UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

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

Investment Company Act file number 811-06445

The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

119 Washington Avenue, Suite 504, Miami Beach FL  33139

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

THOMAS J. HERZFELD
119 Washington Avenue, Suite 504, Miami Beach FL  33139

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 305-271-1900

Date of fiscal year end: 06/30/15

Date of reporting period: 09/30/14
 
 
 

 

ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF September 30, 2014 (unaudited)

 
Shares or
Principal Amount
 
Description
 
Market
Value
 
           
   
Common stocks – 99.16% of net assets
     
           
   
Airlines – 9.31%
     
  15,000  
Avianca Holdings, SA Spon ADR
    205,800  
  25,800  
Copa Holdings, S.A.
    2,768,082  
  3,215  
ERA Group Inc.
    69,926  
               
     
Banking and finance – 9.66%
       
  19,280  
Bancolombia, S.A.
    1,093,562  
  42,300  
Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones, S.A.
    1,297,764  
  6,000  
Popular Inc.
    176,610  
  17,643  
Evertec Inc.
    394,145  
  3,844  
W Holding Co. Inc.
    --  
  12,000  
Western Union
    192,480  
               
     
Communications – 9.93%
       
  44,690  
America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. ADR
    1,126,188  
  71,200  
America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. Series A
    88,534  
  209,144  
America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. Series L
    263,644  
  8,000  
Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.
    431,200  
  518,210  
Fuego Enterprises Inc.
    62,185  
  210,994  
Grupo Radio Centro, S.A.B. de C.V. Series A
    270,218  
  28,400  
Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. ADR
    962,192  
  10,030  
Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.
    42,126  
               
     
Conglomerates and holdings companies – 0.05%
       
  250,000  
Admiralty Holding Company
    --  
  70,348  
BCB Holdings Ltd.
    13,685  
  3,250  
Shellshock Ltd. Ord.
    3,583  
               
     
Construction and related – 10.29%
       
  56,743  
Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. ADR
    739,929  
  62,754  
Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. Series CPO
    81,770  
  20  
Ceramica Carabobo Class A ADR
    --  
  67,100  
Mastec, Inc.
    2,054,602  
  4,000  
Vulcan Materials
    240,920  
  1,900  
Martin Marietta Materials
    244,986  
               
     
Consumer products and related manufacturing – 3.24%
       
  327,290  
Grupo Casa Saba, S.A.B. de C.V. ADR
    --  
  12,300  
Watsco Incorporated
    1,060,014  
               
     
Food, beverages and tobacco – 13.38%
       
  63,809  
Chiquita Brands International Inc.
    906,088  
  53,874  
Cleanpath Resources Corp.
    11  
  19,602  
Coca Cola Femsa, S.A.B. de C.V. ADR
    1,974,313  
  18,900  
Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. Series UBD
    173,812  
  9,500  
Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. ADR
    874,475  
  13,890  
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.
    443,091  
               
     
Housing – 4.83%
       
  40,500  
Lennar Corporation
    1,572,615  
  6,100  
Homex Development Corp.
    6,039  
 
 
 

 
 
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF September 30, 2014 (unaudited) (continued)

 
Shares or
Principal Amount
 
Description
 
Market
Value
 
               
     
Common stocks – 99.16% of net assets
       
               
     
Investment companies – 0.11%
       
  800  
Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
    10,481  
  1,451  
Mexico Equity and Income Fund
    23,898  
  70,348  
Waterloo Investment Holdings Ltd
    --  
               
     
Leisure – 15.42%
       
  31,000  
Carnival Corp.
    1,245,270  
  36,443  
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
    1,312,677  
  26,000  
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
    1,749,540  
  19,467  
Steiner Leisure Ltd.
    731,765  
               
     
Mining – 4.22%
       
  3,872  
Grupo Mexico, S.A.B. de C.V. Series B
    13,011  
  27,000  
Freeport Mcmoran Copper
    881,550  
  23,900  
Tahoe Resources, Inc.
    485,170  
               
     
Pulp and paper - 0.13%
       
  18,300  
Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S.A.B. de C.V. Series A
    43,181  
               
     
Railroad – 1.88%
       
  5,500  
Norfolk Southern Corporation
    613,800  
               
     
Retail – 1.99%
       
  1,270  
Grupo Elektra, S.A.B. de C.V. Series CPO
    35,923  
  1,000  
Pricesmart, Inc.
    85,640  
  210,222  
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A.B. de C.V. Series V
    529,067  
               
     
Service - 0.03%
       
  700  
Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. Series B
    9,032  
               
     
Trucking and marine freight – 7.32%
       
  12,280  
Grupo TMM, S.A.B. ADR
    28,858  
  633  
Seaboard Corporation
    1,693,269  
  2,000  
Seacor Holdings, Inc.
    149,600  
  9,361  
Teekay LNG Partners LP
    407,765  
  36,000  
Ultrapetrol Bahamas Ltd.
    112,320  
               
     
Utilities – 6.27%
       
  12,000  
Caribbean Utilities Ltd. Class A
    128,976  
  104,013  
Consolidated Water, Inc.
    1,214,872  
  700  
Cuban Electric Company
    --  
  40,500  
Teco Energy Inc.
    703,890  
               
     
Other – 1.10%
       
  25,000  
Geltech Solutions Inc.
    8,750  
  4,420  
Gusborne PLC
    5,123  
  13,000  
Impellam Group
    108,536  
  55,921  
Margo Caribe, Inc.
    237,664  
  895  
Siderurgica Venezolana Sivensa, S.A. ADR
    --  
  79  
Siderurgica Venezolana Sivensa, S.A. Series B
    --  
               
Total common stocks – 99.16% (cost $29,267,506)     32,404,218  
 
 
 

 
 
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF September 30, 2014 (unaudited) (continued)

 
Shares or
Principal Amount
 
Description
 
Market
Value
 
               
     
Bonds – 0.00% of net assets
       
               
  165,000  
Republic of Cuba - 4.5%, 1977 - in default (cost $63,038)
    --  
               
Other assets less liabilities – 0.84% of net assets
  $ 273,426  
               
Net assets - 100% (applicable to 3,713,071 shares; equivalent to $8.80 per share)
  $ 32,677,644  

 
 

 

Security Valuation

The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) records its investments in securities at fair value. Under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

In determining fair value, the Fund uses various valuation approaches. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available.

Observable inputs are those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s assumptions about the inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy is categorized into three levels based on the inputs as follows:

Level 1:
quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
Level 2:
other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for  similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
Level 3:
significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The availability of valuation techniques and observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors including the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, and other characteristics particular to the transaction. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Those estimated values do not necessarily represent the amounts that may be ultimately realized due to the occurrence of future circumstances that cannot be reasonably determined. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, those estimated values may be materially higher or lower than the values that would have been used had a ready market for the securities existed. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Fund in determining fair value is greatest for securities categorized in Level 3. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Fair value is a market-based measure considered from the perspective of a market participant rather than an entity-specific measure. Therefore, even when market assumptions are not readily available, the Fund’s own assumptions are set to reflect those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. The Fund uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, including periods of market dislocation. In periods of market dislocation, the observability of prices and inputs may be reduced for many securities. This condition could cause a security to be reclassified to a lower level within the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in securities traded on a national securities exchange (or reported on the NASDAQ National Market or Capital Market) are stated at the last reported sales price on the day of valuation (or at the NASDAQ official closing price); other securities traded in the over-the-counter market and listed securities for which no sale was reported on the date are stated at the last quoted bid price. Restricted securities and other securities for which quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined by the Board of Directors.
 
 
 

 

The following table summarizes the classification of the Fund’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of September 30, 2014:

   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Assets (at fair value)
                       
Common Stocks
  $ 32,130,417     $ 273,801     $ 0     $ 32,404,218  
Bonds
    0       0       0       0  
Total Investments in securities
  $ 32,130,417     $ 273,801     $ 0     $ 32,404,218  
 
The following is a reconciliation of assets in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used to determine fair value:
 
Investments in Securities at Fair Value Balance June 30, 2014
  $ 146  
         
Unrealized gain/(loss)
    0  
Purchases
    0  
Sales
    (0 )
Transfers into Level 3
    0  
Transfers out of Level 3
    (0 )
         
Balance September 30, 2014
  $ 0  

Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation)

As of September 30, 2014, the cost basis for federal income tax purposes, gross unrealized appreciation, gross unrealized depreciation and net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) were as follows:

Tax Cost
of Securities
Tax Unrealized
Appreciation
Tax Unrealized
(Depreciation)
Net Tax Unrealized
Appreciation/(Depreciation)
$29,499,127
$6,571,342
$(3,666,251)
$2,905,091
 
 
 

 
 
ITEM 2. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 
(a)
The registrant's principal executive and principal financial Officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this Form N-Q that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph based on their evaluation of the controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b))and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).

 
(b)
There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant's last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 3. EXHIBITS

The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached as an exhibit to this filing.

 
 

 
 
SIGNATURES

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

The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc.
 
By
/s/ Thomas J. Herzfeld
 
 
Thomas J. Herzfeld
Chairman and President
 
 
Date: November 24, 2014  
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
By
/s/ Thomas J. Herzfeld
 
  Thomas J. Herzfeld
Chairman and President
 
 
Date: November 24, 2014  
 
By
/s/ Reanna Lee
 
  Reanna Lee
Treasurer
 
 
Date:
November 24, 2014
 

fp0012284_ex99cert.htm

Exhibits: Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a)

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Thomas J. Herzfeld, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this report on Form N-Q of The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the schedules of investments included in this report fairly present in all material respects the investments of the registrant as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which the report is filed;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 
(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 
(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 
(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, based on such evaluation; and

 
(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 
(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 24, 2014
 
   
/s/ Thomas J. Herzfeld
 
Chairman and President
 
The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc.
 

 
 

 
 
CERTIFICATIONS

I, Reanna J. Lee, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this report on Form N-Q of The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the schedules of investments included in this report fairly present in all material respects the investments of the registrant as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which the report is filed;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 
(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 
(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 
(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, based on such evaluation; and

 
(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 
(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 24, 2014
 
   
/s/ Reanna J. Lee
 
Treasurer
 
The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc.