UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED
SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number |
811-02328 |
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Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc. |
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
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Fund Administrative Services |
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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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Registrants telephone number, including area code: |
(303) 444-5483 |
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Date of fiscal year end: |
November 30, 2009 |
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Date of reporting period: |
November 30, 2009 |
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Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
The Report to Stockholders is attached herewith.
BOULDER GROWTH & INCOME FUND, INC.
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Dear Shareholder:
The Boulder Growth & Income Fund (BIF) had a total return on its market price of 29.4% for the fiscal year ending 11/30/09. The total return on its net asset value (NAV) was 13.2%, compared to the S&P 500 Index which had a total return of 25.4% for the year ending 11/30/2009. The Funds discount narrowed from -26.3% on 11/30/08 to a discount of -15.7% on 11/30/09, explaining the superior performance of its market price compared to its performance on NAV. Performance of the Funds assets is best judged by looking at NAV performance, even though the performance of market price is what shareholders realize. This is the second time that BIFs annual return on NAV has under-performed the S&P 500. However, in the seven (full) years BIA/SIA have been advisers, BIF has outperformed the S&P 500 five out of those seven. The cumulative annualized return of BIF since January 2002 has been 5.3% vs. 1.6% for the S&P 500. Since January 2002, an investment in BIFs NAV has turned $10,000 into $14,986 while $10,000 invested in the S&P 500 would now be worth $11,324. Shareholders are better off by 32% having invested in BIF.
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3 Months |
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6 Months |
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One Year |
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Three Years* |
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Five Years* |
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Since |
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Ended |
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Ended |
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Ended |
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Ended |
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Ended |
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January |
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Cumulative Returns |
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11/30/09 |
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11/30/09 |
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11/30/09 |
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11/30/09 |
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11/30/09 |
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2002** |
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Boulder Growth & Income Fund (NAV) |
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4.4 |
% |
15.0 |
% |
13.2 |
% |
-0.2 |
% |
5.3 |
% |
5.3 |
% |
S&P 500 Index |
|
7.9 |
% |
20.5 |
% |
25.4 |
% |
-5.8 |
% |
0.7 |
% |
1.6 |
% |
Dow Jones Industrial Average |
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9.7 |
% |
23.5 |
% |
21.1 |
% |
-2.7 |
% |
2.5 |
% |
3.0 |
% |
NASDAQ Composite |
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7.0 |
% |
21.4 |
% |
41.1 |
% |
-3.2 |
% |
1.3 |
% |
2.1 |
% |
The total returns for BIF in the table above do not include the affect of dilution on non-participating shareholders from the 12/2002 rights offering. If the affect of dilution is included, the annualized return since January 2002 would be 3.0% .
* |
Annualized |
** |
Annualized since January 2002, when the current Advisers became investment advisers to the Fund. |
Two primary drivers in BIFs performance in 2009 were two of its large holdings: Berkshire Hathaway and Walmart, which were largely responsible for BIFs underperformance.
For the Funds fiscal year, Berkshire Hathaway had a total return of -3.3%, far behind the S&P 500, which returned 25.4% . Since Berkshire currently makes up approximately 25% of the Funds total assets, its performance is key for the Fund. For the 3-year period ending 12/31/09, Berkshire had a total return of -9.1% vs. the S&P 500 which had a total return of -5.6% . Berkshire is currently trading around $100,000 per share, which is somewhere around 1.3 or 1.4 times its conservatively calculated book value. Historically, this is on the low end of the book value totem pole from where Berkshire typically trades. You may have heard Ben Grahams saying, the market is a voting machine in the short-term, but a weighing machine in the long-term. As for the voting, with all the day traders and program trading, there are some out there voting thousands of times every day! As for the weighing machine, the market may want to invest in a new weighing machine. Buffett announced the largest acquisition
11.30.09 ANNUAL REPORT
in Berkshire Hathaways fabled history: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, a $34 billion company. While hopping this train uses up most of Berkshires investable cash hoard, it also puts Berkshire on the tracks to increase its earning power. Its like adding another locomotive to Berkshires already long and diversified train of companies. Only on Berkshires train, each company is its own locomotive, earning money independent of the others. The only drag on the Berkshire train was the caboose full of cash it had been dragging around while looking for an investment. The caboose of cash has been replaced by an economic caboose. A slower US economy is a drag on almost all US businesses. Nonetheless, recently this cash earned virtually nothing. But exchanging the caboose full of cash for Burlington Northern will help speed up the rate at which Berkshires book value grows.
Walmart had a total return (including dividends) of -0.5% for the year. Walmart was 6.7% of the Funds total assets at year-end. While Walmart was one of the Funds top performers in 2008, it was near the bottom of large cap stocks in terms of performance in 2009. Nonetheless, Walmarts earnings relative to its stock price are reasonable and it remains a well run company with bright outlooks. If youve never shopped at Walmart, you should try it. Youll save some money.
So, between Berkshire and Walmart, over 30% of the Funds investments had negative returns in 2009. We bought these companies because of their long-term viability, profitability, strong management, potential for increased earnings, and strong market shares. In our view, none of these things have changed, so we are happy holding them. It should be expected that even strong, profitable, well run companies may experience periods of under-performance versus the overall market for a year or two, or even longer.
BIF started the year with 38% of its assets in cash and cash equivalents. Cash, earning very little due to very low short-term rates, was also a drag on BIFs performance. As we started 2009, we were just coming off a market melt-down in 2008. The first few months of 2009 continued this market melt-down. From December 1, 2008 through March 9, 2009 (about the first fiscal quarter of 2009 for BIF), the S&P 500 Index fell 17%, from 816 to 676. Less than 3 weeks later, the S&P 500 had rebounded all the way back above 832. This was an increase of 23% in the market in less than 3 weeks! Was this a dead-cat bounce or had we seen the market bottom? The answer was totally irrelevant. The question should have been how are stocks valued? Timing the markets is nearly impossible. The example above is proof. But buying fairly or under-valued stocks is not impossible. While we did buy some stocks from January 2009 all the way through April while the market was at its lows, we didnt buy enough.
So, with BIF earning negative returns on two of its larger holdings (over 30% of the portfolio), and earning near zero on its cash, how did it manage to earn 13.2% overall? BIF had some very strong returns in other securities during the year, including Midland Holdings (up 142%), Cheung Kong Holdings (up 37%), Hang Lung Properties (up 73%), Wheelock & Co. (up 71%), Caterpillar (up 48%), and Heineken (up 48%). Some of these returns were a reflection of the very low starting point a year ago after the market had taken a dive. This is a good example of the benefits of being a long-term investor: not selling
BOULDER GROWTH & INCOME FUND, INC. www.boulderfunds.net
everything at the market lows. In addition, we made substantial investments in closed-end funds. We dont necessarily view these investments as long-term holds. We still hold some of these closed-ends, but we sold off a fair amount as well. For the 6 months ending 11/30/2009, we sold off $5.67 million worth of various closed-ends with an original cost basis of $3.65 million, realizing (almost all) short-term gains of just over $2 million. On top of that, we collected dividends along the way.
Beginning in October 2009, we started putting more cash to work in utilities and in oil & gas pipeline and gathering partnerships. Overall, we invested nearly $16 million. All of these securities produce some dividend yield. One place we did not invest more money was in real estate related companies. Though the Fund has a concentration policy to invest 25% in real-estate related companies, as of year-end, Boulder Growth & Income Fund only had about 18.4% invested in these companies. We are permitted to be below this 25% threshold for defensive purposes. We view real estate as we view any other investment: with a wary eye. Too much debt, and even the best real estate investment can turn sour. So until we see some good values, were not in any rush to get your money invested in real estate related companies just to satisfy a threshold.
The Fund currently holds cash and cash-equivalents totaling about 23% of the Funds assets. As mentioned above, the markets recuperated from the March 2009 lows so fast and so furiously, we dont expect a repeat performance in 2010. The markets have had quite a ride upward over the past 8 months. Stocks seem to be more fully valued based on earnings, but the economy is not out of the woods quite yet. Unemployment could remain high for quite some time. A high foreclosure rate in the housing market will also temper potential rebounds. Weve tried to make investments that will perform reasonably well even in a topsy-turvy economy. In any case, among our top investment rules are: (1) Dont lose what we already have, (2) Invest in companies we understand with good margins, good management, and a reasonable use of debt and (3) Invest more money in our best ideas. The S&P 500 Index is trading around 1,100 which is about 20 times earnings. This is on the high end of where the S&P 500 has historically traded. So for the time being, were probably more likely to hold onto the cash we have unless we find something intriguing.
Sincerely
Stewart R. Horejsi |
Carl D. Johns |
Stewart Investment Advisers |
Boulder Investment Advisers, LLC |
Barbados, W.I. |
Boulder, Colorado |
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January 14, 2010 |
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Our website at www.boulderfunds.net is an excellent source for information on the Fund. One of the features on the website is the ability to sign up for electronic delivery of stockholder information. Through electronic delivery, you can enjoy the convenience of receiving and viewing stockholder communications, such as annual reports, distribution information and proxy statements online in addition to, but more quickly than, the hard copies you currently receive in the mail. To enroll, simply go to www.boulderfunds.net/enotify.htm. You will also find information about the Boulder Growth & Income Funds sister fund the Boulder Total Return Fund on the website.
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Per Share of Common Stock |
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Net Asset |
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NYSE |
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Dividends |
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Value |
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Closing Price |
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Paid |
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11/30/08 |
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$ |
5.90 |
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$ |
4.35 |
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$ |
0.000 |
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12/31/08 |
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5.84 |
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4.66 |
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0.000 |
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1/31/09 |
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5.50 |
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4.42 |
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0.000 |
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2/28/09 |
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5.05 |
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3.89 |
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0.000 |
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3/31/09 |
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5.32 |
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3.96 |
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0.000 |
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4/30/09 |
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5.67 |
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4.36 |
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0.000 |
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5/31/09 |
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5.81 |
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4.60 |
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0.000 |
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6/30/09 |
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5.82 |
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4.52 |
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0.000 |
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7/31/09 |
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6.22 |
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4.92 |
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0.000 |
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8/31/09 |
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6.40 |
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5.27 |
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0.000 |
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9/30/09 |
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6.59 |
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5.61 |
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0.000 |
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10/31/09 |
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6.50 |
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5.39 |
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0.000 |
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11/30/09 |
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6.68 |
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5.63 |
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0.000 |
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Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc.:
· Ranked #1 in the Lipper Closed-End Equity Fund Performance Analysis for Core Funds for the 1-Year Ended December 31, 2008
· Ranked #1 in the Lipper Closed-End Equity Fund Performance Analysis for Core Funds for the 5-Years Ended December 31, 2008
Lipper and Lipper Corporate Marks are propriety trademarks of Lipper, a Reuters Company. Used by permission.
INVESTMENTS AS A % OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCK
Other Assets and Liabilities - (0.5%)
November 30, 2009 |
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Shares |
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Description |
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Value (Note 1) |
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LONG TERM INVESTMENTS 83.3% |
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DOMESTIC COMMON STOCKS 61.2% |
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Construction Machinery 0.6% |
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20,000 |
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Caterpillar, Inc. |
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$ |
1,167,800 |
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Cosmetics/Personal Care 0.9% |
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30,000 |
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The Procter & Gamble Co. |
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1,870,500 |
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Diversified 24.9% |
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466 |
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Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class A* |
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46,879,600 |
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500 |
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Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B* |
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1,676,500 |
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48,556,100 |
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Diversified Financial Services 1.0% |
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35,000 |
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American Express Co. |
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1,464,050 |
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4,300 |
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Franklin Resources, Inc. |
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464,529 |
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1,928,579 |
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Electric Utilities 4.7% |
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17,000 |
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Allegheny Energy, Inc. |
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373,660 |
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12,000 |
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Allete, Inc. |
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401,280 |
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15,000 |
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Alliant Energy Corp. |
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412,200 |
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13,000 |
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American Electric Power Co., Inc. |
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418,470 |
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33,500 |
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Black Hills Corp. |
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789,595 |
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22,000 |
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The Empire District Electric Co. |
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399,080 |
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8,000 |
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FPL Group, Inc. |
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415,760 |
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150,000 |
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Great Plains Energy, Inc. |
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2,670,000 |
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13,000 |
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NSTAR |
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430,690 |
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11,700 |
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OGE Energy Corp. |
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404,820 |
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11,000 |
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Progress Energy, Inc. |
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429,990 |
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12,000 |
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SCANA Corp. |
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422,400 |
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13,000 |
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Southern Co. |
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417,170 |
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28,000 |
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TECO Energy, Inc. |
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413,000 |
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15,200 |
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UIL Holdings Corp. |
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409,792 |
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20,000 |
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Westar Energy, Inc. |
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411,800 |
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9,219,707 |
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Gas 1.6% |
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11,000 |
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AGL Resources, Inc. |
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380,050 |
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14,000 |
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Atmos Energy Corp. |
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383,460 |
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31,000 |
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Centerpoint Energy, Inc. |
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411,370 |
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13,000 |
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The Laclede Group, Inc. |
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407,030 |
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See accompanying notes to financial statements.
Shares |
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Description |
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Value (Note 1) |
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Gas (continued) |
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11,000 |
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Nicor, Inc. |
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$ |
430,760 |
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17,000 |
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Piedmont Natural Gas Co., Inc. |
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402,900 |
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17,000 |
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Vectren Corp. |
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399,330 |
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12,000 |
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WGL Holdings, Inc. |
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377,760 |
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3,192,660 |
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Healthcare Products & Services 9.1% |
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70,000 |
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Becton Dickinson & Co. |
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5,236,000 |
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200,000 |
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Johnson & Johnson |
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12,568,000 |
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17,804,000 |
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Insurance 1.0% |
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47,074 |
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Fidelity National Financial, Inc. |
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653,858 |
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40,000 |
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First American Corp. |
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1,268,800 |
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1,922,658 |
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Manufacturing 1.0% |
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12,000 |
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3M Co. |
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929,280 |
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60,000 |
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General Electric Co. |
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961,200 |
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1,890,480 |
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Pharmaceuticals 0.2% |
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17,000 |
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Pfizer, Inc. |
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308,890 |
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Pipelines 2.5% |
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29,300 |
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Boardwalk Pipeline Partners L.P. |
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827,139 |
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7,800 |
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Buckeye Partners L.P. |
|
411,060 |
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17,800 |
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El Paso Pipeline Partners L.P. |
|
421,860 |
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18,300 |
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Energy Transfer Partners L.P. |
|
792,207 |
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27,200 |
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Enterprise Products Partners L.P. |
|
810,288 |
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7,200 |
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Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P. |
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419,472 |
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10,300 |
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Magellan Midstream Partners L.P. |
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423,330 |
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10,300 |
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Oneok, Inc. |
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412,206 |
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8,200 |
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Plains All American Pipeline L.P. |
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414,920 |
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4,932,482 |
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Registered Investment Companies (RICs) 6.8% |
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63,802 |
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Cohen & Steers Advantage Income Realty Fund, Inc. |
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360,481 |
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|
881,590 |
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Cohen & Steers REIT and Utility Income Fund, Inc. |
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8,472,080 |
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|
127,800 |
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Cohen & Steers Select Utility Fund, Inc. |
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1,800,702 |
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See accompanying notes to financial statements.
Shares |
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Description |
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Value (Note 1) |
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Registered Investment Companies (RICs) (continued) |
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66,000 |
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Flaherty & Crumrine/Claymore Preferred Securities Income Fund, Inc. |
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$ |
834,900 |
|
135,392 |
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Flaherty & Crumrine/Claymore Total Return Fund, Inc. |
|
1,776,343 |
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|
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|
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13,244,506 |
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Retail 6.9% |
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9,000 |
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Suburban Propane Partners L.P. |
|
395,100 |
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240,000 |
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Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. |
|
13,092,000 |
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|
|
|
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13,487,100 |
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TOTAL DOMESTIC COMMON STOCKS |
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119,525,462 |
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|||
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FOREIGN COMMON STOCKS 13.2% |
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|
|||
Australia 0.3% |
|
|
|
|||
983,610 |
|
ING Office Fund |
|
522,516 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Canada 0.7% |
|
|
|
|||
10,200 |
|
Bank of Nova Scotia |
|
468,732 |
|
|
44,000 |
|
Brookfield Asset Management, Inc., Class A |
|
923,442 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,392,174 |
|
|
Hong Kong 4.4% |
|
|
|
|||
185,000 |
|
Cheung Kong Holdings, Ltd. |
|
2,325,018 |
|
|
10,500 |
|
Guoco Group, Ltd. |
|
122,002 |
|
|
600,000 |
|
Hang Lung Properties, Ltd. |
|
2,190,954 |
|
|
500,000 |
|
Henderson Investment, Ltd. |
|
38,064 |
|
|
104,500 |
|
Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd. |
|
737,563 |
|
|
1,500,000 |
|
Midland Holdings, Ltd. |
|
1,120,638 |
|
|
650,000 |
|
Wheelock & Co., Ltd. |
|
2,100,954 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,635,193 |
|
|
Japan 0.0%(1) |
|
|
|
|||
105 |
|
New City Residence Investment Corp.*(2)(3) |
|
243 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Netherlands 3.6% |
|
|
|
|||
120,000 |
|
Heineken Holding NV |
|
4,945,194 |
|
|
31,663 |
|
Heineken NV |
|
1,489,061 |
|
|
20,000 |
|
Unilever NV |
|
612,781 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,047,036 |
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
Shares/ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount |
|
Description |
|
Value (Note 1) |
|
|
New Zealand 1.8% |
|
|
|
|||
4,840,990 |
|
Kiwi Income Property Trust |
|
$ |
3,571,637 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Singapore 0.7% |
|
|
|
|||
906,666 |
|
Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust |
|
1,270,905 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Turkey 0.0%(1) |
|
|
|
|||
57,183 |
|
Dogus Ge Gayrimenkul Yatirim Ortakligi A.S.* |
|
32,930 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United Kingdom 1.7% |
|
|
|
|||
25,000 |
|
Diageo PLC, Sponsored ADR |
|
1,690,250 |
|
|
40,000 |
|
GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Sponsored ADR |
|
1,658,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,349,050 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
TOTAL FOREIGN COMMON STOCKS |
|
25,821,684 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AUCTION PREFERRED SECURITIES 4.3% |
|
|
|
|||
228 |
|
Advent Claymore Global Convertible Securities & Income Fund, Series W(2) |
|
5,358,000 |
|
|
108 |
|
Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust, Series B(2) |
|
2,538,000 |
|
|
26 |
|
Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund, Series A(2) |
|
611,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
TOTAL AUCTION PREFERRED SECURITIES |
|
8,507,000 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS 1.4% |
|
|
|
|||
3,687,000 NZD |
|
New Zealand Treasury Bond, 6.00% due 11/15/2011 |
|
2,663,981 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS |
|
2,663,981 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIMITED PARTERNSHIPS 3.2% |
|
|
|
|||
5 |
|
Ithan Creek Partners, L.P.*(2) |
|
6,213,812 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
TOTAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS |
|
6,213,812 |
|
|||
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
Shares/ |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Principal |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Amount |
|
Description |
|
Value (Note 1) |
|
||
TOTAL LONG TERM INVESTMENTS |
|
$ |
162,731,939 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS 17.2% |
|
|
|
||||
DOMESTIC GOVERNMENT BONDS 16.1% |
|
|
|
||||
$ |
31,500,000 |
|
United States Treasury Bills, 0.030% due 12/31/2009 |
|
31,499,213 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
TOTAL DOMESTIC GOVERNMENT BONDS |
|
31,499,213 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
MONEY MARKET FUNDS 1.1% |
|
|
|
||||
2,134,393 |
|
Dreyfus Treasury Cash
Management Money Market Fund, Institutional Class, 7-Day |
|
2,134,393 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
TOTAL MONEY MARKET FUNDS |
|
2,134,393 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS |
|
33,633,606 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 100.5% |
|
196,365,545 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (0.5%) |
|
(1,044,130 |
) |
||||
|
|
|
|
||||
TOTAL NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCK 100.0% |
|
195,321,415 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||
AUCTION MARKET PREFERRED STOCK (AMPS) REDEMPTION VALUE |
|
(25,000,000 |
) |
||||
|
|
|
|
||||
TOTAL NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK |
|
$ |
170,321,415 |
|
|||
* |
Non income producing security. |
(1) |
Less than 0.05% of Total Net Assets Available to Common and Preferred Stock. |
(2) |
Fair valued security under procedures established by the Funds Board of Directors. Total market of fair valued securities as of November 30, 2009 is $14,721,055, or 7.54% of Total Net Assets Available to Common and Preferred Stock. |
(3) |
On October 9, 2008, the company declared bankruptcy. |
Percentages are stated as a percent of Total Net Assets Available to Common and Preferred Stock.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
Common Abbreviations:
ADR - American Depositary Receipt
A.S. - Anonim Sirketi (Turkish: Joint Stock Company)
L.P. - Limited Partnership
Ltd. - Limited
NV - Naamloze Vennootchap is the Dutch term for a public limited liability corporation
NZD - New Zealand Dollar
PLC - Public Limited Company
For Fund compliance purposes, the Funds industry and/or geography classifications refer to any one of the industry/geography sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes, and/or as defined by Fund Management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry/geography sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries/geographies are shown as a percent of net assets available to common and preferred shares. These industry/geography classifications are unaudited.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
November 30, 2009 |
|
ASSETS: |
|
|
|
|
Investments, at value (Cost $175,115,958) (Note 1) |
|
$ |
196,365,545 |
|
Foreign currency, at value (Cost $2,950,789) |
|
2,863,248 |
|
|
Receivable for investments sold |
|
233,468 |
|
|
Dividends and interest receivable |
|
236,495 |
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
6,743 |
|
|
Total Assets |
|
199,705,499 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES: |
|
|
|
|
Payable for investments purchased |
|
4,020,966 |
|
|
Investment co-advisory fees payable (Note 2) |
|
200,337 |
|
|
Legal and audit fees payable |
|
54,952 |
|
|
Administration and co-administration fees payable (Note 2) |
|
42,220 |
|
|
Accumulated undeclared dividends on Taxable Auction Market Preferred Stock (Note 5) |
|
21,758 |
|
|
Printing fees payable |
|
15,358 |
|
|
Custody fees payable |
|
5,684 |
|
|
Directors fees and expenses payable (Note 2) |
|
1,678 |
|
|
Accrued expenses and other payables |
|
21,131 |
|
|
Total Liabilities |
|
4,384,084 |
|
|
FUND TOTAL NET ASSETS |
|
$ |
195,321,415 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TAXABLE AUCTION MARKET PREFERRED STOCK: |
|
|
|
|
$0.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized, 1,000 shares outstanding, liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (Note 5) |
|
25,000,000 |
|
|
TOTAL NET ASSETS (APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS) |
|
$ |
170,321,415 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET ASSETS (APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS) CONSIST OF: |
|
|
|
|
Par value of common stock (Note 4) |
|
$ |
254,956 |
|
Paid-in capital in excess of par value of common stock |
|
149,092,276 |
|
|
Overdistributed net investment income |
|
(237,057 |
) |
|
Accumulated net realized loss on investments sold and foreign currency related transactions |
|
(11,551 |
) |
|
Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency related transactions |
|
21,222,791 |
|
|
TOTAL NET ASSETS (APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS) |
|
$ |
170,321,415 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Asset Value, $170,321,415/25,495,585 common stock outstanding |
|
$ |
6.68 |
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
|
For the Year Ended November 30, 2009 |
INVESTMENT INCOME: |
|
|
|
|
Dividends (net of foreign withholding tax of $35,500) |
|
$ |
2,443,578 |
|
Interest and other income |
|
277,264 |
|
|
Total Investment Income |
|
2,720,842 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXPENSES: |
|
|
|
|
Investment co-advisory fee (Note 2) |
|
2,197,040 |
|
|
Administration and co-administration fees (Note 2) |
|
475,949 |
|
|
Legal and audit fees |
|
110,613 |
|
|
Directors fees and expenses (Note 2) |
|
76,687 |
|
|
Printing fees |
|
75,881 |
|
|
Preferred stock broker commissions and auction agent fees |
|
35,387 |
|
|
Transfer agency fees |
|
26,354 |
|
|
Insurance expense |
|
26,128 |
|
|
Custody fees |
|
16,185 |
|
|
Other |
|
107,204 |
|
|
Total Expenses |
|
3,147,428 |
|
|
Fees waived by administrator (Note 2) |
|
(2,921 |
) |
|
Net Expenses |
|
3,144,507 |
|
|
Net Investment loss |
|
(423,665 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS: |
|
|
|
|
Net realized gain on: |
|
|
|
|
Investment securities |
|
456,403 |
|
|
Foreign currency related transactions |
|
36,193 |
|
|
|
|
492,596 |
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation on: |
|
|
|
|
Investment securities |
|
20,294,967 |
|
|
Foreign currency related transactions |
|
63,512 |
|
|
|
|
20,358,479 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS |
|
20,851,075 |
|
|
LESS: PREFERRED STOCK DISTRIBUTIONS: |
|
|
|
|
From net investment income |
|
(159,284 |
) |
|
From book return of capital |
|
(283,025 |
) |
|
Total Preferred Stock Distributions |
|
(442,309 |
) |
|
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS |
|
$ |
19,985,101 |
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
|
|
For the |
|
For the |
|
||
|
|
Year Ended |
|
Year Ended |
|
||
|
|
November 30, 2009 |
|
November 30, 2008 |
|
||
OPERATIONS: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net investment income/(loss) |
|
$ |
(423,665 |
) |
$ |
1,337,860 |
|
Net realized gain/(loss) on investments |
|
492,596 |
|
(989,425 |
) |
||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments and foreign currency transactions |
|
20,358,479 |
|
(37,366,931 |
) |
||
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations |
|
20,427,410 |
|
(37,018,496 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
DISTRIBUTIONS: PREFERRED STOCK (NOTE 5): |
|
|
|
|
|
||
From net investment income |
|
(159,284 |
) |
(31,439 |
) |
||
From book return of capital |
|
(283,025 |
) |
(1,049,569 |
) |
||
Total Distributions: Preferred Stock |
|
(442,309 |
) |
(1,081,008 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting From Operations Applicable to Common Stockholders |
|
19,985,101 |
|
(38,099,504 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
DISTRIBUTIONS: COMMON STOCK (NOTE 9) |
|
|
|
|
|
||
From tax return of capital |
|
|
|
(24,010,394 |
) |
||
Total Distributions: Common Stock |
|
|
|
(24,010,394 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Proceeds from rights offering (Note 10) |
|
|
|
76,166,564 |
|
||
Expenses incurred for rights offering (Note 10) |
|
|
|
(142,294 |
) |
||
Net asset value of shares issued in connection with the reinvestment of dividends from net investment income, distributions from net realized gains and tax return of capital |
|
|
|
635,633 |
|
||
Total Capital Share Transactions |
|
|
|
76,659,903 |
|
||
Net Increase in Net Assets |
|
19,985,101 |
|
14,550,005 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
NET ASSETS: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Beginning of year |
|
175,336,314 |
|
160,786,309 |
|
||
End of year (including overdistributed net investment income of $(237,057) and $0, respectively) |
|
195,321,415 |
|
175,336,314 |
|
||
Taxable Auction Market Preferred Stock Redemption Value |
|
(25,000,000 |
) |
(25,000,000 |
) |
||
Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders |
|
$ |
170,321,415 |
|
$ |
150,336,314 |
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
|
For a Common Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period. |
Contained below is selected data for a share of common stock outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the period indicated. This information has been determined based upon information provided in the financial statements and market price data for the Funds shares.
|
|
For the Years Ended November 30, |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
2009 |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|||||
OPERATING PERFORMANCE: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net Asset Value - Beginning of Year |
|
$ |
5.90 |
|
$ |
8.92 |
|
$ |
9.08 |
|
$ |
8.00 |
|
$ |
7.58 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income/(Loss) from Investment Operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net investment income/(loss)(a) |
|
(0.02 |
) |
0.07 |
|
0.25 |
|
0.40 |
|
0.04 |
|
|||||
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments |
|
0.82 |
|
(1.77 |
) |
1.06 |
|
1.51 |
|
0.39 |
|
|||||
Total from Investment Operations |
|
0.80 |
|
(1.70 |
) |
1.31 |
|
1.91 |
|
0.43 |
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Distributions: Preferred Stock(c) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Dividends paid from net investment income(a) |
|
(0.01 |
) |
(0.00) |
(b) |
(0.11 |
) |
(0.11 |
) |
(0.01 |
) |
|||||
Dividends paid from net realized capital gains(a) |
|
|
|
|
|
(0.00 |
)(b) |
|
|
|
|
|||||
Dividends paid from tax return of capital(a) |
|
(0.01 |
) |
(0.05 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Change in accumulated undeclared dividends on AMPS* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.00 |
)(b) |
(0.00 |
)(b) |
|||||
Total Preferred Stock Distributions |
|
(0.02 |
) |
(0.05 |
) |
(0.11 |
) |
(0.11 |
) |
(0.01 |
) |
|||||
Net Increase/(Decrease) from Operations Applicable to Common Stock |
|
0.78 |
|
(1.75 |
) |
1.20 |
|
1.80 |
|
0.42 |
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Distributions: Common Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Dividends paid from net investment income |
|
|
|
|
|
(0.57 |
) |
(0.35 |
) |
|
|
|||||
Distributions paid from net realized capital gains |
|
|
|
|
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|||||
Distributions paid from tax return of capital |
|
|
|
(1.27 |
) |
(0.75 |
) |
(0.37 |
) |
|
|
|||||
Total Distributions Paid to Common Stockholders |
|
|
|
(1.27 |
) |
(1.35 |
) |
(0.72 |
) |
|
|
|||||
Dilutive Impact of Capital Share Transactions |
|
|
|
|
|
(0.01 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net increase/(Decrease) in Common Net Asset Value |
|
0.78 |
|
(3.02 |
) |
(0.16 |
) |
1.08 |
|
0.42 |
|
|||||
Common Share Net Asset Value - End of Year |
|
$ |
6.68 |
|
$ |
5.90 |
|
$ |
8.92 |
|
$ |
9.08 |
|
$ |
8.00 |
|
Common Share Market Value - End of Year |
|
$ |
5.63 |
|
$ |
4.35 |
|
$ |
9.16 |
|
$ |
10.45 |
|
$ |
6.96 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Return, Common Share Net Asset Value(d) |
|
13.2 |
% |
(21.8 |
)% |
12.5 |
% |
23.5 |
% |
5.5 |
% |
|||||
Total Return, Common Share Market Value(d) |
|
29.4 |
% |
(43.9 |
)% |
0.3 |
% |
63.3 |
% |
5.0 |
% |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net Operating Expenses |
|
2.08 |
% |
2.11 |
% |
2.65 |
% |
2.47 |
% |
2.24 |
% |
|||||
Operating Expenses including interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.00 |
% |
|||||
Gross Operating Expenses |
|
2.08 |
% |
2.12 |
% |
2.68 |
% |
2.52 |
% |
3.06 |
% |
|||||
Net Investment Income/(Loss)(e) |
|
(0.39 |
)% |
0.18 |
% |
1.52 |
% |
3.44 |
% |
0.55 |
% |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Portfolio Turnover Rate |
|
22 |
% |
24 |
% |
49 |
% |
35 |
% |
41 |
% |
|||||
Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders, End of Year (000s) |
|
$ |
170,321 |
|
$ |
150,336 |
|
$ |
135,786 |
|
$ |
103,104 |
|
$ |
90,673 |
|
Number of Common Shares Outstanding at End of Year (in 000s) |
|
25,496 |
|
25,496 |
|
15,226 |
|
11,353 |
|
11,328 |
|
|||||
Ratio of Operating Expenses to Total Average Net Assets Including AMPS* |
|
1.79 |
% |
1.80 |
% |
2.16 |
% |
1.96 |
% |
2.46 |
% |
Financial Highlights footnotes continued on page 15.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
* |
Taxable Auction Market Preferred Shares (AMPS). |
(a) |
Calculated based on the average number of common shares outstanding during each fiscal year. |
(b) |
Amount represents less than $0.01 per common share. |
(c) |
On October 17, 2005, the Fund issued 1,000 shares of AMPS. |
(d) |
Total return based on per share net asset value reflects the effects of changes in net asset value on the performance of the Fund during each fiscal period. Total return based on per share market value assumes the purchase of common shares at the market price on the first day and sales of common shares at the market price on the last day of the period indicated. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Funds distribution reinvestment plan. Results represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Current returns may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. |
(e) |
The net investment income ratio reflects income net of operating expenses and payments and change in undeclared dividends to AMPS. |
The table below sets out information with respect to Taxable Auction Market Preferred Stock currently outstanding.(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Involuntary |
|
Average |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset |
|
Liquidating |
|
Market |
|
||||
|
|
Liquidation |
|
Total Shares |
|
Coverage |
|
Preference |
|
Value |
|
||||
|
|
Value (000) |
|
Outstanding (000) |
|
Per Share(2) |
|
Per Share(3) |
|
Per Share(3) |
|
||||
11/30/09 |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
1 |
|
$ |
195,343 |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
11/30/08 |
|
25,000 |
|
1 |
|
175,375 |
|
25,000 |
|
25,000 |
|
||||
11/30/07 |
|
25,000 |
|
1 |
|
160,830 |
|
25,000 |
|
25,000 |
|
||||
11/30/06 |
|
25,000 |
|
1 |
|
128,167 |
|
25,000 |
|
25,000 |
|
||||
11/30/05 |
|
25,000 |
|
1 |
|
115,673 |
|
25,000 |
|
25,000 |
|
||||
(1) |
See Note 5 in Notes to Financial Statements. |
(2) |
Calculated by subtracting the Funds total liabilities (excluding accumulated unpaid distributions on AMPS) from the Funds total assets and dividing by the number of AMPS outstanding. |
(3) |
Excludes accumulated undeclared dividends. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
November 30, 2009 |
|
NOTE 1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc. (the Fund), is a non-diversified, closed-end management company organized as a Maryland corporation and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The policies described below are followed consistently by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States of America.
Portfolio Valuation: The net asset value of the Funds common shares is determined by the Funds co-administrator no less frequently than on the last business day of each week and month. It is determined by dividing the value of the Funds net assets attributable to common stock by the number of common shares outstanding. The value of the Funds net assets attributable to common shares is deemed to equal the value of the Funds total assets less (i) the Funds liabilities and (ii) the aggregate liquidation value of the outstanding Taxable Auction Market Preferred Stock. Securities listed on a national securities exchange are valued on the basis of the last sale on such exchange or the NASDAQ Official Close Price on the day of valuation. In the absence of sales of listed securities and with respect to securities for which the most recent sale prices are not deemed to represent fair market value, and unlisted securities (other than money market instruments), 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 sources. Investments for which market quotations are not readily available or do not otherwise accurately reflect the fair value of the investment are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Fund, including reference to valuations of other securities which are considered comparable in quality, maturity and type. Investments in money market instruments, which mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase, are valued at amortized cost.
The Fund has adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards CodificationTM (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. Under certain circumstances, fair value may equal the mean between the bid and asked prices. 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 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.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
November 30, 2009 |
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 3significant unobservable inputs (including the Funds own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)
The valuation techniques used by the Fund to measure fair value during the year ended November 30, 2009 maximized the use of observable inputs and minimized the use of unobservable inputs. The Fund utilized the following fair value techniques: discounted future cash flow models, weighted average of last available trade prices, multi-dimensional relational pricing model, and underlying security.
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of November 30, 2009 in valuing the Funds investments carried at fair value:
|
|
|
|
Level 2 - |
|
Level 3 - |
|
|
|
||||
Investments in |
|
Level 1 - |
|
Significant |
|
Significant |
|
|
|
||||
Securities at Value |
|
Quoted Prices |
|
Observable Inputs |
|
Unobservable Inputs |
|
Total |
|
||||
Domestic Common Stocks |
|
$ |
119,525,462 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
119,525,462 |
|
Foreign Common Stocks |
|
25,821,441 |
|
|
|
243 |
|
25,821,684 |
|
||||
Auction Preferred Securities |
|
|
|
8,507,000 |
|
|
|
8,507,000 |
|
||||
Foreign Government Bonds |
|
|
|
2,663,981 |
|
|
|
2,663,981 |
|
||||
Limited Partnerships |
|
|
|
|
|
6,213,812 |
|
6,213,812 |
|
||||
Short Term Investments |
|
33,633,606 |
|
|
|
|
|
33,633,606 |
|
||||
Total |
|
$ |
178,980,509 |
|
$ |
11,170,981 |
|
$ |
6,214,055 |
|
$ |
196,365,545 |
|
The following is a reconciliation of assets in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:
Investments |
|
|
|
|
|
Change in |
|
Net |
|
Transfer in |
|
Balance |
|
||||||
in Securities |
|
Balance as |
|
Realized |
|
appreciation/ |
|
purchases/ |
|
and/or |
|
as of |
|
||||||
at Value |
|
of 12/1/2008 |
|
gain/(loss) |
|
(depreciation) |
|
(sales) |
|
out of Level 3 |
|
11/30/2009 |
|
||||||
Foreign Common Stocks |
|
$ |
4,559 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
(4,316 |
) |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
243 |
|
Limited Partnerships |
|
5,054,484 |
|
|
|
1,159,328 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,213,812 |
|
||||||
Total |
|
$ |
5,059,043 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
1,155,012 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
6,214,055 |
|
Net unrealized appreciation, shown on the reconciliation of Level 3 securities, is included in the Statement of Operations in Net change in unrealized appreciation on investment se-
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
November 30, 2009 |
|
curities. Additionally, the Net change in unrealized appreciation for all Level 3 securities still held as of November 30, 2009, is included on the Statement of Operations in Net change in unrealized appreciation on investment securities.
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 on ex-dividend dates. Interest income is recorded using the interest method.
The actual amounts of dividend income and return of capital received from investments in real estate investment trusts (REITS) and registered investment companies (RICS) at calendar year-end are determined after the end of the fiscal year. The Fund therefore estimates these amounts for accounting purposes until the actual characterization of REIT and RIC distributions is known. Distributions received in excess of the estimate are recorded as a reduction of the cost of investments. During the year ended November 30, 2009, the Fund received dividends from RICs of $1,085,242. It is estimated that $482,417 of these dividends were return of capital.
Foreign Currency Translation: 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 in 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 related transactions reflected in the Statement of Operations result from fluctuations in exchange rates between trade date and settlement date on securities transactions, foreign currency transactions and the difference between amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The realized and unrealized currency fluctuation component of investments is included in Net realized gain on investment securities and Net change in unrealized appreciation on investment securities, respectively, in the Statement of Operations.
Repurchase Agreements: The Fund may engage in repurchase agreement transactions. The Funds management reviews and approves periodically the eligibility of the banks and dealers with which the Fund enters into repurchase agreement transactions. The value of the collateral underlying such transactions is at least equal at all times to the total amount of the repurchase obligations, including interest. The Fund maintains possession of the collateral and, in the event of counterparty default, the Fund has the right to use the collateral to offset losses incurred. There is the possibility of loss to the Fund in the event the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral securities. The Fund had no outstanding repurchase agreements as of November 30, 2009.
Lending of Portfolio Securities: The Fund may participate in securities lending arrangements. To do so, the Fund would engage a lending agent to loan securities to qualified brokers and dealers in exchange for negotiated lenders fees. As of November 30, 2009, the Fund was not participating in any securities lending arrangements.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
November 30, 2009 |
Dividends and Distributions to Stockholders: Dividends to common stockholders will be declared in such a manner as to avoid the imposition of the 4% excise tax described in Federal Income Taxes below. The stockholders of Taxable Auction Market Preferred Stock (AMPS) are entitled to receive cumulative cash dividends as declared by the Funds Board of Directors. Distributions to stockholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Any net realized short-term capital gains will be distributed to stockholders at least annually. Any net realized long-term capital gains may be distributed to stockholders at least annually or may be retained by the Fund as determined by the Funds Board of Directors. Capital gains retained by the Fund are subject to tax at the corporate tax rate. Subject to the Fund qualifying as a registered investment company, any taxes paid by the Fund on such net realized long-term gains may be used by the Funds stockholders as a credit against their own tax liabilities.
Prior to November 10, 2008, it was the policy of the Fund to declare quarterly and pay monthly distributions to common stockholders (the Policy). In an effort to maintain a stable distribution amount, the Fund could have paid distributions consisting of net investment income, realized capital gains and tax return of capital. Tax return of capital represents a return of a stockholders original investment in Fund shares and should not be considered yield by investors in the Fund. To the extent stockholders receive a tax return of capital they are required to adjust their cost basis by the same amount upon the sale of their Fund shares. An IRS Form 1099-DIV will be sent to stockholders indicating the tax characteristic of any distributions they receive and exactly how much is from ordinary income, if any, capital gains, if any, and return of capital, if any. Stockholders should seek their own tax advice regarding the reporting of income, the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares.
The Funds Policy was suspended, as approved by the Board of Directors, at the regular meeting held November 10, 2008.
Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Indemnifications: Like many other companies, the Funds 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 Funds maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this could involve future claims against the Fund.
Federal Income Taxes: For federal income tax purposes, the Fund currently qualifies, and intends to remain qualified, as a regulated investment company under the provisions of subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code by distributing substantially all of its earnings to its stockholders. Accordingly, no provision for federal income or excise taxes has been made.
Income and capital gain distributions are determined and characterized in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. These differences are primarily due to (1) differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities held by the Fund, including temporary differences, (2) the attribution of expenses against
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
November 30, 2009 |
|
certain components of taxable investment income, and (3) federal regulations requiring proportional allocation of income and gains to all classes of Stockholders. The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the Fund to the extent the Fund does not distribute by the end of any calendar year at least (1) 98% of the sum of its net investment income for that year and its capital gains (both long-term and short-term) for its fiscal year and (2) certain undistributed amounts from previous years.
The Fund follows ASC 740 Income Taxes (ASC 740), which requires that the financial statement effects of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return be recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. Management has concluded that the Fund has taken no uncertain tax positions that require adjustment to the financial statements to comply with the provisions of ASC 740. The Fund files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and Colorado. The statue of limitations on the Funds federal tax filings remains open for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2005 through November 30, 2009. The statute of limitation on the Funds state tax filings remains open for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2004 through November 30, 2009.
NOTE 2. INVESTMENT CO-ADVISORY FEES, DIRECTORS FEES, CO-ADMINISTRATION FEE, CUSTODY FEE AND TRANSFER AGENT FEE
Boulder Investment Advisers, L.L.C. (BIA) and Stewart Investment Advisers (SIA) serve as the Funds co-investment advisers (the Advisers). The Fund pays the Advisers a monthly fee at an annual rate of 1.25% of the value of the Funds average monthly total net assets plus principal amount of leverage, if any. At the February 9, 2009 Board of Directors meeting, the Advisers agreed to a waiver of advisory fees such that, in the future, the advisory fees would be calculated at the annual rate of 1.25% on assets up to $400 million, 1.10% on assets between $400-$600 million and 1.00% on assets exceeding $600 million. This fee waiver has a one year term and is renewable annually at the option of the Advisers. The waiver is not subject to recapture. As the Funds assets did not exceed $400 million at any time during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009, there was no fee waiver for that period. The equity owners of BIA are Evergreen Atlantic, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (EALLC), and the Lola Brown Trust No. 1B (the Lola Trust), each of which is considered to be an affiliated person of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. Stewart West Indies Trading Company, Ltd. is a Barbados international business company doing business as Stewart Investment Advisers. SIA receives a monthly fee equal to 75% of the fees earned by the Advisers, and BIA receives 25% of the fees earned by the Advisers. The equity owner of SIA is the Stewart West Indies Trust, considered to be an affiliated person of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act.
Fund Administrative Services, LLC (FAS) serves as the Funds co-administrator. Under the Administration Agreement, FAS provides certain administrative and executive management services to the Fund. The Fund pays FAS a monthly fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.20% of the value of the Funds average monthly total net assets plus leverage up to $250 million; 0.18% of the Funds average monthly total net assets plus leverage on the next $150 million; and, 0.15% on the value of the Funds average monthly total net assets plus leverage over $400 million. Notwithstanding, FAS has agreed to cap the Funds total administration
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
November 30, 2009 |
costs at 0.30% (including administration, co-administration, transfer agent and custodian fees). As such, FAS has agreed to waive a portion of its fee based on total net assets (including leverage) should the total monthly administration expenses exceed 0.30% . The equity owners of FAS are EALLC and the Lola Trust.
ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (ALPS) serves as the Funds co-administrator. As compensation for its services, ALPS receives certain out-of-pocket expenses and asset-based fees, which are accrued daily and paid monthly. Fees paid to ALPS are calculated based on combined assets of the Fund, the Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., The Denali Fund Inc., and First Opportunity Fund, Inc. (the Fund Group). ALPS receives the greater of the following, based on combined assets of the Fund Group: an annual minimum of $460,000, or an annualized fee of 0.045% on assets up to $1 billion, an annualized fee of 0.03% on assets between $1 and $3 billion, and an annualized fee of 0.02% on assets above $3 billion.
The Fund pays each Director who is not a director, officer, employee, or affiliate of the Advisers or FAS a fee of $8,000 per annum, plus $3,000 for each in-person meeting of the Board of Directors and $500 for each telephone meeting. In addition, the Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Audit Committee receive $1,000 per meeting and each member of the Audit Committee receives $500 per meeting. The Fund will also reimburse all non-interested Directors for travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with such meetings.
Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) servers as the Funds custodian and as compensation for BNY Mellons services the Fund pays BNY Mellon a monthly fee plus certain out-of-pocket expenses.
PNC Global Investment Servicing (PNC GIS) serves as the Funds Common Stock Servicing Agent (transfer agent), dividend-paying agent and registrar, and as compensation for PNC GISs services as such, the Fund pays PNC GIS a monthly fee plus certain out-of-pocket expenses.
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Auction Agent), a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG, serves as the Funds Preferred Stock transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent.
NOTE 3. SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
Purchases and sales of securities, excluding short term securities during the year ended November 30, 2009 were $51,676,978 and $27,821,810, respectively.
On November 30, 2009, based on cost of $175,363,098 for federal income tax purposes, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of value over tax cost was $26,907,379 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of tax cost over value was $5,904,932 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $21,002,447.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
November 30, 2009 |
|
NOTE 4. CAPITAL
At November 30, 2009, 249,990,000 of $0.01 par value common stock were authorized, of which 25,495,585 were outstanding.
Transactions in common stock were as follows:
|
|
For the Year Ended |
|
For the Year Ended |
|
|
|
November 30, 2009 |
|
November 30, 2008 |
|
Common stock outstanding beginning of period |
|
25,495,585 |
|
15,226,099 |
|
Common stock issued as reinvestment of dividends |
|
|
|
86,790 |
|
Rights Offering |
|
|
|
10,182,696 |
|
Common stock outstanding end of period |
|
25,495,585 |
|
25,495,585 |
|
NOTE 5. TAXABLE AUCTION MARKET PREFERRED STOCK
The Funds Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of up to 10,000 shares of $0.01 par value Auction Market Preferred Stock (AMPS). On October 17, 2005, the Fund issued 1,000 AMPS. AMPS are senior to common stock and result in the financial leveraging of the common stock. Such leveraging tends to magnify both the risks and opportunities to common stockholders. Dividends on the AMPS are cumulative. The Funds AMPS have a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share plus any accumulated unpaid distributions, whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but excluding interest thereon (Liquidation Value) and have no mandatory retirement date. An auction of the AMPS is generally held every 28 days. Existing stockholders may submit an order to hold, bid or sell shares on each auction date. AMPS stockholders may also trade shares in the secondary market.
In February 2008, the auction market across almost all closed-end funds became illiquid resulting in failed auctions for the Funds AMPS. A failed auction is not an event of default for the Fund but it has a negative impact on the liquidity of the AMPS. A failed auction occurs when there are more sellers of a funds AMPS than buyers. It is impossible to predict how long this imbalance will last. A successful auction for the Funds AMPS may not occur for some time, if ever, and even if liquidity does resume, holders of AMPS may not have the ability to sell the AMPS at their liquidation preference. As such, the Fund continues to pay dividends on the AMPS at the maximum rate (set forth in the Funds Articles Supplementary, the governing document for the AMPS). The Funds maximum rate is set at the greater of 1.25% of 30-day LIBOR or 30-day LIBOR plus 125 basis points.
The Fund may redeem AMPS, in whole or in part, on the second business day preceding any distribution payment date at Liquidation Value. The Fund is subject to certain restrictions relating to the AMPS. Specifically, the Fund is required under the 1940 Act to maintain an asset coverage with respect to the AMPS of 200% or greater. The Fund is also required to maintain certain coverage amounts for Fitch and Moodys (rating agencies). Failure to comply with these restrictions could preclude the Fund from declaring any distributions to common stockholders or repurchasing common stock
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
November 30, 2009 |
and/or could trigger the mandatory redemption of AMPS at Liquidation Value. The Fund was in compliance with these requirements as of November 30, 2009. The holders of AMPS are entitled to one vote per share and will vote with holders of common stock as a single class, except that the AMPS will vote separately as a class on certain matters, as required by law or the Funds charter. The holders of the AMPS, voting as a separate class, are entitled at all times to elect two Directors of the Fund, and to elect a majority of the Directors of the Fund if the Fund fails to pay distributions on AMPS for two consecutive years.
In connection with the settlement of each AMPS auction, the Fund pays, through the Auction Agent, a service fee to each participating broker-dealer based upon the aggregate liquidation preference of the AMPS held by the broker-dealers customers. Prior to February 19, 2009 the Fund paid at an annual rate of 0.25% and upon this date the annual rate was reduced to 0.05% until further notice from the Fund. These fees are paid for failed auctions as well.
On November 30, 2009, 1,000 shares of AMPS were outstanding at the annual rate of 1.49%. The dividend rate, as set by the auction process, is generally expected to vary with short-term interest rates. These rates may vary in a manner unrelated to the income received on the Funds assets, which could have either a beneficial or detrimental impact on net investment income and gains available to Common Stockholders. While the Fund expects to earn a higher return on its assets than the cost associated with the AMPS, including expenses, there can be no assurance that such results will be attained.
NOTE 6. PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS, CONCENTRATION AND INVESTMENT QUALITY
The Fund operates as a non-diversified investment company, as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result of being non-diversified, with respect to 50% of the Funds portfolio, the Fund must limit to 5% the portion of its assets invested in the securities of a single issuer. There are no such limitations with respect to the balance of the Funds portfolio, although no single investment can exceed 25% of the Funds total assets at the time of purchase. A more concentrated portfolio may cause the Funds net asset value to be more volatile and thus may subject stockholders to more risk. The Fund may hold a substantial position (up to 25% of its assets) in the common stock of a single issuer. As of November 30, 2009, the Fund held approximately 25% of its assets in Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., as a direct result of the market appreciation of the issuer since the time of purchase. Thus, the volatility of the Funds common stock, and the Funds net assets value and its performance in general, depends disproportionately more on the performance of this single issuer than that of a more diversified fund.
The Fund has no restrictions on its ability to invest in foreign securities. 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 Funds
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
November 30, 2009 |
|
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 Funds 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 Funds return.
At the April, 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, stockholders approved a proposal to change the Funds industry concentration policy so that the Fund must invest more than 25% of its assets in real estate related companies rather than solely in real estate investment trusts (REITs).
The Fund intends to concentrate its common stock investments in a few issuers and to take large positions in those issuers, consistent with being a non-diversified fund. As a result, the Fund is subject to a greater risk of loss than a diversified fund or a fund that has diversified its investments more broadly. Taking larger positions is also likely to increase the volatility of the Funds net asset value reflecting fluctuation in the value of large Fund holdings. Under normal market conditions, the Fund intends to invest at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks. Common stocks include dividend-paying closed-end funds and REITs. The portion of the Funds assets that are not invested in common stocks may be invested in fixed income securities and cash equivalents. The term fixed income securities includes RICs whose objective is income, REITs, bonds, U.S. Government securities, notes, bills, debentures, preferred stocks, convertible securities, bank debt obligations, repurchase agreements and short-term money market obligations.
NOTE 7. SIGNIFICANT STOCKHOLDERS
On November 30, 2009, trusts and other entities affiliated with Stewart R. Horejsi and the Horejsi family owned 5,844,323 shares of Common Stock of the Fund, representing approximately 22.92% of the total Fund shares. Stewart R. Horejsi is the primary portfolio manager for SIA and is the Funds primary portfolio manager. He is responsible for the day-to-day strategic management of the Fund.
NOTE 8. SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
In accordance with Section 23(c) of the 1940 Act, the Fund may from time to time effect redemptions and/or repurchases of its AMPS and/or its common stock, in the open market or through private transactions; at the option of the Board of Directors and upon such terms as the Directors shall determine.
For the years ended November 30, 2009 and November 30, 2008, the Fund did not repurchase any of its own stock.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
November 30, 2009 |
NOTE 9. TAX BASIS DISTRIBUTIONS
As determined on November 30, 2009, permanent differences resulting primarily from different book and tax accounting for gains and losses on foreign currency and certain other investments were reclassified at fiscal year-end. These reclassifications had no effect on net increase in net assets resulting from operations, net assets applicable to common stockholders or net asset value per common share outstanding.
Ordinary income and long-term capital gains are allocated to common stockholders after payment of the available amounts on any outstanding AMPS. To the extent that the amount distributed to common stockholders exceeds the amount of available ordinary income and long-term capital gains after allocation to any outstanding AMPS, these distributions are treated as a tax return of capital. Additionally, to the extent that the amount distributed on any outstanding AMPS exceeds the amount of available ordinary income and long-term capital gains, these distributions are treated as a tax return of capital.
Permanent book and tax basis differences of $345,892, $(398,818) and $52,926 were reclassified at November 30, 2009 among undistributed net investment loss, accumulated net realized losses on investments and paid-in-capital, respectively, for the Fund.
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended November 30, 2009 and November 30, 2008 was as follows:
|
|
Year Ended |
|
Year Ended |
|
||
|
|
November 2009 |
|
November 2008 |
|
||
Distributions paid from: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Ordinary Income |
|
$ |
365,767 |
|
$ |
31,439 |
|
Long-Term Capital Gain |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Tax Return of Capital |
|
76,542 |
|
25,059,963 |
|
||
|
|
$ |
442,309 |
|
$ |
25,091,402 |
|
During the year ended November 30, 2009, the Fund used capital loss carryovers of $206,483.
As of November 30, 2009, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a U.S. federal income tax basis were as follows:
Unrealized Appreciation |
|
$ |
20,975,651 |
|
Cumulative Effect of Other Timing Differences |
|
$ |
(1,468 |
) |
|
|
$ |
20,974,183 |
|
The difference between book and tax basis distributable earnings is attributable primarily to temporary differences related to mark to market of passive foreign investment companies and partnership book and tax differences.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
November 30, 2009 |
|
NOTE 10. OTHER INFORMATION
Rights Offerings: In 2007 the Fund commenced a non-transferable rights offering which permitted stockholders to acquire one new common share of the Fund for every three shares held on the record date at a subscription price equal to the net asset value (NAV) per common share at the close of trading on the expiration date of the offering. The record date for determining stockholders eligible to participate in the rights offering was August 1, 2007. The subscription period was from August 13, 2007 to September 14, 2007. The price for the shares issued through the rights offering was calculated based on the NAV on the expiration date of the offering, which was determined to be $8.67. The rights offering was fully subscribed and the Fund issued 3,801,119 new shares at a price of $8.67 per share. The total gross proceeds to the Fund were $32,953,816. The expense associated with the rights offering totaled $162,591.
On May 5, 2008 the Funds Board of Directors approved a non-transferable rights offering which permitted stockholders to acquire one new common share of the Fund for every three rights held on the record date at a subscription price equal to the net asset value NAV per share of common stock at the close of trading on the expiration date of the offering. The record date for determining stockholders eligible to participate in the rights offering was May 15, 2008. The subscription period was from May 23, 2008 to June 20, 2008. The subscription price for each newly issued share was determined to be $7.48, the Funds NAV at the close of trading on Friday, June 20, 2008. The total gross proceeds to the Fund were $76,166,564, and the Fund issued 10,182,696 new shares. The expenses associated with the rights offering totaled $142,294.
NOTE 11. RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 2009, the FASB issued ASC 105 (formerly FASB Statement 168), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, establishing the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM (ASC) as the source of GAAP to be applied by nongovernmental entities. FASB ASC 105 is effective for annual and interim periods ending after September 15, 2009, and the Fund has updated its references to GAAP in this report in accordance with the provisions of this pronouncement. The implementation of FASB ASC 105 did not have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.
In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB ASC 820-10-65 (formerly FASB Staff Position No. FAS 157-4), Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly. This standard applies to all assets and liabilities within the scope of accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, with certain defined exceptions, and provides additional guidance for estimating fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased. ASC 820-10-65 is effective for interim reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. The implementation of ASC 820-10-65 did not have a material effect on the Funds financial position or results of operations.
NOTE 12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management has performed a review for subsequent events through January 26, 2010, the date this report was issued. There were no reportable events for the Fund as a result of their review.
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November 30, 2009 |
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., including the portfolio of investments, as of November 30, 2009, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. The financial highlights of Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc. for the year ended November 30, 2005 were audited by other auditors whose report, dated January 13, 2006, expressed an unqualified opinion on such financial highlights.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of November 30, 2009, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc. as of November 30, 2009, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the four years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
January 26, 2010
Denver, Colorado
November 30, 2009 |
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Registered holders (Common Stockholders) of common shares (the Common Shares) are automatically enrolled (the Participants) in the Funds Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the Plan) whereupon all distributions of income, capital gains or managed distributions (Distributions) are automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares. Common Stockholders who elect to not participate in the Plan will receive all distributions in cash paid by check in U.S. dollars mailed directly to the stockholders of record (or if the stocks are held in street name or other nominee name, then the nominee) by the custodian, as dividend disbursing agent.
PNC Global Investment Servicing (the Agent) serves as Agent for each Participant in administering the Plan. After the Fund declares a Distribution, if (1) the net asset value per Common Share is equal to or less than the market price per Common Share plus estimated brokerage commissions on the payment date for a Distribution, Participants will be issued Common Shares at the higher of net asset value per Common Share or 95% of the market price per Common Share on the payment date; or if (2) the net asset value per Common Share exceeds the market price plus estimated brokerage commissions on the payment date for a Distribution, the Agent shall apply the amount of such Distribution to purchase Common Shares on the open market and Participants will receive the equivalent in Common Shares valued at the weighted average market price (including brokerage commissions) determined as of the time of the purchase (generally, following the payment date of the Distribution). If, before the Agent has completed its purchases, the market price plus estimated brokerage commissions exceeds the net asset value of the Common Shares as of the payment date, the purchase price paid by the Agent may exceed the net asset value of the Common Shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer Common Shares than if such Distribution had been paid in Common Shares issued by the Fund. If the Agent is unable to invest the full Distribution amount in purchases in the open market or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period than the Agent may cease making purchases in the open market the instant the Agent is notified of a market premium and may invest the uninvested portion of the Distribution in newly issued Common Shares at the net asset value per Common Share at the close of business provided that, if the net asset value is less than or equal to 95% of the then current market price per Common Share, the dollar amount of the Distribution will be divided by 95% of the market price on the payment date. The Fund will not issue Common Shares under the Plan below net asset value.
There is no charge to Participants for reinvesting Distributions, except for certain brokerage commissions, as described below. The Agents fees for the handling of the reinvestment of Distributions will be paid by the Fund. There will be no brokerage commissions charged with respect to shares issued directly by the Fund. However, each Participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Agents open market purchase in connection with the reinvestment of Distributions. The automatic reinvestment of Distributions will not relieve Participants of any federal income tax that may be payable on such Distributions. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan upon 90 days written notice to Common Stockholders of the Fund.
Participants in the Plan may (i) request a certificate, (ii) request to sell their shares, or (iii) withdraw from the Plan upon written notice to the Agent or by telephone in accordance with the specific procedures and will receive certificates for whole Common Shares and cash for fractional Common Shares.
All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Agent, PNC Global Investment Servicing, P.O. Box 43027, Providence, RI 02940-3027. To receive a full copy of the Funds Dividend Reinvestment Plan, please contact the Agent at 1-800-331-1710.
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November 30, 2009 |
Portfolio Information. The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Funds Form N-Q is available (1) on the Funds website located at http://www.boulderfunds.net; (2) on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov; or (3) for review and copying at the SECs Public Reference Room (PRR) in Washington, DC. Information regarding the operation of the PRR may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
Proxy Information. The policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund are available on the Funds website located at http://www.boulderfunds.net. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available at http://www.sec.gov.
Senior Officer Code of Ethics. The Fund files a copy of its code of ethics that applies to the registrants principal executive officer, principal financial officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions (the Senior Officer Code of Ethics), with the SEC as an exhibit to its annual report on Form N-CSR. The Funds Senior Officer Code of Ethics is available on the Funds website located at http://www.boulderfunds.net.
Privacy Statement. Pursuant to SEC Regulation S-P (Privacy of Consumer Financial Information) the Directors of the Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc. (the Fund) have established the following policy regarding information about the Funds stockholders. We consider all stockholder data to be private and confidential, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards in its safekeeping and use.
General Statement. The Fund may collect nonpublic information (e.g., your name, address, email address, Social Security Number, Fund holdings (collectively, Personal Information)) about stockholders from transactions in Fund shares. The Fund will not release Personal Information about current or former stockholders (except as permitted by law) unless one of the following conditions is met: (i) we receive your prior written consent; (ii) we believe the recipient to be you or your authorized representative; (iii) to service or support the business functions of the Fund (as explained in more detail below), or (iv) we are required by law to release Personal Information to the recipient. The Fund has not and will not in the future give or sell Personal Information about its current or former stockholders to any company, individual, or group (except as permitted by law) and as otherwise provided in this policy.
In the future, the Fund may make certain electronic services available to its stockholders and may solicit your email address and contact you by email, telephone or US mail regarding the availability of such services. The Fund may also contact stockholders by email, telephone or US mail in connection with these services, such as to confirm enrollment in electronic stockholder communications or to update your Personal Information. In no event will the Fund transmit your Personal Information via email without your consent.
Use of Personal Information. The Fund will only use Personal Information (i) as necessary to service or maintain stockholder accounts in the ordinary course of business and (ii) to support business functions of the Fund and its affiliated businesses. This means that the Fund may share certain Personal Information, only as permitted by law, with affiliated businesses of the Fund, and that such information may be used for non-Fund-related solicitation. When Personal Information is shared with the Funds business affiliates, the Fund may do so without providing you the option of preventing these types of disclosures as permitted by law.
Safeguards regarding Personal Information. Internally, we also restrict access to Personal Information to those who have a specific need for the records. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with Federal standards to guard Personal Information. Any doubts about the confidentiality of Personal Information, as required by law, are resolved in favor of confidentiality.
Tax Information. Of the ordinary income (including short-term capital gain) distributions made by the Fund during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009, 100% qualify for the dividend received deduction available to corporate stockholders.
The amount of long-term capital gains paid for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009 was $0.
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009, 100% of the taxable investment income qualifies for the 15% dividend tax rate.
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November 30, 2009 |
Set forth in the following table is information about the Directors of the Fund, together with their address, age, position with the Fund, term of office, length of time served and principal occupation during the last five years.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
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Number of |
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Funds in |
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Fund |
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Position, Length |
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Principal Occupation(s) and |
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Complex |
Name, |
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of Term Served, |
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Other Directorships held During |
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Overseen by |
Address*, Age |
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and Term of Office |
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the Past Five Years |
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Director |
Joel W. Looney |
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Director of the Fund (Class II) since 2002. Chairman of the Board since 2003. |
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Partner (since 1999), Financial Management Group, LLC (investment adviser); Director and Chairman (since 2007 ), The Denali Fund Inc.; Director (since 2001), Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.; Director and Chairman (since 2003), First Opportunity Fund, Inc. |
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4 |
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Dr. Dean L. Jacobson |
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Director of the Fund (Class I) since 2006. |
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Founder and President (since 1989), Forensic Engineering, Inc. (engineering investigations); Professor Emeritus (since 1997), Arizona State University; Director (since 2007), The Denali Fund Inc.; Director (since 2004) Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.; Director (since 2003), First Opportunity Fund, Inc. |
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4 |
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Richard I. Barr |
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Director of the Fund (Class III) since 2002. |
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Retired (since 2001). Manager (1963-2001), Advantage Sales and Marketing, Inc. (food brokerage); Director (since 2007), The Denali Fund Inc.; Director (since 1999) and Chairman (since 2003), Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.; Director (since 2001), First Opportunity Fund, Inc. |
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4 |
INTERESTED DIRECTORS**
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Number of |
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Funds in |
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Fund |
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Position, Length |
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Principal Occupation(s) and |
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Complex |
Name, |
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of Term Served, |
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Other Directorships held During |
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Overseen by |
Address*, Age |
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and Term of Office |
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the Past Five Years |
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Director |
Susan L. Ciciora |
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Director of the Fund (Class III) since 2006. |
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Trustee (since 1994), Lola Brown Trust No. 1B and the Ernest Horejsi Trust No. 1B (since 1992); Director (since 1997), Horejsi Charitable Foundation, Inc. (private charitable foundation); Director (since 2007), The Denali Fund Inc.; Director (since 2001), Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.; Director (since 2003), First Opportunity Fund, Inc. |
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4 |
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John S. Horejsi |
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Director of the Fund (Class I) since 2004. |
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Director (since 1997), Horejsi Charitable Foundation (private charitable foundation); Director (since 2007), The Denali Fund Inc.; Director (since 2006), Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.; Director (since 2006), First Opportunity Fund, Inc. |
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4 |
* |
Unless otherwise specified, the Directors respective addresses are c/o Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., 2344 Spruce Street, Suite A, Boulder, Colorado 80302. |
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Includes the Fund, The Denali Fund Inc., Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., and First Opportunity Fund, Inc. |
** |
Ms. Ciciora and Mr. Horejsi each are an interested person as a result of the extent of their beneficial ownership of Fund shares and by virtue of their indirect beneficial ownership of BIA and FAS. |
The names of the executive officers of the Fund are listed in the table below. Each officer was elected to office by the Board at a meeting held on February 9, 2009. This table shows certain additional information. Each officer will hold such office until a successor has been elected by the Board of Directors of the Fund.
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Position, Length of |
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Name, |
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Term Served, |
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Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships |
Address*, Age |
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and Term of Office |
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held During the Past Five Years |
Stephen C. Miller |
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President of the Fund since 2002. Director of the Fund from 2002 through 2004. Appointed annually. |
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President and General Counsel (since 1999), Boulder Investment Advisers, LLC; Manager (since 1999), Fund Administrative Services LLC; Vice President (since 1998), Stewart Investment Advisers; President (since 1999) and Director (1999-2004), Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.; President (since 2003) and Director and Chairman (2003), First Opportunity Fund, Inc.; President (since 2007), The Denali Fund Inc.; officer of various other entities affiliated with the Horejsi family; Of Counsel (since 1991), Krassa & Miller, LLC. |
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Carl D. Johns |
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Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Vice President and Treasurer of the Fund since 2002. Appointed annually. |
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Vice President and Treasurer (since 1999), Boulder Investment Advisers, LLC; Assistant Manager (since 1999), Fund Administrative Services LLC; Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer (since 1999), Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.; Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer (since 2003), First Opportunity Fund, Inc.; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Vice President and Treasurer (since 2007), The Denali Fund Inc. |
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Joel L. Terwilliger |
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Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund since 2007. Appointed annually. |
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Associate General Counsel (since 2006) and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2007), Boulder Investment Advisers, LLC, Stewart Investment Advisers, Fund Administrative Services LLC, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., First Opportunity Fund, Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer (since 2007), The Denali Fund Inc.; Senior Associate/ Managing Counsel (2002-2006), Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company. |
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Position, Length of |
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Name, |
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Term Served, |
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Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships |
Address*, Age |
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and Term of Office |
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held During the Past Five Years |
Stephanie J. Kelley |
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Secretary since 2002. Appointed annually. |
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Secretary (since 2000), Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.; Secretary (since 2003), First Opportunity Fund, Inc.; Secretary (since 2007), The Denali Fund Inc.; Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer of various other entities affiliated with the Horejsi family; Employee (since 1999), Fund Administrative Services LLC. |
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Nicole L. Murphey |
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Vice President (since 2008) and Assistant Secretary since 2002. Appointed Annually. |
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Vice President (since 2008) and Assistant Secretary (since 2000), Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.; Vice President (since 2008) and Assistant Secretary (since 2003), First Opportunity Fund, Inc.; Vice President (since 2008) and Assistant Secretary (since 2007), The Denali Fund, Inc.; Employee (since 1999), Fund Administrative Services LLC. |
* |
Unless otherwise specified, the Officers respective addresses are c/o Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., 2344 Spruce Street, Suite A, Boulder, Colorado 80302. |
The Funds president has certified to the New York Stock Exchange that, as of November 30, 2009, he was not aware of any violation by the Fund of applicable NYSE corporate governance listing standards. The Funds reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-CSR contain certifications by the Funds principal executive officer and principal financial officer that relate to the Funds disclosure in such reports and that are required by rule 30a-2(3) under the Investment Company Act.
BOULDER GROWTH & INCOME FUND, INC. |
Directors |
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Richard I. Barr |
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Susan L. Ciciora |
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John S. Horejsi |
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Dr. Dean L. Jacobson |
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Joel W. Looney |
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Co-Investment |
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Stewart Investment Advisers |
Advisers |
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Boulder Investment Advisers, LLC |
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2344 Spruce Street, Suite A |
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Boulder, CO 80302 |
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Co-Administrator |
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Fund Administrative Services, LLC |
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2344 Spruce Street, Suite A |
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Boulder, CO 80302 |
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Co-Administrator |
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ALPS Fund Services, Inc. |
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1290 Broadway, Suite 1100 |
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Denver, CO 80203 |
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Custodian |
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Bank of New York Mellon |
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One Wall Street |
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New York, NY 10286 |
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Stock Transfer Agent |
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PNC Global Investment Servicing |
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P.O. Box 43027 |
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Providence, RI 02940-3027 |
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Independent |
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Deloitte & Touche LLP |
Registered Public |
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555 17th Street, Suite 3600 |
Accounting Firm |
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Denver, CO 80202 |
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Legal Counsel |
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Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP |
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515 South Flower Street |
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Twenty-Fifth Floor |
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Los Angeles, CA 90071 |
Statistics and projections in this report are derived from sources deemed to be reliable but cannot be regarded as a representation of future results of the Fund. This report is prepared for the general information of stockholders and is not a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase or sale of shares of the Fund or of any securities mentioned in this report.
www.boulderfunds.net
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc. (the Registrant or Fund) has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrants Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer. During the period covered by this report, there were no material changes made to provisions of its code of ethics, nor were there any waivers granted from a provision of the code of ethics. A copy of the Registrants code of ethics is filed with this N-CSR under Item 12(a).
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
As of the end of the period covered by the report, the Registrants Board of Directors has determined that Joel W. Looney is qualified to serve as an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee and that he is independent, as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a) Audit Fees The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Funds annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $27,350 and $27,000 for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2008 and November 30, 2009, respectively.
(b) Audit-Related Fees The aggregate fees billed to the Registrant for the fiscal last two years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrants financial statements and are not reported above in AUDIT FEES were $0 and $0 for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2008 and November 30, 2009, respectively.
(c) Tax Fees The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the review of the Funds tax returns, excise tax returns, December dividend calculations and Maryland Property Tax returns were $7,250 and $7,250 for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2008 and November 30, 2009, respectively.
(d) All Other Fees The aggregate fees billed for the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in (a) through (c) of this Item were $5,000 and $5,000 for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2008 and November 30, 2009, respectively. These fees pertained to agreed-upon procedures reports related to the Funds Auction Market Preferred Shares.
(e) (1) The Registrants audit committee pre-approves all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the Registrants accountant before the accountant is engaged by the Registrant to perform such services.
(2) There were no services described in (b) through (d) above (including services required to be approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X) that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) None of the hours expended on the principal accountants engagement to audit the Funds financial statements for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009 were attributable to work performed by persons other than the principal accountants full-time, permanent employees.
(g) Not applicable.
(h) Not applicable.
The Registrant has an audit committee which was established by the Board of Directors of the Fund in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The members of the Registrants audit committee are Dr. Dean L. Jacobson, Richard I. Barr, and Joel W. Looney.
The Registrants full schedule of investments is included as part of the report to stockholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.
Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc.
The Denali Fund Inc.
Proxy Voting Procedures
The Board of Directors of the Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc. and The Denali Fund Inc. (collectively, the Funds) hereby adopt the following policies and procedures with respect to voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Funds (collectively, the Voting Policies).
1. Policy. It is the policy of each of the Boards of Directors of the Funds (the Board) to delegate the responsibility for voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Funds to Boulder Investment Advisers, L.L.C. (the Adviser) as a part of the Advisers general management of the Funds, subject to the Boards continuing oversight.(1) The voting of proxies is an integral part of the investment management services that the Adviser provides pursuant to the advisory contract. Proxy voting policies and procedures are required by Rule 206 (4)-6 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and became effective August 6, 2003.
2. Fiduciary Duty. The right to vote a proxy with respect to portfolio securities held by the Funds is a significant asset of the Fund. The Adviser, to which authority to vote on behalf of the Funds is delegated, exercises this voting responsibility as a fiduciary, and votes proxies in a manner consistent with the best interest of the Funds and its shareholders, and with the goal of maximizing the value of the Funds and the shareholders investments.
3. Procedures. The following are the procedures adopted by the Board for the administration of this policy:
a. Review of Adviser Proxy Voting Procedures. The Adviser, with advice and counsel from the Board, shall present to the Board its policies, procedures and other guideline for voting proxies at least annually (the Voting Guidelines), and must notify the Board promptly of any material changes. In accordance with the foregoing, the Adviser has developed the Voting Guidelines which are attached hereto as Exhibit A.
b. Voting Record Reporting. No less than annually, the Adviser shall report to the Board a record of each proxy voted with respect to portfolio securities of the Funds during the respective year. With respect to those proxies the Adviser has identified as involving a conflict of interest(2), the Adviser shall submit a separate report indicating the nature of the conflict of interest and how that conflict was resolved with respect to the voting of the proxy.
4. Revocation. The delegation by the Board of the authority to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Funds is entirely voluntary and may be revoked by the Board, in whole or in part, at any time. This disclosure shall be included in any registration statement filed on behalf of the Funds after July 1, 2003.
5. Annual Filing. The Fund shall file an annual report of each proxy voted with respect to portfolio securities of the Funds during the twelve-month period ended June 30 on Form N-PX not later than August 31 of each year. The Fund must file the complete proxy voting record on an annual basis on
(1) This policy is adopted for the purpose of the disclosure requirements adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Releases No. 33-8188, 34-47304, IC-25922.
(2) As it is used in this document, the term conflict of interest refers to a situation in which the Adviser or affiliated persons of the adviser have a financial interest in a matter presented by a proxy other than the obligation it incurs as investment adviser to the Funds which compromises the Advisers independence of judgment and action with respect to the voting of the proxy.
Voting Policies and Procedures
this form. Form N-PX must contain complete proxy voting records for the 12 month period stated above, and must be signed on behalf of the Fund by the principal executive officers. This form must provide the following information:
1. Name of the issuer of the portfolio security
2. Exchange ticker symbol
3. CUSIP #
4. Shareholder meeting date
5. Brief indication of the matter voted on
6. Whether matter was proposed by the issuer or by a security holder
7. Whether the Fund cast its vote on the matter
8. How the Fund cast its vote
9. Whether the Fund cast its vote for or against management
6. Disclosures.
a. The Fund shall include in any future registration statement:
i. A description of the Voting Policies and the Voting Guidelines(3); and
ii. A statement disclosing that information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling the Funds toll-free telephone number; or through a specified Internet address; or both; and on the SEC website.(4)
b. The Fund shall include in its Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders:
i. A statement disclosing that the Voting Policies and Voting Guidelines are available without charge, upon request, by calling the Funds toll-free telephone number; or through a specified Internet address; and on the SEC website.(5)
ii. A statement disclosing that information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling the Funds toll-free telephone number; or through a specified Internet address; or both; and on the SEC website.(6)
7. Recordkeeping Requirements. SEC Rule 204-2, as amended, requires advisers to retain:
1. Proxy voting policies and procedures
2. Proxy statements received regarding client securities
3. Records of votes cast on behalf of clients
4. Records of written client requests
5. Any documents prepared by the adviser material to making a decision how to vote, or that memorialized the basis for the decision.
8. Review of Policy. At least annually, the Board shall review this Policy to determine its sufficiency and shall make and approve any changes that it deems necessary from time to time.
(3) This disclosure is included in all registration statements filed on behalf of the Funds after July 1, 2003.
(4) This disclosure is included in all registration statements filed on behalf of the Funds after August 31, 2004.
(5) This disclosure is included in all reports filed on behalf of the Funds after July 1, 2003.
(6) This disclosure is included in all reports filed on behalf of the Funds after August 31, 2004.
EXHIBIT A VOTING GUIDLINES
The Funds and Advisors proxy voting principles are summarized below, with specific examples of voting decisions for the types of proposals that are most frequently presented:
Category |
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Guideline |
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Voting |
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BOARD OF DIRECTOR ISSUES |
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The board of directors primary role is to protect the interests of all shareholders. Key functions of the board are to approve the direction of corporate strategy, ensure succession of management and evaluate performance of the corporation as well as senior management. The board is accountable to shareholders, and must operate independently from management. |
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Routine Elections |
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Generally we will vote with managements recommendation |
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Generally FOR |
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Board Classification |
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Generally we are opposed to entrenchment mechanisms and will vote against proposals to classify a board. We prefer annual election of directors in order that shareholders have more power to replace directors deemed to not be acting in the shareholders interest. |
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Generally AGAINST |
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Independence of Directors |
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The majority of board members should be independent from the corporation, management or a majority shareholder. An independent member should not be a former employee of the company or a representative of a key supplier to or a key client of the company. |
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We will generally support boards that have a majority of board members classified as independent. |
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Director Indemnification |
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Mandatory indemnification of directors and officers is necessary to attract quality candidates. |
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Generally FOR |
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Director Attendance |
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Board membership requires a significant amount of time in order for responsibilities to be executed, and attendance at Board and Committee meetings is noted. |
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We look for attendance records to be in the 75% participation range. |
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Term Limits |
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We are more concerned with the performance of directors and not with the term limits |
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Generally AGAINST but will look at on a case-by-case basis. |
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Separation of Chair and CEO |
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In most cases it is advisable for there to be a separation between the CEO and the Chair to enhance separation of management interests and shareholders. |
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In most cases we would support a recommendation to separate the Chair from the CEO. Lead directors are considered acceptable, and in this situation an independent Corporate Governance committee must also be in place. |
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Committees of the Board |
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Audit, Compensation, Governance and Nominating committees are the most significant committees of the board. |
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We support the establishment of these committees, however independent director membership on these committees is the primary concern. Two-thirds independent membership is satisfactory, provided that the chair of each committee is independent. |
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Audit Process |
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The members of an audit committee should be independent directors, and the auditor must also be independent. The auditor should report directly to the Audit |
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We will generally support the choice of auditors recommended by the Audit |
Voting Policies and Procedures
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Guideline |
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Voting |
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committee and not to management. |
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Committee. In the event that the auditor supplies other services for a fee other than the audit, each situation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. |
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VOTING AND ENTRENCHMENT ISSUES |
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Shareholder Right to Call Special Meeting |
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Generally FOR |
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Shareholder Right to Act by Written Consent |
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Generally FOR |
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Cumulative Voting |
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Our experience has been that cumulative voting is generally proposed by large shareholders who may wish to exert undue influence on the board. |
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Generally AGAINST, although we may consider if the board has been unresponsive to shareholders. |
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Confidentiality of Shareholder Voting |
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Like any other electoral system, the voting at annual and special meetings should be confidential and free from any potential coercion and/or impropriety. |
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We will support any proposals to introduce or maintain confidential voting. |
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Size of Board of Directors |
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Generally boards should be comprised of a minimum of seven to a maximum of fifteen. However the complexity of the company has an impact on required board size. |
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The independence of the board is a greater concern than the number of members. However should a change in board size be proposed as potentially an anti-takeover measure we would vote against. |
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COMPENSATION ISSUES |
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Director Compensation |
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Directors should be compensated fairly for the time and expertise they devote on behalf of shareholders. We favor directors personally owning shares in the corporation, and that they receive a substantial portion of their remuneration in the form of shares. |
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We support recommendations where a portion of the remuneration is to be in the form of common stock. We do not support options for directors, and do not support retirement bonuses or benefits for directors. |
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MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION |
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Compensation plans for executives should be designed to attract and retain the right people with exceptional skills to manage the company successfully long-term. These plans should be competitive within the companys respective industry without being excessive and should attempt to align the executives interests with the long-term interest of shareholders. |
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Executive compensation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. |
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Stock Options and Incentive Compensation Plans |
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Compensation plans should be designed to reward good performance of executives. They should also encourage management to own stock so as to align their financial interests with those of the shareholders. It is important that these plans are disclosed to the shareholders in detail for their approval. |
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We will not support plans with options priced below current market value or the lowering of the exercise price on any previously granted options. We will not support any plan amendment that is not |
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Guideline |
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Voting |
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capped or that results in anything but negligible dilution. We believe that shareholders should have a say in all aspects of option plans and therefore will not support omnibus stock option plans or plans where the Board is given discretion to set the terms. Plans will be considered on a case-by-case basis. |
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Adopt/Amend Employee Stock Purchase Plans |
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Considered on a case-by-case basis. |
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Golden Parachutes |
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Although we believe that golden parachutes may be a good way to attract, retain and encourage objectivity of qualified executives by providing financial security in the case of a change in the structure or control of a company, golden parachutes can be excessive. |
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Generally opposed but will consider on a case-by-case basis. |
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Require Shareholder Approval of Golden Parachutes |
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Generally FOR |
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TAKEOVER PROTECTIONS |
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Some companies adopt shareholder rights plans that incorporate anti-takeover measures, which may include: poison pills, crown jewel defense, payment of greenmail, going private transactions, leveraged buyouts, lock-up arrangements, Fair price amendments, Re-incorporation. Rights plans should be designed to ensure that all shareholders are treated equally in the event there is a change in control of a company. These plans should also provide the Board with sufficient time to ensure that the appropriate course of action is chosen to ensure shareholder interests have been protected. However, many shareholder rights plans can be used to prevent bids that might in fact be in the shareholders best interests. Depending on their contents, these plans may also adversely influence current share prices and long-term shareholder value. |
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We will review each situation on a case-by-case basis. We will generally support proposals that protect the rights and share value of shareholders. |
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Dual Class Shares |
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It is not unusual for certain classes of shares to have more than one vote per share. This is referred to as a dual class share structure and can result in a minority of shareholders having the ability to make decisions that may not be in the best interests of the majority of shareholders. |
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Generally AGAINST. |
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Super-Majority Voting Provisions |
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Super-majority voting (e.g., 67% of votes cast or a majority of outstanding shares), although fairly common, can, from a practical point of view, be difficult to obtain, and essentially are a bar from effective challenges to entrenched management, regardless of performance or popularity. A very high requirement can be unwieldy and therefore not in the best interest of the majority of shareholders. |
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Generally AGAINST. We will generally oppose proposals for voting requirements that are greater than a majority of votes cast. That said, we will review supermajority proposals on a case-by-case basis. |
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Guideline |
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Voting |
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Issuance of Authorized Shares |
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Generally FOR |
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Issuance of Unlimited or Additional Shares |
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Corporations may increase their authorized number of shares in order to implement a stock split, to support an acquisition or restructuring plan, to use in a stock option plan or to implement an anti-takeover plan. Shareholders should approve of the specific business need for the increase in the number of shares and should understand that the issuance of new shares can have a significant effect on the value of existing shares. |
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Generally AGAINST. We will generally oppose proposals to increase the number of authorized shares to unlimited, but will consider any proposals to increase the number of authorized shares on a case-by-case basis for a valid business purpose. |
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Shareholder Proposals |
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Shareholders should have the opportunity to raise their concerns or issues to company management, the board and other shareholders. As long as these proposals deal with appropriate issues and are not for the purposes of airing personal grievances or to obtain publicity, they should be included on the proxy ballot for consideration. |
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Shareholder proposals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. |
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OTHER MATTERS |
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Stock Repurchase Plans |
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Generally FOR |
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Stock Splits |
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Generally FOR |
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Require Shareholder Approval to issue Preferred Stock |
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Generally FOR |
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Corporate Loans to Employees |
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Corporate loans, or the guaranteeing of loans, to enable employees to purchase company stock or options should be avoided. These types of loans can be risky if the company stock declines or the employee is terminated. |
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Generally AGAINST. |
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Blank-cheque Preferred Shares |
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The authorization of blank-cheque preferred shares gives the board of directors complete discretion to fix voting, dividend, conversion and other rights and privileges. Once these shares have been authorized, the shareholders have no authority to determine how or when they will be allocated. There may be valid business reasons for the issuance of these shares but the potential for abuse outweighs the benefits. |
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Generally AGAINST. |
Dated: October 26, 2007
Stewart R. Horejsi together with Carl D. Johns, the Funds Vice President and Treasurer, are the Funds portfolio managers and are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds assets. Together, they are responsible for the Funds asset allocation and stock selection and for the research thereof; they are also responsible for managing the Funds cash and short-term investments. Messrs. Horejsi and Johns are referred to herein as the Portfolio Managers. Boulder Investment Advisers, LLC (BIA) and Stewart West Indies Trading Company, Ltd. d/b/a Stewart Investment Advisers (SIA) act as co-advisers to the Fund and are collectively referred to as the Advisers. The Portfolio Managers act as the portfolio managers with respect to the Fund and two other registered investment companies, the Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc. (BTF) and The Denali Fund Inc. (DNY). As of November 30, 2009, BTF and DNY had total assets, including leverage, of approximately $262.6 million and $107.6 million, respectively. Mr. Horejsi also acts as a financial consultant to other private trusts and entities associated with the Horejsi family (collectively, the Horejsi Affiliates) and consults with respect to their portfolios of equities having an aggregate value of approximately $642.8 million as of December 31, 2009. Mr. Horejsi has been the financial and investment adviser for the Horejsi Affiliates since 1982 and the senior investment manager for BIA and SIA since 1999. Mr. Johns has been the Vice President and Treasurer of BIA since 1999, Assistant Manager of Fund Administrative Services, LLC since 1999, Chief Accounting Officer, Vice President, and Treasurer of the Fund since 2002, of BTF since 1999, of First Opportunity Fund, Inc. since 2003, and of DNY since October 2007.
The Portfolio Managers are compensated with fixed salaries which are established based on a number of considerations, including, among others, job and portfolio performance, industry compensation and comparables, general economic conditions, and years of experience and service with the Advisers. The Portfolio Managers are reviewed from time to time and their salaries may be adjusted based on their recent and long-term job performance and cost of living increases. Generally, the Portfolio Managers do not receive bonuses.
Conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the Portfolio Managers management of the Funds investments. This is because the Portfolio Managers also serve as portfolio managers to BTF and DNY. Additionally, Mr. Horejsi consults with respect to a substantial portfolio of securities for the Horejsi Affiliates. From time to time, securities may meet the investment objectives of the Fund, BTF, DNY and the Horejsi Affiliates. In such cases, the decision to recommend a purchase to one fund or account rather than another is based on a number of factors. The determining factors in most cases are the amount of securities of the issuer then outstanding, the value of those securities and the market for them. Other factors considered in the investment recommendations include other investments that each fund or account presently has in a particular industry and the availability of investment funds in each fund or account. It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by more than one fund and/or account. However, positions in the same issue may vary and the length of time that any fund or account may choose to hold its investment in the same issue may likewise vary. To the extent that more than one of the funds or accounts managed by the Advisers or the Horejsi Affiliates seek to acquire the same security at about the same time, the Fund may not be able to acquire as large a position in such security as it desires or it may have to pay a higher price for the security. However, with respect to the assets of the Horejsi Affiliates may be advised from time to time by Mr. Horejsi, the Horejsi Affiliates have consented to allow the funds managed by the Advisers to complete the entirety of their transactions in any particular security before the Horejsi Affiliates will be allowed to transact in such security, thus giving the funds managed by the Advisers the first opportunity to trade in a particular security. The Fund may not be able to obtain as large an execution of an order to sell or as high a price for any particular portfolio security if the Advisers decide to sell on behalf of another account the same
portfolio security at the same time. On the other hand, if the same securities are bought or sold at the same time by more than one fund or account, the resulting participation in volume transactions could produce better executions for the Fund. In the event more than one account purchases or sells the same security on a given date, the purchases and sales will normally be made as nearly as practicable on a pro rata basis in proportion to the amounts desired to be purchased or sold by each account. Although the other funds managed by the Advisers may have the same or similar investment objectives and policies as the Fund, their respective portfolios do not generally consist of the same investments as the Fund and their respective performance results are likely to differ from those of the Fund.
Mr. Horejsi does not directly own any shares of the Fund. However, the Ernest Horejsi Trust No. 1B (the Ernest Trust), which has engaged Mr. Horejsi as a financial consultant and of which Mr. Horejsi is a discretionary beneficiary, holds 5,844,323 shares of the Fund as of November 30, 2009. Accordingly, Mr. Horejsi may be deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of such shares which have a dollar range in excess of $1 million. Mr. Johns holds between $100,001 and $500,000 of the shares of the Fund as of December 31, 2009.
No reportable purchases for the period covered by this report.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrants Board of Directors, where those changes were implemented after the Registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 7(d)(2)(ii)(G) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101), or this Item.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) The registrants principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrants disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).
(b) There were no changes in the registrants internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrants second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits.
(a)(1) Code of ethics, or any amendment thereto, that is the subject of disclosure required by Item 2 is attached hereto.
(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant) |
BOULDER GROWTH & INCOME FUND, INC. |
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By (Signature and Title) |
/s/ Stephen C. Miller |
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Stephen C. Miller,
President |
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Date: |
February 5, 2010 |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
By (Signature and Title) |
/s/ Stephen C. Miller |
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Stephen C. Miller,
President |
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Date: |
February 5, 2010 |
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By (Signature and Title) |
/s/ Carl D. Johns |
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Carl D. Johns, Vice
President and Treasurer |
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Date: |
February 5, 2010 |
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