nvcsr
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-05984
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Kleinwort Benson Investors International, Ltd.
One Rockefeller Plaza, 32nd Floor
New York, NY 10020
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
One Boston Place, 34th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: 508 871 8500
Date of
fiscal year end: October 31
Date of
reporting period: October 31, 2011
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not
later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be
transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR
270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory,
disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission
will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of
information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the
information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed
this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.
The
NEW IRELAND
Fund
Annual Report
October 31, 2011
Cover photograph University College Cork
Provided courtesy of Tourism Ireland
Letter to Shareholders
Dear Shareholder,
Introduction
Although Ireland is still working its way through its problems, good
progress has been made and, compared with other European countries such as
Greece, Portugal etc., Ireland has been getting positive comments from the
IMF, the European Commission, and others in relation to the actions it has
been taking to bring its economy back on track. Progress has also been made
in relation to the banking sector, which was a major cause of the Countrys
problems. In particular, the Governments holding in Bank of Ireland has
been reduced due to the investments by U.S. and Canadian private equity
firms and this is seen as a further positive indication that things are
beginning to improve, although liquidity of the banks does remain a problem.
Despite all of this, as detailed below, the economy is expected to grow in
the current year.
While unemployment continues to be on the high side, exports remain
strong and are expected to show further growth in 2012 and, with imports
growing at a slower pace, the net trade surplus should remain positive,
which would be a major factor in getting the Country back on track
As shown
below, the Fund performed strongly for the fiscal year with its Net Asset
Value (NAV) increasing by 10.7% as compared to the increase of 9.9% for
the Funds benchmark index in U.S. dollar terms* (the ISEQ index is the full
index for the final quarter but it excluded Bank of Ireland for the first 9
months of the fiscal year). In recent months, along with stock markets
around the World, the ISEQ has been hurting and, as a result, the NAV showed
a decrease of 5.6% in the last fiscal quarter as compared to a decrease of
5.7% in the ISEQ.
As advised in our July press release, a new Investment Adviser,
Kleinwort Benson Investors International Ltd. (KBII) was appointed to
manage the Funds assets to replace Bank of Ireland Asset Management (U.S.)
Limited (BIAM). This was necessitated due to Bank of Ireland being
directed to exit the investment management business by the European
Commission as part of its reorganization. KBII have been active in the Irish
market since 1980 and with their investment expertise and solid record of
managing Irish securities, their performance is expected to benefit the
Fund, going forward. In July, Sean Hawkshaw, CEO of KBII was appointed as
President and Director of the Fund and Noel OHalloran, KBIIs CIO, took on
the role of the Funds Portfolio Manager.
In December, the Board declared an annual distribution of $0.02 per
share, which is wholly attributable to income. This distribution will be
paid by way of a cash dividend under date of December 30, 2011 to all
shareholders of record on December 20, 2011.
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* |
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All returns are quoted in U.S. Dollars unless otherwise stated |
1
Performance
The Funds NAV decreased by 5.6% in the final fiscal quarter of the
year, which compares to a decrease of 5.7% in the ISEQ over the same period.
For the fiscal year the NAV increased by 10.7% as compared to an increase in
the benchmark index of 9.9%
The final quarter was an extremely volatile
quarter, dominated by news flow on the European debt crisis. On a monthly
basis, the ISEQ returned -8% in August, -9% in September but bounced back
sharply by 13% in October. The Irish market outperformed the Eurostoxx
Index, which fell 12.8% over the three months to the end of October. For the
fiscal year the ISEQ, with an increase of 4%, strongly outperformed the
Eurostoxx index which fell by 12%. Currency movements were unfavorable for
the Fund during the recent quarter, reversing some of the gains of the
previous quarter. Consistent with concerns surrounding the future of the
Eurozone, the euro weakened by close to 4% versus the U.S. dollar over the
final quarter. Over the 12 months of the Fiscal year, the currency weakened
by just under 1% versus the U.S. dollar.
Over the final quarter, sectoral performance was more erratic. In
general, Irish stocks with more of a growth profile outperformed cyclical
names. For example, Paddy Power, Elan and Ryanair all rose by 18%, 9% and
7%, respectively, while more economically sensitive stocks such as Kingspan,
Origin and Grafton fell by 6%, 11% and 4% respectively. The financial stocks
remain under pressure. At a stock specific level, other noteworthy movers
over the quarter were C&C, which fell by 17% and IFG Group, which reversed
its gains of the previous quarter falling 36% as a takeover bid for the
company failed.
During fiscal 2011, we continued to implement the Share Repurchase
Program and over the 12 months, the Fund repurchased and retired 280,053
shares at a cost of $2.2 million. These repurchases represent a reduction of
4.19% of the shares outstanding at October 31, 2010, and they positively
impacted the Funds NAV by 4.5 cents per share.
Irish Economic Review
In the first half of 2011, as per the latest available data, Irish GDP
rose by 1.3% on a yearon-year basis, while the second quarter showed an
equivalent growth rate of 2.3%, which was an encouraging outturn after the
very poor macro environment of the previous two years. Exports rose by 1% in
the second quarter, relative to the previous quarter, while imports declined
0.6% . This underlines the continued progress in improving Irelands
competitiveness over the past couple of years.
Consumer expenditure rose marginally during the second quarter, but
remained well down, year-on-year, and fixed investment spending (capex etc.)
was very strong, rising by 6.4%, which was particularly notable given that
it followed a strong Q1 (+2.4%) .
In October the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) published its latest
quarterly forecasts. The CBI now expects GDP to rise by 1.0% in 2011
(previously +0.8%) followed by growth of 1.8% in 2012 (formerly 2.1%) . The
changes in the
2
forecasts are broadly similar to those of other forecasters, i.e. revising
up 2011 growth and revising down 2012 growth.
The export sector is the driver behind the forecast growth and the CBI
estimates that the export sector will grow by 5.3% in 2011 and by 5.2% in
2012. Domestic demand is predicted to fall by over 3% this year but a much
smaller decline is anticipated in 2012. Gross fixed capital formation is
expected to decline by 9.2% in 2011 and by 0.5% in 2012.
Worries about the labor market and the government debt situation weigh
on the Irish consumer, and retail sales have been poor, down 2% for the
first nine months of the year compared with the same period in 2010.
Consumer confidence has been steady (at a fairly low level) for some months,
although it should be noted that one survey showed a huge surge in
confidence in October. For now, this should probably be regarded as a
rogue figure, which will need to be confirmed by a second monthly survey
before it can be fully accepted.
Business confidence fell very sharply about a year ago, when the EU/IMF
package was required but then recovered until around the spring of this year
when it fell again and has remained broadly stable since then.
The Live Register measure of unemployment increased to 447,000 in
October, roughly unchanged since July. Broadly speaking unemployment has
been reasonably stable for the last year or so, with perhaps a very mild
uptrend. Certainly the pace of increase is dramatically slower than it was
in 2009 and 2010. In percentage terms, the unemployment rate now stands at
14.4%, down from a peak of 14.8% in November 2010.
The headline rate of inflation rose fractionally during the period
under review, from 2.7% in July to 2.87% in October. The Harmonized Index of
Consumer Prices (HICP) (the common measure of inflation used by all EU
countries) showed a much lower rate, of just 1.5% in October, although
this was up from 1% in July.
Demand for credit from businesses and households continue to remain
depressed, but show modest signs of improvement. The annual rate of change
in loans to households was 4% lower in September 2011, somewhat better than
the rate observed at the beginning of the year (-5.3%) . Lending for house
purchases was 2.5% lower, on an annualized basis, in September, whereas
lending to the non-financial corporate sector declined by 1.4% over the same
period, a less steep rate of decline than earlier in the year. As the Irish
economy is growing at only a very moderate pace, and financial institutions
continue to shrink their balance sheets, private sector credit growth is
likely to continue to be weak in the near term.
The budgetary outturn so far this year has been broadly in line with
forecasts. Tax revenues have grown by 8%, year-on-year, although this is
somewhat distorted by a classification change, while government expenditure
has run at a slightly slower pace than forecast. The government won a
significant concession at EU level, which will result in an annual budgetary
saving of about one billion euros, arising from lower interest rates being
paid
3
on the EU/IMF bailout funds. At this point of the year, it looks as though
Ireland will meet the budgetary targets set out in the EU/IMF agreement, and
the focus is now shifting to the scale of budgetary adjustment needed for
2012.
Equity Market Review
During the fourth quarter, World stock markets posted negative returns,
in local currency terms. Over the 12 months with the general exception of
core Euro zone countries, markets delivered positive returns in local
currencies.
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Quarter Ended |
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12 Months Ended |
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October 31, 2011 |
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October 31, 2011 |
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Local |
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Local |
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Currency |
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U.S. $ |
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Currency |
|
U.S. $ |
Irish Equities (ISEQ) |
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-2.8 |
% |
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-5.7 |
% |
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+3.6 |
% |
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+4.0 |
% |
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US equities (S&P500) |
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-2.5 |
% |
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-2.5 |
% |
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+8.1 |
% |
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+8.1 |
% |
US Equities (NASDAQ) |
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-2.4 |
% |
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-2.4 |
% |
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+8.1 |
% |
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+8.1 |
% |
UK Equities (FTSE 100) |
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-3.7 |
% |
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-5.4 |
% |
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+1.0 |
% |
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+2.0 |
% |
Japanese Equities(Topix) |
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-8.3 |
% |
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-9.2 |
% |
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-3.5 |
% |
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-0.3 |
% |
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Dow Jones Eurostoxx 50 |
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-10.2 |
% |
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-12.8 |
% |
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-12.2 |
% |
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-11.9 |
% |
German Equities (DAX) |
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-14.2 |
% |
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-16.7 |
% |
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-7.0 |
% |
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-6.6 |
% |
French Equities (CAC 40) |
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-11.3 |
% |
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-13.9 |
% |
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-11.8 |
% |
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-11.4 |
% |
Dutch Equities (AEX) |
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-6.0 |
% |
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-8.8 |
% |
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-5.7 |
% |
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-5.4 |
% |
Note-Indices are total return
Major stock moves over the Quarter (in Euro terms)
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Positive |
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Paddy Power PLC |
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+ 18 |
% |
Unilever NV-CVA |
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+ 10 |
% |
Elan Corp. PLC |
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+ 9 |
% |
Ryanair Holdings PLC |
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+ 7 |
% |
DCC PLC |
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+ 6 |
% |
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Negative |
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IFG Group PLC |
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-36 |
% |
ICON PLC |
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-33 |
% |
Continental Farmers Group |
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-21 |
% |
C&C Group PLC |
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-17 |
% |
Schneider Electric SA |
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-16 |
% |
Major stock moves over the Fiscal Year (in Euro terms)
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Positive |
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Elan Corp. PLC |
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+ 110 |
% |
TVC Holdings PLC |
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+ 48 |
% |
Glanbia PLC |
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|
+ 39 |
% |
Paddy Power PLC |
|
|
+ 38 |
% |
Dragon Oil PLC |
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+ 27 |
% |
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Negative |
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Aer Lingus Group PLC |
|
|
-37 |
% |
ICON PLC |
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|
-24 |
% |
Ryanair Holdings PLC |
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|
-17 |
% |
IFG Group PLC |
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|
-16 |
% |
4
Highlighted below are comments on some of the contributors to
performance during the most recent quarter:
Paddy Power PLC : Paddy Power
saw a continuation in positive earnings, as well as benefiting from its
defensive status during a period of heightened uncertainty. The company has
seen increasing market share gains in its online strategy particularly in
the UK and Australian markets.
Ryanair Holdings PLC: Ryanair boasts a strong balance sheet and strong
business model, and tends to perform well on a relative basis when sentiment
in markets deteriorates. The company further benefited from a 6% growth in
traffic numbers during September.
IFG Group PLC: Shares in IFG Group reversed its gains of the previous
quarter falling 36% as a takeover bid for the company failed. Both IFG and
the interested acquirer, Bregal, agreed to discontinue discussions due to
the current dislocation in global markets.
ICON PLC: ICON is a global provider of outsourced development services
to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The
companys share price fell on the back of continued profit downgrades and
weak guidance for the company. It continues to suffer margin pressure from
increased competition from the larger pharmaceutical companies.
C&C Group PLC: C&C Group reported interim results in October with a 5%
decline in revenue. It also announced that CEO John Dunsmore is to step down
at the end of the calendar year and will be replaced by CFO Stephen Glancey.
Current Outlook
The Fund is actively managed with a stock picking perspective. It is
believed that the Irish economy and the stock market are past their worst
point and are also, in a relative sense, better positioned than other
European markets. Twelve months after the EU/IMF bailout, it is believed that
this is based on the following:
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- |
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A new stable government with a strong majority |
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- |
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A banking system that has been heavily recapitalized |
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- |
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Lower borrowing costs |
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- |
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Fiscal and budgetary austerity |
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- |
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Increasingly being seen as a poster child for the rest of Europe to
follow |
This newfound credibility is in its early days and has yet to manifest
itself in terms of any meaningful foreign inflows to Irish equities but Irish
equities themselves, in a relative sense, have been out-performers. From a
micro perspective, Irish companies continue to be well managed and
attractively valued.
5
We continue to remain invested in names with strong management teams
and balance sheets, where despite the uncertainty surrounding the markets in
Europe in general, we see potential for capital gains.
Sincerely
Peter J. Hooper
Chairman
December 19, 2011
6
Investment Summary (unaudited)
Total Return (%)
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Market Value (a) |
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Net Asset Value (a) |
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Average |
|
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|
|
|
Average |
|
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Cumulative |
|
Annual |
|
Cumulative |
|
Annual |
One Year |
|
|
17.91 |
|
|
|
17.91 |
|
|
|
10.69 |
|
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|
10.69 |
|
Three Year |
|
|
35.39 |
|
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|
10.63 |
|
|
|
31.91 |
|
|
|
9.67 |
|
Five Year |
|
|
-46.32 |
|
|
|
-11.70 |
|
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-43.84 |
|
|
|
-10.90 |
|
Ten Year |
|
|
75.06 |
|
|
|
5.76 |
|
|
|
61.30 |
|
|
|
4.90 |
|
Per Share Information and Returns
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2002 |
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2003 |
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2004 |
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2005 |
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2006 |
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2007 |
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2008 |
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2009 |
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2010 |
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|
2011 |
|
Net Asset
Value ($) |
|
|
11.04 |
|
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|
16.29 |
|
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|
20.74 |
|
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|
24.36 |
|
|
|
32.55 |
|
|
|
30.95 |
|
|
|
10.18 |
|
|
|
8.20 |
|
|
|
7.70 |
|
|
|
8.45 |
|
Income
Dividends ($) |
|
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.09 |
) |
|
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
|
(0.16 |
) |
|
|
(0.24 |
) |
|
|
(0.36 |
) |
|
|
(0.33 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
Capital Gains |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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Other
Distributions ($) |
|
|
(0.69 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1.77 |
) |
|
|
(2.40 |
) |
|
|
(4.86 |
) |
|
|
(2.76 |
) |
|
|
|
|
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|
Total Net Asset Value
Return (%) (a) |
|
|
-11.44 |
|
|
|
47.55 |
|
|
|
28.14 |
|
|
|
17.51 |
|
|
|
45.97 |
|
|
|
2.88 |
|
|
|
-58.62 |
|
|
|
26.91 |
|
|
|
-6.10 |
|
|
|
10.69 |
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Notes
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(a) |
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Total Market Value returns reflect changes in share market prices and
assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, at
the price obtained under the Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan
(the Plan). Total Net Asset Value returns reflect changes in share net
asset value and assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gain
distributions, if any, at the price obtained under the Plan. For more
information with regard to the Plan, see page 24. |
Past results are not necessarily indicative of future performance of the Fund.
7
Portfolio by Market Sector as of October 31, 2011
(Percentage of Net Assets)
Top 10 Holdings by Issuer as of October 31, 2011
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|
|
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Holding |
|
Sector |
|
% of Net Assets |
CRH PLC |
|
Construction and Building Materials |
|
|
11.47 |
% |
Kerry Group PLC, Series A |
|
Food and Beverages |
|
|
9.89 |
% |
Ryanair Holdings PLC |
|
Transportation |
|
|
8.27 |
% |
DCC PLC |
|
Business Services |
|
|
6.04 |
% |
Dragon Oil PLC |
|
Energy |
|
|
5.02 |
% |
Elan Corp. PLC-Sponsored ADR |
|
Health Care Services |
|
|
4.75 |
% |
Kingspan Group PLC |
|
Construction and Building Materials |
|
|
4.50 |
% |
Aryzta AG |
|
Food and Agriculture |
|
|
4.42 |
% |
Paddy Power PLC |
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Leisure and Hotels |
|
|
3.94 |
% |
Irish Continental Group PLC |
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Transportation |
|
|
3.92 |
% |
8
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Portfolio Holdings
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Value (U.S.) |
|
October 31, 2011 |
|
Shares |
|
|
(Note A) |
|
COMMON STOCKS (94.65%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMON STOCKS OF IRISH COMPANIES (85.64%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agricultural Operations (4.20%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continental Farmer Group PLC* |
|
|
765,697 |
|
|
$ |
266,998 |
|
Origin Enterprises PLC |
|
|
434,790 |
|
|
|
2,001,264 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,268,262 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Business Services (6.04%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DCC PLC |
|
|
116,820 |
|
|
|
3,266,136 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Business Support Services (3.41%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CPL Resources PLC |
|
|
497,050 |
|
|
|
1,844,135 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Construction and Building Materials (17.71%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CRH PLC |
|
|
339,786 |
|
|
|
6,201,407 |
|
Grafton Group PLC-UTS |
|
|
240,238 |
|
|
|
938,233 |
|
Kingspan Group PLC |
|
|
270,673 |
|
|
|
2,435,094 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,574,734 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diversified Financial Services (4.57%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FBD Holdings PLC |
|
|
74,014 |
|
|
|
665,759 |
|
IFG Group PLC |
|
|
624,801 |
|
|
|
976,047 |
|
TVC Holdings PLC* |
|
|
815,973 |
|
|
|
830,825 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,472,631 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Energy (5.02%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dragon Oil PLC |
|
|
296,983 |
|
|
|
2,714,042 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Food and Agriculture (4.42%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aryzta AG |
|
|
49,417 |
|
|
|
2,388,999 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Food and Beverages (14.12%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C&C Group PLC |
|
|
269,779 |
|
|
|
1,102,521 |
|
Glanbia PLC |
|
|
135,184 |
|
|
|
889,976 |
|
Kerry Group PLC, Series A |
|
|
142,094 |
|
|
|
5,347,228 |
|
Total Produce PLC |
|
|
552,258 |
|
|
|
292,709 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,632,434 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Portfolio Holdings (continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value (U.S.) |
|
October 31, 2011 |
|
Shares |
|
|
(Note A) |
|
COMMON STOCKS (continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health Care Services (7.44%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elan Corp. PLC-Sponsored ADR* |
|
|
214,066 |
|
|
$ |
2,566,651 |
|
ICON PLC-Sponsored ADR* |
|
|
25,173 |
|
|
|
422,906 |
|
United Drug PLC |
|
|
328,602 |
|
|
|
1,030,791 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,020,348 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leisure and Hotels (3.94%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paddy Power PLC |
|
|
38,188 |
|
|
|
2,130,580 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mining (1.60%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenmare Resources PLC* |
|
|
1,296,015 |
|
|
|
867,685 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transportation (13.17%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aer Lingus Group PLC* |
|
|
526,014 |
|
|
|
528,252 |
|
Irish Continental Group PLC |
|
|
102,730 |
|
|
|
2,120,655 |
|
Ryanair Holdings PLC |
|
|
937,342 |
|
|
|
4,472,622 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,121,529 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS OF IRISH COMPANIES
(Cost $38,958,593) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
46,301,515 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMON STOCKS OF DUTCH COMPANIES (1.99%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Food and Beverages (1.99%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unilever NV-CVA |
|
|
30,921 |
|
|
|
1,076,919 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS OF DUTCH COMPANIES
(Cost $953,214) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,076,919 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMON STOCKS OF GERMAN COMPANIES (3.20%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Information Technology (3.20%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SAP AG |
|
|
28,400 |
|
|
|
1,728,084 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS OF GERMAN COMPANIES
(Cost $1,690,141) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,728,084 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMON STOCKS OF FRENCH COMPANIES (3.82%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Energy (1.95%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total SA |
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
1,054,885 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industrials (1.87%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schneider Electric SA |
|
|
17,000 |
|
|
|
1,011,298 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS OF FRENCH COMPANIES
(Cost $2,559,869) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,066,183 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Portfolio Holdings (continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value (U.S.) |
|
October 31, 2011 |
|
(Note A) |
|
COMMON STOCKS (continued) |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS BEFORE FOREIGN
CURRENCY ON DEPOSIT
(Cost $44,161,817) |
|
$ |
51,172,701 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Face |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value |
|
|
|
|
|
FOREIGN CURRENCY ON DEPOSIT (2.93%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Euro |
|
|
1,137,420 |
|
|
|
1,586,471 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL FOREIGN CURRENCY ON DEPOSIT
(Cost $1,612,401)** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,586,471 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (97.58%)
(Cost $45,774,218) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
52,759,172 |
|
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (2.42%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,306,525 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET ASSETS (100.00%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
54,065,697 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Non-income producing security. |
|
** |
|
Foreign currency held on deposit at JPMorgan Chase &
Co. |
|
ADR |
|
American Depositary Receipt traded in U.S. dollars. |
|
UTS |
|
Units |
11
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Portfolio Holdings (continued)
October 31, 2011
The Inputs of methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk
associated with investing in those securities. Transfers in and out of levels are recognized at
market value at the end of the period. The summary of inputs used to value the Funds net assets as
of October 31, 2011 is as follows (See Note A Security Valuation in the Notes to Financial
Statements):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Significant |
|
|
Significant |
|
|
|
Value at |
|
|
Quoted |
|
|
Observable |
|
|
Unobservable |
|
|
|
10/31/11 |
|
|
Price |
|
|
Input |
|
|
Input |
|
Investments in Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stocks* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agricultural Operations |
|
$ |
2,268,262 |
|
|
$ |
2,001,264 |
|
|
$ |
266,998 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Business Services |
|
|
3,266,136 |
|
|
|
3,266,136 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Business Support Services |
|
|
1,844,135 |
|
|
|
1,844,135 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Construction and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Building Materials |
|
|
9,574,734 |
|
|
|
9,574,734 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diversified Financial Services |
|
|
2,472,631 |
|
|
|
1,641,806 |
|
|
|
830,825 |
|
|
|
|
|
Energy |
|
|
3,768,927 |
|
|
|
3,768,927 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Food and Agriculture |
|
|
2,388,999 |
|
|
|
2,388,999 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Food and Beverages |
|
|
8,709,353 |
|
|
|
8,709,353 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health Care Services |
|
|
4,020,348 |
|
|
|
4,020,348 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industrials |
|
|
1,011,298 |
|
|
|
1,011,298 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Information Technology |
|
|
1,728,084 |
|
|
|
1,728,084 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leisure and Hotels |
|
|
2,130,580 |
|
|
|
2,130,580 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mining |
|
|
867,685 |
|
|
|
867,685 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transportation |
|
|
7,121,529 |
|
|
|
7,121,529 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Common Stocks |
|
$ |
51,172,701 |
|
|
$ |
50,074,878 |
|
|
$ |
1,097,823 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Investments exclude Foreign Currency on Deposit. |
|
* |
|
See Portfolio Holdings detail for country breakout. |
The Fund did not have any significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 during the
period.
12
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
October 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
ASSETS: |
|
|
|
|
Investments at value (Cost $44,161,817) |
|
|
|
|
See accompanying schedule |
U.S. |
$ |
51,172,701 |
|
Cash |
|
|
58,653 |
|
Foreign currency (Cost $1,612,401) |
|
|
1,586,471 |
|
Dividends receivable |
|
|
51,498 |
|
Receivable for investment securities sold |
|
|
1,338,430 |
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
33,240 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets |
|
|
54,240,993 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES: |
|
|
|
|
Accrued audit fees payable |
|
|
40,300 |
|
Investment advisory fee payable (Note B) |
|
|
28,497 |
|
Printing fees payable |
|
|
26,067 |
|
Directors fees and expenses |
|
|
27,896 |
|
Accrued legal fees payable |
|
|
20,000 |
|
Custodian fees payable (Note B) |
|
|
16,517 |
|
Administration fee payable (Note B) |
|
|
8,334 |
|
Accrued expenses and other payables |
|
|
7,685 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities |
|
|
175,296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET ASSETS |
U.S. |
$ |
54,065,697 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AT OCTOBER 31, 2011 NET ASSETS CONSISTED OF: |
|
|
|
|
Common Stock, U.S. $.01 Par Value -
Authorized 20,000,000 Shares
Issued and Outstanding 6,396,431 Shares |
U.S. |
$ |
63,964 |
|
Additional Paid-in Capital |
|
|
62,991,137 |
|
Undistributed Net Investment Income |
|
|
115,616 |
|
Accumulated Net Realized Loss |
|
|
(16,072,813 |
) |
Net Unrealized Appreciation of Securities,
Foreign Currency and Net Other Assets |
|
|
6,967,793 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL NET ASSETS |
U.S. |
$ |
54,065,697 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE |
|
|
|
|
(Applicable to 6,396,431 outstanding shares) |
|
|
|
|
(authorized 20,000,000 shares) |
|
|
|
|
(U.S. $54,065,697 ÷ 6,396,431) |
U.S. |
$ |
8.45 |
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
13
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Statement of Operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
October 31, 2011 |
|
INVESTMENT INCOME |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends |
|
|
|
|
U.S. |
$ |
1,348,412 |
|
Less: foreign taxes withheld |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(20,042 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL INVESTMENT INCOME |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,328,370 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXPENSES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment advisory fee (Note B) |
|
$ |
363,397 |
|
|
|
|
|
Directors fees and expenses |
|
|
238,181 |
|
|
|
|
|
Legal fees |
|
|
128,260 |
|
|
|
|
|
Administration fee (Note B) |
|
|
100,001 |
|
|
|
|
|
Printing and mailing expenses |
|
|
82,797 |
|
|
|
|
|
Compliance fees |
|
|
65,467 |
|
|
|
|
|
Insurance premiums |
|
|
54,560 |
|
|
|
|
|
Audit fees |
|
|
40,300 |
|
|
|
|
|
Custodian fees (Note B) |
|
|
30,386 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
140,088 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL EXPENSES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,243,437 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INVESTMENT INCOME |
|
|
|
|
U.S. |
$ |
84,933 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS
AND FOREIGN CURRENCY (NOTE D) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Realized gain on: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities transactions |
|
|
381,038 |
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency transactions |
|
|
56,888 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized gain on investments and foreign
currency during the year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
437,926 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
|
4,746,146 |
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency and net other assets |
|
|
(42,825 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net unrealized appreciation of investments and
foreign currency during the year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,703,321 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS
AND FOREIGN CURRENCY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,141,247 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM
OPERATIONS |
|
|
|
|
U.S. |
$ |
5,226,180 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended |
|
Year Ended |
|
|
October 31, 2011 |
|
October 31, 2010 |
|
Net investment income |
U.S. |
$ |
84,933 |
|
U.S. |
$ |
363,722 |
|
Net realized gain/(loss) on investments |
|
|
437,926 |
|
|
|
(12,866,449 |
) |
Net unrealized appreciation of investments,
foreign currency holdings and net other
assets |
|
|
4,703,321 |
|
|
|
8,776,154 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting
from operations |
|
|
5,226,180 |
|
|
|
(3,726,573 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income |
|
|
(400,589 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total distributions |
|
|
(400,589 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of 280,053 and 367,300 shares
repurchased, respectively (Note F) |
|
|
(2,187,501 |
) |
|
|
(2,631,382 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
|
|
(2,187,501 |
) |
|
|
(2,631,382 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Increase/(decrease) in net assets |
|
|
2,638,090 |
|
|
|
(6,357,955 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning of year |
|
|
51,427,607 |
|
|
|
57,785,562 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
End of year (Including undistributed net
investment income of $115,616 and
$374,384, respectively) |
U.S. |
$ |
54,065,697 |
|
U.S. |
$ |
51,427,607 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
15
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Financial Highlights (For a Fund share outstanding throughout each period)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended October 31, |
|
|
2011 |
|
|
2010 |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
Operating Performance: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year |
U.S. |
$ |
7.70 |
|
|
$ |
8.20 |
|
|
$ |
10.18 |
|
|
$ |
30.95 |
|
|
$ |
32.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Investment lncome/(Loss) |
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
(0.06 |
) |
|
|
0.34 |
|
|
|
0.35 |
|
Net Realized and Unrealized
Gain/(Loss) on Investments |
|
|
0.76 |
|
|
|
(0.61 |
) |
|
|
1.23 |
|
|
|
(15.77 |
) |
|
|
0.69 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net lncrease/(Decrease) in
Net Assets Resulting from
Investment Operations |
|
|
0.77 |
|
|
|
(0.56 |
) |
|
|
1.17 |
|
|
|
(15.43 |
) |
|
|
1.04 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to Shareholders from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Investment Income |
|
|
(0.06 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.33 |
) |
|
|
(0.36 |
) |
|
|
(0.24 |
) |
Net Realized Gains |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2.76 |
) |
|
|
(4.86 |
) |
|
|
(2.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total from Distributions |
|
|
(0.06 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3.09 |
) |
|
|
(5.22 |
) |
|
|
(2.64 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anti-Dilutive/(Dilutive) Impact of
Capital Share Transactions |
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
(0.06 |
) |
|
|
(0.12 |
) |
|
|
0.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Asset Value, End of Year |
U.S. |
$ |
8.45 |
|
|
$ |
7.70 |
|
|
$ |
8.20 |
|
|
$ |
10.18 |
|
|
$ |
30.95 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share Price, End of Year |
U.S. |
$ |
7.61 |
|
|
$ |
6.51 |
|
|
$ |
7.09 |
|
|
$ |
8.95 |
|
|
$ |
28.96 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total NAV Investment Return (a) |
|
|
10.69 |
% |
|
|
(6.10 |
)% |
|
|
26.91 |
% |
|
|
(58.62 |
)% |
|
|
2.88 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Market Investment Return (b) |
|
|
17.91 |
% |
|
|
(8.18 |
)% |
|
|
25.06 |
% |
|
|
(61.20 |
)% |
|
|
2.17 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET
ASSETS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Assets,
End of Year(000s) |
U.S. |
$ |
54,066 |
|
|
$ |
51,428 |
|
|
$ |
57,786 |
|
|
$ |
50,896 |
|
|
$ |
145,765 |
|
Ratio of Net Investment
lncome/(Loss) to Average
Net Assets |
|
|
0.15 |
% |
|
|
0.69 |
% |
|
|
(0.87 |
)% |
|
|
1 .67 |
% |
|
|
1.02 |
% |
Ratio of Operating Expenses
to Average Net Assets |
|
|
2.22 |
% |
|
|
2.02 |
% |
|
|
2.65 |
% |
|
|
1 .56 |
% |
|
|
1.31 |
% |
Portfolio Turnover Rate |
|
|
23 |
% |
|
|
11 |
% |
|
|
16 |
% |
|
|
21 |
% |
|
|
13 |
% |
|
|
|
(a) |
|
Based on share net asset value and reinvestment of distribution at the price obtained under the Dividend
Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan. |
|
(b) |
|
Based on share market price and reinvestment of distributions at the price obtained under the Dividend
Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan. |
|
|
|
Amount represents $0.07 per share impact for shares repurchased by the Fund under the Share Repurchase
Program and $0.07 per share impact for the new shares issued as Capital Gain Stock Distribution. |
|
|
|
Amount represents $0.13 per share impact for shares repurchased by the Fund under the Share Repurchase
Program and $0.25 per share impact for the new shares issued as Capital Gain Stock Distribution. |
|
|
|
Amount represents $0.08 per share impact for shares repurchased by the Fund under the Share Repurchase
Program and $0.14 per share impact for the new shares issued as Capital Gain Stock Distribution. |
|
|
|
Amount represents $0.06 per share impact for shares repurchased by the Fund under the Share Repurchase
Program. |
|
|
|
Amount represents $0.04 per share impact for the shares repurchased by the Fund under the Share
Repurchase Program. |
16
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
The New Ireland Fund, Inc. (the Fund) was incorporated under the laws of the State of
Maryland on December 14, 1989 and is registered as a non-diversified, closed-end management
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The
Funds investment objective is long-term capital appreciation through investment primarily in
equity securities of Irish Companies. The Fund is designed for U.S. and other investors who wish to
participate in the Irish securities markets. In order to take advantage of significant changes that
have occurred in the Irish economy and to advance the Funds investment objective, the investment
strategy now has a bias towards Irelands growth companies.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity
and fixed income securities of Irish companies. To the extent that the balance of the Funds assets
is not so invested, it will have the flexibility to invest the remaining assets in non-Irish
companies that are listed on a recognized stock exchange. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its
assets in equity securities that are not listed on any securities exchange.
A. Significant Accounting Policies:
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the
Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
Security Valuation: Securities listed on a stock exchange for which market
quotations are readily available are valued at the closing prices on the date of valuation, or if
no such closing prices are available, at the last bid price quoted on such day. If there are no
such quotations available for the date of valuation, the last available closing price will be used.
The value of securities and other assets for which no market quotations are readily available, or
whose values have been materially affected by events occurring before the Funds pricing time but
after the close of the securities primary markets, are valued by methods deemed by the Board of
Directors to represent fair value. Short-term securities that mature in 60 days or less are valued
at amortized cost.
Fair Value Measurements: As described above, the Fund utilizes various methods to measure the
fair value of most of its investments on a recurring basis. U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting
Principals (GAAP) establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods. The three
levels of inputs are:
|
Level 1 |
|
unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
observable inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability,
either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates,
prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Funds own assumptions about the
assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a
wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new
and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics
particular to the security. To the extent that valuation
17
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the
determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised
in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in level 3.
The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value
hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within
which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety, is determined based on the lowest level
input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. A summary of the levels of
the Funds investments as of October 31, 2011 is included with the Funds Portfolio of Investments.
At the end of each calendar quarter, management evaluates the Level 2 and Level 3 assets and
liabilities, if any, for changes in liquidity, including but not limited to: whether a broker is
willing to execute at the quoted price, the depth and consistency of prices from third party
services, and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally,
management evaluates the Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for
changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.
Dividends and Distributions to Stockholders: Distributions are determined on a tax
basis and may differ from net investment income and realized capital gains for financial reporting
purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among
capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences
arise when certain items of income, expense, gain or loss are recognized in different periods for
financial statement and tax purposes; these differences will reverse at some point in the future.
Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gain as ordinary
income for tax purposes.
For tax purposes at October 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, the Fund distributed $400,589 and
$0, respectively, of ordinary income. The Fund also distributed, for tax purposes at October 31,
2011 and October 31, 2010, $0 and $0, respectively, of long-term capital gains.
Permanent differences between book and tax basis reporting for the year ended October 31, 2011
have been identified and appropriately reclassified to reflect an increase in undistributed net
investment income of $56,888, and a decrease in accumulated net realized gain (loss) of $56,888.
These adjustments were related to Section 988 gain (loss) reclasses and net operating losses. Net
assets were not affected by this reclassification.
U.S. Federal Income Taxes: It is the Funds intention to continue to qualify as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and distribute all of its taxable income within the prescribed time. It is also the intention of
the Fund to make distributions in sufficient amounts to avoid Fund excise tax. Accordingly, no
provision for U.S. Federal income taxes is required.
Management has analyzed the Funds tax positions taken on Federal income tax returns for all
open tax years (October 31, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008), and has concluded that no provision for
federal income tax is required in the Funds financial statements. The Funds federal and state
income and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of
limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state
departments of revenue. Management reviewed the treatment of tax positions taken by the Fund,
including but
18
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
not limited to whether the Fund satisfies the various requirements to be treated as a regulated
investment company under the Code. Although there is some uncertainty as to whether the Fund
satisfies these requirements, management determined that the Fund has satisfied such requirements.
Currency Translation: The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars.
Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the spot rate of such currencies
against U.S. dollars by obtaining from FT-Interactive Data Corp. (FT-IDC) each day the current
4:00pm London time spot rate and future rate (the future rates are quoted in 30-day increments) on
foreign currency contracts. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes
in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date
on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions and the difference between the
amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amount actually
received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates
between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized
gains and losses on security transactions.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts: The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency contracts
for non-trading purposes in order to protect investment securities and related receivables and
payables against future changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Fluctuations in the value of
such contracts are recorded as unrealized gains or losses; realized gains or losses include net
gains or losses on contracts which have been terminated by settlements or by entering into
offsetting commitments. Risks associated with such contracts include movement in the value of the
foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar and the ability of the counterparty to perform. There
were no such contracts open in the Fund as of October 31, 2011.
Securities Transactions and Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded as of the
trade date. Realized gains and losses from securities sold are recorded on the identified cost
basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except that certain dividends from
foreign securities are recorded as soon as the Fund is informed of the ex-dividend date.
Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been provided for in accordance with the Funds
understanding of the applicable countrys tax rules and rates. Non-cash dividends, if any, are
recorded at the fair market value of the securities received. Interest income is recorded on the
accrual basis.
Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets
and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncement: In May 2011, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No.
2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S.
GAAP and IFRSs. This update includes common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about
fair value between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. This update will
require reporting entities to disclose the following information for fair value measurements
categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy: quantitative information about the
unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement, the valuation processes used by the
reporting entity and a narrative description of the sensitivity of the fair value measurement to
changes in unobservable inputs and the interrelationships between those unobservable inputs. In
addition, this update will require reporting entities to make disclosures about
19
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements.
The new and revised disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning
after December 15, 2011. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, that the
implementation of this update will have on the Funds financial statement disclosures.
B. Management Services:
The Fund had entered into an investment advisory agreement (the Investment Advisory
Agreement) with Bank of Ireland Asset Management (U.S.) Limited (Bank of Ireland Asset
Management), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of The Governor and Company of the Bank of
Ireland (Bank of Ireland). Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund paid a monthly fee
at an annualized rate equal to 0.65% of the value of the average daily net assets of the Fund up to
the first $100 million and 0.50% of the value of the average daily net assets of the Fund on
amounts in excess of $100 million. In addition, Bank of Ireland Asset Management provided investor
services to existing and potential shareholders. This agreement was terminated on July 20, 2011.
Effective July 21, 2011, the Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the
Investment Advisory Agreement) with Kleinwort Benson Investors International Ltd (KBII).
Effective July 21, 2011, under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays a monthly fee at an
annualized rate equal to 0.65% of the value of the average daily net assets of the Fund up to the
first $50 million, 0.60% of the value of the average daily net assets of the Fund over $50 million
and up to and including $100 million and 0.50% of the value of the average daily net assets of the
Fund on amounts in excess of $100 million. In addition, KBII provides investor services to existing
and potential shareholders. For the period November 1, 2010 Through July 20, 2011, Bank of Ireland
Asset Management (U.S.) Limited received advisory fees of $268,657 and for the period July 21, 2011
through October 31, 2011, KBII received advisory fees of $94,740. These advisory fees make up the
investment advisory fee on the Statement of Operations.
The Fund has entered into an administration agreement (the Administration Agreement) with
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (BNY Mellon). The Fund pays BNY Mellon an annual fee
payable monthly. During the year ended October 31, 2011, the Fund incurred expenses of U.S.
$100,001 in administration fees to BNY Mellon.
The Fund has entered into an agreement with JPMorgan Chase & Co. to serve as custodian of the
Funds assets. During the year ended October 31, 2011, the Fund incurred expenses for JPMorgan
Chase & Co. of U.S. $30,386.
C. Purchases and Sales of Securities:
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities for the year ended October 31,
2011 excluding U.S. government and short-term investments, aggregated U.S. $12,755,112 and U.S.
$16,703,898, respectively.
D. Components of Distributable Earnings:
At October 31, 2011, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital |
|
Undistributed |
|
Undistributed |
|
|
Loss |
|
Ordinary |
|
Long-Term |
|
Net Unrealized |
Carryforward |
|
Income |
|
Gains |
|
Appreciation |
$13,763,909 |
|
$ |
115,616 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
4,658,889 |
|
20
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
As of October 31, 2011, the Fund had a capital loss carryforward of $13,763,909, of which
$886,798 and $12,877,111 will expire on October 31, 2017, and October 31, 2018, respectively.
For federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards represent net capital losses of a
Fund that may be carried forward for a maximum period of eight years and applied against future net
realized gains. On December 22, 2010, the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010
was enacted to modernize several of the federal income and excise tax provisions related to
regulated investment companies. Under pre-enactment law, capital losses could be carried forward
for eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital losses, irrespective of the character of
the original loss. New net capital losses (those earned in taxable years beginning after December
22, 2010) may be carried forward indefinitely and must retain the character of the original loss.
Such new net capital losses generally must be used by a regulated investment company before it uses
any net capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning on or before December 22, 2010. This
increases the likelihood that net capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning on or before
December 22, 2010 will expire unused.
The aggregate cost of investments and the composition of unrealized appreciation and
depreciation on investments and appreciation on assets and liabilities in foreign currencies on a
tax basis as of October 31, 2011 were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross |
|
|
|
|
Gross |
|
Gross |
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
|
|
Unrealized |
|
Unrealized |
|
Net Unrealized |
|
Depreciation |
|
Net |
Total Cost of |
|
Appreciation |
|
Depreciation |
|
Appreciation |
|
on Foreign |
|
Unrealized |
Investments |
|
on Investments |
|
on Investments |
|
on Investments |
|
Currency |
|
Appreciation |
$46,470,721
|
|
$ |
11,425,474 |
|
|
$ |
(6,723,494 |
) |
|
$ |
4,701,980 |
|
|
$ |
(43,091 |
) |
|
$ |
4,658,889 |
|
There were no permanent tax and book differences in gross appreciation/ depreciation of
securities or the cost basis of securities. The difference between book basis net unrealized
appreciation and tax basis net unrealized depreciation is attributable to the tax deferral to
losses on wash sales.
E. Common Stock:
For the year ended October 31, 2011, and for the year ended October 31, 2010, the Fund
issued no shares in connection with stock distribution.
F. Share Repurchase Program:
In accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the
Fund hereby gives notice that it may from time to time repurchase shares of the Fund in the open
market at the option of the Board of Directors and upon such terms as the Directors shall
determine.
For the year ended October 31, 2011, the Fund repurchased 280,053 (4.19% of the shares
outstanding at October 31, 2010) of its shares for a total cost of $2,187,501, at an average
discount of 11.86% of net asset value.
For the year ended October 31, 2010, the Fund repurchased 367,300 (5.21% of the shares
outstanding at October 31, 2009 year end) of its shares for a total cost of $2,631,382, at an
average discount of 12.84% of net asset value.
G. Market Concentration:
Because the Fund concentrates its investments in securities issued by corporations in
Ireland, its portfolio may be subject to special risks and considerations typically not associated
with investing in a broader range of domestic securities. In addition, the Fund
21
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
is more susceptible to factors adversely affecting the Irish economy than a comparable fund not
concentrated in these issuers to the same extent.
H. Risk Factors:
Investing in the Fund may involve certain risks including, but not limited to,those
described below.
The prices of securities held by the fund may decline in response to certain events, including
those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the fund; conditions affecting
the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or
economic instability; and currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations. The
growth-oriented, equity-type securities generally purchased by the fund may involve large price
swings and potential for loss.
Investments in securities issued by entities based outside the United States may also be
affected by currency controls; different accounting, auditing, financial reporting, and legal
standards and practices in some countries; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market
volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various
administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in
receiving payment of dividends. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in
developing countries.
I. Subsequent Event:
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date
the financial statements were issued.
22
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Director and Shareholders of
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of The New Ireland Fund,
Inc.(the Fund), including the portfolio holdings, as of October 31, 2011, 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 Funds 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. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an
audit of its 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 Funds 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, assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2011, by
correspondence with the custodian. 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 The New Ireland Fund, Inc. as of
October 31, 2011, the result 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 accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
TAIT, WELLER & BAKER LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
December 15, 2011
23
Additional Information (unaudited)
Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan
The Fund will distribute to shareholders, at least annually, substantially all of its net
income from dividends and interest payments and expects to distribute substantially all its net
realized capital gains annually. Pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the
Plan) approved by the Funds Board of Directors (the Directors), each shareholder will be
deemed to have elected, unless American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the Plan Agent) is
instructed otherwise by the shareholder in writing, to have all distributions automatically
reinvested by the Plan Agent in Fund shares pursuant to the Plan. Distributions with respect to
Fund shares registered in the name of a broker-dealer or other nominee (i.e., in street name)
will be reinvested by the broker or nominee in additional Fund shares under the Plan, unless the
service is not provided by the broker or nominee or the shareholder elects to receive distributions
in cash. Investors who own Fund shares registered in street names may not be able to transfer those
shares to another broker-dealer and continue to participate in the Plan. These shareholders should
consult their broker-dealer for details. Shareholders who do not participate in the Plan will
receive all distributions in cash paid by check in U.S. dollars mailed directly to the shareholder
by the Plan Agent, as paying agent. Shareholders who do not wish to have distributions
automatically reinvested should notify the Fund, in care of the Plan Agent for The New Ireland
Fund, Inc.
The Plan Agent will serve as agent for the shareholders in administering the Plan. If the
Directors of the Fund declare an income dividend or a capital gains distribution payable either in
the Funds common stock or in cash, as shareholders may have elected, non-participants in the Plan
will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive common stock to be issued by the Fund.
If the market price per share on the valuation date equals or exceeds net asset value per share on
that date, the Fund will issue new shares to participants at net asset value or, if the net asset
value is less than 95% of the market price on the valuation date, then at 95% of the market price.
The valuation date will be the dividend or distribution payment date or, if that date is not a
trading day on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (New York Stock Exchange), the next preceding
trading day. If the net asset value exceeds the market price of Fund shares at such time,
participants in the Plan will be deemed to have elected to receive shares of stock from the Fund,
valued at market price on the valuation date. If the Fund should declare a dividend or capital
gains distribution payable only in cash, the Plan Agent as agent for the participants, will buy
Fund shares in the open market, on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere, with the cash in
respect of such dividend or distribution, for the participants account on, or shortly after, the
payment date.
Participants in the Plan have the option of making additional cash payments to the Plan Agent,
annually, in any amount from U.S. $100 to U.S. $3,000, for investment in the Funds common stock.
The Plan Agent will use all funds received from participants (as well as any dividends and capital
gain distributions received in cash) to purchase Fund shares in the open market on or about January
15 of each year. Any voluntary cash payments received more than thirty days prior to such date will
be returned by the Plan Agent, and interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash payments. To
avoid unnecessary cash accumulations and to allow ample time for receipt and processing by the Plan
Agent, it is suggested that the participants send in voluntary cash payments to be received by the
Plan Agent approximately ten days before January 15. A participant may withdraw a voluntary cash
payment by written notice, if the notice is received by the Plan Agent not less than forty-eight
hours before such payment is to be invested.
24
Additional Information (unaudited) (continued)
The Plan Agent maintains all shareholder accounts in the Plan and furnishes written
confirmations of all transactions in the account, including information needed by shareholders for
personal and U.S. Federal tax records. Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held
by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form in the name of the participant, and each shareholders
proxy will include those shares purchased pursuant to the Plan.
In the case of shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees who hold shares for beneficial
owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of shares certified from
time to time by the shareholder as representing the total amount registered in the shareholders
name and held for the account of beneficial owners who are participating in the Plan.
There is no charge to participants for reinvesting dividends or capital gains distributions.
The Plan Agents fee for the handling of the reinvestment of dividends and distributions will be
paid by the Fund. However, each participants account will be charged a pro rata share of brokerage
commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agents open market purchases in connection with the
reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. A participant will also pay brokerage
commissions incurred in purchases in connection with the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains
distributions. A participant will also pay brokerage commissions incurred in purchases from
voluntary cash payments made by the participant. Brokerage charges for purchasing small amounts of
stock of individual accounts through the Plan are expected to be less than the usual brokerage
charges for such transactions, because the Plan Agent will be purchasing stock for all participants
in blocks and prorating the lower commission thus attainable.
The automatic reinvestment of dividends and distributions will not relieve participants of any
U.S. Federal income tax which may be payable on such dividends or distributions.
Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, the Fund
reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any voluntary cash payment made and
any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to notice of the change sent to all shareholders at
least ninety days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The Plan also may be
amended or terminated by the Plan Agent with at least ninety days written notice to all
shareholders. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent for The
New Ireland Fund, Inc. in care of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 59 Maiden Lane, New
York, New York, 10038, telephone number (718) 921-8283.
25
Additional Information (unaudited) (continued)
Meeting of Shareholders
On June 7, 2011 the Fund held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The following Director
was elected by the following votes: Margaret Duffy 3,514,915 For, 779,155 Abstaining. David
Dempsey, George Moore, Peter Hooper and Denis Kelleher continue to serve in their capacities as
Directors of the Fund. The Annual Meeting of Shareholders was adjourned on June 7, 2011 and
reconvened on July 21, 2011 at which time the shareholders approved the investment advisory
agreement with KBII. The shares voted in relation to KBIIs appointment were as follows: 3,486,637
For, 1,059,798 Against and 98,987 Abstaining. Also, on July 21, 2011, Leona Nicholson resigned as
President and Sean Hawkshaw was appointed to take her place as President and was also appointed as
a Director of the Fund.
Funds Privacy Policy
The New Ireland Fund, Inc. appreciates the privacy concerns and expectations of its
registered shareholders and safeguarding their nonpublic personal information (Information) is of
great importance to the Fund.
The Fund collects Information pertaining to its registered shareholders, including matters
such as name, address, tax I.D. number, Social Security number and instructions regarding the
Funds Dividend Reinvestment Plan. The Information is collected from the following sources:
|
|
|
Directly from the registered shareholder through data provided on applications or other
forms and through account inquiries by mail, telephone or e-mail. |
|
|
|
|
From the registered shareholders broker as the shares are initially transferred into
registered form. |
Except as permitted by law, the Fund does not disclose any Information about its current or
former registered shareholders to anyone. The disclosures made by the Fund are primarily to the
Funds service providers as needed to maintain account records and perform other services for the
Funds shareholders. The Fund maintains physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect
the shareholders Information in the Funds possession.
The Funds privacy policy applies only to its individual registered shareholders. If you own
shares of the Fund through a third party broker, bank or other financial institution, that
institutions privacy policies will apply to you and the Funds privacy policy will not.
Portfolio Information
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The
Funds Form N-Q is available (1) by calling 1-800-468-6475; (2) on the Funds website located at
http://www.newirelandfund.com; (3) on the SECs
website at http://www.sec.gov; or (4) for review
and copying at the SECs Public Reference Room (PRR) in Washington, DC. Information regarding the
operation of the PRR may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
26
Additional Information (unaudited) (continued)
Proxy Voting Information
A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote
proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund is available, without charge and upon
request, by calling 1-800-468-6475. This information is also available from the EDGAR database or
the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating
to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available at
http://www.sec.gov.
Certifications
The Funds president has certified to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) that, as of
July 1, 2011, she was not aware of any violation by the Fund of applicable NYSE corporate
governance listing standards. The Funds reports to the SEC on Forms N-CSR and N-CSRS contain
certifications by the Funds principal executive officer and principal financial officer that
relate to the Funds disclosure in such reports and that are required by rule 30a2(a) under the
Investment Company Act.
Tax Information
For non-corporate shareholders 100%, or the maximum amount allowable under the Jobs and
Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, of income earned by the Fund for the period November
1, 2010 to October 31, 2011 may represent qualified dividend income.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011, the Fund had no designated long-term capital
gains.
Advisory Agreement
(In this disclosure, the term Fund refers to The New Ireland Fund, Inc., the term
Adviser refers to Kleinwort Benson Investors International Ltd. and the term Administrator
refers to BNY Mellon).
At a special meeting held on January 11, 2011, the Directors unanimously approved, subject to
approval by the Funds shareholders, an Investment Advisory Agreement (the Advisory Agreement)
between the Fund and the Adviser. Shareholders of the Fund subsequently approved the Advisory
Agreement at a meeting of shareholders held on July 21, 2011.
In preparation for the meeting, the Directors had requested and evaluated various materials
from the Adviser and the Administrator, including performance and expense information for other
investment companies with analogous objectives. Prior to voting, the Directors reviewed the
proposed Advisory Agreement with management and with experienced counsel to the Fund and received a
memorandum from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed
Advisory Agreement. The Directors who were not interested persons of the Fund or the Adviser also
discussed the proposed agreement in a private session with counsel at which no representatives of
the Adviser were present. In reaching their determinations relating to approval of the Advisory
Agreement in respect of the Fund, the Directors considered all factors they believed relevant,
including the following:
|
1. |
|
the total compensation to be received, directly or indirectly by the Adviser, including
cash compensation and benefits; |
27
Additional Information (unaudited) (continued)
|
2. |
|
the expenses incurred by the Adviser in performing services under the Advisory Agreement; |
|
|
3. |
|
the total cost to the Fund of using the Advisers services, taking into account any
expenses of operating the Fund which the Adviser would not be obligated to pay; |
|
|
4. |
|
the Funds expense ratio (i.e., the ratio of total expenses of the Fund to its total
assets); |
|
|
5. |
|
any special fees to be paid to the Adviser; |
|
|
6. |
|
the possible reduction in advisory fees to reflect economies of scale; |
|
|
7. |
|
the basis of the fee arrangement, including the breakdown of fees for investment and
non-investment services; |
|
|
8. |
|
competitive prices for comparable services; |
|
|
9. |
|
competitive expense ratios; |
|
|
10. |
|
past performance and reliability of the Adviser; |
|
|
11. |
|
the Advisers services to more than one client and the terms of other advisory agreements
to which it is a party; and |
|
|
12. |
|
the possible value of internalizing certain functions to be performed by the Adviser |
The Directors determined that the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as
provided in the Advisory Agreement, were fair and reasonable in light of the services that would be
performed, the expenses incurred and such other matters as the Directors considered relevant in the
exercise of their reasonable judgment.
Nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser
Under the proposed Advisory Agreement, the Adviser would be responsible for managing the
investment of the assets of the Fund, including making purchases and sales of portfolio securities
consistent with the Funds investment objective and policies. Although the Fund retains the
Administrator, the Adviser would also be providing the Fund with certain other services (exclusive
of, and in addition to, any such services provided by any others retained by the Fund) and with
certain executive personnel necessary for its operations. The Adviser pays all of the compensation
of the Director and the Officers of the Fund who are employees of the Adviser, or retained as a
consultant by them.
The Directors considered the scope and quality of services anticipated to be provided by the
Adviser under the Advisory Agreement and noted that the Adviser would be responsible for
maintaining and monitoring its own compliance program and coordinates certain activities with the
Funds Chief Compliance Officer, and these compliance programs would need to be routinely refined
and enhanced in light of new regulatory requirements and current market conditions. The Directors
considered the quality of the investment research capabilities that were described by the Adviser
and the other resources it would dedicate to performing services for the Fund. The quality of other
services, including the Advisers assistance in the coordination of the activities of some of the
Funds other service providers, also was considered. The Directors concluded that, overall, they
were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided to the Fund under the
Advisory Agreement.
28
Additional Information (unaudited) (continued)
Costs of services provided and profitability to the Adviser
The Directors recognized that they would not be able to make any determinations regarding
the profitability of the Advisory Agreement to the Adviser due to the fact that the Adviser had not
yet begun to manage the Fund. The Directors would expect that the Adviser would be able to provide
additional information regarding the profitability of the Advisory Agreement after the expiration
of the initial two-year term.
Fall-Out benefits
The Adviser advised the Directors that no portfolio transactions were expected to be
allocated pursuant to arrangements whereby the Adviser receives brokerage and research services
from brokers that execute the Funds purchases and sales of securities. As a result, none of the
Advisers research or other expenses was anticipated to be offset by the use of the Funds
commissions.
The Directors also noted that the Adviser would derive reputational and other benefits from
its association with the Fund.
Investment results
The Directors recognized that they were not able to compare the performance of the Adviser
in managing the Fund, to the relative performance of other funds with similar investment objectives
and to appropriate securities indices, as the Adviser had not yet commenced managing the Fund. The
Directors would expect that the Adviser would be able to provide such information on a regular
basis, once the Adviser would commence to provide investment management services to the Fund. The
Directors did, however, consider the historical performance of the Adviser in managing other
advisor clients that were similar to the Fund.
Advisory Fee
The Directors also considered the management fees paid to the Adviser by its other
advisory clients.
The Directors also recognized the limitations on the usefulness of these comparisons, given
the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the advisers of other portfolios.
Similar limitations are inherent in comparing services etc. being provided by the Adviser to its
other clients.
The Directors took into account that, although the Adviser may realize economies of scale in
managing the Fund, as its assets increase, there are substantial restraints on the growth of Fund
assets. These are: (a) a public offering may only reasonably be made in rights offerings, or when
the market price of the Funds shares exceeds the net asset value per share; and (b) stockholders
either take dividends or distributions in cash or they reinvest them in secondary market purchases
of Fund shares, neither of which serves to increase Fund assets.
After considering this information, the Directors concluded that they believed that the Funds
advisory fee was reasonable, with the breakpoint set at a relatively low level of assets. They also
concluded that the absolute dollar fees paid to the Adviser were modest, in light of the commitment
required to advise the Fund, and that they were satisfied with the nature and quality of the
services to be provided.
In addition, the Directors recognized that many industry observers have noted that the level
of services required and risks involved in managing registered investment companies are
significantly different from those for pension and institutional accounts and that market fees vary
accordingly. Although for investment advisers (such as the Adviser), who are not also
administrators of closed-end funds, this may be true to a
29
Additional Information (unaudited) (continued)
lesser extent than for more full-service fund managers. However, the Directors noted that
institutional client accounts are more portable than registered investment companies that require
Board and stockholder approval, prior to changing investment advisers.
30
Board of Directors/Officers (unaudited)
|
|
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|
Term of |
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Principal |
|
Number of |
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|
Position(s) |
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Office and |
|
Occupation(s) |
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
Held with |
|
Length |
|
and Other |
|
Fund Complex |
Name, Address, |
|
The |
|
of Time |
|
Directorships During |
|
Overseen by |
and Age |
|
Fund |
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Served* |
|
Past Five years |
|
Director |
|
NON-INTERESTED DIRECTORS: |
|
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|
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|
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Peter J. Hooper, 71
|
|
Director and
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Since 1990
|
|
President of Hooper Associates-
|
|
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1 |
|
Westchester Financial
|
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Chairman of
|
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Current
|
|
Consultants (1994 to present); |
|
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|
|
Center, Suite 1000
|
|
the Board
|
|
term expires
|
|
Director, The Ireland United States |
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50 Main Street
|
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in 2012.
|
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Council for Commerce and Industry |
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White Plains, NY 10606
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(1984 to present); Director, Flax Trust |
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America (1988 to 2007). |
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David Dempsey, 62
|
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Director
|
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Since 2007
|
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Managing Director, Bentley
|
|
|
1 |
|
360 Lexington Avenue
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
Associates L.P., (1991 to present); |
|
|
|
|
3rd Floor
|
|
|
|
term expires
|
|
Director and Vice President, 205-69 |
|
|
|
|
New York, NY 10017
|
|
|
|
in 2013.
|
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Inc. (2000 to 2006). |
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Margaret Duffy, 68
|
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Director
|
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Since 2006
|
|
Retired Partner Arthur Andersen LLP
|
|
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1 |
|
164 East 72 Street
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
and currently a Financial Consultant, |
|
|
|
|
Suite 7B
|
|
|
|
term expires
|
|
Director, The Dyson-Kissner-Moran |
|
|
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New York, NY 10021
|
|
|
|
in 2014.
|
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Corporation (2000 to present). |
|
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|
Denis P. Kelleher, 72
|
|
Director
|
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Since 1991
|
|
Chief Executive Officer, Wall Street
|
|
|
1 |
|
17 Battery Place
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
Access-Financial Services (1981 to |
|
|
|
|
New York, NY 10004
|
|
|
|
term expires
|
|
present); Director, Independence |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in 2013.
|
|
Community Bank (1992 to 2006); |
|
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|
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|
|
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|
|
Chairman and Member of the Board |
|
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|
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|
|
of Trustees, St. Johns University |
|
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(1998 to 2007). |
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|
|
George G. Moore, 60
|
|
Director
|
|
Since 2004
|
|
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer,
|
|
|
1 |
|
8010 Towers Crescent
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
TARGUSinfo (1993 to present); |
|
|
|
|
Drive
|
|
|
|
term expires
|
|
Chairman, AMACAI Information |
|
|
|
|
Vienna, VA 22182
|
|
|
|
in 2012.
|
|
Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of |
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|
TARGUSinfo, (2001 to 2007); |
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Chairman, Erne Heritage Holdings |
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(1990 to present). |
|
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* |
|
Each Director shall serve until the expiration of their current term
and until their successor is elected and qualified. |
31
Board of Directors/Officers (unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term of |
|
Principal |
|
Number of |
|
|
Position(s) |
|
Office and |
|
Occupation(s) |
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
Held with |
|
Length |
|
and Other |
|
Fund Complex |
Name, Address, |
|
The |
|
of Time |
|
Directorships During |
|
Overseen by |
and Age |
|
Fund |
|
Served* |
|
Past Five years |
|
Director |
|
INTERESTED DIRECTOR: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sean Hawkshaw, 47** |
|
Director and |
|
Since 2011 |
|
Chief Executive Officer & Director, |
|
1 |
Kleinwort Benson |
|
President |
|
|
|
Kleinwort Benson Investors |
|
|
Investors |
|
|
|
|
|
International Ltd (2002 to Present) |
|
|
Joshua Dawson House |
|
|
|
|
|
Director, Kleinwort Benson Investors |
|
|
Dawson Street |
|
|
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|
|
Dublin Limited (1994 to Present); |
|
|
Dublin 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Director, Kleinwort Benson Fund |
|
|
Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
Managers Limited (2002 to Present); |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
Director Kleinwort Benson Investors |
|
|
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|
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|
|
Institutional Fund PLC (2004 to |
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Present); Director, Kleinwort |
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Benson/Lothbury Qualifying Investor |
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Fund Public Limited Company (2006 |
|
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to Present); Director, Irish Auditing |
|
|
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and Accounting Supervisory Authority |
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(2005 to Present); Director KBC Asset |
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Management (U.K.) Ltd (2002 to |
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2010); Director KBC Life Fund |
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Management Ireland Ltd (2003 to |
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2009); Director Fusion Alternative |
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Investments PLC (2008 to Present); |
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Irish Association of Investment |
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Managers (2003 to present) |
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OFFICERS***: |
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Sean Hawkshaw |
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see description above |
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Lelia Long, 49 |
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Treasurer |
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Since 2002 |
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Consultant (2009 to present); Senior |
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BNY Mellon Center |
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Vice President & Director, Bank of |
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One Boston Place |
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Ireland Asset Management (U.S.) |
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201 Washington Street |
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Limited (1999 to 2008). |
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34th Floor |
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Boston, MA 02109 |
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Salvatore Faia, 48 |
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Chief |
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Since 2005 |
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President, Vigilant Compliance |
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BNY Mellon Center |
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Compliance |
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Services, (2004 to present); Trustee, |
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One Boston Place |
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Officer |
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Energy Income Partnership, (2005 to |
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201 Washington Street |
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present). |
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34th Floor |
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Boston, MA 02109 |
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Colleen Cummings, 40 |
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Assistant |
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Since 2006 |
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Vice President and Director, BNY |
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4400 Computer Drive |
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Treasurer |
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Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. |
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Westborough, MA |
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(2004 to present). |
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01580 |
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* |
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Each Director shall serve until the expiration of their current term
and until their successor is elected and qualified. |
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** |
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Mr. Hawkshaw is deemed to be an interested Director because of his
affiliation with the Investment Adviser. |
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*** |
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Each Officer of the Fund will hold office until a successor has been
elected by the Board of Directors. |
32
Board of Directors/Officers (unaudited)
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Term of |
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Principal |
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Number of |
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Office and |
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Occupation(s) |
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Portfolios in |
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Held with |
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Length |
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and Other |
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Fund Complex |
Name, Address, |
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The |
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of Time |
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Directorships During |
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Overseen by |
and Age |
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Fund |
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Served |
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Past Five years |
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Director |
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OFFICER*** |
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Vincenzo
A. Scarduzio, 39
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Secretary
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Since 2005
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Vice President & Assistant Counsel, |
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301 Bellevue Parkway,
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BNY Mellon Investment Servicing |
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2nd Floor
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(US) Inc. (2010 to Present); Assistant |
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Wilmington, DE 19809
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Vice President, BNY Mellon |
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Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (2006 |
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to 2010); Senior Regulatory |
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Administrator, BNY Mellon |
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Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (2001 |
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to 2006). |
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*** |
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Each Officer of the Fund will hold office until a successor has been
elected by the Board of Directors. |
33
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The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
Directors and Officers
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Peter J. Hooper
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Chairman of the Board |
Sean Hawkshaw
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President and Director |
David Dempsey
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Director |
Margaret Duffy
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Director |
Denis P. Kelleher
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Director |
George G. Moore
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Director |
Lelia Long
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Treasurer |
Colleen Cummings
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Assistant Treasurer |
Vincenzo Scarduzio
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Secretary |
Salvatore Faia
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Chief Compliance Officer |
Principal Investment Adviser
Kleinwort Benson Investors
International Ltd
One Rockefeller Plaza, 32nd
Floor New York, NY 10020
Administrator
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, Massachusetts 01581
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
North America Investment Services
3 Metro Tech 7th Floor
Brooklyn, New York 11245
Shareholder Servicing Agent
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
59 Maiden Lane
New York, New York 10038
Legal Counsel
Seward & Kissel LLP
One Battery Park Plaza
New York, New York 10004
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Tait, Weller & Baker LLP
1818 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Correspondence
All correspondence should be addressed to:
The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
c/o BNY Mellon Center
One Boston Place
201 Washington Street
34th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Telephone inquiries should be directed to:
1-800-GO-TO-IRL (1-800-468-6475)
Website address:
www.newirelandfund.com
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
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(a) |
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The registrant, as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a code
of ethics that applies to the registrants principal executive officer, principal financial
officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar
functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a
third party. |
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(c) |
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There have been no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision
of the code of ethics that applies to the registrants principal executive officer,
principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons
performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the
registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics
description. |
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(d) |
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The registrant has not granted any waivers, including an implicit waiver, from a
provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrants principal executive
officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or
persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed
by the registrant or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in
paragraph (b) of this items instructions. |
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
As of the end of the period covered by the report, the registrants board of directors has
determined that Margaret Duffy is qualified to serve as an audit committee financial expert serving
on its audit committee and that she is independent.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Audit Fees
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(a) |
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The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional
services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrants annual
financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection
with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years are $36,500
(2010) and $36,500 (2011). |
Audit-Related Fees
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(b) |
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The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and
related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance
of the audit of the registrants financial statements and are not reported under paragraph
(a) of this Item are $0 (2010) and $0 (2011). |
Tax Fees
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(c) |
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The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional
services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax
planning are $3,800 (2010) and $3,800 (2011). |
All Other Fees
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(d) |
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The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and
services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in
paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item are $0 (2010) and $0 (2011). |
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(e)(1) Disclose the audit committees pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph
(c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. |
THE NEW IRELAND FUND, INC.
Audit Committee Policy
on
Pre-Approval of Services Provided by the Independent Accountants
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The Audit Committee of The New Ireland Fund, Inc. (the Fund) is charged with the
responsibility to monitor the independence of the Funds independent accountants. As part
of this responsibility, the Audit Committee must pre-approve any independent
accounting firms engagement to render audit and/or permissible non-audit services, as
required by law. In evaluating a proposed engagement of the independent accountants, the
Audit Committee will assess the effect that the engagement might reasonably be expected to
have on the accountants independence. The Committees evaluation will be based on: |
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a review of the nature of the professional services expected to be provided, |
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a review of the safeguards put into place by the accounting firm to safeguard
independence, and |
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periodic meetings with the accounting firm. |
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Policy for Audit and Non-Audit Services Provided to the Funds |
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On an annual basis, the scope of audits for the Fund, audit fees and expenses, and
audit-related and non-audit services (and fees proposed in respect thereof) proposed to be
performed by the Funds independent accountants will be presented by the Treasurer and the
independent accountants to the Audit Committee for review and, as appropriate, approval
prior to the initiation of such services. Such presentation shall be accompanied by
confirmation by both the Treasurer and the independent accountants that the proposed
services will not adversely affect the independence of the independent accountants.
Proposed services shall be described in sufficient detail to enable the Audit Committee to
assess the appropriateness of such services and fees, and the compatibility of the provision
of such services with the auditors independence. The Committee shall receive periodic
reports on the progress of the audit and other services which are approved by the Committee
or by the Committee Chairman pursuant to authority delegated in this Policy. |
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The categories of services enumerated under Audit Services, Audit-related Services, and
Tax Services are intended to provide guidance to the Treasurer and the independent
accountants as to those categories of services which the Committee believes are generally
consistent with the independence of the independent accountants and which the Committee (or
the Committee Chairman) would expect upon the presentation of specific proposals to
pre-approve. The enumerated categories are not intended as an exclusive list of audit,
audit-related or tax services which the Committee (or the Committee Chairman) would consider
for pre-approval. |
Audit Services
The following categories of audit services are considered to be consistent with the role of
the Funds independent accountants:
Annual Fund financial statement audits
SEC and regulatory filings and consents
Audit-related Services
The following categories of audit-related services are considered to be consistent with the
role of the Funds independent accountants:
Accounting consultations
Agreed upon procedure reports
Attestation reports
Other internal control reports
Individual audit-related services that fall within one of these categories and are not
presented to the Audit Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process will be subject
to pre-approval by the Committee Chairman (or any other Committee member on whom this
responsibility has been delegated) so long as the estimated fee for those services does not
exceed $7,500.
Tax Services
The following categories of tax services are considered to be consistent with the role of
the Funds independent accountants:
Tax compliance services related to the filing or amendment of the following:
Federal, state and local income tax compliance; and
Sales and use tax compliance
Timely RIC qualification reviews
Tax distribution analysis and planning
Accounting methods studies
Tax consulting services and related projects
Individual tax services that fall within one of these categories and are not presented to
the Audit Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process will be subject to
pre-approval by the Committee Chairman (or any other Committee member on whom this
responsibility has been delegated) so long as the estimated fee for those services does not
exceed $7,500.
Other Non-audit Services
Certain non-audit services that the independent accountants are legally permitted to render
will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee or by one or more Committee members to whom
the Committee has delegated this authority and who will report to the full Committee any
pre-approval decisions made pursuant to this Policy. Non-audit services presented for
pre-approval pursuant to this paragraph will be accompanied by a confirmation from both the
Treasurer and the independent accountants that the proposed services will not adversely
affect the independence of the independent accountants.
Proscribed Services
The Funds independent accountants will not render services in the following
categories of non-audit services:
Bookkeeping
or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Fund
Financial information systems design and implementation
Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports
Actuarial services
Internal audit outsourcing services
Management functions or human resources
Broker or dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services
Legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit
Any other service that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
determines, by regulation, is impermissible.
Pre-approval of Non-Audit Services Provided to KBII and KBII Affiliates
Certain non-audit services provided to Kleinwort Benson Investors International Limited
(KBII) or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with KBII that
provides ongoing services to the Fund (KBII Affiliates) will be subject to pre-approval by
the Audit Committee. The only non-audit services provided to these entities that will
require pre-approval are those related directly to the operations and financial
reporting of the Fund. Individual projects that are not presented to the Audit
Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process, will be subject to pre-approval by the
Committee Chairman (or any other Committee member on whom this responsibility has been
delegated) so long as the estimated fee for those services does not exceed $75,000.
Services presented for pre-approval pursuant to this paragraph will be accompanied by a
confirmation from both the Treasurer and the independent accountants that the proposed
services will not adversely affect the independence of the independent accountants.
Although the Audit Committee will not pre-approve all services provided to KBII Affiliates,
the Committee will receive an annual report from the Funds independent accounting firm
showing the aggregate fees for all services provided to KBII and KBII Affiliates.
December 10, 2003
Updated December 2011
(e)(2) |
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The percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that
were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of
Regulation S-X are as follows: |
(f) |
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The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountants engagement to audit the
registrants financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to
work performed by persons other than the principal accountants full-time, permanent
employees was 0%. |
(g) |
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The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrants accountant for services
rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrants investment adviser (not
including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted
with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by,
or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant
for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant was $0 (2010) and $0 (2011). |
(h) |
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The registrants audit committee of the board of directors has considered whether the
provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrants investment adviser
(not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is
subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling,
controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing
services to the registrant that were not |
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pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible
with maintaining the principal accountants independence. |
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed registrants.
The registrant has a separately designated audit committee consisting of the following independent
directors of the registrant: Margaret Duffy, Peter J. Hooper, George G. Moore and David Dempsey.
Item 6. Investments.
(a) |
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Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the
reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this
form. |
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(b) |
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Not applicable. |
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment
Companies.
The Proxy Voting Policies are attached herewith.
2.19 PROXY VOTING
Rule Ref: Advisers Act Rule 206(4)-6
Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act requires every investment adviser who exercises voting
authority with respect to client securities to adopt and implement written policies and procedures
reasonably designed to ensure that the adviser votes proxies in the best interest of its clients.
The rule further requires the adviser to provide a concise summary of its proxy voting process, and
offer to provide upon request copies of the complete proxy voting policy and procedures, to
clients. Lastly, the rule requires the adviser to retain certain records about its proxy voting and
to disclose to clients how they may obtain information on how the adviser voted with respect to
their securities.
KBII Ltd shall generally be responsible for voting proxies on behalf of client accounts. However,
some clients may opt to retain full proxy voting authority. In cases where KBII Ltd votes proxies
for client accounts, the company will vote proxies in the best interest of its clients using
reasonable care and diligence.
Proxy Voting Policy
Client Votes Proxies
Notwithstanding KBII Ltds discretionary authority to make investment decisions on behalf of its
clients, KBII Ltd will not exercise proxy voting authority over certain of its clients accounts.
The obligation to vote client proxies shall rest with KBII Ltds clients in these cases. Clients
shall in no way be precluded from contacting KBII Ltd for advice or information about a particular
proxy vote. However, KBII Ltd shall not be deemed to have proxy voting authority solely as a result
of providing such advice to Clients.
Should KBII Ltd inadvertently receive proxy information for a security held in a clients account
over which it does not maintain proxy voting authority, KBII Ltd will immediately forward such
information to the client, but will not take any further action with respect to the voting of such
proxy.
KBII Ltd Votes Proxies
KBII Ltd has retained ISS Governance (ISS) to provide advice on proxies and assist it in
coordinating and voting proxies with respect to client securities in those accounts for which KBII
Ltd has been granted full authority to vote proxies. ISS is responsible for monitoring and tracking
all proxies for KBII Ltd and has direct feeds from the KBII Ltd client custodians and either the
Asset Manager will vote the Proxy using the ISS interface or ISS will propose to vote in accordance
with ISSs Proxy Voting Guidelines Summary (the Guidelines), with KBII Ltd retaining the right to
override the ISS Guideline recommendation. In addition, a record of all proxy votes and information
relevant to such votes shall be maintained by ISS.
The Client may also provide KBII Ltd with an instruction as regards how proxies are to be voted,
and in this instance, KBII Ltd will have these requirements coded into the ISS system, and ISS will
vote appropriately.
The Proxy Voting Committee has reviewed the Guidelines and considers them to be in the clients
best interests. The Proxy Voting Committee will review ISSs guidelines no less than annually to
determine their continued appropriateness. Client Servicing will monitor ISS to ensure that proxies
are properly voted in a timely manner and that appropriate records are being retained.
The Asset Managers have the authority to vote on specific issues in a manner that differs from the
Guidelines when it is in the best interest of clients to do so. In addition, there may be instances
where the Asset Managers may wish to vote differently for proxies held by more than one product
group. The CCO shall review all such votes to determine that there are no conflicts of interest
with regards to such votes. KBII Ltd shall maintain documentation of the reason and basis for any
such votes.
In addition, KBII Ltd may opt to abstain from voting if it deems that abstinence is in its clients
best interests. For example, KBII Ltd may be unable to vote securities that have been lent by the
custodian, or where voting would restrict the sale of securities.
ISS will retain the following information in connection with each proxy vote:
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1. |
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The issuers name; |
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2. |
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The securitys ticker symbol or CUSIP, as applicable; |
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3. |
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The shareholder meeting date; |
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4. |
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The number of shares that KBII Ltd voted; |
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5. |
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A brief identification of the matter voted on; |
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6. |
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Whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or a security-holder; |
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7. |
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Whether KBII Ltd cast a vote; |
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8. |
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How KBII Ltd cast its vote (for the proposal, against the proposal, or abstain); and |
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9. |
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Whether KBII Ltd cast its vote with or against management. |
If KBII Ltd votes the same proxy in two directions, this will be noted by the relevant party i.e.
the relevant Asset Manager voting against the ISS guideline (e.g., KBII Ltd believes that voting
with management is in clients best interests, but Client X gave specific instructions to vote
against management).
The Compliance and Risk unit will on a periodic basis carry out a spot check to compare the KBII
Ltd or client instruction against the way that a proxy has been voted by ISS.
Proxies received after a client terminates its advisory relationship with KBII Ltd will not be
voted. The Client Servicing team will promptly return such proxies to the sender, along with a
statement indicating that KBII Ltds advisory relationship with the client has terminated, and that
future proxies should not be sent to KBII Ltd.
Procedures for Handling Conflicts of Interest
An attempt will be made to identify all potential conflicts of interest that exist between the
interests of KBII Ltd and its clients. KBII Ltd realizes that due to the difficulty of predicting
and identifying all material conflicts, it must also rely on employees to notify the Compliance &
Risk Control Unit of any material conflicts that could
influence the proxy voting process. To mitigate these conflicts, KBII Ltd shall rely on ISS to vote
proxies on behalf of clients.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of potential internal conflicts of interests that could
influence the proxy voting process:
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KBII Ltd retains an institutional client, or is in the process of retaining an
institutional client, that is affiliated with an issuer that is held in KBII Ltds client
portfolios. For example, KBII Ltd may be retained to manage the pension fund of Company A.
Company A is a public company and KBII Ltd client accounts hold shares of Company A. This
type of relationship may influence KBII Ltd to vote with management of Company A on proxies
to gain favour with management. Such favour may influence Company As decision to continue
its advisory relationship with KBII Ltd. |
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KBII Ltd retains a client, or is in the process of retaining a client, that is an
officer or director of an issuer that is held in KBII Ltds client portfolios. Similar
conflicts of interest exist in this relationship as discussed immediately above. |
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KBII Ltds employees maintain a personal and/or business relationship (not an advisory
relationship) with issuers or individuals that serve as officers or directors of issuers.
For example, the spouse of an employee may be a high-level executive of an issuer that is
held in KBII Ltds client portfolios. The spouse may attempt to influence KBII Ltd to vote
in favour of management. |
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KBII Ltd or an employee personally owns a significant number of securities of an issuer,
and client portfolios also hold securities of that same issuer. For any number of reasons,
the employee may seek to vote proxies in a different direction for his or her personal
holdings than would otherwise be warranted by the proxy voting policy. The employee may
oppose voting the proxies according to the policy and successfully influence KBII Ltd to
vote proxies in contradiction to the policy. |
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Company A, whose securities are held in client portfolios, is a client of one of KBII
Ltds affiliates. KBII Ltd may be influenced to vote proxies in a way that would benefit
Company A, rather than KBII Ltds clients. |
Role of the Proxy Voting Committee
The Committee shall be called together by the Chief Investment Officer firstly to approve the ISS
guidelines and thereafter where there is a need for a decision. The Chief Investment Officer will
be responsible for monitoring corporate actions and ensuring the timely submission of proxies. KBII
Ltd has established the method by which members of the Committee are chosen. The Committee will
consist of the following members who are knowledgeable about the investment objectives, strategies
and portfolio holdings of the Funds which the Adviser advises:
|
o |
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Chief Investment Officer |
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o |
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Chief Compliance Officer |
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o |
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Asset Managers who have matters of relevance to be discussed. |
The Committee shall be chaired by the Chef Investment Officer or, in their absence, the Chief
Compliance Officer. The Committee shall consist of not less than three people.
The Committee shall be responsible for administering these policies and procedures and reporting at
least annually to the Board of Directors of KBII Ltd concerning any deviation from the Policies.
Voting by the Proxy Voting Committee
The Committee will review any proxy vote requiring decision and taking into account the client
mandate shall decide on how to vote, using the following criteria as applicable in descending order
of priority:
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(i) |
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Long-term economic impact on the subject company. |
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(ii) |
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Short-term economic impact on the subject company. |
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(iii) |
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Long-term impact on broader economic considerations, such as the subject
companys industry or the general national economy. |
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(iv) |
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Short-term impact on broader economic considerations, such as the subject
companys industry or the general national economy. |
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(v) |
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Long-term and short-term impact on international economic conditions. |
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(vi) |
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Unique economic factors which might dictate a re-weighting of the priority of
criteria (i)-(v) above. |
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(vii) |
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National political/social considerations, such as environmental, human rights,
health, animal rights and similar issues. |
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(viii) |
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International political/social considerations, such as environmental, human rights,
health, animal rights and similar issues. |
Proxy Voting Committee Voting Principles
The Committee will vote proxies consistent with the following principles:
|
|
Proxies will be voted in a manner which serves the long term best interests of the
portfolio which, in most instances, will also be consistent with the Advisers objective in
purchasing the underlying securities for the portfolio. |
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|
If more than one portfolio owns the same security to be voted, the Committee shall have
regard for same, and recognising that differences in portfolio investment objectives and
strategies may produce different results. |
Because management of the respective companies whose securities are owned by the portfolio will
normally have a significant role in influencing the value of securities owned by the portfolio, the
Committee will ordinarily give substantial weight to managements proposals and recommendations.
This is particularly true with respect to routine matters.
At any time the Committee may seek the advice of ISS or counsel or retain outside consultants to
assist in its deliberations.
Definitions by the Proxy Voting Committee
For the purpose of clarification the committee defined the following terms:
Proxy Voting means votes taken at a meeting of the company (e.g. statutory meetings including
AGMs, EGMs, meetings for the passing of a special resolution etc) by a person (includes
company) who has been appointed by a member of the company as his proxy to attend and vote
instead of him.
Routine is defined as matters which the Committee in its best judgement determines to have no
discernible positive or negative impact on the client funds including for example
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Uncontested Elections, |
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Approval of Auditors (unless specified), |
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Stock splits, |
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Reverse stock splits, |
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Dividends, |
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Share buybacks. |
Non Routine or contested matters may include the following:
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Contested elections, |
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Takeover proposals, |
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Management defence strategies, |
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Management compensation issues, |
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Shareholders rights, |
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Political/social issues. |
Non Routine issues will be reviewed regularly by the Proxy Voting Committee. The Committee may,
from time to time, include other contexts to the above lists.
Potential ISS Conflicts
The staff of the SEC have provided guidance with respect to an advisers reliance upon the
recommendations of independent third parties to vote client proxies. A third party is independent
if it is free from influence or any incentive to recommend that proxies be voted in anyones
interest other than the advisers clients. An adviser should not, however, conclude that it is
appropriate to follow the voting recommendations of a proxy voting firm (such as ISS) without first
ascertaining, among other things, whether the proxy voting firm: (a) has the capacity and
competency to adequately analyze proxy issues, and (b) can make such recommendations in an
impartial manner and in the best interests of the advisers clients.
The SEC staff have also provided guidance with respect to conflicts of interest that may arise from
a proxy voting firms relationships with issuers. When a proxy voting firm has a relationship with
an issuer of voting securities (e.g., to provide advice on corporate governance issues), the
advisers proxy voting procedures should require the proxy voting firm to disclose to the adviser
any relevant facts concerning the firms relationship with the issuer, such as the amount of the
compensation that the firm has received or expects to receive. This information will enable the
investment adviser to determine whether the proxy voting firm can make recommendations in an
impartial manner and in the best interests of the advisers clients, or whether the adviser needs
to seek other alternatives with respect to voting its proxies.
If KBII Ltd determines that ISS has a material conflict as it relates to any client proxies, the
Proxy Voting Committee shall determine the appropriate way to vote and provide voting instructions
to ISS. If KBII Ltd is also conflicted with respect to such proxies, then KBII Ltd shall utilize
the proxy voting services of another independent third party.
Recordkeeping Procedures
A copy of each proxy statement and a record of how each vote was cast shall be maintained and
preserved by ISS for at least five years from the end of the fiscal year during which the last
entry was made on the record. The <Title> shall maintain the following files relating to KBII
Ltds proxy voting procedures:
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1. |
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This Proxy Voting policy and procedures; |
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2. |
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A list of all clients for which KBII Ltd votes proxies. The list will be maintained
electronically and updated by the Compliance & Risk Control Unit on an as-needed basis. |
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3. |
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Documents prepared, created or reviewed by KBII Ltd that were material to making a
decision on how to vote client proxies, when not voted by ISS, or that memorialized the
basis for the decision; and |
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4. |
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Client requests to review proxy votes: |
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Any request, whether written (including email) or oral, received by any employee
shall be promptly reported to the Client Servicing Manager (CSM) responsible for US
Clients. All written requests shall be retained. |
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The CSM shall record the identity of the client, the date of the request and the
action taken as a result of the request. |
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KBII Ltd shall furnish the information requested, free of charge to the client
within a reasonable time period (generally, ten business days). The CSM shall maintain
a copy of the written record provided in response to the clients written (including
email) or oral request. A copy of the written response should be attached and
maintained with the clients written request, if applicable, and maintained. |
Proxy Solicitation Procedures
Clients are permitted to request the proxy voting record for the five-year period immediately
preceding their request. Clients that retain proxy voting authority over their account may
occasionally request that KBII Ltd provide them with information as to how KBII Ltd will vote a
particular proxy. In these cases, KBII Ltd shall provide advice that is consistent with the
Guidelines. In cases where KBII Ltds voting differs from the Guidelines, clients requesting voting
advice shall be informed of the deviation.
The Compliance & Risk Control Unit shall be promptly informed of the receipt of any solicitation
from any person to vote proxies on behalf of clients. At no time may any employee accept any
remuneration in the solicitation of proxies. The CCO shall handle all responses to such
solicitations.
Disclosure
KBII Ltd shall ensure that Part 2 of Form ADV is updated as necessary to reflect: (i) all material
changes to the Proxy Voting policy, and (ii) information about how clients may obtain information
on how the company voted their securities.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
(a)(1) |
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Identification of Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Members and Description of Role of
Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Members |
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Noel OHalloran, Portfolio Manager |
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Mr. OHalloran has worked with KBI Dublin Limited (KBII of Advisor) since July 1992, and
was appointed as Chief Investment Officer in 2002. Mr. OHalloran holds a degree in Civil
Engineering from University College Cork. He also holds a Certified Diploma in Accounting
and Finance and is an Associate of the Institute of Investment Management and Research. |
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Noel OHalloran is responsible for the management of the Registrants portfolio and has
responsibility for all the day-to-day management of the Registrant portfolio including stock
research, stock selection and portfolio management. Noel OHalloran was appointed as
Portfolio Manager of the Registrant on July 21, 2011. |
(a)(2) |
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Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Member and
Potential Conflicts of Interest |
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Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Member |
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As of October 31, 2011 Mr. OHalloran managed one other registered investment company. |
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As of October 31, 2011 Mr. OHalloran managed the following accounts: |
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No. of Accounts |
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Total Assets in |
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Total |
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where Advisory Fee |
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Accounts where |
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Type of |
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No. of Accounts |
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is Based on |
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Advisory Fee is Based |
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Accounts |
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Managed |
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Total Assets |
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Performance |
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on Performance |
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Registered
Investment
Companies: |
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2 |
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$ |
215.54m |
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0 |
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0 |
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Other Pooled
Investment
Vehicles: |
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5 |
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$ |
109.8m |
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0 |
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0 |
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Other Accounts: |
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4 |
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$ |
143.39m |
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1 |
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$94.15m |
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Potential Conflicts of Interests |
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In recognition of the fact that conflicts of interest are inherent in the investment
management business, the Advisor has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to
identify and manage the effects of actual or potential conflicts of interest in the areas of
employee personal trading, managing multiple accounts for multiple clients and allocation of
investment opportunities. |
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The Advisor has adopted a code of ethics policy that is designed to reduce the risk of
actual or potential conflicts of interest with dealings on behalf of clients. The code
reflects the Advisors fiduciary obligations and those of its employees, and requires that
all employees comply with all applicable federal securities laws. The Advisors personal
dealing rules apply to all employees. In summary, the code requires pre-approval of all
personal dealings in equity securities or securities that derive their value from equity
securities. As a general matter, permission to execute a proposed personal trade in a
security will generally be refused if the Advisor has executed, or intends to execute
material client trades in the same security, in the 24 hours (7 days in the case of
Investment Personnel) before or following the proposed employee deal. The code requires
employees to report any transactions in mutual funds where the Advisor acts as an adviser or
sub-adviser to the fund. The code also covers issues such as prohibited transactions,
blackout periods for transactions, and short term trading. |
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There is a fiduciary duty for the Advisor to act in good faith for the benefit of its
clients; to disclose fully and fairly all material facts; and to allocate trades in a fair
and equitable manner. The Advisor has implemented allocation procedures that specify the
factors taken into account in making allocation decisions for its clients and to ensure that
all accounts with substantially similar investment objectives are treated equitably. These
procedures ensure that clients are treated fairly as to the securities purchased or sold for
their accounts, in the priority of execution of orders and the allocation of trades. |
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Generally, the above will be achieved by allocating on a simple pro-rata basis. The
allocation of securities across Client accounts will be based on various factors, including:
account size, diversification, cash availability, and, where appropriate, the value of
having a round lot in the portfolio. In the event an order is partially filled, the
allocation shall be made in the best interests of all the Clients participating in the
order, taking into account all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the size of
each Clients allocation, Clients liquidity needs, and previous allocations. As a general
practice, Registrant shall seek to ensure that each account gets a pro rata allocation based
on its initial allocation. Whenever a pro rata allocation may not be reasonable (e.g., Clients receiving odd lots), Registrant may
reallocate the order using an alternative method that it determines in good faith to be a
fair allocation. Lastly the performance of similarly managed accounts is
monitored to ensure consistency of performance and to detect any unexplained significant
differences. |
(a)(3) |
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Compensation Structure of Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Members |
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The Registrant pays the Advisor a fee based on the assets under management of the Fund as
set forth in the Advisory Agreement. The Advisor pays its investment professionals out of
its total revenues and |
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other resources, including the advisory fee earned with respect to
the Registrant. The compensation package is highly competitive and includes a competitive
fixed base salary and a performance-linked bonus. Compensation is not based on the value of
assets held in the Registrants portfolio. |
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The bonuses paid to the portfolio manager are linked both to the quality of the individuals
stock research and also to the contribution they make to the performance of the product
group and/or portfolio to which they are associated. The primary performance assessment of
the portfolio manager is based on how the client portfolios perform relative to benchmarks,
market indices and similar funds run by competitor managers. |
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Bonuses are based on the profitability of the Adviser and on individual achievement. |
(a)(4) |
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Disclosure of Securities Ownership |
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As of October 31, 2011 beneficial ownership of shares of the registrant by the
Portfolio Manager is as follows: |
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Dollar ($) Range of |
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Name of Portfolio Manager or |
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Fund Shares |
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Team Member |
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Beneficially Owned |
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Noel OHalloraon |
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$ |
0 |
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Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
REGISTRANT PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
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(d) Maximum Number (or |
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(c) Total Number of Shares |
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Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares |
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(a) Total Number |
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(b) Average |
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(or Units) Purchased as Part |
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(or Units) that May Yet Be |
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of Shares (or |
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Price Paid per |
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of Publicly Announced Plans |
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Purchased Under the Plans or |
Period |
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Units) Purchased |
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Share (or Unit) |
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or Programs |
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Programs |
May 1 to May 31, 2011 |
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57,229 |
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8.3560 |
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57,229 |
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479,136 |
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June 1 to
June 30, 2011 |
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20,827 |
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8.3596 |
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20,827 |
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458,309 |
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July 1 to July 31, 2011 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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458,309 |
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August 1 to August 31, 2011 |
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50,657 |
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7.2834 |
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50,657 |
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407,652 |
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September 1 to
September 30, 2011 |
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28,600 |
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7.8238 |
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28,600 |
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379,052 |
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(d) Maximum Number (or |
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(c) Total Number of Shares |
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Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares |
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(a) Total Number |
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(b) Average |
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(or Units) Purchased as Part |
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(or Units) that May Yet Be |
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of Shares (or |
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Price Paid per |
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of Publicly Announced Plans |
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Purchased Under the Plans or |
Period |
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Units) Purchased |
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Share (or Unit) |
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or Programs |
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Programs |
October 1 to
October 31, 2011 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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379,052 |
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Total |
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157,313 |
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7.9180 |
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157,313 |
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379,052 |
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Footnote columns (c) and (d) of the table, by disclosing the following information in the
aggregate for all plans or programs publicly announced:
a. |
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The date each plan or program was announced : February 2000 |
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b. |
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The dollar amount (or share or unit amount) approved : 10% of shares outstanding as of
October 31, 2010 |
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c. |
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The expiration date (if any) of each plan or program : None |
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d. |
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Each plan or program that has expired during the period covered by the table : None |
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Each plan or program the registrant has determined to terminate prior to expiration, or under
which the registrant does not intend to make further purchases : None |
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend
nominees to the registrants board of directors, where those changes were implemented after the
registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of
Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR
240.14a-101)), or this Item.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
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(a) |
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The registrants principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons
performing similar functions, 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 (the 1940 Act) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days
of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph,
based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under
the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)). |
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(b) |
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There were no changes in the registrants internal control over financial reporting (as
defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the
registrants second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control
over financial reporting. |
Item 12. Exhibits.
(a)(1) |
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Code of ethics, or any amendment thereto, that is the subject of disclosure required by
Item 2 is attached hereto. |
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(a)(2) |
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Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
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(a)(3) |
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Not applicable. |
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(b) |
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Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act
of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.
(registrant) The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
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By (Signature and Title)*
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/s/ Sean Hawkshaw
Sean Hawkshaw, President
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(principal executive officer) |
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Date 12/22/11
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.
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By (Signature and Title)*
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/s/ Sean Hawkshaw
Sean Hawkshaw, President
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(principal executive officer) |
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Date 12/22/11
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By (Signature and Title)*
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/s/ Lelia Long
Lelia Long, Treasurer
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(principal financial officer) |
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Date 12/22/11
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* |
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Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature. |