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


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



Investment Company Act file number 811-07528


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

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


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

Copy to:
Thomas R. Westle, Esp.
Blank Rome LLP
The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10174

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


Date of fiscal year end: December 31, 2018


Date of reporting period:  September 30, 2018

 
Item 1. Schedule of Investments.
 
Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.
           
Portfolio of Investments
           
September 30, 2018 (Unaudited)
           
             
INVESTMENT COMPANIES - 66.92%
 
Shares
   
Fair Value
 
Closed-End Funds - 62.43%
           
Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, Inc.
   
311,589
   
$
2,614,232
 
Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc.
   
272,407
     
4,541,025
 
Alliance California Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
   
254,985
     
3,462,696
 
Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.
   
68,441
     
923,269
 
BlackRock Income Trust, Inc.
   
83,935
     
480,108
 
BlackRock New York Municipal Income Quality Trust
   
194,261
     
2,413,207
 
Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc.
   
423,000
     
4,741,830
 
BrandywineGLOBAL Global Income Opportunities Fund, Inc.
   
200,773
     
2,192,441
 
Central Securities Corp.
   
311,657
     
9,193,881
 
China Fund, Inc.
   
389,056
     
7,625,498
 
Delaware Enhanced Global Dividend & Income Fund
   
224,130
     
2,510,256
 
Deutsche Multi-Market Income Trust
   
386,664
     
3,472,243
 
Deutsche Strategic Income Trust
   
102,521
     
1,288,750
 
Dividend and Income Fund
   
14,878
     
177,495
 
DTF Tax-Free Income, Inc.
   
60,863
     
782,090
 
Duff & Phelps Utility and Corporate Bond Trust, Inc.
   
120,431
     
1,010,416
 
Eaton Vance Municipal Bond Fund II
   
87,758
     
1,016,238
 
First Trust Aberdeen Global Opportunity Income Fund
   
247,998
     
2,383,261
 
General American Investors Co., Inc.
   
115,281
     
4,261,939
 
High Income Securities Fund
   
397,476
     
3,768,072
 
Invesco High Income Trust II
   
60,478
     
828,549
 
Japan Smaller Capitalization Fund, Inc.
   
350,892
     
3,884,374
 
Juridica Investments Ltd. (g)(h)
   
495,258
     
26,789
 
Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
   
62,263
     
691,119
 
Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund, Inc.
   
205,828
     
2,146,786
 
Mexico Equity & Income Fund, Inc.
   
89,865
     
1,103,542
 
Morgan Stanley Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.
   
153,312
     
2,531,181
 
Morgan Stanley East Europe Fund Escrow (a)
   
97,901
     
0
 
Source Capital, Inc.
   
101,567
     
4,082,993
 
Taiwan Fund, Inc.
   
210,197
     
4,029,477
 
The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.
   
753,396
     
6,411,400
 
Tri-Continental Corp.
   
161,781
     
4,508,836
 
Turkish Investment Fund, Inc. (a)(c)(f)(h)
   
129,831
     
0
 
             
89,103,993
 
Business Development Companies - 4.49%
               
Barings BDC, Inc.
   
347,498
     
3,478,455
 
Equus Total Return, Inc. (a)
   
106,919
     
212,769
 
Great Elm Capital Corp.
   
41,729
     
404,771
 
MVC Capital, Inc.
   
239,975
     
2,315,759
 
             
6,411,754
 
Total Investment Companies (Cost $91,027,231)
           
95,515,747
 
                 
PREFERRED STOCKS - 5.22%
               
Real Estate Investment Trusts - 5.22%
               
Brookfield DTLA Fund Office Trust Investor, Inc., 7.625%
   
171,723
     
4,035,490
 
Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc., 6.000% (c)(f)
   
3,421
     
3,421,000
 
Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $7,651,736)
           
7,456,490
 
                 
COMMON STOCKS - 41.94%
               
Consumer Finance - 0.19%
               
Emergent Capital, Inc. (a)
   
1,091,190
     
272,797
 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure - 5.90%
               
Tropicana Entertainment, Inc. (a)
   
114,235
     
8,424,831
 
Insurance - 0.22%
               
Stewart Information Services Corp.
   
7,013
     
315,655
 

Machinery - 0.01%
               
Altra Industrial Motion Corp.
   
219
     
9,043
 
Blue Bird Corp. (a)
   
99
     
2,426
 
             
11,469
 
Professional Services - 3.44%
               
Hill International, Inc. (a)
   
1,195,255
     
4,900,546
 
Real Estate Investment Trusts - 2.31%
               
Brookfield Property REIT, Inc.
   
70,751
     
1,480,818
 
New York REIT, Inc. (a)(h)
   
100,000
     
1,814,000
 
Owens Realty Mortgage, Inc.
   
391
     
6,604
 
             
3,301,422
 
Real Estate Management & Development - 0.35%
               
Trinity Place Holdings, Inc. (a)
   
80,763
     
491,847
 
   
Shares/Units
         
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicles - 29.52% (a)
               
Allegro Merger Corp. Units
   
200,080
     
2,054,822
 
Avista Healthcare Public Acquisition Corp. (g)
   
121,090
     
1,226,642
 
Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp.
   
111,602
     
1,116,020
 
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (g)
   
100,000
     
1,021,000
 
Black Ridge Acquisition Corp.
   
176,445
     
1,722,103
 
CM Seven Star Acquisition Corp. (g)
   
250,000
     
2,520,000
 
Constellation Alpha Capital Corp. (g)
   
75,001
     
759,010
 
Draper Oakwood Technology Acquisition, Inc.
   
113,790
     
1,154,969
 
FlatWorld Acquisition Corporation (g)
   
105,702
     
4,757
 
Forum Merger II Corp. Units
   
68,439
     
691,234
 
GigCapital, Inc.
   
77,400
     
768,582
 
Haymaker Acquisition Corp.
   
30,716
     
299,773
 
Haymaker Acquisition Corp. Units
   
1
     
10
 
HL Acquisitions Corp. Units (g)
   
34,456
     
351,451
 
I-AM Capital Acquisition Co.
   
113,791
     
1,154,979
 
Industrea Acquisition Corp.
   
273,098
     
2,785,600
 
KBL Merger Corp. IV
   
275,000
     
2,777,500
 
Leisure Acquisition Corp. Units
   
61,289
     
625,148
 
LF Capital Acquisition Corp. Units
   
124,850
     
1,260,985
 
Longevity Acquisition Corp. Units (g)
   
63,286
     
648,049
 
Modern Media Acquisition Corp.
   
107,454
     
1,085,285
 
MTech Acquisition Corp.
   
81,750
     
833,850
 
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corp. Units
   
49,182
     
501,656
 
Opes Acquisition Corp. Units
   
49,670
     
504,647
 
Pensare Acquisition Corp.
   
122,745
     
1,222,540
 
Pure Acquisition Corp.
   
546,554
     
5,304,307
 
Pure Acquisition Corp. Units
   
1
     
10
 
Tenzing Acquisition Corp. Units (g)
   
54,305
     
546,308
 
Thunder Bridge Acquisition Ltd. Units (g)
   
112,602
     
1,139,532
 
Tiberius Acquisition Corp. Units
   
113,800
     
1,160,760
 
TKK Symphony Acquisition Corp. (g)
   
212,439
     
2,018,171
 
Tottenham Acquisition I Ltd. Units (g)
   
12,474
     
129,480
 
Trident Acquisitions Corp. Units
   
175,020
     
1,769,452
 
Trinity Merger Corp.
   
59,616
     
586,025
 
Twelve Seas Investment Co. Units (g)
   
81,000
     
831,870
 
Union Acquisition Corp. Units (g)
   
112,054
     
1,170,964
 
VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. Units
   
38,325
     
390,915
 
             
42,138,406
 
Total Common Stocks (Cost $55,852,972)
           
59,856,973
 
                 
   
Shares
         
LIQUIDATING TRUSTS - 0.43% (a)(c)(f)(h)
               
BlackRock Defined Opportunity Credit Trust
   
27,356
     
410
 
Crossroads Liquidating Trust
   
292,681
     
187,316
 
JP Morgan China Region Fund, Inc.
   
192,486
     
1,925
 
Winthrop Realty Trust
   
295,985
     
423,259
 
Total Liquidating Trusts (Cost $1,717,262)
           
612,910
 
                 

   
Principal
         
   
Amount
         
CONVERTIBLE NOTES - 1.51% (b)
               
Emergent Capital, Inc.
               
5.000%, 02/15/2023 (i)
 
$
3,206,898
     
1,888,222
 
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust (c)(f)
               
9.000%, 12/15/2018
   
273,806
     
273,806
 
Total Convertible Notes (Cost $3,323,067)
           
2,162,028
 
                 
                 
CORPORATE BONDS - 0.01%
               
Washington Mutual, Inc. (b)(c)(d)(f)
               
0.000%, 03/17/2014
   
3,000,000
     
15,000
 
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $0)
           
15,000
 
                 
CORPORATE NOTES - 4.28% (b)
               
Great Elm Capital Corp.
               
6.500%, 09/18/2022
   
32,735
     
840,461
 
6.750%, 01/31/2025
   
7,373
     
184,989
 
MVC Capital, Inc.
               
6.250%, 11/30/2022
   
200,000
     
5,076,000
 
Total Corporate Notes (Cost $6,002,700)
           
6,101,450
 
                 
SENIOR SECURED NOTES - 1.12%
               
Emergent Capital, Inc. (b)(c)(f)
               
8.500%, 07/28/2021
   
1,600,000
     
1,600,000
 
Total Senior Secured Notes (Cost $1,600,000)
           
1,600,000
 
                 
   
Shares
         
WARRANTS - 0.92% (a)
               
Avista Healthcare Public Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: December 2021
   
121,090
     
24,218
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Barington/Hilco Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: February 2020
   
15,611
     
793
 
Exercise Price: $12.50
               
Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: December 2022
   
55,801
     
17,349
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: July 2022
   
50,000
     
25,000
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Black Ridge Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: October 2022
   
161,445
     
69,421
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Borqs Technologies, Inc.
               
Expiration: August 2022
   
104,449
     
12,534
 
Exercise Price: $12.00 (g)
               
CM Seven Star Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: November 2022
   
125,000
     
58,750
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Constellation Alpha Capital Corp.
               
Expiration: March 2024
   
25,001
     
5,500
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
COPsync, Inc.
               
Expiration: October 2020
   
10,794
     
0
 
Exercise Price: $3.125
               
Draper Oakwood Technology Acquisition, Inc.
               
Expiration: September 2024
   
56,895
     
33,568
 

Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Emergent Capital, Inc.
               
Expiration: October 2019
   
8
     
0
 
Exercise Price: $10.75 (c)(f)
               
Expiration: July 2025
   
640,000
     
0
 
Exercise Price: $0.20  (c)(f)
               
GigCapital, Inc.
               
Expiration: March 2025
   
58,050
     
28,851
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Haymaker Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: November 2022
   
15,358
     
18,583
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Hunter Maritime Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: October 2021
   
46,221
     
10,677
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
I-AM Capital Acquisition Co.
               
Expiration: October 2022
   
113,791
     
39,827
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Industrea Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: August 2024
   
273,098
     
273,098
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
KBL Merger Corp. IV
               
Expiration: July 2023
   
275,000
     
57,255
 
Exercise Price: $5.75
               
Modern Media Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: June 2022
   
54,093
     
29,751
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
MTech Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: August 2024
   
81,750
     
120,990
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Pensare Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: August 2022
   
19,254
     
10,012
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Pure Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: April 2023
   
273,277
     
368,924
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Stellar Acquisition III, Inc.
               
Expiration: March 2022
   
45,240
     
6,108
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
TKK Symphony Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: August 2023
   
212,439
     
50,985
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (g)
               
Trinity Merger Corp.
               
Expiration: May 2023
   
102,199
     
51,100
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.
               
Expiration: December 2018
   
10,526
     
0
 
Exercise Price: $4.75 (c)(f)
               
Total Warrants (Cost $1,071,351)
           
1,313,294
 
                 
RIGHTS - 0.51% (a)
               
Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: November 22, 2018)
   
111,602
     
47,989
 
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (g) (Expiration: March 23, 2019)
   
100,000
     
52,000
 
Black Ridge Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: July 10, 2019)
   
161,445
     
59,735
 
CM Seven Star Acquisition Corp. (g) (Expiration: January 30, 2019)
   
250,000
     
125,000
 
Constellation Alpha Capital Corp. (g) (Expiration: December 23, 2018)
   
25,001
     
9,998
 
Draper Oakwood Technology Acquisition, Inc. (Expiration: December 19, 2018)
   
113,790
     
58,033
 
GigCapital, Inc. (Expiration: March 12, 2019)
   
77,400
     
41,014
 
I-AM Capital Acquisition Co. (Expiration: November 21, 2018)
   
113,791
     
56,895
 
KBL Merger Corp. IV (Expiration: December 7, 2018)
   
275,000
     
126,500
 
Modern Media Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: November 17, 2018)
   
103,859
     
41,543
 
Pensare Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: February 1, 2019)
   
38,508
     
17,298
 
TKK Symphony Acquisition Corp. (g) (Expiration: August 20, 2019)
   
212,439
     
96,660
 
Total Rights (Cost $531,257)
           
732,665
 
                 

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS - 3.90%
               
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
   
129,745
     
5,568,655
 
Total Exchange Traded Funds (Cost $5,522,514)
           
5,568,655
 
                 
MONEY MARKET FUNDS - 9.99%
               
Fidelity Institutional Government Portfolio - Class I, 1.900% (e)
   
7,129,503
     
7,129,503
 
STIT-Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class, 1.895% (e)
   
7,129,503
     
7,129,503
 
Total Money Market Funds (Cost $14,259,006)
           
14,259,006
 
                 
Total Investments (Cost $188,559,096) - 136.75%
           
195,194,218
 
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities - 2.20%
           
3,139,689
 
Preferred Stock - (38.95)%
           
(55,599,400
)
TOTAL NET ASSETS - 100.00%
         
$
142,734,507
 
 
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets.
       
 
(a)
Non-income producing security.
       
(b)
The coupon rate shown represents the rate at September 30, 2018.
       
(c)
Fair valued securities. The total market value of these securities was $5,922,716, representing 4.15% of net assets. Value determined using significant unobservable inputs.
       
(d)
Default or other conditions exist and security is not presently accruing income.
       
(e)
The rate shown represents the 7-day yield at September 30, 2018.
       
(f)
Illiquid securities. The total market value of these securities was $5,922,716, representing 4.15% of net assets.
       
(g)
Foreign-issued security.
       
(h)
Security currently undergoing a full liquidation with all proceeds paid out to shareholders.
       
(i)
Securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. Such securities are deemed to be liquid and the aggregate value, $1,888,822, represents 1.32% of net assets.
       
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these schedule of investments.
       

 

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

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

Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2—Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available; representing the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

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

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

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

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

At each regular quarterly Board meeting, the Adviser delivers a written report (the “Quarterly Report”) to the Board regarding any recommendations of fair valuation during the past quarter, including fair valuations which have not changed. The Board reviews the Quarterly Report and discusses the valuation of the fair valued securities.

The Valuation Committee reviews all Quarterly Reports and any other interim reports, and reviews and approves the valuation of all fair valued securities. This review includes a review and discussion of an updated fair valuation summary with appropriate levels of representatives of the Adviser’s management.

 
                         
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of September 30, 2018 in valuing the Fund's investments:
       
                         
   
Quoted Prices in Active
   
Significant Other
             
   
Markets for Identical
   
Observable Inputs
   
Unobservable Inputs
       
   
Investments (Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)*
   
Total
 
Investment Companies
 
$
94,824,628
   
$
691,119
   
$
-
   
$
95,515,747
 
Preferred Stocks
                               
Real Estate Investment Trusts
   
4,035,490
     
-
     
3,421,000
     
7,456,490
 
Common Stocks
                               
Consumer Finance
   
272,797
     
-
     
-
     
272,797
 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
   
8,424,831
     
-
     
-
     
8,424,831
 
Insurance
   
315,655
     
-
     
-
     
315,655
 
Machinery
   
11,469
     
-
     
-
     
11,469
 
Professional Services
   
4,900,546
     
-
     
-
     
4,900,546
 
Real Estate Investment Trusts
   
3,301,422
     
-
     
-
     
3,301,422
 
Real Estate Management & Development
   
491,847
     
-
     
-
     
491,847
 
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicles
   
28,493,569
     
13,644,837
     
-
     
42,138,406
 
Liquidating Trusts
   
-
     
-
     
612,910
     
612,910
 
Convertible Notes
   
-
     
1,888,222
     
273,806
     
2,162,028
 
Corporate Bonds
   
-
     
-
     
15,000
     
15,000
 
Corporate Notes
   
-
     
6,101,450
     
-
     
6,101,450
 
Senior Secured Notes
   
-
     
-
     
1,600,000
     
1,600,000
 
Warrants
   
1,025,715
     
287,579
     
0
     
1,313,294
 
Rights
   
406,398
     
326,267
     
-
     
732,665
 
Exchange Traded Funds
   
5,568,655
     
-
     
-
     
5,568,655
 
Money Market Funds
   
14,259,006
     
-
     
-
     
14,259,006
 
Total
 
$
166,332,028
   
$
22,939,474
   
$
5,922,716
   
$
195,194,218
 
                                 
*The Fund measures Level 3 activity as of the beginning and end of each financial reporting period.
                 
                                 


Special Opportunities Fund
         
               
               
The fair value of derivative instruments as reported within the Schedule of Investments as of September 30, 2018:
               
               
Derivatives not accounted
for as hedging instruments
 
Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location
   
Value
Equity Contracts - Warrants
Investments, at value
      $   
                                         1,313,294
               
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the period ended September 30, 2018:
               
   
Amount of Realized Gain on Derivatives Recognized in Income
Derivatives not accounted
for as hedging instruments
 
Statement of Operations
Location
   
Value
Equity Contracts - Warrants
Net Realized Gain
      $   
                                            206,706
     
on Investments
       
               
   
Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Derivatives Recognized in Income
Derivatives not accounted
for as hedging instruments
 
Statement of Operations
Location
   
Total
Equity Contracts - Warrants
Net change in unrealized
    $     
                                           186,859
     
appreciation of investments

 

Level 3 Reconciliation Disclosure
               
The following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:
   
                       
Category
 
Balance
as of
12/31/2017
Acquisitions
Dispositions
Corporate
Actions
Realized Gain
(Loss)
Change
in unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
Balance
as of
9/30/2018
     
Closed End Funds
 
 $      1,187,878
 $                           -
 $                (1,725)
 $    (1,187,551)
 $                           1,725
 $                         (327)
 $                      0
     
Preferred Stocks
 
         6,061,709
                               -
                              -
        (2,475,633)
                                       -
                     (165,076)
          3,421,000
     
Liquidating Trusts
 
         3,045,599
                               -
                              -
        (1,703,845)
                            36,053
                     (764,897)
             612,910
     
Convertible Notes
 
            273,806
                               -
                              -
                          -
                                       -
                                    -
             273,806
     
Corporate Bonds
 
               15,000
                               -
                              -
                          -
                                       -
                                    -
               15,000
     
Senior Secured Notes
 
         1,600,000
                               -
                              -
                          -
                                       -
                                    -
          1,600,000
     
Warrants
 
0
                               -
                              -
                          -
                                       -
                                    -
0
     
 
 
 $   12,183,992
 $                           -
 $                (1,725)
 $    (5,367,029)
 $                        37,778
 $                 (930,300)
 $      5,922,716
     
                       
                       
The following table presents additional information about valuation methodologies and inputs used for investments that are measured at fair value and
categorized within Level 3 as of September 30, 2018:
               
                       
 
 
Fair Value September 30, 2018
 
Valuation Methodologies
 
Unobservable Input(1)
Impact
to Valuation
from an
 increase in
Input(2)
       
Closed End Funds
 
 $                      0
 
Market Assessment and Company-Specfic Information
 
Liquidation Value
Increase
       
Preferred Stocks
 
           3,421,000
 
Cost
 
Market Assessments/ Financial
Assessements
Increase
       
Liquidating Trusts
 
              612,910
 
Last Traded Price
 
Financial
Assessements/
Company
Announcements
Increase
       
Convertible Notes
 
              273,806
 
Cost
 
Terms of the Note/
 Financial
Assessements/
Company
Announcements
Increase
       
Corporate Bonds
 
                15,000
 
Market
Transactions Approach
 
Single Broker Quote
Increase
       
Senior Secured Notes
 
           1,600,000
 
Cost
 
Terms of the Note/
Financial
Assessements/
Company
Announcements
Increase
       
Warrants
 
0
 
Market
Transactions Approach
 
Discount to Market
Price for
Share
Restrictions
Decrease
       
                       
(1)
In determining certain inputs, management evaluates a variety of factors including economic conditions, foreign exchange rates, industry and market developments, market valuations of comparable companies and company specific developments including exit strategies and realization opportunities. Management has determined that market participants would take these inputs into account when valuing the investments.
     
                       
(2)
This column represents the directional change in the fair value of the Level 3 investments that would result from an increase to the corresponding unobservable input. A decrease to the unobservable input would have the opposite effect.
     

Item 2. Controls and Procedures.
 
(a)
The Registrant’s President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”)) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rule 13a-15(b) or Rule 15d‑15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(d)).

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

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


(Registrant)   Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.                                          
 
By (Signature and Title) /s/ Andrew Dakos                                                          
Andrew Dakos, President

Date             11/21/2018                          
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

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

Date              11/21/2018                          
 
By (Signature and Title) /s/ Thomas Antonucci                                                  
Thomas Antonucci, Chief Financial Officer

Date              11/21/2018