SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by Registrant [ X ]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec. 240.14a-12
FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Stephen C. Miller
2344 Spruce Street, Suite A
Boulder, Colorado 80302
(303) 442-2156
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transactions applies:
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identity the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3) Filing Party:
4) Date Filed:
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC.
2344 SPRUCE STREET
SUITE A
BOULDER, COLORADO 80302
June 1, 2006
Dear Fellow Stockholder,
You are cordially invited to attend the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of First Financial Fund, Inc., which will be held on Monday, July 24, 2006 at
9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (local time), at The Resort at the Mountain,
68010 East Fairway Avenue, Welches, Oregon. Details of the business to be
presented at the meeting can be found in the accompanying Notice of Annual
Meeting and Proxy Statement.
Once again, I would like to use this opportunity to recognize Wellington
Management Company, LLP and its Portfolio Manager, Nicholas C. Adams, for an
exceptional performance in managing the Fund. Recently, the Fund received a
Lipper 2005 Performance Achievement Certificate. The Fund ranked number one in
Lipper's Closed-End Equity Fund Performance for Sector Equity Funds for the 10
years ending December 31, 2005. Congratulations, Nick, on this achievement.
There is one non-routine proposal in this year's Proxy Statement, Proposal
2, which asks stockholders to approve an increase in the investment advisory fee
under the investment advisory agreement between the Fund and Wellington
Management Company, LLP (the "Adviser"). The proposed fee increase would provide
that the Adviser receive 1.125% on average net assets up to $150 million, 1.00%
on average net assets between $150 million and $300 million, and 0.875% on
average net assets in excess of $300 million. Based on the Fund's current net
assets, the new advisory fee would result in an increase of approximately 0.36%
in the Fund's annual operating expenses. At the Board's April 2006 meeting, the
Board of Directors unanimously approved the proposed fee increase and is
recommending that stockholders approve the fee at the upcoming Annual Meeting.
We hope you plan to attend the meeting. Your vote is important. Whether or
not you are able to attend, it is important that your shares be represented at
the Meeting. Accordingly, we ask that you please sign, date and return the
enclosed Proxy Card or vote via telephone or the Internet at your earliest
convenience.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the management of First Financial
Fund, Inc., I extend our appreciation for your continued support.
Sincerely,
/s/ Joel W. Looney
Joel W. Looney
Chairman of the Board
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC.
2344 SPRUCE STREET
SUITE A
BOULDER, COLORADO 80302
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held on July 24, 2006
To the Stockholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of First
Financial Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), a Maryland corporation, will be held at The
Resort at the Mountain, 68010 East Fairway Avenue, Welches, Oregon, 97067 at
9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (local time), on July 24, 2006, for the
following purposes:
1. The election of Directors of the Fund (Proposal 1).
2. To approve or disapprove the continuance of, and a proposed amendment
to, the investment advisory agreement with Wellington Management
Company, LLP (Proposal 2)
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors of the Fund has fixed the close of business on May
22, 2006 as the record date for the determination of stockholders of the Fund
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Stephanie Kelley
STEPHANIE KELLEY
Secretary
June 1, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOCKHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING ARE REQUESTED TO
COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. THE PROXY CARD SHOULD BE
RETURNED IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE
UNITED STATES. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PROPER EXECUTION OF PROXIES ARE SET FORTH ON
THE INSIDE COVER.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS
The following general rules for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to
you and may avoid the time and expense to the Fund involved in validating your
vote if you fail to sign your proxy card properly.
1. Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the
registration on the proxy card.
2. Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing
should conform exactly to a name shown in the registration.
3. All Other Accounts: The capacity of the individual signing the proxy
card should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form of registration. For
example:
Registration Valid Signature
Corporate Accounts
(1) ABC Corp. ABC Corp.
(2) ABC Corp. John Doe, Treasurer
(3) ABC Corp., c/o John Doe Treasurer John Doe
(4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan John Doe, Trustee
Trust Accounts
(1) ABC Trust Jane B. Doe, Trustee
(2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee, u/t/d 12/28/78 Jane B. Doe
Custodian or Estate Accounts
(1) John B. Smith, Cust., John B. Smith
f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA
(2) John B. Smith John B. Smith, Jr., Executor
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC.
2344 SPRUCE STREET
SUITE A
BOULDER, COLORADO 80302
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
July 24, 2006
PROXY STATEMENT
This proxy statement ("Proxy Statement") for First Financial Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), is furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Fund's Board of Directors (collectively, the
"Board" and individually, the "Directors") for use at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Fund to be held on July 24, 2006, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific
Daylight Time (local time) at The Resort at the Mountain, 68010 East Fairway
Drive, Welches, Oregon, 97067 and at any adjournments and postponements thereof
(the "Meeting"). A Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy card for
the Fund accompany this Proxy Statement. Proxy solicitations will be made,
beginning on or about June 2, 2006, primarily by mail, but proxy solicitations
may also be made by telephone, by Internet on the Fund's web site, telegraph or
personal interviews conducted by officers of the Fund and EquiServe Trust
Company, N.A., the transfer agent of the Fund. Depending on stockholder response
to this Proxy Statement, the Fund may also engage a professional proxy solicitor
the cost of which would be approximately $7,500. The costs of proxy solicitation
and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of this Proxy Statement
and its enclosures will be paid by the Fund. The Fund also will reimburse
brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding solicitation
material to the beneficial owners of its shares. The Board has fixed the close
of business on May 22, 2006 as the record date (the "Record Date") for the
determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.
The Annual Report of the Fund, including audited financial statements for
the fiscal period ended March 31, 2006, has been mailed to stockholders.
Additional copies are available upon request, without charge, by calling
EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. toll-free at (800) 451-6788. The report is also
viewable online at the Fund's website at www.firstfinancialfund.com. The report
is not to be regarded as proxy solicitation material.
Wellington Management Company, LLP ("Wellington Management" or the
"Adviser"), 75 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, currently serves as
the investment adviser to the Fund. Fund Administrative Services, L.L.C. ("FAS")
serves as co-administrator to the Fund and is located at 2344 Spruce Street,
Suite A, Boulder, Colorado 80302. Investors Bank & Trust Company ("IBT") acts as
custodian and co-administrator to the Fund and is located at 200 Clarendon
Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116. EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. acts as the
transfer agent to the Fund and is located at 250 Royall Street, Canton,
Massachusetts 02021.
If the enclosed proxy is properly executed and returned by July 24, 2006 in
time to be voted at the Meeting, the Shares (as defined below) represented
thereby will be voted in accordance with the instructions marked thereon. Unless
instructions to the contrary are marked thereon, a proxy will be voted FOR the
election of the nominees for Directors, FOR Proposal 2 and, in the discretion of
the proxy holders, on any other matters that may properly come before the
Meeting. Any stockholder who has given a proxy has the right to revoke it at any
time prior to its exercise either by attending the Meeting and casting his or
her votes in person or by submitting a letter of revocation or a later-dated
proxy to the Fund's Secretary at the above address prior to the date of the
Meeting.
A quorum of the Fund's stockholders is required for the conduct of business
at the Meeting. Under the bylaws of the Fund (the "Bylaws"), a quorum is
constituted by the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of the Fund as of the Record Date. In the event that a
quorum is not present at the Meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose
and vote for one or more adjournments of the Meeting. An adjournment for lack of
a quorum requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
shares entitled to vote at the Meeting and present in person or by proxy. In the
event that a quorum is present but sufficient votes to approve one or more
proposals are not received, the persons named as proxies may propose and vote
for one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of
proxies with respect to any proposal that did not receive the votes necessary
for its passage. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a
majority of votes cast on the matter at the Meeting. If a quorum is present, the
persons named as proxies will vote those proxies which they are entitled to vote
FOR any proposal in favor of such an adjournment and will vote those proxies
required to be voted AGAINST any proposal against any such adjournment. With
respect to those proposals for which there is represented a sufficient number of
votes in favor, actions taken at the Meeting will be approved and implemented
irrespective of any adjournments with respect to any other proposals.
The Fund has one class of stock: common stock, par value $0.001 per share
(the "Common Stock" or the "Shares"). On the Record Date, there were 28,061,897
Shares issued and outstanding. Each Share is entitled to one vote at the Meeting
and fractional shares are entitled to proportionate shares of one vote.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS. The following table sets
forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Shares as of
the Record Date by each person who may be deemed by the Fund to beneficially own
5% or more of the Common Stock.
Name of Owner* Number of Shares Number of Shares Percentage
Directly Owned (1) Beneficially Owned Beneficially Owned
------------------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------- ----------------------
Badlands Trust Company, LLC (1)(2) 0 1,737,573 6.19%
Stewart R. Horejsi Trust No. 2 (3) 2,169,602 2,169,602 7.73%
Ernest Horejsi Trust No. 1B (1) 1,401,227 1,401,227 4.99%
Lola Brown Trust No. 1B (1) 3,000,693 3,000,693 10.69%
Mildred B. Horejsi Trust (1) 2,456,472 2,456,472 8.75%
Susan L. Ciciora Trust (1) 1,737,573 1,737,573 6.19%
------------------------ -------------------------- ----------------------
Aggregate Shares Owned by Horejsi 10,765,567 10,765,567 38.36%
Affiliates (defined below) **
------------------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------- ----------------------
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.*** 1,478,200 1,478,200 5.27%
* The address of each listed owner is c/o Badlands Trust Company, LLC, .c/o
Alaska First Bank & Trust, 3301 C Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99503
** Aggregate number and percentage are less than the sum total of amounts
shown for each owner because the same shares may be deemed beneficially
owned by more than one party (see Footnotes 1 through 3 below).
*** These securities are owned by various individual and institutional
investors which T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. ("Price Associates") serves
as investment adviser with power to direct investments and/or sole power to
vote the securities. For purposes of the reporting requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, Price Associates is deemed to be a
beneficial owner of such securities; however, Price Associates expressly
disclaims that it is, in fact, the beneficial owner of such securities.
Shares stated are as reported in a Schedule 13G Amendment No. 3 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2006.
(1) Direct Ownership. The Susan L. Ciciora Trust (the "Susan Trust"), Mildred
B. Horejsi Trust (the "Mildred Trust"), Lola Brown Trust No. 1B (the "Brown
Trust"), Ernest Horejsi Trust No. 1B (the "EH Trust"), Stewart R. Horejsi
Trust No. 2 ("SRH Trust"), Badlands Trust Company, LLC ("Badlands"), and
Stewart R. Horejsi are, as a group, considered to be a "control person" of
the Fund (as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")). The Susan Trust, Mildred
Trust, Brown Trust, EH Trust, SRH Trust and Badlands directly own the
shares indicated for such entity in the table above, totaling 10,765,567
(38.36%). However, these entities and other trusts or companies with
interlocking management and/or common ownership may be deemed to indirectly
own additional Fund shares, which are included in the table above.
(2) Ownership by Badlands. The number shown in the table includes shares that
may be deemed to be beneficially owned indirectly by Badlands through
direct or indirect ownership by the Susan Trust, Mildred Trust, Brown
Trust, EH Trust and SRH Trust. Badlands is the sole trustee of the Susan
Trust. Badlands, together with Brian Sippy and Susan Ciciora (Mr. Horejsi's
daughter), is one of the trustees of the Mildred Trust. Badlands, together
with Larry Dunlap and Ms. Ciciora, is one of three trustees of both the
Brown Trust and the EH Trust. Badlands is a trust company organized under
the laws of Alaska, which is wholly owned by the SRH Trust. The SRH Trust
is an irrevocable trust organized by Mr. Stewart Horejsi for the benefit of
his issue. The managers of Badlands are Larry Dunlap, Stephen C. Miller,
Laura E. Tatooles, Laura Rhodenbaugh, and Ron Kukes. Badlands and its
directors disclaim beneficial ownership of shares owned directly by the
Susan Trust, Mildred Trust, Brown Trust, EH Trust and SRH Trust.
(3) Indirect Ownership by SRH Trust. The number shown in the table reflects
shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned indirectly through the
SRH Trust's ownership of Badlands. The trustees of the SRH Trust are
Badlands, Laura E. Tatooles and Brian Sippy. Both the Trust and its
trustees disclaim beneficial ownership of shares beneficially owned
directly or indirectly by Badlands.
----------------------------
The Susan Trust, Mildred Trust, Brown Trust, EH Trust, SRH Trust and Badlands,
as well as other Horejsi affiliated trusts and entities are, for convenience
sake, collectively referred to herein as the "Horejsi Affiliates." Information
as to beneficial ownership in the previous paragraph has been obtained from a
representative of the beneficial owners; all other information as to beneficial
ownership is based on reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") by such beneficial owners.
As of the Record Date, Cede & Co., a nominee partnership of the Depository
Trust Company held of record, but not beneficially, 26,964,176 shares or 96.09%
of Common Stock outstanding of the Fund.
As of the Record Date, the executive officers and directors of the Fund, as
a group, owned 10,780,562 shares of Common Stock (this amount includes the
aggregate shares of Common Stock owned by the Horejsi Affiliates set forth
above), representing 38.42% of Common Stock.
INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Set forth in the following table
is information about the nominees for election to the Board of Directors, all of
whom are currently Directors of the Fund:
----------------------- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
Name, Address*, Age Position, Length of Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships Held
Term Served, and Term of During the Past Five Years
Office
----------------------- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
Independent Directors
----------------------- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
Joel W. Looney Director and Chairman of Partner, Financial Management Group, LLC (investment
Chairman the Board of the Fund since adviser), since July 1999; CFO, Bethany College,
Age: 44 August 2003. Current 1995-1999; Director, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.,
Nominee for a term to since 2001; Director, Boulder Growth & Income Fund,
expire at the 2007 annual Inc., since 2002 and Chairman of the Board since 2003.
meeting.
Richard I. Barr Director of the Fund since Retired. Manager, Advantage Sales and Marketing, Inc.
Age: 68 August 2001. Current (food and beverage), 1963-2001; Director, Boulder Total
Nominee for a term to Return Fund, Inc., since 1999 and Chairman of the Board
expire at the 2007 annual since 2003; Director, Boulder Growth & Income Fund,
meeting. Inc., since 2002.
Dr. Dean L. Jacobson Director of the Fund since Founder and President of Forensic Engineering, Inc.
August 2003. Current (engineering investigations); Professor Emeritus at
Age: 67 Nominee for a term to Arizona State University, since 1997; prior to 1997,
expire at the 2007 annual Professor of Engineering at Arizona State University;
meeting. Director, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., since
October 2004; Director, Boulder Growth & Income Fund,
Inc., since April 2006.
Dennis R. Causier Director of the Fund since Retired. Managing Director and Chairman of P.S. Group
Age: 58 October 2004. Current PLC (engineering and construction), 1966-2001; Owner,
Nominee for a term to Professional Yacht Management Services (yacht
expire at the 2007 annual management), 2002 to present; Director, Boulder Growth
meeting. & Income Fund, Inc., since October 2004; Director,
Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., since April 2006.
Interested Directors**
----------------------- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
----------------------- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
Susan L. Ciciora Director since August 2003. Trustee of the Brown Trust and the EH Trust; Director,
Current Nominee for a term Horejsi Charitable Foundation, Inc. (private
Age: 41 to expire at the 2007 charitable foundation), since 1997; Director, Boulder
annual meeting. Growth & Income Fund, Inc. from January 2002 to May
2004; Director, Boulder Total Return Fund, since
November 2001.
* Unless otherwise specified, the Directors' respective addresses are c/o
First Financial Fund, Inc., 2344 Spruce Street, Suite A, Boulder, Colorado
80302.
** Ms. Ciciora is an "interested person" as a result of the extent of
beneficial ownership of Fund shares and by virtue of her indirect
beneficial ownership of Fund Administrative Services, L.L.C..
----------------------------
From the late 1980's until January, 2001, Mr. Looney served, without
compensation, as one of three trustees of the Mildred Trust, an affiliate of the
EH Trust.
The names of the executive officers of the Fund are listed in the table
below. Each officer was elected to office by the Board at a meeting held on
April 24, 2006. This table also shows certain additional information. Each
officer will hold such office until a successor has been elected by the Board.
------------------------------ -------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
Position, Length of
Name, Address, Age Term Served, and Term of Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships held
Office During the Past Five Years
------------------------------ -------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ -------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
Stephen C. Miller President of the Fund President of and General Counsel for Boulder Investment
2344 Spruce Street since August 2003 and Advisers, LLC ("BIA"), since 1999; Manager, Fund Administrative
Suite A Director from August Services, LLC ("FAS"), since 1999; Vice President, Stewart
Boulder, CO 80302 2003 through October Investment Advisers ("SIA"), since 1999; Director and President of
Age: 53 2004. Chief Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., since 1999 (resigned as
Compliance Officer of Director in 2004); Director and President of Boulder
the Fund since 2004. Growth & Income Fund, Inc., since 2002 (resigned as
Appointed annually. Director in 2004); Chief Compliance Officer for BIA,
SIA, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc. and Boulder Growth &
Income Fund, Inc.; officer of various other Horejsi
Affiliates; Of Counsel, Krassa & Miller, LLC, since 1991.
Carl D. Johns
2344 Spruce Street Vice President and Treasurer of BIA and Assistant
Suite A Manager of FAS, since April 1999; Vice President, Chief
Boulder, CO 80302 Chief Financial Officer, Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and
Age: 43 Chief Accounting Treasurer, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., since 1999;
Officer, Vice President Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief
and Treasurer since Accounting Officer and Treasurer, Boulder Growth &
August 2003. Appointed Income Fund, Inc., since 2002.
annually.
Stephanie Kelley Secretary since August Secretary, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., since 2000;
2344 Spruce Street 2003. Appointed Secretary, Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., since
Suite A annually. 2002; Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer of
Boulder, CO 80302 various Horejsi Affiliates; employee of FAS, since March
Age: 49 1999.
Nicole L. Murphey
2344 Spruce Street Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary, Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.,
Suite A since August 2003. since 2000; Assistant Secretary of Boulder Growth &
Boulder, CO 80302 Appointed annually. Income Fund, Inc., since 2002; employee of FAS, since
Age: 29 July 1999.
Set forth in the following table are the nominees for election to the Board
(all of whom are current Directors of the Fund) together with the dollar range
of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director as of the Record Date.
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Independent Directors (the Dollar Range of Equity
"Independent Directors") and Nominees Securities in the Fund
Dean L. Jacobson $10,001 to $50,000
Richard I. Barr Over $100,000
Joel W. Looney $10,001 to $50,000
Dennis R. Causier $50,001 to $100,000
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Interested Directors and Nominees
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Susan L. Ciciora Over $100,000+
+ 10,765,567 Shares of the Fund are held collectively by the Horejsi Affiliates
(defined above). Accordingly, Ms. Ciciora may be deemed to have indirect
beneficial ownership of such Shares. Ms. Ciciora disclaims all such beneficial
ownership. Ms. Ciciora does not directly own any shares of the Fund.
----------------------------
None of the Independent Directors or their family members owned
beneficially or of record any securities of the Adviser or any person directly
or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the
Adviser.
DIRECTOR AND OFFICER COMPENSATION. The following table sets forth certain
information regarding the compensation of the Fund's Directors for the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2006. No persons (other than the Independent Directors, as
set forth below) currently receive compensation from the Fund for acting as a
Director or officer. Directors and executive officers of the Fund do not receive
pension or retirement benefits from the Fund. Independent Directors receive
reimbursement for travel and other out of pocket expenses incurred in connection
with Board meetings.
Aggregate
Compensation
Name of Person and Position with the from the Fund
Fund Paid to
Directors
----------------------------------------- -------------------
Dean Jacobson, Director $28,500
Richard I. Barr, Director $28,500
Joel W. Looney, Director and Chairman $35,500
of the Board
Dennis Causier, Director $28,500
Susan L. Ciciora, Director $0
Each Director of the Fund who was not a director, officer, or employee of
the Adviser, FAS, or any of their affiliates, receives a fee of $8,000 per annum
plus $4,000 for each in person meeting of the Board of Directors and $500 for
each telephonic meeting of the Board. In addition, the Chairman of the Board and
the Chairman of the Audit Committee receive $1,000 per meeting and each member
of the Audit Committee receives $500 per meeting. Each Independent Director of
the Fund is reimbursed for travel and out-of-pocket expenses associated with
attending Board and Committee meetings. The Board held nine meetings (five of
which were held by telephone conference call) during the fiscal year ended March
31, 2006. Each Director currently serving in such capacity attended at least 75%
of the meetings of Directors and any Committee of which he is a member. The
aggregate remuneration paid to the Directors of the Fund for acting as such
during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006 amounted to $121,000.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AUDIT COMMITTEE; REPORT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE. The purpose of the Audit
Committee is to assist Board oversight of the integrity of the Fund's financial
statements, the Fund's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the
independent auditor's qualifications and independence and the performance of the
Fund's independent auditors. The Audit Committee reviews the scope and results
of the Fund's annual audit with the Fund's independent accountants and
recommends the engagement of such accountants. Management, however, is
responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Fund's
financial statements, and the independent accountants are responsible for
planning and carrying out proper audits and reviews. The Board of Directors
adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee on August 19, 2003 and most
recently amended the Charter on January 23, 2004. A copy of the Audit Committee
Charter was attached as an appendix to the Fund's proxy in 2004.
The Audit Committee is composed of all of the Fund's independent Directors,
consisting of Dr. Jacobson and Messrs. Looney, Barr and Causier. The Board of
Directors has determined that Joel Looney qualifies as an "audit committee
financial expert," as defined under the Securities and Exchange Commission's
Regulation S-K, Item 401(h). The Audit Committee is in compliance with
applicable rules of the listing requirements for closed-end fund audit
committees, including the requirement that all members of the audit committee be
"financially literate" and that at least one member of the audit committee have
"accounting or related financial management expertise," as determined by the
Board. The Audit Committee is required to conduct its operations in accordance
with applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board, and the members of the Audit Committee are subject
to the fiduciary duty to exercise reasonable care in carrying out their duties.
Each member of the Audit Committee is independent, as that term is defined by
the NYSE Listing Standards. The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2006.
In connection with the audited financial statements as of and for the
period ended March 31, 2006 included in the Fund's Annual Report for the period
ended March 31, 2006 (the "Annual Report"), at a meeting held on May 22, 2006,
the Audit Committee considered and discussed the audited financial statements
with management and the independent accountants, and discussed the audit of such
financial statements with the independent accountants.
The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and letter from
the independent accountants required by Independence Standards Board Standard
No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and has discussed with
the independent accountants their independence. The Audit Committee discussed
with the independent accountants the accounting principles applied by the Fund
and such other matters brought to the attention of the Audit Committee by the
independent accountants required by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61,
Communications With Audit Committees, as currently modified or supplemented.
The members of the Audit Committee are not professionally engaged in the
practice of auditing or accounting and are not employed by the Fund in any
accounting, financial management or internal control capacity. Moreover, the
Audit Committee relies on and makes no independent verification of the facts
presented to it or representations made by management or the independent
accountants. Accordingly, the Audit Committee's oversight does not provide an
independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate
accounting and financial reporting principles and policies, or internal controls
and procedures, designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and
applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee's
considerations and discussions referred to above do not provide assurance that
the audit of the Fund's financial statements has been carried out in accordance
with generally accepted accounting standards or that the financial statements
are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Based on its consideration of the audited financial statements and the
discussions referred to above with management and the independent accountants
and subject to the limitation on the responsibilities and role of the Audit
Committee set forth in the Charter and those discussed above, the Audit
Committee of the Fund recommended to the Board that the audited financial
statements be included in the Fund's Annual Report and be mailed to stockholders
and filed with the SEC.
Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Fund's Board of Directors:
Joel W. Looney
Richard I. Barr
Dean L. Jacobson
Dennis R. Causier
NOMINATING COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors has a nominating committee
(the "Nominating Committee") composed of the Fund's independent Directors,
consisting of Dr. Jacobson and Messrs. Looney, Barr and Causier, which is
responsible for considering candidates for election to the Board in the event a
position is vacated or created. Each member of the Nominating Committee is
independent, as that term is defined by the NYSE Listing Standards. The
Nominating Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006.
The Board of Directors has adopted a charter for the Nominating Committee that
is available on the Fund's website, www.firstfinancialfund.com.
The Nominating Committee does not have a formal process for identifying
candidates. The Nominating Committee takes into consideration such factors as it
deems appropriate when nominating candidates. These factors may include
judgment, skill, diversity, experience with investment companies and other
organizations of comparable purpose, complexity, size and subject to similar
legal restrictions and oversight, the interplay of the candidate's experience
with the experience of other Board members, and the extent to which the
candidate would be a desirable addition to the Board and any committees thereof.
The Nominating Committee will consider all qualified candidates in the same
manner. The Nominating Committee may modify its policies and procedures for
director nominees and recommendations in response to changes in the Fund's
circumstances, and as applicable legal or listing standards change.
The Nominating Committee would consider director candidates recommended by
stockholders (if a vacancy were to exist) and submitted in accordance with
applicable law and procedures as described in this Proxy Statement (see
"Submission of Stockholder Proposals" below). Such recommendations should be
forwarded to the Secretary of the Fund.
The Fund does not have a compensation committee.
OTHER BOARD-RELATED MATTERS.
Stockholders who wish to send communications to the Board should send them
to the address of the Fund and to the attention of the Board. All such
communications will be directed to the Board's attention.
The Fund does not have a formal policy regarding Board member attendance at
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders; Joel W. Looney, Director and Chairman of the
Board attended the August 24, 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
In order that your Shares may be represented at the Meeting, you are
requested to vote on the following matters:
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS OF THE FUND
The Charter provides that all of the Directors stand for election each
year. The Board has nominated the following five Director nominees to stand for
election, each for a one-year term and until their successors are duly elected
and qualify: Richard I. Barr, Joel W. Looney, Dr. Dean L. Jacobson, Dennis R.
Causier, and Susan L. Ciciora. The above nominees have consented to serve as
Directors if elected at the Meeting for the one-year term. If any of the
designated nominees declines or otherwise becomes unavailable for election,
however, the proxy confers discretionary power on the persons named therein to
vote in favor of a substitute nominee or nominees.
Vote Required. The election of Messrs. Looney, Barr and Causier, Dr.
Jacobson and Ms. Ciciora as Directors of the Fund will require the affirmative
vote of a plurality of the votes cast by holders of the Common Stock at the
Meeting in person or by proxy on Proposal 1.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF ALL THE NOMINEES.
PROPOSAL 2
TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT WITH
WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLP
TO INCREASE THE ADVISORY FEE
The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") requires
that the Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, annually
approve the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and
Adviser (Wellington Management Company, LLP) dated May 1, 1986 (the "Advisory
Agreement"). At a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board held on April 24,
2006, the Directors considered and unanimously approved (including unanimous
approval by a separate vote of the Directors who are not "interested persons" of
the Fund as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act (the
"Independent Directors")) the continuance of the Advisory Agreement. The
Directors also unanimously approved (including unanimous approval by a separate
vote of the Independent Directors) an amendment to the Advisory Agreement which
will increase the advisory fee paid to the Adviser, subject to stockholder
approval as discussed below. The Directors resolved to recommend the fee
increase and amendment to the stockholders for their approval.
Summary of the Proposal. At the April 24, 2006 meeting, the Adviser
presented a proposal to the Board in support of renewing the Advisory Agreement
and increasing the advisory fee. The proposed increase in the advisory fee will
require an amendment of the Advisory Agreement (the "Proposed Amendment") and
its approval by stockholders as described below. A form of the Proposed
Amendment is attached as Exhibit A. If approved by stockholders, except as set
forth in the Proposed Amendment, the Advisory Agreement will remain unchanged in
all substantive respects and will remain in full force and effect.
Current Fee and Proposed Fee. The Adviser is paid a quarterly fee at an
annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund's average month-end net assets ("Net Assets")
up to and including $50 million, and 0.625% of the Net Assets in excess of $50
million. This is the same advisory fee set when the Fund was initially
established in 1986. The Proposed Amendment to the Advisory Agreement provides
for the Adviser to receive investment advisory fees, payable on a quarterly
basis, at the annualized rate of 1.125% of the Net Assets up to and including
$150 million; 1.00% of the Net Assets between $150 million and $300 million;
and, 0.875% of the Net Assets in excess of $300 million (the "Proposed Fee").
Based on the Fund's total Net Assets of approximately $441 million as of May 26,
2006, the new average advisory fee would be approximately 100 basis points
(1.00%) of total Net Assets, an increase of approximately 36 basis points
(0.36%) above the current average advisory fee of 64 basis points (0.64%) of
total Net Assets. This represents a 56.25% increase in advisory fees.
The Proposed Amendment does not contemplate any other changes to the
Advisory Agreement.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, the Fund paid total advisory fees
to the Adviser of $2,646,358 based on the current advisory fee descibed above.
If the Proposed Fee had been in effect during the fiscal year ended March 31,
2006, the Adviser would have received total advisory fees of approximately $4.2
million, or an average advisory fee of approximately 1.00% of total Net Assets,
which would represent an increase of $1.56 million based on the Fund's total Net
Assets of approximately $440 million as of March 31, 2006. This 36 basis point
increase over the prior 64 basis point average advisory fee is a 56.25%
increase. If the Proposed Amendment is approved by stockholders, the increase in
advisory fees would reduce the Fund's net returns because the Fund will have
higher expenses than it currently does.
Fees and Expenses. The following expense table and example provide a
comparison of the Fund's annual operating expenses based on total Net Assets for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, as reported to the Board at the meeting
held on April 24, 2006, and pro forma expenses showing these same expenses
adjusted for the proposed advisory fee increase.
Table of Fees
Current and Pro Forma
Annual Expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributed to common shares)
Current Pro Forma
--------------------------------------------------------------
Advisory Fees.....................0.64%..................1.00%
Other Expenses (1)................0.38%..................0.38%
Total Annual Expenses.............1.02%..................1.38%
(1) "Other Expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal
year. Approximately 0.23% of the "Other Expenses" relate to administration,
transfer agency and custodian fees.
Table of Expenses
Current and Pro Forma
The table below demonstrates the expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5%
annual return:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
------------------------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------
Current $10.41 $32.47 $56.30 $124.59
------------------------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------
Pro forma $14.06 $43.70 $75.49 $165.42
The purpose of the table is to assist you in understanding the expenses that an
investor will bear. The assumed 5% annual return is not a prediction of, and
does not represent, the projected or assumed actual performance of the Fund. The
example should not be considered a representation of future expenses and actual
expenses may be greater or lower than those shown.
Fund Performance. In determining whether or not to approve the Proposed Fee
and Proposed Amendment, the Board considered the past performance of the Adviser
as investment adviser to the Fund. The Board specifically reviewed the Fund's
performance for the periods set forth below:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN
as of March 31, 2006
---------------------------------------- ---------- --------- -------- -------- ---------
6 Mos. 1 Yr 3 Yr 5 Yr 10 Yr
First Financial Fund's NAV 8.6% 15.8% 26.6% 25.2% 19.4%
S&P 500 Index 6.4 11.7 17.2 4.0 8.9
NASDAQ Composite* 9.3 18.0 21.1 5.3 8.0
NASDAQ Banks* 7.0 9.1 14.1 11.4 11.9
SNL Thrifts* 8.8 9.5 14.9 13.4 15.8
SNL Finance REIT* 4.4 -3.8 15.6 23.6 12.9
--------------------------------------- ---------- --------- -------- -------- ---------
Sources: Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. and Wellington Management
Company, LLP
*Principal Only
Periods Greater than one year are annualized
(1) The S&P 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks. The
index is designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through
changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major
industries.
(2) The NASDAQ Composite Index is a broad-based capitalization-weighted index
that measures all NASDAQ domestic and international based common type stocks
listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market.
(3) The NASDAQ Bank Index is a broad-based capitalization-weighted index of
domestic and foreign common stocks of banks that are traded on the Nasdaq
National MarketSystem (Nasdaq/NMS) as well as the SmallCap Market.
(4) The SNL Thrift Index is a sector-specific thrift index that includes
publicly-traded (NYSE, AMEX, NASDAQ) thrifts in SNL's coverage universe. SNL
Financial is an information and research firm specializing in the financial
information marketplace.
(5) The SNL Finance REIT Index is a sector-specific real estate investment trust
index that includes publicly-traded (NYSE, AMEX, NASDAQ, OTC BB, Pink Sheets)
investment companies with the following primary focuses: MBS (mortgage-backed
security) REIT, Mortgage REIT and Specialty Finance REIT in SNL's coverage
universe.
Discussion Regarding the Board of Directors' Approval of the Investment Advisory
Contract.
As noted above, the Adviser has entered into the Advisory Agreement with the
Fund pursuant to which the Adviser is responsible for managing the Fund's assets
in accordance with its investment objectives, policies and limitations. The 1940
Act requires that the Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors,
annually approve the terms of the Advisory Agreement. At a regularly scheduled
meeting held on April 24, 2006, the Directors, by a unanimous vote (including a
separate vote of the Independent Directors), approved the renewal of the
Advisory Agreement, including the Proposed Amendment.
Factors Considered. Generally, the Board considered a number of factors in
renewing the Advisory Agreement including, among other things, (i) the nature,
extent and quality of services to be furnished by the Adviser to the Fund; (ii)
the investment performance of the Fund compared to relevant market indices and
the performance of comparable closed-end funds; (iii) the advisory fees and
other expenses paid by the Fund; (iv) the profitability to the Adviser of its
investment advisory relationship with the Fund; (v) the extent to which
economies of scale are realized and whether fee levels reflect any economies of
scale; (vi) support of the Adviser by the Fund's principal stockholders; and
(vii) the historical relationship between the Fund and the Adviser. The Board
also reviewed the ability of the Adviser to provide investment management and
supervision services to the Fund, including the background, education and
experience of the key portfolio management and operational personnel, the
investment philosophy and decision-making process of those professionals, and
the ethical standards maintained by the Adviser.
Deliberative Process. To assist the Board in its evaluation of the quality
of the Adviser's services and the reasonableness of the Proposed Fee under the
Advisory Agreement, the Board received a memorandum from independent legal
counsel to the Independent Directors discussing the factors generally regarded
as appropriate to consider in evaluating investment advisory arrangements and
the duties of directors in approving such arrangements. In connection with its
evaluation, the Board also requested and received various materials relating to
the Adviser's investment services under the Advisory Agreement. These materials
included a report prepared by an independent consultant, Lipper Analytical
Services, Inc. ("Lipper"), comparing the Fund's performance, advisory fees and
expenses to a group of six non-leveraged, closed-end sector equity funds
determined to be similar (although the investment strategies of the funds are
not similar) to the Fund (called the "Peer Group") and a broader universe of
thirty-eight closed-end sector equity funds (called the "Universe"), in each
case as determined by Lipper. In addition, the Board received reports and
presentations from the Adviser that described, among other things, the Adviser's
organizational structure, financial condition, internal controls, policies and
procedures on brokerage practices, soft-dollar commissions and trade allocation,
comparative investment performance results, comparative sub-advisory fees, and
compliance policies and procedures. The Board also considered information
received from the Adviser throughout the year, including investment performance
and returns as well as stock price and net asset value.
In advance of the April 24, 2006 meeting, the Independent Directors held
two special telephonic meetings with counsel to the Fund and the Independent
Directors. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the renewal of the
Advisory Agreement and the Proposed Fee, and to review the materials provided to
the Board by the Adviser in connection with the annual review process. The Board
held additional discussions at the April 24, 2006 Board meeting, which included
a private session among the Independent Directors and their independent legal
counsel at which no employees or representatives of the Adviser were present.
These meetings were preceded by discussions which occurred over several months
between the Adviser and the Board's independent Chairman, as well as multiple
informal discussions among the Independent Directors, regarding the terms of the
Proposed Fee.
The information below summarizes the Board's considerations in connection
with its approval of the Advisory Agreement and the Proposed Amendment. In
deciding to approve the Advisory Agreement and the Proposed Amendment, the Board
did not identify a single factor as controlling and this summary does not
describe all of the matters considered. However, the Board concluded that each
of the various factors referred to below favored such approval.
Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services Provided; Ability to Provide
Services. The Board received and considered various data and information
regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund
by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. The Adviser's most recent
investment adviser registration form on the Securities and Exchange
Commission's Form ADV was provided to the Board, as were the responses of
the Adviser to information requests submitted to the Adviser by the
Independent Directors through their independent legal counsel. The Board
reviewed and analyzed the materials, which included information about the
background, education and experience of the Adviser's key portfolio
management and operational personnel and the amount of attention devoted to
the Fund by the Adviser's portfolio management personnel. The Board also
reviewed the Adviser's policies and procedures on side-by-side management
of hedge funds and other accounts and any impact these have on the success
of the Fund. The Board was satisfied that the Adviser's investment
personnel, including Nicholas C. Adams, the Fund's principal portfolio
manager, devote an adequate portion of their time and attention to the
success of the Fund and its investment strategy. Based on the above
factors, the Board concluded that it was generally satisfied with the
nature, extent and quality of the investment advisory services provided to
the Fund by the Adviser, and that the Adviser possessed the ability to
continue to provide these services to the Fund in the future.
Investment Performance. The Board considered the investment performance of
the Fund since inception, as compared to both relevant indices and the
performance of two comparable closed-end financial services funds. The
Board noted favorably that for the one-, three-, five-, ten-year, and since
inception periods ended December 31, 2005, the Fund's performance based
upon total return outperformed the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, the Fund's
primary relevant benchmark, as well as the NASDAQ Composite, the NASDAQ
Banks Index, the SNL Thrift Index, and the SNL Finance REIT Index, the
Fund's secondary benchmarks. The Board acknowledged that the Fund also
outperformed the two most comparable closed-end financial services funds
over the three-, five- and ten-year periods. The Board also noted that the
Fund received a Lipper 2005 Performance Achievement Certificates based on
its number one ranking in the Lipper Closed-End Equity Fund Performance
Analysis for Sector Equity Funds for the ten-year period ending December
31, 2005.
The Board also considered the investment performance of the Fund as
compared to the performance of the Fund's Universe. The Board noted that
the Fund ranked number one in performance based upon total return of the
net asset value versus the returns of comparable funds in the Universe for
the four- and five-year periods ended February 28, 2006. The Board also
noted that the Fund's performance had ranked in the last quintile (i.e.,
the bottom 20% of the funds in the Universe) for the one-year period ended
February 28, 2006 despite its total return of 10.77% during the period. The
Board attributed the relatively low comparative performance during the
one-year period to the large number of energy and commodities funds
included in the Universe, noting that these funds had both different
investment strategies than the Fund and experienced extraordinary returns
during the period. The Board ascribed greater weight to the long-term
performance of the Fund against its benchmarks and other financial services
funds.
Proposed Fee Increase, Costs of Services Provided and Profits Realized by
the Adviser. During its deliberative process, the Board held several
discussions with members of senior management of the Adviser regarding the
factors driving the proposed fee increase. The Board was informed that the
fee increase was principally attributable to (i) the high market demand for
Mr. Adams' portfolio management services, and (ii) increases in the
Adviser's costs of attracting and retaining talented individuals to work on
Mr. Adams' investment team.
The Adviser indicated that Mr. Adams has been "closed" to new accounts for
some time, and that historically he had limited the size of the other
portfolios he managed to accommodate his investment style, which has
limited capacity. The Adviser informed the Board that Mr. Adams was
reducing the number of portfolios he managed, and that certain portfolios
for other clients were being liquidated as a result. After such
liquidation, Mr. Adams will manage only five portfolios, which, in addition
to the Fund, will consist of onshore and offshore portfolios for two
"hedge" fund approaches sponsored by the Adviser or its affiliates (each of
which is also currently closed to new investors in the portfolios managed
by Mr. Adams). The Adviser indicated that the fee increase would be used,
in part, to compensate Mr. Adams and his portfolio management team at a
market rate for their services. The Adviser noted that the costs of
attracting and retaining talented investment personnel had increased over
the last several years, and that certain other costs of the Adviser
(particularly in the area of compliance) had also increased significantly.
In evaluating the Proposed Fee, the Board obtained a comparison of the
current and proposed advisory fees to the Peer Group and to other
closed-end and open-end financial services funds. The Board noted that the
current advisory fee rate was the lowest in the Peer Group (at common asset
levels), and that the Proposed Fee would be at the median fee rate in the
Peer Group. The Board also noted that the Proposed Fee was lower than the
fees earned by the Adviser on the hedge fund portfolios managed by Mr.
Adams, which include performance-based fees. The Board acknowledged that
the increased advisory fees would result in the Fund's overall expense
ratio rising above the median expense ratio for the Peer Group. The Board
concluded that the Proposed Fee seemed reasonable as compared to similarly
situated non-leveraged, closed-end sector equity funds as well as the fees
earned by the Adviser on other portfolios managed by Mr. Adams.
The Board also obtained information regarding the overall profitability of
the Adviser. The profitability information was obtained to assist the Board
in determining the overall benefits to the Adviser from its relationship to
the Fund. The Board compared the overall profitability of the Adviser to
the profitability levels of certain publicly-traded investment management
firms. Based on its analysis of this information, the Board determined that
the overall level of profits earned by the Adviser does not appear to be
unreasonable based on the profitability of other investment management
firms and the quality of the services rendered by the Adviser.
Based on these factors, the Board concluded that the Proposed Fee under the
Advisory Agreement was reasonable and fair in light of the nature and
quality of the services provided by the Advisers.
Economies of Scale. The Board considered whether there have been economies
of scale with respect to the management of the Fund, whether the Fund has
appropriately benefited from any economies of scale, and whether the
Proposed Fee is reasonable in relation to the Fund's assets and any
economies of scale that may exist. The Board noted that the stock dividend
paid by the Fund in December 2005 did not significantly decrease the Fund's
Net Assets as it has in the recent years, as the Fund was not required to
pay out significant amounts of cash to its stockholders in the form of a
cash dividend. While the Fund does not currently intend to raise Net Assets
through the offer and sale of additional securities, the Board recognized
that stock dividends may be declared in the future, which would keep assets
in the Fund and have little effect on the level of Net Assets. In
negotiating the Proposed Fee, the Board required that the fee schedule
include breakpoints. The Board concluded that the breakpoints in the
Proposed Fee are acceptable and appropriately reflect any economies of
scale expected to be realized by the Adviser in managing the Fund's assets
if the Net Assets increase due to the issuance of stock dividends or
otherwise.
Stockholder Support and Historical Relationship with the Fund. The Board
also weighed in on the views of the Fund's largest stockholders, which are
affiliated with the family of Mr. Stewart R. Horejsi. As of March 31, 2006,
the Lola Brown Trust No. 1B and other entities affiliated with the Horejsi
family held approximately 38.36% of the Fund's outstanding common shares.
The Board understands from Mr. Horejsi that these stockholders are
supportive of the Adviser, the Proposed Fee and the renewal of the Advisory
Agreement, and that these stockholders intend to vote their shares in favor
of the Proposed Amendment. The Board also noted that the Fund had not
received any negative feedback from other Fund stockholders with respect to
the levels of investment management fees and expenses experienced by the
Fund. The Board recognized that the Fund's stock price as of March 31, 2006
was $16.51, which represented a 5% premium over the Fund's net asset value
of $15.67 on that date, which the Board believes reflects the confidence of
the Fund's stockholders in the Adviser.
Approval. The Board based its decision to approve the renewal of the
Advisory Agreement on a careful analysis, in consultation with independent
counsel, of the above factors as well as other factors. In approving the
Advisory Agreement, the Board concluded that the terms of the Advisory Agreement
are reasonable and fair and that renewal of the Advisory Agreement, as amended
by the Proposed Amendment, is in the best interests of the Fund and its
stockholders.
Investment Advisory Agreement. The current Advisory Agreement, dated May 1,
1986, was last approved by the Board on April 26, 2005 by unanimous vote of the
Board (including a separate vote of the Independent Directors). Under the
Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is primarily responsible, among other duties,
for managing the investment and reinvestment of the Fund's assets, making
investment decisions, supplying investment research and portfolio management
services, placing purchase and sale orders for portfolio transactions, and
providing the Fund and its Directors with regular reports of investment activity
and statistical data. The Advisory Agreement also provides that the Adviser will
bear all expenses in connection with performing its duties under the Advisory
Agreement.
The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser will not be liable to the
Fund for losses, claims, and expenses not caused by the Adviser's willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on its part in the performance of
its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under
the Advisory Agreement.
The Advisory Agreement was for an initial two-year period and continues for
successive annual periods thereafter provided such continuance is approved at
least annually by (a) a majority of the Directors who are not "interested
persons" of the Fund (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) and a majority of
the full Board of Directors or (b) a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Advisory Agreement is
terminable, without penalty, on 60 days' written notice by the Board or the
Adviser upon written notice to the other. The Advisory Agreement will terminate
automatically upon its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
Wellington Management Company, LLP. The Adviser is one of America's oldest
investment management firms. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, with nine affiliate
offices in the United States and around the world, the Adviser provides
investment services to many of the world's leading public and private
institutions. As of March 31, 2006, the Adviser had client assets under
management totaling over $542 billion. The Adviser provides investment advice
and, in general, conducts the management and investment program of the Fund
under the supervision of the Board and pursuant to the Advisory Agreement as
discussed above. The Adviser is owned by its 95 partners, all of whom are active
members of the firm. The principal executive officers of the Adviser are set
forth in the table below. The business address of each person listed below is
Wellington Management Company, LLP, 75 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02109:
Principal Executive Officers
Name Title
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nicholas C. Adams Partner
Paul Braverman Partner and Chief Financial Officer
Laurie A. Gabriel Managing Partner
Paul J. Hamel Partner
James P. Hoffmann Partner
Saul J. Pannell Partner
John R. Ryan Managing Partner
Perry M. Traquina Managing Partner, President, and CEO
Cynthia M. Clarke Partner and Chief Legal Officer
Philip H. Perelmuter Partner
Selwyn J. Notelovitz Chief Compliance Officer
Thomas L. Pappas Partner
Required Vote. Approval of the Proposed Amendment requires the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities
(which for this purpose and under Section 2a-42 of the 1940 Act means the lesser
of (i) 67% of the Fund's shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50%
of the outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the
outstanding voting shares of the Fund (a "40 Act Majority").
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 2
SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
The Fund's Bylaws require stockholders wishing to nominate Directors or
make proposals to be voted on at the Fund's annual meeting to provide notice of
the nominations or proposals in writing delivered to the Secretary of the Fund.
The Secretary must receive the nomination or proposal not less than 120 days in
advance of the anniversary of the date of the Fund's proxy statement released to
stockholders in connection with the previous year's annual meeting. In order to
be considered at the Fund's 2007 annual meeting, stockholder nominations and
proposals must be received by the Fund no later than February 1, 2007 and must
satisfy the other requirements of federal securities laws. Any such nomination
or proposal by a stockholder shall also set forth the information required by
the Fund's By-laws with respect to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring
before the annual meeting. The chairperson of the Meeting may refuse to
acknowledge a nomination or other proposal by a stockholder that is not made in
the manner described above.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. The Audit Committee of the Board, consisting of
those Directors who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act),
will select the Fund's independent accountants for the Fund's fiscal year ending
March 31, 2007 at the Board's regularly scheduled meeting in July 2006. KPMG LLP
("KPMG"), 99 High Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2371, served as
independent accountants for the Fund for the Fund's fiscal year ending March 31,
2006. A representative of KPMG will not be present at the Meeting but will be
available by telephone and will have an opportunity to make a statement if the
representative so desires and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PWC"), 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York,
NY 10036, served as independent accountants for the Fund from February 18, 1997
to January 22, 2004. PWC resigned as independent accountants for the Fund
effective January 22, 2004. During the two fiscal years immediately preceding
PWC's resignation, there had been no disagreements with such accountants on any
matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or
auditing scope or procedure and PWC's reports on the financial statements
contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
Set forth below are audit fees and non-audit related fees billed to the
Fund for professional services received from KPMG for the Fund's fiscal years
ended March 31, 2005 and 2006, respectively.
Fiscal Year Ended Audit Fees Audit-Related Fees Tax Fees* All Other Fees
----------------- ---------- ------------------ --------- --------------
3/31/2005 $25,600 $0 $6,000 $0
3/31/2006 $25,200 $0 $6,000 $0
o "Tax Fees" are those fees billed to the Fund by KPMG in connection with tax
consulting services, including primarily the review of the Fund's income
tax returns.
The Audit Committee Charter requires that the Audit Committee pre-approve
all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the auditors to the Fund, and
all non-audit services to be provided by the auditors to the Fund's investment
adviser and any service providers controlling, controlled by or under common
control with the Fund's investment adviser ("affiliates") that provide on-going
services to the Fund, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and
financial reporting of the Fund, or to establish detailed pre-approval policies
and procedures for such services in accordance with applicable laws. All of the
audit, audit-related and tax services described above for which KPMG billed the
Fund fees for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2005 and March 31, 2006 were
either pre-approved by the Audit Committee or were for services that were
unrelated to the direct operations and/or financial reporting of the Fund.
KPMG has informed the Fund that it has no direct or indirect financial
interest in the Fund. For the Fund's fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, KPMG Tax
Advisers of Dublin, Ireland performed VAT tax consulting services for the
Adviser. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2006, the Adviser paid $4,860 to
KPMG Tax Advisers for their services.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE. Section 16(a) of
the 1934 Act and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act requires the Fund's Directors and
officers, persons affiliated with the Fund's investment advisers, and persons
who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Fund's securities, to file
reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC and the New York
Stock Exchange. Directors, officers and greater-than-10% stockholders are
required by SEC regulations to furnish the Fund with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file. Based solely upon the Fund's review of the copies of such forms
it receives and written representations from such persons, the Fund believes
that through the date hereof all such filing requirements applicable to such
persons were complied with.
BROKER NON-VOTES AND ABSTENTIONS. A proxy which is properly executed and
returned accompanied by instructions to withhold authority to vote represents a
broker "non-vote" (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees as to which (i)
instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or the persons
entitled to vote and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary
voting power on a particular matter). Proxies that reflect abstentions or broker
non-votes (collectively "abstentions") will be counted as shares that are
present and entitled to vote on the matter for purposes of determining the
presence of a quorum. In circumstances where the vote to approve a matter is a
percentage of votes cast (e.g., Proposal 1), abstentions do not constitute a
vote "for" or "against" the proposal and will be disregarded in determining the
"votes cast" on the proposal.
OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING. The Fund does not intend to
present any other business at the Meeting, nor is it aware that any stockholder
intends to do so. If, however, any other matters are properly brought before the
Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote thereon
in accordance with their discretion.
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IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. STOCKHOLDERS WHO DO NOT
EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING ARE THEREFORE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND
RETURN ALL PROXY CARDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID
ENVELOPE.
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Exhibit A
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
This First Amendment to Investment Advisory Agreement, dated
______________, 2006, is entered into by FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC., a Maryland
corporation (the "Fund") and WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLP, a Massachusetts
limited liability partnership (the "Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Adviser entered into an Investment Advisory
Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated May 1, 1986; and
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Adviser wish to amend the Agreement to reflect an
increase in the fee payable by the Fund to the Adviser pursuant to the
Agreement; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby
agree as follows:
The first sentence of paragraph 3 of the Agreement is amended in its
entirety to read as set forth below:
For the services to be rendered by the Investment Adviser as provided
in Sections 1 and 2 of this Agreement, the Fund shall pay to the
Investment Adviser, as promptly as possible, after the last day of
each quarter, a fee at the annual rate of 1.125% of the Fund's average
net assets, based on the net assets on the last business day of each
month ("average month-end net assets"), on net assets up to and
including $150 Million; 1.00% of the Fund's average month-end net
assets in excess of $150 Million and up to and including $300 Million;
and 0.875% of the Fund's average month-end net assets in excess of
$300 Million.
The Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect in all
other respects.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this First Amendment to
the Investment Advisory Agreement as of the date and year first written above.
FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC., a
Maryland Corporation
By: ___________________________
Stephen C. Miller
Its: President
WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT
COMPANY, LLP, a Massachusetts limited
liability partnership
By: ______________________________
PROXY
FIRST FINANCIAL FUND, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned holder of shares of Common Stock of First Financial Fund, Inc.,
a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), hereby appoints Stephen C. Miller, Carl D.
Johns, and Thomas V. Finnerty, or any of them, as proxies for the undersigned,
with full powers of substitution in each of them, to attend the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at The Resort at the Mountain,
68010 East Fairway Avenue Welches, Oregon at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time
(local time) on Monday, July 24, 2006, and any adjournments or postponements
thereof, to cast on behalf of the undersigned all votes that the undersigned is
entitled to cast at the Annual Meeting and to otherwise represent the
undersigned at the Annual Meeting with all the powers possessed by the
undersigned if personally present at the Meeting.
The votes entitled to be cast will be cast as instructed below. If this Proxy is
executed but no instruction is given, the votes entitled to be cast by the
undersigned will be cast "FOR" each of the nominees for Director and "FOR"
Proposal 2 as more fully described in the Proxy Statement.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and
Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein. In their discretion, the proxies
are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting. A majority of the proxies present and acting at the Annual Meeting in
person or by substitute (or, if only one shall be so present, then that one)
shall have and may exercise all of the power and authority of said proxies
hereunder. The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy previously given.
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
Please indicate your vote by an "X" in the appropriate box below.
This proxy, if properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed by the
undersigned stockholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
Please refer to the Proxy Statement for a discussion of the Proposals.
------------ ------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ----------------- -------------------------
Election of Directors: Nominees are Richard I. Barr, FOR____ WITHHOLD___ FOR ALL EXCEPT ___
1. Dennis R. Causier, Susan L. Ciciora, Dr. Dean L. Jacobson,
and Joel W. Looney.
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Instruction: If you do not wish your shares voted "for" a particular nominee,
mark the "For All Except" box and strike a line through the name(s) of the
nominee(s). Your shares will be voted "For" the remaining nominee(s).
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" ELECTION OF ALL THE NOMINEES
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2. Approval of the continuance of, and a proposed amendment FOR___ AGAINST ___ ABSTAIN ___
to, the investment advisory agreement with Wellington
Management Company, LLP
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THIS
PROPOSAL, AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT
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MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT ____
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears on this Proxy. If joint owners,
EACH should sign this Proxy. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee, guardian, or corporate officer, please give your full title.
Signature:
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Date:
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Signature:
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Date:
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