SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY
STATEMENT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by Registrant [X]
Filed by Party other than the Registrant
Check the appropriate box:
[ ]
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Preliminary Proxy
Statement
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[ ]
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Confidential for Use of
the Commission Only as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)
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[X]
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Definitive Proxy
Statement
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[ ]
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Definitive Additional
Materials
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[ ]
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Soliciting Material
Pursuant to Rule 14a-11c or Rule 14a-12
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Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund
Incorporated
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in
Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy
Statement)
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the
appropriate box):
[X]
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No fee
required
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[ ]
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Fee computed on table
below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11
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(1)
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Title of each class of
securities to which transaction applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate number of
securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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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
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which the filing fee is calculated and state
how it was determined):
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(4)
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Proposed maximum aggregate
value of transaction:
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[ ]
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Fee paid previously with
preliminary materials.
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[ ]
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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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(1)
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Amount previously
paid:
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(2)
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Form, Schedule or
Registration Statement No.:
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FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFD)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFO)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FFC)
FLAHERTY &
CRUMRINE TOTAL RETURN FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FLC)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
DYNAMIC PREFERRED AND INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: DFP)
301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720
Pasadena, California 91101
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETINGS OF
SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on April 17, 2014
To the Shareholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meetings of Shareholders of Flaherty
& Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Incorporated, Flaherty & Crumrine
Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated, Flaherty & Crumrine
Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated, Flaherty & Crumrine Total
Return Fund Incorporated and Flaherty & Crumrine Dynamic Preferred and
Income Fund Incorporated (each, a Fund and collectively, the Funds), each a
Maryland corporation, will be held at the offices of Flaherty & Crumrine
Incorporated, 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California 91101
at 9:00 a.m. PT, on April 17, 2014, for the following purposes:
Each Fund:
1. To elect
Directors of each Fund (Proposal 1).
2. To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meetings or
any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Your vote is
important!
The Board of Directors of each Fund
has fixed the close of business on January 17, 2014 as the record date for the
determination of shareholders of each Fund entitled to notice of and to vote at
the Annual Meetings and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
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By Order of the Boards of
Directors,
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March 21, 2014
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Chad C. Conwell
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Secretary
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Important Notice Regarding the
Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meetings to Be
Held on
April 17, 2014
The notice of Annual Meetings,
joint proxy statement, proxy cards and each Funds annual report,
including audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended November
30, 2013, are available to you on the Funds website -
www.preferredincome.com
or upon request, without charge, by writing to BNY Mellon c/o
Computershare, P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170, or by
calling 1-866-351-7446. You are encouraged to review all of the
information contained in the proxy materials before voting.
To obtain directions to attend
the Annual Meetings and vote in person, please call 1-626-795-7300.
SEPARATE PROXY CARDS ARE
ENCLOSED FOR EACH FUND IN WHICH YOU OWN SHARES.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF YOUR HOLDINGS IN THE FUND. WHETHER OR NOT YOU
PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE PROMPTLY.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PROPER VOTING AND/OR EXECUTION OF PROXIES ARE SET
FORTH ON THE INSIDE COVER. SHAREHOLDERS MAY SUBMIT VOTING INSTRUCTIONS BY
SIGNING AND DATING THE PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM AND RETURNING
IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
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FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFD)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFO)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FFC)
FLAHERTY &
CRUMRINE TOTAL RETURN FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FLC)
301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720
Pasadena, California 91101
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS OF
SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on April 17, 2014
To the Shareholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Special Meetings of Shareholders of Flaherty
& Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Incorporated, Flaherty & Crumrine
Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated, Flaherty & Crumrine
Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated and Flaherty & Crumrine Total
Return Fund Incorporated (each, a Fund and collectively, the Funds), each a
Maryland corporation, will be held at the offices of Flaherty & Crumrine
Incorporated, 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California 91101
at 9:30 a.m. PT, on April 17, 2014, for the following purposes:
Each Fund:
1.
To
approve a change to each Funds fundamental investment policy regarding
investments in commodities (Proposal 1).
2. To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meetings or
any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Your vote is
important!
The Board of Directors of each Fund
has fixed the close of business on January 17, 2014 as the record date for the
determination of shareholders of each Fund entitled to notice of and to vote at
the Special Meetings and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
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By Order of the Boards of
Directors,
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March 21, 2014
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Chad C. Conwell
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Secretary
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Important Notice Regarding the
Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meetings to Be
Held on
April 17, 2014
The notice of Special
Meetings, joint proxy statement, proxy cards and each Funds annual
report, including audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2013, are available to you on the Funds website -
www.preferredincome.com
or
upon request, without charge, by writing to BNY Mellon c/o Computershare,
P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170, or by calling
1-866-351-7446. You are encouraged to review all of the information
contained in the proxy materials before voting.
To obtain directions to attend
the Special Meetings and vote in person, please call 1-626-795-7300.
SEPARATE PROXY CARDS ARE
ENCLOSED FOR EACH FUND IN WHICH YOU OWN SHARES.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF YOUR HOLDINGS IN THE FUND. WHETHER OR NOT YOU
PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE PROMPTLY.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PROPER VOTING AND/OR EXECUTION OF PROXIES ARE SET
FORTH ON THE INSIDE COVER. SHAREHOLDERS MAY SUBMIT VOTING INSTRUCTIONS BY
SIGNING AND DATING THE PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM AND RETURNING
IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
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FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFD)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFO)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FFC)
FLAHERTY &
CRUMRINE TOTAL RETURN FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FLC)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
DYNAMIC PREFERRED AND INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: DFP)
301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720
Pasadena, California 91101
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Important Information to Help You
Understand and Vote on the Proposals at the Annual Meetings and
Special
Meetings.
While we strongly encourage you to read the full text of the enclosed combined
joint proxy statement, we are also providing you with a brief overview of the
proposals on which shareholders are requested to vote. Your vote is important.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the proposals being
considered at the Annual Meetings of Shareholders (Annual Meetings) and
Special Meetings of Shareholders for PFD, PFO, FFC and FLC (Special Meetings,
together with the Annual Meetings, the Meetings)?
At the Annual Meetings, shareholders
are being asked to vote on the following proposals:
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(1)
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To elect Directors of
each Fund (Proposal 1).
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(2)
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To transact such other
business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any
adjournments or postponements thereof.
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At the Special Meetings for PFD, PFO,
FFC and FLC, shareholders are being asked to vote on the following
proposals:
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(1)
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To approve a change to
each Funds fundamental investment policy regarding investments in
commodities (Proposal 1).
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(2)
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To transact such other
business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any
adjournments or postponements thereof.
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How does the Board recommend I vote?
The Board has unanimously approved, and
recommends that you vote FOR Proposal 1 at the Annual Meetings.
The Board has unanimously approved, and
recommends that you vote FOR Proposal 1 at the Special Meetings for PFD, PFO,
FFC and FLC.
Who is eligible to vote at the
Meetings?
Shareholders of record as of the close
of business on January 17, 2014 are eligible to vote at the relevant Meetings.
I only have a few shares. Why should I bother to vote?
Each vote makes a difference. Your vote
is needed to help ensure that the proposals can be acted upon. Voting promptly
is also important. If we do not receive enough votes, we may have to re-solicit
shareholders, which can be costly, time consuming and
may delay the Meetings. We encourage all shareholders to participate in the
governance of their Fund and to avoid unnecessary communications with you as a
shareholder.
What if I have additional questions?
If you are a shareholder of FFC, FLC or
DFP, please call 1-877-855-3434 with any additional questions. If you are a
shareholder of PFD or PFO, please call 1-626-795-7300.
ANNUAL MEETINGS OF
SHAREHOLDERS
Who are the nominees for election to
the Board of Directors?
The nominee(s) for election to the
relevant Funds Board of Directors are as follows:
Fund
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Nominees For
Election
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PFD
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David Gale
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Karen H. Hogan
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PFO
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Morgan Gust
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Karen H. Hogan
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FFC
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David Gale
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FLC
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David Gale
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DFP
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Donald F. Crumrine
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Robert F.
Wulf
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Biographical information for each
nominee is included in the enclosed combined joint proxy statement under
Proposal 1 of the Annual Meetings.
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
FOR PFD, PFO, FFC AND FLC
What is the purpose of the Special
Meetings?
Each Funds Board of Directors called
the Special Meeting to present a proposal to shareholders for their approval
with respect to each Funds fundamental investment policy relating to
investments in commodities. The Board has proposed a clarification to its
existing policy in order to avoid confusion in light of recent changes to
applicable law. The proposed revised fundamental investment policy makes clear
that the Funds have the flexibility to use swaps on financial instruments in
order to achieve their investment goals, consistent with each Funds original
intent.
You can find greater detail in the
enclosed combined joint proxy statement under Proposal 1 of the Special
Meetings.
Why is the Funds Board of Directors
recommending revising each Funds fundamental investment policy with respect to
commodities?
Each Fund has adopted certain
investment policies that cannot be changed without shareholder approval. The
Board has proposed that the existing fundamental investment policy with respect
to the purchase and sale of commodities be revised in order to avoid confusion
in light of recent changes to applicable law. The change to the fundamental
policy is not expected to materially affect the manner in which each Funds
investment program is being conducted at this time.
What will happen if shareholders do not approve the change to
a Funds fundamental investment policy with respect to
commodities?
If the revised fundamental investment policy with respect to
commodities is not approved by shareholders of a Fund, the fundamental
investment policy will remain as is and the manner in which the Funds
investment program is being conducted at this time will remain substantially the
same. Since the change is a clarification, the Funds would be able to use swaps
on financial instruments even if the required vote was not obtained.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS
The following general rules for
signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and may minimize the time and
expense to the Fund(s) involved in validating your vote if you fail to sign your
proxy card(s) properly.
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1.
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Individual
Accounts:
Sign your name exactly as it
appears in the registration on the proxy card(s).
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2.
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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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3.
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All Other Accounts:
The capacity of the individual signing
the proxy card should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form
registration. For example:
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Registration
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Valid
Signature
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Corporate
Accounts
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(1
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)
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ABC Corp.
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ABC Corp.
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(2
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)
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ABC Corp.
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John Doe, Treasurer
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(3
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)
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ABC Corp. c/o John Doe, Treasurer
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John Doe
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(4
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)
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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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)
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ABC Trust
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Jane B. Doe, Trustee
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(2
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)
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Jane B. Doe, Trustee
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Jane B. Doe
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u/t/d 12/28/78
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Custodian or Estate
Accounts
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(1
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)
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John B. Smith, Cust.,
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John B. Smith
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f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA
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(2
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)
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John B. Smith, Executor,
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John B. Smith, Executor
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Estate of Jane Smith
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FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFD)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFO)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FFC)
FLAHERTY &
CRUMRINE TOTAL RETURN FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: FLC)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
DYNAMIC PREFERRED AND INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: DFP)
301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720
Pasadena, California 91101
ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
April 17, 2014
COMBINED JOINT PROXY STATEMENT
This document is a combined joint
proxy statement (Joint Proxy Statement) for Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred
Income Fund Incorporated (Preferred Income Fund or PFD), Flaherty &
Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated (Preferred Income
Opportunity Fund or PFO), Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income
Fund Incorporated (Preferred Securities Income Fund or FFC), Flaherty &
Crumrine Total Return Fund Incorporated (Total Return Fund or FLC) and
Flaherty & Crumrine Dynamic Preferred and Income Fund Incorporated (Dynamic
Preferred Income Fund or DFP) (each, a Fund and collectively, the Funds).
This Joint Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by each Funds Board of Directors (each, a Board and collectively, the
Boards) to be voted at the Annual Meetings of Shareholders for PFD, PFO, FFC,
FLC and DFP (the Annual Meetings) and the Special Meetings of Shareholders for
PFD, PFO, FFC and FLC (the Special Meetings, together with the Annual
Meetings, the Meetings) to be held on April 17, 2014, at the offices of
Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated, 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720,
Pasadena, California 91101 and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. The
Annual Meetings will be held at 9:00 a.m. PT and the Special Meetings will be
held at 9:30 a.m. PST.
This Joint Proxy Statement and the accompanying Notice of Annual Meetings,
Notice of Special Meetings and proxy card for each Fund in which you own shares
were mailed on or about March 21, 2014 to shareholders of record as of the close
of business on January 17, 2014. Proxy solicitations will be made, beginning on
or about March 21, 2014, primarily by mail, but proxy solicitations may also be
made by telephone, telefax or personal interviews conducted by officers of each
Fund, Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated (Flaherty & Crumrine), the
investment adviser of each Fund, and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
(BNY Mellon), the transfer agent and administrator of each Fund. With respect
to FFC, FLC and DFP, proxy solicitations may also be made by Destra Capital
Investments LLC, the servicing agent for FFC, FLC and DFP. No proxy solicitation
firm will be used in connection with the Joint Combined Proxy Statement. The
Funds will evenly split the expenses incurred in connection with the preparation
of this Joint Proxy Statement. Each Fund will pay for its respective expenses
incurred in connection with printing and mailing of the Joint Combined Proxy
Statement and its enclosures to shareholders. Each Fund also will reimburse
brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding solicitation
material to the beneficial owners of its shares.
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF EACH
FUND, INCLUDING AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
30, 2013, IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, WITHOUT CHARGE, BY WRITING TO BNY MELLON
C/O COMPUTERSHARE, P.O. BOX 30170, COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 77842-3170, OR BY
CALLING 1-866-351-7446. EACH FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE
FUNDS WEBSITE - WWW.PREFERREDINCOME.COM - THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSIONS (SEC) WEBSITE (WWW.SEC.GOV) OR, FOR FFC, FLC AND DFP ONLY, BY
CALLING DESTRA CAPITAL INVESTMENTS LLC AT 1-877-855-3434.
1
Important Notice Regarding the
Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meetings to Be
Held on April 17, 2014
The notices of Annual Meetings
and Special Meetings, as applicable, Joint Proxy Statement, proxy cards
and each Funds annual report, including audited financial statements for
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013, are available to you on the
Funds website - www.preferredincome.com. You are encouraged to review all
of the information contained in the proxy materials before voting. To
obtain directions to attend the Annual Meetings and Special Meetings, and
vote in person, please call 1-626-795-7300.
SEPARATE PROXY CARDS ARE
ENCLOSED FOR EACH FUND IN WHICH YOU OWN SHARES.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF YOUR HOLDINGS IN THE FUND. WHETHER OR NOT YOU
PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE PROMPTLY.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PROPER VOTING AND/OR EXECUTION OF PROXIES ARE SET
FORTH ON THE INSIDE COVER. SHAREHOLDERS MAY SUBMIT VOTING INSTRUCTIONS BY
SIGNING AND DATING THE PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM AND RETURNING
IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
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2
SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS AND FUNDS AFFECTED
The following chart specifies the Funds whose shareholders will be entitled to
vote at the relevant Meetings on each of the proposals being presented for
shareholder consideration. The proposals are set forth in the Notice of Annual
Meetings and Notice of Special Meetings, respectively, and are discussed in more
detail below.
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
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Proposal
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Affected Funds
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Page
Number
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Proposal 1 To elect
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PFD
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5
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Directors of each Fund
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PFO
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FFC
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FLC
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DFP
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SPECIAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
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Proposal
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Affected Funds
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Page
Number
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Proposal 1 To approve a
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PFD
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15
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change to the fundamental
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PFO
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investment policy regarding
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FFC
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investments in commodities
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FLC
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If
the enclosed proxy cards are properly executed and returned in time to be voted
at the relevant Meetings, the Shares (as defined below) represented thereby will
be voted in accordance with the instructions marked thereon. Unless instructions
to the contrary are marked thereon, a proxy will be voted FOR Proposal 1 at
the Annual Meeting and FOR Proposal 1at the Special Meeting, as applicable.
Any shareholder who has given a proxy has the right to revoke it at any time
prior to its exercise either by attending the relevant Meetings and voting his
or her Shares in person or by submitting a letter of revocation or a later-dated
proxy to the appropriate Fund delivered at the above address prior to the date
of the Meetings.
Under the Bylaws of each Fund, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders
of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote shall be
necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business
(a Quorum) at that Funds Meeting(s). In the event that a Quorum is not
present at the relevant Meeting, or in the event that a Quorum is present but
sufficient votes to approve any of the proposals are not received, the Chairman
of the Meeting may adjourn the meeting without assigning a specific date or from
time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date
without notice other than announcement at the Meeting. At such adjourned meeting
at which a Quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might
have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. A shareholder vote
may be taken on a proposal in the Joint Proxy Statement relating to the
applicable Meeting prior to any such adjournment if sufficient votes have been
received for approval of that proposal. Once a Quorum has been established at
the relevant Meeting, shareholders may continue to transact business,
notwithstanding the withdrawal of shareholders and the loss of a
Quorum.
Each Fund has one class of capital stock outstanding: common stock, par value
$0.01 per share (the Common Stock or the Shares). Each Share is entitled to
one vote at the relevant Meetings with respect to matters to be voted on, with
pro rata voting rights for any fractional Shares. On the record date, January
17, 2014, the following number of Shares of each Fund were issued and
outstanding:
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Name of Fund
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Shares
Outstanding
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Preferred Income Fund (PFD)
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10,985,567
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Preferred Income Opportunity Fund
(PFO)
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12,298,870
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Preferred Securities Income Fund
(FFC)
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43,474,105
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Total Return Fund (FLC)
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9,897,817
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Dynamic Preferred Income Fund
(DFP)
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19,156,782
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3
To
the knowledge of each Fund and its Board, the following shareholder(s), or
group as that term is defined in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), is the beneficial owner or owner of record
of more than 5% of the relevant Funds outstanding Shares as of January 17,
2014
*
:
Name and Address of
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Amount and
Nature
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Beneficial/Record
Owner
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Title of
Class
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of
Ownership
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Percent of
Class
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Cede &
Co.
**
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Common Stock
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PFD 10,606,357
(record)
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96.5%
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Depository Trust
Company
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PFO 11,845,881
(record)
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96.3%
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55 Water Street, 25
th
Floor
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FLC 9,888,806
(record)
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99.9%
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New York, NY
10041
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FFC
43,393,928 (record)
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99.8%
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DFP 19,152,577
(record)
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99.9%
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First Trust Portfolios
L.P.,
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Common Stock
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FLC
1,054,472
1
(beneficial)
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10.67%
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First Trust Advisors
L.P.
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The Charger
Corporation
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120 East Liberty Drive,
Suite 400
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Wheaton, Illinois
60187
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|
Guggenheim Capital, LLC,
Guggenheim
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
FLC
604,237
2
(beneficial)
|
5.89%
|
Partners, LLC, GI Holdco
II, LLC,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guggenheim Partners
Investment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Holdings, LLC,
Guggenheim
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funds Services Holdings,
LLC,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guggenheim Funds Services,
LLC and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guggenheim Funds
Distributors, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(collectively, the Filing
Entities).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
____________________
*
|
|
As of January 17, 2014, the
Directors and officers, as a group, owned less than 1% of the Shares of
each Fund.
|
**
|
|
A nominee partnership of The
Depository Trust Company.
|
1
|
|
Information obtained from a
Schedule 13G/A filed by First Trust Portfolios L.P. (FTP), First Trust
Advisors L.P (FTA) and The Charger Corporation (Charger) with the SEC
reporting share ownership as of February 28, 2014. Based on that filing,
FTP, FTA and Charger do not have sole or shared
voting power, but do have the shared power to dispose or direct the
disposition of 1,054,472 Shares.
|
2
|
|
Information obtained from a
Schedule 13G/A filed by the Filing Entities with the SEC reporting share
ownership as of December 31, 2013. Based on that filing, the Filing
Entities have the shared power to vote or direct the vote or dispose or
direct the disposition of 604,237 Shares.
|
This Joint Proxy Statement is being
used in order to reduce the preparation, printing, handling and postage expenses
that would result from the use of a separate proxy statement for each Fund. At
each of the relevant Meetings, Shareholders of each Fund will vote as a single
class. Shareholders of each Fund will vote separately for each of PFD, PFO, FFC,
FLC and DFP on each proposal on which shareholders of that Fund are entitled to
vote at a Meeting. Separate proxy cards are enclosed for each Fund in which a
shareholder owns Shares. Thus, if a proposal at the relevant Meeting is approved
by shareholders of one or more Funds and not approved by shareholders of one or
more other Funds, the proposal will be implemented for the Fund or Funds that
approved the proposal and will not be implemented for any Fund that did not
approve the proposal. It is therefore essential that shareholders complete, date
and sign each enclosed proxy card. Shareholders of each Fund are entitled to
vote on the proposal pertaining to that Fund.
4
ANNUAL MEETINGS
(ALL FUNDS)
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Annual Meetings, shareholders
are being asked to consider the election of Directors of each Fund. The Board of
each Fund is divided into three classes, each class having a term of three
years. Each year the term of office of one class expires and the successor or
successors elected to such class serve for a three-year term and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified.
Nominees for the Boards of
Directors
Each nominee named below is currently a Director of each Fund and has consented
to continue to serve as a Director for the Fund(s) for which he or she is
nominated if elected at the relevant Annual Meeting. If a designated nominee
declines or otherwise becomes unavailable for election, however, the proxy
confers discretionary power on the persons named therein to vote in favor of a
substitute nominee or nominees. Each nominee has been nominated for a three-year
term to expire at each Funds 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until his
or her successor is duly elected and qualified. Shareholders of each Funds
Common Stock are entitled to elect the nominees for election to the Board of the
relevant Fund.
Fund
|
Nominees For
Election
|
PFD
|
David Gale
|
|
Karen H. Hogan
|
PFO
|
Morgan Gust
|
|
Karen H. Hogan
|
FFC
|
David Gale
|
|
|
FLC
|
David Gale
|
|
|
DFP
|
Donald F. Crumrine
|
|
Robert F.
Wulf
|
Information About Each Director's or
Nominee for Election as Director's Experience, Qualifications, Attributes
or Skills
Directors or Nominees for Election as Directors of the Funds, together with
information as to their positions with the Funds, principal occupations and
other board memberships for the past five years, are shown below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funds in
|
|
Other Public
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Company Board
|
|
|
Position(s)
|
|
Term of Office and
|
|
Principal Occupation
|
|
Complex
|
|
Memberships
|
|
|
Held with
|
|
Length of Time
|
|
During Past Five
|
|
Overseen by
|
|
During Past Five
|
Name, Address and Age
|
|
Funds
|
|
Served*
|
|
Years
|
|
Director**
|
|
Years
|
Non-Interested
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors/Nominees:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Gale
|
|
Director
|
|
Class I Director
|
|
President of
Delta
|
|
5
|
|
Emmis
|
301 E. Colorado
Boulevard
|
|
|
|
PFD since 1997
|
|
Dividend Group,
Inc.
|
|
|
|
Communications
|
Suite 720
|
|
|
|
PFO since 1997
|
|
(investments)
|
|
|
|
|
Pasadena, CA
91101
|
|
|
|
FFC since
inception
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Age: 64
|
|
|
|
FLC since
inception
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class II Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DFP since
inception
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funds in
|
|
Other Public
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Company Board
|
|
|
Position(s)
|
|
Term of Office and
|
|
Principal Occupation
|
|
Complex
|
|
Memberships
|
|
|
Held with
|
|
Length of Time
|
|
During Past Five
|
|
Overseen by
|
|
During Past Five
|
Name, Address and Age
|
|
Funds
|
|
Served*
|
|
Years
|
|
Director**
|
|
Years
|
Morgan Gust
|
|
Director and
|
|
Class II Director
|
|
Owner and
operator
|
|
5
|
|
CoBiz
Financial,
|
301 E. Colorado
Boulevard
|
|
Nominating
|
|
FFC since
inception
|
|
of various
entities
|
|
|
|
Inc.
(financial
|
Suite 720
|
|
and
|
|
FLC since
inception
|
|
engaged in
|
|
|
|
services)
|
Pasadena, CA
91101
|
|
Governance
|
|
|
|
agriculture and
real
|
|
|
|
|
Age: 66
|
|
Committee
|
|
Class III Director
|
|
estate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman
|
|
PFD since
inception
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PFO since
inception
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DFP since
inception
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Karen H. Hogan
|
|
Director
|
|
Class I Director
|
|
Board Co-Chair
and
|
|
5
|
|
|
301 E. Colorado
Boulevard
|
|
|
|
PFD since 2005
|
|
Member, IKAR, a
|
|
|
|
|
Suite 720
|
|
|
|
|
|
non-profit
|
|
|
|
|
Pasadena, CA
91101
|
|
|
|
Class II Director
|
|
organization;
Active
|
|
|
|
|
Age: 52
|
|
|
|
FFC since 2005
|
|
Member and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FLC since 2005
|
|
Volunteer to
several
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DFP since
inception
|
|
non-profit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
organizations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class III Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PFO since 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert F. Wulf
|
|
Director
|
|
Class I Director
|
|
Financial
Consultant;
|
|
5
|
|
|
301 E. Colorado
Boulevard
|
|
and Audit
|
|
DFP since
inception
|
|
Former Trustee,
|
|
|
|
|
Suite 720
|
|
Committee
|
|
|
|
University of
Oregon
|
|
|
|
|
Pasadena, CA
91101
|
|
Chairman
|
|
Class II Director
|
|
Foundation;
Trustee,
|
|
|
|
|
Age: 76
|
|
|
|
PFD since
inception
|
|
San Francisco
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PFO since
inception
|
|
Theological
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seminary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class III Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FFC since
inception
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FLC since
inception
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interested
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director/Nominee:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Donald F. Crumrine
(1)
|
|
Director,
|
|
Class I Director
|
|
Chairman of the
|
|
5
|
|
|
301 E. Colorado
Boulevard
|
|
Chairman of
|
|
DFP since
inception
|
|
Board and
Director
|
|
|
|
|
Suite 720
|
|
the Board
|
|
|
|
of Flaherty
&
|
|
|
|
|
Pasadena, CA
91101
|
|
and Chief
|
|
Class II Director
|
|
Crumrine
|
|
|
|
|
Age: 66
|
|
Executive
|
|
PFD since
inception
|
|
Incorporated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer
|
|
PFO since
inception
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class III Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FFC since
inception
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FLC since
inception
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
____________________
*
|
|
The Class I Director
of PFO and the Class II Directors of PFD, FFC, FLC and DFP will serve
until each Funds Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2015 and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified. The Class II Directors of PFO
and the Class III Directors of PFD, FFC, FLC and DFP will serve until each
Funds 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are
duly elected and qualified. The Class I Nominees of PFD, FFC, FLC and DFP
and the Class III Nominees of PFO, if elected, will serve until each
Funds 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are
duly elected and qualified.
|
**
|
|
The Flaherty &
Crumrine fund complex consists solely of the Funds.
|
(1)
|
|
Interested person
(as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940
Act)) of the Funds. Mr. Crumrine is considered an "interested person"
because of his affiliation with Flaherty &
Crumrine.
|
6
With the exception of DFP, each Director has been a Director
of the Funds for at least five years. Additional information about each Director
follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above) that
describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills
that each Director possesses which the Boards believe have prepared them to be
effective Directors. The Boards believe that Directors need to have the ability
to critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to
them, and to interact effectively with Fund management, service providers and
counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of
their duties; the Boards believe that their members satisfy this standard.
Experience relevant to having this ability may be achieved through a Director's
educational background; business, professional training or practice
(
e.g
.,
accounting or law); public service or academic positions; experience from
service as a board member (including the Boards of the Funds) or as an executive
of investment funds, public companies or significant private or not-for-profit
entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. The charters for
the Boards' Nominating and Governance Committees contain certain other factors
considered by the Committees in identifying and evaluating potential Director
nominees. To assist them in evaluating matters under federal and state law, the
Independent Directors (defined below) are counseled by their own independent
legal counsel, who participates in Board meetings and interacts with Flaherty
& Crumrine, and also may benefit from information provided by the Funds' and
Flaherty & Crumrine's counsel; both counsel to the Independent Directors and
counsel to the Funds and Flaherty & Crumrine have significant experience
advising funds and fund directors. The Boards and their Committees have the
ability to engage other experts as appropriate. The Boards evaluate their
performance on an annual basis.
-
Donald F.
Crumrine
Mr. Crumrine has been the
Chairman of the Boards of PFD and PFO since 2002 and Chairman of the Boards of
FFC, FLC and DFP since each Funds inception. Mr. Crumrine has over 36 years
of experience managing portfolios of preferred securities. He co-founded
Flaherty & Crumrine in 1983, after spending twelve years at Scudder,
Stevens & Clark, to focus on managing preferred securities portfolios and
associated hedges. Mr. Crumrine is actively involved in the day-to-day
management of all Flaherty & Crumrine client portfolios, including those
of the Funds, and directs client service and marketing efforts at Flaherty
& Crumrine.
-
David Gale
In addition to his tenure as a Director of the Funds, Mr. Gale has been
President and Chief Executive Officer of Delta Dividend Group, Inc., a San
Francisco-based investment management firm, since 1992. Prior to joining Delta
Dividend Group, Inc., Mr. Gale was a Principal with Morgan Stanley from 1983
to
1990, and a Managing Director of Lehman
Brothers Holdings Inc. from 1990 to 1992. Mr. Gale previously served as a
director of Emmis Communications.
-
Morgan Gust
In addition to his tenure as a Director of the Funds, Mr. Gust is the owner
and operator of various entities engaged in agriculture and real estate. From
1990 to 2007, Mr. Gust served in various capacities, including President,
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Giant
Industries, Inc., a petroleum refining and marketing company listed on the New
York Stock Exchange (the NYSE). Mr. Gust currently serves as lead Director
of CoBiz Financial, Inc., a publicly traded bank holding company. He is also a
member of the Arizona State Bar.
-
Karen H. Hogan
In addition to her tenure as a Director of the Funds, Ms. Hogan
serves as a board member and committee member of several charitable and
non-profit organizations. From 1985 to 1997, Ms. Hogan served as Senior Vice
President of Preferred Stock Origination, and previously Vice President of New
Product Development, at Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
-
Robert F. Wulf
In addition to his tenure as a Director of the Funds, Mr. Wulf has
worked as a financial consultant for over 30 years. Mr. Wulf also served as a
board member of two non-profit organizations.
Board Composition and Leadership
Structure
The 1940 Act requires that at least 40% of the Funds' Directors not be
"interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds, and therefore
not affiliated with Flaherty & Crumrine ("Independent Directors"). To rely
on certain exemptive rules under the 1940 Act, a majority of the Funds'
Directors must be Independent Directors and, for certain important matters, such
as the approval of investment advisory agreements or transactions with
affiliates, the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder require the approval of a
majority of the Independent Directors. Currently, four of the Funds' five
Directors are Independent Directors. The Chairman of the Boards is an interested
person of the Funds. The four Independent Directors interact directly with the
Chairman and other senior management of Flaherty & Crumrine at scheduled
meetings and between meetings as appropriate. Independent Directors have been
designated to chair the Audit Committees and the Nominating and Governance
Committees, and the Independent Directors rotate the responsibility for chairing
meetings of Independent Directors. In addition, from time to time, one or more
Independent Directors may be designated, formally or informally, to
take the lead in addressing with management or their
independent legal counsel matters or issues of concern to the Boards. As a
result, the Boards have determined that their leadership structures and
composition, in which no individual Independent Director has been designated to
lead all the Independent Directors, are appropriate in light of the Boards' size
and the cooperative and dynamic working relationship among the Independent
Directors and the Independent Directors open lines of communication with Fund
management. The Boards have determined that their leadership structures and
composition, in which the Chairman of the Boards is an "interested person" of
the Funds and 80% of the Directors are Independent Directors, are appropriate in
light of the services that Flaherty & Crumrine provides to the
Funds.
7
Boards' Oversight Role in
Management
The Boards' role in management of the
Funds is oversight. As is the case with virtually all investment companies (as
distinguished from operating companies), service providers to the Funds,
primarily Flaherty & Crumrine, have responsibility for the day-to-day
management of the Funds, which includes responsibility for risk management
(including management of investment performance and investment risk, valuation
risk, issuer and counterparty credit risk, compliance risk and operational
risk). As part of their oversight, the Boards, acting at their scheduled
meetings, or the Chairman, acting between Board meetings, regularly interacts
with and receives reports from senior personnel of service providers, including
the Funds' and Flaherty & Crumrine's Chief Compliance Officer and portfolio
management personnel. The Boards' Audit Committees (which consist of all the
Independent Directors) meet during their scheduled meetings, and between
meetings the Audit Committee chairs maintain contact, with the Funds'
independent registered public accounting firm and the Funds' Chief Financial
Officer. The Boards also receive periodic presentations from senior personnel of
Flaherty & Crumrine regarding risk management generally, as well as periodic
presentations regarding specific operational, compliance or investment areas,
such as business continuity, personal trading, valuation and credit. The Boards
have adopted policies and procedures designed to address certain risks to the
Funds. In addition, Flaherty & Crumrine and other service providers to the
Funds have adopted a variety of policies, procedures and controls designed to
address particular risks to the Funds. Different processes, procedures and
controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. However, it is
not possible to eliminate all of the risks applicable to the Funds. The Boards
also receive reports from counsel to the Funds and Flaherty & Crumrine and
the Independent Directors' own independent legal counsel regarding regulatory,
compliance and governance matters. The Boards' oversight role does not make the
Boards guarantors of the Funds' investments or activities.
Beneficial Ownership of Shares in
Funds and Fund Complex for each Director and Nominee for Election as
Director
Set forth in the table below is the dollar range of equity securities in
each Fund and the aggregate dollar range of equity securities in the Flaherty
& Crumrine Fund Family beneficially owned by each Director and Nominee for
Election as Director.
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
|
|
|
|
|
Securities in All Registered Investment
|
|
|
Dollar Range of Equity
|
|
Companies Overseen by Director in Family
|
Name of Director or
Nominee
|
|
|
Securities
Held in a Fund*
(1)
|
|
of Investment
Companies*
(2)
|
|
|
PFD
|
|
PFO
|
|
FFC
|
|
FLC
|
|
DFP
|
|
Total
|
NON-INTERESTED
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DIRECTORS/NOMINEES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Gale
|
|
|
D
|
|
|
|
D
|
|
|
|
D
|
|
|
|
D
|
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
E
|
|
Morgan Gust
|
|
|
D
|
|
|
|
D
|
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
E
|
|
Karen H. Hogan
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
D
|
|
Robert F. Wulf
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
|
E
|
|
|
|
E
|
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
E
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTERESTED
DIRECTOR/NOMINEE:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Donald F. Crumrine
|
|
|
E
|
(3)
|
|
|
E
|
(3)
|
|
|
E
|
(3)
|
|
|
E
|
(3)
|
|
|
E
|
(3)
|
|
E
(3)
|
8
____________________
*
|
|
Key
to Dollar Ranges
|
|
|
A.
|
|
None
|
|
|
B.
|
|
$1 - $10,000
|
|
|
C.
|
|
$10,001
-$50,000
|
|
|
D.
|
|
$50,001 -
$100,000
|
|
|
E.
|
|
over $100,000
|
|
|
All shares were valued as
of January 17, 2014.
|
(1)
|
|
This information has been furnished by each
Director/Nominee as of January 17, 2014. Beneficial ownership is
determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934
Act.
|
(2)
|
|
The
Directors, Nominees and executive officers of each Fund, as a group, own
less than 1% of each Fund.
|
(3)
|
|
Includes shares of the Fund held by Flaherty &
Crumrine, of which Mr. Crumrine is a shareholder and
director.
|
Officers of the Funds
The following
table provides information concerning each of the officers of the Funds.
|
|
Current Position(s)
|
|
Term
of Office and Length of
|
|
Principal Occupation During
|
Name,
Address and Age
|
|
|
Held with
Funds
|
|
Time
Served
*
|
|
Past Five
Years
|
Robert M. Ettinger
|
|
President
|
|
PFD since 2002
|
|
President and Director
|
301 E. Colorado Boulevard
|
|
|
|
PFO since 2002
|
|
of Flaherty & Crumrine
|
Suite 720
|
|
|
|
FFC since inception
|
|
Incorporated
|
Pasadena, CA 91101
|
|
|
|
FLC since inception
|
|
|
Age: 55
|
|
|
|
DFP since inception
|
|
|
|
R. Eric Chadwick
|
|
Chief Financial
|
|
PFD since 2004
|
|
Vice President and Director of
|
301 E. Colorado Boulevard
|
|
Officer, Vice
|
|
PFO since 2004
|
|
Flaherty &
|
Suite 720
|
|
President and
|
|
FFC since 2004
|
|
Crumrine
Incorporated
|
Pasadena, CA 91101
|
|
Treasurer
|
|
FLC since 2004
|
|
|
Age: 38
|
|
|
|
DFP since inception
|
|
|
|
Chad C. Conwell
|
|
Chief Compliance
|
|
PFD since 2005
|
|
Chief Compliance Officer and
|
301 E. Colorado Boulevard
|
|
Officer, Vice
|
|
PFO since 2005
|
|
Vice President of Flaherty
&
|
Suite 720
|
|
President and
|
|
FFC since 2005
|
|
Crumrine Incorporated;
|
Pasadena, CA 91101
|
|
Secretary
|
|
FLC since 2005
|
|
Director of Flaherty & Crumrine
|
Age: 41
|
|
|
|
DFP since inception
|
|
Incorporated since January 2011
|
|
Bradford S. Stone
|
|
Vice President and
|
|
PFD since 2003
|
|
Vice President and Director
|
47 Maple Street
|
|
Assistant
|
|
PFO since 2003
|
|
of Flaherty &
|
Suite 403
|
|
Treasurer
|
|
FFC since 2003
|
|
Crumrine
Incorporated
|
Summit, NJ 07901
|
|
|
|
FLC since inception
|
|
|
Age: 54
|
|
|
|
DFP since inception
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Laurie C. Lodolo
|
|
Assistant
|
|
PFD since 2004
|
|
Assistant Compliance Officer
|
301 E. Colorado Boulevard
|
|
Compliance
|
|
PFO since 2004
|
|
and Secretary of
|
Suite 720
|
|
Officer, Assistant
|
|
FFC since 2004
|
|
Flaherty
& Crumrine
|
Pasadena, CA 91101
|
|
Treasurer and
|
|
FLC since 2004
|
|
Incorporated
|
Age: 50
|
|
Assistant Secretary
|
|
DFP since inception
|
|
|
|
Linda M. Puchalski
|
|
Assistant Treasurer
|
|
PFD since 2010
|
|
Administrator of Flaherty
|
301 E. Colorado Boulevard
|
|
|
|
PFO since 2010
|
|
& Crumrine Incorporated
|
Suite 720
|
|
|
|
FFC since 2010
|
|
|
Pasadena, CA 91101
|
|
|
|
FLC since 2010
|
|
|
Age: 57
|
|
|
|
DFP since inception
|
|
|
____________________
*
|
|
Each officer serves until his or
her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier
resignation or removal.
|
9
Audit Committee
The role of each Funds Audit Committee is to assist the
Board of Directors in its oversight of: (i) the integrity of the Funds
financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (ii) the Funds
accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, its internal controls
and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; (iii)
the Funds compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and (iv) the
independent auditors qualifications, independence and performance. Each Funds
Audit Committee is also required to prepare an audit committee report pursuant
to applicable laws and regulations for inclusion in the Funds annual proxy
statement. Each Audit Committee operates pursuant to a charter (the Audit
Committee Charter or Charter) that was most recently reviewed and approved by
the Board of Directors of each Fund on January 21, 2014 and which is available
at www.preferredincome.com. As set forth in the Charter, management is
responsible for the (i) preparation, presentation and integrity of each Funds
financial statements, (ii) maintenance of appropriate accounting and financial
reporting principles and policies and (iii) maintenance of internal controls and
procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and
applicable laws and regulations. The Funds independent registered public
accounting firm, KPMG LLP (the independent accountants or KPMG), is
responsible for planning and carrying out proper audits and reviews of each
Funds financial statements and expressing an opinion as to their conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America.
Audit Committee Report
In performing its oversight function, at a meeting held on January 21,
2014, each Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management of the Fund
and the independent accountants, the audited financial statements of the Fund as
of and for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013, and discussed the audit of
such financial statements with the independent accountants.
In addition, each Audit Committee discussed with the independent
accountants the accounting principles applied by the Fund and such other matters
brought to the attention of the Audit Committee by the independent accountants
required by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA,
Professional Standards
, Vol. 1 AU Section 380), as adopted by the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. Each Audit Committee also received
from the independent accountants the written disclosures and statements required
by the SECs independence rules
,
delineating relationships between the
independent accountants and the Funds and discussed the impact that any such
relationships might have on the objectivity and independence of the independent
accountants.
As set forth above, and as more fully set forth in each Funds Audit
Committee Charter, the Audit Committee has significant duties and powers in its
oversight role with respect to the Funds financial reporting procedures,
internal control systems, and the independent audit process.
The members of each Audit Committee are not, and do not represent
themselves to be, professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or
accounting and are not employed by the Fund for accounting, financial management
or internal control. Moreover, the Audit Committee relies on and makes no
independent verification of the facts presented to it or representations made by
management or the independent accountants. Accordingly, the Audit Committees
oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has
maintained appropriate accounting and financial
reporting
principles and policies, or internal controls and procedures, designed to assure
compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.
Furthermore, the Audit Committees considerations and discussions referred to
above do not provide assurance that the audit of each Funds financial
statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted accounting
standards or that the financial statements are presented in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles.
10
Based on its
consideration of the audited financial statements and the discussions referred
to above with management and the independent accountants, and subject to the
limitations on the responsibilities and role of the Audit Committee set forth in
the Charter and those discussed above, the Audit Committee of each Fund
recommended to that Fund's Board that the audited financial statements be
included in the Funds Annual Report for the fiscal year ended November 30,
2013.
This report was submitted by the
Audit Committee of each Funds Board of Directors
David Gale
Morgan Gust
Karen H. Hogan
Robert F. Wulf (Chairman)
January 22, 2014
Each Audit Committee was established in accordance with Section
3(a)(58)(A) of the 1934 Act. Each Audit Committee met four times in connection
with its Board of Directors regularly scheduled meetings during the fiscal year
ended November 30, 2013. Each Audit Committee is composed entirely of each
Funds Independent Directors who are also independent (as such term is defined
by the NYSE under the listing standards applicable to closed-end funds, as may
be modified or supplemented (the NYSE Listing Standards)), namely Ms. Hogan
and Messrs. Gale, Gust and Wulf.
Nominating and Governance
Committee
Each Board of Directors has
a Nominating and Governance Committee composed entirely of each Funds
Independent Directors who are also independent (as such term is defined by the
NYSE Listing Standards), namely Ms. Hogan and Messrs. Gale, Gust and Wulf. The
Nominating and Governance Committee of each Fund, except DFP, met twice during
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013 and the Nominating and Governance
Committee of DFP met once during the period ended November 30, 2013.
The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for identifying
individuals believed to be qualified to become Board members; for recommending
to the Board such nominees to stand for election as directors at each Funds
annual meeting of shareholders and to fill any vacancies on the Board; and for
overseeing the Boards governance practices. Each Funds Nominating and
Governance Committee has a charter which is available on its website,
www.preferredincome.com.
Each Funds Nominating and Governance Committee believes that it is in
the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders to obtain highly qualified
candidates to serve as members of the Board. The Nominating and Governance
Committees have not established a formal process for identifying candidates
where a vacancy exists on the Board. In nominating candidates, each Nominating
and Governance Committee shall take into consideration such factors as it deems
appropriate, including educational background; business, professional training
or practice (e.g., accounting or law); public service or academic positions;
experience from service as a board member (including the Boards of the Funds) or
as an executive of investment funds, public companies or significant private or
not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences.
Each Funds Nominating and Governance Committee may consider whether a potential
nominees professional experience, education, skills, and other individual
qualities and attributes, including gender, race or national origin, would
provide beneficial diversity of skills, experience or perspective to the Boards
membership and collective attributes. Each Funds Nominating and Governance
Committee will consider Director candidates recommended by shareholders and
submitted in accordance with applicable law and procedures as described in this
Joint Proxy Statement. (See Submission of Shareholder Proposals Annual
Meetings 2015 below.)
Other Board-Related
Matters
Shareholders who wish to
send communications to the Board should send them to the address of their
Fund(s) and to the attention of the Board. All such communications will be
directed to the Boards attention.
11
The Funds do
not have a formal policy regarding Board member attendance at the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders. However, all of the Directors of each Fund attended the April
18, 2013 Annual Meetings of Shareholders.
Board Compensation
Each Director of each Fund who is not a director, officer or employee of
Flaherty & Crumrine or any of its affiliates receives from each Fund a fee
of $9,000 per annum plus $750 for each in-person Board of Directors or Audit
Committee meeting attended, $500 for each in-person Nominating and Governance
Committee meeting attended, and $250 for each telephone meeting attended. In
addition, the Audit Committee Chairman receives from each Fund an annual fee of
$3,000. Each Director of each Fund is reimbursed for travel and out-of-pocket
expenses associated with attending Board and committee meetings. During the
fiscal year ended November 30, 2013, the Board of Directors for each of PFD and
PFO held six meetings (two of which were telephone meetings), the Board of
Directors of each of FFC and FLC held seven meetings (three of which were
telephone meetings), and the Board of Directors DFP held seven meetings (four of
which were telephone meetings). Each Director of each Fund attended at least 75%
of the meetings of Directors and of any Committee of which he or she is a
member. The aggregate remuneration paid to the Directors of each Fund for the
fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013 is set forth below:
|
|
|
|
Board Meeting and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Committee Meeting
|
|
Travel and Out-of-Pocket
|
|
|
Annual Director Fees
|
|
Fees
|
|
Expenses*
|
PFD
|
|
$36,000
|
|
$33,000
|
|
$2,632
|
PFO
|
|
$36,000
|
|
$33,000
|
|
$2,632
|
FFC
|
|
$36,000
|
|
$34,000
|
|
$2,632
|
FLC
|
|
$36,000
|
|
$34,000
|
|
$2,632
|
DFP**
|
|
$22,402
|
|
$22,868
|
|
$1,178
|
____________________
*
|
|
Includes reimbursement
for travel and out-of-pocket expenses for both interested and
Independent Directors.
|
**
|
|
DFP commenced
operations on May 29, 2013.
|
The following table sets
forth additional information regarding the compensation of each Funds Directors
for the fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013. No executive officer or
person affiliated with a Fund received compensation from a Fund during the
fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013 in excess of $60,000. Directors and
executive officers of the Funds do not receive pension or retirement benefits
from the Funds.
COMPENSATION TABLE
Name of
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
Total Compensation from
|
Person and
|
|
Compensation
|
|
the Funds and Fund
|
Position
|
|
from each Fund
|
|
Complex Paid to Directors
*
|
Donald F.
Crumrine
|
|
$0
|
|
$0 (5)
|
Director, Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Gale
|
|
$ 16,500 PFD
|
|
$77,351 (5)
|
Director
|
|
$ 16,500 PFO
|
|
|
|
|
$ 16,750 FFC
|
|
|
|
|
$ 16,750 FLC
|
|
|
|
|
$ 10,851 DFP
|
|
|
|
Morgan Gust
|
|
$ 16,500 PFD
|
|
$77,351 (5)
|
Director, Nominating and
Governance Committee Chairman
|
|
$ 16,500 PFO
|
|
|
|
|
$ 16,750 FFC
|
|
|
|
|
$ 16,750 FLC
|
|
|
|
|
$ 10,851 DFP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Karen H. Hogan
|
|
$ 16,500 PFD
|
|
$77,351 (5)
|
Director
|
|
$ 16,500 PFO
|
|
|
|
|
$ 16,750 FFC
|
|
|
|
|
$ 16,750 FLC
|
|
|
|
|
$ 10,851 DFP
|
|
|
|
Robert F. Wulf
|
|
$ 19,500 PFD
|
|
$91,217 (5)
|
Director, Audit Committee
Chairman
|
|
$ 19,500 PFO
|
|
|
|
|
$ 19,750 FFC
|
|
|
|
|
$ 19,750 FLC
|
|
|
|
|
$ 12,717 DFP
|
|
|
____________________
*
|
|
Represents the total
compensation paid for the fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013 to
such persons by the Funds, which are considered part of the same fund
complex because they have a common adviser. The parenthetical number
represents the total number of investment company directorships held by
the Director or Nominee in the fund complex as of November 30,
2013.
|
12
Required Vote
The election of Mr. Gale and Ms. Hogan as Directors of
PFD, the election of Mr. Gust and Ms. Hogan as Directors of PFO, the election of
Mr. Gale as a Director of FFC and FLC, and the election of Mr. Crumrine and Mr.
Wulf as Directors of DFP, will require the affirmative vote of a plurality of
the votes cast by holders of the Shares of Common Stock of each such Fund at the
Annual Meeting in person or by proxy.
Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm
KPMG, Two Financial Center,
60 South Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, has been selected to serve as each
Funds independent registered public accounting firm for each Funds fiscal year
ending November 30, 2014. KPMG acted as the independent registered public
accounting firm for each Fund for the fiscal year/period ended November 30,
2013. The Funds know of no direct financial or material indirect financial
interest of KPMG in the Funds. A representative of KPMG will not be present at
the Meetings, but will be available by telephone to respond to appropriate
questions and will have an opportunity to make a statement, if asked.
Set forth in the table below are audit fees and non-audit related fees
billed to each Fund by KPMG for professional services for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2012 and fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013, as
applicable.
|
|
Fiscal Year/Period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
Audit-Related
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
November 30
|
|
Audit Fees
|
|
Fees
|
|
Tax Fees*
|
|
All Other Fees
|
PFD
|
|
2012
|
|
$45,000
|
|
$0
|
|
$8,650
|
|
$0
|
|
|
2013
|
|
$46,350
|
|
$0
|
|
$8,910
|
|
$0
|
|
PFO
|
|
2012
|
|
$45,000
|
|
$0
|
|
$8,650
|
|
$0
|
|
|
2013
|
|
$46,350
|
|
$0
|
|
$8,910
|
|
$0
|
|
FFC
|
|
2012
|
|
$47,500
|
|
$0
|
|
$8,650
|
|
$0
|
|
|
2013
|
|
$46,350
|
|
$0
|
|
$8,910
|
|
$0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FLC
|
|
2012
|
|
$47,500
|
|
$0
|
|
$8,650
|
|
$0
|
|
|
2013
|
|
$46,350
|
|
$0
|
|
$8,910
|
|
$0
|
|
DFP
|
|
2013
|
|
$46,350
|
|
$0
|
|
$8,910
|
|
$54,500**
|
____________________
*
|
|
Tax Fees are those fees billed
to each Fund by KPMG in connection with tax consulting services, including
primarily the review of each Funds income tax returns.
|
**
|
|
All Other Fees are those fees
billed to DFP by KPMG in connection with the Seed Audit of the
Fund.
|
13
Each Funds
Audit Committee Charter requires that the Audit Committee pre-approve all audit
and non-audit services to be provided by the independent accountants to the
Fund, and all non-audit services to be provided by the independent accountants
to the Funds investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or
under common control with the Funds investment adviser (affiliates) that
provide on-going services to each Fund, if the engagement relates directly to
the operations and financial reporting of each Fund, or to establish detailed
pre-approval policies and procedures for such services in accordance with
applicable laws. All of the audit and non-audit services described above for
which KPMG billed each Fund fees for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2012 and
the fiscal year/period ended November 30, 2013, as applicable, were pre-approved
by the Audit Committee.
For each Funds fiscal year ended November 30, 2012 and fiscal
year/period ended November 30, 2013, KPMG did not provide any non-audit services
(or bill any fees for such services) to the Funds investment adviser or any
affiliates.
14
SPECIAL MEETINGS
(PFD, PFO, FFC
and FLC ONLY)
PROPOSAL 1: TO APPROVE A CHANGE TO
EACH FUNDS FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICY
REGARDING INVESTMENTS IN
COMMODITIES
Background
. The preferred and debt
securities typically held by each Fund generally are longer duration
instruments. As a result, the Fund can be more sensitive to interest rate
changes than funds that invest in shorter duration instruments. However, while
it does not currently do so, each Fund has historically and may in the future
utilize an interest-rate strategy. Under this strategy, each Fund mitigates some
or all of this exposure to long-term U.S. Treasury interest rates through
purchasing futures or options, entering into swap transactions or utilizing
other types of instruments. If a Fund did make such investments, they normally
would be expected to appreciate in value when long-term interest rates rise
significantly. If long-term interest rates did rise, and the instruments
employed by the Fund increased in value, the Fund could use those realized gains
to purchase additional preferred securities. This could potentially increase
dividends to common shareholders.
1940 Act Requirements:
PFD, PFO,
FFC and FLC, like all registered investment companies, are required by the 1940
Act to have certain specific investment policies that can be changed only with
the prior approval of the holders of a majority of its outstanding voting
securities. These policies are often referred to as fundamental policies or
restrictions. Under Section 8(b)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, a fund is required to
include in its registration statement a recital of its policy regarding the
purchase or sale of commodities, and such policy must be a fundamental policy.
The 1940 Act does not prohibit a fund from owning commodities, whether physical
commodities or contracts related to physical commodities (such as oil or grains
and related futures contracts), or financial commodities and contracts related
to financial commodities (such as currencies).
PFD, PFO, FFC and FLC currently have a fundamental investment policy with
respect to commodities, as detailed below, which restrict their use of certain
commodities.
Title VII of The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection
Act (the Dodd-Frank Act) expanded the scope of commodity interests subject
to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act to include most swaps, including
the types of interest rate swaps that could be employed in the execution of each
Funds interest-rate hedging strategy. These instruments were not previously
included within the legal definition of commodities, but were permissible
investments for each Fund.
In connection with such changes, and to avoid confusion, it is proposed
that the below referenced fundamental investment restriction of each Fund be
changed so that the Fund may purchase and sell commodities or commodity
contracts, including futures contracts, to the extent permitted by law. This
change will clarify that the Fund continues to have the same ability to utilize
derivative instruments as it did prior to the change in definition of commodity
interest under the Dodd-Frank Act.
In addition, the proposed revised fundamental investment policy is
intended to provide each Fund with flexibility to respond to changing markets,
new investment opportunities and future changes in applicable law.
Flaherty & Crumrine has advised the Board that the proposed revision
to the fundamental policy on investment in commodities and commodity contracts
is not expected to materially affect the manner in which a Funds investment
program is being conducted at this time. In addition, Flaherty & Crumrine
has advised the Board that it does not expect to purchase any physical
commodities or contracts related to physical commodities, such as swaps on
precious metals or agricultural products. Instead, it expects that it could use
financial commodity contracts, such as interest rate swaps, to mitigate risk of
loss or otherwise increase return for each Fund.
15
Proposal:
Each Funds current fundamental investment
policy regarding investments in commodities is set forth below.
PFD
|
[The Fund may
not] [i]nvest in commodities, except that the Fund may enter into
futures contracts,
including interest rate and stock index futures, and may purchase
options and write
covered options on such futures contracts and securities, as described
in this
Prospectus.
|
PFO
|
[The Fund may
not] [i]nvest in commodities, except that the Fund may enter into
futures contracts,
including interest rate and stock index futures contracts, and may
purchase options and
write covered options on futures contracts, securities and stock
indices, as described in
this Prospectus.
|
FFC
|
[The Fund may
not] [i]nvest in commodities, except that the Fund may enter into
futures contracts,
including interest rate and stock index futures, and may purchase
options and write
covered options on futures contracts and securities, as described in the
Prospectus.
|
FLC
|
[The Fund may
not] [i]nvest in commodities, except that the Fund may enter into
futures contracts,
including interest rate and stock index futures, and may purchase
options and write
covered options on futures contracts and securities, as described in the
Prospectus.
|
If shareholders of each Fund approve the proposal, each Funds current
fundamental investment policy relating to investments in commodities will be
revised as follows:
The Fund
may purchase and sell commodities or commodity contracts, including futures
contracts, to the extent permitted by law.
Shareholders of each Fund will vote separately from shareholders of the
other Funds with respect to their Fund's investment policy.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PFD, PFO,
FFC AND FLC, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1.
Required Vote
Approval of the change in
each Funds fundamental investment policy, with respect to Proposal 1, will
require the approval of the holders of a majority of the relevant Funds
outstanding voting securities. A majority of the Funds outstanding voting
securities for this purpose means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the Shares
of Common Stock, present at a meeting of shareholders, if the holders of more
than 50% of such Shares are present or represented by proxy at the meeting, or
(2) more than 50% of the outstanding Shares.
OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE
MEETINGS
Annual Meetings.
Each
Fund does not intend to present any other business at the relevant Meeting, nor
is any Fund aware that any shareholder intends to do so. If, however, any other
matters are properly brought before the Meeting, the persons named in the
accompanying form of proxy will vote thereon in accordance with their
judgment.
Special
Meetings.
Under Maryland law and each
applicable Funds Bylaws, the only matters that may be acted on at a special
meeting of shareholders are those matters stated in the notice of the special
meeting. Accordingly, no other business may properly come before the Special
Meetings.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Investment Adviser, Administrator and Servicing Agent
Flaherty & Crumrine
serves as the investment adviser to each Fund, and its business address is 301
E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California 91101. BNY Mellon acts as
the administrator to each Fund and is located at 4400 Computer Drive,
Westborough, Massachusetts 01581. Destra Capital Investments LLC acts as the
servicing agent to FFC,
FLC and DFP and is
located at 901 Warrenville Road, Suite 15, Lisle, Illinois 60532.
16
Compliance with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act and Section 30(h) of the
1940 Act require each Funds Directors and executive officers, certain persons
affiliated with Flaherty & Crumrine and persons who beneficially own more
than 10% of a registered class of each Funds securities to file reports of
ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC and the NYSE and to furnish each
Fund with copies of such forms they file. Based solely upon its review of the
copies of such forms received by it and written representations from certain of
such persons, each Fund believes that during 2013 all such filing requirements
applicable to such persons were met in a timely manner, except for one late Form
5 filing on behalf of Mr. Robert Ettinger for PFD, PFO, FFC and FLC that related
to a gift.
Submission of Shareholder Proposals
- 2015 Annual Meetings
All proposals by
shareholders of each Fund that are intended to be presented at each Funds next
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2015 must be received by the
relevant Fund for consideration for inclusion in the relevant Funds proxy
statement relating to the meeting no later than November 21, 2014, and must
satisfy the requirements of federal securities laws.
Each Funds Bylaws require shareholders wishing to nominate Directors or
make proposals to be voted on at the Funds Annual Meeting to provide timely
advance notice of the proposal in writing. To be considered timely, any such
advance notice must be in writing delivered to or mailed and received at the
principal executive offices of the Fund at the address set forth on the first
page of this Joint Proxy Statement not earlier than the 150
th
day nor
later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120
th
day prior to the
first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding years
annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual
meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary
of the date of the preceding years annual meeting, notice by the shareholder to
be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150
th
day prior
to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time,
on the later of the 120
th
day prior to the date of such annual
meeting, as originally convened, or the tenth day following the day on which
public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.
Any such notice by a shareholder shall set forth the information required
by the Funds Bylaws with respect to each matter the shareholder proposes to
bring before the annual meeting.
Householding
Please note that only one annual or
semi-annual report or Joint Proxy Statement may be delivered to two or more
shareholders of a Fund who share an address, unless the Fund has received
instructions to the contrary. To request a separate copy of an annual report or
semi-annual report or this Joint Proxy Statement, or for instructions regarding
how to request a separate copy of these documents or regarding how to request a
single copy if multiple copies of these documents are received, shareholders
should contact BNY Mellon C/O Computershare, P.O. Box 30170, College Station,
Texas 77842-3170 or by phone at 1-866-351-7446.
Voting Results
Each Fund will advise its
shareholders of the voting results of the matters voted upon at its Meetings in
its next Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders.
Broker Non-Votes and
Abstentions
A proxy which is properly
executed and returned accompanied by instructions to withhold authority to vote
represents a broker non-vote (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees as to
which (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or the
persons entitled to vote and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have
discretionary voting power on a particular matter). Proxies that reflect
abstentions or broker non-votes (collectively, abstentions) will be counted as
Shares that are present and entitled to vote at the meeting for purposes of
determining the presence of a Quorum.
With respect to Proposal 1 for the Annual Meetings, abstentions do not
constitute a vote for directors. With respect to Proposal 1 for the Special
Meetings, abstentions do not constitute a vote for the proposal and instead
will count as a vote against the proposal.
17
NOTICE TO BANKS, BROKER/DEALERS AND
VOTING TRUSTEES AND THEIR NOMINEES
Please advise the Funds whether other persons are the
beneficial owners of Fund Shares for which proxies are being solicited from you,
and, if so, the number of copies of the Joint Proxy Statement and other
soliciting material you wish to receive in order to supply copies to the
beneficial owners of Fund Shares.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE
RETURNED PROMPTLY. SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE RELEVANT
MEETINGS ARE THEREFORE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN ALL PROXY CARDS
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
18
EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
FLAHERTY &
CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED
Important Annual
Meeting Information
EASY
VOTING OPTIONS:
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VOTE BY MAIL
Vote, sign and
date this Proxy
Card and return in the
postage-paid envelope
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VOTE IN PERSON
Attend
Shareholder Meeting
301 East Colorado Blvd., Suite 720
Pasadena,
California
on April 17, 2014
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Using a
black
ink
pen, mark your
votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the
designated areas.
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X
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Annual Meeting Proxy
Card
PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH
AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
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The Board
of Directors recommends a vote
FOR
the nominees
listed.
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FOR
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WITHHOLD
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FOR ALL
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1
. Election of Directors:
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ALL
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ALL
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EXCEPT
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01 David Gale
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02 Karen H. Hogan
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c
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c
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c
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INSTRUCTIONS:
To withhold authority to
vote for any individual nominee(s), mark the box FOR ALL EXCEPT and
write the nominees number on the line provided
below.
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2.
To transact such other business as may
properly come before the Annual Meetings or any adjournments or
postponements thereof.
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Change of Address
-
Please print new address below.
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Comments
Please
print your comments
below.
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NOTE: Please sign this
proxy exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on the books of the Fund. Joint owners
should each sign personally. Trustees and other fiduciaries should indicate the
capacity in which they sign, and where more than one name appears, a majority
must sign. If a corporation, the signature should be that of an authorized
officer who should state his or her title.
Date
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Signature and Title, if applicable
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Signature (if held jointly)
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EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
The Combined Proxy Statement and Proxy Card for this meeting are available at www.preferredincome.com.
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PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM
PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
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Proxy - FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME FUND INCORPORATED
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 17, 2014
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 17, 2014.
The Combined Proxy Statement and Proxy Card for this meeting are available at www.preferredincome.com.
THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned holder of shares of
Common Stock of Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Incorporated, a
Maryland corporation (the Fund), hereby appoints Donald F. Crumrine, Robert M.
Ettinger and Chad C. Conwell, proxies for the undersigned, each with full powers
of substitution and revocation, to represent the undersigned and to vote on
behalf of the undersigned all shares of Common Stock which the undersigned is
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be held at
the offices of Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated, 301 East Colorado
Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California 91101 at 9:00 a.m. PT, on April 17,
2014, and any adjournments or postponements thereof. The undersigned hereby
acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and Combined Proxy
Statement and hereby instructs said proxies to vote said shares as indicated
hereon. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the Meeting. A majority of the proxies
present and acting at the Meeting in person or by substitute (or, if only one
shall be so present, then that one) shall have and may exercise all of the power
and authority of said proxies hereunder. The undersigned hereby revokes any
proxy previously given.
EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
FLAHERTY &
CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED
Important
Special Meeting Information
EASY
VOTING OPTIONS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE BY MAIL
Vote, sign and
date this Proxy
Card and return in the
postage-paid envelope
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE IN PERSON
Attend
Shareholder Meeting
301 East Colorado Blvd., Suite 720
Pasadena,
California
on April 17, 2014
|
|
Using a
black
ink
pen, mark your
votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the
designated areas.
|
|
X
|
Special Meeting Proxy
Card
PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH
AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
|
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The Board
of Directors recommends a vote
FOR
Proposal
1.
1.
|
Approve a change to the fundamental investment policy regarding
investments in commodities.
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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o
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o
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o
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2.
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To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Special
Meetings or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
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Change of Address
-
Please print new address below.
|
Comments
Please
print your comments
below.
|
NOTE: Please sign this
proxy exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on the books of the Fund. Joint owners
should each sign personally. Trustees and other fiduciaries should indicate the
capacity in which they sign, and where more than one name appears, a majority
must sign. If a corporation, the signature should be that of an authorized
officer who should state his or her title.
Date
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Signature and Title, if applicable
|
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Signature (if held jointly)
|
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EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
The Combined Proxy Statement and Proxy Card for this meeting are
|
available at www.preferredincome.com.
|
PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM
PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
|
|
Proxy - FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME FUND INCORPORATED
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 17, 2014
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 17, 2014.
The Combined Proxy Statement and Proxy Card for this meeting are available at www.preferredincome.com.
THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned holder of shares of
Common Stock of Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Incorporated, a
Maryland corporation (the Fund), hereby appoints Donald F. Crumrine, Robert M.
Ettinger and Chad C. Conwell, proxies for the undersigned, each with full powers
of substitution and revocation, to represent the undersigned and to vote on
behalf of the undersigned all shares of Common Stock which the undersigned is
entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be held
at the offices of Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated, 301 East Colorado
Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California 91101 at 9:30 a.m. PT, on April 17,
2014, and any adjournments or postponements thereof. The undersigned hereby
acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Special Meeting and Combined Proxy
Statement and hereby instructs said proxies to vote said shares as indicated
hereon. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the Meeting. A majority of the proxies
present and acting at the Meeting in person or by substitute (or, if only one
shall be so present, then that one) shall have and may exercise all of the power
and authority of said proxies hereunder. The undersigned hereby revokes any
proxy previously given.
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