SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY
STATEMENT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by Registrant [X]
Filed by Party other than the Registrant
[ ] | 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 Pursuant to Rule 14a-11c or Rule 14a-12 |
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated |
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement) |
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] | No fee required |
[ ] | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) 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: |
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFD)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFO)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FFC)
FLAHERTY &
CRUMRINE TOTAL RETURN FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FLC)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
DYNAMIC PREFERRED AND INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: DFP)
301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720
Pasadena, California 91101
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETINGS OF
SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on April 17, 2014
To the Shareholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meetings of Shareholders of Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Incorporated, Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated, Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated, Flaherty & Crumrine Total Return Fund Incorporated and Flaherty & Crumrine Dynamic Preferred and Income Fund Incorporated (each, a Fund and collectively, the Funds), each a Maryland corporation, will be held at the offices of Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated, 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California 91101 at 9:00 a.m. PT, on April 17, 2014, for the following purposes:
Each Fund:
1. To elect Directors of each Fund (Proposal 1).
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meetings or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Your vote is important!
The Board of Directors of each Fund has fixed the close of business on January 17, 2014 as the record date for the determination of shareholders of each Fund entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meetings and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
By Order of the Boards of Directors, | |
March 21, 2014 | Chad C. Conwell |
Secretary |
Important Notice Regarding the
Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meetings to Be The notice of Annual Meetings, joint proxy statement, proxy cards and each Funds annual report, including audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013, are available to you on the Funds website - www.preferredincome.com or upon request, without charge, by writing to BNY Mellon c/o Computershare, P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170, or by calling 1-866-351-7446. You are encouraged to review all of the information contained in the proxy materials before voting. To obtain directions to attend the Annual Meetings and vote in person, please call 1-626-795-7300. SEPARATE PROXY CARDS ARE
ENCLOSED FOR EACH FUND IN WHICH YOU OWN SHARES.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF YOUR HOLDINGS IN THE FUND. WHETHER OR NOT YOU
PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE PROMPTLY.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PROPER VOTING AND/OR EXECUTION OF PROXIES ARE SET
FORTH ON THE INSIDE COVER. SHAREHOLDERS MAY SUBMIT VOTING INSTRUCTIONS BY
SIGNING AND DATING THE PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM AND RETURNING
IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
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FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFD)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFO)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FFC)
FLAHERTY &
CRUMRINE TOTAL RETURN FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FLC)
301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720
Pasadena, California 91101
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS OF
SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on April 17, 2014
To the Shareholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Special Meetings of Shareholders of Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Incorporated, Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated, Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated and Flaherty & Crumrine Total Return Fund Incorporated (each, a Fund and collectively, the Funds), each a Maryland corporation, will be held at the offices of Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated, 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California 91101 at 9:30 a.m. PT, on April 17, 2014, for the following purposes:
Each Fund:
1. To approve a change to each Funds fundamental investment policy regarding investments in commodities (Proposal 1).
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meetings or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Your vote is important!
The Board of Directors of each Fund has fixed the close of business on January 17, 2014 as the record date for the determination of shareholders of each Fund entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meetings and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
By Order of the Boards of Directors, | |
March 21, 2014 | Chad C. Conwell |
Secretary |
Important Notice Regarding the
Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meetings to Be The notice of Special Meetings, joint proxy statement, proxy cards and each Funds annual report, including audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013, are available to you on the Funds website - www.preferredincome.com or upon request, without charge, by writing to BNY Mellon c/o Computershare, P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170, or by calling 1-866-351-7446. You are encouraged to review all of the information contained in the proxy materials before voting. To obtain directions to attend the Special Meetings and vote in person, please call 1-626-795-7300. SEPARATE PROXY CARDS ARE
ENCLOSED FOR EACH FUND IN WHICH YOU OWN SHARES.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF YOUR HOLDINGS IN THE FUND. WHETHER OR NOT YOU
PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE PROMPTLY.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PROPER VOTING AND/OR EXECUTION OF PROXIES ARE SET
FORTH ON THE INSIDE COVER. SHAREHOLDERS MAY SUBMIT VOTING INSTRUCTIONS BY
SIGNING AND DATING THE PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM AND RETURNING
IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
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FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFD)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFO)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FFC)
FLAHERTY &
CRUMRINE TOTAL RETURN FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FLC)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
DYNAMIC PREFERRED AND INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: DFP)
301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720
Pasadena, California 91101
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Important Information to Help You
Understand and Vote on the Proposals at the Annual Meetings and
Special
Meetings.
While we strongly encourage you to read the full text of the enclosed combined joint proxy statement, we are also providing you with a brief overview of the proposals on which shareholders are requested to vote. Your vote is important.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the proposals being considered at the Annual Meetings of Shareholders (Annual Meetings) and Special Meetings of Shareholders for PFD, PFO, FFC and FLC (Special Meetings, together with the Annual Meetings, the Meetings)?
At the Annual Meetings, shareholders are being asked to vote on the following proposals:
(1) | To elect Directors of each Fund (Proposal 1). | ||
(2) | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
At the Special Meetings for PFD, PFO, FFC and FLC, shareholders are being asked to vote on the following proposals:
(1) | To approve a change to each Funds fundamental investment policy regarding investments in commodities (Proposal 1). | ||
(2) | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
How does the Board recommend I vote?
The Board has unanimously approved, and recommends that you vote FOR Proposal 1 at the Annual Meetings.
The Board has unanimously approved, and recommends that you vote FOR Proposal 1 at the Special Meetings for PFD, PFO, FFC and FLC.
Who is eligible to vote at the Meetings?
Shareholders of record as of the close of business on January 17, 2014 are eligible to vote at the relevant Meetings.
I only have a few shares. Why should I bother to vote?
Each vote makes a difference. Your vote is needed to help ensure that the proposals can be acted upon. Voting promptly is also important. If we do not receive enough votes, we may have to re-solicit shareholders, which can be costly, time consuming and may delay the Meetings. We encourage all shareholders to participate in the governance of their Fund and to avoid unnecessary communications with you as a shareholder.
What if I have additional questions?
If you are a shareholder of FFC, FLC or DFP, please call 1-877-855-3434 with any additional questions. If you are a shareholder of PFD or PFO, please call 1-626-795-7300.
ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Who are the nominees for election to the Board of Directors?
The nominee(s) for election to the relevant Funds Board of Directors are as follows:
Fund | Nominees For Election |
PFD | David Gale |
Karen H. Hogan | |
PFO | Morgan Gust |
Karen H. Hogan | |
FFC | David Gale |
FLC | David Gale |
DFP | Donald F. Crumrine |
Robert F. Wulf |
Biographical information for each nominee is included in the enclosed combined joint proxy statement under Proposal 1 of the Annual Meetings.
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS FOR PFD, PFO, FFC AND FLC
What is the purpose of the Special Meetings?
Each Funds Board of Directors called the Special Meeting to present a proposal to shareholders for their approval with respect to each Funds fundamental investment policy relating to investments in commodities. The Board has proposed a clarification to its existing policy in order to avoid confusion in light of recent changes to applicable law. The proposed revised fundamental investment policy makes clear that the Funds have the flexibility to use swaps on financial instruments in order to achieve their investment goals, consistent with each Funds original intent.
You can find greater detail in the enclosed combined joint proxy statement under Proposal 1 of the Special Meetings.
Why is the Funds Board of Directors recommending revising each Funds fundamental investment policy with respect to commodities?
Each Fund has adopted certain investment policies that cannot be changed without shareholder approval. The Board has proposed that the existing fundamental investment policy with respect to the purchase and sale of commodities be revised in order to avoid confusion in light of recent changes to applicable law. The change to the fundamental policy is not expected to materially affect the manner in which each Funds investment program is being conducted at this time.
What will happen if shareholders do not approve the change to a Funds fundamental investment policy with respect to commodities?
If the revised fundamental investment policy with respect to commodities is not approved by shareholders of a Fund, the fundamental investment policy will remain as is and the manner in which the Funds investment program is being conducted at this time will remain substantially the same. Since the change is a clarification, the Funds would be able to use swaps on financial instruments even if the required vote was not obtained.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS
The following general rules for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and may minimize the time and expense to the Fund(s) involved in validating your vote if you fail to sign your proxy card(s) properly.
1. | Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the registration on the proxy card(s). | ||
2. | Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing should conform exactly to a name shown in the registration. | ||
3. | All Other Accounts: The capacity of the individual signing the proxy card should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form registration. For example: | ||
Registration | Valid Signature | |||
Corporate Accounts | ||||
(1 | ) | ABC Corp. | ABC Corp. | |
(2 | ) | ABC Corp. | John Doe, Treasurer | |
(3 | ) | ABC Corp. c/o John Doe, Treasurer | John Doe | |
(4 | ) | ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan | John Doe, Trustee | |
Trust Accounts | ||||
(1 | ) | ABC Trust | Jane B. Doe, Trustee | |
(2 | ) | Jane B. Doe, Trustee | Jane B. Doe | |
u/t/d 12/28/78 | ||||
Custodian or Estate Accounts | ||||
(1 | ) | John B. Smith, Cust., | John B. Smith | |
f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA | ||||
(2 | ) | John B. Smith, Executor, | John B. Smith, Executor | |
Estate of Jane Smith |
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFD)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFO)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FFC)
FLAHERTY &
CRUMRINE TOTAL RETURN FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FLC)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
DYNAMIC PREFERRED AND INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: DFP)
301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720
Pasadena, California 91101
ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
April 17, 2014
COMBINED JOINT PROXY STATEMENT
This document is a combined joint proxy statement (Joint Proxy Statement) for Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Incorporated (Preferred Income Fund or PFD), Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated (Preferred Income Opportunity Fund or PFO), Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated (Preferred Securities Income Fund or FFC), Flaherty & Crumrine Total Return Fund Incorporated (Total Return Fund or FLC) and Flaherty & Crumrine Dynamic Preferred and Income Fund Incorporated (Dynamic Preferred Income Fund or DFP) (each, a Fund and collectively, the Funds). This Joint Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by each Funds Board of Directors (each, a Board and collectively, the Boards) to be voted at the Annual Meetings of Shareholders for PFD, PFO, FFC, FLC and DFP (the Annual Meetings) and the Special Meetings of Shareholders for PFD, PFO, FFC and FLC (the Special Meetings, together with the Annual Meetings, the Meetings) to be held on April 17, 2014, at the offices of Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated, 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California 91101 and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. The Annual Meetings will be held at 9:00 a.m. PT and the Special Meetings will be held at 9:30 a.m. PST.
This Joint Proxy Statement and the accompanying Notice of Annual Meetings, Notice of Special Meetings and proxy card for each Fund in which you own shares were mailed on or about March 21, 2014 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on January 17, 2014. Proxy solicitations will be made, beginning on or about March 21, 2014, primarily by mail, but proxy solicitations may also be made by telephone, telefax or personal interviews conducted by officers of each Fund, Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated (Flaherty & Crumrine), the investment adviser of each Fund, and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (BNY Mellon), the transfer agent and administrator of each Fund. With respect to FFC, FLC and DFP, proxy solicitations may also be made by Destra Capital Investments LLC, the servicing agent for FFC, FLC and DFP. No proxy solicitation firm will be used in connection with the Joint Combined Proxy Statement. The Funds will evenly split the expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of this Joint Proxy Statement. Each Fund will pay for its respective expenses incurred in connection with printing and mailing of the Joint Combined Proxy Statement and its enclosures to shareholders. Each Fund also will reimburse brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding solicitation material to the beneficial owners of its shares.
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF EACH FUND, INCLUDING AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2013, IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, WITHOUT CHARGE, BY WRITING TO BNY MELLON C/O COMPUTERSHARE, P.O. BOX 30170, COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 77842-3170, OR BY CALLING 1-866-351-7446. EACH FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE FUNDS WEBSITE - WWW.PREFERREDINCOME.COM - THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONS (SEC) WEBSITE (WWW.SEC.GOV) OR, FOR FFC, FLC AND DFP ONLY, BY CALLING DESTRA CAPITAL INVESTMENTS LLC AT 1-877-855-3434.
1
Important Notice Regarding the
Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meetings to Be
The notices of Annual Meetings and Special Meetings, as applicable, Joint Proxy Statement, proxy cards and each Funds annual report, including audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013, are available to you on the Funds website - www.preferredincome.com. You are encouraged to review all of the information contained in the proxy materials before voting. To obtain directions to attend the Annual Meetings and Special Meetings, and vote in person, please call 1-626-795-7300. SEPARATE PROXY CARDS ARE
ENCLOSED FOR EACH FUND IN WHICH YOU OWN SHARES.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF YOUR HOLDINGS IN THE FUND. WHETHER OR NOT YOU
PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE PROMPTLY.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PROPER VOTING AND/OR EXECUTION OF PROXIES ARE SET
FORTH ON THE INSIDE COVER. SHAREHOLDERS MAY SUBMIT VOTING INSTRUCTIONS BY
SIGNING AND DATING THE PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM AND RETURNING
IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
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2
SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS AND FUNDS AFFECTED
The following chart specifies the Funds whose shareholders will be entitled to vote at the relevant Meetings on each of the proposals being presented for shareholder consideration. The proposals are set forth in the Notice of Annual Meetings and Notice of Special Meetings, respectively, and are discussed in more detail below.
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS | ||||
Proposal | Affected Funds | Page Number | ||
Proposal 1 To elect | PFD | 5 | ||
Directors of each Fund | PFO | |||
FFC | ||||
FLC | ||||
DFP | ||||
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS | ||||
Proposal | Affected Funds | Page Number | ||
Proposal 1 To approve a | PFD | 15 | ||
change to the fundamental | PFO | |||
investment policy regarding | FFC | |||
investments in commodities | FLC |
If the enclosed proxy cards are properly executed and returned in time to be voted at the relevant Meetings, the Shares (as defined below) represented thereby will be voted in accordance with the instructions marked thereon. Unless instructions to the contrary are marked thereon, a proxy will be voted FOR Proposal 1 at the Annual Meeting and FOR Proposal 1at the Special Meeting, as applicable. Any shareholder who has given a proxy has the right to revoke it at any time prior to its exercise either by attending the relevant Meetings and voting his or her Shares in person or by submitting a letter of revocation or a later-dated proxy to the appropriate Fund delivered at the above address prior to the date of the Meetings.
Under the Bylaws of each Fund, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business (a Quorum) at that Funds Meeting(s). In the event that a Quorum is not present at the relevant Meeting, or in the event that a Quorum is present but sufficient votes to approve any of the proposals are not received, the Chairman of the Meeting may adjourn the meeting without assigning a specific date or from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the Meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a Quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. A shareholder vote may be taken on a proposal in the Joint Proxy Statement relating to the applicable Meeting prior to any such adjournment if sufficient votes have been received for approval of that proposal. Once a Quorum has been established at the relevant Meeting, shareholders may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of shareholders and the loss of a Quorum.
Each Fund has one class of capital stock outstanding: common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock or the Shares). Each Share is entitled to one vote at the relevant Meetings with respect to matters to be voted on, with pro rata voting rights for any fractional Shares. On the record date, January 17, 2014, the following number of Shares of each Fund were issued and outstanding:
Name of Fund | Shares Outstanding | |||||
Preferred Income Fund (PFD) | 10,985,567 | |||||
Preferred Income Opportunity Fund (PFO) | 12,298,870 | |||||
Preferred Securities Income Fund (FFC) | 43,474,105 | |||||
Total Return Fund (FLC) | 9,897,817 | |||||
Dynamic Preferred Income Fund (DFP) | 19,156,782 |
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To the knowledge of each Fund and its Board, the following shareholder(s), or group as that term is defined in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), is the beneficial owner or owner of record of more than 5% of the relevant Funds outstanding Shares as of January 17, 2014*:
Name and Address of | Amount and Nature | |||||
Beneficial/Record Owner | Title of Class | of Ownership | Percent of Class | |||
Cede & Co.** | Common Stock | PFD 10,606,357 (record) | 96.5% | |||
Depository Trust Company | PFO 11,845,881 (record) | 96.3% | ||||
55 Water Street, 25th Floor | FLC 9,888,806 (record) | 99.9% | ||||
New York, NY 10041 | FFC 43,393,928 (record) | 99.8% | ||||
DFP 19,152,577 (record) | 99.9% | |||||
First Trust Portfolios L.P., | Common Stock | FLC 1,054,4721 (beneficial) | 10.67% | |||
First Trust Advisors L.P. | ||||||
The Charger Corporation | ||||||
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 | ||||||
Wheaton, Illinois 60187 | ||||||
Guggenheim Capital, LLC, Guggenheim | Common Stock | FLC 604,2372 (beneficial) | 5.89% | |||
Partners, LLC, GI Holdco II, LLC, | ||||||
Guggenheim Partners Investment | ||||||
Management Holdings, LLC, Guggenheim | ||||||
Funds Services Holdings, LLC, | ||||||
Guggenheim Funds Services, LLC and | ||||||
Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC | ||||||
(collectively, the Filing Entities). |
* |
As of January 17, 2014, the Directors and officers, as a group, owned less than 1% of the Shares of each Fund. | |
** |
A nominee partnership of The Depository Trust Company. | |
1 |
Information obtained from a Schedule 13G/A filed by First Trust Portfolios L.P. (FTP), First Trust Advisors L.P (FTA) and The Charger Corporation (Charger) with the SEC reporting share ownership as of February 28, 2014. Based on that filing, FTP, FTA and Charger do not have sole or shared voting power, but do have the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 1,054,472 Shares. | |
2 |
Information obtained from a Schedule 13G/A filed by the Filing Entities with the SEC reporting share ownership as of December 31, 2013. Based on that filing, the Filing Entities have the shared power to vote or direct the vote or dispose or direct the disposition of 604,237 Shares. |
This Joint Proxy Statement is being used in order to reduce the preparation, printing, handling and postage expenses that would result from the use of a separate proxy statement for each Fund. At each of the relevant Meetings, Shareholders of each Fund will vote as a single class. Shareholders of each Fund will vote separately for each of PFD, PFO, FFC, FLC and DFP on each proposal on which shareholders of that Fund are entitled to vote at a Meeting. Separate proxy cards are enclosed for each Fund in which a shareholder owns Shares. Thus, if a proposal at the relevant Meeting is approved by shareholders of one or more Funds and not approved by shareholders of one or more other Funds, the proposal will be implemented for the Fund or Funds that approved the proposal and will not be implemented for any Fund that did not approve the proposal. It is therefore essential that shareholders complete, date and sign each enclosed proxy card. Shareholders of each Fund are entitled to vote on the proposal pertaining to that Fund.
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ANNUAL MEETINGS
(ALL FUNDS)
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Annual Meetings, shareholders are being asked to consider the election of Directors of each Fund. The Board of each Fund is divided into three classes, each class having a term of three years. Each year the term of office of one class expires and the successor or successors elected to such class serve for a three-year term and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
Nominees for the Boards of Directors
Each nominee named below is currently a Director of each Fund and has consented to continue to serve as a Director for the Fund(s) for which he or she is nominated if elected at the relevant Annual Meeting. If a designated nominee declines or otherwise becomes unavailable for election, however, the proxy confers discretionary power on the persons named therein to vote in favor of a substitute nominee or nominees. Each nominee has been nominated for a three-year term to expire at each Funds 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. Shareholders of each Funds Common Stock are entitled to elect the nominees for election to the Board of the relevant Fund.
Fund | Nominees For Election |
PFD | David Gale |
Karen H. Hogan | |
PFO | Morgan Gust |
Karen H. Hogan | |
FFC | David Gale |
FLC | David Gale |
DFP | Donald F. Crumrine |
Robert F. Wulf |
Information About Each Director's or Nominee for Election as Director's Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills
Directors or Nominees for Election as Directors of the Funds, together with information as to their positions with the Funds, principal occupations and other board memberships for the past five years, are shown below.
Number of | ||||||||||
Funds in | Other Public | |||||||||
Current | Fund | Company Board | ||||||||
Position(s) | Term of Office and | Principal Occupation | Complex | Memberships | ||||||
Held with | Length of Time | During Past Five | Overseen by | During Past Five | ||||||
Name, Address and Age | Funds | Served* | Years | Director** | Years | |||||
Non-Interested | ||||||||||
Directors/Nominees: | ||||||||||
David Gale | Director | Class I Director | President of Delta | 5 | Emmis | |||||
301 E. Colorado Boulevard | PFD since 1997 | Dividend Group, Inc. | Communications | |||||||
Suite 720 | PFO since 1997 | (investments) | ||||||||
Pasadena, CA 91101 | FFC since inception | |||||||||
Age: 64 | FLC since inception | |||||||||
Class II Director | ||||||||||
DFP since inception |
5
Number of | ||||||||||
Funds in | Other Public | |||||||||
Current | Fund | Company Board | ||||||||
Position(s) | Term of Office and | Principal Occupation | Complex | Memberships | ||||||
Held with | Length of Time | During Past Five | Overseen by | During Past Five | ||||||
Name, Address and Age | Funds | Served* | Years | Director** | Years | |||||
Morgan Gust | Director and | Class II Director | Owner and operator | 5 | CoBiz Financial, | |||||
301 E. Colorado Boulevard | Nominating | FFC since inception | of various entities | Inc. (financial | ||||||
Suite 720 | and | FLC since inception | engaged in | services) | ||||||
Pasadena, CA 91101 | Governance | agriculture and real | ||||||||
Age: 66 | Committee | Class III Director | estate | |||||||
Chairman | PFD since inception | |||||||||
PFO since inception | ||||||||||
DFP since inception | ||||||||||
Karen H. Hogan | Director | Class I Director | Board Co-Chair and | 5 | ||||||
301 E. Colorado Boulevard | PFD since 2005 | Member, IKAR, a | ||||||||
Suite 720 | non-profit | |||||||||
Pasadena, CA 91101 | Class II Director | organization; Active | ||||||||
Age: 52 | FFC since 2005 | Member and | ||||||||
FLC since 2005 | Volunteer to several | |||||||||
DFP since inception | non-profit | |||||||||
organizations. | ||||||||||
Class III Director | ||||||||||
PFO since 2005 | ||||||||||
Robert F. Wulf | Director | Class I Director | Financial Consultant; | 5 | ||||||
301 E. Colorado Boulevard | and Audit | DFP since inception | Former Trustee, | |||||||
Suite 720 | Committee | University of Oregon | ||||||||
Pasadena, CA 91101 | Chairman | Class II Director | Foundation; Trustee, | |||||||
Age: 76 | PFD since inception | San Francisco | ||||||||
PFO since inception | Theological | |||||||||
Seminary | ||||||||||
Class III Director | ||||||||||
FFC since inception | ||||||||||
FLC since inception | ||||||||||
Interested | ||||||||||
Director/Nominee: | ||||||||||
Donald F. Crumrine (1) | Director, | Class I Director | Chairman of the | 5 | ||||||
301 E. Colorado Boulevard | Chairman of | DFP since inception | Board and Director | |||||||
Suite 720 | the Board | of Flaherty & | ||||||||
Pasadena, CA 91101 | and Chief | Class II Director | Crumrine | |||||||
Age: 66 | Executive | PFD since inception | Incorporated | |||||||
Officer | PFO since inception | |||||||||
Class III Director | ||||||||||
FFC since inception | ||||||||||
FLC since inception |
* |
The Class I Director of PFO and the Class II Directors of PFD, FFC, FLC and DFP will serve until each Funds Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2015 and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The Class II Directors of PFO and the Class III Directors of PFD, FFC, FLC and DFP will serve until each Funds 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The Class I Nominees of PFD, FFC, FLC and DFP and the Class III Nominees of PFO, if elected, will serve until each Funds 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. | |
** |
The Flaherty & Crumrine fund complex consists solely of the Funds. | |
(1) |
Interested person (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act)) of the Funds. Mr. Crumrine is considered an "interested person" because of his affiliation with Flaherty & Crumrine. |
6
With the exception of DFP, each Director has been a Director of the Funds for at least five years. Additional information about each Director follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above) that describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that each Director possesses which the Boards believe have prepared them to be effective Directors. The Boards believe that Directors need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with Fund management, service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties; the Boards believe that their members satisfy this standard. Experience relevant to having this ability may be achieved through a Director's educational background; business, professional training or practice (e.g., accounting or law); public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member (including the Boards of the Funds) or as an executive of investment funds, public companies or significant private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. The charters for the Boards' Nominating and Governance Committees contain certain other factors considered by the Committees in identifying and evaluating potential Director nominees. To assist them in evaluating matters under federal and state law, the Independent Directors (defined below) are counseled by their own independent legal counsel, who participates in Board meetings and interacts with Flaherty & Crumrine, and also may benefit from information provided by the Funds' and Flaherty & Crumrine's counsel; both counsel to the Independent Directors and counsel to the Funds and Flaherty & Crumrine have significant experience advising funds and fund directors. The Boards and their Committees have the ability to engage other experts as appropriate. The Boards evaluate their performance on an annual basis.
Board Composition and Leadership Structure
The 1940 Act requires that at least 40% of the Funds' Directors not be "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds, and therefore not affiliated with Flaherty & Crumrine ("Independent Directors"). To rely on certain exemptive rules under the 1940 Act, a majority of the Funds' Directors must be Independent Directors and, for certain important matters, such as the approval of investment advisory agreements or transactions with affiliates, the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder require the approval of a majority of the Independent Directors. Currently, four of the Funds' five Directors are Independent Directors. The Chairman of the Boards is an interested person of the Funds. The four Independent Directors interact directly with the Chairman and other senior management of Flaherty & Crumrine at scheduled meetings and between meetings as appropriate. Independent Directors have been designated to chair the Audit Committees and the Nominating and Governance Committees, and the Independent Directors rotate the responsibility for chairing meetings of Independent Directors. In addition, from time to time, one or more Independent Directors may be designated, formally or informally, to take the lead in addressing with management or their independent legal counsel matters or issues of concern to the Boards. As a result, the Boards have determined that their leadership structures and composition, in which no individual Independent Director has been designated to lead all the Independent Directors, are appropriate in light of the Boards' size and the cooperative and dynamic working relationship among the Independent Directors and the Independent Directors open lines of communication with Fund management. The Boards have determined that their leadership structures and composition, in which the Chairman of the Boards is an "interested person" of the Funds and 80% of the Directors are Independent Directors, are appropriate in light of the services that Flaherty & Crumrine provides to the Funds.
7
Boards' Oversight Role in Management
The Boards' role in management of the Funds is oversight. As is the case with virtually all investment companies (as distinguished from operating companies), service providers to the Funds, primarily Flaherty & Crumrine, have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Funds, which includes responsibility for risk management (including management of investment performance and investment risk, valuation risk, issuer and counterparty credit risk, compliance risk and operational risk). As part of their oversight, the Boards, acting at their scheduled meetings, or the Chairman, acting between Board meetings, regularly interacts with and receives reports from senior personnel of service providers, including the Funds' and Flaherty & Crumrine's Chief Compliance Officer and portfolio management personnel. The Boards' Audit Committees (which consist of all the Independent Directors) meet during their scheduled meetings, and between meetings the Audit Committee chairs maintain contact, with the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm and the Funds' Chief Financial Officer. The Boards also receive periodic presentations from senior personnel of Flaherty & Crumrine regarding risk management generally, as well as periodic presentations regarding specific operational, compliance or investment areas, such as business continuity, personal trading, valuation and credit. The Boards have adopted policies and procedures designed to address certain risks to the Funds. In addition, Flaherty & Crumrine and other service providers to the Funds have adopted a variety of policies, procedures and controls designed to address particular risks to the Funds. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. However, it is not possible to eliminate all of the risks applicable to the Funds. The Boards also receive reports from counsel to the Funds and Flaherty & Crumrine and the Independent Directors' own independent legal counsel regarding regulatory, compliance and governance matters. The Boards' oversight role does not make the Boards guarantors of the Funds' investments or activities.
Beneficial Ownership of Shares in Funds and Fund Complex for each Director and Nominee for Election as Director
Set forth in the table below is the dollar range of equity securities in each Fund and the aggregate dollar range of equity securities in the Flaherty & Crumrine Fund Family beneficially owned by each Director and Nominee for Election as Director.
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Securities in All Registered Investment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dollar Range of Equity | Companies Overseen by Director in Family | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Name of Director or Nominee | Securities Held in a Fund*(1) | of Investment Companies*(2) | |||||||||||||||||||||
PFD | PFO | FFC | FLC | DFP | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
NON-INTERESTED | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DIRECTORS/NOMINEES: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
David Gale | D | D | D | D | C | E | |||||||||||||||||
Morgan Gust | D | D | C | C | C | E | |||||||||||||||||
Karen H. Hogan | C | C | C | C | A | D | |||||||||||||||||
Robert F. Wulf | C | C | E | E | C | E | |||||||||||||||||
INTERESTED DIRECTOR/NOMINEE: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Donald F. Crumrine | E | (3) | E | (3) | E | (3) | E | (3) | E | (3) | E(3) |
8
* | Key to Dollar Ranges | |||
A. | None | |||
B. | $1 - $10,000 | |||
C. | $10,001 -$50,000 | |||
D. | $50,001 - $100,000 | |||
E. | over $100,000 | |||
All shares were valued as of January 17, 2014. | ||||
(1) |
This information has been furnished by each Director/Nominee as of January 17, 2014. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. | |||
(2) |
The Directors, Nominees and executive officers of each Fund, as a group, own less than 1% of each Fund. | |||
(3) |
Includes shares of the Fund held by Flaherty & Crumrine, of which Mr. Crumrine is a shareholder and director. |
Officers of the Funds
The following table provides information concerning each of the officers of the Funds.
Current Position(s) | Term of Office and Length of | Principal Occupation During | |||||
Name, Address and Age | Held with Funds | Time Served* | Past Five Years | ||||
Robert M. Ettinger | President | PFD since 2002 | President and Director | ||||
301 E. Colorado Boulevard | PFO since 2002 | of Flaherty & Crumrine | |||||
Suite 720 | FFC since inception | Incorporated | |||||
Pasadena, CA 91101 | FLC since inception | ||||||
Age: 55 | DFP since inception | ||||||
R. Eric Chadwick | Chief Financial | PFD since 2004 | Vice President and Director of | ||||
301 E. Colorado Boulevard | Officer, Vice | PFO since 2004 | Flaherty & | ||||
Suite 720 | President and | FFC since 2004 | Crumrine Incorporated | ||||
Pasadena, CA 91101 | Treasurer | FLC since 2004 | |||||
Age: 38 | DFP since inception | ||||||
Chad C. Conwell | Chief Compliance | PFD since 2005 | Chief Compliance Officer and | ||||
301 E. Colorado Boulevard | Officer, Vice | PFO since 2005 | Vice President of Flaherty & | ||||
Suite 720 | President and | FFC since 2005 | Crumrine Incorporated; | ||||
Pasadena, CA 91101 | Secretary | FLC since 2005 | Director of Flaherty & Crumrine | ||||
Age: 41 | DFP since inception | Incorporated since January 2011 | |||||
Bradford S. Stone | Vice President and | PFD since 2003 | Vice President and Director | ||||
47 Maple Street | Assistant | PFO since 2003 | of Flaherty & | ||||
Suite 403 | Treasurer | FFC since 2003 | Crumrine Incorporated | ||||
Summit, NJ 07901 | FLC since inception | ||||||
Age: 54 | DFP since inception | ||||||
Laurie C. Lodolo | Assistant | PFD since 2004 | Assistant Compliance Officer | ||||
301 E. Colorado Boulevard | Compliance | PFO since 2004 | and Secretary of | ||||
Suite 720 | Officer, Assistant | FFC since 2004 | Flaherty & Crumrine | ||||
Pasadena, CA 91101 | Treasurer and | FLC since 2004 | Incorporated | ||||
Age: 50 | Assistant Secretary | DFP since inception | |||||
Linda M. Puchalski | Assistant Treasurer | PFD since 2010 | Administrator of Flaherty | ||||
301 E. Colorado Boulevard | PFO since 2010 | & Crumrine Incorporated | |||||
Suite 720 | FFC since 2010 | ||||||
Pasadena, CA 91101 | FLC since 2010 | ||||||
Age: 57 | DFP since inception |
* |
Each officer serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. |
9
Audit Committee
The role of each Funds Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of: (i) the integrity of the Funds financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (ii) the Funds accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, its internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; (iii) the Funds compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and (iv) the independent auditors qualifications, independence and performance. Each Funds Audit Committee is also required to prepare an audit committee report pursuant to applicable laws and regulations for inclusion in the Funds annual proxy statement. Each Audit Committee operates pursuant to a charter (the Audit Committee Charter or Charter) that was most recently reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors of each Fund on January 21, 2014 and which is available at www.preferredincome.com. As set forth in the Charter, management is responsible for the (i) preparation, presentation and integrity of each Funds financial statements, (ii) maintenance of appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and policies and (iii) maintenance of internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. The Funds independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP (the independent accountants or KPMG), is responsible for planning and carrying out proper audits and reviews of each Funds financial statements and expressing an opinion as to their conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Audit Committee Report
In performing its oversight function, at a meeting held on January 21, 2014, each Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management of the Fund and the independent accountants, the audited financial statements of the Fund as of and for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013, and discussed the audit of such financial statements with the independent accountants.
In addition, each Audit Committee discussed with the independent accountants the accounting principles applied by the Fund and such other matters brought to the attention of the Audit Committee by the independent accountants required by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1 AU Section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. Each Audit Committee also received from the independent accountants the written disclosures and statements required by the SECs independence rules, delineating relationships between the independent accountants and the Funds and discussed the impact that any such relationships might have on the objectivity and independence of the independent accountants.
As set forth above, and as more fully set forth in each Funds Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee has significant duties and powers in its oversight role with respect to the Funds financial reporting procedures, internal control systems, and the independent audit process.
The members of each Audit Committee are not, and do not represent themselves to be, professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting and are not employed by the Fund for accounting, financial management or internal control. Moreover, the Audit Committee relies on and makes no independent verification of the facts presented to it or representations made by management or the independent accountants. Accordingly, the Audit Committees oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and policies, or internal controls and procedures, designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committees considerations and discussions referred to above do not provide assurance that the audit of each Funds financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards or that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
10
Based on its consideration of the audited financial statements and the discussions referred to above with management and the independent accountants, and subject to the limitations on the responsibilities and role of the Audit Committee set forth in the Charter and those discussed above, the Audit Committee of each Fund recommended to that Fund's Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Funds Annual Report for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013.
This report was submitted by the
Audit Committee of each Funds Board of Directors
David Gale
Morgan Gust
Karen H. Hogan
Robert F. Wulf (Chairman)
January 22, 2014
Each Audit Committee was established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the 1934 Act. Each Audit Committee met four times in connection with its Board of Directors regularly scheduled meetings during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013. Each Audit Committee is composed entirely of each Funds Independent Directors who are also independent (as such term is defined by the NYSE under the listing standards applicable to closed-end funds, as may be modified or supplemented (the NYSE Listing Standards)), namely Ms. Hogan and Messrs. Gale, Gust and Wulf.
Nominating and Governance Committee
Each Board of Directors has a Nominating and Governance Committee composed entirely of each Funds Independent Directors who are also independent (as such term is defined by the NYSE Listing Standards), namely Ms. Hogan and Messrs. Gale, Gust and Wulf. The Nominating and Governance Committee of each Fund, except DFP, met twice during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013 and the Nominating and Governance Committee of DFP met once during the period ended November 30, 2013.
The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for identifying individuals believed to be qualified to become Board members; for recommending to the Board such nominees to stand for election as directors at each Funds annual meeting of shareholders and to fill any vacancies on the Board; and for overseeing the Boards governance practices. Each Funds Nominating and Governance Committee has a charter which is available on its website, www.preferredincome.com.
Each Funds Nominating and Governance Committee believes that it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders to obtain highly qualified candidates to serve as members of the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committees have not established a formal process for identifying candidates where a vacancy exists on the Board. In nominating candidates, each Nominating and Governance Committee shall take into consideration such factors as it deems appropriate, including educational background; business, professional training or practice (e.g., accounting or law); public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member (including the Boards of the Funds) or as an executive of investment funds, public companies or significant private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. Each Funds Nominating and Governance Committee may consider whether a potential nominees professional experience, education, skills, and other individual qualities and attributes, including gender, race or national origin, would provide beneficial diversity of skills, experience or perspective to the Boards membership and collective attributes. Each Funds Nominating and Governance Committee will consider Director candidates recommended by shareholders and submitted in accordance with applicable law and procedures as described in this Joint Proxy Statement. (See Submission of Shareholder Proposals Annual Meetings 2015 below.)
Other Board-Related Matters
Shareholders who wish to send communications to the Board should send them to the address of their Fund(s) and to the attention of the Board. All such communications will be directed to the Boards attention.
11
The Funds do not have a formal policy regarding Board member attendance at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. However, all of the Directors of each Fund attended the April 18, 2013 Annual Meetings of Shareholders.
Board Compensation
Each Director of each Fund who is not a director, officer or employee of Flaherty & Crumrine or any of its affiliates receives from each Fund a fee of $9,000 per annum plus $750 for each in-person Board of Directors or Audit Committee meeting attended, $500 for each in-person Nominating and Governance Committee meeting attended, and $250 for each telephone meeting attended. In addition, the Audit Committee Chairman receives from each Fund an annual fee of $3,000. Each Director of each Fund is reimbursed for travel and out-of-pocket expenses associated with attending Board and committee meetings. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013, the Board of Directors for each of PFD and PFO held six meetings (two of which were telephone meetings), the Board of Directors of each of FFC and FLC held seven meetings (three of which were telephone meetings), and the Board of Directors DFP held seven meetings (four of which were telephone meetings). Each Director of each Fund attended at least 75% of the meetings of Directors and of any Committee of which he or she is a member. The aggregate remuneration paid to the Directors of each Fund for the fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013 is set forth below:
Board Meeting and | ||||||
Committee Meeting | Travel and Out-of-Pocket | |||||
Annual Director Fees | Fees | Expenses* | ||||
PFD | $36,000 | $33,000 | $2,632 | |||
PFO | $36,000 | $33,000 | $2,632 | |||
FFC | $36,000 | $34,000 | $2,632 | |||
FLC | $36,000 | $34,000 | $2,632 | |||
DFP** | $22,402 | $22,868 | $1,178 |
* | Includes reimbursement for travel and out-of-pocket expenses for both interested and Independent Directors. | |
** | DFP commenced operations on May 29, 2013. |
The following table sets forth additional information regarding the compensation of each Funds Directors for the fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013. No executive officer or person affiliated with a Fund received compensation from a Fund during the fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013 in excess of $60,000. Directors and executive officers of the Funds do not receive pension or retirement benefits from the Funds.
COMPENSATION TABLE
Name of | Aggregate | Total Compensation from | ||
Person and | Compensation | the Funds and Fund | ||
Position | from each Fund | Complex Paid to Directors* | ||
Donald F. Crumrine | $0 | $0 (5) | ||
Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
David Gale | $ 16,500 PFD | $77,351 (5) | ||
Director | $ 16,500 PFO | |||
$ 16,750 FFC | ||||
$ 16,750 FLC | ||||
$ 10,851 DFP | ||||
Morgan Gust | $ 16,500 PFD | $77,351 (5) | ||
Director, Nominating and Governance Committee Chairman | $ 16,500 PFO | |||
$ 16,750 FFC | ||||
$ 16,750 FLC | ||||
$ 10,851 DFP | ||||
Karen H. Hogan | $ 16,500 PFD | $77,351 (5) | ||
Director | $ 16,500 PFO | |||
$ 16,750 FFC | ||||
$ 16,750 FLC | ||||
$ 10,851 DFP | ||||
Robert F. Wulf | $ 19,500 PFD | $91,217 (5) | ||
Director, Audit Committee Chairman | $ 19,500 PFO | |||
$ 19,750 FFC | ||||
$ 19,750 FLC | ||||
$ 12,717 DFP |
* | Represents the total compensation paid for the fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013 to such persons by the Funds, which are considered part of the same fund complex because they have a common adviser. The parenthetical number represents the total number of investment company directorships held by the Director or Nominee in the fund complex as of November 30, 2013. |
12
Required Vote
The election of Mr. Gale and Ms. Hogan as Directors of PFD, the election of Mr. Gust and Ms. Hogan as Directors of PFO, the election of Mr. Gale as a Director of FFC and FLC, and the election of Mr. Crumrine and Mr. Wulf as Directors of DFP, will require the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by holders of the Shares of Common Stock of each such Fund at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
KPMG, Two Financial Center, 60 South Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, has been selected to serve as each Funds independent registered public accounting firm for each Funds fiscal year ending November 30, 2014. KPMG acted as the independent registered public accounting firm for each Fund for the fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013. The Funds know of no direct financial or material indirect financial interest of KPMG in the Funds. A representative of KPMG will not be present at the Meetings, but will be available by telephone to respond to appropriate questions and will have an opportunity to make a statement, if asked.
Set forth in the table below are audit fees and non-audit related fees billed to each Fund by KPMG for professional services for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2012 and fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013, as applicable.
Fiscal Year/Period | ||||||||||
Ended | Audit-Related | |||||||||
Fund | November 30 | Audit Fees | Fees | Tax Fees* | All Other Fees | |||||
PFD | 2012 | $45,000 | $0 | $8,650 | $0 | |||||
2013 | $46,350 | $0 | $8,910 | $0 | ||||||
PFO | 2012 | $45,000 | $0 | $8,650 | $0 | |||||
2013 | $46,350 | $0 | $8,910 | $0 | ||||||
FFC | 2012 | $47,500 | $0 | $8,650 | $0 | |||||
2013 | $46,350 | $0 | $8,910 | $0 | ||||||
FLC | 2012 | $47,500 | $0 | $8,650 | $0 | |||||
2013 | $46,350 | $0 | $8,910 | $0 | ||||||
DFP | 2013 | $46,350 | $0 | $8,910 | $54,500** |
* |
Tax Fees are those fees billed to each Fund by KPMG in connection with tax consulting services, including primarily the review of each Funds income tax returns. | |
** |
All Other Fees are those fees billed to DFP by KPMG in connection with the Seed Audit of the Fund. |
13
Each Funds Audit Committee Charter requires that the Audit Committee pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent accountants to the Fund, and all non-audit services to be provided by the independent accountants to the Funds investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Funds investment adviser (affiliates) that provide on-going services to each Fund, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of each Fund, or to establish detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for such services in accordance with applicable laws. All of the audit and non-audit services described above for which KPMG billed each Fund fees for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2012 and the fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013, as applicable, were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
For each Funds fiscal year ended November 30, 2012 and fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013, KPMG did not provide any non-audit services (or bill any fees for such services) to the Funds investment adviser or any affiliates.
14
SPECIAL MEETINGS
(PFD, PFO, FFC
and FLC ONLY)
PROPOSAL 1: TO APPROVE A CHANGE TO
EACH FUNDS FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICY
REGARDING INVESTMENTS IN
COMMODITIES
Background. The preferred and debt securities typically held by each Fund generally are longer duration instruments. As a result, the Fund can be more sensitive to interest rate changes than funds that invest in shorter duration instruments. However, while it does not currently do so, each Fund has historically and may in the future utilize an interest-rate strategy. Under this strategy, each Fund mitigates some or all of this exposure to long-term U.S. Treasury interest rates through purchasing futures or options, entering into swap transactions or utilizing other types of instruments. If a Fund did make such investments, they normally would be expected to appreciate in value when long-term interest rates rise significantly. If long-term interest rates did rise, and the instruments employed by the Fund increased in value, the Fund could use those realized gains to purchase additional preferred securities. This could potentially increase dividends to common shareholders.
1940 Act Requirements: PFD, PFO, FFC and FLC, like all registered investment companies, are required by the 1940 Act to have certain specific investment policies that can be changed only with the prior approval of the holders of a majority of its outstanding voting securities. These policies are often referred to as fundamental policies or restrictions. Under Section 8(b)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, a fund is required to include in its registration statement a recital of its policy regarding the purchase or sale of commodities, and such policy must be a fundamental policy. The 1940 Act does not prohibit a fund from owning commodities, whether physical commodities or contracts related to physical commodities (such as oil or grains and related futures contracts), or financial commodities and contracts related to financial commodities (such as currencies).
PFD, PFO, FFC and FLC currently have a fundamental investment policy with respect to commodities, as detailed below, which restrict their use of certain commodities.
Title VII of The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act) expanded the scope of commodity interests subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act to include most swaps, including the types of interest rate swaps that could be employed in the execution of each Funds interest-rate hedging strategy. These instruments were not previously included within the legal definition of commodities, but were permissible investments for each Fund.
In connection with such changes, and to avoid confusion, it is proposed that the below referenced fundamental investment restriction of each Fund be changed so that the Fund may purchase and sell commodities or commodity contracts, including futures contracts, to the extent permitted by law. This change will clarify that the Fund continues to have the same ability to utilize derivative instruments as it did prior to the change in definition of commodity interest under the Dodd-Frank Act.
In addition, the proposed revised fundamental investment policy is intended to provide each Fund with flexibility to respond to changing markets, new investment opportunities and future changes in applicable law.
Flaherty & Crumrine has advised the Board that the proposed revision to the fundamental policy on investment in commodities and commodity contracts is not expected to materially affect the manner in which a Funds investment program is being conducted at this time. In addition, Flaherty & Crumrine has advised the Board that it does not expect to purchase any physical commodities or contracts related to physical commodities, such as swaps on precious metals or agricultural products. Instead, it expects that it could use financial commodity contracts, such as interest rate swaps, to mitigate risk of loss or otherwise increase return for each Fund.
15
Proposal: Each Funds current fundamental investment policy regarding investments in commodities is set forth below.
PFD |
[The Fund may not] [i]nvest in commodities, except that the Fund may enter into futures contracts, including interest rate and stock index futures, and may purchase options and write covered options on such futures contracts and securities, as described in this Prospectus. |
PFO |
[The Fund may not] [i]nvest in commodities, except that the Fund may enter into futures contracts, including interest rate and stock index futures contracts, and may purchase options and write covered options on futures contracts, securities and stock indices, as described in this Prospectus. |
FFC |
[The Fund may not] [i]nvest in commodities, except that the Fund may enter into futures contracts, including interest rate and stock index futures, and may purchase options and write covered options on futures contracts and securities, as described in the Prospectus. |
FLC |
[The Fund may not] [i]nvest in commodities, except that the Fund may enter into futures contracts, including interest rate and stock index futures, and may purchase options and write covered options on futures contracts and securities, as described in the Prospectus. |
If shareholders of each Fund approve the proposal, each Funds current fundamental investment policy relating to investments in commodities will be revised as follows:
The Fund may purchase and sell commodities or commodity contracts, including futures contracts, to the extent permitted by law.
Shareholders of each Fund will vote separately from shareholders of the other Funds with respect to their Fund's investment policy.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PFD, PFO, FFC AND FLC, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1.
Required Vote
Approval of the change in each Funds fundamental investment policy, with respect to Proposal 1, will require the approval of the holders of a majority of the relevant Funds outstanding voting securities. A majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities for this purpose means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the Shares of Common Stock, present at a meeting of shareholders, if the holders of more than 50% of such Shares are present or represented by proxy at the meeting, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding Shares.
OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETINGS
Annual Meetings. Each Fund does not intend to present any other business at the relevant Meeting, nor is any Fund aware that any shareholder intends to do so. If, however, any other matters are properly brought before the Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote thereon in accordance with their judgment.
Special Meetings. Under Maryland law and each applicable Funds Bylaws, the only matters that may be acted on at a special meeting of shareholders are those matters stated in the notice of the special meeting. Accordingly, no other business may properly come before the Special Meetings.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Investment Adviser, Administrator and Servicing Agent
Flaherty & Crumrine serves as the investment adviser to each Fund, and its business address is 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California 91101. BNY Mellon acts as the administrator to each Fund and is located at 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581. Destra Capital Investments LLC acts as the servicing agent to FFC, FLC and DFP and is located at 901 Warrenville Road, Suite 15, Lisle, Illinois 60532.
16
Compliance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act require each Funds Directors and executive officers, certain persons affiliated with Flaherty & Crumrine and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of each Funds securities to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC and the NYSE and to furnish each Fund with copies of such forms they file. Based solely upon its review of the copies of such forms received by it and written representations from certain of such persons, each Fund believes that during 2013 all such filing requirements applicable to such persons were met in a timely manner, except for one late Form 5 filing on behalf of Mr. Robert Ettinger for PFD, PFO, FFC and FLC that related to a gift.
Submission of Shareholder Proposals 2015 Annual Meetings
All proposals by shareholders of each Fund that are intended to be presented at each Funds next Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2015 must be received by the relevant Fund for consideration for inclusion in the relevant Funds proxy statement relating to the meeting no later than November 21, 2014, and must satisfy the requirements of federal securities laws.
Each Funds Bylaws require shareholders wishing to nominate Directors or make proposals to be voted on at the Funds Annual Meeting to provide timely advance notice of the proposal in writing. To be considered timely, any such advance notice must be in writing delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Fund at the address set forth on the first page of this Joint Proxy Statement not earlier than the 150th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding years annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding years annual meeting, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.
Any such notice by a shareholder shall set forth the information required by the Funds Bylaws with respect to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting.
Householding
Please note that only one annual or semi-annual report or Joint Proxy Statement may be delivered to two or more shareholders of a Fund who share an address, unless the Fund has received instructions to the contrary. To request a separate copy of an annual report or semi-annual report or this Joint Proxy Statement, or for instructions regarding how to request a separate copy of these documents or regarding how to request a single copy if multiple copies of these documents are received, shareholders should contact BNY Mellon C/O Computershare, P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170 or by phone at 1-866-351-7446.
Voting Results
Each Fund will advise its shareholders of the voting results of the matters voted upon at its Meetings in its next Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders.
Broker Non-Votes and Abstentions
A proxy which is properly executed and returned accompanied by instructions to withhold authority to vote represents a broker non-vote (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees as to which (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or the persons entitled to vote and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter). Proxies that reflect abstentions or broker non-votes (collectively, abstentions) will be counted as Shares that are present and entitled to vote at the meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a Quorum.
With respect to Proposal 1 for the Annual Meetings, abstentions do not constitute a vote for directors. With respect to Proposal 1 for the Special Meetings, abstentions do not constitute a vote for the proposal and instead will count as a vote against the proposal.
17
NOTICE TO BANKS, BROKER/DEALERS AND VOTING TRUSTEES AND THEIR NOMINEES
Please advise the Funds whether other persons are the beneficial owners of Fund Shares for which proxies are being solicited from you, and, if so, the number of copies of the Joint Proxy Statement and other soliciting material you wish to receive in order to supply copies to the beneficial owners of Fund Shares.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE RELEVANT MEETINGS ARE THEREFORE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN ALL PROXY CARDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
18
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT
FLAHERTY &
CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND
INCORPORATED
EASY VOTING OPTIONS: | |||
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VOTE BY MAIL |
||
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VOTE IN PERSON |
Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. | X |
Annual Meeting Proxy Card
PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. |
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the nominees listed.
FOR | WITHHOLD | FOR ALL | ||||
1. Election of Directors: | ALL | ALL | EXCEPT | |||
01 Morgan Gust | 02 Karen H. Hogan | c | c | c | ||
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark the box FOR ALL EXCEPT and write the nominees number on the line provided below. |
||||||
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meetings or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
Change of Address - Please print new address below. | Comments Please print your comments below. |
NOTE: Please sign this proxy exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on the books of the Fund. Joint owners should each sign personally. Trustees and other fiduciaries should indicate the capacity in which they sign, and where more than one name appears, a majority must sign. If a corporation, the signature should be that of an authorized officer who should state his or her title.
Date | Signature and Title, if applicable | Signature (if held jointly) | ||||
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT
The Combined Proxy Statement and Proxy Card for this meeting are available at www.preferredincome.com. |
PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. |
Proxy - FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 17, 2014
Important Notice Regarding the
Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April
17, 2014.
The Combined Proxy Statement and Proxy Card for this meeting are available at www.preferredincome.com.
THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned holder of shares of Common Stock of Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated, a Maryland corporation (the Fund), hereby appoints Donald F. Crumrine, Robert M. Ettinger and Chad C. Conwell, proxies for the undersigned, each with full powers of substitution and revocation, to represent the undersigned and to vote on behalf of the undersigned all shares of Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be held at the offices of Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated, 301 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California 91101 at 9:00 a.m. PT, on April 17, 2014, and any adjournments or postponements thereof. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and Combined Proxy Statement and hereby instructs said proxies to vote said shares as indicated hereon. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Meeting. A majority of the proxies present and acting at the Meeting in person or by substitute (or, if only one shall be so present, then that one) shall have and may exercise all of the power and authority of said proxies hereunder. The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy previously given.
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT
FLAHERTY &
CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND
INCORPORATED
EASY VOTING OPTIONS: | |||
![]() |
VOTE BY MAIL |
||
![]() |
VOTE IN PERSON |
Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. | X |
Special Meeting Proxy Card
PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. |
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 1.
1. | Approve a change to the fundamental investment policy regarding investments in commodities. | FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | |||
o | o | o | |||||
2. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meetings or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
Change of Address - Please print new address below. | Comments Please print your comments below. |
NOTE: Please sign this proxy exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on the books of the Fund. Joint owners should each sign personally. Trustees and other fiduciaries should indicate the capacity in which they sign, and where more than one name appears, a majority must sign. If a corporation, the signature should be that of an authorized officer who should state his or her title.
Date | Signature and Title, if applicable | Signature (if held jointly) | ||||
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT
The Combined Proxy Statement and Proxy Card for this meeting are
|
PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. |
Proxy - FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 17, 2014
Important Notice Regarding
the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held on
April 17, 2014.
The Combined Proxy Statement and Proxy Card for this meeting are available at www.preferredincome.com.
THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned holder of shares of Common Stock of Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated, a Maryland corporation (the Fund), hereby appoints Donald F. Crumrine, Robert M. Ettinger and Chad C. Conwell, proxies for the undersigned, each with full powers of substitution and revocation, to represent the undersigned and to vote on behalf of the undersigned all shares of Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be held at the offices of Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated, 301 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California 91101 at 9:30 a.m. PT, on April 17, 2014, and any adjournments or postponements thereof. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Special Meeting and Combined Proxy Statement and hereby instructs said proxies to vote said shares as indicated hereon. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Meeting. A majority of the proxies present and acting at the Meeting in person or by substitute (or, if only one shall be so present, then that one) shall have and may exercise all of the power and authority of said proxies hereunder. The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy previously given.
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1875 K
Street, N.W. Tel: 202
303 1000 |
VIA EDGAR
March 21, 2014
Securities and Exchange
Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC
20549-4720
Re: |
Flaherty & Crumrine
Preferred Income Fund Incorporated (PFD) |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of the above referenced investment companies, each a Maryland corporation (together, the Funds), we hereby transmit for filing pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the definitive joint combined proxy statement, notices of the Annual Meetings of Shareholders of the Funds (the Annual Meetings) and the Special Meetings of Shareholders of PFD, PFO, FLC and FFC (the Special Meetings and together with the Annual Meetings, the Meetings) and forms of proxy card (together, the Proxy Materials) relating to the Meetings of the shareholders of the Funds.
Please be advised, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 14a-6(d) under the 1934 Act, that the Funds plan to mail the Proxy Materials to shareholders of the Funds beginning on or about March 21, 2014.
Should members of the staff have any questions or comments regarding the enclosed Proxy Materials, they should call the undersigned at (202) 303-1232.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Neesa Sood
Neesa Sood
Enclosures
cc: | Chad C. Conwell, Flaherty and Crumrine Incorporated Rose F. DiMartino, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Maria Gattuso, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP |
New York | Washington | Paris | London | Milan | Rome | Frankfurt | Brussels |
in alliance with Dickson Minto W.S., London and Edinburgh |
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787 Seventh
Avenue New York, NY 10019-6099 Tel: 212 728 8000 Fax: 212 728 8111 |
March 21, 2014
VIA EDGAR
Ms. Karen Rossotto
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549-4644
Re: | Comments to Preliminary Proxy
Materials for Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Incorporated,
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated,
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated,
Flaherty & Crumrine Total Return Fund Incorporated, and Flaherty &
Crumrine Dynamic Preferred and Income Fund Incorporated (each, a Fund
and collectively, the Funds) Investment Company Act File Nos. 811-06179, 811-06495, 811-21129, 811-21380 and 811-22762 |
Dear Ms. Rossotto:
The Funds filed a preliminary joint combined proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the Joint Combined Proxy Statement) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) on March 6, 2014. This letter responds to comments regarding the Joint Combined Proxy Statement that you provided in a telephone conversation on March 14, 2014 to Neesa Sood. We have discussed the staffs comments with representatives of the Funds. For your convenience, the substance of those comments has been restated in italicized text below. The Funds response to each comment is set out immediately under the restated comment.
Capitalized terms used herein, and not otherwise defined, have the respective meanings assigned in the Joint Combined Proxy Statement.
Comment No. 1: Please add language to make clear that each Funds annual reports will be available upon request, without charge, by contacting a name and address or by calling a toll-free number.
Response: This disclosure is included on page 1 of the Joint Combined Proxy Statement as follows: THE ANNUAL REPORT OF EACH FUND, INCLUDING AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2013, IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, WITHOUT CHARGE, BY WRITING TO BNY MELLON C/O COMPUTERSHARE, P.O. BOX 30170, COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 77842-3170, OR BY CALLING 1-866-351-7446. In response to the Staffs comments, this disclosure has been added to the Notice of Annual Meeting to Shareholders and Notice of Special Meeting to Shareholders.
New York | Washington | Paris | London | Milan | Rome | Frankfurt | Brussels |
in alliance with Dickson Minto W.S., London and Edinburgh |
Comment No. 2: On page 1 of the Joint Combined Proxy Statement, it provides that: Costs of proxy solicitation and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of this Joint Proxy Statement and its enclosures will be shared proportionally by the Funds. Please update the Joint Combined Proxy Statement to include what the total costs are and to explain what is meant by shared proportionally by the Funds.
Response: No proxy solicitation firm will be used in connection with the Joint Combined Proxy Statement. The sentence will be replaced as follows:
No proxy solicitation firm will be used in connection with the Joint Combined Proxy Statement. The Funds will evenly split the expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of this Joint Proxy Statement. Each Fund will pay for its respective expenses incurred in connection with printing and mailing of the Joint Combined Proxy Statement and its enclosures to shareholders.
Comment No. 3: On page 14 of the Joint Combined Proxy Statement, it states that: However, each Fund historically has mitigated, and in the future may mitigate, some or all of this exposure to long-term U.S. Treasury interest rates through purchasing futures or options, entering into swap transactions or utilizing other types of instruments. Please add the word continue to after in the future may in order to clarify that there is no substantive change in policy. Please also update this sentence so it makes clear that this is the interest-rate hedging strategy discussed a few paragraphs below on page 14.
Response: The requested change has been made by replacing the sentence as follows (underlined language indicates changed language): However, while it does not currently do so, each Fund has historically and may in the future utilize an interest-rate strategy. Under this strategy, each Fund mitigates some or all of this exposure to long-term U.S. Treasury interest rates through purchasing futures or options, entering into swap transactions or utilizing other types of instruments.
Comment No. 4: On page 15, please include the name and address of the principal underwriter of the Funds pursuant to Schedule 14A, Item 22(a)(3)(i).
Response: Each Fund is a closed-end investment company. Currently, the Funds have no principal underwriter because they are not engaged in an offering of its shares.
If you have any questions regarding these responses, please do not hesitate to contact me at 212-728-8294.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Maria Gattuso
Maria Gattuso
Enclosures
cc: | Chad C. Conwell, Flaherty & Crumrine
Incorporated Rose F. DiMartino, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP |
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