0001193125-11-297605.txt : 20111104 0001193125-11-297605.hdr.sgml : 20111104 20111104165557 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-11-297605 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DEF 14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 7 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20111206 FILED AS OF DATE: 20111104 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20111104 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20111104 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN STRATEGIC INCOME PORTFOLIO INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000878930 IRS NUMBER: 411705401 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MN FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEF 14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-06404 FILM NUMBER: 111181851 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 NICOLLET AVE STREET 2: BC-MN-H05O CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55402 BUSINESS PHONE: 6123033381 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 NICOLLET AVE STREET 2: BC-MN-H05O CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55402 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN STRATEGIC INCOME PORTFOLIO INC II CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000886984 IRS NUMBER: 411719822 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MN FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEF 14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-06640 FILM NUMBER: 111181854 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 NICOLLET AVE STREET 2: BC-MN-H05O CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55402 BUSINESS PHONE: 6123033381 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 NICOLLET AVE STREET 2: BC-MN-H05O CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55402 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN STRATEGIC INCOME PORTFOLIO INC III CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000896161 IRS NUMBER: 411739732 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MN FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEF 14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-07444 FILM NUMBER: 111181853 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 NICOLLET AVE STREET 2: BC-MN-H05O CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55402 BUSINESS PHONE: 6123033381 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 NICOLLET AVE STREET 2: BC-MN-H05O CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55402 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN STRATEGIC INCOME INC III DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19930426 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN SELECT PORTFOLIO INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000908785 IRS NUMBER: 411755339 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MN FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEF 14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-07838 FILM NUMBER: 111181852 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 NICOLLET AVE STREET 2: BC-MN-H05O CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55402-3804 BUSINESS PHONE: 6123033381 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 NICOLLET AVE STREET 2: BC-MN-H05O CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55402 DEF 14A 1 d252990ddef14a.htm DEF 14A DEF 14A

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.   )

Filed by the Registrant  x                            Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨   Preliminary Proxy Statement
¨   Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
x   Definitive Proxy Statement
¨   Definitive Additional Materials
¨   Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12

American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc.

American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc.—II

American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc.—III

American Select Portfolio Inc.

(Name of the 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.

¨

  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
 

1.

 

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

   

 

  2.  

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

   

 

  3.  

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 

   

 


  4.  

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

   

 

  5.  

Total fee paid:

 

 

   

 

¨   Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
¨   Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
  1.  

Amount Previously Paid:

 

 

   

 

  2.  

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

   

 

  3.  

Filing Party:

 

 

   

 

  4.  

Date Filed:

 

 

   

 

 

 

 


AMERICAN STRATEGIC INCOME PORTFOLIO INC.

AMERICAN STRATEGIC INCOME PORTFOLIO INC.—II

AMERICAN STRATEGIC INCOME PORTFOLIO INC.—III

AMERICAN SELECT PORTFOLIO INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON

DECEMBER 6, 2011

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of shareholders of American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc., American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc.—II, American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc.—III and American Select Portfolio Inc. (individually, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) will be held at 10:00 a.m., Central Time, on Tuesday, December 6, 2011, at the offices of U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc., 3rd Floor – Training Room A, 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402. The purposes of the meeting are as follows:

 

  1. To elect a Board of Directors.

 

  2. To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of each Fund for the current fiscal year.

 

  3. To approve changes to each Fund’s policy on investing in REIT preferred stock.

 

  4. To transact any other business properly brought before the meeting.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF EACH ITEM LISTED ON THIS NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS.

Shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 24, 2011 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.

You can vote easily and quickly by toll-free telephone call, by internet or by mail. Just follow the instructions that appear on your enclosed proxy card. Please help the Funds avoid the cost of a follow-up mailing by voting today.

 

November 4, 2011    Richard J. Ertel
   Secretary


PROXY STATEMENT

AMERICAN STRATEGIC INCOME PORTFOLIO INC.

AMERICAN STRATEGIC INCOME PORTFOLIO INC.—II

AMERICAN STRATEGIC INCOME PORTFOLIO INC.—III

AMERICAN SELECT PORTFOLIO INC.

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS — DECEMBER 6, 2011

Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meetings of Shareholders to be Held on December 6, 2011: This proxy statement is available at www.firstamericanfunds.com.

The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc., American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc.—II, American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc.—III and American Select Portfolio Inc. (sometimes referred to individually as a “Fund” and collectively as the “Funds”) in connection with each Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders to be held Tuesday, December 6, 2011, and any adjournments thereof (the “Meeting”). Mailing of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and this Proxy Statement will take place on approximately November 9, 2011.

In order for the Meeting to go forward for a Fund, there must be a quorum. This means that at least a majority of that Fund’s shares must be represented at the Meeting — either in person or by proxy. All returned proxies count toward a quorum, regardless of how they are voted. If a broker or nominee holding shares in “street name” indicates on the proxy card that it does not have discretionary authority to vote on a proposal and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner (a “broker non-vote”), those shares will not be considered present and entitled to vote on that proposal. Abstentions, however, will be counted as shares present and entitled to vote with respect to a proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the proposal to elect directors. With respect to the proposal to ratify the Funds’ independent accountants, which requires a majority of votes cast at the Meeting, a broker non-vote will have no effect, and an abstention will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. With respect to the proposal to approve changes to each Fund’s policy on investing in REIT preferred stock, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal.

For any Fund, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting for that Fund to permit further solicitation of proxies, whether or not a quorum is present. In determining whether to adjourn the Meeting, the following factors may be considered: the nature of the proposal; the percentage of votes actually cast; the percentage of negative votes actually cast; the nature of any further solicitation; and the information to be provided to shareholders with respect to the reasons for the solicitation. Any adjournment will require a vote in favor of the adjournment by the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Meeting (or any adjourned meeting).

Only shareholders of record of each Fund on October 24, 2011 may vote at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. As of that date, the Funds had the following numbers of issued and outstanding shares of common stock:

 

American Strategic

Income Portfolio

 

American Strategic

Income Portfolio II

 

American Strategic

Income Portfolio III

 

American Select

Portfolio

4,231,331

  15,985,741   21,356,023   10,662,195

 

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Each shareholder of a Fund is entitled to one vote for each share held. None of the matters to be presented at the Meeting will entitle any shareholder to cumulative voting or appraisal rights.

You may revoke your proxy at any time up until voting results are announced at the Meeting. You can do this by writing to the Funds’ Secretary, or by voting in person at the Meeting and notifying the election judge that you are revoking your proxy. In addition, you can revoke a prior proxy simply by voting again — using your original proxy card or by internet or toll-free telephone call. If you return an executed proxy card without instructions, your shares will be voted “for” each proposal.

The Funds’ most recent annual report has been mailed to shareholders, and is also available by request without charge by writing to the Funds at 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, or by calling the Funds at 800-677-3863.

 

2


PROPOSAL ONE

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

At the Meeting, shareholders of each Fund will be asked to elect the nominees listed below as members of that Fund’s Board. Each nominee is not considered an “interested person,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), of the Funds (the “Independent Directors”). It is intended that the enclosed proxy will be voted for the election of the persons named below as directors of each Fund unless such authority has been withheld in the proxy. Biographical information regarding each nominee is set forth below. Each nominee also serves as a director of the other closed-end and open-end investment companies managed by the Funds’ investment advisor (the “Fund Complex”). The Fund Complex currently consists of eight closed-end funds (each of which is a registered investment company) and six open-end funds (which are portfolios of two registered investment companies). The business address of each of the nominees is First American Funds, P.O. Box 1329, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440-1329. Each nominee has served as a director since the last annual meeting of shareholders.

Nominees for Election as Independent Directors

 

Name and

Year of Birth

 

Position

Held

with the

Funds

 

Term of Office* and

Length of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Last Five Years

 

Number of

Portfolios in Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Director

 

Other Director-

ships Held by

Director**

Roger A. Gibson

(1946)

  Director   Mr. Gibson has served as a director of each of the Funds since August 1998. Fund directors serve for a one-year term that expires at the next annual meeting of shareholders.   Director, Charterhouse Group, Inc., a private equity firm, since October 2005; Advisor/Consultant, Future Freight™, a logistics/supply chain company; Director, Towne Airfreight; non-profit board member; prior to retirement in 2005, served in several executive positions for United Airlines, including Vice President and Chief Operating Officer – Cargo; Independent Director, First American Fund Complex since 1997   14   None

John P. Kayser

(1949)

  Director   Mr. Kayser has served as a director of each of the Funds since October 2006. Fund directors serve for a one-year term that expires at the next annual meeting of shareholders.   Retired; non-profit board member; prior to retirement in 2004, Principal, William Blair & Company, LLC, a Chicago-based investment firm; previously served on board of governors, Chicago Stock Exchange; former Director, William Blair Mutual Funds, Inc., Midwest Securities Trust Company, and John O. Butler Co.; Independent Director, First American Fund Complex since 2006   14   None

 

3


Name and

Year of Birth

 

Position

Held

with the

Funds

 

Term of Office* and

Length of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Last Five Years

 

Number of

Portfolios in Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Director

 

Other Director-

ships Held by

Director**

Leonard W. Kedrowski

(1941)

  Chair; Director   Mr. Kedrowski has served as Chair of each of the Funds since January 2011 and as a director of each of the Funds since August 1998. Fund directors serve for a one-year term that expires at the next annual meeting of shareholders.   Owner and President, Executive and Management Consulting, Inc., a management consulting firm; Chief Executive Officer, Blue Earth Internet, a web site development company; Board member, GC McGuiggan Corporation (dba Smyth Companies), a label printer; Member, investment advisory committee, Sisters of the Good Shepherd; Certified Public Accountant; former Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and Director, Anderson Windows, a large privately-held manufacturer of wood windows; former Director, Protection Mutual Insurance Company, an international property and casualty insurer; Independent Director, First American Fund Complex since 1993   14   None

 

4


Name and

Year of Birth

 

Position

Held

with the

Funds

 

Term of Office* and

Length of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Last Five Years

 

Number of

Portfolios in Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Director

 

Other Director-

ships Held by

Director**

Richard K. Riederer

(1944)

  Director   Mr. Riederer has served as a director of each of the Funds since August 2001. Fund directors serve for a one-year term that expires at the next annual meeting of shareholders.   Owner and Chief Executive Officer, RKR Consultants, Inc., a consulting company providing advice on business strategy, mergers and acquisitions; Director, Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc.; Certified Financial Analyst; non-profit board member; former Chief Executive Officer and President, Weirton Steel Corporation; former Vice President and Treasurer, Harnischfeger Industries, a capital machinery manufacturer; former Treasurer and Director of Planning, Allis Chalmers Corporation, an equipment manufacturing company; former Chairman, American Iron & Steel Institute, a North American steel industry trade association; Independent Director, First American Fund Complex since 2001 and Firstar Funds 1988-2001   14   Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc. (a producer of iron ore pellets and coal)

 

5


Name and

Year of Birth

 

Position

Held

with the

Funds

 

Term of Office* and

Length of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Last Five Years

 

Number of

Portfolios in Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Director

 

Other Director-

ships Held by

Director**

Joseph D. Strauss

(1940)

  Vice Chair; Director   Mr. Strauss has served as Vice Chair of each of the Funds since January 2011 and as a director of each of the Funds since August 1998. Fund directors serve for a one-year term that expires at the next annual meeting of shareholders.   Attorney At Law; Owner and President, Strauss Management Company, a Minnesota holding company for various organizational management business ventures; Owner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Community Resource Partnerships, Inc., a corporation engaged in strategic planning, operations management, government relations, transportation planning and public relations; Chairman, Excensus™ LLC, a strategic demographic planning and application development firm; General Counsel, ibody science, llc, a manufacturer of all-natural skin and wound care treatment products for human beings; General Counsel, Cowgirl Science, LLC, a manufacturer of all-natural skin and wound care treatment products for animals; Independent Director, First American Fund Complex since 1984   14   None

James M. Wade

(1943)

  Director   Mr. Wade has served as a director of each of the Funds since August 2001. Fund directors serve for a one-year term that expires at the next annual meeting of shareholders.   Owner and President, Jim Wade Homes, a homebuilding company; formerly, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Johnson Controls, Inc.; Independent Director, First American Fund Complex since 2001 and Firstar Funds 1988-2001   14   None

 

* Each director serves for the term specified or, if earlier, until his or her death, resignation, removal or disqualification.
** Includes only directorships in a company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, or any company registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act.

There were eight meetings of the Board during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011. During the fiscal year, each of the directors standing for re-election attended at least 75% of all meetings of the Board and of

 

6


committees of which he or she was a regular member that were held while he or she was serving on the Board or on such committee.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board is responsible for overseeing generally the operation of each Fund. The Board has approved an investment advisory agreement with U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. (“U.S. Bancorp Asset Management” or the “Advisor”) as well as other contracts with U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, its affiliates, and other service providers.

As noted above, each director is considered to be an Independent Director. The directors also serve as directors of the other funds in the Fund Complex. Taking into account the number, diversity and complexity of the funds overseen by the directors and the aggregate amount of assets under management in the Fund Complex, the Board has determined that the efficient conduct of its affairs makes it desirable to delegate responsibility for certain matters to committees of the Board. These committees, which are described in more detail below, review and evaluate matters specified in their charters and make recommendations to the Board as they deem appropriate. Each committee may use the resources of the Funds’ counsel and auditors, counsel to the Independent Directors, as well as other experts. The committees meet as often as necessary, either in conjunction with regular meetings of the Board or otherwise.

The Funds are subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational, and valuation risks. The Board’s role in risk oversight of each Fund reflects its responsibility to oversee generally, rather than to manage, the operations of the Fund. The actual day-to-day risk management with respect to the Funds resides with U.S. Bancorp Asset Management and the other service providers to the Funds. In line with the Board’s oversight responsibility, the Board receives reports and makes inquiries regarding various risks at its regular meetings or otherwise. However, the Board relies upon the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, who reports directly to the Board, and U.S. Bancorp Asset Management (including its Senior Business Line Risk Manager and other members of its management team) to assist the Board in identifying and understanding the nature and extent of such risks and determining whether, and to what extent, such risks may be eliminated or mitigated. Although the risk management policies of U.S. Bancorp Asset Management and the other service providers are designed to be effective, those policies and their implementation vary among service providers and over time, and there is no guarantee that they will be effective. Not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified or processes and controls developed to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects, and some risks are simply beyond any control of the Funds or U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, its affiliates or other service providers.

Standing Committees

The Board currently has two standing committees: an Audit Committee and a Governance Committee.

The purposes of the Audit Committee are (1) to oversee the Funds’ accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, their internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; (2) to oversee the quality of the Funds’ financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (3) to oversee the valuation of the securities held by the Funds; (4) to assist Board oversight of the Funds’ compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and (5) to act as a liaison between the Funds’ independent auditors and the Board. The Audit Committee, together with the Board, has the ultimate authority and responsibility to select, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the outside auditor (or to nominate the outside auditor to be proposed for shareholder approval in any proxy statement). The Audit Committee has adopted a written charter setting forth, among other things, requirements with respect to the composition of the Committee, the purposes of the Committee, and the

 

7


Committee’s duties and powers. A copy of this charter is attached hereto as Appendix A. The Audit Committee currently consists of Mr. Gibson (chair), Mr. Kayser, Mr. Riederer and Mr. Kedrowski (ex officio). The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” within the meaning of New York Stock Exchange and American Stock Exchange listing standards and is not an “interested person” as defined in the 1940 Act. The Board has designated Mr. Kayser, Mr. Riederer and Mr. Kedrowski as Audit Committee financial experts. The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011.

The Governance Committee of the Board is responsible for nominating directors and making recommendations to the Board concerning Board composition, committee structure and governance, director education, and governance practices. The members of the Governance Committee are Mr. Wade (Chair), Ms. Victoria J. Herget (who will resign as a director effective December 1, 2011 and is not standing for re-election at the Meeting), Mr. Strauss and Mr. Kedrowski (ex officio). The Board has determined that each member of the Governance Committee is “independent” within the meaning of New York Stock Exchange and American Stock Exchange listing standards and is not an “interested person” as defined in the 1940 Act. The Governance Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011. The Governance Committee Charter is attached hereto as Appendix B.

Prior to December 31, 2010, the Board also operated a Pricing Committee, which was responsible for overseeing the valuation of the securities held by the Funds. Members of the Pricing Committee included Mr. Gibson (Chair), Mr. Wade, Benjamin R. Field III (who retired as a director effective December 31, 2010) and Virginia L. Stringer (ex-officio) (who resigned as Chair of the Board and director effective December 31, 2010). The Pricing Committee met two times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011. Effective January 1, 2011, the functions previously performed by the Pricing Committee were assumed by the Board’s Audit Committee.

In addition to the above committees, the Board also appoints a Fund Review Liaison. The responsibility of the Fund Review Liaison is to lead the Board, together with the Board Chair, in evaluating Fund performance, Fund service provider contracts and arrangements for execution of Fund trades. Ms. Herget is the current Fund Review Liaison. Effective December 1, 2011, Mr. Strauss will serve as the Fund Review Liaison.

Selection of Director Nominees

The Governance Committee will consider shareholder recommendations for director nominees in connection with each annual shareholders meeting of the Funds and any special shareholders meeting that is called for the purpose of electing directors. There are no differences in the manner in which the Governance Committee evaluates nominees for director based on whether the nominee is recommended by a shareholder.

A shareholder who wishes to recommend a director nominee should submit his or her recommendation in writing to the Chair of the Board (Mr. Kedrowski) or the Chair of the Governance Committee (Mr. Wade), in either case at First American Funds, P.O. Box 1329, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440-1329. At a minimum, the recommendation should include:

 

   

the name, address, and business, educational, and/or other pertinent background of the person being recommended;

 

   

a statement concerning whether the person is “independent” within the meaning of New York Stock Exchange and American Stock Exchange listing standards and is not an “interested person” as defined in the 1940 Act;

 

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any other information that the Funds would be required to include in a proxy statement concerning the person if he or she was nominated; and

 

   

the name and address of the person submitting the recommendation, together with the number of Fund shares held by such person and the period for which the shares have been held.

The recommendation also can include any additional information that the person submitting it believes would assist the Governance Committee in evaluating the recommendation. In order for the Governance Committee to consider a shareholder’s recommended nominee for election at the annual shareholders meeting in a given year, the recommendation should be submitted to the Governance Committee no later than August 31 in that year.

The Board currently is composed entirely of persons who are not “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act. The Board currently intends to remain composed only of such persons. Shareholders should note that a person who owns securities issued by U.S. Bancorp (the parent company of the Funds’ investment advisor) would be deemed an “interested person” under the 1940 Act. In addition, certain other relationships with U.S. Bancorp or its subsidiaries, with registered broker-dealers, or with the Funds’ outside legal counsel may cause a person to be deemed an “interested person.”

The Governance Committee has not established specific, minimum qualifications that it believes must be met by a director nominee. In evaluating director nominees, the Governance Committee considers, among other things, an individual’s background, skills, and experience; whether the individual is “independent” within the meaning of applicable stock exchange listing standards and is not an “interested person” as defined in the 1940 Act; and whether the individual is “financially literate” or would be deemed an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of such listing standards and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules. The Governance Committee also considers whether the individual’s background, skills, and experience will complement the background, skills, and experience of other nominees and will contribute to the diversity of the Board. In addition to considering shareholder recommendations, the Governance Committee may consider recommendations by business and personal contacts of current Board members, by Fund management, and by executive search firms that the committee may engage from time to time.

Before the Governance Committee decides to nominate an individual as a director, committee members and other directors customarily interview the individual in person. In addition, the individual customarily is asked to complete a detailed questionnaire, which is designed to elicit information that must be disclosed under SEC and stock exchange rules and to determine whether the individual is subject to any statutory disqualification from serving as a director of a registered investment company.

Shareholder Communications with Directors

Shareholders of the Funds can communicate directly with the Board by writing to the Chair of the Board, First American Funds, P.O. Box 1329, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440-1329. Shareholders can communicate directly with an individual director by writing to that director at P.O. Box 1329, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440-1329. Such communications to the Board or individual directors are not screened before being delivered to the addressee.

 

9


Director Attendance at Shareholders Meetings

The Board encourages directors to attend annual shareholders meetings of the Funds in person or by telephone. Two of the directors standing for re-election attended the Funds’ 2010 annual shareholder meeting either in person or telephonically.

Director Qualifications

The Board has determined that each of its directors (except Ms. Herget, who will resign as a director effective December 1, 2011) should continue to serve as such based on several factors (none of which alone is decisive). Each director has served in his role as director of the Funds since the dates noted in the table above. Because of this experience, each director is knowledgeable regarding the Funds’ business and service provider arrangements. In addition, each director has served for a number of years as a director of other funds in the Fund Complex, as indicated in the “Independent Directors” table above. Among the factors the Board considered when concluding that an individual should serve on the Board were the following: (i) the individual’s business and professional experience and accomplishments; (ii) the individual’s ability to work effectively with other members of the Board; (iii) the individual’s prior experience, if any, serving on the boards of public companies and other complex enterprises and organizations; and (iv) how the individual’s skills, experiences and attributes would contribute to an appropriate mix of relevant skills, diversity and experience on the Board. The Board believes that, collectively, its directors have balanced and diverse qualifications, skills, experiences, and attributes, which allow the Board to operate effectively in governing the Funds and protecting the interests of shareholders. Information about the specific qualifications, skills, experiences, and attributes of each director, which in each case contributed to the Board’s conclusion that the director should serve (or continue to serve) as director of the Funds, is provided in the “Independent Directors” table above.

Director Compensation

The Fund Complex currently pays directors who are not paid employees or affiliates of any fund in the Fund Complex an annual retainer of $150,000 ($195,000 in the case of the Vice Chair and $265,000 in the case of the Chair). The Fund Review Liaison, Audit Committee Chair, and Governance Committee Chair each receive an additional annual retainer of $20,000. In addition, directors are paid the following fees for attending Board and committee meetings:

 

   

$1,000 for attending an in-person Board meeting that lasts half a day ($1,300 in the case of the Vice Chair and $1,500 in the case of the Chair);

 

   

$2,000 for attending an in-person Board meeting that lasts a full day ($2,600 in the case of the Vice Chair and $3,000 in the case of the Chair); and

 

   

$500 for in-person attendance at any committee meeting ($750 in the case of the Chair of each committee).

A director who participates telephonically in any in-person Board or committee meeting receives half of the fee that director would have received for attending, in-person, the Board or committee meeting. For telephonic Board and committee meetings, the Chair and each director and committee Chair, as applicable, receive a fee equal to half the fee he or she would have received for attending an in-person meeting.

 

10


Directors also receive $3,500 per day when traveling out of town on Fund Complex business that does not involve a Board or committee meeting. In addition, directors are reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses in traveling from their primary or secondary residence to Board and committee meetings, on Fund Complex business and to attend mutual fund industry conferences or seminars. The amounts specified above are allocated evenly among the funds in the Fund Complex.

Prior to January 1, 2011, the directors could elect to defer payment of up to 100% of the fees they received in accordance with a Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”). Under the Plan, a director could elect to have his or her deferred fees treated as if they had been invested in shares of one or more funds and the amount paid to the director under the Plan would be determined based on the performance of such investments. Effective January 1, 2011, the directors may no longer defer payments under the Plan. The prior deferral of fees in accordance with the Plan will have a negligible impact on Fund assets and liabilities and will not obligate the Funds to retain any director or pay any particular level of compensation. The Funds do not provide any other pension or retirement benefits to directors.

The following table sets forth the compensation received by each director standing for re-election from each Fund for its most recent fiscal year, as well as the total compensation received by each such director from the Fund Complex for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011.

 

Name of Director

   Aggregate
Compensation
from American
Strategic Income
Portfolio (1)
     Aggregate
Compensation
from American
Strategic Income
Portfolio II (2)
     Aggregate
Compensation
from American
Strategic Income
Portfolio III (3)
     Aggregate
Compensation
from American
Select Portfolio  (4)
     Total
Compensation
from Fund
Complex Paid to
Directors (5)(6)
 

Roger A. Gibson

   $ 11,237       $ 11,237       $ 11,237       $ 11,237       $ 226,700   

John P. Kayser

     9,907         9,907         9,907         9,907         201,750   

Leonard W. Kedrowski

     16,513         16,513         16,513         16,513         301,000   

Richard K. Riederer

     9,969         9,969         9,969         9,969         201,250   

Joseph D. Strauss

     12,623         12,623         12,623         12,623         246,250   

James M. Wade

     11,085         11,085         11,085         11,085         247,000   

 

(1) Includes amounts deferred pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan as follows: Roger A. Gibson, $333.
(2) Includes amounts deferred pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan as follows: Roger A. Gibson, $333.
(3) Includes amounts deferred pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan as follows: Roger A. Gibson, $333.
(4) Includes amounts deferred pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan as follows: Roger A. Gibson, $333.
(5) Includes amounts deferred pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan as follows: Roger A. Gibson, $18,525.
(6) Included in the Total Compensation are amounts paid to directors by First American Investment Funds, Inc. and First American Strategy Funds, Inc., former affiliated investment companies of the Funds. As of January 1, 2011, the Fund Complex consisted of six open-end funds (which are portfolios of two investment companies) and eight closed-end investment companies, totaling 14 funds, managed by the Advisor, including the Funds.

 

11


Director Shareholdings

The following table discloses the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each director standing for re-election (i) in each Fund and (ii) on an aggregate basis in any of the funds in the Fund Complex.

 

Name of Director

  

Dollar Range of Equity

Securities in the Funds

  

Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity

Securities in the Fund Complex*

Roger A. Gibson    $10,001-$50,000    $10,001-$50,000
John P. Kayser    None    $10,001-$50,000
Leonard W. Kedrowski    American Strategic Income Portfolio: $10,001-$50,000; American Strategic Income Portfolio II: $50,001-$100,000; American Strategic Income Portfolio III: $50,001-$100,000    Over $100,000
Richard K. Riederer    None    $1-$10,000
Joseph D. Strauss    None    Over $100,000
James M. Wade    None    $10,001-$50,000

 

* The dollar range disclosed is based on the value of the securities as of June 30, 2011.

To the knowledge of the Funds, as of September 30, 2011, the officers and directors of each Fund as a group beneficially owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each Fund.

Board Recommendation; Required Vote

The Board recommends that the shareholders vote in favor of all nominees to serve as directors. For each Fund, if at least a quorum is represented in person or by proxy, the vote of a plurality of the shares represented at the Meeting is sufficient for the election of each nominee. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxies named in the proxy card enclosed herewith will vote for all nominees. In the event any of the above nominees are not candidates for election at the Meeting due to events not now known or anticipated, the proxies will vote for such other persons as the Board may designate.

 

12


PROPOSAL TWO

RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The 1940 Act provides that the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm of a registered investment company must be approved by a majority of the directors of the investment company who are not interested persons of the investment company (this requirement is subject to certain exceptions). This selection is being submitted for ratification or rejection by the shareholders of each Fund.

Based on the Audit Committee’s recommendation, as discussed below under “Audit Committee Report,” the directors, including a majority who are not interested persons of the Advisor or the Funds, have selected Ernst & Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”) to be the Funds’ independent public registered public accounting firm for each Fund’s current fiscal year. Ernst & Young examines the annual financial statements of the Funds and provides certain other audit-related and tax-related services to the Funds. Representatives of Ernst & Young are expected to be present at the Meeting. These representatives will have the opportunity to make a statement to shareholders if they choose to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

While the bylaws of American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc. require that the selection of the Fund’s independent public accountants be submitted to shareholders for their ratification, none of the other Funds is required by law or its governing documents to do so. Nevertheless, the Funds’ Board has elected to submit the selection of Ernst & Young to each Fund’s shareholders for ratification. If this selection is not ratified, the Board will consider what action to take, including possibly resubmitting the selection to shareholders, continuing the engagement of Ernst & Young, or retaining a different independent registered public accounting firm.

Audit Committee Report

The Audit Committee and the Board have the ultimate authority and responsibility to select, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm (or to nominate the independent registered public accounting firm to be proposed for shareholder approval in any proxy statement). The function of the Audit Committee is oversight. It is Fund management’s responsibility to maintain appropriate systems for accounting and internal control and for preparing the Funds’ financial statements, and the independent registered public accounting firm’s responsibility is to plan and carry out a proper audit of the financial statements.

In this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and the independent accountants. Fund management represented to the Audit Committee that each Fund’s financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the financial statements with management and the independent accountants. The Audit Committee discussed with the independent accountants matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114.

The Funds’ independent registered accounting firm also provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and a letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountants’ communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee discussed with the independent accountants the accounting firm’s independence. The Committee also considered whether non-audit services provided by the independent accountants during the last fiscal year were compatible with maintaining the accountants’ independence.

 

13


Based upon the Audit Committee’s discussion with management and the independent accountants and the Audit Committee’s review of the representation of management and the report of the independent accountants to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that, with respect to each Fund, the audited financial statements for the Fund’s most recent fiscal year be included in the Fund’s Annual Report for that fiscal year filed with the SEC.

Members of the Audit Committee

Roger A. Gibson, Chair

John P. Kayser

Richard K. Riederer

Leonard W. Kedrowski (ex officio)

Fees Paid to Ernst & Young

Audit Fees. Ernst & Young’s fees for professional services rendered for the audit of each Fund’s annual financial statements for its two most recently completed fiscal years were as set forth in the following table. These amounts included fees associated with the annual audit, SEC Rule 17f-2 security count filings and filings of the Funds’ Annual Reports on Form N-CSR.

 

     Fiscal year
ended
8/31/11
     Fiscal year
ended
8/31/10
 

American Strategic Income Portfolio

   $ 31,541       $ 36,163   

American Strategic Income Portfolio II

   $ 31,541       $ 36,163   

American Strategic Income Portfolio III

   $ 31,541       $ 36,163   

American Select Portfolio

   $ 31,541       $ 36,163   

Audit-Related Fees. Ernst & Young’s fees for audit-related services for its two most recently completed fiscal years were as set forth in the following table. These audit-related services primarily related to the review of the semi-annual financial statements.

 

     Fiscal year
ended
8/31/11
     Fiscal year
ended
8/31/10
 

American Strategic Income Portfolio

   $ 1,952       $ 3,010   

American Strategic Income Portfolio II

   $ 1,952       $ 3,010   

American Strategic Income Portfolio III

   $ 1,952       $ 3,010   

American Select Portfolio

   $ 1,952       $ 3,010   

 

14


Tax Fees. Ernst & Young’s fees for tax services for its two most recently completed fiscal years were as set forth in the following table. These tax services included tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning services. Tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning services primarily relate to the preparation of original and amended tax returns, timely regulated investment company qualification reviews, and tax distribution analysis and planning.

 

     Fiscal year
ended
8/31/11
     Fiscal year
ended
8/31/10
 

American Strategic Income Portfolio

   $ 5,720       $ 7,989   

American Strategic Income Portfolio II

   $ 5,720       $ 7,989   

American Strategic Income Portfolio III

   $ 5,720       $ 7,989   

American Select Portfolio

   $ 5,720       $ 7,989   

All Other Fees. There were no fees billed by Ernst & Young for other services during each Fund’s two most recently completed fiscal years.

Aggregate Non-Audit Fees. The aggregate non-audit fees billed by Ernst & Young to each of the Funds and the Advisor and entities controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Advisor that provide ongoing services to the Funds for the two most recently completed fiscal years are set forth in the following table.

 

     Fiscal year
ended
8/31/11
     Fiscal year
ended
8/31/10
 

American Strategic Income Portfolio

   $ 470,000       $ 786,608   

American Strategic Income Portfolio II

   $ 470,000       $ 786,608   

American Strategic Income Portfolio III

   $ 470,000       $ 786,608   

American Select Portfolio

   $ 470,000       $ 786,608   

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies

The Audit Committee has established procedures requiring the pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services performed for the Funds by Ernst & Young. Such procedures also require the pre-approval of non-audit services provided to U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, U.S. Bank National Association, Quasar Distributors, LLC, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC and any other entity under common control with U.S. Bancorp Asset Management that provides ongoing services to the Funds, but only if those services relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds. All of the services described above were pre-approved in accordance with the Audit Committee’s pre-approval procedures.

Board Recommendation; Required Vote

The Board recommends that the shareholders vote in favor of the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young. For each Fund, the vote of a majority of the shares represented at the Meeting is sufficient for the ratification of the selection of the independent public accountants, provided at least a quorum (a majority of the outstanding shares) is represented in person or by proxy. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxies will vote for the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young as each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

15


PROPOSAL THREE

APPROVAL OF CHANGES TO EACH FUND’S POLICY ON INVESTING

IN REIT PREFERRED STOCK

Each Fund has a fundamental investment policy regarding its investments in preferred stock of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), which may not be changed without shareholder approval. The Board has recommended that shareholders approve the replacement by each Fund of its current policy regarding investment in REIT preferred stock, listed below on the left, with the proposed policy listed on the right.

 

Current Policy

  

Proposed Policy

The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in REIT preferred stocks that are rated investment grade or better at the time of investment, with a maximum of 2% of the Fund’s total assets at the time of investment in REIT preferred stock of any one issuer or its affiliates.    The Fund may invest up to 40% of its total assets in REIT preferred stocks that are rated investment grade or better at the time of investment, with a maximum of 2% of the Fund’s total assets at the time of investment in REIT preferred stock of any one issuer or its affiliates. The Fund may invest up to 10% of the Fund’s total assets in non-investment grade REIT preferred stock at the time of investment.

The Board has recommended that shareholders approve (1) an increase in the maximum percentage of a Fund’s total assets that may be invested in REIT preferred stock from 25% to 40% at the time of investment and (2) the ability of each Fund to invest up to 10% of the Fund’s total assets in non-investment grade REIT preferred stock at the time of investment. (Non-investment grade securities are commonly referred to as “high-yield” securities or “junk bonds.”) Each Fund would continue to be limited to a maximum of 2% of its total assets in REIT preferred stock of any one issuer or its affiliates. If these proposed changes to each Fund’s fundamental investment policy are approved, each Fund would also be allowed to invest in unrated REIT preferred stock, subject to the limitations of the proposed policy. If a Fund’s shareholders approve the proposed policy, any subsequent changes to the Fund’s policy regarding its investments in REIT preferred stock would also require shareholder approval.

REITs are publicly traded corporations or trusts that acquire, hold and manage residential or commercial real estate. REITs generally can be divided into the following three types:

 

   

Equity REITs, which invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains or real estate appreciation.

 

   

Mortgage REITs, which invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgage loans and derive their income primarily from interest payments.

 

   

Hybrid REITs, which combine the characteristics of equity REITs and mortgage REITs.

While the Funds focus their investments in the REIT preferred stock of equity REITS that acquire, hold and manage commercial real estate, the Funds may invest in the preferred stock of any type of REIT. REIT preferred stock is an equity security with fixed income characteristics, which typically pays a fixed monthly dividend offering higher yields than the dividends paid on common stock. Preferred shareholders also have priority over common shareholders upon liquidation of the company. Investments in REIT preferred stock offer the Funds the same or better yields than whole loans while improving diversification both in terms of product and geographic location.

 

16


These investments generally also provide better credit quality and liquidity than individual whole loans. The REIT preferred stocks in which the Funds invest are publicly traded and are generally issued by REITs located within the United States.

For purposes of determining whether each Fund is concentrating in a particular industry, under the 1940 Act, due solely to its investments in REIT preferred stock, it is each Fund’s policy that such Fund will not be considered to be concentrating in the real estate industry unless the Fund has invested more than 25% of its total assets, at the time of investment, in any single REIT classification provided by the Global Industry Classification System (“GICS”), a commonly used industry classification system. As currently defined by GICS, these classifications are: Diversified REITs, Industrial REITs, Mortgage REITs, Office REITs, Residential REITs, Retail REITs, and Specialized REITs.

The Board believes that it will be in the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders to allow the Funds the additional investment flexibility provided by the proposed policy changes. At the Board of Directors meeting held on September 20-21, 2011, the Board considered information provided by the Advisor and the Funds’ sub-advisor, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen”), showing that the real estate funds that compete with the Funds generally have no limitation on the amount of REIT preferred stock that can be owned, nor do they have limitations on their ability to invest in non-investment grade REIT preferred stock. In addition, the Board was provided with information showing that the credit metrics for both investment grade and non-investment grade REIT preferred stock are often very similar. The information provided also noted Nuveen’s experience with investing in the REIT sector. Finally, the Board considered the Advisor’s and Nuveen’s belief that the proposed investment policy changes would allow the Funds to compete more effectively.

There are risks associated with the Funds’ investments in REIT preferred stock. To the extent that a Fund makes such investments, its performance will be affected by the condition of the real estate market generally. This industry is sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values and property taxes, overbuilding, variations in rental income, and interest rates. Performance could also be affected by the structure, cash flow, and management skill of real estate companies. Particular risks associated with investments in REITs include the fact that equity REITs will be affected by changes in the values of and income from the properties they own, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the credit quality of the mortgage loans they hold. REITs are dependent on specialized management skills which may affect their ability to generate cash flow for operating purposes and to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders. Investing in REIT preferred stock, in particular, presents certain risks. An issuer of REIT preferred stock could experience a downgrade and the stock could lose value. This risk is even greater in the case of non-investment grade REIT preferred stock. Non-investment grade securities are more susceptible to default or decline in market value due to adverse economic and business developments than investment grade securities. The market values for non-investment grade securities tend to be volatile, and these securities are less liquid than investment grade securities.

Board Recommendation; Required Vote

The Board recommends that the shareholders of each Fund vote to approve the proposed changes in the Fund’s investment policy on investing in REIT preferred stock. For each Fund, the proposed investment policy change must be approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, which means the lesser of the vote of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund present at a meeting where more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present in person or by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxies will vote for the approval of the proposed investment policy changes.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Investment Advisor and Administrator

The investment adviser for the Funds is U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”). U.S. Bancorp Asset Management also acts as the administrator for the Funds. The address of the Funds and the Advisor is 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402.

 

17


Solicitation of Proxies

The costs of this proxy solicitation, including the cost of preparing and mailing the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and this Proxy Statement, will be allocated among and borne by the Funds. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by mail, representatives of the Advisor may, without cost to the Funds, solicit proxies on behalf of management of the Funds by means of mail, telephone or personal calls. The Advisor may also arrange for an outside firm, The Altman Group, to solicit shareholder votes by telephone on behalf of the Funds. The cost of this procedure, which will be borne by the Funds, is expected to be approximately $5,208 for American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc., $13,842 for American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc. II, $28,191 for American Strategic Income Portfolio Inc. III, and $14,253 for American Select Portfolio Inc.

Persons holding shares as nominees will be reimbursed by the Funds, upon request, for the reasonable expenses of mailing soliciting materials to the principals of the accounts.

Officers of the Funds

Information about each officer’s position and term of office with the Funds and business experience during the past five years is set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, all positions have been held more than five years. No officer receives any compensation from the Funds.* Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each of the officers is U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc., 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402.

 

Name, Address, and

Year of Birth

   Position(s)
Held with
Fund
   Term of Office** and
Length  of Time Served
  

Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

Joseph M. Ulrey III

(1958)

   President    Since January 2011    Chief Executive Officer and President of U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. since January 2011; prior thereto, Chief Financial Officer and Head of Technology and Operations, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc.

Eric J. Thole

(1972)

   Vice President    Since January 2011    Head of Treasury, Technology and Operations, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. since January 2011; prior thereto, Managing Director of Investment Operations, U.S Bancorp Asset Management, Inc.

John G. Wenker

Nuveen Asset

Management, LLC

901 Marquette Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55402

(1951)

   Vice President    Since November 1996    Managing Director, Head of Real Assets, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC since January 2011; prior thereto , Managing Director, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc.

David A. Yale

Nuveen Asset Management, LLC

901 Marquette Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55402

(1956)

   Vice President    Since June 2007    Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC since January 2011; prior thereto, Senior Real Estate Portfolio Manager, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc.

Jill M. Stevenson

(1965)

   Treasurer    Since January 2011;

Assistant Treasurer of
the Funds from
September 2005
through December
2010

   Mutual Funds Treasurer, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. since January 2011; prior thereto, Mutual Funds Assistant Treasurer, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc.

 

18


Name, Address, and

Year of Birth

   Position(s)
Held with
Fund
   Term of Office** and
Length  of Time Served
  

Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

Ruth M. Mayr

(1959)

   Chief

Compliance

Officer

   Since January 2011    Chief Compliance Officer, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. since January 2011; prior thereto, Director of Compliance, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc.

Carol A. Sinn

(1959)

   Anti-Money

Laundering

Officer

   Since January 2011    Senior Business Line Risk Manager and Anti-Money Laundering Officer, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. since January 2011; prior thereto, Senior Business Line Risk Manager, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc.

Richard J. Ertel

(1967)

   Secretary    Since January
2011; Assistant
Secretary of the
Funds from June
2006 through
December 2010
and from June
2003 through
August 2004
   General Counsel, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc., since January 2011; prior thereto, Counsel, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc.

James D. Alt*

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

50 South Sixth Street

Suite 1500

Minneapolis, MN 55402

(1951)

   Assistant

Secretary

   Since December
2004; Secretary of
the Funds from
June 2002 through
December 2004;
Assistant Secretary
of the Funds from
September 1998
through June 2002
   Partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, a Minneapolis-based law firm

James R. Arnold

U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC

615 E. Michigan Street

Milwaukee, WI 53202

(1957)

   Assistant

Secretary

   Since January 2011    Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC

 

* Legal fees and expenses are paid to Dorsey & Whitney LLP, the law firm of which Mr. Alt is a partner.
** Officers serve at the pleasure of the Board and are re-elected by the Board annually.

Security Ownership of Certain Shareholders

No person, to the knowledge of Fund management, was the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of voting shares of any Fund as of October 12, 2011, except as follows:

 

Fund

  

Name and Address of

Beneficial Owner

   Number of Shares  of
Common Stock
    Percentage Ownership of
Common Stock
 

American Strategic

Income Portfolio

  

Sit Investment Associates, Inc.

and affiliated entities

(“Sit Investment Associates”)

4600 Wells Fargo Center

Minneapolis, MN

     633,949     14.98

American Strategic

Income Portfolio II

   Sit Investment Associates      2,611,943     16.34

 

* Based on amended Schedule 13D filings of Sit Investment Associates made on July 11, 2011, which indicate that Sit Investment Associates has sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to such shares.

 

19


Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Based on Fund records and other information, the Funds believe that all SEC filing requirements with respect to the Funds applicable to their directors and officers, the Advisor and companies affiliated with the Advisor, pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, with respect to each Fund’s fiscal year end were satisfied, except that Roger A. Gibson, a director of the Funds, did not file a Form 4 (“Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership”) for a transaction in American Select Portfolio Inc. on a timely basis.

Shareholder Proposals

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Fund shareholders may submit proposals to be considered at the next Annual Meeting. Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act sets forth the procedures and requirements for requesting that a Fund include these proposals in its proxy statement. Any proposal submitted under Rule 14a-8 must be received at the Funds’ offices, 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, not later than July 9, 2012. Shareholders also may submit proposals to be voted on at the next Annual Meeting without having the proposals included in the Funds’ proxy statement. These proposals are known as “non-Rule 14a-8 proposals.” The Funds’ proxies will be able to exercise their discretionary authority to vote all proxies with respect to any non-Rule 14a-8 proposal, unless written notice of the proposal is presented to the Fund not later than September 25, 2012. If a shareholder makes a timely notification on a non-Rule 14a-8 proposal, the proxies may still exercise discretionary voting authority under circumstances consistent with applicable proxy rules.

Other Business

So far as the Board is aware, no matters other than those described in this Proxy Statement will be acted upon at the Meeting. Should any other matters properly come before the Meeting calling for a vote of shareholders, including any question as to the adjournment of the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named as proxies to vote upon such matters according to their best judgment.

Dated: November 4, 2011

 

 

Richard J. Ertel

Secretary

 

20


APPENDIX A

First American Funds

Audit Committee Charter

[As amended effective January 1, 2011]

 

1.

The First American Funds Complex Audit Committee (Audit Committee) shall be composed entirely of independent directors1 who are not “interested persons” of the Funds within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Audit Committee shall be comprised of at least three members with one member appointed as chairperson. All committee members shall be financially literate2, at least one member shall have accounting or related financial management expertise3, and at least one member shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as determined by the Board of Directors of the Funds pursuant to SEC Form N-CSR, Items 3(b) and (c).

 

2. The purposes of the Audit Committee are:

 

  (a) to oversee the Funds’ accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, their internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers;

 

  (b) to oversee the quality of the Funds’ financial statements and the independent audit thereof;

 

  (c) to oversee the valuation of the securities held by the Funds;

 

  (d) to assist Board oversight of the Funds’ compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and

 

  (e) to act as a liaison between the Funds’ independent auditors and the full Board of Directors.

The function of the Audit Committee is oversight; it is management’s responsibility to maintain appropriate systems for accounting and internal control and for preparing the Funds’ financial statements, and the independent auditor’s responsibility is to plan and carry out a proper audit of the financial statements.

The outside auditor for the Funds is ultimately accountable to the Board of Directors and Audit Committee as representatives of shareholders. The Audit Committee and Board of Directors have the ultimate authority and responsibility to select, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the outside auditor (or to nominate the outside auditor to be proposed for shareholder approval in any proxy statement).

 

 

1 

A director shall be deemed “independent” for this purpose only if he or she is independent within the meaning of Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iii) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The full Board of Directors has reviewed information provided by each Audit Committee member and has found that each such member is “independent” within the meaning of this rule.

2 

For purposes of the applicable New York Stock Exchange Rule, the full Board of Directors, in its business judgment, interprets the term “financially literate” in a manner consistent with the counterpart American Stock Exchange Rule, as meaning that an Audit Committee member is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.

3 

For purposes of the applicable New York Stock Exchange Rule, the full Board of Directors, in its business judgment, interprets this qualification in a manner consistent with the counterpart American Stock Exchange Rule, as meaning that an Audit Committee member has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities.

 

A-1


3. To carry out its purposes, the Audit Committee shall have the following duties and powers:

 

  (a) to review with management and the independent auditors the audited annual financial statements of the Funds, including their judgment about the quality, not just the acceptability, of accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of the disclosures in the financial statements;

 

  (b) to meet with the Funds’ independent auditors, including private meetings, as necessary (i) to review the arrangements for and scope of the annual audit and any special audits; (ii) to discuss any matters or concern relating to the Funds’ financial statements, including any adjustments to such statements recommended by the auditors, or other results of said audit(s); (iii) to consider the auditors’ comments with respect to the Funds’ financial policies, procedures, and internal accounting controls and management’s responses thereto; (iv) to review the form of opinion the independent auditors propose to render to the Board and shareholders with respect to the Funds’ financial statements; and (v) to review the results of internal audits of areas that impact the Funds;

 

  (c) to prepare and deliver the audit committee reports required to be included in the closed-end Funds’ proxy statements;

 

  (d) to receive and consider any communications which the Funds’ principal executive officer and principal financial officer are required to make to the Audit Committee in connection with their certifications of the Funds’ filings on SEC Form N-CSR;

 

  (e) to receive and consider the communications which the Funds’ independent auditors are required to make to the Audit Committee pursuant to SEC Reg. S-X, Rule 2-07(a) (a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A);

 

  (f) to consider the effect upon the Funds of any changes in accounting principles or practices proposed by management or the auditors;

 

  (g) to ensure that the auditor submits on a periodic basis to the Audit Committee a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the auditor and the Funds, consistent with Independence Standards Board Statement No. 1, to engage in a dialogue with the auditor with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the auditor, to evaluate the independence of the auditor, and to recommend that the Board of Directors take appropriate action in response to the auditors’ report to satisfy itself of the auditors’ independence;

 

  (h) at least annually, to obtain and review a report by the auditor describing the firm’s internal quality-control procedures, any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carries out by the firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues;

 

  (i) to consider pre-approving any accounting firm’s engagement to render audit or non-audit services to the Funds or, under the circumstances contemplated by SEC Reg. S-X, Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) (a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B), to the Funds’ investment adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Funds and the accounting firm’s services have a direct impact on the Funds’ operations or financial reporting; provided, that the Audit Committee may establish written pre-approval policies and procedures which conform to the requirements of SEC Reg. S-X, Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(B) (a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C);

 

  (j) to review the fees charged to the Funds by the auditors for audit and non-audit services;

 

  (k) to oversee the valuation of the securities held by the Funds as set forth in paragraph 4 below;

 

  (l) to investigate improprieties or suspected improprieties in Fund operations;

 

  (m) to review procedures to safeguard portfolio securities;

 

  (n) to review the Funds’ back-up procedures and disaster recovery plans;

 

A-2


  (o) to discuss policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management;

 

  (p) to meet separately, periodically, with management, with internal auditors (or other personnel responsible for the internal audit function) and with independent auditors;

 

  (q) to set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the auditors; and

 

  (r) to report its activities to the full Board on a regular basis and to make such recommendations with respect to the above and other matters as the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate.

 

4. The Committee shall oversee the valuation of the securities held by the Funds as follows:

 

  (a) The Committee is responsible for overseeing the valuation of securities for which market quotations are not readily available, pursuant to procedures established by the Board of Directors of the Funds, which may be amended by the Board (the “Valuation Procedures”). Pursuant to the Valuation Procedures, a committee (the “USBAM Valuation Committee”) comprised of representatives of U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. (“USBAM”) will determine the value of a security pursuant to the Valuation Procedures in the following circumstances:

 

  (i) Instances in which USBAM proposes to use valuation methods other than pricing service quotations/pricing service matrix prices, broker-dealer prices or prices from a widely used quotation system in valuing whole loans and similar instruments;

 

  (ii) Instances in which the value for a security cannot be determined using independent pricing service quotations, independent pricing service model valuation, broker-dealer prices or prices from a widely used quotation system, or where the value obtained from any such sources is deemed to be erroneous or unreliable and where no other pricing service, valuation, dealer quotation or widely used quotation system is readily available; and

 

  (iii) Instances in which a Significant Event occurs prior to the time a Fund’s net asset value is calculated. For this purpose, a “Significant Event” is one that is related to a single issuer or an entire market sector that is reasonably likely to affect the value of one or more of a Fund’s portfolio securities.

 

  (b) The Committee is responsible for reviewing any “fair value” determinations made by the USBAM Valuation Committee, in accordance with the Valuation Procedures. In addition, the Committee is responsible for reviewing on a periodic basis certain pricing reports prepared by USBAM in accordance with the Valuation Procedures.

 

  (c) The Committee is responsible for monitoring pricing services used and the appropriateness of a previously determined fair value methodology, such as, for example, the pricing model used to value whole loans and similar instruments. In addition, the Committee shall oversee the Funds’ Valuation Procedures, including compensating controls to prevent and detect clerical error, and shall review at least annually the Valuation Procedures to ensure their continued appropriateness. The Committee will approve in advance any proposed changes to such pricing services or methodology or to the Valuation Procedures and present such changes for ratification to the Board of Directors of the Funds.

 

  (d) The Committee shall oversee the responsibility of USBAM to maintain adequate records when the Funds use “fair value” pricing.

 

5. The Committee shall meet on a regular basis as often as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities, including at least semi-annually to review the closed-end Funds’ annual and semi-annual financial statements. The Committee is empowered to hold special meetings, as circumstances require.

 

6. The Committee shall regularly meet with the Treasurer of the Funds.

 

A-3


7. The Committee shall establish procedures for (a) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by the Funds regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Funds and of their investment advisers, administrators, principal underwriters, and any other provider of accounting related services for the Funds, of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

 

8. The Committee also shall act as the Funds’ “qualified legal compliance committee,” as defined in 17 CFR Section 205.2(k). In this role, the Committee shall:

 

  (a) adopt written procedures for the confidential receipt, retention and consideration of any report of evidence of a material violation of United States federal or state securities law, material breach of fiduciary duty to the Funds arising under United States federal or state law, or similar material violation of United States federal or state law which is required to be made with respect to the Funds by attorneys who are subject to the reporting rules set forth in 17 CFR Part 205;

 

  (b) have the authority and responsibility:

 

  (i) to inform the Funds’ chief legal officer and chief executive officer (or the equivalents thereof) of any report of evidence of a material violation received by the Committee (except in the circumstances described in 17 CFR Section 205.3(b)(4));

 

  (ii) to determine whether an investigation is necessary regarding any report of evidence of a material violation received by the Committee and, if the Committee determines an investigation is necessary or appropriate, to (A) notify the Funds’ Board of Directors, (B) initiate an investigation, which may be conducted either by the Funds’ chief legal officer (or the equivalent thereof) or by outside attorneys, and (C) retain such additional expert personnel as the Committee deems necessary;

 

  (iii) at the conclusion of the investigation, to (A) recommend to the full Board of Directors, by majority vote, that the Funds implement an appropriate response to evidence of a material violation, and (B) inform the Funds’ chief legal officer and chief executive officer and their Board of Directors of the results of any such investigation and the appropriate remedial measures to be adopted; and

 

  (c) have the authority and responsibility, acting by majority vote, to take all other appropriate action, including the authority to notify the SEC in the event that the Funds fail in any material respect to implement an appropriate response that the Committee has recommended the Funds to take.

 

9. The Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including the power to investigate any matter brought to its attention with full access to all books, records, facilities, and personnel related to the Funds and the authority to retain special counsel and other experts or consultants at the expense of the appropriate Fund(s).

 

10. The Committee shall review this Charter at least annually and recommend any changes to the full Board of Directors. The full Board of Directors shall approve this charter at least annually.

 

11. The Committee shall evaluate its own performance at least annually.

 

A-4


Exhibit A: Reg. S-X, Rule 2-07(a)

 

(a) Each registered public accounting firm that performs for an audit client that is an issuer (as defined in section 10A(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, other than an issuer that is an Asset-Backed Issuer as defined in Rules 13a-14(g) and 15d-14(g) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or an investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, other than a unit investment trust as defined by section 4(2) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, any audit required under the securities laws shall report, prior to the filing of such audit report with the Commission (or in the case of a registered investment company, annually, and if the annual communication is not within 90 days prior to the filing, provide an update, in the 90 day period prior to the filing, of any changes to the previously reported information), to the audit committee of the issuer or registered investment company:

 

  (1) All critical accounting policies and practices to be used;

 

  (2) All alternative treatments within Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for policies and practices related to material items that have been discussed with management of the issuer or registered investment company, including:

 

  (i) Ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments; and

 

  (ii) The treatment preferred by the registered public accounting firm;

 

  (3) Other material written communications between the registered public accounting firm and the management of the issuer or registered investment company, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences;

 

  (4) If the audit client is an investment company, all non-audit services provided to any entity in an investment company complex, as defined in Rule 2-01 (f)(14), that were not pre-approved by the registered investment company’s audit committee pursuant to Rule 2-01 (c)(7).

 

A-5


Exhibit B: Reg. S-X, Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii)

 

(ii) A registered investment company’s audit committee also must pre-approve its accountant’s engagements for non-audit services with the registered investment company’s investment adviser (not including a sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is sub-contracted or overseen by another investment adviser) and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registered investment company in accordance with paragraph (c)(7)(i) of this section, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registered investment company, except that with respect to the waiver of the pre-approval requirement under paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of this section, the aggregate amount of all services provided constitutes no more than five percent of the total amount of revenues paid to the registered investment company’s accountant by the registered investment company, its investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registered investment company during the fiscal year in which the services are provided that would have to be pre-approved by the registered investment company’s audit committee pursuant to this section.

 

A-6


Exhibit C: Reg. S-X, Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(B)

 

(B) The engagement to render the service is entered into pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures established by the audit committee of the issuer or registered investment company, provided the policies and procedures are detailed as to the particular service and the audit committee is informed of each service and such policies and procedures do not include delegation of the audit committees responsibilities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to management; . . .

 

A-7


APPENDIX B

FIRST AMERICAN FUNDS

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

CHARTER

(as of December 30, 2010)

 

I. Purpose

The purpose of the Governance Committee is to oversee the Board’s governance processes.

 

II. Composition

The Governance Committee shall be composed entirely of Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Funds within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Governance Committee will have at least three members and the Board Chair will serve as an “ex-officio” member of the Committee.

 

III. Responsibilities

The Committee will have the following responsibilities:

Board Composition

 

   

Interview and recommend to the Board of Directors of the Funds nominees for election as directors (whether they are “interested” or “disinterested” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940) consistent with the needs of the Board and the Funds. The Committee will evaluate candidates’ qualifications for Board membership and, with respect to persons being considered to join the Board as “disinterested” directors, their independence from management and principal service providers. These persons must be independent in terms of both the letter and the spirit of the 1940 Act and the Rules, Regulations and Forms under the 1940 Act. With respect to “disinterested” director candidates, the Committee also will consider the effect of any relationships beyond those delineated in the 1940 Act that might impair independence, such as business, financial or family relationships with Fund managers or service providers. In this regard, the Committee will not consider the following types of candidates to serve as “disinterested” directors: (1) a close family member1 of an employee, officer or interested director of a Fund or its affiliates, and (2) a former officer or director of a Fund’s affiliate.

 

   

Review, annually, the independence of all Independent Directors and report its findings to the Board.

 

   

Review the composition of the Board of Directors to determine whether it may be appropriate to add individuals with different backgrounds or skills from those already on the Board.

 

   

Recommend to the Board a successor to the Board Chair or Board Vice Chair when a vacancy occurs.

 

   

Consult with the Board Chair regarding the Board Chair’s recommended Committee assignments.

 

 

1 

“Close family member” includes any member of the immediate family and any aunt, uncle or cousin.

 

B-1


Committee Structure

 

   

Assist the Board Chair in his or her annual review of the Board’s Committee structure and membership.

Director Education

 

   

Develop an annual education calendar that details the topics to be addressed in the Board’s quarterly education sessions. The educational calendar will be presented to the full Board at its first quarterly meeting.

 

   

Encourage and monitor the attendance by each Independent Director at educational seminars, conferences or similar meetings.

 

   

Develop and conduct orientation sessions for new Independent Directors before or shortly after the new Directors join the Board.

 

   

Manage the Board’s education program in a cost-effective manner.

Governance Practices

 

   

Review and make recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning Director compensation at least once every year.

 

   

As appropriate or necessary, review, on a regular basis, and make recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning Director expenses, including those related to Board education, Director education, Director travel, legal counsel and consultant support.

 

   

Review annually adherence to the Board’s guideline that each Director maintain an ownership stake in the Funds.

 

   

Review Director compliance with the requirement that a Director must retire from Board service by December 31 of the year in which he or she reaches the age of 72.

 

   

If requested, assist the Board Chair in overseeing the Board’s self-evaluation process undertaken each year by the Independent Directors.

 

   

In collaboration with outside counsel and as required by law or deemed advisable by the Committee, develop policies and procedures addressing matters which should come before the Committee in the proper exercise of its duties.

 

   

Review new industry reports and “best practices” applicable to the FAF complex as they are published.

 

   

In consultation with the Board Chair, review and, as appropriate, recommend changes in, Board governance policies, procedures and practices.

 

   

Report the Committee’s activities on a regular basis to the Board of Directors and make such recommendations as the Committee and the Board Chair deem appropriate.

 

   

Review at least annually and, as appropriate, recommend that the Board implement changes to this Charter.

 

B-2


IV. Retention of Experts

The Committee will have the resources and authority to discharge its responsibilities, including the authority to retain special counsel and other experts or consultants at the expense of any one or more of the Funds, as appropriate.

 

B-3


NOTICE OF ANNUAL

MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TIME:

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

at 10:00 a.m.

PLACE:

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

IMPORTANT:

Please date and sign your

proxy card and return it promptly

using the enclosed reply envelope.

 

    Cusip Numbers:
    030098-10-7
    030099-10-5
    03009T-10-1
    029570-10-8
    P17826


LOGO

        PROXY CARD   
     

 

Fund Name Here

    

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned appoints Eric J. Thole, Jill M. Stevenson and Richard J. Ertel, or any one of them, as proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to cast all eligible votes held by the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be held at the offices of U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc., 800 Nicollet Mall, 3rd Floor-Training Room A, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, on December 6, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., Central time, and at any adjournment thereof, with all powers the undersigned would possess if present in person. All previous proxies given with respect to the Annual Meeting are revoked. Receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the accompanying Proxy Statement is hereby acknowledged.

THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS INSTRUCTED ON THE MATTERS SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE SIDE. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE PROPOSALS. UPON ALL OTHER MATTERS THE PROXIES SHALL VOTE AS THEY DEEM IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE FUND. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE PROPOSALS.

 

LOGO  

NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy card. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee, guardian or custodian for a minor, please give full title as such. If a corporation, this signature should be that of an authorized officer, please sign in full corporate name and indicate the signer’s title.

 

 

 

Signature                                                                          Date

 

 

 

Additional Signatures (if held jointly)                               Date

 

 

Please fold here – Do not tear or separate

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT, NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN. THE MATTERS WE ARE SUBMITTING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ARE SIGNIFICANT TO THE FUND AND TO YOU AS A FUND SHAREHOLDER. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND CAST YOUR VOTE.

For your convenience we have setup several convenient methods to vote your proxy. Please vote by using one of the following methods detailed below:

 

LOGO

   1. Internet:    Log on to www.proxyonline.us. Make sure to have this proxy card available when you plan to vote your shares.      LOGO     

 

LOGO

  

 

2. Phone:

  

 

Simply dial toll-free 800 317-8033. Please have this proxy card available at the time of the call.

  

 

LOGO

  

 

3. Mail:

  

 

Simply sign, date, and complete the reverse side of this proxy card and return it in the postage paid envelope provided.

  

If you would like another copy of the proxy material, they are available at www.proxyonline.us. You will need your control number above to log in. For any questions regarding the proposals or how to cast your vote, call toll-free XXX-XXX-XXXX.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE PROPOSALS.

 

“TAG ID”

   “CUSIP”


CONTROL NUMBER      PROXY  CARD

    

    

Fund Name Here

THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS INSTRUCTED ON THE MATTERS SET FORTH BELOW. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” ALL ITEMS. UPON ALL OTHER MATTERS THE PROXIES SHALL VOTE AS THEY DEEM IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE FUND.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSALS.

PROPOSALS:

 

1. To elect six directors to the Board.

NOMINEES:

(01) Roger A. Gibson

(02) John P. Kayser

(03) Leonard W. Kedrowski

  

(04) Richard K. Riederer

(05) Joseph D. Strauss

(06) James M. Wade

 

FOR ALL NOMINEES    WITHHOLD FROM ALL NOMINEES    FOR ALL EXCEPT:

¨

   ¨    ¨

 

 

INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, check the

box “For All Except” and write that nominee’s name on the line provided above.

 

   FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN

2. To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund for the current fiscal year.

   ¨    ¨    ¨

3. To approve changes to the Fund’s policy on investing in REIT preferred stock.

   ¨    ¨    ¨

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND VOTING.

 

“TAG ID”

   “SCANNER BAR CODE”    “CUSIP”
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