UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-04656
ELLSWORTH FUND LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
65 Madison Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey 07960-7308
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Thomas H. Dinsmore
ELLSWORTH FUND LTD.
65 Madison Avenue
Morristown, New Jersey 07960-7308
(Name and address of agent for service)
Copy to:
Steven B. King, Esq.
Ballard Spahr LLP
1735 Market Street, 51st Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103-7599
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (973) 631-1177
Date of fiscal year end: September 30, 2014
Date of reporting period: March 31, 2014
ITEM 1.
REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.
|
|
ELLSWORTH FUND LTD. |
March 31, 2014
Calendar | Annualized |
10 Year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
YTD |
1 Year |
3 Years |
5 Years |
10 Years |
Volatility * |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Ellsworth market price |
5.74 | % | 15.98 | % | 7.88 | % | 16.98 | % | 6.00 | % | 15.41 | % | |||||||||||||||
Ellsworth net asset value |
3.87 | 16.70 | 8.88 | 17.05 | 6.18 | 12.18 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Bank of America Merrill Lynch All |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Convertibles Index |
4.33 | 21.16 | 10.56 | 19.19 | 7.13 | 12.47 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Barclays Balanced U.S. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Convertibles Index |
3.18 | 16.51 | 8.85 | 15.81 | NA | NA | |||||||||||||||||||||
S&P 500® Index |
1.80 | 21.83 | 14.61 | 21.12 | 7.41 | 15.01 |
Net Asset Values | Market Prices (NYSE MKT symbol: ECF) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Qtr. Ended |
High |
Low |
Close |
High |
Low |
Close |
|||||||||||||||||||||
6/30/13 |
$ | 9.39 | $ | 8.88 | $ | 9.07 | $7.99 | $7.44 | $7.66 | ||||||||||||||||||
9/30/13 |
9.62 | 9.11 | 9.54 | 7.99 | 7.61 | 7.87 | |||||||||||||||||||||
12/31/13 |
9.85 | 9.42 | 9.85 | 8.27 | 7.75 | 8.19 | |||||||||||||||||||||
3/31/14 |
10.40 | 9.74 | 10.16 | 8.62 | 8.08 | 8.60 |
Record Date |
Payment Date |
Income |
Capital Gains |
Total |
||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5/16/13 |
5/30/13 | $ | 0.06 | $ | | $ | 0.06 | |||||||||||
8/15/13 |
8/29/13 | 0.06 | | 0.06 | ||||||||||||||
10/31/13 |
11/27/13 | 0.06 | | 0.06 | ||||||||||||||
2/13/14 |
2/27/14 | 0.06 | | 0.06 | ||||||||||||||
$ | 0.24 | $ | | $ | 0.24 |
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E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
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To Our Shareholders |
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E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
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To Our Shareholders (continued) |
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E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Largest Investment Holdings by underlying common stock |
Value (Note 1) |
% Total Net Assets |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gilead Sciences, Inc. |
$ | 3,112,505 | 2.3 | % | ||||||
Gilead Sciences is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes medicines. Gileads primary areas
of focus include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS, liver diseases, and cardiovascular/metabolic and respiratory
conditions. |
||||||||||
United Technologies Corp. |
2,662,800 | 2.0 | ||||||||
United Technologies provides high technology products and services to the building systems and aerospace industries
worldwide. |
||||||||||
AT&T Inc. |
2,454,900 | 1.8 | ||||||||
AT&T is a provider of telecommunications services in the U.S. and worldwide. These include wireless communications, local exchange services,
long-distance services, data/broadband and Internet services, and video services. |
||||||||||
The Priceline Group Inc. |
2,415,062 | 1.8 | ||||||||
Priceline is an online travel company that offers its customers hotel room reservations at over 295,000 hotels worldwide through the
Booking.com, priceline.com and Agoda brands. In the United States, it also offers its customers reservations for car rentals, airline tickets, vacation
packages, destination services and cruises through the priceline.com brand. |
||||||||||
Iconix Brand Group, Inc. |
2,390,156 | 1.8 | ||||||||
Iconix is a brand management company engaged in licensing, marketing and providing trend direction for a portfolio of consumer brands. The
company is the owner of the brands through its wholly owned subsidiaries, which it licenses directly to retailers, wholesalers and
suppliers. |
||||||||||
NextEra Energy, Inc. |
2,243,350 | 1.7 | ||||||||
NextEra is an electric power company that has over 42,000 megawatt of generating capacity in 26 states in the United States and four provinces
in Canada. It also purchases electric power for resale to its customers and provides risk management services related to power and gas consumption for
a limited number of customers. |
||||||||||
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. |
2,074,922 | 1.6 | ||||||||
Hawaiian Holdings is a holding company whose primary asset is the sole ownership of all issued and outstanding shares of common stock of
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., which is engaged in the scheduled air transportation of passengers and cargo amongst the Hawaiian Islands, between the islands
and certain cities in the United States, and between the islands and the South Pacific, Australia and Asia. |
||||||||||
Nuance Communications, Inc. |
2,013,750 | 1.5 | ||||||||
Nuance is a provider of speech, imaging and keypad solutions for businesses, organizations and consumers worldwide. The companys solutions
are used for tasks and services, such as requesting information from a phone-based, self-service solution, dictating medical records, searching the
mobile Web by voice, or entering a destination into a navigation system. |
||||||||||
Total |
$ | 19,367,445 | 14.5 | % |
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E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Major Industry Exposure |
% Total Net Assets |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment |
8.6 | % | ||||
Biotechnology |
7.5 | |||||
Software |
6.9 | |||||
Pharmaceuticals |
6.7 | |||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts |
6.5 | |||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
5.6 | |||||
Diversified Telecommunications Services |
3.7 | |||||
Food Products |
3.3 | |||||
Commercial Banks |
2.9 | |||||
Insurance |
2.8 | |||||
Total |
54.5 | % |
|
|
Major Portfolio Changes by underlying common stock |
ADDITIONS | REDUCTIONS | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc. |
|||||
Carriage Services, Inc. |
Annaly Capital Management, Inc. |
|||||
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. |
Array BioPharma Inc. |
|||||
ConAgra Foods, Inc. |
AuRico Gold Inc. |
|||||
Crown Castle International Corp. |
CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V. |
|||||
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. |
Concur Technologies, Inc. |
|||||
Ford Motor Co. |
Gilead Sciences, Inc. |
|||||
General Electric Co. |
Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. |
|||||
HomeAway, Inc. |
Infinera Corp. |
|||||
Incyte Corp. |
Insulet Corp. |
|||||
InvenSense, Inc. |
InterDigital, Inc. |
|||||
Kinder Morgan, Inc. |
NVIDIA Corp. |
|||||
Post Holdings, Inc. |
OPKO Health Inc. |
|||||
Proofpoint, Inc. |
SanDisk Corp. |
|||||
Stratasys Ltd. |
Unisys Corp. |
|||||
Vodafone Group Plc |
Volcano Corp. |
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E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2014 (unaudited) |
Principal Amount |
Value (Note 1) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES 56.2% |
||||||||||
Airlines 1.6% |
||||||||||
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., 5.00%, Due 3/15/16, (BBB) |
$ | 1,125,000 | $ | 2,074,922 | ||||||
Automobiles 0.1% |
||||||||||
Tesla Motors, Inc., 1.25%, Due 3/1/21, (A) |
200,000 | 182,000 | ||||||||
Biotechnology 7.5% |
||||||||||
AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2.50%, Due 2/15/19, (A) |
500,000 | 506,562 | ||||||||
Array BioPharma Inc., 3.00%, Due 6/1/20, (BBB) |
250,000 | 258,594 | ||||||||
Cepheid, 1.25%, Due 2/1/21, (AA) (1) |
300,000 | 324,375 | ||||||||
Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1.875%, Due 9/1/20, (A) (1) |
1,100,000 | 1,329,625 | ||||||||
Emergent BioSolutions Inc., 2.875%, Due 1/15/21, (A) (1) |
800,000 | 862,000 | ||||||||
Exelixis, Inc., 4.25%, Due 8/15/19, (BBB) |
750,000 | 678,281 | ||||||||
Gilead Sciences, Inc., 1.625%, Due 5/1/16, (A) |
1,000,000 | 3,112,505 | ||||||||
Incyte Corp., 1.25%, Due 11/15/20, (BBB) (1) |
1,000,000 | 1,286,250 | ||||||||
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 4.50%, Due 7/15/20, (BB) |
250,000 | 254,062 | ||||||||
OPKO Health Inc., 3.00%, Due 2/1/33, (A) |
400,000 | 562,000 | ||||||||
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1.875%, Due 10/1/16, (AA) |
250,000 | 892,969 | ||||||||
10,067,223 | ||||||||||
Capital Markets 0.8% |
||||||||||
FXCM Inc., 2.25%, Due 6/15/18, (AA) |
1,000,000 | 1,037,500 | ||||||||
Communications Equipment 0.5% |
||||||||||
Finisar Corp., 5.00%, Due 10/15/29, (NR) |
75,000 | 187,875 | ||||||||
Ixia, 3.00%, Due 12/15/15, (A) |
500,000 | 530,000 | ||||||||
717,875 | ||||||||||
Construction & Engineering 0.4% |
||||||||||
Layne Christensen Co., 4.25%, Due 11/15/18, (A) (1) |
500,000 | 522,500 | ||||||||
Consumer Finance 2.1% |
||||||||||
DFC Global Corp., 3.25%, Due 4/15/17, (B) |
1,250,000 | 1,071,875 | ||||||||
Encore Capital Group, Inc., 3.00%, Due 7/1/20, (BBB) (1) |
1,000,000 | 1,163,125 | ||||||||
Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc., 3.00%, Due 8/1/20, (A) |
500,000 | 595,625 | ||||||||
2,830,625 | ||||||||||
Diversified Consumer Services 0.8% |
||||||||||
Carriage Services, Inc., 2.75%, Due 3/15/21, (BBB) (1) |
1,000,000 | 1,052,505 | ||||||||
Diversified Telecommunications Services 0.6% |
||||||||||
Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., 6.25%, Due 5/1/18, (BB) |
1,000,000 | 838,750 | ||||||||
Electrical Equipment 0.2% |
||||||||||
SolarCity Corp., 2.75%, Due 11/1/18, (BBB) |
250,000 | 323,438 |
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E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
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Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2014 (continued) |
Principal Amount |
Value (Note 1) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES CONTINUED |
||||||||||
Electronic Equipment Instruments 1.0% |
||||||||||
InvenSense, Inc., 1.75%, Due 11/1/18, (A) (1) |
$ | 1,000,000 | $ | 1,272,500 | ||||||
Energy Equipment & Services 1.1% |
||||||||||
Bristow Group Inc., 3.00%, Due 6/15/38, (BB) |
1,155,000 | 1,435,809 | ||||||||
Food Products 0.5% |
||||||||||
Chiquita Brands International, 4.25%, Due 8/15/16, (CCC) |
700,000 | 715,750 | ||||||||
Health Care Providers & Services 1.1% |
||||||||||
Molina Healthcare Inc., 1.125%, Due 1/15/20, (A) |
1,250,000 | 1,413,250 | ||||||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 0.8% |
||||||||||
MGM Resorts International, 4.25%, Due 4/15/15, (B) |
750,000 | 1,093,594 | ||||||||
Household Durables 1.3% |
||||||||||
Jarden Corp., 1.875%, Due 9/15/18, (BB) |
1,250,000 | 1,744,531 | ||||||||
Insurance 0.8% |
||||||||||
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., 5.50%, Due 12/15/21, (A) |
750,000 | 1,100,625 | ||||||||
Internet & Catalog Retail 2.2% |
||||||||||
HomeAway, Inc., 0.125%, Due 4/1/19, (AA) (1) |
500,000 | 509,250 | ||||||||
The Priceline Group Inc., 1.00%, Due 3/15/18, (BBB) |
1,700,000 | 2,415,062 | ||||||||
2,924,312 | ||||||||||
Internet Software & Services 2.5% |
||||||||||
Equinix, Inc., 3.00%, Due 10/15/14, (B) |
1,000,000 | 1,650,000 | ||||||||
Move, Inc., 2.75%, Due 9/1/18, (A) |
500,000 | 491,250 | ||||||||
Web.com Group, Inc., 1.00%, Due 8/15/18, (A) |
1,000,000 | 1,181,875 | ||||||||
3,323,125 | ||||||||||
IT Services 0.8% |
||||||||||
CSG Systems International, Inc., 3.00%, Due 3/1/17, (A) |
900,000 | 1,108,125 | ||||||||
Life Science Tools & Services 1.0% |
||||||||||
Illumina, Inc., 0.25%, Due 3/15/16, (AA) |
750,000 | 1,364,535 | ||||||||
Machinery 0.8% |
||||||||||
Chart Industries, Inc., 2.00%, Due 8/1/18, (BB) |
750,000 | 1,010,156 | ||||||||
Media 0.5% |
||||||||||
Liberty Media Corp., 1.375%, Due 10/15/23, (AA) (1) |
750,000 | 705,469 |
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E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
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Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2014 (continued) |
Principal Amount |
Value (Note 1) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES CONTINUED |
||||||||||
Metals & Mining 2.5% |
||||||||||
A.M. Castle & Co., 7.00%, Due 12/15/17, (BBB) |
$ | 400,000 | $ | 646,000 | ||||||
Kaiser Aluminum Corp., 4.50%, Due 4/1/15, (BB) |
1,000,000 | 1,508,125 | ||||||||
RTI International Metals, Inc., 3.00%, Due 12/1/15, (A) |
600,000 | 643,125 | ||||||||
RTI International Metals, Inc., 1.625%, Due 10/15/19, (A) |
500,000 | 494,062 | ||||||||
3,291,312 | ||||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 1.5% |
||||||||||
Clean Energy Fuels Corp., 5.25%, Due 10/1/18, (BBB) |
500,000 | 456,250 | ||||||||
Goodrich Petroleum Corp., 5.00%, Due 10/1/32, (CCC) |
992,000 | 1,025,480 | ||||||||
Ship Finance International Ltd., 3.25%, Due 2/1/18, (B) |
500,000 | 553,438 | ||||||||
2,035,168 | ||||||||||
Pharmaceuticals 2.3% |
||||||||||
Mylan Inc., 3.75%, Due 9/15/15, (BBB) |
500,000 | 1,840,312 | ||||||||
Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., 2.75%, Due 5/15/15, (B) |
300,000 | 674,062 | ||||||||
Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., 1.50%, Due 3/15/19, (B) |
300,000 | 508,688 | ||||||||
3,023,062 | ||||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts 2.9% |
||||||||||
American Realty Capital Properties, Inc., 3.00%, Due 8/1/18, (A) |
1,000,000 | 1,065,000 | ||||||||
Colony Financial, Inc., 5.00%, Due 4/15/23, (A) |
1,250,000 | 1,328,906 | ||||||||
Lexington Realty Trust, 6.00%, Due 1/15/30, (BBB) |
500,000 | 808,438 | ||||||||
National Health Investors, Inc., 3.25%, Due 4/1/21, (A) |
125,000 | 124,922 | ||||||||
RAIT Financial Trust, 4.00%, Due 10/1/33, (BBB) |
500,000 | 490,000 | ||||||||
3,817,266 | ||||||||||
Real Estate Management 0.8% |
||||||||||
Forest City Enterprises, Inc., 3.625%, Due 8/15/20, (B) |
1,000,000 | 1,028,750 | ||||||||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 8.0% |
||||||||||
GT Advanced Technologies Inc., 3.00%, Due 12/15/20, (BBB) |
850,000 | 1,377,531 | ||||||||
Intel Corp., 2.95%, Due 12/15/35, (A) (2) |
1,000,000 | 1,179,375 | ||||||||
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., 4.00%, Due 2/1/19, (BB) (1) |
500,000 | 453,750 | ||||||||
Micron Technology, Inc., 3.00%, Due 11/15/43, (BB) |
1,750,000 | 1,926,094 | ||||||||
Photronics, Inc., 3.25%, Due 4/1/16, (A) |
1,000,000 | 1,102,500 | ||||||||
ReneSola Ltd., 4.125%, Due 3/15/18, (BB) |
250,000 | 200,950 | ||||||||
Rudolph Technologies Inc., 3.75%, Due 7/15/16, (A) |
500,000 | 572,500 | ||||||||
Spansion LLC, 2.00%, Due 9/1/20, (B) |
500,000 | 702,812 | ||||||||
SunEdison, Inc., 2.75%, Due 1/1/21, (BB) (1) |
500,000 | 743,438 | ||||||||
SunPower Corp., 4.50%, Due 3/15/15, (BBB) |
1,000,000 | 1,520,625 | ||||||||
Xilinx, Inc., 2.625%, Due 6/15/17, (A) |
500,000 | 940,000 | ||||||||
10,719,575 |
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E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
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Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2014 (continued) |
Principal Amount |
Value (Note 1) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES CONTINUED |
||||||||||
Software 6.0% |
||||||||||
Bottomline Technologies, Inc., 1.50%, Due 12/1/17, (A) |
$ | 750,000 | $ | 983,906 | ||||||
Mentor Graphics Corp., 4.00%, Due 4/1/31, (AA) |
1,000,000 | 1,248,750 | ||||||||
NQ Mobile Inc., 4.00%, Due 10/15/18, (BBB) (1) |
500,000 | 454,375 | ||||||||
Nuance Communications, Inc., 2.75%, Due 11/1/31, (BB) (1) |
2,000,000 | 2,013,750 | ||||||||
Proofpoint, Inc., 1.25%, Due 12/15/18, (A) (1) |
650,000 | 765,375 | ||||||||
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., 1.75%, Due 12/1/16, (A) |
1,250,000 | 1,647,656 | ||||||||
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc., 7.75%, Due 6/30/18, (BBB) |
1,000,000 | 975,000 | ||||||||
8,088,812 | ||||||||||
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 1.8% |
||||||||||
Iconix Brand Group, Inc., 2.50%, Due 6/1/16, (A) |
1,000,000 | 1,363,125 | ||||||||
Iconix Brand Group, Inc., 1.50%, Due 3/15/18, (A) |
750,000 | 1,027,031 | ||||||||
2,390,156 | ||||||||||
Trading Companies & Distributors 0.7% |
||||||||||
Kaman Corp., 3.25%, Due 11/15/17, (A) |
750,000 | 981,094 | ||||||||
Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.7% |
||||||||||
SBA Communications Corp., 4.00%, Due 10/1/14, (A) |
300,000 | 896,438 | ||||||||
TOTAL CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES |
75,130,752 | |||||||||
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK 11.6% |
||||||||||
Shares |
||||||||||
Commercial Banks 2.5% |
||||||||||
Huntington Bancshares, Inc., 8.50%, (BB) |
1,250 | 1,606,250 | ||||||||
Wells Fargo & Co., 7.50%, (BBB) |
1,500 | 1,759,500 | ||||||||
3,365,750 | ||||||||||
Diversified Financial Services 1.4% |
||||||||||
Bank of America Corp., 7.25%, (BB) |
1,600 | 1,830,736 | ||||||||
Food Products 1.8% |
||||||||||
Post Holdings, Inc., 3.75%, (B) |
8,300 | 1,049,950 | ||||||||
Post Holdings, Inc., 2.50%, (B) (1) |
5,000 | 553,125 | ||||||||
Bunge Ltd., 4.875%, (BB) |
7,500 | 795,000 | ||||||||
2,398,075 | ||||||||||
Machinery 0.8% |
||||||||||
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., 6.25%, (BBB) |
10,000 | 1,078,300 | ||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 1.6% |
||||||||||
Chesapeake Energy Corp., 5.75%, (B) |
1,550 | 1,732,125 | ||||||||
Halcon Resources Corp., 5.75%, (CCC) |
500 | 412,500 | ||||||||
2,144,625 |
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E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
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Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2014 (continued) |
Shares |
Value (Note 1) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK CONTINUED |
||||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts 2.0% |
||||||||||
Health Care REIT, Inc., 6.50%, (BB) |
20,000 | $ | 1,110,600 | |||||||
Weyerhaeuser Co., 6.375%, (BBB) |
30,000 | 1,637,100 | ||||||||
2,747,700 | ||||||||||
Specialty Retail 0.6% |
||||||||||
Amerivon Holdings LLC, 4.00%, (NR) (1,3,4) |
643,516 | 763,660 | ||||||||
Amerivon Holdings LLC, common equity units, (NR) (1,3,4) |
272,728 | 16,364 | ||||||||
780,024 | ||||||||||
Thrift & Mortgage Finance 0.9% |
||||||||||
New York Community Capital Trust V, 6.00%, (BB) |
24,000 | 1,174,800 | ||||||||
TOTAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK |
15,520,010 | |||||||||
MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES 8.1% (5) |
||||||||||
Aerospace & Defense 2.0% |
||||||||||
United Technologies Corp., 7.50%, Due 8/1/15, (BBB) |
40,000 | 2,662,800 | ||||||||
Electric Utilities 1.7% |
||||||||||
NextEra Energy, Inc., 5.599%, Due 6/1/15, (BBB) |
7,500 | 473,550 | ||||||||
NextEra Energy, Inc., 5.799%, Due 9/1/16, (BBB) |
10,000 | 541,600 | ||||||||
NextEra Energy, Inc., 5.889%, Due 9/1/15, (BBB) |
20,000 | 1,228,200 | ||||||||
2,243,350 | ||||||||||
Insurance 1.4% |
||||||||||
MetLife, Inc., 5.00%, Due 10/8/14, (BBB) |
25,000 | 770,000 | ||||||||
Maiden Holdings, Ltd., 7.25%, Due 9/15/16, (NR) |
22,500 | 1,101,600 | ||||||||
1,871,600 | ||||||||||
Multi-Utilities 1.1% |
||||||||||
Dominion Resources, Inc., 6.125%, Due 4/1/16, (BBB) |
12,500 | 718,750 | ||||||||
Dominion Resources, Inc., 6.00%, Due 7/1/16, (BBB) |
12,500 | 722,125 | ||||||||
1,440,875 | ||||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts 0.9% |
||||||||||
Crown Castle International Corp., 4.50%, Due 11/1/16, (B) |
12,500 | 1,264,375 | ||||||||
Road & Rail 1.0% |
||||||||||
Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., 5.00%, Due 10/1/15, (NR) |
10,000 | 1,287,100 | ||||||||
TOTAL MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES (5) |
10,770,100 |
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2014 (continued) |
Shares |
Value (Note 1) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COMMON STOCK 23.4% |
||||||||||
Automobiles 1.2% |
||||||||||
Ford Motor Co. |
100,000 | $ | 1,560,000 | |||||||
Capital Markets 0.7% |
||||||||||
BlackRock Kelso Capital Corp. |
105,831 | 970,469 | ||||||||
Commercial Banks 0.4% |
||||||||||
Wells Fargo & Co. |
10,200 | 507,348 | ||||||||
Computers & Peripherals 2.0% |
||||||||||
EMC Corp. |
70,000 | 1,918,700 | ||||||||
Stratasys Ltd. (6) |
7,500 | 795,675 | ||||||||
2,714,375 | ||||||||||
Diversified Financial Services 0.7% |
||||||||||
Citigroup Inc. |
19,546 | 930,390 | ||||||||
Diversified Telecommunications Services 3.1% |
||||||||||
AT&T Inc. |
70,000 | 2,454,900 | ||||||||
Verizon Communications Inc. |
35,260 | 1,677,318 | ||||||||
4,132,218 | ||||||||||
Food Products 1.0% |
||||||||||
ConAgra Foods, Inc. |
45,000 | 1,396,350 | ||||||||
Household Products 1.0% |
||||||||||
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. |
20,000 | 1,381,400 | ||||||||
Industrial Conglomerates 1.0% |
||||||||||
General Electric Co. |
50,000 | 1,294,500 | ||||||||
Insurance 0.6% |
||||||||||
MetLife, Inc. |
14,175 | 748,440 | ||||||||
Media 0.9% |
||||||||||
Walt Disney Co. |
15,000 | 1,201,050 | ||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 2.5% |
||||||||||
ConocoPhillips |
26,782 | 1,884,114 | ||||||||
Kinder Morgan, Inc. |
45,000 | 1,462,050 | ||||||||
3,346,164 | ||||||||||
Pharmaceuticals 4.4% |
||||||||||
AbbVie Inc. |
25,000 | 1,285,000 | ||||||||
Bristol Myers Squibb Co. |
10,000 | 519,500 | ||||||||
Eli Lilly & Co. |
15,000 | 882,900 | ||||||||
Merck & Co., Inc |
32,651 | 1,853,597 | ||||||||
Pfizer Inc. |
40,000 | 1,284,800 | ||||||||
5,825,797 |
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2014 (continued) |
Shares |
Value (Note 1) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COMMON STOCK CONTINUED |
||||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts 0.7% |
||||||||||
Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. |
58,700 | $ | 966,789 | |||||||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 0.6% |
||||||||||
Intel Corp. |
30,000 | 774,300 | ||||||||
Software 0.9% |
||||||||||
Microsoft Corp. |
28,600 | 1,172,314 | ||||||||
Wireless Telecommunication Services 1.7% |
||||||||||
SBA Communications Corp. (6) |
10,500 | 955,080 | ||||||||
Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) |
35,909 | 1,321,810 | ||||||||
2,276,890 | ||||||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCK |
31,198,794 | |||||||||
Total Convertible Bonds and Notes 56.2% |
$ | 75,130,752 | ||||||||
Total Convertible Preferred Stock 11.6% |
15,520,010 | |||||||||
Total Mandatory Convertible Securities 8.1% |
10,770,100 | |||||||||
Total Investments 99.3% |
31,198,794 | |||||||||
Total Common Stock 23.4% |
132,619,656 | |||||||||
Other Assets and Liabilites, Net 0.7% |
946,500 | |||||||||
Total Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 133,566,156 |
(1) |
Security not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) (e.g., the security was purchased in a Rule 144A or a Regulation D transaction). The security may be resold only pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, typically to qualified institutional buyers. The Fund generally has no rights to demand registration of such securities. The aggregate market value of these unregistered securities at March 31, 2014 was $14,791,436, which represented 11.1% of the Funds net assets. |
(2) |
Contingent payment debt instrument which accrues contingent interest. See Note 1(e). |
(3) |
Investment is valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. It is possible that the estimated value may differ significantly from the amount that might ultimately be realized in the near term, and the difference could be material. The fair value of these securities amounted to $780,024 at March 31, 2014, which represented 0.6% of the Funds net assets. See Note 1(c). |
(4) |
Restricted securities include securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act, and securities that are subject to restrictions on resale. The Fund may invest in restricted securities that are consistent with the Funds investment objective and investment strategies. In some cases, the issuer of restricted securities has agreed to register such securities for resale, at the issuers expense either upon demand by the Fund or in connection with another registered offering of the securities. Investments in restricted securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. It is possible that the estimated value may differ significantly from the amount that might ultimately be realized in the near term, and the difference could be material. As of March 31, 2014, the Fund was invested in the following restricted securities: |
Security |
Acquisition Date |
Shares |
Cost |
Price per Share |
Value |
% Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amerivon Holdings LLC series A cv. pfd. |
April 1, 2010 |
643,516 | $ | 1,500,000 | $ | 1.187 | $ | 763,660 | 0.57 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Amerivon Holdings LLC common equity units |
April 1, 2010 |
272,728 | 0 | 0.060 | 16,364 | 0.01 | % |
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Portfolio of Investments March 31, 2014 (continued) |
(5) |
Mandatory Convertible Securities are required to be converted on the dates listed; they generally may be converted prior to these dates at the option of the holder. See Note 1(i). |
(6) |
Non-income producing security. |
Portfolio Ratings: | Summary of Portfolio Ratings * | |
|
| % of |
Where a security is rated by Standard & Poors (S&P), such rating appears in parentheses next to such security (but without any applicable + or - that might apply). |
| Portfolio |
AAA | 0 | |
Where a security is rated by S&P and at least one other rating agency and the Fund believes the ratings to be functionally equivalent to one another, the S&P rating appears in parentheses next to such security (but without any applicable + or - that might apply). | AA | 6 |
A | 30 | |
BBB | 29 | |
Where a security is rated by S&P and at least one other rating agency and the Fund believes the ratings not to be functionally equivalent to one another, the Fund puts in parentheses next to such security the S&P rating which it believes approximates the average of all such ratings (but without any applicable + or - that might apply). | BB | 18 |
B | 12 | |
CCC & below | 2 | |
Where a security is not rated by S&P, but is rated by at least one other rating agency, the Fund puts in parentheses next to such security the S&P rating which it believes approximates the average of all such ratings (but without any applicable + or - that might apply). NR is used whenever a rating is unavailable. | Not Rated | 3 |
* Excludes common stock and cash. |
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited) |
March 31, 2014 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assets: |
||||||
Investments at value (cost $111,335,013) (Note 1) |
$ | 132,619,656 | ||||
Cash |
720,297 | |||||
Receivable for securities sold |
1,479,453 | |||||
Dividends and interest receivable |
731,310 | |||||
Other assets |
2,427 | |||||
Total assets |
135,553,143 | |||||
Liabilities: |
||||||
Payable for securities purchased |
1,947,018 | |||||
Accrued management fee (Note 2) |
8,395 | |||||
Other liabilities |
31,574 | |||||
Total liabilities |
1,986,987 | |||||
Net Assets |
$ | 133,566,156 | ||||
Net assets consist of: |
||||||
Capital shares (unlimited shares of $0.01 par value authorized) (Note 3) |
$ | 131,407 | ||||
Additional paid-in capital |
115,031,914 | |||||
Accumulated net investment income loss |
(2,357,485 | ) | ||||
Accumulated net realized loss from investment transactions |
(524,323 | ) | ||||
Unrealized appreciation on investments |
21,284,643 | |||||
Net Assets |
$ | 133,566,156 | ||||
Net asset value per share ($133,566,156 ÷ 13,140,692 outstanding shares) |
$ | 10.16 |
|
|
Statement of Operations (unaudited)
|
Investment Income (Note 1): |
||||||
Interest |
$ | 443,935 | ||||
Dividends |
1,247,492 | |||||
Total income |
1,691,427 | |||||
Expenses (Note 2): |
||||||
Management fee |
454,973 | |||||
Custodian |
7,867 | |||||
Transfer agent |
18,633 | |||||
Legal fees |
37,500 | |||||
Audit fees |
21,000 | |||||
Trustees fees |
57,625 | |||||
Administrative services fees |
33,356 | |||||
Reports to shareholders |
30,500 | |||||
Insurance |
14,715 | |||||
Other |
54,890 | |||||
Total expenses |
731,059 | |||||
Net Investment Income |
960,368 | |||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments: |
||||||
Net realized gain from investment transactions |
8,351,601 | |||||
Net unrealized appreciation of investments |
83,451 | |||||
Net gain on investments |
8,435,052 | |||||
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations |
$ | 9,395,420 |
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Statements of Changes in Net Assets |
Six Months Ended March 31, 2014(a) |
Year Ended September 30, 2013 |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Change in net assets from operations: |
||||||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 930,368 | $ | 2,340,873 | ||||||
Net realized gain from investment transactions |
8,351,601 | 2,555,080 | ||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation of investments |
83,451 | 12,871,535 | ||||||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations |
9,395,420 | 17,767,488 | ||||||||
Dividends to shareholders from: |
||||||||||
Net investment income |
(1,605,412 | ) | (3,480,976 | ) | ||||||
Capital share transactions (Note 3): |
||||||||||
Value of shares issued on reinvestment of distributions |
305,503 | 373,863 | ||||||||
Cost of shares purchased |
(3,343,623 | ) | | |||||||
Change in net assets resulting from capital share tranactions |
(3,038,120 | ) | 373,863 | |||||||
Change in net assets |
4,751,888 | 14,660,375 | ||||||||
Net assets at beginning of period |
$ | 128,814,268 | $ | 114,153,893 | ||||||
Net assets at end of period |
$ | 133,566,156 | $ | 128,814,268 | ||||||
Undistributed net investment income at end of period |
$ | (2,357,485 | ) | $ | (1,712,386 | ) |
|
|
Financial Highlights Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding: |
Six Months Ended March 31, |
Years Ended September 30, |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 (a) |
2013 |
2012 |
2011 |
2010 |
2009 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating Performance: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 9.54 | $ | 8.48 | $ | 7.46 | $ | 7.95 | $ | 7.15 | $ | 7.18 | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
0.07 | 0.18 | 0.19 | 0.22 | 0.26 | 0.33 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
0.67 | 1.15 | 1.08 | (0.46 | ) | 0.84 | (0.04 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations |
0.74 | 1.33 | 1.27 | (0.24 | ) | 1.10 | 0.29 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less Distributions: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income |
(0.12 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.30 | ) | (0.32 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Distributions from realized gains |
| | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.12 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.30 | ) | (0.32 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Capital Share Transactions: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Anti-dilutive effect of share repurchases |
| (b) | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dilutive effect of dividend reinvestment |
| (0.01 | ) | | (b) | | (b) | | (b) | | (b) | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 10.16 | $ | 9.54 | $ | 8.48 | $ | 7.46 | $ | 7.95 | $ | 7.15 | |||||||||||||||
Market value, end of period |
$ | 8.60 | $ | 7.87 | $ | 7.35 | $ | 6.43 | $ | 7.17 | $ | 6.16 | |||||||||||||||
Total Return (c): |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Market Value Return (%) |
15.98 | 10.84 | 18.41 | (7.13 | ) | 21.90 | 23.90 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total Net Asset Value Return (%) |
16.70 | 16.45 | 17.75 | (2.82 | ) | 16.40 | 6.10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) |
$ | 133,566 | $ | 128,814 | $ | 114,154 | $ | 100,008 | $ | 106,233 | $ | 94,973 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) |
1.1 | (d) | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) |
1.5 | (d) | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 5.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) |
33 | 48 | 39 | 47 | 62 | 71 |
(a) |
Unaudited. |
(b) |
Amount less than $0.01. |
(c) |
Market value total return is calculated assuming a purchase of Fund shares on the opening of the first business day and a sale on the closing of the last business day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions are assumed for the purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Funds Automatic Dividend Investment and Cash Payment Plan. Net asset value total return is calculated on the same basis, except that the Funds net asset value is used on the purchase and sale dates instead of market value. |
(d) |
Annualized. |
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Notes to Financial Statements
(unaudited)
|
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Notes to Financial Statements
(continued)
|
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Investments in Securities: |
||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock: |
||||||||||||||||||
Automobiles |
$ | 1,560,000 | $ | | $ | | $ | 1,560,000 | ||||||||||
Capital Markets |
970,469 | | | 970,469 | ||||||||||||||
Commercial Banks |
507,348 | | | 507,348 | ||||||||||||||
Computers & Peripherals |
2,714,375 | | | 2,714,375 | ||||||||||||||
Diversified Financial Services |
930,390 | | | 930,390 | ||||||||||||||
Diversified Telecommunication Services |
4,132,218 | | | 4,132,218 | ||||||||||||||
Food Products |
1,396,350 | | | 1,396,350 | ||||||||||||||
Household Products |
1,381,400 | | | 1,381,400 | ||||||||||||||
Industrial Conglomerates |
1,294,500 | | | 1,294,500 | ||||||||||||||
Insurance |
748,440 | | | 748,440 | ||||||||||||||
Media |
1,201,050 | | | 1,201,050 | ||||||||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
3,346,164 | | | 3,346,164 | ||||||||||||||
Pharmaceuticals |
5,825,797 | | | 5,825,797 | ||||||||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts |
966,789 | | | 966,789 | ||||||||||||||
Semiconductors & SemiconductorEquipment |
774,300 | | | 774,300 | ||||||||||||||
Software |
1,172,314 | | | 1,172,314 | ||||||||||||||
Wireless Telecommunication Services |
2,276,890 | | | 2,276,890 | ||||||||||||||
Total Common Stock |
31,198,794 | | | 31,198,794 | ||||||||||||||
Convertible Bonds and Notes |
| 75,130,752 | | 75,130,752 | ||||||||||||||
Convertible Preferred Stock: |
||||||||||||||||||
Commercial Banks |
| 3,365,750 | | 3,365,750 | ||||||||||||||
Diversified Financial Services |
| 1,830,736 | | 1,830,736 | ||||||||||||||
Food Products |
| 2,398,075 | | 2,398,075 | ||||||||||||||
Machinery |
| 1,078,300 | | 1,078,300 | ||||||||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
| 2,144,625 | | 2,144,625 | > | |||||||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts |
| 2,747,700 | | 2,747,700 | ||||||||||||||
Specialty Retail |
| | 780,024 | 780,024 | ||||||||||||||
Thrift & Mortgage Finance |
| 1,174,800 | | 1,174,800 | ||||||||||||||
Total Convertible Preferred Stock |
| 14,739,986 | 780,024 | 15,520,010 | ||||||||||||||
Mandatory Convertible Securities |
| 10,770,100 | | 10,770,100 | ||||||||||||||
Total Investments |
$ | 31,198,794 | $ | 100,640,838 | $ | 780,024 | $ | 132,619,656 |
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Notes to Financial Statements
(continued)
|
Description |
Investments in Securities |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Balance as of September 30, 2013 |
$ | 776,999 | ||||
Proceeds from sales |
| |||||
Gain/Loss |
| |||||
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) (1) |
3,025 | |||||
Net transfers in/out of Level 3 |
| |||||
Balance as of March 31, 2014 |
$ | 780,024 |
(1) |
Included in the net change of unrealized appreciation on investments in the Statement of Operations. |
Fair Value March 31, 2014 |
Valuation Methodologies |
Unobservable Input (1) |
Impact to Valuation from an Increase in Input (2) |
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amerivon Holdings LLC series A cv. pfd. and common equity units |
$780,024 |
Market Comparables/ Sum of the Parts Valuation/ Dividend Analysis |
Liquidity Discount |
Increase |
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Notes to Financial Statements
(continued)
|
2013 |
2012 |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ordinary income |
$ | 3,480,976 | $ | 3,340,636 | ||||||
Net realized gain on investments |
| | ||||||||
$ | 3,480,976 | $ | 3,340,636 |
Unrealized appreciation |
$ | 22,536,520 | ||||||||
Unrealized depreciation |
(2,398,690 | ) | ||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation |
20,137,830 | |||||||||
Cost for federal income tax purposes |
$ | 112,482,122 |
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Notes to Financial Statements
(continued)
|
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Board Approval of Advisory Contract
|
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Board Approval of Advisory Contract (continued)
|
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Board Approval of Advisory Contract (continued)
|
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Board Approval of Advisory Contract (continued)
|
|
E L L S W O R T H F U N D L T D . 2 0 1 4 S E M I - A N N U A L R E P O R T T O S H A R E H O L D E R S |
|
Miscellaneous Notes
|
1. |
All persons nominated were elected. |
Terms expiring in 2017 |
Shares voted for |
Shares withheld |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas H. Dinsmore |
11,175,283 | 495,891 | ||||||||
Daniel D. Harding |
11,278,351 | 392,823 |
2. |
The Audit Committees appointment of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as independent registered public accountants was ratified, as 11,585,543 shares voted for, 24,441 shares voted against and 61,190 shares abstained. |
Board of Trustees |
| Internet |
KINCHEN C. BIZZELL, CFA |
| www.ellsworthfund.com |
ELIZABETH C. BOGAN, Ph.D. |
| email: info@ellsworthfund.com |
THOMAS H. DINSMORE, CFA |
|
|
DANIEL D. HARDING, CFA |
| Shareholder Services and Transfer Agent |
JANE D. OKEEFFE |
| American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC |
NICOLAS W. PLATT |
| 6201 15th Avenue |
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| Brooklyn, NY 11219 |
Officers |
| (888) 888-0314 |
THOMAS H. DINSMORE, CFA |
| www.amstock.com |
Chairman of the Board |
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and Chief Executive Officer |
| Investment Adviser |
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| Dinsmore Capital Management Co. |
JAMES A. DINSMORE, CFA |
| 65 Madison Avenue, Suite 550 |
President |
| Morristown, NJ 07960 |
|
| (973) 631-1177 |
JANE D. O’KEEFFE |
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Executive Vice President |
| Custodian of Securities |
|
| Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. |
GARY I. LEVINE |
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Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
| Beneficial Share Listing |
and Secretary |
| NYSE MKT Exchange Symbol: ECF |
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H. TUCKER LAKE, JR. |
| Legal Counsel |
Vice President |
| Ballard Spahr LLP |
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GERMAINE M. ORTIZ |
| Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
Vice President |
| Tait, Weller & Baker LLP |
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MERCEDES A. PIERRE |
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Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer |
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JUDITH M. DOUGHERTY |
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Assistant Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
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JOANN VENEZIA |
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Assistant Vice President |
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ITEM 2.
CODE OF ETHICS.
Not applicable to this semi-annual report.
ITEM 3.
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
Not applicable to this semi-annual report.
ITEM 4.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
Not applicable to this semi-annual report.
ITEM 5.
AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
Not applicable to this semi-annual report.
ITEM 6.
INVESTMENTS.
The Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of March 31, 2014 is included as part of the report to shareholders, filed under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
ITEM 7.
DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable to this semi-annual report.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
(a) Not applicable to this semi-annual report.
(b) There has been no change as of the date of filing in any of the portfolio managers identified in Ellsworth Fund Ltd.s (the Fund) most recent annual report on Form N-CSR.
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
During the period covered by this report, the following purchases were made by or on behalf of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.10b-18(a)(3)), of shares or other units of any class of the Funds equity securities registered by the Fund pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78l):
REGISTRANT PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Period | (a) Total number of shares purchased | (b) Average price paid per share | (c) Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs* | (d) Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs* | ||||||||||||||
October 1 through October 31, 2013 | 15,836 | $8.09 | 15,836 | 389,400 | ||||||||||||||
November 1 through November 30, 2013 | 84,349 | $8.07 | 84,349 | 305,051 | ||||||||||||||
December 1 through December 31, 2013 | 71,796 | $8.05 | 71,796 | 233,255 | ||||||||||||||
January 1 through January 31, 2014 | 143,056 | $8.28 | 143,056 | 90,199 | ||||||||||||||
February 1 through February 28, 2014 | 35,386 | $8.48 | 35,386 | 54,813 | ||||||||||||||
March 1 through March 31, 2014 | 54,813 | $8.60 | 54,813 | — | ||||||||||||||
Total | 405,236 | $8.26 | 405,236 | — |
*On October 21, 2013, the Board of Trustees approved a share repurchase plan (the Repurchase Plan). Under the Repurchase Plan, the Fund may purchase, in the
open market, up to 3% of its outstanding shares (up to 405,236 shares, based on shares of beneficial interest outstanding as of October 21, 2013).
ITEM 10.
SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Funds board of trustees since those procedures were last disclosed in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)) or Item 10 of this Form N-CSR.
ITEM 11.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Conclusions of principal officers concerning controls and procedures
(a) As of May 29, 2014, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the officers of the Fund, including the Principal Executive Officer (PEO) and Principal Financial Officer (PFO), to assess the effectiveness of the Funds disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c)) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Act). Based on that evaluation, as required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rule 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)), the Funds officers, including the PEO and PFO, concluded that, as of May 29, 2014, the Funds disclosure controls and procedures were reasonably designed so as
to ensure: (1) that information required to be disclosed by the Fund on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission and (2) that material information relating to the Fund is made known to the PEO and PFO as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) There have been no changes in the Funds internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Funds internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12.
EXHIBITS.
(a)(1) The code of ethics disclosure required by Item 2 is not applicable to this semi-annual report.
(a)(2) Certifications of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)), are attached hereto.
(a)(3) There were no written solicitations to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act (17 CFR 270.23c-1) sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the Fund to ten or more persons.
(b) Certifications of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)), Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13a-14(b) or 240.15d-14(b)), and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) are attached hereto.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Ellsworth Fund Ltd.
By: /s/ Thomas H. Dinsmore
Thomas H. Dinsmore
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: May 29, 2014
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: /s/ Thomas H. Dinsmore
Thomas H. Dinsmore
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: May 29, 2014
By: /s/ Gary I. Levine
Gary I. Levine
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Date: May 29, 2014