THIRD QUARTER REPORT 2007
November 16, 2007
To the Stockholders:
We are pleased to present the third quarter report for Tri-Continental Corporation, covering the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The Corporations investment results and portfolio of investments follow this letter.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Corporation delivered a total return of 9.8% based on net asset value and 16.3% based on market price. During the same period, the Corporations benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, returned 9.1%, and its peers, as measured by the Lipper Closed-End Core Funds Average and the Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Average, returned 6.0% and 9.0%, respectively.
A distribution of $0.755 per share was paid on September 20th to Common Stockholders of record September 11, 2007. A fourth quarter distribution of $0.722 per share is expected to be paid on December 19th to Common Stockholders of record December 10, 2007. This will bring total distributions made in 2007 to $2.444 per share.
Stockholders who currently take all or a portion of their distributions in cash should assess their income needs, and may want to consider investing a portion of their distributions in additional shares of Tri-Continental. The various payment options available under the Distribution Policy are outlined on page 11 of this report. Stockholders may change their payment election at any time by contacting their financial advisor or by calling Stockholder Services at 800-TRI-1092.
On November 15, 2007, the Board of Directors voted to renew Tri-Continentals stock repurchase program. The program allows the Corporation to repurchase up to 5% of its common stock in the open market from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008, as long as its discount to NAV exceeds 5%.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Tri-Continental Corporation. We look forward to serving your investment needs for many years to come.
William C. Morris | Brian T. Zino |
Chairman | President |
1
Investment Results Per Common Share | ||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL RETURNS | ||||||||||||||||||
For Periods Ended September 30, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||
Average Annual
|
||||||||||||||||||
Three
|
Nine
|
One
|
Three
|
Five
|
Ten
|
|||||||||||||
Months*
|
Months*
|
Year
|
Years
|
Years
|
Years
|
|||||||||||||
Market Price | (1.14 | )% | 16.30 | % | 24.15 | % | 17.43 | % | 15.90 | % | 5.93 | % | ||||||
Net Asset Value | 1.40 | 9.79 | 18.15 | 13.43 | 14.38 | 4.69 | ||||||||||||
Lipper Closed-End Core | ||||||||||||||||||
Funds Average** | (1.43 | ) | 6.03 | 14.37 | 11.45 | 12.98 | 5.15 | |||||||||||
Lipper Large-Cap Core | ||||||||||||||||||
Funds Average** | 1.92 | 8.98 | 15.94 | 12.32 | 13.90 | 5.55 | ||||||||||||
S&P 500** | 2.03 | 9.13 | 16.43 | 13.13 | 15.44 | 6.56 | ||||||||||||
PRICE PER SHARE | ||||||||
September 30, 2007
|
June 30, 2007
|
March 31, 2007
|
December 31, 2006
|
|||||
Market Price | $24.25 | $26.02 | $22.70 | $22.38 | ||||
Net Asset Value | 26.25 | 27.46 | 25.71 | 25.66 | ||||
DIVIDEND AND
CAPITAL GAIN PER SHARE AND YIELD INFORMATION For Periods Ended September 30, 2007 |
||||||||||||
Capital Gain (Loss) | ||||||||||||
Dividends Paid | Capital Gains Paid | Realized | Unrealized Gain | Unrealized Loss | SEC 30-Day YieldØ | |||||||
$0.602 | $1.12 | $2.11 | $2.03 | $(1.52) | 3.17% | |||||||
Performance
data quoted in this report represents past performance and does not guarantee
or indicate future investment results. The rates of return will vary
and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. Shares, if sold,
may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance
may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Total returns
of the Corporation as of the most recent month end will be made available
at www.seligman.com1 by
the seventh business day following that month end. J. & W.
Seligman & Co. Incorporated, the investment manager of the Corporation,
made certain payments to the Corporation in 2004. Absent such payments,
the net asset value returns that include this period would have been
lower. Returns reflect changes in market price or net asset value,
as applicable, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Performance
data quoted does not reflect the deduction of taxes that investors
may pay on distributions or the sale of shares. An investment in Tri-Continental
is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. |
||||||||||||
See footnotes
on page 3. |
2
Investment Results Per Common Share (continued) | ||
* | Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. | |
** | The Lipper Closed-End Core Funds Average and the Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Average (the Lipper Averages) and the Standard & Poors 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the S&P 500) are unmanaged benchmarks that assume reinvestment of all distributions. The Lipper Averages exclude the effect of taxes and any costs associated with the purchase of shares, and the S&P 500 excludes the effect of fees, taxes, and sales charges. The Lipper Closed-End Core Funds Average measures the performance of closed-end funds. The Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Average includes open-end funds that, by portfolio practice, invest at least 75% of their assets in companies with market capitalizations (on a three-year weighted basis) greater than 300% of the dollar- weighted median market capitalization of the middle 1,000 securities of the S&P SuperComposite 1500 Index ($16.7 billion at September 30, 2007). The Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Average is provided for comparative purposes so that the Corporations performance can be measured against both closed-end and open-end funds with similar portfolio holdings as the Corporation. Lipper classifies the Corporation, based on its portfolio holdings, as a Closed-End Core Fund. The S&P 500 measures the performance of 500 of the largest US companies based on market capitalizations. Investors cannot invest directly in an index or an average. | |
‡ | Preferred Stockholders were paid dividends totaling $1.875 per share. | |
| Represents the per share amount of gross unrealized gain or loss of portfolio securities as of September 30, 2007. | |
Ø | Current yield, representing the annualized yield for the 30-day period ended September 30, 2007, has been computed in accordance with SEC regulations and will vary. | |
1 | The website reference is an inactive textual reference and information contained in or otherwise accessible through the website does not form a part of this report or the Corporations prospectus or statement of additional information. | |
3
Ten Largest Equity Holdings
September 30, 2007
Cost |
Value |
|||||
(000s) |
(000s) |
|||||
General Electric Company | $ | 68,987 | $ | 68,707 | ||
Altria Group, Inc. | 55,845 | 61,846 | ||||
Exxon Mobil Corporation | 39,895 | 61,432 | ||||
Comverse Technology, Inc. | 63,093 | 61,366 | ||||
Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. | 47,616 | 59,598 | ||||
Smurfit-Stone Container Company | 62,753 | 56,653 | ||||
Yahoo!, Inc. | 54,830 | 54,477 | ||||
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 49,971 | 52,693 | ||||
Citigroup Inc. | 54,490 | 49,924 | ||||
Rite Aid Corporation | 50,219 | 47,313 | ||||
$ | 547,699 | $ | 574,009 |
There can be no assurance that the securities presented have remained or will remain in the Corporations portfolio. Information regarding the Corporations portfolio holdings should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any security or as an indication that any security is suitable for a particular investor.
Excludes options purchased.
Largest Portfolio Changes
July 1 to September 30, 2007
Largest Purchases | Largest Sales | |
Kohls Corporation* | Best Buy Co., Inc.** | |
SAVVIS, Inc.* | 3M Company | |
Fortress Investment Group LLC (Class A)* | General Electric Company | |
Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. | Capital One Financial Corporation | |
NII Holdings, Inc.* | Costco Wholesale Corporation** | |
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (The)* | Morgan Stanley** | |
CIT Group Inc.* | Washington Mutual, Inc.** | |
Joy Global Inc.* | American International Group, Inc. | |
General Motors Corporation* | Exxon Mobil Corporation | |
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.* | Las Vegas Sands Corp. |
* | Position added during the period. |
** | Position eliminated during the period. |
4
Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) | September 30, 2007 |
Shares or Warrants |
Value | |||||
COMMON STOCKS AND | ||||||
WARRANTS 89.8% | ||||||
AEROSPACE AND | ||||||
DEFENSE 2.4% | ||||||
Boeing Company (The) | 401,900 | shs. | $42,195,481 | |||
Honeywell International Inc. | 382,700 | 22,759,169 | ||||
64,954,650 | ||||||
AIR FREIGHT AND | ||||||
LOGISTICS 1.0% | ||||||
TNT N.V. (ADR) | 307,900 | 12,916,405 | ||||
UTI Worldwide Inc. | 606,700 | 13,941,966 | ||||
26,858,371 | ||||||
AIRLINES 0.5% | ||||||
Delta Air Lines, Inc.* | 667,129 | 12,513,466 | ||||
AUTO COMPONENTS 1.0% | ||||||
Goodyear Tire & Rubber | ||||||
Company (The)* | 903,900 | 27,487,599 | ||||
AUTOMOBILES 0.9% | ||||||
General Motors Corporation | 662,000 | 24,295,400 | ||||
BIOTECHNOLOGY 2.8% | ||||||
Amgen Inc.* | 250,100 | 14,148,157 | ||||
Cephalon, Inc.* | 253,700 | 18,535,322 | ||||
Genentech, Inc.* | 173,500 | 13,536,470 | ||||
Pharmion Corporation* | 639,425 | 29,503,070 | ||||
75,723,019 | ||||||
CAPITAL MARKETS 3.9% | ||||||
Fortress Investment Group | ||||||
LLC (Class A) | 1,471,900 | 31,380,908 | ||||
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | ||||||
(The) | 131,050 | 28,403,777 | ||||
Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. | 281,700 | 20,079,576 | ||||
Morgan Stanley | 419,800 | 26,447,400 | ||||
106,311,661 | ||||||
CHEMICALS 0.5% | ||||||
E. I. Du Pont de Nemours | ||||||
and Company | 277,700 | 13,762,812 | ||||
COMMERCIAL BANKS 1.7% | ||||||
Wachovia Corporation | 917,563 | 46,015,784 | ||||
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
|
||||||
AND SUPPLIES 1.0%
|
||||||
Avery Dennison Corporation
|
244,500 | 13,941,390 | ||||
Waste Management Inc.
|
367,000 | 13,850,580 | ||||
27,791,970 | ||||||
COMMUNICATIONS
|
||||||
EQUIPMENT 5.3%
|
||||||
Alcatel-Lucent (ADR)
|
3,071,128 | 31,264,083 | ||||
Alcatel-Lucent (exercise
|
||||||
price of $14.088, expiring
|
||||||
12/10/2007)*
|
13,686,305 | wts. | 174,500 | |||
Cisco Systems, Inc.*
|
777,680 | shs. | 25,748,985 | |||
Comverse Technology, Inc.*
|
3,087,614 | 61,366,328 | ||||
QUALCOMM Incorporated
|
640,300 | 27,059,078 | ||||
145,612,974 | ||||||
COMPUTERS AND
|
||||||
PERIPHERALS 4.6%
|
||||||
Apple Inc.*
|
177,500 | 27,253,350 | ||||
Hewlett-Packard Company
|
471,600 | 23,480,964 | ||||
Network Appliance, Inc.*
|
940,200 | 25,300,782 | ||||
SanDisk Corporation*
|
249,700 | 13,758,470 | ||||
Seagate Technology
|
1,401,058 | 35,839,064 | ||||
125,632,630 | ||||||
CONSUMER FINANCE 1.6%
|
||||||
Capital One Financial
|
||||||
Corporation
|
381,068 | 25,314,347 | ||||
Discover Financial
|
||||||
Services LLC
|
945,100 | 19,658,080 | ||||
44,972,427 | ||||||
CONTAINERS AND
|
||||||
PACKAGING 2.1%
|
||||||
Smurfit-Stone Container
|
||||||
Company*
|
4,850,404 | 56,652,719 | ||||
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL
|
||||||
SERVICES 6.3%
|
||||||
Bank of America Corporation
|
921,740 | 46,335,870 | ||||
CIT Group Inc.
|
596,600 | 23,983,320 | ||||
Citigroup Inc.
|
1,069,730 | 49,924,299 | ||||
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
|
1,150,000 | 52,693,000 | ||||
172,936,489 |
5
Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) | September 30, 2007 |
Shares | Value | |||||
DIVERSIFIED | ||||||
TELECOMMUNICATION | ||||||
SERVICES 1.6% | ||||||
Qwest Communications | ||||||
International Inc.* | 2,608,900 | $23,897,524 | ||||
Time Warner Telecom, Inc. | ||||||
(Class A)* | 894,700 | 19,656,559 | ||||
43,554,083 | ||||||
ENERGY EQUIPMENT | ||||||
AND SERVICES 1.4% | ||||||
Halliburton Company | 1,037,100 | 39,824,640 | ||||
FOOD AND STAPLES | ||||||
RETAILING 3.1% | ||||||
CVS Caremark Corporation | 496,700 | 19,684,221 | ||||
Rite Aid Corporation* | 10,240,882 | 47,312,875 | ||||
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 412,600 | 18,009,990 | ||||
85,007,086 | ||||||
HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT | ||||||
AND SUPPLIES 2.2% | ||||||
C.R. Bard, Inc. | 118,200 | 10,424,058 | ||||
Boston Scientific Corporation* | 2,638,276 | 36,803,950 | ||||
Gen-Probe Incorporated* | 213,100 | 14,188,198 | ||||
61,416,206 | ||||||
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS | ||||||
AND SERVICES 0.7% | ||||||
Quest Diagnostics Inc. | 338,900 | 19,578,253 | ||||
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS | ||||||
AND LEISURE 2.2% | ||||||
Las Vegas Sands Corp.* | 161,000 | 21,480,620 | ||||
Starbucks Corporation* | 1,458,400 | 38,210,080 | ||||
59,690,700 | ||||||
INDEPENDENT POWER | ||||||
PRODUCERS AND | ||||||
ENERGY TRADERS 0.8% | ||||||
AES Corporation (The)* | 669,600 | 13,418,784 | ||||
Mirant Corporation* | 189,900 | 7,725,132 | ||||
21,143,916 | ||||||
INDUSTRIAL | ||||||
CONGLOMERATES 3.4% | ||||||
3M Company | 256,600 | 24,012,628 | ||||
General Electric Company | 1,659,600 | 68,707,440 | ||||
92,720,068 | ||||||
INSURANCE 1.9% | ||||||
American International | ||||||
Group, Inc. | 302,800 | 20,484,420 | ||||
Hartford Financial Services | ||||||
Group, Inc. | 338,100 | 31,291,155 | ||||
51,775,575 | ||||||
INTERNET SOFTWARE | ||||||
AND SERVICES 4.2% | ||||||
Google Inc. (Class A)* | 46,310 | 26,270,274 | ||||
SAVVIS, Inc.* | 923,800 | 35,824,964 | ||||
Yahoo!, Inc.* | 2,029,712 | 54,477,470 | ||||
116,572,708 | ||||||
IT SERVICES 0.3% | ||||||
Cognizant Technology | ||||||
Solutions Corporation* | 90,800 | 7,243,116 | ||||
LIFE SCIENCES TOOLS | ||||||
AND SERVICES 0.2% | ||||||
Applera Corporation | 198,300 | 6,869,112 | ||||
MACHINERY 0.9% | ||||||
Joy Global Inc. | 472,200 | 24,016,092 | ||||
MEDIA 2.7% | ||||||
Gemstar-TV Guide | ||||||
International, Inc.* | 8,563,000 | 59,598,480 | ||||
Time Warner Inc. | 736,700 | 13,525,812 | ||||
73,124,292 | ||||||
METALS AND MINING 2.1% | ||||||
Alcoa Inc. | 588,200 | 23,010,384 | ||||
Barrick Gold Corporation | 356,900 | 14,375,932 | ||||
Freeport-McMoRan Copper | ||||||
& Gold, Inc. | 199,600 | 20,936,044 | ||||
58,322,360 | ||||||
MULTILINE RETAIL 1.6% | ||||||
Kohls Corporation* | 761,500 | 43,656,795 | ||||
OIL, GAS AND | ||||||
CONSUMABLE FUELS 7.0% | ||||||
Cameco Corporation | 489,100 | 22,615,984 | ||||
Chevron Corporation | 191,800 | 17,948,644 | ||||
ConocoPhillips | 481,700 | 42,278,809 | ||||
El Paso Corporation | 1,574,000 | 26,710,780 | ||||
Exxon Mobil Corporation | 663,700 | 61,432,072 | ||||
Marathon Oil Corporation | 123,600 | 7,047,672 | ||||
XTO Energy Inc. | 247,700 | 15,317,768 | ||||
193,351,729 |
6
Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) | September 30, 2007 |
Shares or Shares Subject to Call |
Value
|
|||||
PHARMACEUTICALS 4.0% | ||||||
Adams Respiratory | ||||||
Therapeutics, Inc.* | 376,500 | $14,510,310 | ||||
Bristol-Myers Squibb | ||||||
Company | 907,800 | 26,162,796 | ||||
Johnson & Johnson | 215,400 | 14,151,780 | ||||
Pfizer Inc. | 560,238 | 13,686,614 | ||||
Wyeth | 917,200 | 40,861,260 | ||||
109,372,760 | ||||||
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT | ||||||
TRUSTS 0.4% | ||||||
SL Green Realty Corporation | 104,900 | 12,249,173 | ||||
ROAD AND RAIL 0.2% | ||||||
YRC Worldwide Inc.* | 249,306 | 6,811,040 | ||||
SEMICONDUCTORS AND | ||||||
SEMICONDUCTOR | ||||||
EQUIPMENT 3.5% | ||||||
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.* | 1,300,264 | 17,163,485 | ||||
Broadcom Corporation (Class A)* | 189,300 | 6,898,092 | ||||
Intel Corporation | 467,400 | 12,086,964 | ||||
Marvell Technology Group Ltd.* | 856,266 | 14,017,074 | ||||
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. | 700,200 | 20,550,870 | ||||
QIMONDA AG (ADR)* | 1,200,500 | 13,565,650 | ||||
Texas Instruments Incorporated | 344,500 | 12,605,255 | ||||
96,887,390 | ||||||
SOFTWARE 3.7% | ||||||
Adobe Systems Incorporated* | 268,000 | 11,700,880 | ||||
BEA Systems, Inc.* | 3,327,354 | 46,150,400 | ||||
Microsoft Corporation | 1,481,656 | 43,649,586 | ||||
101,500,866 | ||||||
SPECIALTY RETAIL 2.9% | ||||||
OfficeMax Incorporated | 1,327,300 | 45,486,571 | ||||
Urban Outfitters, Inc.* | 1,618,380 | 35,280,684 | ||||
80,767,255 | ||||||
TOBACCO 2.2% | ||||||
Altria Group, Inc. | 889,480 | 61,845,544 | ||||
WIRELESS | ||||||
TELECOMMUNICATION | ||||||
SERVICES 1.0% | ||||||
NII Holdings, Inc.* | 349,800 | 28,736,070 | ||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS | ||||||
AND WARRANTS | 2,467,558,800 | |||||
OPTIONS PURCHASED* 2.4% | ||||||
BIOTECHNOLOGY 0.1% | ||||||
Amgen Inc., Call expiring | ||||||
January 2009 at $60 | 394,300 | 2,641,810 | ||||
CAPITAL MARKETS 0.1% | ||||||
Bear Stearns Companies Inc. | ||||||
(The), Call expiring January | ||||||
2008 at $150 | 159,100 | 381,840 | ||||
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., | ||||||
Call expiring January 2008 | ||||||
at $60 | 232,300 | 1,440,260 | ||||
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., | ||||||
Call expiring January 2009 | ||||||
at $80 | 387,300 | 1,665,390 | ||||
3,487,490 | ||||||
COMMUNICATIONS | ||||||
EQUIPMENT 0.5% | ||||||
Comverse Technology, Inc., | ||||||
Call expiring January 2008 | ||||||
at $20 | 2,008,300 | 3,062,658 | ||||
JDS Uniphase Corporation, | ||||||
Call expiring January 2009 | ||||||
at $15 | 1,718,300 | 5,498,560 | ||||
Motorola, Inc., Call expiring | ||||||
January 2009 at $20 | 1,096,200 | 2,192,400 | ||||
QUALCOMM Incorporated, | ||||||
Call expiring January 2009 | ||||||
at $40 | 264,800 | 2,216,376 | ||||
12,969,994 | ||||||
COMPUTERS AND | ||||||
PERIPHERALS 0.2% | ||||||
Seagate Technology, Call | ||||||
expiring January 2009 at $25 | 927,600 | 4,730,760 |
7
Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) | September 30, 2007 |
Shares
|
||||||
Subject to Call
|
Value
|
|||||
CONTAINERS AND | ||||||
PACKAGING 0.0% | ||||||
Smurfit-Stone Container | ||||||
Company, Call expiring | ||||||
January 2008 at $10 | 555,500 |
$1,222,100
|
||||
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL | ||||||
SERVICES 0.2% | ||||||
CIT Group Inc., Call expiring | ||||||
January 2008 at $35 | 487,200 |
3,702,720
|
||||
CIT Group Inc., Call expiring | ||||||
January 2008 at $40 | 303,600 |
1,275,120
|
||||
4,977,840
|
||||||
HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT | ||||||
AND SUPPLIES 0.1% | ||||||
Boston Scientific Corporation, | ||||||
Call expiring January 2009 | ||||||
at $20 | 1,904,100 |
1,570,882
|
||||
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS | ||||||
AND LEISURE 0.0% | ||||||
Starbucks Corporation, Call | ||||||
expiring January 2009 at $30 | 583,400 |
1,429,330
|
||||
INTERNET SOFTWARE | ||||||
AND SERVICES 0.2% | ||||||
Yahoo!, Inc., Call expiring | ||||||
January 2009 at $25 | 360,000 |
2,142,000
|
||||
Yahoo!, Inc., Call expiring | ||||||
January 2009 at $30 | 901,600 |
3,110,520
|
||||
5,252,520
|
||||||
METALS AND MINING 0.1% | ||||||
Alcoa Inc., Call expiring January | ||||||
2008 at $35 | 440,600 |
2,555,480
|
||||
MULTILINE RETAIL 0.2% | ||||||
Kohls Corporation, Call expiring | ||||||
January 2008 at $55 | 450,500 |
2,883,200
|
||||
Macys, Inc., Call expiring | ||||||
January 2008 at $30 | 477,100 |
2,242,370
|
||||
5,125,570
|
||||||
SEMICONDUCTORS AND | ||||||
SEMICONDUCTOR | ||||||
EQUIPMENT 0.4% | ||||||
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., | ||||||
Call expiring January 2008 | ||||||
at $15 | 1,431,200 | 1,102,024 | ||||
Intel Corporation, Call expiring | ||||||
January 2009 at $20 | 837,300 | 6,363,480 | ||||
Marvell Technology Group Ltd., | ||||||
Call expiring January 2009 | ||||||
at $20 | 1,090,400 | 2,246,224 | ||||
Micron Technology, Inc., Call | ||||||
expiring January 2009 at $15 | 2,142,400 | 2,142,400 | ||||
11,854,128 | ||||||
SOFTWARE 0.1% | ||||||
BEA Systems, Inc., Call expiring | ||||||
January 2008 at $10 | 817,300 | 3,269,200 | ||||
SPECIALTY RETAIL 0.0% | ||||||
OfficeMax Incorporated, Call | ||||||
expiring January 2008 at $45 | 580,300 | 232,120 | ||||
OfficeMax Incorporated, Call | ||||||
expiring February 2008 | ||||||
at $32.5 | 242,400 | 1,115,040 | ||||
1,347,160 | ||||||
THRIFTS AND MORTGAGE | ||||||
FINANCE 0.0% | ||||||
Countrywide Financial | ||||||
Corporation, Call expiring | ||||||
January 2009 at $37.5 | 17,900 | 17,005 | ||||
TOBACCO 0.2% | ||||||
Altria Group, Inc., Call expiring | ||||||
January 2008 at $85 | 499,300 | 4,843,210 | ||||
TOTAL OPTIONS PURCHASED | 67,294,479 |
See footnotes on page 10.
8
Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) | September 30, 2007 |
Partnership
|
||||||
Interest or
|
||||||
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|||||
LIMITED | ||||||
PARTNERSHIP 0.1% | ||||||
WCAS Capital Partners II, L.P. | $4,292,803 | $1,785,291 | ||||
SHORT-TERM | ||||||
HOLDINGS 7.2% | ||||||
EQUITY-LINKED NOTES 7.0% | ||||||
Deutsche Bank: | ||||||
36.2%, 11/2/07 (a) |
20,966,819
|
18,751,674 | ||||
33.25%, 2/1/08 (b) |
18,800,000
|
17,672,940 | ||||
Goldman Sachs Group (The): | ||||||
40%, 2/19/08 (c) |
18,650,000
|
17,646,070 | ||||
40%, 3/19/08 (d) |
18,412,000
|
19,516,168 | ||||
Lehman Brothers Inc.: | ||||||
41.66%, 2/9/08 (e) |
18,800,000
|
17,099,916 | ||||
39.35%, 3/5/08 (f) |
18,632,000
|
19,807,679 | ||||
37.51%, 3/19/08 (g) |
18,412,000
|
18,472,944 | ||||
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.: | ||||||
30%, 10/3/07 (h) |
13,655,000
|
7,100,327 | ||||
30%, 10/23/07 (i) | 8,905,000 | 8,819,058 | ||||
Morgan Stanley: | ||||||
30%, 10/19/07 (j) |
12,100,000
|
10,019,308 | ||||
44.61%, 2/15/08 (k) |
18,600,000
|
16,088,089 | ||||
44%, 3/20/08 (l) |
19,070,000
|
19,743,362 | ||||
190,737,535 | ||||||
TIME DEPOSIT 0.2% | ||||||
BNP Paribas, Grand Cayman, | ||||||
5.15%, 10/1/2007 |
6,539,000
|
6,539,000 | ||||
TOTAL SHORT-TERM | ||||||
HOLDINGS | 197,276,535 | |||||
TOTAL | ||||||
INVESTMENTS 99.5% | 2,733,915,105 | |||||
OTHER ASSETS LESS | ||||||
LIABILITIES 0.5% | 12,909,789 | |||||
NET INVESTMENT | ||||||
ASSETS 100.0% | $2,746,824,894 |
The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes
was $2,681,619,035.
The tax basis gross unrealized appreciation and
depreciation of portfolio securities were $209,867,849 and $157,571,779,
respectively.
See footnotes on page 10.
9
Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) | September 30, 2007 |
* | Non-income producing security. | |||||||
| At September 30, 2007, Tri-Continental Corporation owned one limited partnership investment that was purchased through a private offering and cannot be sold without prior registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or pursuant to an exemption therefrom. The investment is valued at fair value as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The acquisition date of the investment in the limited partnership, along with the cost and value at September 30, 2007, was as follows: |
Investment | Acquisition Date(s) | Cost | Value | ||||
WCAS Capital Partners II, L.P. | 12/11/90 to 3/24/98 | $4,292,803 | $1,785,291 |
| The security
may be offered and sold only to a qualified institutional buyer under
Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These notes are exchangeable
at maturity, based on the terms of the respective notes, for shares of
common stock of a company or cash at a maturity value which is generally
determined as follows: The principal amount of the notes plus or minus the lesser of A) the lowest return of the companies respective stock price(s) determined at maturity from the date of purchase of the notes, or B) the percent limit indicated below in parentheses: |
||
(a) | Herbalife Ltd., JetBlue Airways Corporation and Qwest Communications International Inc. (+10%) | ||
(b) | Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc., OfficeMax, Inc. and Qwest Communications International Inc. (+20%) | ||
(c) | Delta Air Lines, Inc., Discover Financial Services and SAVVIS, Inc. (no limit) | ||
(d) | Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc., UTI Worldwide Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. (no limit) | ||
(e) | Network Appliance, Inc., Rite Aid Corporation and Yahoo! Inc. (+20%) | ||
(f) | Boston Scientific Corporation, Comverse Technology, Inc. and Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (no limit) | ||
(g) | Comverse Technology, Inc., Kohls Corporation and Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (no limit) | ||
(h) | Archer Daniels Midland Company, Countrywide Financial Corporation and Foot Locker, Inc. (+10%) | ||
(i) | Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc., Seagate Technology LLC and Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation (+5%) | ||
(j) | Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc., Alcatel-Lucent ADR and UTI Worldwide Inc. (+9%) | ||
(k) | QIMONDA AG ADR, Rite Aid Corporation and Washington Mutual, Inc. (+20%) | ||
(l) | Boston Scientific Corporation, Fortress Investment Group LLC and Rite Aid Corporation (no limit) | ||
ADR American Depositary Receipts. |
|||
Security Valuation Securities traded on an exchange are valued at the last sales price on the primary exchange or market on which they are traded. Securities not listed on an exchange or security market, or securities for which there is no last sales price, are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices or are valued by J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated (the Manager) based on quotations provided by primary market makers in such securities. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (or are otherwise no longer valid or reliable) are valued at fair value determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Directors. This can occur in the event of, among other things, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, market disruptions, intra-day trading halts, and extreme market volatility. The determination of fair value involves subjective judgments. As a result, using fair value to price a security may result in a price materially different from the prices used by other investment companies to determine net asset value or the price that may be realized upon the actual sale of the security. Short-term holdings that mature in more than 60 days are valued at current market quotations. Short-term holdings maturing in 60 days or less are valued at current market quotations or amortized cost if the Manager believes it approximates fair value. |
10
Stockholder Services
Tri-Continental provides a number of services to make maintaining an investment in its Common Stock more convenient. Please consult Tri-Continentals prospectus for the terms and conditions of these services.
Distribution Policy. Holders of Tri-Continental Common Stock will receive quarterly distributions equal to a minimum of 2.75% of the net asset value of Tri-Continentals Common Stock on the last business day of the preceding calendar quarter (approximately 11% annually). The payment options for receiving distributions are:
You can change your payment election at any time by contacting your financial advisor or Stockholder Services at 800-TRI-1092.
Automatic Dividend Investment and Cash Purchase Plan. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the prospectus, Stockholders may automatically purchase additional shares with distribution payments. There is no charge for this service. Stockholders may also, subject to the terms and conditions of the prospectus, purchase additional shares directly from the Corporation. There is a service fee of a maximum of $2.00 for each cash purchase transaction.
Automatic Cash Withdrawal Plan. Stockholders who hold Common Stock with a market value of $5,000 or more may elect to receive a fixed amount from their investment at regular intervals by selling their shares to the Corporation.
Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Stockholders who have earned income and are under age 70 1 / 2 may contribute up to $4,000 per year to a Traditional IRA for 2007 ($5,000 per year in 2008). A working or non-working spouse may also contribute up to $4,000 to a separate Traditional IRA for 2007 ($5,000 per year in 2008). Additionally, individuals who reach age 50 prior to the end of a taxable year may make catch-up contributions to a Traditional IRA of up to $1,000. Contributions to a Traditional IRA may be deductible or non-deductible. If you are single and not covered by an employers retirement plan, your contribution will always be deductible. For individuals who are covered by a plan, contributions will be fully deductible if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) in 2007 is less than $51,000 ($53,000 in 2008). For spouses who are both covered by a plan, contributions will be fully deductible if your MAGI is less than $83,000 ($85,000 in 2008). If one spouse does not work or is not covered by a retirement plan, that spouses contribution will be fully deductible provided your household MAGI does not exceed $156,000 ($159,000 in 2008). If your contribution is not deductible, you may still take advantage of the tax-deferred accumulation of earnings in your Traditional IRA.
Rollover IRA. You may be eligible to roll over a distribution of assets received from another IRA, a qualified employee benefit plan, or tax-deferred annuity into a Rollover IRA with Tri-Continental. To avoid a tax penalty, the transfer to a Rollover IRA must occur within 60 days of receipt of the qualifying distribution. If you do not make a direct transfer of a distribution from a qualified employee benefit plan or a tax-deferred annuity to a Rollover IRA, the payor of the distribution must withhold 20% of the distribution.
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Stockholder Services (continued)
Roth IRA. You (and a working or non-working spouse) may each make an after-tax contribution of up to $4,000 per year ($5,000 in 2008) to a Roth IRA provided you have earned income and meet the eligibility requirements. Your MAGI must be less than $95,000 for individuals ($101,000 in 2008) or $150,000 for married couples ($159,000 in 2008) to be eligible to make a full contribution to a Roth IRA. You are eligible to make a partial Roth IRA contribution if your MAGI is below $110,000 for individuals ($116,000 in 2008) or $160,000 for married couples ($169,000 in 2008). Total combined contributions to a Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA cannot exceed $4,000 in any year. Additionally, individuals who reach age 50 prior to the end of a taxable year may make catch-up contributions to either a Roth IRA or Traditional IRA of up to $1,000. Earnings grow tax-free and will be distributed to you tax-free and penalty-free provided that you hold your account for at least five years and you take the distribution either after age 59½, for disability, upon death, or to make a first-time home purchase (up to $10,000). Unlike a Traditional IRA, you may contribute to a Roth IRA even if you are over age 70½ (if you have earned income), and you are not required to take minimum distributions at age 70½. You may convert an existing Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA to take advantage of tax-free distributions. You must pay taxes on any earnings and deductible contributions in your Traditional IRA when converting it to a Roth IRA. Talk to your financial advisor for more details on converting your Traditional IRA.
Retirement Planning Qualified Plans. Unincorporated businesses and the self-employed may take advantage of the same benefits in their retirement plans that are available to corporations. Contribution levels can go as high as 100% of earned income (reduced by plan contributions), to a maximum of $45,000 per participant ($46,000 in 2008). For retirement plan purposes, no more than $225,000 may be taken into account as earned income under the plan in 2007 ($230,000 in 2008). Social Security integration and employee vesting schedules are also available as options in the Tri-Continental prototype retirement plans. Although you already may be participating in an employers retirement plan, you may be eligible to establish another plan based upon income from other sources, such as directors fees.
Retirement Plan Services provides information about our prototype retirement plans. The toll-free telephone number is (800) 445-1777 in the US and (212) 682-7600 outside the US.
Stock Repurchase Program. On March 20, 2007, Tri-Continental suspended the open-market purchases portion of its stock repurchase program pending the outcome of the vote of Stockholders of the Corporation on a proposal to implement a Distribution Policy. The Distribution Policy was approved by Stockholders on May 30, 2007, and the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of common stock in the open market if the discount to net asset value is greater than 5%. The Board intends such repurchases to moderate the growth in the number of outstanding shares resulting from the investment by Stockholders of distributions received under the Distribution Policy. The Corporation recommenced its open market purchases in August 2007 following the first distribution paid under the Distribution Policy.
On November 15, 2007, the Board of Directors voted to renew Tri-Continentals stock repurchase program. The program allows the Corporation to repurchase up to 5% of its common stock in the open market from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008, as long as its discount to NAV exceeds 5%.
12
Board of Directors
Maureen Fonseca (3) | William C. Morris | ||
Head of School, The Masters School | Chairman and Director, J. & W. Seligman & Co. | ||
Trustee, Newark Academy, New York State | Incorporated, Carbo Ceramics Inc., Seligman | ||
Association of Independent Schools, | Advisors, Inc., and Seligman Services, Inc. | ||
and Greens Farms Academy | Director, Seligman Data Corp. | ||
Commissioner, Middle States Association | President and Chief Executive Officer, | ||
The Metropolitan Opera Association | |||
John R. Galvin (1,3) | |||
Dean Emeritus, Fletcher School of Law | Leroy C. Richie (1,3) | ||
and Diplomacy at Tufts University | Counsel, Lewis & Munday, P.C. | ||
Chairman Emeritus, American Council | Director, Vibration Control Technologies, LLC | ||
on Germany | Lead Outside Director, Digital Ally Inc. and | ||
Infinity, Inc. | |||
John F. Maher (1,3) | Director and Chairman, Highland Park Michigan | ||
Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, | Economic Development Corp. | ||
Great Western Financial Corporation and its | Chairman, Detroit Public Schools Foundation | ||
principal subsidiary, Great Western Bank | |||
Robert L. Shafer (2,3) | |||
Frank A. McPherson (2,3) | Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the Sovereign | ||
Retired Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive | Military Order of Malta to the United Nations | ||
Officer, Kerr-McGee Corporation | |||
Director, DCP Midstream GP, LLP, Integris | James N. Whitson (1,3) | ||
Health, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, | Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Operating | ||
Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence in Education, | Officer, Sammons Enterprises, Inc. | ||
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, and | Director, CommScope, Inc. | ||
Oklahoma City Museum of Art | |||
Brian T. Zino | |||
Betsy S. Michel (2,3) | Director and President, | ||
Attorney | J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated | ||
Trustee, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and | Director, Seligman Advisors, Inc. and | ||
Drew University | Seligman Services, Inc. | ||
Chairman, Seligman Data Corp. | |||
Member of the Board of Governors, | |||
Investment Company Institute | |||
Member: | (1) Audit Committee | ||
(2) Director Nominating Committee | |||
(3) Board Operations Committee |
13
Executive Officers | ||
William C. Morris | Thomas G. Rose | |
Chairman | Vice President | |
Brian T. Zino | Lawrence P. Vogel | |
President and Chief Executive Officer | Vice President and Treasurer | |
John B. Cunningham | Frank J. Nasta | |
Vice President | Secretary | |
Eleanor T.M. Hoagland | Marco F. Acosta | |
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer | Assistant Vice President | |
Charles W. Kadlec | ||
Vice President |
Additional Fund Information | |||||
Manager |
Important Telephone Numbers
|
||||
J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated |
(800) TRI-1092
|
Stockholder Services
|
|||
100 Park Avenue |
(800) 445-1777 |
Retirement Plan Services |
|||
New York, NY 10017 |
(212) 682-7600
|
Outside the United States
|
|||
Stockholder Service Agent |
(800) 622-4597
|
24-Hour Automated
|
|||
Seligman Data Corp. |
|
Telephone Access Service
|
|||
100 Park Avenue | |||||
New York, NY 10017 | |||||
Mail Inquiries To: | |||||
P.O. Box 9759 | |||||
Providence, RI 02940-9759 |
This report is intended only for the information of Stockholders who have received the current prospectus covering shares of Common Stock of Tri-Continental Corporation, which contains information about investment objectives, risks, management fees and other costs. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing and may be obtained by calling Stockholder Services at 800-TRI-1092.
END OF THIRD QUARTER REPORT |
14