o
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Preliminary proxy statement. | o | Confidential, for use of the Commissioner | |||
þ
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Definitive proxy statement. | only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2). | ||||
o
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Definitive additional materials. | |||||
o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12. |
þ | No fee required. | |
o | 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: N/A | ||
(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: N/A | ||
(3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): N/A | ||
(4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: N/A | ||
(5) | Total fee paid: $0 |
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: N/A | ||
(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: N/A | ||
(3) | Filing Party: N/A | ||
(4) | Date Filed: N/A |
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS | ||||||||
PROXY STATEMENT | ||||||||
PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | ||||||||
OTHER BUSINESS | ||||||||
OTHER INFORMATION | ||||||||
VOTING INFORMATION | ||||||||
APPENDIX A | ||||||||
APPENDIX B | ||||||||
APPENDIX C |
Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios in Fund | ||||||||||||
Term of | Complex | Other | ||||||||||
Position(s) | Office and | Principal Occupation or | Overseen by | Directorships Held | ||||||||
Name, Address and | Held with | Length of | Employment in the Past | Nominee for | by Nominee For | |||||||
Age | Fund | Time Served | 5 Years | Director | Director | |||||||
Sandra N. Bane (DOB: 6/15/52) |
Director | Since 2008 | Retired KPMG (1999 present); Trustee, TST, Transamerica Funds, TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (February 2008 present); Director, TIS (February 2008 present); Director, TII (2003 Present). | 173 | Big 5 Sporting Goods (2002 present); AGL Resources, Inc. (an energy services holding company) (2008 present). | |||||||
Leo J. Hill (DOB: 3/27/56) |
Director | Since 2002 | Principal, Advisor Network Solutions, LLC (business consulting) (2006 - present); Trustee, TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (2007 - present); Director, TIS (2002 - present); Trustee, Transamerica Funds (2002 - present); Director, TII (February 2008 - present); TST (2001 - present); Owner and President, Prestige Automotive Group (2001- 2005); President, L. J. Hill & Company (1999 present); Market President, Nations Bank of Sun Coast Florida (1998 1999); President and Chief Executive Officer, Barnett Banks of Treasure Coast Florida (1994 1998); Executive Vice President and Senior Credit Officer, Barnett Banks of Jacksonville, Florida (1991 1994); Senior Vice President and Senior Loan Administration Officer, Wachovia Bank of Georgia (1976 1991). | 173 | N/A |
* | Independent director (the Independent Directors) means a director who is not an interested person (as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), of the Fund |
2
Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios in Fund | ||||||||||||
Term of | Complex | Other | ||||||||||
Position(s) | Office and | Principal Occupation or | Overseen by | Directorships Held | ||||||||
Name, Address and | Held with | Length of | Employment in the Past | Nominee for | by Nominee For | |||||||
Age | Fund | Time Served | 5 Years | Director | Director | |||||||
Neal M. Jewell (DOB: 2/12/35) |
Director and Lead Independent Chairperson | Since 2002 | Retired (2004 present); Trustee and Lead Independent Trustee, Transamerica Funds and TST (2007 present); Director and Lead Independent Director, TIS (2007 - present); Director, TII (February 2008 - present); Trustee and Lead Independent Trustee, TPP, TPFG, TPFG II, and TAAVF (1993 - present); Independent Trustee, EAI Select Managers Equity Fund (a mutual Fund) (1996 2004). | 173 | N/A | |||||||
Russell A.
Kimball, Jr. (DOB: 8/17/44) |
Director | Since 2002 | General Manager, Sheraton Sand Key Resort (1975 - present); Trustee, TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (2007 - present); Director, TIS and Trustee, Transamerica Funds (2002 - present); Director, TII (February 2008 - present); Trustee, TST (1986 - present). | 173 | N/A | |||||||
Eugene M. Mannella (DOB: 2/1/54) |
Director | Since 2007 | Self-employed consultant (2006 - present); President, Arapain Partners LLC (limited purpose broker-dealer) (1998 present); Trustee, Transamerica Funds and TST (2007 present); Director, TIS (2007 - present); Director, TII (February 2008 - present); Trustee, TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (1994 - present); President, International Fund Services (alternative asset administration) (1993 2005). | 173 | N/A |
3
Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios in Fund | ||||||||||||
Term of | Complex | Other | ||||||||||
Position(s) | Office and | Principal Occupation or | Overseen by | Directorships Held | ||||||||
Name, Address and | Held with | Length of | Employment in the Past | Nominee for | by Nominee For | |||||||
Age | Fund | Time Served | 5 Years | Director | Director | |||||||
Norm R. Nielsen (DOB: 5/11/39) |
Director | Since 2006 | Retired (2005 - present); Trustee, TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (2007 - present); Director, TIS (2006 - present); Director, TII (February 2008 - present); Trustee, Transamerica Funds and TST (2006 - present); Director, Iowa City Area Development (1996 - 2004); Director, Iowa Health Systems (1994 2003); Director, U.S. Bank (1987 1988); President, Kirkwood Community College (1979 2005). | 173 | Buena Vista University Board of Trustees (2004 - present). | |||||||
Joyce Galpern Norden (DOB: 6/1/39) |
Director | Since 2007 | Retired (2004 - present); Trustee, Transamerica Funds and TST (2007 - present); Director, TIS (2007 - present); Director, TII (February 2008 - present); Trustee, TPP (2002 - present); Trustee, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (1993 -present); Vice President, Institutional Advancement, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (1996 2004). | 173 | Board of Governors, Reconstructionist College (2007-present). | |||||||
Patricia L. Sawyer (DOB: 7/1/50) |
Director | Since 2007 | President and Executive Search Consultant, Smith & Sawyer LLC (consulting) (1989 - present); Trustee, Transamerica Funds and TST (2007 - present); Director, TIS (2007 - present); Director, TII (February 2008 - present); Trustee, TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (1993 - present). | 173 | N/A |
4
Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios in Fund | ||||||||||||
Term of | Complex | Other | ||||||||||
Position(s) | Office and | Principal Occupation or | Overseen by | Directorships Held | ||||||||
Name, Address and | Held with | Length of | Employment in the Past | Nominee for | by Nominee For | |||||||
Age | Fund | Time Served | 5 Years | Director | Director | |||||||
John W. Waechter (DOB: 2/25/52) |
Director | Since 2004 | Attorney, Englander & Fischer, P.A. (2008 present); Retired (2004 - 2008); Trustee, TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (2007 - present); Director, TIS (2004 - present); Director, TII (February 2008 - present); Trustee, Transamerica Funds (2005 - present) and TST (2004 - present); Executive Vice President, Chief Financial officer and Chief Compliance Officer, William R. Hough & Co. (securities dealer) (1979 -2004); Treasurer, The Hough Group of Funds (1993 - 2004). | 173 | N/A |
5
Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios in Fund | ||||||||||||
Term of | Complex | Other | ||||||||||
Position(s) | Office and | Principal Occupation or | Overseen by | Directorships Held | ||||||||
Name, Address and | Held with | Length of | Employment in the Past | Nominee for | by Nominee For | |||||||
Age | Fund | Time Served | 5 Years | Director | Director | |||||||
John K. Carter (DOB: 4/24/61) |
Chairman, Director, Chief Executive Officer and President | Since 2006 | Chairman and Director (2008 present); President (2007 present), Chief Executive Officer; (2006 present), Vice President, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer (2003 - 2006), TII; Chairman and Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer, (2007- present); TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF; Chairman (2007 present); Trustee (2006 present), President and Chief Executive Officer (2006 - present), Senior Vice President (1999 2006), Chief Compliance Officer, General Counsel and Secretary (1999 - 2006),Transamerica Funds and TST; Chairman (2007 present); Director (2006 present); President and Chief Executive Officer (2006 present), Senior Vice President (2002 2006), General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer (2002 2006), TIS; President and Chief Executive Officer (2006 present); Senior Vice President (1999 2006), Director (2000 present); General Counsel and Secretary (2000 2006), Chief Compliance Officer (2004 2006), TAM; President and Chief Executive Officer (2006 - present), Senior Vice President (1999 2006), Director (2001 - present), General Counsel and Secretary (2001 2006), Transamerica Fund Services, Inc. (TFS); Vice President, AFSG Securities Corporation (2001 - present); Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Transamerica Index Funds, Inc. (TIF) (2002 2004); Vice President, Transamerica Investment Services, Inc. (TISI) (2003 2005) and Transamerica Investment Management, LLC (TIM) (2001 2005). | 173 | N/A |
** | Mr. Carter is an interested person of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act due to his employment with the Funds investment advisor and certain of its affiliates. |
6
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in | ||||||||
Dollar Range of Equity | all Funds Overseen by Nominee in Family of | |||||||
Name of Nominee | Securities in the Fund | Investment Companies* | ||||||
Sandra N. Bane |
$ | 0 | None | |||||
John K. Carter** |
$ | 0 | Over $100,000 | |||||
Leo J. Hill |
$ | 0 | Over $100,000 | |||||
Neal M. Jewell |
$ | 0 | Over $100,000 | |||||
Russell A. Kimball, Jr. |
$ | 0 | Over $100,000 | |||||
Eugene M. Mannella |
$ | 0 | $ | 50,001-$100,000 | ||||
Norm R. Nielsen |
$ | 0 | Over $100,000 | |||||
Joyce Galpern Norden |
$ | 0 | $ | 50,001-$100,000 | ||||
Patricia L. Sawyer |
$ | 0 | Over $100,000 | |||||
John W. Waechter |
$ | 10,000 - $50,000 | Over $100,000 |
* | The family of investment companies consists of all funds in the fund complex. | |
** | Mr. Carter is an interested person of the Fund, as discussed above. |
7
Total | ||||||||||||||||
Pension or | Estimated | Compensation | ||||||||||||||
Aggregate | Retirement Benefits | Annual | from Fund and Fund | |||||||||||||
Compensation | Accrued as Part of | Benefit Upon | Complex Paid to | |||||||||||||
Name | from Fund | Fund Expenses | Retirement | Directors* | ||||||||||||
Sandra N. Bane** |
$ | 0 | N/A | N/A | $ | 28,225 | ||||||||||
Peter R. Brown*** |
$ | 6,000 | N/A | N/A | $ | 156,000 | ||||||||||
Daniel Calabria*** |
$ | 6,000 | N/A | N/A | $ | 126,000 | ||||||||||
Janice B. Case*** |
$ | 6,000 | N/A | N/A | $ | 126,000 | ||||||||||
Charles C. Harris*** |
$ | 6,000 | N/A | N/A | $ | 126,000 | ||||||||||
Leo J. Hill |
$ | 5,371 | N/A | N/A | $ | 168,400 | ||||||||||
Neal M. Jewell |
$ | 504 | N/A | N/A | $ | 191,054 | ||||||||||
Russell A. Kimball, Jr. |
$ | 5,371 | N/A | N/A | $ | 168,400 | ||||||||||
Eugene M. Mannella |
$ | 704 | N/A | N/A | $ | 149,734 | ||||||||||
Norm R. Nielsen |
$ | 5,371 | N/A | N/A | $ | 168,400 | ||||||||||
Joyce Galpern Norden |
$ | 704 | N/A | N/A | $ | 151,734 | ||||||||||
Patricia L. Sawyer |
$ | 734 | N/A | N/A | $ | 167,234 | ||||||||||
William W. Short, Jr.*** |
$ | 6,000 | N/A | N/A | $ | 126,000 | ||||||||||
John W. Waechter |
$ | 5,396 | N/A | N/A | $ | 176,734 |
* | The amounts reflected are the aggregate compensation received from the Fund and other funds in the fund complex. The fund complex is composed of 173 funds. | |
** | Ms. Bane was appointed by the Board of Directors on December 4, 2007. Her appointment was effective on March 1, 2008. | |
*** | These individuals ceased serving as Directors of the Fund as of October 30, 2007. |
Audit Committee Report | |||
The Audit Committee reports that it (i) has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, with Fund management, (ii) has discussed with the Funds independent public accountant the matters required to be addressed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, and (iii) has received written disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board No. 1 from the Funds independent public accountant and has discussed with the independent public accountant its independence. Based on the foregoing, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Funds audited |
8
financial statements be included in the Funds Annual Report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, for filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). |
Sandra N. Bane
|
Russell A. Kimball, Jr. | Joyce Galpern Norden | ||
Leo J. Hill
|
Eugene M. Mannella | Patricia L. Sawyer | ||
Neal M. Jewell
|
Norm R. Nielsen | John W. Waechter, Chairperson |
1. | Each eligible shareholder or shareholder group may submit no more than one nominee each calendar year. | |
2. | The nominee must satisfy all qualifications provided herein and in the Funds organizational documents, including qualification as a possible Independent Director if the nominee is to serve in that capacity. |
| The nominee may not be the nominating shareholder, a member of the nominating shareholder group or a member of the immediate family of the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group.(1) | ||
| Neither the nominee nor any member of the nominees immediate family may be currently employed or employed within the year prior to the nomination by any nominating shareholder entity or entity in a nominating shareholder group. | ||
| Neither the nominee nor any immediate family member of the nominee is permitted to have accepted directly or indirectly, during the year of the election for which the nominees name was submitted, during the immediately preceding calendar year, or during the year when the nominees name was submitted, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the nominating shareholder or any member of a nominating shareholder group. |
(1) | Terms such as immediate family member and control shall be interpreted in accordance with the federal securities laws. |
9
| The nominee may not be an executive officer, director or person fulfilling similar functions of the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group, or of an affiliate of the nominating shareholder or any such member of the nominating shareholder group. | ||
| The nominee may not control the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group (or, in the case of a holder or member that is a fund, an interested person of such holder or member as defined by Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act). | ||
| A shareholder or shareholder group may not submit for consideration a nominee which has previously been considered by the Committee. |
3. | In order for the Committee to consider shareholder submissions, the following requirements must be satisfied regarding the shareholder or shareholder group submitting the proposed nominee: |
| Any shareholder or shareholder group submitting a proposed nominee must beneficially own, either individually or in the aggregate, more than 5% of the Funds securities that are eligible to vote both at the time of submission of the nominee and at the time of the Board member election. Each of the securities used for purposes of calculating this ownership must have been held continuously for at least two years as of the date of the nomination. In addition, such securities must continue to be held through the date of the meeting. The nominating shareholder or shareholder group must also bear the economic risk of the investment. | ||
| The nominating shareholder or shareholder group must also submit a certification which provides the number of shares which the person or group has (a) sole power to vote or direct the vote; (b) shared power to vote or direct the vote; (c) sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of such shares; and (d) shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of such shares. In addition the certification shall provide that the shares have been held continuously for at least two years. |
4. | Shareholders or shareholder groups submitting proposed nominees must substantiate compliance with the above requirements at the time of submitting their proposed nominee as part of their written submission to the attention of the Funds Secretary, who will provide all submissions to the Committee. This submission to the Fund must include: |
| the shareholders contact information; | ||
| the nominees contact information and the number of applicable Fund shares owned by the proposed nominee; | ||
| all information regarding the nominee that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for elections of directors required by Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and | ||
| a notarized letter executed by the nominee, stating his or her intention to serve as a nominee and be named in the Funds proxy statement, if so designated by the Committee and the Funds Board. |
5. | The Committee will consider all submissions meeting the applicable requirements stated herein that are received by December 31 of the most recently completed calendar year. |
10
Term of Office | ||||||
Name, Address* and | Position(s) Held | and Length of | ||||
Age | with Fund | Time Served** | Principal Occupation during the Past Five Years | |||
John K. Carter (DOB: 4/24/61) |
Director, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | 2006 present | See table above. | |||
Dennis P.
Gallagher (DOB: 12/19/70) |
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | 2006 present | Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Transamerica Funds, TST and TIS (2006 present); Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary , TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (2007 present); Director, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, TAM and TFS (2006 present); Assistant Vice President, TCI (2007 present); Director, Deutsche Asset Management (19982006). | |||
Elizabeth L.
Belanger (DOB: 1/7/72) |
Deputy General Counsel, Assistant Secretary and Conflicts of Interest Officer | 2007 present | Deputy General Counsel, Assistant Secretary and Conflicts of Interest Officer, Transamerica Funds, TST and TIS (2007 present); Deputy General Counsel and Conflicts of Interest Officer (2007 present); Assistant Secretary (2005 present), TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF; Vice President and Senior Counsel, Diversified Investment Advisors, Inc. (Diversified) (2005 present) ; Director, TFLIC (2006 present); Director of Compliance, Domini Social Investments LLC (2003 2005); Associate, Bingham McCutchen LLP (1997 - 2003). |
11
Term of Office | ||||||
Name, Address* and | Position(s) Held | and Length of | ||||
Age | with Fund | Time Served** | Principal Occupation during the Past Five Years | |||
Joseph P. Carusone (DOB: 9/8/65) |
Vice President, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer |
2007 present | Vice President, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer, Transamerica Funds, TST and TIS (2007 present); Vice President (2007 present): Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (2001 present); TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF; Senior Vice President, TAM and TFS (2007 present); Vice President Diversified (1999 present); President, Diversified Investors Securities Corp. (DISC) (2007 - present); Director, TFLIC (2004 present); Treasurer, Diversified Actuarial Services, Inc. (2002 present). | |||
Christopher A.
Staples (DOB: 8/14/70) |
Vice President and Chief Investment Officer |
2007 present | Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, (2007 present); Vice President, Investment Administration (2004 2007), TII; Vice President (2007 present), Chief Investment Officer (2007 present), Senior Vice President (2007 2007), Senior Vice President Investment Management (2006 2007), Vice President Investment Management (2004 2006), Transamerica Funds, TST and TIS; Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (2007 - present); Director, Senior Vice President Investment Management and Chief Investment Officer, TAM (2006 present); Director, TFS (2005 present); Assistant Vice President, Raymond James & Associates (1999 2004). | |||
Rick B. Resnik (DOB: 1/24/67) |
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer |
2008 present | Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, (2007 present); Vice President, Investment Administration (2004 2007), TII; Vice President (2007 present), Chief Investment Officer (2007 present), Senior Vice President (2007 2007), Senior Vice President Investment Management (2006 2007), Vice President Investment Management (2004 2006), Transamerica Funds, TST and TIS; Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (2007 - present); Director, Senior Vice President Investment Management and Chief Investment Officer, TAM (2006 present); Director, TFS (2005 present); Assistant Vice President, Raymond James & Associates (1999 2004). | |||
Michael A. Masson (DOB: 1/21/71) |
Assistant Treasurer | 2007 present | Assistant Treasurer, (2007 present); Assistant Vice President (2005 2007), TII; Assistant Treasurer, (2007 present), Assistant Vice President (2005 2007), Transamerica Funds, TST and TIS; Assistant Treasurer, TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (2007 present); Director of Financial Reporting, TFS and TAM (2005 present); Assistant Vice President, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (1999 - 2005). | |||
Suzanne Valerio-Montemurro (DOB: 8/13/64) |
Assistant Treasurer | 2007 present | Assistant Treasurer, Transamerica Funds, ATST and TIS (July 2007 present); Assistant Treasurer, TPP, TPFG, TPFG II and TAAVF (July 2007 - present); Vice President, Diversified (1998 - present). |
* | The business address of each officer is 570 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716. | |
** | The executive officers are elected and appointed by the Directors and hold office until they resign, are removed or are otherwise disqualified to serve. |
12
Fiscal Year | Audit-Related | All Other | ||||||||||||||||||
Ended | Audit Fees | Fees | Tax Fees | Fees | Totals | |||||||||||||||
March 31, 2008 |
$ | 38,187 | $ | 0 | $ | 2,120 | $ | 0 | $ | 40,307 | ||||||||||
March 31, 2007 |
$ | 39,670 | $ | 0 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 41,670 |
13
-- | indicate your instructions on the enclosed Proxy; | ||
-- | date and sign the Proxy; | ||
-- | mail the Proxy promptly in the enclosed envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States; and | ||
-- | allow sufficient time for the Proxy to be received on or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, June 27, 2008. |
14
15
Name and Address of Shareholder | Number of Votes | % of Fund | ||||||
A.G. Edwards |
597,329 | 9.45 | % | |||||
1431 Kingsland Avenue Pagedale, MO 63133 |
||||||||
Wilmington Trust Company |
479,575 | 7.59 | % | |||||
1100 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE 19801-1243 |
||||||||
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. |
422,450 | 6.69 | % | |||||
211 Main Street San Francisco, CA 94105 |
||||||||
UBS Financial Services Inc. |
370,264 | 5.86 | % | |||||
1200 Harbor Blvd., 3rd Floor Weehawken, NJ 07086 |
||||||||
National Financial Services LLC |
331,920 | 5.25 | % | |||||
200 Liberty Street One World Financial Tower, 5th Floor New York, NY 10281 |
||||||||
Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc. |
326,750 | 5.17 | % | |||||
777 E. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202-0672 |
||||||||
Morgan Stanley |
315,831 | 5.00 | % | |||||
Harborside Financial Center Plaza 3, 6th Floor Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
A-1
1 | The members of the Audit Committee shall not be subject to greater fiduciary obligations and shall not be subject to a higher standard of care than the other members of the Board because of their work for the Committee. |
B-1
1. | Discussing the Funds annual audited financial statements with Fund management and the independent auditors. | |
2. | Discussing with management the Funds press releases regarding dividends, as well as financial information and guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. This discussion may be done generally, consisting of discussing the types of information to be disclosed and the types of presentations to be made. The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be authorized to have these discussions with management on behalf of the Audit Committee. | |
3. | Reviewing and discussing (a) major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Funds selection or application of accounting principles, and major issues as to the adequacy of the Funds internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; (b) analyses prepared by management and/or the independent auditors setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, including analyses of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements; (c) the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Fund; and (d) the type and presentation of information to be included in dividend press releases (paying particular attention to any use of pro forma, or adjusted non-GAAP, information), as well as review any financial information and guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. |
B-2
4. | Reviewing and discussing any reports from the independent auditors regarding (a) all critical accounting policies and practices to be used; (b) all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with management, ramifications of the use of such alternative treatments and disclosures, and the treatment preferred by the independent auditors; and (c) other material written communications between the independent auditors and management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences. | |
5. | Discussing policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. | |
6. | Reviewing disclosures made to the Audit Committee by the Funds principal executive officer and principal financial officer during their certification process for the Funds periodic reports about any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls and any fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in the Funds internal controls. |
1. | Having the sole authority to appoint or replace the independent auditors, subject, if applicable, to shareholder ratification; and compensating and overseeing the work of the independent auditors (including the resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditors regarding financial reporting), who shall report directly to the Audit Committee, for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work. | |
2. | Meeting with the independent auditors and Fund management to review the scope, fees, audit plans and staffing for the audit, for the current year and to approve the fees. At the conclusion of the audit, reviewing such audit results, including the independent auditors evaluation of the Funds financial and internal controls, any comments or recommendations of the independent auditors, any audit problems or difficulties and managements response, any significant changes required from the originally planned audit programs and any adjustments to such statements recommended by the auditors. | |
3. | Approving, prior to appointment, the engagement of the auditors to provide other audit services to the Fund or to provide non-audit services to the Fund, the Adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser (Adviser affiliate) that provides ongoing services to the Fund, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be authorized to give such pre-approvals on behalf of the Audit Committee. | |
Developing appropriate policies and procedures for the pre-approval of the engagement of the Funds independent auditors to provide any of the services described above, (See Attached Audit Committee Preapproval Policy). | ||
Considering whether the non-audit services the Funds auditors provides to the Adviser or any Adviser affiliate that provides ongoing services to the Fund, to the extent not pre-approved, are compatible with maintaining the auditors independence. | ||
Considering the controls the auditors use and any measures management takes to assure that all items requiring the Audit Committees preapproval are identified and referred to the Audit Committee in a timely manner. | ||
4. | Obtaining and reviewing a report from the independent auditors at least annually (including a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the auditors and the Fund) regarding (a) the independent auditors internal quality-control procedures; (b) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional |
B-3
authorities, including but not limited to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the audit firm; (c) any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (d) all relationships between the independent auditors and the Fund and their respective affiliates; and evaluating the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent auditors, including their membership in the SEC practice section of the AICPA and their compliance with all applicable requirements for independence and peer review, and a review and evaluation of the lead partner, taking into account the opinions of management and discussing such reports with the independent auditors. The Audit Committee shall present its conclusions with respect to the independent auditors to the Board. | ||
5. | Reviewing any reports from the independent auditors mandated by Section 10A(b) of the Exchange Act regarding any illegal act detected by the independent auditors (whether or not perceived to have a material effect on the Funds financial statements) and obtaining from the independent auditors any information about illegal acts in accordance with Section 10A(b). | |
6. | Monitoring the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law, and further considering the rotation of the independent auditor firm itself. | |
7. | Recommending to the Board of Directors policies for the Funds or the Advisers hiring of employees or former employees of the independent auditors who participated in the audit of the Fund. |
1. | Reviewing with the Funds and the Advisers counsel legal matters that may have a material impact on the Funds financial statements or compliance policies. | |
2. | Receiving and reviewing periodic or special reports issued on exposure/controls, irregularities and control failures related to the Fund. | |
3. | Reviewing with the independent auditors and with Fund management, the adequacy and effectiveness of the accounting and financial controls of the Fund, and eliciting any recommendations for the improvement of internal control procedures or particular areas where new or more detailed controls or procedures are desirable. Particular emphasis should be given to the adequacy of such internal controls to expose payments, transactions or procedures that might be deemed illegal or otherwise improper. | |
4. | Discussing with management and the independent auditors any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies that raise material issues regarding the Funds financial statements or accounting policies. | |
5. | Performing an annual performance evaluation of the Audit Committee. | |
6. | Reporting to the Directors on the results of the activities of the Audit Committee. | |
7. | Performing any special reviews, investigations or oversight responsibilities requested by the Directors. | |
8. | Establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Fund regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. |
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9. | Reviewing any report required by the Statement of Policy section of this Audit Committee Charter pursuant to the rules of the SEC to be included in a proxy statement for a fund (i.e., concise statement of Audit Committees functions, names of Audit Committee members, and number of meetings held in the last year). |
1. | The Audit Committee shall meet as necessary to carry out its responsibilities hereunder, and otherwise from time to time as appropriate. | |
2. | The Audit Committee ordinarily shall meet in person, but members may attend telephonically, and the Audit Committee may act by written consent to the extent permitted by law and the Funds bylaws. | |
3. | The Audit Committee shall have the authority to meet privately and to invite non-members to attend its meetings. | |
4. | The Audit Committee shall meet regularly, in separate executive sessions, with representatives of Fund management and the Funds independent auditors. The Audit Committee may also request to meet with internal legal counsel and compliance personnel of the Funds Adviser and with entities that provide significant accounting or administrative services to the Fund to discuss matters relating to the Funds accounting and compliance as well as other Fund-related matters. The Audit Committee may also request any officer or employee of the Funds Adviser or the Funds independent auditors or outside counsel to attend a meeting of the Audit Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Audit Committee. The Funds independent auditors shall have unrestricted access at any time to Audit Committee members. | |
5. | The Audit Committee shall prepare and keep minutes of its meetings and document decisions made outside of its meetings by delegated authority. | |
6. | A majority of the members of the Audit Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Audit Committee. The action of a majority of members of the Audit Committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Audit Committee. | |
7. | The Audit Committee shall have the authority and resources in its discretion to retain special legal, accounting or other consultants to advise the Audit Committee. | |
8. | The Board shall adopt this charter and may amend it upon its own motion. The Audit Committee shall review this Charter at least annually and recommend to the Board any changes the Audit Committee deems appropriate. |
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§ | Bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the audit client | |
§ | Financial information systems design and implementation | |
§ | Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions or contribution-in-kind reports | |
§ | Actuarial services | |
§ | Internal audit outsourcing services | |
§ | Management functions | |
§ | Human resources | |
§ | Broker-dealer, investment adviser or investment banking services | |
§ | Legal services | |
§ | Expert services unrelated to the audit |
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A. | COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP |
B. | OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMITTEE |
C. | BOARD NOMINATIONS AND FUNCTIONS |
1. | In the event of any vacancies on the Boards, the Committee shall oversee the process for the identification, evaluation and nomination of potential candidates to serve on the Boards. The Committee may solicit suggestions for nominations from any source it deems appropriate. |
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2. | The Committee shall evaluate each candidates qualifications for Board membership, and, with respect to nominees for Independent Trustee membership, their independence from the Funds investment advisers and other principal service providers. The Committee shall consider the effect of any relationships beyond those delineated in the 1940 Act that might impair the independence of a prospective Independent Trustee. | ||
3. | In assessing the qualifications of a potential candidate for membership on the Boards, the Committee may consider the candidates potential contribution to the operation of the Boards and its committees, and such other factors as it may deem relevant. Specific desired (but not required) qualities of Independent Trustee candidates are set forth in Schedule A to this Charter. All equally qualified nominees will be treated equally in consideration by the Committee. No person shall be qualified to be a Board member unless the Committee, in consultation with legal counsel, has determined that such person, if elected as a Trustee, would not cause the Funds to be in violation of or not in compliance with (a) applicable law, regulation or regulatory interpretation, (b) its organizational documents, or (c) any policy adopted by the Boards regarding either the retirement age of Board members or the percentage of a Board that is to be composed of Independent Trustees. | ||
4. | While the Committee is solely responsible for the selection and nomination of potential candidates to serve on the Boards, the Committee may consider and evaluate nominations properly submitted by shareholders of the Funds. Nominations proposed by shareholders will be properly submitted for consideration by the Committee only if the qualifications and procedures set forth in Schedule B of this Charter, as it may be amended from time to time by the Committee or the Boards, are met and followed. It shall be in the Committees sole discretion whether to seek corrections of a deficient submission or to exclude a nominee from consideration. | ||
5. | The Committee shall evaluate, as necessary, the operations and effectiveness of the Boards as a whole and shall evaluate the composition of the Boards to determine whether it may be appropriate to add individuals with different backgrounds or skills from those already on the Boards. |
D. | OTHER POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES |
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A. | PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES |
B. | PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES |
- | Public or private sector stature sufficient to instill confidence. | ||
- | High personal and professional integrity. | ||
- | Good business sense. | ||
- | Ability to commit the necessary time to prepare for and attend meetings. | ||
- | Not financially dependent on Trustee retainer and meeting fees. |
C. | SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR DECISION MAKING |
- | General understanding of balance sheets and operating statements. | ||
- | First-hand knowledge of investing. | ||
- | Experience in working in highly regulated and complex legal framework. | ||
- | Demonstrated ability to maintain independence of management and other service agents while maintaining a constructive working relationship. | ||
- | Ability to be critical, and confrontational if necessary, but in a constructive manner. | ||
- | Demonstrated ability to contribute to Board and committee process. | ||
- | Ability to consider diverse issues and make timely, well-informed decisions. | ||
- | Familiarity with the securities industry. | ||
- | Qualification as an Audit Committee Financial Expert. |
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1. | Each eligible shareholder or shareholder group may submit no more than one nominee each calendar year. | ||
2. | The nominee must satisfy all qualifications provided herein and in the Funds organizational documents, including qualification as a possible Independent Trustee if the nominee is to serve in that capacity. |
- | The nominee may not be the nominating shareholder, a member of the nominating shareholder group or a member of the immediate family of the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group. 1 | ||
- | Neither the nominee nor any member of the nominees immediate family may be currently employed or employed within the year prior to the nomination by any nominating shareholder entity or entity in a nominating shareholder group. | ||
- | Neither the nominee nor any immediate family member of the nominee is permitted to have accepted directly or indirectly, during the year of the election for which the nominees name was submitted, during the immediately preceding calendar year, or during the year when the nominees name was submitted, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the nominating shareholder or any member of a nominating shareholder group. | ||
- | The nominee may not be an executive officer, director or person fulfilling similar functions of the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group, or of an affiliate of the nominating shareholder or any such member of the nominating shareholder group. | ||
- | The nominee may not control the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group (or, in the case of a holder or member that is a fund, an interested person of such holder or member as defined by Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act). | ||
- | A shareholder or shareholder group may not submit for consideration a nominee which has previously been considered by the Committee. |
3. | In order for the Committee to consider shareholder submissions, the following requirements must be satisfied regarding the shareholder or shareholder group submitting the proposed nominee: |
- | Any shareholder or shareholder group submitting a proposed nominee must beneficially own, either individually or in the aggregate, more than 5% of a Funds (or a series thereof) securities that are eligible to vote both at the time of submission of the nominee and at the time of the Board member election. Each of the securities used for purposes of calculating this ownership must have been held continuously for at least two years as of the date of the nomination. In addition, such securities must continue to be held through the date of the meeting. |
1 | Terms such as immediate family member and control shall be interpreted in accordance with the federal securities laws. |
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The nominating shareholder or shareholder group must also bear the economic risk of the investment. | |||
- | The nominating shareholder or shareholder group must also submit a certification which provides the number of shares which the person or group has (a) sole power to vote or direct the vote; (b) shared power to vote or direct the vote; (c) sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of such shares; and (d) shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of such shares. In addition the certification shall provide that the shares have been held continuously for at least two years. |
4. | Shareholders or shareholder groups submitting proposed nominees must substantiate compliance with the above requirements at the time of submitting their proposed nominee as part of their written submission to the attention of the Funds Secretary, who will provide all submissions to the Committee. This submission to the Funds must include: |
- | the shareholders contact information; | ||
- | the nominees contact information and the number of applicable Fund shares owned by the proposed nominee; | ||
- | all information regarding the nominee that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for elections of directors required by Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and | ||
- | a notarized letter executed by the nominee, stating his or her intention to serve as a nominee and be named in a Funds proxy statement, if so designated by the Committee and the Funds Board. |
5. | The Committee will consider all submissions meeting the applicable requirements stated herein that are received by December 31 of the most recently completed calendar year. |
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Proxy Voting Card must be signed and dated below. | ||
Dated:
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, 2008 | |
Signature(s) if held jointly |
Internet:
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Log on to www.proxyonline.com. Make sure to have this proxy card available when you plan to vote your shares. You will need the control number found in the box at the right at the time you execute your vote. | |
Touchtone Phone
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Simply dial toll-free 1-866-628-8878 and follow the automated instructions. Please have this proxy card available at the time of the call. | |
Mail:
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Simply sign, date, and complete the reverse side of this proxy card and return it in the postage paid envelope provided. |
TAGID:
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CUSIP: 893506105 |
FOR electing ALL the nominees (except as marked below) |
WITHHOLD authority to vote for ALL nominees |
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o | o |
TAG ID: 12345678
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SCANNER BAR CODE | CUSIP: 893506105 |