EX-99 5 proxyinst.txt PROXY VOTING POLICIES BROOKFIELD INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC. PORTFOLIO PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MAY 2012 The Portfolio Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the "Policies and Procedures") set forth the proxy voting policies, procedures and guidelines to be followed by Brookfield Investment Management Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, "BIM") in voting portfolio proxies relating to securities that are held in the portfolios of the investment companies or other clients ("Clients") for which BIM has been delegated such proxy voting authority. A. PROXY VOTING COMMITTEE BIM's internal proxy voting committee (the "Committee") is responsible for overseeing the proxy voting process and ensuring that BIM meets its regulatory and corporate governance obligations in voting of portfolio proxies. The Committee shall oversee the proxy voting agent's compliance with these Policies and Procedures, including any deviations by the proxy voting agent from the proxy voting guidelines ("Guidelines"). B. ADMINISTRATION AND VOTING OF PORTFOLIO PROXIES 1. FIDUCIARY DUTY AND OBJECTIVE As an investment adviser that has been granted the authority to vote on portfolio proxies, BIM owes a fiduciary duty to its Clients to monitor corporate events and to vote portfolio proxies consistent with the best interests of its Clients. In this regard, BIM seeks to ensure that all votes are free from unwarranted and inappropriate influences. Accordingly, BIM generally votes portfolio proxies in a uniform manner for its Clients and in accordance with these Policies and Procedures and the Guidelines. In meeting its fiduciary duty, BIM generally view proxy voting as a way to enhance the value of the company's stock held by the Clients. Similarly, when voting on matters for which the Guidelines dictate a vote be decided on a case-by-case basis, BIM's primary consideration is the economic interests its Clients. 2. PROXY VOTING AGENT BIM may retain an independent third party proxy voting agent to assist BIM in its proxy voting responsibilities in accordance with these Policies and Procedures and in particular, with the Guidelines. As discussed above, the Committee is responsible for monitoring the proxy voting agent. In general, BIM may consider the proxy voting agent's research and analysis as part of BIM's own review of a proxy proposal in which the Guidelines recommend that the vote be considered on a case-by-case basis. BIM bears ultimate responsibility for how portfolio proxies are voted. Unless instructed otherwise by BIM, the proxy voting agent, when retained, will vote each portfolio proxy in accordance with the Guidelines. The proxy voting agent also will assist BIM in maintaining records of BIM's portfolio proxy votes, including the appropriate - 1 - records necessary for registered investment companies to meet their regulatory obligations regarding the annual filing of proxy voting records on Form N-PX with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). 3. MATERIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BIM votes portfolio proxies without regard to any other business relationship between BIM and the company to which the portfolio proxy relates. To this end, BIM must identify material conflicts of interest that may arise between a Client and BIM, such as the following relationships: o BIM provides significant investment advisory or other services to a portfolio company or its affiliates (the "Company") whose management is soliciting proxies or BIM is seeking to provide such services; o BIM serves as an investment adviser to the pension or other investment account of the Company or BIM is seeking to serve in that capacity; or o BIM and the Company have a lending or other financial-related relationship. In each of these situations, voting against the Company management's recommendation may cause BIM a loss of revenue or other benefit. BIM generally seeks to avoid such material conflicts of interest by maintaining separate investment decision-making and proxy voting decision-making processes. To further minimize possible conflicts of interest, BIM and the Committee employ the following procedures, as long as BIM determines that the course of action is consistent with the best interests of the Clients: o If the proposal that gives rise to a material conflict is specifically addressed in the Guidelines, BIM will vote the portfolio proxy in accordance with the Guidelines, provided that the Guidelines do not provide discretion to BIM on how to vote on the matter (i.e., case-by-case); or o If the previous procedure does not provide an appropriate voting recommendation, BIM may retain an independent fiduciary for advice on how to vote the proposal or the Committee may direct BIM to abstain from voting because voting on the particular proposal is impracticable and/or is outweighed by the cost of voting. 4. CERTAIN FOREIGN SECURITIES Portfolio proxies relating to foreign securities held by Clients are subject to these Policies and Procedures. In certain foreign jurisdictions, however, the voting of portfolio proxies can result in additional restrictions that have an economic impact to the security, such as "share-blocking." If BIM votes on the portfolio proxy, share-blocking may prevent BIM from selling the shares of the foreign security for a period of time. In determining whether to vote portfolio proxies subject to such restrictions, BIM, in consultation with the Committee, considers whether the vote, either in itself or together with the votes of other shareholders, is expected to affect the value of the security that outweighs the cost of voting. If BIM votes on a portfolio proxy and during the - 2 - "share-blocking period," BIM would like to sell the affected foreign security, BIM, in consultation with the Committee, will attempt to recall the shares (as allowable within the market time-frame and practices). C. FUND BOARD REPORTING AND RECORDKEEPING BIM will prepare periodic reports for submission to the Boards of Directors of its affiliated funds (the "Funds") describing: o any issues arising under these Policies and Procedures since the last report to the Funds' Boards of Directors/Trustees and the resolution of such issues, including but not limited to, information about conflicts of interest not addressed in the Policies and Procedures; and o any proxy votes taken by BIM on behalf of the Funds since the last report to such Funds' Boards of Directors/Trustees that deviated from these Policies and Procedures, with reasons for any such deviations. In addition, no less frequently than annually, BIM will provide the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the Funds with a written report of any recommended changes based upon BIM's experience under these Policies and Procedures, evolving industry practices and developments in the applicable laws or regulations. BIM will maintain all records that are required under, and in accordance with, all applicable regulations, including the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which include, but not limited to: o these Policies and Procedures, as amended from time to time; o records of votes cast with respect to portfolio proxies, reflecting the information required to be included in Form N-PX, as applicable; o records of written client requests for proxy voting information and any written responses of BIM to such requests; and o any written materials prepared by BIM that were material to making a decision in how to vote, or that memorialized the basis for the decision. D. AMENDMENTS TO THESE PROCEDURES The Committee shall periodically review and update these Policies and Procedures as necessary. Any amendments to these Procedures and Policies (including the Guidelines) shall be provided to the Board of Directors of BIM and to the Boards of Directors of the Funds for review and approval. E. PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES Guidelines are available upon request. - 3 -