ITEM 1. REPORT(S) TO STOCKHOLDERS.
Castle Convertible Fund, Inc.
ANNUAL REPORT
October 31, 2007
Table Of Contents
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
Letter to Our Shareholders
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1
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Fund Highlights
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6
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Portfolio Summary
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6
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Schedule of Investments
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7
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
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12
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Statement of Operations
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13
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Statements of Changes in Net Assets
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14
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Financial Highlights
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15
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Notes to Financial Statements
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16
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Additional Information
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22
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Dear Shareholders,
November 26, 2007
Roller coaster: it's an apt metaphor for the past fiscal year. With the sharp run-up in the stock market through June, followed by the near-meltdown of those parts of the financial sector exposed to housing and mortgages, there were times when the financial markets felt like a long weekend at Six Flags Great Adventure. Even investors with cast-iron stomachs were wondering: why did this happen? How long can it continue? And is there an upside?
Once again, perceptions were more dramatic than realities. For all the agita in the markets, the indices posted solid gains in the United States, not to mention throughout the world, and the day-to-day volatility was ultimately less than the sum of its parts. Economic growth chugged along and most companies showed decent if not downright good earnings growth with the notable and glaring exception of the financial sector in the third quarter of 2007. In short, there was noise, drama and even smoke, but not much actual fire. Or back to the initial metaphor, the roller coaster ride was full of sharp turns, shrieks, and moments of fear and anticipation, but the car stayed on the tracks, the ride ended safely, and most people even made some progress along the way.
Black Friday Revisited
In the financial markets it was a year of milestones and anniversaries. Both the S&P 500 Index
i
and the Dow Jones Industrial Average
ii
reached new heights during the year, with the Dow breaking 13,000 and then 14,000 twice. But October 19, 2007 was a more somber milestone: the 20th anniversary of Black Friday on Wall Street. In the days before, pundits didn't hesitate to predict a "curse" coming back to haunt the markets. (Sounds ridiculous, but a surprising number of articles had that
exact
headline the next morning.) Sure enough, the Dow tumbled by 247 points, but that was nothing compared to that one-day 508-point loss in 1987, especially in percentage terms. In today's market the Dow would have had to shed about 3,100 points in one day to be comparable to the crash of '87.
Three times this past year U.S. markets fell sharply. On February 27, the Dow lost 314 points, with a total decline of 736 points from February 20 to March 5. The sell-off was triggered by rumors of a possible Chinese government squeeze on credit. Then, the Dow climbed a total of 1,910 points over the following four months to register a new record of 14,000 on July 19. Through the end of July, the markets were turbulent as the sub-prime mortgage debacle unfolded. From July 26 through August 6, the Dow roller coaster went up and down with dizzying speed, with some days showing losses as great as 268 points while others showed gains of up to 169 points. But the true second phase of the market sell-off happened during the headiest days of the credit crunch from August 8 to August 16 with the Dow experiencing a total loss of 812 points. That was followed by a September rally that recouped most of the lost ground.
The third sell-off period occurred during the final weeks of the fiscal year, and lasted from October 11 through November 12 when the Dow shed a total of 1,167 points, as the sub-prime mess erupted into a full-blown credit crisis involving banks
-1-
and financial institutions. Even the tech sector one of the strongest performers for the year saw a steep pullback at the end of October. However, after each sell-off, the markets rebounded stronger than ever, and in some cases as in the February drop the markets moved into a long period of steady uphill climb.
To push our roller coaster metaphor even further the number of extreme
single day swings
was even greater than the sell-off periods. In 2007, the Dow saw no less than eight days of single-day losses of more than 200 points (the largest being 314 points) and six days of gains of more than 169 points (with the largest being 319 points). Most telling, perhaps, is that on three separate days (August 16, 17, and November 8) the day's close showed little movement, yet
during the day
the Dow had swooned more than 442 points. On November 8, for example, the Dow fell 462 points before climbing back to a 64 point loss at day's end.
We believe the year's turbulence emphasizes a trend that has become more noticeable with each passing year: high-levels of short-term volatility and economic concerns unfolding against a backdrop of unusual global economic stability. The fact that so many people felt so unsettled even while the markets remained up for the year should tell us something about the disconnect between how people feel and what has actually been happening.
Global Growth and Earnings
Fifty years ago it was perfectly fair to say "as goes the U.S. economy, so go U.S. companies and their stocks." Today that no longer holds true. Earnings this year indicate that the trajectory of companies is different and more positive than that of countries and that the United States is no longer the sole guide to the health of U.S. firms. While U.S. GDP grew a paltry 0.6% in the first quarter of 2007, the companies of the S&P 500 Index registered nearly 8% growth. And, while economic data still matters, it is no longer a good idea to use the U.S. economy as an automatic proxy for how U.S. companies, or their stock prices, will perform.
The world economy has grown at a 4% annual pace for the past several years; according to BCA research, this has been the strongest expansion phase since 1960. And earnings for many companies especially innovative growth companies continue to benefit from very strong international growth, which has begun to "decouple" from dependence on the U.S. economy. One consumer company recently reported 2% growth in the U.S. market and 17% growth abroad with more than 50% growth in China alone. In fact, global equity markets have been on a tear and many U.S.-listed companies are benefiting from the same global growth trends. Especially for the larger companies of the S&P 500, the U.S. is simply one market, albeit a large and vital aspect of their global business model.
The weakness of the U.S. dollar is yet one more factor that has benefited U.S. companies doing business outside of the United States. Corporate profits have been boosted by a continuing weak dollar which inflates the reported dollar profits of U.S.-listed companies.
At the same time, global interest rates have compressed, with both short-term and long-term rates as well as corporate and government rates converging between 4% and 5%. One negative consequence of that compression is that many fixed-income managers have taken oversize risks in an attempt to generate above average returns, and
-2-
the consequences of those risks has been nothing short of a debacle for many funds and for financial institutions exposed to housing and mortgage-backed securities.
The Sub-Prime Mortgage Mess
In August, the mortgage mess transmogrified into a global financial panic that seemed on the verge of draining not just excess liquidity out of the system but all liquidity. If that had happened and there was some risk that it was about to financial systems would have ground to a halt. Short-term liquidity in the form of commercial paper is to the financial system what water is to the body. Without it, all bets are literally off.
What threatened the financial system was that the leveraged exposure was substantially greater than the actual size of defaults or outstanding low-credit loans. Wall Street didn't simply "securitize" loans by slicing and dicing them. It buried them in packages of other loans and then bundled them with higher credit loans. When mortgage defaults began to rise on the lower end of the spectrum, many Wall Street institutions and hedge funds realized that they didn't really know which of these various loan derivatives were good and which were bad. The result was that trading in almost anything mortgage-related froze in the middle of July, creating a domino effect. Lenders and mortgage brokers tightened lending standards and banks demanded more collateral, not just for home loans, but for credit lines to hedge funds and private equity firms. Suddenly, getting a loan of any sort went from incredibly easy to astonishingly difficult.
That crisis was at least temporarily averted by the aggressive action of the Federal Reserve which cut the Fed funds rate by 50 basis points (one-half a percentage point) to 4.75% in mid-September. The rate cut was a welcome and perhaps essential step in preventing the mortgage mess from imperiling the financial system. Whether or not the rate cuts (the Fed cut an additional quarter point on the last day of this fiscal year, October 31) will have any lasting impact, or if they were merely a demonstration that the Fed could and would act if necessary, remains to be seen.
Our conclusion: it will continue to be a painful and dislocating period for real estate and for millions of people exposed to its descent. Low-end consumers, and many in the middle, will feel the pain. As adjustable-rate mortgages reset, there will be substantial numbers of foreclosures. Some Wall Street investment firms will lose money; many already have. But we do not believe that the global financial system is in jeopardy, nor do we think that the housing bust will severely dent corporate profits in those sectors of the economy not directly exposed to housing and mortgage-backed financial instruments. One unintended consequence is that stocks may ultimately benefit from the meltdown if investors find themselves turning to equities as a safe haven.
Portfolio Matters
Castle Convertible Fund, Inc.'s fiscal fourth quarter witnessed a return to a more accommodative monetary policy as the Fed stepped in to reduce market dislocations and bolster future GDP growth, lowering the overnight target lending rate to 4.50% from 5.25%. Turbulence remained the overriding theme in markets as worries over further mortgage-related write downs and a real sense of impending credit impairment dragged down the convertible market from its June highs. The broader
-3-
markets continued to display mixed signals and exhibit wide swings in sentiment and volatility. Outside of name-specific weakness and a broad weakness in financials (-0.16% YTD) the overall convertible market was led by raw materials (51.34%), capital goods (26.00%) and energy (20.17%).
The Castle Convertible Fund, Inc. posted an NAV return of 8.13% for the year ending October 31, 2007 versus the Merrill Lynch All Convertible Index
iii
return of 12.72% for the year. Standarized returns are located in the following pages.
In Summary
Wall Street tends to react to sudden changes in the status quo with apocalyptic rhetoric. Though we don't take the psychology of the markets lightly, proprietary indicators that we have used for many decades suggest that while these roller coaster movements may continue, the fundamental picture for many growth companies remains positive.
The early fall pullback was steep, with the S&P losing about 10%, but it is still in the realm of normal given recent trends. There have been much steeper corrections in emerging markets over the past three years, followed by equally steep recoveries and subsequent gains. In each of those previous sell-offs, there was no dearth of commentary that some structural weakness in the markets was being exposed yet predictions of doom and gloom proved either premature or simply wrong.
With continued global expansion, the unwinding of the mortgage mess and what likely will be a hectic and turbulent U.S. election season, 2008 looks to be unsettled in the equity markets. Swoons which came fast and furious in 2007 may happen even faster and be even more furious.
But the fundamentals of the economy, of companies in general, and of the domestic and global equity markets do not seem to us either weak or overvalued. As bottom-up stock pickers, we believe these market sell-offs offer excellent opportunities to add or increase positions in growth companies whose opportunities are, in fact, just beginning.
Respectfully submitted,
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Daniel C. Chung
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Zachary Karabell
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Chief Investment Officer
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Chief Economist
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i
Standard & Poor's 500 Index is an index of the 500 largest companies in the United States.
ii
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an index of common stocks comprised of major industrial companies and assumes reinvestment of dividends. It is frequently used as a general measure of stock market performance.
iii
The Merrill Lynch All-Convertible Index is an index of convertible securities that is commonly used as a general measure of performance for the convertible securities market.
-4-
Investors cannot invest directly in an index. Index performance does not reflect the deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.
This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of shareholders of the Fund. This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless proceeded or accompanied by an effective prospectus for the Fund.
The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is not an indication or guarantee of future results.
The investment return and principal value of an investment in a fund will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted.
The views and opinions of the Fund's management in this report are as of the date of the Shareholders letter and are subject to change at any time subsequent to this date. There is no guarantee that any of the assumptions that formed the basis for the opinions stated herein are accurate or that they will materialize. Moreover, the information forming the basis for such assumptions is from sources believed to be reliable; however, there is no guarantee that such information is accurate.
Securities mentioned, if any, whether owned in a fund or otherwise, are considered in the context of the construction of an overall portfolio of securities and therefore reference to them should not be construed as a recommendation or offer to purchase or sell any such security. Inclusion of such securities in a fund and transactions in such securities, if any, may be for a variety of reasons, including without limitation, in response to cash flows, inclusion in a benchmark and risk control. The reference to a specific security should also be understood in such context and not viewed as a statement that the security is a significant holding in a portfolio. Please refer to the Schedule of Investments which is included in this report for a complete list of fund holdings as of October 31, 2007.
A Word About Risk
Investing in the market involves gains and losses and may not be suitable for all investors. Fixed-income securities may decline in value in the event of an issuer's failing credit rating or actual default, and they are sensitive to interest rate movements; their market values tend to fall when rates rise.
Before investing, carefully consider a fund's investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses. For a prospectus containing this and other information about Castle Convertible Fund, Inc. or other Alger Mutual Funds call us at (800) 992-3863 or visit us at www.alger.com. Read it carefully before investing. Fred Alger & Company, Incorporated, Distributor. Member NYSE, SIPC.
NOT FDIC INSURED. NOT BANK GUARANTEED. MAY LOSE VALUE.
-5-
PERFORMANCE COMPARISON
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
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1
YEAR
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5
YEARS
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10
YEARS
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As of 10/31/07
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7.81
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%
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9.21
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%
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6.47
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%
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As of 9/30/07
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13.84
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%
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8.36
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%
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5.85
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%
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Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of common stock at the current market price on the first day of each year reported and a sale at the current market price on the last day of each year reported, and assuming reinvestment of dividends and other distributions to common shareholders at prices obtained under the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Total investment return does not reflect brokerage commissions or the deduction of any taxes that a shareholder would owe on Fund distributions.
The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is not an indication or a guarantee of future results. The table above do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would have paid on fund distributions or on the sale of fund shares. Investment return and principal will fluctuate and the Fund's shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted. For performance current to the most recent month end, visit us at www.alger.com or call us at (800) 992-3863.
PORTFOLIO SUMMARY*
October 31, 2007
(Unaudited)
SECTORS
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VALUE%
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Consumer Discretionary
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8.7
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%
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Consumer Staples
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3.4
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Energy
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10.2
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Financials
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24.0
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Health Care
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13.8
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Industrials
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8.1
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Information Technology
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14.5
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Materials
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4.7
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Telecommunication Services
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7.0
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Utilities
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2.3
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Cash and Net Other Assets
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3.3
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100.0
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%
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* Based on Net Assets.
-6-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
Schedule of Investments
October 31, 2007
CORPORATE CONVERTIBLE BONDS60.1%
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PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT
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VALUE
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AUTOMOTIVE1.9%
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Ford Motor Company, 4.25%, 12/15/36
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$
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1,000,000
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$
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1,202,500
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BEVERAGES1.0%
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Molson Coors Brewing Co., 2.50%, 7/30/13
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500,000
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619,375
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BIOTECHNOLOGY2.6%
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Dendreon Corporation, 4.75%, 6/15/14(a)
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750,000
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692,813
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Mannkind Corporation, 3.75%, 12/15/13
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475,000
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407,906
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Protein Design Labs, 2.00%, 2/15/12(a)
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500,000
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536,250
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1,636,969
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BUSINESS SERVICES2.5%
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Quanta Services Inc., 3.75%, 4/30/26(a)
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1,000,000
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1,586,250
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COMMERCIAL BANKS2.4%
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Boston Private Financial, 3.00%, 7/15/27(a)
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1,000,000
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1,020,000
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U.S. Bancorp Series B, 3.61%, 2/6/37(a)
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500,000
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500,100
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1,520,100
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COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES.7%
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Allied Waste Industries Inc., Senior Cv. Sub Note, 4.25%, 4/15/34
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500,000
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476,875
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COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY2.3%
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Dobson Communications Corp., 1.50%, 10/1/25(a)
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1,100,000
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1,480,875
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CONSUMER PRODUCTS1.0%
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Ceradyne, Inc., 2.875%, 12/15/35
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500,000
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663,750
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DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES.7%
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Level 3 Communications, Inc., 3.50%, 6/15/12
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500,000
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440,625
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ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT & INSTRUMENTS1.0%
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Anixter International Inc., 1.00%, 2/15/13(a)
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500,000
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629,375
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ENERGY2.6%
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Cal Dive International, Inc., 3.25%, 12/15/25
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1,000,000
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1,627,500
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FINANCIAL SERVICES1.3%
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KKR FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, 7.00%, 7/15/12(a)
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1,000,000
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860,000
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FOOD PRODUCTS.8%
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Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, .875%, 2/15/14
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500,000
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509,375
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HEALTH CARE.8%
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Apria Healthcare Group Inc., Cv. Senior Note, 3.375%, 9/1/33
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500,000
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509,375
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HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES2.7%
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Integra LifeSciences Holdings, 2.75%, 6/1/10(a)
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150,000
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147,188
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Medtronic, Inc., 1.50%, 4/15/11
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1,500,000
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1,554,375
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1,701,563
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HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES.6%
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Manor Care, Inc., 2.125%, 8/1/35(a)
|
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250,000
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383,437
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-7-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
October 31, 2007
CORPORATE CONVERTIBLE BONDS(CONT.)
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PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT
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VALUE
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HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE.4%
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Morgans Hotel Group Co., 2.375%, 10/15/14(a)
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$
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250,000
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$
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262,187
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INSURANCE1.7%
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|
Covanta Holding Corporation, 1.00%, 2/1/27
|
|
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1,000,000
|
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1,107,500
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INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES1.9%
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|
VeriSign, Inc., 3.25%, 8/15/37(a)
|
|
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1,000,000
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|
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1,198,750
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LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT2.1%
|
|
General Cable Corp., .875%, 11/15/13
|
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|
500,000
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|
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785,000
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General Cable Corp., 1.00%, 10/15/12(a)
|
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500,000
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|
|
|
546,875
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,331,875
|
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|
MANUFACTURING1.7%
|
|
Millipore Corporation, 3.75%, 6/1/26(a)
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
1,102,500
|
|
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MEDIA1.7%
|
|
Liberty Media Corporation, Senior Exch. Deb., 3.50%, 1/15/31
|
|
|
1,130,463
|
|
|
|
1,071,114
|
|
|
METALS1.6%
|
|
USEC INC., 3.00%, 10/1/14
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
995,000
|
|
|
METALS & MINING2.0%
|
|
Newmont Mining Corporation, 1.25%, 7/15/14(a)
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
633,750
|
|
|
Newmont Mining Corporation, 1.625%, 7/15/17(a)
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
636,250
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,270,000
|
|
|
PHARMACEUTICALS3.2%
|
|
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Floating Rate Note, 9/15/23
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
997,800
|
|
|
Wyeth, 4.886%, 1/15/24
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
1,072,260
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,070,060
|
|
|
REAL ESTATE4.5%
|
|
Boston Properties LP, 2.875%, 2/15/37
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
485,000
|
|
|
Developers Diversified Realty Corporation, 3.50%, 8/15/11(a)
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
966,250
|
|
|
Lexington Master LP, 5.45%, 1/15/27(a)
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
481,250
|
|
|
Macerich Co., 3.25%, 3/15/12(a)
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
941,250
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,873,750
|
|
|
SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT6.0%
|
|
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., 5.75%, 8/15/12(a)
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
515,000
|
|
|
Intel Corporation, 2.95%, 12/15/35
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
1,096,250
|
|
|
Micron Technology, Inc., 1.875%, 6/1/14
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
975,000
|
|
|
ON Semiconductor Corporation, 2.625%, 12/15/26(a)
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
1,208,750
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,795,000
|
|
|
SOFTWARE3.8%
|
|
Epicor Software Corporation, 2.375%, 5/15/27
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
916,250
|
|
|
L-1 Identity Solutions Inc., 3.75%, 5/15/27(a)
|
|
|
1,500,000
|
|
|
|
1,494,375
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,410,625
|
|
|
-8-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
October 31, 2007
CORPORATE CONVERTIBLE BONDS(CONT.)
|
|
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT
|
|
VALUE
|
|
TEXTILES & APPAREL3.1%
|
|
Iconix Brand Group, Inc., 1.875%, 6/30/12(a)
|
|
$
|
1,900,000
|
|
|
$
|
2,002,125
|
|
|
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES1.5%
|
|
NII Holdings Inc., 3.125%, 6/15/12(a)
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
928,750
|
|
|
TOTAL CORPORATE CONVERTIBLE BONDS
(Cost $35,403,547)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38,267,180
|
|
|
CORPORATE BONDS4.0%
|
|
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE1.9%
|
|
L-3 Communications Holdings, 3.00%, 8/1/35
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
1,215,000
|
|
|
MISCELLANEOUS2.1%
|
|
Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., 3.75%, 10/15/12(a)
|
|
|
1,250,000
|
|
|
|
1,326,562
|
|
|
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS
(Cost $2,283,846)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,541,562
|
|
|
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SECURITIES14.3%
|
|
SHARES
|
|
|
|
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES1.7%
|
|
Citigroup Funding, Inc., Variable Rate
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
1,074,000
|
|
|
ELECTRIC UTILITIES.6%
|
|
Entergy Corporation, 7.625%, 2/17/09
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
364,375
|
|
|
HOUSEHOLD DURABLES.8%
|
|
Stanley Works (The)*
|
|
|
500
|
|
|
|
530,063
|
|
|
INSURANCE3.2%
|
|
Alleghany Corporation, 5.75%, 6/15/09
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
721,000
|
|
|
MetLife Inc., 6.375%
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
1,355,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,076,000
|
|
|
MEDIA.8%
|
|
Comcast Corporation, 7%, 9/15/55
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
495,200
|
|
|
METALS & MINING2.7%
|
|
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, 6.75%
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
1,708,750
|
|
|
OIL & GAS1.9%
|
|
Chesapeake Energy Corporation, 5.00%
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
1,212,500
|
|
|
REAL ESTATE.7%
|
|
HRPT Properties Trust, 6.50%, Series D
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
442,500
|
|
|
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES1.9%
|
|
Crown Castle International Corp.
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
1,202,500
|
|
|
TOTAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SECURITIES
(Cost $7,834,200)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,105,888
|
|
|
-9-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
October 31, 2007
MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES.9%
|
|
SHARES
|
|
VALUE
|
|
INSURANCE.9%
|
|
IPC Holdings, Ltd., 7.25%, 11/15/08(b)
(Cost $525,000)
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
$
|
545,000
|
|
|
PREFERRED SECURITIES3.7%
|
|
COMMERCIAL BANKS.4%
|
|
Barlclays Bank PLC ADR*#
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
253,000
|
|
|
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT & INSTRUMENTS.4%
|
|
PPL Capital Funding Inc.
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
241,200
|
|
|
FINANCE.7%
|
|
Santander Finance Pfd, 6.80%(a)
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
470,000
|
|
|
INSURANCE1.7%
|
|
AEGON NV, 7.25%, Pfd.
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
631,500
|
|
|
ING Groep NV, 7.375%, Pfd.
|
|
|
18,000
|
|
|
|
457,920
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,089,420
|
|
|
SAVINGS & LOANS.5%
|
|
Indymac Bank FSB, Pfd.(a)*
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
281,876
|
|
|
TOTAL PREFERRED SECURITIES
(Cost $2,575,000)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,335,496
|
|
|
COMMON STOCKS13.7%
|
|
CAPITAL MARKETS.7%
|
|
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
470,000
|
|
|
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES2.7%
|
|
Citigroup Inc.
|
|
|
17,500
|
|
|
|
733,250
|
|
|
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
950,100
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,683,350
|
|
|
DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES.6%
|
|
Level 3 Communications, Inc.(d)*
|
|
|
143,637
|
|
|
|
391,698
|
|
|
ELECTRIC UTILITIES1.7%
|
|
Entergy Corporation
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
|
|
1,078,830
|
|
|
FOOD PRODUCTS1.7%
|
|
General Mills Inc.
|
|
|
18,436
|
|
|
|
1,064,306
|
|
|
OIL & GAS3.4%
|
|
ConocoPhillips
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
849,600
|
|
|
Royal Dutch Shell, PLC ADR#
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
1,312,650
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,162,250
|
|
|
-10-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
October 31, 2007
COMMON STOCKS(CONT.)
|
|
SHARES
|
|
VALUE
|
|
PHARMACEUTICALS2.1%
|
|
GlaxoSmithKline PLC Sponsored ADR #
|
|
|
13,000
|
|
|
$
|
666,250
|
|
|
Schering-Plough Corporation
|
|
|
22,451
|
|
|
|
685,205
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,351,455
|
|
|
RETAIL.8%
|
|
Inergy, L.P.
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
523,200
|
|
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(Cost $6,607,264)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,725,089
|
|
|
SHORT-TERM INVESMENTS2.7%
|
|
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT
|
|
|
|
U.S. AGENCY OBLIGATIONS
|
|
Federal Home Loan Banks, 4.25%, 11/1/07
(Cost $1,715,000)
|
|
$
|
1,715,000
|
|
|
|
1,715,000
|
|
|
Total Investments
(Cost $56,943,857)(c)
|
|
|
99.4
|
%
|
|
|
63,235,215
|
|
|
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities
|
|
|
0.6
|
|
|
|
388,504
|
|
|
NET ASSETS
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
63,623,719
|
|
|
* Non-income producing securities.
# American Depositary Receipts.
(a) Pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 144A, these securities may be sold prior to their maturity only to qualified buyers. These securities are deemed to be liquid and represent 35.9% of net assets of the Fund.
(b) These securities are required to be converted on the date listed; they generally may be converted prior to this date at the option of the holder.
(c) At October 31, 2007, the net unrealized appreciation on investments, based on cost for federal income tax purposes of $57,875,528 amounted to $5,359,687 which consisted of aggregate gross unrealized appreciation of $7,858,343 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation of $2,498,656.
(d) Resale of security is restricted and deemed to be illiquid. The security was acquired on 2/23/2007 in connection with conversion of Broadwing Corp. Convertible Debentures.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
-11-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
October 31, 2007
AS
SETS:
|
|
Investments in securities, at value (cost $56,943,857), see
accompanying schedule of investments
|
|
$
|
63,235,215
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
|
41,089
|
|
|
Dividends and interest receivable
|
|
|
415,072
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses
|
|
|
53,027
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
|
63,744,403
|
|
|
LIABILITIES:
|
|
Investment advisory fees payable
|
|
$
|
43,053
|
|
|
Accrued administrative fees
|
|
|
1,628
|
|
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
76,003
|
|
|
Total Liabilities
|
|
|
120,684
|
|
|
NET ASSETS
|
|
$
|
63,623,719
|
|
|
Net Asset Value Per Share
|
|
$
|
28.45
|
|
|
Shares of Beneficial Interest Outstanding
|
|
|
2,236,000
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
-12-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
Statement of Operations
For the year ended October 31, 2007
INVESTMENT INCOME:
|
|
INCOME:
|
|
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes $2,880)
|
|
$
|
1,182,499
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
1,087,752
|
|
|
Total Income
|
|
|
2,270,251
|
|
|
EXPENSES:
|
|
Investment advisory feesNote 2(a)
|
|
|
473,085
|
|
|
Directors' fees
|
|
|
7,011
|
|
|
Custodian and transfer agent fees
|
|
|
36,060
|
|
|
Professional fees
|
|
|
67,384
|
|
|
Administrative/Bookkeeping fees
|
|
|
18,000
|
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
85,984
|
|
|
Total Expenses
|
|
|
687,524
|
|
|
NET INVESTMENT INCOME
|
|
|
1,582,727
|
|
|
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS:
|
|
Net realized gain on investments
|
|
|
4,441,890
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
|
|
|
(853,420
|
)
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments
|
|
|
3,588,470
|
|
|
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS
|
|
$
|
5,171,197
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
-13-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
|
|
For the
Year Ended
October 31, 2007
|
|
For the
Year Ended
October 31, 2006
|
|
Net investment income
|
|
$
|
1,582,727
|
|
|
$
|
1,468,800
|
|
|
Net realized gain on investments
|
|
|
4,441,890
|
|
|
|
4,236,375
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
on investments
|
|
|
(853,420
|
)
|
|
|
747,499
|
|
|
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
|
|
|
5,171,197
|
|
|
|
6,452,674
|
|
|
Dividends and distributions to Shareholders from:
|
|
Net investment income
|
|
|
(2,587,052
|
)
|
|
|
(2,504,320
|
)
|
|
Net realized gains
|
|
|
(2,533,388
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total dividends and distributions
|
|
|
(5,120,440
|
)
|
|
|
(2,504,320
|
)
|
|
Total increase in net assets
|
|
|
50,757
|
|
|
|
3,948,354
|
|
|
Net Assets:
|
|
Beginning of year
|
|
|
63,572,962
|
|
|
|
59,624,608
|
|
|
END OF YEAR
|
|
$
|
63,623,719
|
|
|
$
|
63,572,962
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
-14-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
Financial Highlights for a share outstanding throughout the year
|
|
For the
Year Ended
October 31,
2007
|
|
For the
Year Ended
October 31,
2006
|
|
For the
Year Ended
October 31,
2005
|
|
For the
Year Ended
October 31,
2004
|
|
For the
Year Ended
October 31,
2003
|
|
Net asset value,
beginning of year
|
|
$
|
28.43
|
|
|
$
|
26.67
|
|
|
$
|
25.73
|
|
|
$
|
24.62
|
|
|
$
|
22.56
|
|
|
Net investment income
|
|
|
0.70
|
|
|
|
0.66
|
|
|
|
0.79
|
|
|
|
0.86
|
|
|
|
0.81
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss)
on investments
|
|
|
1.61
|
|
|
|
2.22
|
|
|
|
1.23
|
|
|
|
1.27
|
|
|
|
2.12
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
2.31
|
|
|
|
2.88
|
|
|
|
2.02
|
|
|
|
2.13
|
|
|
|
2.93
|
|
|
Dividends from net
investment income
|
|
|
(1.16
|
)
|
|
|
(1.12
|
)
|
|
|
(1.08
|
)
|
|
|
(1.02
|
)
|
|
|
(0.87
|
)
|
|
Distributions from net
realized gains
|
|
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total distributions
|
|
|
(2.29
|
)
|
|
|
(1.12
|
)
|
|
|
(1.08
|
)
|
|
|
(1.02
|
)
|
|
|
(0.87
|
)
|
|
Net asset value, end of year
|
|
$
|
28.45
|
|
|
$
|
28.43
|
|
|
$
|
26.67
|
|
|
$
|
25.73
|
|
|
$
|
24.62
|
|
|
Market value, end of year
|
|
$
|
24.50
|
|
|
$
|
24.83
|
|
|
$
|
22.51
|
|
|
$
|
22.90
|
|
|
$
|
21.75
|
|
|
Total investment return
based on market value
per share
|
|
|
7.81
|
%
|
|
|
15.70
|
%
|
|
|
2.91
|
%
|
|
|
10.06
|
%
|
|
|
9.98
|
%
|
|
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL
DATA:
|
|
Net assets, end of
year (000's omitted)
|
|
$
|
63,624
|
|
|
$
|
63,573
|
|
|
$
|
59,625
|
|
|
$
|
57,542
|
|
|
$
|
55,045
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets
|
|
|
1.09
|
%
|
|
|
1.20
|
%
|
|
|
1.11
|
%
|
|
|
1.11
|
%
|
|
|
1.19
|
%
|
|
Ratio of net investment
income to average
net assets
|
|
|
2.51
|
%
|
|
|
2.41
|
%
|
|
|
2.99
|
%
|
|
|
3.37
|
%
|
|
|
3.49
|
%
|
|
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
|
|
134.32
|
%
|
|
|
96.37
|
%
|
|
|
58.54
|
%
|
|
|
26.29
|
%
|
|
|
156.83
|
%
|
|
Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of common stock at the current market price on the first day of each year reported and a sale at the current market price on the last day of each year reported, and assuming reinvestment of dividends and other distributions to common shareholders at prices obtained under the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Total investment return does not reflect brokerage commissions or the deduction of any taxes that a shareholder would owe on Fund distributions.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
-15-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:
Castle Convertible Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund's investment adviser is Fred Alger Management, Inc. (the "Adviser").
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
(a) Investment Valuation:
Investments in securities are valued at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Securities for which such information is readily available are valued at the last reported sales price or official closing price as reported by an independent pricing service on the primary market or exchange on which they are traded. In the absence of reported sales, securities are valued at a price between the bid and asked price or, in the absence of a recent bid or asked price, the equivalent as obtained from one or more of the major market makers for the securities to be valued. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value, as determined in good faith pursuant to policies established by the Board of Directors. Short-term investments are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value.
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued
Statement on Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements"
(FAS 157). This standard clarifies the definition of fair value for financial reporting, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about the use of fair value measurements. FAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Fund does not believe the adoption of FAS 157 will impact the amounts reported in the financial statements, however, additional disclosures will be required about the inputs used to develop the measurements of fair value and the effect of certain of the measurements reported in the statement of operations for a fiscal period.
(b) Securities Transactions and Investment Income:
Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the basis of the first-in, first-out method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recognized on the accrual basis.
Premiums and discounts on debt securities purchased are amortized or accreted over the lives of the respective securities.
(c) Dividends to Shareholders:
Dividends payable to shareholders are recorded by the Fund on the ex-dividend date. Dividends from net investment income are declared and paid quarterly. Distributions from net realized gains are declared and paid annually after the end of the fiscal year in which earned.
-16-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)
The characterization of distributions to shareholders for financial reporting purposes is determined in accordance with federal income tax rules. Therefore, the source of the Fund's distributions may be shown in the accompanying financial statements as either from, or in excess of net investment income, net realized gain on investment transactions or return of capital, depending on the type of book/tax differences that may exist.
Capital accounts within the financial statements are adjusted for permanent book/tax differences. Reclassifications result primarily from the difference in tax treatment of certain debt instruments. The reclassifications have no impact on the net asset value of the Fund and is designed to present the Fund's capital accounts on a tax basis.
(d) Federal Income Taxes:
It is the Fund's policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income, including net realized capital gains, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.
The Fund has adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" (FIN 48). FIN 48 provides guidance for how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented and disclosed in the financial statements. FIN 48 requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund's tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are "more-likely-than-not" of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. As a result of FIN 48 adoption, there were no positions that required a tax benefit or expense to be recorded in the current year.
(e) Indemnification:
The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnification provisions. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. The Fund does not anticipate recognizing any loss related to these arrangements.
(f) Other:
These financial statements have been prepared using estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts therein. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
NOTE 2 Investment Advisory Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates:
(a) Investment Advisory Fees:
Fees incurred by the Fund, pursuant to the provisions of an Investment Advisory Contract (the "Contract") with Fred Alger Management, Inc. ("Alger Management" or the "Adviser"), are payable monthly and computed at an annual rate of .75% based on the Fund's average weekly net asset value.
The Contract further provides that if in any fiscal year the aggregate expenses of the Fund (excluding interest, brokerage commissions, taxes and extraordinary
-17-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)
expenses) should exceed 1.5% of the first $30 million of average net assets and 1.0% of the average net assets of the Fund over $30 million, the Adviser will reimburse the Fund for such excess expenses. For the year ended October 31, 2007, no reimbursement was required pursuant to the Contract. For the year ended October 31, 2007, the total investment advisory fee charged to the Fund amounted to $473,085, and the Adviser received $18,000 for administrative/bookkeeping services supplied to the Fund at cost.
(b) Shareholder Administrative Servicing Fees:
The Fund has entered into a shareholder administrative services agreement with Alger Shareholder Services, Inc. ("Alger Services"), to compensate Alger Services on a per account basis for its liaison and administrative oversight of transfer agent and related services. During the year ended October 31, 2007, the Fund incurred fees of $2,100 for these services provided by Alger Services.
(c) Directors' Fees:
The Fund pays each director who is not affiliated with the Adviser or its affiliates $500 for each meeting attended, to a maximum of $2,000 per annum. The Chairman of the Board of Directors receives an additional annual fee of $10,000 which is paid, pro rata, by all funds managed by the Adviser. Additionally, each member of the audit committee receives an additional $50 for each audit committee meeting attended, to a maximum of $200 per annum.
(d) Other Transactions With Affiliates:
Certain directors and officers of the Fund are directors and officers of Alger Management and its affiliates. At October 31, 2007, the Adviser and its affiliates owned 453,165 shares of the Fund.
NOTE 3 Securities Transactions:
During the year ended October 31, 2007, purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, aggregated $83,707,453 and $90,406,306, respectively.
NOTE 4 Components of Net Assets:
At October 31, 2007, the Fund's net assets consisted of:
Paid-in capital
|
|
$
|
53,986,469
|
|
|
Undistributed net investment income (accumulated loss)
|
|
|
(497,383
|
)
|
|
Undistributed net realized gain
|
|
|
3,843,275
|
|
|
Net unrealized appreciation
|
|
|
6,291,358
|
|
|
NET ASSETS
|
|
$
|
63,623,719
|
|
|
-18-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)
NOTE 5 Tax Character of Distributions:
The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended October 31, 2007 and the year ended October 31, 2006 were as follows:
|
|
Year Ended
October 31, 2007
|
|
Year Ended
October 31, 2006
|
|
Distributions paid from:
|
|
Ordinary income
|
|
$
|
2,692,144
|
|
|
$
|
2,504,320
|
|
|
Long-term capital gain
|
|
|
2,428,296
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total distributions paid
|
|
$
|
5,120,440
|
|
|
$
|
2,504,320
|
|
|
As of October 31, 2007 the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:
Undistributed ordinary income
|
|
$
|
1,329,404
|
|
|
Undistributed long-term gain
|
|
|
2,948,160
|
|
|
Unrealized appreciation
|
|
$
|
5,359,687
|
|
|
The difference between book basis and tax basis unrealized appreciation is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales and tax treatment of certain debt obligations.
NOTE 6 Litigation:
Alger Management has responded to inquiries, document requests and/or subpoenas from various regulatory authorities, in connection with their investigations of practices in the mutual fund industry identified as "market timing" and "late trading." On October 11, 2006, Alger Management, Alger Inc. and Alger Shareholder Services, Inc. executed an Assurance of Discontinuance with the Office of the New York State Attorney General ("NYAG"). On January 18, 2007 the Securities and Exchange Commission issued an order implementing settlements reached with Alger Management and Alger Inc. As part of the settlements with the Commission and the NYAG, without admitting or denying liability, the firms paid $30 million to reimburse fund shareholders and a fine of $10 million; and agreed to certain other remedial measures including a reduction in management fees of $1 million per year for five years. The entire $40 million and fee reduction will be available for the benefit of investors. Alger Management has advised the Funds that the settlement has not adversely affected the operations of Alger Management, Alger Inc. or their affiliates, or adversely affect their ability to continue to provide services to the Funds.
On August 31, 2005, the West Virginia Securities Commissioner (the "WVSC") in an ex parte Summary Order to Cease and Desist and Notice of Right to Hearing concluded that Alger Management and Alger Inc. had violated the West Virginia Uniform Securities Act (the "WVUSA"), and ordered Alger Management and Alger Inc. to cease and desist from further violations of the WVUSA by engaging in the market-timing related conduct described in the order. The ex parte order provided notice of their right to a hearing with respect to the violations of law asserted by
-19-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)
the WVSC. Other firms unaffiliated with Alger Management were served with similar orders. Alger Management and Alger Inc. intend to request a hearing for the purpose of seeking to vacate or modify the order.
In addition, in 2003 and 2004 several purported class actions and shareholder derivative suits were filed against various parties in the mutual fund industry, including Alger Management, certain mutual funds managed by Alger Management (the "Alger Mutual Funds"), and certain current and former Alger Mutual Fund trustees and officers, alleging wrongful conduct related to market-timing and late-trading by mutual fund shareholders. These cases were transferred to the U.S. District Court of Maryland by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation for consolidated pre-trial proceedings. In September 2004, consolidated amended complaints involving these cases a Consolidated Amended Fund Derivative Complaint (the "Derivative Complaint") and two substantially identical Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaints (together, the "Class Action Complaint") were filed in the Maryland federal district court under the caption number 1:04-MD-15863 (JFM). In April 2005, a civil lawsuit involving similar allegations was filed by the West Virginia Attorney General and also transferred to the Maryland District Court, but such lawsuit has since been withdrawn.
The Derivative Complaint alleged (i) violations, by Alger Management and, depending on the specific offense alleged, by Alger Inc., and/or the fund trustee defendants, of Sections 36(a), 36(b), 47, and 48 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "Investment Company Act") and of Sections 206 and 215 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract, (ii) various offenses by other third-party defendants, and (iii) unjust enrichment by all the named defendants. The Class Action Complaint alleged, in addition to the offenses listed above, (i) violations, by Alger Management, Alger Inc., their affiliates, the funds named as defendants, including the Funds, and the current and former fund trustees and officers, of Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Sections 10(b) (and Rule 10b-5 thereunder) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "1934 Act"), and Section 34(b) of the Investment Company Act, (ii) breach of contract by the funds named as defendants, and (iii) unjust enrichment of the defendants.
Motions to dismiss the Class Action Complaint and the Derivative Complaint were subsequently filed.
As a result of a series of court orders, all claims in the Class Action Complaint and the Derivative Complaint have been dismissed, other than claims under the 1934 Act against Alger Management, Alger Inc., Alger Associates, Inc. and Alger Shareholder Services, Inc., and certain present and former members of the senior management of Alger Management and/or Alger Inc., and claims under Section 36(b) of the Investment Company Act against Alger Management, Alger Inc., Alger Associates, Inc. and Alger Shareholder Services, Inc.
-20-
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and
Board of Directors of Castle Convertible Fund, Inc:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Castle Convertible Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), including the schedule of investments, as of October 31, 2007, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund's internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2007, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly in all material respects, the financial position of Castle Convertible Fund, Inc. at October 31, 2007, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
December 14, 2007
-21-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
Directors and Officers of the Fund (Unaudited)
Information about the Directors and officers of the Fund is set forth below. In the table the term "Alger Fund Complex" refers to the Fund, The Alger Funds, The Alger American Fund, The Alger Institutional Funds, The China-U.S. Growth Fund and The Spectra Funds, each of which is a registered investment company managed by Fred Alger Management, Inc. ("Alger Management"). Each Director serves until an event of termination, such as death or resignation, or until his successor is duly elected; each officer's term of office is one year. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person named below is 111 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003.
Name, Age, Position with
the Fund and Address
|
|
Principal Occupations
|
|
Director
and/or
Officer Since
|
|
Number of
Portfolios in
the Fund
Complex which
are Overseen
by Director
|
|
INTERESTED DIRECTOR
|
|
|
Hilary M. Alger, CFA
(45)
|
|
Director of Development, Pennsylvania Ballet since 2004; Associate Director of Development, College of Arts and Sciences and Graduate School, University of Virginia 19992003.
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
NON-INTERESTED DIRECTORS
|
|
|
Charles F. Baird, Jr.
(54)
|
|
Managing Partner of North Castle Partners, a private equity securities group; Chairman of Leiner Health Products, Enzymatic Therapy and Caleel & Hayden (skincare business); former Chairman of Elizabeth Arden Day Spas, Naked Juice, Equinox (fitness company) and EAS (manufacturer of nutritional products). Formerly Managing Director of AEA Investors, Inc.
|
|
|
2000
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
Roger P. Cheever
(62)
|
|
Senior Associate Dean of Development, Harvard University. Formerly Deputy Director of the Harvard College Fund.
|
|
|
2000
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
Lester L. Colbert, Jr.
(73)
|
|
Private investor since 1988. Formerly, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Xidex Corporation (manufacturer of computer information media).
|
|
|
1974
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
Stephen E. O'Neil
(75)
|
|
Attorney; Private investor since 1981. Formerly of Counsel to the law firm of Kohler & Barnes.
|
|
|
1973
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
-22-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
Name, Age, Position with
the Fund and Address
|
|
Principal Occupations
|
|
Director
and/or
Officer Since
|
|
Number of
Portfolios in
the Fund
Complex which
are Overseen
by Director
|
|
NON-INTERESTED DIRECTORS (Continued)
|
|
|
David Rosenberg
(45)
|
|
Associate Professor of Law since January 2006 (Assistant Professor 2000-2005), Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College, City University of New York.
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
Nathan E. Saint-Amand, M.D.
(69)
|
|
Medical doctor in private practice; Member of the Board of the Manhattan Institute (non-profit policy research) since 1988. Formerly Co-Chairman, Special Projects Committee, Memorial Sloan Kettering.
|
|
|
1986
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
OFFICERS
|
|
|
Dan C. Chung
(45)
President
|
|
President since September 2003 and Chief Investment Officer and Director since 2001 of Alger Management; President since 2003 and Director since 2001 of Alger Associates, Fred Alger International Advisory S.A. (Director since 2003) and Analysts Resources, Inc. ("ARI"). Formerly, Director of the Fund from 20012006.
|
|
|
2001
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
Hal Liebes
(43)
Secretary
|
|
Executive Vice President, Director, Chief Legal Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Secretary of Fred Alger & Company, Incorporated and Alger Management; Director since 2006 of Alger Associates, and ARI. Formerly Chief Compliance Officer of AMVESCAP PLC from 20042005; U.S. General Counsel from 19942002 and Global General Counsel from 20022004 of Credit Suisse Asset Management.
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
Michael D. Martins
(42)
Treasurer
|
|
Senior Vice President of Alger Management; Assistant Treasurer from 2005 to 2006 of the Fund. Formerly Vice President, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. from 19972004.
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
-23-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
Name, Age, Position with
the Fund and Address
|
|
Principal Occupations
|
|
Director
and/or
Officer Since
|
|
Number of
Portfolios in
the Fund
Complex which
are Overseen
by Director
|
|
OFFICERS (Continued)
|
|
|
Lisa A. Moss
(42)
Assistant Secretary
|
|
Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Alger Management since June 2006. Formerly, Director of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. from 20052006; Assistant General Counsel of AIM Management, Inc. from 19952005.
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
Barry J. Mullen
(54)
Chief Compliance Officer
|
|
Senior Vice President and Director of Compliance of Alger Management since May 2006. Formerly, Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 20042006; Vice President of J.P. Morgan Investment Management from 19962004.
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
Anthony S. Caputo
(52)
Assistant Treasurer
|
|
Employed by Alger Management since 1986, currently serving as Vice President.
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
Sergio M. Pavone
(46)
Assistant Treasurer
|
|
Employed by Alger Management since 2002, currently serving as Vice President.
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
Ms. Alger and Mr. Chung are "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Fund because of their affiliations with Alger Management. No Director is a director of any public company except as may be indicated under "Principal Occupations."
-24-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
Investment Management Agreement Renewal (unaudited)
At an in-person meeting held on September 12, 2007, the Directors, including the Independent Directors, unanimously approved renewal of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and Alger Management (the "Agreement"). The Independent Directors were assisted in their review by independent legal counsel and met with counsel in executive session separate from representatives of Alger Management.
In evaluating the Agreement, the Directors drew on materials that they had requested and which were provided to them in advance of the meeting by Alger Management and by counsel. The materials covered, among other matters, (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by Alger Management under the Agreement, (ii) the investment performance of the Fund, (iii) the costs to Alger Management of its services and the profits realized by Alger Management and Alger Inc. from their relationship with the Fund, and (iv) the extent to which economies of scale would be realized if and as the Fund grows and whether the fee level in the Agreement reflects these economies of scale. These materials included an analysis of the Fund and Alger Management's services by Callan Associates Inc. ("Callan"), an independent consulting firm whose specialties include assistance to fund trustees and directors in their review of advisory contracts pursuant to section 15(c) of the 1940 Act. At the meeting, senior Callan personnel provided a presentation to the Directors based on the Callan materials.
In deciding whether to approve renewal of the Agreement, the Directors considered various factors, including those enumerated above. They also considered other direct and indirect benefits to Alger Management and its affiliates from their relationship with the Fund.
NATURE, EXTENT AND QUALITY OF SERVICES
In considering the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by Alger Management pursuant to the Agreement, the Directors relied on their prior experience as Directors of the Fund, their familiarity with the personnel and resources of Alger Management and its affiliates, and the materials provided at the meeting. They noted that under the Agreement Alger Management is responsible for managing the investment operations of the Fund. They also noted that administrative, compliance, reporting and accounting services necessary for the conduct of the Fund's affairs are provided under the separate Administration Agreement. The Directors reviewed the background and experience of Alger Management's senior investment management personnel, including the individuals currently responsible for the investment operations of the Fund. They also considered the resources, operational structures and practices of Alger Management in managing the Fund's portfolio and administering the Fund's affairs, as well as Alger Management's overall investment management business. The Directors concluded that Alger Management's experience, resources and strength in the areas of importance to the Fund are considerable. The Directors considered the level and depth of Alger Management's ability to execute portfolio transactions to effect
-25-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
investment decisions, including those through Alger Inc. The Directors also considered the ongoing enhancements to the control and compliance environment at Alger Management and within the Fund. The Directors also considered data provided by Callan comparing the Fund's advisory fee and expense ratio with those of other convertible securities funds and noted that at June 30, 2007 the Fund's advisory fee was higher than the majority of the Callan reference group while the expense ratio for the Fund was well below the median.
INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND
Drawing upon information provided at the meeting by Callan, the Directors noted that the Fund had significantly underperformed its benchmark and peer group during 2006 and 2007 to date. The Directors discussed with Alger Management the performance of the Fund, inquiring into both the reasons for the underperformance and Alger Management's plans for upgrading the Fund's performance.
PROFITABILITY TO ALGER MANAGEMENT AND ITS AFFILIATES
The Directors considered the profitability of the Investment Advisory Agreement to Alger Management and its affiliates, and the methodology used by Alger Management in determining such profitability. The Directors reviewed previously-provided data on the Fund's profitability to Alger Management and its affiliates for the year ended June 30, 2007. The Directors discussed with representatives of Alger Management and Callan the methodologies used in computing the costs that formed the bases of the profitability calculations and then turned to the profitability data provided. After analysis and discussion, they concluded that, to the extent that Alger Management and its affiliate, Alger Shareholder Services, Inc., had profited from their relationships with the Fund, the profit margin in each case was not unacceptable.
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
On the basis of their discussions with management and their analysis of information provided at the meeting, the Directors determined that the nature of the Fund and its operations is such that Alger Management may realize economies of scale in the management of the Fund at some point if it grows in size, but that in light of the comparatively small size of the Fund and the likelihood that the Fund's size will not increase dramatically in the near term, adoption of breakpoints in the advisory fee, while possibly appropriate at a later date, could await further analysis of the sources and potential scale of the economies and the fee structure that would best reflect them. Accordingly, the Directors requested that Alger Management address this topic with the Directors at future meetings.
OTHER BENEFITS TO ALGER MANAGEMENT
The Directors next considered whether Alger Management benefits in other ways from its relationship with the Fund. They noted that Alger Shareholder Services, Inc. receives a small amount of fees from the Fund under a shareholder services agreement, which they had already considered in connection with their review of the profitability to Alger Management and its affiliates of their relationships with the Fund. As to
-26-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
other benefits received, the Directors decided that none were so significant as to render Alger Management's fee excessive.
CONCLUSIONS AND DETERMINATIONS
At the conclusion of these discussions, each of the Independent Directors expressed the opinion that he had been furnished with sufficient information to make an informed business decision with respect to renewal of the Fund's Investment Advisory Agreement. Based on its discussions and considerations as described above, the Board made the following conclusions and determinations:
The Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by Alger Management are adequate and appropriate.
The Board determined to monitor closely the progress of Alger Management's steps to improve the performance of the Fund.
The Board concluded that the advisory fee paid to Alger Management was reasonable in light of comparative performance and expense and advisory fee information, costs of the services provided and profits to be realized and benefits derived or to be derived by Alger Management from the relationship with the Fund.
The Board determined that there were not at this time significant economies of scale to be realized by Alger Management in managing the Fund's assets but that, to the extent that material economies of scale should be realized in the future, the Board would seek to ensure that they were shared with the Fund.
The Board considered these conclusions and determinations and, without any one factor being dispositive, determined in each case that renewal of the Investment Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
Tax Information (Unaudited)
In accordance with subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for the year ended October 31, 2007, 36.30% dividends paid from ordinary income qualified for the dividends received deduction for corporations. For the year ended October 31, 2007, certain dividends paid by the Funds may be subject to a maximum rate of 15%, as provided by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. Of the distributions paid during the fiscal year, the maximum amount that may be considered qualified dividend income is $1,075,158.
Shareholders should not use the above information to prepare their tax returns. Since the Fund's fiscal year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2007. Such notification, which will reflect the amount to be used by taxpayers on their federal income tax returns, will be made in conjunction with Form 1099 DIV and will be mailed in January 2007. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund.
-27-
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
Proxy Voting Policies
A description of the policies and procedures the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and the proxy voting record is available, without charge, by calling 1-800-992-3863 or by accessing the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
Fund Holdings
The Fund's most recent month end portfolio holdings are available approximately sixty days after month end on the Fund's website at www.alger.com. The Fund also files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarter of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund's Forms N-Q is available online on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information regarding the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. A copy of the most recent quarterly holdings may also be obtained from the Fund by calling 1-800-992-3863.
-28-
(This page has been intentionally left blank.)
(This page has been intentionally left blank.)
(This page has been intentionally left blank.)
(This page has been intentionally left blank.)
CASTLE CONVERTIBLE FUND, INC.
111 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10003
(800) 992-3863
Investment Adviser
Fred Alger Management, Inc.
111 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10003
Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent
State Street Bank and Trust Company
c/o Computershare Financial Services
P.O. Box 43010
Providence, RI 02940-3010
This report was prepared for distribution to shareholders and to others who may be interested in current information concerning the Fund. It was not prepared for use, nor is it circulated in connection with any offer to sell, or solicitation of any offer to buy, any securities.
Go Paperless with Alger Electronic Delivery Service
Alger is pleased to provide you with the ability to access regulatory materials online. When documents such as prospectuses and annual and semi-annual reports are available, we'll send you an e-mail notification with a convenient link that will take you directly to the fund information on our website. To sign up for this free service, simply enroll at
www.icsdelivery.com/alger
.
CASTLE 103107
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
(a) The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions.
(b)
Not applicable.
(c)
The Registrant has not amended its Code of Ethics during the period covered by the shareholder report presented in Item 1 hereto.
(d)
The Registrant has not granted a waiver or an implicit waiver from a provision of its Code of Ethics during the period covered by the shareholder report presented in Item 1 hereto.
(e)
Not applicable.
(f)
The Registrants Code of Ethics is attached as an Exhibit hereto.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
The Board of Directors of the Registrant determined that Stephen E. ONeil is an audit committee financial expert (within the meaning of that phrase specified in the instructions to Form N-CSR) on the Registrants audit committee. Mr. ONeil is an independent director i.e., he is not an interested person of the Registrant as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, nor has he accepted directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Registrant, other than in his capacity as Trustee.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
a) Audit Fees:
October 31,
2007
|
|
$
|
30,000
|
|
October 31,
2006
|
|
$
|
24,610
|
|
b) Audit-Related Fees: NONE
c) Tax Fees
for tax
advice, tax compliance and tax planning:
October 31,
2007
|
|
$
|
3,260
|
|
October 31,
2006
|
|
$
|
3,620
|
|
d) ALL Other Fees:
October 31,
2007
|
|
$
|
21,200
|
|
October 31,
2006
|
|
$
|
21,000
|
|
Other fees include a debt analysis review and a review of the
semi-annual financial statements.
e) 1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies And Procedures:
Audit and non-audit services provided by the Registrants independent
registered public accounting firm (the Auditors) on behalf the Registrant
must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Non-audit services provided
by the Auditors on behalf of the Registrants Investment Adviser or any entity
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Adviser
must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee if such non-audit services directly
relate to the operations or financial reporting of the Registrant.
2) All fees in item 4(b) through 4(d) above were approved by
the Registrants Audit Committee.
f) Not Applicable
g) Non-Audit Fees:
October 31,
2007
|
|
|
$282,811 and 70,773 Euros
|
|
October 31,
2006
|
|
|
$217,212 and 26,884 Euros
|
|
h) The audit committee of the board of directors has considered whether
the provision of the non-audit services that were rendered to the registrants
investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common
control, with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that
were not approved pursuant to (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation
S-X is compatible with maintaining the principle accountants independence.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
(a) The Registrant has a separately designated audit committee. The members of the audit committee are: Lester L. Colbert, Jr., Stephen E. ONeil and Nathan E. Saint-Amand.
(b) Not applicable
ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
Not applicable
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
The Registrant has adopted the following Proxy Voting Policies and
Procedures of its investment adviser, Fred Alger Management, Inc.
Fred Alger Management, Inc.
Proxy
Voting
Policies and
Procedures
I.
Overview
Fred
Alger Management, Inc. (Alger), an investment adviser registered under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, has discretionary authority
over its clients accounts and is responsible for voting proxies of securities
held in certain client accounts. Alger views the responsibility its clients
have entrusted to it seriously and has developed policies and procedures to
ensure that proxies are voted in its clients best interests.
Rule 206(4)-6
of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, requires that registered investment
advisers, which have discretionary authority to vote the proxies held in their
clients accounts, adopt and implement written policies and procedures
reasonably designed to ensure that they vote proxies in the best interests of
their clients; describe their proxy voting policies and procedures to their
clients and upon request, provide copies of such policies and procedures; and
disclose to clients how they may obtain information on how the investment
adviser voted their proxies.
Rule 204-2
of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, requires that registered
investment advisers maintain records of their proxy voting policies and
procedures; proxy statements received; votes cast on behalf of clients; client
requests for proxy voting information; and documents prepared by the investment
adviser that were material to making a voting decision.
II.
Proxy
Voting Process
The
Senior Vice President of Algers Account Administration Department is
responsible for the overall supervision of the proxy voting process; setting up
new accounts; determining the accounts for which Alger has proxy voting
responsibilities; and maintaining appropriate proxy voting policies and
procedures and records.
Pursuant
to contractual agreements with Alger, certain clients authorize Alger to vote
the proxies of securities held in the clients accounts and permit Alger to
delegate its proxy voting authority on their behalf. Alger has delegated its
proxy voting authority for such clients to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc.
(ISS), a leading proxy voting service provider, to vote the proxies in such
accounts. ISS, a registered investment adviser, issues voting recommendations
and casts votes on the proxies based strictly on the pre-determined voting
guidelines described below. Other clients authorize Alger to vote proxies on
their behalf, but do not permit Alger to delegate its proxy voting authority.
In such cases, a designated Alger analyst determines how to vote the proxies
based on the pre-determined voting guidelines. Additionally, some clients may
have their own specific proxy voting guidelines. For such clients, a designated
Alger analyst determines the votes for these accounts in accordance with the
clients specific voting guidelines based on ISS recommendations or delegates
the voting authority to ISS, based on the clients instructions.
Alger
maintains records of its proxy voting policies and procedures. Alger or ISS, on
Algers behalf, maintains records of proxy statements received; votes cast on
behalf of clients; client requests for proxy voting information; and documents
prepared by the respective investment adviser that were material to making a
voting decision. Such records will be maintained in an easily accessible place
for a period of not less than 5 years in an appropriate office of Alger or ISS.
In the event that ISS maintains such records, ISS will provide such records to
Alger promptly, upon Algers request.
III.
Conflicts
of Interest
ISS
issues voting recommendations and casts proxy votes strictly in accordance with
pre-determined proxy voting guidelines, which Alger believes are in the best
interests of its clients. ISS will recuse itself from voting proxies when it
has a material conflict of interest with the company whose proxies are at
issue. In such cases, a designated Alger analyst will vote those proxies
strictly in accordance with pre-determined proxy voting guidelines with due
consideration for the clients best interests. The designated Alger analyst is
required to certify in writing that to the best of his knowledge and belief,
neither he nor Alger have a material conflict of interest with the company
whose proxies are at issue. If a material conflict of interest exists, the voting
determination is made by the Alger Proxy Voting Committee, composed of Algers
Senior Vice President of Compliance, Algers Senior Vice President of Account
Administration and an Alger Senior Analyst.
The
adherence to pre-determined proxy voting guidelines by Alger and ISS and the
establishment of the Alger Proxy Voting Committee help avoid conflicts of
interests and help ensure that proxy votes are cast in accordance with the best
interests of Algers clients. Additionally, Alger monitors ISS proxy voting
policies and procedures on a quarterly basis to ensure that the proxies are
voted in the best interests of its clients.
IV.
Client Disclosure
Alger
will provide its clients with a description of its proxy voting policies and
procedures; disclose to clients that they may obtain the actual proxy voting
policies and procedures by accessing Algers website, http://www.alger.com or
by calling toll-free, (800) 223-3810; and disclose to clients that they may
obtain information about how the investment adviser voted their proxies by
calling toll-free, (800) 223-3810. Such description and disclosure will be
provided by mail. New clients will be provided with the description and
disclosure along with their account application. The Senior Vice President of
Algers Account Administration Department will provide clients with records of
how the investment adviser voted their proxies, upon request.
V.
Proxy Voting
Guidelines
The
following are the pre-determined proxy voting guidelines used by Alger and ISS
in making proxy-voting decisions for client accounts.
1. Operational Issues
Adjourn Meeting:
Generally
vote AGAINST proposals to provide management with the authority to adjourn an
annual or special meeting absent compelling reasons to support the proposal.
Amend Quorum Requirements:
Vote
AGAINST proposals to reduce quorum requirements for shareholder meetings below
a majority of the shares outstanding, unless there are compelling reasons to
support the proposal.
Amend Minor Bylaws:
Vote
FOR bylaw or charter changes that are of a housekeeping nature (i.e. updates or
corrections).
Change Company Name:
Vote
FOR proposals to change the corporate name.
Change Date, Time or Location of Annual Meeting:
Vote
FOR management proposals to change the date, time or location of the annual
meeting, unless the proposed change is unreasonable.
Vote
AGAINST shareholder proposals to change the date, time or location of the
annual meeting, unless the current scheduling or location is unreasonable.
Ratifying Auditors:
Vote
FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:
·
An auditor has a financial interest in or
association with the company and is, therefore, not independent
·
Fees for non-audit services are excessive, or
·
There is reason to believe that the
independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor
indicative of the companys financial position
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to prohibit or limit
their auditors from engaging in non-audit services.
Vote
FOR shareholder proposals asking for audit firm rotation, unless the rotation
period is so short (less than five years) that it would be unduly burdensome to
the company.
Transact Other Business:
Vote
AGAINST proposals to approve other business when it appears as a voting item.
2. Board of Directors Issues:
Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections:
Votes
on director nominees should be made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, examining the
following factors: composition of the board and keyboard committees, attendance
at board meetings, corporate governance provisions takeover activity, long-term
company performance relative to a market index directors investment in the
company, whether the chairman is also serving as CEO and whether a retired CEO
sits on the board. However, there are some actions by directors that should
result in votes being WITHHELD. These instances include directors who:
·
Attend less than 75 percent of the board and
committee meetings without a
valid excuse
·
Implement or renew a dead-hand or modified
dead-hand poison pill
·
Ignore a shareholder proposal that is
approved by a majority of the shares outstanding
·
Ignore a shareholder proposal that is
approved by a majority of the votes cast for two consecutive years
·
Failed to act on takeover offers where the
majority of the shareholders tendered their shares
·
Are inside directors or affiliated outsiders
and sit on the audit, compensation, or nominating committees
·
Are inside directors or affiliated outsiders
and the full board serves as the audit, compensation or nominating committee or
the company does not have one of these committees
·
Are audit committee members and the non-audit
fees paid to the auditor are excessive
In
addition, directors who enacted egregious corporate governance policies or
failed to replace management as appropriate would be subject to recommendations
to WITHHOLD votes.
Age Limits:
Vote
AGAINST shareholder proposals to impose a mandatory retirement age for outside
directors.
Board Size:
Vote
FOR proposals seeking to fix the board size or designate a range for the board
size.
Vote
AGAINST proposals that give management the ability to alter the size of the
board outside of a specified range without shareholder approval.
Classification/Declassification of the Board:
Vote
AGAINST proposals to classify the board.
Vote
FOR proposals to repeal classified boards and to elect all directors annually.
Cumulative Voting:
Vote
AGAINST proposals to eliminate cumulative voting.
Vote
proposals to restore or permit cumulative voting on a CASE-BY-CASE basis
relative to the companys other governance provisions.
Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability
Protection:
Proposals
on director and officer indemnification and liability protection should be
evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, using Delaware law as the standard.
Vote
AGAINST proposals to eliminate entirely directors and officers liability for
monetary damages for violating the duty of care.
Vote
AGAINST indemnification proposals that would expand coverage beyond just legal
expenses to acts, such as negligence, that are more serious violations of
fiduciary obligation than mere carelessness.
Vote
FOR only those proposals providing such expanded coverage in cases when a
directors or officers legal defense was unsuccessful if both of the following
apply:
·
The director was
found to have acted in good faith and in a manner that he reasonably believed
was in the best interests of the company, and
·
Only
if the directors legal expenses would be covered
Establish/Amend Nominee Qualifications:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals that establish or amend director qualifications.
Votes
should be based on how reasonable the criteria are and to what degree they may
preclude dissident nominees from joining the board.
Vote
AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring two candidates per board seat.
Filling Vacancies/Removal of Directors:
Vote
AGAINST proposals that provide that directors may be removed only for cause.
Vote
FOR proposals to restore shareholder ability to remove directors with or
without cause.
Vote
AGAINST proposals that provide that only continuing directors may elect
replacements to fill board vacancies.
Vote
FOR proposals that permit shareholders to elect directors to fill board
vacancies.
Independent Chairman (Separate Chairman/CEO):
Vote
on a CASE-BY-CASE basis shareholder proposals requiring that the positions of
chairman and CEO be held separately. Because some companies have governance
structures in place that counterbalance a combined position, the following
factors should be taken into account in determining whether the proposal
warrants support:
·
Designated
lead director appointed from the ranks of the independent board members with
clearly delineated duties
·
Majority
of independent directors on board
·
All-independent
key committees
·
Committee
chairpersons nominated by the independent directors
·
CEO
performance reviewed annually by a committee of outside directors
·
Established
governance guidelines
·
Company
performance
Majority of Independent Directors/Establishment of
Committees:
Vote
FOR shareholder proposals asking that a majority or more of directors be
independent unless the board composition already meets the proposed threshold
by ISS definition of independence.
Vote
FOR shareholder proposals asking that board audit, compensation and/or
nominating committees be composed exclusively of independent directors if they
currently do not meet that standard.
Stock Ownership Requirements:
Generally
vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of stock that
directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board.
While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the company should
determine the appropriate ownership requirement.
Term Limits:
Vote
AGAINST shareholder proposals to limit the tenure of outside directors.
3. Proxy Contest Issues
Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections:
Votes
in a contested election of directors must be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
considering the following factors:
·
Long-term financial performance of the target
company relative to its industry; managements track record
·
Background to the proxy contest
·
Qualifications of director nominees (both
slates)
·
Evaluation of what each side is offering
shareholders as well as the likelihood that the proposed objectives and goals
can be met; and stock ownership positions
Reimbursing Proxy Solicitation Expenses:
Voting
to reimburse proxy solicitation expenses should be analyzed on a CASE-BYCASE
basis. In cases where ISS recommends in favor of the dissidents, ISS also
recommends voting for reimbursing proxy solicitation expenses.
Confidential Voting:
Vote
FOR shareholder proposals requesting that corporations adopt confidential
voting, use independent vote tabulators and use independent inspectors of
election, as long as the proposal includes a provision for proxy contests as
follows: In the case of a contested election, management should be permitted to
request that the dissident group honor its confidential voting policy. If the
dissidents agree, the policy remains in place. If the dissidents will not
agree, the confidential voting policy is waived.
Vote
FOR management proposals to adopt confidential voting.
4. Anti-Takeover Defenses and Voting Related Issues
Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder
Proposals/Nominations:
Votes
on advance notice proposals are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, giving
support to those proposals which allow shareholders to submit proposals as
close to the meeting date as reasonably possible and within the broadest window
possible.
Amend Bylaws Without Shareholder Consent:
Vote
AGAINST proposals giving the board exclusive authority to amend the bylaws.
Vote
FOR proposals giving the board the ability to amend the bylaws in addition to
shareholders.
Poison Pills:
Vote
FOR shareholder proposals that ask a company to submit its poison pill for
shareholder ratification.
Review
on a CASE-BY-CASE basis shareholder proposals to redeem a companys poison
pill.
Review
on a CASE-BY-CASE basis management proposals to ratify a poison pill.
Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent:
Vote
AGAINST proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to take action by
written consent.
Vote
FOR proposals to allow or make easier shareholder action by written consent.
Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings:
Vote
AGAINST proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to call special
meetings.
Vote
FOR proposals that remove restrictions on the right of shareholders to act
independently of management.
Supermajority Vote Requirements:
Vote
AGAINST proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote.
Vote
FOR proposals to lower supermajority vote equirements.
5. Mergers and Corporate Restructuring Issues
Appraisal Rights:
Vote
FOR proposals to restore or provide shareholders with rights of appraisal.
Asset Purchases:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on asset purchase proposals, considering the following factors:
·
Purchase
price
·
Fairness
opinion
·
Financial
and strategic benefits
·
How
the deal was negotiated
·
Conflicts
of interest
·
Other
alternatives for the business
·
Noncompletion
risk
Asset Sales:
Votes
on asset sales should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the
following factors:
·
Impact
on the balance sheet/working capital
·
Potential
elimination of diseconomies
·
Anticipated
financial and operating benefits
·
Anticipated
use of funds
·
Value
received for the asset
·
Fairness
opinion
·
How
the deal was negotiated
·
Conflicts
of interest
Bundled Proposals:
Review
on a CASE-BY-CASE basis bundled or conditioned proxy proposals. In the case
of items that are conditioned upon each other, examine the benefits and costs
of the packaged items. In instances when the joint effect of the conditioned
items is not in shareholders best interests, vote against the proposals. If
the combined effect is positive, support such proposals.
Conversion of Securities:
Votes
on proposals regarding conversion of securities are determined on a CASE-BYCASE
basis. When evaluating these proposals the investor should review the dilution
to existing shareholders, the conversion price relative to market value,
financial issues, control issues, termination penalties and conflicts of
interest.
Vote
FOR the conversion if it is expected that the company will be subject to
onerous penalties or will be forced to file for bankruptcy if the transaction
is not approved.
Corporate Reorganization/Debt Restructuring/Prepackaged
Bankruptcy Plans/Reverse Leveraged Buyouts/Wrap Plans:
Votes
on proposals to increase common and/or preferred shares and to issue shares as
part of a debt restructuring plan are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
taking into consideration the following:
·
Dilution
to existing shareholders position
·
Terms
of the offer
·
Financial
issues
·
Managements
efforts to pursue other alternatives
·
Control
issues
·
Conflicts
of interest
Vote
FOR the debt restructuring if it is expected that the company will file for
bankruptcy if the transaction is not approved.
Formation of Holding Company:
Votes
on proposals regarding the formation of a holding company should be determined
on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, taking into consideration the following:
·
The
reasons for the change
·
Any
financial or tax benefits
·
Regulatory
benefits
·
Increases
in capital structure
·
Changes
to the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the company
Absent
compelling financial reasons to recommend the transaction, vote AGAINST
the
formation of a holding company if the transaction would include either of the
following:
·
Increases
in common or preferred stock in excess of the allowable maximum as calculated
by the ISS Capital Structure model
·
Adverse
changes in shareholder rights
Going Private Transactions (LBOs and Minority Squeezeouts):
Vote
going private transactions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, taking into account the
following: offer price/premium, fairness opinion, how the deal was negotiated,
conflicts of interest, other alternatives/offers considered and noncompletion
risk.
Joint Ventures:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to form joint ventures, taking into account the
following: percentage of assets/business contributed, percentage ownership,
financial and strategic benefits, governance structure, conflicts of interest,
other alternatives and noncompletion risk.
Liquidations:
Votes
on liquidations should be made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis after reviewing
managements efforts to pursue other alternatives, appraisal value of assets
and the compensation plan for executives managing the liquidation.
Vote
FOR the liquidation if the company will file for bankruptcy if the proposal is
not approved.
Mergers and Acquisitions/ Issuance of Shares to Facilitate
Merger or Acquisition:
Votes
on mergers and acquisitions should be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
determining whether the transaction enhances shareholder value by giving
consideration to the following:
·
Prospects
of the combined company; anticipated financial and operating benefits
·
Offer
price
·
Fairness
opinion
·
How
the deal was negotiated
·
Changes
in corporate governance
·
Change
in the capital structure
·
Conflicts
of interest
Private Placements/Warrants/Convertible Debentures:
Votes
on proposals regarding private placements should be determined on a CASE-BYCASE
basis. When evaluating these proposals the investor should review: dilution to
existing shareholders position, terms of the offer, financial issues,
managements efforts to pursue other alternatives, control issues and conflicts
of interest.
Vote
FOR the private placement if it is expected that the company will file for
bankruptcy if the transaction is not approved.
Spin-Offs:
Votes
on spin-offs should be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis depending on:
·
Tax
and regulatory advantages
·
Planned
use of the sale proceeds
·
Valuation
of spin-off
·
Fairness
opinion
·
Benefits
to the parent company
·
Conflicts
of interest
·
Managerial
incentives
·
Corporate
governance changes
·
Changes
in the capital structure
Value Maximization Proposals:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals seeking to maximize shareholder Value by
hiring a financial advisor to explore strategic alternatives, selling the
company
or liquidating the company and distributing the proceeds to shareholders. These
proposals should be evaluated based on the following factors: prolonged poor
performance with no turnaround in sight, signs of entrenched board and
management; strategic plan in place for improving value, likelihood of receiving
reasonable value in a sale or dissolution and whether company is actively
exploring its strategic options, including retaining a financial advisor.
6. State of Incorporation Issues
Control Share Acquisition Provisions:
Vote
FOR proposals to opt out of control share acquisition statutes, unless doing so
would enable the completion of a takeover that would be detrimental to
shareholders.
Vote
AGAINST proposals to amend the charter to include control share acquisition
provisions.
Vote
FOR proposals to restore voting rights to the control shares.
Control Share Cashout Provisions:
Vote
FOR proposals to opt out of control share cashout statutes.
Disgorgement Provisions:
Vote
FOR proposals to opt out of state disgorgement provisions.
Fair Price Provisions:
Vote
proposals to adopt fair price provisions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, evaluating
factors such as the vote required to approve the proposed acquisition, the vote
required to repeal the fair price provision and the mechanism for determining
the fair price. Generally, vote AGAINST fair price provisions with shareholder
vote requirements greater than a majority of disinterested shares.
Freezeout Provisions:
Vote
FOR proposals to opt out of state freezeout provisions.
Greenmail:
Vote
FOR proposals to adopt anti-greenmail charter of bylaw amendments or otherwise
restrict a companys ability to make greenmail payments. Review on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis anti-greenmail proposals when they are bundled with other
charter or bylaw amendments.
Reincorporation Proposals:
Proposals
to change a companys state of incorporation should be evaluated on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis, giving consideration to both financial and corporate
governance concerns, including the reasons for reincorporating, a comparison of
the governance provisions and a comparison of the jurisdictional laws.
Vote
FOR reincorporation when the economic factors outweigh any neutral or negative
governance changes.
Stakeholder Provisions:
Vote
AGAINST proposals that ask the board to consider nonshareholder constituencies
or other nonfinancial effects when evaluating a merger or business combination.
State Anti-Takeover Statutes:
Review
on a CASE-BY-CASE basis proposals to opt in or out of state takeover statutes
(including control share acquisition statutes, control share cash-out statutes,
freezeout provisions, fair price provisions, stakeholder laws, poison pill
endorsements, severance pay and labor contract provisions, anti-greenmail
provisions and disgorgement provisions).
7. Capital Structure Issues
Adjustments to Par Value of Common Stock:
Vote
FOR management proposals to reduce the par value of common stock.
Common Stock Authorization:
Votes
on proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for
issuance are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis using a model developed by ISS.
Vote
AGAINST proposals at companies with dual-class capital structures to increase
the number of authorized shares of the class of stock that has superior voting
rights.
Vote
FOR proposals to approve increases beyond the allowable increase when a companys
shares are in danger of being delisted or if a companys ability to continue to
operate as a going concern is uncertain.
Dual-Class Stock:
Vote
AGAINST proposals to create a new class of common stock with superior voting
rights.
Vote
FOR proposals to create a new class of nonvoting or subvoting common stock if:
·
It is intended for financing purposes with
minimal or no dilution to current shareholders
·
It is not designed to preserve the voting
power of an insider or significant shareholder
Issue Stock for Use with Rights Plan:
Vote
AGAINST proposals that increase authorized common stock for the explicit
purpose of implementing a shareholder rights plan (poison pill).
Preemptive Rights:
Review
on a CASE-BY-CASE basis shareholder proposals that seek preemptive rights. In
evaluating proposals on preemptive rights, consider the size of a company, the
characteristics of its shareholder base and the liquidity of the stock.
Preferred Stock:
Vote
AGAINST proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of preferred stock
with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution and other rights (blank
check preferred stock).
Vote
FOR proposals to create declawed blank check preferred stock (stock that
cannot be used as a takeover defense).
Vote
FOR proposals to authorize preferred stock in cases where the company specifies
the voting, dividend, conversion and other rights of such stock and the terms
of the preferred stock appear reasonable.
Vote
AGAINST proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred stock
authorized for issuance when no shares have been issued or reserved for a
specific purpose.
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred
shares after analyzing the number of preferred shares available for issue given
a companys industry and performance in terms of shareholder returns.
Recapitalization:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on recapitalizations (reclassifications of securities), taking
into account the following: more simplified capital structure, enhanced
liquidity, fairness of conversion terms, impact on voting power and dividends,
reasons for the reclassification, conflicts of interest and other alternatives
considered.
Reverse Stock Splits:
Vote
FOR management proposals to implement a reverse stock split when the number of
authorized shares will be proportionately reduced.
Vote
FOR management proposals to implement a reverse stock split to avoid delisting.
Votes
on proposals to implement a reverse stock split that do not proportionately
reduce the number of shares authorized for issue should be determined on a CASE-BYCASE
basis using a model developed by ISS.
Share Repurchase Programs:
Vote
FOR management proposals to institute open-market share repurchase plans in
which all shareholders may participate on equal terms.
Stock Distributions: Splits and Dividends:
Vote
FOR management proposals to increase the common share authorization for a stock
split or share dividend, provided that the increase in authorized shares would
not result in an excessive number of shares available for issuance as
determined using a model developed by ISS.
Tracking Stock:
Votes
on the creation of tracking stock are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
weighing the strategic value of the transaction against such factors as:
adverse governance changes, excessive increases in authorized capital stock,
unfair method of distribution, diminution of voting rights, adverse conversion
features, negative impact on stock option plans and other alternatives such as
spin-off.
8. Executive and Director Compensation Issues
Votes
with respect to compensation plans should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE
basis. ISS methodology for reviewing compensation plans primarily focuses on
the transfer of shareholder wealth (the dollar cost of pay plans to
shareholders instead of simply focusing on voting power dilution). Using the
expanded compensation data disclosed under the SECs rules, ISS will value
every award type. ISS will include in its analyses an estimated dollar cost for
the proposed plan and all continuing plans. This cost, dilution to shareholders
equity, will also be expressed as a percentage figure for the transfer of
shareholder wealth and will be considered long with dilution to voting power.
Once ISS determines the estimated cost of the plan, we compare it to a
company-specific dilution cap.
ISS
model determines a company-specific allowable pool of shareholder wealth that
may be transferred from the company to executives, adjusted for:
·
Long-term corporate performance (on an
absolute basis and relative to a standard industry peer group and an
appropriate market index),
·
Cash compensation, and
·
Categorization of the company as emerging,
growth or mature
These
adjustments are pegged to market capitalization. ISS will continue to examine
other features of proposed pay plans such as administration, payment terms,
plan duration and whether the administering committee is permitted to reprice
underwater stock options without shareholder approval.
Director Compensation:
Votes
on compensation plans for directors are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
using a proprietary, quantitative model developed by ISS.
Stock Plans in Lieu of Cash:
Votes
for plans which provide participants with the option of taking all or a portion
of their cash compensation in the form of stock are determined on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote
FOR plans which provide a dollar-for-dollar cash for stock exchange.
Votes
for plans which do not provide a dollar-for-dollar cash for stock exchange
should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis using a proprietary, quantitative
model developed by ISS.
Director Retirement Plans:
Vote
AGAINST retirement plans for nonemployee directors.
Vote
FOR shareholder proposals to eliminate retirement plans for nonemployee
directors.
Management Proposals Seeking Approval to Reprice Options:
Votes
on management proposals seeking approval to reprice options are evaluated on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis giving consideration to the following:
·
Historic
trading patterns
·
Rationale
for the repricing
·
Value-for-value
exchange
·
Option
vesting
·
Term
of the option
·
Exercise
price
·
Participation
Employee Stock Purchase Plans:
Votes
on employee stock purchase plans should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote
FOR employee stock purchase plans where all of the following apply:
·
Purchase
price is at least 85 percent of fair market value
·
Offering
period is 27 months or less, and
·
Potential
voting power dilution (VPD) is ten percent or less
Vote
AGAINST employee stock purchase plans where any of the following apply:
·
Purchase
price is less than 85 percent of fair market value, or
·
Offering
period is greater than 27 months, or
·
VPD
is greater than ten percent
Incentive Bonus Plans and Tax Deductibility Proposals:
(OBRA-Related Compensation Proposals)
Vote
FOR proposals that simply amend shareholder-approved compensation plans to
include administrative features or place a cap on the annual grants any one
participant may receive to comply with the provisions of Section 162(m).
Vote
FOR proposals to add performance goals to existing compensation plans to comply
with the provisions of Section 162(m) unless they are clearly
inappropriate.
Votes
to amend existing plans to increase shares reserved and to qualify for
favorable tax treatment under the provisions of Section 162(m) should
be considered on a CASEBY-CASE basis using a proprietary, quantitative model
developed by ISS.
Generally
vote FOR cash or cash and stock bonus plans that are submitted to shareholders
for the purpose of exempting compensation from taxes under the provisions of Section 162(m) if
no increase in shares is requested.
Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs):
Vote
FOR proposals to implement an ESOP or increase authorized shares for existing
ESOPs, unless the number of shares allocated to the ESOP is excessive (more
than five percent of outstanding shares).
401(k) Employee Benefit Plans:
Vote
FOR proposals to implement a 401 (k) savings plan for employees.
Shareholder Proposals Regarding Executive and Director Pay:
Generally,
vote FOR shareholder proposals seeking additional disclosure of executive and
director pay information, provided the information requested is relevant to
shareholders needs, would not put the company at a competitive disadvantage
relative to its industry and is not unduly burdensome to the company.
Vote
AGAINST shareholder proposals seeking to set absolute levels on compensation or
otherwise dictate the amount or form of compensation.
Vote
AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring director fees be paid in stock only.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals to put option repricings to a shareholder vote.
Vote
on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for all other shareholder proposals regarding executive
and director pay, taking into account company performance, pay level versus
peers, pay level versus industry and long-term corporate outlook.
Option Expensing:
Generally
vote FOR shareholder proposals asking the company to expense stock options,
unless the company has already publicly committed to expensing options by a
specific date.
Performance-Based Stock Options:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals advocating the use of performance-based
stock options (indexed, premium-priced and performance-vested options), taking
into account:
·
Whether the proposal mandates that
all
awards be performance-based
·
Whether the proposal extends beyond executive
awards to those of lower-ranking employees
·
Whether the companys stock-based
compensation plans meet ISS SVT criteria and do not violate ISS repricing
guidelines
Golden and Tin Parachutes:
Vote
FOR shareholder proposals to require golden and tin parachutes (executive
severance agreements) to be submitted for shareholder ratification, unless the
proposal requires shareholder approval prior to entering into employment
contracts.
Vote
on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals to ratify or cancel golden or tin
parachutes. An acceptable parachute should include the following:
·
The parachute should be less attractive than
an ongoing employment opportunity with the firm
·
The triggering mechanism should be beyond the
control of management
·
The amount should not exceed three times base
salary plus guaranteed benefits
9. Social and Environmental Issues
Consumer Issues and Public Safety
Animal Rights
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to phase out the use of animals in product testing,
taking into account:
·
The nature of the product and the degree that
animal testing is necessary or federally mandated (such as medical products)
·
The availability and feasibility of
alternatives to animal testing to ensure product Safety, and
·
The degree that competitors are using
animal-free testing. Generally vote FOR proposals seeking a report on the
companys animal welfare standards unless:
·
The company has already published a set of
animal welfare standards and monitors compliance
·
The companys standards are comparable to or
better than those of peer firms, and
·
There are no serious controversies
surrounding the companys treatment of animals
Drug Pricing:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking the company to implement price restraints on
pharmaceutical products, taking into account:
·
Whether the proposal focuses on a specific
drug and region
·
Whether the economic benefits of providing
subsidized drugs (e.g., public goodwill) outweigh the costs in terms of reduced
profits, lower R&D spending and harm to competitiveness
·
The extent that reduced prices can be offset
through the companys marketing budget without affecting R&D spending
·
Whether the company already limits price
increases of its products
·
Whether the company already contributes
life-saving pharmaceuticals to the needy and Third World countries
·
The extent that peer companies implement
price restraints
Genetically Modified Foods:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to label genetically modified (GMO) ingredients
voluntarily in the companys products, or alternatively to provide interim
labeling and eventually eliminate GMOs, taking into account:
·
The costs and feasibility of labeling and/or
phasing out
·
The nature of the companys business and the
proportion of it affected by the proposal
·
The proportion of company sales in markets
requiring labeling or GMO-free products
·
The extent that peer companies label or have
eliminated GMOs
·
Competitive benefits, such as expected
increases in consumer demand for the companys products
·
The risks of misleading consumers without
federally mandated, standardized labeling
·
Alternatives to labeling employed by the
company
Vote
FOR proposals asking for a report on the feasibility of labeling products
containing GMOs.
Vote
AGAINST proposals to completely phase out GMOs from the companys products.
Such
resolutions presuppose that there are proven health risks to GMOs-an issue
better left to federal regulators-which outweigh the economic benefits derived
from biotechnology.
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on reports outlining the steps necessary to eliminate GMOs from
the companys products, taking into account:
·
The relevance of the proposal in terms of the
companys business and the proportion of it affected by the resolution
·
The extent that peer companies have
eliminated GMOs
·
The extent that the report would clarify
whether it is viable for the company to eliminate GMOs from its products
·
Whether the proposal is limited to a
feasibility study or additionally seeks an action plan and timeframe actually
to phase out GMOs
·
The percentage of revenue derived from
international operations, particularly in Europe, where GMOs are more regulated
Vote
AGAINST proposals seeking a report on the health and environmental effects of
GMOs and the companys strategy for phasing out GMOs in the event they become
illegal in the United States. Studies of this sort are better undertaken by
regulators and the scientific community. If made illegal in the United States,
genetically modified crops would automatically be recalled and phased out.
Handguns:
Generally
vote AGAINST requests for reports on a companys policies aimed at curtailing
gun violence in the United States, unless the report is confined to product safety
information. Criminal misuse of firearms is beyond company control and instead
falls within the purview of law enforcement agencies.
Predatory Lending:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on requests for reports on the companys procedures for preventing
predatory lending, including the establishment of a board committee for
oversight, taking into account:
·
Whether the company has adequately disclosed
mechanisms in place to prevent abusive lending practices
·
Whether the company has adequately disclosed
the financial risks of its subprime business
·
Whether the company has been subject to
violations of lending laws or serious lending controversies
·
Peer companies policies to prevent abusive
lending practices
Tobacco:
Most
tobacco-related proposals should be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, taking
into account the following factors:
Second-hand
smoke:
·
Whether the company complies with all local
ordinances and regulations
·
The degree that voluntary restrictions beyond
those mandated by law might hurt the companys competitiveness
·
The risk of any health-related liabilities
Advertising
to youth:
·
Whether the company complies with federal,
state, and local laws on the marketing of tobacco or if it has been fined for
violations
·
Whether the company has gone as far as peers
in restricting advertising
·
Whether the company entered into the Master
Settlement Agreement, which restricts marketing of tobacco to youth
·
Whether restrictions on marketing to youth
extend to foreign countries
Cease
production of tobacco-related products or avoid selling products to tobacco
companies:
·
The percentage of the companys business
affected
·
The economic loss of eliminating the business
versus any potential tobacco-related liabilities
Spin-off
tobacco-related businesses:
·
The percentage of the companys business
affected
·
The feasibility of a spin-off
·
Potential future liabilities related to the
companys tobacco business
Stronger Product Warnings:
Vote
AGAINST proposals seeking stronger product warnings. Such decisions are better
left to public health authorities.
Investment in Tobacco Stocks:
Vote
AGAINST proposals prohibiting investment in tobacco equities. Such decisions
are better left to portfolio managers.
Environment and Energy
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on reports outlining potential environmental damage from drilling
in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), taking into account:
·
Whether
there are publicly available environmental impact reports
·
Whether the company has a poor environmental
track record, such as violations of federal and state regulations or accidental
spills, and
·
The current status of legislation regarding
drilling in ANWR
CERES Principles:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to adopt the CERES Principles, taking into account:
·
The companys
current environmental disclosure beyond legal requirements, including
environmental health and safety (EHS) audits and reports that may duplicate CERES
·
The companys environmental performance
record, including violations of federal and state regulations, level of toxic
emissions and accidental spills Environmentally conscious practices of peer
companies, including endorsement of CERES
·
Costs
of membership and implementation
Environmental Reports:
Generally
vote FOR requests for reports disclosing the companys environmental policies
unless it already has well-documented environmental management systems that are
available to the public.
Global Warming:
Generally
vote FOR reports on the level of greenhouse gas emissions from the companys
operations and products, unless the report is duplicative of the companys
current environmental disclosure and reporting or is not integral to the
companys line of business. However, additional reporting may be warranted if:
·
The
companys level of disclosure lags that of its competitors, or
·
The company has a poor environmental track
record, such as violations of federal and state regulations
Recycling:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to adopt a comprehensive recycling strategy, taking
into account:
·
The
nature of the companys business and the percentage affected
·
The
extent that peer companies are recycling
·
The
timetable prescribed by the proposal
·
The
costs and methods of implementation
·
Whether the company has a poor environmental
track record, such as violations of federal and state regulations
Renewable Energy:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to invest in renewable energy sources, taking into
account:
·
The
nature of the companys business and the percentage affected
·
The extent that peer companies are switching
from fossil fuels to cleaner sources
·
The timetable and specific action prescribed
by the proposal
·
The costs of implementation
·
The companys initiatives to address climate
change
Generally
vote FOR requests for reports on the feasibility of developing renewable energy
sources, unless the report is duplicative of the companys current
environmental disclosure and reporting or is not integral to the companys line
of business.
General Corporate Issues
Link Executive Compensation to Social Performance:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to review ways of linking executive compensation to
social factors, such as corporate downsizings, customer or employee
satisfaction, community involvement, human rights, environmental performance,
predatory lending and executive/employee pay disparities. Such resolutions
should be evaluated in the context of:
·
The
relevance of the issue to be linked to pay
·
The degree that social performance is already
included in the companys pay structure and disclosed
·
The degree that social performance is used by
peer companies in setting pay
·
Violations or complaints filed against the
company relating to the particular social performance measure
·
Artificial limits sought by the proposal,
such as freezing or capping executive pay
·
Independence of the compensation committee
·
Current company pay levels
Charitable/Political Contributions:
Generally
vote AGAINST proposals asking the company to affirm political nonpartisanship
in the workplace so long as:
·
The company is in compliance with laws
governing corporate political activities, and
·
The company has procedures in place to ensure
that employee contributions to company-sponsored political action committees
(PACs) are strictly voluntary and not coercive
Vote
AGAINST proposals to report or publish in newspapers the companys political
contributions. Federal and state laws restrict the amount of corporate
contributions and include reporting requirements.
Vote
AGAINST proposals disallowing the company from making political contributions.
Businesses are affected by legislation at the federal, state and local level
and barring contributions can put the company at a competitive disadvantage.
Vote
AGAINST proposals restricting the company from making charitable contributions.
Charitable contributions are generally useful for assisting worthwhile causes
and for creating goodwill in the community. In the absence of bad faith,
self-dealing or gross negligence, management should determine which
contributions are in the best interests of the company.
Vote
AGAINST proposals asking for a list of company executives, directors,
consultants, legal counsels, lobbyists or investment bankers that have prior
government service and whether such service had a bearing on the business of
the company. Such a list would be burdensome to prepare without providing any
meaningful information to shareholders.
Labor Standards and Human Rights
China Principles:
Vote
AGAINST proposals to implement the China Principles unless:
·
There are serious controversies surrounding
the companys China operations, and
·
The company does not have a code of conduct
with standards similar to those promulgated by the International Labor
Organization (ILO)
Country-Specific Human Rights Reports:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on requests for reports detailing the companys operations in a
particular country and steps to protect human rights, based on:
·
The
nature and amount of company business in that country
·
The
companys workplace code of conduct
·
Proprietary
and confidential information involved
·
Company
compliance with U.S. regulations on investing in the country
·
Level of peer company involvement in the
country
International Codes of ConductNendor Standards:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to implement certain human rights standards at company
facilities or those of its suppliers and to commit to outside, independent monitoring.
In evaluating these proposals, the following should be considered:
·
The companys current workplace code of
conduct or adherence to other global standards and the degree they meet the
standards promulgated by the proponent
·
Agreements with foreign suppliers to meet
certain workplace standards
·
Whether company and vendor facilities are
monitored and if so, how
·
Company participation in fair labor
organizations
·
Type of business
·
Proportion of business conducted overseas
·
Countries of operation with known human
rights abuses
·
Whether the company has been recently
involved in significant labor and human rights controversies or violations
·
Peer company standards and practices
·
Union presence in companys international
factories Generally vote FOR reports outlining vendor standards compliance
unless any of the following apply:
·
The company does not operate in countries
with significant human rights violations
·
The company has no recent human rights
controversies or violations, or
·
The company already publicly discloses
information on its vendor standards compliance
MacBride Principles:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to endorse or increase activity on the MacBride
Principles, taking into account:
·
Company compliance with or violations of the
Fair Employment Act of 1989
·
Company antidiscrimination policies that
already exceed the legal requirements
·
The cost and feasibility of adopting all nine
principles
·
The cost of duplicating efforts to follow two
sets of standards (Fair Employment and the MacBride Principles)
·
The potential for charges of reverse
discrimination
·
The potential that any company sales or contracts
in the rest of the United Kingdom could be negatively impacted
·
The level of the companys investment in
Northern Ireland
·
The number of company employees in Northern
Ireland
·
The degree that industry peers have adopted
the MacBride Principles
·
Applicable state and municipal laws that
limit contracts with companies that have not adopted the MacBride Principles
Military Business
Foreign Military Sales/Offsets:
Vote
AGAINST reports on foreign military sales or offsets. Such disclosures may
involve sensitive and confidential information. Moreover, companies must comply
with government controls and reporting on foreign military sales.
Landmines and Cluster Bombs:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking a company to renounce future involvement in
antipersonnel landmine production, taking into account:
·
Whether
the company has in the past manufactured landmine components
·
Whether
the companys peers have renounced future production
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking a company to renounce future involvement in
cluster bomb production, taking into account:
·
What
weapons classifications the proponent views as cluster bombs
·
Whether the company currently or in the past
has manufactured cluster bombs or their components
·
The percentage of revenue derived from
cluster bomb manufacture
·
Whether the companys peers have renounced
future production
Nuclear Weapons:
Vote
AGAINST proposals asking a company to cease production of nuclear weapons
components and delivery systems, including disengaging from current and
proposed contracts. Components and delivery systems serve multiple military and
non-military uses and withdrawal from these contracts could have a negative
impact on the companys business.
Spaced-Based Weaponization:
Generally
vote FOR reports on a companys involvement in spaced-based weaponization,
unless:
·
The
information is already publicly available, or
·
The disclosures sought could compromise
proprietary information
Workplace Diversity
Board Diversity:
Generally
vote FOR reports on the companys efforts to diversify the board, unless:
·
The board composition is reasonably inclusive
in relation to companies of similar size and business, or
·
The board already reports on its nominating
procedures and diversity initiatives
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking the company to increase the representation of
women and minorities on the board, taking into account:
·
The
degree of board diversity
·
Comparison
with peer companies
·
Established
process for improving board diversity
·
Existence
of independent nominating committee
·
Use
of outside search firm
·
History
of EEO violations
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO):
Generally
vote FOR reports outlining the companys affirmative action initiatives, unless
all of the following apply:
·
The
company has well-documented equal opportunity programs
·
The company already publicly reports on its
company-wide affirmative initiatives and provides data on its workforce
diversity, and
·
The company has no recent EEO-related
violations or litigation
Vote
AGAINST proposals seeking information on the diversity efforts of suppliers and
service providers, which can pose a significant cost and administration burden
on the company.
Glass Ceiling:
Generally
vote FOR reports outlining the companys progress towards the Glass Ceiling
Commissions business recommendations, unless:
·
The
composition of senior management and the board is fairly inclusive
·
The company has well-documented programs
addressing diversity initiatives and leadership development
·
The company already issues public reports on
its company-wide affirmative initiatives and provides data on its workforce
diversity, and
·
The company has had no recent, significant
EEO-related violations or litigation
Sexual Orientation:
Vote
CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to amend the companys EEO policy to include sexual
orientation, taking into account:
·
Whether the companys EEO policy is already
in compliance with federal, state and local laws
·
Whether the company has faced significant
controversies or litigation regarding unfair treatment of gay and lesbian
employees
·
The industry norm for including sexual
orientation in EEO statements
·
Existing policies in place to prevent
workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation
Vote
AGAINST proposals to extend company benefits to or eliminate benefits from
domestic partners. Benefit decisions should be left to the discretion of the
company.
10. Mutual Fund Proxy Issues
Election of Directors:
Vote
to elect directors on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following factors:
·
Board
structure
·
Director
independence and qualifications
·
Attendance
at board and committee meetings
Votes should be withheld from directors who:
·
Attend less than 75 percent of the board and
committee meetings without a valid excuse for the absences. Valid reasons
include illness or absence due to company business. Participation via telephone
is acceptable. In addition, if the director missed only one meeting or one days
meetings, votes should not be withheld even if such absence dropped the
directors attendance below 75 percent.
·
Ignore a shareholder proposal that is
approved by a majority of shares outstanding
·
Ignore a shareholder proposal that is
approved by a majority of the votes cast for two consecutive years
·
Are interested directors and sit on the audit
or nominating committee, or
·
Are interested directors and the full board
serves as the audit or nominating committee or the company does not have one of
these committees
Convert Closed-end Fund to Open-end Fund:
Vote
conversion proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following
factors:
·
Past
performance as a closed-end fund
·
Market
in which the fund invests
·
Measures
taken by the board to address the discount
·
Past
shareholder activism, board activity
·
Votes
on related proposals
Proxy Contests:
Votes
on proxy contests should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the
following factors:
·
Past
performance relative to its peers
·
Market
in which fund invests
·
Measures
taken by the board to address the issues
·
Past
shareholder activism, board activity and votes on related proposals
·
Strategy
of the incumbents versus the dissidents
·
Independence
of directors
·
Experience
and skills of director candidates
·
Governance
profile of the company
·
Evidence
of management entrenchment
Investment Advisory Agreements:
Votes
on investment advisory agreements should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
considering the following factors:
·
Proposed
and current fee schedules
·
Fund
category/investment objective
·
Performance
benchmarks
·
Share
price performance compared to peers
·
Resulting
fees relative to peers
·
Assignments
(where the adviser undergoes a change of control)
Approve New Classes or Series of Shares:
Vote
FOR the establishment of new classes or series of shares.
Preferred Stock Proposals:
Votes
on the authorization for or increase in preferred shares should be determined
on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following factors:
·
Stated
specific financing purpose
·
Possible
dilution for common shares
·
Whether
the shares can be used for anti-takeover purposes
1940 Act Policies:
Votes
on 1940 Act policies should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering
the following factors:
·
Potential
competitiveness
·
Regulatory
developments
·
Current
and potential returns
·
Current
and potential risk
Generally
vote FOR these amendments as long as the proposed changes do not fundamentally
alter the investment focus of the fund and do comply with the current SEC
interpretation.
Change Fundamental Restriction to Nonfundamental Restriction:
Proposals
to change a fundamental restriction to a nonfundamental restriction should be
evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following factors:
·
The
funds target investments
·
The
reasons given by the fund for the change
·
The
projected impact of the change on the portfolio
Change Fundamental Investment Objective to Nonfundamental:
Vote
AGAINST proposals to change a funds fundamental investment objective to
nonfundamental.
Name Change Proposals:
Votes
on name change proposals should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
considering the following factors:
·
Political/economic
changes in the target market
·
Consolidation
in the target market
·
Current
asset composition
Change in Funds Subclassification:
Votes
on changes in a funds subclassification should be determined on a CASE-BYCASE
basis, considering the following factors:
·
Potential
competitiveness
·
Current
and potential returns
·
Risk
of concentration
·
Consolidation
in target industry
Disposition of Assets/Termination/Liquidation:
Vote
these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following factors:
·
Strategies
employed to salvage the company
·
The
funds past performance
·
Terms
of the liquidation
Changes to the Charter Document:
Votes
on changes to the charter document should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE
basis, considering the following factors:
·
The
degree of change implied by the proposal
·
The
efficiencies that could result
·
The
state of incorporation
·
Regulatory
standards and implications
Vote
AGAINST any of the following changes:
·
Removal of shareholder approval requirement
to reorganize or terminate the trust or any of its series
·
Removal of shareholder approval requirement
for amendments to the new declaration of trust
·
Removal of shareholder approval requirement
to amend the funds management contract, allowing the contract to be modified
by the investment manager and the trust management, as permitted by the 1940
Act
·
Allow the trustees to impose other fees in
addition to sales charges on investment in a fund, such as deferred sales
charges and redemption fees that may be imposed upon redemption of a funds
shares
·
Removal of shareholder approval requirement
to engage in and terminate subadvisory arrangements
·
Removal of shareholder approval requirement
to change the domicile of the fund
Change the Funds Domicile:
Vote
reincorporations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following factors:
·
Regulations
of both states
·
Required
fundamental policies of both states
·
Increased
flexibility available
Authorize the Board to Hire and Terminate Subadvisors Without
Shareholder Approval:
Vote
AGAINST proposals authorizing the board to hire/terminate subadvisors without
shareholder approval.
Distribution Agreements:
Vote
these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following factors:
·
Fees
charged to comparably sized funds with similar objectives
·
The
proposed distributors reputation and past performance
·
The
competitiveness of the fund in the industry
·
Terms
of the agreement
Master-Feeder Structure:
Vote
FOR the establishment of a master-feeder structure.
Mergers:
Vote
merger proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following factors:
·
Resulting
fee structure
·
Performance
of both funds
·
Continuity
of management personnel
·
Changes in corporate governance and their
impact on shareholder rights
Shareholder Proposals to Establish Director Ownership
Requirement:
Generally
vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a specific minimum amount of
stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on
the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the
company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.
Shareholder Proposals to Reimburse Proxy Solicitation
Expenses:
Voting
to reimburse proxy solicitation expenses should be analyzed on a CASE-BYCASE
basis. In cases where ISS recommends in favor of the dissidents, ISS also
recommends voting for reimbursing proxy solicitation expenses.
Shareholder Proposals to Terminate Investment Adviser:
Vote
to terminate the investment adviser on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the
following factors:
·
Performance
of the funds NAV
·
The
funds history of shareholder relations
·
The
performance of other funds under the advisers management
V. How to Obtain Further Information
Clients
may obtain Fred Alger Management, Inc.s Proxy Voting Policies and
Procedures by accessing Algers website, http://www.alger.com or by calling
toll-free, (800) 223-3810. Clients may obtain information about how the
investment adviser voted proxies by calling toll-free, (800) 223-3810. These
materials will be mailed to clients upon request.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
(a) (1)
Name
John A. Curry
Title
Vice
President, Portfolio Manager
Length of Service
3 years
Business Experience Last 5 Years
-
John Curry is Vice
President and Portfolio Manager responsible for the fixed-income portion of
Algers Balanced Funds. He is also the Portfolio Manager of the Alger Money
Market Fund and the Castle Convertible Fund. John joins Alger after serving as
Vice President at Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC and as Portfolio Manager of
Whitehall Asset Managements fixed-income institutional and retail assets.
During his tenure at Whitehall, from March 1999-March 2003, John was
responsible for credit selection, portfolio structure and duration
determinations across all fixed-income sectors.
Information is as of
October 31, 2007
(a) (2) (i) John
A. Curry
(a) (2) (ii) (A)
Registered
Management Investment Companies
The portfolio manager is responsible for 4 additional Registered
Management Companies and manages $423,125,727.30 in total assets.
(B)
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
Not Applicable
(C)
Other Accounts
The portfolio manager is responsible for 1 account
with total assets of $5,192,695.95.
(a) (2) (iii)
Not Applicable
(a) (2) (iv)
Not Applicable
(a) (3)
The firms investment professionals are
compensated through salary and incentive bonuses. Portfolio Managers receive an
incentive bonus that is based upon individual productivity, their overall
contribution to the firms efforts and the performance of our investment
products. Portfolio Manager compensation is not fixed, nor is it based on pre-
or after-tax performance, nor is any benchmark index used in its determination.
(a) (4)
Not Applicable
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
None
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
None
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) The
Registrants principal executive officer and principal financial officer have
concluded that the Registrants disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended) are effective based on their evaluation of the disclosure controls and
procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this document.
(b) No
changes in the Registrants internal control over financial reporting occurred
during the Registrants last fiscal half-year that materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrants internal control over
financial reporting.
ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.
(a) (1) Code of Ethics as Exhibit 99.CODE ETH
(a) (2) Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer as required by rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are attached as Exhibit 99.CERT
(b) Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer as required by rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are attached as Exhibit 99.906CERT
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.
Castle Convertible Fund, Inc.
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By:
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/s/Dan C. Chung
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Dan C. Chung
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President
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Date: December 19,
2007
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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:
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/s/Dan C. Chung
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Dan C. Chung
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President
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Date: December 19, 2007
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By:
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/s/Michael D. Martins
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Michael D. Martins
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Treasurer
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Date: December 19, 2007
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