PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.)
Filed by
the Registrant x
Filed by
a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the
appropriate box:
x |
Preliminary
Proxy Statement
|
o |
Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
|
o |
Definitive
Proxy Statement
|
o |
Definitive
Additional Materials
|
o |
Soliciting
Material Under Rule 14a-12
|
Insured
Municipal Income Fund Inc.
(Name of
Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
o |
Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
0-11.
|
(1) Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
|
(3)
|
Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was
determined):
|
(4) Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total
fee paid:
o
|
Fee
paid previously with preliminary
materials.
|
o
|
Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
|
(1) Amount
Previously Paid:
(2) Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing
Party:
(4) Date
Filed:
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Insured
Municipal Income Fund Inc.
(New
York Stock Exchange Trading Symbol: PIF)
NOTICE
OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD NOVEMBER 30, 2009
Important
Notice regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting of
Shareholders to Be Held on November 30, 2009: The Notice of Special Meeting of
Shareholders and Proxy Statement are available on the Internet at
www.proxyvote.com.
To the
shareholders:
Notice is
hereby given that a special meeting (the “Meeting”) of stockholders (herein
referred to as “shareholders”) of Insured Municipal Income Fund Inc., a Maryland
corporation (the “Fund”), will be held on November 30, 2009 at ________, Eastern
time, at the offices of _______________ for the following purposes:
Matters
to be voted upon by all shareholders:
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(1)
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To
elect three directors to serve until the annual meeting of shareholders in
2010 and until their successors are elected and qualify or until they
resign or are otherwise removed;
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(2)
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To
approve a new investment advisory agreement between the Fund and Brooklyn
Capital Management, LLC;
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(3)
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To
approve the replacement of the Fund’s fundamental investment objective
with a non-fundamental investment objective of providing total
return;
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(4)
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To
eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment policy to invest at least 80%
of its net assets in insured municipal
obligations;
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(5)
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To
ratify the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Fund’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
March 31, 2010; and
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(6)
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To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or
any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
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The
voting provisions previously applicable to the Fund’s auction preferred stock
(“APS”), which provide that two directors are to be elected by a vote of only
the holders of the Fund’s APS, are inapplicable to the proposals contained in
this Proxy Statement as the Fund, prior to the Meeting, will have redeemed all
outstanding APSs.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
You are
entitled to vote at the Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof if
you owned shares of the Fund’s common stock at the close of business on October
30, 2009. If you attend the Meeting, you may vote your shares in
person. Whether or
not you expect to attend the Meeting, please complete, date, sign and return the
enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage paid envelope so that a
quorum will be present and a maximum number of shares may be voted. Alternatively, you can
authorize your proxy by touch-tone telephone or through the Internet by
following the directions on the enclosed proxy card. You may change
your vote at any time by submitting a later-dated proxy or by voting at the
Meeting.
By order
of the Board of Directors,
Phillip
Goldstein
Chairman
of the Board
October
20, 2009
Your
vote is important no matter how many shares you own
|
Please indicate your voting
instructions on the enclosed proxy card, date and sign it, and return it
in the postage paid envelope provided. If you sign, date
and return the proxy card but give no voting instructions, your shares
will be voted “FOR” the nominees for director named in the attached Proxy
Statement (i.e., Proposal 1), “FOR” the proposal to approve the investment
advisory agreement between the Fund and Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC
(i.e., Proposal 2), “FOR” the proposal to approve the replacement of the
Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a non-fundamental investment
objective of providing total return (i.e., Proposal 3), “FOR” the proposal
to eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment policy (i.e., Proposal 4),
“FOR” the ratification of the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as
the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending March 31, 2010 (i.e., Proposal 5), and, in
the proxies’ discretion, either “FOR” or “AGAINST” any other business that
may properly arise at the Meeting. In order to
avoid the additional expense to the Fund of further solicitation, we ask
your cooperation in mailing in your enclosed proxy card
promptly.
|
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Instructions
for signing proxy cards
The
following general guidelines for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you
and avoid the time and expense to the Fund in validating your vote if you fail
to sign your proxy card properly.
1. Individual accounts: Sign your
name exactly as it appears in the registration on the proxy card.
2. Joint accounts: Either party
may sign, but the name of the party signing should conform exactly to the name
shown in the registration on the proxy card.
3. All other accounts: The
capacity of the individual signing the proxy card should be indicated unless it
is reflected in the form of registration. For example:
Registration
|
Valid signature
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Corporate
accounts
|
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(1) ABC
Corp.
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ABC
Corp.
|
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John
Doe, treasurer
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(2) ABC
Corp.
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John
Doe, treasurer
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(3) ABC
Corp. c/o John Doe, treasurer
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John
Doe
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(4) ABC
Corp. profit sharing plan
|
John
Doe, trustee
|
|
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Partnership
accounts
|
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(1) The
XYZ partnership
|
Jane
B. Smith, partner
|
(2) Smith
and Jones, limited partnership
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Jane
B. Smith, general partner
|
|
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Trust
accounts
|
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(1) ABC
trust account
|
Jane
B. Doe, trustee
|
(2) Jane
B. Doe, trustee u/t/d 12/18/78
|
Jane
B. Doe
|
|
|
Custodial
or estate accounts
|
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(1) John
B. Smith, Cust. f/b/o
|
|
John B. Smith, Jr.
UGMA/UTMA
|
John
B. Smith
|
(2) Estate
of John B. Smith
|
John
B. Smith, Jr., executor
|
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Insured
Municipal Income Fund Inc.
615 East
Michigan Street
Milwaukee,
WI 53202
PROXY
STATEMENT
November
30, 2009
Introduction
Special
meeting of shareholders to be held on November 30, 2009
This
proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) is furnished to the stockholders (herein
referred to as “shareholders”) of Insured Municipal Income Fund Inc. (the
“Fund”) in connection with the solicitation by the Fund’s Board of Directors
(the “Board”) of proxies to be used at the special meeting (the “Meeting”) of
the shareholders of the Fund to be held on November 30, 2009, at _______,
Eastern time, at the offices of _______________, or any adjournment or
postponement thereof. This Proxy Statement and the related proxy card
will first be mailed to shareholders on or about October ___, 2009.
Quorum. The
presence, in person or by proxy, of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of
the votes entitled to be cast at the Meeting (i.e., the presence of a majority
of the shares outstanding on October 30, 2009) is necessary to constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business. In the event that a quorum is
not present at the Meeting, or if a quorum is present at the Meeting but
sufficient votes to approve any of the proposals are not received, the chairman
of the Meeting may adjourn the Meeting, or the persons named as proxies may
propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation
of proxies. If submitted to shareholders, any such adjournment will
require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of those shares
represented at the Meeting in person or by proxy (or a majority of votes cast if
a quorum is present). A shareholder vote may be taken on one or more
of the proposals in this Proxy Statement prior to any such adjournment if
sufficient votes have been received and it is otherwise
appropriate.
Required vote for adoption of
proposals. Proposal 1 (to elect three directors) requires the
affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the Meeting in person or by
proxy on such Proposal, provided a quorum is present. Proposal 2 (to
approve the investment advisory agreement between the Fund and Brooklyn Capital
Management, LLC (the “Proposed Adviser”)), Proposal 3 (to approve the
replacement of the Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return), Proposal 4 (to
eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment policy to invest at least 80% of its
net assets in insured municipal obligations) and Proposal 5 (to ratify the
selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Fund’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010) each require
the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940
Act”), the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the
affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares present at the
Meeting or represented by proxy if the holders of 50% of the outstanding shares
are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding
voting shares.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
All of
the outstanding shares of the Fund’s common stock will vote together as a single
class. Each full share is entitled to one vote, and each fractional
share is entitled to a proportionate share of one vote.
A broker
non-vote occurs when the broker returns a properly executed proxy for shares
held by the broker for a customer but does not vote on a matter because the
broker does not have discretionary voting authority and has not received
instructions from the beneficial owner. Abstentions and broker
non-votes, if any, will be counted as shares present for purposes of determining
whether a quorum is present at the Meeting. They will be treated as
votes present at the Meeting, but will not be treated as votes cast for or
against any proposal. Therefore, abstentions and broker non-votes
will have no effect on a proposal which requires a plurality of votes cast for
approval (i.e., Proposal 1), but would have the same effect of a vote “AGAINST”
a proposal requiring approval by a majority of votes present (i.e., Proposals 2,
3, 4 and 5).
The
individuals named as proxies on the enclosed proxy card will vote in accordance
with your direction as indicated thereon if your proxy card is received properly
executed by you or by your duly appointed agent or
attorney-in-fact. If you give no voting instructions, your shares
will be voted FOR Proposals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and, in the proxies’ discretion,
either FOR or AGAINST any other business that may properly be presented at the
Meeting (e.g., adjourning the Meeting if a shareholder vote is
called).
You may
revoke any proxy card by giving another proxy or by submitting a written notice
of revocation to the Secretary of the Fund, care of US Bancorp Fund Services,
LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. To be effective,
your revocation must be received by the Fund prior to the Meeting and must
indicate your name and account number. In addition, if you attend the
Meeting in person you may, if you wish, vote in person at the Meeting, thereby
cancelling any proxy previously given.
As of the
record date, October 30, 2009, the Fund had outstanding _________ shares of
common stock.
The Fund
has made arrangements for assistance with the solicitation of proxies, as
described in the section below entitled, “Solicitation of Proxies.”
The
Fund’s annual report containing financial statements for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2009 has previously been mailed to
shareholders. Shareholders may request, without charge, additional
copies of the Fund’s annual report and the most recent semi-annual report
preceding such annual report by writing the Fund, c/o the Administrator, 615
East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. These reports are also
available on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) website,
www.sec.gov.
Proposal 1. Election of
Directors
Proposal
1 relates to the election of directors of the Fund. By letters dated
August 19, 2009, Richard R. Burt and Meyer Feldberg each resigned as a director
of the Fund. Messrs. Burt and Feldberg were each elected solely by
holders of the Fund’s auction preferred stock (“APS”) at the 2007 annual meeting
of shareholders and, due to the absence of a quorum of the APS holders at the
2008 and 2009 annual meetings of shareholders, continued to serve as directors
until their resignations. On September 1, 2009, to fill the vacancies
on the Board created by the resignations of Messrs. Burt and Feldberg, James
Chadwick and Ben Hormel Harris were elected by the Board. Messrs.
Chadwick and Harris are now being proposed for election by the
shareholders.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
On
October 16, 2009, Rajeev Das, who was elected by shareholders at the annual
meeting held on August 12, 2009, resigned as a director, effective immediately,
and was subsequently appointed Vice President and Treasurer, effective October
18, 2009. The Fund’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
met on October 16, 2009 and nominated Charles C. Walden as a director, which
nomination was approved by the entire Board at a meeting held on the same
date. The Board also appointed Mr. Walden to serve through the date
of the Meeting as an observer on the Board. Assuming that Mr. Walden
is elected director by shareholders prior to the end of the current calendar
quarter, according to the policy adopted by the Board on October 16, 2009, he
will be eligible to receive compensation for the full quarter.
Section
16 of the 1940 Act requires that directors be elected by shareholders; however,
vacancies occurring between shareholder meetings may be filled by the Board,
provided that after the filling of such vacancy at least two-thirds of the
directors then in office will have been elected by
shareholders. Messrs. Dakos, Goldstein and Hellerman, as well as Mr.
Das, who resigned on October 16, 2009, were elected by shareholders on August
12, 2009. As of the date of the Meeting, the Fund will have redeemed
all of the APSs outstanding. Therefore, the holders of common stock
are being asked to elect Messrs. Chadwick, Harris and Walden, to ensure that the
entire Board will have been elected by the shareholders.
If you
properly execute and return the enclosed proxy card, unless you give contrary
instructions on the enclosed proxy card, then your shares will be voted FOR the
election of all nominees. If any of the nominees should withdraw or
otherwise become unavailable for election, your shares will be voted FOR such
other nominee or nominees as the present Board may recommend. Each
nominee has indicated his willingness to serve if elected. If
elected, each nominee will hold office until the annual meeting of shareholders
in 2010 and until his successor is elected and qualifies.
The
following table sets forth each nominee, as well as current directors and
officers of the Fund, his name, address, age, position with the Fund, term of
office and length of service with the Fund, principal occupation or employment
during the past five years and other directorships held at September 30,
2009. Messrs. Chadwick, Harris and Hellerman are each not considered
an “interested person” of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act (each an
“Independent Director”). In addition, if elected, Mr. Walden will be
an Independent Director. Messrs. Dakos and Goldstein will each be
considered an “interested person” of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940
Act, assuming approval of the investment advisory agreement between the Fund and
the Proposed Adviser, because of their affiliation with the Proposed
Adviser.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Name, Address and
Age
|
Position
|
Term
of Office and Length of Time Served
|
Principal
Occupation
During
the Past Five Years
|
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex** Overseen by Director
|
Other
Directorships
held
by Director
|
|
|
|
INTERESTED
DIRECTORS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Andrew
Dakos*
(43)
Park
80 West / Plaza Two,
Suite
750
Saddle
Brook, NJ 07663
|
Interested
Director
|
Since
2009
|
Principal,
Bulldog Investors, the general partner of the six private investment
partnerships in the Bulldog Investors group of funds.
|
1
|
Director,
Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc.; Director, Brantley Capital
Corporation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phillip
Goldstein*
(64)
Park
80 West / Plaza Two,
Suite
750
Saddle
Brook, NJ 07663
|
Interested
Director
|
Since
2009
|
Principal,
Bulldog Investors, the general partner of the six private investment
partnerships in the Bulldog Investors group of funds.
|
1
|
Director,
Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc.; Director, Brantley Capital
Corporation; ASA Ltd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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INDEPENDENT
DIRECTORS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Gerald
Hellerman
(72)
5431
NW 21st Ave.
Boca
Raton, FL 33496
|
Independent
Director
|
Since
2009
|
Managing
Director, Hellerman Associates (a financial and corporate consulting
firm).
|
1
|
Director,
Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc.; Director, Brantley Capital
Corporation; Director, MVC Corporation; Director, MVC Acquisition Corp.;
Director, MVC Captial, Inc.; Director, Old Mutual Absolute Return and
Emerging Managers Fund Complex (consisting of six
funds).
|
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
|
Name, Address and
Age
|
Position
|
Term of Office and Length of
Time Served
|
Principal
Occupation
During
the Past Five Years
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund
Complex** Overseen by Director
|
Other
Directorships
held
by Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INDEPENDENT
DIRECTOR NOMINEES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
Chadwick (36)
1203
Agate St.
San
Diego, CA
92109
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
|
Managing
Member, Monarch Activist Partnership LP; Founder/Managing Member, Pacific
Cost Investment Partners LLC; Managing Director, Harlingwood Equity
Partners LP.
|
1
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ben
Hormel Harris
(40)
720
O Street
Lot
E
Lincoln,
NE 68508
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer, NHI II, LLC and NHI Financial Services, LLC; Investment
Professional, MVC Capital, Inc.
|
1
|
Director,
NHI II, LLC; Director, NHI Financial Services, LLC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles
C. Walden (65)
15
Matthew Court
Madison,
CT 06443
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
|
President
and Owner, Sound Capital Associates, LLC (consulting firm); Executive
Vice-President – Investments and Chief Investment Officer of Knights of
Columbus (fraternal benefit society selling life insurance and
annuities)
|
1
|
Director,
Third Avenue Funds (fund complex consisting of four funds and one variable
series trust).
|
* Messrs.
Dakos and Goldstein are each considered an “interested person” of the Fund
within the meaning of the 1940 Act, assuming approval of the proposed investment
advisory agreement between the Fund and Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC,
because of their affiliation with Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC.
** The Fund Complex is
comprised of only the Fund.
Management
Ownership. To the knowledge of the Fund’s management, before
the close of business on September 30, 2009, the officers and directors of the
Fund beneficially owned, as a group, 10.08% of the shares of the Fund’s common
stock. None of the executive officers holding office on September 30,
2009 beneficially owned any shares of the Fund’s common stock on September 30,
2009. The Board has elected new officers effective October 18, 2009,
and giving effect to such change in officers, at September 30, 2009, the
officers and directors of the Fund would have owned, as a group, 10.08% of the
shares of the Fund. The following table shows the dollar range of
shares beneficially owned by each director, director nominee and officer in the
Fund as of September 30, 2009:
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Name
of Director, Director
Nominee
or Officer
|
Position
|
Dollar
Range of Equity Securities
of
the Fund Beneficially Owned
|
Aggregate
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities
of
Family of Investment
Companies
Beneficially Owned**
|
|
James
Chadwick
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
0
|
0
|
|
Andrew
Dakos*
|
Interested
Director, President and Chief Compliance Officer as of October 18,
2009
|
Over
$100,000
|
Over
$100,000
|
|
Rajeev
Das
|
Vice-President
and Treasurer as of October 18, 2009
|
Over
$100,000
|
Over
$100,000
|
|
Phillip
Goldstein*
|
Interested
Director, Chairman and Secretary as of October 18, 2009
|
Over
$100,000
|
Over
$100,000
|
|
Ben
Hormel Harris
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
0
|
0
|
|
Gerald
Hellerman
|
Independent
Director
|
0
|
0
|
|
Charles
C. Walden
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
0
|
0
|
* Messrs.
Dakos and Goldstein are each considered an “interested person” of the Fund
within the meaning of the 1940 Act, assuming approval of the proposed investment
advisory agreement between the Fund and Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC,
because of their affiliation with Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC.
** The
Family of Investment Companies is comprised of only the Fund.
Director Transactions with Fund
Affiliates. As of September 30, 2009, neither the Independent
Directors, the Independent Director Nominees nor members of their immediate
family owned securities beneficially or of record in the Proposed Adviser or any
of its affiliates. Furthermore, over the past five years, neither the
Independent Directors, the Independent Director Nominees nor members of their
immediate family have had any direct or indirect interest, the value of which
exceeds $120,000, in the Proposed Adviser, UBS Global Asset Management
(Americas) Inc., the Fund’s previous investment adviser (the “Previous
Adviser”), or any affiliate of these entities. In addition, since the
beginning of the last two fiscal years, neither the Independent Directors, the
Independent Director Nominees nor members of their immediate family have
conducted any transactions (or series of transactions) or maintained any direct
or indirect relationship in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and to
which the Proposed Adviser, the Previous Adviser or any affiliate of any of
these entities was a party.
Required
Vote. Approval of each nominee requires the affirmative vote
of a plurality of the votes cast at the Meeting in person or by proxy on
Proposal 1, provided a quorum is present.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, RECOMMENDS THAT YOU
VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 1 FOR ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES. ANY
SIGNED BUT UNMARKED PROXIES WILL BE SO VOTED “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE
NOMINEES.
Proposal 2. Approval of Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Fund and Brooklyn Capital Management,
LLC
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Proposal
2 relates to the Investment Advisory Agreement by and between the Fund and
Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC (the “Proposed Adviser”), which is being
proposed for approval by the Fund’s shareholders (the “Proposed Advisory
Agreement”). The Previous Adviser served as investment adviser to the
Fund pursuant to the Investment Advisory and Administration Contract by and
between the Fund and the Previous Adviser dated as of April 1, 2006 (the
“Previous Advisory Agreement”). Effective October 18, 2009, the
Previous Adviser terminated the Previous Advisory Agreement, pursuant to written
notice provided to the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Previous
Advisory Agreement, stating that such notice was given as a result of the change
in control of the Board resulting from the directors elected by shareholders at
the annual meeting of shareholders held on August 12, 2009. On
September 24, 2009, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors,
voting separately, unanimously approved the Proposed Advisory Agreement at its
in-person meeting and recommended that it be submitted to shareholders for
approval. On October 16, 2009, an Interim Advisory Agreement with the
Proposed Adviser was unanimously approved by the Board, including all of the
Independent Directors, to provide the Fund with investment advisory services
during the period between the effective date of the termination of the Previous
Advisory Agreement and the date on which the Fund’s shareholders approve the
Proposed Advisory Agreement at the Meeting (or postponement or adjournment
thereof) (the “Interim Period”); provided, however, that the Proposed Adviser
provides such investment advisory services to the Fund during the Interim
Period, which shall in no event be greater than 150 days, (i) on terms
substantially similar to those provided for in the Previous Advisory Agreement
and (ii) for compensation no greater than that provided for in the Previous
Advisory Agreement on a pro rata basis. The Proposed Adviser has
stated that it will provide such investment advisory services to the Fund during
the Interim Period without compensation. In addition, until such time
as the Fund has commenced and completed a tender offer for its common stock, the
Proposed Adviser has agreed to waive its advisory fee, subject to the
understanding that the Fund will reimburse the Proposed Adviser for all
reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection with a liquidation of the
Fund’s portfolio during the Interim Period, which fees may include, but not be
limited to, those attributable to an engagement of an independent consultant to
assist with any such liquidation. If the shareholders do not approve
the Proposed Advisory Agreement during the Interim Period, the Board will
consider alternative sources from which to obtain investment advisory services
for the Fund.
The Board
hereby submits the Proposed Advisory Agreement, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B, to the Fund’s shareholders for their consideration and
approval.
Information
regarding the Proposed Adviser
The
Proposed Adviser, Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC, which has its principal
office at 60 Heritage Drive, Pleasantville, New York 10570, is a newly formed
Delaware limited liability company. It was formed on August 27, 2009
for the purpose of providing investment advisory and management services to
investment companies. The Proposed Adviser is registered with the SEC
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and has no previous
operating history. The Proposed Adviser does not currently manage or
advise other closed-end investment companies. Mr. Das will serve as
the Fund’s portfolio manager, assuming the Proposed Advisory Agreement is
approved by shareholders at the Meeting. Messrs. Dakos and Goldstein,
each a director of the Fund, and Steven J. Samuels, are members of the Proposed
Adviser. Messrs. Dakos, Das and Goldstein each have extensive
experience with closed-end investment companies and managing and advising
private investment funds, and seeking out opportunities in the market that have
attractive risk reward characteristics. Mr. Goldstein, who also
serves as a director to Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc., Brantley Capital
Corporation and ASA Ltd. (each a closed-end investment company), has been a
principal of the general partner of the six investment partnerships in the
Bulldog Investors group of funds since 1992. Mr. Dakos, who also
serves as a director to Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc. and Brantley Capital
Corporation (each a closed-end investment company), is a principal of the
general partner of the six investment partnerships in the Bulldog Investors
group of funds. The six private investment partnerships in the
Bulldog Investors group of funds include: Opportunity Partners L.P., Opportunity
Income Plus Fund L.P., Full Value Partners L.P., Full Value Special Situations
Fund L.P., Full Value Offshore L.P. and MCM Opportunity Partners
L.P. The following table lists the executive officers and directors
of the Fund, their positions with the Fund, and their positions with the
Proposed Adviser, if any:
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Name
|
Position
with the Fund
|
Position
with the Proposed Adviser
|
|
Directors
/ Director Nominees / Officers
|
|
James
Chadwick
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
None
|
Andrew
Dakos
|
Interested
Director,
President
and Chief Compliance Officer as of October 18, 2009
|
Member
and Chief Compliance Officer
|
Rajeev
Das
|
Vice-President
and Treasurer as of October 18, 2009
|
Senior
Portfolio Manager
|
Phillip
Goldstein
|
Interested
Director,
Chairman
and Secretary as of October 18, 2009
|
Member
|
Ben
Hormel Harris
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
None
|
Gerald
Hellerman
|
Independent
Director
|
None
|
Charles
C. Walden
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
None
|
Summary
of the Proposed Advisory Agreement
This
Proxy Statement describes the material terms of the Proposed Advisory Agreement
and the material differences between the Previous Advisory Agreement and the
Proposed Advisory Agreement. The following description is only a
summary. The form of Proposed Advisory Agreement is attached hereto
as Exhibit B and should be referred to for the specific terms of the Proposed
Advisory Agreement.
Services to be
Performed. Pursuant to the Proposed Advisory Agreement, the
Proposed Adviser will provide overall investment management services for the
Fund, and in connection therewith (i) supervise the Fund’s investment program,
including advising and consulting with the Board regarding the Fund’s overall
investment strategy; (ii) make, in consultation with the Board, investment
strategy decisions for the Fund; (iii) manage the investing and reinvesting of
the Fund’s assets; (iv) place purchase and sale orders on behalf of the Fund;
(v) advise the Fund with respect to all matters relating to the Fund’s use of
leveraging techniques; and (vi) provide or procure the provision of research and
statistical data to the Fund in relation to investing and other matters within
the scope of the investment objective and limitations of the Fund.
Expenses. The
Proposed Advisory Agreement provides that (i) the Fund will be responsible for
all of the Fund’s expenses and liabilities and (ii) the Proposed Adviser will
bear all expenses arising out of its duties thereunder. Although the
Proposed Adviser is a newly organized investment adviser, the Fund is not aware
of other circumstances that are reasonably likely to impair the financial
ability of the Proposed Adviser to fulfill its commitment to the Fund under the
Proposed Advisory Agreement.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Limitation of
Liability. The Proposed Advisory Agreement provides that, in
the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of its duties or reckless disregard for its obligations and duties
thereunder (“disabling conduct”), the Proposed Adviser will not be liable for
any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or omission or any loss
suffered by the Fund in connection with the rendering of the services
contemplated thereunder. In addition, under the Proposed Advisory
Agreement, the Fund, under certain circumstances, will indemnify the Proposed
Adviser against, and hold it harmless from, any and all losses, claims damages,
liabilities or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses),
including any amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as
fines or penalties, not resulting from disabling conduct by the Proposed
Adviser.
Duration and
Termination. Subject to shareholder approval, the Proposed
Advisory Agreement will have a term beginning on or about November 30, 2009 and
ending two years from that date, and, thereafter, will continue in effect for
successive annual periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually by (i) a majority of the members of the Board who are not parties
to the Proposed Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any such party,
and (ii) the Board or the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund. The Proposed Advisory Agreement may be
terminated, without penalty, on sixty (60) days’ notice, by (x) the Board, (y) a
vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund or (z) by the Proposed Adviser.
Advisory
Fees. Pursuant to the Proposed Advisory Agreement, the Fund
will pay the Proposed Adviser a monthly fee at an annual rate of one (1.00%)
percent of the Fund's average weekly total assets; provided, however, that the
Proposed Adviser has agreed to waive such fee until such time as the Fund has
commenced and completed a tender offer for its common stock, subject to the
understanding that the Fund will reimburse the Proposed Adviser for all
reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection with a liquidation of the
Fund’s portfolio during such period, which fees may include, but not be limited
to, those attributable to an engagement of an independent consultant to assist
with any such liquidation.
Soft Dollar
Arrangements. Pursuant to the Proposed Advisory Agreement, the
Proposed Adviser will be authorized, in connection with the purchase and sale of
the Fund’s portfolio services, to employ such dealers and brokers as may, in the
judgment of the Proposed Adviser, implement the policy of the Fund to obtain the
best results. Consistent with this policy, the Proposed Adviser will
be authorized to direct the execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions to
dealers and brokers furnishing statistical information or research deemed by the
Proposed Adviser to be useful or valuable to the performance of its investment
advisory functions for the Fund. In these circumstances, as
contemplated by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
commissions paid may be higher than those that the Fund might otherwise have
paid to another broker if those services had not been
provided. Information so received will be in addition to and not in
lieu of the services required to be performed by the Proposed
Adviser. The expenses of the Proposed Adviser will not necessarily be
reduced as a result of the receipt of such information or research. Research
services furnished to the Proposed Adviser by brokers who effect securities
transactions for the Fund may be used by the Proposed Adviser in servicing other
investment companies and accounts that it manages. Similarly, research services
furnished to the Proposed Adviser by brokers who effect securities transactions
for other investment companies and accounts that the Proposed Adviser manages,
if any, may be used by the Proposed Adviser in servicing the
Fund. Not all of these research services are used by the Proposed
Adviser in managing any particular account, including the Fund.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Comparison
of the Previous Advisory Agreement and the Proposed Advisory
Agreement
Proposed Changes
in Services. One significant
difference between the advisory services to be provided by the Proposed Adviser
and those provided by the Previous Adviser, UBS Global AM, is that the Proposed
Adviser will not provide administrative services for the
Fund. Rather, the Fund has entered into an administrative services
agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) with US Bancorp Fund Services, LLC,
located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (the “Administrator”),
under which it will pay the Administrator a fee for certain administrative
services.
Proposed Changes
in Fee Structure. The Proposed Advisory Agreement provides
that the Fund will pay the Proposed Adviser a monthly fee at an annual rate of
1.00% of the Fund’s average weekly total assets. The Previous
Advisory Agreement provided for an advisory and administration fee at an annual
rate of 0.90% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets, consisting primarily of
municipal bonds. For the period August 1, 2006 through August 1,
2008, UBS Global AM waived a portion of its advisory and administration fees,
making the effective fee paid by the Fund to UBS Global AM during that period
0.83% of average weekly net assets, attributable only to common
shares. Until such time as the Fund has commenced and completed a
tender offer for its common stock, the Proposed Adviser has agreed to waive its
advisory fee, subject to the understanding that the Fund will reimburse the
Proposed Adviser for all reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection with a
liquidation of the Fund’s portfolio during the Interim Period, which fees may
include, but not be limited to, those attributable to an engagement of an
independent consultant to assist with any such liquidation.
During
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, the Fund paid or accrued investment
advisory and administration fees of $4,091,499 to UBS Global AM under the
Previous Advisory Agreement, of which $2,422,270 was waived pursuant to the fee
waiver agreements. If the Proposed Advisory Agreement had been in
effect for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, the investment advisory fee
accrued by the Fund would have been $4,548,360, the equivalent of 1.00% of
average daily net assets, attributable only to common shares.
In
addition, under the Administration Agreement which the Fund has entered into
with the Administrator, the Fund has agreed to pay the Administrator a monthly
fee equal to 0.008% of the first $100 million of the Fund’s net assets, 0.006%
of the next $200 million of the Fund’s net assets and 0.004% of the Fund’s net
assets above $300 million, subject to an annual minimum of $45,000.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Basis
for the Board’s approval of the Proposed Advisory Agreement
At an
in-person meeting of the Board on September 24, 2009, the directors, including
all of the Independent Directors (meeting with the full Board and separately in
executive session), considered the Proposed Advisory Agreement and the other
proposals in this Proxy Statement with respect to the Fund. The
Independent Directors discussed and considered materials which had been
distributed to them in advance of the meetings and prepared by the Proposed
Adviser, including responses to the questionnaire provided by the Fund’s
independent counsel with respect to certain matters that counsel believed
relevant to the approval of the Proposed Advisory Agreement under Section 15 of
the 1940 Act. In addition, the Independent Directors met in person
with representatives from the Proposed Adviser and had the opportunity to ask
them questions. In its consideration of the approval of the Proposed
Advisory Agreement, the Independent Directors considered the following
factors:
Nature, extent
and quality of the services to be provided under the Proposed Advisory
Agreement. The Independent Directors considered the nature,
extent and quality of services proposed to be provided to the Fund under the
Proposed Advisory Agreement. The Independent Directors discussed the
prior experience of the Proposed Adviser’s principals with respect to: (i)
closed-end investment companies; and (ii) managing portfolios of securities of
companies with opportunities for appreciation. The Independent
Directors discussed the information provided by the Proposed Adviser, including
information with respect to its projected profitability, compliance program,
insurance arrangements, personnel and portfolio management, proxy voting
policies, brokerage allocation and soft dollar practices. The
Independent Directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the
nature, extent and quality of services expected to be provided to the Fund under
the Proposed Advisory Agreement.
Advisory fees and
expenses. The Independent Directors considered the Fund’s fees
and expenses in relation to various industry averages. The data
received by the Independent Directors included fees and expenses of funds which
the Proposed Adviser determined to be comparable to the Fund after giving effect
to the changes proposed in Proposal 3 and Proposal 4 regarding the Fund’s
investment objective and policy. The Independent Directors noted that
the Proposed Advisory Agreement modifies the fee structure paid by the Fund by
increasing the fee to 1.00% and unbundling the advisory services from
administrative services to be provided by the Administrator under a separate
Administration Agreement. In addition, the Independent Directors
noted management’s offer to waive, on a voluntary basis, the advisory fee until
such time as the Fund has commenced and completed a tender offer for its common
shares, subject to the understanding that the Fund will reimburse the Proposed
Adviser for all reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection with a
liquidation of the Fund’s portfolio during such period, which fees may include,
but not be limited to, those attributable to an engagement of an independent
consultant to assist with any such liquidation. The Independent
Directors noted that the projected fees under the Proposed Advisory Agreement
would be in line with the median actual advisory levels payable by the Fund’s
peer funds. The Independent Directors determined that the fees to be
paid by the Fund under the Proposed Advisory Agreement were reasonable in light
of the services provided and the fees paid by similar funds and such other
matters as the Independent Directors considered relevant in the exercise of
their reasonable judgment.
Fund
performance. The Independent Directors recognized that the
Proposed Adviser was newly organized with no previous operating history, but
noted the experience of the principals of the Proposed Adviser in managing
securities portfolios and with closed-end investment companies, as well as their
experience in seeking out opportunities in the market that have attractive risk
reward characteristics.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Adviser
profitability. The Independent Directors recognized that the
Proposed Adviser was newly organized with no previous operating
history. The Independent Directors discussed the projected
profitability of the Proposed Adviser.
Economies of
scale. The Independent Directors considered whether the Fund
may incur benefits from potential economies of scale realized. The Independent
Directors recognized that the Fund’s advisory fee under the Proposed Advisory
Agreement, like the Previous Advisory Agreement, does not contain breakpoints
and the Fund is not currently expected to benefit in any significant manner from
economies of scale.
Other benefits to
the Proposed Adviser. The Independent Directors also
considered that the Proposed Adviser may receive certain benefits from its
relationship with the Fund, such as research and other services in exchange for
brokerage allocation, and determined that such benefits would be of a de minimis
nature. The Independent Directors concluded that the profits and
other ancillary benefits that the Proposed Adviser and its affiliates would
receive were reasonable.
In light
of all of the foregoing, at its meeting on September 24, 2009, the Independent
Directors, determining that the Proposed Advisory Agreement was in the best
interests of the Fund and its shareholders, approved the Proposed Advisory
Agreement, subject to shareholder approval.
No single
factor reviewed by the Independent Directors was identified by them as the
principal factor in determining whether to approve the Proposed Advisory
Agreement. The Independent Directors were advised by independent
legal counsel throughout the process and met in a private session with their
independent legal counsel, at which no representative of the Proposed Adviser
was present.
Required
Vote. Approval of the Proposed Advisory Agreement requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund. Under the 1940 Act, the vote of a “majority of the outstanding
voting securities” means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more
of the shares of the Fund’s common stock present at the Meeting or represented
by proxy if the holders of 50% of the outstanding shares are present or
represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting
shares. If approved, the Proposed Advisory Agreement would become
effective as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter as determined by the
Fund’s officers.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 2 FOR THE PROPOSED ADVISORY
AGREEMENT. ANY SIGNED BUT UNMARKED PROXIES WILL BE SO VOTED “FOR” THE
PROPOSED ADVISORY AGREEMENT.
Proposal
3. To Approve the Replacement of the Fund’s Fundamental Investment Objective
with a Non-Fundamental Investment Objective of Providing Total
Return
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
As
described below, the Board is proposing that shareholders approve the
replacement of the Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return, pursuant to this
Proposal 3, and that the Fund’s fundamental investment policy be eliminated,
pursuant to Proposal 4 below. The Proposed Adviser believes and the
Board concurs that it would be in the best interest of shareholders to approve
such proposed changes in order to allow the Fund greater flexibility to invest
in other closed-end funds and securities that have attractive risk reward
characteristics. Proposal 3 and Proposal 4 will be implemented by the
Fund, if approved by shareholders, but each is contingent on shareholder
approval of the other proposal. If shareholders fail to approve
either Proposal 3 or Proposal 4, the Board will consider, among other possible
actions, further soliciting shareholders and/or liquidating the
Fund.
Why are shareholders being asked to
approve the replacement of the Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total
return? The Fund’s current investment objective is to “achieve
a high level of current income that is exempt from federal income tax,
consistent with the preservation of capital” and is a fundamental policy, which
means that it may not be changed without shareholder approval. The
Board believes that it is in the best interests of shareholders to replace the
Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a non-fundamental investment
objective of providing total return. The replacement of the Fund’s
fundamental investment objective with a non-fundamental investment objective
means that the Fund’s investment objective may be changed in the future without
shareholder approval if the Board believes that it is in the best interests of
the shareholders to do so. The Proposed Adviser believes, and the
Board concurs, that a non-fundamental investment objective of providing total
return allows the Fund greater flexibility to invest in other closed-end funds
and securities that have attractive risk reward characteristics. A
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return will have a
material effect on the manner in which the Fund is managed. The Board
is also proposing to eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment policy, as
described below in Proposal 4, to be replaced with a non-fundamental investment
policy to permit investments in private and publicly-issued U.S. and foreign
securities, including, without limitation, other closed-end investment
companies.
What are the benefits of
reclassifying the Fund’s investment objective from fundamental to
non-fundamental? Under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s investment
objective is not required to be “fundamental.” A fundamental
investment objective may be changed only by vote of the Fund’s
shareholders. The Fund’s investment objective was initially
established as fundamental in response to then-current regulatory and market
practices. To provide portfolio management with enhanced investment
management flexibility by allowing changes to the Fund’s investment objective to
respond to changed market conditions or other circumstances in a timely manner
without the need and expense of calling a shareholder meeting, the Proposed
Adviser proposed, and the Board approved, subject to shareholder approval, the
replacement of the Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return. A
non-fundamental investment objective may be changed at any time by the Board
without approval by shareholders. However, shareholders would be
given at least 60 days’ prior written notice of any proposed future change to
the Fund’s investment objective.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Recommendations of the
Board. The Board met in person on September 24, 2009 to
consider, among other things, replacing the Fund’s fundamental investment
objective with a non-fundamental investment objective of providing total
return. At the Board meeting, the Board reviewed materials furnished
by the Proposed Adviser and information provided by representatives of the
Proposed Adviser regarding the proposed non-fundamental investment objective of
providing total return. The directors unanimously approved the proposed
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return and recommended
that shareholders of the Fund approve the replacement of the Fund’s fundamental
investment objective with a non-fundamental investment objective of providing
total return. The Board considered numerous factors in approving the
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return and making its
recommendation, including: (1) the Proposed Adviser’s principals’ demonstrated
experience and capabilities with respect to providing total return to investors
by investing in special opportunities and the desirability of the potential
enhancements to the Fund’s performance as a result, including appreciation over
the short and long term and reduction or elimination of the discount at which
the Fund, in recent history, has consistently traded; (2) the opportunity to
avoid delay and costly shareholder meetings by changing the Fund’s investment
objective from fundamental to non-fundamental; (3) the proposal to eliminate the
Fund’s fundamental investment policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets
(including the amount of borrowing for investment purposes) in insured municipal
obligations, the income from which is exempt from regular federal income tax;
(4) the opportunity to avoid delay and costly shareholder meetings by
eliminating the fundamental investment policy described in the preceding factor;
(5) adopting a new non-fundamental investment policy to permit investments in
other closed-end investment companies and other private and publicly-issued U.S.
and foreign securities; (6) the recommendation by the Proposed Adviser to change
the Fund’s name to Special Opportunities Fund, Inc. in the event that the Fund’s
fundamental investment objective is replaced with a non-fundamental investment
objective of providing total return and the Fund’s fundamental investment policy
is eliminated; and (7) other factors deemed relevant by the
Board. Based upon a review of the above factors, the Board concluded
that replacing the Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return would be in the
best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
Required
Vote. Approval of Proposal 3 requires the affirmative vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Under
the 1940 Act, the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities”
means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares
present at the Meeting or represented by proxy if the holders of 50% of the
outstanding shares are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of
the outstanding voting shares.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 3 TO APPROVE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUND’S FUNDAMENTAL
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE WITH A NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE OF
PROVIDING TOTAL RETURN. ANY SIGNED BUT UNMARKED PROXIES WILL BE SO
VOTED “FOR” THE PROPOSED REPLACEMENT OF THE FUND’S FUNDAMENTAL
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE WITH A NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING
TOTAL RETURN.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Proposal 4. To Eliminate the
Fund’s Fundamental Investment Policy
The Board
is proposing that shareholders approve the replacement of the Fund’s fundamental
investment objective with a non-fundamental investment objective of providing
total return, pursuant to Proposal 3 above, and that the Fund’s fundamental
investment policy be eliminated, pursuant to this Proposal 4. The
Proposed Adviser believes, and the Board concurs, that it would be in the best
interests of shareholders to approve such proposed changes in order to allow the
Fund greater flexibility to invest in other closed-end funds and securities that
have attractive risk reward characteristics. Proposal 3 and Proposal
4 will be implemented by the Fund, if approved by shareholders, but each is
contingent on shareholder approval of the other proposal. If
shareholders fail to approve either Proposal 3 or Proposal 4, the Board will
consider, among other possible actions, further soliciting shareholders and/or
liquidating the Fund.
Why are shareholders being asked to
eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment policy? In
connection with the Fund’s current name, Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act (the
“Fund Name Rule”) requires the Fund to have a policy (the “80% Policy”) to
invest at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of borrowing for
investment purposes) in Insured Municipal Obligations, the income from which is
exempt from regular federal income tax. Although it is not required
by the Fund Name Rule, the 80% Policy is fundamental, which means that it may
not be changed without shareholder approval. The Board has approved
changing the name of the Fund to Special Opportunities Fund, Inc., subject to
shareholder approval of this Proposal 4 and the Board believes that it is in the
best interests of shareholders to eliminate the 80% Policy.
What if shareholders approve Proposal
4 to eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment policy? If
Proposal 4 is approved, the Fund’s 80% Policy would be eliminated. In
addition, subject to shareholder approval of Proposal 4, the Proposed Adviser
proposed, and the Board approved, additional changes relating to the Fund,
including: (1) changing the Fund’s name from “Insured Municipal Income Fund
Inc.” to “Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.” and (2) adopting the following
non-fundamental investment policy (which can be changed in the future without a
shareholder vote): “The Fund will pursue its investment objective by investing
in other closed-end investment companies and other private and publicly-issued
U.S. and foreign securities.” The Proposed Adviser believes, and the
Board concurs, that it would be in the best interests of shareholders to make
the proposed changes in order to allow the Fund greater flexibility to invest in
other closed-end funds and securities that have attractive risk reward
characteristics. If Proposal 4 is approved, the Fund’s investment
focus would be on investing in other closed-end investment companies and other
private and publicly-issued U.S. and foreign securities rather than investing in
insured municipal obligations. Only the elimination of the 80% Policy
is subject to shareholder approval. The other changes described above
(i.e., changing the Fund’s name and adopting a non-fundamental investment
policy) do not require a shareholder vote. However, because they are
linked to the elimination of the Fund’s fundamental investment policy, they only
would be implemented if the shareholders approve Proposal 4. If
Proposal 4 is approved, the elimination of the 80% Policy, the name change and
the adoption of the non-fundamental investment policy described above will take
effect on the later of the Meeting date or 60 days following the date that this
Proxy Statement is first mailed to shareholders. Approval of Proposal
4 would be a material change to the Fund.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Information
regarding the investment strategies that the Fund will employ to achieve its
objective of providing total return are set forth below. In addition,
Exhibit A attached hereto contains supplemental disclosure regarding the
securities in which the Fund may invest and the associated risk
factors.
Investment
Strategies
To
achieve its investment objective of providing total return, the Fund will invest
in securities the Proposed Adviser believes have opportunities for
appreciation. The Fund may employ strategies designed to capture
price movements generated by anticipated corporate events such as investing in
companies involved in special situations, including, but not limited to,
mergers, acquisitions, asset sales, spin-offs, balance sheet restructuring,
bankruptcy, liquidations and other situations. In addition, the Fund
may employ strategies designed to invest in the debt, equity, or trade claims of
companies in financial distress. Such securities typically trade at
substantial discounts to par value, and may be attractive to investors when
managers perceive a turnaround will materialize. Furthermore, the
Fund may employ strategies that invest both long and short in related securities
or other instruments in an effort to take advantage of perceived discrepancies
in the market prices for such securities, including long and short positions in
securities involved in an announced merger deal. Securities which the
Proposed Adviser will seek to identify will include other closed-end investment
companies with opportunities for appreciation, including funds that trade at a
market price discount from their net asset value. In addition to the
foregoing, the Proposed Adviser will seek out other opportunities in the market
that have attractive risk reward characteristics for the Fund.
The Fund
intends its investment portfolio, under normal market conditions, to consist
principally of investments in other closed-end investment companies and the
securities of large, mid and small-capitalization companies, including direct
and indirect investments in the securities of foreign
companies. Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include
common and preferred stocks, convertible securities, warrants and other
securities having the characteristics of common stocks, such as American
Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”),
other closed-end investment companies and exchange-traded funds
(“ETFs”). The Fund may, however, invest a portion of its assets in
debt securities when the Fund’s investment adviser believes that it is
appropriate to do so to earn current income. For example, when
interest rates are high in comparison to anticipated returns on equity
investments, the Fund’s investment adviser may determine to invest in debt
securities. Debt securities in which the Fund may invest include
bank, corporate or government bonds, notes, and debentures that the Fund’s
investment adviser determines are suitable investments for the
Fund. Such determination may be made regardless of the maturity,
duration or rating of any such debt security.
The Fund
may, from time to time, engage in short sales of securities for investment or
for hedging purposes. Short sales are transactions in which the Fund
sells a security it does not own. To complete the transaction,
the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The
Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the
security at the market price at the time of replacement. The
Fund may sell short individual stocks, baskets of individual stocks and ETFs
that the Fund expects to underperform other stocks which the Fund
holds. For hedging purposes, the Fund may purchase or sell short
future contracts on global equity indexes.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
The Fund
may invest, without limitation, in the securities of other closed-end investment
companies and ETFs, provided that such investment does not represent more than
3% of the voting stock of the acquired investment company of which such shares
are purchased. In accordance with Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940
Act, the Fund will be limited by provisions of the 1940 Act that limit the
amount the Fund can invest in other investment companies to 3% of any other
investment company’s total outstanding stock. As a result, the Fund may
hold a smaller position in a closed-end investment company than if it were not
subject to this restriction. To comply with provisions of the 1940 Act, on
any matter upon which stockholders of a closed-end investment company in which
the Fund has invested are solicited to vote, the Fund’s investment adviser will
vote such shares in the same general proportion as shares held by other
stockholders of such closed-end investment company or seek instructions from the
Fund’s shareholders with regard to the voting on such matter. The ETFs and
other closed-end investment companies in which the Fund intends to invest will
invest in common stocks and may invest in fixed income securities. As
a shareholder in any investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of
the investment company’s expenses and would remain subject to payment of the
Fund's advisory and administrative fees with respect to the assets so
invested.
The
Fund's management utilizes a balanced approach, including “value” and “growth”
investing by seeking out companies at reasonable prices, without regard to
sector or industry, which demonstrate favorable long-term growth
characteristics. Valuation and growth characteristics may be
considered for purposes of selecting potential investment
securities. In general, valuation analysis is used to determine the
inherent value of the company by analyzing financial information such as a
company's price to book, price to sales, return on equity, and return on assets
ratios; and growth analysis is used to determine a company's potential for
long-term dividends and earnings growth due to market-oriented factors such as
growing market share, the launch of new products or services, the strength of
its management and market demand. Fluctuations in these
characteristics may trigger trading decisions to be made by the Fund’s
investment adviser with respect to the Fund’s portfolio.
Generally,
securities will be purchased or sold by the Fund on national securities
exchanges and in the over-the-counter market. From time to time,
securities may be purchased or sold in private transactions, including
securities that are not publicly traded or that are otherwise
illiquid.
The Fund
may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent
with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to
adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. During such
times, the Fund may temporarily invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash
equivalents, including money market instruments, prime commercial paper,
repurchase agreements, Treasury bills and other short-term obligations of the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. In these and in
other cases, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
The
Fund’s investment adviser may invest the Fund’s cash balances in any investments
it deems appropriate, subject to the restrictions set forth in the Fund’s
Statement of Additional Information and as permitted under the 1940 Act,
including investments in repurchase agreements, money market funds, additional
repurchase agreements, U.S. Treasury and U.S. agency securities, municipal bonds
and bank accounts. Any income earned from such investments will
ordinarily be reinvested by the Fund in accordance with its investment
program. Many of the considerations entering into the Fund’s
investment adviser’s recommendations and the portfolio manager’s decisions are
subjective.
Tax
Considerations
The
Fund's fundamental investment policy of investing at least 80% of its net assets
in insured municipal obligations has resulted in most of the Fund's income being
exempt from regular federal income tax. This tax-exempt status of the
Fund's income has been largely passed through to shareholders in the Fund by
means of tax-exempt interest dividends. The Fund's eligibility to
distribute tax-exempt interest dividends requires over 50% of the value of its
assets to consist of tax-exempt bonds. The elimination of the
fundamental investment policy will mean that the Fund will generally not be
expected to satisfy this requirement in the future. As a result, the
dividends distributed to the shareholders are expected to be taxable dividends
in the hands of the shareholders. Some of these dividends may be
capital gain dividends subject to taxation at rates applicable to long-term
capital gains, which rates for individuals and other noncorporate shareholders
are currently lower than rates for ordinary income.
If the
Fund acquires any equity interest in certain foreign corporations that receive
at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as
interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains) or that hold
at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income
(“passive foreign investment companies”), the Fund could be subject to
U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on “excess
distributions” received from such companies or on gain from the sale of stock in
such companies, even if all income or gain actually received by the Fund is
timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund would not be able to
pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such a
tax. An election may generally be available that would ameliorate
these adverse tax consequences, but any such election could require the Fund to
recognize taxable income or gain (subject to tax distribution requirements)
without the concurrent receipt of cash and would require certain information to
be furnished by the foreign corporation, which may not be
provided. These investments could also result in the treatment of
associated capital gains as ordinary income. The Fund may limit
and/or manage its holdings in passive foreign investment companies to limit its
tax liability or maximize its return from these
investments. Dividends paid by passive foreign investment companies
will not qualify as qualified dividend income eligible for taxation at reduced
tax rates.
Recommendations of the
Board. The Board met in person on September 24, 2009 to
consider, among other things, the elimination of the Fund’s fundamental
investment policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount
of borrowing for investment purposes) in “Insured Municipal Obligations, the
income from which is exempt from regular federal income tax.” At the Board
meeting, the Board reviewed materials furnished by the Proposed Adviser and
information provided by representatives of the Proposed Adviser regarding the
elimination of the Fund’s fundamental investment policy. The
directors unanimously approved the elimination of the Fund’s fundamental
investment policy and recommended that shareholders of the Fund approve the
elimination of the Fund’s fundamental investment policy. The Board
considered numerous factors in approving the elimination of the fundamental
investment policy and making its recommendation, including: (1) to permit the
Proposed Adviser to pursue total return for the shareholders by following a
strategy of investing primarily in the securities of issuers the Proposed
Adviser believes have opportunities for appreciation or in other closed-end
investment companies the Proposed Adviser perceives as opportunities for
appreciation; (2) adopting a new non-fundamental investment policy to permit the
Fund to invest in other closed-end investment companies and other private and
publicly-issued U.S. and foreign securities; (3) the desire to change the Fund’s
name to Special Opportunities Fund, Inc. in the event that the Fund’s
fundamental investment objective is replaced with a non-fundamental investment
objective of providing total return and the Fund’s fundamental investment policy
is eliminated; (4) the opportunity to avoid delay and costly shareholder
meetings in the future by eliminating any fundamental investment policies; and
(5) other factors deemed relevant by the Board. Based upon a review
of the above factors, the Board concluded that eliminating the Fund’s
fundamental investment policy would be in the best interests of the Fund and its
shareholders.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Required
Vote. Approval of Proposal 4 requires the affirmative vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Under
the 1940 Act, the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities”
means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares
present at the Meeting or represented by proxy if the holders of 50% of the
outstanding shares are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of
the outstanding voting shares.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 4 TO ELIMINATE THE FUND’S FUNDAMENTAL
INVESTMENT POLICY. ANY SIGNED BUT UNMARKED PROXIES WILL BE SO VOTED
“FOR” THE PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF THE FUND’S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT
POLICY.
Proposal
5. To Ratify the Selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Fund’s
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Fiscal Year Ending
March
31, 2010
Based on
the recommendation of the Fund’s Audit Committee and by vote of the Independent
Directors, the Board has selected the firm of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP
(“Tait, Weller”) as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for
the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. The engagement of Tait, Weller
is conditioned upon the right of the Fund, by a vote of a majority of its
outstanding voting securities, to terminate such engagement without
penalty.
The
Fund’s Audit Committee met on September 24, 2009 to consider the selection of a
new independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal
year ending March 31, 2010 because it had been advised by the Fund’s prior
auditing firm of such firm’s proposed audit fees to conduct the Fund’s audit for
the March 31, 2010 fiscal year, which proposed fees were substantially higher
than the audit fees paid by the Fund to the same auditing firm for prior years’
audits. Having conducted a request for proposals, the Audit Committee
met with Tait, Weller and, after due consideration, selected Tait, Weller to
conduct the Fund’s audit for the fiscal year ending March 31,
2010. There were no disagreements with the prior auditing
firm. The Fund received a letter dated October 1, 2009 from the prior
auditor stating that the client-auditor relationship between the Fund and the
prior auditor had ended. The Audit Committee made its determination
based on (1) several of its members’ previous experience with Tait, Weller as
audit committee members of another closed-end fund for which Tait, Weller served
as independent auditor and (2) the substantial savings to the Fund represented
by the audit fees proposed to be charged by Tait, Weller to conduct the audit
for the March 31, 2010 fiscal year. Tait, Weller’s proposed audit
fees for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010 are $33,000 for audit services
and $10,000 for tax review services.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
A
representative of Tait, Weller is not expected to be present at the Meeting but
will be present by telephone and will have the opportunity to make a statement
if he or she so desires. This representative will also be available
to respond to appropriate questions. Representatives of the Fund’s
prior auditor will not be present at the Meeting.
Required
Vote. Approval of Proposal 5 to ratify the selection of Tait,
Weller & Baker LLP as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting
firm requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund. Under the 1940 Act, the vote of a “majority
of the outstanding voting securities” means the affirmative vote of the lesser
of (a) 67% or more of the shares present at the Meeting or represented by proxy
if the holders of 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented by
proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 5 TO RATIFY THE SELECTION OF TAIT, WELLER &
BAKER LLP AS THE FUND’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM. ANY SIGNED BUT UNMARKED PROXIES WILL BE SO VOTED “FOR” THE
PROPOSED RATIFICATION.
Additional
Information about the Board
Board Meetings
and Committees. Each present director and director nominee has
attended 100% of the meetings of the Board held since his respective election as
director on August 12, 2009 or September 1, 2009. Since August 12,
2009, the Board met four times and the Board’s Audit Committee met
once. Mr. Walden attended the only Board meeting held since the Board
approved his observer rights.
Audit
Committee. The Board has established an Audit Committee that
acts pursuant to a written charter (the “Audit Committee Charter”) and whose
responsibilities are generally: (i) to oversee the accounting and financial
reporting processes of the Fund and its internal control over financial
reporting and, as the Audit Committee deems appropriate, to inquire into the
internal control over financial reporting of certain third-party providers; (ii)
to oversee the quality and integrity of the Fund’s financial statements and the
independent audit thereof; (iii) to oversee, or, as appropriate, assisting Board
oversight of, the Fund’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that
relate to the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting, internal control over
financial reporting and independent audits; (iv) to approve prior to appointment
the engagement of the Fund’s independent auditors and, in connection therewith,
to review and evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the
Fund’s independent auditors and the full Board; and (v) to act as liaison
between the Fund’s independent auditors and the full Board. A copy of
the Audit Committee Charter is attached as Exhibit C.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Although
the Audit Committee is expected to take a detached and questioning approach to
the matters that come before it, the review of the Fund’s financial statements
by the Audit Committee is not an audit, nor does the Audit Committee’s review
substitute for the responsibilities of the Fund’s management for preparing, or
the independent auditors for auditing, the financial
statements. Members of the Audit Committee are not full-time
employees of the Fund and, in serving on the Audit Committee, are not, and do
not hold themselves out to be, acting as accountants or auditors. As
such , it is not the duty or responsibility of the Audit Committee or its
members to conduct “field work” or other types of auditing or accounting
reviews. In discharging their duties, the members of the Audit
Committee are entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements,
including financial statements and other financial data, if prepared or
presented by: (1) one or more officers of the Fund whom such director reasonably
believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; (2) legal
counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to matters the director
reasonably believes are within the person’s professional or expert competence;
or (3) a Board committee of which the director is not a member.
None of
the members of the Audit Committee has any relationship to the Fund that may
interfere with the exercise of his independence from management of the Fund, and
each is independent as defined under the listing standards of the New York Stock
Exchange (“NYSE”) applicable to closed-end funds. The Audit Committee
currently consists of Messrs. Hellerman, Chadwick and Harris. Each
member of the Audit Committee has attended 100% of the meetings of the Audit
Committee held since his election as director (only one meeting of the Audit
Committee has been held since such election).
Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee. The Board has also established a Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee that acts pursuant to a written charter (the
“Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter”). The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for, among other
things, identifying and selecting qualified individuals to become Board members
and members of Board committees and developing, adopting and periodically
monitoring and updating the Fund’s corporate governance principles and
policies. A copy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Charter is attached as Exhibit D. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee met on September 1, 2009, at which time its members were
Messrs. Dakos, Das, Goldstein and Hellerman, for the purpose of considering and
nominating Messrs. Chadwick and Harris to the Board. The current
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, consisting of Messrs.
Chadwick, Harris and Hellerman, met on October 16, 2009 for the purpose of
considering and nominating Charles C. Walden to the Board. None of
Messrs. Hellerman, Chadwick or Harris is an “interested person” for purposes of
the 1940 Act, and each is independent as defined under listing standards of the
NYSE applicable to closed-end funds. Each member of the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee has attended 100% of the meetings of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held since his election as
director.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
In
nominating candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
believes that no specific qualifications or disqualifications are controlling or
paramount, or that specific qualities or skills are necessary for each candidate
to possess. In identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee takes into consideration such factors as it
deems appropriate. These factors may include: (i) whether or not the
person is an “interested person” as defined in the 1940 Act, meets the
independence and experience requirements of the NYSE applicable to closed-end
funds and is otherwise qualified under applicable laws and regulations to serve
as a member of the Board; (ii) whether or not the person has any relationships
that might impair his or her independence, such as any business, financial or
family relationships with Fund management, the investment advisor and/or
sub-advisors of the Fund, Fund service providers or their affiliates; (iii)
whether or not the person is willing to serve, and willing and able to commit
the time necessary for the performance of the duties of a Board member; (iv) the
person’s judgment, skill, diversity and experience with investment companies and
other organizations of comparable purpose, complexity and size and subject to
similar legal restrictions and oversight; (v) the interplay of the candidate’s
experience with the experience of other Board members; and (vi) the extent to
which the candidate would be a desirable addition to the Board and any
committees thereof.
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended
by shareholders if a vacancy occurs. In order to recommend a nominee, a
shareholder should send a letter to the chairperson of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee, care of the Administrator, 615 East Michigan
Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202, and indicate on the envelope “Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee.” The shareholder’s letter should
state the nominee’s name and should include the nominee’s résumé or curriculum
vitae, and must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand
for election if nominated by the Board and to serve if elected by
shareholders. Shareholders can send other communications to the
Board, care of the Administrator, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI
53202.
Compensation of
Directors. The Board does not have a standing compensation
committee. Currently, each Independent Director receives an annual
retainer equal to $25,000 for serving as a director and attending the quarterly
meetings of the Board (plus $1,000 for each special Board meeting attended in
person or $500 if attended by telephone), paid quarterly in
advance. Each Independent Director is entitled to receive such
compensation for any partial quarter for which he serves.
Directors
who are “interested persons” of the Fund will not receive any compensation for
their services as directors. However, notwithstanding the foregoing,
for the period that the Proposed Adviser waives its advisory fee pending
completion of a tender offer by the Fund for its common shares, Messrs. Dakos
and Goldstein will continue to receive compensation as directors in the same
amount as that set forth above for Independent Directors. The Fund
does not have a bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plan. No
other entity affiliated with the Fund pays any compensation to the
directors. Each director other than Messrs. Chadwick and Harris was
elected at the annual meeting of shareholders held on August 12, 2009 or
appointed thereafter; therefore, they did not receive compensation during the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. The table below details the amount
of compensation the Fund’s current directors and director nominees are expected
to receive from the Fund during the fiscal year ending March 31,
2010.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Name
of Person/Position
|
Estimated
Aggregate
Compensation From the Fund
|
Pension
or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses
|
Estimated
Annual Benefits Upon Retirement
|
Total
Estimated
Compensation
from Fund Complex to be Paid to Directors**
|
James
Chadwick, Independent Director Nominee
|
$16,038
|
None
|
None
|
$16,038
|
Andrew
Dakos*, Interested Director
|
$11,147
|
None
|
None
|
$11,147
|
Rajeev
Das, Vice-President and Treasurer
|
$11,147***
|
None
|
None
|
$11,147***
|
Ben
Hormel Harris, Independent Director Nominee
|
$16,038
|
None
|
None
|
$16,038
|
Gerald
Hellerman, Independent Director
|
$17,397
|
None
|
None
|
$17,397
|
Phillip
Goldstein*, Interested Director
|
$11,147
|
None
|
None
|
$11,147
|
Charles
C. Walden, Independent Director Nominee
|
$13,000****
|
None
|
None
|
$13,000****
|
* Messrs.
Dakos and Goldstein are each considered an “interested person” of the Fund
within the meaning of the 1940 Act, assuming approval of the Proposed Agreement,
because of their affiliation with the Proposed Adviser.
** The Fund Complex is
comprised of only the Fund.
***
Consists of compensation for service as a director through the third quarter of
the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. Mr. Das resigned as director
on October 16, 2009.
****
Includes compensation for attendance as an observer at a special meeting held in
the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, subject to his
election as director by shareholders.
Information Concerning the Fund’s
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The
Fund’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, were
audited by a firm other than Tait, Weller. Such firm also prepared
the Fund’s federal and state annual income tax returns and provided certain
non-audit services. The Fund’s prior auditing firm had been the
Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm since the Fund’s inception
in June 1993.
Based on
the recommendation of the Fund’s Audit Committee and by vote of the Independent
Directors, the Board selected Tait, Weller as the Fund’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. The
Fund’s Audit Committee met on September 24, 2009 to consider the selection of a
new independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal
year ending March 31, 2010 because it had been advised by the Fund’s prior
auditor of its proposed audit fees to conduct the Fund’s audit for the March 31,
2010 fiscal year, which fees were substantially higher than the audit fees paid
by the Fund to the same auditing firm for prior years’ audits. Having
conducted a request for proposals, the Audit Committee met with Tait, Weller
and, after due consideration, selected Tait, Weller to conduct the audit for the
fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. The Audit Committee made its
determination based on (1) several of its members’ previous experience with
Tait, Weller as audit committee members of another closed-end fund for which
Tait, Weller served as independent auditor and (2) the substantial savings to
the Fund represented by the audit fees proposed to be charged by Tait, Weller to
conduct the Fund’s audit for the March 31, 2010 fiscal year. There
were no disagreements with the prior auditing firm. The Fund received
a letter dated October 1, 2009 from the prior auditor stating that the
client-auditor relationship between the Fund and the prior auditor had
ended. If the shareholders fail to ratify the selection, the Board
will reconsider whether or not to retain Tait, Weller. Tait, Weller
has informed the Fund that it has no material direct or indirect financial
interest in the Fund.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
A
representative of Tait, Weller is not expected to be present at the Meeting but
will be present by telephone and will have the opportunity to make a statement
if he or she so desires. This representative will also be available
to respond to appropriate questions. Representatives of the Fund’s
prior auditor will not be present at the Meeting.
Fees
The fees
billed by the Fund’s prior auditor for professional services rendered to the
Fund for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008 were
previously disclosed in the Fund’s proxy statement to shareholders in connection
with the Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders held on August 12,
2009.
Tait,
Weller’s proposed fees for providing professional services to the Fund during
the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010 are as follows:
Service
|
|
Proposed Fees
|
|
|
|
Audit
|
|
$33,000
|
Tax
review
|
|
$10,000
|
Fees
included in the audit fees category are those associated with the annual audits
of financial statements and services that are normally provided in connection
with statutory and regulatory filings.
Fees
included in the tax review fees category comprise all services performed by
professional staff in the independent accountant’s tax division in connection
with the review of the Fund’s federal income tax returns.
Audit
Committee pre-approval
The Audit
Committee Charter adopted on September 1, 2009 contains the Audit Committee’s
pre-approval policies and procedures. Reproduced below is an excerpt
from the Audit Committee Charter regarding such policies and
procedures:
The Audit
Committee shall:
approve
prior to appointment the engagement of the auditor to provide other audit
services to the Fund or to provide non-audit services to the Fund, its
investment adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common
control with the investment adviser (“adviser affiliate”) that provides ongoing
services to the Fund, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and
financial reporting of the Fund[.]
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Other
Information
Beneficial
ownership of shares
The
following is based upon a review of public filings. As of September
30, 2009, management knew of the following persons who owned beneficially 5% or
more of the common stock of the Fund:
Title
of class
|
Name
and address of beneficial owner
|
Amount
and nature of beneficial ownership
|
Percent
of class*
|
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock
|
Bulldog
Investors General Partnership
and
Phillip Goldstein, 60 Heritage Drive,
Pleasantville,
NY 10570
|
2,078,913**
|
10.08%
|
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock
|
Karpus
Management Inc., d/b/a Karpus
Investment
Management, 183 Sully’s Trail,
Pittsford,
NY 14534
|
2,433,272***
|
11.80%
|
*
|
Percent
of class is based on the number of shares outstanding as of September 30,
2009.
|
**
|
Based
on a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC with respect to the Fund on April
29, 2009 by Bulldog Investors General Partnership and Phillip
Goldstein.
|
***
|
Based
on a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC with respect to the Fund on
September 24, 2009 by Karpus Investment
Management.
|
Section
16(a) beneficial ownership reporting compliance
The Fund
is not aware of any outstanding report required to be filed pursuant to Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by any director or
officer.
Shareholder
proposals
The
Meeting is a special meeting of shareholders. Any shareholder who
wishes to submit proposals to be considered at the Fund’s 2010 annual meeting of
shareholders should send such proposals to the Secretary of the Fund, care of
the Administrator, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. In
order to be considered at that meeting, shareholder proposals must be received
by the Fund no later than February 5, 2010. Shareholder proposals
that are submitted in a timely manner will not necessarily be included in the
Fund’s proxy materials. Inclusion of such proposals is subject to limitations
under the federal securities laws and informational requirements of the Fund’s
Amended and Restated Bylaws, as in effect from time to time.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Solicitation
of proxies
Your vote
is being solicited by the directors of the Fund. The cost of
soliciting these proxies will be borne by the Fund. The Fund
reimburses brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding proxy
material to the beneficial owners and soliciting them to execute
proxies.
In
addition, the Fund has made arrangements with a professional proxy solicitation
firm, InvestorCom, Inc. (the “Solicitor”), to assist with solicitation of
proxies. The Fund anticipates that the cost of retaining the
Solicitor will be approximately $20,000. The Fund has agreed to
indemnify the Solicitor against certain liabilities, including liabilities
arising under the federal securities laws. The directors and officers
of the Fund may be involved in the solicitation of proxies. The Fund
does not reimburse such persons for the solicitation of proxies. The
Fund intends to pay all costs associated with the solicitation and the
Meeting.
The Fund
expects that the solicitation will be primarily by mail, but also may include
telephone, telecopy, electronic, oral or other means of
communication. If the Fund does not receive your proxy by a certain
time, you may receive a telephone call from a proxy soliciting agent asking you
to vote.
Important
notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the special meeting of
shareholders to be held on November 30, 2009:
The
notice of special meeting of shareholders and this Proxy Statement, along with
the Fund’s annual report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, are available
free of charge at www.proxyvote.com.
Other
business
The
Fund’s management knows of no business to be presented at the Meeting other than
the matters set forth in this Proxy Statement, but should any other matter
requiring a vote of shareholders arise, the proxies will vote thereon according
to their discretion.
By order
of the Board,
Phillip
Goldstein
Chairman
of the Board
October
20, 2009
It
is important that you execute and return your proxy
promptly.
|
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
EXHIBIT
A
Portfolio
Investments and Related Risks
Other Closed-End
Investment Company Securities. The Fund will
invest in the securities of other closed-end investment
companies. Investing in other closed-end investment companies
involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying
instruments, but the total return on such investments at the investment company
level may be reduced by the operating expenses and fees of such other closed-end
investment companies, including advisory fees. In accordance with
Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, the Fund will be limited by provisions of
the 1940 Act that limit the amount the Fund can invest in other investment
companies to 3% of any other investment company’s total outstanding stock.
As a result, the Fund may hold a smaller position in a closed-end investment
company than if it were not subject to this restriction. To comply with
provisions of the 1940 Act, on any matter upon which stockholders of a
closed-end investment company in which the Fund has invested are solicited to
vote, the Fund’s investment adviser will vote such shares in the same general
proportion as shares held by other stockholders of such closed-end investment
company or seek instructions from the Fund’s shareholders with regard to the
voting on such matter. There can be no assurance that the investment
objective of any investment company in which the Fund invests will be
achieved. Closed-end investment companies are subject to the risks of
investing in the underlying securities. The Fund, as a holder of the
securities of another closed-end investment company, will bear its pro rata
portion of the closed-end investment company’s expenses, including advisory
fees. These expenses are in addition to the direct expenses of the
Fund’s own operations. To the extent the Fund invests a portion of
its assets in investment company securities, those assets will be subject to the
risks of the purchased investment company’s portfolio securities, and a
shareholder in the Fund will bear not only his proportionate share of the
expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, the expenses of the purchased
investment company. The market price of a closed-end investment
company fluctuates and may be either higher or lower than the net asset value of
such closed-end investment company.
Common
Stocks. The Fund will invest in common
stocks. Common stocks represent an ownership interest in a
company. The Fund may also invest in securities that can be exercised
for or converted into common stocks (such as convertible preferred
stock). While offering greater potential for long-term growth, common
stocks and similar equity securities are more volatile and more risky than some
other forms of investment. Therefore, the value of your investment in
the Fund may sometimes decrease instead of increase. Common stock
prices fluctuate for many reasons, including adverse events such as unfavorable
earnings reports, changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition
of an issuer, the general condition of the relevant stock market or when
political or economic events affecting the issuers occur. In
addition, common stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the
costs of capital rise and borrowing costs increase for
issuers. Because convertible securities can be converted into equity
securities, their values will normally increase or decrease as the values of the
underlying equity securities increase or decrease. The common stocks
in which the Fund will invest are structurally subordinated to preferred
securities, bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in
terms of priority to corporate income and assets and, therefore, will be subject
to greater risk than the preferred securities or debt instruments of such
issuers.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Foreign
Securities. The Fund may invest in foreign securities,
including direct investments in securities of foreign issuers that are traded on
a U.S. securities exchange or over the counter and investments in depository
receipts (such as American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”)), exchange-traded funds
(“ETFs”) and other closed-end investment companies that represent indirect
interests in securities of foreign issuers. The Fund is not limited
in the amount of assets it may invest in such foreign
securities. These investments involve certain risks not generally
associated with investments in the securities of U.S. issuers, including the
risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, unreliable and untimely
information about the issuers and political and economic
instability. These risks could result in the Fund’s investment
adviser misjudging the value of certain securities or in a significant loss in
the value of those securities.
The value
of foreign securities is affected by changes in currency rates, foreign tax laws
(including withholding and confiscatory taxes), government policies (in this
country or abroad), relations between nations and trading, settlement, custodial
and other operational risks. In addition, the costs of investing
abroad are generally higher than in the United States, and foreign securities
markets may be less liquid, more volatile and less subject to governmental
supervision than markets in the U.S. As an alternative to holding
foreign traded securities, the Fund may invest in dollar-denominated securities
of foreign companies that trade on U.S. exchanges or in the U.S.
over-the-counter market (including depositary receipts as described below, which
evidence ownership in underlying foreign securities, and ETFs as described
below).
Because
foreign companies are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial
reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable
to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information about a
foreign company than about a domestic company. Volume and liquidity
in most foreign debt markets is less than in the United States and securities of
some foreign companies are less liquid and more volatile than securities of
comparable U.S. companies. There is generally less government
supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, broker dealers and listed
companies than in the United States. Mail service between the United
States and foreign countries may be slower or less reliable than within the
United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio
transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio
securities. Payment for securities before delivery may be
required. In addition, with respect to certain foreign countries,
including those with emerging markets, there is the possibility of expropriation
or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, or diplomatic
developments which could affect investments in those countries. For
example, prior governmental approval for foreign investments may be required in
some emerging market countries, and the extent of foreign investment may be
subject to limitation in other emerging countries. Moreover,
individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S.
economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation,
capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments
position. Foreign securities markets, while growing in volume and
sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the United States,
and securities of some foreign issuers (particularly those located in developing
countries) may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable
U.S. companies.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
The Fund
may purchase ADRs, international depositary receipts (“IDRs”) and global
depository receipts (“GDRs”) which are certificates evidencing ownership of
shares of foreign issuers and are alternatives to purchasing directly the
underlying foreign securities in their national markets and
currencies. However, such depository receipts continue to be subject
to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign
securities. These risks include foreign exchange risk as well as the
political and economic risks associated with the underlying issuer’s country.
ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be sponsored or unsponsored. Unsponsored
receipts are established without the participation of the
issuer. Unsponsored receipts may involve higher expenses, they may
not pass-through voting or other shareholder rights, and they may be less
liquid. Less information is normally available on unsponsored
receipts.
Dividends
paid on foreign securities may not qualify for the reduced federal income tax
rates applicable to qualified dividends under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the “Code”). As a result, there can be no assurance as to
what portion of the Fund’s distributions attributable to foreign securities will
be designated as qualified dividend income.
Preferred
Stocks. The Fund may invest in preferred
stocks. Preferred stock, like common stock, represents an equity
ownership in an issuer. Generally, preferred stock has a priority of
claim over common stock in dividend payments and upon liquidation of the issuer.
Unlike common stock, preferred stock does not usually have voting
rights. Preferred stock in some instances is convertible into common
stock. Although they are equity securities, preferred stocks have
characteristics of both debt and common stock. Like debt, their
promised income is contractually fixed. Like common stock, they do
not have rights to precipitate bankruptcy proceedings or collection activities
in the event of missed payments. Other equity characteristics are
their subordinated position in an issuer’s capital structure and that their
quality and value are heavily dependent on the profitability of the issuer
rather than on any legal claims to specific assets or cash flows.
Investment
in preferred stocks carries risks, including credit risk, deferral risk,
redemption risk, limited voting rights, risk of subordination and lack of
liquidity. Fully taxable or hybrid preferred securities typically
contain provisions that allow an issuer, at its discretion, to defer
distributions for up to 20 consecutive quarters. Distributions on
preferred stock must be declared by the board of directors and may be subject to
deferral, and thus they may not be automatically payable. Income
payments on preferred stocks may be cumulative, causing dividends and
distributions to accrue even if not declared by the company’s board or otherwise
made payable, or they may be non-cumulative, so that skipped dividends and
distributions do not continue to accrue. There is no assurance that
dividends on preferred stocks in which the Fund invests will be declared or
otherwise made payable. The Fund may invest in non-cumulative
preferred stock, although the Fund’s investment adviser would consider, among
other factors, their non-cumulative nature in making any decision to purchase or
sell such securities.
Shares of
preferred stock have a liquidation value that generally equals the original
purchase price at the date of issuance. The market values of
preferred stock may be affected by favorable and unfavorable changes impacting
the issuers’ industries or sectors, including companies in the utilities and
financial services sectors, which are prominent issuers of preferred
stock. They may also be affected by actual and anticipated changes or
ambiguities in the tax status of the security and by actual and anticipated
changes or ambiguities in tax laws, such as changes in corporate and individual
income tax rates, and in the dividends received deduction for corporate
taxpayers or the lower rates applicable to certain dividends.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Because
the claim on an issuer’s earnings represented by preferred stock may become
onerous when interest rates fall below the rate payable on the stock or for
other reasons, the issuer may redeem preferred stock, generally after an initial
period of call protection in which the stock is not redeemable. Thus,
in declining interest rate environments in particular, the Fund’s holdings of
higher dividend paying preferred stocks may be reduced and the Fund may be
unable to acquire securities paying comparable rates with the redemption
proceeds. In the event of a redemption, the Fund may not be able to
reinvest the proceeds at comparable rates of return.
Exchange Traded
Funds. The Fund may
invest in exchange-traded funds, which are investment companies that aim to
track or replicate a desired index, such as a sector, market or global
segment. ETFs are passively managed and their shares are traded on a
national exchange. ETFs do not sell individual shares directly to
investors and only issue their shares in large blocks known as “creation
units.” The investor purchasing a creation unit may sell the
individual shares on a secondary market. Therefore, the liquidity of
ETFs depends on the adequacy of the secondary market. There can be no
assurance that an ETF’s investment objective will be achieved, as ETFs based on
an index may not replicate and maintain exactly the composition and relative
weightings of securities in the index. ETFs are subject to the risks of
investing in the underlying securities. The Fund, as a holder of the
securities of the ETF, will bear its pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses,
including advisory fees. These expenses are in addition to the direct
expenses of the Fund’s own operations.
Fixed Income
Securities. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities, also referred
to as debt securities. Fixed income securities are subject to credit
risk and market risk. Credit risk is the risk of the issuer’s
inability to meet its principal and interest payment
obligations. Market risk is the risk of price volatility due to such
factors as interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness
of the issuer and general market liquidity. There is no limitation on
the maturities or duration of fixed income securities in which the Fund invests.
Securities having longer maturities generally involve greater risk of
fluctuations in value resulting from changes in interest rates. The
Fund’s credit quality policy with respect to investments in fixed income
securities does not require the Fund to dispose of any debt securities owned in
the event that such security’s rating declines to below investment grade,
commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” Although lower quality debt
typically pays a higher yield, such investments involve substantial risk of
loss. Junk bonds are considered predominantly speculative with
respect to the issuer’s ability to pay interest and principal and are
susceptible to default or decline in market value due to adverse economic and
business developments. The market values for junk bonds tend to be
very volatile and those securities are less liquid than investment grade debt
securities. Moreover, junk bonds pose a greater risk that
exercise of any of their redemption or call provisions in a declining market may
result in their replacement by lower-yielding bonds. In addition,
bonds in the lowest two investment grade categories, despite being of higher
credit rating than junk bonds, have speculative characteristics with respect to
the issuer’s ability to pay interest and principal and their susceptibility to
default or decline in market value.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Emerging Market
Securities. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its net assets in
emerging market securities, although through its investments in ETFs, other
investment companies or depository receipts that invest in emerging market
securities, up to 20% of the Fund’s assets may be invested indirectly in issuers
located in emerging markets. The risks of foreign investments
described above apply to an even greater extent to investments in emerging
markets. The securities markets of emerging countries are generally
smaller, less developed, less liquid, and more volatile than the securities
markets of the United States and developed foreign
markets. Disclosure and regulatory standards in many respects are
less stringent than in the United States and developed foreign
markets. There also may be a lower level of monitoring and regulation
of securities markets in emerging market countries and the activities of
investors in such markets and enforcement of existing regulations has been
extremely limited. Many emerging countries have experienced
substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many
years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had
and may continue to have very negative effects on the economies and securities
markets of certain emerging countries. Economies in emerging markets
generally are heavily dependent upon international trade and, accordingly, have
been and may continue to be affected adversely by trade barriers, exchange
controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values, and other
protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they
trade. The economies of these countries also have been and may
continue to be adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries in
which they trade. The economies of countries with emerging markets
may also be predominantly based on only a few industries or dependent on
revenues from particular commodities. In addition, custodial services
and other costs relating to investment in foreign markets may be more expensive
in emerging markets than in many developed foreign markets, which could reduce
the Fund’s income from such securities. In many cases, governments of
emerging countries continue to exercise significant control over their
economies, and government actions relative to the economy, as well as economic
developments generally, may affect the Fund’s investments in those
countries. In addition, there is a heightened possibility of
expropriation or confiscatory taxation, imposition of withholding taxes on
interest payments, or other similar developments that could affect investments
in those countries. There can be no assurance that adverse political
changes will not cause the Fund to suffer a loss of any or all of its
investments. Dividends paid by issuers in emerging market countries
will generally not qualify for the reduced federal income tax rates applicable
to qualified dividends under the Code.
Corporate Bonds,
Government Debt Securities and Other Debt Securities. The Fund may invest in
corporate bonds, debentures and other debt securities. Debt
securities in which the Fund may invest may pay fixed or variable rates of
interest. Bonds and other debt securities generally are issued by corporations
and other issuers to borrow money from investors. The issuer pays the
investor a fixed or variable rate of interest and normally must repay the amount
borrowed on or before maturity. Certain debt securities are
“perpetual” in that they have no maturity date.
The Fund
may invest in government debt securities, including those of emerging market
issuers or of other non-U.S. issuers. These securities may be U.S.
dollar-denominated or non-U.S. dollar-denominated and include: (a) debt
obligations issued or guaranteed by foreign national, provincial, state,
municipal or other governments with taxing authority or by their agencies or
instrumentalities; and (b) debt obligations of supranational
entities. Government debt securities include: debt securities issued
or guaranteed by governments, government agencies or instrumentalities and
political subdivisions; debt securities issued by government owned, controlled
or sponsored entities; interests in entities organized and operated for the
purpose of restructuring the investment characteristics issued by the above
noted issuers; or debt securities issued by supranational entities such as the
World Bank or the European Union. The Fund may also invest in
securities denominated in currencies of emerging market
countries. Emerging market debt securities generally are rated in the
lower rating categories of recognized credit rating agencies or are unrated and
considered to be of comparable quality to lower rated debt
securities. A non-U.S. issuer of debt or the non-U.S. governmental
authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to
repay principal or interest when due, and the Fund may have limited resources in
the event of a default. Some of these risks do not apply to issuers
in large, more developed countries. These risks are more pronounced
in investments in issuers in emerging markets or if the Fund invests
significantly in one country.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Convertible
Securities. The Fund may invest in convertible
securities. Convertible securities include fixed income securities
that may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of shares of the
issuer’s underlying common stock at the option of the holder during a specified
period. Convertible securities may take the form of convertible
preferred stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of “usable”
bonds and warrants or a combination of the features of several of these
securities. The investment characteristics of each convertible
security vary widely, which allows convertible securities to be employed for a
variety of investment strategies. The Fund will exchange or convert
convertible securities into shares of underlying common stock when, in the
opinion of the Fund’s investment adviser, the investment characteristics of the
underlying common shares will assist the Fund in achieving its investment
objective. The Fund may also elect to hold or trade convertible
securities. In selecting convertible securities, the Fund’s investment adviser
evaluates the investment characteristics of the convertible security as a fixed
income instrument, and the investment potential of the underlying equity
security for capital appreciation. In evaluating these matters with
respect to a particular convertible security, the Fund’s investment adviser
considers numerous factors, including the economic and political outlook, the
value of the security relative to other investment alternatives, trends in the
determinants of the issuer’s profits, and the issuer’s management capability and
practices.
The value
of a convertible security, including, for example, a warrant, is a function of
its “investment value” (determined by its yield in comparison with the yields of
other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a
conversion privilege) and its “conversion value” (the security’s worth, at
market value, if converted into the underlying common stock). The
investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest
rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing
as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and
other factors may also have an effect on the convertible security’s investment
value. The conversion value of a convertible security is determined
by the market price of the underlying common stock. If the conversion
value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible
security is governed principally by its investment value. Generally,
the conversion value decreases as the convertible security approaches
maturity. To the extent the market price of the underlying common
stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible
security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value. A
convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value
by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the
underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security. A
convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at
a price established in the convertible security’s governing
instrument. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for
redemption, the Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the
security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third
party. Any of these actions could have an adverse effect on the
Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
Real Estate
Investment Trusts. The Fund may
invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). REITs are
financial vehicles that pool investors’ capital to purchase or finance real
estate. Investments in REITs will subject the Fund to various risks.
REIT share prices may decline because of adverse developments affecting the real
estate industry and real property values. In general, real estate
values can be affected by a variety of factors, including supply and demand for
properties, the economic health of the country or of different regions, and the
strength of specific industries that rent properties. REITs often invest in
highly leveraged properties. Returns from REITs, which typically are
small or medium capitalization stocks, may trail returns from the overall stock
market. In addition, changes in interest rates may hurt real estate
values or make REIT shares less attractive than other income-producing
investments. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by
borrowers and self-liquidation.
Qualification
as a REIT under the Code in any particular year is a complex analysis that
depends on a number of factors. There can be no assurance that the
entities in which the Fund invests with the expectation that they will be taxed
as a REIT will qualify as a REIT. An entity that fails to qualify as
a REIT would be subject to a corporate level tax, would not be entitled to a
deduction for dividends paid to its shareholders and would not pass through to
its shareholders the character of income earned by the entity. If the Fund were
to invest in an entity that failed to qualify as a REIT, such failure could
significantly reduce the Fund’s yield on that investment.
REITs can
be classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid
REITs. Equity REITs invest primarily in real property and earn rental
income from leasing those properties. They may also realize gains or losses from
the sale of properties. Equity REITs will be affected by conditions
in the real estate rental market and by changes in the value of the properties
they own. Mortgage REITs invest primarily in mortgages and similar
real estate interests and receive interest payments from the owners of the
mortgaged properties. Mortgage REITs will be affected by changes in
creditworthiness of borrowers and changes in interest rates. Hybrid
REITs invest both in real property and in mortgages. Equity and
mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills, may not be diversified and
are subject to the risks of financing projects.
Dividends
paid by REITs will not generally qualify for the reduced U.S. federal income tax
rates applicable to qualified dividends under the Code.
The
Fund’s investments in REITs may include an additional risk to
shareholders. Some or all of a REIT’s annual distributions to its
investors may constitute a non-taxable return of capital. Any such
return of capital will generally reduce the Fund’s basis in the REIT investment,
but not below zero. To the extent the distributions from a particular
REIT exceed the Fund’s basis in such REIT, the Fund will generally recognize
gain. In part because REIT distributions often include a nontaxable
return of capital, trust distributions to shareholders may also include a
nontaxable return of capital. Shareholders that receive such a
distribution will also reduce their tax basis in their common shares of the
Fund, but not below zero. To the extent the distribution exceeds a
shareholder’s basis in the Fund’s common shares, such shareholder will generally
recognize a capital gain.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
The Fund
does not have any investment restrictions with respect to investments in
REITs.
Additional
Risk Factors
Issuer
Risk. The value of an issuer’s securities that are held in the Fund’s
portfolio may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the
issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand
for the issuer’s goods and services.
Foreign Currency
Risk. Although the Fund will report its net asset value and pay expenses
and distributions in U.S. dollars, the Fund may invest in foreign securities
denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S.
dollar. Therefore, changes in foreign currency exchange rates will
affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s investment securities and net asset
value. For example, even if the securities prices are unchanged on
their primary foreign stock exchange, the Fund’s net asset value may change
because of a change in the rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and the
trading currency of that primary foreign stock exchange. Certain
currencies are more volatile than those of other countries and Fund investments
related to those countries may be more affected. Generally, if a
foreign currency depreciates against the dollar (i.e., if the dollar
strengthens), the value of the existing investment in the securities denominated
in that currency will decline. When a given currency appreciates
against the dollar (i.e., if the dollar weakens), the value of the existing
investment in the securities denominated in that currency will
rise. Certain foreign countries may impose restrictions on the
ability of foreign securities issuers to make payments of principal and interest
to investors located outside of the country, due to a blockage of foreign
currency exchanges or otherwise.
Short Sale
Risk. When a cash
dividend is declared on a security for which the Fund holds a short position,
the Fund incurs the obligation to pay an amount equal to that dividend to the
lender of the shorted security. By closing out the short position
prior to the ex-dividend date, such dividend expenses are
avoided. The Fund’s actual dividend expenses paid on securities sold
short may be significantly higher than 0% of its managed assets due to, among
other factors, the actual extent of the Fund’s short positions (which may range
from 0% to 30% of managed assets), the actual dividends paid with respect to the
securities the Fund sells short, and the actual timing of the Fund’s short sale
transactions, each of which may vary over time and from time to
time.
The
Fund’s obligation to replace the borrowed security will be secured by collateral
deposited with the broker-dealer, usually cash, U.S. government securities
or other liquid securities. The Fund will also be required to
designate on its books and records similar collateral with its custodian to the
extent, if any, necessary so that the aggregate collateral value is at all times
at least equal to the current market value of the security sold
short. Depending on arrangements made with the broker-dealer from
which it borrowed the security regarding payment over of any payments received
by the Fund on such security, the Fund may not receive any payments (including
interest) on its collateral deposited with such broker-dealer.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
If the
price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale
and the time the Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a
loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a
gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the
transaction costs described above. Although the Fund’s gain is
limited to the price at which it sold the security short, its potential loss
is unlimited.
Purchasing
securities to close out the short position can itself cause the price of the
securities to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. Short
selling exposes the Fund to unlimited risk with respect to that security due to
the lack of an upper limit on the price to which an instrument can
rise. Although the Fund reserves the right to utilize short sales,
its investment adviser is under no obligation to utilize short sales
at all.
The
requirements of the 1940 Act and the Code provide that the Fund not make a short
sale if, after giving effect to such sale, the market value of all securities
sold short by the Fund exceeds 30% of the value of its managed
assets.
Small and Medium
Cap Company Risk. Compared to investment companies that focus only on
large capitalization companies, the Fund’s share price may be more volatile
because it also invests in small and medium capitalization
companies. Compared to large companies, small and medium
capitalization companies are more likely to have (i) more limited product lines
or markets and less mature businesses, (ii) fewer capital resources, (iii) more
limited management depth and (iv) shorter operating
histories. Further, compared to large cap stocks, the securities of
small and medium capitalization companies are more likely to experience sharper
swings in market values, be harder to sell at times and at prices that the
Fund’s investment adviser believes appropriate, and offer greater potential for
gains and losses.
Defensive
Positions. During periods of adverse market or economic conditions, the
Fund may temporarily invest all or a substantial portion of its net assets in
cash or cash equivalents. The Fund would not be pursuing its
investment objective in these circumstances and could miss favorable market
developments.
Risk
Characteristics of Options and Futures. Options and futures transactions
can be highly volatile investments. Successful hedging strategies require the
anticipation of future movements in securities prices, interest rates and other
economic factors. When a fund uses futures contracts and options as hedging
devices, the prices of the securities subject to the futures contracts and
options may not correlate with the prices of the securities in a portfolio. This
may cause the futures and options to react to market changes differently than
the portfolio securities. Even if expectations about the market and economic
factors are correct, a hedge could be unsuccessful if changes in the value of
the portfolio securities do not correspond to changes in the value of the
futures contracts. The ability to establish and close out futures contracts and
options on futures contracts positions depends on the availability of a
secondary market. If these positions cannot be closed out due to disruptions in
the market or lack of liquidity, losses may be sustained on the futures contract
or option. In addition, the Fund’s use of options and futures may have the
effect of reducing gains made by virtue of increases in value of the Fund’s
common stock holdings.
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Securities
Lending Risk. Securities lending is subject to the risk that
loaned securities may not be available to the Fund on a timely basis and the
Fund may, therefore, lose the opportunity to sell the securities at a desirable
price. Any loss in the market price of securities loaned by the Fund
that occurs during the term of the loan would be borne by the Fund and would
adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Also, there may be delays in
recovery, or no recovery, of securities loaned or even a loss of rights in the
collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially while the loan
is outstanding. The Fund would not have the right to vote any securities having
voting rights during the existence of the loan.
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EXHIBIT
B
FORM
OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
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INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
THIS
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT dated and effective as of November 30, 2009
between Insured Municipal Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (herein
referred to as the “Fund”), and Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (herein referred to as the “Investment
Manager”).
WHEREAS,
the Fund and the Investment Manager desire to enter into an investment
management agreement whereby the terms of said agreement are set forth
herein.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is
agreed by the parties as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT
OF INVESTMENT MANAGER. The Investment Manager hereby undertakes and
agrees, upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, to provide overall
investment management services for the Fund, and in connection therewith to (i)
supervise the Fund’s investment program, including advising and consulting with
the Fund’s Board of Directors regarding the Fund’s overall investment strategy;
(ii) make, in consultation with the Fund’s Board of Directors, investment
strategy decisions for the Fund; (iii) manage the investing and reinvesting of
the Fund’s assets; (iv) place purchase and sale orders on behalf of the Fund;
(v) advise the Fund with respect to all matters relating to the Fund’s use of
leveraging techniques; and (vi) provide or procure the provision of research and
statistical data to the Fund in relation to investing and other matters within
the scope of the investment objective and limitations of the
Fund. The Investment Manager may delegate any of the foregoing
responsibilities to a third party with the consent of the Board of
Directors.
2. EXPENSES. In
connection herewith, the Investment Manager agrees to maintain a staff within
its organization to furnish the above services to the Fund. The
Investment Manager shall bear all expenses arising out of its duties
hereunder.
Except as
provided in Section 1 hereof, the Fund shall be responsible for all of the
Fund’s expenses and liabilities, including expenses for legal, accounting and
auditing services; taxes and governmental fees; dues and expenses incurred in
connection with membership in investment company organizations; fees and
expenses incurred in connection with listing the Fund’s shares on any stock
exchange; costs of printing and distributing shareholder reports, proxy
materials, prospectuses, stock certificates and distribution of dividends;
charges of the Fund’s custodians and sub-custodians, administrators and
sub-administrators, registrars, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents and
dividend reinvestment plan agents; payment for portfolio pricing services to a
pricing agent, if any; registration and filing fees of the Securities and
Exchange Commission; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the
Fund for sale in the various states; freight and other charges in connection
with the shipment of the Fund’s portfolio securities; fees and expenses of
non-interested directors or non-interested members of any advisory or investment
board, committee or panel of the Fund; fees and expenses of any officers and
directors of the Fund who are not affiliated with the Investment Manager, the
Fund’s administrator or their respective affiliates; travel expenses or an
appropriate portion thereof of directors and officers of the Fund, or members of
any advisory or investment board, committee or panel of the Fund, to the extent
that such expenses relate to attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors or
any committee thereof, or of any such advisory or investment board, committee or
panel; salaries of shareholder relations personnel; costs of shareholders
meetings; insurance; interest; brokerage costs; and litigation and other
extraordinary or non-recurring expenses.
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3. TRANSACTIONS
WITH AFFILIATES. The Investment Manager is authorized on behalf of
the Fund, from time to time when deemed to be in the best interests of the Fund
and to the extent permitted by applicable law, to purchase and/or sell
securities in which the Investment Manager or any of its affiliates underwrites,
deals in and/or makes a market and/or may perform or seek to perform investment
banking services for issuers of such securities. The Investment Manager is
further authorized, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to select brokers
(including any brokers affiliated with the Investment Manager) for the execution
of trades for the Fund.
4. BEST
EXECUTION; RESEARCH SERVICES. The Investment Manager is authorized,
for the purchase and sale of the Fund’s portfolio services, to employ such
dealers and brokers as may, in the judgment of the Investment Manager, implement
the policy of the Fund to obtain the best results taking into account such
factors as price, including dealer spread, the size, type and difficulty of the
transaction involved, the firm’s general execution and operational facilities
and the firm’s risk in positioning the securities involved. Consistent with this
policy, the Investment Manager is authorized to direct the execution of the
Fund’s portfolio transactions to dealers and brokers furnishing statistical
information or research deemed by the Investment Manager to be useful or
valuable to the performance of its investment advisory functions for the
Fund. It is understood that in these circumstances, as contemplated
by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the commissions paid
may be higher than those that the Fund might otherwise have paid to another
broker if those services had not been provided. Information so
received will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be
performed by the Investment Manager. It is understood that the
expenses of the Investment Manager will not necessarily be reduced as a result
of the receipt of such information or research. Research services furnished to
the Investment Manager by brokers who effect securities transactions for the
Fund may be used by the Investment Manager in servicing other investment
companies and accounts that it manages. Similarly, research services
furnished to the Investment Manager by brokers who effect securities
transactions for other investment companies and accounts that the Investment
Manager manages may be used by the Investment Manager in servicing the
Fund. It is understood that not all of these research services are
used by the Investment Manager in managing any particular account, including the
Fund.
5. REMUNERATION. In
consideration of the services to be rendered by the Investment Manager under
this Agreement, the Fund shall pay the Investment Manager a monthly fee in
United States dollars for the previous month at an annual rate of one (1.00%)
percent of the Fund’s average weekly total assets. If the fee payable
to the Investment Manager pursuant to this paragraph 5 begins to accrue before
the end of any month or if this Agreement terminates before the end of any
month, the fee for the period from such date to the end of such month or from
the beginning of such month to the date of termination, as the case may be,
shall be prorated according to the proportion which such period bears to the
full month in which such effectiveness or termination occurs. For
purposes of calculating each such monthly fee, the value of the Fund’s total
assets shall be computed at the time and in the manner specified in the
Registration Statement.
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6. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES. The Investment Manager represents and warrants that
it is duly registered and authorized as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the Investment Manager agrees
to maintain effective all requisite registrations, authorizations and licenses,
as the case may be, until the termination of this Agreement.
7. SERVICES
NOT DEEMED EXCLUSIVE. The services provided hereunder by the
Investment Manager are not to be deemed exclusive and the Investment Manager and
any of its affiliates or related persons are free to render similar services to
others and to use the research developed in connection with this Agreement for
other clients or affiliates. Nothing herein shall be construed as
constituting the Investment Manager an agent of the Fund.
8. LIMIT
OF LIABILITY. The Investment Manager shall exercise its best judgment
in rendering the services in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. The Investment Manager shall not be liable for any error
of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or omission or any loss suffered by
the Fund in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates,
provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to protect or purport to protect
the Investment Manager against any liability to the Fund or its shareholders to
which the Investment Manager would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its
duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement (“disabling conduct”). The Fund will indemnify the
Investment Manager against, and hold it harmless from, any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and
expenses), including any amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in
compromise or as fines or penalties, not resulting from disabling conduct by the
Investment Manager. Indemnification shall be made only following: (i)
a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the
proceeding was brought that the Investment Manager was not liable by reason of
disabling conduct, or (ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable
determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the Investment Manager was
not liable by reason of disabling conduct by (a) the vote of a majority of a
quorum of directors of the Fund who are neither “interested persons” of the Fund
nor parties to the proceeding (“disinterested non-party directors”), or (b) an
independent legal counsel in a written opinion. The Investment
Manager shall be entitled to advances from the Fund for payment of the
reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by
it in connection with the matter as to which it is seeking indemnification in
the manner and to the fullest extent permissible under law.
Prior to
any such advance, the Investment Manager shall provide to the Fund a written
affirmation of its good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for
indemnification by the Fund has been met and a written undertaking to repay any
such advance if it should ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct
has not been met. In addition, at least one of the following
additional conditions shall be met: (a) the Investment Manager shall provide a
security in form and amount acceptable to the Fund for its undertaking; (b) the
Fund is insured against losses arising by reason of the advance; or (c) a
majority of a quorum of disinterested non-party directors, or independent legal
counsel, in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of facts
readily available to the Fund at the time the advance is proposed to be made,
that there is reason to believe that the Investment Manager will ultimately be
found to be entitled to indemnification.
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9. DURATION
AND TERMINATION. This Agreement shall have an initial term beginning
November 30, 2009 and ending November 29, 2011, and then shall continue in
effect thereafter for successive annual periods, but only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the affirmative vote
of (i) a majority of the members of the Fund’s Board of Directors who are not
parties to this Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”)) of any such party, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) the Fund’s
Board of Directors or the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund.
Notwithstanding
the above, this Agreement (a) may nevertheless be terminated at any time,
without penalty, by the Fund’s Board of Directors, by vote of holders of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of
the Fund or by the Investment Manager, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice
delivered to each party hereto, and (b) shall automatically be terminated in the
event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). Any such notice
shall be deemed given when received by the addressee.
10. GOVERNING
LAW. This Agreement shall be governed, construed and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, provided, however, that
nothing herein shall be construed as being inconsistent with the 1940
Act.
11. NOTICES. Any
notice hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person or by
facsimile (followed by delivery in person) to the parties at the addresses set
forth below:
IF TO THE
FUND:
INSURED
MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND, INC.
615 East
Michigan Street
Milwaukee,
WI 53202
IF TO THE
INVESTMENT MANAGER:
BROOKLYN
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
60
Heritage Drive
Pleasantville,
NY 10570
Attention:
Mr. Phillip Goldstein
Telephone
No.: (914) 747-5262
Fax No.:
(914) 747-2150
or to
such other address as to which the recipient shall have informed the other party
in writing.
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Unless
specifically provided elsewhere, notice given as provided above shall be deemed
to have been given, if by personal delivery, on the day of such delivery, and,
if by facsimile and mail, on the date on which such facsimile or mail is
sent.
12. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto caused their duly authorized signatories to
execute this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.
INSURED
MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND, INC.
By:
___________________________________
Name: Phillip
Goldstein
Title: Chairman
of the Board
By:
___________________________________
Name: Gerald
Hellerman
Title: Board
Director
BROOKLYN
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:
___________________________________
Name: Andrew
Dakos
Title: Member
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EXHIBIT
C
AUDIT
COMMITTEE CHARTER
(dated
as of September 1, 2009)
Membership
and Qualifications
The audit
committee (the “Committee”) of Insured Municipal Income Fund Inc. (the “Fund”)
shall consist of no fewer than 3 members. Such members shall be
appointed by the Fund’s Board of Director’s (the
“Board”). Subject to earlier removal by the Board, each member
shall serve until he or she is no longer a director of the Fund, and until his
or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. The
Board, in its sole discretion, may remove members of the Committee at any time
and for any reason. Any such vacancy shall be filled by the
Board.
The
Committee members shall elect a chairperson (the “Chairperson”) by a vote of a
majority of the full Committee, or, if the members have failed to do so, then
the Board shall designate the Chairperson.
No member
of the Committee shall be an “interested person” of the Fund, as such term is
defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the “1940 Act”).
The Board shall determine annually
whether any member of the Committee is “an audit committee financial expert” as
defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Purpose
The
purposes of the Committee are:
(a)
|
to
oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Fund and
its internal control over financial reporting and, as the Committee deems
appropriate, to inquire into the internal control over financial reporting
of certain third-party service
providers;
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(b)
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to
oversee the quality and integrity of the Fund’s financial statements and
the independent audit thereof;
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(c)
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to
oversee, or, as appropriate, assist Board oversight of, the Fund’s
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the
Fund’s accounting and financial reporting, internal control over financial
reporting and independent audits;
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(d)
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to
approve prior to appointment the engagement of the Fund’s independent
auditors and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate the
qualifications, independence and performance of the Fund’s independent
auditors and the full Board; and
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(e)
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to
act as liaison between the Fund’s independent auditors and the full
Board.
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The
independent auditors for the Fund shall report directly to the
Committee.
Structure
and Meetings
The
Chairperson shall, after consultation with the other members of the Committee,
(i) determine the dates, times and places for meetings of the Committee, and
(ii) set the agenda for each meeting. The Committee shall hold at
least two meetings each year, and such additional meetings as the Chairperson
determines are warranted under the circumstances in order for the Committee to
fulfill its mandate. The Chairperson shall preside at each meeting of
the Committee, except that in the absence of the Chairperson at any particular
meeting, then the Committee member designated by the Chairperson shall preside
at such meeting. A majority of the total number of Committee members
then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of Committee
business and all matters to be decided by the Committee shall be decided by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the members present in person or by proxy at a
duly called meeting of the Committee.
Duties
and Responsibilities
To carry
out its purposes, the Committee shall have the following duties, powers and
responsibilities:
(a)
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to
approve prior to appointment the engagement of auditors to annually audit
and provide their opinion on the Fund’s financial statements, to recommend
to those Board members who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as
such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) the selection,
retention and termination of the Fund’s independent auditors and, in
connection therewith, to review and evaluate matters potentially affecting
the independence and capabilities of the
auditors;
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(b)
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to
approve prior to appointment the engagement of the auditor to provide
other audit services to the Fund or to provide non-audit services to the
Fund, its investment adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by, or
under common control with the investment adviser (“adviser affiliate”)
that provides ongoing services to the Fund, if the engagement relates
directly to the operations and financial reporting of the
Fund;
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(c)
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to
develop, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, policies and
procedures for pre-approval of the engagement of the Fund’s auditors to
provide any of the services described in (b)
above;
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(d)
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to
consider the controls applied by the auditors and any measures taken by
management in an effort to assure that all items requiring a pre-approval
by the Committee are identified and referred to the Committee in a timely
fashion;
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(e)
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to
consider whether the non-audit services provided by the Fund’s auditor to
the Fund’s investment adviser or any adviser affiliate that provides
ongoing services to the Fund, which services were not pre-approved by the
Committee, are compatible with maintaining the auditor’s
independence;
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(f)
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to
review the arrangements for and scope of the annual audit and any special
audits;
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(g)
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to
review and approve the fees proposed to be charged to the Fund by the
auditors for each audit and non-audit
service;
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(h)
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to
consider information and comments from the auditors with respect to the
Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, procedures and
internal control over financial reporting (including the Fund’s critical
accounting policies and practices), to consider management’s responses to
any such comments and, to the extent the Committee deems necessary or
appropriate, to promote improvements in the quality of the Fund’s
accounting and financial reporting;
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(i)
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to
consider information and comments from the Auditors with respect to, and
meet with auditors to discuss any matters of concern relating to, the
Fund’s financial statements, including any adjustments to such statements
recommended by the auditors, and to review the auditors’ opinion on the
Fund’s financial statements;
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(j)
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to
resolve disagreements between management and the auditors regarding
financial reporting;
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(k)
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to
review with the Fund’s principal executive officer and/or principal
financial officer, in connection with required certifications on Form
N-CSR, any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
control over financial reporting or material weaknesses therein and any
reported evidence of fraud involving management or other employees who
have a significant role in the Fund’s internal control over financial
reporting;
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(l)
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to
establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of
complaints received by the Fund relating to accounting, internal
accounting controls, or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous
submission by employees of the Fund of concerns about accounting or
auditing matters, and to address reports from attorneys or auditors of
possible violations of federal or state law or fiduciary
duty;
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The
Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its
responsibilities, including appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee,
for payment of compensation to the auditors for the purpose of conducting the
audit and rendering their audit report, the authority to retain and compensate
special counsel and other experts or consultants as the Committee deems
necessary, and the authority to obtain specialized training for Committee
members, at the expense of the Fund, as appropriate.
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The
Committee may delegate any portion of its authority, including the authority to
grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services, to a subcommittee
of one or more members. Any decisions of the subcommittee to grant
pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Committee at its next regularly
scheduled meeting.
Role
and Responsibilities
The
function of the Committee is oversight; it is management’s responsibility to
maintain appropriate systems for accounting and internal control over financial
reporting, an auditor’s responsibility to plan and carry out a proper
audit. Specifically, the Fund’s management is responsible for: (1)
the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Fund’s financial statements;
(2) the maintenance of appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles
and policies; and (3) the maintenance of internal control over financial
reporting and other procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting
standards and related laws and regulations. The independent auditors
are responsible for planning and carrying out an audit consistent with
applicable professional standards and the terms of their engagement
letter. Nothing in this Charter shall be construed to reduce the
responsibilities or liabilities of the Fund’s service providers, including the
auditors.
Although
the Committee is expected to take a detached and questioning approach to the
maters that come before it, the review of a Fund’s financial statements by the
Committee is not an audit, nor does the Committee’s review substitute for the
responsibilities of the Fund’s management for preparing, or the independent
auditors for auditing, the financial statements. Members of the Committee are
not full-time employees of the Fund and, in serving on this Committee, are not,
and do not hold themselves out to be, acting as accountants or
auditors. As such, it is not the duty or responsibility of the
Committee or its members to conduct “field work” or other types of auditing or
accounting reviews or procedures. In discharging their duties the
members of the Committee are entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports,
or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, if
prepared or presented by: (1) one or more officer(s) of the Fund whom the
director reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters
presented; (2) legal counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to matters
the director reasonably believes are within the person’s professional or expert
competence; or (3) a Board committee of which the director is not a
member.
Operating
Policies
(a)
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The
Committee shall meet on a regular basis and at least two times annually
and is empowered to hold special meetings as circumstances
require. The chair or a majority of the members shall be
authorized to call a meeting of the Committee and shall send notice
thereof.
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(b)
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The
Committee shall ordinarily meet in person; however, members may attend
telephonically, and the Committee may act by written consent, to the
extent permitted by law and by the Fund’s Amended and Restated
Bylaws.
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(c)
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The
Committee shall have the authority to meet privately and to admit
non-members individually by
invitation.
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(d)
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The
Committee may meet regularly, in separate executive sessions, with
representatives of Fund management and the Fund’s independent
auditors. The Committee may also request to meet with internal
legal counsel and compliance personnel of the Fund’s investment adviser
and with entities to discuss matters relating to the Fund’s accounting and
compliance as well as other Fund-related
matters.
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(e)
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The
Committee shall prepare and retain minutes of its meetings and appropriate
documentation of decisions made outside of meetings by delegated
authority.
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(f)
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The
Committee may select one of its members to be the chair and may select a
vice chair.
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(g)
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A
majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at any meeting of the Committee. The
action of a majority of the members of the Committee present at a meeting
at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the
Committee.
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(h)
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The
Board shall adopt and approve this Charter and may amend it on the Board’s
own motion. The Committee shall review this Charter at least
annually and recommend to the full Board any changes the Committee deems
appropriate.
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EXHIBIT
D
NOMINATING
AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER
(dated
as of September 1, 2009)
Membership
and Qualifications
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Committee”) of Insured
Municipal Income Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) shall consist of no fewer than two
members. Such members shall be appointed by the Fund’s Board of
Directors (the “Board”). Subject to earlier removal by the Board,
each member shall serve until he or she is no longer a director of the Fund, and
until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and
qualified. The Board, in its sole discretion, may remove members of
the Committee at any time and for any reason. Any such vacancy shall
be filled by the Board.
The
Committee members shall elect a chairperson (the “Chairperson”) by a vote of a
majority of the full Committee, or, if the members have failed to do so, then
the Board shall designate the Chairperson.
All
members of the Nominating Committee must satisfy the independence requirements
of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and other applicable regulatory
requirements.
Purpose
The
purposes of the Committee are to assist the Board in carrying out its
responsibilities relating to (i) the identification and selection of qualified
individuals to become Board members and members of Board committees; and (ii)
the development, adoption and periodic monitoring/updating of corporate
governance principles and policies.
The
Committee is also responsible for producing a report to enable the Fund to make
the required disclosures in the Fund’s proxy statement, in accordance with
applicable rules and regulations, regarding the nominations process and the work
of the Committee.
Structure
and Meetings
The
Chairperson shall, after consultation with the other members of the Committee,
(i) determine the dates, times and places for meetings of the Committee, and
(ii) set the agenda for each meeting. The Committee shall hold at
least one meeting each year, and such additional meetings as the Chairperson
determines are warranted under the circumstances in order for the Committee to
fulfill its mandate. The Chairperson of the Committee shall preside
at each meeting of the Committee, except that in the absence of the Chairperson
at any particular meeting, then the Committee member designated by the
Chairperson shall preside at such meeting. A majority of the total
number of Committee members then in office shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of Committee business and all matters to be decided by the Committee
shall be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present in
person or by proxy at a duly called meeting of the Committee.
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Duties
and Responsibilities
The
Committee shall have the following power, authority and
responsibilities:
(a)
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Identify
individuals qualified to become Board members and members of Board
committees (including members to fill vacancies), consistent with criteria
approved by the Board, and to recommend particular director nominees to
the Board (including nominations for re-election of continuing/incumbent
directors) for the next annual meeting of shareholders, except if and to
the extent the Fund is legally required by contract or otherwise to
provide third parties with the ability to nominate directors (in which
case the selection and nomination of such directors need not be subject to
action by the Committee). The Committee will seek candidates
for the Board that have exhibited strong decision-making ability,
substantial business experience, relevant knowledge, skills or
technological expertise and exemplary personal integrity and
reputation. The Committee will have the sole authority to
retain and terminate any search firm to be used to assist the Committee,
and will have sole authority to approve such firm’s fees and other
retention terms. The Committee will also have authority to
obtain advice and assistance from internal or external legal, accounting
or other advisors at the Fund’s expense and will have sole authority to
approve the any such advisor’s fees and other retention
terms.
|
(b)
|
Develop
and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance guidelines and
principles applicable to the Fund, including, without limitation, (i) a
requirement that the Fund’s non-management directors meet at regularly
scheduled executive sessions without Fund management, (ii) director
qualification standards (including qualification standards for service on
Board committees), including independence, (iii) director
responsibilities, including attendance at meetings and advance review of
materials, (iv) director access to management and independent advisors,
(v) director orientation and continuing education; (vi) management
succession, including principles for selection and performance review; and
(vii) annual evaluation of Board and committee
performance.
|
(c)
|
Monitor
data submitted to the Board by individual directors that may impact
independence and make recommendations to the Board regarding action, if
any, that may be required in view of such
data.
|
(d)
|
Consider
and make recommendations to the Board on membership of Board committees
and the responsibilities of those committees to enhance overall Board
performance.
|
(e)
|
Periodically
evaluate and make recommendations with respect to: (i) director
qualifications and selection criteria; and (ii) Board size and
composition.
|
(f)
|
Periodically
review and make recommendations with respect to the corporate governance
guidelines and code of ethics.
|
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
(g)
|
Review
and reassess annually the adequacy of this Charter and recommend to the
Board for approval any proposed changes to this
Charter.
|
(h)
|
Perform
such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to the Committee
from time to time by the Board.
|
Operating
Policies
(a)
|
The
Committee may, at its discretion, keep the minutes of all Committee
meetings (designating in its discretion such individuals to record the
minutes) and approve them by subsequent action. The Committee
will circulate the approved minutes, if any are taken, of the Committee
meetings to the full Board for
review.
|
(b)
|
The
Committee will determine its rules of procedure in accordance with the
Fund’s principles of corporate governance and the Fund’s Amended and
Restated Bylaws.
|
(c)
|
At
each regular Board meeting held following a Committee meeting, the
Chairperson will report to the Board regarding the actions taken by and
the activities and findings of the Committee since the last Board meeting,
as well as any recommendations for action by the Board when
appropriate.
|
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
PROXY
INSURED
MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND INC.
SPECIAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOVEMBER
30, 2009
SOLICITED
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF INSURED MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND
INC.
The
undersigned hereby appoints Andrew Dakos and Phillip Goldstein, and each of
them, as proxies of the undersigned, each with the power to appoint his
substitute, for the Special Meeting of Shareholders of Insured Municipal Income
Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) to be held on November 30, 2009, at ________________ (the
“Meeting”), to vote, as designated below, all shares of the Fund held by the
undersigned at the close of business on October 30, 2009. Capitalized
terms used without definition have the meanings given to them in the
accompanying Proxy Statement.
DATE: ____________________, 2009
VOTE
BY MAIL: COMPLETE, SIGN AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD
VOTE
THROUGH THE INTERNET: [WEBSITE ADDRESS]
VOTE
BY TELEPHONE: [PHONE NUMBER]
NOTE: Please sign
exactly as your name appears on this Proxy. If joint owners, EITHER
may sign this Proxy. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee, guardian or corporate officer, please give your full
title.
______________________________________________________
Signature(s) (Title(s), if
applicable)
This
proxy will be voted as specified below. If the proxy is executed,
but with respect to a particular proposal no specification is made, this proxy
will be voted in favor of such proposal and in the discretion of the above-named
proxies as to any other matter that may properly come before the Meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof. Please indicate by
filling in the appropriate box below.
|
|
|
|
FOR
ALL |
|
Proposal
1.
|
To
elect the following nominees to hold office until
|
FOR
|
AGAINST
|
EXCEPT |
ABSTAIN
|
|
the
annual meeting of shareholders in 2010 and until
|
¨
|
¨
|
¨ |
¨
|
|
their
successors are elected and qualify or until they
|
|
|
|
|
|
resign
or are otherwise removed: Mr. James Chadwick,
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr.
Ben Harris and Mr. Charles Walden
|
|
|
|
|
To
withhold authority to vote, mark “For All Except” and write the Nominee’s name
on the line below:
_____________________________________________________
Proposal
2.
|
To
approve a new investment advisory agreement
|
FOR
|
AGAINST
|
ABSTAIN
|
|
between
the Fund and
|
¨
|
¨
|
¨
|
|
Brooklyn
Capital Management, LLC
|
|
|
|
Proposal
3.
|
To
approve the replacement of the Fund’s
|
FOR
|
AGAINST
|
ABSTAIN
|
|
fundamental
investment objective with a
|
¨
|
¨
|
¨
|
|
non-fundamental
investment objective of
|
|
|
|
|
providing
total return
|
|
|
|
Proposal
4.
|
To
eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment
|
FOR
|
AGAINST
|
ABSTAIN
|
|
policy
to invest at least 80% of its net assets in
|
¨
|
¨
|
¨
|
|
insured
municipal obligations
|
|
|
|
Proposal
5.
|
To
ratify the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP
|
FOR
|
AGAINST
|
ABSTAIN
|
|
as
the Fund’s independent registered public
|
¨
|
¨
|
¨
|
|
accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending
|
|
|
|
|
March
31, 2010
|
|
|
|
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL
FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ONLY
In their discretion, the named proxies
may vote
upon any other matters which may
legally come
before the meeting, or any adjournment
thereof.
WE
NEED YOUR VOTE BEFORE NOVEMBER 30, 2009
Your vote
is important. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, we
urge you to complete, sign, date and return this proxy card using the enclosed
postage prepaid envelope. Your prompt return of the proxy will help
assure a quorum at the meeting and avoid additional expenses associated with
further solicitation. Sending in your proxy will not prevent you from
personally voting your shares at the meeting. You may revoke your
proxy before it is voted at the meeting by submitting to the Secretary of the
Fund a written notice of revocation or a subsequently signed proxy card, or by
attending the meeting and voting in person.
Important
Notice regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting of
Shareholders to Be Held on November 30, 2009: The Notice of Special Meeting of
Shareholders and Proxy Statement are available on the Internet at
_______________
THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME