-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, IB4XgLxMWu4fmczLwDtJS9m5r9vtei2VgcGAyztALOZ26As/630ML2n0/k2aReKV Vg0rJ3epH0ZAGA0K14n40w== 0000930413-02-002065.txt : 20020621 0000930413-02-002065.hdr.sgml : 20020621 20020621172428 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000930413-02-002065 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DEFA14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20020621 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FRANCE GROWTH FUND INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000860743 IRS NUMBER: 133560020 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEFA14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-05994 FILM NUMBER: 02684749 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 499 WASHINGTON BLVD 14TH FLOOR STREET 2: C/O MITCHELL HUTCHINS ASSET MANAGEMENT CITY: JERSEY CITY STATE: NJ ZIP: 07310 BUSINESS PHONE: 2013184144 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 499 WASHINGTON BLVD 14TH FLOOR STREET 2: 37TH FL CITY: JERSEY CITY STATE: NJ ZIP: 07310 DEFA14A 1 defa14a.txt DEFA14A INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ___) Filed by the Registrant /x/ Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / / Check the appropriate box: / / Preliminary Proxy Statement / / Definitive Proxy Statement /X/ Definitive Additional Materials / / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 / / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e) (2)) The France Growth 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): /x/ No fee required. THE FRANCE GROWTH FUND CORRECTS STOCKHOLDER MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS New York, NY. June 21, 2002 -- (Business Wire) -- The France Growth Fund, Inc. said today that a stockholder's proxy soliciting materials filed with the SEC contain material misstatements of fact. In order to set the record straight, the Fund noted that at its annual meeting of stockholders, convened on June 18, 2002, two proposals were carried. Stockholders voted to re-elect four incumbent directors, rejecting the dissident stockholder's slate, and also approved a stockholder proposal. Steven M. Cancro, Secretary of the Fund, said that all of the proposals relating to the approval of a new European multi-manager, multi-strategy investment program for the Fund had received more votes in favor of the restructuring than votes against. However, a significant number of stockholders of the Fund had not yet voted on those proposals. Mr. Cancro said, in responding to the stockholder's unsupported charge, that adjourning the meeting was not a breach of any fiduciary duty of directors. Consistent with Maryland and federal law, as well as disclosures in the Fund's Proxy Statement describing the procedure for adjournments, the meeting was adjourned with respect to all proposals seeking approval of the new investment program, until 2:00 p.m. June 21, 2002 in order to permit further voting to meet the requirements of the federal Investment Company Act of 1940. While additional votes were cast in favor of the new investment program proposals at the time the meeting was reconvened on June 21, the meeting was further adjourned until 2:00 p.m. June 28, 2002, in order to permit continued voting. Pierre Daviron, an independent director and chairman of the Fund's Investment and Strategy Committee, commented that "By adjourning the meeting, we hope to give those stockholders who have not yet voted on these proposals the opportunity to vote because we believe strongly that implementation of the new investment program is in their best interests". As previously announced, the Fund has said it would conduct a tender offer for 25% of its outstanding common stock at 95% of NAV if all of the new investment program proposals are adopted by the stockholders. The France Growth Fund, Inc. (NYSE: FRF) is a closed-end, diversified management investment company seeking long-term capital appreciation. The Fund maintains a website at WWW.FRANCEGROWTHFUND.COM. CAAM, the Fund's investment adviser, is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Credit Agricole Group. OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION. The tender offer described in this announcement has not yet commenced. As soon as the tender offer commences, the Fund will file a tender offer statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Stockholders should read the tender offer statement when it becomes available because it will contain important information about the tender offer. Stockholders can obtain a tender offer statement, and other documents that are filed with the Commission for free when they are available on the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov. Also, stockholders may write or call the Fund requesting these documents which the Fund will send to them for free when they are available: -- Tender offer statement (except for exhibits) -- Offer to purchase -- Letter of transmittal -- Notice of guaranteed delivery CONTACT: The France Growth Fund, Inc. Steven Cancro, (646) 658-3663 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----