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:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential for Use of the Commission Only as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11c or Rule 14a-12
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
---------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:____________
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:_______________
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to Exchange Act Rule 0-11. (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):_______________________________
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:___________________________
(5) Total fee paid:____________________________________________________________
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount previously paid:____________________________________________________
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:______________________________
(3) Filing Party: _____________________________________________________________
(4) Date Filed: _______________________________________________________________
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFD)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFO)
301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720
Pasadena, California 91101
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on April 21, 2005
To the Shareholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meetings of Shareholders of
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Incorporated and Flaherty & Crumrine
Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated (each a "Fund" and, collectively,
the "Funds"), each a Maryland corporation, will be held at the Board Room of the
Radisson Bridge Resort, 999 East Camino Real, Boca Raton, Florida 33432 at 8:30
a.m., on April 21, 2005, for the following purposes:
1. To elect Directors of each Fund (PROPOSAL 1).
2. To approve an amendment to each Fund's Articles Supplementary
Creating and Fixing the Rights of Money Market Cumulative
Preferred(TM) Stock of each of PFD and PFO (each, the "Articles
Supplementary"), relating to the term of office of certain Directors
(as more fully set forth in the Joint Proxy Statement) (PROPOSAL 2).
3. To approve an amendment to the Articles Supplementary adding a Force
Majeure Provision to the Articles Supplementary to regulate the
auction process following an extraordinary event (as more fully set
forth in the Joint Proxy Statement) (PROPOSAL 3).
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meetings or any adjournments thereof.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. ("NYSE") HAS ADVISED THE FUNDS THAT THE
PROPOSALS SET FORTH ABOVE ARE "ROUTINE MATTERS" UNDER NYSE RULES. AS SUCH,
BROKER-DEALERS ARE PERMITTED TO VOTE THE SHARES OF THEIR CLIENTS WHO HAVE NOT
INDICATED VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ON THEIR PROXY CARD(S) WITH RESPECT TO SUCH A
PROPOSAL.
The Board of Directors of each Fund has fixed the close of business on
January 28, 2005 as the record date for the determination of shareholders of
each Fund entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meetings.
By Order of the Boards of Directors,
R. ERIC CHADWICK
SECRETARY
February 22, 2005
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SEPARATE PROXY CARDS ARE ENCLOSED FOR EACH FUND IN WHICH YOU OWN SHARES.
SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETINGS ARE REQUESTED TO
COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD(S). THE PROXY CARD(S) SHOULD BE
RETURNED IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PROPER EXECUTION OF PROXIES ARE
SET FORTH ON THE INSIDE COVER.
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS
The following general rules for signing proxy cards may be of assistance
to you and may avoid the time and expense to the Fund(s) involved in validating
your vote if you fail to sign your proxy card(s) properly.
1. Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the
registration on the proxy card(s).
2. Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party
signing should conform exactly to a name shown in the registration.
3. All Other Accounts: The capacity of the individual signing the proxy
card should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form of registration. For
example:
REGISTRATION VALID SIGNATURE
------------ ---------------
CORPORATE ACCOUNTS
(1) ABC Corp. ABC Corp.
(2) ABC Corp. John Doe, Treasurer
(3) ABC Corp. c/o John Doe, Treasurer John Doe
(4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan John Doe, Trustee
TRUST ACCOUNTS
(1) ABC Trust Jane B. Doe, Trustee
(2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee Jane B. Doe
u/t/d 12/28/78
CUSTODIAN OR ESTATE ACCOUNTS
(1) John B. Smith, Cust., John B. Smith
f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA
(2) John B. Smith, Executor, John B. Smith, Jr., Executor
estate of Jane Smith
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFD)
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED (NYSE: PFO)
301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720
Pasadena, California 91101
ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
April 21, 2005
JOINT PROXY STATEMENT
This document is a joint proxy statement ("Joint Proxy Statement") for
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Incorporated ("PREFERRED INCOME FUND"
OR "PFD") and Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated
("PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND" OR "PFO") (EACH A "FUND" AND, COLLECTIVELY,
THE "FUNDS"). This Joint Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by each Fund's Board of Directors (each a "Board" and
collectively, the "Boards") for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
each Fund to be held on April 21, 2005, at 8:30 a.m., at the Board Room of the
Radisson Bridge Resort, 999 East Camino Real, Boca Raton, Florida 33432 and at
any adjournments thereof (each a "Meeting" and, collectively, the "Meetings"). A
Notice of Annual Meetings of Shareholders and proxy card for each Fund of which
you are a shareholder accompany this Joint Proxy Statement. Proxy solicitations
will be made, beginning on or about February 22, 2005, primarily by mail, but
proxy solicitations may also be made by telephone, telegraph or personal
interviews conducted by officers of each Fund, Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated
("Flaherty & Crumrine" or the "Adviser"), the investment adviser of each Fund,
and PFPC Inc., the transfer agent and administrator of each Fund and a member of
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. The costs of proxy solicitation and
expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of this Joint Proxy
Statement and its enclosures will be shared proportionally by the Funds. 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, 2004, IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, WITHOUT
CHARGE, BY WRITING TO PFPC INC., P.O. BOX 43027, PROVIDENCE, RI 02940-3027, OR
CALLING 1-800-331-1710. EACH FUND'S ANNUAL REPORT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE
FUNDS' WEBSITE (WWW.PREFERREDINCOME.COM) AND THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION'S ("SEC") WEBSITE (WWW.SEC.GOV).
If the enclosed proxy card is properly executed and returned in time to be
voted at the relevant Meeting, 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" the
election of the nominees for Director and "FOR" the other matters (as applicable
to each Fund) listed in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meetings of
Shareholders. 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 Meeting 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 Meeting.
In the event that a quorum is not present at a Meeting or in the event
that a quorum is present but sufficient votes to approve any of the proposals
are not received, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more
adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such
adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of those shares
represented at the Meeting in person or by proxy. If a quorum is present, the
persons named as proxies will vote those proxies which they are entitled to vote
"FOR" a proposal in favor of such an adjournment with respect to that proposal
and will vote those proxies required to be voted "AGAINST" a proposal against
any such adjournment with respect to that proposal. A shareholder vote may be
taken on the proposal in the Joint Proxy Statement prior to any such adjournment
if sufficient votes have been received for approval of that proposal. Under the
By-Laws of each Fund, a quorum is constituted by the presence in person or by
proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund
entitled to vote at the Meeting. If a proposal is to be voted upon by only one
class of a Fund's shares, a quorum of that class of shares must be present at
the Meeting in order for the proposal to be considered.
Each Fund has two classes of capital stock: common stock, par value $0.01
per share (the "Common Stock"); and Money Market Cumulative Preferred(TM) Stock,
par value $0.01 per share ("MMP(R)"; together with the Common Stock, the
"Shares"). Each Share is entitled to one vote at the Meeting, with pro rata
voting rights for any fractional Shares. On the record date, January 28, 2005,
the following number of Shares of each Fund were issued and outstanding:
1
COMMON STOCK MMP(R)
NAME OF FUND OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING
------------ ----------- -----------
Preferred Income Fund (PFD) 10,291,805 800
Preferred Income Opportunity Fund (PFO) 11,612,153 700
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 (the "1934 Act"), is the beneficial owner or owner of record of more
than 5% of the relevant Fund's outstanding shares as of January 28, 2005*:
NAME AND ADDRESS OF AMOUNT AND NATURE
BENEFICIAL/RECORD OWNER TITLE OF CLASS OF OWNERSHIP PERCENT OF CLASS
----------------------- -------------- ----------------- ----------------
Cede & Co.** Common PFD - 9,768,545 94.92%
Depository Trust Company Stock (record)
55 Water Street, 25th Floor PFO - 11,084,383 95.46%
New York, NY (record)
10041
MMP(R) PFD - 800 (record) 100%
PFO - 700 (record) 100%
----------
* As of January 28, 2005, the Directors and officers, as a group, owned less
than 1% of each class of Shares of each Fund.
** A nominee partnership of The Depository Trust Company.
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. Shareholders of each Fund will
vote as a single class except as described below under Proposal 1 and Proposal 3
and will vote separately for each of PFD and PFO on each proposal on which
shareholders of that Fund are entitled to vote. Separate proxy cards are
enclosed for each Fund in which a shareholder is a record owner of Shares. Thus,
if a proposal is approved by shareholders of one Fund and disapproved by
shareholders of the other Fund, the proposal will be implemented for the Fund
that approved the proposal and will not be implemented for the 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 PROPOSALS PERTAINING TO THAT FUND.
In order that your Shares may be represented at the Meetings, you are
requested to vote on the following matter:
SUMMARY OF VOTING RIGHTS ON PROXY PROPOSALS
PREFERRED INCOME FUND (PFD)
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PROPOSAL COMMON SHAREHOLDERS MMP(R) SHAREHOLDERS
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1. Election of Directors Common Shareholders as a single class MMP(R) Shareholders as a single class
elect one Director: David Gale elect one Director: Karen H. Hogan
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Amendment to Articles Common and MMP(R) Shareholders, voting together as a single class
Supplementary - Term of Office
of Certain Directors Provision
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3. Amendment to Articles Common and MMP(R) Shareholders voting o MMP(R) Shareholders voting as a
Supplementary - Force together as a single class separate class
Majeure Provision o Common and MMP(R) Shareholders
voting as a single class
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Other Business Common and MMP(R) Shareholders, voting together as a single class
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2
PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND (PFO)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL COMMON SHAREHOLDERS MMP(R) SHAREHOLDERS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Election of Directors Common Shareholders as a single class MMP(R) Shareholders as a single class
elect one Director: Morgan Gust elect one Director: Karen H. Hogan
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Amendment to Articles Common and MMP(R) Shareholders, voting together as a single class
Supplementary - Term of Office
of Certain Directors Provision
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Amendment to Articles Common and MMP(R) Shareholders voting o MMP(R) Shareholders voting as a
Supplementary - Force together as a single class separate class
Majeure Provision o Common and MMP(R) Shareholders
voting as a single class
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Other Business Common and MMP(R) Shareholders, voting together as a single class
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the 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.
At the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of each Fund held on
January 21, 2005 (the "January Board Meetings"), the Board of Directors of each
respective Fund accepted the resignation of a Director of the Fund. The Board of
Directors of PFD accepted the resignation of Robert M. Ettinger as a Director of
PFD, effective April 21, 2005. The Board of Directors of PFO accepted the
resignation of Martin Brody as a Director of PFO, effective April 21, 2005. In
addition, based upon a recommendation from each Fund's respective Nominating
Committee, each Board of each Fund separately determined to decrease the size of
the Board from six to five effective April 21, 2005. This determination was made
in connection with each Board's consideration of the recently adopted SEC rule
amendments under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act"), relating to fund governance practices. Each Board specifically considered
the requirement under the SEC amendments that at least 75% of a fund's board be
not "interested" (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) in order for such
fund to rely on certain exemptive rules under the 1940 Act (the "75%
Requirement"). After consideration of the options available to each Fund to
comply with the 75% Requirement, each Board separately determined that a
reduction in the size of the Board was the optimal manner in which to comply
with the 75% Requirement. Accordingly, such reduction in the size of each Board
effectively eliminates a Class III Director seat for PFD and a Class I Director
seat for PFO, effective as of April 21, 2005.
In addition, at the January Board Meetings, the Board of PFD discussed
that Mr. Brody would not stand for re-election as a Class I Director of PFD
after the expiration of his current term at the 2005 Annual Meeting, and the
Board of PFO discussed that Mr. Ettinger would not stand for re-election as a
Class III Director of PFO after the expiration of his current term at the 2005
Annual Meeting. Accordingly, based upon a recommendation from each Fund's
respective Nominating Committee, it was separately determined by each respective
Board that Karen H. Hogan be nominated as a Class I Director of PFD and a Class
III Director of PFO for approval by each Fund's respective shareholders at the
Meetings.
NOMINEES FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Each nominee named below has consented to serve as a Director if elected
at the relevant 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.
Mr. Gale, a Class I Director of PFD, and Ms. Hogan, a Class I Director
nominee of PFD, have each been nominated for a three-year term to expire at
PFD's 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are duly
elected and qualified. Mr. Gust, a Class III Director of PFO, and Ms. Hogan, a
Class III Director nominee of PFO, have each been nominated for a three-year
term to expire at PFO's 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified. Messrs. Crumrine and Wulf are Class
II Directors of PFD and will serve until the Fund's Annual Meeting of
Shareholders in 2006. They also are Class II Directors of PFO and will serve
until the Fund's Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2007. Mr. Gust is a Class III
Director of PFD and will serve until the Fund's Annual Meeting of Shareholders
in 2007 and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. Mr. Gale is a
Class I Director of PFO and will serve until the Fund's Annual Meeting of
Shareholders in 2006 and until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
Except for Mr. Gale (who has served as a Director of each Fund since January 24,
1997) and Mr. Ettinger (who has served as a Director of each Fund since October
18, 2002), each current Director has served in such capacity since each Fund's
commencement of operations.
3
Under each Fund's Articles of Incorporation, Articles Supplementary and
the 1940 Act holders of MMP(R), voting as a single class, will be entitled to
elect two Directors, and holders of the Common Stock will be entitled to elect
the remaining Directors. However, subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act and
the Fund's Articles of Incorporation, the holders of MMP(R), when dividends are
in arrears for two full years, are able to elect the minimum number of
additional Directors, that when combined with the two Directors elected by the
holders of MMP(R), would give the holders of MMP(R) a majority of the Directors.
Donald F. Crumrine and Morgan Gust, as Directors, currently represent holders of
MMP(R) of each Fund. Ms. Hogan, as a Director nominee of each Fund, has been
nominated by each Fund's respective Board as a Director to represent the holders
of MMP(R). If elected, Ms. Hogan would replace Mr. Gust as a Director
representing the holders of MMP(R), and Mr. Gust would represent the holders of
Common Stock of each Fund. A quorum of the MMP(R) shareholders must be present
at the Meeting of Preferred Income Fund and Preferred Income Opportunity Fund in
order for each respective proposal to elect Ms. Hogan to be considered.
FUND (CLASS) NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR
------------ --------------------
PFD (Common Stock) Gale
PFD(MMP(R)) Hogan
PFO (Common Stock) Gust
PFO(MMP(R)) Hogan
INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Set forth in the table below are the existing Directors and nominees for
election to the Boards of Directors of the Funds, including information relating
to their respective positions held with each Fund, a brief statement of their
principal occupations during the past five years and other directorships, if
any. Each Director serves in the same capacity for each Fund.
NUMBER OF
PRINCIPAL FUNDS IN OTHER
CURRENT TERM OF OFFICE OCCUPATION(S) FUND COMPLEX DIRECTORSHIPS
NAME, ADDRESS, POSITION(S) AND LENGTH OF DURING PAST OVERSEEN HELD BY
AND AGE HELD WITH FUNDS TIME SERVED* FIVE YEARS BY DIRECTOR** DIRECTOR
-------------- --------------- -------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
NON-INTERESTED
DIRECTORS:
MARTIN BRODY Director Class I Director* Retired 4 Director, Jaclyn,
c/o HMK Associates PFD - since inception Inc. (luggage and
30 Columbia Turnpike PFO - since inception accessories);
Florham Park, NJ 07932 Director Emeritus,
Age: 83 Smith Barney Mutual
Funds (18 funds);
Director, Flaherty &
Crumrine/Claymore
Preferred Securities
Income Fund
Incorporated and
Flaherty &
Crumrine/Claymore
Total Return Fund
Incorporated
DAVID GALE Director Class I Director President and CEO of 4 Director, Metromedia
Delta Dividend Group, Inc. PFD - since 1997 Delta Dividend International Group,
220 Montgomery Street, PFO - since 1997 Group, Inc. Inc.
Suite 426 (investments) (telecommunications);
San Francisco, CA 94104 Director, Flaherty &
Age: 56 Crumrine/Claymore
Preferred Securities
Income Fund
Incorporated and
Flaherty & Crumrine/
Claymore Total
Return Fund
Incorporated
4
NUMBER OF
PRINCIPAL FUNDS IN OTHER
CURRENT TERM OF OFFICE OCCUPATION(S) FUND COMPLEX DIRECTORSHIPS
NAME, ADDRESS, POSITION(S) AND LENGTH OF DURING PAST OVERSEEN HELD BY
AND AGE HELD WITH FUNDS TIME SERVED* FIVE YEARS BY DIRECTOR** DIRECTOR
-------------- --------------- -------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
NON-INTERESTED
DIRECTORS:
MORGAN GUST (1) Director Class III Director Since March 2002, 4 Director, Flaherty &
Giant Industries, Inc. PFD - since inception President of Giant Crumrine/Claymore
23733 N. Scottsdale Road PFO - since inception Industries, Inc. Preferred Securities
Scottsdale, AZ 85255 (petroleum refining Income Fund
Age: 57 and marketing) and, Incorporated and
for more than five Flaherty &
years prior thereto, Crumrine/Claymore
Executive Vice Total Return Fund
President, and Incorporated
various other Vice
President positions
at Giant Industries,
Inc.
KAREN H. HOGAN (2) Director Director Nominee* Retired; Community 2 --
905 North Bedford Drive Nominee PFD - Class I Volunteer; From
Beverly Hills, CA 90210 PFO - Class III September 1985 to
Age: 43 January 1997, Senior
Vice President of
Preferred Stock
Origination at
Lehman Brothers and,
previously, Vice
President of New
Product Development
ROBERT F. WULF Director Class II Director Financial 4 Director, Flaherty &
3560 Deerfield Drive South PFD - since inception Consultant; Trustee, Crumrine/Claymore
Salem, OR 97302 PFO - since inception University of Oregon Preferred Securities
Age: 67 Foundation; Trustee, Income Fund
San Francisco Incorporated and
Theological Seminary Flaherty &
Crumrine/Claymore
Total Return Fund
Incorporated
INTERESTED
DIRECTORS:
DONALD F. CRUMRINE (1),(3) Director, Class II Director Chairman of the 4 Director, Flaherty &
301 E. Colorado Boulevard Chairman of PFD - since inception Board and Director Crumrine/Claymore
Suite 720 the Board and PFO - since inception of Flaherty & Preferred Securities
Pasadena, CA 91101 Chief Executive Crumrine Income Fund
Age: 57 Officer Incorporated and
Flaherty &
Crumrine/Claymore
Total Return Fund
Incorporated
ROBERT M. ETTINGER (3) Director and Class III Director* President and 2 --
301 E. Colorado Boulevard President PFD - since 2002 Director of Flaherty
Suite 720 PFO - since 2002 & Crumrine
Pasadena, CA 91101
Age: 46
5
NUMBER OF
PRINCIPAL FUNDS IN OTHER
CURRENT TERM OF OFFICE OCCUPATION(S) FUND COMPLEX DIRECTORSHIPS
NAME, ADDRESS, POSITION(S) AND LENGTH OF DURING PAST OVERSEEN HELD BY
AND AGE HELD WITH FUNDS TIME SERVED* FIVE YEARS BY DIRECTOR** DIRECTOR
-------------- --------------- -------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
OFFICERS:
R. ERIC CHADWICK Chief Financial Officer Vice President of N/A N/A
301 E. Colorado Boulevard Officer, Vice PFD - since 2002 Flaherty & Crumrine
Suite 720 President, PFO - since 2002 since August 2001,
Pasadena, CA 91101 Treasurer and and previously
Age: 29 Secretary (since January 1999)
portfolio manager of
Flaherty & Crumrine.
Prior to that,
portfolio manager of
Koch Industries,
Inc.
PETER C. STIMES Chief Compliance Officer Vice President of N/A N/A
301 E. Colorado Boulevard Officer and PFD - since inception Flaherty & Crumrine
Suite 720 Vice PFO - since inception
Pasadena, CA 91101 President
Age: 49
BRADFORD S. STONE Vice President Officer Since May 2003, Vice N/A N/A
392 Springfield Avenue and Assistant PFD - since 2003 President of
Mezzanine Suite Treasurer PFO - since 2003 Flaherty & Crumrine;
Summit, NJ 07901 from June 2001 to
Age: 45 April 2003, Director
of US Market
Strategy at Barclays
Capital; from
February 1987 to
June 2001, Vice
President of
Goldman, Sachs &
Company as Director
of US Interest Rate
Strategy and,
previously, Vice
President of
Interest Rate
Product Sales
LAURIE C. LODOLO Assistant Officer Since August 2004, N/A N/A
301 E. Colorado Boulevard Compliance PFD - since 2004 Assistant Compliance
Suite 720 Officer, Assistant PFO - since 2004 Officer of Flaherty
Pasadena, CA 91101 Treasurer and & Crumrine
Age: 41 Assistant Secretary Incorporated; since
February 2004,
Secretary of
Flaherty & Crumrine
Incorporated;
Account
Administrator of
Flaherty & Crumrine
Incorporated.
----------
* Effective as of the Meetings, Mr. Ettinger has resigned as a Director of
PFD and Mr. Brody has resigned as a Director of PFO. In addition, the
Board of Directors of each Fund determined to decrease the size of the
Board of each Fund from six to five Directors effective April 21, 2005,
thereby effectively eliminating a Class III Director seat for PFD and a
Class I Director seat for PFO. Mr. Brody's current term as a Class I
Director of PFD will expire at the Meeting and he will not stand for
re-election. Mr. Ettinger's current term as a Class III Director of PFO
will expire at the Meeting and he will not stand for re-election.
Accordingly, Ms. Hogan has been nominated as a Class I Director nominee
for PFD and a Class III Director nominee for PFO.
In summary, the Class I Director and Class I Director Nominee of PFD and
the Class III Director and Class III Director Nominee of PFO
6
all have been nominated for a three-year term to expire at each Fund's
2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are duly
elected and qualified. The Class II Directors of PFD and the Class I
Director of PFO serve until each Fund's Annual Meeting of Shareholders in
2006 and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The Class
III Director of PFD and Class II Directors of PFO serve until each Fund's
Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2007 and until their successors are duly
elected and qualified.
** The funds in the fund complex are: Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income
Fund Incorporated, Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund
Incorporated, Flaherty & Crumrine/Claymore Preferred Securities Income
Fund Incorporated and Flaherty & Crumrine/Claymore Total Return Fund
Incorporated (together, the "Flaherty & Crumrine Fund Family").
(1) As a Director, currently represents holders of shares of the Funds'
MMP(R). As of the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Mr. Gust will
represent the holders of Common Stock of PFD and PFO.
(2) As a Director, nominated to represent holders of the Funds' MMP(R).
(3) "Interested person" of the Funds as defined in the 1940 Act. Messrs.
Crumrine and Ettinger are each considered an "interested person" because
of their affiliation with Flaherty & Crumrine, which acts as each Fund's
investment adviser.
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.
AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY
SECURITIES IN ALL REGISTERED INVESTMENT
DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY COMPANIES OVERSEEN BY DIRECTOR IN
NAME OF DIRECTOR OR NOMINEE SECURITIES HELD IN FUND* (1)(2) FAMILY OF INVESTMENT COMPANIES* (3)
--------------------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
PFD PFO TOTAL
--- --- -----
NON-INTERESTED DIRECTORS:
Martin Brody (5) C C E
David Gale C C E
Morgan Gust C C E
Karen H. Hogan A A A
Robert F. Wulf C C E
INTERESTED DIRECTORS:
Donald F. Crumrine E(4) E(4) E(4)
Robert M. Ettinger (5) E(4) E(4) E(4)
----------
* 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 December 31, 2004.
(1) No Director or officer of the Funds owned any shares of MMP(R) on January
28, 2005.
(2) This information has been furnished by each Director as of January 28,
2005. "Beneficial Ownership" is determined in accordance with Rule
16a-1(a)(2) of the 1934 Act.
(3) As a group, less than 1%.
(4) Includes shares of PFD and PFO held by Flaherty & Crumrine of which the
reporting person is a shareholder and director.
(5) As described earlier in the Joint Proxy Statement, as of April 21, 2005,
Messrs. Brody and Ettinger will cease to be Directors of PFD and PFO,
respectively.
Each Director of each Fund who is not a director, officer or employee of
Flaherty & Crumrine or any of their affiliates receives a fee of $9,000 per
annum plus $500 for each in-person meeting attended, and $150 for each telephone
meeting attended. In addition, the Audit Committee Chairman receives an annual
fee per Fund of $2,500. Each Director of each Fund is reimbursed
7
for travel and out-of-pocket expenses associated with attending Board and
committee meetings. The Board of Directors of PFD held eight meetings (three of
which were held by telephone conference call) and the Board of Directors of PFO
held eight meetings (three of which were held by telephone conference call)
during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004, and each Director of each Fund
then serving in such capacity attended at least 75% of the meetings of Directors
and any Committee of which he is a member with the exception of Martin Brody. In
addition, one meeting of a special "ad hoc" committee of the Board of Directors
was held for each Fund. The aggregate remuneration paid to the Directors of each
Fund for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004 is set forth below:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOARD MEETING TRAVEL AND
ANNUAL AND OUT-OF-POCKET
DIRECTORS FEES COMMITTEE MEETING FEES EXPENSES*
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFD $38,500 $24,150 $16,675
PFO $38,500 $24,150 $16,675
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
* Includes reimbursement for travel and out-of-pocket expenses for both
"interested" and "non-interested" Directors ("Independent Directors").
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The role of each Fund's Audit Committee is to assist the Board of
Directors in its oversight of (i) the integrity of each Fund's financial
statements and the independent audit thereof; (ii) each Fund's accounting and
financial reporting policies and practices, its internal controls and, as
appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; (iii) each
Fund's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and (iv) the
independent auditor's qualifications, independence and performance. Each Fund's
Audit Committee is also required to prepare an audit committee report pursuant
to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for inclusion
in each Fund's annual proxy statement. Each Audit Committee operates pursuant to
a Charter that was most recently reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors
of each Fund on January 21, 2005 and which is available on the Funds' website
(www.preferredincome.com). As set forth in the Charter, management is
responsible for (i) preparation, presentation and integrity of each Fund's
financial statements, (ii) the maintenance of appropriate accounting and
financial reporting principles and policies and (iii) the maintenance of
internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting
standards and applicable laws and regulations. The independent accountants are
responsible for planning and carrying out proper audits and reviews of each
Fund's financial statements and expressing an opinion as to their conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
In performing its oversight function, at a meeting held on January 21,
2005, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management of each Fund
and the independent accountants, KPMG LLP ("KPMG"), the audited financial
statements of each Fund as of and for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004,
and discussed the audit of such financial statements with the independent
accountants.
In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with the independent
accountants the accounting principles applied by each 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, COMMUNICATIONS
WITH AUDIT COMMITTEES, as currently modified or supplemented. The Audit
Committee also received from the independent accountants the written disclosures
and statements required by the SEC's independence rules, delineating
relationships between the independent accountants and each Fund 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 Fund's Audit
Committee Charter, the Audit Committee has significant duties and powers in its
oversight role with respect to the Fund's financial reporting procedures,
internal control systems, and the independent audit process.
The members of the 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 each 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 Committee's 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 Committee's considerations and discussions
referred to
8
above do not provide assurance that the audit of each Fund's 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.
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 the Board of Directors of each Fund that
the audited financial statements be included in each Fund's Annual Report for
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004.
THIS REPORT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF EACH FUND'S BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Martin Brody
David Gale
Morgan Gust
Robert Wulf (Chairman)
January 21, 2005
Each Audit Committee met four times in connection with its Board of Directors
regularly scheduled meetings during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004.
Each Audit Committee is composed entirely of each Fund's independent (as such
term is defined by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.'s listing standards
applicable to closed-end funds (the "NYSE Listing Standards")) Directors, namely
Messrs. Brody, Gale, Gust and Wulf.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Each Board of Directors has a Nominating Committee composed entirely of
each Fund's independent (as such term is defined by the NYSE Listing Standards)
Directors, namely Messrs. Brody, Gale, Gust and Wulf. The Nominating Committee
of each Fund met three times during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004. The
Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying individuals believed to be
qualified to become Board members and for recommending to the Board of Directors
such nominees to stand for election as directors at each Fund's annual meeting
of shareholders, and to fill any vacancies on the Board. Each Fund's Nominating
Committee has a charter which is available on the Funds' website
(www.preferredincome.com).
Each Fund's Nominating 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 of Directors. The Nominating Committees have not
established a formal process for identifying candidates where a vacancy exists
on the Board. In nominating candidates, the Nominating Committee shall take into
consideration such factors as it deems appropriate. These factors may include
judgment, skill, diversity, experience with investment companies and other
organizations of comparable purpose, complexity, size and subject to similar
legal restrictions and oversight, the interplay of the candidate's experience
with the experience of other Board members, and the extent to which the
candidate would be a desirable addition to the Board and any committees thereof.
Each Fund's Nominating 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" below.)
OTHER BOARD-RELATED MATTERS
Shareholders who wish to send communications to the Board should send them
to the address of the Fund and to the attention of the Board. All such
communications will be directed to the Board's attention.
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 23, 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
compensation of each Fund's Directors for the fiscal year ended November 30,
2004. No executive officer or person affiliated with a Fund received
compensation from a Fund during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004 in
excess of $60,000. Directors and executive officers of the Funds do not receive
pension or retirement benefits from the Funds.
9
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(4)
Director, Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
ROBERT M. ETTINGER $0 $0(2)
Director and President
MARTIN BRODY $12,600 - PFD $49,650(4)
Director $12,600 - PFO
DAVID GALE $15,600 - PFD $61,650(4)
Director $15,600 - PFO
MORGAN GUST $15,900 - PFD $62,700(4)
Director $15,900 - PFO
ROBERT F. WULF $18,550 - PFD $73,903(4)
Director $18,550 - PFO
----------
* Represents the total compensation paid to such persons by the Funds and
the other funds in the Flaherty & Crumrine Fund Family for the fiscal year
ended November 30, 2004, 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 such fund complex as of November 30, 2004.
REQUIRED VOTE
The election of Mr. Gale as a Director of Preferred Income Fund will
require the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by holders of the
shares of Common Stock of such Fund at the Meeting in person or by proxy. The
election of Ms. Hogan as a Director of Preferred Income Fund will require the
affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by holders of the shares of
MMP(R) of such Fund at the Meeting in person or by proxy. The election of Mr.
Gust as a Director of Preferred Income Opportunity Fund will require the
affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by holders of the shares of
Common Stock of such Fund at the Meeting in person or by proxy. The election of
Ms. Hogan as a Director of Preferred Income Opportunity Fund will require the
affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by holders of the shares of
MMP(R) of such Fund at the Meeting in person or by proxy.
EACH BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" EACH NOMINEE AS DIRECTOR.
PROPOSAL 2: APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO EACH
FUND'S ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY RELATING TO THE
TERM OF OFFICE OF CERTAIN DIRECTORS
The second proposal to be considered at the Meeting is amending the
Articles Supplementary Creating and Fixing the Rights of Money Market Cumulative
Preferred(TM) Stock of each of PFD and PFO (each, the "Articles Supplementary")
as set forth in the proposed Articles of Amendment for each of PFD and PFO
("Proposed Amendment A") described below and attached to this Joint Proxy
Statement as Proposed Amendments A-1 and A-2, respectively.
As discussed in connection with Proposal 1 above, under each Fund's
Articles of Incorporation, Articles Supplementary and the 1940 Act, holders of
MMP(R), voting as a single class, are entitled to elect two Directors, and
holders of the Common Stock are entitled to elect the remaining Directors. In
addition, subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act and each Fund's Articles of
Incorporation, the holders of MMP(R), when dividends are in arrears for two full
years, are able to elect the minimum number of additional directors which, when
combined with the two Directors elected by the holders of the MMP(R), would give
the holders of MMP(R) a majority of the Directors. However, the Funds' Articles
of Incorporation and Articles Supplementary are silent on the status of
directors elected by holders of MMP(R) in the event all
10
of the MMP(R) shares were to be redeemed in full. Therefore, in the event of a
redemption in full the directors elected by holders of the MMP(R) could be
entitled to continue to serve as directors until their terms of office expire.
The purpose of Proposed Amendment A is to specifically set forth in each
Fund's Articles Supplementary a provision that the term of certain directors
elected by a single series of preferred stock, such as the MMP(R), will
terminate automatically upon redemption in full of the holders of the stock. In
the event of such redemption in full, all obligations to those holders will
cease and separate representatives for them would serve no valid business
purpose. In that circumstance, the 1940 Act provision requiring separate
representatives for holders of preferred stock would no longer apply or have any
relevance.
REASONS FOR PROPOSED AMENDMENT A. Proposed Amendment A would specifically
set forth in each Fund's Articles Supplementary a provision that the term of any
Director (other than a Continuing Director) elected by a single series of
preferred stock of the Fund would terminate automatically upon redemption in
full of the holders of that series of preferred stock. As applied to the Funds,
the holders of the MMP(R) in the aggregate would be considered a single series
so that, upon a redemption in full of the MMP(R), the term of office of any
director elected by the MMP(R) who was not a Continuing Director would
automatically terminate. As a result, Proposed Amendment A would give the Board
of Directors of each Fund the flexibility to indirectly cause the directorship
of a preferred director to terminate by redeeming the preferred stock the
director represents. Taking this action may be particularly appropriate where a
person or group acquires a large position in preferred shares immediately prior
to the record date with a view of obtaining a seat on the board to serve as a
platform for initiating and instigating action that would be contrary to the
interest of the preferred shareholders or of the relevant Fund as a whole.
Neither Fund is aware of an intention on the part of any third party to seek to
obtain a seat on the Board of Directors or to recommend any business
combination, open-ending or other corporate action to change the manner in which
a Fund operates. Nevertheless, the Board of Directors of each Fund considers it
prudent to have the flexibility Proposed Amendment A would afford. Of course,
there would be costs (including legal fees and costs associated with providing
notice to the preferred shareholders) and other significant implications
(including the consideration of whether to issue new preferred stock at the time
the outstanding preferred shares are redeemed or leverage the Fund by borrowing
(each of which would entail additional costs) or, alternatively, liquidate Fund
investments in order to redeem the then outstanding preferred shares) associated
with any decision to redeem the preferred stock which would be evaluated in full
by the Fund's Board of Directors at the time that any such action is
contemplated. Because the automatic termination provision would not apply to
persons considered to be Continuing Directors, Proposed Amendment A would enable
the Fund to retain the services of persons who do not have sizable shareholdings
or strategic proposals that could place them in a posture adverse to a Fund.
"Continuing Director" is defined in each Fund's Articles of Incorporation
generally as a Director who (a) is not an Interested Party or an Affiliate or an
Associate (as these terms are defined in the Articles of Incorporation;
generally, an Interested Party is a person who has entered into a business
combination with the Fund or individually or together with other persons owns or
is deemed to own, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of any class of the
Fund's securities) of an Interested Party and has been a member of the Board of
Directors for a period of at least 12 months; or (b) is a successor of a
Continuing Director who is not an Interested Party or an Affiliate or an
Associate of an Interested Party and is recommended to succeed a Continuing
Director by a majority of the Continuing Directors then on the Board of
Directors; or (c) is elected to the Board of Directors to be a Continuing
Director by a majority of the Continuing Directors then on the Board of
Directors and who is not an Interested Party or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Interested Party.
At the January Board Meetings, the Board of Directors of each Fund
separately approved Proposed Amendment A, subject to shareholder approval and
subject to receipt of certain written confirmations from the rating agencies
rating the MMP(R). The Board considered a number of factors in its
deliberations, including (i) that in the event of a redemption in full of a
single series of preferred stock of the Fund, separate representatives for the
preferred stock would serve no valid business purpose; (ii) that closed-end
funds continue to be subject to action by parties with agendas contrary to the
interest of fund shareholders as a whole that are disruptive to fund operations
and involve significant costs; (iii) that Proposed Amendment A would give the
Board of each Fund flexibility in certain circumstances to take appropriate
action in a situation where a person or group obtains a Board seat through an
investment in a Fund's preferred stock with a view to taking action considered
to be contrary to the interests of the preferred holders or the Fund as a whole;
and (iv) the benefit of retaining the knowledge and expertise of the Continuing
Directors representing preferred shares in the event a decision is made to
redeem a series of preferred stock and/or replace that series with another
series.
If adopted, Proposal 2 would render more difficult or discourage the
assumption of control by a holder of a large block of a Fund's MMP(R), a proxy
contest, a merger, a tender offer or the removal of incumbent management.
REQUIRED VOTE
Approval of the Articles of Amendment of each Fund will require the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes
11
of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to be cast by holders of each Fund's
Common Stock and MMP(R), voting together as a single class. The Funds have had
conversations with both Moody's Investor Service, Inc. ("Moody's") and Fitch
Ratings ("Fitch"), the rating agencies currently rating the MMP(R), about
Proposed Amendment A. They have indicated preliminarily that the changes would
not impair their current ratings on the MMP(R) ("Aa1" and "AAA," respectively).
In any event, Proposed Amendment A will not be implemented unless Moody's and
Fitch confirm that it would not impair their current ratings on the MMP(R).
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EACH FUND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 2.
PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO
EACH FUND'S ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY ADDING A FORCE MAJEURE PROVISION
The third proposal to be considered at the Meeting is amending the
Articles Supplementary of each Fund as set forth in the proposed Articles of
Amendment for each of PFD and PFO ("Proposed Amendment B") described below and
attached to this Joint Proxy Statement as Proposed Amendments B-1 and B-2,
respectively.
The Articles Supplementary of each Fund establish procedures for regular
periodic auctions for each Fund's MMP(R). The auctions establish the dividend
rate to be paid to the holders of the MMP(R) for the next dividend period and
are held by each Fund's auction agent at the times and in the manner provided in
the Articles Supplementary. Proposed Amendment B would add a provision to each
Fund's Articles Supplementary designed to establish procedures to be followed in
those instances where an auction for the applicable Fund's outstanding MMP(R)
cannot be held, or the auction agent for the Fund is not able to conduct an
auction in accordance with the auction procedures set forth in the Articles
Supplementary, or the dividend payable on such date cannot be paid because the
date on which the auction normally would be held (or the dividend would be paid)
pursuant to the Articles Supplementary is not a business day because the NYSE is
closed for certain specific reasons. These reasons are the following: an act of
God, natural disaster, extreme weather, act of war, civil or military
disturbance, act of terrorism, sabotage, riots or a loss or malfunction of
utilities or communications services (each an "Extraordinary Event"). As
described in more detail below, the Proposed Amendment B (a) sets forth how the
dividend rate to be paid to the holders of shares of MMP(R) is determined by
stating a distinction between situations where the NYSE is closed due to an
Extraordinary Event for (i) more than three calendar days or (ii) three or fewer
calendar days; (b) sets forth when the dividend will be paid, and how a dividend
period will be established if an Extraordinary Event occurs; and (c) provides
that if an Extraordinary Event occurs, existing holders of shares of MMP(R) of a
Fund will continue to hold their shares of MMP(R) until the next auction for the
MMP(R) is held.
The purpose of Proposed Amendment B is to provide a procedure for auctions
for certain situations outside the control of a Fund that force the NYSE to
close.
Under the current provisions of the Articles Supplementary for each Fund,
if a regularly scheduled auction cannot be held FOR ANY REASON, including an
Extraordinary Event, the dividend rate for the next dividend period would be the
"Maximum Rate," which could be expected to be significantly higher than the rate
which would have been determined pursuant to auction under normal auction
procedures. The Maximum Rate is generally defined in each Fund's Articles
Supplementary as the greater of (A) the product of (1) the "AA" Composite
Commercial Paper Rate on such Auction Date for the next Rate Period of such
shares and (2) the Rate Multiple on such Auction Date and (b) the applicable
spread (as determined pursuant to the chart below) plus the "AA" Composite
Commercial Paper Rate on such Auction Date for the next Rate Period of such
shares. Rate Multiple means the percentage determined as set forth below, based
on the prevailing rating of the MMP(R) in effect at the close of business on the
business day next preceding the auction date.
PREVAILING RATINGS RATE MULTIPLE APPLICABLE SPREAD
------------------ ------------- -----------------
"Aa3" or higher 175% 2.5%
"A3" 225% 3.0%
"Baa3" 275% 3.5%
Below "Baa3" 325% 4.0%
As of February 11, 2005, based on this formula the Maximum Rate would have
been 11.485% for PFD and 11.164% for PFO.
DIVIDEND RATE PROVISION. Proposed Amendment B provides that if an auction
date is not a business day because
12
the NYSE is closed for MORE THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE CALENDAR DAYS (excluding
Saturdays and Sundays and previously announced NYSE holidays), or the auction
agent cannot conduct an auction in accordance with the auction procedures, due
to an Extraordinary Event, then the dividend rate to be paid to the holders of
shares of MMP(R) will be the dividend rate determined on the previous auction
date. If an auction date is not a business day because the NYSE is closed for
THREE OR FEWER THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE CALENDAR DAYS, or if the auction agent
cannot conduct an auction in accordance with the auction procedure, due to an
Extraordinary Event, then the dividend rate to be paid to the holders of the
shares of MMP(R) will be the dividend rate determined by auction on the first
business day (i.e., the first day on which the NYSE is open) following such
auction date.
DIVIDEND PAYMENT PROVISION. Proposed Amendment B also provides that if a
dividend payment date is not a business day (i.e., a day on which the NYSE is
open), or if the dividend payable on such date can not be paid, because the NYSE
is closed for business for more than three consecutive calendar days due to an
Extraordinary Event, then (a) the dividend payment date for the affected
dividend period will be the next business day on which the Fund and the auction
agent are able to cause the dividend to be paid using commercially reasonable
best efforts, (b) the affected dividend period will end on the day it would have
ended had such event not occurred and the dividend payment date had remained the
scheduled date; and (c) the next dividend period will begin and end on the dates
on which it would have begun and ended had such event not occurred and the
dividend payment date remained the scheduled date.
HOLD OVER PROVISION. Finally, Proposed Amendment B also provides that in
the event an auction cannot be held due to an Extraordinary Event, each existing
holder of shares of MMP(R) will continue to hold all of his or her shares of
MMP(R) until the next auction for the shares of MMP(R) is held (unless a holder
sells his or her shares of MMP(R) outside of an auction in a secondary trading
market). THIS MEANS THAT A HOLDER OF SHARES OF MMP(R) WOULD, UNDER THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES, BE REQUIRED TO HOLD HIS OR HER SHARES OF MMP(R) FOR ANOTHER
DIVIDEND PERIOD (WHICH WOULD ORDINARILY BE 49 DAYS) IN ORDER TO SELL THROUGH AN
AUCTION.
REASONS FOR PROPOSED AMENDMENT B. Proposed Amendment B is designed to
prevent a Fund from having to pay the Maximum Rate on its MMP(R), and to provide
that holders of shares of MMP(R) will be required to continue to hold their
shares of MMP(R) until an auction is held following an Extraordinary Event,
which would occur due to events not under the control of a Fund. Payment of the
Maximum Rate is not a desirable outcome for the Funds or their holders of common
stock, as it would have the effect of reducing a Fund's net asset value. Without
the revised procedures set forth in Proposed Amendment B, a Fund would almost
certainly be forced to redeem the MMP(R) and the holders of the shares of MMP(R)
would lose their opportunity to invest in the Fund. At the time the Funds'
Articles Supplementary were initially approved, the effect of such Extraordinary
Events on auctions for the Funds were not foreseen; the provision in the Funds'
Articles Supplementary which provides that the dividend rate will be the Maximum
Rate if an auction is not held contemplated situations which would be within a
Fund's control, not the sorts of situations specified above. Proposed Amendment
B is consistent with current market practice for new issuances of auction market
preferred stock and is designed to deal with a very limited set of circumstances
outside the Funds' control; if an auction is not held for any reason other than
those specified in Proposed Amendment B, current provisions of the Articles
Supplementary will apply.
At a meeting held on January 21, 2005, the Board of Directors of each Fund
approved Proposed Amendment B, subject to shareholder approval and subject to
receipt of certain written confirmations from the rating agencies rating the
MMP(R). The Board considered a number of factors in its deliberations, including
that (i) the current Articles Supplementary for each Fund might cause the Fund
to be forced to pay a dividend rate on its shares of MMP(R) higher than that
which would normally be set at auction if an Extraordinary Event were to occur;
(ii) that in that event, the Fund would likely seek to redeem its shares of
MMP(R) and the holders of the MMP(R) would then not be able to invest in the
Fund at all; (iii) that the effect of Proposed Amendment B to the Articles
Supplementary is to ensure that, if an Extraordinary Event were to occur, each
Fund's auction for its MMP(R) can be conducted pursuant to clear procedures set
forth in its Articles Supplementary and without detriment to the Fund or its
holders of common stock; (iv) that Proposed Amendment B is consistent with
current market practice for new issuances of auction market preferred stock and
is designed to deal with a very limited set of circumstances outside the Funds'
control; and (v) that Proposed Amendment B might be deemed to materially
adversely affect the contract rights of the holders of the MMP(R) since they
would no longer be entitled to receive the Maximum Rate under the circumstances
described above and would be required to hold their shares of MMP(R) until the
next auction can be held but also that, pursuant to the Articles Supplementary,
the separate vote of the MMP(R) holders approving Proposed Amendment B will be
obtained.
REQUIRED VOTE
Approval of the Articles of Amendment for PFD will require the affirmative
vote of (a) a majority of the votes of the outstanding shares of stock entitled
to be cast by the holders of PFD's Common Stock and MMP(R), voting together as
13
a single class and (b) 80% of the votes of the outstanding shares of MMP(R)
entitled to be cast by the holders of the MMP(R), voting as a separate class.
Approval of the Articles of Amendment for PFO will require the affirmative
vote of (a) a majority of the votes of the outstanding shares of stock entitled
to be cast by the holders of PFO's Common Stock and MMP(R), voting together as a
single class and (b) a majority of the votes of the outstanding shares of MMP(R)
entitled to be cast by the holders of the MMP(R), voting as a separate class.
The Funds have had conversations with both Moody's and Fitch, the rating
agencies currently rating the MMP(R), about Proposed Amendment B. They have
indicated preliminarily that the changes would not impair their current ratings
on the MMP(R) ("Aa1" and "AAA," respectively). In any event, Proposed Amendment
B will not be implemented unless Moody's and Fitch confirm that it would not
impair their current ratings on the MMP(R).
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EACH FUND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS
VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL 3.
SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
All proposals by shareholders of each Fund that are intended to be
presented at each Fund's next Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2006
must be received by the relevant Fund for consideration for inclusion in the
relevant Fund's proxy statement relating to the meeting no later than October
25, 2005 and must satisfy the requirements of federal securities laws.
Each Fund's By-laws require shareholders wishing to nominate Directors or
make proposals to be voted on at the Fund's annual meeting to provide timely
notice of the proposal in writing. To be considered timely, any such notice must
be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the
Fund not later than 60 days prior to the date of the meeting; provided however,
that if less than 70 days notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the
meeting is given or made to shareholders, any such notice by a shareholder to be
timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 10th day
following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was given or
such public disclosure was made.
Any such notice by a shareholder shall set forth the information required
by the Fund's By-laws with respect to each matter the shareholder proposes to
bring before the annual meeting.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
KPMG, 99 High Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2371, has been selected
to serve as each Fund's independent accountants for each Fund's fiscal year
ending November 30, 2005. KPMG acted as the independent accountants for each
Fund for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004. 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 Meeting, but will be available
by telephone and will have an opportunity to make a statement, if asked, and
will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Set forth in the table below are audit fees and non-audit related fees
billed to each Fund by KPMG for professional services received during and for
each Fund's fiscal years ended November 30, 2003 and 2004, respectively.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUDIT-RELATED
FUND NOVEMBER 30 AUDIT FEES FEES* TAX FEES** ALL OTHER FEES
---- ----------- ---------- ----- ---------- --------------
PFD 2003 $34,500 $11,200 $6,000 --
2004 $36,500 $12,400 $6,400 --
PFO 2003 $34,500 $11,200 $6,000 --
2004 $36,500 $12,400 $6,400 --
----------
* "Audit-Related Fees" are those fees billed to each Fund by KPMG in
connection with their agreed-upon procedures reports on each Fund's
Articles Supplementary. Such reports are required quarterly by Moody's
Investor Service, Inc. in connection with maintaining public ratings for
each Fund's MMP(R).
** "Tax Fees" are those fees billed to each Fund by KPMG in connection with
tax consulting services, including primarily the review of each Fund's
income tax returns.
14
Each Fund's Audit Committee Charter requires that the Audit Committee
pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the auditors to
the Fund, and all non-audit services to be provided by the auditors to the
Fund's 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, audit-related and tax services described
above for which KPMG billed each Fund fees for the fiscal years ended November
30, 2003 and November 30, 2004 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
For each Fund's fiscal year ended November 30, 2004, KPMG did not provide
any non-audit services (or bill any fees for such services) to the Funds'
investment adviser or any affiliates thereof that provide services to the Funds.
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ADMINISTRATOR
Flaherty & Crumrine serves as the investment adviser to each Fund and its
business address is 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California
91101. PFPC Inc. acts as the administrator to each Fund and is located at 4400
Computer Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581.
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 Fund's directors and officers, certain persons affiliated with Flaherty &
Crumrine and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of
each Fund's securities, to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership
with the SEC, the NYSE and each Fund. Directors, officers and greater-than-10%
shareholders are required by SEC regulations 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 2004, all such filing requirements applicable to such
persons were met.
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, abstentions do not constitute a vote "for" or "against"
the proposal and will be disregarded in determining the "votes cast" on the
proposal. With respect to Proposal 2 and Proposal 3, abstentions will count as a
vote against a proposal.
OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING
Each Fund does not intend to present any other business at the relevant
Meeting, nor is either 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.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT
EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS ARE THEREFORE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND
RETURN ALL PROXY CARDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID
ENVELOPE.
15
PROPOSED AMENDMENT A-1
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
OF
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME FUND INCORPORATED
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Incorporated, a Maryland
corporation (hereinafter the "Corporation"), hereby certifies to the State
Department of Assessments and Taxation that:
FIRST: Part I of the Articles Supplementary Creating and Fixing the Rights
of Money Market Cumulative Preferred Stock(TM) of the Corporation, filed with
the Maryland State of Department of Assessments and Taxation ("SDAT") on April
12, 1991, as amended by Articles of Amendment filed with SDAT on July 25, 1994
(as amended, the "Original Articles Supplementary") is hereby further amended as
follows: By adding the following subsection 5(h) to Part I thereof, accordingly:
"(h) Terms of Office of Certain Directors to Terminate.
Simultaneously with and at the time that none of the issued
shares of MMP(R) are "outstanding" as set forth in subsection
(d)(ii) of this Section 5, i.e., the redemption price for the
redemption of such shares of MMP(R) has been deposited in
trust with the MMP(R) Paying Agent for that purpose and the
requisite Notice of Redemption with respect to such shares of
MMP(R) has been given as provided in Section 3 of this Part I,
the terms of office of any directors elected solely by the
holders of such shares of MMP(R) shall automatically terminate
and the remaining directors shall constitute the directors of
the Corporation; provided, however, that the terms of office
of any such directors who meet the definition of "Continuing
Directors" in the Corporation's Articles of Amendment and
Restatement, as amended, shall continue and shall not
terminate."
SECOND: The Articles Supplementary Creating and Fixing the Rights of Money
Market Cumulative Preferred Stock ("MMP(R)") of the Corporation filed with the
SDAT on May 31, 2002 (the "Additional Articles Supplementary") are amended to
incorporate by reference the provisions of Article FIRST above and any future
amendment to the Original Articles Supplementary by amending the second sentence
of Article FIRST of the Additional Articles Supplementary to read, "The
Corporation's Articles Supplementary Creating and Fixing the Rights of Money
Market Cumulative Preferred Stock ("MMP(R)") filed with the State Department of
Assessments and Taxation on April 12, 1991, as amended by the Articles of
Amendment of the Corporation filed with the State Department of Assessments and
Taxation on July 25, 1994, and as further amended from time to time, are
referred to together herein as the "Initial Articles Supplementary".
THIRD: The amendments to the Charter of the Corporation set forth in
Articles FIRST and SECOND above were advised by the Board of Directors and
approved by the stockholders.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned officers of the Corporation have
executed these Articles of Amendment and do hereby acknowledge that these
Articles of Amendment are the act and deed of the Corporation and that, to the
best of their knowledge, information and belief, the matters and facts contained
herein with respect to authorization and approval are true in all material
respects, under the penalties of perjury.
DATE: _______________, 2005 FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED
__________________________________
Robert M. Ettinger
President
WITNESS:
________________________________
R. Eric Chadwick
Secretary
A-1
PROPOSED AMENDMENT A-2
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
OF
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated, a
Maryland corporation (hereinafter the "Corporation"), hereby certifies to the
State Department of Assessments and Taxation that:
FIRST: Part I of the Articles Supplementary Creating and Fixing the Rights
of Money Market Cumulative Preferred(TM) Stock of the Corporation, filed with
the Maryland State of Department of Assessments and Taxation ("SDAT") on April
6, 1992 (the "Articles Supplementary") is hereby amended as follows: By adding
the following subsection 5(h) to Part I thereof, accordingly:
"(h) Terms of Office of Certain Directors to Terminate.
Simultaneously with and at the time that none of the issued
shares of MMP(R) are "outstanding" as set forth in subsection
(d)(ii) of this Section 5, i.e., the redemption price for the
redemption of such shares oF MMP(R) has been deposited in
trust with the MMP Paying Agent for that purpose and the
requisite Notice of Redemption with respect to such shares of
MMP(R) has been given as provided in Section 3 of this Part I,
the terms of office of any directors elected solely by the
holders of such shares of MMP(R) shall automatically terminate
and the remaining directors shall constitute the directors of
the Corporation; provided, however, that the terms of office
of any such directors who meet the definition of "Continuing
Directors" in the Corporation's Articles of Amendment and
Restatement, as amended, shall continue and shall not
terminate."
SECOND: The amendments to the Charter of the Corporation set forth in
Article FIRST above were advised by the Board of Directors and approved by the
stockholders.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned officers of the Corporation have
executed these Articles of Amendment and do hereby acknowledge that these
Articles of Amendment are the act and deed of the Corporation and that, to the
best of their knowledge, information and belief, the matters and facts contained
herein with respect to authorization and approval are true in all material
respects, under the penalties of perjury.
DATE: _______________, 2005
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME
OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED
___________________________________
Robert M. Ettinger
President
WITNESS:
________________________________
R. Eric Chadwick
Secretary
A-2
PROPOSED AMENDMENT B-1
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
OF
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED INCOME FUND INCORPORATED
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Incorporated, a Maryland
corporation (hereinafter the "Corporation"), hereby certifies to the State
Department of Assessments and Taxation that:
FIRST: Part II of the Articles Supplementary Creating and Fixing the
Rights of Money Market Cumulative Preferred Stock(TM) of the Corporation, filed
with the Maryland State of Department of Assessments and Taxation ("SDAT") on
April 12, 1991, as amended by Articles of Amendment filed with SDAT on July 25,
1994 (as amended, the "Original Articles Supplementary") is hereby further
amended as follows: By inserting the following new Section 7 in Part II thereof,
and renumbering the existing Section 7 of Part II as Section 8, accordingly:
"7. Force Majeure.
(a) Notwithstanding anything else set forth herein,
(i) if an Auction Date is not a Business Day because the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for business for more than
three consecutive calendar days (excluding Saturdays and
Sundays and previously announced New York Stock Exchange
holidays) due to an act of God, natural disaster,
extreme weather, act of war, civil or military
disturbance, act of terrorism, sabotage, riots or a loss
or malfunction of utilities or communications services,
or if the Auction Agent is not able to conduct an
Auction in accordance with the Auction Procedures for
any such reason, then the Applicable Rate for the next
Dividend Period shall be the Applicable Rate determined
on the previous Auction Date; and
(ii) if an Auction Date is not a Business Day because the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for business for three or
fewer than three consecutive calendar days (excluding
Saturdays and Sundays and previously announced New York
Stock Exchange holidays) due to an act of God, natural
disaster, extreme weather, act of war, civil or military
disturbance, act of terrorism, sabotage, riots or a loss
or malfunction of utilities or communications services,
or if the Auction Agent is not able to conduct an
Auction in accordance with the Auction Procedures for
any such reason, then the Applicable Rate for the next
Dividend Period shall be the Applicable Rate determined
by auction on the first Business Day following such
Auction Date.
(b) Notwithstanding anything else set forth herein, if a Dividend
Payment Date is not a Business Day because the New York Stock
Exchange is closed for business for more than three
consecutive calendar days due to an act of God, natural
disaster, extreme weather, act of war, civil or military
disturbance, act of terrorism, sabotage, riots or a loss or
malfunction of utilities or communications services, or if the
dividend payable on such date can not be paid for any such
reason, then:
(i) The Dividend Payment Date for the affected Dividend
Period shall be the next Business Day on which the Fund
and the Auction Agent are able to cause the dividend to
be paid using commercially reasonable best efforts;
(ii) The affected Dividend Period shall end on the day it
would have ended had such event not occurred and the
Dividend Payment Date had remained the scheduled date;
and
(iii) The next Dividend Period will begin and end on the dates
on which it would have begun and ended had such event
not occurred and the Dividend Payment Date remained the
scheduled date.
(c) In the event that either provision (a) or (b) of this Section
7 is applicable for the MMP, each Existing Holder of the MMP
shall hold all of the shares of MMP held by such Existing
Holder until the next Auction Date for the MMP (unless the
Existing Holder of such shares of MMP sells his or her shares
of MMP outside of an Auction in a secondary trading market)."
B-1
SECOND: The Original Articles Supplementary of the Corporation are further
amended as follows: By revising the second sentence of Part I, Section 2(c)(i)
by inserting at the end of the words "provided, however, that if an Auction for
any Subsequent Rate Period is not held for any reason" the phrase "(except as
provided in Section 7 of Part II of these Articles Supplementary)".
THIRD: The Articles Supplementary Creating and Fixing the Rights of Money
Market Cumulative Preferred Stock ("MMP(R)") of the Corporation filed with the
SDAT on May 31, 2002 (the "Additional Articles Supplementary") are amended to
incorporate by reference the provisions of Article FIRST above and any future
amendment to the Original Articles Supplementary by amending the second sentence
of Article FIRST of the Additional Articles Supplementary to read, "The
Corporation's Articles Supplementary Creating and Fixing the Rights of Money
Market Cumulative Preferred Stock ("MMP(R)") filed with the State Department of
Assessments and Taxation on April 12, 1991, as amended by the Articles of
Amendment of the Corporation filed with the State Department of Assessments and
Taxation on July 25, 1994, and as further amended from time to time, are
referred to together herein as the "Initial Articles Supplementary".
FOURTH: The amendments to the Charter of the Corporation set forth in
Articles FIRST, SECOND and THIRD above were advised by the Board of Directors
and approved by the stockholders.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned officers of the Corporation have
executed these Articles of Amendment and do hereby acknowledge that these
Articles of Amendment are the act and deed of the Corporation and that, to the
best of their knowledge, information and belief, the matters and facts contained
herein with respect to authorization and approval are true in all material
respects, under the penalties of perjury
DATE: _______________, 2005 FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED
________________________________
Robert M. Ettinger
President
WITNESS:
________________________________
R. Eric Chadwick
Secretary
B-2
PROPOSED AMENDMENT B-2
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
OF
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated, a
Maryland corporation (hereinafter the "Corporation"), hereby certifies to the
State Department of Assessments and Taxation that:
FIRST: Part II of the Articles Supplementary Creating and Fixing the
Rights of Money Market Cumulative Preferred(TM) Stock of tHe Corporation, filed
with the Maryland State of Department of Assessments and Taxation ("SDAT") on
April 6, 1992 (the "Articles Supplementary") is hereby amended as follows: By
inserting the following new Section 7 in Part II thereof, and renumbering the
existing Section 7 of Part II as Section 8, accordingly:
"7. FORCE MAJEURE.
(a) Notwithstanding anything else set forth herein,
(i) if an Auction Date is not a Business Day because the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for business for more than
three consecutive calendar days (excluding Saturdays and
Sundays and previously announced New York Stock Exchange
holidays) due to an act of God, natural disaster,
extreme weather, act of war, civil or military
disturbance, act of terrorism, sabotage, riots or a loss
or malfunction of utilities or communications services,
or if the Auction Agent is not able to conduct an
Auction in accordance with the Auction Procedures for
any such reason, then the Applicable Rate for the next
Dividend Period shall be the Applicable Rate determined
on the previous Auction Date; and
(ii) if an Auction Date is not a Business Day because the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for business for three or
fewer than three consecutive calendar days (excluding
Saturdays and Sundays and previously announced New York
Stock Exchange holidays) due to an act of God, natural
disaster, extreme weather, act of war, civil or military
disturbance, act of terrorism, sabotage, riots or a loss
or malfunction of utilities or communications services,
or if the Auction Agent is not able to conduct an
Auction in accordance with the Auction Procedures for
any such reason, then the Applicable Rate for the next
Dividend Period shall be the Applicable Rate determined
by auction on the first Business Day following such
Auction Date.
(b) Notwithstanding anything else set forth herein, if a Dividend
Payment Date is not a Business Day because the New York Stock
Exchange is closed for business for more than three
consecutive calendar days due to an act of God, natural
disaster, extreme weather, act of war, civil or military
disturbance, act of terrorism, sabotage, riots or a loss or
malfunction of utilities or communications services, or if the
dividend payable on such date can not be paid for any such
reason, then:
(i) The Dividend Payment Date for the affected Dividend
Period shall be the next Business Day on which the Fund
and the Auction Agent are able to cause the dividend to
be paid using commercially reasonable best efforts;
(ii) The affected Dividend Period shall end on the day it
would have ended had such event not occurred and the
Dividend Payment Date had remained the scheduled date;
and
(iii) The next Dividend Period will begin and end on the dates
on which it would have begun and ended had such event
not occurred and the Dividend Payment Date remained the
scheduled date.
B-3
(c) In the event that either provision (a) or (b) of this Section 7 is
applicable for the MMP, each Existing Holder of the MMP shall hold
all of the shares of MMP held by such Existing Holder until the next
Auction Date for the MMP (unless the Existing Holder of such shares
of MMP sells his or her shares of MMP outside of an Auction in a
secondary trading market)."
SECOND: The Articles Supplementary of the Corporation are further amended
as follows: By revising the second sentence of Part I, Section 2(c)(i) by
inserting at the end of the words "provided, however, that if an Auction for any
Subsequent Rate Period is not held for any reason" the phrase "(except as
provided in Section 7 of Part II of these Articles Supplementary)".
THIRD: The amendments to the Charter of the Corporation set forth in
Articles FIRST and SECOND above were advised by the Board of Directors and
approved by the stockholders.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned officers of the Corporation have
executed these Articles of Amendment and do hereby acknowledge that these
Articles of Amendment are the act and deed of the Corporation and that, to the
best of their knowledge, information and belief, the matters and facts contained
herein with respect to authorization and approval are true in all material
respects, under the penalties of perjury.
DATE: _______________, 2005
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME
OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED
____________________________________
Robert M. Ettinger
President
WITNESS:
________________________________
R. Eric Chadwick
Secretary
B-4
DETACH HERE ZFCI22
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE UNDERSIGNED HOLDER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED, A MARYLAND CORPORATION (THE
"FUND"), HEREBY APPOINTS DONALD F. CRUMRINE, ROBERT M. ETTINGER AND TERESA M. R.
HAMLIN, ATTORNEYS AND 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
BOARD ROOM OF THE RADISSON BRIDGE RESORT, 999 EAST CAMINO REAL, BOCA RATON, FL
33432 AT 8:30 A.M., ON APRIL 21, 2005, AND ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF. THE
UNDERSIGNED HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND
PROXY STATEMENT AND HEREBY INSTRUCTS SAID ATTORNEYS AND 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.
----------- -----------
SEE REVERSE SEE REVERSE
SIDE CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE SIDE
----------- -----------
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE
PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND
C/O PFPC INC.
P.O. BOX 8586
EDISON, NJ 08818-8586
DETACH HERE ZFCI21
3202
---
X PLEASE MARK
--- VOTES AS IN
THIS EXAMPLE.
THIS PROXY, IF PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BY THE
UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEE AS DIRECTOR, FOR PROPOSAL 2, AND FOR PROPOSAL 3.
PLEASE REFER TO THE PROXY STATEMENT FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSALS.
FOR WITHHELD
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTOR
NOMINEE:(01) MORGAN GUST
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
FUND'S ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY
CREATING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS
OF MONEY MARKET CUMULATIVE
PREFERRED(TM) STOCK -- TERM OF
OFFICE OF CERTAIN DIRECTORS.
3. TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
FUND'S ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY
CREATING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS
OF MONEY MARKET CUMULATIVE
PREFERRED(TM) STOCK -- FORCE
MAJEURE PROVISION.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION
OF THE NOMINEE AS DIRECTOR, "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE FUND'S
ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY CREATING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS OF MONEY MARKET CUMULATIVE
PREFERRED(TM) STOCK -- TERM OF OFFICE OF CERTAIN DIRECTORS, AND "FOR" THE
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE FUND'S ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY CREATING AND
FIXING THE RIGHTS OF MONEY MARKET CUMULATIVE PREFERRED(TM) STOCK -- FORCE
MAJEURE PROVISION.
MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE
NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS ON THIS PROXY. IF JOINT OWNERS,
EITHER MAY SIGN THIS PROXY. WHEN SIGNING AS ATTORNEY, EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR,
TRUSTEE, GUARDIAN OR CORPORATE OFFICER, PLEASE GIVE YOUR FULL TITLE.
SIGNATURE:_______ DATE:________ SIGNATURE:________ DATE:__________
DETACH HERE ZFC022
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE UNDERSIGNED HOLDER OF SHARES OF MONEY MARKET CUMULATIVE PREFERRED(TM)
STOCK ("MMP<<") OF FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND
INCORPORATED, A MARYLAND CORPORATION (THE "FUND"), HEREBY APPOINTS DONALD F.
CRUMRINE, ROBERT M. ETTINGER AND TERESA M. R. HAMLIN, ATTORNEYS AND 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
MMP<< WHICH THE UNDERSIGNED IS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS OF THE FUND TO BE HELD AT THE BOARD ROOM OF THE RADISSON BRIDGE
RESORT, 999 EAST CAMINO REAL, BOCA RATON, FL 33432 AT 8:30 A.M., ON APRIL 21,
2005, AND ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF. THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT
OF THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT AND HEREBY INSTRUCTS SAID
ATTORNEYS AND 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.
------------ ------------
SEE REVERSE SEE REVERSE
SIDE CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE SIDE
------------ ------------
FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED
INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED
C/O PFPC INC.
P.O. BOX 8586
EDISON, NJ 08818-8586
DETACH HERE ZFC021
3202
---
X PLEASE MARK
--- VOTES AS IN
THIS EXAMPLE.
THIS PROXY, IF PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BY THE
UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEE AS DIRECTOR, FOR PROPOSAL 2, AND FOR PROPOSAL 3.
PLEASE REFER TO THE PROXY STATEMENT FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSALS.
FOR WITHHELD
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTOR
NOMINEE:(01) KAREN H. HOGAN
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
FUND'S ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY
CREATING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS
OF MONEY MARKET CUMULATIVE
PREFERRED(TM) STOCK -- TERM OF
OFFICE OF CERTAIN DIRECTORS.
3. TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
FUND'S ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY
CREATING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS
OF MONEY MARKET CUMULATIVE
PREFERRED(TM) STOCK -- FORCE
MAJEURE PROVISION.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION
OF THE NOMINEE AS DIRECTOR, "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE FUND'S
ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY CREATING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS OF MONEY MARKET CUMULATIVE
PREFERRED(TM) STOCK -- TERM OF OFFICE OF CERTAIN DIRECTORS, AND "FOR" THE
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE FUND'S ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY CREATING AND
FIXING THE RIGHTS OF MONEY MARKET CUMULATIVE PREFERRED(TM) STOCK -- FORCE
MAJEURE PROVISION.
MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE
NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS ON THIS PROXY. IF JOINT OWNERS,
EITHER MAY SIGN THIS PROXY. WHEN SIGNING AS ATTORNEY, EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR,
TRUSTEE, GUARDIAN OR CORPORATE OFFICER, PLEASE GIVE YOUR FULL TITLE.
SIGNATURE:_______ DATE:________ SIGNATURE:_________ DATE:_________