N-Q 1 special-opps_nq.htm QUARTERLY NOTICE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS






UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


 
FORM N-Q
 
 
QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANY
 


Investment Company Act file number 811-07528


Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 
615 East Michigan Street
 
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


Andrew Dakos
Bulldog Investors, LLC
Park 80 West
250 Pehle Avenue, Suite 708
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
(Name and address of agent for service)

Copy to:
Thomas R. Westle, Esp.
Blank Rome LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

1-877-607-0414
Registrant's telephone number, including area code


Date of fiscal year end: December 31, 2019


Date of reporting period:  March 31, 2019


 
Item 1. Schedule of Investments.
 

 
Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.
     
Portfolio of Investments
     
March 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
     

INVESTMENT COMPANIES - 80.87%
 
Shares
   
Value
 
Closed-End Funds - 78.96%
           
Aberdeen Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc.
   
277,231
   
$
2,015,469
 
Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, Inc.
   
114,992
     
802,069
 
Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc.
   
376,772
     
5,440,588
 
Alliance California Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
   
254,985
     
3,768,678
 
BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.
   
87,213
     
934,923
 
BlackRock New York Municipal Income Quality Trust
   
188,383
     
2,412,075
 
Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc.
   
670,080
     
7,223,462
 
BrandywineGLOBAL Global Income Opportunities Fund, Inc.
   
572,465
     
6,377,260
 
Central Securities Corp.
   
342,815
     
9,821,650
 
Dividend and Income Fund
   
334,990
     
3,805,486
 
DTF Tax-Free Income, Inc.
   
137,281
     
1,816,228
 
Duff & Phelps Utility and Corporate Bond Trust, Inc.
   
265,006
     
2,279,052
 
Eaton Vance Municipal Bond Fund
   
206,668
     
2,562,683
 
First Trust Aberdeen Global Opportunity Income Fund
   
19,449
     
195,462
 
General American Investors Co., Inc.
   
287,339
     
9,571,262
 
Invesco Dynamic Credit Opportunities Fund
   
204,536
     
2,219,216
 
Invesco High Income Trust II
   
240,678
     
3,451,322
 
Japan Smaller Capitalization Fund, Inc.
   
352,923
     
3,095,135
 
Latin American Discovery Fund Escrow (a)
   
71,179
     
0
 
Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund, Inc.
   
196,528
     
1,949,558
 
Mexico Equity & Income Fund, Inc.
   
131,107
     
1,392,029
 
MFS California Municipal Fund
   
9,609
     
109,451
 
Morgan Stanley Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.
   
228,277
     
3,732,329
 
Morgan Stanley East Europe Fund Escrow (a)
   
97,901
     
0
 
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund, Inc.
   
421,590
     
4,759,751
 
Nuveen Connecticut Quality Municipal Income Fund
   
413,312
     
4,980,410
 
Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund
   
285,472
     
2,206,699
 
Nuveen Ohio Quality Municipal Income Fund
   
112,416
     
1,626,659
 
Royce Value Trust, Inc.
   
40,104
     
551,831
 
Source Capital, Inc.
   
157,518
     
5,670,648
 
Taiwan Fund, Inc.
   
233,712
     
4,185,852
 
The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
   
61,192
     
466,283
 
Tri-Continental Corp.
   
56,646
     
1,489,790
 
Turkish Investment Fund, Inc. Escrow (a)
   
129,831
     
0
 
Western Asset Global High Income Fund, Inc.
   
29,900
     
280,761
 
Western Asset High Income Fund II, Inc.
   
122,663
     
794,856
 
Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund, Inc.
   
78,373
     
378,542
 
             
102,367,469
 
Business Development Companies - 1.91%
               
Equus Total Return, Inc. (a)
   
106,919
     
204,333
 
Great Elm Capital Corp.
   
11,496
     
94,957
 
MVC Capital, Inc.
   
239,975
     
2,176,573
 
             
2,475,863
 
Total Investment Companies (Cost $100,916,702)
           
104,843,332
 
                   
PREFERRED STOCKS - 2.85%
               
Real Estate Investment Trusts - 2.85%
               
Brookfield DTLA Fund Office Trust Investor, Inc.
   
171,723
     
3,697,196
 
Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $4,470,241)
           
3,697,196
 
                 
OTHER COMMON STOCKS - 4.43%
               
Food Products - 0.03%
               
Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp. (a)(g)
   
6,691
     
34,927
 
Professional Services - 2.69%
               
Hill International, Inc. (a)
   
1,195,255
     
3,490,145
 
Real Estate Investment Trusts - 1.12%
               
Brookfield Property REIT, Inc.
   
70,751
     
1,449,688
 
Real Estate Management & Development - 0.59%
               
Trinity Place Holdings, Inc. (a)
   
190,851
     
763,404
 
Total Other Common Stocks (Cost $7,916,121)
           
5,738,164
 
      
Shares/Units
         
SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION VEHICLES - 32.54% (a)
               
8I Enterprises Acquisition Corp. (g)
   
50,000
     
502,000
 
Acamar Partners Acquisition Corp. Units
   
80,000
     
800,000
 
Alberton Acquisition Corp. (g)
   
70,000
     
696,500
 
Allegro Merger Corp.
   
200,080
     
1,986,794
 
AMCI Acquisition Corp. Units
   
50,000
     
506,000
 
Andina Acquisition Corp. III (g)
   
120,950
     
1,179,262
 
Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp.
   
111,602
     
1,153,965
 
Black Ridge Acquisition Corp.
   
226,445
     
2,310,939
 
Boxwood Merger Corp. Units
   
50,000
     
504,500
 
CF Finance Acquisition Corp. Units
   
40,000
     
408,000
 
CM Seven Star Acquisition Corp. (c)(g)
   
250,000
     
2,580,000
 
DiamondPeak Holdings Corp. Units
   
72,599
     
727,442
 
Edtechx Holdings Acquisition Corp.
   
40,325
     
406,476
 
Forum Merger II Corp.
   
68,439
     
678,224
 
GigCapital, Inc.
   
93,300
     
951,660
 
Gordon Pointe Acquisition Corp.
   
33,000
     
336,600
 
Graf Industrial Corp. Units
   
2,800
     
28,322
 
HL Acquisitions Corp. (g)
   
34,456
     
342,493
 
Legacy Acquisition Corp.
   
50,000
     
502,000
 
Leisure Acquisition Corp.
   
61,288
     
612,880
 
Leisure Acquisition Corp. Units
   
1
     
10
 
LF Capital Acquisition Corp.
   
136,900
     
1,375,845
 
Longevity Acquisition Corp. (g)
   
63,286
     
632,227
 
Modern Media Acquisition Corp.
   
68,200
     
706,552
 
Monocle Acquisition Corp. Units
   
59,500
     
599,760
 
MTech Acquisition Corp.
   
73,968
     
746,818
 
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corp.
   
49,182
     
495,755
 
Opes Acquisition Corp.
   
49,670
     
504,150
 
Pensare Acquisition Corp.
   
124,900
     
1,280,225
 
Pivotal Acquisition Corp. Units
   
25,000
     
254,750
 
Pure Acquisition Corp.
   
546,554
     
5,476,471
 
Pure Acquisition Corp. Units
   
1
     
11
 
RMG Acquisition Corp. Units
   
66,400
     
665,992
 
Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. Units
   
50,000
     
503,250
 
Tenzing Acquisition Corp. (g)
   
54,305
     
546,851
 
Thunder Bridge Acquisition Ltd. (g)
   
112,602
     
1,148,540
 
Tiberius Acquisition Corp.
   
113,800
     
1,147,104
 
TKK Symphony Acquisition Corp. (g)
   
212,439
     
2,105,270
 
Tottenham Acquisition I Ltd. (g)
   
12,474
     
125,364
 
Trident Acquisitions Corp.
   
175,020
     
1,783,454
 
Trinity Merger Corp.
   
74,616
     
762,576
 
Tuscan Holdings Corp. Units
   
24,000
     
250,272
 
Twelve Seas Investment Co. Units (g)
   
81,000
     
846,450
 
Vantage Energy Acquisition Corp.
   
218,500
     
2,233,070
 
VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
   
38,325
     
382,867
 
Wealthbridge Acquisition Ltd. Units (g)
   
40,000
     
402,800
 
Total Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicles (Cost $40,387,706)
           
42,190,491
 
                 
      
Shares
         
LIQUIDATING TRUSTS - 0.34% (a)(c)(f)(h)
               
Crossroads Liquidating Trust
   
292,681
     
187,316
 
JP Morgan China Region Fund, Inc.
   
192,486
     
1,925
 
Winthrop Realty Trust
   
295,985
     
245,668
 
Total Liquidating Trusts (Cost $1,603,926)
           
434,909
 
                   
      
Principal
         
      
Amount
         
CONVERTIBLE NOTES - 1.65% (b)
               
Emergent Capital, Inc.
               
5.000%, 02/15/2023 (i)
 
$
3,206,898
     
2,004,664
 
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust (c)(f)
               
9.000%, 06/15/2019
   
138,437
     
138,437
 
Total Convertible Notes (Cost $3,201,945)
           
2,143,101
 
                 
CORPORATE BONDS - 0.00%
               
Washington Mutual, Inc. (b)(c)(d)(f)
               
0.000%, 03/17/2014
   
3,000,000
     
0
 
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $0)
           
0
 
                 
CORPORATE NOTES - 4.72% (b)
               
Great Elm Capital Corp.
               
6.500%, 09/18/2022
   
32,735
     
829,505
 
6.750%, 01/31/2025
   
6,685
     
169,064
 
MVC Capital, Inc.
               
6.250%, 11/30/2022
   
200,000
     
5,114,000
 
Total Corporate Notes (Cost $5,985,500)
           
6,112,569
 
                   
SENIOR SECURED NOTES - 1.08%
               
Emergent Capital, Inc. (b)(c)(f)
               
8.500%, 07/28/2021
   
1,600,000
     
1,400,000
 
Total Senior Secured Notes (Cost $1,600,000)
           
1,400,000
 
                 
   
Shares
         
WARRANTS - 0.96% (a)
               
Alberton Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: November 2023
   
70,000
     
6,300
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Allegro Merger Corp.
               
Expiration: January 2025
   
200,080
     
52,021
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Andina Acquisition Corp. III
               
Expiration: March 2024
   
120,950
     
22,981
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: December 2022
   
55,801
     
10,044
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp.
               
Expiration: March 2024
   
68,763
     
18,566
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: July 2022
   
50,000
     
10,000
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Black Ridge Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: October 2022
   
161,445
     
48,433
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
CM Seven Star Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: April 2024
   
125,000
     
21,250
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.
               
Expiration: December 2023
   
165,656
     
198,787
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Constellation Alpha Capital Corp.
               
Expiration: March 2024
   
25,001
     
2,000
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
COPsync, Inc.
               
Expiration: October 2020
   
10,794
     
0
 
Exercise Price: $3.125
               
Edtechx Holdings Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: December 2025
   
40,325
     
7,662
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Emergent Capital, Inc.
               
Expiration: October 2019
   
8
     
0
 
Exercise Price: $10.75 (c)(f)
               
Expiration: July 2025
   
640,000
     
0
 
Exercise Price: $0.00 (c)(f)
               
Forum Merger II Corp.
               
Expiration: September 2025
   
68,439
     
30,113
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
GigCapital, Inc.
               
Expiration: March 2025
   
58,050
     
16,486
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
HL Acquisitions Corp.
               
Expiration: July 2023
   
34,456
     
8,614
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Hunter Maritime Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: October 2021
   
46,221
     
21,493
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (c)(f)(g)
               
KBL Merger Corp. IV
               
Expiration: January 2024
   
275,000
     
30,800
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Leisure Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: December 2022
   
30,644
     
13,790
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
LF Capital Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: June 2023
   
124,850
     
43,697
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Longevity Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: July 2025
   
63,286
     
3,803
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Modern Media Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: June 2022
   
54,093
     
16,769
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
MTech Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: August 2024
   
72,246
     
46,237
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: March 2025
   
49,182
     
27,050
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Opes Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: January 2023
   
49,670
     
11,921
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Organogenesis Holdings, Inc.
               
Expiration: December 2023
   
93,071
     
26,991
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Pensare Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: August 2022
   
19,254
     
3,851
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Phunware, Inc.
               
Expiration: December 2023
   
8,586
     
14,210
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Pure Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: April 2023
   
273,277
     
297,872
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Reebonz Holding Ltd.
               
Expiration: December 2023
   
56,895
     
3,414
 
Exercise Price: $92.00 (g)
               
Simplicity Esports and Gaming Co.
               
Expiration: November 2023
   
29,549
     
2,955
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Tenzing Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: August 2025
   
54,305
     
8,689
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Thunder Bridge Acquisition Ltd.
               
Expiration: July 2022
   
72,602
     
52,273
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Tiberius Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: April 2023
   
113,800
     
50,072
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
TKK Symphony Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: August 2023
   
212,439
     
27,617
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Tottenham Acquisition I Ltd.
               
Expiration: June 2025
   
12,474
     
1,497
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Trident Acquisitions Corp.
               
Expiration: June 2021
   
175,020
     
28,003
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Trinity Merger Corp.
               
Expiration: May 2023
   
102,199
     
36,792
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: June 2023
   
38,325
     
16,480
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Total Warrants (Cost $1,379,663)
           
1,239,533
 
                 
RIGHTS - 0.44% (a)
               
Alberton Acquisition Corp. (g)(Expiration: October 24, 2019)
   
70,000
     
11,900
 
Allegro Merger Corp. (Expiration: January 9, 2020)
   
200,080
     
54,022
 
Andina Acquisition Corp. III (g)(Expiration: July 31, 2020)
   
120,950
     
41,123
 
Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: May 22, 2019)
   
111,602
     
33,481
 
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (g)(Expiration: June 24, 2019)
   
100,000
     
35,000
 
Black Ridge Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: July 10, 2019)
   
161,445
     
56,506
 
CM Seven Star Acquisition Corp. (g)
   
250,000
     
82,500
 
Constellation Alpha Capital Corp. (g)(Expiration: September 23, 2019)
   
25,001
     
3,140
 
GigCapital, Inc. (Expiration: June 12, 2019)
   
85,400
     
55,510
 
HL Acquisitions Corp. (g)(Expiration: January 2, 2020)
   
34,456
     
8,642
 
KBL Merger Corp. IV (Expiration: June 7, 2019)
   
275,000
     
63,250
 
Longevity Acquisition Corp. (g)(Expiration: August 31, 2019)
   
63,286
     
12,657
 
Modern Media Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: June 17, 2019)
   
103,859
     
34,273
 
Pensare Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: May 1, 2019)
   
38,508
     
11,167
 
TKK Symphony Acquisition Corp. (g)(Expiration: February 20, 2020)
   
212,439
     
67,980
 
Tottenham Acquisition I Ltd. (g)(Expiration: August 7, 2019)
   
12,474
     
3,368
 
Total Rights (Cost $621,958)
           
574,519
 
                 
MONEY MARKET FUNDS - 12.23%
               
Fidelity Institutional Government Portfolio - Class I, 2.300% (e)
   
7,926,278
     
7,926,278
 
STIT-Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class, 2.298% (e)
   
7,926,278
     
7,926,278
 
Total Money Market Funds (Cost $15,852,556)
           
15,852,556
 
                 
Total Investments (Cost $183,936,318) - 142.11%
           
184,226,370
 
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities - 0.78%
           
1,012,831
 
Preferred Stock - (42.89)%
           
(55,599,400
)
TOTAL NET ASSETS - 100.00%
         
$
129,639,801
 
                   
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets.
               

(a) 
Non-income producing security.
               
(b) 
The coupon rate shown represents the rate at March 31, 2019.
               
(c) 
Fair valued securities. The total market value of these securities was $4,574,839, representing 3.53% of net assets. Value determined using significant unobservable inputs.
               
(d) 
Default or other conditions exist and security is not presently accruing income.
               
(e) 
The rate shown represents the 7-day yield at March 31, 2019.
               
(f) 
Illiquid securities. The total market value of these securities was $1,994,839, representing 1.54% of net assets.
               
(g) 
Foreign-issued security.
               
(h) 
Security currently undergoing a full liquidation with all proceeds paid out to shareholders.
               
(i) 
Securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. Such securities are deemed to be liquid and the aggregate value, $2,004,664, represents 1.55% of net assets.
               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these schedule of investments.
               


 
Valuation of investments—The Fund calculates its net asset value based on the current market value for its portfolio securities. The Fund normally obtains market values for its securities from independent pricing sources and broker-dealers. Independent pricing sources may use last reported sale prices or if not available the most recent bid price, current market quotations or valuations from computerized “matrix” systems that derive values based on comparable securities. A matrix system incorporates parameters such as security quality, maturity and coupon, and/or research and evaluations by its staff, including review of broker-dealer market price quotations, if available, in determining the valuation of the portfolio securities. If a market value is not available from an independent pricing source or a broker-dealer for a particular security, that security is valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). Various factors may be reviewed in order to make a good faith determination of a security’s fair value. Factors for other securities may include, but are not limited to, the type and cost of the security; contractual or legal restrictions on resale of the security; relevant financial or business developments of the issuer; actively traded similar or related securities; conversion or exchange rights on the security; related corporate actions; and changes in overall market conditions. If events occur that materially affect the value of securities between the close of trading in those securities and the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the securities may be fair valued. U.S. and foreign debt securities including short-term debt instruments having a maturity of 60 days or less shall be valued in accordance with the price supplied by a Pricing Service using the evaluated bid price. Money market mutual funds, demand notes and repurchase agreements are valued at cost, unless the Board or its delegate determines that this does not represent fair value.

The Fund has adopted fair valuation accounting standards that establish an authoritative definition of fair value and set out a hierarchy for measuring fair value. These standards require additional disclosures about the various input and valuation techniques used in measuring fair value. Fair value inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

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 Fund’s 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 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.

The Fund adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-04 (“ASU 2011-04”), Fair Value Measurement: Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS, which, among other things, clarifies existing disclosure requirements provided by ASC 820 regarding the level of disaggregation and the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value.

The significant unobservable inputs used in fair value measurement of the Fund’s investment companies, corporate bonds, promissory notes, liquidation claims and warrants are (1) cost and (2) indicative bids or price ranges from dealers, brokers, or market makers. Significant changes in any of these inputs in isolation may result in a change in higher fair value measurement.

In accordance with procedures established by the Fund’s Board of Directors, the Adviser shall initially value non-publicly-traded securities (for which a current market value is not readily available) at their acquisition cost less related expenses, where identifiable, unless and until the Adviser determines that such value does not represent fair value.

The Adviser sends a memorandum to the Chairman of the Valuation Committee with respect to any non-publicly-traded securities that are valued using a method other than cost detailing the reason, factors considered, and impact on the Fund’s NAV. If the Chairman determines that such fair valuation(s) require the involvement of the Valuation Committee, a special meeting of the Valuation Committee is called as soon as practicable to discuss such fair valuation(s). The Valuation Committee of the Board consists of at least two non-interested Directors, as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940.

In addition to special meetings, the Valuation Committee meets prior to each regular quarterly Board meeting. At each quarterly meeting, the Adviser delivers a written report (the “Quarterly Report”) regarding any recommendations of fair valuation during the past quarter, including fair valuations which have not changed. The Valuation Committee reviews the Quarterly Report, discusses the valuation of the fair valued securities with appropriate levels of representatives from the Adviser’s management, and, unless more information is required, approves the valuation of fair valued securities.


The Valuation Committee also reviews other interim reports as necessary.

           
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of March 31, 2019 in valuing the Fund's investments:
 

   
Quoted Prices in Active
   
Significant Other
             
   
Markets for Identical
   
Observable Inputs
   
Unobservable Inputs
       
   
Investments (Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)*
   
Total
 
Investment Companies
 
$
104,843,332
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
104,843,332
 
Preferred Stocks
                               
Real Estate Investment Trusts
   
3,697,196
     
-
     
-
     
3,697,196
 
Other Common Stocks
                               
Food Products
   
34,927
     
-
     
-
     
34,927
 
Professional Services
   
3,490,145
     
-
     
-
     
3,490,145
 
Real Estate Investment Trusts
   
1,449,688
     
-
     
-
     
1,449,688
 
Real Estate Management & Development
   
763,404
     
-
     
-
     
763,404
 
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicles
   
26,519,321
     
13,091,170
     
2,580,000
     
42,190,491
 
Liquidating Trusts
   
-
     
-
     
434,909
     
434,909
 
Convertible Notes
   
-
     
2,004,664
     
138,437
     
2,143,101
 
Corporate Bonds
   
-
     
-
     
0
     
0
 
Corporate Notes
   
-
     
6,112,569
     
-
     
6,112,569
 
Senior Secured Notes
   
-
     
-
     
1,400,000
     
1,400,000
 
Warrants
   
770,198
     
447,842
     
21,493
     
1,239,533
 
Rights
   
516,371
     
58,148
     
-
     
574,519
 
Money Market Funds
   
15,852,556
     
-
     
-
     
15,852,556
 
Total
 
$
157,937,138
   
$
21,714,393
   
$
4,574,839
   
$
184,226,370
 

*The Fund measures Level 3 activity as of the beginning and end of each financial reporting period.
   
           


 

Special Opportunities Fund
         
           
           
The fair value of derivative instruments as reported within the Schedule of Investments as of March 31, 2019:
 
           
   
 
     
Derivatives not accounted for
as hedging instruments
 
Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location
 
Value
 
Equity Contracts - Warrants
 
Investments, at value
 
$
1,239,533
 
             
The effect of derivative instruments on the income for the period ended March 31, 2019:
     
             
   
Amount of Realized Gain on Derivatives Recognized in Income
 
Derivatives not accounted for
as hedging instruments
 
Statement of Operations
Location
 
Value
 
Equity Contracts - Warrants
 
Net Realized Gain
 
$
70,373
 

 
on Investments
       
             
   
Change in Unrealized Depreciation on Derivatives Recognized in Income
 
Derivatives not accounted for
as hedging instruments
 
Statement of Operations
Location
 
Total
 
Equity Contracts - Warrants
 
Net change in unrealized
 
$
30,983
 

 
appreciation of investments
       
             


 
Level 3 Reconciliation Disclosure
                                         
The following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:
 
                                           
Category
 
Preferred
Stocks
   
Special Purpose Acquisition
Vehicles
   
Liquidating
Trusts
   
Convertible
Notes
   
Corporate
Bonds
   
Senior Secured
Notes
   
Warrants
 
Balance as of 12/31/2018
 
$
3,421,000
   
$
-
   
$
434,909
   
$
273,806
   
$
15,000
   
$
1,600,000
   
$
26,640
 
Dispositions
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(135,369
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Transfers into (out of) Level 3
   
-
     
2,580,000
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(5,147
)
Corporate Actions
   
(3,181,496
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
   
(239,504
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(15,000
)
   
(200,000
)
   
-
 
Balance as of 3/31/19
 
$
-
   
$
2,580,000
   
$
434,909
   
$
138,437
   
$
0
   
$
1,400,000
   
$
21,493
 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) during the period for Level 3 investments held at March 31, 2019
 
$
-
   
$
46,250
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
(15,000
)
 
$
(200,000
)
 
$
19,182
 
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
The following table presents additional information about valuation methodologies and inputs used for investments that are measured at fair value and
         
categorized within Level 3 as of March 31, 2019:
                                 
                                                         
Category
 
Fair Value March
31, 2019
   
Valuation
Methodologies
   
Unobservable
Input
   
Range
                         
Preferred Stocks
 
$
-
   
Cost
   
Market Assessments/ Financial Assessments
   
$
1,000.00
                         
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicles
   
2,580,000
   
Trust Value
   
Financial Statements/ Company Announcements
     
10.32
                         
Liquidating Trusts
   
434,909
   
Last Traded Price
   
Financial Assessments/ Company Announcements and Discount to Liquidation Value
     
0.01-0.83
                         
Convertible Notes
   
138,437
   
Cost
   
Terms of the Note/ Financial Assessments/ Company Announcements
     
100.00
                         
Corporate Bonds
   
0
   
Market Transactions Approach
   
Single Broker Quote
     
0.00-0.50
                         
Senior Secured Notes
   
1,400,000
   
Cost
   
Terms of the Note/ Financial Assessments/ Company Announcements
     
87.50-100.00
                         
Warrants
   
21,493
   
Last Traded Price
   
Market
Assessments
     
0.00-0.46
                         
 


Item 2. Controls and Procedures.
 
(a)
The Registrant’s President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (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 the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rule 13a-15(b) or Rule 15d‑15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(d)).

(b)
There were no changes in the Registrant's 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 Registrant's last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
Item 3. Exhibits.
 
Separate certifications for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)).  Filed herewith.
 


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)  Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.


By (Signature and Title/s/ Andrew Dakos                                                                                                    
Andrew Dakos, President

Date   May 24, 2019                                                                                                     


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


By (Signature and Title) /s/ Andrew Dakos                                                                
Andrew Dakos, President

Date  May 24, 2019                                                                                                     


By (Signature and Title) /s/ Thomas Antonucci                                                        
Thomas Antonucci, Chief Financial Officer

Date  May 24, 2019