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
o
Check the
appropriate box:
o
|
Preliminary Proxy
Statement
|
o
|
Confidential, for
Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
|
x
|
Definitive Proxy
Statement
|
o
|
Definitive
Additional Materials
|
o
|
Soliciting Material
Under Rule 14a-12
|
Insured
Municipal Income Fund Inc.
|
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its
Charter)
|
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x
No
fee required.
o
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:
|
o
|
Fee paid previously with
preliminary materials.
|
o
|
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:
Insured
Municipal Income Fund Inc.
(New
York Stock Exchange Trading Symbol: PIF)
NOTICE
OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD DECEMBER 10, 2009
Important
Notice regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting of
Shareholders to Be Held on December 10, 2009: The Notice of Special Meeting of
Shareholders and Proxy Statement are available on the Internet at
www.icommaterials.com.
To the
shareholders:
Notice is
hereby given that a special meeting (the “Meeting”) of stockholders (herein
referred to as “shareholders”) of Insured Municipal Income Fund Inc., a Maryland
corporation (the “Fund”), will be held on December 10, 2009 at 11:00 AM, Eastern
time, at the offices of Blank Rome LLP, 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
10174, for the following purposes:
Matters
to be voted upon by all shareholders:
|
(1)
|
To
elect three directors to serve until the annual meeting of shareholders in
2010 and until their successors are elected and qualify or until they
resign or are otherwise removed;
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(2)
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To
approve a new investment advisory agreement between the Fund and Brooklyn
Capital Management, LLC;
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(3)
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To
approve the replacement of the Fund’s fundamental investment objective
with a non-fundamental investment objective of providing total
return;
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(4)
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To
eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment policy to invest at least 80%
of its net assets in insured municipal
obligations;
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(5)
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To
ratify the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Fund’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2009; and
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(6)
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To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or
any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
|
The
voting provisions previously applicable to the Fund’s auction preferred stock
(“APS”), which provide that two directors are to be elected by a vote of only
the holders of the Fund’s APS, are inapplicable to the proposals contained in
this Proxy Statement as the Fund, prior to the Meeting, will have redeemed all
outstanding APSs.
You are
entitled to vote at the Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof if
you owned shares of the Fund’s common stock at the close of business on October
30, 2009. If you attend the Meeting, you may vote your shares in
person.
Whether or
not you expect to attend the Meeting, please complete, date, sign and return the
enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage paid envelope
so that a
quorum will be present and a maximum number of shares may be voted.
You may change your
vote at any time by submitting a later-dated proxy or by voting at the
Meeting.
By order
of the Board of Directors,
Phillip
Goldstein
Chairman
of the Board
November
18, 2009
Your
vote is important no matter how many shares you own
|
Please indicate your voting
instructions on the enclosed proxy card, date and sign it, and return it
in the postage paid envelope provided.
If you sign, date
and return the proxy card but give no voting instructions, your shares
will be voted “FOR” the nominees for director named in the attached Proxy
Statement (i.e., Proposal 1), “FOR” the proposal to approve the investment
advisory agreement between the Fund and Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC
(i.e., Proposal 2), “FOR” the proposal to approve the replacement of the
Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a non-fundamental investment
objective of providing total return (i.e., Proposal 3), “FOR” the proposal
to eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment policy (i.e., Proposal 4),
“FOR” the ratification of the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as
the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2009 (i.e., Proposal 5), and,
in the proxies’ discretion, either “FOR” or “AGAINST” any other business
that may properly arise at the Meeting.
In order to
avoid the additional expense to the Fund of further solicitation, we ask
your cooperation in mailing in your enclosed proxy card
promptly.
|
Instructions
for signing proxy cards
The
following general guidelines for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you
and avoid the time and expense to the Fund in validating your vote if you fail
to sign your proxy card properly.
1.
Individual accounts:
Sign your
name exactly as it appears in the registration on the proxy card.
2.
Joint accounts:
Either party
may sign, but the name of the party signing should conform exactly to the name
shown in the registration on the proxy card.
3.
All other accounts:
The
capacity of the individual signing the proxy card should be indicated unless it
is reflected in the form of registration. For example:
Registration
|
Valid signature
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Corporate
accounts
|
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(1) ABC
Corp.
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ABC
Corp.
|
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John
Doe, treasurer
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(2) ABC
Corp.
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John
Doe, treasurer
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(3) ABC
Corp. c/o John Doe, treasurer
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John
Doe
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(4) ABC
Corp. profit sharing plan
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John
Doe, trustee
|
|
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Partnership
accounts
|
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(1) The
XYZ partnership
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Jane
B. Smith, partner
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(2) Smith
and Jones, limited partnership
|
Jane
B. Smith, general partner
|
|
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Trust
accounts
|
|
(1) ABC
trust account
|
Jane
B. Doe, trustee
|
(2) Jane
B. Doe, trustee u/t/d 12/18/78
|
Jane
B. Doe
|
|
|
Custodial
or estate accounts
|
|
(1) John
B. Smith, Cust. f/b/o
|
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John B. Smith, Jr.
UGMA/UTMA
|
John
B. Smith
|
(2) Estate
of John B. Smith
|
John
B. Smith, Jr., executor
|
Insured
Municipal Income Fund Inc.
615 East
Michigan Street
Milwaukee,
WI 53202
PROXY
STATEMENT
December
10, 2009
Introduction
Special
Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on December 10, 2009
This
proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) is furnished to the stockholders (herein
referred to as “shareholders”) of Insured Municipal Income Fund Inc. (the
“Fund”) in connection with the solicitation by the Fund’s Board of Directors
(the “Board”) of proxies to be used at the special meeting (the “Meeting”) of
the shareholders of the Fund to be held on December 10, 2009, at 11:00 AM,
Eastern time, at the offices of Blank Rome LLP, 405 Lexington Avenue, New York,
NY 10174, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. This Proxy
Statement and the related proxy card will first be mailed to shareholders on or
about November 19, 2009.
Quorum.
The
presence, in person or by proxy, of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of
the votes entitled to be cast at the Meeting (i.e., the presence of a majority
of the shares outstanding on October 30, 2009) is necessary to constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business. In the event that a quorum is
not present at the Meeting, or if a quorum is present at the Meeting but
sufficient votes to approve any of the proposals are not received, the chairman
of the Meeting may adjourn the Meeting, or the persons named as proxies may
propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation
of proxies. If submitted to shareholders, any such adjournment will
require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of those shares
represented at the Meeting in person or by proxy (or a majority of votes cast if
a quorum is present). A shareholder vote may be taken on one or more
of the proposals in this Proxy Statement prior to any such adjournment if
sufficient votes have been received and it is otherwise
appropriate.
Required Vote for Adoption of
Proposals.
Proposal 1 (to elect three directors) requires the
affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the Meeting in person or by
proxy on such Proposal, provided a quorum is present. Proposal 2 (to
approve the investment advisory agreement between the Fund and Brooklyn Capital
Management, LLC (the “Proposed Adviser”)), Proposal 3 (to approve the
replacement of the Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return) and Proposal 4
(to eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment policy to invest at least 80% of
its net assets in insured municipal obligations) each require the affirmative
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940
Act”), the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the
affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares present at the
Meeting or represented by proxy if the holders of 50% of the outstanding shares
are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding
voting shares. Proposal 5 (to ratify the selection of Tait, Weller
& Baker LLP as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009) requires the affirmative vote of the
holders of a simple majority, defined as a majority of the votes cast by holders
of shares of the Fund’s common stock present in person or represented by proxy
at the Meeting, provided a quorum is present.
All of
the outstanding shares of the Fund’s common stock will vote together as a single
class. Each full share is entitled to one vote, and each fractional
share is entitled to a proportionate share of one vote.
A broker
non-vote occurs when the broker returns a properly executed proxy for shares
held by the broker for a customer but does not vote on a matter because the
broker does not have discretionary voting authority and has not received
instructions from the beneficial owner. Abstentions and broker
non-votes, if any, will be counted as shares present for purposes of determining
whether a quorum is present at the Meeting. They will be treated as
votes present at the Meeting, but will not be treated as votes cast for or
against any proposal. Therefore, abstentions and broker non-votes
will have no effect on a proposal which requires a plurality of votes cast for
approval (i.e., Proposal 1), but would have the same effect of a vote “AGAINST”
a proposal requiring approval by a majority of votes present (i.e., Proposals 2,
3, 4 and 5).
The
individuals named as proxies on the enclosed proxy card will vote in accordance
with your direction as indicated thereon if your proxy card is received properly
executed by you or by your duly appointed agent or
attorney-in-fact. If you give no voting instructions, your shares
will be voted FOR Proposals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and, in the proxies’ discretion,
either FOR or AGAINST any other business that may properly be presented at the
Meeting (e.g., adjourning the Meeting if a shareholder vote is
called).
You may
revoke any proxy card by giving another proxy or by submitting a written notice
of revocation to the Secretary of the Fund, care of US Bancorp Fund Services,
LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. To be effective,
your revocation must be received by the Fund prior to the Meeting and must
indicate your name and account number. In addition, if you attend the
Meeting in person you may, if you wish, vote in person at the Meeting, thereby
cancelling any proxy previously given.
As of the
record date, October 30, 2009, the Fund had outstanding 20,628,363 shares of
common stock.
The Fund
has made arrangements for assistance with the solicitation of proxies, as
described in the section below entitled, “Solicitation of Proxies.”
The
Fund’s annual report containing financial statements for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2009 has previously been mailed to
shareholders. Shareholders may request, without charge, additional
copies of the Fund’s annual report and the most recent semi-annual report
preceding such annual report by writing the Fund, c/o the Administrator, 615
East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. These reports are also
available on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) website,
www.sec.gov.
Proposal 1. Election of
Directors
Proposal
1 relates to the election of directors of the Fund. By letters dated
August 19, 2009, Richard R. Burt and Meyer Feldberg each resigned as a director
of the Fund. Messrs. Burt and Feldberg were each elected solely by
holders of the Fund’s auction preferred stock (“APS”) at the 2007 annual meeting
of shareholders and, due to the absence of a quorum of the APS holders at the
2008 and 2009 annual meetings of shareholders, continued to serve as directors
until their resignations. On September 1, 2009, to fill the vacancies
on the Board created by the resignations of Messrs. Burt and Feldberg, James
Chadwick and Ben Hormel Harris were elected by the Board. Messrs.
Chadwick and Harris are now being proposed for election by the
shareholders.
On
October 16, 2009, Rajeev Das, who was elected by shareholders at the annual
meeting held on August 12, 2009, resigned as a director, effective immediately,
and was subsequently appointed Vice President and Treasurer, effective October
18, 2009. The Fund’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
met on October 16, 2009 and nominated Charles C. Walden as a director, which
nomination was approved by the entire Board at a meeting held on the same
date. The Board also appointed Mr. Walden to serve through the date
of the Meeting as an observer on the Board. Assuming that Mr. Walden
is elected as a director by shareholders prior to the end of the current
calendar quarter, according to the policy adopted by the Board on October 16,
2009, he will be eligible to receive compensation for the full
quarter.
Section
16 of the 1940 Act requires that directors be elected by shareholders; however,
vacancies occurring between shareholder meetings may be filled by the Board,
provided that after the filling of such vacancy at least two-thirds of the
directors then in office will have been elected by
shareholders. Messrs. Dakos, Goldstein and Hellerman, as well as Mr.
Das, who resigned on October 16, 2009, were elected by shareholders on August
12, 2009. As of the date of the Meeting, the Fund will have redeemed
all of the APSs outstanding. Therefore, the holders of common stock
are being asked to elect Messrs. Chadwick, Harris and Walden, to ensure that the
entire Board will have been elected by the shareholders.
If you
properly execute and return the enclosed proxy card, unless you give contrary
instructions on the enclosed proxy card, then your shares will be voted FOR the
election of all nominees. If any of the nominees should withdraw or
otherwise become unavailable for election, your shares will be voted FOR such
other nominee or nominees as the present Board may recommend. Each
nominee has indicated his willingness to serve if elected. If
elected, each nominee will hold office until the annual meeting of shareholders
in 2010 and until his successor is elected and qualifies.
The
following table sets forth each nominee, as well as current directors and
officers of the Fund, his name, address, age, position with the Fund, term of
office and length of service with the Fund, principal occupation or employment
during the past five years and other directorships held at September 30,
2009. Messrs. Chadwick, Harris and Hellerman are each not considered
an “interested person” of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act (each an
“Independent Director”). In addition, if elected, Mr. Walden will be
an Independent Director. Messrs. Dakos and Goldstein will each be
considered an “interested person” of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940
Act, assuming approval of the investment advisory agreement between the Fund and
the Proposed Adviser, because of their affiliation with the Proposed
Adviser.
Name,
Address
and
Age
|
Position
|
Term
of
Office
and
Length
of
Time
Served
|
Principal
Occupation
During
the Past Five
Years
|
Number
of
Portfolios
in
Fund
Complex**
Overseen
by
Director
|
Other
Directorships
held
by
Director
|
|
INTERESTED
DIRECTORS
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Andrew
Dakos*
(43)
Park
80 West /
Plaza
Two,
Suite
750
Saddle
Brook, NJ
07663
|
Interested
Director
|
Since
2009
|
Principal,
Bulldog Investors, the general partner of the six private investment
partnerships in the
Bulldog
Investors group of funds.
|
1
|
Director,
Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc.; Director, Brantley Capital
Corporation.
|
|
|
Phillip
Goldstein*
(64)
Park
80 West /
Plaza
Two,
Suite
750
Saddle
Brook, NJ
07663
|
Interested
Director
|
Since
2009
|
Principal,
Bulldog Investors, the general partner of the six private investment
partnerships in the
Bulldog
Investors group of funds.
|
1
|
Director,
Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc.; Director, Brantley Capital
Corporation; ASA Ltd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INDEPENDENT
DIRECTORS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Position
|
Term
of
Office
and
Length
of
Time
Served
|
Principal
Occupation
During
the Past Five
Years
|
Number
of
Portfolios
in
Fund
Complex**
Overseen
by
Director
|
Other
Directorships
held
by
Director
|
|
|
Gerald
Hellerman
(72)
5431
NW 21st Ave.
Boca
Raton, FL 33496
|
Independent
Director
|
Since
2009
|
Managing
Director, Hellerman Associates (a financial and
corporate
consulting firm).
|
1
|
Director,
Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc.; Director, Brantley Capital
Corporation; Director, MVC Corporation; Director, MVC Acquisition Corp.;
Director, MVC Captial, Inc.; Director, Old Mutual Absolute Return and
Emerging Managers Fund Complex (consisting of six funds).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Address
and
Age
|
Position
|
Term
of
Office
and
Length
of
Time
Served
|
Principal
Occupation
During
the Past Five
Years
|
Number
of
Portfolios
in
Fund
Complex**
Overseen
by
Director
|
Other
Directorships
held
by
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
INDEPENDENT
DIRECTOR NOMINEES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
Chadwick (36)
1203
Agate St.
San
Diego, CA
92109
|
Independent
Director
Nominee
|
|
Managing
Member, Monarch
Activist
Partnership LP; Founder/Managing Member, Pacific Cost Investment Partners
LLC; Managing Director, Harlingwood Equity Partners LP.
|
1
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ben
Hormel Harris
(40)
720
O Street
Lot
E
Lincoln,
NE 68508
|
Independent
Director
Nominee
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer, NHI II, LLC
and
NHI Financial Services, LLC; Investment Professional, MVC
Capital,
Inc.
|
1
|
Director,
NHI II, LLC; Director, NHI Financial Services, LLC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles
C. Walden (65)
15
Matthew Court
Madison,
CT 06443
|
Independent
Director
Nominee
|
|
President
and Owner, Sound Capital Associates, LLC (consulting firm); Executive
Vice-President – Investments and Chief Investment Officer of Knights of
Columbus (fraternal benefit society selling life insurance and
annuities)
|
1
|
Director,
Third Avenue Funds (fund complex consisting of five funds and one variable
series trust).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OFFICERS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Address
and
Age
|
Position
|
Term
of
Office
and
Length
of
Time
Served
|
Principal
Occupation
During
the Past Five
Years
|
Number
of
Portfolios
in
Fund
Complex**
Overseen
by
Director
|
Other
Directorships
held
by
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew
Dakos*
|
President
and Chief Compliance Officer as of October 18, 2009
|
Since
2009
|
Principal,
Bulldog Investors, the general partner of the six private investment
partnerships in the
Bulldog
Investors group of funds.
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Address
and
Age
|
Position
|
Term
of
Office
and
Length
of
Time
Served
|
Principal
Occupation
During
the Past Five
Years
|
Number
of
Portfolios
in
Fund
Complex**
Overseen
by
Director
|
Other
Directorships
held
by
Director
|
|
|
Rajeev
Das
|
Vice-
President
and
Treasurer
as
of
October
18,
2009
|
Since
2009
|
Managing
Member, Bulldog Investors, the general partner of the six private
investment partnerships in the Bulldog Investors group of
funds.
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phillip
Goldstein*
|
Chairman
and
Secretary
as
of
October
18,
2009
|
Since
2009
|
Principal,
Bulldog Investors, the general partner of the six private investment
partnerships in the
Bulldog
Investors group of funds.
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Messrs.
Dakos and Goldstein are each considered an “interested person” of the Fund
within the meaning of the 1940 Act, assuming approval of the proposed investment
advisory agreement between the Fund and Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC,
because of their affiliation with Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC.
**
The
Fund Complex is comprised of only the Fund.
Compensation of
Directors
. The Board does not have a standing compensation
committee. Currently, each Independent Director receives an annual
retainer equal to $25,000 for serving as a director and attending the quarterly
meetings of the Board, paid quarterly in advance, plus $1,000 for each special
Board meeting attended in person (or $500 if attended by
telephone). Each Independent Director is entitled to receive such
compensation for any partial quarter for which he serves.
Directors
who are “interested persons” of the Fund will not receive any compensation for
their services as directors. However, notwithstanding the foregoing,
for the period that the Proposed Adviser waives its advisory fee pending
completion of a tender offer by the Fund for its common shares, Messrs. Dakos
and Goldstein will continue to receive compensation as directors in the same
amount as that set forth above for Independent Directors. The Fund
does not have a bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plan. No
other entity affiliated with the Fund pays any compensation to the
directors. Each director was elected at the annual meeting of
shareholders held on August 12, 2009 or appointed thereafter; therefore, they
did not receive compensation during the fiscal year ended March 31,
2009. The table below details the amount of compensation the Fund’s
current directors and director nominees are expected to receive from the Fund
during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.
Name
of Person/Position
|
Estimated
Aggregate
Compensation
From
the Fund
|
Pension
or
Retirement
Benefits
Accrued
as Part of
Fund
Expenses
|
Estimated
Annual
Benefits
Upon
Retirement
|
Total
Estimated
Compensation
from
Fund
Complex to be
Paid
to Directors**
|
James
Chadwick,
Independent
Director
Nominee
|
$10,288
|
None
|
None
|
$10,288
|
Andrew
Dakos,
Interested
Director*
|
$11,647
|
None
|
None
|
$11,647
|
Rajeev
Das,
Vice-President
and
Treasurer***
|
$11,647
|
None
|
None
|
$11,647
|
Phillip
Goldstein,
Interested
Director*
|
$11,647
|
None
|
None
|
$11,647
|
Ben
Hormel Harris,
Independent
Director
Nominee
|
$10,288
|
None
|
None
|
$10,288
|
Gerald
Hellerman,
Independent
Director****
|
$36,647
|
None
|
None
|
$36,647
|
Charles
C. Walden,
Independent
Director
Nominee*****
|
$7,251
|
None
|
None
|
$7,251
|
* Messrs.
Dakos and Goldstein are each considered an “interested person” of the Fund
within the meaning of the 1940 Act, assuming approval of the Proposed Agreement,
because of their affiliation with the Proposed Adviser.
**
The
Fund Complex is comprised of only the Fund.
***
Consists of compensation for service as a director during the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2009. Mr. Das resigned as director on October 16,
2009.
****
Includes a one-time fee of $25,000 for transitional services performed by Mr.
Hellerman in connection with the change of control of the Board following the
election of Messrs. Dakos, Das, Goldstein and Hellerman at the Fund’s annual
meeting on August 12, 2009.
*****
Includes compensation for attendance as an observer at two special meetings held
during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009, subject to his election as a
director by shareholders.
Management
Ownership
. To the knowledge of the Fund’s management, before
the close of business on September 30, 2009, the officers and directors of the
Fund beneficially owned, as a group, 10.08% of the shares of the Fund’s common
stock. To the knowledge of the Fund’s management, none of the
executive officers holding office on September 30, 2009 beneficially owned any
shares of the Fund’s common stock on September 30, 2009. The Board
elected new officers effective October 18, 2009, and giving effect to such
change in officers, at September 30, 2009, the officers and directors of the
Fund would have owned, as a group, 10.08% of the shares of the
Fund. The following table shows the dollar range of shares
beneficially owned by each director, director nominee and officer in the Fund as
of September 30, 2009:
Name
of Director,
Director
Nominee
or
Officer
|
Position
|
Dollar
Range of Equity
Securities
of the Fund
Beneficially
Owned
|
Aggregate
Dollar Range of
Equity
Securities
of
Family of Investment
Companies
Beneficially
Owned**
|
|
James
Chadwick
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
0
|
0
|
|
Andrew
Dakos*
|
Interested
Director, President and Chief Compliance Officer as of October 18,
2009
|
Over
$100,000
|
Over
$100,000
|
|
Rajeev
Das
|
Vice-President
and Treasurer as of October 18, 2009
|
Over
$100,000
|
Over
$100,000
|
|
Phillip
Goldstein*
|
Interested
Director, Chairman and Secretary as of October 18, 2009
|
Over
$100,000
|
Over
$100,000
|
|
Ben
Hormel Harris
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
0
|
0
|
|
Gerald
Hellerman
|
Independent
Director
|
0
|
0
|
|
Charles
C. Walden
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
0
|
0
|
* Messrs.
Dakos and Goldstein are each considered an “interested person” of the Fund
within the meaning of the 1940 Act, assuming approval of the proposed investment
advisory agreement between the Fund and Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC,
because of their affiliation with Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC.
** The
Family of Investment Companies is comprised of only the Fund.
Director Transactions with Fund
Affiliates
. As of September 30, 2009, neither the Independent
Directors, the Independent Director Nominees nor members of their immediate
family owned securities beneficially or of record in the Proposed Adviser or any
of its affiliates. Furthermore, over the past five years, neither the
Independent Directors, the Independent Director Nominees nor members of their
immediate family have had any direct or indirect interest, the value of which
exceeds $120,000, in the Proposed Adviser, UBS Global Asset Management
(Americas) Inc., the Fund’s previous investment adviser (the “Previous
Adviser”), or any affiliate of these entities. In addition, since the
beginning of the last two fiscal years, neither the Independent Directors, the
Independent Director Nominees nor members of their immediate family have
conducted any transactions (or series of transactions) or maintained any direct
or indirect relationship in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and to
which the Proposed Adviser, the Previous Adviser or any affiliate of any of
these entities was a party.
Required
Vote
. Approval of each nominee requires the affirmative vote
of a plurality of the votes cast at the Meeting in person or by proxy on
Proposal 1, provided a quorum is present.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS,
RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 1 FOR ELECTION OF
EACH
OF THE NOMINEES.
ANY
SIGNED BUT UNMARKED PROXIES WILL BE SO
VOTED
“FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES.
Proposal 2. Approval of Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Fund and Brooklyn
Capital
Management, LLC
Proposal
2 relates to the Investment Advisory Agreement by and between the Fund and
Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC (the “Proposed Adviser”), which is being
proposed for approval by the Fund’s shareholders (the “Proposed Advisory
Agreement”). The Previous Adviser served as investment adviser to the
Fund pursuant to the Investment Advisory and Administration Contract by and
between the Fund and the Previous Adviser dated as of April 1, 2006 (the
“Previous Advisory Agreement”). The Previous Adviser terminated the
Previous Advisory Agreement effective October 18, 2009, pursuant to written
notice provided to the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Previous
Advisory Agreement, stating that such notice was given as a result of the change
in control of the Board resulting from the directors elected by shareholders at
the annual meeting of shareholders held on August 12, 2009. On
September 24, 2009, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors,
voting separately, unanimously approved the Proposed Advisory Agreement at its
in person meeting and recommended that it be submitted to shareholders for
approval. On October 16, 2009, an Interim Advisory Agreement with the
Proposed Adviser was unanimously approved by the Board, including all of the
Independent Directors, to provide the Fund with investment advisory services
during the period between the effective date of the termination of the Previous
Advisory Agreement and the date on which the Fund’s shareholders approve the
Proposed Advisory Agreement at the Meeting (or postponement or adjournment
thereof) (the “Interim Period”); provided, however, that the Proposed Adviser
provides such investment advisory services to the Fund during the Interim
Period, which shall in no event be greater than 150 days, (i) on terms
substantially similar to those provided for in the Previous Advisory Agreement
and (ii) for compensation no greater than that provided for in the Previous
Advisory Agreement on a pro rata basis. The Proposed Adviser has
stated that it will provide such investment advisory services to the Fund during
the Interim Period without compensation. In addition, until such time
as the Fund has commenced and completed a tender offer for its common stock, the
Proposed Adviser has agreed to waive its advisory fee, subject to the
understanding that the Fund will reimburse the Proposed Adviser for all
reasonable expenses incurred by the Proposed Adviser in connection with a
liquidation of the Fund’s portfolio during the Interim Period, which expenses
shall include, but not be limited to, those attributable to the Proposed
Adviser’s engagement of Income Research & Management, a Massachusetts
business trust (the “Interim Subadviser”), to assist with such
liquidation. Under the terms of the Interim Subadvisory Agreement
between the Proposed Adviser and the Interim Subadviser, the Proposed Adviser
has agreed to pay to the Interim Subadviser a fee of $75,000, payable in five
equal installments on a monthly basis, commencing November 15,
2009. The Fund shall reimburse the Proposed Adviser the amount of
this fee. The Interim Subadvisory Agreement shall be in effect only
during the Interim Period and is terminable (x) by vote of a majority of the (A)
Independent Directors, or (B) outstanding voting shares of the Fund, upon 10
days’ written notice, and (y) by the Proposed Adviser upon 60 days’ written
notice.
If the
shareholders do not approve the Proposed Advisory Agreement during the Interim
Period, the Board will consider alternative sources from which to obtain
investment advisory services for the Fund.
The Board
hereby submits the Proposed Advisory Agreement, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B, to the Fund’s shareholders for their consideration and
approval.
Information
Regarding the Proposed Adviser
The
Proposed Adviser, Brooklyn Capital Management, LLC, which has its principal
office at 60 Heritage Drive, Pleasantville, New York 10570, is a newly formed
Delaware limited liability company. It was formed on August 27, 2009
for the purpose of providing investment advisory and management services to
investment companies. The Proposed Adviser is registered with the SEC
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and has no previous
operating history. The Proposed Adviser does not currently manage or
advise other closed-end investment companies. Mr. Das will serve as
the Fund’s portfolio manager, assuming the Proposed Advisory Agreement is
approved by shareholders at the Meeting. Messrs. Dakos and Goldstein,
each a director of the Fund, and Steven J. Samuels, are members of the Proposed
Adviser. Messrs. Dakos, Das and Goldstein each have extensive
experience with closed-end investment companies and managing and advising
private investment funds, and seeking out opportunities in the market that have
attractive risk reward characteristics. Mr. Goldstein, who also
serves as Chairman of the Board and a director of Mexico Equity and Income Fund,
Inc., and as a director of Brantley Capital Corporation and ASA Ltd. (each a
closed-end investment company), has been a principal of the general partner of
the six investment partnerships in the Bulldog Investors group of funds since
1992. Mr. Dakos, who also serves as a director to Mexico Equity and
Income Fund, Inc. and Brantley Capital Corporation (each a closed-end investment
company), is a principal of the general partner of the six investment
partnerships in the Bulldog Investors group of funds. The six private
investment partnerships in the Bulldog Investors group of funds include:
Opportunity Partners L.P., Opportunity Income Plus Fund L.P., Full Value
Partners L.P., Full Value Special Situations Fund L.P., Full Value Offshore L.P.
and MCM Opportunity Partners L.P. The following table lists the
executive officers and directors of the Fund, their positions with the Fund, and
their positions with the Proposed Adviser, if any:
Name
|
Position
with the Fund
|
Position
with the Proposed
Adviser
|
|
Directors
/ Director Nominees / Officers
|
|
James
Chadwick
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
None
|
Andrew
Dakos
|
Interested
Director,
President
and Chief Compliance Officer as of
October
18, 2009
|
Member
and Chief Compliance Officer
|
Rajeev
Das
|
Vice-President
and Treasurer as of October
18,
2009
|
Senior
Portfolio Manager
|
Phillip
Goldstein
|
Interested
Director,
Chairman
and Secretary as of October 18,
2009
|
Member
and Principal Executive Officer
|
Ben
Hormel Harris
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
None
|
Gerald
Hellerman
|
Independent
Director
|
None
|
Charles
C. Walden
|
Independent
Director Nominee
|
None
|
Summary
of the Proposed Advisory Agreement
This
Proxy Statement describes the material terms of the Proposed Advisory Agreement
and the material differences between the Previous Advisory Agreement and the
Proposed Advisory Agreement. The following description is only a
summary. The form of Proposed Advisory Agreement is attached hereto
as Exhibit B and should be referred to for the specific terms of the Proposed
Advisory Agreement.
Services to be
Performed.
Pursuant to the Proposed Advisory Agreement, the
Proposed Adviser will provide overall investment management services for the
Fund, and in connection therewith (i) supervise the Fund’s investment program,
including advising and consulting with the Board regarding the Fund’s overall
investment strategy; (ii) make, in consultation with the Board, investment
strategy decisions for the Fund; (iii) manage the investing and reinvesting of
the Fund’s assets; (iv) place purchase and sale orders on behalf of the Fund;
(v) advise the Fund with respect to all matters relating to the Fund’s use of
leveraging techniques; and (vi) provide or procure the provision of research and
statistical data to the Fund in relation to investing and other matters within
the scope of the investment objective and limitations of the Fund.
Expenses.
The
Proposed Advisory Agreement provides that (i) the Fund will be responsible for
all of the Fund’s expenses and liabilities and (ii) the Proposed Adviser will
bear all expenses arising out of its duties thereunder. Although the
Proposed Adviser is a newly organized investment adviser, the Fund is not aware
of other circumstances that are reasonably likely to impair the financial
ability of the Proposed Adviser to fulfill its commitment to the Fund under the
Proposed Advisory Agreement.
Limitation of
Liability.
The Proposed Advisory Agreement provides that, in
the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of its duties or reckless disregard for its obligations and duties
thereunder (“disabling conduct”), the Proposed Adviser will not be liable for
any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or omission or any loss
suffered by the Fund in connection with the rendering of the services
contemplated thereunder. In addition, under the Proposed Advisory
Agreement, the Fund, under certain circumstances, will indemnify the Proposed
Adviser against, and hold it harmless from, any and all losses, claims damages,
liabilities or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses),
including any amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as
fines or penalties, not resulting from disabling conduct by the Proposed
Adviser.
Duration and
Termination.
Subject to shareholder approval, the Proposed
Advisory Agreement will have a term beginning on or about December 10, 2009 and
ending two years from that date, and, thereafter, will continue in effect for
successive annual periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually by (i) a majority of the members of the Board who are not parties
to the Proposed Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any such party,
and (ii) the Board or the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund. The Proposed Advisory Agreement may be
terminated, without penalty, on sixty (60) days’ notice, by (x) the Board, (y) a
vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund or (z) by the Proposed Adviser.
Advisory
Fees.
Pursuant to the Proposed Advisory Agreement, the Fund
will pay the Proposed Adviser a monthly fee at an annual rate of one (1.00%)
percent of the Fund's average weekly total assets; provided, however, that the
Proposed Adviser has agreed to waive such fee until such time as the Fund has
commenced and completed a tender offer for its common stock, subject to the
understanding that the Fund will reimburse the Proposed Adviser for all
reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection with a liquidation of the
Fund’s portfolio during such period, which expenses shall include, but not be
limited to, those attributable to the Proposed Adviser’s engagement of the
Interim Subadviser to assist with such liquidation.
Soft Dollar
Arrangements.
Pursuant to the Proposed Advisory Agreement, the
Proposed Adviser will be authorized, in connection with the purchase and sale of
the Fund’s portfolio services, to employ such dealers and brokers as may, in the
judgment of the Proposed Adviser, implement the policy of the Fund to obtain the
best results. Consistent with this policy, the Proposed Adviser will
be authorized to direct the execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions to
dealers and brokers furnishing statistical information or research deemed by the
Proposed Adviser to be useful or valuable to the performance of its investment
advisory functions for the Fund. In these circumstances, as
contemplated by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
commissions paid may be higher than those that the Fund might otherwise have
paid to another broker if those services had not been
provided. Information so received will be in addition to and not in
lieu of the services required to be performed by the Proposed
Adviser. The expenses of the Proposed Adviser will not necessarily be
reduced as a result of the receipt of such information or research. Research
services furnished to the Proposed Adviser by brokers who effect securities
transactions for the Fund may be used by the Proposed Adviser in servicing other
investment companies and accounts that it manages. Similarly, research services
furnished to the Proposed Adviser by brokers who effect securities transactions
for other investment companies and accounts that the Proposed Adviser manages,
if any, may be used by the Proposed Adviser in servicing the
Fund. Not all of these research services are used by the Proposed
Adviser in managing any particular account, including the Fund.
Comparison
of the Previous Advisory Agreement and the Proposed Advisory
Agreement
Proposed Changes
in Services
.
One significant
difference between the advisory services to be provided by the Proposed Adviser
and those provided by the Previous Adviser, UBS Global AM, is that the Proposed
Adviser will not provide administrative services for the
Fund. Rather, the Fund has entered into an administrative services
agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) with US Bancorp Fund Services, LLC,
located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (the “Administrator”),
under which it will pay the Administrator a fee for certain administrative
services. In addition, it should be expected that the services
required to manage a fund with an objective of total return will require
significantly greater resources with regard to researching and monitoring
investments, than may be required in managing a municipal bond
fund.
Proposed Changes
in Fee Structure
. The Proposed Advisory Agreement provides
that the Fund will pay the Proposed Adviser a monthly fee at an annual rate of
1.00% of the Fund’s average weekly total assets. The Previous
Advisory Agreement provided for an advisory and administration fee at an annual
rate of 0.90% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets, consisting primarily of
municipal bonds. For the period beginning August 1, 2006, the
Previous Adviser waived a portion of its advisory and administration
fees. Until such time as the Fund has commenced and completed a
tender offer for its common stock, the Proposed Adviser has agreed to waive its
advisory fee, subject to the understanding that the Fund will reimburse the
Proposed Adviser for all reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection with a
liquidation of the Fund’s portfolio during the Interim Period, which expenses
shall include, but not be limited to, those attributable to the Proposed
Adviser’s engagement of the Interim Subadviser to assist with such
liquidation.
During
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, the Fund paid or accrued investment
advisory and administration fees of $4,091,499 to the Previous Adviser under the
Previous Advisory Agreement, of which $2,422,270 was waived. If the
Proposed Advisory Agreement had been in effect for the fiscal year ended March
31, 2009, the investment advisory fee accrued by the Fund would have been
$4,548,360, the equivalent of 1.00% of average daily net assets. The
difference between the aggregate compensation paid or accrued by the Fund during
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 under the Previous Advisory Agreement
(0.90%) and that which would have been payable pursuant to the Proposed Advisory
Agreement (1.00%) is 0.10%.
In
addition, under the Administration Agreement which the Fund has entered into
with the Administrator, the Fund has agreed to pay the Administrator a monthly
fee equal to 0.008% of the first $100 million of the Fund’s net assets, 0.006%
of the next $200 million of the Fund’s net assets and 0.004% of the Fund’s net
assets above $300 million, subject to an annual minimum of $45,000.
The
following table shows Fund expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable
to common shares for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, based on the fees for
the Previous Adviser (column 2) compared to the fees for the Proposed Adviser
(column 3). Column 4 of the table shows estimated Fund expenses as a
percentage of estimated net assets attributable to common shares at December 31,
2010 and assumes (i) approval of Proposal 2 and (ii) commencement and conclusion
of a self-tender offer by the Fund, resulting in total assets equal to
$60,000,000.
|
|
Fiscal
year ended
March
31, 2009
|
|
Estimated
Expenses
(1)
|
|
|
|
Previous
Adviser
|
|
Proposed
Adviser
|
|
Proposed
Adviser
|
|
Shareholder
Transaction Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
Load
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
Dividend
Reinvestment Plan Fees
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
Annual
Expenses (as a percentage of net assets
attributable
to common shares)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management
Fees
|
|
0.90%
(3)
|
|
1.00%
|
|
1.00%
|
|
Interest
Payments on Borrowed Funds
|
|
0.36%
(2)
|
|
0.36%
(2)
|
|
0.00%
|
|
Other
expenses
|
|
0.75%
|
|
0.82%
(3)
|
|
1.23%
|
|
Acquired
Fund Fees and Expenses
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
0.75%
|
|
Total
Annual Expenses
|
|
2.01%
(4)
|
|
2.18%
|
|
2.98%
|
|
Example
(5).
The following example illustrates the hypothetical
expenses that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in common shares, assuming
(i) annual expenses of 2.01% (for the Previous Adviser at March 31, 2009), 2.18%
(for the Proposed Adviser at March 31, 2009) and 2.98% (for the Proposed Adviser
estimated at December 31, 2010) of net assets attributable to common shares and
(ii) a 5% annual return:
|
1
Year
|
|
3
Years
|
|
5
Years
|
|
10
Years
|
Previous
Adviser
|
$20
|
|
$63
|
|
$108
|
|
$234
|
Proposed
Adviser
|
$22
|
|
$68
|
|
$117
|
|
$251
|
Proposed
Adviser - Estimated
|
$30
|
|
$92
|
|
$157
|
|
$330
|
(1)
|
Includes
expense estimates for the Proposed Adviser and assuming approval of the
Fund’s new investment objective and policy. The expenses are
based on estimated net assets of $60,000,000.
|
(2)
|
Includes
interest expense and fees on floating rate notes and auction preferred
shares expenses. All such notes and auction preferred shares
were redeemed in October 2009.
|
(3)
|
“Management
Fees” for the Previous Adviser includes both investment advisory and
administration fees. Administration fees are included in “Other
expenses” for the Proposed Adviser. According to the Fund’s
annual report to shareholders dated March 31, 2009, for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2009, the Previous Adviser waived a portion of its
investment advisory and administration fees.
|
(4)
|
The
Fund may invest in other closed-end investment companies and ETFs
(collectively, the "Acquired Funds"). The Fund's shareholders indirectly
bear a pro rata portion of the fees and expenses of the Acquired Funds in
which the Fund invests. Acquired Fund fees and expenses are based on
estimated amounts for the current fiscal year and assumes the Fund invests
50% of its net assets in Acquired Funds with an average expense ratio of
1.50%. Such estimates may vary significantly from the actual
percentage of which the Fund’s assets are invested in Acquired Funds and
the actual expense ratio of such Acquired Funds.
|
(5)
|
The
example assumes that the “Net Annual Expenses” set forth in the table
remains the same each year and that all dividends and distributions are
reinvested at net asset value. The Fund’s actual rate of return
will vary and may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% annual
return.
|
The
purpose of the above table is to help a shareholder of common shares understand
the fees and expenses that such shareholder would bear directly or indirectly.
The example should not be
considered a representation of actual future expenses. Actual expenses and
waivers may be higher or lower than those shown.
Indemnification
.
Unlike the Previous Advisory Agreement, the Proposed Advisory Agreement provides
that, under certain circumstances, the Fund will indemnify and hold the Proposed
Adviser harmless from any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
expenses that are not the result of willful malfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on the part of the Proposed Adviser in the performance of its duties
or the Proposed Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under
the Proposed Advisory Agreement. In addition, the Proposed Advisory
Agreement provides that the Proposed Adviser will be entitled to advances from
the Fund for the payment of reasonable expenses incurred by the Proposed Adviser
in connection with the matter for which it is seeking indemnification from the
Fund. If the Proposed Advisory Agreement is approved, there is a risk
that the Fund’s assets will be used to indemnify the Proposed Adviser or satisfy
its liabilities as a result of the Proposed Adviser’s activities in connection
with the Fund, except under certain circumstances.
Basis
for the Board’s Approval of the Proposed Advisory Agreement
At an in
person meeting of the Board on September 24, 2009, the directors, including all
of the Independent Directors (meeting with the full Board and separately in
executive session), considered the Proposed Advisory Agreement and the other
proposals in this Proxy Statement with respect to the Fund. The
Independent Directors discussed and considered materials which had been
distributed to them in advance of the meetings and prepared by the Proposed
Adviser, including responses to the questionnaire provided by the Fund’s
independent counsel with respect to certain matters that counsel believed
relevant to the approval of the Proposed Advisory Agreement under Section 15 of
the 1940 Act. In addition, the Independent Directors met in person
with representatives from the Proposed Adviser and had the opportunity to ask
them questions. In its consideration of the approval of the Proposed
Advisory Agreement, the Independent Directors considered the following
factors:
Nature, Extent
and Quality of the Services to be Provided under the Proposed Advisory
Agreement.
The Independent Directors considered the nature,
extent and quality of services proposed to be provided to the Fund under the
Proposed Advisory Agreement. The Independent Directors discussed the
prior experience of the Proposed Adviser’s principals with respect to: (i)
closed-end investment companies; and (ii) managing portfolios with a similar
investment strategy as that proposed for the Fund. In particular, the
Independent Directors noted the principals demonstrated ability to successfully
identify investment opportunities for appreciation for the benefit of their
clients. They discussed the fact that the principals had pursued a
similar strategy for more than fifteen years and had developed a methodology
which they proposed using in implementing the Fund’s investment strategy (as
described in Proposal 4 below). Furthermore, the Independent
Directors considered the principals’ performance based on returns to investors
from 1993 to 2009 compared to market benchmarks. The Independent
Directors discussed the information provided by the Proposed Adviser, including
information with respect to its projected profitability, compliance program,
insurance arrangements, personnel and portfolio management, proxy voting
policies, brokerage allocation and soft dollar practices. The
Independent Directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the
nature, extent and quality of services expected to be provided to the Fund under
the Proposed Advisory Agreement.
Advisory Fees and
Expenses.
The Independent Directors considered the Fund’s fees
and expenses in relation to various industry averages. The data
received by the Independent Directors included fees and expenses of funds which
the Proposed Adviser determined to be comparable to the Fund after giving effect
to the changes proposed in Proposal 3 and Proposal 4 regarding the Fund’s
investment objective and policy. The Independent Directors noted that
the Proposed Advisory Agreement modifies the fee structure paid by the Fund by
increasing the fee to 1.00% and unbundling the advisory services from
administrative services to be provided by the Administrator under a separate
Administration Agreement. Although the proposed fees under the
Proposed Advisory Agreement are higher than those under the Previous Advisory
Agreement, the Independent Directors noted that the proposed investment
objective and policy pursuant to Proposals 3 and 4 required more intensive
research and monitoring of the investments by the Proposed Adviser, as compared
to the municipal obligations in which the Fund has been investing under the
Previous Adviser. In addition, the Independent Directors noted
management’s offer to waive, on a voluntary basis, the advisory fee until such
time as the Fund has commenced and completed a tender offer for its common
shares, subject to the understanding that the Fund will reimburse the Proposed
Adviser for all reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection with a
liquidation of the Fund’s portfolio during such period, which expenses shall
include, but not be limited to, those attributable to the Proposed Adviser’s
engagement of the Interim Subadviser to assist with such
liquidation. The Independent Directors noted that the projected fees
under the Proposed Advisory Agreement would be in line with the median actual
advisory levels payable by the Fund’s peer funds. The Independent
Directors determined that the fees to be paid by the Fund under the Proposed
Advisory Agreement were reasonable in light of the services provided and the
fees paid by similar funds and such other matters as the Independent Directors
considered relevant in the exercise of their reasonable judgment.
Fund
Performance.
The Independent Directors recognized that the
Proposed Adviser was newly organized with no previous operating history, but
noted the experience of the principals of the Proposed Adviser in managing
securities portfolios and with closed-end investment companies, as well as their
experience in seeking out opportunities in the market that have attractive risk
reward characteristics.
Adviser
Profitability.
The Independent Directors recognized that the
Proposed Adviser was newly organized with no previous operating
history. The Independent Directors discussed the projected
profitability of the Proposed Adviser and asked the principals questions
regarding whether the projected profitability was adequate to maintain their
interest in managing the Fund, both before and after giving effect to the
planned tender offer. The Independent Directors were satisfied by the
Proposed Adviser’s responses regarding the level of profitability that it was
seeking from managing the Fund and that the projections were sufficient and
appropriate to provide the necessary advisory services, both before and after
giving effect to the planned tender offer for the Fund’s common
stock.
Economies of
Scale.
The Independent Directors considered whether the Fund
may incur benefits from potential economies of scale realized. The Independent
Directors recognized that the Fund’s advisory fee under the Proposed Advisory
Agreement, like the Previous Advisory Agreement, does not contain breakpoints
and the Fund is not currently expected to benefit in any significant manner from
economies of scale.
Other Benefits to
the Proposed Adviser.
The Independent Directors also
considered that the Proposed Adviser may receive certain benefits from its
relationship with the Fund, such as research and other services in exchange for
brokerage allocation, and determined that such benefits would be of a
de minimis
nature. The Independent Directors concluded that the profits and
other ancillary benefits that the Proposed Adviser and its affiliates would
receive were reasonable.
In light
of all of the foregoing, at its meeting on September 24, 2009, the Independent
Directors, determining that the Proposed Advisory Agreement was in the best
interests of the Fund and its shareholders, approved the Proposed Advisory
Agreement, subject to shareholder approval.
No single
factor reviewed by the Independent Directors was identified by them as the
principal factor in determining whether to approve the Proposed Advisory
Agreement. The Independent Directors were advised by independent
legal counsel throughout the process and met in a private session with their
independent legal counsel, at which no representative of the Proposed Adviser
was present.
Required
Vote
. Approval of the Proposed Advisory Agreement requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund. Under the 1940 Act, the vote of a “majority of the outstanding
voting securities” means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more
of the shares of the Fund’s common stock present at the Meeting or represented
by proxy if the holders of 50% of the outstanding shares are present or
represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting
shares. If approved, the Proposed Advisory Agreement would become
effective as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter as determined by the
Fund’s officers.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 2 FOR THE PROPOSED ADVISORY
AGREEMENT. ANY SIGNED BUT UNMARKED PROXIES WILL BE SO VOTED “FOR” THE
PROPOSED ADVISORY AGREEMENT.
Proposal 3. To Approve the Replacement
of the Fund’s Fundamental Investment Objective
with
a Non-Fundamental Investment Objective of Providing Total Return
As
described below, the Board is proposing that shareholders approve the
replacement of the Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return, pursuant to this
Proposal 3, and that the Fund’s fundamental investment policy be eliminated,
pursuant to Proposal 4 below. The Proposed Adviser believes and the
Board concurs that it would be in the best interest of shareholders to approve
such proposed changes in order to allow the Fund greater flexibility to invest
in other closed-end funds and securities that have attractive risk reward
characteristics. Proposal 3 and Proposal 4 will be implemented by the
Fund, if approved by shareholders, but each is contingent on shareholder
approval of the other proposal. If shareholders fail to approve
either Proposal 3 or Proposal 4, the Board will consider, among other possible
actions, further soliciting shareholders and/or liquidating the
Fund.
Why are shareholders being asked to
approve the replacement of the Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total
return?
The Fund’s current investment objective is to “achieve
a high level of current income that is exempt from federal income tax,
consistent with the preservation of capital” and is a fundamental policy, which
means that it may not be changed without shareholder approval. The
Board believes that it is in the best interests of shareholders to replace the
Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a non-fundamental investment
objective of providing total return. The replacement of the Fund’s
fundamental investment objective with a non-fundamental investment objective
means that the Fund’s investment objective may be changed in the future without
shareholder approval if the Board believes that it is in the best interests of
the shareholders to do so. The Proposed Adviser believes, and the
Board concurs, that a non-fundamental investment objective of providing total
return allows the Fund greater flexibility to invest in other closed-end funds
and securities that have attractive risk reward characteristics. A
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return will have a
material effect on the manner in which the Fund is managed. The Board
is also proposing to eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment policy, as
described below in Proposal 4, to be replaced with a non-fundamental investment
policy to permit investments in private and publicly-issued U.S. and foreign
securities, including, without limitation, other closed-end investment
companies.
What are the benefits of
reclassifying the Fund’s investment objective from fundamental to
non-fundamental?
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s investment
objective is not required to be “fundamental.” A fundamental
investment objective may be changed only by vote of the Fund’s
shareholders. The Fund’s investment objective was initially
established as fundamental in response to then-current regulatory and market
practices. To provide portfolio management with enhanced investment
management flexibility by allowing changes to the Fund’s investment objective to
respond to changed market conditions or other circumstances in a timely manner
without the need and expense of calling a shareholder meeting, the Proposed
Adviser proposed, and the Board approved, subject to shareholder approval, the
replacement of the Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return. A
non-fundamental investment objective may be changed at any time by the Board
without approval by shareholders. However, shareholders would be
given at least 60 days’ prior written notice of any proposed future change to
the Fund’s investment objective.
What are the material differences
between the current objective of current income and the proposed objective of
total return?
The Board is proposing to adopt a
non-fundamental objective of total return. Although current income is
a component of total return, the Fund would also seek investments that would
provide capital appreciation. This means that the Proposed Adviser would seek to
invest the Fund’s assets in securities that would increase in value over time,
providing an opportunity to have a corresponding increase in the Fund’s net
asset value or for the Fund to sell the security, resulting in a capital
gain. However, there can be no assurance that the Proposed Adviser
will be successful in achieving this objective and the value of the securities
in which the Fund would invest may go down. If the new objective of
total return is approved, the Fund would no longer be managed for the sole
purpose of providing consistent current income and shareholders should expect
the level of income to decrease. In addition, if Proposal 3 is
approved, the income that is generated by the Fund would no longer be exempt
from federal income tax.
Recommendations of the
Board.
The Board met in person on September 24, 2009 to
consider, among other things, replacing the Fund’s fundamental investment
objective with a non-fundamental investment objective of providing total
return. At the Board meeting, the Board reviewed materials furnished
by the Proposed Adviser and information provided by representatives of the
Proposed Adviser regarding the proposed non-fundamental investment objective of
providing total return. The directors unanimously approved the proposed
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return and recommended
that shareholders of the Fund approve the replacement of the Fund’s fundamental
investment objective with a non-fundamental investment objective of providing
total return. The Board considered numerous factors in approving the
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return and making its
recommendation, including: (1) the Proposed Adviser’s principals’ demonstrated
experience and capabilities with respect to providing total return to investors
by investing in special opportunities and the desirability of the potential
enhancements to the Fund’s performance as a result, including appreciation over
the short and long term and reduction or elimination of the discount at which
the Fund, in recent history, has consistently traded; (2) the opportunity to
avoid delay and costly shareholder meetings by changing the Fund’s investment
objective from fundamental to non-fundamental; (3) the proposal to eliminate the
Fund’s fundamental investment policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets
(including the amount of borrowing for investment purposes) in insured municipal
obligations, the income from which is exempt from regular federal income tax;
(4) the opportunity to avoid delay and costly shareholder meetings by
eliminating the fundamental investment policy described in the preceding factor;
(5) adopting a new non-fundamental investment policy to permit investments in
other closed-end investment companies and other private and publicly-issued U.S.
and foreign securities; (6) the recommendation by the Proposed Adviser to change
the Fund’s name to Special Opportunities Fund, Inc. in the event that the Fund’s
fundamental investment objective is replaced with a non-fundamental investment
objective of providing total return and the Fund’s fundamental investment policy
is eliminated; and (7) other factors deemed relevant by the
Board. Based upon a review of the above factors, the Board concluded
that replacing the Fund’s fundamental investment objective with a
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return would be in the
best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
Required
Vote
. Approval of Proposal 3 requires the affirmative vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Under
the 1940 Act, the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities”
means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares
present at the Meeting or represented by proxy if the holders of 50% of the
outstanding shares are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of
the outstanding voting shares.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS,
UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 3 TO
APPROVE
THE REPLACEMENT OF THE
FUND’S FUNDAMENTAL
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE WITH A
NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
OF
PROVIDING
TOTAL RETURN. ANY SIGNED BUT UNMARKED PROXIES WILL BE
SO
VOTED “FOR” THE PROPOSED REPLACEMENT OF THE
FUND’S
FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE WITH A NON-FUNDAMENTAL
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE OF
PROVIDING TOTAL RETURN
.
Proposal 4. To Eliminate the
Fund’s Fundamental Investment Policy
The Board
is proposing that shareholders approve the replacement of the Fund’s fundamental
investment objective with a non-fundamental investment objective of providing
total return, pursuant to Proposal 3 above, and that the Fund’s fundamental
investment policy be eliminated, pursuant to this Proposal 4. The
Proposed Adviser believes, and the Board concurs, that it would be in the best
interests of shareholders to approve such proposed changes in order to allow the
Fund greater flexibility to invest in other closed-end funds and securities that
have attractive risk reward characteristics. Proposal 3 and Proposal
4 will be implemented by the Fund, if approved by shareholders, but each is
contingent on shareholder approval of the other proposal. If
shareholders fail to approve either Proposal 3 or Proposal 4, the Board will
consider, among other possible actions, further soliciting shareholders and/or
liquidating the Fund.
Why are shareholders being asked to
eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment policy?
In
connection with the Fund’s current name, Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act (the
“Fund Name Rule”) requires the Fund to have a policy (the “80% Policy”) to
invest at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of borrowing for
investment purposes) in Insured Municipal Obligations, the income from which is
exempt from regular federal income tax. The 80% Policy is
fundamental, which means that it may not be changed without shareholder
approval. The Board has approved changing the name of the Fund to
Special Opportunities Fund, Inc., subject to shareholder approval of this
Proposal 4 and the Board believes that it is in the best interests of
shareholders to eliminate the 80% Policy.
What is the result of shareholders
approving Proposal 4 to eliminate the Fund’s fundamental investment
policy?
If Proposal 4 is approved, the Fund’s 80% Policy would
be eliminated. In addition, subject to shareholder approval of
Proposal 4, the Proposed Adviser proposed, and the Board approved, additional
changes relating to the Fund, including: (1) changing the Fund’s name from
“Insured Municipal Income Fund Inc.” to “Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.” and
(2) adopting the following non-fundamental investment policy (which can be
changed in the future without a shareholder vote): “The Fund will pursue its
investment objective by investing in other closed-end investment companies and
other private and publicly-issued U.S. and foreign securities.” The
Proposed Adviser believes, and the Board concurs, that it would be in the best
interests of shareholders to make the proposed changes in order to allow the
Fund greater flexibility to invest in other closed-end funds and securities that
have attractive risk reward characteristics. If Proposal 4 is
approved, the Fund’s investment focus would be on investing in other closed-end
investment companies and other private and publicly-issued U.S. and foreign
securities rather than investing in insured municipal
obligations. Only the elimination of the 80% Policy is subject to
shareholder approval. The other changes described above (i.e.,
changing the Fund’s name and adopting a non-fundamental investment policy) do
not require a shareholder vote. However, because they are linked to
the elimination of the Fund’s fundamental investment policy, they only would be
implemented if the shareholders approve Proposal 4. If Proposal 4 is
approved, the elimination of the 80% Policy, the name change and the adoption of
the non-fundamental investment policy described above will take effect on the
later of the Meeting date or 60 days following the date that this Proxy
Statement is first mailed to shareholders.
Approval
of Proposal 4 would be a material change to the Fund in that all or
substantially all of the securities held by the Fund would be sold and replaced
by different securities. If Proposal 4 is approved, the Proposed
Adviser (assuming Proposal 2 is approved) would attempt to dispose of the
insured municipal obligations held in the Fund’s portfolio in an orderly
fashion, so as to obtain favorable prices for the assets and potentially create
capital gain for the Fund through the dispositions. The Proposed
Adviser would not expect to cause the Fund to incur losses in connection with
the disposition of the insured municipal obligations, but some brokerage costs
would be incurred by the Fund in connection with the transactions. In
addition, following the disposition of the insured municipal obligations and
completion of the planned self-tender offer, the Proposed Adviser would invest
the Fund’s assets in accordance with the new investment policy approved pursuant
to this Proposal 4, resulting in additional brokerage charges. The
Proposed Adviser would seek best price and execution in selecting brokers for
these disposition and acquisition transactions, but brokerage charges will be
incurred by the Fund and thereby decrease the Fund’s net asset
value. In addition, the Fund will incur legal and accounting fees for
services received in connection with proposing and effecting the changes to the
Fund’s investment policy. However, shareholders should note that if
Proposal 4 is not approved, the Fund will nevertheless dispose of a significant
portion of the Fund’s long-term municipal obligations prior to December 31, 2009
in connection with the self-tender offer that the Board has announced with
regard to the Fund, thereby incurring brokerage charges and
expenses.
What are the material differences
between the securities currently held in the Fund’s portfolio and those in which
the Fund will invest if Proposal 4 is approved?
Currently, the
Fund invests in municipal obligations that are insured as to the timely payment
of principal and interest by an entity that has an investment grade rating by a
nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”). If
shareholders approve Proposal 4, the Fund will no longer seek to invest in such
securities, but rather would have a much wider universe of securities in which
it may invest, including equity securities issued by non-municipal issuers
without regard to capitalization level, including small and medium
capitalization companies, and debt securities without regard to the rating of
such securities by any NRSRO, including non-investment grade or “junk”
bonds. Neither the principal nor any dividend or interest payments of
such securities would be insured. Furthermore, the income generated
by such investments would likely be taxable, as opposed to the federal
tax-exempt income generated by the Fund by its current
investments. The Board and the Proposed Adviser believe that
permitting the Fund to invest more broadly in securities other than only those
insured municipal obligations will enable the Fund to respond favorably to
on-going developments and instability in the marketplace. Certain
risks associated with the securities in which the Fund may invest if Proposal 4
is approved by shareholders are set forth on Exhibit A.
Information
regarding the investment strategies that the Fund will employ to achieve its
objective of providing total return are set forth below. In addition,
Exhibit A attached hereto contains supplemental disclosure regarding the
securities in which the Fund may invest and the associated risk
factors.
Investment
Strategies
To
achieve its investment objective of providing total return, the Fund will invest
in securities the Proposed Adviser believes have opportunities for
appreciation. The Fund may employ strategies designed to capture
price movements generated by anticipated corporate events such as investing in
companies involved in special situations, including, but not limited to,
mergers, acquisitions, asset sales, spin-offs, balance sheet restructuring,
bankruptcy, liquidations and other situations. In addition, the Fund
may employ strategies designed to invest in the debt, equity, or trade claims of
companies in financial distress. Such securities typically trade at
substantial discounts to par value, and may be attractive to investors when
managers perceive a turnaround will materialize. Furthermore, the
Fund may employ strategies that invest both long and short in related securities
or other instruments in an effort to take advantage of perceived discrepancies
in the market prices for such securities, including long and short positions in
securities involved in an announced merger deal. Securities which the
Proposed Adviser will seek to identify will include other closed-end investment
companies with opportunities for appreciation, including funds that trade at a
market price discount from their net asset value. In addition to the
foregoing, the Proposed Adviser will seek out other opportunities in the market
that have attractive risk reward characteristics for the Fund.
The Fund
intends its investment portfolio, under normal market conditions, to consist
principally of investments in other closed-end investment companies and the
securities of large, mid and small-capitalization companies, including direct
and indirect investments in the securities of foreign
companies. Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include
common and preferred stocks, convertible securities, warrants and other
securities having the characteristics of common stocks, such as American
Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”),
other closed-end investment companies and exchange-traded funds
(“ETFs”). The Fund may, however, invest a portion of its assets in
debt securities when the Fund’s investment adviser believes that it is
appropriate to do so to earn current income. For example, when
interest rates are high in comparison to anticipated returns on equity
investments, the Fund’s investment adviser may determine to invest in debt
securities. Debt securities in which the Fund may invest include
bank, corporate or government bonds, notes, and debentures that the Fund’s
investment adviser determines are suitable investments for the
Fund. Such determination may be made regardless of the maturity,
duration or rating of any such debt security.
The Fund
may, from time to time, engage in short sales of securities for investment or
for hedging purposes. Short sales are transactions in which the Fund
sells a security it does not own. To complete the transaction, the
Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund
is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at
the market price at the time of replacement. The Fund may sell
short individual stocks, baskets of individual stocks and ETFs that the Fund
expects to underperform other stocks which the Fund holds. For
hedging purposes, the Fund may purchase or sell short future contracts on global
equity indexes.
The Fund
may invest, without limitation, in the securities of other closed-end investment
companies and ETFs, provided that such investment does not represent more than
3% of the voting stock of the acquired investment company of which such shares
are purchased. In accordance with Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940
Act, the Fund will be limited by provisions of the 1940 Act that limit the
amount the Fund can invest in other investment companies to 3% of any other
investment company’s total outstanding stock. As a result, the Fund may
hold a smaller position in a closed-end investment company than if it were not
subject to this restriction. To comply with provisions of the 1940 Act, on
any matter upon which stockholders of a closed-end investment company in which
the Fund has invested are solicited to vote, the Fund’s investment adviser will
vote such shares in the same general proportion as shares held by other
stockholders of such closed-end investment company or seek instructions from the
Fund’s shareholders with regard to the voting on such matter. The
ETFs and other closed-end investment companies in which the Fund intends to
invest will invest in common stocks and may invest in fixed income
securities. As a shareholder in any investment company, the Fund will
bear its ratable share of the investment company’s expenses and would remain
subject to payment of the Fund's advisory and administrative fees with respect
to the assets so invested.
The
Fund's management utilizes a balanced approach, including “value” and “growth”
investing by seeking out companies at reasonable prices, without regard to
sector or industry, which demonstrate favorable long-term growth
characteristics. Valuation and growth characteristics may be
considered for purposes of selecting potential investment
securities. In general, valuation analysis is used to determine the
inherent value of the company by analyzing financial information such as a
company's price to book, price to sales, return on equity, and return on assets
ratios; and growth analysis is used to determine a company's potential for
long-term dividends and earnings growth due to market-oriented factors such as
growing market share, the launch of new products or services, the strength of
its management and market demand. Fluctuations in these
characteristics may trigger trading decisions to be made by the Fund’s
investment adviser with respect to the Fund’s portfolio.
Generally,
securities will be purchased or sold by the Fund on national securities
exchanges and in the over-the-counter market. From time to time,
securities may be purchased or sold in private transactions, including
securities that are not publicly traded or that are otherwise
illiquid.
The Fund
may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent
with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to
adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. During such
times, the Fund may temporarily invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash
equivalents, including money market instruments, prime commercial paper,
repurchase agreements, Treasury bills and other short-term obligations of the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. In these and in
other cases, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.
The
Fund’s investment adviser may invest the Fund’s cash balances in any investments
it deems appropriate, subject to the restrictions set forth in the Fund’s
Statement of Additional Information and as permitted under the 1940 Act,
including investments in repurchase agreements, money market funds, additional
repurchase agreements, U.S. Treasury and U.S. agency securities, municipal bonds
and bank accounts. Any income earned from such investments will
ordinarily be reinvested by the Fund in accordance with its investment
program. Many of the considerations entering into the Fund’s
investment adviser’s recommendations and the portfolio manager’s decisions are
subjective.
Risks
Associated with Proposed Investments
If Proposal 4 is approved, different
risks would apply to an investment in the Fund than would otherwise be
applicable under its current investment policy. As described above,
if Proposal 4 is approved, the Fund’s investments would no longer primarily be
insured as to the timely payment of principal and interest by an entity that has
an investment grade rating by a NRSRO, nor would the investments in which the
Fund invests be limited to those issued by a municipality. In
particular, the risks associated with below investment grade debt securities and
with investments in equity securities generally, as well as securities issued by
companies with smaller capitalization levels and by companies in distress, would
apply. In addition, the risks associated with investing in other
closed-end investment companies and with more aggressive investment strategies,
such as short sales of securities, would apply.
These risks and additional risks that
will apply to an investment in the Fund as a result of approving Proposal 4 are
set forth on Exhibit A.
Tax
Considerations
The
Fund's fundamental investment policy of investing at least 80% of its net assets
in insured municipal obligations has resulted in most of the Fund's income being
exempt from regular federal income tax. This tax-exempt status of the
Fund's income has been largely passed through to shareholders in the Fund by
means of tax-exempt interest dividends. The Fund's eligibility to
distribute tax-exempt interest dividends requires over 50% of the value of its
assets to consist of tax-exempt bonds. The elimination of the
fundamental investment policy will mean that the Fund will generally not be
expected to satisfy this requirement in the future. As a result, the
dividends distributed to the shareholders are expected to be taxable dividends
in the hands of the shareholders. Some of these dividends may be
capital gain dividends subject to taxation at rates applicable to long-term
capital gains, which rates for individuals and other non-corporate shareholders
are currently lower than rates for ordinary income.
SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD NOTE THAT THE BOARD
IS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE TAX-EXEMPT NATURE OF THE DIVIDENDS RECEIVED BY
SHAREHOLDERS DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR (BEGINNING APRIL 1, 2009) AND
AVOIDING ANY ACTION THAT WOULD CAUSE THE TAX-EXEMPT NATURE OF SUCH DIVIDENDS TO
BE RE-CHARACTERIZED AS TAXABLE INCOME TO THE SHAREHOLDERS. IN THIS
REGARD, ON OCTOBER 30, 2009, THE BOARD APPROVED CHANGING THE FISCAL YEAR OF THE
FUND TO DECEMBER 31 OF EACH YEAR BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 31,
2009. HOWEVER, IF PROPOSAL 4 IS APPROVED, SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD BE
AWARE THAT DIVIDENDS PAID BY THE FUND, IF ANY, COMMENCING ON JANUARY 1, 2010
WOULD BE TAXABLE.
If the
Fund acquires any equity interest in certain foreign corporations that receive
at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as
interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains) or that hold
at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income
(“passive foreign investment companies”), the Fund could be subject to
U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on “excess
distributions” received from such companies or on gain from the sale of stock in
such companies, even if all income or gain actually received by the Fund is
timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund would not be able to
pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such a
tax. An election may generally be available that would ameliorate
these adverse tax consequences, but any such election could require the Fund to
recognize taxable income or gain (subject to tax distribution requirements)
without the concurrent receipt of cash and would require certain information to
be furnished by the foreign corporation, which may not be
provided. These investments could also result in the treatment of
associated capital gains as ordinary income. The Fund may limit
and/or manage its holdings in passive foreign investment companies to limit its
tax liability or maximize its return from these
investments. Dividends paid by passive foreign investment companies
will not qualify as qualified dividend income eligible for taxation at reduced
tax rates.
Recommendations of the
Board.
The Board met in person on September 24, 2009 to
consider, among other things, the elimination of the Fund’s fundamental
investment policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount
of borrowing for investment purposes) in “Insured Municipal Obligations, the
income from which is exempt from regular federal income tax.” At the Board
meeting, the Board reviewed materials furnished by the Proposed Adviser and
information provided by representatives of the Proposed Adviser regarding the
elimination of the Fund’s fundamental investment policy. The
Independent Directors unanimously approved the elimination of the Fund’s
fundamental investment policy and recommended that shareholders of the Fund
approve the elimination of the Fund’s fundamental investment
policy. The Independent Directors considered numerous factors in
approving the elimination of the fundamental investment policy and making its
recommendation, including: (1) to permit the Proposed Adviser to pursue total
return for the shareholders by following a strategy of investing primarily in
the securities of issuers the Proposed Adviser believes have opportunities for
appreciation or in other closed-end investment companies the Proposed Adviser
perceives as opportunities for appreciation; (2) adopting a new non-fundamental
investment policy to permit the Fund to invest in other closed-end investment
companies and other private and publicly-issued U.S. and foreign securities; (3)
the desire to change the Fund’s name to Special Opportunities Fund, Inc. in the
event that the Fund’s fundamental investment objective is replaced with a
non-fundamental investment objective of providing total return and the Fund’s
fundamental investment policy is eliminated; (4) the opportunity to avoid delay
and costly shareholder meetings in the future by eliminating any fundamental
investment policies; and (5) the benefits of permitting the Proposed Adviser to
invest the Fund’s assets in securities other than insured municipal obligations
so as to enable the Fund to respond to on-going developments and instability in
the marketplace and to generate total return to the Fund’s
shareholders.
This final factor was the most
convincing to the Independent Directors in their determination to recommend
Proposal 4 for approval by the shareholders. Upon consideration, the
Independent Directors believe that it is in the best interest of the Fund and
its shareholders to permit the Proposed Adviser greater flexibility in investing
the Fund’s assets and that over the long-term the limitations of the municipal
bond market as the sole marketplace in which the Fund may invest would be
disadvantageous to the Fund and its shareholders. The Independent
Directors also noted the weakness of the insurers of municipal obligations and
the corresponding lack of value attributed to the insured component of those
securities. In making its determination, the Independent Directors
considered the potential adverse consequences of the approval of Proposal 4,
including the costs and expenses associated with changing the Fund’s investment
mandate so significantly and the risks associated with investing in securities
other than insured municipal obligations. However, the Independent
Directors agreed that the potential benefits to the Fund provided by the
increased investment flexibility which may enable the Fund to be more resilient
and less vulnerable to significant downturns in any single marketplace going
forward, outweighed the potential adverse consequences. Based on all
of the foregoing factors, the Independent Directors, and the full Board,
concluded that eliminating the Fund’s fundamental investment policy would be in
the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
Required
Vote
. Approval of Proposal 4 requires the affirmative vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Under
the 1940 Act, the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities”
means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares
present at the Meeting or represented by proxy if the holders of 50% of the
outstanding shares are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of
the outstanding voting shares.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS,
UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 4 TO
ELIMINATE
THE FUND’S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICY. ANY SIGNED
BUT
UNMARKED PROXIES WILL BE SO VOTED “FOR” THE PROPOSED
ELIMINATION
OF THE FUND’S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICY.