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 811-0266 Tri-Continental Corporation (Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter) 100 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) Lawrence P. Vogel 100 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 (Name and address of agent for service) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 850-1864 Date of fiscal year end: 12/31 Date of reporting period: 12/31/04
FORM N-CSR ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.
75th Annual Report 2004
Tri-Continental
Corporation
an investment you can live with
Tri-Continental Corporation invests to
produce future growth of both capital
and income, while providing reasonable
current income.
TY is Tri-Continental Corporations symbol for its Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange.
Tri-Continental Corporation
February 23, 2005
To the Stockholders:
Your annual Stockholder report for Tri-Continental Corporation follows this letter. This report contains a discussion with your Portfolio Managers, Tri-Continentals investment results, the Corporations portfolio of investments, and audited financial statements.
For the year ended December 31, 2004, Tri-Continental posted a total return of 13.36% based on net asset value and 12.95% based on market price. During the same time period, the Standard & Poors 500 Composite Stock Index (S&P 500) returned 10.87% and the Lipper Closed-End Growth & Income Funds Average returned 13.29%.
Tri-Continentals net asset value increased by $2.32 per share for the year ended December 31, 2004. The Corporation had net realized capital gains in 2004 of $1.80 per share. However, federal tax laws require that these gains be used first to offset any remaining capital loss carryforwards that were realized during 2002-2003 following the bear market. As a consequence, Tri-Continental did not pay a capital gain distribution this year, which we realize is disappointing to many Stockholders.
Over time, we are confident that we will be able to offset the remainder of Tri-Continentals capital loss carryforward with additional realized gains and resume capital gain payments. However, we cannot predict exactly when this will occur. In the interim, any net realized capital gains, like any net unrealized gains, will be reflected in an increase in Tri-Continentals NAV and, importantly, will not be taxable to Stockholders who maintain their investment.
Many thanks to those Stockholders who participated in Tri-Continentals 2004 Mid-Year Survey. We value your feedback and appreciate the opportunity to hear your thoughts and concerns. Survey results can be found on pages 9 and 10 of this report.
We thank you for your continued support of Tri-Continental Corporation and look forward to serving your investment needs for many years to come.
By order of the Board of Directors,
William C. Morris
Chairman
Brian T. Zino |
1
Tri-Continental Corporation
Interview With Your Portfolio Managers, John Cunningham
and Michael McGarry
What were Tri-Continentals investment results in 2004?
For the year ended December 31, 2004, Tri-Continental Corporation posted a total return of 13.36% based on net asset value and 12.95% based on market price. During the same time period, the Standard & Poors 500 Composite Stock Index (S&P 500) returned 10.87%, and the Corporations peers, as measured by the Lipper Closed-End Growth & Income Funds Average, returned 13.29% .
What market conditions and events materially affected Tri-Continentals performance during the year ended December 31, 2004?
Overall, 2004 was a good year for investors, although much of the stock markets advance came in the fourth quarter. The stock market held on to the strong gains of 2003 and produced returns that are consistent with longer-term performance high single- to low double-digit returns. Aside from a few ups and downs, the US economy remained strong, corporate profits grew at a healthy pace, and consumers continued to spend. That is not to say that investors were free from worry during 2004. Job creation remained sluggish throughout much of the year. Hostilities in Iraq also continued during the period. From March to June, there was a sharp increase in long-term interest rates (the 10-year Treasury yield rose nearly 0.75% during the quarter), which rattled the equity market. One reason for the increase in rates was the strong jobs report released in March, which created positive investor sentiment on the direction of the economy. Then, during the second half of the year, investors had concerns about slow economic growth and decelerating corporate profit growth. During the third quarter, there was a sharp increase in the price of oil and other commodity prices; this was due, in part, to the continued strong economic growth in China. As oil prices began to moderate at the end of October, the equity market started its year-end rally. A quick and decisive resolution to the US presidential election, after much uncertainty leading up to the event, also cheered investors.
The Federal Reserve Board, confident in the economic recovery, began a series of incremental interest-rate increases in June. In what were widely anticipated moves, the Fed raised the short-term federal funds rate on five occasions during 2004, for a total increase of 1.25% . Short-term interest rates, which had started the year at 1.00%, ended the year at 2.25% . Despite second-quarter volatility, long-term rates, as measured by the 10-year Treasury, ended the year little changed. The US dollar weakened in comparison to other major currencies, particularly in the fourth quarter. Concerns about the US current account deficit and budget deficit played a role in the dollars decline.
A Team Approach
Tri-Continental Corporation is managed by the Seligman Core Investment Team, headed by John B. Cunningham. He and Co-Portfolio Manager Michael McGarry are assisted by a group of seasoned professionals who are responsible for research and trading consistent with Tri-Continentals investment objective. Team members include Francis Fay (trader), Claudia Francois, Edward Mehalick, Brian Turner, and Nancy Wu.
(continued on page 4)
2
Tri-Continental Corporation
Investment Results Per Common Share
|
||||||||||||
TOTAL RETURNS | ||||||||||||
For Periods Ended December 31, 2004
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Three | One | Five |
|
|||||||||
Months* | Year | Years | Years | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Market Price | 10.73 | % | 12.95 | % | (3.17 | )% | 9.22 | % | ||||
Net Asset Value | 10.30 | 13.36 | (2.85 | ) | 9.26 | |||||||
Lipper Closed-End | ||||||||||||
Growth & Income
|
||||||||||||
Funds Average**
|
9.16 | 13.29 | 3.13 | 10.37 | ||||||||
S&P 500** | 9.22 | 10.87 | (2.30 | ) | 12.07 |
PRICE PER SHARE
December 31, 2004 | September 30, 2004 | June 30, 2004 | March 31, 2004 | December 31, 2003 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Market Price | $18.28 | $16.61 | $16.83 | $17.20 | $16.40 | ||||
Net Asset Value | 21.87 | 19.95 | 20.33 | 20.10 | 19.55 |
DIVIDEND, CAPITAL GAIN AND YIELD INFORMATION
For the Year Ended December 31, 2004
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||
Dividends Paid | Realized | Unrealized |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
$0.23 | $1.79 | $2.35 | $1.45 | % |
* | Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. | |
** | The Lipper Closed-End Growth & Income Funds Average (the Lipper Average) and the Standard & Poors | |
500 Composite Stock Index (the S&P 500) are unmanaged benchmarks that assume reinvestment of all | ||
distributions. The Lipper Average excludes the effect of any costs associated with the purchase of shares, and the | ||
S&P 500 excludes the effect of fees and sales charges. The Lipper Average measures the performance of closed- | ||
end mutual funds that combine a growth-of-earnings orientation and an income requirement for level and/or | ||
rising dividends. 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 $2.50 per share. | |
| Information does not reflect the effect of capital loss carryforwards that are available to offset these and future | |
capital gains. See Note 6 to Financial Statements. | ||
| Represents the per share amount of net unrealized appreciation of portfolio securities as of December 31, 2004. | |
Ø | Current yield, representing the annualized yield for the 30-day period ended December 31, 2004, has been | |
computed in accordance with SEC regulations and will vary. | ||
1 | The reference to Seligmans website is an inactive textual reference and information contained in or otherwise | |
accessible through Seligmans website does not form a part of this report or the Corporations prospectus. |
3
Tri-Continental Corporation
Interview With Your Portfolio Managers (continued)
What investment strategies or techniques materially affected Tri-Continentals performance during the period?
In 2004, the Corporation performed well both on an absolute basis and relative to the benchmark S&P 500 Index. The stock market favored old economy sectors such as energy, industrials, materials, and utilities during the year. Value stocks outperformed growth stocks, and investors paid more attention to dividend-paying stocks. Tri-Continentals portfolio continued to pursue its strategy of paying close attention to company fundamentals and valuation, and was able to take advantage of these market themes.
On an absolute basis, energy and utilities were the strongest-performing sectors in Tri-Continentals portfolio. Tri-Continentals largest sector weightings were in financials, information technology, and industrials. Stock selection in the financials sector was a slight negative in terms of performance relative to the S&P 500. Tri-Continental was somewhat overweighted in the information technology sector, which was among the markets weaker-performing sectors. This overweighting detracted slightly from relative investment results, but Tri-Continentals technology holdings as a whole performed better than those of the benchmark. Industrial stocks performed strongly in 2004, and Tri-Continentals stock selection in this area was a major positive contributor to relative investment results; Tri-Continentals industrial conglomerate holdings performed especially well. Given the run-up in oil prices during the year, Tri-Continentals overweighting in the energy sector boosted both relative and absolute investment results. Health care was the S&P 500s worst-performing sector during 2004, but because of good stock selection, Tri-Continentals health care holdings performed well and were additive to relative investment results.
4
Tri-Continental Corporation
Highlights of the Year
Net asset value of each share of Common Stock was $21.87 at December 31, compared to $19.55 at the start of the year. Assuming the reinvestment of dividends in additional shares, the total return was 13.36% .
Operating expenses for the year were $15,384,216. The ratio of expenses to average net investment assets was 0.65%, down slightly from 2003s expense ratio of 0.68% .
Common Stock dividends, paid quarterly, totaled $0.23 per share on an average of 115,130,000 shares, compared to $0.17 in 2003 when, on average, there were approximately 5,431,000 more shares outstanding. The fourth quarter dividend of $0.11 per share included a special dividend of $0.07 per share resulting from a special dividend paid to the Corporation by Microsoft, one of its largest portfolio holdings.
Preferred Stock dividends, paid each quarter, completed 75 years of uninterrupted payments. Total net investment income available to cover the $2.50 Preferred Stock dividend was equivalent to $39.63 per Preferred share.
Stock Repurchase Program
For the period from November 20, 2003, through November 18, 2004, the Corporation repurchased 5,931,023 shares, representing 5.0% of outstanding shares at the beginning of the period. This compares to 7,729,824 shares repurchased in the year ended November 20, 2003, representing 6.2% of shares outstanding.
The shares acquired during the current period were repurchased at discounts that ranged from 11.9% to 18.2% . As a consequence, the repurchase program increased the Corporations net asset value by approximately $0.07 per share, or 0.72% .
5
Tri-Continental Corporation
Highlights of the Year (continued)
Assets at Year End: |
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets | $ | 2,530,457,318 |
$
|
2,352,147,028 | ||||
Amounts owed | 22,039,411 | 3,510,600 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net Investment Assets | $ | 2,508,417,907 |
$
|
2,348,636,428 | ||||
Preferred Stock, at par value | 37,637,000 | 37,637,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net Assets for Common Stock | $ | 2,470,780,907 |
$
|
2,310,999,428 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Common shares outstanding | 112,984,675 | 118,188,251 | ||||||
Net Assets Behind Each Common Share | $21.87 | $19.55 | ||||||
Taxable Gain: | ||||||||
Net capital gains realized | $ | 203,137,280 |
$
|
7,912,646 | ||||
Per Common share | $1.80 | $0.07 | ||||||
Accumulated capital losses, end of year. | $ | (521,908,897 | ) |
$
|
(725,576,957 | ) | ||
Per Common share, end of year | $(4.62 | ) | $(6.14 | ) | ||||
Unrealized capital gains, end of year | $ | 265,947,044 |
$
|
222,507,204 | ||||
Per Common share, end of year | $2.35 | $1.88 | ||||||
Income: | ||||||||
Total investment income earned | $ | 45,179,963 |
$
|
35,893,603 | ||||
Expenses | 15,384,216 | 14,319,200 | ||||||
Preferred Stock dividends | 1,881,850 | 1,881,850 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income for Common Stock | $ | 27,913,897 |
$
|
19,692,553 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Expenses to average net investment assets | 0.65 | % | 0.68 | % | ||||
Expenses to average net assets for Common Stock. | 0.66 | % | 0.70 | % | ||||
Dividends per Common Share | $0.23 | $0.17 |
6
Tri-Continental Corporation
Stockholder Services
Tri-Continental provides a number of services to make maintaining an investment in its Common Stock more convenient.
Purchases of Common Stock. Under the Automatic Dividend Investment and Cash Purchase Plan, and other Stockholder plans, purchases of Common Stock are made by the Corporation in the open market or elsewhere to satisfy Plan requirements. Those shares are then sold to Stockholders using the Plan. During 2004, 3,355,911 shares were purchased by Stockholders through the Plan.
The Corporation may make additional purchases of its Common Stock in the open market at such prices and in such amounts as the Board of Directors may deem advisable. As discussed further under Stock Repurchase Program on page 12, during 2004 the Corporation purchased 2,638,515 additional shares.
Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA). You may contribute up to $4,000 per year to a Traditional IRA provided you have earned income and are under age 70 1 / 2 . A working or non-working spouse may also contribute up to $4,000 to a separate Traditional IRA. Individuals age 50 and over may contribute up to $500 extra as catch-up contributions. Contributions to a Traditional IRA may be deductible or non-deductible. If you are single and are 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 2005 is less than $50,000. For spouses who are both covered by a plan, contributions will be fully deductible if your MAGI is less than $70,000. 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 $150,000. 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 generally 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.
Roth IRA. You (and a working or non-working spouse) may each make an after-tax contribution of up to $4,000 per year to a Roth IRA provided you have earned income and meet the eligibility requirements. Your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) must be less than $95,000 (individuals) or $150,000 (married couples) 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 (individuals) or $160,000 (married couples). Total contributions to a Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA cannot exceed $4,000 in any year. Individuals age 50 and over may contribute up to $500 extra as catch-up contributions. 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 59 1 / 2 , 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 70 1 / 2 (if you have earned income), and you are not required to take minimum distributions at age 70 1 / 2 . You may convert an
7
Tri-Continental Corporation
Stockholder Services (continued)
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 before 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, to a maximum of $42,000 per participant. For retirement plan purposes, no more than $210,000 may be taken into account as earned income under the plan in 2005 and future years (subject to adjustments to reflect cost of living increases). 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 Continental US and (212) 682-7600 outside the US.
Gifts Free of Federal Tax are often made using Tri-Continental Common Stock. You may give as much as $11,000 a year to as many individuals as desired free of federal gift tax, and a married couple may give up to $22,000 a year.
The Automatic Cash Withdrawal Plan enables owners of Common shares with a market value of $5,000 or more to receive a fixed amount from their investment at regular intervals. Investors use the plan to supplement current or retirement income, for educational expenses, or for other purposes.
Federal Taxes
Quarterly dividends paid on both the Preferred and Common Stocks for 2004 are subject to federal income tax as ordinary income. Under the Internal Revenue Code, 100% of the 2004 quarterly dividends paid to Common and Preferred Stockholders qualifies for the dividends received deduction available to corporate Stockholders. In order to claim the dividends received deduction for these distributions, corporate Stockholders must have held their shares for 46 days or more during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before each ex-dividend date.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the Corporation designates 100%, or the maximum allowable, of its dividend distributions paid to Common and Preferred Stockholders as qualified dividend income. In order for an individual to claim dividends received as qualified dividends, individual Common Stockholders must have held their shares for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before each ex-dividend date, while Preferred Stockholders must have held their shares for more than 90 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before each ex-dividend date.
8
Tri-Continental Corporation
Stockholder Survey Results
In Tri-Continentals 2004 Mid-Year Report, the Corporation enclosed a survey card designed to garner feedback from Stockholders. We are pleased to announce that we received over 2,300 responses and would like to thank you for taking the time to respond.
The mail-in card allows us to track general trends in Stockholder demographics and satisfaction. Of the 2,300 Stockholders who responded, roughly 47% were registered and 53% were street name. Below you will find a summary of the results. Although the number of responses we received was large, that does not necessarily mean that the results tabulated below are representative of the Corporations Stockholders taken as a group.
Registered | Street Name | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
1.
|
Are You | Male | 68.1 | % | 79.5 | % | |||
Female | 30.1 | % | 19.5 | % | |||||
Joint Account | 1.9 | % | 1.0 | % | |||||
2.
|
How old are you? | Under 18 | 0.5 | % | 0.2 | % | |||
18 - 34 | 1.9 | % | 0.7 | % | |||||
35 - 49 | 4.9 | % | 3.3 | % | |||||
50 - 64 | 13.9 | % | 18.4 | % | |||||
65 or older | 78.8 | % | 77.4 | % | |||||
3.
|
How long have you been a Tri-Continental Stockholder? | ||||||||
0 to 5 years | 3.8 | % | 12.7 | % | |||||
5 to 10 years | 9.9 | % | 17.9 | % | |||||
10 to 15 years | 14.0 | % | 23.3 | % | |||||
More than 15 years | 71.2 | % | 44.7 | % | |||||
No answer | 1.1 | % | 1.4 | % | |||||
4.
|
Overall, how satisfied are you as a Stockholder of Tri-Continental Corporation? | ||||||||
(Very Satisfied) | 1 | 11.3 | % | 7.9 | % | ||||
2 | 17.6 | % | 14.9 | % | |||||
3 | 27.0 | % | 30.4 | % | |||||
4 | 19.8 | % | 21.2 | % | |||||
(Not at all satisfied) | 5 | 22.6 | % | 23.5 | % | ||||
No answer | 1.8 | % | 2.1 | % |
9
Tri-Continental Corporation
Stockholder Survey Results (continued)
Registered | Street Name | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
5.
|
How satisfied are you with Tri-Continentals Stockholder Services department? | |||||||||
(Very satisfied) | 1 | 29.6 | % | 19.8 | % | |||||
2 | 30.7 | % | 27.5 | % | ||||||
3 | 24.5 | % | 32.6 | % | ||||||
4 | 8.9 | % | 11.7 | % | ||||||
(Not at all satisfied) | 5 | 6.4 | % | 8.4 | % | |||||
Never contacted* | 48.2 | % | 69.7 | % | ||||||
No answer* | 2.9 | % | 2.9 | % | ||||||
6.
|
Before reading this question, were you aware of Tri-Continentals Stock Repurchase Program? | |||||||||
. |
||||||||||
Yes | 83.2 | % | 76.8 | % | ||||||
No | 15.4 | % | 21.4 | % | ||||||
No answer | 1.4 | % | 1.8 | % | ||||||
7. | Now that you are familiar with it, how favorably do you feel about the Stock Repurchase Program? | |||||||||
(Very favorable) | 1 | 25.0 | % | 28.3 | % | |||||
2 | 22.4 | % | 21.4 | % | ||||||
3 | 30.0 | % | 25.4 | % | ||||||
4 | 5.4 | % | 5.8 | % | ||||||
(Not at all favorable) | 5 | 9.2 | % | 10.5 | % | |||||
No answer | 7.9 | % | 8.5 | % | ||||||
8. | Tri-Continentals common stock trades at a discount to its net asset value. Were you aware of this before reading this question? | |||||||||
Yes | 80.2 | % | 84.1 | % | ||||||
No | 12.2 | % | 10.2 | % | ||||||
Dont Know | 5.6 | % | 4.3 | % | ||||||
No answer | 2.0 | % | 1.4 | % | ||||||
9.
|
As far as Tri-Continentals discount is concerned are you
|
|||||||||
Pleased | 19.8 | % | 18.9 | % | ||||||
Indifferent | 35.4 | % | 31.1 | % | ||||||
Concerned | 32.3 | % | 39.7 | % | ||||||
Dont Know | 8.9 | % | 7.5 | % | ||||||
No answer | 3.6 | % | 2.9 | % |
10
Tri-Continental Corporation
A History of Building Long-Term Wealth and Income
Tri-Continental invests primarily to produce long-term growth of both capital and income, while providing reasonable current income. The chart below shows the growth of Tri-Continental Stockholders capital over the past 20 years. The total cost of 1,000 shares of Tri-Continental purchased on December 31, 1984, was $24,875. Stockholders who took capital gain distributions in shares would have realized more than a three and a half-fold increase in the market value of these 1,000 shares to $106,166 by year-end 2004. For those who chose to take their dividends as well as capital gains in additional shares, the value of their investment in Tri-Continental Corporation would have grown to a market value of $178,513 at the end of 2004.
A History of Building Wealth
* Assumes the Stockholder did not exercise or sell the transferable rights distributed in connection with the 1993 rights offering. Either the exercise or sale of the rights would improve the above results.
For the 20-year period ended December 31, 2004. The information provided above is based on past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and excludes any commissions or sales charges associated with the purchase of Tri-Continental shares. The rate 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. If commissions or sales charges had been included, performance would have been lower. In addition, capital gain and dividend distributions taken in additional shares are subject to personal income tax in the year earned. The examples shown do not reflect the effect of such taxes.
11
Tri-Continental Corporation
Stock Repurchase Program
In November 2004, the Board of Directors authorized the renewal of Tri-Continentals ongoing share repurchase program, which began in November 1998. The program authorizes the Corporation to repurchase up to 5.6% of the Corporations shares through December 31, 2005, provided that the discount remains wider than 10%. The Boards decision benefits all Stockholders, allowing them to continue to enjoy the advantages of Tri-Continentals closed-end structure, while seeking, among other things, to increase the NAV of the Corporations outstanding shares.
For the 12 months ended November 18, 2004, the Corporation repurchased 5.9 million shares, 5.0% of stock outstanding November 20, 2003. The Corporation bought back 4.4% of stock outstanding in both the first and second years the program was in place, 6.2% in the third year, 7.4% in the fourth year and 6.2% in the fifth year.
Introduce Tri-Continental to a Friend
Introduce Tri-Continental to a Friend is a program designed to help encourage potential investors to consider investing in Tri-Continental. The initiative targets the more than 44,000 current Stockholders of record, individual investors, Wall Street analysts, and financial consultants through a comprehensive effort including advertising, direct mail, and one-on-one meetings. Tri-Continental has also published a brochure that traces its history since its launch in 1929.
Reply cards allowing Stockholders to request The Story of Tri-Continental brochure and the Introduce Tri-Continental to a Friend investor package have been inserted in the Mid-Year and Annual Reports since the programs inception. Response has been excellent, with several thousand copies of the brochure and the investor package distributed to date. A new reply card is inserted in this Annual Report.
Stockholders are invited to request that an investor package be sent to one or more family members, friends, or associates. This package includes a letter from Mr. William C. Morris, Tri-Continentals Chairman, a copy of the most recent Stockholder Report, a Prospectus, The Story of Tri-Continental brochure, and a pamphlet explaining the attributes of closed-end funds.
www.tricontinental.com*
Now Stockholders can get the latest Tri-Continental information including daily net asset values, monthly fact sheets, portfolio manager commentary, recent reports, and more over the Internet, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Tri-Continentals website has been developed for the convenience of current Stockholders and to let the world know about Tri-Continental. In addition to up-to-date practical information, the site contains interesting facts about Tri-Continental, including a complete history.
Please stop by www.tricontinental.com.* We hope you find the site a useful one that you will want to visit often.
* | The reference to Tri-Continentals website is an inactive textual reference and information contained in or otherwise accessible through Tri-Continentals website does not form a part of this report or Tri-Continentals prospectus. |
12
Tri-Continental Corporation
Diversification of Net Investment Assets
The diversification of portfolio holdings by industry on December 31, 2004, was as follows. Individual securities owned are listed on pages 16 to 20.
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
2004 | 2003 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Net Cash and Short-Term | |||||||||||||
Holdings | 2 |
$
|
70,005,524 |
$
|
70,005,524 | 2.8 | 2.6 | ||||||
Tri-Continental | |||||||||||||
Financial Division | 2 | 6,881,226 | 3,188,921 | 0.1 | 0.2 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
4 | 76,886,750 | 73,194,445 | 2.9 | 2.8 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Common Stocks: | |||||||||||||
Aerospace and Defense | 1 | 11,551,517 | 14,194,220 | 0.6 | 2.0 | ||||||||
Auto Components | 1 | 15,868,537 | 23,147,195 | 0.9 | 1.0 | ||||||||
Beverages | 2 | 68,360,681 | 64,877,519 | 2.6 | 0.9 | ||||||||
Biotechnology | 2 | 23,211,940 | 25,049,282 | 1.0 | 1.3 | ||||||||
Building Products | 1 | 9,431,317 | 12,179,102 | 0.5 | 0.9 | ||||||||
Capital Markets | 4 | 75,074,498 | 78,906,602 | 3.1 | 5.1 | ||||||||
Chemicals | 2 | 40,115,857 | 51,914,151 | 2.1 | 1.1 | ||||||||
Commercial Banks | 3 | 68,292,678 | 80,344,140 | 3.2 | 3.9 | ||||||||
Commercial Services and Supplies | 2 | 39,146,023 | 43,366,612 | 1.7 | 1.0 | ||||||||
Communications Equipment | 6 | 91,765,773 | 95,281,794 | 3.8 | 1.3 | ||||||||
Computers and Peripherals | 4 | 102,775,550 | 127,892,720 | 5.1 | 4.3 | ||||||||
Consumer Finance | 2 | 38,049,664 | 43,948,182 | 1.8 | 1.3 | ||||||||
Diversified Financial Services | 3 | 98,874,061 | 109,999,192 | 4.4 | 3.5 | ||||||||
Diversified Telecommunication | |||||||||||||
Services | 2 | 45,505,614 | 48,009,443 | 1.9 | | ||||||||
Electric Utilities | 1 | 11,871,137 | 13,240,080 | 0.5 | | ||||||||
Electronic Equipment and | |||||||||||||
Instruments | 1 | 13,866,338 | 13,558,423 | 0.5 | 1.0 | ||||||||
Energy Equipment and Services | 2 | 16,569,687 | 19,235,472 | 0.8 | 1.1 | ||||||||
Food and Staples Retailing | 3 | 90,552,747 | 89,889,266 | 3.6 | 2.3 | ||||||||
Food Products | 2 | 31,210,542 | 34,278,695 | 1.4 | 1.2 | ||||||||
Health Care Equipment and | |||||||||||||
Supplies | 1 | 8,642,743 | 10,147,540 | 0.4 | 0.9 | ||||||||
Health Care Providers | |||||||||||||
and Services | 2 | 35,448,510 | 45,454,266 | 1.8 | 1.6 | ||||||||
Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure | 2 | 42,242,184 | 54,693,437 | 2.2 | 3.3 | ||||||||
Household Durables | | | | | 0.8 | ||||||||
Household Products | 2 | 43,566,963 | 51,769,561 | 2.1 | 1.2 | ||||||||
Index Derivatives | 1 | 18,835,756 | 18,812,960 | 0.8 | 3.0 | ||||||||
Industrial Conglomerates | 2 | 123,061,957 | 143,595,245 | 5.7 | 4.5 | ||||||||
Insurance | 5 | 100,158,328 | 120,114,356 | 4.8 | 5.2 | ||||||||
Internet and Catalog Retail | 1 | 7,517,894 | 17,161,966 | 0.7 | 1.2 | ||||||||
Internet Software and Services | 2 | 25,056,493 | 24,471,413 | 1.0 | | ||||||||
Machinery | 2 | 34,318,348 | 48,832,666 | 1.9 | 2.6 | ||||||||
Media | 4 | 100,343,992 | 100,947,369 | 4.0 | 3.8 | ||||||||
Metals and Mining | 2 | 40,281,430 | 38,957,920 | 1.6 | 2.2 | ||||||||
Multi-Line Retail | 1 | 10,243,636 | 12,463,200 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
(continued on page 14)
13
Tri-Continental Corporation
Diversification of Net Investment Assets (continued)
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
2004 | 2003 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Common Stocks: (continued) | |||||||||||||
Multi-Utilities and Unregulated | |||||||||||||
Power |
1
|
$ | 13,708,555 | $ | 18,863,251 | 0.8 | 0.7 | ||||||
Oil and Gas |
3
|
66,973,868 | 91,164,955 | 3.6 | 6.1 | ||||||||
Paper and Forest Products |
1
|
10,052,084 | 12,705,924 | 0.5 | 1.5 | ||||||||
Pharmaceuticals |
8
|
244,842,988 | 241,838,689 | 9.6 | 7.7 | ||||||||
Real Estate |
|
| | | 0.7 | ||||||||
Semiconductors and | |||||||||||||
Semiconductor Equipment |
4
|
81,102,976 | 73,406,176 | 2.9 | 3.5 | ||||||||
Software |
4
|
129,230,274 | 141,268,954 | 5.6 | 6.6 | ||||||||
Specialty Retail |
2
|
18,912,092 | 23,379,963 | 0.9 | 1.5 | ||||||||
Thrifts and Mortgage Finance |
3
|
39,640,741 | 50,039,257 | 2.0 | 2.0 | ||||||||
Tobacco |
1
|
43,463,320 | 60,396,128 | 2.4 | 2.9 | ||||||||
Wireless Telecommunication | |||||||||||||
Services |
2
|
35,844,820 | 45,426,176 | 1.8 | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
100 |
2,165,584,113 | 2,435,223,462 | 97.1 | 97.2 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net Investment Assets |
104
|
$ | 2,242,470,863 | $ | 2,508,417,907 | 100.0 | 100.0 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14
Tri-Continental Corporation
Largest Portfolio Changes
October 1 to December 31, 2004
Largest Purchases | Largest Sales | |
|
|
|
Alcoa Inc.* | ConocoPhillips** | |
Pfizer Inc. | Aetna Inc.** | |
CIT Group Inc.* | Abbott Laboratories** | |
iShares DJ Select Dividend Index Fund* | L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.** | |
Texas Instruments Incorporated* | U.S. Bancorp** | |
Merck & Co. Inc.* | SPDR Trust, Series I** | |
Andrx Corp. | Apartment Investment & Management Company | |
General Mills, Inc. | Class A** | |
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.* | Occidental Petroleum Corporation** | |
Eli Lilly & Company* | Noble Energy, Inc.** | |
American Tower Corporation Class A |
Largest portfolio changes from the previous period to the current period are based on cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities, listed in descending order.
* | Position added during the period. |
** | Position eliminated during the period. |
10 Largest Equity Holdings | |||||||||||
December 31, 2004 | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
General Electric Company | $ |
98,722 | $ |
97,810 | 17.8 | % | (0.9 | )% | |||
Microsoft Corporation | 80,040 | 78,357 | (2.9 | ) | (2.1 | ) | |||||
Pfizer Inc. | 93,898 | 75,565 | (23.9 | ) | (19.5 | ) | |||||
Citigroup Inc. | 59,529 | 69,544 | (0.7 | ) | 16.8 | ||||||
Exxon Mobil Corporation | 49,162 | 67,044 | 25.0 | 36.4 | |||||||
Altria Group, Inc. | 43,463 | 60,396 | 12.3 | 39.0 | |||||||
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 54,987 | 51,067 | (0.4 | ) | (7.1 | ) | |||||
International Business Machines | |||||||||||
Corporation | 42,192 | 49,292 | 6.4 | 16.8 | |||||||
American International Group, Inc. | 42,347 | 46,278 | (0.9 | ) | 9.3 | ||||||
Tyco International Ltd. | 24,340 | 45,784 | 34.9 | 88.1 | |||||||
|
|
||||||||||
$ |
588,680 | $ |
641,137 | ||||||||
|
|
15
Tri-Continental Corporation
Portfolio of Investments | December 31, 2004 |
|
|||||
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
COMMON STOCKS AND WARRANTS 97.1% | |||||
AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE 0.6% | |||||
General Dynamics Corporation |
135,700
|
shs. |
$
|
14,194,220 | |
|
|
||||
AUTO COMPONENTS 0.9% | |||||
Lear Corp. | 379,400 | 23,147,195 | |||
|
|
||||
BEVERAGES 2.6% | |||||
Coca-Cola Company (The) | 793,300 | 33,025,079 | |||
PepsiCo, Inc. | 610,200 | 31,852,440 | |||
|
|
||||
64,877,519 | |||||
|
|
||||
BIOTECHNOLOGY 1.0% | |||||
Amgen Inc.* | 289,100 | 18,547,211 | |||
Gilead Sciences, Inc.* | 185,800 | 6,502,071 | |||
|
|
||||
25,049,282 | |||||
|
|
||||
BUILDING PRODUCTS 0.5% | |||||
Masco Corporation | 333,400 | 12,179,102 | |||
|
|
||||
CAPITAL MARKETS 3.1% | |||||
Bank of New York Company, Inc. (The) | 770,100 | 25,736,742 | |||
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | 199,000 | 20,703,960 | |||
Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. | 313,400 | 18,731,918 | |||
Morgan Stanley | 247,370 | 13,733,982 | |||
|
|
||||
78,906,602 | |||||
|
|
||||
CHEMICALS 2.1% | |||||
Dow Chemical Co. (The) | 446,100 | 22,086,411 | |||
Praxair, Inc. | 675,600 | 29,827,740 | |||
|
|
||||
51,914,151 | |||||
|
|
||||
COMMERCIAL BANKS 3.2% | |||||
Bank of America Corporation | 630,440 | 29,624,376 | |||
Wachovia Corporation | 716,363 | 37,680,694 | |||
Wells Fargo & Company | 209,800 | 13,039,070 | |||
|
|
||||
80,344,140 | |||||
|
|
||||
COMMERCIAL SERVICES AND SUPPLIES 1.7% | |||||
ServiceMaster Company (The) | 1,379,000 | 19,016,410 | |||
Waste Management Inc. | 813,300 | 24,350,202 | |||
|
|
||||
43,366,612 | |||||
|
|
||||
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT 3.8% | |||||
Andrew Corporation* | 869,700 | 11,858,359 | |||
Cisco Systems, Inc.* | 1,944,180 | 37,503,232 | |||
Lucent Technologies Inc. (Warrants) |
36,077
|
wts. | 56,821 | ||
Nokia Corp. (ADR) |
799,500
|
shs. | 12,528,165 | ||
Nortel Networks Corporation | 3,322,800 | 11,596,572 | |||
QUALCOMM Inc. | 512,100 | 21,738,645 | |||
|
|
||||
95,281,794 | |||||
|
|
16
Tri-Continental Corporation
Portfolio of Investments | December 31, 2004 |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS 5.1% | |||||
Dell Inc.* |
891,960
|
$
|
37,591,654 | ||
EMC Corporation* |
1,756,400
|
26,117,668 | |||
Hewlett-Packard Company |
710,130
|
14,891,426 | |||
International Business Machines Corporation |
500,020
|
49,291,972 | |||
|
|
||||
127,892,720 | |||||
|
|
||||
CONSUMER FINANCE 1.8% | |||||
American Express Company |
453,830
|
25,582,397 | |||
MBNA Corporation |
651,500
|
18,365,785 | |||
|
|
||||
43,948,182 | |||||
|
|
||||
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES 4.4% | |||||
CIT Group Inc. |
436,700
|
20,009,594 | |||
Citigroup Inc. |
1,443,430
|
69,544,457 | |||
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. |
524,100
|
20,445,141 | |||
|
|
||||
109,999,192 | |||||
|
|
||||
DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES 1.9% | |||||
SBC Communications Inc. |
371,500
|
9,573,555 | |||
Verizon Communications Inc. |
948,800
|
38,435,888 | |||
|
|
||||
48,009,443 | |||||
|
|
||||
ELECTRIC UTILITIES 0.5% | |||||
PPL Corporation |
248,500
|
13,240,080 | |||
|
|
||||
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUMENTS 0.5% | |||||
Jabil Circuit, Inc.* |
530,040
|
13,558,423 | |||
|
|
||||
ENERGY EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES 0.8% | |||||
Noble Corporation* |
186,300
|
9,266,562 | |||
Rowan Companies, Inc.* |
384,900
|
9,968,910 | |||
|
|
||||
19,235,472 | |||||
|
|
||||
FOOD AND STAPLES RETAILING 3.6% | |||||
Kroger Company (The)* |
1,549,600
|
27,179,984 | |||
Sysco Corporation |
305,000
|
11,641,850 | |||
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. |
966,820
|
51,067,432 | |||
|
|
||||
89,889,266 | |||||
|
|
||||
FOOD PRODUCTS 1.4% | |||||
Dean Foods Company* |
565,100
|
18,620,045 | |||
General Mills, Inc. |
315,000
|
15,658,650 | |||
|
|
||||
34,278,695 | |||||
|
|
||||
HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES 0.4% | |||||
Alcon, Inc. |
125,900
|
10,147,540 | |||
|
|
||||
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND SERVICES 1.8% | |||||
Andrx Corp.* |
1,516,400
|
33,080,266 | |||
WellPoint Inc. | 107,600
|
12,374,000 | |||
|
|
||||
45,454,266 | |||||
|
|
17
Tri-Continental Corporation
Portfolio of Investments | December 31, 2004 |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND LEISURE 2.2% | |||||
Carnival Corporation |
629,500
|
$
|
36,278,085 | ||
Marriott International, Inc. Class A |
292,400
|
18,415,352 | |||
|
|
||||
54,693,437 | |||||
|
|
||||
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS 2.1% | |||||
Colgate-Palmolive Company |
385,200
|
19,706,832 | |||
Procter & Gamble Company (The) |
582,112
|
32,062,729 | |||
|
|
||||
51,769,561 | |||||
|
|
||||
INDEX DERIVATIVES 0.8% | |||||
iShares DJ Select Dividend Index Fund |
306,400
|
18,812,960 | |||
|
|
||||
INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES 5.7% | |||||
General Electric Company |
2,679,750
|
97,810,875 | |||
Tyco International Ltd. |
1,281,040
|
45,784,370 | |||
|
|
||||
143,595,245 | |||||
|
|
||||
INSURANCE 4.8% | |||||
American International Group, Inc. |
704,700
|
46,277,649 | |||
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. |
212,400
|
14,721,444 | |||
PartnerRe Ltd. |
219,700
|
13,608,218 | |||
Prudential Financial, Inc. |
616,500
|
33,882,840 | |||
XL Capital Ltd. Class A |
149,700
|
11,624,205 | |||
|
|
||||
120,114,356 | |||||
|
|
||||
INTERNET AND CATALOG RETAIL 0.7% | |||||
eBay Inc.* |
147,560
|
17,161,966 | |||
|
|
||||
INTERNET SOFTWARE AND SERVICES 1.0% | |||||
Ask Jeeves, Inc. |
454,900
|
12,166,301 | |||
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. |
499,700
|
12,305,112 | |||
|
|
||||
24,471,413 | |||||
|
|
||||
MACHINERY 1.9% | |||||
Deere & Company |
259,000
|
19,269,600 | |||
Illinois Tool Works Inc. |
318,980
|
29,563,066 | |||
|
|
||||
48,832,666 | |||||
|
|
||||
MEDIA 4.0% | |||||
Clear Channel Communications, Inc.* |
788,900
|
26,420,261 | |||
Time Warner Inc.* |
2,151,000
|
41,815,440 | |||
Tribune Company |
347,700
|
14,652,078 | |||
Univision Communications Inc. Class A* |
617,000
|
18,059,590 | |||
|
|
||||
100,947,369 | |||||
|
|
||||
METALS AND MINING 1.6% | |||||
Alcoa Inc. |
775,600
|
24,369,352 | |||
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. Class B |
381,600
|
14,588,568 | |||
|
|
||||
38,957,920 | |||||
|
|
18
Tri-Continental Corporation
Portfolio of Investments | December 31, 2004 |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
MULTI-LINE RETAIL 0.5% | |||||
Target Corp. |
240,000
|
$
|
12,463,200 | ||
|
|
||||
MULTI-UTILITIES AND UNREGULATED POWER 0.8% | |||||
Duke Energy Corporation |
744,700
|
18,863,251 | |||
|
|
||||
OIL AND GAS 3.6% | |||||
BP p.l.c. (ADR) |
219,800
|
12,836,320 | |||
Chevron Texaco Corporation |
214,900
|
11,284,399 | |||
Exxon Mobil Corporation |
1,307,925
|
67,044,236 | |||
|
|
||||
91,164,955 | |||||
|
|
||||
PAPER AND FOREST PRODUCTS 0.5% | |||||
Weyerhaeuser Company |
189,020
|
12,705,924 | |||
|
|
||||
PHARMACEUTICALS 9.6% | |||||
Forest Laboratories, Inc.* |
394,600
|
17,701,756 | |||
Johnson & Johnson |
541,263
|
34,326,899 | |||
Eli Lilly & Company |
237,400
|
13,472,450 | |||
Merck & Co. Inc. |
636,500
|
20,457,110 | |||
Novartis (ADR) |
851,500
|
43,034,810 | |||
Pfizer Inc. |
2,810,138
|
75,564,611 | |||
Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.* |
332,500
|
10,909,325 | |||
Wyeth |
619,200
|
26,371,728 | |||
|
|
||||
241,838,689 | |||||
|
|
||||
SEMICONDUCTORS AND | |||||
SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT 2.9% | |||||
Broadcom Corporation Class A |
398,500
|
12,865,572 | |||
Intel Corporation |
1,177,590
|
27,573,270 | |||
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ADR) |
1,597,101
|
13,559,388 | |||
Texas Instruments Incorporated |
788,300
|
19,407,946 | |||
|
|
||||
73,406,176 | |||||
|
|
||||
SOFTWARE 5.6% | |||||
Computer Associates International, Inc. |
1,001,300
|
31,100,378 | |||
Microsoft Corp. |
2,933,056
|
78,356,591 | |||
Oracle Corporation* |
561,100
|
7,701,098 | |||
Symantec Corporation* |
935,800
|
24,110,887 | |||
|
|
||||
141,268,954 | |||||
|
|
||||
SPECIALTY RETAIL 0.9% | |||||
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.* |
247,700
|
10,819,536 | |||
Michaels Stores, Inc. |
419,100
|
12,560,427 | |||
|
|
||||
23,379,963 | |||||
|
|
||||
THRIFTS AND MORTGAGE FINANCE 2.0% | |||||
Fannie Mae |
257,500
|
18,336,575 | |||
Freddie Mac |
223,700
|
16,486,690 | |||
Radian Group Inc. |
285,800
|
15,215,992 | |||
|
|
||||
50,039,257 | |||||
|
|
19
Tri-Continental Corporation
Portfolio of Investments | December 31, 2004 |
|
||||||
Principal Amount |
|
|||||
|
|
|
||||
TOBACCO 2.4% | ||||||
Altria Group, Inc. | 988,480 | shs. | $ | 60,396,128 | ||
|
|
|||||
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES 1.8% | ||||||
American Tower Corporation Class A* | 689,600 | 12,688,640 | ||||
Crown Castle International Corp.* | 1,967,400 | 32,737,536 | ||||
|
|
|||||
45,426,176 | ||||||
|
|
|||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS | ||||||
AND WARRANTS (Cost $2,165,584,113) | 2,435,223,462 | |||||
|
|
|||||
TRI-CONTINENTAL | ||||||
FINANCIAL DIVISION 0.1% | ||||||
WCAS Capital Partners II, L.P. | $ 4,673,677 | 2,268,088 | ||||
Whitney Subordinated Debt Fund, L.P. | 2,207,549 | 920,833 | ||||
|
|
|||||
TOTAL TRI-CONTINENTAL | ||||||
FINANCIAL DIVISION (Cost $6,881,226) | 3,188,921 | |||||
|
|
|||||
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS 2.5% | ||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Company 1.4%, dated 12/31/04, | ||||||
maturing 1/3/05, in the amount of $63,597,419, collateralized by: | ||||||
$18,545,000 US Treasury Notes 5.75%, 11/15/05 and | ||||||
$46,585,000 US Treasury Notes 2.625%, 11/15/06, with a | ||||||
fair market value of $65,499,788 (Cost $63,590,000) | 63,590,000 | 63,590,000 | ||||
|
|
|||||
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 99.7% | ||||||
(Cost $2,236,055,339) | 2,502,002,383 | |||||
OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES 0.3% | 6,415,524 | |||||
|
|
|||||
NET ASSETS 100.0% | $ | 2,508,417,907 | ||||
|
|
20
Tri-Continental Corporation
Statement of Assets and Liabilities December 31, 2004
Assets: | ||||
Investments, at value | ||||
Common stocks and warrants (cost$2,165,584,113) | $ | 2,435,223,462 | ||
Tri-Continental Financial Division | ||||
(cost$6,881,226) | 3,188,921 | |||
Repurchase agreements (cost$63,590,000) | 63,590,000 | |||
|
|
|||
Total investments (cost$2,236,055,339) | 2,502,002,383 | |||
Cash | 18,911,300 | |||
Receivable for securities sold | 6,248,432 | |||
Receivable for dividends and interest | 2,777,078 | |||
Investment in, and expenses prepaid to, shareholder service agent | 424,914 | |||
Other | 93,211 | |||
|
|
|||
Total Assets: | 2,530,457,318 | |||
Liabilities: | ||||
Payable for securities purchased | 18,835,756 | |||
Payable for Common Stock repurchased | 1,056,542 | |||
Management fee payable | 865,665 | |||
Preferred dividends payable | 470,463 | |||
Accrued expenses and other | 810,985 | |||
|
|
|||
Total Liabilities | 22,039,411 | |||
|
|
|||
Net Investment Assets | 2,508,417,907 | |||
Preferred Stock | 37,637,000 | |||
|
|
|||
Net Assets for Common Stock | $ | 2,470,780,907 | ||
|
|
|||
Net Assets per share of Common Stock | ||||
(Market value$18.28) | $21.87 | |||
|
||||
Statement of Capital Stock and Surplus December 31, 2004 | ||||
Capital Stock: | ||||
$2.50 Cumulative Preferred Stock, $50 par value, | ||||
assets coverage per share$3,332: | ||||
Shares authorized1,000,000; issued and | ||||
outstanding752,740 | $ | 37,637,000 | ||
Common Stock, $0.50 par value: | ||||
Shares authorized159,000,000; issued and | ||||
outstanding112,984,675 | 56,492,338 | |||
Surplus: | ||||
Capital surplus | 2,669,228,023 | |||
Undistributed net investment income | 1,022,399 | |||
Accumulated net realized loss | (521,908,897 | ) | ||
Net unrealized appreciation of investments | 265,947,044 | |||
|
|
|||
Net Investment Assets | $ | 2,508,417,907 | ||
|
|
21
Tri-Continental Corporation
Statement of Operations For the Year Ended December 31, 2004
Investment Income: | ||||
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $123,154) |
$
|
44,417,774 | ||
Interest | 762,189 | |||
|
|
|||
Total Investment Income | 45,179,963 | |||
|
|
|||
Expenses: | ||||
Management fee | 9,733,362 | |||
Stockholder account and registrar services | 3,736,854 | |||
Custody and related services | 505,358 | |||
Stockholder reports and communications | 353,018 | |||
Directors fees and expenses | 346,625 | |||
Stockholders meeting | 243,221 | |||
Audit and legal fees | 145,137 | |||
Registration | 88,258 | |||
Miscellaneous | 232,383 | |||
|
|
|||
Total Expenses | 15,384,216 | |||
|
|
|||
Net Investment Income | 29,795,747 | * | ||
|
|
|||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain | ||||
on Investments: | ||||
Net realized gain on investments | 202,500,162 | |||
Payments received from the Manager (Note 8) | 637,118 | |||
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments | 43,439,840 | |||
|
|
|||
Net Gain on Investments | 246,577,120 | |||
|
|
|||
Increase in Net Assets from Operations |
$
|
276,372,867 | ||
22
Tri-Continental Corporation
Statements of Changes in Net Investment Assets
|
||||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Operations: | ||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 29,795,747 | $
|
21,574,403 | ||||
Net realized gain on investments | 202,500,162 | 7,912,646 | ||||||
Payments received from the Manager (Note 8) | 637,118 | | ||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | ||||||||
of investments | 43,439,840 | 437,905,421 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Increase in Net Investment Assets from Operations | 276,372,867 | 467,392,470 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Distributions to Stockholders: | ||||||||
Net investment income:* | ||||||||
Preferred Stock (per share: $2.50 and $2.50) | (1,881,850 | ) | (1,881,850 | ) | ||||
Common Stock (per share: $0.23 and $0.17) | (26,373,838 | ) | (20,521,587 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Decrease in Net Investment Assets | ||||||||
from Distributions | (28,255,688 | ) | (22,403,437 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Capital Share Transactions: | ||||||||
Value of shares of Common Stock issued | ||||||||
for investment plans (789,005 and 991,007 shares)
|
13,553,321 | 14,170,343 | ||||||
Cost of shares of Common Stock purchased | ||||||||
from investment plan participants | ||||||||
(3,355,911 and 2,610,104 shares) | (57,058,115 | ) | (37,992,282 | ) | ||||
Cost of shares of Common Stock purchased in the | ||||||||
open market (2,638,515 and 4,758,500 shares) | (44,832,751 | ) | (68,463,994 | ) | ||||
Net proceeds from issuance of shares of | ||||||||
Common Stock upon exercise of | ||||||||
Warrants (1,845 and 1,484 shares) | 1,845 | 1,484 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Decrease in Net Investment Assets | ||||||||
from Capital Share Transactions | (88,335,700 | ) | (92,284,449 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Increase in Net Investment Assets. | 159,781,479 | 352,704,584 | ||||||
Net Investment Assets: | ||||||||
Beginning of year | 2,348,636,428 | 1,995,931,844 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
End of Year (including undistributed (net of dividends | ||||||||
in excess of) net investment income of $1,022,399
|
||||||||
and $(31,051), respectively) | $ | 2,508,417,907 |
$
|
2,348,636,428 | ||||
|
|
|
|
23
Tri-Continental Corporation
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Significant Accounting Policies The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. The following summarizes the significant accounting policies of the Corporation:
a. | 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 in the US markets. 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 amortized cost. | |
b. | Federal Taxes There is no provision for federal income tax. The Corporation has elected to be taxed as a regulated investment company and intends to distribute substantially all taxable net income and net realized gain. | |
c. | Security Transactions and Related Investment Income Investment transactions are recorded on trade dates. Identified cost of investments sold is used for both financial statements and federal income tax purposes. Dividends receivable are recorded on ex-dividend dates. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. | |
d. | Distributions to Stockholders Dividends and distributions to stockholders are recorded on ex-dividend date. | |
2. Capital Stock Transactions Under the Corporations Charter, dividends on the Common Stock cannot be declared unless net assets, after such dividends and dividends on Preferred Stock, equal at least $100 per share of Preferred Stock outstanding. The Preferred Stock is subject to redemption at the Corporations option at any time on 30 days notice at $55 per share (or a total of $41,400,700 for the shares outstanding) plus accrued dividends, and entitled in liquidation to $50 per share plus accrued dividends.
The Corporation, in connection with its Automatic Dividend Investment and Cash Purchase Plan and other Stockholder plans, acquires and issues shares of its own Common Stock, as needed, to satisfy Plan requirements. For the year ended December 31, 2004, 3,355,911 shares were purchased from Plan participants at a cost of $57,058,115, which represented a weighted average discount of 16.05% from the net asset value of those acquired shares. A total of 789,005 shares were issued to Plan participants during the year for proceeds of $13,553,321, at a discount of 16.02% from the net asset value of those shares.
For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Corporation purchased 2,638,515 shares of its Common Stock in the open market at an aggregate cost of $44,832,751, which represented a weighted average discount of 15.71% from the net asset value of those acquired shares.
At December 31, 2004, 288,495 shares of Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of 12,822 Warrants, each of which entitled the holder to purchase 22.50 shares of Common Stock at $1.00 per share. Assuming the exercise of all Warrants outstanding at December 31, 2004, net investment assets would have increased by $288,495 and the net asset value of the Common Stock would have been $21.82 per share. The number of Warrants exercised during the years 2004 and 2003 was 82 and 66, respectively.
3. Purchases and Sales of Securities Purchases and sales of portfolio securities, excluding short-term investments, amounted to $1,096,601,610 and $1,191,953,268, respectively.
24
Tri-Continental Corporation
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
4. Repurchase Agreements The Corporation may enter into repurchase agreements with commercial banks and with broker/dealers deemed to be creditworthy by the Manager. Securities received as collateral subject to repurchase agreements are deposited with the Corporations custodian and, pursuant to the terms of the repurchase agreements, must have an aggregate market value greater than or equal to the repurchase price plus accrued interest at all times. Procedures have been established to monitor, on a daily basis, the market value of repurchase agreements underlying securities to ensure the existence of the proper level of collateral.
5. Management Fee, Administrative Services, and Other Transactions The Manager manages the affairs of the Corporation and provides for the necessary personnel and facilities. Compensation of all officers of the Corporation, all directors of the Corporation who are employees of the Manager, and all personnel of the Corporation and the Manager is paid by the Manager. The Manager receives a fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, equal to a percentage of the Corporations daily net assets at the close of business on the previous business day. The management fee rate is calculated on a sliding scale of 0.45% to 0.375%, based on average daily net assets of all the investment companies managed by the Manager. The management fee for the year ended December 31, 2004, was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.41% of the average daily net assets of the Corporation.
Seligman Data Corp., which is owned by the Corporation and certain associated investment companies, charged the Corporation at cost $3,736,854 for stockholder account services in accordance with a methodology approved by the Corporations directors. Costs of Seligman Data Corp. directly attributable to the Corporation were charged to the Corporation. The remaining charges were allocated to the Corporation by Seligman Data Corp. pursuant to a formula based on the Corporations net assets, stockholder transaction volume and number of stockholder accounts. The Corporations investment in Seligman Data Corp. is recorded at a cost of $43,681.
The Corporation and certain other associated investment companies (together, the Guarantors) have severally but not jointly guaranteed the performance and observance of all the terms and conditions of two leases entered into by Seligman Data Corp., including the payment of rent by Seligman Data Corp. (the Guaranties). The leases and the Guaranties expire in September 2008 and January 2009. The obligation of the Corporation to pay any amount due under either Guaranty is limited to a specified percentage of the full amount, which generally is based on the Corporations percentage of the expenses billed by Seligman Data Corp. to all Guarantors in the preceding calendar quarter. As of December 31, 2004, the Corporations potential obligation under the Guaranties is $758,600. As of December 31, 2004, no event has occurred which would result in the Corporation becoming liable to make any payment under a Guaranty. A portion of rent paid by Seligman Data Corp. is charged to the Corporation as part of Seligman Data Corp.s shareholder account services cost.
Certain officers and directors of the Corporation are officers or directors of the Manager and/or Seligman Data Corp.
The Corporation has a compensation arrangement under which directors who receive fees may elect to defer receiving such fees. Directors may elect to have their deferred fees accrue interest or earn a return based on the performance of the Corporation or other funds in the Seligman Group of Investment Companies. The cost of such fees and earnings/loss accrued thereon is included in directors fees and expenses, and the accumulated balance thereof at December 31, 2004, of $265,570 is included in other liabilities. Deferred fees and related accrued earnings are not deductible for federal income tax purposes until such amounts are paid.
25
Tri-Continental Corporation
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
6. Federal Tax Information Certain components of income, expense and realized capital gain and loss are recognized at different times or have a different character for federal income tax purposes and for financial reporting purposes. Where such differences are permanent in nature, they are reclassified in the components of net assets based on their characterization for federal income tax purposes. Any such reclassifications will have no effect on net assets, results of operations or net asset value per share of the Corporation. As a result of the differences described above, the treatment for financial reporting purposes of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate treatment for federal income tax purposes. Further, the cost of investments also can differ for federal income tax purposes.
At December 31, 2004, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $2,237,481,593. The tax basis cost was greater than the cost for financial reporting purposes due to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
At December 31, 2004, the tax basis components of accumulated earnings were as follows:
Gross unrealized appreciation of portfolio securities |
$
|
337,244,457 | ||
Gross unrealized depreciation of portfolio securities | (66,094,932 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Net unrealized appreciation of portfolio securities | 271,149,525 | |||
Capital loss carryforward | (527,111,378 | ) | ||
Undistributed income | 1,287,969 | |||
|
|
|||
Total accumulated loss |
$
|
(254,673,884 | ) | |
|
|
At December 31, 2004, the Corporation had a net capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $527,111,378 which is available for offset against future taxable net capital gains, with $490,148,854 expiring in 2010 and $36,962,524 expiring in 2011. Accordingly, no capital gain distributions are expected to be paid to stockholders until net capital gains have been realized in excess of the available capital loss carryforward.
7. Restricted Securities At December 31, 2004, the Tri-Continental Financial Division of the Corporation comprised two investments that were purchased through private offerings and cannot be sold without prior registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or pursuant to an exemption therefrom. These investments are valued at fair value as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The acquisition dates of investments in the limited partnerships, along with their cost and values at December 31, 2004, were as follows:
Investments |
|
Cost | Value | |||
|
|
|
|
|||
WCAS Capital Partners II, L.P. |
|
$4,673,677
|
$2,268,088 | |||
Whitney Subordinated Debt Fund, L.P |
|
2,207,549
|
920,833 | |||
|
|
|
||||
Total |
$6,881,226
|
$3,188,921 | ||||
|
|
8. Other Matters The Manager conducted an extensive internal review in response to developments regarding disruptive or illegal trading practices within the mutual fund industry. As of September 2003, the Manager had one arrangement that permitted frequent trading in the Seligman registered investment companies (Seligman Funds). This arrangement was in the process of being closed down by the Manager before the first proceedings relating to trading practices within the mutual fund industry were publicly announced. Based on a review of the Managers records for 2001 through 2003, the Manager identified three other arrangements that had permitted frequent trading in the Seligman Funds. All three had already been terminated prior to the end of September 2002. The Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), the NASD and the Attorney General of the State of New York also are reviewing these matters.
26
Tri-Continental Corporation
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The Manager also has reviewed its practice of placing some of the Seligman Funds orders to buy and sell portfolio securities with brokerage firms in recognition of their sales of Seligman Funds. At the time such orders were placed, this practice was permissible when done properly; however, the Manager believes that it may have violated applicable requirements for certain of such orders as a result of compensation arrangements the Manager had with certain brokerage firms. The Manager discontinued this practice entirely in October 2003. The Manager is confident that the execution of all such orders was consistent with its best execution obligations and that the Seligman Funds did not pay higher brokerage commissions than they would otherwise have paid for comparable transactions. The Manager has also responded fully to information requests from the SEC and the NASD relating to the Managers use of revenue sharing and fund portfolio brokerage commissions and will continue to provide additional information if, and as, requested.
The results of the Managers internal reviews were presented to the Independent Directors of the Seligman Funds. In order to resolve matters with the Independent Directors relating to the four arrangements that permitted frequent trading, which did not affect Tri-Continental Corporation, the Manager has made payments to three funds and has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee with respect to another fund. In order to resolve matters with the Independent Directors with regard to portfolio brokerage commissions, in May 2004, the Manager made payments to each of twenty-four funds in an amount equal to the commissions paid by each such fund during the period from 1998 through 2003 to certain brokerage firms in recognition of sales of fund shares, including $637,118 paid to Tri-Continental Corporation, which has been reported as Payments received from the Manager in the Statement of Operations.
27
Tri-Continental Corporation
Financial Highlights
The Corporations financial highlights are presented below. Per share operating performance data is designed to allow investors to trace the operating performance, on a per Common share basis, from the beginning net asset value to the ending net asset value, so that investors can understand what effect the individual items have on their investment, assuming it was held throughout the period. Generally, the per share amounts are derived by converting the actual dollar amounts incurred for each item, as disclosed in the financial statements, to their equivalent per Common share amounts, using average shares outstanding.
Total investment return measures the Corporations performance assuming that investors purchased shares of the Corporation at the market value or net asset value as of the beginning of the period, invested dividends and capital gains paid, as provided for in the Corporations Prospectus and Automatic Dividend Investment and Cash Purchase Plan, and then sold their shares at the closing market value or net asset value per share on the last day of the period. The computations do not reflect taxes or any sales commissions investors may incur in purchasing or selling shares of the Corporation.
The ratios of expenses and net investment income to average net investment assets and to average net assets for Common Stock for the periods presented do not reflect the effect of dividends paid to Preferred Stockholders.
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Per Share Operating Performance: | |||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, | |||||||||||||||
Beginning of Year | $19.55 | $15.72 | $21.69 | $25.87 | $32.82 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net investment income | 0.26 | 0.18 | 0.25 | 0.32 | 0.35 | ||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized | |||||||||||||||
investment gain (loss) | 2.31 | 3.84 | (5.95 | ) | (3.02 | ) | (3.25 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Increase (Decrease) from | |||||||||||||||
Investment Operations | 2.57 | 4.02 | (5.70 | ) | (2.70 | ) | (2.90 | ) | |||||||
Dividends paid on Preferred Stock | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.02 | ) | |||||
Dividends paid on Common Stock | (0.23 | ) | (0.17 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.28 | ) | (0.33 | ) | |||||
Distributions from net gain realized | | | | (1.11 | ) | (3.30 | ) | ||||||||
Issuance of Common Stock | |||||||||||||||
in gain distributions | | | | (0.08 | ) | (0.40 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net Increase (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
in Net Asset Value | 2.32 | 3.83 | (5.97 | ) | (4.18 | ) | (6.95 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net Asset Value, | |||||||||||||||
End of Year | $21.87 | $19.55 | $15.72 | $21.69 | $25.87 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Adjusted Net Asset Value, | |||||||||||||||
End of Year* | $21.82 | $19.51 | $15.69 | $21.65 | $25.82 | ||||||||||
Market Value, End of Year | $18.28 | $16.40 | $13.25 | $18.75 | $21.19 |
28
Tri-Continental Corporation
Financial Highlights (continued)
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Investment Return: | ||||||||||||||
Based upon market value | 12.95 | % | 25.24 | % | (28.18 | )% | (5.22 | )% | (11.56 | )% | ||||
Based upon net asset value | 13.36 | %# | 25.84 | % | (26.35 | )% | (10.20 | )% | (8.29 | )% | ||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | ||||||||||||||
Expenses to average net | ||||||||||||||
investment assets. | 0.65 | % | 0.68 | % | 0.67 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.54 | % | ||||
Expenses to average net assets for | ||||||||||||||
Common Stock | 0.66 | % | 0.70 | % | 0.68 | % | 0.60 | % | 0.54 | % | ||||
Net investment income to | ||||||||||||||
average net investment assets | 1.26 | % | 1.03 | % | 1.29 | % | 1.36 | % | 1.10 | % | ||||
Net investment income to average | ||||||||||||||
net assets for Common Stock | 1.28 | % | 1.05 | % | 1.31 | % | 1.37 | % | 1.11 | % | ||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 47.36 | % | 138.65 | % | 152.79 | % | 124.34 | % | 54.13 | % | ||||
Net Investment Assets, | ||||||||||||||
End of Year (000s omitted): | ||||||||||||||
For Common Stock | $2,470,781 | $2,310,999 | $1,958,295 | $2,873,655 | $3,458,009 | |||||||||
For Preferred Stock | 37,637 | 37,637 | 37,637 | 37,637 | 37,637 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total Net Investment Assets. | $2,508,418 | $2,348,636 | $1,995,932 | $2,911,292 | $3,495,646 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
29
Tri-Continental Corporation
Report of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Security Holders,
Tri-Continental Corporation:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities and the statement of capital stock and surplus of Tri-Continental Corporation (the Corporation), including the portfolio of investments, as of December 31, 2004, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net investment 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 Corporations 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. An audit includes 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 December 31, 2004, by correspondence with the Funds custodian and brokers; where replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. 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 Tri-Continental Corporation as of December 31, 2004, the results of its operations, the changes in its net investment 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.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, New York
February 23, 2005
30
Tri-Continental Corporation
Directors and Officers
Information pertaining to the Directors and Officers of Tri-Continental Corporation is set forth below.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
Name, (Age), Position(s) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years, Directorships |
held with Fundø | and Other Information |
|
|
Robert B. Catell (67)2,3 | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director, KeySpan Corporation |
Director: 2003 to Date | (diversified energy, gas and electric company); Director or Trustee of each of |
Oversees 60 Portfolios in | the investment companies of the Seligman Group of Funds (except |
Fund Complex | Seligman Cash Management Fund, Inc.); Director or Trustee, Alberta |
Northeast Gas, Ltd., Boundary Gas Inc., The Houston Exploration Company | |
(oil and gas exploration, development and production companies); Edison | |
Electric Institute, New York State Energy Research and Development | |
Authority, Independence Community Bank, Business Council of New York | |
State, Inc., New York City Partnership, and the Long Island Association | |
(business and civic organizations). | |
|
|
John R. Galvin (75)1,3 | Dean Emeritus, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University; |
Director: 1995 to Date | Director or Trustee of each of the investment companies of the Seligman |
Oversees 61 Portfolios in | Group of Funds; and Chairman Emeritus, American Council on Germany. |
Fund Complex | Formerly, Governor of the Center for Creative Leadership; Director, |
Raytheon Co. (defense and commercial electronics) and USLIFE Corporation | |
(life insurance). From June 1987 to June 1992, Mr. Galvin was the Supreme | |
Allied Commander, Europe and the Commander-in-Chief, United States | |
European Command. | |
|
|
Alice S. Ilchman (69)2,3 | President Emerita, Sarah Lawrence College; Director or Trustee of each of |
Director: 1990 to Date | the investment companies of the Seligman Group of Funds; Director, |
Oversees 61 Portfolios in | Jeannette K. Watson Summer Fellowship (summer internships for college |
Fund Complex | students); Trustee, Save the Children (non-profit child-assistance |
organization) and the Committee for Economic Development; Governor, | |
Court of Governors, London School of Economics; and Director, Public | |
Broadcasting Service (PBS). Formerly, Chairman, The Rockefeller | |
Foundation (charitable foundation) and Director, New York Telephone | |
Company. | |
|
|
Frank A. McPherson (71)2,3 | Retired Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Kerr-McGee |
Director: 1995 to Date | Corporation (diversified energy and chemical company); Director or Trustee |
Oversees 61 Portfolios in | of each of the investment companies of the Seligman Group of Funds; |
Fund Complex | Director, ConocoPhillips (integrated international oil corporation), Integris |
Health (owner of various hospitals), BOK Financial (bank holding company), | |
Oklahoma Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, Oklahoma Medical Research | |
Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Public | |
Schools Foundation and Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence in Education. | |
Formerly, Director, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (consumer products) and the | |
Federal Reserve Systems Kansas City Reserve Bank. | |
|
|
31
Tri-Continental Corporation
Directors and Officers
Information pertaining to the Directors and Officers of Tri-Continental Corporation is set forth below.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS (continued)
Name, (Age), Position(s) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years, Directorships |
held with Fundø | and Other Information |
|
|
John E. Merow (75)1,3 | Retired Chairman and Senior Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (law firm); |
Director: 1991 to Date | Director or Trustee of each of the investment companies of the Seligman |
Oversees 61 Portfolios in | Group of Funds; Director, Aleris International, Inc. (aluminum and zinc |
Fund Complex | recycler and aluminum rolled products); Director Emeritus, the Municipal Art |
Society of New York; Executive Committee Member and Secretary, the U.S. | |
Council for International Business; Trustee and Vice Chairman, New York- | |
Presbyterian Healthcare System, Inc.; Trustee, New York-Presbyterian | |
Hospital; and Member of the American Law Institute and Council on Foreign | |
Relations. | |
|
|
Betsy S. Michel (62)1,3 | Attorney; Director or Trustee of each of the investment companies of the |
Director: 1985 to Date | Seligman Group of Funds; Trustee, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation |
Oversees 61 Portfolios in | (charitable foundation). Formerly, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. |
Fund Complex | Georges School (Newport, RI) and Trustee, World Learning, Inc. |
(international educational training). | |
|
|
Leroy C. Richie (63)1,3 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Q Standards Worldwide, Inc. (library of |
Director: 2000 to Date | technical standards); Director or Trustee of each of the investment companies |
Oversees 60 Portfolios in | of the Seligman Group of Funds (except Seligman Cash Management Fund, |
Fund Complex | Inc.); Director, Kerr-McGee Corporation (diversified energy and chemical |
company) and Infinity, Inc. (oil and gas services and exploration); Director and | |
Chairman, Highland Park Michigan Economic Development Corp. Formerly, | |
Trustee, New York University Law Center Foundation; Vice Chairman, Detroit | |
Medical Center and the Detroit Economic Growth Corp.; Chairman and Chief | |
Executive Officer, Capital Coating Technologies, Inc. (applied coating | |
technologies); and Vice President and General Counsel, Automotive Legal | |
Affairs, Chrysler Corporation. | |
|
|
Robert L. Shafer (72)2,3 | Retired Vice President, Pfizer Inc. (pharmaceuticals); Director or Trustee of |
Director: 1991 to Date | each of the investment companies of the Seligman Group of Funds and |
Oversees 61 Portfolios in | Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the Sovereign and Military Order of |
Fund Complex | Malta to the United Nations. Formerly, Director, USLIFE Corporation (life |
insurance). | |
|
|
James N. Whitson (69)1,3 | Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Sammons |
Director: 1993 to Date | Enterprises, Inc. (a diversified holding company); Director or Trustee of each of |
Oversees 61 Portfolios in | the investment companies of the Seligman Group of Funds; Director, |
Fund Complex | CommScope, Inc. (manufacturer of coaxial cable). Formerly, Director and |
Consultant, Sammons Enterprises, Inc. and Director, C-SPAN (cable television | |
network). | |
32
Tri-Continental Corporation
Directors and Officers
Information pertaining to the Directors and Officers of Tri-Continental Corporation is set forth below.
INTERESTED DIRECTORS AND PRINCIPAL OFFICERS
Name, (Age), Position(s) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years, Directorships |
held with Fundø | and Other Information |
|
|
William C. Morris (66)* | Chairman, J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated; Chairman of the Board and |
Director and Chairman of the | Director or Trustee of each of the investment companies of the Seligman |
Board: 1988 to Date | Group of Funds; Chairman, Seligman Advisors, Inc., Seligman Services, Inc., |
Oversees 61 Portfolios in | and Carbo Ceramics Inc. (manufacturer of ceramic proppants for oil and gas |
Fund Complex | industry); Director, Seligman Data Corp.; and President and Chief Executive |
Officer, The Metropolitan Opera Association. Formerly, Director, Kerr- | |
McGee Corporation (diversified energy and chemical company) and Chief | |
Executive Officer of each of the investment companies of the Seligman | |
Group of Funds. | |
|
|
Brian T. Zino (52)* | Director and President, J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated; Chief |
Director: 1993 to Date | Executive Officer, President and Director or Trustee of each of the |
President: 1995 to Date | investment companies of the Seligman Group of Funds; Director, Seligman |
Chief Executive Officer: | Advisors, Inc. and Seligman Services, Inc.; Chairman, Seligman Data Corp.; |
2002 to Date | Member of the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute; and |
Oversees 61 Portfolios in | Director, ICI Mutual Insurance Company. |
Fund Complex | |
|
|
John B. Cunningham (40) | Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, J. & W. Seligman & Co. |
Vice President and | Incorporated; Vice President and Co-Portfolio Manager of Seligman Common |
Co-Portfolio Manager: | Stock Fund, Inc. and Seligman Income and Growth Fund, Inc. Vice President |
Sep. 2004 to Date | of Seligman Portfolios, Inc. and Co-Portfolio Manager of its Common Stock |
Portfolio and Income and Growth Portfolio. Formerly, Managing Director, | |
Senior Portfolio Manager of Salomon Brothers Asset Management. | |
|
|
Eleanor T. M. Hoagland (53) | Managing Director and Senior Vice President, Risk Manager, J. & W. Seligman |
Vice President and Chief | & Co. Incorporated; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for each of |
Compliance Officer: | the investment companies of the Seligman Group of Funds. Formerly, |
July 2004 to Date | Managing Director, Partner and Chief Portfolio Strategist, AMT Capital |
Management from 1994 to 2000. | |
|
|
Charles W. Kadlec (57) | Managing Director of J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated and President of |
Vice President: 1996 to Date | Seligman Advisors, Inc. Mr. Kadlec is the architect of several investment |
strategies, chief among them Seligman Time Horizon Matrix, which is based | |
on an investors time horizon to reaching goals, and Harvesting a Lifetime of | |
Savings, a strategy addressing the unique concerns facing retirees. Formerly, | |
Chief Investment Strategist for Seligman Advisors, Inc. | |
|
|
Michael F. McGarry (41) | Managing Director, J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated; Vice President and |
Vice President and | Co-Portfolio Manager of Seligman Common Stock Fund, Inc.; Vice President |
Co-Portfolio Manager: | of Seligman Portfolios, Inc. and Co-Portfolio Manager of its Common Stock |
From Jan. 2005 | Portfolio. Formerly, Vice President, J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated. |
33
Tri-Continental Corporation
Directors and Officers
Information pertaining to the Directors and Officers of Tri-Continental Corporation is set forth below.
INTERESTED DIRECTORS AND PRINCIPAL OFFICERS (continued)
Name, (Age), Position(s) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years, Directorships |
held with Fundø | and Other Information |
|
|
Thomas G. Rose (47) | Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President, Finance, and Treasurer, |
Vice President: 2000 to Date | J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated, Senior Vice President, Finance, |
Seligman Advisors, Inc. and Seligman Data Corp.; Vice President of each of | |
the investment companies of the Seligman Group of Funds; and of | |
Seligman Services, Inc. and Seligman International, Inc. Formerly, Treasurer | |
of the investment companies of the Seligman Group of Funds and Seligman | |
Data Corp. | |
|
|
Lawrence P. Vogel (48) | Senior Vice President and Treasurer, Investment Companies, J. & W. |
Vice President: | Seligman & Co. Incorporated; Vice President and Treasurer of each of the |
1992 to Date | investment companies of the Seligman Group of Funds; and Treasurer, |
Treasurer: 2000 to Date | Seligman Data Corp. Formerly, Senior Vice President, Finance, J. & W. |
Seligman & Co. Incorporated, Seligman Advisors, Inc., Seligman | |
International, Inc. and Seligman Data Corp.; Vice President, Seligman | |
Services, Inc. and Treasurer, Seligman International, Inc. | |
|
|
Frank J. Nasta (40) | Managing Director, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, J. & W. Seligman |
Secretary: 1994 to Date | & Co. Incorporated; Secretary of each of the investment companies of the |
Seligman Group of Funds, and Corporate Secretary, Seligman Advisors, Inc., | |
Seligman Services, Inc., Seligman International, Inc. and Seligman Data Corp. | |
Formerly, Senior Vice President, Law and Regulation Department, J. & W. | |
Seligman & Co. Incorporated. | |
|
|
The Corporations Statement of Additional Information (SAI) includes additional information about the directors and is available, without charge, upon request. You may call toll-free (800) TRI-1092 in the US or collect (212) 682-7600 outside the US to request a copy of the SAI, to request other information about the Corporation, or to make stockholder inquiries.
ø | The address for each of the directors and officers is 100 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017, 8th floor. Each officer is elected |
annually by the Board of Directors. | |
| The Seligman Group of Funds consists of twenty-three registered investment companies. |
* | Mr. Morris and Mr. Zino are considered interested persons of the Corporation, as defined in the Investment Company Act |
of 1940, as amended, by virtue of their positions with J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated and its affiliates. |
Member: | 1 Audit Committee | |
2 Director Nominating Committee | ||
3 Board Operations Committee |
34
Tri-Continental Corporation
For More Information
Manager | Important Telephone Numbers | ||||
J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated |
(800) |
TRI-1092 | Stockholder Services | ||
100 Park Avenue | |||||
New York, NY 10017 |
(800)
|
445-1777 | Retirement Plan Services | ||
Stockholder Service Agent |
(212)
|
682-7600 | Outside the United States | ||
Seligman Data Corp. | |||||
100 Park Avenue |
(800)
|
622-4597 | 24-Hour Automated | ||
New York, NY 10017 | Telephone Access Service | ||||
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
A description of the policies and procedures used by the Corporation to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities as well as information regarding how the Corporation voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free (800) 874-1092 in the US or collect (212) 682-7600 outside the US and (ii) on the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
Quarterly Schedule Investments
A complete schedule of portfolio holdings owned by the Corporation will be filed with the SEC as of the end of the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q, and will be available to stockholders (i) without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free (800) 874-1092 in the US or collect (212) 682-7600 outside the US or (ii) on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the Form N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330. Certain of the information contained in the Corporations Form N-Q is also made available to stockholders on Seligmans website at www.seligman.com.1
Annual Certifications
As required, the Fund has submitted to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) the annual certification of the Funds Chief Executive Officer that he is not aware of any violation of the NYSEs Corporate Governance listing standards. The Fund also has included the certifications of the Funds Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as exhibits to the Funds Form N-CSR for the year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1 | The reference to Seligmans website is an inactive textual reference and information contained in or otherwise accessible through Seligmans website does not form a part of this report or the Corporations prospectus. |
35
Tri-Continental Corporation
Managed by
This report is intended only for the information of stockholders
or those who have received the current prospectus covering
shares of Common Stock of Tri-Continental Corporation, which
contains information about management fees and other costs.
CETRI2 12/04
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS. As of December 31, 2004, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive and principal financial officers. ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT. The registrant's board of directors has determined that Mr. James N. Whitson, a member of its audit committee, is an audit committee financial expert. Mr. Whitson is "independent" as such term is defined in Form N-CSR. ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. (a) - (d) Aggregate fees billed to the registrant for the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the registrant's principal accountant were as follows: 2004 2003 ---------- ---------- Audit Fees $59,097 $24,986 Audit-Related Fees - - Tax Fees 2,200 2,100 All Other Fees 1,931 1,897 Audit fees include amounts related to the audit of the registrant's annual financial statements and services normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. Tax fees include amounts related to tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice. Other fees include the registrant's pro-rata share of amounts for services related to documentation of certain internal control procedures for the registrant and certain other associated investment companies. Aggregate fees billed by the registrant's principal accountant for the last two fiscal years for non-audit services provided to the registrant's investment adviser (not including a sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is sub-contracted 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 registered investment company, where the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant, were as follows: 2004 2003 ---------- ---------- Audit-Related Fees $76,630 $89,130 Tax Fees 13,703 7,500 All Other Fees 43,000 - Audit-related fees include amounts for (i) attestation services for the registrant's stockholder service agent; (ii) review of certain internal controls of such stockholder service agent's sub-agent; and (iii) actuarial services
provided prior to May 6, 2003 to the registrant's investment adviser and stockholder service agent (such services were no longer permitted to be performed for the stockholder service agent after May 5, 2003). Tax fees include amounts related to tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice for and an evaluation of certain tax reporting procedures of the registrant's stockholder service agent. Other fees relates to electronic communication processing services performed on behalf of outside counsel of the investment adviser. (e) (1) The Audit Committee is required to preapprove audit and non-audit services performed for the registrant by the principal accountant in order to assure that the provision of such services does not impair the principal accountant's independence. The Audit Committee also is required to preapprove certain non-audit services performed by the registrant's principal accountant for the registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) and certain of the adviser's affiliates that provide services directly related to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant. Unless a type of service to be provided by the principal accountant has received preapproval, it will require specific preapproval by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has delegated preapproval authority to Mr. James N. Whitson, the Audit Committee's Chairman. Mr. Whitson will report any preapproval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, under certain circumstances, preapproval of non-audit services of a de minimis amount is not required. (2) No services included in (b) - (d) above were approved pursuant to the waiver provisions of paragraphs (c)(7)(i)(C) or (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. (f) Not applicable. (g) The aggregate fees billed for the most recent fiscal year and the preceding fiscal year by the registrant's principal accountant for non-audit services rendered to the registrant, its 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 were $137,464 and $100,627, respectively. (h) All non-audit services rendered in (g) above were pre-approved by the registrant's audit committee. Accordingly, the audit committee considered whether these services were compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS. James N. Whitson, Chairman John R. Galvin Betsy S. Michel John E. Merow Leroy C. Richie ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS. Included in Item 1 above. ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated ("Seligman"), as the registrant's (the "Fund") investment manager, will vote the proxies relating to the Fund's portfolio holdings. INTRODUCTION. On behalf of the Fund, Seligman votes the proxies of the securities held in the Fund's portfolio in accordance with Seligman's determination of what is in the best interests of the Fund's stockholders. The financial interest of the stockholders of the Fund is the primary consideration in determining how proxies should be voted. Seligman has a responsibility to analyze proxy issues and vote in a way consistent with those financial interests. In the case of social and political responsibility issues which do not involve financial considerations, it is not possible to fairly represent the diverse views of the Fund's stockholders, and thus, Seligman abstains from voting on these issues. Notwithstanding the above, proposals seeking disclosure of certain matters relating to social and political issues may be supported if such disclosure is not deemed to be unduly burdensome. THE PROXY VOTING PROCESS. Proxies for securities held in the portfolios of the Fund will be received, processed and voted by Seligman pursuant to the guidelines (the "Guidelines") established by Seligman's Proxy Voting Committee (the "Committee"). The Committee has been established to set policy and guidelines, to review on a periodic basis new corporate governance issues as they arise, to assist in determining how Seligman will respond to such issues and to provide oversight of the proxy voting process. The Committee is chaired by Seligman's Chief Investment Officer and includes Seligman's Vice Chairman and Seligman's General Counsel. Seligman subscribes to a service offered by an independent third party which provides a summary and analysis of the proposals to be acted upon at stockholder meetings of most of companies for which securities are held. Seligman also subscribes to a separate service to assist in the tracking and recordkeeping of proxies. Neither service offers voting recommendations. CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS. Seligman's Director of Compliance maintains a Proxy Watch List, which contains the names of those companies that may present the potential for conflict in the voting process with Seligman, Seligman Advisors, Inc. or any affiliate thereof. For example, the Proxy Watch List will include those portfolio companies for which Seligman separately manages assets in private accounts or which are significant distributors of Seligman's products and services. As described below, proxy voting for these companies will be subject to a higher level of consideration. DEVIATIONS FROM GUIDELINES AND SPECIAL SITUATIONS. Seligman recognizes that it may not always be in the best interest of the stockholders of the Fund to vote in accordance with the Guidelines on a particular issue and in such circumstances may deviate from the Guidelines. Any deviation from the Guidelines must be approved by a member of the Committee. Furthermore,
any deviation of the Guidelines for a company which is included on the Proxy Watch List must be approved by a majority of the Committee's members. Similarly, for those proposals which are of a unique nature that they must be analyzed on a case-by-case basis, one member of the Committee must approve the voting decision. Where such a proposal is for a company included on the Proxy Watch List, the voting decision must be approved by a majority of the Committee's members. In analyzing potential deviations from the Guidelines and proposals evaluated on a case-by-case basis, Seligman may consider the views of the management of a portfolio company, as well as the view of Seligman's investment professionals. GUIDELINES SUMMARY. The Guidelines are briefly described as follows: ------------------- 1. Seligman votes with the recommendations of a company's board of directors on general corporate governance issues such as changing the company's name, ratifying the appointment of auditors and procedural matters relating to stockholder meetings. 2. Seligman opposes, and supports the elimination of, anti-takeover proposals, including those relating to classified Boards, supermajority votes, poison pills, issuance of blank check preferred and establishment of classes with disparate voting rights. 3. Seligman abstains from voting on issues relating to social and/or political responsibility, except for matters relating to disclosure issues if not deemed unduly burdensome for the company (e.g., political contributions). 4. Seligman votes for stock option plans or to increase the number of shares under existing stock option plans provided that the overall dilution of all active stock option plans and stock purchase plans does not exceed 10% on a fully diluted basis and are otherwise considered to align the interest of the company with those of stockholders, e.g., all such plans must specifically prohibit repricing. 5. Seligman generally votes with the recommendations of a company's board of directors on other matters relating to executive compensation, unless considered excessive. 6. Seligman will withhold voting for the entire board of directors if: (a) less than 75% of the board is independent; (b) the board has a nominating or compensation committee of which less than 75% of its members are independent; (c) the board has recommended stockholders vote for an anti-takeover device which Seligman votes against; or (d) the board has recommended a matter relating to a stock option plan or stock purchase plan which Seligman votes against. 7. Seligman will vote for proposals relating to the authorization of additional common stock up to 5 times that currently outstanding. 8. Seligman will vote for proposals to effect stock splits. 9. Seligman will vote for proposals authorizing stock repurchase programs. 10. Seligman will vote against authorization to transact unidentified business at the meeting. 11. Acquisitions, mergers, reorganizations, reincorporations and other similar transactions will be voted on a case-by-case basis. 12. Proposals to amend a company's charter or by-laws (other than as identified above) will be voted on a case-by-case basis.
13. Seligman will vote against all proposals where the company did not provide adequate information to make a decision. 14. Seligman abstains from voting shares which have recently been sold or for which information was not received on a timely basis. ITEM 8 PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. Not applicable. ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
---------------- -------------- ------------ --------------------------- -------------------------------- Total Number of Shares Maximum Number (or Approximate Total Number Average (or Units) Purchased as Dollar Value) of Shares (or of Shares Price Paid Part of Publicly Units) that May Yet Be (or Units) per Share Announced Plans or Purchased Under the Plans or Period Purchased (or Unit) Programs (1) Programs (1) ---------------- -------------- ------------ --------------------------- -------------------------------- 7-01-04 to 492,473 16.48 492,473 1,874,309 7-31-04 ---------------- -------------- ------------ --------------------------- -------------------------------- 8-01-04 to 8-31-04 725,454 16.30 725,454 1,148,855 ---------------- -------------- ------------ --------------------------- -------------------------------- 9-01-04 to 9-30-04 372,425 16.63 372,425 776,430 ---------------- -------------- ------------ --------------------------- -------------------------------- 10-01-04 to 10-31-04 420,665 16.73 420,665 355,765 ---------------- -------------- ------------ --------------------------- -------------------------------- 11-01-04 to 11-31-04 420,181 17.57 420,181 6,261,063 ---------------- -------------- ------------ --------------------------- -------------------------------- 12-01-04 to 734,139 18.12 734,139 5,526,924 12-31-04 ---------------- -------------- ------------ --------------------------- --------------------------------
(1) The stock repurchase program, announced on November 20, 2003, authorizes the Registrant to repurchase up to 5% of its common stock in the open market during the next 12 months as long as the discount of the net asset value of the common stock to its market price exceeds 10%. The stock repurchase program was renewed on November 19, 2004. ITEM 10 SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. Not applicable. ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. (a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based upon their evaluation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that these disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that material information required to be disclosed by the registrant in the report it files or submits on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms and that such material information is accumulated and communicated to the registrant's management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer are aware of no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. ITEM 12. EXHIBITS. (a)(1) Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Principal Financial Officers (a)(2) Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. (a)(3) Not applicable. (b) Certifications of chief executive officer and chief financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
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. TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION By: /s/ BRIAN T. ZINO Brian T. Zino President and Chief Executive Officer Date: March 8, 2005 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: /s/ BRIAN T. ZINO Brian T. Zino President and Chief Executive Officer Date: March 8, 2005 By: /s/ LAWRENCE P. VOGEL Lawrence P. Vogel Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Date: March 8, 2005
TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION EXHIBIT INDEX (a)(1) Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Principal Financial Officers (a)(2) Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. (b) Certification of chief executive officer and chief financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.