in hedge funds) may involve a degree of risk that is greater than a fund which has less concentrated investments spread out over a greater number of securities. For example, the value of the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate significantly based on the fluctuation in the value of the concentrated positions in which it invests. In addition, investments in hedge funds can be highly volatile and may subject investors to heightened risk and higher operating expenses than another closed-end fund with a different investment focus.

Industry Diversification: The Fund may not invest in the securities of companies conducting their principal business activity in the same industry if, immediately after such investment, the value of its investments in such industry would exceed 25% of the value of its total assets.


Indemnifications: Like many other companies, the Fund’s organizational documents provide that its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, both in some of its principal service contracts and in the normal course of its business, the Fund enters into contracts that provide indemnifications to other parties for certain types of losses or liabilities. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this could involve future claims against the Fund.

Note 2. Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)

On December 31, 2014, based on cost of $238,282,439 for federal income tax purposes, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of value over tax cost was $68,510,499, and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of tax cost over value was $18,610,520, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $49,899,979.

Note 3. Transactions with Affiliated Companies

Transactions during the period with companies in which the Fund owned at least 5% of the voting securities were as follows:

 

Name of Affiliate  

Beginning

Share

Balance as

of 4/01/14

  Purchases   Sales  

Ending Share

Balance as of

12/31/14

 

Dividend

Income

 

Realized Gains

(Losses)

 

Value as of

12/31/14

Perpetual Federal

Savings Bank

  165,930   -   -   165,930   $91,262   $-   $3,484,530

Redwood Financial,

Inc.

  40,650   -   -   40,650   12,602   -   1,158,525

Third Century

Bancorp

  110,500   -   -   110,500   9,945   -   846,430

TOTAL

                  $113,809   $-   $5,489,485
                             

Note 4. Restricted Securities

As of December 31, 2014, investments in securities included issues that are considered restricted. Restricted securities are often purchased in private placement transactions, are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, may have contractual restrictions on resale, and may be valued under methods approved by the Board as reflecting fair value.

Restricted securities as of December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

Description    Acquisition Date    Cost   

Market

Value

  

Value

as Percentage

of Net Assets

Community Bank

   2/12/08    $912,100    $8,127,000    2.4%

Florida Capital Group

   8/23/06    2,203,175    8,059    0.0%(a)

Forethought Financial Group, Inc.,
Escrow - Class A(b)

   11/13/09-9/30/10    0    445,659    0.1%

MidCountry Financial Corp.

   10/22/04    4,654,500    3,407,094    1.0%

National Bancshares, Inc. Escrow

   6/6/06    113,857    15,848    0.0%(a)

NSE India, Ltd.

   4/30/10    1,517,269    1,693,598    0.5%

South Street Securities Holdings,
Inc.

   12/8/03    2,500,000    2,816,500    0.8%


          $11,900,901    $16,513,758    4.8%
  (a)  Less than 0.05% of total net assets.
  (b)  On January 7, 2014, the merger of Forethought Financial Group into Global Atlantic Financial Group was completed. Following the merger, a holdback of the proceeds was established to fund escrow accounts. The escrow accounts will be released in installments within 3 years after the close of the merger.

Note 5. Redemption of Hedge Funds

In July 2014, the Fund was notified of proposed structural changes to both of its remaining hedge fund investments. In light of the substantive nature of the proposed changes, the managers of the funds allowed investors who did not want to continue as investors under the revised fund terms to redeem their investments in the funds in an off-cycle redemption. The Advisers reviewed the proposed changes and determined that the hedge funds would no longer satisfy the Advisers’ original investment thesis. Consequently, the Advisers gave notice to the hedge fund manager of their decision to redeem the Fund’s hedge fund investments. On September 30, 2014, the Fund’s interest in the hedge funds was redeemed. A 5% holdback was assessed at the time of the redemption, and was collected in full on October 29, 2014.

Note 6. Line of Credit and Securities Lending

On December 7, 2012 the Fund entered into a financing package that includes a Committed Facility Agreement (the “Agreement”) with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc. (“BNP”) that allowed the Fund to borrow up to $30,000,000 (“Initial Maximum Commitment”) and a Lending Agreement, as defined below. Borrowings under the Agreement are secured by assets of the Fund that are held by the Fund’s custodian in a separate account (the “Pledged Collateral”). Under the terms of the Agreement, BNP is permitted in its discretion, with 270 calendar days’ advance notice (the “Notice Period”), to reduce or call the entire Initial Maximum Commitment. Interest on the borrowing is charged at the one month LIBOR (London Inter-bank Offered Rate) plus 0.80% on the amount borrowed.

For the period ended December 31, 2014, the average amount borrowed under the Agreement and the average interest rate for the amount borrowed were $0 and 0.00%, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, the amount of such outstanding borrowings is $0. The interest rate applicable to the borrowings on December 31, 2014 was 0.00%. As of December 31, 2014 the amount of Pledged Collateral was $0.

The Lending Agreement is a separate side-agreement between the Fund and BNP pursuant to which BNP may borrow a portion of the Pledged Collateral (the “Lent Securities”) in an amount not to exceed the outstanding borrowings owed by the Fund to BNP under the Agreement. The Lending Agreement is intended to permit the Fund to reduce the cost of its borrowings under the Agreement. BNP has the ability to reregister the Lent Securities in its own name or in another name other than the Fund to pledge, re-pledge, sell, lend or otherwise transfer or use the collateral with all attendant rights of ownership. The Fund may designate any security within the Pledged Collateral as ineligible to be a Lent Security, provided there are eligible securities within the Pledged Collateral in an amount equal to the outstanding borrowing owed by the Fund. During the period in which the Lent Securities are outstanding, BNP must remit payment to the Fund equal to the amount of all dividends, interest or other distributions earned or made by the Lent Securities. The Fund receives income from BNP based on the value of the Lent Securities.

Under the terms of the Lending Agreement, the Lent Securities are marked to market daily, and if the value of the Lent Securities exceeds the value of the then-outstanding borrowings owed by the Fund to BNP under the Agreement (the “Current Borrowings”), BNP must, on that day, either (1) return Lent Securities to the Fund’s custodian in an amount sufficient to cause the value of the outstanding Lent Securities to equal the Current Borrowings; or (2) post cash collateral with the Fund’s custodian equal to the difference between the value of the Lent Securities and the value of the Current Borrowings. If BNP fails to perform either of these actions as required, the Fund will recall securities, as discussed below, in an amount sufficient to cause the value of the outstanding Lent Securities to equal the Current Borrowings. The Fund can recall any of the Lent Securities and BNP shall, to the extent commercially


possible, return such security or equivalent security to the Fund’s custodian no later than three business days after such request. If the Fund recalls a Lent Security pursuant to the Lending Agreement, and BNP fails to return the Lent Securities or equivalent securities in a timely fashion, BNP shall remain liable to the Fund’s custodian for the ultimate delivery of such Lent Securities, or equivalent securities, and for any buy-in costs that the executing broker for the sales transaction may impose with respect to the failure to deliver. The Fund shall also have the right to apply and set-off an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the then-current fair market value of such Lent Securities against the Current Borrowings. As of December 31, 2014, the value of securities on loan was $0.

The Board has approved the Agreement and the Lending Agreement. No violations of the Agreement or the Lending Agreement occurred during the period ended December 31, 2014.

Note 7. Fund Reorganization

On November 14, 2014, the Fund, Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc (“BIF”), Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc. (“BTF”), and The Denali Fund Inc. (“DNY”) announced that at a joint special meeting of stockholders, stockholders of each fund approved all proposals presented with regard to the reorganization of each of BTF, DNY, and FOFI into BIF, the single surviving fund.

At the special meeting, the stockholders approved the following proposals:

    FOFI stockholders approved (i) an amendment to FOFI’s charter eliminating the right of stockholders to demand the fair value for shares in connection with a reorganization of FOFI with another affiliated investment company and (ii) the agreement and plan of reorganization pursuant to which FOFI will transfer all of its assets to BIF in exchange for shares of BIF, and the assumption by BIF of all of the liabilities of FOFI;

 

    BTF stockholders approved an agreement and plan of reorganization pursuant to which BTF will transfer all of its assets to BIF in exchange for shares of BIF, and the assumption by BIF of all of the liabilities of BTF;

 

    DNY stockholders approved an agreement and plan of reorganization pursuant to which DNY would transfer all of its assets to BIF in exchange for shares of BIF, and the assumption by BIF of all of the liabilities of DNY; and

 

    BIF stockholders approved (i) the issuance of additional common shares of BIF in connection with the reorganizations pursuant to an agreement and plan of reorganization among the Funds, (ii) the elimination of a fundamental investment policy limiting BIF’s ability to invest more than 4% of total assets in any single issuer; and (iii) new investment co-advisory agreements with Rocky Mountain Advisers, LLC and Stewart Investment Advisers (aka, Stewart West Indies Trading Company, Ltd).

In addition, it was announced that in recognition of BIF stockholder approval of the new advisory agreements which contemplate a 1.00% advisory fee, the advisers for all the funds have agreed to reduce the advisory fee for each of the funds (currently at 1.25% with a 0.10% temporary waiver) to a flat rate of 1.00% (i.e., 1.25% contractual rate less a 0.25% waiver), effective December 1, 2014, through the effectiveness of the reorganizations.


Item 2 – Controls and Procedures.

 

(a) The Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c)) were effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report (the “Evaluation Date”), based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the Evaluation Date.

 

(b) There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the Registrant’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 3 – Exhibits.

 

(a) Certifications of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the Registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) are attached hereto as Exhibit 99CERT.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Registrant      First Opportunity Fund, Inc.                    

 

By: /s/ Stephen C. Miller                                           
   Stephen C. Miller, President
   (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date: February 27, 2015

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By: /s/ Stephen C. Miller                                           
   Stephen C. Miller, President
   (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date: February 27, 2015

 

By: /s/ Nicole L. Murphey                                  
   Nicole L. Murphey, Chief Financial Officer,
   Chief Accounting Officer, Vice President,
   Treasurer, Asst. Secretary
   (Principal Financial Officer)

 

Date: February 27, 2015