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)

 

Fund Administrative Services

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, 2009

 

 



 

Item 1 — Schedule of Investments.

 



 

Portfolio of Investments as of December 31, 2009 (Unaudited)

 

FIRST OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

Value

 

Shares

 

Description

 

(Note 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG TERM INVESTMENTS (96.0%)

 

 

 

DOMESTIC COMMON STOCKS (68.9%)

 

 

 

Banks & Thrifts (32.9%)

 

 

 

163,844

 

1st United Bancorp, Inc.*

 

$

1,169,846

 

73,090

 

Alliance Bankshares Corp.*

 

208,307

 

64,000

 

American River Bankshares

 

503,040

 

541,900

 

AmeriServ Financial, Inc.*

 

904,973

 

90,652

 

Associated Bancorp

 

998,079

 

133,900

 

Bancorp, Inc.*

 

918,554

 

34,200

 

Bank of Marin

 

1,113,552

 

83,300

 

Bank of Virginia*

 

274,057

 

57,000

 

BCB Bancorp, Inc.

 

520,980

 

37,400

 

Bridge Capital Holdings*

 

261,800

 

13,400

 

Cambridge Bancorp

 

408,700

 

54,900

 

CapitalSource, Inc.

 

217,953

 

47,298

 

Carolina Trust Bank*

 

236,490

 

340,815

 

CCF Holding Co.*(a)

 

156,775

 

29,600

 

Central Valley Community Bancorp*(b)(c)

 

147,852

 

20,544

 

Central Valley Community Bancorp*

 

114,019

 

51,860

 

Centrue Financial Corp.

 

138,466

 

49,600

 

Citizens & Northern Corp.

 

473,184

 

60,000

 

Community Bank(b)(c)

 

3,621,600

 

75,800

 

The Connecticut Bank & Trust Co.*

 

295,620

 

114,831

 

Dearborn Bancorp, Inc.*

 

51,674

 

168,344

 

East West Bancorp*(b)(c)

 

2,393,852

 

93,366

 

Eastern Virginia Bankshares, Inc.

 

662,899

 

97,200

 

FC Holdings, Inc.*(b)(c)

 

94,284

 

5,700

 

First Advantage Bancorp

 

60,477

 

39,700

 

First American International*(b)(c)

 

485,134

 

14,434

 

First Busey Corp.

 

56,148

 

79,578

 

First California Financial Group, Inc.*

 

218,044

 

17,400

 

First Capital Bancorp, Inc.*

 

80,214

 

10,955

 

First Citizens BancShares, Inc.

 

1,796,730

 

66,500

 

First Community Bancshares, Inc.

 

801,325

 

192,300

 

First Security Group, Inc.

 

457,674

 

66,726

 

First Southern Bancorp, Inc. - Class B*(b)(c)

 

1,407,919

 

28,200

 

First State Bank*(b)(c)

 

56,400

 

2,880

 

First Trust Bank*

 

18,864

 

193,261

 

Florida Capital Group*(b)(c)

 

270,565

 

17,248

 

FNB Bancorp

 

136,259

 

58,900

 

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

 

9,944,675

 

207,700

 

Great Florida Bank - Class A*

 

114,235

 

15,300

 

Great Florida Bank - Class B*

 

7,650

 

66,000

 

Greater Hudson Bank N.A.*

 

280,500

 

228,000

 

Hampshire First Bank*(c)

 

1,621,080

 

34,400

 

Heritage Financial Corp.

 

474,032

 

35,203

 

Heritage Oaks Bancorp*

 

176,015

 

771,312

 

Huntington Bancshares, Inc.

 

2,815,289

 

49,200

 

ICB Financial*

 

123,000

 

19,000

 

Katahdin Bankshares Corp.

 

190,380

 

83,700

 

MB Financial, Inc.

 

1,650,564

 

168,100

 

Metro Bancorp, Inc.*

 

2,113,017

 

34,951

 

Nara Bancorp, Inc.*

 

396,344

 

905,600

 

National Bancshares, Inc.*(b)(c)

 

706,368

 

39,900

 

New England Bancshares, Inc.

 

183,540

 

5,400

 

North Dallas Bank & Trust Co.

 

209,250

 

361,622

 

Northfield Bancorp, Inc.

 

4,889,130

 

40,500

 

Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc.*

 

172,125

 

2,500

 

Old Point Financial Corp.

 

38,875

 

55,400

 

Pacific Continental Corp.

 

633,776

 

39,600

 

Parkway Bank*

 

39,600

 

 



 

162,590

 

Pilot Bancshares, Inc.*(b)

 

191,856

 

508,000

 

Popular, Inc.

 

1,148,080

 

247,100

 

PrivateBancorp, Inc.

 

2,216,487

 

190,540

 

Republic First Bancorp, Inc.*

 

813,606

 

92,369

 

Southern First Bancshares, Inc.*

 

609,635

 

106,600

 

Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc.*

 

756,860

 

302,900

 

Square 1 Financial, Inc.*(b)(c)

 

2,020,343

 

97,500

 

State Bancorp, Inc.*

 

693,225

 

84,158

 

Sterling Banks, Inc.*

 

40,396

 

71,100

 

Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc.

 

418,779

 

22,860

 

Tower Bancorp, Inc.

 

522,351

 

13,900

 

Union Bankshares Corp.

 

172,221

 

52,164

 

Valley Commerce Bancorp*

 

302,551

 

1,629

 

VIST Financial Corp.

 

8,487

 

43,787

 

Wainwright Bank & Trust Co.

 

319,645

 

106,200

 

Washington Banking Co.

 

1,268,028

 

292,800

 

Wells Fargo & Co.

 

7,902,672

 

238,000

 

Western Liberty Bancorp*

 

1,811,180

 

107,500

 

Whitney Holding Corp.

 

979,325

 

16,604

 

Xenith Bankshares, Inc.*

 

49,812

 

 

 

 

 

70,757,293

 

Diversified Financial Services (4.4%)

 

 

 

16,241

 

Affinity Financial Corp.*(b)(c)

 

 

86,700

 

Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A.*

 

1,819,833

 

25,000

 

CMET Finance Holding*(b)(d)

 

1,017,000

 

276,300

 

Highland Financial Partners LP*(b)(d)

 

 

60,000

 

Independence Financial Group, Inc.*(b)(c)

 

213,000

 

93,615

 

Mackinac Financial Corp.*

 

425,012

 

431,640

 

Muni Funding Co. of America, LLC*(b)(d)

 

1,027,303

 

260,100

 

Ocwen Financial Corp.*(b)(c)

 

2,240,242

 

174,900

 

Ocwen Financial Corp.*

 

1,673,793

 

455,100

 

Ocwen Structured Investments, LLC*(b)(c)

 

559,363

 

466,667

 

Terra Nova Financial Group*

 

331,333

 

31,360

 

TICC Capital Corp.

 

189,728

 

 

 

 

 

9,496,607

 

Insurance (6.2%)

 

 

 

241,100

 

Amtrust Financial Services, Inc.

 

2,849,802

 

11,400

 

Forethought Financial Group - Class A*(b)(c)

 

2,280,000

 

1,719

 

Forethought Financial Group - Class B*(b)(c)

 

343,800

 

133,700

 

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

 

3,109,862

 

72,000

 

Maiden Holdings, Ltd.(c)

 

527,040

 

339,603

 

Penn Millers Holding Corp.*

 

3,735,633

 

7,100

 

Transatlantic Holdings, Inc.

 

369,981

 

 

 

 

 

13,216,118

 

Mining (1.1%)

 

 

 

61,600

 

Barrick Gold Corp.

 

2,425,808

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgages & REITS (3.4%)

 

 

 

152,766

 

Cypress Sharpridge Investments, Inc., REIT(d)

 

2,063,869

 

56,000

 

Dynex Capital, Inc., REIT

 

488,880

 

55,000

 

Embarcadero Bank*(b)(c)

 

540,650

 

276,800

 

MFA Mortgage Investments, Inc., REIT

 

2,034,480

 

155,504

 

Newcastle Investment Holdings Corp., REIT*(b)

 

247,251

 

87,900

 

Verde Realty*(b)(c)

 

1,853,811

 

 

 

 

 

7,228,941

 

Savings & Loans (20.1%)

 

 

 

129,101

 

Abington Bancorp, Inc.

 

889,506

 

34,100

 

Appalachian Bancshares, Inc.*

 

9,207

 

10,000

 

Auburn Bancorp, Inc.*(b)

 

73,500

 

151,500

 

Beacon Federal Bancorp, Inc.

 

1,408,950

 

335,235

 

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp, Inc.*

 

3,298,712

 

169,100

 

Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc.

 

975,707

 

129,280

 

Broadway Financial Corp.(a)

 

808,000

 

60,100

 

Carver Bancorp, Inc.

 

521,668

 

81,700

 

Central Federal Corp.*

 

130,720

 

72,446

 

CFS Bancorp, Inc.

 

234,001

 

33,000

 

Citizens Community Bank*

 

198,000

 

 



 

106,738

 

Danvers Bancorp, Inc.

 

1,386,527

 

26,900

 

ECB Bancorp, Inc.

 

301,280

 

40,691

 

ESSA Bancorp, Inc.

 

476,085

 

32,500

 

Fidelity Federal Bancorp*(b)

 

290,550

 

25,638

 

First Community Bank Corp. of America*

 

61,788

 

87,300

 

First Financial Holdings, Inc.

 

1,134,027

 

96,400

 

Flushing Financial Corp.

 

1,085,464

 

22,555

 

Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc.*

 

214,724

 

43,400

 

Georgetown Bancorp, Inc.*

 

203,980

 

222,900

 

Hampden Bancorp, Inc.

 

2,353,824

 

29,430

 

HF Financial Corp.

 

276,642

 

62,916

 

Home Bancorp, Inc.*

 

766,946

 

204,948

 

Home Federal Bancorp, Inc.

 

2,727,857

 

205,300

 

Investors Bancorp, Inc.*

 

2,245,982

 

77,500

 

Jefferson Bancshares, Inc.

 

347,975

 

81,700

 

Legacy Bancorp, Inc.

 

805,562

 

56,000

 

Liberty Bancorp, Inc.

 

420,000

 

130,712

 

LSB Corp.

 

1,274,442

 

30,200

 

Malvern Federal Bancorp, Inc.

 

271,800

 

158,200

 

Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc.*

 

1,374,758

 

310,300

 

MidCountry Financial Corp.*(b)(c)

 

1,157,419

 

113,200

 

Newport Bancorp, Inc.*

 

1,313,120

 

48,200

 

Northwest Bancshares, Inc.

 

545,624

 

89,900

 

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

 

1,015,870

 

67,100

 

Old Line Bancshares, Inc.

 

442,189

 

110,400

 

Osage Bancshares, Inc.

 

1,087,440

 

255,210

 

Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.*

 

862,610

 

165,930

 

Perpetual Federal Savings Bank(a)

 

1,692,486

 

17,500

 

Privee, LLC*(b)(c)

 

 

121,500

 

Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.

 

335,340

 

40,650

 

Redwood Financial, Inc.*(a)

 

410,565

 

89,993

 

River Valley Bancorp(a)

 

886,431

 

28,600

 

Rockville Financial, Inc.

 

300,300

 

38,700

 

Rome Bancorp, Inc.

 

308,052

 

6,300

 

Royal Financial, Inc.*

 

15,750

 

307,820

 

SI Financial Group, Inc.*

 

1,582,195

 

17,600

 

Sound Financial, Inc.

 

74,800

 

100,000

 

Sterling Eagle*(b)

 

 

90,700

 

Territorial Bancorp, Inc.*

 

1,637,135

 

110,500

 

Third Century Bancorp*(a)

 

430,950

 

156,400

 

ViewPoint Financial Group

 

2,253,724

 

1,451,428

 

Washington Mutual Unit Split*(b)(c)

 

182,227

 

 

 

 

 

43,102,411

 

Trucking & Leasing (0.8%)

 

 

 

121,082

 

Willis Lease Finance Corp.*

 

1,816,230

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL DOMESTIC COMMON STOCKS

 

 

 

(Cost $205,691,310)

 

148,043,408

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOREIGN COMMON STOCKS (20.6%)

 

 

 

Bermuda (7.7%)

 

 

 

193,200

 

Assured Guaranty, Ltd.

 

4,204,032

 

441,422

 

Catlin Group, Ltd.

 

2,424,142

 

112,000

 

CRM Holdings, Ltd.*

 

37,072

 

483,900

 

Maiden Holdings, Ltd.

 

3,542,148

 

36,500

 

RAM Holdings, Ltd.*

 

17,885

 

19,200

 

White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd.

 

6,387,072

 

 

 

 

 

16,612,351

 

Brazil (1.7%)

 

 

 

42,800

 

BR Malls Participacoes S.A.*

 

528,547

 

292,300

 

Brasil Brokers Participacoes S.A.

 

1,087,940

 

68,700

 

MRV Engenharia e Participacoes S.A.

 

556,387

 

143,100

 

PDG Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes

 

1,426,068

 

 

 

 

 

3,598,942

 

Canada (0.2%)

 

 

 

145,300

 

New Gold, Inc.*

 

528,892

 

 



 

Cayman Islands (1.1%)

 

 

 

1,885,500

 

Fantasia Holdings Group Co. Ltd.*

 

522,845

 

162,457

 

Pearl Group Ltd./British Virgin Islands*

 

1,732,701

 

 

 

 

 

2,255,546

 

Denmark (0.4%)

 

 

 

12,690

 

Gronlandsbanken*

 

933,870

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India (2.3%)

 

 

 

181

 

Axis Bank, Ltd.

 

3,848

 

24,740

 

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.

 

1,277,697

 

14,934

 

Financial Technologies India, Ltd.

 

431,461

 

13,393

 

Housing Development Finance Corp.

 

770,108

 

193,066

 

Indiabulls Financial Services, Ltd.

 

523,790

 

132,495

 

Jindal Saw Ltd.

 

536,415

 

80,902

 

Kotak Mahindra Bank, Ltd.

 

1,402,898

 

 

 

 

 

4,946,217

 

Japan (1.4%)

 

 

 

457

 

Osaka Securities Exchange Co. Ltd.

 

2,173,738

 

20,100

 

T&D Holdings, Inc.

 

409,834

 

72,600

 

Zuken, Inc.

 

480,180

 

 

 

 

 

3,063,752

 

Mexico (0.3%)

 

 

 

147,600

 

Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV

 

539,763

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Netherlands (1.2%)

 

 

 

294,130

 

AerCap Holdings N.V.*

 

2,664,818

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Singapore (0.1%)

 

 

 

214,000

 

ARA Asset Management, Ltd.

 

132,527

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Switzerland (4.2%)

 

 

 

26,021

 

Bank Sarasin & Cie AG*

 

983,538

 

416,550

 

UBS AG*

 

6,462,978

 

8,447

 

Valiant Holding AG

 

1,649,470

 

 

 

 

 

9,095,986

 

TOTAL FOREIGN COMMON STOCKS

 

 

 

(Cost $50,382,186)

 

44,372,664

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DOMESTIC PREFERRED STOCK (6.4%)

 

 

 

424,600

 

Bank of America Corp., convertible, 10.00%*

 

6,335,031

 

500

 

Center Financial, Series B, convertible, 12.00%*(b)(c)

 

613,318

 

2,907

 

East West Bancorp, 11.00%*(b)(c)(e)

 

5,080,819

 

1,600

 

Maiden Holdings, Ltd., Series C, 14.00%(b)(d)

 

1,736,000

 

 

 

 

 

13,765,168

 

TOTAL DOMESTIC PREFERRED STOCK

 

 

 

(Cost $11,376,000)

 

13,765,168

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DOMESTIC WARRANTS (0.1%)

 

 

 

195,000

 

Dime Bancorp, Inc., Warrant, strike price $0.00, Expires 12/26/50*

 

17,550

 

423,058

 

Flagstar Bancorp, Warrant, strike price $0.62, Expires 1/30/19* (b)

 

172,058

 

5,700

 

Forethought Financial Group, Warrant, strike price $220.00, Expires 5/13/10* (b)(c)

 

 

859

 

Forethought Financial Group, Warrant, strike price $220.00, Expires 6/30/10* (b)(c)

 

 

5,700

 

Forethought Financial Group, Warrant, strike price $220.00, Expires 11/13/10* (b)(c)

 

 

860

 

Forethought Financial Group, Warrant, strike price $220.00, Expires 12/30/10* (b)(c)

 

 

233,333

 

Terra Nova Financial Group, Warrant, strike price $3.00, Expires 3/17/11* (b)(c)

 

 

181,429

 

Washington Mutual, Inc., Warrant, strike price $10.06, Expires 4/11/13* (b)(c)

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

189,626

 

TOTAL DOMESTIC WARRANTS

 

 

 

(Cost $—)

 

189,626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LONG TERM INVESTMENTS

 

 

 

(Cost $267,449,496)

 

206,370,866

 

 



 

SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (4.1%)

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement (4.1%)

 

 

 

8,800,000

 

Deutsche Bank Tri-Party Repo, 0.01% dated 12/31/09, to be repurchased at $8,800,010 on 1/4/10, collateralized by U.S. Government Agency Securities with an aggregate market value plus interest of $8,976,000.

 

8,800,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL REPURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

 

(Cost $8,800,000)

 

8,800,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS

 

 

 

(Cost $8,800,000)

 

8,800,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (100.1%)

 

 

 

(Cost $276,249,496)

 

215,170,866

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES LESS OTHER ASSETS (-0.1%)

 

(271,832

)

TOTAL NET ASSETS (100.0%)

 

$

214,899,034

 

 


*            Non-income producing security.

(a)  Affiliated Company. See Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments.

(b)  Indicates a fair valued security. Total market value for fair value securities is $31,024,502 representing 14.4% of total net assets.

(c)   Private Placement; these securities may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. As of December 31, 2009, these exemptions had a total value of $28,417,104 or 13.2% of total net assets.

(d)  Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(e) The rate shown on floating or adjustable rate securities represents the current effective rate at December 31, 2009.

 

Common Abbreviations:

AG - Aktiengesellschaft is a German term that refers to a corporation that is limited by shares, i.e., owned by shareholders.

LLC - Limited Liability Company

LP - Limited Partnership

Ltd. - Limited

N.A. - National Association

N.V. - Naamloze Vennootschap is the Dutch term for a public limited liability corporation

REIT - Real Estate Investment Trust

S.A. - Generally designates corporations in various countries, mostly those employing the civil law. This translates literally in all languages mentioned as anonymous company

SAB de CV - A variable capital company.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percent of net assets. These industry classifications are unaudited.

 

See accompanying Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments.

 



 

Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments

December 31, 2009 (unaudited)

 

Note 1.  Valuation and Investment Practices

 

Securities Valuation: Securities for which market quotations are readily available (including securities listed on national securities exchanges and those traded over-the counter) are valued at the last quoted sales price on the valuation date on which the security is traded. If such securities were not traded on the valuation date, but market quotations are readily available, they are valued at the most recently quoted bid price provided by an independent pricing service or by principal market makers. Securities traded on NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). Where 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 adviser, does not represent fair value (“Fair Value Securities”), securities are valued at fair value by a Pricing Committee appointed by the Board of Directors, in consultation with the adviser. The Fund uses various valuation techniques that utilize both observable and unobservable inputs including multi-dimensional relational pricing model, option adjusted spread pricing, book value, last available trade, discounted future cash flow models, cost, and comparable company approach. In such circumstances, the adviser makes an initial written recommendation to the Pricing Committee regarding valuation methodology for each Fair Value Security. Thereafter, the adviser conducts periodic reviews of each Fair Value Security to consider whether the respective methodology and its application is appropriate and recommends methodology changes when appropriate. The Pricing Committee reviews and makes a determination regarding each initial methodology recommendation and any subsequent methodology changes. All methodology recommendations and any changes are reviewed by the entire Board of Directors on a quarterly basis.

 

The Portfolio of Investments include investments valued at $31,024,502 (14.4% of total net assets), whose fair values have been estimated by management in the absence of readily determinable fair values.

 

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 has adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification™ (“ASC”), issued in June 2009. The Fund follows the provisions of ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”). In accordance with ASC 820, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. ASC 820 established a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, for example, the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including such a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the

 



 

circumstances. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below.

 

·                  Level 1 — 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 valuation techniques used by the Fund to measure fair value during the nine months ended December 31, 2009 maximized the use of observable inputs and minimized the use of unobservable inputs.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of December 31, 2009 in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at value:

 

Investments in Securities at Value

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

Domestic Common Stocks

 

$

124,621,118

 

$

5,094,072

 

$

18,328,218

 

$

148,043,408

 

Foreign Common Stocks

 

44,372,664

 

 

 

44,372,664

 

Domestic Preferred Stock

 

6,335,031

 

5,694,137

 

1,736,000

 

13,765,168

 

Domestic Warrants

 

17,550

 

172,076

 

 

189,626

 

Short Term Investments

 

8,800,000

 

 

 

8,800,000

 

TOTAL

 

$

184,146,363

 

$

10,960,285

 

$

20,064,218

 

$

215,170,866

 

 

Other Financial Instruments*

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

 

 

Credit Default Swaps

 

 

$

(780,253

)

 

$

(780,253

)

TOTAL

 

 

$

(780,253

)

 

$

(780,253

)

 


* Other financial instruments include swap contracts.

 

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, 2009

 

Realized
gain/(loss)

 

Change in
unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)

 

Net
purchases

 

Transfers in
and/or out
of Level 3

 

Balance as
of
December
31, 2009

 

Domestic Common Stocks

 

$

18,285,007

 

$

 

$

(2,787,403

)

$

2,931,648

 

$

(101,034

)

$

18,328,218

 

Domestic Preferred Stock

 

1,600,000

 

 

136,000

 

 

 

1,736,000

 

Domestic Warrants

 

 

 

18

 

 

(18

)

 

TOTAL

 

$

19,885,007

 

$

 

$

(2,651,385

)

$

2,931,648

 

$

(101,052

)

$

20,064,218

 

 

Securities Transactions and Net Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains or losses on sales of securities are calculated on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, or for certain foreign securities, when the information becomes available to the Fund. Interest income including amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, as required, is recorded on the accrual basis, using the effective interest method.

 

Dividend income from investments in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) is recorded at management’s estimate of income included in distributions received. Distributions received in

 



 

excess of this amount are recorded as a reduction of the cost of investments. The actual amount of income and return of capital are determined by each REIT only after its fiscal year-end, and may differ from the estimated amounts. Such differences, if any, are recorded in Fund’s following year.

 

Foreign Currency Translation: 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.

 

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 US 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 the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received.

 

Repurchase Agreements: The Fund may enter into repurchase agreement transactions with United States financial institutions. It is the Fund’s policy that its custodian take possession of the underlying collateral securities, the value of which exceed the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest. To the extent that any repurchase transaction exceeds one business day, the value of the collateral is marked-to-market on a daily basis to maintain the adequacy of the collateral. The value of the collateral at the time of the execution must be at least equal to 102% of the total amount of the repurchase obligations, including interest. If the seller defaults, and the value of the collateral declines or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited.

 

Note 2.  Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation)

 

On December 31, 2009, based on cost of $275,781,916 for federal income tax purposes, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of value over tax cost was $31,164,340 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of tax cost over value was $91,775,390, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $60,611,050.

 

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 4/1/09

 

Purchases

 

Sales

 

Ending
Share
Balance as
of 12/31/09

 

Dividend
Income

 

Realized
Gains
(Losses)

 

Market
Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Broadway Financial Corporation

 

129,280

 

 

 

129,280

 

$

19,392

 

 

$

808,000

 

CCF Holding Company

 

340,815

 

 

 

340,815

 

 

 

156,775

 

Perpetual Federal Savings Bank

 

165,930

 

 

 

165,930

 

82,966

 

 

1,692,486

 

Redwood Financial, Inc.

 

40,650

 

 

 

40,650

 

 

 

410,565

 

River Valley Bancorp

 

89,993

 

 

 

89,993

 

56,696

 

 

886,431

 

Third Century Bancorp

 

110,500

 

 

 

110,500

 

 

 

430,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

159,054

 

$

 

$

4,385,207

 

 



 

Note 4. Credit Default Swaps

The Fund may enter into credit default swap contracts for hedging purposes, to gain market exposure or to add leverage to its portfolio. When used for hedging purposes, the Fund would be the buyer of a credit default swap contract. In that case, the Fund would be entitled to receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation, index or other investment from the counterparty to the contract in the event of a default by a third party, such as a U.S. or foreign issuer, on the referenced debt obligation. In return, the Fund would pay to the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Fund would have spent the stream of payments and received no benefit from the contract. When the Fund is the seller of a credit default swap contract, it receives the stream of payments but is obligated to pay upon default of the referenced debt obligation. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

 

In addition to the risks applicable to derivatives generally, credit default swaps involve special risks because they are difficult to value, are highly susceptible to liquidity and credit risk, and generally pay a return to the party that has paid the premium only in the event of an actual default by the issuer of the underlying obligation, as opposed to a credit downgrade or other indication of financial difficulty. Credit default swaps are marked to market periodically using quotations from pricing services. Unrealized gains, including the accrual of interest are recorded as an asset and unrealized losses are reported as a liability on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The change in value of the credit default swap, including the accrual of interest to be paid or received is reported as a change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. A realized gain or loss is recorded upon payment or receipt of a periodic payment or termination of the swap agreement.

 

Credit default swap contracts entered into by the Fund as of December 31, 2009, were as follows:

 

Swap
Counterparty

 

Referenced Obligation

 

Notional Amount

 

Rates
paid by
Fund

 

Termination
Date

 

Unrealized
Gain/(Loss)

 

Morgan Stanley

 

Barclays Bank

 

4,500,000

 

EUR

 

1.42

%

9/20/13

 

$

(171,604

)

Goldman Sachs

 

BNP Paribas

 

4,500,000

 

EUR

 

0.67

%

9/20/13

 

(44,596

)

Credit Suisse First Boston Intl

 

Capital One Bank USA National

 

1,000,000

 

USD

 

1.00

%

12/20/14

 

(2,096

)

Goldman Sachs

 

Commerzbank

 

4,500,000

 

EUR

 

0.88

%

9/20/13

 

(97,482

)

Morgan Stanley

 

Credit Agricole

 

4,500,000

 

EUR

 

1.09

%

9/20/13

 

(112,746

)

Morgan Stanley

 

DBR

 

25,000,000

 

USD

 

0.12

%

9/20/18

 

335,861

 

Goldman Sachs

 

EURO DB

 

3,400,000

 

EUR

 

0.88

%

9/20/13

 

(48,284

)

Goldman Sachs

 

Intesa Sanpaolo

 

4,500,000

 

EUR

 

0.57

%

9/20/13

 

(24,955

)

Morgan Stanley

 

Lloyds Bank

 

4,500,000

 

EUR

 

0.89

%

9/20/13

 

41,208

 

Morgan Stanley

 

NAIGS13V1-5Y

 

25,000,000

 

USD

 

1.00

%

12/20/14

 

(221,672

)

Morgan Stanley

 

NAIGS13V1-5Y

 

25,000,000

 

USD

 

1.00

%

12/20/14

 

(239,584

)

Morgan Stanley

 

Republic of Korea

 

3,000,000

 

USD

 

1.22

%

9/20/13

 

(51,630

)

Morgan Stanley

 

Royal Bank Scotland

 

4,500,000

 

EUR

 

1.37

%

9/20/13

 

(46,940

)

Morgan Stanley

 

Societe Generale

 

4,500,000

 

EUR

 

1.01

%

9/20/13

 

(95,733

)

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(780,253

)

 



 

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 270.300-3(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 Act (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)                                 Certification 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)) is 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 26, 2010

 

 

 

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 26, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Carl D. Johns

 

 

Carl D. Johns, Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

Date:

February 26, 2010