Filing by Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under
the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the
Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Subject Company: Templeton Vietnam
and Southeast Asia Fund, Inc.
Commission File No. 811-08632
TEMPLETON VIETNAM AND SOUTHEAST ASIA FUND, INC. AND
TEMPLETON DRAGON FUND, INC. ANNOUNCE PROPOSED
REORGANIZATION
TEMPLETON DRAGON FUND ANNOUNCES TENDER OFFERS
JANUARY 4, 2002 -- PRESS RELEASE Q's AND A's
Q: WHAT ACTIONS DID THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS TAKE ON JANUARY 4, 2002?
A: (1) REORGANIZATION. The Boards have approved a proposal providing for the
reorganization of Vietnam Fund into Dragon Fund. The proposal will be
submitted to shareholders of Vietnam Fund and Dragon Fund for their
approval. In the transaction, Dragon Fund would acquire substantially all
of the assets of Vietnam Fund in exchange for shares of Dragon Fund, which
would then be distributed to Vietnam Fund's shareholders. After completion
of the reorganization, Vietnam Fund shareholders would become shareholders
of Dragon Fund, and Vietnam Fund would cease to exist. The transaction is
expected to be tax-free.
In connection with the reorganization, the Vietnam Fund's Board has
discontinued its open-market share repurchase program, effective
immediately, and the Dragon Fund's Board has discontinued its managed
distribution policy, effective immediately.
(2) TENDER OFFERS. Dragon Fund's Board also has approved a tender offer for
up to 10% of Dragon Fund's outstanding shares at not less than 90% of net
asset value during an initial 12-month period, to be followed by one or
more subsequent tender offers aggregating up to 10% of outstanding Dragon
Fund shares during the following 12-month period. The Dragon Fund Board may
recommend additional tender offers in subsequent 12-month periods,
depending upon market conditions and regulatory and tax considerations.
Q: WHEN WILL DRAGON FUND AND VIETNAM FUND SHAREHOLDERS BE ASKED TO VOTE ON THE
REORGANIZATION?
A: It is expected that Dragon Fund's shareholders will be asked to approve the
proposed reorganization at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders intended to
be held in the second quarter of 2002.
It is expected that Vietnam Fund's shareholders will be asked to approve
the proposed reorganization at a Special Meeting of Shareholders intended
to be held as soon as practicable after the Dragon Fund Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. The Vietnam Fund Special Shareholder Meeting is expected to
occur by the summer of 2002, subject to obtaining necessary regulatory and
other approvals.
Any solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed reorganization
will be made only pursuant to separate prospectus/proxy materials filed
under federal securities laws.
Q: WHEN IS THE INITIAL TENDER OFFER OF DRAGON FUND SHARES EXPECTED TO OCCUR?
A: If the proposed reorganization is COMPLETED, the first tender offer for
Dragon Fund shares will commence within 90 days following the completion of
the reorganization.
If the proposed reorganization is NOT APPROVED BY DRAGON FUND SHAREHOLDERS,
the first tender offer for Dragon Fund shares will commence within 90 days
after the Dragon Fund annual shareholder meeting, or any adjournment
thereof.
If the proposed reorganization is approved by Dragon Fund shareholders BUT
NOT APPROVED BY VIETNAM FUND SHAREHOLDERS, the first tender offer for
Dragon Fund shares will commence within 90 days after the Vietnam Fund
special shareholder meeting, or any adjournment thereof.
Q: WHAT IS A "TENDER OFFER"?
A: A "tender offer" is an offer by a company to buy its own shares, for cash,
at a designated price per share. Shareholders are free to sell, or
"tender", their shares at their election, in the amount they choose,
subject to the terms of the offer. Shareholders that tender shares should
consult with their advisors regarding the tax or other implications of the
transaction.
Q: I AM A SHAREHOLDER OF VIETNAM FUND. DID THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VIETNAM
FUND OR DRAGON FUND AUTHORIZE A TENDER OFFER FOR SHARES OF VIETNAM FUND?
A: No. Neither the Board of Directors of Vietnam Fund nor the Board of
Directors of Dragon Fund authorized a tender offer for shares of Vietnam
Fund. The Board of Directors of Dragon Fund only authorized a tender offer
for shares of Dragon Fund. If the proposed reorganization is completed,
Vietnam Fund shareholders would become shareholders of Dragon Fund, and
therefore may able to tender their shares of Dragon Fund in the tender
offer or offers authorized by the Dragon Fund's Board.
Q: WHAT ARE VIETNAM FUND'S INVESTMENT GOAL AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES?
A: Vietnam Fund is designed for investors seeking long-term capital
appreciation. Vietnam Fund invests primarily in the equity and debt
securities of "Region Country" issuers. Region Countries currently include
Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
Q: WHAT ARE DRAGON FUND'S INVESTMENT GOAL AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES?
A: Dragon Fund is designed for investors seeking long-term capital
appreciation. Under normal market conditions, Dragon Fund invests at least
45% of its total assets in the equity securities of "China companies." In
addition, under normal circumstances Dragon Fund will invest at least 65%
of its total assets in "China companies," "Japan companies," and
"Asia-Pacific companies" combined.
Q: HOW DO THE FUNDS COMPARE IN SIZE?
A: As of January 4, 2002, Vietnam Fund had total assets of approximately $37
million and Dragon Fund had total assets of approximately $439 million
Q: AS A SHAREHOLDER OF VIETNAM FUND OR DRAGON FUND, AM I BEING ASKED TO TAKE
ANY ACTION AT THIS TIME?
A: No. Shareholders of Vietnam Fund and Dragon Fund are not being asked to take
any action at the present time, but are being advised that the Boards of
Directors have approved a proposed reorganization that will be submitted to
shareholders for consideration in the future as well as certain other
actions taken by the Boards in connection with the proposed reorganization.
Q: I AM A SHAREHOLDER OF VIETNAM FUND, AND I RECENTLY RECEIVED A PROXY
STATEMENT AND OTHER MATERIALS IN THE MAIL FROM THE FUND. ARE THESE
MATERIALS ASKING FOR MY VOTE ON THE PROPOSED REORGANIZATION WITH THE DRAGON
FUND?
A: No. The proxy statement and other materials you received relate to Vietnam
Fund's 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was originally scheduled
to be held on November 29, 2001, but was adjourned until January 23, 2002.
You will receive further information later this year regarding a special
meeting of shareholders of Vietnam Fund at which the proposed
reorganization will be submitted to vote.
* * * * *
In connection with the proposed reorganization transaction, Vietnam Fund and
Dragon Fund intend to file relevant materials with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including a proxy statement by Vietnam Fund, a
proxy statement by Dragon Fund, and a registration statement on Form N-14 by
Dragon Fund that contains a prospectus. Because those documents contain
important information, shareholders of Vietnam Fund and Dragon Fund are urged to
read them, if and when they become available. When filed with the SEC, they will
be available for free at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Shareholders can also
obtain copies of these documents and other transaction-related documents, when
available, for free by calling Vietnam Fund at 1-800-342-5236 or by calling
Dragon Fund at 1-800-342-5236.
Vietnam Fund, its directors and executive officers and certain other persons,
may be deemed to be participants in Vietnam Fund's solicitation of proxies from
its shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about
the directors is set forth in the proxy statement for Vietnam Fund's 2001 annual
meeting of shareholders. Participants in Vietnam Fund's solicitation may also be
deemed to include the following executive officers or other persons whose
interests in Vietnam Fund may not be described in the proxy statement for
Vietnam Fund's 2001 annual meeting: Mark Mobius (President); Charles B. Johnson
(Vice President); Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (Vice President); Harmon E. Burns (Vice
President); Charles E. Johnson (Vice President); Martin L. Flanagan (Vice
President); Jeffrey A. Everett (Vice President); John R. Kay (Vice President);
Murray L. Simpson (Vice President and Asst. Secretary); David P. Goss (Vice
President and Asst. Secretary); Barbara J. Green (Vice President and Secretary);
Bruce S. Rosenberg (Treasurer); Holly Gibson Brady (Director of Corporate
Communications - Franklin Resources, Inc.).
Dragon Fund, its directors and executive officers and certain other persons, may
be deemed to be participants in Dragon Fund's solicitation of proxies from its
shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the
directors is set forth in the proxy statement for Dragon Fund's 2001 annual
meeting of shareholders. Participants in Dragon Fund's solicitation may also be
deemed to include the following executive officers or other persons whose
interests in Dragon Fund may not be described in the proxy statement for Dragon
Fund's 2001 annual meeting: Mark Mobius (President); Charles B. Johnson (Vice
President); Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (Vice President); Harmon E. Burns (Vice
President); Charles E. Johnson (Vice President); Martin L. Flanagan (Vice
President); Jeffrey A. Everett (Vice President); John R. Kay (Vice President);
Murray L. Simpson (Vice President and Asst. Secretary); David P. Goss (Vice
President and Asst. Secretary); Barbara J. Green (Vice President and Secretary);
Bruce S. Rosenberg (Treasurer); Holly Gibson Brady (Director of Corporate
Communications - Franklin Resources, Inc.).
As of the date of this communication, none of the foregoing participants
individually beneficially owns in excess of 1% of Vietnam Fund's common stock,
or 1% of Dragon Fund's common stock. Except as disclosed above, to the knowledge
of Vietnam Fund and Dragon Fund, none of their respective directors or executive
officers has any interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings or
otherwise, in Vietnam Fund or Dragon Fund.
Shareholders may obtain additional information regarding the interests of the
participants by reading the proxy statement of Vietnam Fund and the proxy
statement and prospectus of Dragon Fund if and when they become available.
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction
in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to
registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a
prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.
Dragon Fund shareholders are advised to read the tender offer statement when it
is available as it will contain important information. The tender offer
statement, when it is available, and other documents filed by Dragon Fund with
the SEC, including Dragon Fund's most recent annual report, will be available
for free at the SEC's web site (www.sec.gov) or by calling Dragon Fund at
1-800-342-5236.