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 |
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First Financial Fund, Inc. |
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
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2344 Spruce Street, Suite A, Boulder, CO |
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80302 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip code) |
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Fund Administrative Services |
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(Name and address of agent for service) |
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code: |
303-444-5483 |
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Date of fiscal year end: |
March 31 |
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Date of reporting period: |
June 30, 2008 |
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Item 1. Schedule of Investments.
Portfolio of
Investments as of June 30, 2008
|
FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC. |
Shares |
|
Description |
|
Value (Note 1) |
|
|
LONG TERM INVESTMENTS-106.8% |
|
|
|
|||
DOMESTIC COMMON STOCKS-69.3% |
|
|
|
|||
Banks & Thrifts-27.3% |
|
|
|
|||
41,000 |
|
1st United Bancorp, Inc. |
|
$ |
256,250 |
|
83,490 |
|
Alliance Bankshares Corporation (a) |
|
307,243 |
|
|
541,900 |
|
AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (a) |
|
1,598,605 |
|
|
245,841 |
|
Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
1,873,308 |
|
|
11,900 |
|
Bank of Commerce Holdings |
|
77,410 |
|
|
23,900 |
|
Bank of Florida Corporation (a) |
|
173,275 |
|
|
34,000 |
|
Bank of Marin (a) |
|
833,000 |
|
|
83,300 |
|
Bank of Virginia |
|
524,790 |
|
|
96,173 |
|
BankFinancial Corporation |
|
1,251,211 |
|
|
57,000 |
|
BCB Bancorp, Inc. |
|
762,375 |
|
|
154,300 |
|
Benjamin Franklin Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
1,993,556 |
|
|
48,552 |
|
Beverly Hills Bancorp, Inc. |
|
81,567 |
|
|
64,300 |
|
Beverly National Corporation (a) |
|
1,286,965 |
|
|
37,400 |
|
Bridge Capital Holdings |
|
440,572 |
|
|
13,400 |
|
Cambridge Bancorp |
|
358,450 |
|
|
146,000 |
|
Capital Corporation of the West (a) |
|
554,800 |
|
|
65,000 |
|
Cardinal Financial Corporation (a) |
|
406,900 |
|
|
47,298 |
|
Carolina Trust Bank |
|
482,440 |
|
|
340,815 |
|
CCF Holding Company (b) |
|
954,282 |
|
|
2,720 |
|
Central Virginia Bankshares, Inc. (a) |
|
44,200 |
|
|
51,860 |
|
Centrue Financial Corporation (a) |
|
570,460 |
|
|
60,000 |
|
Community Bank (c) (d) |
|
4,509,000 |
|
|
66,000 |
|
Community Bank of Orange, N.A. |
|
181,500 |
|
|
75,800 |
|
Connecticut Bank & Trust |
|
428,270 |
|
|
114,831 |
|
Dearborn Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
558,079 |
|
|
115,900 |
|
Eastern Virginia Bankshares (a) |
|
1,854,400 |
|
|
97,200 |
|
FC Holdings, Inc. (c) (d) |
|
972,000 |
|
|
5,700 |
|
First Advantage Bancorp |
|
69,540 |
|
|
39,700 |
|
First American International (c) (d) |
|
1,250,550 |
|
|
136,978 |
|
First California Financial Group, Inc. |
|
789,678 |
|
|
17,400 |
|
First Capital Bancorp, Inc. |
|
206,886 |
|
|
225,534 |
|
First Regional Bancorp (a) |
|
1,265,246 |
|
|
212,000 |
|
First Security Group, Inc. (a) |
|
1,182,960 |
|
|
66,726 |
|
First Southern Bancorp (c) (d) |
|
1,201,068 |
|
|
28,200 |
|
First State Bank (d) |
|
172,725 |
|
|
2,880 |
|
First Trust Bank (a) |
|
29,952 |
|
|
193,261 |
|
Florida Capital Group (c) (d) |
|
2,222,502 |
|
|
15,645 |
|
FNB Bancorp |
|
265,965 |
|
|
121,936 |
|
Gateway Financial Holdings |
|
935,249 |
|
|
207,700 |
|
Great Florida Bank Class A |
|
986,575 |
|
|
15,300 |
|
Great Florida Bank Class B |
|
84,150 |
|
|
228,000 |
|
Hampshire First Bank (c) |
|
1,983,600 |
|
|
35,203 |
|
Heritage Oaks Bancorp (a) |
|
320,347 |
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
1
Shares |
|
Description |
|
Value (Note 1) |
|
|
Banks & Thrifts - continued |
|
|
|
|||
49,200 |
|
ICB Financial (c) |
|
$ |
243,540 |
|
19,000 |
|
Katahdin Bankshares Corporation (c) |
|
301,625 |
|
|
70,085 |
|
MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc. (a) |
|
836,815 |
|
|
905,600 |
|
National Bancshares, Inc. (c) (d) |
|
2,399,840 |
|
|
39,900 |
|
New England Bancshares, Inc. (a) (c) |
|
408,975 |
|
|
138,600 |
|
NewBridge Bancorp (a) |
|
956,340 |
|
|
5,400 |
|
North Dallas Bank & Trust Company |
|
283,635 |
|
|
356,822 |
|
Northfield Bancorp, Inc. |
|
3,835,836 |
|
|
40,500 |
|
Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. |
|
346,275 |
|
|
2,500 |
|
Old Point Financial Corporation (a) |
|
44,500 |
|
|
54,208 |
|
Parkway Bank |
|
443,150 |
|
|
130,500 |
|
Pennsylvania Commerce Bancorp (a) |
|
3,138,525 |
|
|
163,590 |
|
Pilot Bancshares, Inc. (c) |
|
654,360 |
|
|
190,540 |
|
Republic First Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
1,383,320 |
|
|
65,945 |
|
SCBT Financial Corporation |
|
1,883,389 |
|
|
169,200 |
|
Signature Bank |
|
4,358,592 |
|
|
111,615 |
|
Southern Connecticut Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
781,305 |
|
|
92,369 |
|
Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (a) |
|
1,061,320 |
|
|
302,900 |
|
Square 1 Financial, Inc. (c) (d) |
|
3,331,900 |
|
|
97,500 |
|
State Bancorp, Inc. (a) (c) |
|
1,218,750 |
|
|
84,158 |
|
Sterling Bank |
|
329,899 |
|
|
32,450 |
|
SuffolkFirst Bank (a) |
|
230,233 |
|
|
242,387 |
|
Sun Bancorp, Inc. |
|
2,460,228 |
|
|
52,294 |
|
Valley Commerce Bancorp |
|
614,459 |
|
|
36,100 |
|
VIST Financial Corporation (a) |
|
483,740 |
|
|
43,787 |
|
Wainwright Bank & Trust Company |
|
414,663 |
|
|
24,519 |
|
Yadkin Valley Financial Corporation (a) |
|
293,002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
69,040,117 |
|
|
Diversified Financial Services-4.5% |
|
|
|
|||
16,240 |
|
Affinity Financial Corporation (c) (d) |
|
173,768 |
|
|
25,000 |
|
CMET Financial Holdings, Inc. (c) (d) |
|
362,500 |
|
|
165,700 |
|
Goldleaf Financial Solutions (a) |
|
357,912 |
|
|
276,300 |
|
Highland Financial Trust (c) (d) (e) |
|
2,892,861 |
|
|
60,000 |
|
Independence Financial Group, Inc. (c) (d) |
|
529,200 |
|
|
93,615 |
|
Mackinac Financial Corporation |
|
655,305 |
|
|
175,100 |
|
Muni Funding Co of America, LLC (c) (d) (e) |
|
861,492 |
|
|
455,100 |
|
Ocwen Structured Investments, LLC (c) (d) |
|
2,166,822 |
|
|
265,000 |
|
Resource Capital Corporation (c) (e) |
|
1,910,650 |
|
|
466,667 |
|
Terra Nova Financial Group (c) |
|
583,333 |
|
|
151,080 |
|
TICC Capital Corporation (a) |
|
824,897 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,318,740 |
|
|
Insurance-1.5% |
|
|
|
|||
241,100 |
|
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (c) (e) |
|
3,095,724 |
|
|
108,200 |
|
Maiden Holdings, Ltd. (a) |
|
692,480 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,788,204 |
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
2
Shares |
|
Description |
|
Value (Note 1) |
|
|
Mortgages & REITS-11.0% |
|
|
|
|||
134,500 |
|
American Capital Agency Corporation, REIT |
|
$ |
2,238,080 |
|
230,500 |
|
Annaly Capital Management, Inc.; REIT (a) |
|
3,575,055 |
|
|
17,362 |
|
Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.; REIT (a) |
|
155,737 |
|
|
152,766 |
|
Cypress Sharpridge Investments, Inc., REIT (c) (d) (e) |
|
2,749,788 |
|
|
55,000 |
|
Embarcadero Bank (c) (d) |
|
549,450 |
|
|
371,650 |
|
Hatteras Financial Corporation; REIT (c) (e) |
|
8,544,234 |
|
|
421,324 |
|
MFA Mortgage Investments, Inc.; REIT |
|
2,747,033 |
|
|
155,504 |
|
Newcastle Investment Holdings Corporation; REIT (d) |
|
517,828 |
|
|
507,416 |
|
Thornburg Mortgage, Inc. (c) |
|
101,483 |
|
|
2,949,943 |
|
Thornburg Mortgage, Inc. Escrow (c) (d) |
|
2,949,943 |
|
|
865,744 |
|
Thornburg Mortgage, Inc. Participation (c) (d) |
|
865,744 |
|
|
87,900 |
|
Verde Realty (c) (d) |
|
2,900,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,895,075 |
|
|
Savings & Loans-25.0% |
|
|
|
|||
236,800 |
|
Abington Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
2,159,616 |
|
|
75,500 |
|
American Bancorp of NJ (a) |
|
776,895 |
|
|
34,100 |
|
Appalachian Bancshares, Inc. |
|
254,386 |
|
|
151,500 |
|
Beacon Federal Bancorp, Inc. |
|
1,587,720 |
|
|
317,000 |
|
Beneficial Mutual Bancorp, Inc. |
|
3,509,190 |
|
|
23,720 |
|
Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc. (a) |
|
134,492 |
|
|
129,280 |
|
Broadway Financial Corporation (a) (b) |
|
1,078,195 |
|
|
140,756 |
|
Cape Bancorp, Inc. |
|
1,373,779 |
|
|
60,100 |
|
Carver Bancorp, Inc. |
|
525,875 |
|
|
81,700 |
|
Central Federal Corporation |
|
305,558 |
|
|
105,600 |
|
CFS Bancorp, Inc. |
|
1,245,024 |
|
|
34,500 |
|
Citizens Community Bank |
|
268,238 |
|
|
54,700 |
|
Citizens First Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
328,200 |
|
|
181,682 |
|
Danvers Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
1,998,502 |
|
|
26,900 |
|
ECB Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
659,050 |
|
|
396,200 |
|
ESSA Bancorp, Inc. |
|
4,960,424 |
|
|
32,500 |
|
Fidelity Federal Bancorp (d) |
|
788,125 |
|
|
25,638 |
|
First Community Bank Corporation of America |
|
267,661 |
|
|
129,400 |
|
Firstfed Financial Corporation |
|
1,108,958 |
|
|
441,100 |
|
Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (c) |
|
1,327,711 |
|
|
43,400 |
|
Georgetown Bancorp, Inc. |
|
245,210 |
|
|
222,900 |
|
Hampden Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
2,233,458 |
|
|
3,630 |
|
HF Financial Corporation |
|
59,169 |
|
|
327,448 |
|
Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
3,228,637 |
|
|
93,100 |
|
Jefferson Bancshares, Inc. (a) |
|
881,191 |
|
|
81,700 |
|
Legacy Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
942,001 |
|
|
66,000 |
|
Liberty Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
594,660 |
|
|
130,712 |
|
LSB Corporation (a) |
|
1,952,184 |
|
|
30,200 |
|
Malvern Federal Bancorp, Inc. |
|
329,633 |
|
|
182,200 |
|
Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
1,770,984 |
|
|
310,300 |
|
MidCountry Financial Corporation (c) (d) |
|
1,414,968 |
|
|
113,200 |
|
Newport Bancorp, Inc. |
|
1,347,080 |
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
3
Shares |
|
Description |
|
Value (Note 1) |
|
|
Savings & Loans - continued |
|
|
|
|||
67,100 |
|
Old Line Bancshares, Inc. |
|
$ |
450,241 |
|
87,928 |
|
Oritani Financial Corporation (a) |
|
1,406,848 |
|
|
110,400 |
|
Osage Bancshares, Inc. |
|
1,065,360 |
|
|
163,300 |
|
Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
840,995 |
|
|
165,930 |
|
Perpetual Federal Savings Bank (b) |
|
2,621,694 |
|
|
17,500 |
|
Privee LLC (c) (d) |
|
2,782,500 |
|
|
75,100 |
|
Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (a) |
|
708,944 |
|
|
40,650 |
|
Redwood Financial, Inc. (b) (d) |
|
609,750 |
|
|
90,000 |
|
River Valley Bancorp (b) |
|
1,347,750 |
|
|
28,600 |
|
Rockville Financial, Inc. (a) |
|
359,216 |
|
|
55,100 |
|
Rome Bancorp, Inc. (a) |
|
611,610 |
|
|
6,300 |
|
Royal Financial, Inc. (a) |
|
47,880 |
|
|
289,600 |
|
SI Financial Group, Inc. (a) |
|
2,448,568 |
|
|
13,800 |
|
Sound Financial, Inc. |
|
126,132 |
|
|
362,400 |
|
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. |
|
2,667,264 |
|
|
100,000 |
|
Sterling Eagle (c) (d) |
|
74,750 |
|
|
110,500 |
|
Third Century Bancorp (b) |
|
983,450 |
|
|
266,349 |
|
United Financial Bancorp, Inc. |
|
2,975,118 |
|
|
102,600 |
|
Viewpoint Financial Group |
|
1,510,272 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
63,295,116 |
|
|
|
|
Total Domestic Common Stocks (cost $220,183,816) |
|
175,337,252 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
FOREIGN COMMON STOCKS-23.3% |
|
|
|
|||
Bermuda-4.3% |
|
|
|
|||
112,718 |
|
Catlin Group, Ltd. |
|
785,140 |
|
|
112,000 |
|
CRM Holdings, Ltd. (a) |
|
376,320 |
|
|
7,700 |
|
Enstar Group, Ltd. |
|
673,750 |
|
|
375,700 |
|
Maiden Holdings, Ltd. (c) (e) |
|
2,359,396 |
|
|
493,300 |
|
MF Global, Ltd. (a) |
|
3,112,723 |
|
|
36,500 |
|
RAM Holdings, Ltd. (a) |
|
36,500 |
|
|
8,000 |
|
White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. |
|
3,432,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,775,829 |
|
|
Brazil-3.7% |
|
|
|
|||
1,421,000 |
|
Banco Industrial e Comercial S.A. |
|
7,370,795 |
|
|
2,100 |
|
Brasil Brokers Participacoes S.A. |
|
1,901,289 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,272,084 |
|
|
Denmark-0.6% |
|
|
|
|||
12,690 |
|
Gronlandsbanken |
|
1,608,552 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Guernsey-4.1% |
|
|
|
|||
526,817 |
|
European Capital, Ltd. (c) |
|
5,131,503 |
|
|
427,001 |
|
KKR Private Equity Investors, LLP |
|
5,281,575 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,413,078 |
|
|
India-2.8% |
|
|
|
|||
135,846 |
|
Axis Bank, Ltd. |
|
1,905,949 |
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
4
Shares |
|
Description |
|
Value (Note 1) |
|
|
India - continued |
|
|
|
|||
14,934 |
|
Financial Technologies India, Ltd. |
|
$ |
588,335 |
|
13,393 |
|
Housing Development Finance Corporation |
|
602,024 |
|
|
193,066 |
|
Indiabulls Financial Services, Ltd. |
|
1,168,941 |
|
|
468,996 |
|
Infrastructure Development Finance Co, Ltd. |
|
1,122,756 |
|
|
22,999 |
|
JM Financial, Ltd. |
|
775,097 |
|
|
80,902 |
|
Kotak Mahindra Bank, Ltd. |
|
857,439 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,020,541 |
|
|
Netherlands-2.0% |
|
|
|
|||
404,030 |
|
AerCap Holdings N.V. (a) |
|
5,102,899 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Singapore-0.1% |
|
|
|
|||
214,000 |
|
ARA Asset Management, Ltd. (e) |
|
111,832 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Sweden-0.4% |
|
|
|
|||
61,000 |
|
Intrum Justitia AB |
|
1,105,339 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Switzerland-4.3% |
|
|
|
|||
22,390 |
|
Augsburg Re AG (c) (d) |
|
|
|
|
20,463 |
|
Basler Kantonalbank |
|
2,330,363 |
|
|
8,968 |
|
Luzerner Kantonalbank |
|
2,330,923 |
|
|
89,969 |
|
Paris Re, Holdings, Ltd. (c) |
|
1,927,809 |
|
|
5,891 |
|
St Galler Kantonalbank |
|
2,669,052 |
|
|
8,447 |
|
Valiant Holding |
|
1,617,087 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,875,234 |
|
|
United Kingdom-1.0% |
|
|
|
|||
987,260 |
|
Aberdeen Asset Management, PLC |
|
2,603,352 |
|
|
|
|
Total Foreign Common Stocks (cost $79,594,449) |
|
58,888,740 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
DOMESTIC PREFERRED STOCKS-8.6% |
|
|
|
|||
Banks & Thrifts-3.2% |
|
|
|
|||
43,200 |
|
Citizens Republic Bancorp, Inc. (c) |
|
1,525,392 |
|
|
2,544 |
|
South Financial Group (The), Inc. (c) (d) |
|
1,612,504 |
|
|
8,456 |
|
South Financial Group, Inc. (c) (d) |
|
5,099,644 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,237,540 |
|
|
Savings & Loans-3.7% |
|
|
|
|||
1,798 |
|
Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (c) (d) |
|
1,260,715 |
|
|
127 |
|
Washington Mutual, Inc |
|
8,041,370 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,302,085 |
|
|
Diversified Financial Services-1.7% |
|
|
|
|||
44,500 |
|
MF Global, Ltd. Series B (c) (e) |
|
4,313,830 |
|
|
|
|
Total Domestic Preferred Stocks (cost $31,551,750) |
|
21,853,455 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
FOREIGN PREFERRED STOCK-0.6% |
|
|
|
|||
Brazil-0.6% |
|
|
|
|||
270,100 |
|
Banco Sofisa S.A. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(cost $1,643,384) |
|
1,409,513 |
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
5
Shares/ |
|
Description |
|
Value (Note 1) |
|
|
WARRANTS-0.1% |
|
|
|
|||
195,000 |
|
Dime Bancorp, Inc., Warrant, Expires 12/26/50 |
|
$ |
57,525 |
|
12,300 |
|
ICB Financial, Warrant, Expires 6/30/09 (c) (d) |
|
|
|
|
26,500 |
|
Resource Capital Corporation, Warrant, Expires 12/31/09 (c) (d) |
|
3,050 |
|
|
2,333,333 |
|
Terra Nova Financial Group, Warrant, Expires 3/20/11 (c) (d) |
|
78,727 |
|
|
181,429 |
|
Washington Mutual, Inc., Warrant, Expires 12/12/2099 (c) (d) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Warrants (cost $) |
|
139,302 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
DOMESTIC CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES-4.9% |
|
|
|
|||
Diversified Financial Services-1.5% |
|
|
|
|||
4,448,200 |
|
MF Global, Ltd. Convertible Debt, 9.00%, due 6/20/38 (c) (e) |
|
3,892,175 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Mortgages & REITS-3.4% |
|
|
|
|||
9,956,000 |
|
Thornburg Mortgage, Inc., 18.00%, due 3/31/15 (c) (d) |
|
8,487,490 |
|
|
|
|
Total Domestic Corporate Bonds & Notes (cost $13,538,461) |
|
12,379,665 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
FOREIGN CORPORATE BOND & NOTE-0.0%* |
|
|
|
|||
Switzerland-0.0%* |
|
|
|
|||
44,125 |
|
Augsburg Re AG Convertible
Debt, Zero Coupon, 6/8/16 (c) (d) |
|
14,437 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Long Term Investments (cost $346,593,928) |
|
270,022,364 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS-13.4% |
|
|
|
|||
Repurchase Agreement-5.3% |
|
|
|
|||
13,400,000 |
|
Deutsche Bank Tri Party Repo, 2.700% dated 6/30/08, to be repurchased at $13,401,005 on 7/01/2008, collateralized by U.S. Government Agency Securities with an aggregate market value plus interest of $13,668,000, rates from 5.00%-7.00% and maturities from 9/01/2035-9/01/2037 (cost $13,400,000) |
|
13,400,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
INVESTMENTS OF SECURITY LENDING COLLATERAL-8.1% |
|
|
|
|||
20,463,436 |
|
State Street Navigator
Securities Lending Prime Portfolio |
|
20,463,436 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Short Term Investments (cost $33,863,436) |
|
33,863,436 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Total Investments-120.2% |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(cost $380,457,364) |
|
303,885,800 |
|
|
|
|
Other Assets and Liabilities-(20.2)% |
|
(51,021,948 |
) |
|
|
|
Net Assets-100% |
|
252,863,852 |
|
|
|
|
Non-income producing security |
* |
|
Amount represents less than 0.1% of net assets. |
(a) |
|
Securities or partial securities on loan. See Note 1 |
(b) |
|
Affiliated Company. See Note 3 to Financial Statements. |
(c) |
|
Private Placement restricted as to resale and does not have a readily available market. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
6
(d) |
|
Indicates a fair valued security. Total market value for fair value securities is $55,806,341 representing 22.1% of total net assets. |
(e) |
|
Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
|
|
|
REIT - |
|
Real Estate Investment Trust |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
7
FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC.
Notes to Schedule of Investments
June 30, 2008 (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. 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. Prior to implementation, 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 financial statements include investments valued at $55,806,341 (22.1% of total net assets) as of June 30, 2008 and $66,655,800 (22.4% of total net assets) as of March 31, 2008, 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 adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (FAS 157), effective April 1, 2008. In accordance with FAS 157, 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. FAS 157 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 entitys 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 other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
· Level 3 significant unobservable inputs (including the Funds own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)
1
The valuation techniques used by the Fund to measure fair value during the six months ended June 30, 2008 maximized the use of observable inputs and minimized the use of unobservable inputs. The Fund utilized the following fair value techniques: multi-dimensional relational pricing model, option adjusted spread pricing and estimated the price that would have prevailed in a liquid market for an international equity given information available at the time of evaluation.
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of June 30, 2008 in valuing the Funds investments carried at value:
Valuation Inputs |
|
Investments in |
|
|
Level 1 - Quoted Prices |
|
$ |
214,971,806 |
|
Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs |
|
88,913,994 |
|
|
Level 3 - Significant Unobservable Inputs |
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
303,885,800 |
|
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 portfolios. 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 managements estimate of the income included in distributions received. Distributions received in excess of this amount are recorded as a reduction of the cost of investments. The actual amounts of income and return of capital are determined by each REIT only after its fiscal year-end, and may differ from the estimated amounts.
Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Fund are maintained in US 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. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in the exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in gains and losses on investment securities sold.
Repurchase Agreements: The Fund may enter into repurchase agreement transactions with United States financial institutions. It is the Funds policy that its custodian take possession of the underlying collateral securities, the value of which exceeds 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.
Lending of Portfolio Securities: The Fund, using State Street Bank and Trust Company (State Street) as its lending agent, may loan securities to qualified brokers and dealers in exchange for negotiated lenders fees. The Fund receives cash collateral, which is invested by the lending agent in short-term money market instruments, in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the loaned securities. Currently, the cash collateral is invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Prime Portfolio. To the extent
2
that advisory or other fees paid by State Street Navigator Securities Lending Portfolio are for the same or similar services as fees paid by the Fund, there will be a layering of fees, which would increase expenses and decrease returns. Information regarding the value of the securities loaned and the value of the collateral at period end is included in the Funds Portfolio of Investments. Although risk is mitigated by the collateral, a Fund could experience a delay in recovering its securities and a possible loss of income or value if the borrower fails to return the securities when due. As of June 30, 2008, the Fund had outstanding loans of securities of $22,121,173 to certain approved brokers for which the Fund received collateral of $20,463,436. The Fund also had non-cash collateral of $2,579,217 which consisted of a foreign corporate bond security.
Note 2. Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation)
On June 30, 2008, based on cost of $382,982,248 for federal income tax purposes, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of value over tax cost was $12,971,023 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of tax cost over value was $92,067,471.
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 |
|
Ending |
|
Dividend |
|
Market |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Broadway Financial Corporation |
|
129,280 |
|
129,280 |
|
$ |
6,464 |
|
$ |
1,078,195 |
|
CCF Holding Company |
|
340,815 |
|
340,815 |
|
17,041 |
|
954,282 |
|
||
Perpetual Federal Savings Bank |
|
165,930 |
|
165,930 |
|
33,186 |
|
2,621,694 |
|
||
Redwood Financial, Inc. |
|
40,650 |
|
40,650 |
|
|
|
609,750 |
|
||
River Valley Bancorp |
|
90,000 |
|
90,000 |
|
18,900 |
|
1,347,750 |
|
||
Third Century Bancorp |
|
110,500 |
|
110,500 |
|
4,420 |
|
983,450 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
80,011 |
|
$ |
7,595,121 |
|
3
Item 2. Controls and Procedures.
(a) The Registrants Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that the Registrants disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) were effective as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report (the Evaluation Date), based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the Registrants disclosure controls and procedures as of the Evaluation Date.
(b) There were no changes in the Registrants 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 Registrants last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrants 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 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is attached hereto as Exhibit 99CERT.
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 Financial Fund, Inc. |
|
By |
|
/s/ Stephen C. Miller |
|
|
|
Stephen C. Miller, President |
|
|
|
(Principal Executive Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
Date |
|
8/20/08 |
|
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 |
|
8/20/08 |
|
|
|
|
|
By |
|
/s/ Carl. D. Johns |
|
|
|
Carl D. Johns, Vice President and Treasurer |
|
|
|
(Principal Financial Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
Date |
|
8/20/08 |
|