-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, LiV9jg3pCrnHJbPNv6gEp3FHcXAX05qaiYTKTIy4Qw7av5DpyV7SUtE5XepDMDB6 8zgRzuzf+3tX0sgY8svYcA== 0000896017-06-000004.txt : 20060126 0000896017-06-000004.hdr.sgml : 20060126 20060125190032 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000896017-06-000004 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20060126 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20060125 GROUP MEMBERS: ANDREW DAKOS SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: NEW GERMANY FUND INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000858706 IRS NUMBER: 133555471 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-49307 FILM NUMBER: 06550794 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 345 PARK AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10154 BUSINESS PHONE: 800-437-6269 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 345 PARK AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10154 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: LENOX FUND INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19900115 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: OPPORTUNITY PARTNERS L P CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000896017 IRS NUMBER: 113132092 STATE OF INCORPORATION: OH FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 60 HERITAGE DRIVE CITY: PLESANTVILLE STATE: NY ZIP: 10570 BUSINESS PHONE: 9147475262 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 60 HERITAGE DRIVE CITY: PLEASANTVILLE STATE: NY ZIP: 10570 SC 13D/A 1 shedthirdeight.txt SCHEDULE 13D DATE OF EVENT WHICH REQUIRES FILING OF THIS STATEMENT 1/25/06 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Bulldog Investors, Phillip Goldstein, Andrew Dakos 2. CHECK THE BOX IF MEMBER OF A GROUP a[] b[] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS WC 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) AND 2(e) [] 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION USA ________________________________________________________________ 7. SOLE VOTING POWER NA 8. SHARED VOTING POWER NA 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER NA_______________________________________________________ 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER NA 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,097,472 12. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [] ________________________________________________________________ 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY ROW 11 8.42% 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON NA ________________________________________________________________ 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Phillip Goldstein 2. CHECK THE BOX IF MEMBER OF A GROUP a[] b[] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS WC 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) AND 2(e) [] 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION USA ________________________________________________________________ 7. SOLE VOTING POWER 655,364 8. SHARED VOTING POWER 34,244 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,371,923_______________________________________________________ 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 725,549 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,097,472 12. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [] ________________________________________________________________ 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY ROW 11 8.42% 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA ________________________________________________________________ 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Andrew Dakos 2. CHECK THE BOX IF MEMBER OF A GROUP a[] b[] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS WC 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) AND 2(e) [] 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION USA ________________________________________________________________ 7. SOLE VOTING POWER 725,549 8. SHARED VOTING POWER 0 0 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0_______________________________________________________ 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 725,549 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 725,549 12. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [] ________________________________________________________________ 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY ROW 11 2.91% 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA ________________________________________________________________ This statement constitutes amendment No.8 to the Schedule 13D filed on October 20, 2004. Except as specifically set forth herein, the Schedule 13D remains unmodified. Item 2 is amended as follows: Item 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND This statement is filed on behalf of Bulldog Investors, Phillip Goldstein, 60 Heritage Drive, Pleasantville, NY 10570 a principal of Bulldog Investors and Andrew Dakos, 43 Waterford Drive, Montville, NJ 07045, also a principal of Bulldog Investors. Mr. Goldstein and Mr. Dakos are self-employed investment advisors. During the past 5 years neither Mr. Goldstein nor Mr. Dakos has been convicted in a criminal proceeding, nor been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as a result of which they were or are subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to,federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws. Mr. Goldstein and Mr. Dakos are United States citizens. Item 4 is amended as follows: ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION Advance Notification (See Exhibit 1). Item 5 is amended as follows: ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER a. As per the semi-annual report dated June 30th, 2005 there were 24,910,025 shares of GF outstanding. The percentage set forth in this item (5a) was derived using such number. Bulldog Investors, Phillip Goldstein and Andrew Dakos are deemed to be the beneficial owner of 2,097,472 shares of GF or 8.42% of the outstanding shares. Mr. Phillip Goldstein is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 2,097,472 shares of GF or 8.42% of the outstanding shares. Mr. Dakos is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 725,549 shares of GF or 2.91% of the outstanding shares. b. Power to dispose of securities resides solely with Mr. Goldstein for 1,371,923 shares and jointly with Mr. Dakos for 725,549 shares. Power to vote securities resides solely with Mr. Goldstein for 655,364 shares and jointly for 34,244 shares. Power to vote securities resides solely with Mr. Dakos for 725,549 shares. c. During the last sixty days the following shares of common stock were sold: 1/12/06 6200 @ 10.8 1/11/06 5500 @ 10.78 1/6/06 6000 @ 10.65 1/5/06 1300 @ 10.65 1/4/06 5000 @ 10.5 1/3/06 25400 @ 10.27 9800 @ 10.26 15000 @ 10.25 12/29/05 5000 @ 10.4 d. Beneficiaries of accounts managed by Mr. Phillip Goldstein and Mr. Dakos are entitled to receive any dividends or sales proceeds. Item 7 is amended as follows: ITEM 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS Exhibit 1. Advance Notification Exhibit 2. Joint Filing Agreement After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: 1/25/06 By: /s/ Phillip Goldstein Name: Phillip Goldstein By: /S/ Andrew Dakos Name: Andrew Dakos Exhibit 1. Opportunity Partners L.P., 60 Heritage Drive, Pleasantville, NY 10570 (914) 747-5262 // Fax: (914) 747-5258//oplp@optonline.net January 25, 2006 Carole Coleman, Corporate Secretary The Board of Directors The New Germany Fund, Inc. 345 Park Avenue New York, NY 10154 Dear Ms. Coleman and Board Members: As you know, litigation is pending regarding the validity of the Fund's so-called qualifications bylaw and the results of last year's annual meeting. We believe that, if not for the board's adoption of preclusive qualifications for director that are obviously designed to perpetuate its control over the Fund (and its refusal to waive the qualifications), our slate of directors would have been elected and our open-ending proposal would have passed by an overwhelming 71% to 29% margin. Moreover, a similar proposal was adopted by a 61% to 39% margin the previous year. Over the past two months, we have tried in vain to reach out to the board in an attempt to resolve the litigation and to avert another proxy contest. In light of the shareholders' desire to be afforded an opportunity to realize net asset value, we cannot understand why the board has refused to even discuss this matter. The only conclusion we can draw now is that it will continue to pay millions of dollars of shareholder funds to its consigliores to prevent a democratic election. That is great for Sullivan & Cromwell's bottom line but not so good for the Fund's shareholders. In view of the board's intransigence, it appears we have no choice but to pursue another proxy contest. Assuming there will be three directors elected in 2006, we hereby give notice that we intend to nominate Lawrence Goldstein, Richard Shaker and Brad Orvieto for election as directors. Like virtually every shareholder of the Fund, none of them meets the notorious "qualifications" set forth in the Fund's bylaws although if it means anything to the board, Mr. Orvieto happens to be a director of Temple Kol Ami and a member of the Anti- Defamation League Civil Rights Committee. More importantly, unlike the incumbent directors who have demonstrated their contempt for shareholder rights, each of our nominees is committed to abide by the wishes of the shareholders. We think that is more important than any so-called "qualifications" Sullivan & Cromwell can conjure up to entrench the incumbent directors. We also intend to submit a "ballot access" proposal to nullify any impediments to a democratic election. If the board is willing to allow a democratic election for directors, we will withdraw our "ballot access" proposal and provide the board with any reasonable information it requires about our nominees. However, if it persists in refusing to allow shareholders to vote for our nominees on the dubious grounds that they do not meet the board's self-serving "qualifications," there is no point in providing any further information. Our "ballot access" proposal reads as follows: Notwithstanding any provision of the Fund's bylaws to the contrary, at any meeting of shareholders (1) any beneficial or registered shareholder of the Fund shall be entitled to make nominations for the board of directors and (2) the shareholders may vote for and elect as directors any persons so nominated. We intend to solicit proxies from other shareholders and to seek reimbursement from the Fund for our solicitation expenses. If there is any additional information that will induce the board to allow the directors to be democratically elected, please so advise us and we will endeavor to provide it. Finally, please advise us immediately if you believe this notice is deficient in any way so that we can promptly cure any deficiency. Very truly yours, Phillip Goldstein Portfolio Manager p.s. We are taking the liberty of advising shareholders that have asked us what they can do to persuade the board to afford them an opportunity to realize NAV to communicate their views to Ms. Patricia Rosch Carrington at 212-454-2123 who will hopefully relay them to the board. Please confirm with Sullivan & Cromwell whether the bylaws allow shareholders to do that. Thank you. Exhibit 2 Joint Filing Agreement In accordance with Rule 13d-1 (k) (1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the persons named below agree to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of the Schedule 13D (and all further amendments filed by them) with respect to the shares of GF. Dated: 1/25/06 By: /s/ Phillip Goldstein Name: Phillip Goldstein By: /S/ Andrew Dakos Name: Andrew Dakos -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----