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SEC Comment Letters
Company Responses
Letter Text
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2022-04-06
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2022-04-06
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2019-02-22
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2019-02-22
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2019-02-12
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2019-02-12
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2018-06-07
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2018-06-07
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2018-05-11
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2018-05-11
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2017-07-07
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2017-07-07
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2017-07-07
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2017-07-07
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2017-07-06
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2017-07-06
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2017-06-09
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2017-06-09
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2016-09-15
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2016-09-15
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2016-09-14
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2016-09-14
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2016-09-14
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2016-09-14
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2016-09-09
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2016-09-09
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2016-08-05
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2016-08-05
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2014-10-24
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2014-10-24
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2014-10-17
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2014-10-17
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2013-10-25
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2013-10-25
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Orphan - no UPLOAD in window
1 company response(s)
Low - unmatched response
Company responded
2013-10-24
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2013-10-24
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Awaiting Response
0 company response(s)
Medium
SEC wrote to company
2012-11-19
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
UPLOAD · 2012-11-19
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Response Received
1 company response(s)
High - file number match
SEC wrote to company
2012-11-15
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
References: October 16, 2012
Summary
UPLOAD · 2012-11-15
Generating summary...
↓
Company responded
2012-11-16
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2012-11-16
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Awaiting Response
0 company response(s)
Medium
SEC wrote to company
2012-11-16
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
UPLOAD · 2012-11-16
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Awaiting Response
0 company response(s)
Medium
SEC wrote to company
2012-11-07
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
UPLOAD · 2012-11-07
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Response Received
2 company response(s)
High - file number match
SEC wrote to company
2011-07-20
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
References: June 28, 2011
Summary
UPLOAD · 2011-07-20
Generating summary...
↓
Company responded
2011-11-17
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2011-11-17
Generating summary...
↓
Company responded
2011-11-18
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2011-11-18
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Awaiting Response
0 company response(s)
Medium
SEC wrote to company
2011-11-18
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
UPLOAD · 2011-11-18
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Awaiting Response
0 company response(s)
Medium
SEC wrote to company
2011-07-14
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
UPLOAD · 2011-07-14
Generating summary...
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Response Received
1 company response(s)
High - file number match
SEC wrote to company
2010-09-14
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
UPLOAD · 2010-09-14
Generating summary...
↓
Company responded
2010-10-28
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Summary
CORRESP · 2010-10-28
Generating summary...
Summary
| Date | Type | Company | Location | File No | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-10 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2025-04-08 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2022-04-06 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2019-02-22 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2019-02-12 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2018-06-07 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2018-05-11 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2017-07-07 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2017-07-07 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2017-07-06 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2017-06-09 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2016-09-15 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2016-09-14 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2016-09-14 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2016-09-09 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2016-08-05 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2014-10-24 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2014-10-17 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2013-10-25 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2013-10-24 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2012-11-19 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2012-11-16 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2012-11-16 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2012-11-15 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2012-11-07 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2011-11-18 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2011-11-18 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2011-11-17 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2011-07-20 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2011-07-14 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2010-10-28 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2010-09-14 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| Date | Type | Company | Location | File No | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-11-19 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2012-11-16 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2012-11-15 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2012-11-07 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2011-11-18 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2011-07-20 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2011-07-14 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2010-09-14 | SEC Comment Letter | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| Date | Type | Company | Location | File No | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-10 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2025-04-08 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2022-04-06 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2019-02-22 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2019-02-12 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2018-06-07 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2018-05-11 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2017-07-07 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2017-07-07 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2017-07-06 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2017-06-09 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2016-09-15 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2016-09-14 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2016-09-14 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2016-09-09 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2016-08-05 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2014-10-24 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2014-10-17 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2013-10-25 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2013-10-24 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2012-11-16 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2011-11-18 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2011-11-17 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
| 2010-10-28 | Company Response | Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. | MD | N/A | Read Filing View |
2025-04-10 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
1271 Avenue of the Americas
|New York, NY 10020
blankrome.com
April 10, 2025
FILED VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE
Division of Investment Management
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-4720
Attn: Ms. Lisa Larkin
Ms. Megan Miller
Re:
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form N-2
File Numbers: 333-285138 and 811-05150
Dear Ms. Lisa Larkin & Ms. Megan Miller:
On behalf of Cornerstone Strategic
Investment Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), we submit this letter in response to a comment received via teleconference on April 10,
2025, from Megan Miller of the accounting staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") with respect to Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1 ("PEA No.1") to the Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (the "Registration Statement").
The Registration Statement was filed with the SEC on February 21, 2025 (Accession No.: 0001398344-25-003234) and PEA No.1 was filed with
the SEC on April 8, 2025 (Accession No.: 0001398344-25-006812).
The Fund has considered your comment
and has authorized us to make the response below and to confirm, on behalf of the Fund, that the change discussed below will be made in
a Rule 424 definitive filing (the "Rule 424 Filing"). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth
in the Registration Statement. We have set forth below, in bold face type, the text of the comment, followed by the Fund's response:
Blank Rome LLP | blankrome.com
April 10, 2025
Page 2
1. Reference is made to the Expense Example on page 11 (including the lead in disclosure thereto). Please explain in correspondence
how the amounts were calculated in the Expense Example and provide such calculations supplementally via email in an excel spreadsheet.
If the lead in disclosure is incorrect please confirm in correspondence that such disclosure will be corrected in a Form 424 filing.
Response : The Fund advises the Staff that the offering
expenses were not included in calculation of the Expense Example amounts. As requested, the calculations have been supplementally provided
via email in an excel spreadsheet. The lead in disclosure to the Expense Example will be revised as follows in the Rule 424 Filing:
The following example illustrates the
hypothetical expenses (including estimated expenses with respect to year 1 of this Offering of approximately $636,000)
that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in the Shares, assuming (i) annual expenses of 1.26% of net assets attributable to the Shares
and (ii) a 5% annual return:
Should you have any additional questions or
comments regarding this letter, please contact me at (212) 885-5205.
Sincerely,
/s/ Margaret M. Murphy
Margaret M. Murphy
2025-04-08 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
1271 Avenue of the Americas
|New York, NY 10020
blankrome.com
April 8, 2025
FILED VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE
Division of Investment Management
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-4720
Attn: Ms. Lisa Larkin
Ms. Megan Miller
Re:
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form N-2
File Numbers: 333-285138 and 811-05150
Dear Ms. Lisa Larkin & Ms. Megan Miller:
On behalf of Cornerstone Strategic
Investment Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), this letter is in response to the comments received telephonically on March 11, 2025 and
March 26, 2025 from the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") regarding the Fund's
registration statement filed on Form N-2 on February 21, 2025 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933
as amended (the "1933 Act") and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The filing was
made for the purpose of registering non-transferable rights ("Rights") to be issued to shareholders of the Fund to purchase
new shares of the Fund ("Shares"). We have set forth below, in bold face type, the text of the comment, followed by the Fund's
responses. Where revisions to the Registration Statement (including the prospectus and statement of information contained therein) are
referenced in the Fund's response, such revisions have been included in Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement,
filed concurrently herewith.
1. Please explain in correspondence the accounting treatment of the offering costs. Include a reference to US GAAP in your response.
Response : The Fund advises the Staff, on a supplemental
basis, that pursuant to FASB ASC 946-20-25-5, the Fund will record the expenses in connection with the rights offering as a reduction
of additional paid-in capital upon the sale of the shares in the rights offering.
April 8, 2025
Page 2
2. Please add an example showing the extent of the dilutive effect of the offering when the Subscription Price is below the net asset
value (NAV) on the pricing date.
Response : The Fund respectfully advises that the offering
will not be dilutive to NAV, as the formula used to calculate the Subscription Price provides that the Subscription Price will be at least
112% of the NAV on the pricing date. Including an example with an estimated Subscription Price below NAV would be misleading because it
is impossible for the Subscription Price to be below NAV based on the Subscription Price calculation. As such, the Fund declines to add
the requested example.
3. Supplementally advise the factors considered in setting the amount of the premium to NAV and the discount to market price when
determining the subscription price calculation.
Response : The Fund supplementally advises that the predominant
factor considered when determining the Subscription Price calculation is the premium at which the Fund's shares trade to NAV at
the time the calculation is determined.
Should you have any additional questions or comments
regarding this letter, please contact me at (212) 885-5205.
Sincerely,
/s/ Margaret M. Murphy
Margaret M. Murphy
2022-04-06 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
1271 Avenue of the Americas |New York,
NY 10020
blankrome.com
April 6, 2022
FILED VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE
Division of Investment Management
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-4720
Attn: Ms. Lisa Larkin
Re:
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form N-2
File Numbers: 333-262872 and 811-05150
Dear Ms. Lisa Larkin:
On behalf of Cornerstone Strategic
Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), this letter is in response to the comments received telephonically on March 23, 2022 from the
Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) regarding the Fund’s registration statement
filed on Form N-2 on February 18, 2022 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the “1933
Act”) and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The filing was made for the purpose of registering
non-transferable rights (“Rights”) to be issued to shareholders of the Fund to purchase new shares of the Fund (“Shares”).
We have set forth below, in bold face type, the text of the comment, followed by the Fund’s responses. Where revisions to the Registration
Statement (including the prospectus and statement of information contained therein) are referenced in the Fund’s response, such
revisions have been included in Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement, filed concurrently herewith.
1. Remove fee table from cover page.
Response: The fee table has been removed from the cover
page.
2. Supplementally advise the Staff the circumstances under with the Expiration Date would be extended and the method by which the
Fund would inform shareholders of such extension.
Blank Rome
LLP | blankrome.com
April 6, 2022
Page 2
Response: The Fund respectfully advises the Staff that
the Fund’s Board of Directors could determine that an extension of the Expiration Date is in the best interests of Fund shareholders
for several reasons, including if the Board has determined that Fund shareholders need additional time to exercise their subscription
rights. If the Expiration Date is extended, the Fund will issue a press release to notify its shareholders of such extension.
3. Supplementally advise why “normally” was added before the range of portfolio turnovers that is provided in a few spots
throughout the Registration Statement.
Response: The Fund advises that “normally”
was added before the range of portfolio turnovers to reflect the fact that the Fund’s portfolio turnover may fall outside the provided
range in periods of market volatility, as was the case for the Fund during the Covid-19 pandemic.
4. Advise why the following sentence was deleted from the penultimate paragraph of the “INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES –
Investment Strategies” section: “Any income earned from such investments is ordinarily reinvested by the Fund in accordance
with its investment program.”.
Response: The referenced sentence referred to income
earned from the investment of the Fund’s cash balances. The Fund advises that the referenced sentence was deleted because such income,
which is typically minimal, may be used in a variety of manners, including towards distributions on Fund shares and towards Fund expenses.
5. The “MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND – Portfolio Manager” section refers to two co-portfolio managers. Please provide
the disclosure for each co-portfolio manager required by Item 9.1.c of Form N-2.
Response: The additional disclosure has been added.
6. The Staff notes that the Executive Officers Table in the SAI includes the Assistant Treasurer position but not the Assistant Secretary
positions. Confirm the Fund intended to omit the Asst. Secretary position(s) from the table.
Response: The Fund advises that the Assistant Secretary
positions were intentionally omitted from the referenced table and further advises the Assistant Treasurer position was only included
in the referenced table because the person who holds that position also holds the position of Secretary, which is included in the definition
of “officer” provided in Item 18.1.d of Form N-2.
April 6, 2022
Page 3
7. The Staff notes that the Powers of Attorney for certain directors were cross referenced to prior registration statement filings.
Please provide an updated Power of Attorney for each such director.
Response: The Fund respectfully advises the Staff that
updated Powers of Attorney have been filed as Exhibit 2(t)(i) to the Registration Statement.
8. The Staff notes the deletion of a portion of the non-fundamental policy prohibiting the Fund from investing more than 3% of the
Fund’s assets in the securities of companies that, at the time of investment, had less than a year of operations, including operations
of predecessor companies. Please supplementally confirm this change was made and advise whether a supplement was filed disclosing it.
Response: The Fund supplementally advises that at a meeting
held on August 6, 2021, the Fund’s Board of Directors approved the amendment of its non-fundamental policy (which had previously
read: “[t]he Fund may invest up to 15% of its assets in illiquid U.S. and non-U.S. securities, provided that the Fund may not invest
more than 3% of the Fund’s assets in the securities of companies that, at the time of investment, had less than a year of operations,
including operations of predecessor companies”) to remove the referenced proviso regarding companies with less than a year of operations.
No supplement was filed by the Fund regarding this amendment because, in the Fund’s view, the appropriate place to disclose this
amendment to its non-fundamental policy was in the Registration Statement, which was the most recent updated (or new) registration statement
filed by the Fund since the Board approved the amendment.
Should you have any additional questions or
comments regarding this letter, please contact me at (212) 885-5205.
Sincerely,
/s/ Margaret M. Murphy
Margaret M. Murphy
2019-02-22 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
Phone:
(212) 885-5205
Fax:
(212) 885-5001
Email:
mmmurphy@blankrome.com
February 22, 2019
FILED VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-4720
Attn: Valerie J. Lithotomos
Re:
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.
Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on February
12, 2019
File No. 811-05150
Dear Ms. Lithotomos:
On behalf of Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund,
Inc. (the “Fund”), this letter is in response to the comments relayed in a telephone conversation with the undersigned
on February 21, 2019 from the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) regarding the
Fund’s Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on February 12, 2019 (the “Proxy Statement”) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have set forth below, in bold face type, the comment,
followed by the Fund’s responses:
1.
Please clarify the affiliation between the Current Advisor and the New Advisor.
RESPONSE: The New Investment Advisor
is owned by Cornerstone Trust. Ralph W. Bradshaw is one of the trustees of Cornerstone Trust. The Current Advisor is owned by two
individuals, Ralph W. Bradshaw and Gary A. Bentz. It is anticipated that, subject to shareholder approval of the New Management
Agreement and upon completion of the Reorganization, the New Investment Advisor will employ the current portfolio managers and
all of the same personnel that the Current Advisor currently employs in its provision of investment advisory services to the Fund.
Upon completion of the Reorganization, Mr. Bentz is expected to become an independent contractor to the New Investment Advisor
providing non-investment advisory services.
2.
Please provide an update on the status of the Reorganization.
RESPONSE: Cornerstone Trust was established
on January 29, 2019. The New Investment Advisor was formed on January 30, 2019. The New Investment Advisor filed its Form ADV with
the Commission on February 20, 2019. It is anticipated that the New Investment Advisor’s registration as an investment advisor
will be declared effective on or about April 6, 2019.
3.
Please add disclosure clarifying the reasons for the Reorganization.
RESPONSE: The Fund has added the following
disclosure to the Proxy Statement as a new third paragraph under the “Introduction” section of Proposal 2:
Mr. Bentz, one of the two owners of the Current Adviser, has indicated
that he is considering different options with respect to his future endeavors and, if the New Management Agreement is approved
by the Fund’s stockholders and the Reorganization is completed, Mr. Bentz would prefer to provide non-advisory consulting
services on an as-needed basis to the New Investment Adviser and devote the bulk of his time to other ventures. The Reorganization
would allow for Mr. Bentz’s transition to a non-advisory consulting role while also creating a new entity (the New Investment
Adviser) that can employ the same portfolio managers and other personnel that are currently employed by the Current Adviser in
connection with the investment advisory services it provides the Fund.
*********************
In accordance
with our telephone discussion yesterday morning, the disclosure provided in the response to Comment No. 3 above, and other revisions
which are non-material in nature, will be incorporated into the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement which will be filed
today, February 22, 2019.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Margaret Murphy
Margaret Murphy
2019-02-12 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
Phone:
(212)885-5205
Fax:
(212)885-5001
Email:
mmmurphy@blankrome.com
February 12, 2019
VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Investment Management
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.
Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule
14A
Notice of Filing
To Whom it May Concern:
The above-referenced filing (the “Preliminary
Proxy Statement”) of our client, Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), filed on February 12, 2019,
pursuant to Rule 14a-6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the
Board of Directors of the Fund, a Maryland corporation for use at an annual meeting of stockholders to be held on April 16, 2019,
at the First Floor Conference Room, 1075 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, NC 28803, for the following purposes:
1. To approve the election of two directors to hold office until the year 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;
2. To approve a new investment management agreement with
Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management LLC; and
3. To consider and vote upon such other matters as may properly
come before said Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Please contact me at (212) 885-5205 with any
comments or questions you may have or for any further information you may desire.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Margaret M. Murphy
Margaret M. Murphy
2018-06-07 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
Phone:
(212)885-5234
Fax:
(212)898-1392
Email:
cschrenko@blankrome.com
June
7, 2018
FILED VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Investment Management
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attention: Lisa Larkin
Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.
(File Numbers: 811-05150 and 333-224879)
Registration Statement on Form N-2
Dear Ms. Larkin:
On behalf of our client,
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), we are filing a request for acceleration of the Registration Statement
on Form N-2 (the “Registration Statement”) initially filed on May 11, 2018 and amended on June 7, 2018, such that the
Registration Statement will be declared effective on Friday, June 8, 2018 or as soon thereafter as practicable.
Please contact me at (212)
885-5234 or Thomas R. Westle at (212) 885-5239 with any questions you may have or for any further information you may desire.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Courtney B. Schrenko
Courtney B. Schrenko
2018-05-11 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
Phone:
(212)885-5234
Fax:
(917)898-1392
Email:
cschrenko@blankrome.com
May 11, 2018
VIA EDGAR
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Investment Management
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (File Number: 811-05150)
Registration Statement on Form N-2
Request for Selective Review
To Whom It May Concern:
The above-referenced filing
(the “Registration Statement”) of our client, Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), being
filed on May 11, 2018, is based on and is substantially similar to the registration statement on Form N-2 of the Cornerstone Total
Return Fund, Inc. (File Nos.: 811-02363 and 333-218643) which was reviewed and declared effective by the Staff on July 10, 2017.
Please accept this letter as a request under the selective review procedures discussed below with respect to the Staff’s
review of the Registration Statement.
In this regard, the Staff
follows certain selective review procedures for registration statements, set forth in Securities Act Release No. 6510 (Feb. 15,
1984), which are applicable to all management investment company registration statements. The Staff may determine not to review
a registration statement (or portions of a registration statement) based on similarity to prior filings that have been reviewed
by the Staff. Based on these procedures, a registrant may identify portions of prior filings similar or identical to, and intended
to serve as precedent for, a current filing.
The Registration Statement
represents a “rights offering” of the Fund’s shares, the terms and conditions of which are substantially similar
to those contained in the registration statement of the Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. referenced above.
Please contact me at (212)
885-5234 or Thomas R. Westle at (212) 885-5239 with any questions you may have or for any further information you may desire.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Courtney B. Schrenko
Courtney B. Schrenko
2017-07-07 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP 1 filename1.htm Phone: (212)885-55234 Fax: (212)898-1392 Email: cschrenko@blankrome.com July 7, 2017 FILED VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Investment Management 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Attention: Lisa Larkin Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (File Numbers: 811-05150 and 333-218644) Registration Statement on Form N-2 Dear Ms. Larkin: Enclosed for filing herewith is Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the above-referenced filing (the “Registration Statement”) of our client, Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), initially filed on June 9, 2017. This is being filed to respond to the Staff’s comments received on June 29, 2017. Please note we are also filing a request for acceleration such that the Registration Statement will be declared effective on Monday, July 10, 2017 or as soon thereafter as practicable. Please contact me at (212) 885-5234 or Thomas R. Westle at (212) 885-5239 with any questions you may have or for any further information you may desire. Very truly yours, /s/ Courtney B. Schrenko Courtney B. Schrenko
2017-07-07 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP 1 filename1.htm Phone: (212)885-5234 Fax: (212)898-1392 Email: cschrenko@blankrome.com July 7, 2017 FILED VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Investment Management 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Attention: Lisa Larkin Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (File Numbers: 811-05150 and 333-218644) Registration Statement on Form N-2 Dear Ms. Larkin: On behalf of our client, Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), we are filing a request for acceleration of the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (the “Registration Statement”) initially filed on June 9, 2017 and amended on July 7, 2017, such that the Registration Statement will be declared effective on Monday, July 10, 2017 or as soon thereafter as practicable. Please contact me at (212) 885-5234 or Thomas R. Westle at (212) 885-5239 with any questions you may have or for any further information you may desire. Very truly yours, /s/ Courtney B. Schrenko Courtney B. Schrenko
2017-07-06 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP 1 filename1.htm Phone: (212)885-5234 Fax: (212)898-1392 Email: cschrenko@blankrome.com July 6, 2017 VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Investment Management 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Attention: Lisa Larkin Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. Registration Statement on Form N-2 File Numbers: 333-218644 and 811-05150 Dear Ms. Larkin: On behalf of Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), this letter is in response to the comments received telephonically on June 29, 2017, from the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) regarding the Fund’s registration statement filed on Form N-2 on June 9, 2017 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the “1933 Act”) and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The filing was made for the purpose of registering non-transferable rights (“Rights”) to be issued to shareholders of the Fund to purchase new shares of the Fund (“Shares”). We have set forth below, in bold face type, the text of the comment, followed by the Fund’s responses. 1. Under the “Investment Strategies” section, please specify whether the Fund invests or plans to invest in Contingent Convertible Securities (CoCos). If so, the amount should be provided and the Fund should consider what additional disclosure is necessary. RESPONSE: The Fund has no current intention to invest in Contingent Convertible Securities (CoCos) and therefore no additional disclosure has been provided. 2. Under the “Investment Strategies” section, after the first sentence in the first paragraph, please clarify the capitalization range of the companies. RESPONSE: The Fund has added the following disclosure after the first sentence under the “Investment Strategies” section: 1 “Currently, the Fund primarily invests in companies with large capitalization, however, the Fund may invest in companies of all capitalization ranges.” 3. Under the “Board Considerations in Approving the Offering” section, please clarify the conditions referred to. RESPONSE: The Fund has revised the disclosure to read as follows: The Board also considered a number of other factors, including the success of the 2010 Offering, the 2011 Offering, the 2012 Offering, the 2013 Offering and the 2016 Offering (collectively, the “Prior Rights Offerings”) and that the Prior Rights Offerings were anti-dilutive to Stockholders with respect to value, the ability of the Adviser to invest the proceeds of the Offering, the Fund’s assets, including those resulting from Prior Rights Offerings, have been used to maintain the Fund’s Distribution Policy because a portion of the assets raised in the rights offering may be utilized to maintain monthly distributions and the potential effect of the Offering on the Fund’s stock price and adherence to the terms of the Fund’s exemptive relief, which restricts a Public Offering of its common stock. 4. Under the “Investment Objectives and Policies” section, if the investment objective is not fundamental, please disclose. RESPONSE: As previously disclosed in the “Summary” section, the Fund has added the following language to the “Investment Objectives and Policies” section: “The Fund’s investment objective and some of its investment policies are considered fundamental policies and may not be changed without Stockholder approval.” 5. Leverage – Please confirm that the Fund will not issue preferred shares within one year of the offering, otherwise disclose the expenses associated with the preferred shares. Also, explain what would cause the Board to determine to issue preferred shares. RESPONSE: The Fund hereby confirms that the Fund will not issue preferred shares within one year of the offering. Additionally, the Board has no current intention to issue preferred shares. 6. Under the “Administrative Services” and “Fund Accounting Agreement” sections, please add three fiscal years of total dollars paid. RESPONSE: The Fund has provided the information with respect to the three fiscal years of total dollars paid. Under the “Administrative Services” section, the Fund has revised the disclosure as follows: 2 “For years 2014, 2015 and 2016, the Fund paid AFS $131,638, $192,919 and $236,080 respectively.” Under the “Fund Accounting Agreement” section, the Fund has revised disclosure as follows: “For years 2014, 2015 and 2016, the Fund paid Ultimus $49,354, $59,032 and $61,466 respectively.” 7. Please include information regarding fundamental investment restrictions for making loans. RESPONSE: Under the Investment Restrictions section, the Fund has added a new fundamental restriction with respect to not making loans. The Fund has revised the disclosure as follows: “9. Make loans except insofar as permitted under the 1940 Act.” * * * * * * The Fund intends to file a pre-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to include the revisions set forth in this response letter. Should you have any additional questions or comments regarding this letter, please contact me at (212) 885-5234. Sincerely, /s/ Courtney B. Schrenko Courtney B. Schrenko 3
2017-06-09 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP 1 filename1.htm Phone: (212)885-5234 Fax: (917)898-1392 Email: cschrenko@blankrome.com June 9, 2017 VIA EDGAR Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Investment Management 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (File Number: 811-05150) Registration Statement on Form N-2 Request for Selective Review To Whom It May Concern: The above-referenced filing (the “Registration Statement”) of our client, Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), being filed on June 9, 2017, is based on and is substantially similar to the registration statement on Form N-2 of the Fund which was reviewed and declared effective by the Staff on September 16, 2016. Please accept this letter as a request under the selective review procedures discussed below with respect to the Staff’s review of the Registration Statement. In this regard, the Staff follows certain selective review procedures for registration statements, set forth in Securities Act Release No. 6510 (Feb. 15, 1984), which are applicable to all management investment company registration statements. The Staff may determine not to review a registration statement (or portions of a registration statement) based on similarity to prior filings that have been reviewed by the Staff. Based on these procedures, a registrant may identify portions of prior filings similar or identical to, and intended to serve as precedent for, a current filing. The Registration Statement represents a “rights offering” of the Fund’s shares, the terms and conditions of which are substantially similar to those contained in the registration statement of the Fund referenced above. Please contact me at (212) 885-5234 or Thomas R. Westle at (212) 885-5239 with any questions you may have or for any further information you may desire. Securities and Exchange Commission June 9, 2017 Page 2 Very truly yours, /s/ Courtney B. Schrenko Courtney B. Schrenko
2016-09-15 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP 1 filename1.htm Phone: (212)885-5205 Fax: (917)332-3033 Email: ajanell@blankrome.com September 15, 2016 VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Investment Management 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Attention: Asen Parachkevov Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. Registration Statement on Form N-2 File Numbers: 333-212953 and 811-05150 Dear Mr. Parachkevov: On behalf of Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), this letter is in response to the comment received telephonically on September 15, 2016, from the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) regarding the Fund’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed on Form N-2/A on September 14, 2016 to its registration statement filed on Form N-2 on August 5, 2016 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the “1933 Act”) and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The filing was made for the purpose of registering non-transferable rights (“Rights”) to be issued to shareholders of the Fund to purchase new shares of the Fund (“Shares”). We have set forth below, in bold face type, the text of the comment, followed by the Fund’s response. 1. Please revise the annual expense number in the Example to be identical to the Total Annual Expenses number in the Fund’s Fee Table. Please revise the Example if necessary. RESPONSE: The Fund will correct the annual expense percentage that is stated in the lead-in sentence of the Example in its definitive prospectus that will be filed under Rule 497 after the Fund is declared effective. The Example in the Registration Statement is correct as the dollar amounts for 1, 3, 5 and 10 years were calculated using the Total Annual Expense percentage stated in the Fund’s Summary of Fund Expenses. * * * * * * 1 The Fund hereby acknowledges that: • the Fund is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its filings; • should the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; • the action of the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve the Fund from full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filings; and • the Fund may not assert this action as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the Federal securities laws of the United States. Should you have any additional questions or comments regarding this letter, please contact me at (212) 885-5205. Sincerely, /s/ Allison H. Janell Allison H. Janell 2
2016-09-14 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP 1 filename1.htm Phone: (212)885-5205 Fax: (917)332-3033 Email: ajanell@blankrome.com September 14, 2016 FILED VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Investment Management 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Attention: Asen Parachkevov Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (File Numbers: 811-05150 and 333-212953) Registration Statement on Form N-2 Dear Mr. Parachkevov: Enclosed for filing herewith is Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the above-referenced filing (the “Registration Statement”) of our client, Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), initially filed on August 5, 2016. This is being filed to respond to the Staff’s comments received on September 6, 2016. Please note we are also filing a request for acceleration such that the Registration Statement will be declared effective on Friday, September 16, 2016 or as soon thereafter as practicable. Please contact me at (212) 885-5205 or Thomas R. Westle at (212) 885-5239 with any questions you may have or for any further information you may desire. Very truly yours, /s/ Allison H. Janell Allison H. Janell One Logan Square 18th & Cherry Streets Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.BlankRome.com California · Delaware · Florida · New Jersey · New York · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Texas · Washington, DC · Hong Kong
2016-09-14 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP 1 filename1.htm Phone: (212)885-5205 Fax: (917)332-3033 Email: ajanell@blankrome.com September 14, 2016 FILED VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Investment Management 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Attention: Asen Parachkevov Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (File Numbers: 811-05150 and 333-212953) Registration Statement on Form N-2 Dear Mr. Parachkevov: On behalf of our client, Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), we are filing a request for acceleration of the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (the “Registration Statement”) initially filed on August 5, 2016 and amended on September 14, 2016, such that the Registration Statement will be declared effective on Friday, September 16, 2016 or as soon thereafter as practicable. Please contact me at (212) 885-5205 or Thomas R. Westle at (212) 885-5239 with any questions you may have or for any further information you may desire. Very truly yours, /s/ Allison H. Janell Allison H. Janell One Logan Square 18th & Cherry Streets Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.BlankRome.com California · Delaware · Florida · New Jersey · New York · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Texas · Washington, DC · Hong
2016-09-09 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP 1 filename1.htm Phone: (212)885-5205 Fax: (917)332-3033 Email: ajanell@blankrome.com September 9, 2016 VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Investment Management 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Attention: Asen Parachkevov Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. Registration Statement on Form N-2 File Numbers: 333-212953 and 811-05150 Dear Mr. Parachkevov: On behalf of Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), this letter is in response to the comments received telephonically on September 6, 2016, from the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) regarding the Fund’s registration statement filed on Form N-2 on August 5, 2016 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the “1933 Act”) and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The filing was made for the purpose of registering non-transferable rights (“Rights”) to be issued to shareholders of the Fund to purchase new shares of the Fund (“Shares”). We have set forth below, in bold face type, the text of the comment, followed by the Fund’s responses. 1. Please update all financial information to the extent necessary as of June 30, 2016. RESPONSE: The Fund has updated all financial information to the extent necessary as of June 30, 2016. 2. Under Purpose of the Offering – For the years 2011-2015 please specify for each year whether substantially all or a majority of the distributions of the Fund made to its stockholders consisted of a return of its stockholder’s capital, and not of income or gains generated from the Fund’s investment portfolio. RESPONSE: The Fund has revised the disclosure as follows: Specifically, Stockholders should be aware that substantially all of the distributions that the Fund made to its Stockholders for the years 2011 and 2015 consisted of a return of its Stockholders’ capital, and not of income or gains generated from the Fund’s investment portfolio, and a majority of the distributions that the Fund made to its Stockholders for the years 2012-2014 consisted of a return of its Stockholders’ capital, and not of income or gains generated from the Fund’s investment portfolio. 1 3. Determination of Net Asset Value – Supplementally confirm that the Fund is not investing in more than 15% of funds that are exempt from the Investment Company Act of 1940 pursuant to Section 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(7) and that the Fund is not investing in more than 35% in private funds. RESPONSE: The Fund hereby confirms that it is not investing nor does it intend to invest more than 15% of its net assets in funds that are exempt from the Investment Company Act of 1940 pursuant to Section 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(7) and the Fund is not, nor does it intend to invest in more than 35% of its net assets in private funds. 4. Under Determination of Net Asset Value it states, “Private funds and non-traded ETFs are fair valued based on the Fund’s fair valuation policies and procedures.” Please explain what a non-traded ETF is. RESPONSE: On further review, we have determined that the term non-traded ETF was inadvertently stated in the disclosure. This disclosure was included in the prospectus in response to a comment received from the SEC staff stating, “Please add clarifying language as to how the Fund values its investments in other investment companies (private funds, other closed-end funds, traded or non-traded, and ETFs), and that the prospectuses for such companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing.” The Fund has revised the disclosure as follows: The net asset value of shares of the Fund is determined weekly and on the last business day of each month, as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE MKT (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern time). In computing net asset value, portfolio securities of the Fund are valued at their current market values determined on the basis of market quotations. If market quotations are not readily available, securities are valued at fair value as determined by the Board of Directors. The Fund’s investments in closed-end funds or ETFs whose shares are listed on a national securities exchange are valued using the market price at the close of the NYSE MKT or such other exchange on which they are listed. Private funds and non-traded closed-end funds are fair valued based on the Fund’s fair valuation policies and procedures. Fair valuation involves subjective judgments, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may differ materially from the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security. Non-dollar-denominated securities are valued as of the close of the NYSE MKT at the closing price of such securities in their principal trading market, but may be valued at fair value if subsequent events occurring before the computation of net asset value materially have affected the value of the securities. 5. Management – Under Other Directorships Held By Director, please make sure that all directorships for the past 5 years are included. Please include reference to Cornerstone Progressive Return Fund and its merger with and into Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund. 2 RESPONSE: The Fund has revised the disclosure in Other Directorships Held By Director to include all directorships for the past 5 years including reference to Cornerstone Progressive Return Fund and its merger with and into Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. 6. Under Summary of Principal Risks you have removed the following principal risks: Issuer Specific Changes, Foreign Securities Risk, Market Discount from Net Asset Value, Defensive Positions, Management Risk, Preferred Securities Risk, and Convertible Securities Risk. Please disclose why each of these risk factors are not viewed as principal risks. RESPONSE: On further review, the Fund has determined to re-insert the following risks as principal risks in the Summary of Principal Risks: Issuer Specific Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Defensive Positions, Management Risk, and Preferred Securities Risk. In regard to Market Discount from Net Asset Value and Convertible Securities Risk, the Fund does not consider either of these risks as a principal risk based on the Fund’s investment objective and strategies. Additionally, these risks are currently listed as Non-Principal Risks in the prospectus. * * * * * * The Fund hereby acknowledges that: • the Fund is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its filings; • should the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; • the action of the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve the Fund from full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filings; and • the Fund may not assert this action as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the Federal securities laws of the United States. The Fund intends to file a pre-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to include the revisions set forth in this response letter. Should you have any additional questions or comments regarding this letter, please contact me at (212) 885-5205. Sincerely, /s/ Allison H. Janell Allison H. Janell 3
2016-08-05 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP 1 filename1.htm Phone: (212)885-5205 Fax: (917)332-3033 Email: ajanell@blankrome.com August 5, 2016 VIA EDGAR Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Investment Management 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Attention: Asen Parachkevov Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (File Number: 811-05150) Registration Statement on Form N-2 Request for Selective Review Dear Mr. Parachkevov: The above-referenced filing (the “Registration Statement”) of our client, Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), filed on August 5, 2016, is based on and is substantially similar to the registration statement on Form N-2 of the Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (File Nos.: 811-02363 and 333-198846) which was reviewed and declared effective by the Staff on July 16, 2015. Please accept this letter as a request under the selective review procedures discussed below with respect to the Staff’s review of the Registration Statement. In this regard, the Staff follows certain selective review procedures for registration statements, set forth in Securities Act Release No. 6510 (Feb. 15, 1984), which are applicable to all management investment company registration statements. The Staff may determine not to review a registration statement (or portions of a registration statement) based on similarity to prior filings that have been reviewed by the Staff. Based on these procedures, a registrant may identify portions of prior filings similar or identical to, and intended to serve as precedent for, a current filing. The Registration Statement represents a “rights offering” of the Fund’s shares, the terms and conditions of which are substantially similar to those contained in the registration statement of the Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. referenced above. Please contact me at (212) 885-5205 or Thomas R. Westle at (212) 885-5239 with any questions you may have or for any further information you may desire. Very truly yours, /s/ Allison H. Janell Allison H. Janell One Logan Square 18th & Cherry Streets Philadelphia, PA 19103 www.BlankRome.com California · Delaware · Florida · New Jersey · New York · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Texas · Washington, DC · Hong Kong
2014-10-24 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
fp0011982_corresp.htm
Phone:
(212)885-5205
Fax:
(917)332-3033
Email:
ajanell@blankrome.com
October 24, 2014
VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Investment Management
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attention: Asen Parachkevov
Re:
Cornerstone Strategic Income Fund, Inc.
Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
Dear Mr. Parachkevov:
On behalf of Cornerstone Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), this letter is in response to the comments received on October 23, 2014 from the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) regarding the Fund’s preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed on October 17, 2014, pursuant to Rule 14a-6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”). We have set forth below, in bold face type, the text of the comment, followed by the Fund’s responses:
1.
Under the General section it states, “The cost of soliciting the proxies will be borne by the Fund.” Please disclose approximately how much the cost of soliciting will be to the Fund.
RESPONSE: The Fund has added the following disclosure:
The cost of soliciting the proxies is estimated to be approximately $1,600 and will be borne by the Fund.
2.
Under the General section, please fill in the number of shares of common stock outstanding on October 27, 2014. Please confirm if this number includes a recent rights offering.
RESPONSE: The Fund will include the number of shares of common stock outstanding on October 27, 2014. This number will not reflect a rights offering, as a rights offering will not have occurred prior to October 27, 2014.
3.
In the second paragraph under Proposal No. 1, it states that, “the Board believes that a reverse stock split may have the effect of increasing the Fund’s market price and will have the effect of increasing the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share.” Please disclose why the Board believes that a reverse stock split may have the effect of increasing the Fund’s market price.
Securities and Exchange Commission
October 23, 2014
Page 2
RESPONSE: The Fund has added the following disclosure:
Although no assurances can be given, the Board believes that a reverse stock split may have the effect of increasing the Fund's market price and will have the effect of increasing the Fund's net asset value ("NAV") per share. A prior reverse stock split in 2008 by the Fund contributed to an increase in the Fund’s market price and to the Fund’s shares selling at a premium.
The Fund hereby acknowledges that:
·
the Fund is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its filings;
·
should the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing;
·
the action of the Commission or the Staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve the Fund from full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filings; and
·
the Fund may not assert this action as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the Federal securities laws of the United States.
Please also be advised that the Fund has filed as of October 27, 2014, a definitive proxy statement for the Fund containing the revisions set forth in this response letter.
Should you have any additional questions or comments regarding this letter, please contact me at (212) 885-5205.
Sincerely,
/s/ Allison H. Janell
Allison H. Janell
2014-10-17 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
fp0011916_corresp.htm
Phone:
(212)885-5205
Fax:
(917)332-3033
Email:
ajanell@blankrome.com
October 17, 2014
VIA EDGAR CORRESPONDENCE
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Investment Management
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attention: Asen Parachkevov
Re:
Cornerstone Strategic Income Fund, Inc.
Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
Notice of Filing
Dear Mr. Parachkevov:
The above-referenced filing (the “Preliminary Proxy Statement”) of our client, Cornerstone Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), filed on October 17, 2014, pursuant to Rule 14a-6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Fund, a Maryland corporation for use at a special meeting of stockholders to be held on December 8, 2014, 1075 Hendersonville Road, Suite 250, Asheville, North Carolina, 28803, to approve a proposed one-for-four reverse stock split and the related amendment to the Articles of Incorporation.
Please contact me at (212) 885-5205 or Thomas R. Westle at (212) 885-5239 with any questions you may have or for any further information you may desire.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Allison H. Janell
Allison H. Janell
2013-10-25 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
fp0008537_corresp.htm
Phone:
(212) 885-5360
Fax:
(917) 332-3722
Email:
hahmed@blankrome.com
October 24, 2013
Dominic Minore
Division of Investment Management
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-4720
Re:
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”)
SEC File Numbers: 333-191118 and 811-05150
Dear Mr. Minore:
On behalf of the Fund, this letter is in response to the comments received on October 23, 2013 from the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), regarding the Fund’s registration statement on Form N-2 filed on September 12, 2013, as amended by the Pre-Effective Amendment #1, filed on October 18, 2013 (the “Registration Statement”), each filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”).
We have set forth below, in boldface type, the text of each comment, followed by the Fund’s responses.
Prospectus
Pricing Table
1. Comment: Provide footnote disclosure that identifies the estimated per share dollar amount of all fees and expenses of the Offering that the Fund’s Stockholders will bear directly or indirectly. In this regard, also provide footnote disclosure of the estimated per share dollar amount of proceeds to the Fund after deduction of such fees and expenses. The calculation of the per share dollar amount should not take into account the Over-Allotment Shares.
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has added the italicized language set forth below in footnotes (2) and (3) to the “Pricing Table”:
Dominic Minore
October 24, 2013
Page 2
(2) Proceeds to the Fund are before deduction of expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the Offering, such expenses are estimated to be approximately $125,601 or approximately $0.02 per Share, if fully subscribed. The calculation of the per Share amount does not take into account the Over-Allotment Shares. Funds received prior to the final due date of this Offering will be deposited in a segregated account pending allocation and distribution of Shares. Interest, if any, on subscription monies will be paid to the Fund regardless of whether Shares are issued by the Fund; interest will not be used as credit toward the purchase of Shares.
(3) Fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the Offering are estimated to be approximately $125,601 or approximately $0.02 per Share, if fully subscribed. Proceeds to the Fund, after deduction of such fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the Offering, are estimated to be approximately $40,679,968 or approximately $6.44 per Share, if fully subscribed. The calculation of the per Share amounts indicated above do not take into account the Over-Allotment Shares.
The Offering
2. Comment: Delete the word “may” where it is first used in the last bullet point of this section.
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised the following language to “The Offering” section to read as follows:
Use of proceeds from the 2012 Offering, the 2011 Offering, and the 2010 Offering (collectively, the “Prior Rights Offerings”) have been, and the use of proceeds from the current Offering and any future rights offerings, may be used to maintain the Fund’s Distribution Policy (as defined below) by providing funding for future distributions, which may constitute a return of its Stockholders’ capital.
Purpose of The Offering
3. Comment: Add the following language at the end of the last bullet, “and Shares continue to trade at a premium to net asset value”.
Dominic Minore
October 24, 2013
Page 3
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has added the italicized language set forth below in the last bullet of the “Purpose of the Offering” section:
The Offering is expected to be anti-dilutive to all Stockholders, including those electing not to participate notwithstanding, the fact that all the costs of the Offering will be borne by the Stockholders whether or not they exercise their Rights, because the Offering price is set at a premium to NAV and the estimated expenses incurred for the Offering will be more than offset by the increase in the net assets of the Fund such that non-participating Stockholders will receive an increase in their net asset value, so long as the number of Shares issued to participating Stockholders is not materially less than a full exercise of the Basic Subscription amount.
Managed Distribution Risk
4. Comment: Include in the disclosure that the portion of distribution that does not constitute a return of capital is taxable to Stockholders in the year the distribution is declared.
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has added the following language set forth below in the “Managed Distribution Risk” section:
For the taxable Stockholders, the portion of distribution that constitutes ordinary income and/or capital gains is taxable to such Stockholders in the year the distribution is declared.
5. Comment: Add the bracketed language to the following sentence: The Stockholders would reduce their basis in the Shares by the amount of the distribution [and therefore may result in an increase in the amount of any taxable gain on a subsequent disposition of such Shares, even if such Shares are sold at a loss to the Stockholder’s original investment amount].
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has added the italicized language set forth below in the “Managed Distribution Risk” section:
The Stockholders would reduce their basis in the Shares by the amount of the distribution and therefore may result in an increase in the amount of any taxable gain on a subsequent disposition of such Shares, even if such Shares are sold at a loss to the Stockholder’s original investment amount.
Dominic Minore
October 24, 2013
Page 4
Managed Distribution Policy
6. Add the following language to the end of the paragraph that begins with “On August 9, 2013,...”: “but will represent in large part[/substantially all] a return of Stockholders’ capital invested in the Fund.”
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has added the italicized language set forth below in the “Managed Distribution Policy” section:
On August 9, 2013, the Board of Directors of the Fund announced that the distribution percentage for the calendar year 2014 is to remain at 21%, which will be applied to the net asset value of the Fund as of the end of October 2013 to determine the distribution amounts for calendar year 2014. The distribution percentage is not a function of, nor is it related to, the investment return on the Fund’s portfolio but the 2014 distributions based on the distribution percentage are expected to consist principally or entirely of a return of Stockholders’ capital invested in the Fund.
Summary of Fund Expenses
7. Comment: Change lead-in so that it reads as follows: “The following table shows Fund expenses that you as an investor in the Fund’s Shares will bear directly or indirectly.” Also, include under “Stockholder Transaction Expenses” a line item for “Offering expenses”. Further, in the Example, change the amount in Year 1 to account for Offering expenses. Last, the per share calculations should not take into account the Over-Allotment Shares.
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised the Summary of Fund Expenses to read as follows:
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
The following table shows Fund expenses that you as an investor in the Fund’s Shares will bear directly or indirectly.
Dominic Minore
October 24, 2013
Page 5
Stockholder Transaction Expenses
Sales load
None
Offering expenses
0.49%
Distribution Reinvestment Plan fees
None
Annual Expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to the Shares)
Management fees
1.00%
Other expenses(2)
0.45%
Acquired Fund fees and expenses(3)
0.56%
Total Annual Expenses
2.01%
Example(4)
The following example illustrates the hypothetical expenses (including estimated expenses of this Offering of $5.00) that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in the Shares, assuming (i) annual expenses of 1.84% of net assets attributable to the Shares and (ii) a 5% annual return:
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5% annual return
$25
$68
$114
$240
(1)
Assuming the Fund will have 25,266,272 Shares outstanding if fully subscribed and Offering expenses to be paid by the Fund are estimated to be $125,061 or approximately $0.02 per Share.
(2)
“Other Expenses” are based upon gross estimated amounts for the current fiscal year and include, among other expenses, administration and fund accounting fees. The Fund has no current intention to borrow money for investment purposes and has adopted a fundamental policy against selling securities short.
(3)
The Fund invests in other closed-end investment companies and ETFs (collectively, the “Acquired Funds”). The Fund’s stockholders indirectly bear a pro rata portion of the fees and expenses of the Acquired Funds in which the Fund invests. Acquired Fund fees and expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
(4)
The example assumes that the estimated “Other Expenses” set forth in the Annual Expenses table remain the same each year and that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. The example further assumes that the Fund uses no leverage, as currently intended. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return will vary and may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% annual return.
Dominic Minore
October 24, 2013
Page 6
What are the risks of the MDP?
8. Comment: In the penultimate paragraph of this section replace the word “DIVIDEND” with “DISTRIBUTION” in reference to “RULE 19a-1 NOTICE ACCOMPANYING DIVIDEND PAYMENT.”Also, in the response letter, the Fund should indicate that in such notice, the caption will read “RULE 19a-1 NOTICE ACCOMPANYING DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT.”
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has made such replacement and the Fund will indicate in the caption of such notice reference to “RULE 19a-1 NOTICE ACCOMPANYING DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT.”
9. Comment: Whenever a comment is made in one location, it is considered applicable to all similar disclosure appearing elsewhere in the registration statement.
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and undertakes to reflect all changes and revisions set forth in this letter in the final Prospectus for this Offering that the Fund will file pursuant to Rule 497.
10. Comment: Response to this letter should be in the form of SEC correspondence.
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment.
Should you have any questions or comments regarding the above, please contact me at (212) 885-5360.
Sincerely
/s/ F. Humera Ahmed
F. Humera Ahmed
2013-10-24 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
fp0008526_corresp.htm
Phone:
(212) 885-5360
Fax:
(917) 332-3722
Email:
hahmed@blankrome.com
October 24, 2013
Dominic Minore
Division of Investment Management
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-4720
Re:
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”)
SEC File Numbers: 333-191118 and 811-05150
Dear Mr. Minore:
On behalf of the Fund, this letter is in response to the comments received on October 23, 2013 from the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), regarding the Fund’s registration statement on Form N-2 filed on September 12, 2013, as amended by the Pre-Effective Amendment #1, filed on October 18, 2013 (the “Registration Statement”), each filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”).
We have set forth below, in boldface type, the text of each comment, followed by the Fund’s responses.
Prospectus
Pricing Table
1. Comment: Provide footnote disclosure that identifies the estimated per share dollar amount of all fees and expenses of the Offering that the Fund’s Stockholders will bear directly or indirectly. In this regard, also provide footnote disclosure of the estimated per share dollar amount of proceeds to the Fund after deduction of such fees and expenses. The calculation of the per share dollar amount should not take into account the Over-Allotment Shares.
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has added the italicized language set forth below in footnotes (2) and (3) to the “Pricing Table”:
Dominic Minore
October 24, 2013
Page 2
(2) Proceeds to the Fund are before deduction of expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the Offering, such expenses are estimated to be approximately $125,601 or approximately $0.02 per Share, if fully subscribed. The calculation of the per Share amount does not take into account the Over-Allotment Shares. Funds received prior to the final due date of this Offering will be deposited in a segregated account pending allocation and distribution of Shares. Interest, if any, on subscription monies will be paid to the Fund regardless of whether Shares are issued by the Fund; interest will not be used as credit toward the purchase of Shares.
(3) Fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the Offering are estimated to be approximately $125,601 or approximately $0.02 per Share, if fully subscribed. Proceeds to the Fund, after deduction of such fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the Offering, are estimated to be approximately $40,679,968 or approximately $6.44 per Share, if fully subscribed. The calculation of the per Share amounts indicated above do not take into account the Over-Allotment Shares.
The Offering
2. Comment: Delete the word “may” where it is first used in the last bullet point of this section.
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised the following language to “The Offering” section to read as follows:
Use of proceeds from the 2012 Offering, the 2011 Offering, and the 2010 Offering (collectively, the “Prior Rights Offerings”) have been, and the use of proceeds from the current Offering and any future rights offerings, may be used to maintain the Fund’s Distribution Policy (as defined below) by providing funding for future distributions, which may constitute a return of its Stockholders’ capital.
Purpose of The Offering
3. Comment: Add the following language at the end of the last bullet, “and Shares continue to trade at a premium to net asset value”.
Dominic Minore
October 24, 2013
Page 3
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has added the italicized language set forth below in the last bullet of the “Purpose of the Offering” section:
The Offering is expected to be anti-dilutive to all Stockholders, including those electing not to participate notwithstanding, the fact that all the costs of the Offering will be borne by the Stockholders whether or not they exercise their Rights, because the Offering price is set at a premium to NAV and the estimated expenses incurred for the Offering will be more than offset by the increase in the net assets of the Fund such that non-participating Stockholders will receive an increase in their net asset value, so long as the number of Shares issued to participating Stockholders is not materially less than a full exercise of the Basic Subscription amount.
Managed Distribution Risk
4. Comment: Include in the disclosure that the portion of distribution that does not constitute a return of capital is taxable to Stockholders in the year the distribution is declared.
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has added the following language set forth below in the “Managed Distribution Risk” section:
For the taxable Stockholders, the portion of distribution that constitutes ordinary income and/or capital gains is taxable to such Stockholders in the year the distribution is declared.
5. Comment: Add the bracketed language to the following sentence: The Stockholders would reduce their basis in the Shares by the amount of the distribution [and therefore may result in an increase in the amount of any taxable gain on a subsequent disposition of such Shares, even if such Shares are sold at a loss to the Stockholder’s original investment amount].
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has added the italicized language set forth below in the “Managed Distribution Risk” section:
The Stockholders would reduce their basis in the Shares by the amount of the distribution and therefore may result in an increase in the amount of any taxable gain on a subsequent disposition of such Shares, even if such Shares are sold at a loss to the Stockholder’s original investment amount.
Dominic Minore
October 24, 2013
Page 4
Managed Distribution Policy
6. Add the following language to the end of the paragraph that begins with “On August 9, 2013,...”: “but will represent in large part[/substantially all] a return of Stockholders’ capital invested in the Fund.”
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has added the italicized language set forth below in the “Managed Distribution Policy” section:
On August 9, 2013, the Board of Directors of the Fund announced that the distribution percentage for the calendar year 2014 is to remain at 21%, which will be applied to the net asset value of the Fund as of the end of October 2013 to determine the distribution amounts for calendar year 2014. The distribution percentage is not a function of, nor is it related to, the investment return on the Fund’s portfolio but the 2014 distributions based on the distribution percentage are expected to consist principally or entirely of a return of Stockholders’ capital invested in the Fund.
Summary of Fund Expenses
7. Comment: Change lead-in so that it reads as follows: “The following table shows Fund expenses that you as an investor in the Fund’s Shares will bear directly or indirectly.” Also, include under “Stockholder Transaction Expenses” a line item for “Offering expenses”. Further, in the Example, change the amount in Year 1 to account for Offering expenses. Last, the per share calculations should not take into account the Over-Allotment Shares.
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised the Summary of Fund Expenses to read as follows:
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
The following table shows Fund expenses that you as an investor in the Fund’s Shares will bear directly or indirectly.
Dominic Minore
October 24, 2013
Page 5
Stockholder Transaction Expenses
Sales load
None
Offering expenses borne by the Fund (1)
0.49%
Distribution Reinvestment Plan fees
None
Annual Expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to the Shares)
Management fees
1.00%
Other expenses(2)
0.45%
Acquired Fund fees and expenses(3)
0.56%
Total Annual Expenses
2.01%
Example(4)
The following example illustrates the hypothetical expenses (including estimated expenses of this Offering of $5.00) that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in the Shares, assuming (i) annual expenses of 1.84% of net assets attributable to the Shares and (ii) a 5% annual return:
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
You would pay the following expenses on a
$1,000 investment, assuming a 5% annual return
$25
$68
$114
$240
(1)
Assuming the Fund will have 25,266,272 Shares outstanding if fully subscribed and Offering expenses to be paid by the Fund are estimated to be $125,061 or approximately $0.02 per Share.
(2)
“Other Expenses” are based upon gross estimated amounts for the current fiscal year and include, among other expenses, administration and fund accounting fees. The Fund has no current intention to borrow money for investment purposes and has adopted a fundamental policy against selling securities short.
(3)
The Fund invests in other closed-end investment companies and ETFs (collectively, the “Acquired Funds”). The Fund’s stockholders indirectly bear a pro rata portion of the fees and expenses of the Acquired Funds in which the Fund invests. Acquired Fund fees and expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
(4)
The example assumes that the estimated “Other Expenses” set forth in the Annual Expenses table remain the same each year and that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. The example further assumes that the Fund uses no leverage, as currently intended. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return will vary and may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% annual return.
Dominic Minore
October 24, 2013
Page 6
What are the risks of the MDP?
8. Comment: In the penultimate paragraph of this section replace the word “DIVIDEND” with “DISTRIBUTION” in reference to “RULE 19a-1 NOTICE ACCOMPANYING DIVIDEND PAYMENT.”Also, in the response letter, the Fund should indicate that in such notice, the caption will read “RULE 19a-1 NOTICE ACCOMPANYING DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT.”
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has made such replacement and the Fund will indicate in the caption of such notice reference to “RULE 19a-1 NOTICE ACCOMPANYING DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT.”
9. Comment: Whenever a comment is made in one location, it is considered applicable to all similar disclosure appearing elsewhere in the registration statement.
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment.
10. Comment: Response to this letter should be in the form of SEC correspondence.
Response: The Fund acknowledges the Staff’s comment.
Should you have any questions or comments regarding the above, please contact me at (212) 885-5360.
Sincerely
/s/ F. Humera Ahmed
F. Humera Ahmed
2012-11-19 - UPLOAD - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
1Rupert, Kevin C. From: Schwartz, Geoffrey <SCHWARTZ-G@Blankrome.com> Sent: Monday, November 19, 2012 9:40 AM To: Rupert, Kevin C. Subject: Cornerstone - effectiveness Mr. Rupert, Pre‐effective amendment #2, with the new power of attorney attached as an exhibit, was filed on Friday. Please let me know if there is anything else you need and whether effectiveness will be granted today. Thank you, Geoff Geoffrey D. Schwartz | Blank Rome LLP One Logan Square 130 North 18th Street | Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998 Phone: 215.569.5734 | Fax: 215.832.5734 | Email: Schwartz-G@BlankRome.com ******************************************************************************************************** This message and any attachments may contain confidentia l or privileged information and are only for the use of the intended recipien t of this message. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender by return email, and delete or destroy this and all copies of this message and all attachments. Any unauthorized disclosure, use, distribution, or repr oduction of this message or any at tachments is prohibited and may be unlawful. ******************************************************************************************************** Any Federal tax advice contained herein is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by you or any other person, for the purpose of avoidi ng any penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. This disclosure is made in accordance w ith the rules of Treasury Department Circular 230 governing standards of practice before the Internal Revenue Se rvice. Any written statement containe d herein relating to any Federal tax transaction or matter may not be used by any person w ithout the express prior written permission in each instance of a partner of this firm to support the promotion or marketing of or to recommend any Federal tax transaction(s) or matter( s) addressed herein. ********************************************************************************************************
2012-11-16 - UPLOAD - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
1Rupert, Kevin C. From: Schwartz, Geoffrey <SCHWARTZ-G@Blankrome.com> Sent: Friday, November 16, 2012 10:24 AM To: Rupert, Kevin C. Subject: CLM/CRF Attachments: Cornerstone Total Return Fund (PROSP ECTUS - BLACKLINE).DOC; Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund (PRO SPECTUS - BLACKLINE).DOC Mr. Rupert, Attached are blacklines show ing the changes in the CLM/CRF prospectuses, which were filed yesterday. (There were no changes to the SAI.) The Funds kindly request to go effective as soon as possible and would greatl y appreciate your efforts in this regard. Please let me know if you need anything else. Thank you, Geoff Geoffrey D. Schwartz | Blank Rome LLP One Logan Square 130 North 18th St reet | Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998 Phone: 215.569.5734 | Fax: 215.832.5734 | Email: Schwartz- G@BlankRome.com<mailto:S chwartz-G@BlankRome.com > **************************************** ****************************** ********************************** This message and any attachments may contai n confidential or pr ivileged information and are only for the use of the intended re cipient of this message. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender by return email, and delete or destroy this and all copies of this message and all atta chments. Any unauthorized disclosure, use, distribution, or reproduction of this message or any attachments is prohibited and may be unlawful. **************************************** ****************************** ********************************** Any Federal tax advice contained herein is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by you or any other person, for the purpose of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. This disclosure is made in accordance with the rules of Treasury Depa rtment Circular 230 governing standards of practice before the Internal Revenue Servi ce. Any written statement contained herein relating to any Federal tax transaction or ma tter may not be used by any person without the express prior written permission in each in stance of a partner of this firm to support the promotion or marketing of or to reco mmend any Federal tax transaction(s) or matter(s) addressed herein. 2**************************************** ****************************** ********************************** 900200.00001/12254335v.1 398394 Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. [___] 6,740,190 Rights for [___] 2,246,730 Shares of Common Stock _________________________ Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) is issuing non-transferable rights (“Rights”) to its holders of record of shares of common stock (“Common Stock”) (such holders hereinafter referred to as “Stockholders” and the shares of Common Stock, the “Shares”). These Rights will allow Stockholders to subscrib e for new Shares. For every three (3) Rights a Stockholder rec eives, such Stockholder will be entitled to buy one (1) new Share. Each Stockholder will receive one Right for each outstanding Share it owns on [___] November 26 , 2012 (the “Record Date”). Fractional Shares will not be issued upon the exercise of the Rights. Accordingly, the number of Rights to be issued to a Stockholder on the Record Date will be rounded up to the nearest whole numb er of Rights evenly divisible by three. Stockholders on the Record Date may purchase Shares not acquired by other Stockholders in this Rights offering (the “Offering”), subject to certain limitations discussed in this Prospectus. Additionally, if there are not enough unsubscribed Shares to honor all over-subscription requests, the F und may, in its sole discretion, issue additional Shares up t o 100% of the Shares available in the Offeri ng to honor over-subscription requests. See “The Offering” below. The Rights are non-transferable, and may not be purchased or sold. Rights will expire without residual value at the Expiration Date (defined below). The Rights will not be listed for trading on the NYSE MKT LLC (“NYSE MK T”), and there will not be any market for trading Rights. The Shares to be issued pursuant to the Offering will be listed for trading on the NYSE MKT, subjec t to the NYSE MKT being officially notified of the issuance of those Shares. On [___] November 9 , 2012, the last reported net asset value (“NAV”) per Share was $ [___] 5.08 and the last reported sales price per Share on the NYSE MKT was $ [___] 6.05, which represents a [___] 19.09 % premium to the Fund’s NAV per Share. The subscription price per Share (the “S ubscription Price”) will be the greater of (i) 107% of NAV per Share as calculated at the close of trading on the date of expiration of the Offering and (ii) 90% of th e market price per Share at such time. The consider able number of shares that may be issued as a result of the Offering may cause the p remium above NAV at which the Fund ’s shares are currently trading to decline, especially if stockho lders exercising the Rights attempt to sell sizeable numbers of shares imme diately after such issuance. STOCKHOLDERS WHO CHOOSE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS WILL NOT KNOW THE SUBSCRIPTION PRICE PER SHARE AT THE TIME THEY EXERCISE SUCH RIGHTS BECAUSE THE OFFERING WILL EXPIRE (i.e., CLOSE) PRIOR TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FUND’S NAV AND OT HER RELEVANT MARKET INFORMATION ON THE EXPIRATION DATE. ONCE A STOCKHOLDER SUBSCRIBES FOR SHARES AND THE FUND RECEIVES PAYMENT, SUCH STOCKHOLDER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE HIS, HER OR ITS DECISION. THE OFFERING WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON [___] DECEMBER 21 , 2012 (THE “EXPIRATION DATE”), UNLESS EXTENDED, AS DISCUSSED IN THIS PROSPECTUS. The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is capital appreciation with current income as a secondary objective. The Fund seeks to ac hieve its objectives by investing primarily in U.S. and non-U.S. companies. There can be no assuran ce that the Fund’s objectives will be achieved. For more information, please call AST Fund Solutions, LLC (the “Information Agent”) toll free at (800) 581-4001. Investing in the Fund involves risks. See “Ris k Factors” on page 30 of this prospectus. Estimated Subscription Price(1) Estimated Sales Load Estimated Proceeds to the Fund(2) Per Share $[___] $5.45 None $[___] $5.45 Total $[___] $12,244,678.50 None $[___] $12,244,678.50 ____________________________ (1) Because the Subscription Price w ill not be determined until after printing and dist ribution of this prosp ectus, the “Estimated Subscription Price” above is an estimate of the subscription price based on the Fund’s per-Share NAV and market price at the close of trading on [___] November 9 , 2012. See “The Offering - Subscription Price” and “The Offe ring - Payment for Shares.” (2) Proceeds to the Fund are before deduction of expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the Offe ring, estimated to be approximately $87,000. Funds r eceived prior to the final due date of this Offe ring will be deposited in a segregated account pending allocation and distribution of Shares . Interest, if any, on subscription monies will be paid to the Fund regardless of whether Shares are issued by the Fund; interest will no t be used as credit toward the purchase of Shares. Neither the Securities and Ex change Commission nor any stat e securities commission has ap proved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or co mplete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The date of this prospectus is [___] November ___ , 2012. (continued on following page) ii 900200.00001/12254335v.1 398394 (continued from previous page) The Fund’s Shares are listed on the NYSE MKT under the ticker symbol “CRF.” Investment Adviser. Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) acts as the Fund’s investment adviser. See “Management of the Fund.” As of September 30, 2012, the Adviser managed two other closed-end funds with combined assets with the Fund of approximately $249 million. The Adviser’s address is 1075 Hend ersonville Road, Suite 250, Asheville, North Carolina, 28803. This prospectus sets forth concisely the information about the Fund that you should know before deciding whether to invest in the Fund. A Statement of Additional Information, dated [___] November ___ , 2012 (the “Statement of Additional Information”), and other materials, containing additional information about the Fund, have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commiss ion (the “SEC”). The Statement of Additional Information is incorporat ed by reference in its entirety into this prospectus, which m eans it is considered to be part of this prospectus. You may request a free copy of the Statement of Additional Information, the table of contents of which is on page 49 of this prospectus, and other information filed with the SEC, by calling collect (513) 326-3597 or by writing to the Fund c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, 350 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 206, Jericho, NY 11753. The Fund files annual and semi-annual stockholder reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The Fund does not have an internet websi te. You can obtain this information or the Fund’s Statement of Add itional Information or any information regarding the Fund filed w ith the SEC from the SEC’s web site ( http://www.sec.gov ). The Fund’s Shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any governmental agency. iii 900200.00001/12254335v.1 398394 You should rely only on the info rmation contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with di fferent information. We are no t making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sa le is not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus. The Fund will amend this prospectus if, during the period this prospectus is required to be delivered, th ere are any material changes to the facts stated in this prospectus subsequent to the date of this prospectus. TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... ........................................... 1 SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES ...................................................................................................... .................... 12 THE F UND ...................................................................................................................... ........................................... 12 THE OFFERING .................................................................................................................. ....................................... 12 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS .......................................................................................................... ............................. 21 USE OF PROCEEDS ............................................................................................................... ................................... 23 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES ............................................................................................ ........... 23 RISK FACTORS .................................................................................................................. ....................................... 30 LISTING OF SHARES ............................................................................................................. .................................. 34 MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND ........................................................................................................ ...................... 35 DETERMINATION OF NE T ASSET VALUE .............................................................................................. ............ 37 DISTRIBUTION POLICY ........................................................................................................... ............................... 38 DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLAN ........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS .................................................................................................... .................. 43 DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE .............................................................................................. ............. 46 LEGAL MATTERS ................................................................................................................. ................................... 48 REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS ....................................................................................................... ...................... 48 INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PU BLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ........................................................................... 48 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................ ....................... 48 TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION......................................... 49 THE FUND’S PRIVACY POLICY ..................................................................................................... ....................... 50 900200.00001/12254335v.1 398394 SUMMARY This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the Fund. You should review the more detailed information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information, particularly th e information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors.” The Fund Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. It was incorporated in New York on March 16, 1973 and commenced investment operations on May 15, 1973. The Fund’s Shares are traded on the NYSE MKT under the ticker symbol “CRF.” As of September 30November 9 , 2012, the Fund had 6,7 2740,41690 Shares issued and outstanding. The Offering The Fund is offering non-transferable rights (“Rights”) to its Stockholders as of the close of business on [___] November 26 , 2012. These Rights will allow Stockholders to subscribe for an aggregate of [___] 2,246,730 Shares. For every three (3) Rights a Stockholder receives, such Stockholder will be entitled to buy one (1) new Share at a subscription pr ice equal to the greater of (i) 107% of NAV of the Shares as calculated on the Expiration Date and (ii) 90% of the market price at the close of trading on such date. Each Stockholder w ill receive one Right for each outstanding Share he or she owns on the Record Date (the “Basic Subscription”). Fractional Shares will not be issued upon the exercise of the Rights. Accordingly, the number of Rights to be issued to a Stockholder as of the Record Date will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of Ri ghts evenly divisible by three. Stockholders as of the Record Date may purchase Shares not acquired by other Stockholders in this Rights offering (the “Offering”), subject to certain limitations discussed in this prospectus. Additionally, if there are not enough unsubscribed Shares to honor all over-subscription requests, the Fund may, in its discretion, issue additional Shares up to 100% of the Shares available in the Offering to honor over-subscription requests. Shares will be issued within the 15-day period immediately following the record date of the Fund’s monthly’s distribution and Stockholders exercising rights will not be entitled to receive such dividend distribution with respect to the shares issued pursuant to such exercise. The Fund previously conducted a rights offering that expired on December 16, 2011 (the “2011 O
2012-11-16 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
fp0005850_corresp.htm
Phone:
215-569-5734
Fax:
215-832-5734
Email:
schwartz-g@blankrome.com
November 16, 2012
BY EDGAR
Kevin C. Rupert
Division of Investment Management
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-4720
Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”)
SEC File Numbers: 333-184453 and 811-05150
Dear Mr. Rupert:
On behalf of the Fund, and pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, we hereby request that the effective date of the Fund’s registration statement on Form N-2 filed on October 17, 2012 and amended on November 15, 2012 (the “Registration Statement”) be accelerated so that the Registration Statement will become effective on the date hereof (the “Effective Date”), or as soon thereafter as practicable.
Our client has selected the Effective Date to provide the Fund sufficient time to commence and conclude the offering during its current fiscal year and within the conditions of its exemptive relief related to its managed distribution plan, as well as within the requirements of the NYSE MKT.
In connection with the foregoing acceleration request, the Fund hereby acknowledges that:
● Should the Commission or its staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the Registration Statement effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the Registration Statement;
One Logan Square 18th and Cherry Streets Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998
www.BlankRome.com
Delaware · Florida · Maryland · New Jersey · New York · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Washington, DC
Kevin C. Rupert
November 16, 2012
Page 2
● The action of the Commission or its staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the Registration Statement effective, does not relieve the Fund from its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the Registration Statement; and
● The Fund may not assert the action of the Commission or its staff in declaring the Registration Statement effective as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.
Should you have any questions or comments regarding the above, please phone me at (215) 569-5734. Thank you for your continued assistance.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Geoffrey D. Schwartz
Geoffrey D. Schwartz
2012-11-15 - UPLOAD - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
DIVISION OF
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
November 13, 2012
Geoffrey D. Schwartz, Esq.
Blank Rome LLP
One Logan Square
130 North 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998
RE: Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. ("CRF")
File Nos.: 333-184454 and 811-2363
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. ("CLM")
File Nos.: 333-184453 and 811-5150
Dear Mr. Schwartz:
On October 17, 2012, CLM and CRF (each a "Fund" and collectively the
"Funds") each filed a registration statement on Form N-2 under the
Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act") and the Investment Company Act of
1940 (" 1 940 Act"). Each registration statement is filed in connection with a
proposed non-transferable rights offering of shares of common stock. These
Rights will allow shareholders to subscribe for new shares of common stock.
For every three (3) Rights a shareholder receives, such shareholder will be
entitled to buy one (1) new share of common stock. Each Shareholder will
receive one Right for each outstanding share they own on the record date
(the "Basic Subscription").
The subscription price per share will be the greater of (i) 107% of net
asset value per share ("NAV") as calculated at the close of trading on the
date of expiration of the Offering and (ii) 90% of the market price per share
at such time.
Record date shareholders who exercise all of their Basic Subscription
Rights are entitled to subscribe for shares which were not otherwise
subscribed for by other shareholders (the "Additional Subscription
Privilege"). Each Fund may also, in its discretion, issue additional Shares in
an amount up to 100% of shares available in the Basic Subscription Rights
offering to honor additional subscription requests (the "Over-Allotment
Shares") subject to the same terms and conditions of the Offering.
Pursuant to Release No. 33-6510 and in reliance upon the
representations contained in your letter dated October 16, 2012, we
performed a limited review of the registration statements. Your letter
represented that the disclosure contained in the registration statements is
based on and is substantially similar to the registration statement on Form
N-2 for Cornerstone Progressive Return Fund (File No.: 811-22066), which
was reviewed and declared effective by the Staff on May 21, 2012.
You are reminded that the burden of full and fair disclosure rests with
the registrant, its counsel, and others engaged in the preparation of its
registration statement. You should consider a comment made with respect
to one section applicable to similar disclosure elsewhere in either registration
statement. We have the following comments.
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.
Page 1
1. The disclosure states that "(sJhares will be issued within the 15-day
period immediately following the record date of the Fund's monthly's
distribution and Stockholders exercising rights will not be entitled to receive
such dividend with respect to the shares issued pursuant to such exercise."
The word "distribution" should be substituted for the word "dividend" in this
sentence. Any similar disclosure should also be revised accordingly.
Page 34
2. The disclosure on this page describes the Fund's Dividend
Reinvestment Plan. We believe that the nomenclature of this plan should be
changed to a Distribution Reinvestment Plan.
Page 37
3. The Funds have historically had returns of capital ("ROC"). Please
confirm that the Fund's current intended action regarding ROC distributions
are consistent with the requirements of IRS Form 8937, Report of
Organizational Actions Affecting Basis of Securities with the Internal
Revenue Service.
2
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.
4. As the registration statements are virtually identical, to the extent
applicable, the CRF comments above apply to the CLM registration
statement.
******
We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and
adequacy of the disclosure in the filings reviewed by the staff to be certain
that they have provided all information investors require for an informed
decision. Since the Fund and its management are in possession of all facts
relating to the fund's disclosure, they are responsible for the accuracy and
adequacy of the disclosures they have made.
Notwithstanding our comments, in the event the Fund requests
acceleration of the effective date of the pending registration statement, it
should furnish a letter, at the time of such request, acknowledging that
should the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated
authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the
Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing;
the action of the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated
authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve the Fund
from its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the
disclosure in the filing; and
the Fund may not assert this action as defense in any proceeding
initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities
laws of the United States.
In addition, please be advised that the Division of Enforcement has
access to all information you provide to the staff of the Division of
Investment Management in connection with our review of your filing or in
response to our comments on your filing.
We will consider a written request for acceleration of the effective date
of the registration statement as a confirmation of the fact that those
requesting acceleration are aware of their respective responsibilities. We will
act on the request and, pursuant to delegated authority, grant acceleration
of the effective date.
3
*** ** *
Should you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact
me at (202) 551-6966.
Sincerely,
q(~e,c4
) Kevin C. RupertAccountant
4
2012-11-07 - UPLOAD - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
1Rupert, Kevin C. From: Schwartz, Geoffrey <SCHWARTZ-G@Blankrome.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 11:11 AM To: Rupert, Kevin C. Subject: Cornerstone Funds - Rights Offerings Attachments: CLM (PROSPECTUS - COMPARED TO CFP 2012 RIGHTS OFFERING).DOC; CLM (SAI - COMPARED TO 2012 CFP RIGHTS OFFERING). DOC; CLM (PROSPECTUS - COMPARED TO 2011 RIGHTS OFFERING).DOC; CLM (SAI - COMPARED TO 2011 RIGHTS OFFERING).DOC; CRF (PROSPECTUS - COMPARED TO CFP 2012 RIGHTS OFFERING).DOC; CRF (SAI - COMPARED TO 2012 CFP RIGHTS OFFERING).DOC; CRF (PROSPECTUS - COMPARED TO 2011 RIGHTS O FFERING).DOC; CRF (SAI - COMPARED TO 2011 RIGHTS OFFERING).DOC Mr. Rupert, As discussed, attached are the following blacklines: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (CLM) 1) Prospectus – compared to the Cornerstone Progressive Return Fund (CFP) rights offering in May 2012 2) SAI – compared to the CFP rights offering in May 2012 3) Prospectus – compared to the CLM rights offering in Nov 2011 4) SAI – compared to the CLM rights offering in Nov 2011 Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (CRF) 1) Prospectus – compared to the CFP rights offering in May 2012 2) SAI – compared to the CFP rights offering in May 2012 3) Prospectus – compared to the CRF rights offering in Nov 2011 4) SAI – compared to the CRF rights offering in Nov 2011 Please let me know if you have any questions or require anything further. Thank you, Geoff Geoffrey D. Schwartz | Blank Rome LLP One Logan Square 130 North 18th Street | Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998 Phone: 215.569.5734 | Fax: 215.832.5734 | Email: Schwartz-G@BlankRome.com ******************************************************************************************************** This message and any attachments may contain confidentia l or privileged information and are only for the use of the intended recipien t of this message. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender by return email, and delete or destroy this and all copies of this message and all attachments. Any unauthorized disclosure, use, distribution, or repr oduction of this message or any at tachments is prohibited and may be 2unlawful. ******************************************************************************************************** Any Federal tax advice contained herein is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by you or any other person, for the purpose of avoidi ng any penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. This disclosure is made in accordance w ith the rules of Treasury Department Circular 230 governing standards of practice before the Internal Revenue Se rvice. Any written statement containe d herein relating to any Federal tax transaction or matter may not be used by any person w ithout the express prior written permission in each instance of a partner of this firm to support the promotion or marketing of or to recommend any Federal tax transaction(s) or matter( s) addressed herein. ******************************************************************************************************** 900200.00001/12246331v.1 228502101 Cornerstone Progressive Return Fund 15,776,109 Strategic Value Fund, Inc. [___] Rights for 5,258,703 [___] Shares of Beneficial Interest Common Stock _________________________ Cornerstone Progressive Return Strategic Value Fund , Inc. (the “Fund”) is issuing non-transferable rights (“Rights”) to its holders of record of shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) of common stock (“Common Stock”) (such holders herein defined as “Shareholders”). hereinafter referred to as “Stockholders”, and th e shares of Common Stock, the “Shares”). These Rights will allow Shareholders Stockholders to subscribe for new Shares. For every three (3) Rights a Shareholder Stockholder receives, such Shareholder Stockholder will be entitled to buy one (1) new Share. Each Shareholder Stockholder will receive one Right for each outstanding Share it owns on May 22 [___] , 2012 (the “Record Date”). Fractional Shar es will not be issued upon the exercise of the Rights. Accordingly, the number of Rights to be issued to a Shareholder Stockholder on the Record Date will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of Rights evenly divisible by three. Shareholders Stockholders on the Record Date may purchase Shares not acquired by other Shareholders Stockholders in this Rights offering (the “Offering”), su bject to certain limitations discussed in this pProspectus. Additionally, if there are not enough unsubscribed Sh ares to honor all over-subscription requests, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, issue additional Shares up to 100% of the Shares available in the Offering to honor over -subscription requests. See “The Offering” below. The Rights are non-transferable, and may not be purchased or sold. Rights will expire without residual value at the Expiration Date (defined below). The Rights will not be listed for trading on the NYSE MKT LLC (“NYSE MKT”) , and there will not be any market for trading Rights. The Shares to be issued pursuan t to the Offering will be listed for trading on the NYSE MKT LLC (“NYSE MKT”) , subject to the NYSE MKT being officially notified of the issuance of those Shares. On May 4 [___] , 2012, the last reported net asset value (“NAV”) per Share was $ 5.09 [___] and the last reported sales price per Share on the NYSE MKT was $7.01[___] , which represents a 37.72 [___] % premium to the Fund’s NAV per Share. The subscription price per Share (the “Subscription Price”) will be the greater of (i) 107% of NAV per Share as calcula ted at the close of trading on the date of exp iration of the Offering and (ii) 90% of the market price per Share at such ti me. The considerable number of Shares shares that may be issued as a result of the Offering may cause the premium above NAV at which the Fund’s Shares shares are currently trad ing to decline, especially if Shareholders stockholders exercising the Rights attempt to sell sizeable numbers of Shares shares immediately after such issuance. SHAREHOLDERS STOCKHOLDERS WHO CHOOSE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS WILL NOT KNOW THE SUBSCRIPTION PRICE PER SHARE AT THE TIME THEY EXERCISE SU CH RIGHTS BECAUSE THE OFFERING WILL EXPIRE ( Ii.Ee., CLOSE) PRIOR TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FUND’S NAV AND OTHER RELEVANT MARKET INFORMATION ON THE EXPIRATION DATE. ONCE A SHAREHOLDER STOCKHOLDER SUBSCRIBES FOR SHARES AND THE FUND RECEIVES PAYMENT, SUCH SHAREHOLDER STOCKHOLDER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE HIS, HER OR ITS DECISION. THE O FFERING WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON JUNE 22 [___] , 2012 (THE “EXPIRATION DATE”), UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE FUND , AS DISCUSSED IN THIS PROSPECTUS . The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide total return. The Fund pursues its investment objective seek long-term capital appreciation through investing primarily in the equity securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s objective will be achieved. For more information, please call AST Fund Solutions, LLC (the “Information Agent”) toll free at (800) 581-4001. Investing in the Fund involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 36 29 of this prospectus. Estimated Subscription Price(1) Estimated Sales Load Estimated Proceeds to the Fund(2) Per Share $6.31 $[___] None $6.31 $[___] Total $33,182,415.93 $[___] None $33,182,415.93 $[___] ____________________________ (1) Because the Subscription Price w ill not be determined until after printing and dist ribution of this prosp ectus, the “Estimated Subscription Price” above is an es timate of the subscription pri ce based on the Fund’s per-Share NAV and market price at the close of trading on May 4 [___] , 2012. See “The Offering - Subscription Pri ce” and “The Offering - Payment for Shares.” (2) Proceeds to the Fund are before deduction of expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the Offering, estimated to be approximately $ 89,000 109,000 . Funds received prior to the final due date of this Offering will be de posited in a segregated account pending allocation and dist ribution of Shares. Interest, if any, on s ubscription monies will be paid to the Fund regardless of whether Shares are issued by the Fund; interest will not be used as credit toward the purchase of Shares. 900200.00001/12246331v.1 228502101 Neither the Securities and Ex change Commission nor any stat e securities commission has ap proved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or co mplete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The date of this prospectus is May 24 [___] , 2012. (continued on following page) ii | P a g e 900200.00001/12246331v.1 ii 900200.00001/12246331v.1 (continued from previous page) The Fund’s Shares are listed on the NYSE MKT under the ticker symbol “C FPLM.” Investment Adviser. Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) acts as the Fund’s investment adviser. See “Management of the Fund.” As of March September 310, 2012, the Adviser managed two other closed-end funds with combined assets with the Fund of $213,924,552 approximately $249 million . The Adviser’s address is 1075 Hendersonville Road, Suite 250, Asheville, North Carolina, 28803. This prospectus sets forth concisely the information about the Fund that you should know before deciding whether to invest in the Fund. A Statement of Additional Information, dated May 24 [___] , 2012 (the “Statement of Additional Information”), and other materials, containing additional information about the Fund, have been filed with the Securitie s and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this prospectus, which means it is considered to be part of this prospectus. You may request a free copy of the Statement of Additional Information, the table of contents of which is on page 54 49 of this prospectus, and other information filed with th e SEC, by calling collect (513) 326-3597 or by writing to the Fund c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, 350 Jericho Turnpike , Suite 206, Jericho, NY 11753. The Fund files annual and sem i- annual shareholder stockholder reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The Fund does not have an Iinternet website. You can obtain this information or the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information or any information regarding the Fu nd filed with the SEC from the SEC’s web site ( http://www.sec.gov ). The Fund’s Shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any governmental agency. iii 900200.00001/12246331v.1 228502101 You should rely only on the info rmation contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with di fferent information. We are no t making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sa le is not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus. The Fund will amend this prospectus if, during the period this prospectus is required to be delivered, th ere are any material changes to the facts stated in this prospectus subsequent to the date of this prospectus. TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... ......................................... 41 SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES ...................................................................................................... ................ 1616 THE FUND .............................................................................................................................. ................................... 16 THE FUND16THE OFFERING ...................................................................................................................... ...... 1616 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS .......................................................................................................... ......................... 2526 USE OF PROCEEDS ............................................................................................................... ............................... 2629 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE S AND POLICIES ................................................................................................... 2629 RISK FACTORS .................................................................................................................. ................................... 3640 LISTING OF SHARES ............................................................................................................. .............................. 4147 MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND ........................................................................................................ .................. 4148 DETERMINATION OF NE T ASSET VALUE .............................................................................................. ........ 4351 DISTRIBUTION POLICY ........................................................................................................... ........................... 4352 DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN .................................................................................................... ............... 4556 FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS .................................................................................................... .............. 4758 DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE .............................................................................................. ......... 5062 LEGAL MATTERS ................................................................................................................. ............................... 5365 REPORTS TO S HAREH TOLDERS53 CKHOLDERS ........................................................................................... 66 INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PU BLIC ACCOUNT ING FIRM ....................................................................... 5366 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................ ................... 5366 TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION..................................... 5467 THE FUND’S PRIVACY POLICY ..................................................................................................... ................... 5568 900200.00001/12246331v.1 SUMMARY This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the Fund. You should review the more detailed information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information, particularly th e information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors.” The Fund Cornerstone Progressive Return Strategic Value Fund , Inc. is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund is an unincorporated statutory trust established under the laws of the State of De laware upon the filing of a Certificate of Trust with the S ecretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 26 It was incorporated in Maryland on May 1 , 2007. The Fund 1987 and commenced investment operations on September 10 June 30 , 2007 1987 . The Fund’s shares of beneficial interest (“ Shares ”) of Common Stock are traded on the NYSE MK T under the ticker symbol “CFPLM” . ” As of May 4 September 30 , 2012, the Fund had 154,77644,1094 Shares issued and outstanding. The Offering The Fund is offering non-transferable rights (“Rights”) to its Shareholders Stockholders as of the close of business on May 22[___] , 2012. These Rights will
2011-11-18 - UPLOAD - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
1Rupert, Kevin C.
From: Stokes, Mary K. [Stokes@BlankRome.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 5:19 PM
To: Rupert, Kevin C.
Cc: Schwartz, Geoffrey
Subject: Cornerstone
Attachments: Managed Distribution Risk.DOC
Kevin,
Please see the proposed revisions to the Managed Distribution Risks for each prospectus set forth on the attached. I left
you a voice mail explaining the vote on the Adam Express Company. My understanding is that, initially, certain proxies
were not identified by Glass Lewis as investment companies, but that the error was caught by the Adviser promptly and
procedures have been since put in place which they believe will prevent any future instances where the Fund does not
follow its shadow voting obligations (i.e., weekly reports and cross checks of every proxy by the Adviser). Further, Tom
Westle left a voice mail for Jim Curtis reiterating our understanding that the restrictions under the IRC regarding
preferential dividends were no longer applicable to closed‐end funds and our Reviewing Agent at the IRS had given us
the green light to revise our DRIP as set forth in the N‐2 that has been filed. I hope this adequately addresses your
additional comments and that we may proceed toward effectiveness. Please let me know if there is anything further I
can do to facilitate this for our client. Thank you.
Best regards,
Mary
Mary K. Stokes | Blank Rome LLP
One Logan Square 130 North 18th Street | Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998
Phone: 215.569.5530 | Fax: 215.832.5530 | Email: Stokes@BlankRome.com
******************************************************************************************************** This message and any attachments may contain confidentia l or privileged information and are only for the use
of the intended recipien t of this message. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender by return
email, and delete or destroy this and all copies of this message and all attachments. Any unauthorized
disclosure, use, distribution, or repr oduction of this message or any at tachments is prohibited and may be
unlawful. ********************************************************************************************************
Any Federal tax advice contained herein is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by you or any
other person, for the purpose of avoidi ng any penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. This
disclosure is made in accordance w ith the rules of Treasury Department Circular 230 governing standards of
practice before the Internal Revenue Se rvice. Any written statement containe d herein relating to any Federal tax
transaction or matter may not be used by any person w ithout the express prior written permission in each
instance of a partner of this firm to support the promotion or marketing of or to recommend any Federal tax
transaction(s) or matter( s) addressed herein.
********************************************************************************************************
119677.00100/12149267v.1 CRF:
Managed Distribution Risk. Under the managed distributio n policy, the Fund makes monthly
distributions to Stockholders at a rate that may include periodic distributions of its net income
and net capital gains, ("Net Earnings"), or from re turn-of-capital. For any fiscal year where total
cash distributions exceeded Net Earnings (the "E xcess"), the Excess would decrease the Fund's
total assets and, as a result, w ould have the likely effect of increasing the Fund's expense ratio.
There is a risk that the total Net Earnings from the Fund's portfolio would not be great enough to
offset the amount of cash distributi ons paid to Fund Stockholders. If this were to be the case, the
Fund's assets would be depleted, and there is no gu arantee that the Fund would be able to replace
the assets. In fact, during each of the past ten years, the Fund’s distributions have exceeded
its Net Earnings. In addition, in order to make distribut ions, the Fund may have to sell a
portion of its investment portfolio, including s ecurities purchased with proceeds from the
Offering, at a time when indepe ndent investment judgment mi ght not dictate such action.
Furthermore, such assets used to make distributions will not be available for investment pursuant to the Fund's investment objective. Sustaining the managed distribution policy could require the
Fund to raise additional capital in the future.
CLM:
Managed Distribution Risk. Under the managed distributio n policy, the Fund makes monthly
distributions to Stockholders at a rate that may include periodic distributions of its net income
and net capital gains, ("Net Earnings"), or from re turn-of-capital. For any fiscal year where total
cash distributions exceeded Net Earnings (the "E xcess"), the Excess would decrease the Fund's
total assets and, as a result, w ould have the likely effect of increasing the Fund's expense ratio.
There is a risk that the total Net Earnings from the Fund's portfolio would not be great enough to
offset the amount of cash distributi ons paid to Fund Stockholders. If this were to be the case, the
Fund's assets would be depleted, and there is no guarantee that the Fund would be able to replace
the assets. In fact, since the Fund adopted its ma naged distribution policy in 2002, the
Fund’s distributions have exceeded its Net Earn ings for each year except one (2005). In
addition, in order to make distri butions, the Fund may have to sell a portion of its investment
portfolio, including securities purchased with proceeds from the Offering, at a time when
independent investment judgment mi ght not dictate such action. Furthe rmore, such assets used to
make distributions will not be available for investment pursuant to the Fund's investment
objective. Sustaining the managed distribution po licy could require the Fund to raise additional
capital in the future.
2011-11-18 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
fp0003776_corresp.htm
[BLANK ROME LLP LETTERHEAD]
Phone:
(215) 569-5530
Fax:
(215) 832-5530
Email:
stokes@blankrome.com
November 18, 2011
Kevin C. Rupert
Division of Investment Management
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-4720
Re:
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”)
SEC File Numbers: 333-175201 and 811-05150
Dear Mr. Rupert:
On behalf of the Fund, this letter is in response to the supplemental comment of the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) provided by telephone on November 17, 2011 and discussed further on November 18, 2011, regarding the Fund’s Form N-PX filed with the Commission on August 24, 2011 (the “N-PX”).
The Staff’s comment requested that the Fund explain the apparent discrepancy between certain of the information set forth on the N-PX and the Fund’s obligation to vote its shares of other investment companies in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security (i.e, “mirror vote”) in accordance with the requirements of Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund’s response is set forth below.
Pursuant to the Fund’s proxy voting policy, the authority to vote proxies it receives from securities in the Fund’s portfolio has been delegated to Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC (“Glass Lewis”). Representatives of the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”) and Glass Lewis discussed the voting obligations of the Fund with respect to the proxies of investment company securities held in the Fund’s portfolio, and the Adviser provided explicit instructions to mirror vote such proxies. Subsequent to the March 22, 2011 annual meeting of Adams Express Company, a registered closed-end management investment company held in the Fund’s portfolio, the Adviser discovered that the voting of the Fund’s shares of Adams Express Company had followed the Fund’s proxy voting guidelines without regard to the requirement that proxies for such securities be mirror voted. The Adviser promptly discussed this breach of instructions with representatives of Glass Lewis. Upon receipt of the Fund’s Form N-PX files in
Kevin C. Rupert
November 18, 2011
Page 2
July, 2011, the Adviser discovered that the Fund’s shares of two additional investment company securities were not properly mirror voted during the reporting period (Invesco VanKampen Bond Fund and Liberty All-Star Fund). Upon receiving this information, the Adviser initiated additional procedures with Glass Lewis whereby the Adviser is provided weekly reports from Glass Lewis with respect to each proxy which has been received, permitting the Adviser to cross check the accuracy of the voting procedure applicable to each proxy. The Adviser and the Fund are confident that the current procedures in place will be effective in preventing errors in the future.
Please note that in each case, Adams Express, VanKampen and Liberty, the Fund’s votes did not influence the outcome of the relevant proposal. Also, although Mr. Thomas Lenagh is a member of the Fund’s Board of Directors as well as a member of the board of directors of Adams Express Company, this had no impact on how the Fund’s shares were voted in connection with Adams Express Company’s annual meeting. Furthermore, please note that in voting the proxies received by the Fund from investment companies, there was no intent to influence any control over the issuer or to depart from the voting policies that were approved by the Board.
Should you have any questions or comments regarding the above, please phone me at (215) 569-5530.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Mary K. Stokes
Mary K. Stokes
2011-11-17 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
fp0003764_corresp.htm
Phone:
215-569-5530
Fax:
215-832-5530
Email:
stokes@blankrome.com
November 17, 2011
BY EDGAR
Kevin Rupert
Division of Investment Management
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-4720
Re:
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”)
SEC File Numbers: 333-175201 and 811-05150
Dear Mr. Rupert:
On behalf of the Fund, and pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, we hereby request that the effective date of the Fund’s registration statement on Form N-2 filed on June 28, 2011 and amended on November 14, 2011 and November 15, 2011 (the “Registration Statement) be accelerated so that the Registration Statement will become effective on Friday, November 18, 2011 (the “Effective Date”), or as soon thereafter as practicable.
Our client has selected the Effective Date to provide the Fund sufficient time to commence and conclude the offering during its current fiscal year and within the conditions of its exemptive relief related to its managed distribution plan, as well as within the requirements of the NYSE Amex.
In connection with the foregoing acceleration request, the Trust acknowledges that:
● Should the Commission or its staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the Registration Statement effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the Registration Statement;
● The action of the Commission or its staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the Registration Statement effective, does not relieve the Fund from its full responsibility for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosure in the Registration Statement; and
One Logan Square 18th and Cherry Streets Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998
www.BlankRome.com
Delaware · Florida · Maryland · New Jersey · New York · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Washington, DC
Kevin Rupert
November 17, 2011
Page 2
● The Fund may not assert the action of the Commission or its staff in declaring the Registration Statement effective as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.
Should you have any questions or comments regarding the above, please phone me at (215) 569-5530. Thank you for your continued assistance.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Mary Stokes
MARY STOKES
2011-07-20 - UPLOAD - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
DIVISION OF
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
July 20, 2011
Mary K. Stokes, Esq.
Blank Rome LLP
One logan Square
130 North 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998
RE: Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. ("CRF")
File Nos.: 333-175187 and 811-2363
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. ("ClM")
File Nos.: 333-175201 and 811-5150
Dear Ms. Stokes:
On June 28, 2011, ClM and CRF (each a "Fund" and collectively
the "Funds") each filed a registration statement on Form N-2 under the
Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act") and the Investment Company Act of
1940 ("1940 Act"). Each registration statement is filed in connection
with a proposed non-transferable rights offering of shares of common
stock. These Rights will allow shareholders to subscribe for new
shares of common stock. For every three (3) Rights a shareholder
receives, such shareholder will be entitled to buy one (1) new share of
common stock. Each Shareholder will receive one Right for each
outstanding share they own on the record date (the "Basic
Su bscri ption").
The subscription price per share will be the greater of (i) 102%
of net asset value per share ("NAV") as calculated at the close of
trading on the date of expiration of the Offering and (ii) 90% of the
market price per share at such time.
Record date shareholders who exercise all of their Basic
Subscription Rights are entitled to subscribe for shares which were not
otherwise subscribed for by other shareholders (the "Additional
Subscription Privilege"). Each Fund may also, in its discretion, issue
additional Shares in an amount up to 100% of shares available in the
Basic Subscription Rights offering to honor additional subscription
requests (the "Over-Allotment Shares") subject to the same terms and
conditions of the Offering.
On July 1, 2011, the last reported NAV for CLM was $7.26 and
the last reported sales price was $10.40, which represents a 43.25%
premium to the Fund's NAV. On the same date, the last reported NAV
for CRF was $6.37 and the last reported sales price was $9.46, which
represents a 48.51% premium to the Fund's NAV.
Pursuant to Release No. 33-6510 and in reliance upon the
representations contained in your letter dated June 28, 2011, we
performed a limited review of the registration statements. . Your letter
represented that the disclosure contained in the registration statements
is based on and is substantially similar to the registration statements
on Form N-2 of the CRF and CLM, which were reviewed and declared
effective by the staff on October 29, 2010.
You should consider a comment made with respect to one
section applicable to similar disclosure elsewhere in the registration
statement. We have the following comments.
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.
Paae 12
1. The section captioned "Board Considerations in Approving the
Offering" cites the success of the 2010 rights offering as a factor in
approving the current rights offering. Please expand the disclosure to
discuss the number of shares issued in the 2010 basic rights offering
and the number of shares that were issued, if any, with respect to the
over-allotment shares in the 2010 rights offering.
2. Disclose that the Board of Directors considered the impact of
the 2010 rights offering, if any, on the market price of its stock, and
determined it was in the best interests of shareholders to proceed with
the 2011 rights offering while continuing the managed distribution
policy. If the Board did not consider such information, why was it not
considered?
Statement of Additional Information
Paae 1
2
3. Fundamental policy number 1 i in the registration statement
appears to be different from fundamental policy number 12 in the
registration statement reviewed and declared effective by the staff on
October 29, 2010. It appears that old fundamental policy number 1
was deleted. We are unable to locate a proxy filing consistent with
any fundamental policy change. The policy numbers for other
fundamental policies have also changed, but there does not appear to
be any other substantive change. Please confirm there are no other
changes and explain to the staff in your response letter why you
believe this change is permissible.
General
4. Other than the previously granted exemptive relief with respect
to the Fund's managed distribution policy, please advise us if you have
submitted or expect to submit an exemptive application or no-action
request in connection with your registration statement.
5. We note that Messrs. Bradshaw and Wilcox each filed a Form 4
on December 23, 2010. Please inform us whether all of the officers,
directors, and beneficial owners of more than 10% of the Fund's
securities are current with the ownership reports (Forms 3,4, and 5)
required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Cornerstone Strateaic Value Fund, Inc.
6. As the registration statements are virtually identical, to the
extent applicable, the CRF comments above apply to the CLM
registration statement.
1 This fundamental policy states "(t)he Fund shall not:
1. Issue any senior securities (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940)
except insofar as any borrowing permitted by item 2 below might be considered
the issuance of senior securities."
2 This fundamental policy states "(t)he Fund shall not:
1. With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase a security, other than securities
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or securities of other regulated
investment companies, if as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value
of that Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of anyone issuer, or
that Fund would own more than 10% of the voting securities of anyone issuer."
3
* ** * * *
We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and
adequacy of the disclosure in the filings reviewed by the staff to be
certain that they have provided all information investors require for an
informed decision. Since the Fund and its management are in
possession of all facts relating to the fund's disclosure, they are
responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosures they
have made.
Notwithstanding our comments, in the event the Fund requests
acceleration of the effective date of the pending registration
statement, it should furnish a letter, at the time of such request,
acknowledging that
should the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated
authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the
Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing;
the action of the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to
delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not
relieve the Fund from its full responsibility for the adequacy and
accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; and
the Fund may not assert this action as defense in any proceeding
initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal
securities laws of the United States.
In addition, please be advised that the Division of Enforcement
has access to all information you provide to the staff of the Division of
Investment Management in connection with our review of your filing or
in response to our comments on your filing.
We will consider a written request for acceleration of the
effective date of the registration statement as a confirmation of the
fact that those requesting acceleration are aware of their respective
responsibilities. We will act on the request and, pursuant to delegated
authority, grant acceleration of the effective date.
**** * *
4
Should you have any questions regarding this letter, please
contact me at (202) 551-6966.
Sincerely,
~(!cÆ
Kevin C. Rupert
Accountant
5
2011-07-14 - UPLOAD - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
1Rupert, Kevin C.
From: Stokes, Mary K. [Stokes@BlankRome.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 3:20 PM
To: Rupert, Kevin C.
Subject: Cornerstone
Attachments: CRF SAI (compared to 2010).DOC; CRF Pros pectus (compared to 2010).DOC; CLM SAI
(compared to 2010).DOC; CLM Pr ospectus (compared to 2010).DOC
Kevin,
Attached please find redlines marked to reflect revisions made to the prospectus and SAI filed as parts of the
registration statement by Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. and Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. compared to
those filed in 2010. We are hopeful, given the limited scope of the revisions, that the SEC’s review process may be
expedited to the extent possible. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to facilitate. As always, we
appreciate your assistance, Kevin.
Best regards,
Mary
Mary K. Stokes | Blank Rome LLP
One Logan Square 130 North 18th Street | Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998
Phone: 215.569.5530 | Fax: 215.832.5530 | Email: Stokes@BlankRome.com
********************************************************************************************************
This message and any attachments may contain confidentia l or privileged information and are only for the use
of the intended recipien t of this message. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender by return
email, and delete or destroy this and all copies of this message and all attachments. Any unauthorized
disclosure, use, distribution, or repr oduction of this message or any at tachments is prohibited and may be
unlawful. ******************************************************************************************************** Any Federal tax advice contained herein is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by you or any
other person, for the purpose of avoidi ng any penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. This
disclosure is made in accordance w ith the rules of Treasury Department Circular 230 governing standards of
practice before the Internal Revenue Se rvice. Any written statement containe d herein relating to any Federal tax
transaction or matter may not be used by any person w ithout the express prior written permission in each
instance of a partner of this firm to support the promotion or marketing of or to recommend any Federal tax
transaction(s) or matter( s) addressed herein.
********************************************************************************************************
119678.00100/12109983v.1 6981
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.
[ ] Rights for [ ] Shares of Common Stock
_________________________
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is issuing non-transferable rights ("Rights") to its holders of record of
shares ("Shares") of common stock ("Common Stock") (such holders herein defined as, "Stockholders"). These Rights will allow
Stockholders to subscribe for new Shares of Common Stock. For ev ery three (3) Rights a Stockholde r receives, such Stockholder w ill
be entitled to buy one (1) new Share. Each Stockholder w ill receive one Right for each outstanding Share it owns on November 1,
2010 _______, 2011 (the "Record Date"). Fractional Shares will not be issued upon the exercise of the Rights. Accordingly, the
number of Rights to be issued to a Stockholder on the Record Date will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of Rights even ly
divisible by three. Stockholders on the Record Date may purchase Shares not acquired by other Stockholders in this Rights offer ing
(the "Offering"), subject to certain limitations discussed in this Prospectus. Additionally, if there are not enough unsubscri bed Shares
to honor all over-subscription requests, the Fund may, in its so le discretion, issue additional Shares up to 100% of the Shares available
in the Offering to honor over -subscription requests. See "The Offering" below.
The Rights are non-transferable, and may not be purchased or sold. Rights will expire without residual value at the Expiration
Date (defined below). The Rights will not be listed for trading on the NYSE Amex, and there will not be any market for trading
Rights. The Shares to be issued pursuant to the Offering will be listed for trading on the NYSE Amex, subject to the NYSE Amex
being officially notified of the issuance of those Shares. On October 22, 2010 _______, 2011 , the last reported net asset value
("NAV") per Share was $ 6.34 ____ and the last reported sales price per Share on the NYSE Amex was $ 10.29 ____ , which represents
a 62.30 ____ % premium to the Fund's NAV per Share. The subscription pr ice per Share (the "Subscription Price") will be the greater
of (i) 102% of NAV per Share as calculated at the close of trading on the date of expiration of the Offering and (ii) 90% of th e market
price per Share at such time. The considerable number of shares that may be issued as a result of the Offering may cause the p remium
above NAV at which the Fund’s shares are currently trading to decline, especially if stockholders exercising the Rights attempt to sell
sizeable numbers of shares imme diately after such issuance.
STOCKHOLDERS WHO CHOOSE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS WILL NOT KNOW THE SUBSCRIPTION
PRICE PER SHARE AT THE TIME THEY EXERCISE SUCH RIGHTS BECAUSE THE OFFERING WILL EXPIRE (i.e.,
CLOSE) PRIOR TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FUND'S NAV AND OTHER RELEVANT MARKET
INFORMATION ON THE EXPIRATION DATE. ONCE A STOCKHOLDER SUBSCRIBES FOR SHARES AND THE
FUND RECEIVES PAYMENT OR GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT , SUCH STOCKHOLDER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
CHANGE HIS OR HER DECISION. THE OFFERING WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON
DECEMBER 10, 2010 ________, 2011 (THE "EXPIRATION DATE"), UNLESS EX TENDED, AS DISCUSSED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS.
The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. Its investment objective is to seek capital
appreciation with current income as a secondary objective . The Fund seeks to achieve its objectives by investing primarily in U.S.
and non-U.S. companies. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s objective s will be achieved.
For more information, please call The Altman Group (the "Information Agent") toll free at (800) 581-4001.
(continued on following page)
Investing in the Fund involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 27 ____ of this prospectus.
Estimated Subscription
Price(1) Estimated Sales Load Estimated Proceeds to the
Fund(2)
Per Share $9.26 $______ None $9.26 $______
Total None
____________________________ (1) Because the Subscription Price w ill not be determined un til after printing and distribution of this Prospectus, the "Estimated
Subscription Price" above is an estimate of the subscription price based on the Fund's per-Share NAV and market price at the
close of trading on October 22, 2010
_______, 2011 . See "The Offering - Subscription Price" and "The Offering - Payment
for Shares."
(2) Proceeds to the Fund are before deductio n of expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the O ffering, estimated to
be approximately $ 78,000 _______ . Funds received prior to the final due date of this Offering will be deposited in a
segregated account pending allocation and distribution of Shares. Interest, if any, on subscription monies will be paid to
the Fund regardless of whether Shares are issued by the Fund; interest will not be used as credit toward the purchase of
Shares.
119678.00100/12109983v.1 6981 Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any stat e securities commission has approved or disapproved these
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or co mplete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is _________, 201 01.
ii
119678.00100/12109983v.1 6981 (continued from previous page )
The Fund’s Shares are listed on the NYSE Amex under the ticker symbol “CRF.”
Investment Adviser. Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) acts as the Fund's investment advi ser. See “Management of
the Fund.” As of September June 30, 201 01, the Adviser managed two other closed-end funds with combined assets with the Fund of
approximately $ 121,845,245 ____________ . The Adviser's address is 1075 Hendersonville Road, Suite 250, Asheville, North
Carolina, 28803.
This prospectus sets forth concisely the information about the Fund that you should know before deciding whether to invest
in the Fund . A Statement of Additional Information, dated _____, 201 01 (the “Statement of Additional Information”), and other
materials, containing additional information about the Fund, have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”). The Statement of Additiona l Information is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this prospectus, which means it is
considered to be part of this prospectus. You may request a free copy of the Statement of Additional Information, the table of contents
of which is on page 43 __ of this prospectus, and other information filed with the SEC, by calling collect (513) 326-3597 or by writing
to the Fund c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, 350 Jericho Turnpike , Suite 206, Jericho, NY 11753. The Fund files annual and sem i-
annual stockholder reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The Fund does not have an Internet website. Y ou
can obtain this information or the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information or any information regarding the Fund filed with the
SEC from the SEC’s web site ( http://www.sec.gov ).
The Fund’s Shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other
insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board
or any governmental agency.
iii
119678.00100/12109983v.1 6981 You should rely only on the info rmation contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with diff erent information. We are no t making an offer to sell
these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information contained in this
prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus. The Fund will amen d this prospectus if, during
the period this prospectus is required to be delivered, there are any material changes to the fact s stated in this
prospectus subsequent to the date of this prospectus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... ........................................... 1
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES ...................................................................................................... ................ 1011
THE F UND ...................................................................................................................... ....................................... 1011
THE OFFERING .................................................................................................................. ................................... 1011
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS .......................................................................................................... ......................... 1920
USE OF PROCEEDS ............................................................................................................... ............................... 2124
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE S AND POLICIES ................................................................................................... 2124
RISK FACTORS .................................................................................................................. ................................... 2730
LISTING OF SHARES ............................................................................................................. .............................. 3135
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND ........................................................................................................ .................. 3135
DETERMINATION OF N ET ASSET VALUE .............................................................................................. ........ 3337
DISTRIBUTION POLICY ........................................................................................................... ........................... 3438
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN .................................................................................................... ............... 3640
FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS .................................................................................................... .............. 3741
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE .............................................................................................. ......... 4044
LEGAL MATTERS ................................................................................................................. ............................... 4146
REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS ....................................................................................................... .................. 4146
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PU BLIC ACCOUNT ING FIRM ....................................................................... 4146
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................ ................... 4246
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION..................................... 4347
THE FUND’S PRIVACY POLICY ..................................................................................................... ................... 4348
119678.00100/12109983v.1 6981 SUMMARY
This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the Fund.
You should review the more detailed information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in
the Statement of Additional Information, particularly th e information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors.”
The Fund Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. is a diversified, closed-end
management investment company. It was incorporated in New
York on March 16, 1973 and commenced investment operations
on May 15, 1973. The Fund’ s Shares of Common Stock are traded on the NYSE Amex under the ticker symbol “CRF.” As of
December 31, 20 1
09, the Fund had 2,838,558 3,896,958 Shares
issued and outstanding.
The Offering The Fund is offering non-transferable rights to its Stockholders as
of the close of business on November 1, 2010 _______, 2011 .
These Rights will allow Stockholders to subscribe for an aggregate of ________ Shares of Common Stock. For every three
(3) Rights a Stockholder receives, such Stockholder will be
entitled to buy one (1) new Share at a subscription price equal to the greater of (i) 102% of NAV of the Common Stock as
calculated on the Expiration Date an d (ii) 90% of the market price
at the close of trading on such date. Each Stockholder will receive one Right for each outstanding Share he or she owns on
the Record Date (the “Basic S ubscription”). Fractional Shares
will not be issued upon the exerci se of the Rights. Accordingly,
the number of Rights to be issued to a Stockholder as of the
Record Date will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of
Rights evenly divisible by three. Common Stockholders as of the Record Date may purchase Shares not acquired by other
Stockholders in this Rights offering (the "Offering"), subject to
certain limitations discussed in this Prospectus. Additionally, if
there are not enough unsubscribed Shares to honor all over-
subscription requests, the Fund may, in its discretion, issue
additional Shares up to 100% of the Shares available in the
Offering to honor over -
subscription requests.
Shares will be issued within the 15-day period immediately
following the record date of the Fund’s monthly’s distribution and
Stockholders exercising rights w ill not be entitled to receive such
2010-10-28 - CORRESP - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
fp0002162_corresp.htm
Phone:
215-569-5530
Fax:
215-832-5530
Email:
stokes@blankrome.com
October 28, 2010
BY EDGAR
Kevin Rupert
Division of Investment Management
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-4720
Re: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”)
SEC File Numbers: 333-168927 and 811-05150
Dear Mr. Rupert:
On behalf of the Fund, and pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, we hereby request that the effective date of the Fund’s registration statement on Form N-2 filed on August 18, 2010 and amended on September 30, 2010 and October 26, 2010 (the “Registration Statement) be accelerated so that the Registration Statement will become effective on Friday, October 29, 2010 (the “Effective Date”), or as soon thereafter as practicable.
Our client has selected the Effective Date to provide the Fund sufficient time to commence and conclude the offering during its current fiscal year and within the conditions of its exemptive relief related to its managed distribution plan.
In connection with the foregoing acceleration request, the Fund acknowledges that:
● Should the Commission or its staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the Registration Statement effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the Registration Statement;
● The action of the Commission or its staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the Registration Statement effective, does not relieve the Fund from its full responsibility for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosure in the Registration Statement; and
One Logan Square 18th and Cherry Streets Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998
www.BlankRome.com
Delaware · Florida · Maryland · New Jersey · New York · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Washington, DC
Kevin Rupert
October 28, 2010
Page 2
● The Fund may not assert the action of the Commission or its staff in declaring the Registration Statement effective as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.
Should you have any questions or comments regarding the above, please phone me at (215) 569-5530. Thank you for your continued assistance.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Mary Stokes
MARY STOKES
2010-09-14 - UPLOAD - Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
DIVISION OF
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
September 14, 2010
Mary K. Stokes, Esq.
Blank Rome LLP
One logan Square
130 North 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998
RE: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. ("ClM")
File Nos.: 333-168927 and 811-5150
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. ("CRF")
File Nos.: 333-168926 and 811-2363
Dear Ms. Stokes:
On August 19, 2010, ClM and CRF, (each a "Fund" and collectively
the "Funds") each filed a registration statement on Form N-2 under the
Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act") and the Investment Company Act of
1940 ("1940 Act"). Each registration statement is filed in co~nection
with a proposed non-transferable rights offering of shares of common
stock. The subscription price per Share (the "Subscription Price") will
be the greater of (i) 102% of net asset value per Share ("NAV") as
calculated at the close of trading on the date of expiration of
the Offering and (ii) 90% of the market price per Share at such time.
Record date shareholders who exercise all of their basic rights
are entitled to subscribe for shares which were not otherwise
subscribed for by other shareholders (the "Additional Subscription
Privilege"). Each Fund may also, in its discretion, issue additional
Shares in an amount up to 100% of Shares available in the basic
offering to honor additional subscription requests ("Over-Allotment
Shares").
The offerings are non-transferable, meaning that only holders of
each Fund as of the record date may purchase shares of that Fund in
the offering. Any holder of record may purchase, in addition to shares
available through the exercise of his or her basic rights, (a) shares not
purchased by other holders of record through the exercise of rights
. ("Unsubscibed Shares"), and (b) shares available through the Over-Allotment. The method by which any Unsubscribed Shares or Over-
Allotment Shares (collectively, the "Excess Shares") will be distributed
and allocated pursuant to the Additional Subscription Privilege is: (a) if
there are sufficient Excess Shares to satisfy all additional subscriptions
by Shareholders exercising their rights under the Additional
Subscription Privilege, each such shareholder shall be allotted the
number of shares which the shareholder requested, and (b) if the
aggregate number of shares subscribed for under the Additional
Subscription Privilege exceeds the number of Excess Shares, the
number of shares allotted to each Stockholder in the Additional
Subscription Privilege shall be the product obtained by multiplying the
number of Excess Shares by a fraction of which the numerator is the
number of Shares subscribed for by that Stockholder under the
Additional Subscription Privilege and the denominator is the aggregate
number of Excess Shares subscribed for by all Stockholders under the
Additional Subscription Privilege.
On August 27, 2010, the last reported NAV for ClM was $6.80
and the last reported sales price on the NYSE Amex was $10.56, which
represents a 55.29% premium to the Fund's NAV. On the same
date, the last reported NAV for CRF was $5.92 and the last reported
sales price on the NYSE Amex was $9.80, which represents a 65.54%
premium to the Fund's NAV.
You should consider a comment made with respect to one
section applicable to similar disclosure elsewhere in the registration
statement. We have the following comments.
Cornerstone Strateaic Value Fund, Inc.
Cover Paae
1. Disclose that the considerable number of shares that may be
issued in the rights offering may cause the premium above NAV at
which the Fund's shares are currently trading to decline, especially if
shareholders exercising the rights attempt to sell sizeable numbers of
shares immediately after such issuance.
2. The caption "Estimated Proceeds to the Fund" appears to need
the reference for footnote (2).
2
Paae 2
3. Please disclose how the Fund's investment adviser determines
which securities to buy for the Fund's portfolio in order to meet its
investment objective of capital appreciation.
4. The prospectus states that the Fund proposes to invest "without
limitation in ETFs and other closed-end investment companies". How
does the Fund comply with Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act?
Paae 4
5. We note that since 2006 most of the distributions elM has
made under its managed distribution policy are a return of capitaL. For
example, NAVas of December 31, 2009 was $8.24, down from $22.60
on January 1, 2006. During that 4 year period, return of capital
distributions were $13.03. Aggregate net investment income and
capital gains distributions duringthe same period were $1.85. Thus,
please expand the risk disclosure to state that the proceeds of the
offering may be used to support the managed distribution policy. In
addition, please disclose that sustaining the managed distribution
policy could require the Fund to raise .additional capital in the future.
6. Page 2 discloses a stated purpose of the rights offering is to
maintain the Fund's flexibility in maintaining its managed distribution
policy. Given that the use of proceeds will essentially be used to help
the Fund maintain that distribution policy, please discuss whether the
Board has made a determination that continuation of the Distribution
Policy would be in the best interests of the shareholders, especially in
light of the size of the Fund's trading premium. Disclose and explain
why the Board of Directors has opted to make a rights offering below
market price, rather than sell shares in a traditional offering at market
price.
7. The Fund asserts the ability of closed-end funds to invest in
illquid securities as a benefit. However, page 3 appears to generally
limit the Fund's investment in illiquid securities to 15%. Please explain
supplementally why the limit is 15% and revise the disclosure
accordingly.
8. Disclose whether the offering will go forward if Fund shares trade
at a discount.
3
Page 6
9. Why would the Fund invest just its net assets defensively as
discussed in the first paragraph?
10. The management risk section should include the investment
adviser's conflict in increasing assets under management with the
rights offering as those new assets will concomitantly increase its
management fee.
11. Supplement the managed distribution risk section on this page
by including a five year chart that contains historical performance
information of the managed distribution policy (~, year by year
presentation of NAV per share, average annual total return in relation
to the change in NAV for the period presented, managed distribution
amounts per share, amount of the managed distribution characterized
as a return of capital per share, realized capital gains distributions per
share, and investment income distributions per share, over a five year
period, with cumulative totals as needed). The chart should also
supply the Fund's gross expense ratio for each year to demonstrate
the impact, if any, of the managed distributions on the Fund's expense
ratio. Please ensure that the presentation adequately explains that a
return of capital distribution does not reflect positive investment
performance.
12. Provide a statement that shareholders should not draw any
conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the
amount of its managed distributions or from the terms of the Fund's
managed distribution plan. .
13. The Fund's managed distribution amounts differ significantly
from the Fund's returns based on NAV. Please disclose to shareholders
why this occurred and why it was permitted to continue, as well as the
rationale behind the policy. Disclose whether a shareholder should
expect the Fund's managed distribution rates to correlate with the
Fund's total return based on NAV over time, and what differences, if
any, will result in changes to the Fund's managed distribution plan.
14. Supplementally state whether the Fund has adopted policies and.
procedures pursuant Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act that are
reasonably designed to ensure that all required notices and disclosures
with respect to its managed distribution plan and associated
distributions are appropriately communicated to shareholders and third
parties. If not, why not?
4
Paae 7
15. In light of the Fund's investment objective of long-term capital
appreciation, why does it engage in securities lending and repurchase
agreements?
Paae 8
16. The staff takes the position that a fund must recall a loaned
security in the event of a material vote. Please explain why the Fund's
inabilty to recall and vote securities it has lent does not constitute a
breach of fiduciary duty by the Fund's investment adviser. Please
revise the disclosure.
17. The sixth and eleventh sentences of the managed distribution
paragraph differ by just a few words. Is there a material difference
between the sentences? Revise the disclosure as needed.
Paae 10
.18. Explain why the gross expense ratio of 2.01 % in the Fund's
Financial Highlights as of December 31, 2009 differs from the gross
expense ratio of 1.93% presented in the fee table.
19. Please recalculate the Example and round the results to the
nearest whole dollar.
20. Please disclose \Nhether the proceeds from the offering are
considered in the fee table. If the proceeds are not considered in the
fee table, please delete the last sentence of footnote (2). Please
revise the disclosure as needed. See General Instruction 10(e) and
10(f) to Item 3 of Form N-2.
Paae 11
21. Substitute the word "receive" for the word "realize" in the last
sentence of the penultimate paragraph.
Paae 12
22. The statement that "(t)he Board also considered ...the potential
effect of the Offering on the Fund's stock price" does not provide a
5
conclusion or a basis for a conclusion. Please revise the disclosure
accordingly. See comment 38 below.
23. Describe and disclose all benefits, if any, accruing to the
investment adviser or any affiliates of the investment adviser from
their participation in this rights offering. If there are no benefits for
the adviser or its affiliates, so state. Will any related parties attempt
to acquire any shares in this offering? See comments 25 and 26
below.
24. In the first paragraph of the "Additional Subscription Privilege"
section, disclose whether or not there is any limit on the number of
shares a shareholder may attempt to acquire under the Additional
Subscription Privilege. If there is no limit, please explain why.
Paae 13
25. When the amount of Excess Shares is less than the amount
requested under the Additional Subscription Privilege, the allocation of
the Excess Shares does not appear to allocate shares based on a
shareholders proportionate ownership interest in elM. Indeed, the
calculation appears designed to grant more shares to anyone that
simply requests a large number of shares under the Additional
Subscription Privilege. The prospectus does not explain why an
allocation is made on a basis other than some form of proportional
ownership of the Fund with respect to shareholders requesting shares
under the Additional Subscription Privilege. The proposed allocation
methodology seems to favor large share requests to the detriment of
smaller share requests, regardless of actual Fund ownership. Please
explain. We may have further comment.
26. Given the large number of shares that may be issued as a result
of this rights offering and the substantial premium currently available,
please discuss supplementally whether there would be any potential
underwriter issues if a related party sold a significant amount of shares
issued under this rights offering. What action, if any, will the Fund
take?
Paae 18
27. State that the financial highlights are audited and describe how
shareholders can obtain the Fund's audit report and financial
statements.
6
28. Substitute the caption "Total Distributions" for the caption "Total
dividends and distributions to shareholders" in the Financial Highlights
table. See Item 4.1.d of Form N-2.
Page 20
29. Please revise the first sentence of the first paragraph to indicate
how the Fund will use the proceeds from the basic offering and from
the Over-Allotment. Since it also appears possible that some of the
proceeds may eventually be used to support the managed distribution
policy, please revise the disclosure accordingly.
30 Please disclose how the managed distribution policy and the
historic return of capital rates that the Fund has provided are
consistent with the investment objective described by the Fund on this
page. The Board of Directors assert in the application for relief under
Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder, that the
"Distribution Policy could be adopted without adversely affecting each
applicant's investment objective and strategies". The application
further states that "(o)ver the long-term, each Fund's investment goal
is to achieve net investment returns that exceed the amount of its
fixed distribution policy". Given the Fund's past distribution history,
you should make further disclosure in this regard.
Paae 33
31. In the third full paragraph, disclose that if the managed
distribution plan depletes Fund assets through the return of capital,
the Fund may attempt to recapitalize itself through future rights
offerings. .
32. The discussion of the managed distribution plan is generic. The
Fund has tangible and essential history under its plan, and the actual
application of the Fund's managed distribution policy has resulted in
regular and substantial returns of capital to shareholders. Thus, return
of capital does not appear to be an abstract possibility, but a systemic
reality, clearly demonstrated by Fund history. The sustainability of the
managed distribution plan in light of the large returns of capital and
the significant premium to NAV should also be considered and
addressed. Please revise and expand the disclosure accordingly.
7
Paae 42
33. Revise the last paragraph to refer to the current 1933 Act
number.
Statement of Additional Information
Paae 8-22
34 The Fund will need to incorporate its most recent semi-annual
financial statements and include as an exhibit an updated accounting
consent.
General
35. If there have been previous rights offerings, please add
appropriate disclosure regarding all prior rights offerings, including,
but not limited to, the date of each offering, the dollar amount of
proceeds, how the Fund used the proceeds, and the amount of time
taken to invest the proceeds.
36. Please explain whether a 100% over-allotment and the proposed
allocation of that over-allotment are consistent with FINRA rules.
37. Please explain the specific Board findings with respect to the
potentially negative impact on the market price of each Fund's shares
as a result of the large increase in shares available as a consequence
of the rights offering (including the 100% Over-Allotment). Has any
closed-end fund ever traded at a similar high premium to NAV and at
the same time conducted such a high ratio rights offering? What was
the outcome? Did the Board retain an independent consultant on this
issue? If not, why not? Why was the Over-Allotment share amount
set at 1000/0? Why did the Board ultimately approve the Offering as
presently constructed?
38. We note that material portions of the filing are incomplete and
that all exhibits and the financial ~tatements are omitted. We may
have additional comments on such portions when you complete them
in a pre-effective amendment, on disclosures made in response to this
letter, on information supplied supplementally, or on exhibits added in
any pre-effective amendments.
39. Other than the prior exemptive application noted above, please
advise us if you have submitted or expect to submit an exemptive
8
application or no-action request in connection with your registration
statement.
40. Please state in your response letter whether the FINRA has
reviewed the arrangements of the offering.
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.
41. As the registration statements a