SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by Registrant [ X ]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec. 240.14a-12
FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Stephen C. Miller
2344 Spruce Street, Suite A
Boulder, Colorado 80302
(303) 442-2156
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transactions applies:
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identity the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3) Filing Party:
4) Date Filed:
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC.
2344 SPRUCE STREET
SUITE A
BOULDER, COLORADO 80302
June 18, 2008
Dear Fellow Stockholder,
You are cordially invited to attend the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
First Financial Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), which will be held on July 28, 2008 at
9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (local time), at The Resort at the Mountain,
68010 East Fairway Avenue, Welches, Oregon. Details of the business to be
presented at the meeting can be found in the accompanying Notice of Annual
Meeting and Proxy Statement.
This is a very important meeting at which the Fund's board of directors (the
"Board") is asking you to approve significant, and we believe, positive changes
to the Fund. You are also requested to consider and vote upon the election of
the individual directors comprising the Board. The enclosed Notice of Annual
Meeting and Proxy Statement outline all of the items for you to consider and
vote upon. This proxy statement gives details about each proposal which requires
your approval and should be carefully read and considered before you vote.
The proposals concern changes to certain of the Fund's fundamental policies. For
example, stockholders are being asked to change the Fund from a "diversified" to
a "non-diversified" investment management company and to change the Fund's
investment objective to "total return". Together, these proposals along with
other changes approved by the Board, if approved by stockholders, would provide
the Fund's adviser, Wellington Management Company, LLP, additional flexibility
to adapt to and take advantage of these changing economic times. These
fundamental policies cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding common shares of the Fund.
As part of this package of changes, the Board has also resolved to change the
name of the Fund to "First Opportunity Fund, Inc." The reason for this change
is to eliminate the requirement under the "names rule", a rule under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, which requires the Fund to invest at least 80%
of its assets in "financial services companies" as long as the Fund's name
suggests a "financial industry" concentration. We believe this requirement
forces the Fund to overly concentrate in the financial sector and limits the
adviser's ability to take advantage of opportunities which, although consistent
with and in the realm of the Fund's and adviser's investment focus, are not
"financial services companies" in the traditional sense. The name change will
not affect the Fund's existing fundamental concentration policy which requires
it to have, under normal conditions, at least 65% of its assets invested in
"financial services companies". Accordingly, the Fund's primary industry focus
will not change.
As Chairman of the Board, I encourage you to support all of the proposals. After
careful and extensive review, the Board of Directors, including the independent
directors, unanimously approved and has recommended to stockholders that they
approve all of the proposals as well. Nicholas C. Adams, the Fund's Portfolio
Manager, and Wellington Management are supportive of the increased flexibility
offered by the proposed and implemented changes to the Fund, which they hope
will enhance long-term returns for stockholders.
We hope you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. Your vote is important. Whether
or not you are able to attend, it is important that your shares be represented
at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, we ask that you please sign, date, and
return the enclosed Proxy Card or vote via telephone or the Internet at your
earliest convenience.
On behalf of the Board and the management of First Financial Fund, Inc., I
extend our appreciation for your continued support.
Sincerely,
/s/ Joel W. Looney
Joel W. Looney
Chairman of the Board
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC.
2344 SPRUCE STREET
SUITE A
BOULDER, COLORADO 80302
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held on July 28, 2008
To the Stockholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of First
Financial Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), a Maryland corporation, will be held on July
28, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (local time), at The Resort at the
Mountain, 68010 East Fairway Avenue, Welches, Oregon, to consider and vote on
the following proposals, all of which are more fully described in the
accompanying Proxy Statement:
1. The election of Directors of the Fund (Proposal 1).
2. To approve or disapprove changing the Fund's investment objective to
"total return" and reclassifying the investment objective as
non-fundamental. (Proposal 2).
3. To approve or disapprove changing the Fund's classification and
related fundamental investment restriction to make the Fund a
non-diversified investment company (Proposal 3).
4. To approve or disapprove the elimination of the Fund's fundamental
investment restriction regarding the ability to hold greater than 5%
in a single issuer (Proposal 4).
5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournments and postponements thereof.
The Board of Directors of the Fund has fixed the close of business on June 4,
2008 as the record date for the determination of stockholders of the Fund
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any postponements or
adjournments thereof.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Stephanie Kelley
STEPHANIE KELLEY
Secretary
June 18, 2008
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STOCKHOLDERS ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD OR
AUTHORIZE PROXIES VIA TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET. THE PROXY CARD SHOULD BE
RETURNED IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE
UNITED STATES. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PROPER EXECUTION OF PROXIES ARE SET FORTH ON
THE INSIDE COVER.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS
The following general rules for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to
you and may avoid the time and expense to the Fund involved in validating your
vote if you fail to sign your proxy card properly.
1. Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the
registration on the proxy card.
2. Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing
should conform exactly to a name shown in the registration.
3. All Other Accounts: The capacity of the individual signing the proxy
card should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form of registration. For
example:
Registration Valid Signature
Corporate Accounts
(1) ABC Corp. ABC Corp.
(2) ABC Corp. John Doe, Treasurer
(3) ABC Corp., c/o John Doe Treasurer John Doe
(4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan John Doe, Trustee
Trust Accounts
(1) ABC Trust Jane B. Doe, Trustee
(2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee, u/t/d 12/28/78 Jane B. Doe
Custodian or Estate Accounts
(1) John B. Smith, Cust., John B. Smith
f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA
(2) John B. Smith John B. Smith, Jr., Executor
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC.
2344 SPRUCE STREET
SUITE A
BOULDER, COLORADO 80302
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS REGARDING THE MEETING AND PROPOSALS
Question 1: What changes are being proposed?
Answer: In addition to electing the Board of Directors (the "Board"),
stockholders are being asked to vote on three significant proposals: (1)
changing the investment objective of the Fund to "total return" and making this
objective "non-fundamental", (2) changing the Fund's status from a "diversified"
to "non-diversified" investment company and (3) eliminating the Fund's
fundamental investment restriction regarding its ability to hold greater than 5%
in a single issuer.
Question 2: What would be the effect of the proposed change to the Fund's
investment objective?
Answer: The proposed change to an investment objective of total return would
remove the secondary objective of current income, and permit the Adviser to
invest in securities that could generate current income or capital gains, both
of which are distributed to stockholders. The proposal to make the new objective
non-fundamental would mean that the Board of Directors could change the
investment objective to adapt to changing market conditions without the expense
or delay of obtaining stockholder approval.
Question 3: What would be the effect of changing to a non-diversified status
under Proposals 3 and 4.
Answer: Proposals 3 and 4 seek to change the Fund's status from a "diversified"
to a "non-diversified" investment company and to eliminate the duplicative
fundamental restriction on investing more than 5% of the Fund's assets in a
single issuer. These changes will permit the Fund to buy fairly significant
positions in individual companies. This means that the Fund could end up with
larger positions in fewer company names. Becoming a "non-diversified" management
company entails certain risks. For example, the Fund could be more susceptible
to the adverse affects of single corporate, economic, political, or regulatory
occurrences due to higher concentrations of the Fund's assets in a single
issuer. The result is that the Fund may be 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 Fund's net asset value, reflecting fluctuations in the value of large Fund
holdings.
The Fund intends to continue to diversify its investments to the extent
necessary to qualify, and maintain its status, as a regulated investment company
under U.S. federal income tax laws. This will require, with respect to 50% of
the Fund's portfolio, that the Fund limit to 5% the portion of its assets
invested in the securities of a single issuer (other than cash, cash items, U.S.
Government securities, and securities of other registered investment companies).
Question 4: Are other material changes contemplated that won't be submitted to
stockholders?
Answer: Yes. The Board has resolved to change the name of the Fund to "First
Opportunity Fund, Inc.". Changing the name of the Fund does not require
stockholder approval. The reason for this change is that, in years past, the
Fund has been subject to the "names rule", a rule under the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") which requires the Fund to invest no less than 80%
of its assets in "financial services companies" as long as the Fund's name
suggests a "financial industry" concentration. The Board believes this
requirement forces the Fund to overly concentrate in the financial sector and
limits the Adviser's ability to take advantage of opportunities which, although
consistent with and in the realm of the Fund's and Adviser's investment focus,
are not "financial services companies" in the traditional sense. The Board also
believes that this requirement makes the Fund more susceptible to events that
adversely impact the financial industry as a whole, as has been experienced
recently in the sub-prime credit debacle. Changing the Fund's name to remove the
term "financial" will allow the Fund to fall below the 80% threshold in
traditional financial services companies. The name change will not affect the
Fund's existing fundamental concentration policy which requires it to have,
under normal conditions, at least 65% of its assets invested in "financial
services companies", except for temporary or defensive purposes. Accordingly,
the Fund's primary industry focus will not change.
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund must maintain its 80% threshold of investments in
financial services companies for at least 60 days from the date it gives written
notice of the name change to stockholders. It is expected that written notice of
the name change will be given concurrent with the mailing of this Proxy
Statement and will become effective 60 days thereafter.
Question 5: Why is the Board recommending these changes to stockholders?
Answer: The Board's recommendations are designed to remove legally unnecessary
restrictions that could hamper the ability of the Fund to adapt to changing
market conditions, particularly in the financial services sector. Management
believes that the totality of these changes will provide the Fund and Adviser
with additional flexibility to opportunistically invest in equity and debt
securities of non-traditional financial services companies, and a higher amount
outside of the financial services sector while maintaining a minimum 65%
concentration in the financial services sector.
Question 6: Do you anticipate material changes to the actual management of the
Fund?
Answer: No. The Fund will still be required to invest, under normal conditions,
greater than 65% of its assets in securities and other financial instruments
issued by or relating to financial services companies, except for temporary or
defensive purposes. The Fund will have the flexibility to invest in a wide range
of investments, which could include, among others, common stocks, debt
instruments, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, credit
default swaps, and cash and cash equivalents. The proposed changes are intended
to give the Fund and the Adviser additional flexibility to invest to a greater
extent outside of the traditional financial services sector, while still
requiring a minimum 65% "financial service companies" concentration. The Adviser
intends to retain its primary focus on investments in the financial services
sector, but the proposed changes will give the Adviser additional flexibility to
invest opportunistically outside of the traditional financial services sector,
and to invest in instruments that could generate current income or capital gains
to adapt to the changes in the financial services sector.
Question 7: What other changes to the non-fundamental investment restrictions
has the Board implemented in connection with these Proposals?
Answer: As part of its effort to give the Adviser maximum investment
flexibility, the Board has eliminated several "non-fundamental" investment
restrictions including: (i) the "new issuer" restriction (i.e., a prohibition on
investing more than 5% of the Fund's assets in an issuer which has been in
business less than 3 years); (ii) the restriction for investments in securities
of issuers beneficially owned by officers and directors (i.e., the Fund is
prohibited from investing in issuers if the investment adviser (Wellington
Management, LLP), officers and directors of the Fund and affiliates of the Fund
who each own beneficially more than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of that issuer
together own more than 5% of the securities of such issuer in the aggregate);
and (iii) the restriction on the Fund's investing for the purpose of exercising
control. None of these changes required approval by stockholders.
Question 8: How do the Fund's largest stockholders intend to vote on these
Proposals?
Answer: The Fund's largest stockholders (defined below as the "Horejsi
Affiliates") intend to vote in favor of each of the Proposals.
Question 9: How does the Board recommend I vote on the Proposals?
Answer: The Board, including all of the directors who are not "interested
persons" of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act, has unanimously recommended
that stockholders vote FOR all of the Proposals. If no instructions are
indicated on your proxy, the representatives holding proxies will vote in
accordance with the recommendations of the Board.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC.
2344 SPRUCE STREET
SUITE A
BOULDER, COLORADO 80302
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
July 28, 2008
PROXY STATEMENT
This proxy statement ("Proxy Statement") for First Financial Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), is furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Fund's Board of Directors (collectively, the
"Board" and individually, the "Directors") for use at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Fund to be held on July 28, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific
Daylight Time (local time), at The Resort at the Mountain, 68010 East Fairway
Avenue, Welches, Oregon and at any adjournments and postponements thereof (the
"Meeting"). A Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy card for the
Fund accompany this Proxy Statement. Proxy solicitations will be made, beginning
on or about June 25, 2008, primarily by mail, but proxy solicitations may also
be made by telephone, by Internet on the Fund's website, or through email
communications with stockholders who have enrolled in the Fund's electronic
duplicate communications service+, telegraph or personal interviews conducted by
officers of the Fund, MacKenzie Partners, Inc. the Fund's proxy solicitor and
Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the transfer agent of the Fund. The costs of
proxy solicitation are expected to be approximately $25,000. Proxy solicitation
expenses as well as expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of this
Proxy Statement and its enclosures will be paid by the Fund. The Fund also will
reimburse brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding
solicitation material to the beneficial owners of its shares. The Board has
fixed the close of business on June 4, 2008 as the record date (the "Record
Date") for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote
at the Meeting and any postponements or adjournments thereof.
The Annual Report of the Fund, including audited financial statements for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, has been mailed to stockholders. Additional
copies are available upon request, without charge, by calling Computershare
Trust Company, N.A. toll-free at (800) 451-6788. The report is also viewable
online at the Fund's website at www.firstfinancialfund.com. The Annual Report is
not to be regarded as proxy solicitation material.
Wellington Management Company, LLP ("Wellington Management" or the "Adviser"),
75 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, currently serves as the investment
adviser to the Fund. Fund Administrative Services, L.L.C. ("FAS") serves as
co-administrator to the Fund and is located at 2344 Spruce Street, Suite A,
Boulder, Colorado 80302. State Street Bank and Trust Company acts as custodian
and co-administrator to the Fund and is located at 200 Clarendon Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, 02116. Computershare Trust Company, N.A. acts as the transfer
agent to the Fund and is located at 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts
02021.
If the enclosed proxy is properly executed and returned by July 28, 2008 in time
to be voted at the Meeting, the Shares (as defined below) represented thereby
will be voted in accordance with the instructions marked thereon. Unless
instructions to the contrary are marked thereon, a proxy will be voted FOR each
of the Proposals and, in the discretion of the proxy holders, on any other
matters that may properly come before the Meeting. Any stockholder who has given
a proxy has the right to revoke it at any time prior to its exercise either by
attending the Meeting and casting his or her votes in person or by submitting a
letter of revocation or a later-dated proxy to the Fund's secretary at the above
address prior to the date of the Meeting.
------------------------------
+ Stockholders can receive TIMELY information about the Fund quickly and
conveniently! The Fund offers the option for electronic delivery of DUPLICATE
copies of all stockholder communications. You can choose the timeliness and
convenience of receiving and reviewing stockholder communications, such as
annual reports and proxy statements, online in addition to, but more quickly
than, the hard copies you currently receive in the mail. If you sign up for the
option, you will receive an e-mail notification when stockholder communications
are available, containing a link to those communications on the Internet.
HOWEVER, presently you will not be able to vote your shares using these links
and will have to wait to vote using the hard copies you receive later in the
mail or electronically from your broker or proxyvote.com. For more information,
please visit the Fund's website at www.firstfinancialfund.com.
A quorum of the Fund's stockholders is required for the conduct of business at
the Meeting. Under the bylaws of the Fund (the "Bylaws"), a quorum is
constituted by the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of the Fund as of the Record Date. In the event that a
quorum is not present at the Meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose
and vote for one or more adjournments of the Meeting. An adjournment for lack of
a quorum requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
shares entitled to vote at the Meeting and present in person or by proxy. In the
event that a quorum is present but sufficient votes to approve one or more
Proposals are not received, the persons named as proxies may propose and vote
for one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of
proxies with respect to any Proposal that did not receive the votes necessary
for its passage. With respect to those Proposals for which there is represented
a sufficient number of votes in favor, actions taken at the Meeting will be
approved and implemented irrespective of any adjournments with respect to any
other Proposals. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a
majority of votes cast on the matter at the Meeting. If a quorum is present, the
persons named as proxies will vote those proxies which they are entitled to vote
FOR any Proposal in favor of such an adjournment and will vote those proxies
required to be voted AGAINST any Proposal against any such adjournment.
The Fund has one class of stock: common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the
"Common Stock" or the "Shares"). On the Record Date, there were 29,200,589
Shares issued and outstanding. Each Share is entitled to one vote at the Meeting
and fractional Shares are entitled to proportionate shares of one vote.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS. The following table sets forth
certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Shares as of the
Record Date by each person who is known by the Fund to beneficially own 5% or
more of the Common Stock.
Name of Owner Number of Shares Number of Shares Percentage
Directly Owned (1) Beneficially Owned Beneficially Owned
------------------------------------------ ----------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------
Stewart R. Horejsi Trust No. 2 (1)* 2,169,602 2,169,602 7.43%
Ernest Horejsi Trust No. 1B (1)* 1,271,427 1,271,427 4.35%
Lola Brown Trust No. 1B (1)* 3,000,693 3,000,693 10.28%
Mildred B. Horejsi Trust (1)* 2,025,122 2,025,122 6.94%
Susan L. Ciciora Trust (1)* 1,737,573 1,737,573 5.95%
----------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------
Aggregate Shares Owned by Horejsi 10,204,417 10,204,417 34.95%
Affiliates (defined below)
------------------------------------------ ----------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.** 2,011,117 2,011,117 6.89%
* The address of each listed owner is c/o The Alaska Trust Company, LLC, 1029
West Third Avenue, Ste 400 Anchorage, AK 99501.
** These securities are owned by various individual and institutional
investors which T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. ("Price Associates") serves
as investment adviser with power to direct investments and/or sole power to
vote the securities. For purposes of the reporting requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, Price Associates is deemed to be a
beneficial owner of such securities; however, Price Associates expressly
disclaims that it is, in fact, the beneficial owner of such securities.
Shares stated are as reported in a Schedule 13G Amendment No. 4 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2008.
(1) Direct Ownership. The Susan L. Ciciora Trust (the "Susan Trust"), Mildred
B. Horejsi Trust (the "Mildred Trust"), Lola Brown Trust No. 1B (the "Brown
Trust"), Ernest Horejsi Trust No. 1B (the "EH Trust"), and Stewart R.
Horejsi Trust No. 2 ("SRH Trust") directly own the shares indicated for
such entity in the table above, totaling 10,204,417 (34.95%). These trusts
(the "Trusts") along with Alaska Trust Company ("ATC"), Badlands Trust
Company ("Badlands") and Stewart R. Horejsi are, as a group, considered to
be a "control person" of the Fund (as that term is defined in Section
2(a)(9) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended). These entities
and other trusts or companies with interlocking trusteeship, management
and/or common ownership may be deemed to indirectly own additional Fund
shares, which are included in the table above. Effective July 1, 2008,
Badlands will resign as trustee of the Trusts and be replaced by ATC.
Accordingly, effective July 1, 2008, ATC will become (i) the sole trustee
of the Susan Trust; (ii) together with Brian Sippy and Susan Ciciora (Mr.
Horejsi's daughter), one of three trustees of the Mildred Trust; (iii)
together with Larry Dunlap and Ms. Ciciora, one of three trustees of both
the Brown Trust and the EH Trust. Badlands is a private trust company
organized under the laws of Alaska which is wholly owned by the SRH Trust.
ATC is a trust company organized under the laws of Alaska, of which 98% of
the outstanding and voting securities are owned by the Stewart West Indies
Trust ("SWIT"). SWIT is an irrevocable trust organized by Mr. Stewart
Horejsi for the benefit of his issue. Badlands, ATC and their managers and
directors disclaim beneficial ownership of shares owned directly by the
Trusts.
----------------------------
The Susan Trust, the Mildred Trust, the Brown Trust, the EH Trust, ATC, the SRH
Trust, and SWIT, as well as other Horejsi affiliated trusts and entities are
collectively referred to herein as the "Horejsi Affiliates". Information as to
beneficial ownership in the previous paragraph has been obtained from a
representative of the beneficial owners; all other information as to beneficial
ownership is based on reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") by such beneficial owners.
As of the Record Date, Cede & Co., a nominee partnership of the Depository Trust
Company held of record, but not beneficially, 28,177,013 shares or 96.49% of
Common Stock outstanding of the Fund.
As of the Record Date, the executive officers and directors of the Fund, as a
group, owned 10,243,488 shares of Common Stock (this amount includes the
aggregate shares of Common Stock owned by the Horejsi Affiliates set forth
above), representing 35.08% of Common Stock.
OVERVIEW OF PROPOSALS
This Proxy Statement describes, in addition to the election of directors, three
proposals, which, if approved, will provide enhanced investment flexibility to
the Adviser and expand the universe of investments in which the Fund may invest.
Stockholders are being asked to vote on three significant change proposals:
First, changing the investment objective of the Fund to "total return" and
making this objective "non-fundamental" (Proposal 2); second, changing the
Fund's status from a "diversified" to "non-diversified" investment company
(Proposal 3); and third, eliminating the Fund's fundamental investment
restriction on investing more than 5% of its assets in a single issuer (Proposal
4). The Board, including the Directors who are not "interested persons" of the
Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of
1940 as amended (the "1940 Act") (the "Independent Directors"), unanimously
recommends that you vote "FOR" Proposals 1 through 4. The Horejsi Affiliates,
which hold approximately 34.95% of the Fund's outstanding Common Stock, have
informed the Board that they will vote their Shares FOR each of the Proposals.
Background of Proposals 2, 3 and 4. The Fund was incorporated in Maryland on
March 3, 1986, as a closed-end, "diversified" management investment company. The
Fund's current primary investment objective is to achieve long-term capital
appreciation with the secondary objective of current income. It seeks to achieve
these objectives by investing, under normal conditions, at least 65% of its
assets in financial services companies, except for temporary or defensive
purposes. As presently defined by the Board, the term "financial service
companies" includes, but is not limited to, savings and banking institutions,
mortgage banking institutions, real estate investment trusts, consumer finance
companies, credit collection and related service companies, insurance companies,
security and commodity brokerage companies, security exchange companies,
financial-related technology companies, investment advisory and asset management
firms, and financial conglomerates, and holding companies of any of these
companies. Presently, the investment objective as well as the policy of
concentrating investments in financial services companies are "fundamental"
meaning that they cannot be changed without stockholder approval. However, the
definition of "financial services companies" can be changed by the Board without
stockholder approval.
Concurrent with the changes contemplated by the Proposals, the Board has
resolved to change the name of the Fund to "First Opportunity Fund, Inc." The
Board believes the change is warranted in order to eliminate the limitations
imposed by the "names rule". Presently the Fund is subject to Rule 35d-1 or the
"names rule", a rule under the 1940 Act, which requires the Fund to invest no
less than 80% of its assets in "financial services companies" as long as its
name suggests a "financial industry" concentration. The Board believes the 80%
requirement overly restricts the Adviser's ability to take advantage of
opportunities which, although might be attractive and consistent with and in the
realm of the Fund's and Adviser's investment focus, are not traditional
"financial services companies" as that term would be defined for a fund subject
to the "names rule." Changing the Fund's name to remove the term "financial"
will eliminate this restriction and allow the Fund to fall below the 80%
threshold in traditional financial services companies. The name change will not
affect the Fund's existing fundamental concentration policy which requires it to
have, under normal conditions, at least 65% of its assets invested in "financial
services companies", except for temporary or defensive purposes. The Adviser
anticipates retaining its primary focus on investments in the financial services
sector, but the totality of all of the changes to the Fund's investment policies
will provide increased flexibility to invest in non-traditional financial
service companies and opportunistically outside the sector.
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund must maintain its 80% threshold of investments in
financial services companies for at least 60 days from the date it gives written
notice of the name change to stockholders. It is expected that written notice of
the name change will be given concurrent with the mailing of this proxy
statement and will become effective 60 days thereafter.
Board Considerations. The Board discussed the general concept of increasing
investment flexibility for the Adviser at its regular quarterly meeting on April
25, 2008, at which time the Board sought additional analysis and recommendations
from both the Adviser and Management concerning changes to the Fund. After
discussions with the Adviser, Management presented the Board with a memorandum
of its recommended changes to the fundamental and non-fundamental investment
policies of the Fund. Management provided extensive discussion and supporting
materials recommending among other things changing the Fund's investment
objective and changing the status of the Fund from "diversified" to
"non-diversified". The Board reviewed these materials at two special meetings
held specifically for this purpose on May 21, 2008 and May 27, 2008.
With regard to the change in investment objective and policies, the Board has
reviewed materials describing the new objective and policies, the types of
securities in which the Fund might invest if these proposals were approved by
stockholders, the risk and return characteristics of those securities, the
various sub-sectors that make up the financial services sector and other related
matters. The Board evaluated the impact of the proposed changes in the
investment objective and policies on stockholders. At its meeting on April 25,
2008, the Board also reviewed the Fund's current portfolio holdings, current
Fund financial information, the Fund's performance record since inception,
current and anticipated market conditions for financial services companies,
fixed income securities, foreign securities, and U.S. common stocks, and the
recent price history of the Fund's shares of common stock. The Board also has
had access to and has consulted with the Fund's legal counsel on these and other
matters related to the matters contained in this Proxy Statement.
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS OF THE FUND
Summary of the Proposal. The Fund's organizational documents provide that all of
the Directors stand for election each year. The Board has nominated the
following five Director-nominees to stand for election, each for a one-year term
and until their successors are duly elected and qualify: Richard I. Barr, Susan
L. Ciciora, John S. Horejsi, Dr. Dean L. Jacobson, and Joel W. Looney. The above
nominees have consented to serve as Directors if elected at the Meeting for the
one-year term. If any of the designated nominees declines or otherwise becomes
unavailable for election, however, the proxy confers discretionary power on the
persons named therein to vote in favor of a substitute nominee or nominees for
the Board.
INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Set forth in the following table is
information about the nominees for election to the Board of Directors, all of
whom are currently Directors of the Fund:
----------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
Name, Address*, Age Position, Length of Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships Number of Funds in
Term Served, and Term Held During the Past Five Years the Fund Complex
of Office Overseen by
Director+
----------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
Independent Directors
----------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
Joel W. Looney Director and Chairman Partner, Financial Management Group, LLC (investment adviser), 4
Chairman of the Board of the since 1999; Director, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., since
Age: 46 Fund since 2003. 2001; Director, Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., since 2002
Current Nominee for a and Chairman of the Board since 2003. Director and Chairman of
term to expire at the the Board, The Denali Fund Inc., since 2007.
2009 annual meeting.
Richard I. Barr Director of the Fund Retired. Manager, Advantage Sales and Marketing, Inc. (food and 4
Age: 70 since 2001. Current beverage), 1963-2001; Director, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.,
Nominee for a term to since 1999 and Chairman of the Board since 2003; Director,
expire at the 2009 Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., since 2002. Director, The
annual meeting. Denali Fund Inc., since 2007.
Dr. Dean L. Jacobson Director of the Fund Founder and President, Forensic Engineering, Inc. (engineering 4
Age: 69 since 2003. Current investigations); Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University,
Nominee for a term to since 1997; Director, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., since
expire at the 2009 2004; Director, Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., since 2006.
annual meeting. Director, The Denali Fund Inc., since 2007.
----------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
Interested Directors**
----------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
Susan L. Ciciora Director of the Fund Trustee of the Brown Trust and the EH Trust; Director, Horejsi 4
Age: 43 since 2003. Current Charitable Foundation, Inc. (private charitable foundation),
Nominee for a term to since 1997; Director, Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., since
expire at the 2009 2006; Director, Boulder Total Return Fund, since 2001. Director,
annual meeting. The Denali Fund Inc., since 2007.
John S. Horejsi Director of the Fund Director, Horejsi Charitable Foundation (private charitable 4
Age: 40 since 2006. Current foundation), since 1997; Director, Boulder Growth & Income Fund,
nominee for a term to Inc., since 2004; Director, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.,
expire at the 2009 since 2006. Director, The Denali Fund Inc., since 2007.
annual meeting.
* The Directors' respective addresses are c/o First Financial Fund, Inc.,
2344 Spruce Street, Suite A, Boulder, Colorado 80302.
** Ms. Ciciora and Mr. Horejsi are siblings and the children of Stewart R.
Horejsi. They each are "interested persons" as a result of the extent of
their beneficial ownership of Fund shares and by virtue of their indirect
beneficial ownership of FAS.
+ Includes the Fund, Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., Boulder Total Return
Fund, Inc. and The Denali Fund Inc.
----------------------------
From the late 1980's until January, 2001, Mr. Looney served, without
compensation, as one of three trustees of the Mildred Trust, an affiliate of the
EH Trust.
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 April 25,
2008. This table also shows certain additional information. Officers are elected
annually and each officer will hold such office until a successor has been
elected by the Board.
----------------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
Position, Length of
Name, Address*, Age Term Served, and Term of Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships held
Office During the Past Five Years
----------------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
President of the Fund
Stephen C. Miller since 2003 and Director President of and General Counsel for Boulder Investment
Age: 55 and Chairman from 2003 Advisers, LLC ("BIA"), since 1999; Manager, Fund
through 2004. Appointed Administrative Services, LLC ("FAS"), since 1999; Vice
annually. President, Stewart Investment Advisers ("SIA"), since
1999; Director and President of Boulder Total Return
Fund, Inc., since 1999 (resigned as Director in 2004);
Director and President of Boulder Growth & Income Fund,
Inc., since 2002 (resigned as Director in 2004);
President of The Denali Fund Inc., since 2007; officer
of various other Horejsi Affiliates; Of Counsel, Krassa
& Miller, LLC, since 1991. Chief Compliance Officer for
Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., Boulder Total Return
Fund, Inc., First Financial Fund, Inc., BIA, and SIA
from 2004 through 2007.
Vice President and Treasurer of BIA and Assistant
Carl D. Johns Chief Financial Officer, Manager of FAS, since 1999; Vice President, Chief
Age: 45 Chief Accounting Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and
Officer, Vice President Treasurer, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., since 1999,
and Treasurer since Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., since 2002, and The
2003. Appointed Denali Fund Inc., since 2007.
annually.
Joel L. Terwilliger Chief Compliance Officer Associate General Counsel for BIA, SIA, FAS, Boulder
since 2007. Appointed Growth & Income Fund, Inc., Boulder Total Return Fund,
Age: 39 annually. Inc., and the Fund since 2006 and for The Denali Fund
Inc. since 2007; Chief Compliance Officer for BIA, SIA,
Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., Boulder Growth & Income
Fund, Inc., and The Denali Fund Inc., since 2007; Senior
Associate, Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company,
2002-2006.
Secretary since 2003.
Stephanie Kelley Appointed annually. Secretary, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., since 2000;
Age: 51 Secretary, Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., since
2002; Secretary, The Denali Fund Inc., since 2007;
Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer of various
Horejsi Affiliates; employee of FAS, since 1999.
Nicole L. Murphey Vice President since 2008 Assistant Secretary, since 2000, and Vice President, since
Age: 31 and Assistant Secretary 2008, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.; Assistant Secretary,
since 2003. Appointed since 2002, and Vice President, since 2008, Boulder Growth &
annually. Income Fund, Inc.; Assistant Secretary, since 2007, and Vice
President, since 2008, The Denali Fund Inc.; employee of FAS,
since 1999.
* The address for all executive officers of the Fund is 2344 Spruce Street,
Suite A, Boulder, CO 80302.
Set forth in the following table are the nominees for election to the Board (all
of whom are current Directors of the Fund) together with the dollar range of
equity securities beneficially owned by each Director as of the Record Date.
Independent Directors (the Dollar Range of Equity
"Independent Directors") and Securities in the Fund
Nominees
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------
Dean L. Jacobson $10,001 to $50,000
Richard I. Barr $50,001 to $100,000
Joel W. Looney $50,001 to $100,000
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------
Interested Directors and Nominees
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------
Susan L. Ciciora Over $100,000+
John S. Horejsi Over $100,000+
+ 10,204,417 Shares of the Fund are held collectively by the Horejsi
Affiliates (defined above). Accordingly, Ms. Ciciora and Mr. Horejsi may be
deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of such Shares. Ms. Ciciora
and Mr. Horejsi disclaim all such beneficial ownership. Neither Ms. Ciciora
nor Mr. Horejsi directly owns any shares of the Fund.
None of the Independent Directors or their family members owned beneficially or
of record any securities of the Adviser or any person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser.
DIRECTOR AND OFFICER COMPENSATION. The following table sets forth certain
information regarding the compensation of the Fund's Directors for the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2008. No persons (other than the Independent Directors, as
set forth below) currently receive compensation from the Fund for acting as a
Director or officer. Directors and executive officers of the Fund do not receive
pension or retirement benefits from the Fund. Independent Directors receive
reimbursement for travel and other out of pocket expenses incurred in connection
with Board meetings.
Aggregate
Compensation
Name of Person and Position with the from the Fund
Fund Paid to
Directors
---------------------------------------- ------------------
Dean Jacobson, Director $27,500
Richard I. Barr, Director $27,500
Joel W. Looney, Director and Chairman $34,500
of the Board
John S. Horejsi, Director $0
Susan L. Ciciora, Director $0
Each Director of the Fund who is not a Director, officer, or employee of one of
the Adviser, FAS, or any of their affiliates, receives a fee of $8,000 per annum
plus $4,000 for each in person meeting of the Board of Directors and $500 for
each telephonic meeting of the Board. 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. Each Independent Director of
the Fund is reimbursed for travel and out-of-pocket expenses associated with
attending Board and Committee meetings. The Board held eight meetings four of
which were held by telephone conference call) during the fiscal year ended March
31, 2008. Each Director currently serving in such capacity for the entire fiscal
year attended at least 75% of the meetings of Directors and any Committee of
which he is a member. The aggregate remuneration paid to the Directors of the
Fund for acting as such during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 amounted to
$89,500.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AUDIT COMMITTEE; REPORT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE. The purpose of the Audit Committee
is to assist Board oversight of the integrity of the Fund's financial
statements, the Fund's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the
independent auditor's qualifications and independence and the performance of the
Fund's independent auditors. The Audit Committee reviews the scope and results
of the Fund's annual audit with the Fund's independent accountants and
recommends the engagement of such accountants. Management, however, is
responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Fund's
financial statements, and the independent accountants are responsible for
planning and carrying out proper audits and reviews. The Board of Directors
adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee on August 19, 2003 and most
recently amended the Audit Committee Charter on January 23, 2004. A copy of the
Audit Committee Charter was included in proxy materials delivered to
stockholders on June 20, 2007.
The Audit Committee is composed entirely of the Fund's Independent Directors,
consisting of Dr. Jacobson and Messrs. Looney and Barr. The Board of Directors
has determined that Joel Looney qualifies as an "audit committee financial
expert," as defined under the Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation
S-K, Item 401(h). The Audit Committee is in compliance with applicable rules of
the listing requirements for closed-end fund audit committees, including the
requirement that all members of the audit committee be "financially literate"
and that at least one member of the audit committee have "accounting or related
financial management expertise," as determined by the Board. The Audit Committee
is required to conduct its operations in accordance with applicable requirements
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Fund's independent publicly registered
accounting firm is required to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated
under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and by the the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board. The the members of the Audit Committee are subject to the fiduciary duty
to exercise reasonable care in carrying out their duties. Each member of the
Audit Committee is independent, as that term is defined by the NYSE Listing
Standards. The Audit Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2008.
In connection with the audited financial statements as of and for the period
ended March 31, 2008 included in the Fund's Annual Report for the period ended
March 31, 2008 (the "Annual Report"), at a meeting held on April 25, 2008, the
Audit Committee considered and discussed the audited financial statements with
management and the independent accountants, and discussed the audit of such
financial statements with the independent accountants.
The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and letter from the
independent accountants required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1
(Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and has discussed with the
independent accountants their independence. The Audit Committee discussed with
the independent accountants the accounting principles applied by the Fund and
such other matters brought to the attention of the Audit Committee by the
independent accountants required by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61,
Communications With Audit Committees, as currently modified or supplemented.
On December 1, 2007 the Fund adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board's
("FASB") Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 ("FAS 157"). FAS
157 is important in the context of helping the Fund define "fair value" for the
underlying securities or investments it holds. In addition, FAS 157 expands
disclosures about fair value measurements.
The members of the Audit Committee are not professionally engaged in the
practice of auditing or accounting and are not employed by the Fund in any
accounting, financial management, or internal control capacity. Moreover, the
Audit Committee relies on and makes no independent verification of the facts
presented to it or representations made by management or the independent
accountants. Accordingly, the Audit Committee's oversight does not provide an
independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate
accounting and financial reporting principles and policies, or internal controls
and procedures, designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and
applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee's
considerations and discussions referred to above do not provide assurance that
the audit of the Fund's financial statements has been carried out in accordance
with generally accepted accounting standards or that the financial statements
are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Based on its consideration of the audited financial statements and the
discussions referred to above with management and the independent accountants
and subject to the limitation on the responsibilities and role of the Audit
Committee set forth in the Audit Committee Charter and those discussed above,
the Audit Committee of the Fund recommended to the Board that the audited
financial statements be included in the Fund's Annual Report and be mailed to
stockholders and filed with the SEC.
Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Fund's Board of Directors: Joel W.
Looney, Richard I. Barr and Dean L. Jacobson
NOMINATING COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors has a nominating committee (the
"Nominating Committee") composed of the Fund's Independent Directors, consisting
of Dr. Jacobson and Messrs. Looney and Barr, which is responsible for
considering candidates for election to the Board in the event a position is
vacated or created. Each member of the Nominating Committee is independent, as
that term is defined by the NYSE Listing Standards. The Nominating Committee did
not meet during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. The Board of Directors has
adopted a charter for the Nominating Committee that is available on the Fund's
website, www.firstfinancialfund.com. The Nominating Committee does not have a
formal process for identifying candidates. The Nominating Committee takes into
consideration such factors as it deems appropriate when nominating candidates.
These factors may include judgment, skill, diversity, experience with investment
companies and other organizations of comparable purpose, complexity, size and
subject to similar legal restrictions and oversight, the interplay of the
candidate's experience with the experience of other Board members, and the
extent to which the candidate would be a desirable addition to the Board and any
committees thereof. The Nominating Committee will consider all qualified
candidates in the same manner. The Nominating Committee may modify its policies
and procedures for director nominees and recommendations in response to changes
in the Fund's circumstances, and as applicable legal or listing standards
change. The Nominating Committee would consider director candidates recommended
by stockholders (if a vacancy were to exist) and submitted in accordance with
applicable law and procedures as described in this Proxy Statement (see
"Submission of Stockholder Proposals" below). Such recommendations should be
forwarded to the Secretary of the Fund.
The Fund does not have a compensation committee.
OTHER BOARD-RELATED MATTERS.
Stockholders who wish to send communications to the Board should send them to
the address of the Fund and to the attention of the Board. All such
communications will be directed to the Board's attention.
The Fund does not have a formal policy regarding Board member attendance at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders; however, all of the Directors of the Fund, who
were Directors at the time, attended the August 3, 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
Voting Requirement. The election of Messrs. Looney, Barr and Horejsi, Dr.
Jacobson and Ms. Ciciora as Directors of the Fund will require the affirmative
vote of a plurality of the votes cast by holders of the Common Stock at the
Meeting in person or by proxy.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF ALL THE NOMINEES.
PROPOSAL 2
TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE CHANGING THE FUND'S INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE AND RECLASSIFYING THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AS
NON-FUNDAMENTAL
Summary of the Proposal. The Board has proposed that the Fund's objective be
changed to "total return" and that the objective be classified as
"non-fundamental". The Fund's present investment objective is to achieve "long
term capital appreciation with the secondary objective of current income". The
present investment objective is deemed "fundamental" and cannot be changed
without the approval of the holders of a "majority of the outstanding voting
securities". The phrase "majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the
Fund has the meaning set forth in the 1940 Act, that is, the affirmative vote of
the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the Shares present or represented by proxy at
the Meeting or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding Shares. This voting standard
is referred to in this Proxy Statement as a "1940 Act Majority Vote".
Proposal 2 would change the Fund's investment objective to "total return" to
emphasize that the Adviser will have extensive flexibility and breadth of
investment discretion to achieve the new objective. In addition, the investment
objective would be reclassified as "non-fundamental", thus allowing the Board to
change the investment objective from time to time to deal with changing market
conditions and other circumstances. Management believes that the change to
"total return" and non-fundamental status, when combined with the other changes
described in this Proxy Statement, will give the Fund more flexibility to invest
outside of the "traditional" financial services sector and invest in a wider
range of instruments regardless of the market cap or size, or character of the
underlying instrument (e.g.., debt instruments, preferred stocks, common stock,
convertible instruments, credit default swaps, cash equivalents, etc.). The
Adviser anticipates that it will retain a primary focus on investments in
financial services companies, but the totality of changes will permit additional
flexibility to invest in non-traditional financial service companies and
opportunistically outside the sector.
Risks Associated with Changing the Fund's Investment Objective. If approved by
stockholders, the new investment objective - "total return" - may alter the way
the Adviser manages the Fund and the types of issuers and securities in which
the Fund invests. If approved by stockholders, the new objective eliminates the
"secondary objective of current income". Thus, the Adviser will have the
discretion to invest without regard to the current income or dividend producing
ability of its investments and may invest a larger percentage of the Fund's
assets in equity securities having no income component, including less liquid
equities which have longer term investment horizons. Also, if approved by
stockholders, the new investment objective will become non-fundamental which
means that the Board will be able to change the objective in the future without
seeking stockholder approval, although the Fund will provide appropriate advance
notice to stockholders. Such a change could result in a significant change in
the makeup of the underlying portfolio of securities held by the Fund that no
longer comports with a stockholder's personal investment objective. There is no
guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
Voting Requirement. Approval of Proposal 2 requires a 1940 Act Majority Vote of
the Common Shares. If the Proposal is not approved, the Fund's investment
objective will remain unchanged and any change will continue to require approval
of the Fund's stockholders. However, the Fund will proceed with the proposed
name change, reducing its investment focus on financial services companies from
80% of its assets to 65% of its assets.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, RECOMMENDS
THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 2.
PROPOSAL 3
TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE CHANGING THE FUND'S CLASSIFICATION AND
RELATED FUNDAMENTAL RESTRICTION TO MAKE THE FUND A
NON-DIVERSIFIED INVESTMENT COMPANY
Summary of the Proposal. The Fund is currently classified as a diversified
investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and has a fundamental
investment restriction embodying the characteristics of this type of fund. Under
the 1940 Act, at least 75% of the investment portfolio of a "diversified
company" must be comprised of cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities,
securities of other registered investment companies, and other securities
limited in respect of any one issuer to 5% of the company's total assets and
which represent no more than 10% of the voting securities of any one issuer.
There are no such restrictions to the remaining 25% of the portfolio. The Board
has proposed a change in the Fund's classification and an amendment to the
Fund's fundamental investment restrictions that would change the Fund from a
"diversified company" to a "non-diversified" investment company under the 1940
Act. If the Fund changes to a "non-diversified" status and eliminates the Single
Issuer Restriction (defined below in Proposal 4), the Fund will not be limited
by the 1940 Act in the proportion of its assets that may be invested in the
obligations of a single issuer. However, the Fund intends to comply with the
diversification requirements imposed by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(the "IRC") for qualification as a regulated investment company, under which the
minimum percentage of the portfolio that must be "diversified" is 50% rather
than 75%, so long as no single investment exceeds 25% of total assets. If
stockholders approve this proposal, then, as a non-diversified investment
company, the Fund may invest a greater proportion of its assets in the
obligations of a smaller number of issuers. However, the Fund may be subject to
greater risks with respect to portfolio securities due to potentially higher
concentrations of its overall assets in the securities of single issuers.
Reasons for the Proposal. Management believes that changing to a non-diversified
status will provide valuable flexibility and opportunities and ultimately
enhance the Fund's ability to maximize total return for stockholders. It will
also give the Fund's Adviser greater flexibility to achieve the new investment
objective outlined in Proposal 2. The Board believes that the Fund should be a
substantial and long-term owner of high caliber companies when their securities
are reasonably priced. Since such opportunities are rare, if available, the
Adviser should have the flexibility to buy a large enough position to make a
difference. The Fund's current status as a "diversified" investment management
company significantly restricts the Fund's ability to do this.
Risks Associated with Non-diversification. This Proposal, in conjunction with
Proposal 4 below, would permit the Fund to concentrate a larger percentage of
its assets (i.e., greater than 5% in any one issuer with respect to 50% of the
Fund's assets) in common stocks and other instruments issued by a single or just
a relatively few companies. Consequently, the overall volatility of the Fund's
net asset value as well as the market price for its shares may be greater than
that of a comparable "diversified" investment management company that has
diversified its assets more broadly. For example, the Fund could be more
susceptible to the adverse affects of single corporate, economic, political, or
regulatory occurrences due to higher concentrations of the Fund's assets in a
single issuer.
Voting Requirement. Approval of this Proposal requires a 1940 Act Majority Vote
but cannot be implemented unless Proposal 4 is also approved. If sufficient
votes are not obtained to approve both Proposals 3 and 4, the Board will
consider what further action to take, including adjourning with respect to
Proposals 3 and 4 and continuing to solicit stockholder approval and/or
modifying aspects of the Proposals.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, RECOMMENDS
THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 3.
PROPOSAL 4
TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE THE ELIMINATION OF THE "SINGLE-ISSUER" RESTRICTION
Summary of the Proposal. This Proposal seeks approval from stockholders to
eliminate the Fund's "single-issuer" restriction. Presently, one of the Fund's
fundamental investment restrictions, which mirrors the diversification standard
discussed above, provides that the Fund may not:
Purchase securities of any one issuer, other than those issued or
guaranteed by the United States government, its agencies or
instrumentalities or securities issued by other investment companies, if,
as a result, more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in
securities of such issuer or the Fund would own more than 10% of the
outstanding voting securities of such issuer, except that up to 25% of the
Fund's total assets may be invested without regard to these limitations.
(This is referred to in the Proxy Statement as the "Single-Issuer Restriction.")
Proposal 4 would eliminate the Single-Issuer Restriction in its entirety.
Reasons for this Proposal. As discussed under Proposal 3 above, the Fund is
presently a "diversified" investment company. Proposal 3 seeks to change the
Fund to a "non-diversified" investment company, thus permitting it to invest a
larger portion of its assets in a small number of what the Adviser considers
high-quality companies. The Single-Issuer Restriction similarly limits the
Fund's ability to purchase positions in any single issuer in excess of 5% of its
assets. Although eliminating the Single-Issuer Restriction coupled with changing
the Fund to a non-diversified investment company would permit investment in a
greater portion of assets in a single issuer, the Fund will still be subject to
the diversification limitations of the IRC (i.e., with respect to 50% of the
Fund's 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 Fund's portfolio, although no single investment
can exceed 25% of the Fund's total assets). Eliminating the Single-Issuer
Restriction is necessary to change the Fund's diversification status to
non-diversified as recommended under Proposal 3.
Risks Associated with Eliminating the Single-Issuer Restriction. See the risks
described above under Proposal 3.
Voting Requirement. Approval of Proposal 4 requires a 1940 Act Majority Vote,
but cannot be implemented unless Proposal 3 is also approved. If sufficient
votes are not obtained to approve both Proposals 3 and 4, the Board will
consider what further action to take, including adjourning with respect to
Proposals 3 and 4 and continuing to solicit stockholder approval and/or
modifying aspects of the Proposals.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, RECOMMENDS
THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 4.
SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Notice is hereby given that for a stockholder proposal to be considered for
inclusion in the Fund's proxy material relating to its 2009 annual meeting of
stockholders, the stockholder proposal must be received by the Fund no later
than February 19, 2009. Any such proposal shall set forth as to each matter the
stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting (i) a brief description of the
business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting
such business at the meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the
Fund's books, of the stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and
number of shares of the capital stock of the Fund which are beneficially owned
by the stockholder, and (iv) any material interest of the stockholder in such
business. Stockholder proposals, including any accompanying supporting
statement, may not exceed 500 words. A stockholder desiring to submit a proposal
must be a record or beneficial owner of Shares with a market value of $2,000 and
must have held such Shares for at least one year. Further, the stockholder must
continue to hold such Shares through the date on which the meeting is held.
Documentary support regarding the foregoing must be provided along with the
proposal. There are additional requirements regarding proposals of stockholders,
and a stockholder contemplating submission of a proposal is referred to Rule
14a-8 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
Act"). The timely submission of a proposal does not guarantee its inclusion in
the Fund's proxy materials.
Pursuant to the Fund's By-laws, at any annual meeting of the stockholders, only
business that has been properly brought before the meeting will be conducted. To
be properly brought before the annual meeting, the business must be (i)
specified in the notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a
stockholder. For business to be properly brought before the annual meeting by a
stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to
the Secretary of the Fund. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be
delivered to the Secretary at 2344 Spruce Street, Suite A, Boulder, Colorado
80302 no later than 5:00 p.m., Mountain Time, on the 120th day prior to the
first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice for the preceding year's
annual meeting. However, if the date of the annual meeting is advanced or
delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the
preceding year's annual meeting, for notice by the stockholder to be timely, it
must be delivered not later than 5:00 p.m., Mountain Time, on the later of the
120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the tenth day following
the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.
The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting
shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder's notice as
described above.
Pursuant to the Fund's By-laws, such stockholder's notice shall set forth (i) as
to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or
reelection as a director, (A) the name, age, business address and residence
address of such individual, (B) the class, series and number of any shares of
stock of the Fund that are beneficially owned by such individual, (C) the date
such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, (D)
whether such stockholder believes any such individual is, or is not, an
"interested person" of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act and information
regarding such individual that is sufficient, in the discretion of the Board of
Directors or any committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Fund, to
make such determination and (E) all other information relating to such
individual that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for
election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not
involved), or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or
any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder
(including such individual's written consent to being named in the proxy
statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (ii) as to any
other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a
description of such business, the reasons for proposing such business at the
meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and any
Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the
aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder and the
Stockholder Associated Person therefrom; (iii) as to the stockholder giving the
notice and any Stockholder Associated Person, the class, series and number of
all shares of stock of the Fund which are owned by such stockholder and by such
Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and the nominee holder for, and number
of, shares owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder and by any
such Stockholder Associated Person; (iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice
and any Stockholder Associated Person covered by the immediately preceding
clauses (ii) or (iii), the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear
on the Fund's stock ledger and current name and address, if different, and of
such Stockholder Associated Person; and (v) to the extent known by the
stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder
supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a director or the proposal
of other business on the date of such stockholder's notice. "Stockholder
Associated Person" of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person controlling,
directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (ii) any
beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Fund owned of record or beneficially
by such stockholder and (iii) any person controlling, controlled by or under
common control with such Stockholder Associated Person.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. At its regularly scheduled Board meeting held on April
25, 2008, the Audit Committee of the Board, consisting of those Directors who
are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, selected,
and the Board ratified, the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP ("Deloitte") of
Denver, Colorado as the Fund's independent accountants for the Fund's fiscal
year ending March 31, 2009.
KPMG, LLP ("KPMG") at 99 High Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2371, served
as independent accountants for the Fund from 2003 through the preparation of the
Fund's March 31, 2006 tax return and annual report. KPMG's reports on the
financial statements for the two years immediately preceding their termination
contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. During the
two fiscal years immediately preceding KPMG's termination, there were no
disagreements with such accountants on any matter of accounting principles or
practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.
Deloitte served as independent accountants for the Fund's fiscal years ending
March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008. In addition to performing independent audit
services for the Fund, Deloitte also performs certain non-audit related
services, i.e., tax, and consulting, on behalf of the Fund's adviser, Wellington
Management Company, L.P. (the "investment adviser"). Under the Sarbanes-Oxley
rules, as adopted by the Securities Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and under
the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee must pre-approve all non-audit
services to be provided by the auditors to the Fund, and all non-audit services
to be provided by the auditors to the Fund's investment adviser and any service
providers controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Fund's
investment adviser ("adviser affiliates") that provide on-going services to the
Fund, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial
reporting of the Fund, or must establish detailed pre-approval policies and
procedures for such services in accordance with applicable laws. The Audit
Committee has reviewed the non-audit services to be provided by Deloitte to the
investment adviser (no such services are provided to the Fund) and has
pre-approved the provision of those services. Accordingly, all of the audit,
audit-related, non-audit, and tax services described below for which Deloitte
billed the Fund fees for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2007 and March 31,
2008, were either pre-approved by the Audit Committee or were for services that
were unrelated to the direct operations and/or financial reporting of the Fund.
Deloitte has informed the Fund that it has no direct or indirect financial
interest in the Fund.
A representative of Deloitte will not be present at the Meeting but will be
available by telephone and will have an opportunity to make a statement if the
representative so desires and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
Set forth below are audit fees and non-audit related fees billed to the Fund for
professional services received from Deloitte for the Fund's fiscal years ended
March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008.
Fiscal Year Ended Audit Fees Audit-Related Fees Tax Fees* All Other Fees
3/31/2007 $26,500 $ - $6,250 $ -
3/31/2008 $29,750 $ - $6,875 $ -
* "Tax Fees" are those fees billed to the Fund by Deloitte in connection
with tax consulting services, including primarily the review of the Fund's
income tax returns.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE. Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act require the Fund's Directors and
officers, persons affiliated with the Fund's investment advisers, and persons
who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Fund's securities, to file
reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC and the New York
Stock Exchange. Directors, officers and greater-than-10% stockholders are
required by SEC regulations to furnish the Fund with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file. Based solely upon the Fund's review of the copies of such forms
it receives and written representations from such persons, the Fund believes
that through the date hereof all such filing requirements applicable to such
persons were complied with.
BROKER NON-VOTES AND ABSTENTIONS. An unsolicited proxy for shares held by
brokers or nominees as to which (i) instructions have not been received from the
beneficial owners or the persons entitled to vote and (ii) the broker or nominee
does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter is a broker
"non-vote". Proxies that reflect abstentions or broker non-votes will be counted
as shares that are present and entitled to vote on the matter for purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum. Accordingly, abstentions and broker
non-votes effectively will be a vote against adjournment and Proposals 2, 3 and
4.
OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING. The Fund does not intend to present
any other business at the Meeting, nor is it aware that any stockholder intends
to do so. If, however, any other matters are properly brought before the
Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote thereon
in accordance with their discretion.
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STOCKHOLDERS ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD OR
AUTHORIZE PROXIES VIA TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET. THE PROXY CARD SHOULD BE
RETURNED IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE
UNITED STATES. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PROPER EXECUTION OF PROXIES ARE SET FORTH ON
THE INSIDE COVER.
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PROXY
FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned holder of shares of Common Stock of First Financial Fund, Inc.,
a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), hereby appoints Stephen C. Miller, Carl D.
Johns, and Ryan M. Louvar, or any of them, as proxies for the undersigned, with
full powers of substitution in each of them, to attend the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at The Resort at the Mountain,
68010 East Fairway Avenue, Welches, Oregon at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time
(local time), on Monday, July 28, 2008, and any adjournments or postponements
thereof, to cast on behalf of the undersigned all votes that the undersigned is
entitled to cast at the Annual Meeting and to otherwise represent the
undersigned at the Annual Meeting with all the powers possessed by the
undersigned if personally present at the Meeting.
The votes entitled to be cast will be cast as instructed below. If this Proxy is
executed but no instruction is given, the votes entitled to be cast by the
undersigned will be cast "FOR" each of the proposals described in the Proxy
Statement.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and
Proxy Statement. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon
such other business as may properly come before the Meeting. A majority of the
proxies present and acting at the Special Meeting in person or by substitute
(or, if only one shall be so present, then that one) shall have and may exercise
all of the power and authority of said proxies hereunder. The undersigned hereby
revokes any proxy previously given.
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
Please indicate your vote by an "X" in the appropriate box below.
This proxy, if properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed by the
undersigned stockholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
ALL PROPOSALS.
Please refer to the Proxy Statement for a discussion of the Proposals.
------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------ -------------------------
1. Election of Directors: Nominees are Richard I. Barr, John FOR____ AGAINST___ ABSTAIN ___
S. Horejsi, Susan L. Ciciora, Dr. Dean L. Jacobson, and
Joel W. Looney
------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------ -------------------------
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" ELECTION
OF ALL THE NOMINEES
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------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------ -------------------------
2. To approve or disapprove changing the Fund's investment FOR___ AGAINST ___ ABSTAIN ___
objective to "total return" and reclassifying the
investment objective as non-fundamental.
------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------ -------------------------
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THIS
PROPOSAL, AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT
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------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------ -------------------------
3. To approve or disapprove changing the Fund's FOR ___ AGAINST ___ ABSTAIN ____
classification and related fundamental investment restriction to
make the Fund a non-diversified investment company.
------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------ -------------------------
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THIS
PROPOSAL, AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT
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------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------ -------------------------
4. To approve or disapprove elimination of the Fund's FOR ___ AGAINST ___ ABSTAIN ___
fundamental investment restriction regarding the ability
to hold greater than 5% in a single issuer.
------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------ -------------------------
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THIS
PROPOSAL, AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT
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MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT ____
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears on this Proxy. If joint owners,
EACH should sign this Proxy. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee, guardian or corporate officer, please give your full title.
Signature:
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Date:
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Signature:
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Date:
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