pre14a
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by
the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
o
Check the appropriate box:
þ Preliminary Proxy Statement
o Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
o Definitive Proxy Statement
o Definitive Additional Materials
o Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-11(c) or § 240.14a-12
THE MEXICO EQUITY AND INCOME FUND, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box):
þ No fee required.
o Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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N/A
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N/A
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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): |
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N/A
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N/A
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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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. |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIALS FILED FOR THE USE OF THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
THE MEXICO EQUITY AND INCOME FUND, INC.
615 E. Michigan St., 2nd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held November 26, 2007
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting (the Meeting) of holders of shares of the
common stock and preferred stock (collectively, the Stockholders) of The Mexico Equity and Income
Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Fund), will be held at the offices of U.S. Bancorp Fund
Services, LLC, 615 E. Michigan St., 2nd Floor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 on Monday,
November 26, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, for the following purposes:
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To elect the Class III Directors to the Funds Board of Directors as follows: |
(i) one Class III Director to be elected by the holders of the Funds common stock,
voting as a separate class; and
(ii) one Class III Director to be elected by the holders of the Funds preferred
stock, voting as a separate class (Proposal I);
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To request that the holders of each of the Funds common stock and preferred
stock, voting as a single class, approve an increase to the annual investment advisory
fee payable to Pichardo Asset Management, S.A. de C.V., from an annual rate of 0.80% of
the value of the Funds average daily net assets to: |
(i)
an annual rate of 1.00% of the value of the Funds average daily net asses on
assets up to and including $250 million;
(ii) an annual rate of 0.90% of the value of the Funds average daily net assets on
assets between $250 million and $500 million;
(iii) an annual rate of 0.80% of the value of the Funds average daily net assets on
assets in excess of $500 million (Proposal II):
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To request that the holders of each of the Funds common stock and preferred
stock, voting as a single class, approve the Board of Directors adoption of a Managed
Distribution Plan for the Fund (Proposal III); |
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To request that the holders of each of the Funds common and preferred stock,
voting as a single class, approve an amendment to the Funds Articles Supplementary to
permit preferred stockholders, at their sole discretion, to convert some or all of
their outstanding shares of the Funds preferred stock into shares of common stock at
relative net asset value (Proposal IV); and |
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To consider and vote upon such other matters as may properly come before said
Meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on October 15, 2007 as the record date
for the determination of common and preferred Stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at
this Meeting or any adjournment thereof. The stock transfer books will not be closed.
Copies of the Funds most recent annual report and semi-annual report may be ordered free of
charge to any Stockholder by writing to the Fund c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 E.
Michigan St., 2nd Floor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, or by telephone at (888) 294-8217.
The Funds most recent annual report was mailed to Stockholders
on September 29, 2007.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Francisco Lopez |
Dated: October 3, 2007
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Secretary |
UNLESS YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, PLEASE FILL IN, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED
PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WILL ASSURE A QUORUM AT THE
MEETING.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS
The following general rules for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and avoid the time
and expense to the Fund involved in validating your vote if you fail to sign your proxy card
properly.
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Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the registration on the proxy
card. |
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Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing should conform
exactly to a name shown in the registration. |
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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
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Corporate Accounts |
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Valid Signature |
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(1)
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ABC Corp.
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ABC Corp. (by John Doe, Treasurer) |
(2)
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ABC Corp.
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John Doe, Treasurer |
(3)
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ABC Corp. |
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c/o John Doe, Treasurer
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John Doe |
(4)
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ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan
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John Doe, Trustee |
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Trust Accounts |
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(1)
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ABC Trust
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Jane B. Doe, Trustee |
(2)
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Jane B. Doe, Trustee |
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u/t/d/ 12/28/78
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Jane B. Doe |
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Custodial or Estate Accounts |
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(1)
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John B. Smith, Cust. |
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f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA
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John B. Smith |
(2)
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John B. Smith
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John B. Smith, Jr., Executor |
If you are a holder of the Funds common stock, please ensure that you complete the WHITE proxy
card designated to be completed by common Stockholders.
If you are a holder of the Funds preferred stock, please ensure that you complete the BLUE proxy
card designated to be completed by preferred Stockholders.
(i)
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIALS FILED FOR THE USE OF THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
THE MEXICO EQUITY AND INCOME FUND, INC.
615 E. Michigan St., 2nd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
to be held on November 26, 2007
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board
of Directors of The Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc. (the Fund) for use at the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders (the Meeting) to be held at the offices of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615
E. Michigan St., 2nd Floor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 on November 26, 2007, at 10:00
a.m., Eastern time, and at any and all adjournments thereof. A form of proxy for each of the
common Stockholders and preferred Stockholders is enclosed herewith. This Proxy Statement and the
accompanying forms of proxy are being first mailed to Stockholders on
or about October 19, 2007.
Any Stockholder who executes and delivers a proxy may revoke it by written communication to
the Secretary of the Fund at any time prior to its use or by voting in person at the Meeting.
Unrevoked proxies will be voted in accordance with the specifications thereon and, unless specified
to the contrary, will be voted FOR the election of the nominees for Directors, FOR the increase of
the investment advisory fee, FOR the approval of the Funds Managed Distribution Plan, and FOR the
amendment to the Articles Supplementary.
In general, abstentions and broker non-votes (reflected by signed but unvoted proxies), as
defined below, count for purposes of obtaining a quorum but do not count as votes cast with respect
to any proposal where the broker does not have discretion. With respect to a proposal requiring
the affirmative vote of a majority of the Funds outstanding shares of common stock or preferred
stock, the effect of abstentions and broker non-votes is the same as a vote against such proposal.
Otherwise, abstentions and broker non-votes have no effect on the outcome of a proposal. Broker
non-votes occur when shares, held in the name of the broker or nominees for whom an executed proxy
is received by the Fund, are not voted on a proposal because voting instructions have not been
received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and the broker or nominee does not
have discretionary voting power.
In the event that a quorum is not present at the Meeting, the persons named as proxies may
propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to a date not more than one hundred twenty (120)
days after the original record date to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any
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such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of those shares represented
at the Meeting in person or by proxy. The persons named as proxies will vote those proxies that
they are entitled to vote FOR or AGAINST any such proposal in their discretion. Under the By-laws
of the Fund, a quorum is constituted by the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of record
of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Fund entitled to vote at the
Meeting.
The Fund has engaged The Altman Group as its proxy solicitor. The cost of soliciting the
proxies has been estimated to be approximately $6,000 and such cost shall be borne by the Fund.
Proxy solicitations will be made primarily by mail, but solicitations may also be made by
telephone, telegraph or personal interviews conducted by The Altman Group.
The Fund will, upon request, bear the reasonable expenses of brokers, banks and their nominees
who are holders of record of the Funds common stock and preferred stock on the record date,
incurred in mailing copies of this Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement and the enclosed forms of
proxy to the beneficial owners of the Funds common stock and preferred stock.
Only holders of issued and outstanding shares of the Funds common stock and/or preferred
stock of record on the close of business on October 15, 2007 are entitled to notice of, and to vote
at, the Meeting. Each such holder is entitled to one vote per share of common stock and one vote
per share of preferred stock so held. On October 15, 2007, there were 3,474,169 shares of the
Funds common stock issued and outstanding and 1,429,336 shares of the Funds preferred stock
issued and outstanding. The Fund is a closed-end, management investment company.
SUMMARY OF VOTING RIGHTS ON PROXY PROPOSALS
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PREFERRED |
PROPOSAL |
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COMMON STOCKHOLDERS |
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STOCKHOLDERS |
Election of Directors
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Common Stockholders,
voting as a single
class, elect one
Class III Director
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Preferred
Stockholders, voting
as a single class,
elect one Class III
Director |
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Increase of Investment
Advisory Fee
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Common Stockholders,
voting along with
the preferred
stockholders as a
single class, vote
to increase the
investment advisory
fee
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Preferred
Stockholders, voting
along with the
common stockholders
as a single class,
vote to increase the
investment advisory
fee |
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Managed Distribution Plan
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Common Stockholders,
voting along with
the preferred
stockholders as a
single class, vote
to approve the
Managed Distribution
Plan
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Preferred
Stockholders, voting
along with the
common stockholders
as a single class,
vote to approve the
Managed Distribution
Plan |
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Amendment to Articles
Supplementary
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Common Stockholders,
voting along with
the preferred
stockholders as a
single class, vote
to amend the
Articles
Supplementary
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Preferred
Stockholders, voting
along with the
common stockholders
as a single class,
vote to amend the
Articles
Supplementary |
A copy of the Funds most recent annual report for the year ended July 31, 2007 may be ordered
free of charge by any Stockholder by writing to the Fund c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund
Services, LLC, 615 E. Michigan St., 2nd Floor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, or by
telephone at (888) 294-8217. The Funds most recent annual report was mailed to Stockholders on
September 29, 2007.
This
Proxy Statement is first being mailed to all Stockholders on or about
October 19, 2007.
PROPOSAL I: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
In accordance with the Funds Articles of Incorporation, the terms of the Funds Board of
Directors are staggered. The Board of Directors is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II
and Class III, each class having a term of three years. Each year the term of office of one Class
expires. The effect of these staggered terms is to limit the ability of other entities or persons
to acquire control of the Fund by delaying the replacement of a majority of the Board of Directors.
The Funds Articles Supplementary provide that the holders of the Funds preferred stock shall
have the right to vote separately as a single class to elect two directors. At the Meeting,
holders of the Funds common stock and preferred stock will each be asked to elect one Class III
Director to hold office until the year 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or thereafter until
their successors are duly elected and qualified. At the next Annual Meeting, holders of the Funds
preferred stock will have the right to vote as a single class to elect one Class I Director to hold
office until the Year 2011 Annual Meeting.
The Board of Directors has nominated Messrs. Glenn Goodstein and Gerald Hellerman be elected
by the holders of the Funds preferred stock and the Funds common stock, respectively, to serve as
Class III Directors of the Fund.
In the event that one or both of the nominees become unavailable for election for any
presently unforeseen reason, the persons named in the form of proxy will vote for any successor
nominee who shall be designated by the present Board of Directors. Each Class III Director shall
be elected by a plurality of the shares of the respective class voting at the Meeting.
At the Meeting, the holders of the Funds preferred stock will be asked to vote for the
election of Mr. Glenn Goodstein as a Class III Director, and the holders of the Funds common stock
will be asked to vote for the election of Mr. Gerald Hellerman as a Class III Director. If
elected, Messrs. Goodstein and Hellerman will each serve until the year 2010 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders or thereafter until each of their respective successors are duly elected and
qualified. If elected, Messrs. Goodstein and Hellerman have each consented to serve as Directors
of the Fund until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
The persons named in the accompanying forms of proxy intend to vote at the Meeting (unless
directed not to vote) FOR the election of Messrs. Goodstein and Hellerman. The nominees have
indicated that they will serve if elected, and the Board of Directors has no reason to believe that
the nominees named above will become unavailable for election as Directors, but if Messrs.
Goodstein and Hellerman should be unable to serve, the proxy will be voted for any other persons
determined by the persons named in the proxy in accordance with their judgment.
The following tables set forth the year born and principal occupation of each of the Directors
and the nominees for election as Class III Directors:
NOMINEES
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Term of |
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Directorships held by |
Name, Address and |
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Office |
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Principal Occupation |
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Director Outside of |
Year Born |
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Position with Fund |
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Since |
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during past 5 years |
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Fund Complex* |
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Class III Interested Director Nominee to serve until the Year 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: |
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Gerald Hellerman**
(1937)
10965 Eight Bells
Lane
Columbia, MD 21044
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Director, Chief Financial Officer and Chief
Compliance Officer
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2001 |
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Principal, Hellerman
Associates, (a financial
and corporate consulting
firm); Manager/Investment
Advisor, U.S. Department of
Justice Settlement Trust
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Director, Brantley
Capital Corporation
(a business
development
company); Director,
MVC Capital, Inc.
(a business
development
company); Director,
AirNet Systems,
Inc. (a specialty
air courier);
Director, FNC
Realty Corporation
(a real estate
development and
management
company); Director,
Innovative Clinical
Solutions, Ltd. (a
company formerly
engaged in
conducting clinical
trials and
physician network
management);
Director, Old
Mutual 2100
Absolute Return
Fund, L.L.C.;
Trustee, Third
Avenue Value Trust;
Trustee, Third
Avenue Variable
Series Trust;
Director, Clemente
Global Growth Fund |
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Glenn Goodstein***
(1963)
2308 Camino Robledo
Carlsbad, CA 92009
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Director
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2001 |
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Registered investment
adviser; Managing Member of
the General Partner of
Mercury Partners LP (an
investment partnership)
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None |
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* |
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The Fund Complex is comprised of only the Fund because the nominees did not serve
as directors to another investment company which was managed by Pichardo Asset
Management, S.A. de C.V. during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006. |
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** |
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Mr. Hellerman shall be considered an interested director, as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). Mr. Hellerman is to be elected by
the holders of the Funds common stock at the Meeting. Holders of the Funds
preferred stock will not vote for the election of Mr. Hellerman. |
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Mr. Goodstein is to be elected by the holders of the Funds preferred stock at the
Meeting. Holders of the Funds common stock will not vote for the election of Mr.
Goodstein. |
REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
The following tables set forth the name, address, year born and principal occupation of each of the
remaining Directors of the Fund:
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Directorships held by |
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Term of |
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Nominee Director |
Name, Address and |
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Office |
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Principal Occupation |
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Outside of Fund |
Year Born |
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Position(s) with Fund |
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Since |
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during past 5 years |
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Complex* |
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Class II Independent Directors serving until the Year 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: |
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Rajeev Das (1968)
68 Lafayette Ave.
Dumont, NJ 07628
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Director
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2001 |
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Senior Analyst,
Kimball & Winthrop,
Inc. (an investment
advisory firm) and
Managing Member of
the general partner
of Opportunity
Income Plus L.P.
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None |
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Andrew Dakos (1966)
5 Ryan Court
Towaco, NJ 07082
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Director and
Chairman of Audit
Committee
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2001 |
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Managing Member of
the general partner
of Full Value
Partners L.P. (an
investment
partnership);
President of
Elmhurst Capital,
Inc. (an investment
advisory firm)
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None |
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* |
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The Fund Complex is comprised of only the Fund. |
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Term of |
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Directorships held by |
Name, Address and |
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Office |
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Principal Occupation |
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Director Outside of |
Year Born |
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Position with Fund |
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Since |
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during past 5 years |
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Fund Complex* |
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Class I Independent Director serving until the Year 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: |
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Phillip Goldstein (1945)
60 Heritage Drive
Pleasantville, NY 10570
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Director
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2000 |
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President, Kimball
& Winthrop, Inc.
(an investment
advisory firm); and
general partner of
Opportunity
Partners L.P. (an
investment
partnership)
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Director of
Brantley Capital
Corporation (a
business
development
company); The
Emerging Markets
Telecommunications
Fund (a registered
closed-end
investment company)
and First Israel
Funds (a registered
closed-end
investment Company) |
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* |
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The Fund Complex is comprised of only the Fund. |
The following table sets forth, for each Director, the aggregate dollar range of equity
securities in the Fund that is owned by the Director as of July 31, 2007. The information as
to beneficial ownership is based on statements furnished to the Fund by each Director.
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Dollar Range of |
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Equity Securities in |
Name |
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the Fund. |
Phillip Goldstein |
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Over $100,000 |
Glenn Goodstein |
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Over $100,000 |
Andrew Dakos |
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Over $100,000 |
Rajeev Das |
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Over $100,000 |
Gerald Hellerman |
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None |
Executive Officers
In addition to Mr. Hellerman, the current officers of the Fund are:
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Directorships |
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Position(s) |
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Term of |
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Principal Occupation |
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held by |
Name, Address and Age |
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with Fund |
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Office Since |
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during past 5 years |
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Officer |
Maria Eugenia
Pichardo (1950)
408 Teopanzolco Avenue
3rd Floor Reforma
Cuernavaca, 62260
Morelos Mexico
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President
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2004 |
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Portfolio manager
of the Fund since
the Funds
inception in 1990;
President and
General Partner of
Pichardo Asset
Management, S.A. de
C.V., the Funds
registered
investment adviser
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None |
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Francisco Lopez
(1971)
408 Teopanzolco Avenue
3rd Floor Reforma
Cuernavaca, 62260
Morelos Mexico
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Secretary
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2005 |
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For the period May
1997 through
December 2002,
acted as portfolio
manager assistant
to the Fund at
Acciones y Valores
de Mexico, S.A. de
C.V., a wholly
owned subsidiary of
Acciworldwide, S.A.
de C.V., the Funds
registered
investment adviser
prior to 2002;
Portfolio manager
at Pichardo Asset
Management, S.A. de
C.V., the Funds
registered
investment adviser
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None |
Under the federal securities laws, the Fund is required to provide to stockholders in
connection with the Meeting information regarding compensation paid to Directors by the Fund as
well as by the various other U.S. registered investment companies advised by the Funds investment
manager during its prior fiscal year. For the fiscal year ending July 31, 2008, the Fund will pay
each of its directors who is not a director, officer or employee of Pichardo Asset Management, S.A.
de C.V. (PAM), U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, the administrator to the Fund (the
Administrator), or any affiliate thereof an annual fee of $20,000 plus $100 for each
special telephonic meeting attended. In addition, the Fund pays the members of the Audit
Committee, comprised of Messrs. Rajeev Das, Phillip Goldstein and Andrew Dakos, $250 per Audit
Committee meeting attended. The Funds Pricing Committee members, consisting of Messrs. Goodstein,
Goldstein, Dakos and Das, are paid $100 each for each Pricing Committee meeting that does not occur
in conjunction with a regularly scheduled Board meeting. At the Board of Directors meeting held on
September 28, 2004, Mr. Gerald Hellerman was appointed Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund. For
serving the Fund as Chief Compliance Officer for the year ending July 31, 2008, in addition to the
aforementioned Directors fees, Mr. Hellerman will receive annual compensation in the amount of
$30,000, which is also paid by the Fund. In addition, the Fund reimburses the Directors for travel
and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with Board of Directors meetings.
The following table provides information concerning the compensation paid during the fiscal
year ending July 31, 2007 to each Director of the Fund. All of the Directors received compensation
for serving as a Director of the Fund. Please note that the Fund has no bonus, profit sharing,
pension or retirement plans.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate |
|
|
Director |
|
Compensation |
Name of Director |
|
Since |
|
From Fund |
Phillip Goldstein |
|
|
2000 |
|
|
$ |
17,750 |
|
Glenn Goodstein |
|
|
2001 |
|
|
$ |
17,250 |
|
Andrew Dakos |
|
|
2001 |
|
|
$ |
17,750 |
|
Rajeev Das |
|
|
2001 |
|
|
$ |
17,250 |
|
Gerald Hellerman |
|
|
2001 |
|
|
$ |
41,250 |
|
Each Director attended, in person or by telephone, all of the six (6) meetings of the Board of
Directors (including regularly scheduled and special meetings) held during the last fiscal year in
which he was a Director.
Nominating Committee
At the Quarterly Meeting of the Board of Directors held on June 20, 2002, the Board of
Directors established a Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee is comprised of Messrs.
Goodstein, Goldstein, Dakos and Das. The Nominating Committee is responsible for seeking and
reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for Directors as is from time to time considered
necessary or appropriate. It is the policy of the Nominating Committee to consider nominees
recommended by stockholders of the Fund so long as the stockholders properly submit their
recommendations in accordance with the requirements contained in the Proposals To Be Submitted By
Stockholders section contained herein. During the last fiscal year, the Nominating Committee
conducted one meeting.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Das, Dakos and Goldstein, each of whom is an
independent director. The principal functions of the Audit Committee include, but are not limited
to, (i) the oversight of the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Fund and its
internal control over financial reporting; (ii) the oversight of the quality and integrity of the
Funds financial statements and the independent audit thereof; and (iii) the approval, prior to the
engagement of, the Funds independent auditors and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate
the qualifications, independence and performance of the
Funds independent auditors. The Audit Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ending July
31, 2007.
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed by Tait, Weller & Baker, the
independent accountants for the Funds most recent fiscal year, for professional services rendered
for: (i) the audit of the Funds annual financial statements and the review of financial statements
included in the Funds reports to stockholders (Audit Fees); (ii) financial information systems
design and implementation services provided to the Fund, its investment manager and entities that
control, are controlled by or under common control with the Funds investment manager that provides
services to the Fund (Financial Information Systems Design); and (iii) all other services
provided to the Fund, its investment advisor and entities that control, are controlled by or under
common control with the Funds investment advisor that provide services to the Fund (All Other
Fees).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees |
|
Financial Information Systems Design |
|
All Other Fees |
$24,900 |
|
|
$0 |
|
|
|
$0 |
|
All of the services performed by the Funds independent auditors, including audit related and
non-audit related services, were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, as required under the Audit
Committee Charter.
The Audit Committee has considered and determined that the services provided by Tait, Weller &
Baker are compatible with maintaining Tait, Weller & Bakers independence. The aggregate fees
included in Audit Fees are fees billed for the calendar year for the audit of the Funds annual
financial statements. Of the time expended by the Funds principal accountant to audit the Funds
financial statements for the Funds most recent fiscal year, less than 50% of such time involved
work performed by persons other than the principal accountants full time, permanent employees.
Audit Committee Report
The Audit Committee has met and held discussions with the Funds Administrator and the Funds
independent accountants. The independent accountants represented to the Audit Committee that the
Funds financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the financial statements with the
Funds Administrator and its independent accountants. The Audit Committee also discussed with the
independent accountants matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61.
The Funds independent accountants also provided to the Audit Committee the written
disclosures required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with
Audit Committees), and the Audit Committee discussed with the independent accountants their
independence, in light of the services they were providing.
Based upon the Audit Committees discussion with the Funds Administrator and the independent
accountants and the Audit Committees review of the representations of the Funds Administrator and
the report of the independent accountants to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended
that the Board of Directors include the audited financial statements in the Funds Annual Report
for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission).
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Dakos, Chairman
Phillip Goldstein
Rajeev Das
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and Section 30(h) of
the 1940 Act in combination require the Funds directors and officers, persons who own more than
ten (10%) percent of the Funds common stock or preferred stock, and the Funds investment adviser
and their respective directors and officers, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership
with the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. To the Funds knowledge, the Funds
directors and officers, the Funds investment adviser and their respective directors and officers
have complied with applicable filing requirements during the year ended July 31, 2007.
Required Vote
Glenn Goodstein must be elected by a plurality (a simple majority of the votes cast at the
Meeting) of the votes cast by the holders of shares of the Funds preferred stock, present in
person or represented by proxy at a meeting with a quorum present. Gerald Hellerman must be
elected by a plurality (a simple majority of the votes cast at the Meeting) of the votes cast by
the holders of shares of the Funds common stock, present in person or represented by proxy at a
meeting with a quorum present. For purposes of the election of Directors, abstentions and broker
non-votes will be counted as shares present for quorum purposes, may be considered votes cast, and
may affect the plurality vote required for Directors.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE HOLDERS OF THE FUNDS PREFERRED STOCK VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION OF GLENN GOODSTEIN AND THAT THE HOLDERS OF THE FUNDS COMMON STOCK VOTE FOR THE ELECTION
OF GERALD HELLERMAN AS THE CLASS III DIRECTORS OF THE FUND.
PROPOSAL II: CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO
THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FUND AND
PICHARDO ASSET MANAGEMENT, S.A. DE C.V.
Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June 29, 2004 (the Current PAM
Agreement), between the Fund and Pichardo Asset Management, S.A. de C.V. (PAM), PAM has acted as
the Funds investment adviser. PAM is a registered investment adviser under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act). Subject to the overall supervision of our Board of
Directors, PAM manages our day-to-day operations and provides the Fund with investment advisory
services. Under the terms of the Current PAM Agreement, PAM will conduct all investment research
and supervision and is responsible for the purchase and sale of the Funds investment portfolio
securities, subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Directors. PAM also provides
the Fund with advice, supervises the Funds management and investment programs and provides
investment advisory facilities and executive and supervisory personnel for managing the investments
and effectuating portfolio transactions. PAM also furnishes, at its own expense, all necessary
administrative services, office space, equipment and clerical personnel for servicing the Funds
investments. In addition, PAM will pay the salaries and fees of all of the Funds officers who are
affiliated with PAM.
PAMs services under the Current PAM Agreement are not exclusive, and it is free to furnish
similar services to other entities so long as its services to the Fund are not impaired.
At a meeting held on June 26, 2007, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the
Current PAM Agreement (the Amended PAM Agreement), whereby, subject to stockholder approval, the
investment advisory fees to be paid to PAM for its investment advisory services will be increased.
The Amended PAM Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit A and shall be retroactively effective as
of August 1, 2007 upon its approval by the stockholders.
With the exception of the aforementioned revisions to the annual investment advisory fees, as
described below, and the change in commencement and termination dates, the Amended PAM Agreement is
identical to the Current PAM Agreement with respect to the services to be provided to the Fund.
The Board of Directors hereby submits the Amended PAM Agreement to the stockholders for their
consideration and approval.
PAM is organized as a corporation under the laws of Mexico and is registered as an investment
adviser under the Advisers Act. PAMs principal office is located at Teopanzolco Avenue #408, 3rd
Floor, Cuernavaca 62260, Morelos, Mexico. Maria Eugenia Pichardo is the President and Chief
Executive Officer of PAM. Ms. Pichardo owns 99% of the total outstanding shares of common stock of
PAM and has acted as the Funds portfolio manager since the Funds inception.
The Current PAM Agreement
The Fund pays PAM a monthly fee at an annual rate of 0.80% of the value of its average daily
net assets for the investment management and research services provided. The Current PAM Agreement
provides that the Fund will be responsible for all of the Funds expenses and liabilities, except
that PAM is responsible for the expense in connection with maintaining a staff within its
organization to furnish the above services to the Fund.
For the fiscal years ended July 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007, PAM earned an annual fee under the
Current PAM Agreement of $346,710, $656,839 and $958,616, respectively, which was paid or payable
by the Fund.
Pursuant to the Current PAM Agreement, PAM makes investment decisions for the Fund, prepares
and makes available to the Fund research and statistical data in connection therewith and
supervises the acquisition and disposition of securities by the Fund, including the selection of
brokers or dealers to carry out such transactions on behalf of the Fund. PAM is responsible for
the management of the Funds portfolio in accordance with the Funds investment objective and
policies and for making decisions to buy, sell or hold particular securities. The Current PAM
Agreement provides that the PAM shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or
for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which the Current PAM Agreement
relates, except liability resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the
Investment Advisers part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties under the Current PAM Agreement. The Current PAM Agreement was last
approved by a majority of the Funds outstanding voting shares on November 19, 2003 and by the
Directors, including a majority of the Directors who are not parties to the Current PAM Agreement
or interested persons (as defined in the Advisers Act) of such parties, on March 29, 2007. By its
terms, the Current PAM Agreement continues in effect from year to year, provided, if it is approved
annually by a vote of a majority of the members of the Funds Board of Directors who are not
parties to the Current PAM Agreement or interested persons of such parties, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and by a majority vote of either the
Funds Board of Directors or the Funds outstanding voting securities. The Fund or the Investment
Adviser may terminate the Current PAM Agreement at any time, without payment of penalty, upon sixty
(60) days written notice. The Current PAM Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of
its assignment (as defined in the Advisers Act).
The Amended PAM Agreement
The Amended PAM Agreement amends the Current PAM Agreement in one material respect. Due to
the increased scope of PAMs advisory services to the Fund, under the Amended PAM Agreement PAM
will receive a monthly fee at an annual rate of (i) 1.00% of the value of the Funds average daily
net assets on assets up to and including $250 million, (ii) 0.90% of the value of the Funds
average daily net assets on assets between $250 million and $500 million, and (iii) 0.80% of the
Funds average daily net assets on assets greater than $500 million.
PAM will continue to make investment decisions for the Fund, prepare and make available to the
Fund research and statistical data and supervise the acquisition and disposition of securities by
the Fund, including the selection of brokers or dealers to carry out such transactions on behalf of
the Fund.
In the case of all portfolio securities transactions, PAM has been the Funds sole investment
adviser since July 1, 2003. Subject only to the oversight and supervision of the Funds Board of
Directors, PAM will be solely responsible for the management of the Funds portfolio in accordance
with the Funds investment objective and policies and for making decisions to buy, sell or hold
particular securities.
Except as set forth above and the new commencement and termination dates, the Amended PAM
Agreement remains identical to the Current PAM Agreement. The Amended PAM Agreement continues to
provide that PAM shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss
suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which the Amended PAM Agreement relates,
except liability resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the
Investment Advisers part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties under the Amended PAM Agreement. The Fund or the Investment Adviser may
terminate the Amended PAM Agreement at any time, without payment of penalty, upon sixty (60) days
written notice. The Amended PAM Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment (as defined in the Advisers Act).
Information Concerning the Effect of the Amended PAM Agreement
The following table compares the compensation paid to PAM by the Fund under the Current PAM
Agreement in the Funds fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 and the compensation that the Fund would
have paid PAM for similar services in fiscal year 2007, had the Amended PAM Agreement been in
effect. All figures contained in the table below represent percentages based on average monthly
net assets.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FEES AND |
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXPENSES FOR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
FISCAL 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNDER THE |
|
|
ACTUAL FEES AND |
|
AMENDED PAM |
|
|
EXPENSES FOR 2007* |
|
AGREEMENT |
Advisory Fee |
|
|
0.80 |
% |
|
|
1.00 |
%** |
Other Expenses |
|
|
0.62 |
% |
|
|
0.62 |
% |
Total Expenses |
|
|
1.42 |
% |
|
|
1.62 |
% |
Increase in Fee Payable by Fund |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
for Investment Advisory
Services*** |
|
|
|
|
0.20 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Actual fees and expenses for fiscal year 2007 are the aggregate of fees and expenses paid to PAM
pursuant to the Current PAM Agreement. |
|
** |
|
1.00% of the value of the Funds average daily net
assets on assets up to and including $250
million, 0.90% of the value of the Funds average daily net
assets on assets between $250 million
and $500 million, and 0.80% of the Funds average daily net assets on assets greater than $500
million. |
|
*** |
|
Reflects the difference between the fees and expenses paid to PAM in 2007 and the fees and
expenses which would have been payable to PAM in fiscal year 2007 under the Amended PAM Agreement
as a result of the Funds performance and asset growth. |
Evaluation by the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors, none of whom are an interested person of any party to the Amended PAM
Agreement or its affiliates, has approved the Amended PAM Agreement for the Fund and recommends
that the common and preferred stockholders of the Fund approve such Agreement. The Board of
Directors deliberated and approved the Amended PAM Agreement at the Directors meeting held on June
26, 2007. The Amended PAM Agreement is effective upon stockholder approval. If the common and
preferred stockholders voting as a single class do not approve the Amended PAM Agreement at the
Meeting (or at an adjournment thereof), the Current PAM Agreement will stay in effect and the Board
may resubmit the Amended PAM Agreement to the stockholders for their consideration and approval.
In approving the Amended PAM Agreement and determining to submit it to the stockholders of the
Fund for their approval, the Board of Directors considered the best interests of all of the
stockholders and took into account factors they deemed relevant. The factors considered by the
Board included the performance of the Fund over the last several years, as well as the nature,
quality and scope of the operations and services provided by PAM, while focusing on the experience
of PAM with respect to its prior services provided to the Fund.
At the June 26, 2007 meeting the Board of Directors met with Fund counsel and discussed the
materials provided in support of the advisor free increase contained in the meeting materials,
including analysis of various country closed-end fund market capitalizations, Fund performance,
current advisory fee and adoption of several break points. Based upon its review
of the above as
well as other factors, the Board determined that the Amended PAM Agreement is in the best interests
of the Fund and its stockholders.
Required Vote
As provided by the Investment Company Act, approval of the Amended PAM Agreement will require
the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, which means
the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) sixty-seven (67%) percent or more of the shares of the
Fund entitled to vote thereon present or represented by proxy at the Meeting, if the holders of
more than fifty (50%) percent of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote thereon are
present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than fifty (50%) percent of the total outstanding
shares of the Fund entitled to vote thereon. For this purpose, abstentions and broker non-votes
will be counted as shares present at the Meeting for quorum purposes, but not as votes cast and
will have the same effect as votes cast against the Proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OF WHICH ONLY GERALD HELLERMAN IS AN INTERESTED PERSON OF THE FUND (AS AN
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE FUND) AND NONE OF WHOM ARE AN INTERESTED PERSON OF PICHARDO ASSET
MANAGEMENT OR ITS AFFILIATES, RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE FUND VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL
OF THE AMENDED PAM AGREEMENT. |
PROPOSAL III: APPROVAL OF THE FUNDS MANAGED DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The Board of Directors of the Fund recommends that the stockholders approve their adoption of
a managed distribution plan (the Managed Distribution Plan). The Board believes that by
spreading out the Funds distributions over the calendar year in twelve equal installments of 1%
per month, the Fund will be able to avoid making a large cash distribution to stockholders at year
end as it has had to do in recent years. In 2006, the Fund was required to make a large cash
distribution to stockholders at year end due to the extensive realization of ordinary and capital
gains. The Board of Directors currently intends to make monthly cash distributions to stockholders
equal to 1% of the Funds NAV (or 12% per annum) pursuant to the Managed Distribution Plan. The
Board has reserved the right to increase or decrease the amount of the monthly distribution. The
Board of Directors of the Fund intends to file an application with the SEC requesting exemption
from the provisions of Section 19(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and Rule
19b-1 thereunder to permit more than one capital gain distribution per year. This exemption would
allow the Fund to make periodic long-term capital gain distributions to stockholders as often as
monthly.
A managed distribution plan allows a fund to provide a regular, periodic distribution to its
stockholders which is not dependent on the amount of income earned or capital gains realized by the
fund. An equity fund, such as the Fund, is designed for investors to participate in a
professionally managed portfolio of equity investments. Over the long-term, equity investments
have historically provided higher total returns than fixed income investments, such as bonds.
However, unlike most fixed income funds, which pay stockholders a regular dividend based on the
funds investment income, equity funds generally pay a dividend once per year consisting of a
relatively small amount of net investment income and any net realized capital gains. A managed
distribution plan permits a fund to distribute a predetermined monthly amount, regardless of when
or whether income is earned or capital gains are realized. A managed distribution plan recognizes
that many investors are willing to accept the potentially higher asset volatility of equity
investments, but would prefer that a consistent level of cash distributions are available to them
each month for reinvestment or other purposes of their choosing. Furthermore, although recently
the Fund has traded at a slight premium, the Fund historically has traded at a discount to its net
asset value. In recent years, managed distribution policies appear to have been effectively used
to narrow trading discounts for closed-end funds, and the Board believes that the Managed
Distribution Plan could have a similar effect on any Fund discount that may occur in the future.
Of course there can be no assurance that the Managed Distribution Plan will narrow any Fund
discount or, if this does occur, that it will persist over the long term.
The Managed Distribution Plan was unanimously approved by all of the directors of the Fund,
including all of the directors who are not interested persons, as defined in section 2(a)(19) of
the Investment Company Act, at a meeting held on September 20, 2007.
The Board determined that adoption and implementation of the Managed Distribution Plan are
consistent with the Funds investment objective and policies and that the Managed Distribution Plan
is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, after considering certain information
including (i) the purpose of the Managed Distribution Plan, (ii) any potential or actual conflicts
of interest that PAM, any affiliated person of PAM, or any other affiliated person of the Fund may
have relating to the adoption or implementation of the Managed Distribution Plan; (iii) whether the
rate of distribution under the Managed Distribution Plan will exceed the Funds expected total
return (in relation to net asset value); and (iv) any reasonably foreseeable
material effect of the Distribution Policy on the Applicants long-term total return (in relation
to market price and net asset value).
The two principal advantages of a managed distribution plan are that it (i) will provide a
regular, periodic cash distribution to Fund stockholders and (ii) may also reduce the trading
discount for the Funds stock, thus enhancing stockholder value. Managed distribution payments,
however, are not tied to the Funds investment income and/or realized capital gains and, therefore,
will not necessarily represent yield on a stockholders investment in the Fund. Yield is
generally a measure of the amount of net investment income, or earnings, that are distributed to a
Funds stockholders.
One disadvantage of the Managed Distribution Plan is the potential effect on the Funds
expense ratio. If the Funds total return is less than the annual distribution, the Managed
Distribution Plan could have the effect of shrinking the assets of the Fund and thus increasing the
Funds expense ratio (i.e., the Funds fixed expenses will be spread over a smaller pool of
assets).
Finally, in the event that the Managed Distribution Plan contains a return of capital, which
based on the recent past performance of the Fund the Board of Directors does not expect to be the
case, stockholders would be required to adjust their cost basis by the amount of return of capital
so that when they sell their shares, their cost basis will be lower. This would add to the record
keeping requirements of stockholders. Stockholders who hold their stock in non-taxable accounts
such as IRAs will not need to make any adjustments to the cost basis of their shares owned in the
non-taxable account. There is no guarantee that this will not occur in the future.
The Funds investment objective will still be high total return through capital appreciation
and current income. Decisions with respect to the timing and purchase or sale of portfolio
investments will not be affected by the Managed Distribution Plan. It is possible, however, that
the Fund may delay realization of capital gains to avoid adverse income tax consequences to
stockholders relating to the Managed Distribution Plan (i.e. delay selling a position which the
Fund would have otherwise sold to avoid realizing capital gains or sell a position which the Fund
would have otherwise held to accelerate capital losses for the purpose of offsetting realized
gains).
The Board analyzed the Manage Distribution Plan at a meeting dated June 26, 2007, and
determined that it was in the best interests of the Funds and its stockholders to pursue the
Managed Distribution Plan, and thus authorized management to submit an application to the SEC for
exemptive relief from Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1.
Required Vote
Proposal III requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the preferred and common
stockholders (voting as a single class) present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting
and entitled to vote on this proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OF WHICH ONLY GERALD HELLERMAN IS AN INTERESTED PERSON OF THE FUND (AS AN
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE FUND), RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE FUND VOTE FOR THE MANAGED
DISTRIBUTION PLAN.
PROPOSAL IV: CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO
THE FUNDS ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY
On November 4, 2005, the Fund enacted its Articles Supplementary, reclassifying 2,000,000
shares of common stock as shares of preferred stock (the Articles Supplementary). Upon further
consideration, the Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interests of the Fund and its
stockholders to permit, but not require, preferred stockholders, at their sole discretion, to
request that the Fund convert any or all of their preferred shares to shares of the Funds common
stock. The Board of Directors is seeking approval from the Funds common and preferred
stockholders, voting together as a single class, to amend the Funds Articles Supplementary to
allow the Fund to convert shares of its preferred stock to common stock upon the request of a
preferred stockholder.
At a meeting held on June 26, 2007, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the
Articles Supplementary, whereby preferred stockholders of the Fund, at their sole discretion, may
request that the Fund convert their shares of preferred stock to common stock (the Amended
Articles Supplementary). Pursuant to the Amended Articles Supplementary, section (1)(a)(vi)(A) of
Article V of the Articles of Incorporation shall be revised as follows:
(vi) Conversion.
(A) If the Put Warrant Program (as described below) is approved by the SEC, all issued
and outstanding shares of the preferred stock shall automatically convert into common stock
on a one-to-one basis upon the anticipated issuance of put warrants by the Corporation, and,
shortly thereafter, stockholders shall receive put warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
at the sole discretion and upon the written request of a holder of shares of the preferred
stock, the Corporation shall convert any or all shares of such holders preferred stock to
shares of the Corporations common stock, the number of shares to be determined by the
relative net asset value of the preferred and common stock. Holders of the preferred stock
shall have no conversion rights other than those provided for by this subsection
(a)(vi)(A).1
The Amended Articles Supplementary are attached hereto in their entirety as Exhibit B and
shall be immediately effective upon approval by the stockholders. The Board of Directors hereby
submits the Amended Articles Supplementary to the stockholders for their consideration and
approval.
Preferred stockholders should be advised that the Board of Directors of the Fund has approved
a tender offer to repurchase up to 25% of the Funds issued and outstanding preferred shares at 99%
of the shares net asset value, determined as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange (the NYSE) on a date in early November (the Expiration Date), in exchange for
portfolio securities. The portfolio securities will represent a pro-rata portion of each of the
securities (other than short-term fixed income securities with maturities of less than one year,
securities with transfer restrictions and certain illiquid securities), subject to adjustments for
fractional shares and odd lots, and any cash held in the Funds investment portfolio at the close
of business on the Expiration Date.
|
|
|
1 |
|
New language in italics. |
Required Vote
Proposal IV requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the preferred and common
stockholders (voting as a single class) present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting
and entitled to vote on this proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OF WHICH ONLY GERALD HELLERMAN IS AN INTERESTED PERSON OF THE FUND (AS AN
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE FUND), RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE FUND VOTE FOR THE
APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board of Directors of the Fund does not know of any other matter which may come before the
Meeting, but should any other matter requiring a vote of stockholders arise, including any
questions as to the adjournment of the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the
proxy to vote the proxies in accordance with their judgment on that matter.
PROPOSALS TO BE SUBMITTED BY STOCKHOLDERS
All proposals by Stockholders of the Fund which are intended to be presented at the Funds
next Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held in the year 2008, must be received by the Fund
addressed to The Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc. c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 E.
Michigan St., 2nd Floor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, for inclusion in the Funds proxy
statement and proxy relating to that meeting in advance of the meeting as set forth below. Any
Stockholder who desires to bring a proposal at the Funds 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
without including such proposal in the Funds proxy statement must deliver (via the U.S. Post
Office or such other means that guarantees delivery) written notice thereof to the Secretary of the
Fund c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 E. Michigan St., 2nd Floor, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53202, no less than one hundred twenty (120) calendar days (approximately July 2007)
before the date of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders which will be scheduled to be held in
November
2008 or the tenth (10th) day after public announcement is made by way of
publication by the New York Stock Exchange of the Funds Meeting date.
THE MEXICO EQUITY AND INCOME FUND, INC.
Francisco Lopez
Secretary
Dated:
October 3, 2007
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. STOCKHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE
MEETING ARE THEREFORE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated and effective as of August 1, 2007, between THE MEXICO EQUITY AND INCOME FUND,
INC., a Maryland corporation (herein referred to as the Fund) and PICHARDO ASSET MANAGEMENT, S.A.
DE C.V., a Mexican corporation (herein referred to as the Investment Adviser).
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Investment Adviser desire to enter into an investment management
agreement whereby the terms of said agreement are set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed by the
parties as follows:
1. Appointment of the Investment Adviser.
(a) The Investment Adviser hereby undertakes and agrees, upon the terms and conditions herein
set forth, (i) to make investment decisions for the Fund, to prepare and make available to the Fund
research and statistical data in connection therewith, and to supervise the acquisition and
disposition of securities by the Fund, including the selection of brokers or dealers to carry out
the transactions, all in accordance with the Funds investment objective and policies and in
accordance with guidelines and directions from the Funds Board of Directors; (ii) to assist the
Fund as it may reasonably request in the conduct of the Funds business, subject to the direction
and control of the Funds Board of Directors; (iii) to maintain and furnish or cause to be
maintained and furnished for the Fund all records, reports and other information required under the
U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), to the extent that such records,
reports and other information are not maintained or furnished by the administrators, custodians or
other agents of the Fund; (iv) to furnish at the Investment Advisers expense for the use of the
Fund such clerical services and office space and facilities as the Fund may reasonably require for
its needs in the United States and Mexico related to research, statistical and investment work; and
(v) to pay the reasonable salaries and expenses of such of the Funds officers and employees
(including, where applicable, the Funds share of payroll taxes) and any fees and expenses of such
of the Funds directors as are directors, officers or employees of the Investment Adviser or any of
its affiliates. The Investment Adviser shall bear all expenses arising out of its duties hereunder
but shall not be responsible for any expenses of the Fund other than those specifically allocated
to the Investment Adviser in this Section 1.
(b) In particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Investment
Adviser shall not be responsible, except to the extent of the compensation of such of the Funds
employees as are directors, officers or employees of the Investment Adviser whose services may be
involved, for the following expenses of the Fund; organization expenses (but not the overhead or
employee costs of the Investment Adviser); legal fees and expenses of counsel (United States and
Mexican) to the Fund and, if counsel is retained by the directors who are not interested persons
of the Fund, of such counsel; auditing and accounting expenses; taxes and governmental fees; New
York Stock Exchange listing fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in
investment company organizations; fees and expenses of the
Funds custodians, transfer agents and registrars; fees and expenses with respect to
administration except as may be provided otherwise pursuant to administration agreements; expenses
for portfolio pricing services by a pricing agent, if any; expenses of preparing share certificates
and other expenses in connection with the issuance, offering and underwriting of shares issued by
the Fund; expenses relating to investor and public relations; fees and expenses involved in
registering and maintaining registration of the Fund and of its shares with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission, and qualifying its shares under state securities laws, including the
preparation and printing of the Funds registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes;
freight, insurance and other charges in connection with the shipment of the Funds portfolio
securities; brokerage commissions, stamp duties or other costs of acquiring or disposing of any
portfolio holding of the Fund; expenses of preparation and distribution of reports, notices and
dividends to shareholders; expenses of the dividend reinvestment and share purchase plan; costs of
stationery; any litigation expenses; and costs of shareholders and other meetings.
(c) In selecting brokers or dealers to execute portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund,
the Investment Adviser will seek the best overall terms available. In assessing the best overall
terms available for any transaction, the Investment Adviser must consider the factors it deems
relevant, including the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the
financial condition and execution capability of the broker or dealer, and the reasonableness of the
commission, if any, for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. In addition, the
Investment Adviser may, in selecting brokers or dealers to execute a particular transaction and in
evaluating the best overall terms available, consider the brokerage and research services (as those
terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) provided to
the Fund.
(d) The Investment Adviser may contract with or consult with such banks, other securities
firms or other parties in Mexico or elsewhere as it may deem appropriate to obtain additional
advisory information and advice, including investment recommendations, advice regarding economic
factors and trends, advice as to currency exchange matters and clerical and accounting services and
other assistance. It is acknowledged and agreed that the Investment Adviser will be responsible
for the management of the Funds portfolio and overall investment strategy, in accordance with the
Funds investment policies, and for making decisions to buy, sell or hold particular securities,
including but not limited to all investment decisions with respect to the Funds portfolio of
equity, debt and convertible debt securities.
2. Remuneration. The Fund agrees to pay to the Investment Adviser, in either U.S.
dollars, as may from time to time be agreed among the Fund and the Investment Adviser, as full
compensation for the services to be rendered and expenses to be borne by the Investment Adviser
hereunder, a monthly fee at an annual rate equal to (i) 1.00% of the value of the Funds average
daily net assets on assets up to and including $250 million, (ii) 0.90% of the value of the Funds
average daily net assets on assets between $250 million and $500 million, and (iii) 0.80% of the
Funds average daily net assets on assets greater than
$500 million.1 For purposes of
computing the fee, the average monthly net assets of the Fund are determined at the end of each
month on the basis of the average net assets of the Fund for each week during the month. The
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assets for each weekly period are determined by averaging the net assets at the last business
day of a week with the net assets at the last business day of the prior week. The value of the net
assets of the Fund shall be determined pursuant to the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and
the directions of the Funds Board of Directors. Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this
Agreement, such fee shall be computed beginning on August 1, 2007 (the Effective Date) until the
termination, for whatever reason, of this Agreement. The fee for the period from the end of the
last month ending prior to termination of this Agreement to the date of termination and the fee for
the period from the Effective Date through the end of the month in which the Effective Date occurs
shall be pro rated according to the proportion which such period bears to the full monthly period.
Except as provided below, each payment of a monthly fee to the Investment Adviser shall be made
within ten days of the first day of each month following the day as of which such payment is
computed. Upon the termination of this Agreement before, the end of any month, such fee shall be
payable on the date of termination of this Agreement.
3. Representations and Warranties. The Investment Adviser represents and warrants
that it is duly registered and authorized as an investment adviser under the United States
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and agrees to maintain effective all requisite
registrations, authorizations and licenses, as the case may be, until the termination of this
Agreement.
4. Services Not Deemed Exclusive. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting
the Investment Adviser from providing investment management and advisory services to, or entering
into investment management and advisory agreements with, other clients, including other registered
investment companies and clients which may invest in securities of Mexican issuers, or from
utilizing (in providing such services) information furnished to the Investment Adviser by others as
contemplated by Section 0 of this Agreement; nor, except as explicitly provided herein, shall
anything herein be construed as constituting the Investment Adviser as an agent of the Fund.
5. Limit of Liability. The Investment Adviser may rely on information reasonably
believed by it to be accurate and reliable. Neither the Investment Adviser nor its officers,
directors, employees, agents or controlling persons as defined in the 1940 Act shall be subject to
any liability for any act or omission, error of judgment or mistake of law, or for any loss
suffered by the Fund, in the course of, connected with or arising out of any services to be
rendered hereunder, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the
part of the Investment Adviser in the performance of its duties or by reason of reckless disregard
on the part of the Investment Adviser of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. Any
person, even though also employed by the Investment Adviser, who may be or become an employee of
the Fund shall be deemed, when acting within the scope of his employment by the Fund, to be acting
in such employment solely for the Fund and not as an employee or agent of the Investment Adviser.
6. Duration and Termination. This Agreement shall continue in effect initially for a
two year period and will continue from year to year, provided, such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by the affirmative vote of (i) a majority of the members of the Funds
Board of Directors who are neither parties to this Agreement nor interested persons of the Fund
or of the Investment Adviser or of any entity regularly furnishing investment advisory
services with respect to the Fund pursuant to an agreement with the Investment Adviser, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) a majority of the
Funds Board of Directors or the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund.
Notwithstanding the above, this Agreement (a) may nevertheless be terminated at any time
without penalty, by the Funds Board of Directors, by vote of holders of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by the Investment Adviser upon 60 days written notice
delivered or sent to the other party, and (b) shall automatically be terminated in the event of its
assignment; provided, however, that a transaction which does not, in accordance with the 1940 Act,
result in a change of actual control or management of the Investment Advisers business shall not
be deemed to be an assignment for the purposes of this Agreement. Any such notice shall be deemed
given when received by the addressee.
7. Non-Assignment and Amendment. This Agreement may not be transferred, assigned,
sold or in any manner hypothecated or pledged by either party hereto other than pursuant to Section
0. It may be amended by mutual agreement, but only after authorization of such amendment by the
affirmative vote of (i) the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund,
and (ii) a majority of the members of the Funds Board of Directors who are not interested persons
of the Fund or of the Investment Adviser or of an entity regularly furnishing investment advisory
services with respect to the Fund pursuant to any agreement with the Investment Adviser, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
8. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed
as being inconsistent with the 1940 Act. As used herein, the terms interested person,
assignment and vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities shall have the meanings
set forth in the 1940 Act.
9. Notices. Any notice hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person
or by telex or facsimile followed by delivery in person to the parties at the addresses set forth
below:
If to the Fund:
THE MEXICO EQUITY AND INCOME FUND, INC.
615 E. Michigan St., 2nd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Telephone: (414) 287-3311
Facsimile: (866) 507-6266
Attention: John Buckel
with a copy to:
BLANK ROME LLP
The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10174
Telephone: (212) 885-5239
Facsimile: (917) 332-3817
Attention: Thomas R. Westle, Esq.
If to the Investment Adviser:
PICHARDO ASSET MANAGEMENT, S.A. DE C.V.
Teopanzolco Avenue #408
3rd Floor Reforma
Cuernavaca, Mexico 62260
Telephone: 52 777 380 15 34
Facsimile: 52 777 380 1534
Attention: Ms. Maria Eugenia Pichardo
or to such other address as to which the recipient shall have informed the other parties in
writing.
Unless specifically provided elsewhere, notice given as provided above shall be deemed to have
been given, if by personal delivery, on the day of such delivery, and, if by telex or facsimile and
mail, on the date on which such telex or facsimile and confirmatory letter are sent.
10. Consent to Jurisdiction. Each party hereto irrevocably agrees that any suit,
action or proceeding against the Investment Adviser or the Fund arising out of or relating to this
Agreement shall be subject exclusively to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for
the Southern District of New York and the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County,
and each party hereto irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of each such court in connection with
any such suit, action or proceeding. Each party hereto waives any objection to the laying of venue
of any such suit, action or proceeding in either such court, and waives any claim that such suit,
action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party hereto irrevocably
consents to service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a
copy thereof registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to their respective addresses as set
forth in this Agreement.
11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
[This Remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their duly authorized signatories to execute this
Agreement as of the day and year first written above.
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THE MEXICO EQUITY AND INCOME FUND, INC. |
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By: |
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Name:
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Gerald Hellerman |
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Title:
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President |
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PICHARDO ASSET MANAGEMENT S.A. DE C.V. |
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By: |
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Name:
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Maria Eugenia Pichardo |
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Title:
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President |
EXHIBIT B
THE MEXICO EQUITY AND INCOME FUND, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY
RECLASSIFYING COMMON STOCK AS
2,000,000 SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK
(Under Section 2-208 of the Maryland General Corporation Law)
To the State Department
of Assessments and Taxation
State of Maryland
FIRST: The name of the corporation (the Corporation) is The Mexico Equity and Income Fund,
Inc.
SECOND: Pursuant to the authority expressly vested in the Board of Directors of the
Corporation by the Corporations Articles of Incorporation and Section 2-208 of the Maryland
General Corporation Law, the Board of Directors has duly adopted resolutions reclassifying
authorized but unissued shares of common stock, par value $.001, into shares of preferred stock of
the Corporation to consist of two million (2,000,000) shares. Such resolutions designate a class
of preferred stock, par value $.001, setting forth preferences, conversion and other rights, voting
powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of
redemption and repurchase of such preferred stock.
THIRD: The reclassification increases the number of shares classified as preferred stock, par
value $.001, from zero (0) shares immediately prior to the reclassification to two million
(2,000,000) shares immediately after the reclassification.
FOURTH: The class of preferred stock of the Corporation established in Article SECOND of these
Articles Supplementary shall hereby reclassify two million (2,000,000) shares of authorized but
unissued shares of common stock, par value $.001, as defined in the Articles of Incorporation, as
amended (the Articles), as preferred stock, par value $.001 per share, as set forth in paragraph
(1) below, with such preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions,
limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption and repurchase
as are set forth below, which, upon any restatement of the Articles of Incorporation, shall replace
section (1) of Article V of the Articles and comprise a new section (1) of Article V of the
Articles of Incorporation as follows:
(1) The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall
have the authority to issue is 100,000,000 shares, of which 98,000,000 shares shall
be called common stock, of the par value of ONE TENTH OF ONE CENT ($.001) per share
and of the aggregate par value of NINETY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS ($98,000.00), and
2,000,000 shares shall be called
preferred stock, of the par value of ONE TENTH OF ONE CENT ($.001) per share
and of the aggregate par value of TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,000.00).
(a) Subject to the provisions of these Articles of Incorporation, the following is a
description of the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions,
limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption and
repurchase of the preferred stock of the Corporation:
(i) RANK. The preferred stock shall, with respect to rights upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, rank senior to all classes or series of
common stock of the Corporation.
(ii) DIVIDENDS.
(A) Immediately following the issuance of any preferred stock, and so long as the
Corporation is subject to the rules promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940
(the 1940 Act), the Corporation shall be prohibited from declaring any dividend (except a
dividend payable in our common stock) or any other distribution upon the common stock,
unless the preferred stock has, at the time of any such declaration, an asset coverage of
at least 200 percent after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution, as the
case may be.
(B) Dividends and distributions shall be paid to the holders of the Corporations
preferred stock and common stock if, as and when authorized by the Board of Directors and
declared by the Corporation out of funds legally available for such distributions, in the
same kind and amount per share. All rights to dividends and distributions, if any, for the
Corporations preferred stock and common stock are the same, except as set forth in the
previous paragraph (A).
(iii) LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of preferred stock
shall be entitled to receive preferential liquidating distribution of the original price
per share of preferred stock, before any distribution of assets is made to the holders of
the common stock. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to
which they are entitled, the holders of shares of preferred stock shall not be entitled to
any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Corporation.
(iv) REPURCHASE AND REDEMPTION.
(A) The Corporation shall conduct a series of tender offers for the preferred stock
only (each, a Tender Offer) on a semi-annual basis (each semi-annual period, a Tender
Period) on dates to be determined by the Board of Directors in which up to 25% of the
issued and outstanding preferred stock, as of the date the preferred stock is first issued,
may be tendered to the Corporation. Each stockholder participating in a Tender Offer may
have his or her tendered shares of preferred stock repurchased by the Corporation in kind
for portfolio securities having a value equal to
99% of NAV as determined, with respect to each Tender Offer, on a date designated by
the Board of Directors.
(B) The Corporation may pay cash for fractional shares of securities; or round off (up
or down) fractional shares so as to eliminate them prior to distribution.
(C) Unless the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) grants exemptive relief
with respect thereto, the Corporation shall pay stockholders who are affiliated persons
of the Corporation solely by reason of owning, controlling or holding securities with the
power to vote 5% or more of our common stock, cash for their preferred stock tendered.
(D) Although the intention of the Board of Directors is to conduct a semi-annual
Tender Offer in which 25% of the issued, on the date that the preferred stock is initially
issued, preferred stock may be tendered to the Corporation, the Board of Directors may, in
its sole discretion, direct the Corporation to conduct a Tender Offer for less than 25% of
the issued, on the date that the preferred stock is initially issued, preferred stock. If
the SEC does not grant the exemptive relief discussed above, the Corporation shall be
required to pay the 5% holders cash for their preferred stock if tendered. In such a case,
the Corporation may not have enough cash to pay such holders if the Tender Offer is
conducted for 25% of the issued, on the date that the preferred stock is initially issued,
preferred stock. In no event, except in the event of a Tender Termination Event (as
defined below), shall any Tender Offer be conducted in which less than 5% of the issued and
outstanding preferred stock may be tendered to the Corporation.
(E) Each Tender Offer shall be governed, pursuant to the 1940 Act, the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, substantially on
the same terms and conditions that governed the Corporations tender offer that commenced
on February 19, 2002 and expired on March 20, 2002.
(F) In the event that the average trade weighted discount to the last published NAV
per Corporation share is less than 5% for any five consecutive trading days during any
Tender Period (a Tender Termination Event), the Corporation shall not conduct a Tender
Offer during that Tender Period. In the event of a Tender Termination Event, a Tender
Offer shall be conducted during the next Tender Period (unless a Tender Termination Event
exists during such next Tender Period).
(G) The Corporation shall have no other rights of repurchase or redemption with
respect to the preferred stock, except as set forth above.
(v) VOTING RIGHTS. So long as the Corporation is subject to the rules
promulgated under the 1940 Act, the holders of any preferred stock, voting separately as a
single class, shall have the right to elect at least two directors at all times. The
remaining directors shall be elected by holders of common stock. So long as the
Corporation is subject to the rules promulgated under the 1940 Act, in addition to any
approval by stockholders that might otherwise be required, the approval of the holders of a
majority of any outstanding preferred stock voting separately as a class, would be required
to (1) adopt any plan of reorganization that would adversely affect the preferred stock,
and (2) take any action requiring a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the
1940 Act, including, among other things, changes in the Corporations subclassification as
a closed-end investment company or changes in its fundamental investment restrictions. The
Board of Directors presently intends that, except as otherwise indicated above and except
as otherwise required by applicable law or the Corporations Articles of Incorporation, as
amended, or bylaws, holders of preferred stock shall have equal voting rights with holders
of common stock of the Corporation and shall vote together with such holders of common
stock as a single class.
(vi) CONVERSION.
(A) If the Put Warrant Program (as described below) is approved by the SEC, all issued
and outstanding shares of the preferred stock shall automatically convert into common stock
on a one-to-one basis upon the anticipated issuance of put warrants by the Corporation,
and, shortly thereafter, stockholders shall receive put warrants. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, at the sole discretion and upon the written request of a holder of shares of the
preferred stock, the Corporation shall convert any or all shares of such holders preferred
stock to shares of the Corporations common stock, the number of shares to be determined by
the relative net asset value of the preferred and common stock. Holders of the preferred
stock shall have no conversion rights other than those provided for by this subsection
(a)(vi)(A).1
(B) Under a put warrant program (the Put Warrant Program) the Corporation shall
issue without charge one put warrant for each whole share of common stock issued by the
Corporation held by each stockholder of record as of a date selected by the Board of
Directors. Each put warrant shall allow the Corporations stockholders to put (sell) on
a quarterly basis one share of Corporation common stock to the Corporation for an amount of
cash equal to our NAV per share.
The undersigned President acknowledges these Articles of Restatement to be the corporate act
of the Corporation and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the
undersigned President acknowledges that, to the best of her knowledge, information and belief,
these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the
penalties of perjury.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Restatement to be signed in
its name and on its behalf by its President and attested to by its Secretary on this ___ day of
, 2007.
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ATTEST:
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THE MEXICO INCOME AND EQUITY
FUND INC. |
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Francisco Lopez
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Maria Eugenia Pichardo |
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Secretary
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President |
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THE MATTERS BELOW SHALL BE VOTED ON ONLY BY THE HOLDERS OF THE FUNDS
COMMON STOCK
THE MEXICO EQUITY AND INCOME FUND, INC.
615 E. Michigan St., 2nd Floor Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 26, 2007. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Phillip Goldstein, Gerald Hellerman and Thomas R. Westle, and each of them, Proxies, with full power of substitution in each of them, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc. (the Fund) on Thursday, September 20, 2007, at the offices of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 E. Michigan St., 2nd Floor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 or at any adjournment or adjournments
thereof, according to the number of votes that the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present, upon the following matters:
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. To elect Mr. Gerald Hellerman, the nominee to serve as a Class III Director of the Fund, for the time period relating such directors class and until a successor has been duly elected and qualified.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominees name in the space below.)
2.APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT. To approve the Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement to increase the advisory fee.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
3.APPROVAL OF THE FUNDS MANAGED DISTRIBUTION PLAN. To approve the Funds Managed Distribution Agreement.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
4.APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY. To approve the Amendment to the Articles Supplementary.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
5.In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
[Signature Page to Follow] |
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN ABOVE. IF NO
INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES.
DATED: ___, 2007
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon.
When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation,
please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership,
please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
___Signature
___Signature if held jointly
Please mark, sign, date and return this proxy card promptly using the enclosed envelope. |
THE MATTERS BELOW SHALL BE VOTED ON ONLY BY THE HOLDERS OF THE FUNDS
PREFERRED STOCK
THE MEXICO EQUITY AND INCOME FUND, INC.
615 E. Michigan St., 2nd Floor Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 26, 2007. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Phillip Goldstein, Gerald Hellerman and Thomas R. Westle, and
each of them, Proxies, with full power of substitution in each of them, in the name, place and stead
of the undersigned, to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The Mexico Equity and Income Fund,
Inc. (the Fund) on Thursday, September 20, 2007, at the offices of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC,
615 E. Michigan St., 2nd Floor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 or at any adjournment or adjournments thereof,
according to the number of votes that the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present,
upon the following matters:
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. To elect Mr. Glenn Goodstein, the nominee to
serve as a Class III Director of the Fund, for the time period relating such
directors class and until a successor has been duly elected and qualified.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominees name in the space below.)
2.APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT. To approve the Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement to increase the advisory fee.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
3.APPROVAL OF THE FUNDS MANAGED DISTRIBUTION PLAN. To approve the Funds Managed Distribution Agreement.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
4.APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY. To approve the Amendment to the Articles Supplementary.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
5.In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
[Signature Page to Follow] |
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN ABOVE. IF NO
INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES.
DATED: ___, 2007
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon.
When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation,
please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership,
please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
___Signature
___Signature if held jointly
Please mark, sign, date and return this proxy card promptly using the enclosed envelope. |