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 Financial 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:

June 30, 2008

 

 



 

Item 1. Schedule of Investments.

 



 

Portfolio of Investments as of June 30, 2008
(Unaudited)

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/
Par Value

 

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)
(cost $82,068)

 

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
(cost $20,463,436)

 

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 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 – other 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)

 

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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 Fund’s investments carried at value:

 

Valuation Inputs

 

Investments in
Securities

 

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 management’s 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 Fund’s 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

 

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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 Fund’s 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
Share
Balance

 

Ending
Share
Balance

 

Dividend
Income

 

Market
Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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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) 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 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 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 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