Investment Company Act file number:
|
811-08747
|
PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS
|
|
December 31, 2014
|
December 31, 2014
TOP TEN
HOLDINGS
|
||
1
|
CSX Corp.
|
|
2
|
General Electric Company
|
|
3
|
Orange ADR
|
|
4
|
Honeywell International, Inc.
|
|
5
|
Johnson & Johnson
|
|
6
|
Cisco Systems, Inc.
|
|
7
|
Southern Company
|
|
8
|
Enbridge Inc.
|
|
9
|
Ace Ltd.
|
|
10
|
Merck & Co., Inc.
|
|
December 31, 2014
TOP TEN
INDUSTRIES
|
|
1
|
Pharmaceutical Preparations
|
2
|
Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies
|
3
|
Gold and Silver Ores
|
4
|
Telephone Communications
|
5
|
Railroads, Line-Haul Operating
|
6
|
Real Estate Investment Trusts
|
7
|
Cable & Other Pay Television Services
|
8
|
National Commercial Banks
|
9
|
Agricultural Chemicals
|
10
|
Electric Services
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS
|
|
December 31, 2014
|
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS
|
|
December 31, 2014
|
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS
|
December 31, 2014
|
Financial Statements
|
|
Shares
|
Common Stocks (103.58%)
|
Value
|
|||||
Agricultural Chemicals (3.45%)
|
|||||||
15,000 |
Monsanto Company
|
$ | 1,792,050 | ||||
45,000 |
Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.
|
1,589,400 | |||||
35,000 |
The Mosaic Company
|
1,597,750 | |||||
4,979,200 | |||||||
Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (0.52%)
|
|||||||
55,000 |
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC
|
746,106 | |||||
Beverages (1.18%)
|
|||||||
18,000 |
PepsiCo, Inc. (a)
|
1,702,080 | |||||
Biological Products (1.34%)
|
|||||||
12,100 |
Amgen Inc. (a)
|
1,927,409 | |||||
Cable & Other Pay Television Services (3.19%)
|
|||||||
32,500 |
Rogers Communications Inc.
|
1,262,950 | |||||
21,400 |
Time Warner Inc. (a)
|
1,827,988 | |||||
20,000 |
Viacom Inc.
|
1,505,000 | |||||
4,595,938 | |||||||
Cigarettes (0.56%)
|
|||||||
10,000 |
Philip Morris International, Inc. (a)
|
814,500 | |||||
Commercial Banks (2.18%)
|
|||||||
30,000 |
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (d)
|
787,826 | |||||
149,000 |
Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A.
|
747,980 | |||||
60,000 |
Westpac Banking Corporation
|
1,614,000 | |||||
3,149,806 | |||||||
Computer Communications Equipment (2.72%)
|
|||||||
85,000 |
Cisco Systems, Inc. (a)
|
2,364,275 | |||||
70,000 |
Juniper Networks, Inc.
|
1,562,400 | |||||
3,926,675 | |||||||
Conglomerate (1.02%)
|
|||||||
35,000 |
Loews Corp.
|
1,470,700 | |||||
Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equipment (0.67%)
|
|||||||
13,500 |
Dover Corp. (a)
|
968,220 | |||||
Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas (0.54%)
|
|||||||
75,000 |
LinnCo, LLC
|
777,750 | |||||
Deep Sea Foreign Transportation of Freight (0.62%)
|
|||||||
50,000 |
Seaspan Corp. (a)
|
901,000 | |||||
Dolls & Stuffed Toys (0.54%)
|
|||||||
25,000 |
Mattel, Inc. (a)
|
773,625 | |||||
Electric Services (2.69%)
|
|||||||
70,000 |
Calpine Corp. (a) (b)
|
1,549,100 | |||||
47,500 |
Southern Company (a)
|
2,332,725 | |||||
3,881,825 | |||||||
Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (1.01%)
|
|||||||
20,200 |
Medtronic, Inc. (a)
|
1,458,440 | |||||
See notes to financial statements.
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS
|
December 31, 2014
|
Financial Statements
|
|
Shares
|
Common Stocks (continued)
|
Value
|
|||||
Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (3.06%)
|
|||||||
111,900 |
General Electric Company (a)
|
$ | 2,827,713 | ||||
55,000 |
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
|
1,595,000 | |||||
4,422,713 | |||||||
Electronic & Other Services Combined (2.62%)
|
|||||||
51,500 |
Exelon Corp. (a)
|
1,909,620 | |||||
35,000 |
PG&E Corp. (a)
|
1,863,400 | |||||
3,773,020 | |||||||
Farm Machinery & Equipment (2.23%)
|
|||||||
37,000 |
AGCO Corporation (a)
|
1,672,400 | |||||
17,500 |
Deere & Company (a)
|
1,548,225 | |||||
3,220,625 | |||||||
Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (3.01%)
|
|||||||
20,000 |
Ace Ltd. (a)
|
2,297,600 | |||||
40,000 |
W.R. Berkley Corporation (a)
|
2,050,400 | |||||
4,348,000 | |||||||
Food & Kindred Products (0.76%)
|
|||||||
25,000 |
Campbell Soup Co. (a)
|
1,100,000 | |||||
Gold and Silver Ores (4.05%) | |||||||
125,000 |
Barrick Gold Corp. (a)
|
1,343,750 | |||||
225,000 |
Eldorado Gold Corp. (a)
|
1,368,000 | |||||
22,500 |
Randgold Resources Limited
|
1,516,725 | |||||
400,000 |
Yamana Gold Inc.
|
1,608,000 | |||||
5,836,475 | |||||||
Hospital & Medical Service Plans (1.49%)
|
|||||||
17,100 |
Anthem, Inc.
|
2,148,957 | |||||
Hotels & Motels (1.17%)
|
|||||||
29,000 |
Las Vegas Sands Corp.
|
1,686,640 | |||||
Household Audio & Video Equipment (0.11%)
|
|||||||
6,750 |
Knowles Corporation (a)
|
158,963 | |||||
Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (1.16%)
|
|||||||
32,500 |
Catamaran Corporation (b)
|
1,681,875 | |||||
Investment Advice (2.40%)
|
|||||||
55,000 |
The Blackstone Group L.P. (a)
|
1,860,650 | |||||
200,000 |
Fortress Investment Group LLC
|
1,604,000 | |||||
3,464,650 | |||||||
Leather & Leather Products (0.78%)
|
|||||||
30,000 |
Coach, Inc. (a)
|
1,126,800 | |||||
Metal Mining (1.12%)
|
|||||||
35,000 |
Rio Tinto plc ADR
|
1,612,100 | |||||
Mining Machinery & Equipment (0.89%)
|
|||||||
27,500 |
Joy Global Inc.
|
1,279,300 | |||||
Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (1.03%)
|
|||||||
20,000 |
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
|
1,486,000 | |||||
See notes to financial statements.
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS
|
December 31, 2014
|
Financial Statements
|
|
Shares
|
Common Stocks (continued)
|
Value
|
Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (1.73%)
|
||
25,000
|
Honeywell International, Inc. (a)
|
$ 2,498,000
|
Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies (4.48%)
|
||
20,000
|
Daimler AG (a)
|
1,648,000
|
120,000
|
Ford Motor Company
|
1,860,000
|
41,500
|
General Motors Company (a)
|
1,448,765
|
35,000
|
Volkswagen AG
|
1,507,100
|
6,463,865
|
||
National Commercial Banks (3.51%)
|
|
|
20,200
|
Capital One Financial Corporation (a)
|
1,667,510
|
39,000
|
U.S. Bancorp
|
1,753,050
|
30,000
|
Wells Fargo & Company
|
1,644,600
|
5,065,160
|
||
Office Furniture (0.69%)
|
||
110,000
|
Kimball International Inc. Class B
|
1,003,200
|
Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (0.09%)
|
||
4,800
|
NOW Inc. (a)
|
123,504
|
Periodicals: Publishing or Publishing & Printing (0.05%)
|
||
2,675
|
Time Inc. (a)
|
65,832
|
Petroleum Refining (1.87%)
|
||
20,500
|
Phillips 66 (a)
|
1,469,850
|
32,500
|
Western Refining, Inc.
|
1,227,850
|
2,697,700
|
||
Pharmaceutical Preparations (4.96%)
|
|
|
23,100
|
Johnson & Johnson (a)
|
2,415,567
|
40,300
|
Merck & Co., Inc. (a)
|
2,288,637
|
37,924
|
Pfizer Inc.
|
1,181,332
|
27,900
|
Sanofi ADR (a)
|
1,272,519
|
7,158,055
|
||
Pipelines (1.60%)
|
|
|
45,000
|
Enbridge Inc. (a)
|
2,313,450
|
Plastic Mail, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulose (0.77%)
|
||
50,000
|
Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.
|
1,115,000
|
Printed Circuit Boards (0.69%)
|
||
82,500
|
Kimball Electronics, Inc. (b)
|
991,650
|
Radio & TV Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (1.49%)
|
||
45,600
|
NTT DOCOMO, INC.
|
665,760
|
20,000
|
QUALCOMM, Incorporated (a)
|
1,486,600
|
2,152,360
|
||
Radiotelephone Communications (1.07%)
|
|
|
45,000
|
Vodafone Group PLC
|
1,537,650
|
Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (3.86%)
|
||
108,500
|
CSX Corp. (a)
|
3,930,955
|
15,000
|
Norfolk Southern Corp.
|
1,644,150
|
5,575,105
|
||
See notes to financial statements.
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS
|
December 31, 2014
|
Financial Statements
|
|
Shares
|
Common Stocks (continued)
|
Value
|
|||||
Real Estate (0.78%)
|
|||||||
50,000 |
NorthStar Asset Management Group Inc.
|
$ | 1,128,500 | ||||
Retail - Department Stores (1.21%)
|
|||||||
28,600 |
Kohl's Corporation
|
1,745,744 | |||||
Retail - Eating Places (1.20%)
|
|||||||
18,500 |
McDonald's Corp. (a)
|
1,733,450 | |||||
Retail - Family Clothing Stores (1.17%)
|
|||||||
40,000 |
The GAP, Inc. (a)
|
1,684,400 | |||||
Retail - Variety Stores (2.00%)
|
|||||||
16,000 |
Target Corp. (a)
|
1,214,560 | |||||
19,400 |
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
|
1,666,072 | |||||
2,880,632 | |||||||
Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (0.63%)
|
|||||||
60,000 |
People's United Financial, Inc. (a)
|
910,800 | |||||
Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (1.14%)
|
|||||||
33,000 |
Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.
|
1,644,060 | |||||
Services - Business Services (2.33%)
|
|||||||
83,000 |
The Western Union Company (a)
|
1,486,530 | |||||
135,000 |
Xerox Corporation
|
1,871,100 | |||||
3,357,630 | |||||||
Services - Medical Laboratories (2.35%)
|
|||||||
14,000 |
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (a) (b)
|
1,510,600 | |||||
28,000 |
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
|
1,877,680 | |||||
3,388,280 | |||||||
Services - Miscellaneous Repair Services (0.02%)
|
|||||||
756 |
Aquilex Holdings LLC Units (c)
|
26,935 | |||||
Services - Prepackaged Software (2.56%)
|
|||||||
55,000 |
CA, Inc. (a)
|
1,674,750 | |||||
45,000 |
Oracle Corporation (a)
|
2,023,650 | |||||
3,698,400 | |||||||
Soap, Detergent, Cleaning Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2.15%)
|
|||||||
18,000 |
The Procter & Gamble Company (a)
|
1,639,620 | |||||
37,500 |
Unilever N.V.
|
1,464,000 | |||||
3,103,620 | |||||||
Specialty Cleaning, Polishing and Sanitation Preparations (1.23%)
|
|||||||
17,000 |
Clorox Co. (a)
|
1,771,570 | |||||
Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (2.40%)
|
|||||||
27,000 |
Baxter International Inc. (a)
|
1,978,830 | |||||
10,700 |
Becton, Dickinson and Company (a)
|
1,489,012 | |||||
3,467,842 | |||||||
Telephone Communications (3.92%)
|
|||||||
43,000 |
CenturyLink, Inc. (a)
|
1,701,940 | |||||
150,000 |
Orange ADR
|
2,538,000 | |||||
100,000 |
Telefonica, S.A.
|
1,421,000 | |||||
5,660,940 | |||||||
Title Insurance (1.53%)
|
|||||||
65,000 |
First American Financial Corporation
|
2,203,500 | |||||
See notes to financial statements.
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS
|
December 31, 2014
|
Financial Statements
|
|
Shares
|
Common Stocks (concluded)
|
Value
|
|||||
Water Transportation (0.75%)
|
|||||||
23,800 |
Carnival Corp. (a)
|
$ | 1,078,854 | ||||
Wholesale - Groceries & Related Products (1.24%)
|
|||||||
45,000 |
Sysco Corp. (a)
|
1,786,050 | |||||
Total common stocks (Cost $127,439,862)
|
149,451,130 | ||||||
Principal Amount
|
Corporate Bonds and Notes (1.97%)
|
||||||
Cable & Other Pay Television Services (0.36%)
|
|||||||
500,000 |
CCO Holdings LLC, 7.00%, 1/15/19 (a)
|
520,000 | |||||
Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (0.33%)
|
|||||||
450,000 |
Covanta Holding Corp., 7.25%, 12/1/20 (a)
|
480,375 | |||||
Electric Services (0.41%)
|
|||||||
541,411 |
Elwood Energy LLC, 8.159%, 7/5/26 (a)
|
591,492 | |||||
Hospital & Medical Service Plans (0.19%)
|
|||||||
250,000 |
Health Net, Inc., 6.375%, 6/1/17 (a)
|
271,250 | |||||
Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (0.10%)
|
|||||||
169,000 |
CGG-Veritas, 7.75%, 5/15/17 (a)
|
145,762 | |||||
Special Industry Machinery (0.36%)
|
|||||||
500,000 |
Novelis, Inc., 8.375%, 12/15/17 (a)
|
519,375 | |||||
Wholesale - Electronic Parts & Equipment, NEC (0.22%)
|
|||||||
300,000 |
Brightstar Corp., 9.50%, 12/1/16 (a) (d)
|
315,375 | |||||
Total corporate bonds and notes (Cost $2,740,888)
|
2,843,629 | ||||||
Shares
|
Real Estate Investment Trusts (3.73%)
|
||||||
34,500 |
HCP, Inc.
|
1,519,035 | |||||
22,500 |
Health Care REIT, Inc.
|
1,702,575 | |||||
100,000 |
New Residential Investment Corp.
|
1,277,000 | |||||
50,000 |
NorthStar Realty Finance Corp.
|
879,000 | |||||
Total real estate investment trusts (Cost $4,513,139)
|
5,377,610 | ||||||
Units
|
Reorganization Interests (0%)
|
||||||
813,527 |
Penson Technologies LLC (b) (c) (Cost $0)
|
0 | |||||
See notes to financial statements.
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS
|
December 31, 2014
|
Financial Statements
|
|
Shares
|
Master Limited Partnerships (1.00%)
|
Value
|
|||||
Natural Gas Transmission (1.00%)
|
|||||||
40,000 |
Enterprise Products Partners LP (a) (Cost $374,214)
|
$ | 1,444,800 | ||||
Preferred Stocks (1.50%)
|
|||||||
Financial (1.50%)
|
|||||||
79,469 |
Annaly Capital Management, Inc., 7.625% Series C
|
1,981,957 | |||||
7,473 |
Hatteras Financial Corp., 7.625% Series A
|
177,484 | |||||
80,000 |
Solar Cayman Ltd. (a) (b) (c)
|
0 | |||||
Total preferred stocks (Cost $2,515,815)
|
2,159,441 | ||||||
Money Market Fund (0%)
|
|||||||
11 |
SSgA Money Market Fund, 7 day annualized yield 0.01% (Cost $11)
|
11 | |||||
Total investments (Cost $137,583,929) (111.78%)
|
161,276,621 | ||||||
Liabilities in excess of other assets (-11.78%)
|
(16,996,902 | ) | |||||
Net assets (100.00%)
|
$ | 144,279,719 | |||||
(a) All or a portion of these securities have been segregated as collateral pursuant to the bank credit facility. As of December 31, 2014, the value of securities pledged as collateral was $81,699,852 and there were no securities on loan under the lending agreement.
(b) Non-income producing.
(c) Illiquid and/or restricted security that has been fair valued.
(d) These securities are exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.
ADR American Depositary Receipt
LLC Limited Liability Company
LP Limited Partnership
PLC Public Limited Company
See notes to financial statements.
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
|
|
Financial Statements
|
|
December 31, 2014
|
||||
Assets
|
||||
Investments, at value (cost: $137,583,929)
|
$ | 161,276,621 | ||
Receivables:
|
||||
Dividends
|
322,190 | |||
Capital shares issued on reinvestment of dividends
|
200,294 | |||
Interest
|
47,994 | |||
Other assets
|
35,194 | |||
Total assets
|
161,882,293 | |||
Liabilities
|
||||
Bank credit facility borrowing
|
17,284,313 | |||
Payables:
|
||||
Accrued expenses
|
156,670 | |||
Investment management
|
126,465 | |||
Administrative services
|
35,126 | |||
Total liabilities
|
17,602,574 | |||
Net Assets
|
$ | 144,279,719 | ||
Net Asset Value Per Share
|
||||
(applicable to 8,658,541 shares issued and outstanding)
|
$ | 16.66 | ||
Net Assets Consist of
|
||||
Paid in capital
|
$ | 169,382,412 | ||
Accumulated net realized loss on investments
|
(48,795,100 | ) | ||
Net unrealized appreciation on investments
|
23,692,407 | |||
$ | 144,279,719 | |||
See notes to financial statements.
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
|
|
Financial Statements
|
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2014
|
||||
Investment Income
|
||||
Dividends (net of $57,383 foreign tax withholding)
|
$ | 4,872,031 | ||
Interest
|
339,370 | |||
Securities lending income
|
1,869 | |||
Total investment income
|
5,213,270 | |||
Expenses
|
||||
Investment management
|
1,497,852 | |||
Administrative services
|
197,360 | |||
Legal
|
119,679 | |||
Interest on bank credit facility
|
118,976 | |||
Bookkeeping and pricing
|
88,855 | |||
Shareholder communications
|
64,828 | |||
Trustees
|
52,720 | |||
Insurance
|
46,665 | |||
Exchange listing and registration
|
36,550 | |||
Auditing
|
35,170 | |||
Custodian
|
34,335 | |||
Transfer agent
|
11,385 | |||
Other
|
6,229 | |||
Total expenses
|
2,310,604 | |||
Expense reduction
|
(217 | ) | ||
Net expenses
|
2,310,387 | |||
Net investment income
|
2,902,883 | |||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
|
||||
Net realized gain (loss) on
|
||||
Investments
|
10,788,836 | |||
Foreign currencies
|
(18,479 | ) | ||
Unrealized depreciation on
|
||||
Investments
|
(4,164,932 | ) | ||
Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies
|
(271 | ) | ||
Net realized and unrealized gain
|
6,605,154 | |||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
|
$ | 9,508,037 | ||
See notes to financial statements.
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
|
|
Financial Statements
|
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2014
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2013
|
|||||||
Operations
|
||||||||
Net investment income
|
$ | 2,902,883 | $ | 2,738,392 | ||||
Net realized gain on investments
|
10,770,357 | 14,323,448 | ||||||
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
|
(4,165,203 | ) | 13,394,710 | |||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
|
9,508,037 | 30,456,550 | ||||||
Distributions to Shareholders
|
||||||||
Net investment income
|
(14,080,335 | ) | (7,788,013 | ) | ||||
Tax return of capital
|
- | (3,133,278 | ) | |||||
Total distributions
|
(14,080,335 | ) | (10,921,291 | ) | ||||
Capital Share Transactions
|
||||||||
Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders
|
771,174 | 431,872 | ||||||
Proceeds from shares issued in rights offering
|
- | 34,449,298 | ||||||
Offering costs of rights offering charged to paid in capital
|
- | (286,277 | ) | |||||
Increase in net assets from capital share transactions
|
771,174 | 34,594,893 | ||||||
Total change in net assets
|
(3,801,124 | ) | 54,130,152 | |||||
Net Assets
|
||||||||
Beginning of period
|
148,080,843 | 93,950,691 | ||||||
End of period
|
$ | 144,279,719 | $ | 148,080,843 | ||||
End of period net assets include undistributed net investment income
|
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
See notes to financial statements.
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
Financial Statements
|
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2014
|
||||
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
|
||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
|
$ | 9,508,037 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile increase in net assets resulting from operations
|
||||
to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
|
||||
Unrealized depreciation of investments
|
4,164,659 | |||
Net realized gain on sales of investments
|
(10,770,357 | ) | ||
Purchase of long term investments
|
(81,604,901 | ) | ||
Proceeds from sales of long term investments
|
96,314,029 | |||
Net purchases of short term investments
|
(18,490 | ) | ||
Amortization of premium net of accretion of discount of investments
|
1,153 | |||
Decrease in interest receivable
|
53,553 | |||
Decrease in dividends receivable
|
121,110 | |||
Increase in other assets
|
(2,335 | ) | ||
Decrease in securities purchased
|
(263,761 | ) | ||
Decrease in accrued expenses
|
(90,143 | ) | ||
Decrease in investment management fee payable
|
(8,327 | ) | ||
Decrease in administrative services payable
|
(11,867 | ) | ||
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
17,392,360 | |||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
|
||||
Cash distributions paid
|
(13,330,373 | ) | ||
Bank credit facility repayment
|
(4,061,987 | ) | ||
Net cash used in financing activities
|
(17,392,360 | ) | ||
Net change in cash
|
- | |||
Cash
|
||||
Beginning of period
|
- | |||
End of period
|
$ | - | ||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
|
||||
Cash paid for interest on bank credit facility
|
$ | 119,103 | ||
Non-cash financing activities not included herein consisted of:
|
||||
Reinvestment of dividend distributions
|
$ | 749,962 | ||
See notes to financial statements.
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
December 31, 2014
|
Financial Statements
|
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
December 31, 2014 continued
|
Financial Statements
|
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
December 31, 2014 continued
|
Financial Statements
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
Tax characteristics of distributions:
|
2014
|
2013
|
||||||
Ordinary income
|
$ | 14,080,335 | $ | 7,788,013 | ||||
Return of capital
|
- | 3,133,278 | ||||||
Total distribution
|
$ | 14,080,335 | $ | 10,921,291 | ||||
Accumulated net realized loss on investments
|
$ | (45,474,186 | ) | |
Post-October Losses
|
(3,550,404 | ) | ||
Unrealized appreciation
|
23,921,897 | |||
$ | (25,102,693 | ) | ||
Accumulated
Net Investment Income
|
Accumulated Net Realized
Gains on Investments
|
Paid
in Capital
|
$11,177,451
|
$272,059
|
$ (11,449,510)
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
December 31, 2014 continued
|
Financial Statements
|
ASSETS
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3
|
Total
|
||||||||||||
Investments, at value
|
||||||||||||||||
Common stocks
|
$ | 149,424,195 | $ | - | $ | 26,935 | $ | 149,451,130 | ||||||||
Corporate bonds and notes
|
- | 2,843,629 | - | 2,843,629 | ||||||||||||
Real estate investment trusts
|
5,377,610 | - | - | 5,377,610 | ||||||||||||
Reorganization interests
|
- | - | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Master limited partnerships
|
1,444,800 | - | - | 1,444,800 | ||||||||||||
Preferred stocks
|
2,159,441 | - | 0 | 2,159,441 | ||||||||||||
Money market fund
|
11 | - | - | 11 | ||||||||||||
Total investments, at value
|
$ | 158,406,057 | $ | 2,843,629 | $ | 26,935 | $ | 161,276,621 | ||||||||
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
December 31, 2014 continued
|
Financial Statements
|
Common
Stocks
|
Reorganization
Interests
|
Preferred
Stocks
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2013
|
$ | 130,086 | $ | - | $ | 0 | $ | 130,086 | ||||||||
Proceeds from sales
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Realized gain (loss)
|
- | 0 | - | 0 | ||||||||||||
Transfers into (out of) level 3
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Change in unrealized depreciation
|
(103,151 | ) | - | - | (103,151 | ) | ||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2014
|
$ | 26,935 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 26,935 | ||||||||
Net change in unrealized depreciation
|
||||||||||||||||
attributable to assets still held as level 3
|
$ | (103,151 | ) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | (103,151 | ) | ||||||
at December 31, 2014
|
||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2014
|
Fair Value
|
Valuation Technique
|
Unobservable Input
|
Range
|
Common Stocks
|
||||
Services - Miscellaneous
Repair Services
|
$ 26,935
|
Share of taxable income and
comparable exchange offer
|
Discount rate for lack of marketability
|
35%
|
Reorganization Interests
|
$ 0
|
Cost; last known market value for predecessor securities; estimated recovery on liquidation
|
Discount rate for lack of marketability
|
100%
|
Preferred Stocks
|
||||
Financial
|
$ 0
|
Most recently reported net
asset value
|
Discount rate for lack of marketability
|
100%
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
December 31, 2014 continued
|
Financial Statements
|
Acquisition Date
|
Cost
|
Value
|
|||||||
Aquilex Holdings LLC
|
3/08/12
|
$ | 496,372 | $ | 26,935 | ||||
Penson Technologies LLC
|
4/09/14
|
0 | 0 | ||||||
Solar Cayman Ltd.
|
3/07/07
|
568,802 | 0 | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 1,065,174 | $ | 26,935 | |||||
Percent of net assets
|
0.74 | % | 0.02 | % | |||||
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
December 31, 2014 continued
|
Financial Statements
|
Year Ended
|
Year Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
December 31, 2014
|
December 31, 2013
|
|||||||||||||||
Shares issued in:
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
||||||||||||
Reinvestment of distributions
|
48,895 | $ | 771,174 | 28,922 | $ | 431,872 | ||||||||||
Rights offering
|
- | - | 2,529,317 | 34,449,298 | ||||||||||||
48,895 | $ | 771,174 | 2,558,239 | $ | 34,881,170 | |||||||||||
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
|
December 31, 2014
|
Financial Statements
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
One Month
Ended
Dec 31, 2011(1)
|
Year Ended November 30,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Per Share Operating Performance
|
2014
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011 | 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period
|
$ | 17.20 | $ | 15.53 | $ | 15.48 | $ | 16.88 | $ | 17.36 | $ | 16.76 | ||||||||||||
Income from investment operations: (2)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income
|
0.34 | 0.40 | 0.56 | 0.08 | 0.96 | 0.80 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
|
0.76 | 4.12 | 1.13 | 0.20 | (0.08 | ) | 1.44 | |||||||||||||||||
Total income from investment operations
|
1.10 | 4.52 | 1.69 | 0.28 | 0.88 | 2.24 | ||||||||||||||||||
Less distributions:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income
|
(1.63 | ) | (1.16 | ) | (0.56 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.92 | ) | (1.40 | ) | ||||||||||||
Return of capital
|
- | (0.47 | ) | (1.07 | ) | (0.32 | ) | (0.44 | ) | (0.24 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total distributions
|
(1.63 | ) | (1.63 | ) | (1.63 | ) | (0.40 | ) | (1.36 | ) | (1.64 | ) | ||||||||||||
Fund share transactions
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Effect of reinvestment of distributions
|
(0.01 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.01 | ) | - | * | - | * | - | * | ||||||||||||
Decrease in net asset value from rights offering
|
- | (1.21 | ) | - | (1.28 | ) | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
Total Fund share transactions
|
(0.01 | ) | (1.22 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (1.28 | ) | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period (3)
|
$ | 16.66 | $ | 17.20 | $ | 15.53 | $ | 15.48 | $ | 16.88 | $ | 17.36 | ||||||||||||
Market value, end of period (3)
|
$ | 15.12 | $ | 15.11 | $ | 13.53 | $ | 13.72 | $ | 13.84 | $ | 16.92 | ||||||||||||
Total Return (4)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Based on net asset value
|
7.28 | % | 23.35 | % | 12.67 | % | (5.52 | )% | 5.61 | % | 14.55 | % | ||||||||||||
Based on market price
|
10.83 | % | 24.38 | % | 10.75 | % | 2.13 | % | (11.15 | )% | 28.17 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data (5)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)
|
$ | 144,280 | $ | 148,081 | $ | 93,951 | $ | 93,123 | $ | 71,329 | $ | 73,322 | ||||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets of:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses (6)
|
1.55 | % | 1.87 | % | 2.57 | % | 2.09 | %** | 2.02 | % | 2.63 | % | ||||||||||||
Net expenses (7)
|
1.55 | % | 1.87 | % | 2.57 | % | 2.09 | %** | 2.00 | % | 2.50 | % | ||||||||||||
Net expenses excluding interest expense
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
and fees on bank credit facility
|
1.47 | % | 1.72 | % | 2.30 | % | 1.78 | %** | 1.73 | % | N/A | |||||||||||||
Total expenses excluding commercial paper
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
interest expense and fees (8)
|
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2.20 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Net expenses excluding commercial paper
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
interest expense and fees (8)
|
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2.07 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial paper interest expense and fees (8)
|
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.43 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Net investment income
|
1.94 | % | 2.38 | % | 3.56 | % | 6.28 | %** | 5.44 | % | 4.73 | % | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate
|
52 | % | 45 | % | 13 | % | 0 | % | 24 | % | 51 | % | ||||||||||||
Leverage analysis (000s omitted):
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding loan balance under the bank credit
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
facility, end of period
|
$ | 17,284 | $ | 21,346 | $ | 21,348 | $ | 17,815 | $ | 18,209 | $ | 20,000 | ||||||||||||
Aggregate amount of commercial paper outstanding,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
end of period (8)
|
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||
Average daily balance of amortized cost of commercial
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
paper outstanding, end of period (8)
|
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||
Asset coverage per $1,000, end of period
|
$ | 9,347 | $ | 7,937 | $ | 5,401 | $ | 6,227 | $ | 4,917 | $ | 4,666 |
|
(1)The Fund changed its fiscal year from November 30 to December 31, effective December 31, 2011.
|
|
(2)The per share amounts were calculated using the average number of shares outstanding during the period.
|
|
(3)The Fund implemented a 1-for-4 reverse stock split with an ex-dividend date of December 10, 2012. Prior period net asset values and per share amounts have been restated to reflect the impact of the reverse stock split. The net asset value and market price reported at the original dates prior to the reverse stock split were $3.87, $4.22, and $4.34 and $3.43, $3.46, and $4.23, respectively, for the one month period ended December 31, 2011 and the years ended November 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
|
|
(4)Total return on a market value basis is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the opening of the first day and a sale on the closing of the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed for purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Generally, total return on a net asset value basis will be higher than total return on a market value basis in periods where there is an increase in the discount or a decrease in the premium of the market value to the net asset value from the beginning to the end of such periods. Conversely, total return on a net asset value basis will be lower than total return on a market value basis in periods where there is a decrease in the discount or an increase in the premium of the market value to the net asset value from the beginning to the end of such periods. Total return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. The calculation does not reflect brokerage commissions, if any.
|
|
(5)Expenses and income ratios do not include expenses incurred by the Acquired Funds in which the Fund invests.
|
|
(6)“Total expenses” are the expenses of the Fund as presented in the Statement of Operations before fee waivers and expense reductions.
|
|
(7)“Net expenses” are the expenses of the Fund presented in the Statement of Operations after fee waivers and expense reductions. Fees waived by the Investment Manager reduced the ratio of net expenses by 0.02%, and 0.13%, for the years ended November 30, 2011, and 2010, respectively.
|
|
(8)Effective April 26, 2010, the Fund replaced its commercial paper program with a bank line of credit facility.
|
|
*Less than $0.01 per share.
|
|
**Annualized.
|
|
N/A means not applicable.
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
December 31, 2014
|
Additional Information
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
POLICIES AND UPDATES
|
(Unaudited)
|
Additional Information
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
DIVIDENDS
|
(Unaudited)
|
Additional Information
|
2015 Quarterly Distribution Dates
|
||
Declaration
|
Record
|
Payment
|
March 2
|
March 16
|
March 31
|
June 1
|
June 15
|
June 30
|
September 1
|
September 16
|
September 30
|
December 1
|
December 15
|
December 30
|
HISTORICAL DISTRIBUTION SUMMARY*
|
||||||||||||||||
PERIOD
|
Investment Income**
|
Return of Capital
|
Capital Gains
|
Total
|
||||||||||||
2014
|
$ | 1.63 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 1.63 | ||||||||
2013
|
$ | 1.16 | $ | 0.47 | $ | - | $ | 1.63 | ||||||||
2012
|
$ | 0.56 | $ | 1.07 | $ | - | $ | 1.63 | ||||||||
2011
|
$ | 1.00 | $ | 0.76 | $ | - | $ | 1.76 | ||||||||
2010
|
$ | 1.40 | $ | 0.24 | $ | - | $ | 1.64 | ||||||||
2009
|
$ | 1.56 | $ | 0.08 | $ | - | $ | 1.64 | ||||||||
2008
|
$ | 2.36 | $ | 1.08 | $ | - | $ | 3.44 | ||||||||
2007
|
$ | 3.36 | $ | 0.20 | $ | - | $ | 3.56 | ||||||||
2006
|
$ | 3.72 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 3.72 | ||||||||
2005
|
$ | 2.12 | $ | 1.88 | $ | - | $ | 4.00 | ||||||||
2004
|
$ | 2.16 | $ | 1.84 | $ | - | $ | 4.00 | ||||||||
2003
|
$ | 2.44 | $ | 1.56 | $ | - | $ | 4.00 | ||||||||
2002
|
$ | 2.64 | $ | 1.84 | $ | - | $ | 4.48 | ||||||||
2001
|
$ | 2.60 | $ | 2.36 | $ | - | $ | 4.96 | ||||||||
2000
|
$ | 3.20 | $ | 1.76 | $ | - | $ | 4.96 | ||||||||
1999
|
$ | 3.44 | $ | 1.40 | $ | 0.12 | $ | 4.96 | ||||||||
From June 29, 1998 to November 30, 1998
|
$ | 1.64 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 1.64 | ||||||||
*The Fund implemented a 1-for-4 reverse stock split with an ex-date of December 10, 2012. Prior period distribution amounts have been restated to reflect the impact of the reverse stock split.
|
||||||||||||||||
**Investment income may include excess gains taxable as ordinary income.
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
DIVIDENDS
|
(Unaudited)
|
Additional Information
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
DIVIDENDS
|
(Unaudited)
|
Additional Information
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
|
(Unaudited)
|
Additional Information
|
INTERESTED TRUSTEE
|
|||||
Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
|
Position(s)
Held
with the
Fund
|
Trustee
Since
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
for the Past Five Years
|
Number of Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee (1)
|
Other
Directorships Held by
Trustee (2)
|
THOMAS B. WINMILL,
ESQ.(3)
PO Box 4, Walpole,
NH 03608
June 25, 1959
|
Class II Trustee
|
2011
|
He is President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Trustee or Director of the Fund, Foxby Corp., and Midas Series Trust. He is President, Chief Executive Officer, and General Counsel of the Investment Manager and Midas Management Corporation (registered investment advisers, collectively, the “Advisers”), Bexil Securities LLC and Midas Securities Group, Inc. (registered broker-dealers, collectively, the “Broker-Dealers”), Bexil Corporation, and Winmill & Co. Incorporated (“Winco”). He is a Director and Vice President of Self Storage Group, Inc. He is a Director of Bexil American Mortgage Inc. and Castle Mortgage Corporation. He is Vice President of Tuxis Corporation. He is Chairman of the Investment Policy Committee of each of the Advisers (the “IPCs”), which currently manages Foxby Corp., Midas Magic, and Midas Perpetual Portfolio, and he is the sole portfolio manager of the Fund and Midas Fund. He is a member of the New York State Bar and the SEC Rules Committee of the Investment Company Institute.
|
6
|
None
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
|
|||||
BRUCE B. HUBER,
CLU, ChFC, MSFS
February 7, 1930
|
Class I Trustee
|
2011
|
Retired. He is a former Financial Representative with New England Financial, specializing in financial, estate, and insurance matters. He is a member of the Board, emeritus, of the Millbrook School, and Chairman of the Endowment Board of the Community YMCA of Red Bank, NJ.
|
6
|
None
|
JAMES E. HUNT December 14, 1930
|
Class III
Trustee
|
2011
|
He is a Limited Partner of Hunt Howe Partners LLC, executive recruiting consultants.
|
6
|
None
|
PETER K. WERNER
August 16, 1959
|
Class II
Trustee
|
2011
|
Since 1996, he has been teaching, coaching, and directing a number of programs at The Governor's Academy of Byfield, MA. Currently, he serves as chair of the History Department. Previously, he held the position of Vice President in the Fixed Income Departments of Lehman Brothers and First Boston. His responsibilities included trading sovereign debt instruments, currency arbitrage, syndication, medium term note trading, and money market trading.
|
6
|
None
|
(1)The Fund Complex is comprised of the Fund, Foxby Corp., Self Storage Group, Inc., and Midas Series Trust which are managed by the Investment Manager or its affiliates.
(2)Refers to directorships held by a trustee in any company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any company registered as an investment company under the Act, excluding those within the Fund Complex.
(3) He is an “interested person” of the Fund as defined in the Act due to his affiliation with the Investment Manager. Messrs. Huber, Hunt, and Werner also serve on the Audit and Nominating Committees of the Board. Mr. Winmill also serves on the Executive Committee of the Board. Each of the trustees serves on the Continuing Trustees Committee of the Board.
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
|
(Unaudited)
|
Additional Information
|
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
|
|||
Name and
Date of Birth
|
Position(s)
Held with
the Fund
|
Officer
Since*
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
for the Past Five Years
|
Russell Kamerman,
Esq.
July 8, 1982
|
Chief Compliance Officer,
AML Officer, Associate
General
Counsel, Vice President and Assistant Secretary
|
2014
|
From September 2008 through December 2014, he was an attorney in private practice focusing on regulatory, compliance and other general corporate matters relating to the structure, formation and operation of investment funds and investment advisers. Since December 2014, he has served as Chief Compliance Officer, Anti-Money Laundering Officer, Associate General Counsel, Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the other investment companies in the Fund Complex, the Advisers, Bexil Corporation, Tuxis Corporation and Winco. He is a member of the New York State Bar.
|
Heidi Keating
March 28, 1959
|
Vice President
|
2011
|
Vice President of the other investment companies in the Fund Complex, the Advisers, Bexil Corporation, Winco, and Tuxis Corporation. She is a member of the IPCs.
|
Thomas O’Malley
July 22, 1958
|
Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Vice President
|
2011
|
Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, and Treasurer of the other investment companies in the Fund Complex, the Advisers, the Broker-Dealers, Bexil Corporation, Winco, and Tuxis Corporation. He is a certified public accountant.
|
John F. Ramirez, Esq.
April 29, 1977
|
General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, Vice President, and Secretary
|
2011
|
General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, Vice President, and Secretary of the other investment companies in the Fund Complex and Tuxis Corporation. He is Vice President, Associate General Counsel, and Secretary of the Advisers, the Broker-Dealers, Bexil Corporation, and Winco. Additionally, he is Chief Compliance Officer of the Broker-Dealers. He is a member of the IPCs. He also is a member of the New York State Bar and the Chief Compliance Officer Committee and the Compliance Advisory Committee of the Investment Company Institute.
|
Mark C. Winmill
November 26, 1957
|
Vice President
|
2012
|
Vice President of the other investment companies in the Fund Complex and the Advisers. He is a member of the IPCs. He is President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of Self Storage Group, Inc. and Tuxis Corporation. He is Executive Vice President and a Director of Winco, Vice President of Bexil Corporation, and a principal of the Broker-Dealers.
|
*Officers hold their positions with the Fund until a successor has been duly elected and qualifies. Officers are generally elected annually. The officers were last elected on December 10, 2014.
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
Annual Report 2014
|
|
GENERAL INFORMATION
|
(Unaudited)
|
Additional Information
|
STOCK DATA AT DECEMBER 31, 2014
|
|
NYSE Market Price per Share
|
$15.12
|
Net Asset Value per Share
|
$16.66
|
Market Price Discount to Net Asset Value
|
9.2%
|
NYSE Ticker Symbol
|
DNI
|
Net Asset Value Ticker Symbol
|
XDNIX
|
CUSIP Number
|
25538A204
|
|
Annual Report 2014
|
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND
|
|
DIVIDEND
|
|
AND INCOME FUND
|
(a)
|
The registrant has adopted a code of ethics (the “Code”) that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party.
|
|
(b)
|
No information need be disclosed pursuant to this paragraph.
|
|
(c)
|
Not applicable.
|
|
(d)
|
Not applicable.
|
|
(e)
|
Not applicable.
|
|
(f)
|
The text of the Code can be viewed on the registrant’s website, www.dividendandincomefund.com, or a copy of the Code may be obtained free of charge by calling collect 1-212-785-0900.
|
|
(a)
|
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 registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years are as follows:
|
|
AUDIT FEES
|
||
2014 - $30,500
|
||
2013 - $29,500
|
||
(b)
|
The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item are as follows:
|
|
AUDIT-RELATED FEES
|
||
2014 - $1,500
|
||
2013 - $1,500
|
||
Audit-related fees include amounts reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements, including the issuance of a report on internal controls and review of periodic reporting.
|
||
(c)
|
The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning. Registrants shall describe the nature of the services comprising the fees disclosed under this category are as follows:
|
|
TAX FEES
|
||
2014 - $5,250
|
||
2013 - $5,500
|
||
Tax fees include amounts related to tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice.
|
||
(d)
|
The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item. Registrants shall describe the nature of the services comprising the fees disclosed under this category are as follows:
|
|
ALL OTHER FEES
|
||
2014 - N/A
|
||
2013 - N/A
|
||
(e)
|
(1) Pursuant to the registrant’s Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee shall consider for pre-approval any audit and non-audit services proposed to be provided by the auditors to the registrant and any non-audit services proposed to be provided by such auditors to the registrant’s Investment Manager, if the engagement relates directly to the registrant’s operations or financial reporting. In those situations when it is not convenient to obtain full Audit Committee approval, the Chairman of the Audit Committee is delegated the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit, audit-related, tax, and all other services so long as all such pre-approved decisions are reviewed with the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. Such pre-approval of non-audit services proposed to be provided by the auditors to the Fund is not necessary, however, under the following circumstances: (1) all such services do not aggregate to more than 5% of total revenues paid by the Fund to the auditor in the fiscal year in which services are provided, (2) such services were not recognized as non-audit services at the time of the engagement, and (3) such services are brought to the attention of the Audit Committee, and approved by the Audit Committee, prior to the completion of the audit.
|
|
(2) No services included in (b) - (d) above were approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
|
||
(f)
|
Not applicable.
|
|
(g)
|
The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant were $30,500 and $30,250 respectively.
|
|
(h)
|
The registrant’s audit committee has determined that the provision of non-audit services that were rendered by accountant to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
|
ISS
United States
Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines
|
2015 Benchmark Policy Recommendations
|
Effective for Meetings on or after February 1, 2015
Published January 7, 2015
|
General Recommendation: Vote for proposals to ratify auditors unless any of the following apply:
|
·
|
An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;
|
·
|
There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion that is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;
|
·
|
Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or
|
·
|
Fees for non-audit services (“Other” fees) are excessive.
|
·
|
Non-audit (“other”) fees > audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees
|
General Recommendation: Generally vote for director nominees, except under the following circumstances:
|
1.
|
Accountability
|
1.1.
|
The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election. All appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable.
|
1.2.
|
The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one- and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s five-year total shareholder return and operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to:
|
·
|
A classified board structure;
|
·
|
A supermajority vote requirement;
|
·
|
Either a plurality vote standard in uncontested director elections or a majority vote standard with no plurality carve-out for contested elections;
|
·
|
The inability of shareholders to call special meetings;
|
·
|
The inability of shareholders to act by written consent;
|
·
|
A dual-class capital structure; and/or
|
·
|
A non–shareholder-approved poison pill.
|
1.3.
|
The company’s poison pill has a “dead-hand” or “modified dead-hand” feature. Vote against or withhold from nominees every year until this feature is removed;
|
1.4.
|
The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term” pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote recommendation. Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually elected boards at least once every three years, and vote against or withhold votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill; or
|
1.5.
|
The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval.
|
1.6.
|
The board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors:
|
·
|
The date of the pill‘s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders—i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on the ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances;
|
·
|
The issuer’s rationale;
|
·
|
The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and
|
·
|
The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders.
|
1.7.
|
The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under “Auditor Ratification”);
|
1.8.
|
The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or
|
1.9.
|
There is persuasive evidence that the Audit Committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.
|
1.10.
|
Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence, and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether withhold/against votes are warranted.
|
1.11.
|
There is a significant misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);
|
1.12.
|
The company maintains significant problematic pay practices;
|
1.13.
|
The board exhibits a significant level of poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders;
|
1.14.
|
The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote; or
|
1.15.
|
The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment made to shareholders.
|
1.16.
|
The company’s previous say-on-pay received the support of less than 70 percent of votes cast, taking into account:
|
·
|
The company's response, including:
|
·
|
Disclosure of engagement efforts with major institutional investors regarding the issues that contributed to the low level of support;
|
·
|
Specific actions taken to address the issues that contributed to the low level of support;
|
·
|
Other recent compensation actions taken by the company;
|
·
|
Whether the issues raised are recurring or isolated;
|
·
|
The company's ownership structure; and
|
·
|
Whether the support level was less than 50 percent, which would warrant the highest degree of responsiveness.
|
1.17.
|
Generally vote against or withhold from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board (except new nominees, who should be considered case-by-case) if the board amends the company's bylaws or charter without shareholder approval in a manner that materially diminishes shareholders' rights or that could adversely impact shareholders, considering the following factors, as applicable:
|
·
|
The board's rationale for adopting the bylaw/charter amendment without shareholder ratification;
|
·
|
Disclosure by the company of any significant engagement with shareholders regarding the amendment;
|
·
|
The level of impairment of shareholders' rights caused by the board's unilateral amendment to the bylaws/charter;
|
·
|
The board's track record with regard to unilateral board action on bylaw/charter amendments or other entrenchment provisions;
|
·
|
The company's ownership structure;
|
·
|
The company's existing governance provisions;
|
·
|
Whether the amendment was made prior to or in connection with the company's initial public offering;
|
·
|
The timing of the board's amendment to the bylaws/charter in connection with a significant business development;
|
·
|
Other factors, as deemed appropriate, that may be relevant to determine the impact of the amendment on shareholders.
|
1.18.
|
Material failures of governance, stewardship, risk oversight3, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;
|
1.19.
|
Failure to replace management as appropriate; or
|
1.20.
|
Egregious actions related to a director’s service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.
|
2.
|
Responsiveness
|
2.1.
|
The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received the support of a majority of the shares cast in the previous year. Factors that will be considered are:
|
·
|
Disclosed outreach efforts by the board to shareholders in the wake of the vote;
|
·
|
Rationale provided in the proxy statement for the level of implementation;
|
·
|
The subject matter of the proposal;
|
·
|
The level of support for and opposition to the resolution in past meetings;
|
·
|
Actions taken by the board in response to the majority vote and its engagement with shareholders;
|
·
|
The continuation of the underlying issue as a voting item on the ballot (as either shareholder or management proposals); and
|
·
|
Other factors as appropriate.
|
2.2.
|
The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of shares are tendered;
|
2.3.
|
At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote;
|
2.4.
|
The board implements an advisory vote on executive compensation on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received the majority of votes cast at the most recent shareholder meeting at which shareholders voted on the say-on-pay frequency; or
|
2.5.
|
The board implements an advisory vote on executive compensation on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received a plurality, but not a majority, of the votes cast at the most recent shareholder meeting at which shareholders voted on the say-on-pay frequency, taking into account:
|
·
|
The board's rationale for selecting a frequency that is different from the frequency that received a plurality;
|
·
|
The company's ownership structure and vote results;
|
·
|
ISS' analysis of whether there are compensation concerns or a history of problematic compensation practices; and
|
·
|
The previous year's support level on the company's say-on-pay proposal.
|
3.
|
Composition
|
3.1.
|
Generally vote against or withhold from directors (except new nominees, who should be considered case-by-case4) who attend less than 75 percent of the aggregate of their board and committee meetings for the period for which they served, unless an acceptable reason for absences is disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. Acceptable reasons for director absences are generally limited to the following:
|
·
|
Medical issues/illness;
|
·
|
Family emergencies; and
|
·
|
Missing only one meeting (when the total of all meetings is three or fewer).
|
3.2.
|
If the proxy disclosure is unclear and insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of the aggregate of his/her board and committee meetings during his/her period of service, vote against or withhold from the director(s) in question.
|
3.3.
|
Sit on more than six public company boards; or
|
3.4.
|
Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own—withhold only at their outside boards5.
|
4.
|
Independence
|
4.1.
|
The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;
|
4.2.
|
The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee;
|
4.3.
|
The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or
|
4.4.
|
Independent directors make up less than a majority of the directors.
|
General Recommendation: Generally vote for shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, taking into consideration the following:
|
·
|
The scope of the proposal;
|
·
|
The company's current board leadership structure;
|
·
|
The company's governance structure and practices;
|
·
|
Company performance; and
|
·
|
Any other relevant factors that may be applicable.
|
|
General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on proposals to enact proxy access, taking into account, among other factors:
|
·
|
Company-specific factors; and
|
·
|
Proposal-specific factors, including:
|
·
|
The ownership thresholds proposed in the resolution (i.e., percentage and duration);
|
·
|
The maximum proportion of directors that shareholders may nominate each year; and
|
·
|
The method of determining which nominations should appear on the ballot if multiple shareholders submit nominations.
|
General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:
|
·
|
Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;
|
·
|
Management’s track record;
|
·
|
Background to the proxy contest;
|
·
|
Nominee qualifications and any compensatory arrangements;
|
·
|
Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;
|
·
|
Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);
|
·
|
Stock ownership positions.
|
1.
|
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS & DEFENSES
|
General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on bylaws which impact shareholders' litigation rights, taking into account factors such as:
|
·
|
The company's stated rationale for adopting such a provision;
|
·
|
Disclosure of past harm from shareholder lawsuits in which plaintiffs were unsuccessful or shareholder lawsuits outside the jurisdiction of incorporation;
|
·
|
The breadth of application of the bylaw, including the types of lawsuits to which it would apply and the definition of key terms; and
|
·
|
Governance features such as shareholders' ability to repeal the provision at a later date (including the vote standard applied when shareholders attempt to amend the bylaws) and their ability to hold directors accountable through annual director elections and a majority vote standard in uncontested elections.
|
General Recommendation: Vote for proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.
|
·
|
Past Board Performance:
|
·
|
The company's use of authorized shares during the last three years
|
·
|
The Current Request:
|
·
|
Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;
|
·
|
Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and
|
·
|
The dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company's need for shares and total shareholder returns.
|
General Recommendation: Vote for proposals to increase the number of authorized preferred shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.
|
·
|
Past Board Performance:
|
·
|
The company's use of authorized preferred shares during the last three years;
|
·
|
The Current Request:
|
·
|
Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes for the proposed increase;
|
·
|
Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request;
|
·
|
In cases where the company has existing authorized preferred stock, the dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company's need for shares and total shareholder returns; and
|
·
|
Whether the shares requested are blank check preferred shares that can be used for antitakeover purposes.
|
|
General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:
|
·
|
Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction and strategic rationale.
|
·
|
Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.
|
·
|
Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.
|
·
|
Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm's-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation "wins" can also signify the deal makers' competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.
|
·
|
Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the "ISS Transaction Summary" section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists.
|
·
|
Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.
|
1.
|
Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;
|
2.
|
Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;
|
3.
|
Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);
|
4.
|
Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;
|
5.
|
Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.
|
General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on ballot items related to executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation.
|
·
|
There is a significant misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);
|
·
|
The company maintains significant problematic pay practices;
|
·
|
The board exhibits a significant level of poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.
|
·
|
There is no MSOP on the ballot, and an against vote on an MSOP is warranted due to pay for performance misalignment, problematic pay practices, or the lack of adequate responsiveness on compensation issues raised previously, or a combination thereof;
|
·
|
The board fails to respond adequately to a previous MSOP proposal that received less than 70 percent support of votes cast;
|
·
|
The company has recently practiced or approved problematic pay practices, including option repricing or option backdating; or
|
·
|
The situation is egregious.
|
1.
|
Peer Group7 Alignment:
|
·
|
The degree of alignment between the company's annualized TSR rank and the CEO's annualized total pay rank within a peer group, each measured over a three-year period.
|
·
|
The multiple of the CEO's total pay relative to the peer group median.
|
2.
|
Absolute Alignment8 – the absolute alignment between the trend in CEO pay and company TSR over the prior five fiscal years – i.e., the difference between the trend in annual pay changes and the trend in annualized TSR during the period.
|
·
|
The ratio of performance- to time-based equity awards;
|
·
|
The overall ratio of performance-based compensation;
|
·
|
The completeness of disclosure and rigor of performance goals;
|
·
|
The company's peer group benchmarking practices;
|
·
|
Actual results of financial/operational metrics, such as growth in revenue, profit, cash flow, etc., both absolute and relative to peers;
|
·
|
Special circumstances related to, for example, a new CEO in the prior FY or anomalous equity grant practices (e.g., bi-annual awards);
|
·
|
Realizable pay9 compared to grant pay; and
|
·
|
Any other factors deemed relevant.
|
·
|
Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;
|
·
|
Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and
|
·
|
Options Backdating.
|
·
|
Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options);
|
·
|
Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or restricted stock vesting;
|
·
|
New or extended agreements that provide for:
|
·
|
CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus;
|
·
|
CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties ("single" or "modified single" triggers);
|
·
|
CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including "modified" gross-ups).
|
·
|
Multi-year guaranteed bonuses;
|
·
|
A single or common performance metric used for short- and long-term plans;
|
·
|
Lucrative severance packages;
|
·
|
High pay opportunities relative to industry peers;
|
·
|
Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or
|
·
|
Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk.
|
·
|
Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;
|
·
|
Duration of options backdating;
|
·
|
Size of restatement due to options backdating;
|
·
|
Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and
|
·
|
Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.
|
·
|
Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or
|
·
|
Failure to adequately respond to the company's previous say-on-pay proposal that received the support of less than 70 percent of votes cast, taking into account:
|
·
|
The company's response, including:
|
·
|
Disclosure of engagement efforts with major institutional investors regarding the issues that contributed to the low level of support;
|
·
|
Specific actions taken to address the issues that contributed to the low level of support;
|
·
|
Other recent compensation actions taken by the company;
|
·
|
Whether the issues raised are recurring or isolated;
|
·
|
The company's ownership structure; and
|
·
|
Whether the support level was less than 50 percent, which would warrant the highest degree of responsiveness.
|
|
General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on certain equity-based compensation plans10 depending on a combination of certain plan features and equity grant practices, where positive factors may counterbalance negative factors, and vice versa, as evaluated using an "equity plan scorecard" (EPSC) approach with three pillars:
|
·
|
Plan Cost: The total estimated cost of the company’s equity plans relative to industry/market cap peers, measured by the company's estimated Shareholder Value Transfer (SVT) in relation to peers and considering both:
|
·
|
SVT based on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grants, plus outstanding unvested/unexercised grants; and
|
·
|
SVT based only on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grants.
|
·
|
Plan Features:
|
·
|
Automatic single-triggered award vesting upon a change in control (CIC);
|
·
|
Discretionary vesting authority;
|
·
|
Liberal share recycling on various award types;
|
·
|
Lack of minimum vesting period for grants made under the plan.
|
·
|
Grant Practices:
|
·
|
The company’s three year burn rate relative to its industry/market cap peers;
|
·
|
Vesting requirements in most recent CEO equity grants (3-year look-back);
|
·
|
The estimated duration of the plan (based on the sum of shares remaining available and the new shares requested, divided by the average annual shares granted in the prior three years);
|
·
|
The proportion of the CEO's most recent equity grants/awards subject to performance conditions;
|
·
|
Whether the company maintains a claw-back policy;
|
·
|
Whether the company has established post exercise/vesting share-holding requirements.
|
·
|
Awards may vest in connection with a liberal change-of-control definition;
|
·
|
The plan would permit repricing or cash buyout of underwater options without shareholder approval (either by expressly permitting it – for NYSE and Nasdaq listed companies -- or by not prohibiting it when the company has a history of repricing – for non-listed companies);
|
·
|
The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices or a significant pay-for-performance disconnect under certain circumstances; or
|
·
|
Any other plan features are determined to have a significant negative impact on shareholder interests.
|
|
General Recommendation: Generally vote case-by-case, taking into consideration whether implementation of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value, and in addition the following will also be considered:
|
·
|
If the issues presented in the proposal are more appropriately or effectively dealt with through legislation or government regulation;
|
·
|
If the company has already responded in an appropriate and sufficient manner to the issue(s) raised in the proposal;
|
·
|
Whether the proposal's request is unduly burdensome (scope or timeframe) or overly prescriptive;
|
·
|
The company's approach compared with any industry standard practices for addressing the issue(s) raised by the proposal;
|
·
|
If the proposal requests increased disclosure or greater transparency, whether or not reasonable and sufficient information is currently available to shareholders from the company or from other publicly available sources; and
|
·
|
If the proposal requests increased disclosure or greater transparency, whether or not implementation would reveal proprietary or confidential information that could place the company at a competitive disadvantage.
|
|
General Recommendation: Generally vote for resolutions requesting that a company disclose information on the impact of climate change on its operations and investments, considering:
|
·
|
Whether the company already provides current, publicly-available information on the impacts that climate change may have on the company as well as associated company policies and procedures to address related risks and/or opportunities;
|
·
|
The company’s level of disclosure is at least comparable to that of industry peers; and
|
·
|
There are no significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company’s environmental performance.
|
·
|
The company already discloses current, publicly-available information on the impacts that GHG emissions may have on the company as well as associated company policies and procedures to address related risks and/or opportunities;
|
·
|
The company's level of disclosure is comparable to that of industry peers; and
|
·
|
There are no significant, controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company's GHG emissions.
|
·
|
Whether the company provides disclosure of year-over-year GHG emissions performance data;
|
·
|
Whether company disclosure lags behind industry peers;
|
·
|
The company's actual GHG emissions performance;
|
·
|
The company's current GHG emission policies, oversight mechanisms, and related initiatives; and
|
·
|
Whether the company has been the subject of recent, significant violations, fines, litigation, or controversy related to GHG emissions.
|
|
General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on proposals requesting information on a company’s lobbying (including direct, indirect, and grassroots lobbying) activities, policies, or procedures, considering:
|
·
|
The company’s current disclosure of relevant lobbying policies, and management and board oversight;
|
·
|
The company’s disclosure regarding trade associations or other groups that it supports, or is a member of, that engage in lobbying activities; and
|
·
|
Recent significant controversies, fines, or litigation regarding the company’s lobbying-related activities.
|
|
General Recommendation: Generally vote for proposals requesting greater disclosure of a company's political contributions and trade association spending policies and activities, considering:
|
·
|
The company's policies, and management and board oversight related to its direct political contributions and payments to trade associations or other groups that may be used for political purposes;
|
·
|
The company's disclosure regarding its support of, and participation in, trade associations or other groups that may make political contributions; and
|
·
|
Recent significant controversies, fines, or litigation related to the company's political contributions or political activities.
|
|
General Recommendation: Generally vote against proposals asking a company to affirm political nonpartisanship in the workplace, so long as:
|
·
|
There are no recent, significant controversies, fines, or litigation regarding the company’s political contributions or trade association spending; and
|
·
|
The company has procedures in place to ensure that employee contributions to company-sponsored political action committees (PACs) are strictly voluntary and prohibit coercion.
|
|
The Global Leader In Corporate Governance
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
Other Accounts
|
|
Number:
|
4
|
N/A
|
3
|
Assets (millions):
|
$46
|
N/A
|
$12
|
(a)
|
The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a- 3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
|
(b)
|
There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the registrant's second fiscal quarter of the period covered by the report that have materially affected, or are likely to materially affect the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
|
(a)
|
Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940(17 CFR 270.360a-2) attached hereto as Exhibits EX-31 and certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto as Exhibit EX-32.
|
Dividend and Income Fund
|
|
March 9, 2015
|
By: /s/ Thomas B. Winmill
|
Thomas B. Winmill, President
|
|
Dividend and Income Fund
|
|
March 9, 2015
|
By: /s/ Thomas O’Malley
|
Thomas O’Malley, Chief Financial Officer
|
|
Dividend and Income Fund
|
|
March 9, 2015
|
By: /s/ Thomas B. Winmill
|
Thomas B. Winmill, President
|
|
Dividend and Income Fund
|
|
March 9, 2015
|
By: /s/ Thomas O’Malley
|
Thomas O’Malley, Chief Financial Officer
|