pre14a
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
þ Preliminary Proxy Statement
o Definitive Proxy Statement
o Definitive Additional Materials
o Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
o Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
Chartwell Dividend and Income Fund, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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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. |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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-2-
PRELIMINARY
CHARTWELL
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
Wilmington, Delaware
November , 2010
To Our
Shareholders:
It is our pleasure to invite you to two separate Special
Meetings of Shareholders of Chartwell Dividend and Income Fund,
Inc. (the Fund) to be held at the offices of
Chartwell Investment Partners, L.P., 1235 Westlakes Drive, Suite
400, Berwyn, Pennsylvania, on December 29, 2010. The first
Special Meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time)
and the second Special Meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m.
(Eastern Time). Formal notices of each Special Meeting appear on
the next pages and are followed by the Proxy Statement for both
Special Meetings.
At the first Special Meeting, you are being asked to vote on the
approval of a new investment management agreement between the
Fund and Bexil Advisers LLC. If this agreement becomes
effective, it would replace the Funds current investment
management agreement with Chartwell Investment Partners, L.P.
(Chartwell Partners). At the second Special Meeting,
you are being asked to elect a new board of directors. Each
nominee for the new board of directors currently serves as a
director of other closed-end and open-end funds advised by
affiliates of Bexil Advisers LLC. If these nominees are elected,
they would replace the Funds current directors.
The two proposals that will be considered at the Special
Meetings are provided for in a transaction agreement among
Chartwell Partners, Bexil Corporation and Bexil Advisers LLC,
which is described in the accompanying proxy statement. If the
proposals are approved at the Special Meetings and the other
conditions of the transaction agreement are satisfied or waived,
we expect that the new investment management agreement will
become effective and the new directors would be seated promptly
following the Special Meetings.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR
the approval of the new investment management agreement and FOR
election of each of the nominees.
We hope you will be able to attend both Special Meetings, but we
urge you, in any event, to complete and return the enclosed
proxy cards in the envelope provided. You may instead authorize
a proxy by telephone or the internet, by following the
instructions on the enclosed proxy cards. If you do attend, you
may vote in person if you so desire.
The Annual Report for the year ended November 30, 2009 and
the Semi-Annual Report for the semi-annual period ended
May 31, 2010 have previously been mailed to shareholders of
record. The Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report are not to be
considered proxy soliciting material.
Sincerely,
Winthrop S. Jessup
Chairman
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
We consider the vote of each shareholder important, whatever
the number of shares held. Please sign, date and return your
proxies in the enclosed envelope at your earliest convenience or
you may authorize a proxy by telephone or the internet.
PRELIMINARY
CHARTWELL
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS
November , 2010
To the
Shareholders of
Chartwell Dividend and Income Fund, Inc.:
Important Notice regarding the Availability of Proxy
Materials for the first Special Meeting of Shareholders to Be
Held on December 29, 2010: The Notice of the first Special
Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement are available on the
Funds website at www.chartwellip.com. To
obtain directions to attend the Special Meeting in person call
toll-free 1-866-585-6552.
A first Special Meeting of Shareholders of Chartwell Dividend
and Income Fund, Inc. (the Fund) will be held at
Chartwell Investment Partners, L.P., 1235 Westlakes Drive, Suite
400, Berwyn, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, December 29, 2010,
at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time), for the following purpose:
1. To consider and vote upon approval of a new investment
management agreement between the Fund and Bexil Advisers LLC.
The subject referred to above is discussed in the Proxy
Statement attached to this Notice. The Board of Directors
unanimously recommends that you vote for the approval of the new
investment management agreement. Each shareholder is invited to
attend the first Special Meeting in person. Only holders of
record at the close of business on November 19, 2010 are
entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the first Special
Meeting.
IF YOU CANNOT BE PRESENT AT THE FIRST SPECIAL MEETING, WE
URGE YOU TO FILL IN, SIGN, AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENCLOSED
PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED, WHICH IS ADDRESSED FOR YOUR
CONVENIENCE AND NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES,
OR YOU MAY CHOOSE TO AUTHORIZE A PROXY BY TELEPHONE OR BY THE
INTERNET, INSTEAD OF BY MAIL. WE ASK YOUR COOPERATION IN
COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY. THE ENCLOSED
PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE FUND.
Michael P. Malloy
Secretary
PRELIMINARY
CHARTWELL
DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS
November , 2010
To the
Shareholders of
Chartwell Dividend and Income Fund, Inc.:
Important Notice regarding the Availability of Proxy
Materials for the second Special Meeting of Shareholders to Be
Held on December 29, 2010: The Notice of the second Special
Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement are available on the
Funds website at www.chartwellip.com. To obtain
directions to attend the Special Meeting in person call
toll-free 1-866-585-6552.
A second Special Meeting of Shareholders of Chartwell Dividend
and Income Fund, Inc. (the Fund) will be held at
Chartwell Investment Partners, L.P., 1235 Westlakes Drive, Suite
400, Berwyn, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, December 29, 2010,
at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time), for the following purpose:
1. To elect four Directors.
The subject referred to above is discussed in the Proxy
Statement attached to this Notice. The Board of Directors
unanimously recommends that you vote for the election of each of
the nominees. Each shareholder is invited to attend the second
Special Meeting in person. Only holders of record at the close
of business on November 19, 2010 are entitled to receive
notice of, and to vote at, the second Special Meeting.
IF YOU CANNOT BE PRESENT AT THE SECOND SPECIAL MEETING, WE
URGE YOU TO FILL IN, SIGN, AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENCLOSED
PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED, WHICH IS ADDRESSED FOR YOUR
CONVENIENCE AND NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES,
OR YOU MAY CHOOSE TO AUTHORIZE A PROXY BY TELEPHONE OR BY THE
INTERNET, INSTEAD OF BY MAIL. WE ASK YOUR COOPERATION IN
COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY. THE ENCLOSED
PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE FUND.
Michael P. Malloy
Secretary
PRELIMINARY
SPECIAL
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF
CHARTWELL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
PROXY STATEMENT
November , 2010
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Chartwell
Dividend and Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
Fund), to be voted at two separate Special Meetings
of Shareholders of the Fund to be held at Chartwell Investment
Partners, L.P., 1235 Westlakes Drive, Suite 400, Berwyn,
Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, and at any
adjournments or postponements thereof (each, a
Meeting and together, the Meetings). The
first Meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) and
the second Meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern
Time). This Proxy Statement, the accompanying Notices of Special
Meetings of Shareholders, and the accompanying proxy forms are
being mailed to shareholders on or about
November , 2010.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on
November 19, 2010 as the record date for the determination
of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, each
Meeting and at any postponements or adjournments thereof (the
Record Date). On the Record Date,
16,905,967 shares of common stock were outstanding. Each
outstanding share of common stock is entitled to one vote on the
matter to be voted on at each Meeting. All properly executed and
timely received proxies will be voted at the applicable Meeting
in accordance with the directions marked thereon or otherwise
provided therein. If you properly execute and return your
proxies (in paper form or electronically by the Internet or
telephone) but do not indicate any voting instructions, your
shares will be voted at the first Meeting FOR
approval of the new investment management agreement and at the
second Meeting FOR each of the nominees for election
as directors. Any shareholder may revoke a proxy at any time
prior to the exercise thereof by giving written notice to the
Secretary of the Fund at 400 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington,
Delaware 19809, by submitting another proxy of a later date (in
paper form or electronically by the Internet or telephone) or by
personally voting at the applicable Meeting.
You may attend the Meetings in person and vote your shares or
you can authorize a proxy to vote on your behalf in any one of
the following ways;
(a) By mail, by filling out and returning the enclosed
proxy cards.
(b) By telephone, by following the instructions printed on
the proxy cards.
(c) By the Internet, by following the instructions printed
on the proxy cards.
Properly submitted proxies may contain instructions to abstain
from voting or to withhold authority to vote (an
abstention) or may represent a broker
non-vote (which is a proxy from a broker or nominee
indicating that the broker or nominee has not received
instructions from the beneficial owner or other persons entitled
to vote shares on a particular matter with respect to which the
broker or nominee does not have discretionary power to vote).
The shares represented by abstentions or broker non-votes will
be considered present at a Meeting for purposes of determining
the existence of a quorum for the transaction of business. With
respect to the proposal to approve the investment management
agreement, which is a matter to be determined by a majority of
outstanding voting securities, as explained below, abstentions
will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. With
respect to
1
the proposal to elect directors, which is a matter to be
determined by a plurality of votes cast at the second meeting on
such matter, neither abstentions nor broker non-votes, not being
votes cast, will have any effect on the outcome of the
shareholder vote.
Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
1940 Act), the vote of a majority of outstanding
voting securities is required for approval of the new investment
management agreement. For this purpose, the required vote is the
lesser of: (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund present at the
first Meeting, if the owners of more than 50% of the outstanding
shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy; or
(ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
Each proposal is contingent upon the approval of the other
proposal. This means that if the new investment management
agreement is not approved, then the new directors will not take
office, even if elected. In addition, implementation of the new
investment management agreement will not occur unless
shareholders also elect the new board of directors and other
conditions of the transaction agreement are satisfied or waived.
We do not expect any business to be acted upon at a Meeting
other than as described in this proxy statement. If any other
procedural matters related to either of these proposals properly
come before a Meeting, shares represented by proxies will be
voted in the discretion of the person or persons holding the
proxies.
A quorum for a Meeting will consist of the presence in person or
by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to
vote at such Meeting. Whether or not a quorum is present at a
Meeting, if sufficient votes in favor of a proposal are not
received, the persons named as proxies may, but are under no
obligation to, with no other notice than announcement at the
applicable Meeting, propose and vote for one or more
adjournments of such Meeting to permit the further solicitation
of proxies. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative
vote of a majority of these shares that are represented at the
applicable Meeting in person or by proxy. Shares represented by
proxies indicating a vote against a proposal will be voted
against adjournment as to that proposal.
All costs of soliciting proxies for both Meetings will be borne
by Chartwell Investment Partners, L.P., the Funds current
investment adviser (Chartwell Partners), Bexil
Advisers LLC (Bexil Advisers), and Bexil
Corporation, the parent company of Bexil Advisers. The Fund has
retained
to assist in the solicitation of proxies for a fee of
$ , plus reimbursement for out-of-
pocket expenses. All costs of the proxy solicitor will be paid
by Chartwell Partners, Bexil Advisers, and Bexil Corporation.
Banks, brokerage houses, and other custodians will be requested
on behalf of the Fund to forward solicitation material to the
beneficial owners of Fund shares to obtain authorizations for
the execution of proxies, and Chartwell Partners, Bexil
Advisers, and Bexil Corporation will reimburse them for any
reasonable expenses they incur. In addition, some of the
officers of the Fund and persons affiliated with Chartwell
Partners or Bexil Corporation may, without remuneration, solicit
proxies personally or by telephone or telefax.
The Fund prepares and mails to its shareholders financial
reports on a semi-annual basis. The Fund will furnish to
shareholders upon request, without charge, copies of its Annual
Report to Shareholders, containing audited financial statements
for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009 and Semi-Annual
Report to Shareholders, containing unaudited financial
statements for the semi-annual period ended May 31, 2010.
Requests for such Annual Report or Semi-Annual Report should be
directed to the Fund
c/o SEI
Investments Global Funds Services, 1 Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks,
Pennsylvania 19456 or telephone toll-free 1-866-585-6552. The
Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report are not to be regarded as
proxy soliciting material.
2
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROPOSALS
Overview
Chartwell Partners is the investment adviser to the Fund, having
served in this role since the formation of the Fund in 1998. On
November 9, 2010, Chartwell Partners, Bexil Corporation and
Bexil Advisers entered into an agreement (the Transaction
Agreement) that provides for Bexil Advisers to replace
Chartwell Partners as investment adviser to the Fund. More
specifically, under the Transaction Agreement, Chartwell
Partners has agreed: (i) to facilitate the transfer of the
investment management services and responsibilities for the Fund
(the Fund Management) to Bexil Advisers;
(ii) to transfer to Bexil Advisers the rights and interests
of Chartwell in the books and records (including those in
electronic form or through electronic media) that relate to the
Fund Management; and (iii) to provide transitional
services to Bexil Advisers, primarily relating to
Chartwells working knowledge of the securities in the
Funds portfolio and the design of the Funds
investment strategy and managed distribution policy. We refer to
such facilitation, transfer and provision collectively as the
Business Transfer. If the Business Transfer is
consummated, then the Funds current investment management
agreement with Chartwell (which we refer to as the Current
Agreement) will be terminated and the Fund will
concurrently enter into an investment management agreement with
Bexil Advisers (which we refer to as the Proposed
Agreement).
The Fund is not a party to the Transaction Agreement. However,
completion of the Business Transfer is subject to shareholder
approval of each of the proposals described in this Proxy
Statement. Therefore, if shareholders do not approve the
Proposed Agreement at the first Meeting and do not elect the new
slate of directors at the second Meeting, or if the other
conditions of the Transaction Agreement are not satisfied or
waived, then the Business Transfer will not be completed and the
Transaction Agreement will terminate. In such case, the current
directors will continue to serve as the Funds directors
until their terms of office expire and their successors are duly
elected and qualified and Chartwell Partners will continue as
the investment adviser to the Fund.
About the
Parties
Chartwell Partners, 1235 Westlakes Drive, Suite 400,
Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312, was organized as a Pennsylvania
limited partnership in 1997 and is registered as an investment
adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended
(the Advisers Act). Chartwell Partners organized and
sponsored the Fund and has been its investment adviser since the
Funds inception in 1998. Chartwell GP, Inc. is the sole
general partner of Chartwell Partners and Timothy J. Riddle is
its Chief Executive Officer.
Bexil Advisers, 11 Hanover Square, New York, New York 10005, was
organized as a Maryland limited liability company in 2010 and is
registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act.
Bexil Advisers is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bexil Corporation
(Bexil), 11 Hanover Square, New York, New York
10005. Bexil is an operating company whose principals and
affiliated companies provide investment advisory services to
registered investment companies. Bexils other subsidiary,
Bexil Securities LLC, is a broker-dealer.
Exhibit C to this Proxy Statement provides information
about the principal occupations of the directors, managing
partners and officers of Chartwell Partners and Bexil Advisers,
respectively, and includes a chart of the Funds current
officers that also identifies each current director or officer
of the Fund who is an officer or partner of Chartwell Partners.
Although Bexil Advisers currently has no assets under
management, its portfolio management personnel, individually and
collectively, provide investment management services to two
closed-end funds and three open-end funds through affiliated
registered investment advisers: CEF Advisers, Inc. (CEF
Advisers) and Midas Management Corporation (Midas
Management). CEF Advisers provides investment advisory
services to two closed-end funds (Global Income Fund, Inc. and
Foxby Corp.) Midas Management provides investment advisory
services to three open-end funds (Midas Fund, Midas Perpetual
Portfolio and Midas Special Fund (collectively the Midas
Funds)). The two closed-end funds and the three open-end
funds are collectively referred to herein as the Bexil
Investment Company Complex. If the Business Transfer is
consummated, the Fund will become a part of the Bexil Investment
Company Complex.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE
FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSALS
3
FIRST
MEETING
APPROVAL
OF THE NEW INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE FUND AND BEXIL ADVISERS
Summary
of the Proposed Transaction
During the second quarter of 2010, Chartwell Partners, the
Funds investment adviser, was approached by Bexil with a
proposal to replace Chartwell Partners as the investment adviser
to the Fund with Bexil Advisers, a newly organized wholly-owned
subsidiary of Bexil. Chartwell Partners and Bexil are not
affiliates of each other and have not previously engaged in any
transactions with each other.
Chartwell Partners evaluated the proposal it received from Bexil
as part of its consideration of an exit from the proprietary
closed-end fund business and expansion of its focus on
sub-advisory
relationships. In conjunction with this evaluation, Chartwell
Partners concluded that Bexil Advisers would bring to the Fund a
team of professionals with experience in managing registered
investment companies.
During the ensuing months, Chartwell Partners and Bexil
discussed terms and conditions of the Business Transfer, with
these discussions culminating in the execution of the
Transaction Agreement on November 9, 2010. Under the
Transaction Agreement, Bexil and Bexil Advisers agreed to make
payments to Chartwell Partners totaling up to $4,325,000 in
consideration for the Business Transfer.
If the Business Transfer is consummated, Bexil Advisers will
become the investment adviser to the Fund. The daily portfolio
management of the Fund will be provided by the Investment Policy
Committee of Bexil Advisers, consisting of Thomas B. Winmill as
Chairman, Bassett S. Winmill as Chief Investment Strategist,
John F. Ramirez as Director of Fixed Income, and Heidi Keating
as Vice President-Trading. The same members of the Investment
Policy Committee also manage Midas Perpetual Portfolio and
Global Income Fund. Global Income Fund has an investment
objective similar to the investment objective of the Fund. Its
assets and investment advisory fee are listed below:
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Assets as of
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September 30, 2010
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Advisory Fee
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Global Income Fund
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$
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35,194,676
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.70
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Mr. Thomas Winmill is also the Portfolio Manager of Midas
Fund and Mr. Bassett Winmill is the Portfolio Manager of
Midas Special Fund and Foxby Corp.
Bexil Advisers advised the Board that it does not intend to
change the investment objectives, policies or general strategies
of the Fund other than gradually to shift the Funds direct
investments in high yield fixed income securities to closed-end
funds that may hold such securities. Bexil Advisers has also
informed the Board that if the Business Transfer is consummated,
Bexil Advisers expects that the Funds direct operating
expense ratio may decrease (a table showing the Funds
current and pro forma fees and expenses is attached to this
proxy statement as Exhibit D). However, the Fund will incur
indirect fees and expenses greater than reflected in
Exhibit D to the extent that it further invests in other
closed-end funds.
Bexil Advisers has agreed to conduct its business so as to
ensure that, to the extent within its control, the conditions
for reliance by Chartwell Partners on Section 15(f) of the
1940 Act as it relates to the Proposed Agreement are satisfied
including; (i) the requirement in Section 15(f) that
the Fund have, for a period of three years after the Closing, at
least 75 per cent of the members of its board of directors
who are not interested persons of Bexil Advisers or
Chartwell Partners; and (ii) the requirement in
Section 15(f) that, for a period of two years after the
Closing, Bexil Advisers or its successor shall not receive or be
entitled to receive any compensation directly or indirectly
(A) from any person in connection with the purchase or sale
of securities or other property to, from, or on behalf of the
Fund, other than bona fide ordinary compensation as principal
underwriter for the Fund, or (B) from the Fund or its
security holders for other than bona fide investment advisory or
other services.
If the Business Transfer is consummated, Chartwell Partners will
serve in a consulting capacity for a period of at least three
months from the closing of the transaction and will assist Bexil
Advisers in the orderly transition of Fund management from
Chartwell Partners to Bexil Advisers. However, Chartwell
Partners, in its consulting
4
capacity, will not provide services that would cause it to be an
investment adviser or a
sub-adviser
to the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act.
As indicated above, the Fund is not a party to the Transaction
Agreement and the Funds shareholders are not being asked
to approve the Transaction Agreement. However, the Business
Transfer will not be effected unless the Fund shareholders
approve the Proposed Agreement and elect the new slate of
directors. The Board has unanimously approved the Proposed
Agreement and recommends that the Funds shareholders vote
in favor of each of the proposals at the Meetings.
For a discussion of factors considered by the Board in its
deliberations, see below Factors Considered by Board of
Directors of the Fund in Approving the Proposed Agreement.
For additional information about the Proposed Agreement and a
comparison of the Proposed Agreement and Current Agreement, see
below Terms of the Proposed Investment Management
Agreement and Comparison of Proposed and Current
Agreements.
The Business Transfer is expected to close on or about
December 30, 2010 (the Closing). The Closing is
subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions, including,
among other things, shareholder approval of the Proposed
Agreement and election of the new slate of directors for the
Fund. The Closing is subject to certain other conditions that
may be waived in whole or in part by the parties.
The Terms
of the Proposed Investment Management Agreement and Comparison
of Proposed and Current Agreements
The Proposed Agreement and Fee Waiver Letter are attached to
this proxy statement as Exhibits A and B, respectively. If
approved by the shareholders of the Fund, the Proposed Agreement
will become effective at the Closing. The following summary of
the terms of the Proposed Agreement is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the form of such agreement. Although there are
differences between the Proposed Agreement and Current
Agreement, unless otherwise noted, the provisions of the
Proposed Agreement set forth below are generally substantially
similar to the provisions of the Current Agreement.
Investment Advisory Services: Under the Proposed
Agreement, Bexil Advisers will act as the investment adviser for
the Fund and will manage the investment and reinvestment of the
Funds assets, including the regular furnishing of advice
with respect to the Funds portfolio transactions, subject
at all times to the control and oversight of the Funds
Board of Directors. The Current Agreement contains a similar
provision, but describes in more detail the advisory services to
be provided and also states that the services will be provided
in accordance with the Funds investment objective,
policies and restrictions as stated in the Prospectus and
resolutions of the Board. The Current Agreement also
specifically requires Chartwell Partners to provide personnel to
act as officers of the Fund and will pay their salaries; will
furnish office facilities, equipment and related services
necessary for the operation of the Fund; transmit information
concerning purchases and sales of the Funds portfolio
securities to the custodian for proper settlement; and prepare
quarterly brokerage allocation summaries and monthly securities
transaction listings. The Proposed Agreement provides that Bexil
Advisers will pay the salaries of all of the Funds
officers (except the Chief Compliance Officer) and employees who
are not officers, directors, shareholders or employees of Bexil
Advisers or its affiliates. The allocation of other expenses
relating to management of the Fund is discussed under
Payment of Expenses below.
Fees: Under the Proposed Agreement, the Fund will pay to
Bexil Advisers a fee at the annual rate of .95% of the
Funds Managed Assets. Managed
Assets means the average weekly value of the Funds
total assets minus the sum of the Funds liabilities, which
liabilities exclude debt relating to leverage, short-term debt
and the aggregate liquidation preference of any outstanding
preferred stock. The Current Agreement provides for the same fee
structure. Chartwell Partners currently voluntarily waives .10%
of its advisory fee annually, and that waiver could be reduced
or terminated at any time. In contrast, pursuant to the Fee
Waiver Letter, Bexil Advisers has contractually agreed for a
period of two years, to waive up to .10% of its advisory fee
annually to the extent that the ratio stated as a percentage of
the Funds direct operating expenses (the Funds total
operating expenses (excluding commercial paper fees and interest
expense, borrowing interest and fees, brokerage commissions,
taxes, fees and expenses of investing in other investment
companies, and extraordinary expenses) (Direct Operating
Expenses) to the Funds Managed Assets exceeds at the
annual rate the lesser of (1) 1.58% or (2) the ratio
stated as a percentage
5
set forth in the Financial Highlights of the Funds audited
annual report for the year ending November 30, 2010 in the
line entitled Total operating expenses including waiver of
fees.
Payment of Expenses: The Proposed Agreement more clearly
specifies the allocation of expenses between the Fund and Bexil
Advisers. Section 2 of the Proposed Agreement, which is attached
to this Proxy Statement as Exhibit A, contains a list of
the expenses to be paid by the Fund. Unlike the Proposed
Agreement, under the Current Agreement all expenses related to
office space rental and maintenance of the Funds website
are paid by Chartwell Partners. In addition, the Fund currently
does not pay any additional compensation to its CCO, who is an
employee of Chartwell Partners. Under the Proposed Agreement,
the Fund will reimburse Bexil Advisers for providing certain
administrative services at cost including compliance and
accounting services. Notwithstanding these additional expenses,
Bexil Advisers anticipates that the Funds direct operating
expense ratio may decrease because of cost savings that may be
achieved by reducing certain fixed costs of the Fund and by
allocating certain common costs across all of the funds in the
Bexil Investment Company Complex (a table showing the
Funds current and pro forma fees and expenses is
attached to this proxy statement as Exhibit D). However,
the Fund will incur indirect fees and expenses greater than
reflected in Exhibit D to the extent that it further
invests in other closed-end funds.
The Proposed Agreement also provides that the Fund will
reimburse Bexil Advisers expenses, including the fees and
expenses of Bexil Advisers legal counsel, in connection
with disclosure of confidential information, requested by the
Fund or required or lawfully requested by applicable Federal or
state regulatory authorities or otherwise. The Current Agreement
is silent regarding reimbursement of such expenses.
Standard of Care and Limitation of Liability: The
Proposed Agreement provides that Bexil Advisers shall not be
liable to the Fund or to any shareholder of the Fund for any
error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by
the Fund or the Funds shareholders in connection with the
matters to which the agreement relates, but nothing shall be
interpreted to protect Bexil Advisers against any liability to
the Fund or the Funds shareholders by reason of breach of
fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for
services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad
faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or
by reason of its reckless disregard of obligations and duties
under the agreement. The Current Agreement contains a similar
provision.
The Proposed Agreement states that Bexil Advisers shall not be
liable for delays or errors occurring by reason of circumstances
beyond its control. The Current Agreement does not contain a
similar provision.
Duration, Termination and Amendment: The Proposed
Agreement provides that, unless terminated earlier, it will
continue in effect for one year from its effective date. The
Current Agreement and, after the initial term, the Proposed
Agreement, remain in effect for successive 12-month periods,
provided that they are approved in the manner required by the
1940 Act. Both agreements may be terminated without penalty at
any time either by vote of a majority of the Board of Directors
of the Fund or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund on 60 days
written notice to the investment adviser or by the investment
adviser on 60 days written notice to the Fund. Each
agreement terminates immediately in the event of its assignment.
Both agreements may be amended only in writing, signed by both
the Fund and the investment adviser and approved in accordance
with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
Brokerage: Under the Proposed Agreement, Bexil Advisers
shall direct portfolio transactions to broker/dealers for
execution on terms and at rates which it believes, in good
faith, to be reasonable in view of the overall nature and
quality of services provided by a particular broker/dealer,
including brokerage and research services. Subject to the
foregoing, Bexil Advisers may also allocate portfolio
transactions to broker/dealers that remit a portion of their
commissions as a credit against Fund expenses. With respect to
brokerage and research services, Bexil Advisers may consider in
the selection of broker/dealers, brokerage or research provided
and payment may be made of a fee higher than that charged by
another broker/dealer which does not furnish brokerage or
research services or which furnishes brokerage or research
services deemed to be of lesser value, so long as the criteria
of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the 1934 Act), or other applicable
laws are met. Although Bexil Advisers may direct portfolio
transactions without necessarily obtaining the lowest price at
which such broker/dealer, or another, may be willing to do
business, Bexil Advisers shall seek the best value for the Fund
on each trade that circumstances in the market place permit,
including the value inherent in on-going relationships with
quality brokers. To the extent any such brokerage or research
services may be deemed to be additional compensation to the
Bexil Advisers from the Fund, it is authorized by the Proposed
Agreement. Bexil Advisers may place brokerage for
6
the Fund through an affiliate of Bexil Advisers, provided that
such brokerage be undertaken in compliance with applicable law.
Bexil Advisers fees under the Proposed Agreement shall not
be reduced by reason of any commissions, fees or other
remuneration received by such affiliate from the Fund. The
Current Agreement contains similar provisions although it does
not expressly authorize the use of affiliated brokers or provide
for commissions to be used as a credit against Fund expenses.
Other Services: Under the Proposed Agreement, the Fund
may request certain services including, without limitation,
accounting, administration, bookkeeping, broker/dealer record
keeping, clerical, compliance, custody, dividend disbursing,
fulfillment of requests for Fund information, proxy soliciting,
securities pricing, registrar, and transfer agent services, to
be provided by Bexil Advisers or its affiliates. Any services so
requested and performed will be for the account of the Fund and
the costs and out-of-pocket charges of Bexil Advisers and its
affiliates in rendering such services shall be paid by the Fund,
subject to prior approval and examination by the independent
directors of the Fund. The Current Agreement does not contain a
similar provision.
Governing Law: Both agreements are governed by the laws
of the State of Maryland.
Certain Other Differences: Under the Current Agreement,
Chartwell Partners may employ or contract with other persons
(sub-advisers)
to assist in the performance of the Current Agreement. The
Proposed Agreement does not contain a similar provision;
however, it does not prohibit the retention of
sub-advisers.
The Current Agreement contains certain representations and
covenants that are not stated in the Proposed Agreement. In the
Current Agreement, Chartwell Partners represents that will
maintain its registration as an investment adviser under the
Advisers Act, will adopt a Code of Ethics, and will conform with
all applicable SEC rules and regulations. The Proposed Agreement
does not contain similar representations or covenants; however,
Bexil Advisers expects to comply with these requirements.
The Current Agreement grants the Fund the license to use the
mark Chartwell in its name and the Fund is required
to cease using that mark should Chartwell Partners cease to be
the Funds investment adviser. Therefore, upon the Closing
of the Transaction, the new board of directors will change the
name of the Fund to eliminate the mark Chartwell.
The Proposed Agreement does not contain a similar provision.
The Current Agreement, dated June 29, 1998, was entered
into and submitted to the initial shareholder of the Fund in
connection with the organization of the Fund. The Current
Agreement was most recently approved by the Board of Directors
of the Fund, including a majority of the Funds Directors
who are not interested persons under the 1940 Act (the
Independent Directors), on April 21, 2010. The
aggregate amount of the advisory fees paid by the Fund to
Chartwell Partners during the Funds fiscal year ended
November 30, 2009 was $627,580.
Factors
Considered by the Board of Directors of the Fund in Approving
the Proposed Agreement
The Board of Directors of the Fund (the Board),
including all of the Independent Directors, considered the
Proposed Agreement over the course of four meetings. In the
course of its review of the Proposed Agreement, the Board met in
person and telephonically with Messrs. Thomas B. Winmill
and John F. Ramirez of Bexil and Bexil Advisers and also
evaluated the proposed nominees for directors. At an in-person
meeting of the Board held on November 9, 2010, the Board,
including all of the Independent Directors, unanimously approved
the Proposed Agreement. Prior to making its determination, the
Board received detailed information provided by Bexil Advisers
and Chartwell Partners responsive to requests by the Board and
the Funds independent counsel for certain information to
assist the Board in its consideration of the Proposed Agreement
and a memorandum from the Funds independent counsel on the
Boards duties and responsibilities in considering approval
of the Proposed Agreement.
Based on the information provided, in reaching its decision to
approve the Proposed Agreement, the Board, including all of the
Independent Directors, considered, among other things:
(i) the nature, extent and quality of Bexil Advisers
services to be provided to the Fund; (ii) the experience
and qualifications of the proposed portfolio management team;
(iii) Bexil Advisers investment philosophy and
process; (iv) Bexil Advisers and its affiliated
companies organizational structures; (v) assets under
management, client descriptions and performance record for each
of the investment strategies currently managed by one or more
members of the proposed portfolio management team;
(vi) Bexil Advisers affiliates most recent
annual compliance summary; (vii) Bexil Advisers
Form ADV; (viii) its soft dollar commission, broker
selection and best execution philosophy; (ix) the proposed
advisory fee
7
arrangement and contractual fee waiver with the Fund and current
advisory fee arrangements with the other funds in the Bexil
Investment Company Complex; (x) Lipper information and a
chart prepared by Bexil Advisers comparing the performance,
advisory fee and expense ratio of the Fund and each of the funds
in the Bexil Investment Company Complex to those of their peer
groups; (xi) Bexil Advisers financial information and
estimated profitability analysis related to providing advisory
services to the Fund; (xii) any compensation and other
possible benefits to Bexil Advisers that would arise from its
advisory and other relationships with the Fund;
(xiii) Bexil Advisers estimated pro forma Fund
expense analysis and the extent to which economies of scale are
relevant to the Fund; (xiv) the assessment of the
Funds Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) of Bexil
Advisers compliance policies and procedures; (xv) the
due diligence review conducted by Chartwell Partners and the
Funds CCOs (who is also Chartwell Partners
CCO) assessment of the results of that review; and
(xvi) the comparison of the terms of the Current Agreement
and the Proposed Agreement.
The Board considered, among other factors, the services provided
to the Fund under the Current Agreement and the structure of the
Proposed Agreement. The Board reviewed the fees payable under
the Current and Proposed Agreements and noted that the
contractual fees payable under both Agreements are the same. The
Board also considered that while Chartwell Partners currently
voluntarily waives .10% of its advisory fee annually, Bexil
Advisers has contractually agreed to waive, for at least two
years, up to .10% of its advisory fee annually to the extent
that the ratio stated as a percentage of the Funds Direct
Operating Expenses to the Funds Managed Assets exceeds at
the annual rate the lesser of (1) 1.58% or (2) the
ratio stated as a percentage set forth in the Financial
Highlights of the Funds audited annual report for the year
ending November 30, 2010 in the line entitled Total
operating expenses including waiver of fees. The Board
also considered that while the advisory fees paid by the funds
in the Bexil Investment Company Complex to Bexil Advisers
affiliates are in some instances higher and in other instances
lower than the Proposed Agreement, Bexil Advisers has advised
that none of those funds are managed with Chartwell
Partners investment style. The Board also considered the
potential for a reduction in the Funds Direct Operating
Expenses that Bexil anticipates may result by reducing certain
fixed costs of the Fund and through economies of scale that
could be achieved by having certain common costs allocated over
the Bexil Investment Company Complex. Bexil Advisers has
informed the Board that those savings may be achievable over
time through the use of vendors servicing the Bexil Investment
Company Complex. The Board noted that the Fund will incur
indirect fees and expenses greater than reflected in
Exhibit D to the extent that the Fund further invests in
other closed-end funds. The Board further considered the efforts
of Chartwell Partners to reduce the expenses of the Fund and
recognized that, as a stand-alone fund that is not part of an
investment company complex, it has been difficult for the Fund
to achieve the economies of scale and cost savings that being
part of a fund group, such as the Bexil Investment Company
Complex, potentially could provide.
The Board considered the investment advisory experience of the
personnel who would be managing the Funds investments at
Bexil Advisers. The Board noted that although Bexil Advisers is
a newly organized investment adviser, it shares executive,
portfolio management and operational staff with CEF Advisers and
Midas Management. The Board noted that through CEF Advisers and
Midas Management, the Funds proposed portfolio management
team currently provides investment advisory services to two
investment companies, the Global Income Fund, a closed-end fund
with assets of $31 million as of June 30, 2010 and
Midas Perpetual Portfolio, an open-end fund with assets of
$8 million as of June 30, 2010. In addition, to
managing these two funds, Thomas Winmill manages the Midas Fund,
an open-end fund with assets of $103 million as of
June 30, 2010, and Bassett Winmill manages Midas Special
Fund, an open-end fund with assets of $10 million as of
June 30, 2010, and Foxby Corp., a closed-end fund with
assets of $4 million as of June 30, 2010.
The Board also considered the experience of the portfolio
managers in managing the types of securities held in the
Funds portfolio. Most of the funds in the Bexil Investment
Company Complex may invest directly in high yield fixed income
securities, although only one such fund is currently so
invested. Bexil Advisers stated that it intends for the Fund to
invest in high yield fixed income securities indirectly through
gradual investment in other closed-end funds. The Board
considered that the proposed portfolio management team utilizes
a similar strategy with Global Income Fund, which has a similar
investment objective as the Fund, and noted that, based on the
information provided by Bexil Advisers, the net asset value and
market performance of this fund for the one-, three-, five- and
ten-year periods through September 30, 2010 was better than
that of the Fund. The Board also considered that in order to
facilitate a smooth transition, Chartwell Partners has agreed to
provide Bexil Advisers, at its request,
8
research and consulting services with respect to the management
of the Fund, primarily relating to Chartwell Partners
working knowledge of the securities in the Funds portfolio
and the design of the Funds investment strategy and
managed distribution policy for a period that is the longer of
(i) three months after the Closing or (ii) the first
date after the Closing when less than 10% of the Funds
total assets (computed by reference to the Funds fair
market valuations) are invested in below-investment grade
corporate debt obligations rated Ba1 or lower by
Moodys Investors Service, Inc. or BB+ or lower
by Standard and Poors Ratings Group, provided that nothing
in the agreement requires Chartwell Partners to provide Bexil
Advisers with any such services if and to the extent the
provision of such services would, in the good faith judgment of
Chartwell Partners, cause Chartwell Partners to be deemed an
investment adviser or sub adviser to the
Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Board considered
that other than gradually investing in closed-end funds in lieu
of high yield fixed income securities, Bexil Advisers
represented to the Board that it does not plan to change the
Funds investment objectives, policies or general
strategies. In addition, the Board considered Bexil
Advisers representation that, subject to its fiduciary
duty, it will not recommend that the successor board of
directors change the Funds managed distribution policy
absent a change in conditions or circumstances.
The Board further considered the impact the proposed change in
investment managers would likely have on shareholders of the
Fund. The Board focused on the costs associated with the
transition of investment management services and the
representations of Chartwell Partners and Bexil Advisers that
all costs and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with
the Business Transfer, including the proxy solicitation would be
borne by Chartwell Partners, Bexil Advisers and Bexil. The Board
considered the report and assessment provided on the due
diligence conducted by Chartwell Partners and the
Funds CCO of Bexil Advisers and its affiliated companies,
and Bexil Advisers representations regarding its
commitments to shareholder services, as well as compliance
oversight. The Board also considered that the two closed-end
funds in the Bexil Investment Company Complex had been
voluntarily delisted from the American Stock Exchange,
Mr. Winmills explanations for that action and Bexil
Advisers representation that, subject to its fiduciary
duty, it will not recommend to the Funds successor board
of directors to delist the Fund from the New York Stock Exchange
absent a change in conditions or circumstances. The Board
considered the Funds CCOs assessment of the results
of prior regulatory examinations, and Bexil and its affiliated
companies relations with their shareholders. The Board
also considered pending litigation against Bexil and its
directors by minority shareholders to dissolve Bexil and the
assessment by Bexil Advisers and the Funds CCO of the
merits of this litigation, and their expectation that this
matter would not have a material impact on the ability of Bexil
Advisers to manage the Fund.
Based on its review and evaluation of these and other factors,
the Board, and all of the Independent Directors, unanimously
determined that the terms of the Proposed Agreement are fair and
reasonable. The Board unanimously approved the submission of the
Proposed Agreement to the Funds shareholders and
recommended that the Funds shareholders vote to approve it.
The Proposed Agreement is being submitted to the shareholders of
the Fund for their approval at the first Meeting. If the
Proposed Agreement is approved by the required vote of the
Funds shareholders, subject to the election of the
directors at the second Meeting as described below and the
satisfaction or waiver of other conditions of the Transaction
Agreement, the Current Agreement will terminate immediately
following the Closing and the Proposed Agreement will
immediately become effective and will continue in effect for a
period of one year and then be continued annually for one-year
terms until terminated as provided therein. If the Proposed
Agreement is not approved by the shareholders of the Fund or if
the Closing does not occur for any reason, the Current Agreement
will continue in effect and the current directors will continue
to serve as the Funds directors until their terms of
office expire and their successors are duly elected and
qualified. Unless you give contrary instructions on the form of
proxy, executed proxies timely received will be voted for the
Proposed Agreement.
Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote. The
presence, in person or by proxy, at the first Meeting of the
owners of a majority of the shares outstanding is required for a
quorum. If such a quorum is represented at the first Meeting,
the vote of a majority of the Funds outstanding voting
securities as defined in the 1940 Act is required for approval
of the Proposed Agreement. For this purpose, the required vote
is the lesser of: (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund present
at the first Meeting, if the owners of more than 50% of the
outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by
proxy; or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of
the Fund.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE
FOR THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT
9
SECOND
MEETING
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
Pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
Fund, the Board is divided into three classes, as nearly equal
in number as possible. Each director serves for three years with
one class being elected each year. Each year the term of office
of one class will expire. The Board is currently comprised of
five directors, whose class and term of office are as follows:
Class I: Messrs. Kenneth F. Herlihy and C. Warren
Ormerod term expires in 2012; Class II:
Mr. Bernard P. Schaffer term expires in 2013;
and Class III: Mr. Winthrop S. Jessup and
Ms. Marie D. Fairchild term expires in 2011
(the Directors).
All of the Directors of the Fund have indicated that, if the
Closing occurs, they will resign in order to facilitate the
oversight of the Fund by a Board comprised of directors that
currently oversee the Bexil Investment Company Complex.
Effective upon the Closing, the number of directors on the Board
will decrease by one, for a total of four directors, and each
class will consist as nearly as possible of one-third of the
entire Board. If the Proposed Agreement is not approved or if
the proposed transaction does not close for any reason, the size
of the Board will not be decreased, the current Directors will
continue to serve as Directors of the Fund until the next annual
meeting of shareholders at which their term expires and until
their successors are duly elected and qualified, and the
nominees will not serve as directors of the Fund, even if the
nominees have been elected by shareholders.
The Board proposes and recommends the election of the following
four nominees in three separate classes, to constitute the
entire Board, as follows: Class I: Mr. Bruce B. Huber;
Class II: Messrs. Peter K. Werner and Thomas B.
Winmill; and Class III: Mr. James E. Hunt, each to
serve for terms commencing on the Closing and expiring on the
date of subsequent annual shareholders meetings as follows:
Class I in 2012, Class II in 2013, Class III in
2011, or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
Each of the nominees has consented to being named in this proxy
statement and has agreed to serve if elected. Such election
requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of votes cast at
the second Meeting. If you properly execute and return your
proxy (in paper form or electronically by the Internet or
telephone) but do not indicate any voting instructions, your
shares will be voted for the election of the four nominees.
Should any of the nominees withdraw or otherwise become
unavailable for election due to events not now known or
anticipated, it is intended that the proxy holders will vote for
the election of such other person or persons as the Board may
recommend.
Information
Regarding the Nominees
Set forth below is certain information regarding each nominee
for election as a director of the Fund. No information is
provided about the current Directors as their terms of office
will not continue after the Closing. (Information about each of
the current Directors is included in the Annual Report to
Shareholders dated November 30, 2009, which is available
upon request, without charge by calling 1-866-585-6552.) Unless
otherwise noted, the address of record for each of the nominees
is 11 Hanover Square, New York, New York 10005.
10
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Number of
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Portfolios in
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Other Public
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Investment Company
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Company
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Complex to be
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Directorships
|
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Name, Principal Occupation for Past
|
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Term of
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Overseen by
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Held by
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Five Years, and Age
|
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Office(1)
|
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Nominee(2)
|
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Nominee(3)
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|
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Independent Director Nominees
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|
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Class I:
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
|
|
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|
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BRUCE B. HUBER, CLU, ChFC, MSFS Retired. He is a
former Financial Representative with New England Financial,
specializing in financial, estate, and insurance matters. He is
a member of the Board, emeritus, of the Millbrook School, and
Chairman of the Endowment Board of the Community YMCA of Red
Bank, NJ. He was born on February 7, 1930.
|
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Until 2012
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class II:
|
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PETER K. WERNER Since 1996, he has been teaching,
coaching, and directing a number of programs at The
Governors Academy of Byfield, MA. Currently, he serves as
chair of the History Department. Previously, he held the
position of Vice President in the Fixed Income Departments of
Lehman Brothers and First Boston. His responsibilities included
trading sovereign debt instruments, currency arbitrage,
syndication, medium term note trading, and money market trading.
He was born on August 16, 1959.
|
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Until 2013
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class III:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
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|
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JAMES E. HUNT He is a Limited Partner of Hunt Howe
Partners LLC, executive recruiting consultants. He was born on
December 14, 1930.
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Until 2011
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6
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|
|
0
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interested Director Nominee*
|
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|
|
|
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|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Class II:
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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|
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THOMAS B. WINMILL, ESQ. He is President, Chief
Executive Officer, and General Counsel of Bexil Advisers, the
other investment companies in the Bexil Investment Company
Complex, Winmill & Co. Incorporated, Bexil, CEF
Advisers, Inc., Midas Management Corporation, and Investor
Service Center, Inc. and Bexil Securities LLC (registered
broker-dealers). He is General Counsel of Tuxis Corporation. He
is Chairman of the Investment Policy Committee that currently
manages the Global Income Fund, Inc., Midas Perpetual Portfolio
and is proposed to manage the Fund, and he is the portfolio
manager of the Midas Fund. He is a member of the New York State
Bar and the SEC Rules Committee of the Investment Company
Institute. He currently serves as an independent director of
Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (NYSE: EGLE). He was born on
June 25, 1959.
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Until 2013
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6
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|
|
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1
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|
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|
(1) |
|
None of the nominees currently serve as directors of the Fund.
If elected, each nominee will take office effective upon the
Closing and shall hold office until the term of the class to
which he is assigned expires and until his successor is elected
and qualified. The term of office of one class expires each
year. Thereafter, directors hold office until the third annual
meeting following their election and until their successors are
duly elected and qualified. |
11
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(2) |
|
This table assumes that the Proposed Agreement is approved and
that the Closing occurs. The Investment Company
Complex is comprised of the Fund and the Bexil Investment
Company Complex (currently consisting of Global Income Fund,
Inc., Foxby Corp., Midas Fund, Inc., Midas Perpetual Portfolio,
Inc., and Midas Special Fund, Inc., each of which is advised by
an affiliate of Bexil Advisers). |
|
(3) |
|
Refers to directorships held by a director in any company with a
class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of
the 1934 Act or any company registered as an investment company
under the 1940 Act. |
|
* |
|
This nominee would be an interested person of the
Fund as defined in the 1940 Act, because of his affiliation with
Bexil Advisers, as noted above. |
The Board evaluated the nominees backgrounds and their
oversight and service as members of the boards of the funds in
the Bexil Investment Company Complex. With respect to the
specific experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills that
led to the conclusion that each person should serve as a
director of the Fund, the Board considered and evaluated each of
the nominees relevant knowledge, experience, expertise and
independence. Messrs. Huber and Hunt have experience with
financial, accounting, regulatory, investment, and board
operational matters as well as monitoring investment advisers
and other fund service providers as a result of their service as
independent directors for more than twenty-five years on the
funds in the Bexil Investment Company Complex. Mr. Werner
has experience with financial, accounting, regulatory,
investment, and board operational matters as well as monitoring
investment advisers and other fund service providers through his
former position as Vice President in the Fixed Income
Departments of Lehman Brothers and First Boston and as a result
of his service as an independent director for more than five
years on the funds in the Bexil Investment Company Complex.
Mr. Winmill has experience with financial, accounting,
regulatory, investment, and board operational matters as well as
monitoring investment advisers and other fund service providers
as a result of his service as an officer and interested director
for more than fifteen years of the funds in the Bexil Investment
Company Complex.
In 2009, Mr. Thomas Winmill exercised stock options to
purchase common stock of Bexil, the parent company of Bexil
Advisers, for consideration (cash and a promissory note) of
approximately $1,292,000. There have been no purchases or sales
of securities of Bexil Advisers or Bexil since the beginning of
the most recently completed fiscal year by any current Director
or any nominee for election as a director of the Fund, other
than Mr. Winmills transaction described above. No
current Director or nominee for election as a director of the
Fund had any substantial interest, direct or indirect in any
material transaction since the beginning of the most recently
completed fiscal year, or in any proposed material transactions,
to which Bexil Advisers, the principal underwriter, or any
parent or subsidiary of such entities (other than the Fund) was
or is to be a party, other than the proposed transaction between
Chartwell Partners, Bexil and Bexil Advisers, and
Mr. Winmills transaction described above.
The following table sets forth information as of
September 30, 2010 describing the dollar range of equity
securities beneficially owned by each nominee in the Fund and,
on an aggregate basis, the Bexil Investment Company Complex,
which the Fund will be a part of if the Proposed Agreement is
approved by Fund shareholders.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Dollar Range
|
|
|
|
|
of Equity Security in
|
|
|
|
|
All Investment
|
|
|
|
|
Companies to be
|
|
|
Dollar Range of
|
|
Overseen by Nominee in the
|
|
|
Equity Securities
|
|
Bexil Investment
|
Nominees
|
|
in the Fund
|
|
Company Complex
|
|
Independent Nominees
|
|
|
|
|
James E. Hunt
|
|
None
|
|
$51,001-100,000
|
Bruce B. Huber
|
|
None
|
|
$51,001-100,000
|
Peter K. Werner
|
|
None
|
|
$10,001-50,000
|
Interested Nominee
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas B. Winmill
|
|
None
|
|
Over $100,000
|
To the knowledge of the Funds management, the current
Directors and officers of the Fund owned, as a group, less than
1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund as of the Record Date.
As of this date, no person, to the knowledge of the Funds
management, owned beneficially more than 5% of the voting shares
of the Fund.
12
Compensation
of Directors
None of the nominees has served as a director of the Fund.
Therefore, none of the nominees has received any compensation
from the Fund. No current officer or Director of the Fund who is
also a director, officer or employee of Chartwell Partners or
its affiliates received any remuneration from the Fund during
2009. The current Independent Directors of the Fund taken as a
group were either paid or had accrued Directors fees
during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009 in the
aggregate amount of $27,000. Currently, the basis of
compensation for the Independent Directors is a fee of $2,000
for each regular Board meeting attended, $750 for each special
meeting attended, plus $1,000 per year for audit committee
members. Each Independent Director of the Fund is reimbursed for
reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses associated with
attending Board and committee meetings. The Fund currently has
no bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plan. The
following table provides information concerning the compensation
paid by the Fund to the current Directors for services rendered
during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension or
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retirement
|
|
|
|
Total Compensation
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
Benefits Accrued
|
|
Estimated Annual
|
|
From Fund and Fund
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
As Part of Fund
|
|
Benefits Upon
|
|
Complex Paid To
|
Name of Current Director
|
|
From Fund
|
|
Expenses
|
|
Retirement
|
|
Current Directors
|
|
Independent Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth F. Herlihy
|
|
$
|
9,000
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
9,000
|
|
C. Warren Ormerod
|
|
$
|
9,000
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
9,000
|
|
Marie D. Fairchild
|
|
$
|
9,000
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
9,000
|
|
Interested Directors*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Winthrop S. Jessup
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
Bernard P. Schaffer
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
These Directors are considered to be interested
persons of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act because
they are partners in and shareholders of Chartwell Partners and
are officers of the Fund. |
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, of which Michael P.
Malloy, Secretary of the Fund, is a partner, received fees
during the year ended November 30, 2009 for services
rendered as the Funds legal counsel.
Each independent nominee who is elected to the Board will be
paid by the Fund for his services as an Independent Director. If
the nominees are elected, the new Board of Directors may
establish a new compensation schedule for its Independent
Directors. The aggregate compensation paid by the funds in the
Bexil Investment Company Complex to each of the nominees for his
service as a director of those funds for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2009 was:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
Independent Nominees
|
|
|
|
|
James E. Hunt
|
|
$
|
20,250
|
|
Bruce B. Huber
|
|
$
|
20,250
|
|
Peter K. Werner
|
|
$
|
20,250
|
|
Interested Nominee
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas B. Winmill
|
|
$
|
-0-
|
|
Information relating to the current officers of the Fund is set
forth in Exhibit C of this Proxy Statement. Upon the
Closing, it is anticipated that the current officers of the Fund
will resign from their positions and that the new Board will
appoint new officers to fill the vacancies.
Indemnification
and Insurance of Board Members and Officers
To protect the directors and officers of the Fund against
certain liabilities, the Funds Articles of Incorporation
and By-Laws provide that past, present and future directors and
officers of the Fund shall be indemnified by the
13
Fund to the fullest extent permissible under Maryland
corporation law, the Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940 Act. An
errors and omissions policy also insures the Fund and its
directors and officers, subject to the policys coverage
limits, exclusions and deductibles, against loss resulting from
claims by reason of neglect or breach of duty. However, neither
indemnification nor the insurance protects any director or
officer against any liability to the Fund or its shareholders to
which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
The Fund and Chartwell Partners have entered into a separate
indemnification and insurance agreement with the current
Directors and officers. This agreement extends the
indemnification provisions in the Funds Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws to Directors and officers who resign
in connection with the transactions described in this Proxy
Statement, clarifies that the Fund continues to indemnify each
of the former Directors and officers for claims arising out of
his or her past service to the Fund, provides that Chartwell
Partners will indemnify the former directors and officers for
claims arising out of the transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Agreement, and requires Chartwell Partners to
provide, at its expense, six years of liability insurance
coverage commencing upon the effective date of their resignation.
Current
Board Leadership Structure and Oversight
Responsibilities
The business and affairs of the Fund are currently managed under
the direction of its Board, subject to the laws of the State of
Maryland and the Funds Articles of Incorporation and
By-Laws. The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of
overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Funds
service providers. The officers and service providers of the
Fund conduct and supervise the Funds daily business
operations.
The Board is currently composed of three Independent Directors.
The Board has selected Winthrop S. Jessup, an
interested Director, to act as Chairman.
Mr. Jessups duties include presiding at meetings of
the Board and acting as a liaison with management to address
significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled
Board and committee meetings. In the performance of his duties,
Mr. Jessup consults with the other Directors and the
Funds officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The
Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board
from time to time.
The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its
responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular,
in-person meetings four times a year, and holds special
in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address
specific issues that require attention between regularly
scheduled meetings. The Board has access to the Funds CCO,
the Funds independent registered public accounting firm
and independent legal counsel for consultation to assist the
Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.
The Board has established three standing committees, the Audit
Committee, Nominating Committee and Fair Value Committee,
discussed below. The Board may establish other committees, or
nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues
related to the Boards oversight responsibilities, from
time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its
delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and
recommendations to the Board.
The Board does not have a lead independent Director; however,
Independent Directors comprise the Audit and Nominating
Committees and the Independent Directors meet separately in
executive session at each regularly scheduled Board meeting. The
Directors have determined that the Funds leadership
structure is appropriate because it allows the Directors to
exercise informed judgment over matters under its purview and it
allocates areas of responsibility among committees of the Board
and the full Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight.
The Board performs its risk oversight function for the Fund
through a combination of direct oversight by the Board as a
whole and Board committees and indirectly through Chartwell
Partners, Fund officers, compliance personnel and other service
providers. The Fund is subject to a number of risks, including
but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational
risk, reputational risk, valuation risk and counterparty risk.
Day-to-day risk management functions are within the
responsibilities of Chartwell Partners and the other service
providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out
the Funds investment management and business affairs.
The Board provides risk oversight through: (i) receiving
and reviewing on a regular basis reports from Chartwell
Partners; (ii) receiving, reviewing and approving
compliance policies and procedures; (iii) meeting
14
regularly with the Funds portfolio managers to review
investment policies, strategies and risks; and (iv) meeting
regularly with the Funds CCO to discuss compliance
findings and issues. The Board also relies on Chartwell Partners
and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day
activities of the Fund, to create and maintain procedures and
controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects
on the Funds business and reputation. Board oversight of
risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.
For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Funds
independent registered public accounting firm to ensure that the
Funds audit scope includes risk-based considerations as to
the Funds financial position and operations.
The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the
manner in which it conducts risk oversight. The Boards
oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the
Funds investments or activities.
Current
Standing Committees and Board of Directors
Meetings
As discussed above, the Fund currently maintains three standing
committees, the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and the
Fair Value Committee. If elected, the new Board may determine to
change the structure and composition of the standing Board
committees.
Audit Committee: Currently, the Funds Audit Committee is
comprised of all Directors who are not interested
persons of the Fund, the Funds investment adviser or
their affiliates within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and who are
independent as defined in the New York Stock
Exchange applicable listing standards. Currently,
Messrs. Herlihy and Ormerod and Ms. Fairchild serve as
members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is
responsible for the selection and engagement of the Funds
independent auditors (subject to ratification by the Funds
Independent Directors), including evaluating such auditors
independence and pre-approving audit and non-audit services, and
meeting with such auditors to consider and review matters
relating to the Funds financial reports and accounting. In
addition, the Audit Committee serves as the Funds
Qualified Legal Compliance Committee. The Audit Committee has a
written Charter, which is available on the Funds website
at www.chartwellip.com. The Audit Committee held two
meetings during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009.
Nominating Committee: Currently, the Fund has a Nominating
Committee that acts pursuant to a written charter. The
Nominating Committee is responsible for selecting and nominating
for consideration by the full Board candidates to be considered
for election/appointment as additional Independent Directors of
the Board. The Nominating Committee currently consists of
Messrs. Herlihy and Ormerod and Ms. Fairchild. None of
the members of the Nominating Committee is an interested
person of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940
Act. A copy of the Nominating Committees charter was
attached to the Funds Proxy Statement for the 2010 annual
meeting of shareholders as Annex A. It is not included on
the Funds website. The Nominating Committee did not meet
during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009.
Other than as described in its charter, the Nominating Committee
has not adopted a formal process for identifying and evaluating
nominees, including nominees recommended by shareholders. The
Nominating Committee does not have at this time specific,
minimum qualifications for nominees and has not established
formal specific qualities or skills that it regards as necessary
for one or more the Funds Directors to possess (other than
any qualities or skills that may be required by applicable law,
regulation or listing standard). However, in identifying and
evaluating nominees, the Nominating Committee considers factors
it deems relevant, which may include: whether the person is an
interested person as defined under the 1940 Act and
whether the person is otherwise qualified under applicable laws
and regulations to serve on the Funds Board; whether the
person has any relationships that may impair his or her
independence, such as any business, financial or family
relationships with Fund management, the investment adviser of
the Fund, Fund service providers or their affiliates; whether
the person serves on any boards of, or is otherwise affiliated
with, competing financial service organizations or their related
funds; whether the person is willing to serve and willing and
able to commit the time necessary for the performance of duties
of a director of the Fund; the contribution which the person can
make to the Board and the Fund, with consideration being given
to the persons business acumen, professional experience,
education and such other factors as the Committee may consider
relevant; and the character and integrity of the person. In
addition, the Nominating Committee considers diversity in
identifying director nominees by periodically reviewing the
composition of the Board to determine whether it may be
appropriate to add individuals with different backgrounds or
skill sets from those already on the Board.
15
The Nominating Committee considers Independent Director nominees
recommended by shareholders. Shareholders who wish to recommend
a nominee should send a written request addressed to the
Secretary of the Fund which includes the shareholders
contact information, the proposed candidates biographical
data and qualifications, and all other information relating to
such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of
proxies for the election of directors under Regulation 14A
of the 1934 Act. A recommendation 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 the
Funds shareholders. All shareholder recommended nominee
submissions must be received by the Fund by the deadline for
submission of any shareholder proposals to be included in the
Funds proxy statement for its next annual meeting.
Recommendations for candidates to the Board will be evaluated in
light of whether the number of Board members is expected to
change and whether the Board expects any vacancies among the
Independent Directors. All nominee recommendations from Fund
shareholders will be acknowledged, although there may be times
when the Committee is not actively recruiting new Independent
Directors. In those circumstances, the nominee recommendation
will be kept on file until active recruitment is under way. In
the event that a vacancy arises or a change in Board membership
is determined to be advisable, the Nominating Committee will, in
addition to any shareholder recommendations, consider candidates
identified by other means, including candidates proposed by
members of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee
does not evaluate nominees for director differently based on
whether the nominee is recommended by a security holder. While
it has not done so in the past, the Nominating Committee may
retain a consultant to assist the Committee in a search for a
qualified candidate.
Fair Value Committee: The Fund currently has a standing Fair
Value Committee whose function is to monitor the valuation of
portfolio securities and other investments and, as authorized by
the Board, to make all necessary determinations of fair value
for the portfolio holdings for which market quotations are not
readily available, after consideration of all relevant factors,
and report such determinations to the full Board. The Fair Value
Committee consists of five members: one Director of the Fund
(Mr. Schaffer); two officers of the Fund
(Messrs. Hagar and Toburen); and two representatives of SEI
Investments Global Funds Services, the Funds
administrator, who are non-voting members (Messrs. Michael
Lawson and James Volk). The Fair Value Committee did not meet
during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009.
The Fund has no compensation committee of the Board of Directors.
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009, the current
Board of Directors held four regularly scheduled meetings. For
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009, each of the
Directors currently in office attended at least 75% of the total
number of meetings of the Board of Directors and of all
Committees of the Board held during the period on which he or
she served. The Fund does not have a formal policy regarding
attendance by Directors at annual meetings of shareholders but
encourages such attendance. All of the Directors then in office
attended the Funds 2010 annual meeting of shareholders.
The election of the nominees as directors requires the
affirmative vote of a plurality of votes cast at the second
Meeting. If elected, the new directors will take office
contingent upon the approval of the Proposed Agreement at the
first Meeting as well as the consummation of the transaction
between Bexil Advisers and Chartwell, and the current directors
will resign and the Board will decrease in size to four members.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FUND
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES
16
REPORT OF
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE;
INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUNDS
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Selection
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Funds Audit Committee selected, and the Funds
Independent Directors ratified the selection of, the firm of
Ernst & Young LLP (Ernst &
Young) as the independent registered public accounting
firm to audit the financial statements of the Fund for the
fiscal year ending November 30, 2010. In reliance on
Rule 32a-4
under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not seeking shareholder
ratification of the selection of its independent registered
public accounting firm.
Representatives of Ernst & Young are not expected to
be present at the Meeting, but will be available by telephone to
respond to appropriate questions from shareholders, if necessary.
Report of
the Audit Committee
The Funds Board of Directors has adopted and approved a
formal written charter for the Audit Committee, which sets forth
the Committees responsibilities. As required by the
charter, the Audit Committee has received the written
disclosures and the letter from Ernst & Young required
by Rule 3526 of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board and has discussed with Ernst & Young its
independence with respect to the Fund. The Fund has been advised
by Ernst & Young that neither the firm nor any of its
partners had a direct financial or material indirect financial
interest in the Fund as of January 20, 2010.
The Funds financial statements for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2009 were audited by Ernst & Young.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Funds
audited financial statements with Fund management and
Ernst & Young, and discussed certain matters with
Ernst & Young addressed by Statements on Auditing
Standards No. 114. Based on the foregoing review and
discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of
Directors (and the Board approved) that the Funds audited
financial statements be included in the Funds annual
report for the Funds fiscal year ended November 30,
2009.
Kenneth F. Herlihy, Chairman of the
Audit Committee
C. Warren Ormerod, Member of the
Audit Committee
Marie D. Fairchild, Member of the
Audit Committee
Audit
Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by
Ernst & Young for the audit of the Funds annual
financial statements or for services that are normally provided
in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or
engagements were $46,500 for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2009 and $45,000 for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2008.
Audit-Related
Fees
No fees were billed by Ernst &Young for the fiscal
years ended November 30, 2009 and 2008 for any
audit-related services.
Tax
Fees
The aggregate fees billed for tax-related services, including
tax return review, rendered by Ernst & Young to the
Fund were $6,600 for the fiscal year ended November 30,
2009 and $6,600 for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008.
17
All Other
Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young for
agreed-upon
procedures performed on behalf of the Fund in relation to the
Funds commercial paper program were $0 for the fiscal year
ended November 30, 2009 and $21,500 for the fiscal year
ended November 30, 2008.
Ernst & Young did not render any audit, audit-related,
tax or any other services to Chartwell Partners or entities that
control, are controlled by or under common control with
Chartwell Partners that provide ongoing services to the Fund
that related directly to the operations and financial reporting
of the Fund for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009 or
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008.
Audit
Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Audit Committee has
not adopted pre-approval policies and procedures. As a result,
all services provided by Ernst & Young must be
directly pre-approved by the Audit Committee or its Chairman.
The Audit Committee pre-approved all of the audit and non-audit
services provided by Ernst & Young to the Fund in 2009
and 2008.
Aggregate
Non-Audit Fees
The aggregate non-audit fees billed by Ernst & Young
for services provided to the Fund, Chartwell Partners, and any
entities that control, are controlled by or under common control
with Chartwell Partners that provides ongoing services to the
Fund were $127,850 for the fiscal year ended November 30,
2009 and $151,600 for the fiscal year ended November 30,
2008. In recommending the approval of Ernst & Young as
the Funds independent registered public accounting firm
for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2009 and
November 30, 2008, the Audit Committee considered whether
the services described above, including all non-audit services
rendered to the Fund, Chartwell Partners or an affiliate of
Chartwell Partners that provides ongoing services to the Fund,
were compatible with maintaining the independence of said firm.
OTHER
BUSINESS
Management knows of no other matters to be presented at the
Meetings. Under Maryland law, the only matters that may be acted
on at a special meeting of shareholders are those stated in the
notice of the special meeting. Accordingly, other than
procedural matters relating to the approval of the Proposed
Agreement at the first Meeting or the election of directors at
the second Meeting, no other business may properly come before
either of the Meetings. If any such procedural matter requiring
a vote of shareholders should arise, the persons named as
proxies will vote on such procedural matter in accordance with
their discretion.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Administrator
SEI Investments Global Funds Services serves as the Funds
administrator and is located at 1 Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks,
Pennsylvania 19456.
Section 16(a)
Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act and Section 30(h) of the
1940 Act in combination require the Funds Directors,
officers, investment adviser, affiliates of the investment
adviser, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the
Funds outstanding securities (Reporting
Persons), to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange. Such
persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Fund with
copies of all such filings. Based solely on a review of the
copies of these reports furnished to the Fund and
representations that no other reports were required to be filed,
the Fund believes that its Reporting Persons complied with the
applicable filing requirements during the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2009.
18
Shareholder
Proposals 2011 Annual Meeting
A shareholder who intends to present a proposal which relates to
a proper subject for shareholder action at the 2011 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, and who wishes such proposal to be
considered for inclusion in the Funds proxy materials for
such meeting, must have caused such proposal to be received, in
proper form, at the Funds principal executive offices by
November 12, 2010. Any such proposals, as well as any
questions relating thereto, should be directed to the Fund to
the attention of its Secretary.
Shareholder
Communications with the Board of Directors
Fund shareholders who want to communicate with the Board or any
individual Board member with respect to matters relating to the
Fund should send a written communication addressed to the Board
of Directors or to the individual Board member,
c/o Chartwell
Investment Partners, L.P., 1235 Westlakes Drive,
Suite 400, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312. The letter should
indicate that you are a Fund shareholder. If the communication
is intended for a specific Board member and so indicates it will
be sent only to that Board member. If a communication does not
indicate a specific Board member it will be sent to the chair of
the Nominating Committee and outside counsel to the Independent
Directors for further distribution as deemed appropriate by such
persons.
November , 2010
SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETINGS
AND WHO WISH TO HAVE THEIR SHARES VOTED ARE REQUESTED TO DATE
AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXIES AND RETURN THEM IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES
OR YOU MAY CHOOSE TO AUTHORIZE A PROXY BY TELEPHONE OR BY THE
INTERNET, INSTEAD OF BY MAIL.
19
Exhibit A
FORM OF
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as
of 2010,
by and between Chartwell Dividend and Income Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation (the Fund) and Bexil Advisers
LLC, a Maryland limited liability corporation
(the Investment Manager).
WHEREAS the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as a closed-end
management investment company; and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to retain the Investment Manager to
furnish certain investment advisory and portfolio management
services to the Fund, and the Investment Manager desires to
furnish such services;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and
agreements herein contained and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, it
is hereby agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
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1.
|
The Fund hereby employs the Investment Manager to manage the
investment and reinvestment of its assets, including the regular
furnishing of advice with respect to the Funds portfolio
transactions subject at all times to the control and oversight
of the Funds Board of Directors (the Investment
Advisory Services), for the period and on the terms set
forth in this Agreement. The Investment Manager hereby accepts
such employment and agrees during such period to render the
Investment Advisory Services and, if requested, any other
services contemplated herein and to assume the obligations
herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided. The
Investment Manager shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be
an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly
provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or
represent the Fund in any way, or otherwise be deemed an agent
of the Fund.
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2.
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The Fund assumes and shall pay all the expenses required for the
conduct of its business including, but not limited to:
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a.
|
fees of the Investment Manager;
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b.
|
fees and commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities for the Fund;
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c.
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costs, including the interest expense, of borrowing money;
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d.
|
fees and premiums for the fidelity bond required by
Section 17(g) of the Investment Company Act, or other
insurance;
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e.
|
taxes levied against the Fund and the expenses of preparing tax
returns and reports;
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f.
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auditing fees and expenses;
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g.
|
legal fees and expenses (including reasonable fees for legal
services rendered to the Fund by the Investment Manager or its
affiliates);
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h.
|
salaries and other compensation of (1) any of the
Funds officers and employees who are not officers,
directors, stockholders or employees of the Investment Manager
or any of its affiliates, and (2) the Funds chief
compliance officer to the extent determined by those directors
of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Investment
Manager or its affiliates (the Independent
Directors);
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i.
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fees and expenses incidental to director and shareholder
meetings of the Fund, the preparation and mailings of proxy
material, prospectuses, and reports of the Fund to its
shareholders, the filing of reports with regulatory bodies, and
the maintenance of the Funds legal existence;
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j.
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costs of the listing (and maintenance of such listing) of the
Funds shares on stock exchanges, and the registration of
shares with Federal and state securities authorities;
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k.
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payment of dividends;
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A-1
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l.
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costs of stock certificates;
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m.
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fees and expenses of the Independent Directors;
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n.
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fees and expenses for accounting, administration, bookkeeping,
broker/dealer record keeping, clerical, compliance, custody,
dividend disbursing, fulfillment of requests for Fund
information, proxy soliciting, securities pricing, registrar,
and transfer agent services (including costs and
out-of-pocket
expenses payable to the Investment Manager or its affiliates for
such services);
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o.
|
costs of necessary office space rental and Fund web site
development and maintenance;
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p.
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costs of membership dues and charges of investment company
industry trade associations; and
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q.
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such non-recurring expenses as may arise, including, without
limitation, actions, suits or proceedings affecting the Fund and
the legal obligation which the Fund may have to indemnify its
officers and directors or settlements made.
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3.
|
The Investment Adviser shall supply the Fund and the Board of
Directors with reports and statistical data, as reasonably
requested. In addition, if requested by the Funds Board of
Directors, the Investment Manager or its affiliates may provide
services to the Fund such as, without limitation, accounting,
administration, bookkeeping, broker/dealer record keeping,
clerical, compliance, custody, dividend disbursing, fulfillment
of requests for Fund information, proxy soliciting, securities
pricing, registrar, and transfer agent services. Any services so
requested and performed will be for the account of the Fund and
the costs and
out-of-pocket
charges of the Investment Manager and its affiliates in
rendering such services shall be paid by the Fund, subject to
prior approval and examination by the Independent Directors.
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4.
|
The services of the Investment Manager are not to be deemed
exclusive, and the Investment Manager shall be free to render
similar services to others in addition to the Fund so long as
its services hereunder are not impaired thereby.
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5.
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The Investment Manager shall create and maintain all necessary
books and records in accordance with all applicable laws, rules
and regulations, including but not limited to records required
by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder,
as the same may be amended from time to time, pertaining to the
Investment Advisory Services and other services, if any,
performed by it hereunder and not otherwise created and
maintained by another party pursuant to a written contract with
the Fund. Where applicable, such records shall be maintained by
the Investment Manager for the periods and in the places
required by
Rule 3la-2
under the 1940 Act. The books and records pertaining to the Fund
which are in the possession of the Investment Manager shall be
the property of the Fund and shall be surrendered promptly upon
the Funds request, shall have access to such books and
records at all times during the Investment Managers normal
business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Fund, copies
of any such books and records shall be promptly provided by the
Investment Manager to the Fund or the Funds authorized
representatives. The Investment Manager shall keep confidential
any information obtained in connection with its duties hereunder
provided, however, if the Fund has authorized and directed
certain disclosure or if such disclosure is expressly required
or lawfully requested by applicable Federal or state regulatory
authorities or otherwise, the Fund shall reimburse the
Investment Manager for its expenses in connection therewith,
including the reasonable fees and expenses of the Investment
Managers outside legal counsel.
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6.
|
For the Investment Advisory Services provided to the Fund
pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund will pay to the Investment
Manager and the Investment Manager will accept as full
compensation therefor, a fee, payable on or before the tenth
(10th) day of each calendar month, at the annual rate of 0.95%
of the Funds Managed Assets (as defined below). Such fees
shall be reduced as required by expense limitations imposed upon
the Fund by any state in which shares of the Fund are sold.
Reductions shall be made at the time of each monthly payment on
an estimated basis, if appropriate, and an adjustment to reflect
the reduction on an annual basis shall be made, if necessary, in
the fee payable with respect to the last month in any calendar
year of the Fund. The Investment Manager shall within ten
(10) days after the end of each calendar year refund any
amount paid in excess of the fee determined to be due for such
year.
|
A-2
If this Agreement shall become effective subsequent to the first
day of a month, or shall terminate before the last day of a
month, the Investment Managers compensation for such
fraction of the month shall be determined by applying the
foregoing percentage to the Funds Managed Assets during
such fraction of a month (calculated on an average daily basis
if such fraction of a month is less than a week) and in the
proportion that such fraction of a month bears to the entire
month.
Managed Assets means the average weekly value of the
Funds total assets minus the sum of the Funds
liabilities, which liabilities exclude debt relating to
leverage, short-term debt and the aggregate liquidation
preference of any outstanding preferred stock.
|
|
7.
|
The Investment Manager shall direct portfolio transactions to
broker/dealers for execution on terms and at rates which it
believes, in good faith, to be reasonable in view of the overall
nature and quality of services provided by a particular
broker/dealer, including brokerage and research services.
Subject to the foregoing and applicable laws, rules and
regulations, the Investment Manager may also allocate portfolio
transactions to broker/dealers that remit a portion of their
commissions as a credit against Fund expenses. With respect to
brokerage and research services, the Investment Manager may
consider in the selection of broker/dealers brokerage or
research provided and payment may be made of a fee higher than
that charged by another broker/dealer which does not furnish
brokerage or research services or which furnishes brokerage or
research services deemed to be of lesser value, so long as the
criteria of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, or other applicable laws are met. Although the
Investment Manager may direct portfolio transactions without
necessarily obtaining the lowest price at which such
broker/dealer, or another, may be willing to do business, the
Investment Manager shall seek the best value for the Fund on
each trade that circumstances in the market place permit,
including the value inherent in on-going relationships with
quality brokers. To the extent any such brokerage or research
services may be deemed to be additional compensation to the
Investment Manager from the Fund, it is authorized by this
Agreement. The Investment Manager may place brokerage for the
Fund through an affiliate of the Investment Manager, provided
that such brokerage be undertaken in compliance with applicable
law. The Investment Managers fees under this Agreement
shall not be reduced by reason of any commissions, fees or other
remuneration received by such affiliate from the Fund.
|
|
8.
|
Subject to and in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation
or similar document, as amended (the Charter) and
By-laws of the Fund and of the Investment Manager, it is
understood that directors, officers, agents and shareholders of
the Fund are or may be interested in the Fund as directors,
officers, shareholders and otherwise, that the Investment
Manager is or may be interested in the Fund as a shareholder or
otherwise and that the effect and nature of any such interests
shall be governed by law and by the provisions, if any, of said
Charter or By-laws.
|
|
9.
|
This Agreement shall become effective upon the date hereinabove
written and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this
Agreement shall continue in effect for one year from the above
written date. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement
shall continue automatically for successive periods of twelve
months each, provided that such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually (a) by a vote of a majority of
the Directors of the Fund or by vote of the holders of a
majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities of the
Fund as defined in the 1940 Act and (b) by a vote of a
majority of the Directors of the Fund who are not parties to
this Agreement, or interested persons of such party. This
Agreement may be terminated without penalty at any time either
by vote of the Board of Directors of the Fund or by a vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of the Fund on 60 days written notice to the
Investment Manager, or by the Investment Manager on
60 days written notice to the Fund. This Agreement
shall immediately terminate in the event of its assignment.
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|
10.
|
The Investment Manager shall not be liable to the Fund or any
shareholder of the Fund for any error of judgment or mistake of
law or for any loss suffered by the Fund or the Funds
shareholders in connection with the matters to which this
Agreement relates, but nothing herein contained shall be
construed to protect the Investment Manager against any
liability to the Fund or the Funds shareholders by reason
of breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of
compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance
of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of
obligations and duties under this Agreement.
|
A-3
|
|
11.
|
The Investment Manager shall not be liable for delays or errors
occurring by reason of circumstances beyond its control,
including but not limited to acts of civil or military
authority, national emergencies, work stoppages, fire, flood,
catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riot, or failure of
communication or power supply. In the event of equipment
breakdowns beyond its control, the Investment Manager shall take
reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions but shall
have no liability with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, the Investment Manager shall have in
place at all times a reasonable disaster recovery plan and
program.
|
|
12.
|
As used in this Agreement, the terms interested
person, assignment, and majority of the
outstanding voting securities shall have the meanings
provided therefor in the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
|
|
13.
|
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, provided,
however, that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner
inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation
promulgated thereunder.
|
|
14.
|
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement, with respect
to the subject hereof whether oral or written. If any provision
of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court or
regulatory agency, decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the
remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This
Agreement may be amended at any time, but only by written
agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, which
amendment has been authorized by the Board, including the vote
of a majority of the Independent Directors and, where required
by the 1940 Act, the shareholders of the Fund.
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement on the day and year first above written.
CHARTWELL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
By:
BEXIL ADVISERS LLC
A-4
Exhibit B
Form of
Fee Waiver Letter
BEXIL
ADVISERS LLC
11 Hanover Square
New York, NY 10005
,
2010
Board of Directors
Chartwell Dividend and Income Fund, Inc.
11 Hanover Square
New York, NY 10005
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
Chartwell Dividend and Income Fund, Inc. (the Fund)
has entered into an Investment Management Agreement with Bexil
Advisers LLC (the Investment Manager) with the same
effective date as this letter agreement whereby the Investment
Manager furnishes certain investment advisory and portfolio
management services to the Fund.
The Investment Manager hereby agrees to waive up to
10 basis points annually of the fees payable to it under
the Investment Management Agreement to the extent that the ratio
stated as a percentage of the Funds total operating
expenses (excluding commercial paper fees and interest expense,
borrowing interest and fees, brokerage commissions, taxes, fees
and expenses of investing in other investment companies, and
extraordinary expenses) to the Funds Managed Assets (as
defined in the Investment Management Agreement) exceeds at the
annual rate the lesser of (1) 1.58% or (2) the ratio
stated as a percentage set forth in the Financial Highlights of
the Funds audited annual report for the year ended
November 30, 2010 in the line entitled Total
operating expenses including waiver of fees.
This letter agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of
the Investment Management Agreement and shall be governed by,
and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
State of Maryland, except insofar as federal laws and
regulations are controlling. This letter agreement shall become
effective upon the date hereinabove written and, unless sooner
amended or terminated with the approval of the Funds Board
of Directors, shall continue in effect for two years, or if
sooner, upon the termination of the Investment Management
Agreement.
If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the form
of acceptance below.
Very truly yours,
BEXIL ADVISERS LLC
Thomas B. Winmill, President
Agreed And Accepted:
CHARTWELL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
B-1
Exhibit C
Chartwell
Investment Partners, LP
The following table provides the names of the Managing Partners
and officers of Chartwell Partners and their principal
occupations. The address of each person listed below is
c/o Chartwell
Partners, 1235 Westlakes Drive, Suite 400, Berwyn,
Pennsylvania 19312.
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|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Position with Chartwell Partners
|
|
Principal Occupation
|
|
Edward N. Antoian
|
|
Managing Partner, Vice President
|
|
Senior Portfolio Manager
|
George H. Burwell
|
|
Managing Partner
|
|
Senior Portfolio Manager
|
David C. Dalrymple
|
|
Managing Partner
|
|
Senior Portfolio Manager
|
G. Gregory Hagar
|
|
Managing Partner, Treasurer and Secretary
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer
|
John A. Heffern
|
|
Managing Partner
|
|
Senior Portfolio Manager
|
Michael D. Jones
|
|
Managing Partner
|
|
Senior Portfolio Manager
|
Michael J. McCloskey
|
|
Managing Partner, Vice President
|
|
Director of Client Service and Marketing
|
Kevin A. Melich
|
|
Managing Partner
|
|
Senior Portfolio Manager
|
Timothy J. Riddle
|
|
Managing Partner, President
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
Bernard P. Schaffer
|
|
Managing Partner, Vice President
|
|
Senior Portfolio Manager
|
Christine F. Williams
|
|
Managing Partner
|
|
Senior Portfolio Manager
|
Bexil
Advisers LLC
The following table provides the names of the directors and
officers of Bexil Advisers and their principal occupations. The
address of each person listed below is
c/o Bexil
Advisers, 11 Hanover Square, New York, New York 10005:
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|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Position with Bexil Advisers
|
|
Principal Occupation
|
|
Thomas B. Winmill
|
|
Manager, Chief Executive Officer, President, and General Counsel
since 2010
|
|
Director, Chief Executive Officer, President, and General
Counsel (since 1995) of: Midas Fund, Inc., Midas Perpetual
Portfolio, Inc., Midas Special Fund, Inc., Foxby Corp., and
Global Income Fund, Inc. (registered investment companies);
Midas Management Corporation and CEF Advisers, Inc. (registered
investment advisers); Investor Service Center, Inc. and Bexil
Securities LLC (since 2010) (registered
broker-dealers);
Bexil Corporation; Tuxis Corporation; and Winmill &
Co. Incorporated. Manager of Bexil Securities LLC since 2010.
|
C-1
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Position with Bexil Advisers
|
|
Principal Occupation
|
|
Thomas OMalley
|
|
Manager, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Vice President since 2010
|
|
Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and
Vice President (since 2005) of: Midas Fund, Inc., Midas
Perpetual Portfolio, Inc., Midas Special Fund, Inc., Foxby
Corp., and Global Income Fund, Inc. (registered investment
companies); Midas Management Corporation and CEF Advisers, Inc.
(registered investment advisers); Investor Service Center, Inc.
and Bexil Securities LLC (since 2010) (registered
broker-dealers); Bexil Corporation; Tuxis Corporation; and
Winmill & Co. Incorporated. Director of Midas
Management Corporation, CEF Advisers, Inc., and Investor Service
Center, Inc. since 2005. Manager of Bexil Securities LLC since
2010.
|
John F. Ramirez
|
|
Chief Compliance Officer, Secretary, Vice President and
Associate General Counsel since 2010
|
|
Chief Compliance Officer, Vice President, Secretary (since
2005), and Associate General Counsel (since 2009) of: Midas
Fund, Inc., Midas Perpetual Portfolio, Inc., Midas Special Fund,
Inc., Foxby Corp., and Global Income Fund, Inc. (registered
investment companies); Midas Management Corporation and CEF
Advisers, Inc. (registered investment advisers); Investor
Service Center, Inc. and Bexil Securities LLC (since 2010)
(registered
broker-dealers);
Bexil Corporation; Tuxis Corporation; and Winmill &
Co. Incorporated.
|
C-2
Current
Officers of the Fund
The following table shows certain information about the current
officers of the Fund. Officers of the Fund are elected by the
Board of Directors and, subject to the earlier termination of
office, each officer holds office for the term of one year and
until his or her successor is elected and qualified. It is
expected that upon the Closing, the current officers will resign
and that the new Board will appoint new officers to fill the
vacancies.
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|
|
|
|
Name, Address(1)
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|
|
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
and Age of Officer
|
|
Position(s) Held with the Fund
|
|
During Past Five Years
|
|
Winthrop S. Jessup Age 65
|
|
Chairman of the Board, President and Director (since 1998)
|
|
Limited Partner, Chartwell Investment Partners, L.P. and
Chartwell G.P. Inc. (since 1997); Director, Georgia Banking
Company (since 1998); Director and Chief Executive Officer,
Rigel Capital LLC (investment adviser) (2009-2010); Managing
Partner, Chartwell Investment Partners, L.P. and Chartwell G.P.,
Inc. (1997 to 2005).
|
Bernard P. Schaffer Age 66
|
|
Vice President and Director (since 1998)
|
|
Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager of Chartwell Investment
Partners, L.P. and Partner of Chartwell G.P., Inc.
(since 1997).
|
Kevin A. Melich Age 68
|
|
Vice President (since 1998)
|
|
Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager of Chartwell Investment
Partners, L.P. and of Chartwell G.P., Inc. (since 1997).
|
Timothy J. Riddle Age 54
|
|
Vice President (since 1998)
|
|
Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Chartwell and
Investment Partners, L.P. and of Chartwell G.P., Inc. (since
1997).
|
G. Gregory Hagar Age 42
|
|
Vice President (since 1998), Treasurer and Chief Compliance
Officer (since 2004)
|
|
Managing Partner (since 2007), Chief Compliance Officer (since
2004) and Chief Financial Officer (since 1997) of Chartwell
Investment Partners, L.P.
|
Andrew S. Toburen Age 39
|
|
Vice President (since 2003)
|
|
Fixed Income Portfolio Manager, Chartwell Investment Partners,
L.P. (since 1999).
|
Michael P. Malloy(2)
Age 51
|
|
Secretary (since 1998)
|
|
Partner in the law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
(since 1993).
|
Maria E. Pollack Age 65
|
|
Assistant Secretary (since 1998)
|
|
Director of Client Administration for Chartwell Investment
Partners, L.P. (since 1997).
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|
|
|
(1) |
|
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer and
Director of the Fund is
c/o Chartwell
Investment Partners, 1235 Westlakes Drive, Suite 400,
Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Malloys business address is One Logan Square,
Suite 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. |
C-3
Exhibit D
COMPARISON
OF CURRENT AND
PRO FORMA FEES AND EXPENSES
(unaudited)
The purpose of the fee table and the expense example below is to
help you understand the fees and expenses that you, as a
shareholder, would bear directly and indirectly. The pro forma
information shown below assumes that the Proposed Agreement and
nominees for Directors have been approved by shareholders and
that the Closing has occurred. The pro forma expenses and
expense example should not be considered a representation of
future expenses. Actual future expenses may be higher or lower
than those shown.
The fee table compares the Funds current expenses to the
Funds pro forma expenses giving effect to the Proposed
Agreement and the management of the Fund by Bexil Advisers.
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(as a percentage of Managed Assets(1))
|
|
Current Expenses(2)
|
|
|
Pro Forma Expenses(3)
|
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
|
0.95
|
%
|
|
|
0.95
|
%
|
Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds
|
|
|
0.30
|
%
|
|
|
0.30
|
%
|
Other Expenses(4)
|
|
|
0.63
|
%
|
|
|
0.53
|
%
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses(5)
|
|
|
0.01
|
%
|
|
|
0.03
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Annual Expenses(6)
|
|
|
1.89
|
%
|
|
|
1.81
|
%
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Managed Assets means the average weekly value of the Funds
total assets minus the sum of the Funds liabilities, which
liabilities exclude debt relating to leverage, short-term debt,
and the aggregate liquidation preference of any outstanding
preferred stock. Presenting Annual Expenses as a percentage of
Managed Assets is consistent with the calculation of Annual
Expenses in the Funds semi-annual and annual financial
statements. |
|
(2) |
|
Current expenses are the annualized historical expenses of the
Fund as of May 31, 2010, restated to reflect the
termination of the commercial paper program on April 26,
2010 and a voluntary advisory fee waiver of 0.10% annually by
Chartwell Partners reflected in Other Expenses. |
|
(3) |
|
The pro forma expenses, other than the Management Fee, are
estimated. |
|
(4) |
|
The Proposed Agreement more clearly specifies the allocation of
expenses between the Fund and Bexil Advisers. Unlike the
Proposed Agreement, under the Current Agreement all expenses
related to office space rental and maintenance of the
Funds website are paid by Chartwell Partners. In addition,
the Fund currently does not pay any additional compensation to
its CCO, who is an employee of Chartwell Partners. Under the
Proposed Agreement, the Fund will reimburse Bexil Advisers for
providing certain administrative services at cost comprised of
compliance and accounting services. Notwithstanding these
additional expenses, Bexil Advisers anticipates that the direct
operating expense ratio of the Fund may decrease because of cost
savings that may be achieved by reducing certain fixed costs of
the Fund and by allocating certain common costs across all of
the funds in the Bexil Investment Company Complex, and that
those savings may be achievable over time through the use of
vendors servicing the Bexil Investment Company Complex. |
|
(5) |
|
Fund investors bear indirectly the fees and expenses (including
investment advisory fees and other operating expenses) of any
investment companies in which the Fund invests (acquired
funds). For purposes of this calculation, Bexil Advisers
assumed that an average of 5% of the Funds Managed Assets
will be invested in acquired funds in the first year after
Closing, although such percentage and the related Acquired
Fund Fees and Expenses in the table above are expected to
gradually increase after such period dependent on market
conditions, the maturities of the bond portfolio, and other
factors. |
|
(6) |
|
Current Total Annual Expenses are stated net of
0.10% advisory fee waiver. Chartwell Partners voluntarily waives
0.10% of its advisory fee annually. Chartwell Partners may
reduce or terminate the waiver at anytime. Bexil Advisers has
contractually agreed for a period of two years, to waive up to
0.10% of its advisory fee annually to the extent that the ratio
stated as a percentage of the Funds total operating
expenses (excluding |
D-1
|
|
|
|
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commercial paper fees and interest expense, borrowing interest
and fees, brokerage commissions, taxes, fees and expenses of
investing in acquired funds (Acquired Fund Fees and
Expenses in the table above), and extraordinary expenses)
(together, Direct Operating Expenses) to the
Funds Managed Assets exceeds at the annual rate the lesser
of (1) 1.58% or (2) the ratio stated as a percentage
set forth in the Financial Highlights of the Funds audited
annual report for the year ending November 30, 2010 in the
line entitled Total operating expenses including waiver of
fees. Pro forma Total Annual Expenses do not
include a provision for the contractual fee waiver as the pro
forma Direct Operating Expense ratio of 1.48% does not exceed
1.58% and the Fund has not completed its 2010 fiscal year as of
the date of this Proxy Statement. |
The following examples illustrate the expenses that you would
pay on a $1,000 investment in shares of the Fund, assuming
(1) a 5% annual return and (2) that the Fund incurs
current and pro forma expenses at the levels set forth in the
table above adjusted to eliminate the effect of the voluntary
fee waiver.
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1 Year
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3 Years
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5 Years
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10 Years
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Current expenses
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$
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20
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$
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62
|
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$
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107
|
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$
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232
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Pro forma expenses
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$
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18
|
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$
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57
|
|
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$
|
98
|
|
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$
|
213
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|
The example above should not be considered a representation of
future expenses or returns. Actual expenses or returns may be
higher or lower than those shown.
D-2
FORM OF PRELIMINARY PROXY CARD
CHARTWELL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
Special Meeting of Shareholders December 29, 2010
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CHARTWELL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
(THE FUND) FOR USE AT THE FIRST SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 29, 2010
AT 8:30 A.M. (EASTERN TIME) AT THE OFFICES OF CHARTWELL
INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P., 1235 WESTLAKES DRIVE, SUITE 400, BERWYN, PENNSYLVANIA.
The undersigned hereby appoints Timothy Riddle and G. Gregory Hagar, and each of them, with
full power of substitution, as proxies of the undersigned to vote at the above-stated Special
Meeting, and all adjournments or postponements thereof, all shares of common stock held of record
by the undersigned upon the following matter, and upon any other procedural matter related to this
matter, which may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements
thereof, at their discretion. The effectiveness of the new investment management agreement and the
election of any nominee as a director are contingent upon the approval of the other and on the
Closing of the transaction among Bexil Corporation, Bexil Advisers and Chartwell Partners, as described in the
accompanying Proxy Statement.
1. To consider and vote upon the approval of a new investment management agreement between
the Fund and Bexil Advisers LLC.
____ FOR ____ AGAINST ____ ABSTAIN
2. |
|
To vote and otherwise represent the undersigned on any other matter that may properly come
before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof in the discretion of the proxy
holder. |
Every properly signed proxy will be voted in the manner specified hereon and, in the absence
of specification, will be treated as GRANTING authority to vote FOR the approval of the new
investment management agreement. In addition, votes entitled to be cast by the undersigned will be
cast in the discretion of the Proxy holder on any other matter that may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof, including adjournment of the Meeting in the
event that sufficient votes in favor of any Board proposal are not received. The undersigned hereby
acknowledges receipt of the Notice of the first Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund and the Proxy
Statement.
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PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY. |
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Sign here exactly as name(s) appear(s) hereon |
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Date: |
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IMPORTANT Joint owners must EACH sign. When
signing as attorney, trustee, executor,
administrator, guardian, or corporate officer, please
give your FULL title. |
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting to Be Held
on December 29, 2010: The Notice of the first Special Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement
are available at www.chartwellip.com. To obtain directions to attend
the Special Meeting in person call toll-free 1-866-585-6552.
[INSERT TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING INSTRUCTIONS HERE]
-2-
FORM OF PRELIMINARY PROXY CARD
CHARTWELL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
Special Meeting of Shareholders December 29, 2010
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CHARTWELL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND,
INC. (THE FUND) FOR USE AT THE SECOND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 29,
2010 AT [9:00] A.M. (EASTERN TIME) AT THE OFFICES OF CHARTWELL
INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P., 1235 WESTLAKES DRIVE, SUITE 400, BERWYN,
PENNSYLVANIA.
The undersigned hereby appoints Timothy Riddle and G. Gregory Hagar, and each of them, with
full power of substitution, as proxies of the undersigned to vote at the above-stated Special
Meeting, and all adjournments or postponements thereof, all shares of common stock held of record
by the undersigned upon the following matter, and upon any other
procedural matter related to this matter, which may properly come before the Special Meeting or any
adjournments or postponements thereof, at their discretion. The effectiveness of the new
investment management agreement and the election of any nominee as a director are contingent upon
the approval of the other and on the Closing of the transaction among
Bexil Corporation, Bexil Advisers and
Chartwell Partners, as described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.
1. |
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To elect Four Directors: |
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(01) |
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Peter K. Werner |
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(02) |
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James E. Hunt |
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(03) |
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Bruce B. Huber |
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(04) |
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Thomas B. Winmill |
o |
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Mark here to vote FOR all the nominees |
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o |
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Mark here to WITHHOLD vote from all nominees |
o For All EXCEPT To withhold a vote for one or more nominees, mark the box to
the left and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the space provided below
.
2. |
|
To vote and otherwise represent the undersigned on any other matter that may properly come
before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements, thereof in the discretion of the
proxy holder. |
Every properly signed proxy will be voted in the manner specified hereon and, in the absence
of specification, will be treated as GRANTING authority to vote FOR the election of each of the
nominees. In addition, votes entitled to be cast by the undersigned will be cast in the discretion
of the Proxy holder on any other matter that may properly come before the Meeting or any
adjournments or postponements thereof, including adjournment of the Meeting in the event that
sufficient votes in favor of any Board proposal are not received. The undersigned hereby
acknowledges receipt of the Notice of the second Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund and the Proxy
Statement.
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PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY. |
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Sign here exactly as name(s) appear(s) hereon |
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Date: |
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IMPORTANT Joint owners must EACH sign. When
signing as attorney, trustee, executor,
administrator, guardian, or corporate officer, please
give your FULL title. |
|
|
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting to Be Held
on December 29, 2010: The Notice of the second Special Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement
are available at www.chartwellip.com. To obtain directions to attend the Special Meeting in person call toll-free 1-866-585-6552.
[INSERT TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING INSTRUCTIONS HERE]
-2-