UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-Q
QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY
Investment Company Act file number 811-21876
First Trust Tax-Advantaged Preferred Income Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
W. Scott Jardine, Esq.
First Trust Portfolios L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
(Name and address of agent for service)
registrant's telephone number, including area code: 630-765-8000
Date of fiscal year end: October 31
Date of reporting period: January 31, 2009
Form N-Q is to be used by management investment companies, other than small
business investment companies registered on Form N-5 (Sections 239.24 and 274.5
of this chapter), to file reports with the Commission, not later than 60 days
after the close of the first and third fiscal quarters, pursuant to rule 30b1-5
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30b1-5). The Commission may
use the information provided on Form N-Q in its regulatory, disclosure review,
inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-Q, and
the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required
to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-Q unless the
Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control
number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information
collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to the
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC
20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance
requirements of 44 U.S.C. Section 3507.
ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
The Schedule(s) of Investments is attached herewith.
FIRST TRUST TAX-ADVANTAGED PREFERRED INCOME FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (a)
JANUARY 31, 2009 (UNAUDITED)
SHARES DESCRIPTION VALUE
------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------
PREFERRED SECURITIES - 156.8%
CAPITAL MARKETS - 2.7%
39,400 Morgan Stanley, Series A, 4.00% (b) .............................. $ 394,000
-----------
COMMERCIAL BANKS - 48.1%
50,000 ABN AMRO Capital Funding Trust VII, Series G, 6.08% .............. 407,500
22,900 Barclays Bank PLC, Series 3, 7.10% ............................... 272,052
16,100 Barclays Bank PLC, Series D, 8.13% ............................... 225,400
20,000 Credit Suisse Guernsey Ltd., 7.90% ............................... 370,400
6,000 Heartland Financial, 8.26% (c) (d) (e) ........................... 600,000
30,000 HSBC Holdings PLC, 8.125% ........................................ 657,000
10,000 HSBC Holdings PLC, Series A, 6.20% ............................... 154,000
6,000 Irwin Financial Corporation, Series A, 8.61% (b) (c) (d) (e) ..... 600,000
40,000 PNC Financial Services Group, Series F, 9.86% (b) ................ 838,000
20,000 Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, Series Q, 6.75% ...................... 100,000
42,800 Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, Series R, 6.13% ...................... 214,000
15,900 Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, Series T, 7.25% ...................... 90,630
20,000 Santander Finance Preferred SA Unipersonal, 6.50% ................ 343,000
30,000 Santander Finance Preferred SA Unipersonal, 6.80% ................ 523,500
5,000 Santander Finance Preferred SA Unipersonal, Series 6, 4.00% (b) .. 47,125
37,000 US Bancorp, Series D, 7.875% ..................................... 895,400
38,300 Wells Fargo & Co., Series J, 8.00% ............................... 697,060
-----------
7,035,067
-----------
CONSUMER FINANCE - 1.5%
10,000 SLM Corp., Series B, 2.70% (b) ................................... 221,800
-----------
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES - 9.0%
15,000 Bank of America Corp., Series MER, 8.63% ......................... 206,700
28,100 Bank of America Corp., Series I, 6.625% .......................... 295,893
38,500 ING Groep NV, 6.125% ............................................. 430,815
500,000 JPMorgan Chase & Co., Series 1, 7.90% (b) ........................ 380,942
-----------
1,314,350
-----------
ELECTRIC UTILITIES - 19.8%
40,000 Alabama Power Company, 5.63% ..................................... 752,500
20,000 San Diego Gas & Electric Company, 6.80% .......................... 474,376
10,000 Southern California Edison Company, 6.13% ........................ 821,563
10,000 Wisconsin Public Service Corp., 6.88% ............................ 841,875
-----------
2,890,314
-----------
INSURANCE - 37.3%
20,000 Allianz SE, 8.375% ............................................... 393,600
40,000 Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd., 7.40% (b) ......................... 587,200
40,000 Axis Capital Holdings Ltd., Series A, 7.25% ...................... 678,000
40,000 Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., Series A, 7.75% ............... 648,800
8,700 Genworth Financial Inc., 5.25% ................................... 99,506
31,700 PartnerRe Ltd., Series C, 6.75% .................................. 634,000
32,650 Prudential PLC, 6.75% ............................................ 550,153
40,000 RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., Series D, 6.60% ..................... 736,000
2,500 Zurich RegCaPS Funding Trust VI, 1.87% (b) (d) (e) ............... 1,125,000
-----------
5,452,259
-----------
See Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments.
Page 1
FIRST TRUST TAX-ADVANTAGED PREFERRED INCOME FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (a) - (CONTINUED)
JANUARY 31, 2009 (UNAUDITED)
SHARES DESCRIPTION VALUE
------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------
PREFERRED SECURITIES - (CONTINUED)
OIL, GAS & CONSUMABLE FUELS - 25.3%
113,500 Double Eagle Petroleum Corp., Series A, 9.25% .................... $ 2,238,220
81,444 GMX Resources Inc., Series B, 9.25% .............................. 1,461,105
-----------
3,699,325
-----------
THRIFTS & MORTGAGE FINANCE - 4.2%
20,000 Fannie Mae, Series O, 7.00% (b) (f) .............................. 47,500
3,500 FreddieMac, Series W, 5.66% (f) .................................. 1,435
200,000 IndyMac Bank FSB, 8.50% (d) (g) .................................. 2,000
36,100 Sovereign Bancorp, Inc., Series C, 7.30% ......................... 559,550
-----------
610,485
-----------
TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS - 8.9%
172,300 Willis Lease Finance Corp., Series A, 9.00% ...................... 1,302,588
-----------
TOTAL PREFERRED SECURITIES
(Cost $51,379,451) ............................................... 22,920,188
-----------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 156.8%
(Cost $51,379,451) (h) ........................................... 22,920,188
NET OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES - 10.9% ......................... 1,597,070
AUCTION PREFERRED SHARES, AT LIQUIDATION VALUE - (67.7)% ......... (9,900,000)
-----------
NET ASSETS (APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS) - 100.0% .......... $14,617,258
===========
----------
(a) All percentages shown in the Portfolio of Investments are based on net
assets.
(b) Variable rate security. The interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect
at January 31, 2009.
(c) Non-income producing security.
(d) This security is restricted and cannot be offered for public sale without
first being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"). Prior to registration, restricted securities may only be
resold in transactions exempt from registration. At January 31, 2009, the
value of these securities amounted to $2,327,000 or 15.9% of net assets
(See Note 1C - Restricted Securities in the Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of
Investments).
(e) This security is fair valued in accordance with valuation procedures
adopted by the Fund's Board of Trustees.
(f) The U.S. Government took control over this company in September 2008, and
it has since suspended its dividend.
(g) This company has filed for protection in federal bankruptcy court, and it
has since suspended its dividend.
(h) Aggregate cost for federal income tax and financial reporting purposes. As
of January 31, 2009, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all
securities in which there was an excess of value over tax cost was $79,930,
and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which
there was an excess of tax cost over value was $28,539,193.
See Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments.
Page 2
FIRST TRUST TAX-ADVANTAGED PREFERRED INCOME FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (a) - (CONTINUED)
JANUARY 31, 2009 (UNAUDITED)
SECURITY VALUATION INPUTS
A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund's investments as of January 31,
2009 is as follows (See Note 1A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Quarterly
Portfolio of Investments):
VALUATION INPUTS INVESTMENTS
---------------- -----------
Level 1 - Quoted Prices ........................ $20,214,246
Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs .. 380,942
Level 3 - Significant Unobservable Inputs ...... 2,325,000
-----------
TOTAL .......................................... $22,920,188
===========
The following table presents the activity of the Fund's investments measured at
fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
at the period presented.
INVESTMENTS AT FAIR VALUE USING SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 3) INVESTMENTS
------------------------------------------- -----------
Balance as of October 31, 2008 .............. $ 3,392,925
Net unrealized appreciaton (depreciation) ... (1,067,925)
-----------
Balance as of January 31, 2009 .............. $ 2,325,000
===========
Net realized depreciation from Level 3 investments held as of January 31, 2009
was $12,190,000.
See Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments.
Page 3
NOTES TO QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
FIRST TRUST TAX-ADVANTAGED PREFERRED INCOME FUND
JANUARY 31, 2009 (UNAUDITED)
1. VALUATION AND INVESTMENT PRACTICES
A. PORTFOLIO VALUATION:
The net asset value ("NAV") of the Common Shares of First Trust Tax-Advantaged
Preferred Income Fund (the "Fund") is determined daily as of the close of
regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), normally 4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. Domestic debt securities
and foreign securities are priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of
the principal markets for those securities. The NAV per Common Share is
calculated by dividing the value of all assets of the Fund (including accrued
interest and dividends), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses,
dividends declared but unpaid and any borrowings of the Fund) and the
liquidation value of any outstanding Auction Preferred Shares, by the total
number of Common Shares outstanding.
The Fund's investments are valued daily at market value or, in the absence of
market value with respect to any portfolio securities, at fair value according
to valuation procedures adopted by the Fund's Board of Trustees. Securities for
which market quotations are readily available are valued at market value, which
is currently determined using the last reported sale price or, if no sales are
reported (as in the case of some securities traded over-the-counter), the last
reported bid price, except that certain U.S. Government securities are valued at
the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices. The Fund will value
other debt securities not traded in an organized market on the basis of
valuations provided by dealers or by an independent pricing service, approved by
the Fund's Board of Trustees, which uses information with respect to
transactions in such securities, quotations from dealers, market transactions
for comparable securities, various relationships between securities and yield to
maturity in determining value. Debt securities having a remaining maturity of
less than sixty days when purchased are valued at amortized cost. In the event
that market quotations are not readily available, the pricing service does not
provide a valuation for a particular asset, or the valuations are deemed
unreliable, the Fund's Board of Trustees has designated First Trust Advisors
L.P. ("First Trust") to use a fair value method to value the Fund's securities
and investments. Additionally, if events occur after the close of the principal
markets for particular securities (e.g., domestic debt and foreign securities),
but before the Fund values its assets, that could materially affect NAV, First
Trust may use a fair value method to value the Fund's securities and
investments. The use of fair value pricing by the Fund is governed by valuation
procedures adopted by the Fund's Board of Trustees and in accordance with the
provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 Fair Value Measurements
("FAS 157"), effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. This
standard clarifies the definition of fair value for financial reporting,
establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional
disclosures about the use of fair value measurements. FAS 157 became effective
for the Fund as of November 1, 2008, the beginning of its current fiscal year.
The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under FAS 157 are described as
follows:
- Level 1 - quoted prices in active markets for identical securities
- Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices
for similar securities, 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 inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an
indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. A summary
of the inputs used to value the Fund's investments as of January 31, 2009 is
included with the Fund's Portfolio of Investments.
B. SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS AND INVESTMENT INCOME:
Securities transactions are recorded as of the trade date. Realized gains and
losses from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis.
Page 4
NOTES TO QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS - (CONTINUED)
FIRST TRUST TAX-ADVANTAGED PREFERRED INCOME FUND
JANUARY 31, 2009 (UNAUDITED)
C. RESTRICTED SECURITIES:
The Fund invests in restricted securities, which are securities that cannot be
offered for public sale without first being registered under the 1933 Act. Prior
to registration, restricted securities may only be resold in transactions exempt
from registration. As of January 31, 2009, the Fund held restricted securities
as shown in the following table. The Fund does not have the right to demand that
such securities be registered. These securities are valued according to the
valuation procedures as stated in the Portfolio Valuation footnote (Note 1A) and
are not expressed as a discount to the carrying value of comparable unrestricted
securities.
% OF
ACQUISITION VALUE CARRYING NET
SECURITY DATE SHARES PER SHARE COST VALUE ASSETS
-------- ----------- ------- --------- ----------- ---------- ------
Heartland Financial, 8.26% 12/21/06 6,000 $100.00 $ 6,000,000 $ 600,000 4.10%
IndyMac Bank FSB, 8.50% 05/22/07 200,000 0.01 5,000,000 2,000 0.01
Irwin Financial Corporation, Series A, 8.61% 12/22/06 6,000 100.00 5,940,000 600,000 4.10
Zurich RegCaPS Funding Trust VI, 1.87% 02/06/07 2,500 450.00 2,575,000 1,125,000 7.70
------- ----------- ---------- -----
214,500 $19,515,000 $2,327,000 15.91%
======= =========== ========== =====
Page 5
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 the report that includes the disclosure
required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these
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, as amended (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 have materially affected, or are reasonably likely
to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial
reporting.
ITEM 3. EXHIBITS.
Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant) First Trust Tax-Advantaged Preferred Income Fund
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ James A. Bowen
------------------------------------------------------
James A. Bowen, Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
Date March 26, 2009
--------------------------------
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the
following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ James A. Bowen
------------------------------------------------------
James A. Bowen, Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
Date March 26, 2009
--------------------------------
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Mark R. Bradley
------------------------------------------------------
Mark R. Bradley, Treasurer, Controller,
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
(principal financial officer)
Date March 26, 2009
--------------------------------
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her
signature.