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Ibero-America Fund Inc – ‘DEF 14A’ for 11/9/09

On:  Tuesday, 9/22/09, at 4:51pm ET   ·   Effective:  9/22/09   ·   For:  11/9/09   ·   Accession #:  919574-9-15376   ·   File #:  811-05189

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  As Of                Filer                Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size              Issuer               Agent

 9/22/09  Ibero-America Fund Inc            DEF 14A    11/09/09    1:87K                                    Seward & Kissel LLP

Definitive Proxy Solicitation Material   —   Schedule 14A
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: DEF 14A     Definitive Proxy Solicitation Material                40    145K 


Document Table of Contents

Page (sequential) | (alphabetic) Top
 
11st Page   -   Filing Submission
9Introduction
15Interested
28Proxy Voting and Stockholder Meeting
29Other Information
34Information as to the Fund's Investment Adviser and Administrator
"Other Matters
"Submission of Proposals for the Next Annual Meeting of Stockholders
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SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. __) Filed by the Registrant /X/ Filed by a 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 Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12 The Spain Fund, Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): /X/ No fee required /_/ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rule 14a6(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:
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[LOGO] ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN THE SPAIN FUND, INC. 1345 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10105 September 22, 2009 Dear Stockholders: The Board of Directors (the "Board") of The Spain Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), a Maryland corporation, is pleased to invite you to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") to be held on November 9, 2009. The accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement present several Proposals to be considered at the Meeting. At the Meeting, you will be asked to elect three Directors of the Fund. You will also be asked to consider and approve a Proposal to modify the Fund's fundamental investment objective. The Board has recently approved a broadening of the Fund's investment universe to include companies located in Spain and Portugal and in the historically Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of Central and South America, a group commonly referred to as "Ibero-American" countries. The broadening of the Fund's investment focus requires a change to its fundamental investment objective. We believe that the Fund's stockholders would benefit if the Fund has the opportunity to be invested in a broader universe of companies and growth sectors. In this regard, the Board approved changing the name of the Fund to "The Ibero-America Fund, Inc.," subject to stockholder approval of the investment objective and policy changes discussed below. Although not required, the Fund currently has an investment objective that is fundamental. Fundamental investment policies or objectives are restrictions that under federal law can only be changed by a stockholder vote. Federal law requires certain policies to be fundamental. We are also asking that you approve making the investment objective "non-fundamental." A non-fundamental policy can be changed with approval of the Board in the future without the need for the delay or expense of a stockholder vote. Finally, you will be asked to consider and approve Proposals, as explained in the attached Proxy Statement, that are intended to amend or eliminate certain of the Fund's fundamental investment policies. We are proposing that these required policies be amended to conform to the standardized policies adopted by most other AllianceBernstein funds. The amended policies would give the Fund maximum flexibility, currently or in the future, provided under applicable laws. Some of the Fund's other fundamental policies are not required to be fundamental. These
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non-required fundamental policies, adopted more than twenty years ago, are no longer applicable, overlap to a certain extent with legal requirements already imposed upon the Fund, or are inconsistent with the Fund's proposed new investment focus. We believe that modifying or eliminating restrictions that are obsolete, unnecessary, or inconsistent would give the Fund more flexibility to pursue its proposed expanded investment goals. The Board has concluded that the Proposals are in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders. The Board recommends that you vote "FOR" each of the Proposals. We welcome your attendance at the November 9, 2009 Meeting. If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to authorize the proxy holders to cast your votes. Georgeson Inc. (the "Proxy Solicitor"), a professional proxy solicitation firm, has been selected to assist in the proxy solicitation process. If we have not received your proxy as the date of the Meeting approaches, you may receive a telephone call from the Proxy Solicitor to remind you to submit your proxy. No matter how many shares you own, your vote is important. Sincerely, Robert M. Keith President
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PROXY STATEMENT THE SPAIN FUND, INC. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q. What is this document and why did we send it to you? A. This booklet contains the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Notice") of The Spain Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") and Proxy Statement, which provide you with information you should review before voting on the Proposals that will be presented at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting"). You are receiving this proxy material because you own shares of the Fund's stock. As a stockholder, you have the right to vote for the election of Directors of the Fund and on the various Proposals concerning your investment in the Fund. Q. Who is asking for my vote? A. The Board of Directors of the Fund ("Board") is asking you to vote at the Meeting. The Proposals are as follows: . the election of three Directors of the Fund; . the modification of the Fund's fundamental investment objective and reclassification of the fundamental investment objective as non-fundamental; and . the amendment or elimination of certain of the Fund's fundamental investment restrictions. Q. How does the Board recommend I vote? A. The Board recommends that you vote "FOR" all Proposals. Q. Who is eligible to vote? A. Stockholders of record at the close of business on September 21, 2009 (the "Record Date") are entitled to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting. If you owned shares on the Record Date, you have the right to vote even if you later sold the shares. Q. What role does the Board play? A. The Board oversees the management of the Fund. Each of the Directors has an obligation to act in what he or she believes to be the best interests of the Fund, including approving and recommending investment objective and policy changes such as those proposed in the Proxy Statement. The background of each nominee for Director is described in the Proxy Statement.
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Q. Why is the Board proposing to modify the Fund's fundamental investment objective and reclassify the Fund's fundamental investment objective as non-fundamental? A. The Board has recently approved a broadening of the Fund's investment universe to include companies located in Spain and Portugal and in the historically Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of Central and South America, commonly referred to as "Ibero-American" countries, in response to changes in market conditions. We are proposing to modify the Fund's investment objective to make it consistent with the Fund's proposed new investment focus. Consistent with this change, the Board approved a change in the Fund's name to "The Ibero-America Fund, Inc.," subject to stockholder approval of the new investment objective and policy changes discussed below. A fund's investment objective generally is not required to be fundamental. Consequently, a fund is not usually required to have a stockholder vote to change its objective under applicable laws. We are proposing the reclassification of the Fund's fundamental investment objective as non-fundamental to provide the Fund with the flexibility to respond to market changes without incurring the expense and delay of seeking a stockholder vote. The reclassification would permit the Fund to revise its investment objective in the event that the Board, in consultation with the Fund's investment adviser, AllianceBernstein L.P., believes it is necessary or appropriate to emphasize different strategies or portfolio allocations in light of then prevailing market conditions or trends. The Fund will provide stockholders with 60 days' prior written notice of any material change in the Fund's investment objective. Q. Why is the Board proposing to amend or eliminate certain of the Fund's fundamental investment policies? A. The federal law applicable to funds such as the Fund requires certain investment policies of the Fund to be fundamental, which means that they cannot be changed without a stockholder vote. We are proposing that these policies be amended to conform to the standardized policies adopted by most other AllianceBernstein funds. The amended policies would give the Fund maximum flexibility, currently or in the future, provided under applicable laws. Some of the Fund's other fundamental policies are no longer required to be fundamental. These non-required non-fundamental policies, adopted more than 20 years ago, are no longer applicable, overlap to a certain extent with legal requirements already imposed upon the Fund, or are inconsistent with the Fund's proposed new investment focus. We believe that modifying or eliminating restrictions that are obsolete, unnecessary, or inconsistent would give the Fund more flexibility to pursue its proposed expanded investment goals. The Fund would continue to be managed in accordance with the investment objective and strategies described in the Fund's annual report or other disclosure documents as such documents are updated from time to time.
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Q. How can I vote my shares? A. Please follow the instructions included on the enclosed Proxy Card. Q. What if I want to revoke my proxy? A. You can revoke your proxy at any time prior to its exercise (i) by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Fund at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105, (ii) by authorizing a later-dated proxy (either by signing and mailing another proxy card, or by calling Georgeson Inc. (the "Proxy Solicitor") at 1-866-729-6816) or (iii) by personally voting at the Meeting. Q. Whom do I call if I have questions regarding the proxy? A. You can call the Proxy Solicitor at 1-866-729-6816.
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[LOGO] ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN THE SPAIN FUND, INC. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105 Toll Free (800) 221-5672 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS November 9, 2009 To the Stockholders of The Spain Fund, Inc.: Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") of The Spain Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), will be held at the offices of the Fund, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 41st Floor, New York, New York 10105, on Monday, November 9, 2009 at 3:30 p.m., Eastern Time, for the following purposes, all of which are more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement dated September 22, 2009: 1. To elect three Directors of the Fund for specified terms, each such Director to hold office until his successor is duly elected and qualifies; 2. To approve a proposed change in the Fund's fundamental investment objective and to reclassify the Fund's proposed investment objective as non-fundamental; 3. To approve proposed amendments to, or elimination of, certain of the Fund's fundamental investment restrictions; and 4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on September 21, 2009 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. The enclosed proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Fund. By Order of the Board of Directors, Robert M. Keith President New York, New York September 22, 2009
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT Please indicate your voting instructions on the enclosed Proxy Card, sign and date it, and return it in the envelope provided, which needs no postage if mailed in the United States. Your vote is very important no matter how many shares you own. Please complete, date, sign and return your proxy promptly in order to save the Fund any additional cost of further proxy solicitation and in order for the Meeting to be held as scheduled. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AllianceBernstein(R) and the AB Logo are registered trademarks and service marks used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
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PROXY STATEMENT THE SPAIN FUND, INC. 1345 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10105 ----------------- ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS November 9, 2009 ----------------- INTRODUCTION This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of The Spain Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund (the "Meeting"), to be held at the offices of the Fund, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105, on Monday, November 9, 2009 at 3:30 p.m., Eastern Time. The solicitation will be by mail and the cost will be borne by the Fund. The Notice of Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card are being mailed to stockholders on or about September 22, 2009. Any stockholder who owned shares of the Fund on Monday, September 21, 2009 (the "Record Date") is entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof. Each share is entitled to one vote. Important Notice Regarding Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholders' Meeting to be held on Monday, November 9, 2009. The Proxy Statement is available on the Internet at http://www.alliancebernstein.com (click on US Investors & Financial Advisors/Investment Products/Mutual Funds/Closed-End). 1
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PROPOSAL ONE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS At the Meeting, three Directors are nominated for election, to serve for terms of three years, until their successors are duly elected and qualify. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders is required to elect a Director. It is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy card to nominate and vote in favor of election of each of the nominees. Under the Charter and Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Fund (the "Bylaws"), the Board has been divided into three classes. The terms of Class Two Directors will expire as of the Meeting, the terms of Class Three Directors will expire as of the annual meeting of stockholders for 2010, and the terms of Class One Directors will expire as of the annual meeting of stockholders for 2011. Upon expiration of the terms of the Directors of each class as set forth above, the terms of their successors in that class will continue until the end of their terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualify. Under this classified Board structure, only those Directors in a single class are required to be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders. It would require two years of annual meeting elections to change a majority of the Board, although Maryland law provides that stockholders may remove Directors under certain circumstances, even if they are not then standing for re-election. This classified Board structure, which may be regarded as an "anti-takeover" provision, may make it more difficult for the Fund's stockholders to change the majority of Directors of the Fund and, thus, has the effect of maintaining the continuity of management. At the July 30, 2009 Meeting of the Board (the "Board Meeting"), the Board recommended Robert M. Keith to stockholders for election in Class Two of the Fund. Mr. Keith will stand for election at the Meeting. At the Meeting, Mr. William H. Foulk, Jr. and Mr. Antonio Eraso are each standing for election as a Director in Class Two. Each nominee has consented to serve as a Director. The Board knows of no reason why any of the nominees for the Board will be unable to serve, but in the event any nominee is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the proxies received indicating a vote in favor of such nominee will be voted for such substitute nominee as the Board may recommend. A provision of the Bylaws (the "Qualification Bylaw") requires, among other things, that to be eligible for nomination as a Director, an individual (other than the Chairman) must either (i) have a substantial Spanish connection of a type specified or (ii) be, or previously have been, connected in a specified manner with the Fund's investment adviser or subadviser (or any of their affiliates). The Fund currently does not employ a subadviser. The Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board determines whether an individual so qualifies and has determined that each of the nominees named above satisfies the Bylaw requirements. 2
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Although the Fund is a Maryland corporation, certain of the Fund's Directors and officers are residents of Spain or the United Kingdom, and substantially all of the assets of such persons may be located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for United States investors to effect service upon such Directors or officers within the United States or to realize judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon civil liabilities of such Directors or officers under the federal securities laws of the United States. The Fund has been advised that there is substantial doubt as to the enforceability in Spain and the United Kingdom of the civil remedies and criminal penalties afforded by the federal securities laws of the United States. Also, it is unclear if extradition treaties now in effect between the United States and each of Spain and the United Kingdom would subject Directors and officers residing in those countries to effective enforcement of the criminal penalties of the federal securities laws. Certain information concerning the Fund's Directors, including the nominees for election as Directors, is set forth below. [Enlarge/Download Table] Year Number of Term Portfolios Other as a in Fund Directorships Director Principal Occupation(s), Complex Held by Name, Address* Will Years of Including Directorships Overseen Director or and Age Expire Service** Held, During Past 5 Years by Director Nominee ----------------------- -------- --------- ---------------------------- ----------- ------------- DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS Chairman of the Board William H. Foulk, Jr., Class 5 years Investment Adviser and an 89 None #, ## Two Independent Consultant. 77 (2012)+ Previously, he was Senior Manager of Barrett Associates, Inc., a registered investment adviser, with which he had been associated since prior to 2004. He was formerly Deputy Comptroller and Chief Investment Officer of the State of New York and, prior thereto, Chief Investment Officer of the New York Bank for Savings. Luis Abril Perez, # Class 3 years General Manager for the 1 None 61 Three Chairman's Technical Staff (2010) at Telefonica S.A. and member of the Executive Committee. Prior thereto, he was Chairman of Telefonica Media Group. Formerly, General Manager of Corporate Marketing, Media and Content and Corporate Communications. 3
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[Enlarge/Download Table] Year Number of Term Portfolios Other as a in Fund Directorships Director Principal Occupation(s), Complex Held by Name, Address* Will Years of Including Directorships Overseen Director or and Age Expire Service** Held, During Past 5 Years by Director Nominee ----------------- -------- --------- ----------------------------- ----------- -------------- Antonio Eraso, # Class 7 years Advisor CEO Iberdrola. 1 Mapfre 68 Two President of Heron Espana; International (2012)+ Advisor of CB Richard Insurance and Ellis (Spain and Portugal); Heron Espana Advisor of Bansa Leasing; Advisor of Transolver (Finance); Advisor of Grupo Tecnobit S.A. (Defense); Advisor of Equifax Iberica; formerly, President's Assessor of Iberdrola; President's Assessor of Grupo Berge; Assessor of Tishman & Speyer Espana S.A.; Board's Assessor of Young & Rubican Espana; Board's Assessor of Gleeds Iberica (project management); Member of the National Assembly and Permanent Commission of ASNEF (National Association of Financial Entities); Spanish Representative of EURO- FINAS (European Association of Finance); Advisor of Sedgwick Group Espana. 4
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[Enlarge/Download Table] Year Number of Term Portfolios Other as a in Fund Directorships Director Principal Occupation(s), Complex Held by Name, Address* Will Years of Including Directorships Overseen Director or and Age Expire Service** Held, During Past 5 Years by Director Nominee ------------------- -------- --------- ---------------------------- ----------- ------------- Baldomero Falcones Class 3 years Chairman and Chief 1 None Jaquotot, # One Executive Officer of 63 (2011) Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas S.A. (since 2008) and formerly founding Partner and GP, Magnum Industrial Partners (private equity firm) (2006- 2007). Formerly, Chairman, Mastercard International Worldwide (2002-2006), Santander Seguros (2002- 2006) and Europay Spain; Managing Director, Banco Santander Central Hispano and Member of the Management Executive Committee; Chairman, Bank Urquijo Limited London UK, Hispano Americano Sociedade do Investimento Lisboa, Banco Urquijo Chile, Banco Hispano Americano Benelux, Brussels, Fiat Finance, S.A., Madrid; Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Corporacion Financiera Hispamer; CEO, Banco Hispano Industrial Investment Bank. Former Board member, Union Electrica Fenosa S.A.; Board Member, RWE Espana, S.A., Mastercard Europe, CESCE, Cia. de Segurose, S.A., C.H. Generalli Seguros, S.A., La Estrella, S.A., and Banif, S.A. 5
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[Enlarge/Download Table] Year Number of Term Portfolios Other as a in Fund Directorships Director Principal Occupation(s), Complex Held by Name, Address* Will Years of Including Directorships Overseen Director or and Age Expire Service** Held, During Past 5 Years by Director Nominee ------------------- -------- --------- ----------------------------- ----------- -------------- Daniel de Fernando Class 6 years Consultant. Formerly, Head 1 Independent Garcia, # One of Private Banking and Director of 44 (2011) Personal Banking (prior to various January 2008) after being European Head of Asset Management funds advised and Private Banking Banco by Schroder Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Investment ("BBVA") since October Management 2002. Prior to 2002 he was associated with J.P. Morgan for 14 years in the following capacities: Managing Director and Head of J.P. Morgan Private Banking Asset Management (Europe, Africa, The Orient and Asia); Head of J.P. Morgan Private Banking Wealth Management (Europe, Africa and The Orient); J.P. Morgan Co-Head of Asset Management Services Iberia, Head of Investments and Chairman and CEO of Morgan Gestion, S.A. (JPM Madrid); Member of AMS European Mgmt. Group, Member of PCG Europe Management Team, Member of JPM Madrid Management Committee, Equity Portfolio Manager in the International Investment Group (JPMIM London), Fixed Income Portfolio Manager, Equity Portfolio Manager and Director of Altitude Investments Limited, Proxima Alfa Investments, S.A., BBVA Pensiones, S.A., EGFP, Gestion de Prevision y Pensiones, S.A., EGFP, BBVA Gestion, S.A. SGIIC. 6
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[Enlarge/Download Table] Year Number of Term Portfolios Other as a in Fund Directorships Director Principal Occupation(s), Complex Held by Name, Address* Will Years of Including Directorships Overseen Director or and Age Expire Service** Held, During Past 5 Years by Director Nominee --------------------- -------- --------- ------------------------------ ----------- -------------- Inmaculada de Class 22 years President and Chief 1 King Juan Habsburgo-Lorena, # Three Executive Officer of The Carlos 64 (2010) Queen Sofia Spanish International Institute. Center of New York University Foundation and World Monuments Fund Espana INTERESTED DIRECTOR Robert M. Keith, *** Class None Executive Vice President of 6 None 49 Two the Adviser**** since July (2012)+ 2008; Executive Managing Director of AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. ("ABI")**** since 2006 and head of ABI since July 2008. Prior to joining ABI in 2006, Executive Managing Director of Bernstein Global Wealth Management, and prior thereto, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Client Service and Sales of the Adviser's institutional investment management business since 2004. Prior thereto, he was Managing Director and Head of North American Client Service and Sales in the Adviser's institutional investment management business, with which he had been associated since prior to 2004. -------- * The address for each of the Fund's Disinterested Directors is c/o AllianceBernstein L.P., Attn: Philip L. Kirstein, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105. ** "Years of Service" refers to the total number of months or years served as a Director. ***Mr. Keith is an "interested person," as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), of the Fund due to his position as an Executive Vice President of the Fund's investment adviser, AllianceBernstein L.P. (the "Adviser"). ****An affiliate of the Fund. # Member of the Audit Committee, the Independent Directors Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Fund. ## Member of the Fair Value Pricing Committee of the Fund. + If elected at the Meeting. 7
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The dollar range of the Fund's securities owned by each Director or nominee and the aggregate dollar range of securities owned in the AllianceBernstein Fund Complex are set forth below. [Enlarge/Download Table] Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Funds in the AllianceBernstein Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund Fund Complex as of August 31, 2009 as of December 31, 2008 --------------------------------------------- ----------------------- Disinterested Directors William H. Foulk, Jr. $1-$10,000 over $100,000 Luis Abril Perez None None Antonio Eraso $1-$10,000 $1-$10,000 Baldomero Falcones Jaquotot None None Daniel de Fernando Garcia None None Inmaculada de Habsburgo- Lorena $10,001-$50,000 $10,001-$50,000 Interested Director Robert M. Keith* None over $100,000 -------- * Mr. Keith will stand for election as a Director of the Fund at the Meeting. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008, the Board met five times. The Fund does not have a policy that requires a Director to attend the Fund's annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. William H. Foulk, Jr. attended the Fund's prior year's annual meeting of stockholders. The Board has four standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Independent Directors Committee, the Governance and Nominating Committee, and the Fair Value Pricing Committee. The members of the Committees are identified above in the table listing the Directors. The function of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in its oversight of the Fund's financial reporting process. The members of the Audit Committee are "independent" as required by the applicable listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. During the Fund's fiscal year ended in 2008, the Audit Committee met three times. The Board has adopted a charter for its Governance and Nominating Committee, a copy of which may be found on the Adviser's website, http://www.alliancebernstein.com (click on US Investors & Financial Advisors/Investment Products/Mutual Funds/Closed-End). Pursuant to the charter of the Governance and Nominating Committee, the Governance and Nominating 8
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Committee assists the Board in carrying out its responsibilities with respect to governance of the Fund and identifies, evaluates and selects and nominates candidates for the Board. It also may set standards or qualifications for Directors. The Governance and Nominating Committee may consider candidates as Directors submitted by the Fund's current Directors, officers, the Adviser, stockholders and other appropriate sources. The Governance and Nominating Committee will consider candidates submitted by a stockholder or group of stockholders who have owned at least 5% of the Fund's outstanding common stock for at least two years at the time of submission and who timely provide specified information about the candidates and the nominating stockholder or group. To be timely for consideration by the Governance and Nominating Committee, the submission, including all required information, must be submitted in writing to the attention of the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Fund not less than 120 calendar days before the date of the proxy statement for the previous year's annual meeting of stockholders. The Committee will consider only one candidate submitted by such a stockholder or group for nomination for election at an annual meeting of stockholders. The Committee will not consider self-nominated candidates. The Governance and Nominating Committee will consider and evaluate candidates submitted by stockholders on the basis of the same criteria as those used to consider and evaluate candidates submitted from other sources. These criteria include the candidate's relevant knowledge, experience, and expertise, the candidate's satisfaction of the Qualification Bylaw, the candidate's ability to carry out his or her duties in the best interests of the Fund and the candidate's ability to qualify as a disinterested Director. During the Fund's fiscal year ended in 2008, the Governance and Nominating Committee met twice. The function of the Fund's Independent Directors Committee is to consider and take action on matters that the Board or Committee believes should be addressed in executive session of the disinterested Directors, such as review and approval of the Advisory and Shareholder Inquiry Agency Agreements. During the Fund's fiscal year ended in 2008, the Independent Directors Committee did not meet since there were no "interested" directors of the Fund at any relevant time and the disinterested Directors conducted the business normally covered by the Independent Directors Committee in executive sessions of the Board, without any members of management present. The disinterested Directors meet in executive session without representatives of management present at every Board meeting. In fiscal 2008, the approval of the Advisory and Shareholder Inquiry Agency Agreements was considered at such an executive session. The function of the Fund's Fair Value Pricing Committee is to consider, in advance if possible, any fair valuation decision of the Adviser's Valuation Committee relating to a security held by the Fund made under unique or highly unusual circumstances not previously addressed by the Valuation Committee that would result in a change in the Fund's net asset value ("NAV") by more than $0.01 9
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per share. During the Fund's fiscal year ended in 2008, the Fair Value Pricing Committee did not meet. The Board has adopted a process for stockholders to send communications to the Board. To communicate with the Board or an individual Director of the Fund, a stockholder must send a written communication to the Fund's principal office at the address listed in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders accompanying this Proxy Statement, addressed to the Board or the individual Director. All stockholder communications received in accordance with this process will be forwarded to the Board or the individual Director to whom or to which the communication is addressed. The Fund does not pay any fees to, or reimburse expenses of, any Director during a time when the Director is an affiliated person of the Adviser or any of its affiliates. The aggregate compensation paid by the Fund to the Directors during the Fund's fiscal year ended 2008, the aggregate compensation paid to the Directors during calendar year 2008 by all of the investment companies in the AllianceBernstein Fund Complex, the total number of investment companies in the AllianceBernstein Fund Complex as to which the Directors are a director or trustee and the number of investment portfolios as to which the Directors are directors or trustees are set forth below. Neither the Fund nor any other investment company in the AllianceBernstein Fund Complex provides compensation in the form of pension or retirement benefits to any of its directors or trustees. [Enlarge/Download Table] Number of Number of Investment Investment Portfolios Companies in the within the AllianceBernstein AllianceBernstein Compensation Fund Complex, Fund Complex, from the including the including the AllianceBernstein Fund, as to Fund, as to Compensation Fund Complex, which the which the from the including the Director is a Director is a Fund during Fund, during Director or Director or Name of Director its Fiscal Year 2008 Trustee Trustee ---------------- --------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- William H. Foulk, Jr. $21,991 $486,700 35 89 Luis Abril Perez $17,200 $ 17,200 1 1 Antonio Eraso $17,200 $ 17,200 1 1 Baldomero Falcones Jaquotot $17,200 $ 17,200 1 1 Daniel de Fernando Garcia $17,200 $ 17,200 1 1 Inmaculada de Habsburgo- Lorena $17,200 $ 17,200 1 1 The Board unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote FOR each of the nominees to serve as a Director of the Fund. Approval of Proposal One with regard to each Director requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast. 10
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PROPOSAL TWO MODIFICATION AND RECLASSIFICATION OF INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE We are asking that you approve a change in the Fund's investment objective and reclassification of the investment objective as non-fundamental as discussed below. Current Investment Objective: Proposed Investment Objective: (Fundamental) (Non-fundamental) The Fund's investment objective is to The Fund seeks long-term growth of seek long-term capital appreciation capital. by investing primarily in equity securities of Spanish companies. At the Board Meeting, the Adviser discussed with the Board that, at the time of the Fund's inception in 1988, the Spanish economy was growing at a rate faster than the rest of Europe, which made Spain an attractive growth proposition for investors. Currently, the Spanish economy is no longer growing; it is in decline. While the Spanish economy may begin growing again in 2011 or sooner, the Adviser believes that the rate of growth will be far slower than in many other parts of the historically Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of Central and South America, a group commonly referred to as "Ibero-America". As a result, the Adviser concluded that a fund that restricts itself to investment in Spanish equity securities may have difficulty delivering attractive returns to growth-oriented investors. The Adviser recommended to the Board that the Fund should broaden its investment focus beyond Spain. Faced with a deteriorating domestic economy, Spanish companies have increasingly diversified their activities outside Spain, in particular to Latin America, which remains one of the fastest growing regions in the world. The Adviser discussed with the Board that it believed that the Fund should follow the example of many of the Spanish companies in which it invests and expand its search for growth investments beyond companies located in Spain. Since many Portuguese and Spanish companies are closely tied, the Adviser believed that Portugal is also a logical investment opportunity for the Fund. The Adviser also proposed to expand the Fund's investment universe beyond companies located in Spain and Portugal to include companies located in other Ibero-American countries. The Adviser discussed with the Board that, while Spain and Portugal are developed countries, many of the Ibero-American countries, including, for example, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, are emerging market countries. The Adviser noted that investments in emerging market countries may impose risks different from, or greater than, risks of investing in domestic securities or in foreign, developed countries. These risks include: smaller market capitalization of securities markets, 11
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which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; and possible repatriation of investment income and capital. In addition, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales; future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. Dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries. Additional risks of emerging market securities may include: greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability; more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation; unavailability of currency hedging techniques; companies that are newly organized and small; differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; and less developed legal systems. In addition, emerging securities markets may have different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions. Settlement problems may cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities, hold a portion of its assets in cash pending investment, or be delayed in disposing of a portfolio security. Such a delay could result in possible liability to a purchaser of the security. In addition to expanding the geographical universe of issuers eligible for investment by the Fund, the Adviser explained to the Board that the proposed change would provide the Fund with exposure to growth sectors, such as commodities, energy and infrastructure, that are poorly represented by the traditional universe of Spanish issuers. This should further enhance the Fund's ability to pursue growth. Given current global market conditions, the Adviser anticipates that approximately 30-40% of the Fund's assets would be repositioned into investments in non-Spanish companies under the Fund's expanded investment focus. The proportion of the Fund's assets invested in non-Spanish companies would vary from time to time based upon the Adviser's assessment of general market and economic conditions. The proposed broadening of the Fund's investment universe would require a change in the Fund's investment objective. The Adviser proposed, and the Board approved, that the Fund adopt a less restrictive investment objective. Subject to stockholder approval, which is required because the investment objective is a fundamental policy, the Fund's new investment objective would be "to seek long-term growth of capital." The Adviser also recommended, and the Board approved, the reclassification of the Fund's fundamental investment objective as non-fundamental. This 12
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reclassification would give the Board the flexibility to revise the Fund's investment objective to respond to changed market conditions or other circumstances in a timely manner without the delay and expense of obtaining a stockholder vote. If this proposal is approved, the Adviser intends to provide stockholders with advance notice of not less than 60 days of any subsequent material change in the Fund's investment objective. The Adviser also discussed with the Board that the proposed broadening of the Fund's investment focus and new investment objective would require a change in the Fund's name. Rule 35d-1 (the "Names Rule") under the 1940 Act requires a fund whose name suggests a particular type of investment to adopt a policy requiring it to invest at least 80% of its assets in that type of investment. The Adviser recommended, and the Board approved, a change in the Fund's name to "The Ibero-America Fund, Inc." and the adoption of a policy, as required by the Names Rule, that the Fund invest at least 80% of its assets in securities issued by Ibero-American companies. This name change and new policy will become effective only if the stockholders approve the Fund's proposed new investment objective and changes to the Fund's fundamental investment policies in Proposal Three. The Board unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote FOR Proposal Two. Approval of Proposal Two requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a "majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act, which means the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the voting securities of the Fund present or represented by proxy, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. 13
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PROPOSAL THREE AMENDMENT OR ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES Under the 1940 Act, a Fund must disclose whether it has a policy regarding, among other things: . borrowing money; . issuing senior securities; . purchasing or selling real estate; . purchasing or selling commodities; . making loans to other persons; and . concentrating investments in a particular industry or group of industries. These policies are fundamental and may not be changed without a stockholder vote. A fund may designate other policies as fundamental. The Fund currently has both required and non-required fundamental policies. The Board considered and approved the Adviser's recommendation that the required fundamental policies be amended to conform to the standardized fundamental policies adopted by most other AllianceBernstein funds. The proposed fundamental policies would give the Fund maximum flexibility, currently available or provided in the future, under the 1940 Act and the rules, interpretations and exemptions thereunder.1 In addition, adoption of these policies would enable the Fund to avoid the expense of seeking stockholder approval in the future to respond to regulatory or market changes. In the case of those Fund policies not required to be fundamental, the Board considered and approved the Adviser's recommendation to eliminate these policies. Most of these policies are related to federal or state requirements that were in effect when the Fund was organized. These restrictions are no longer applicable to the Fund. Some of the Fund's other fundamental policies overlap to a certain extent with legal requirements already imposed upon the Fund or are inconsistent with the Fund's proposed expanded investment focus. -------- 1 The 1940 Act also requires a fund to adopt a fundamental policy with respect to the underwriting of securities. The Fund currently has a standardized fundamental policy on underwriting that does not need updating. Another fundamental policy is required if a fund is diversified, but not if it is non-diversified. The Fund is a "non-diversified" fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act and, therefore, is not required to have a fundamental policy on diversification. Stockholder approval is not being requested with respect to these policies. 14
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PROPOSAL 3.A. AMENDMENT AND ADOPTION OF FUNDAMENTAL POLICY REGARDING SENIOR SECURITIES AND BORROWING MONEY We are proposing to amend and adopt a revised policy on the issuance of senior securities and borrowing money that would read as follows: The Fund may not issue any senior security (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) or borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder (as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time) or by guidance regarding, or interpretations of, or exemptive orders under, the 1940 Act or the rules or regulations thereunder published by appropriate regulatory authorities. For the purposes of this restriction, margin and collateral arrangements, including, for example, with respect to permitted borrowings, options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts and other derivatives such as swaps, are not deemed to involve the issuance of a senior security. Discussion: Section 18(a) of the 1940 Act regulates the extent to which a closed-end investment company may issue senior securities, generally through the issuance of preferred stock or by entering into various forms of indebtedness. In addition, certain types of portfolio management techniques, including, among others, futures contracts, repurchase agreements, short sales, and when-issued and delayed delivery transactions, may be considered to raise senior security issues. Currently, under Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") interpretation, these activities are not deemed to give rise to the issuance of a senior security so long as certain coverage requirements designed to protect stockholders are met. The Fund does not currently have a fundamental policy regarding senior securities, although it does have a fundamental policy relating to borrowing. The proposed modification would conform the Fund's policy more closely to the exact statutory and regulatory requirements regarding borrowing and senior securities, as they exist from time to time, without incurring the time and expense of obtaining stockholder approval to change the policy in response to changes in statutory and regulatory requirements. In addition, the proposed modification makes it clear that margin and collateral arrangements are not to be deemed to involve the issuance of a senior security. At the present time, the Adviser has no plans to expand the Fund's borrowing activities or make a change to the Fund's investment strategies based on this Proposal. 15
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PROPOSAL 3.B. AMENDMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL POLICY ON CONCENTRATING INVESTMENTS IN A PARTICULAR INDUSTRY OR GROUP OF INDUSTRIES We are proposing to adopt a revised policy regarding concentration that would read as follows: The Fund may not concentrate investments in an industry, as concentration may be defined under the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder (as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time) or by guidance regarding, interpretations of, or exemptive orders under, the 1940 Act or the rules or regulations thereunder published by appropriate regulatory authorities. Discussion: While the 1940 Act does not define what constitutes "concentration" in an industry, the staff of the SEC has taken the position that investment of more than 25% of a fund's total assets in one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry is concentration. Unlike the current policy, which specifies concentration as 25% of the Fund's total assets, the proposed change would permit the Fund to invest in an industry up to the prescribed limits under the 1940 Act and accompanying SEC interpretations, as those limits are updated from time to time. PROPOSAL 3.C. AMENDMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL POLICY REGARDING INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE We are proposing to adopt a revised policy regarding investments in real estate that would read as follows: The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate except that it may dispose of real estate acquired as a result of the ownership of securities or other instruments. This restriction does not prohibit the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or in securities of companies engaged in the real estate business. Discussion: Under its current fundamental real estate investment policy, the Fund may be restricted in its ability to purchase and sell real estate even when ownership of the real estate devolves upon the Fund through permissible investments. For instance, it is possible that the Fund could, as a result of an investment in debt securities of a company that deals in real estate, come to hold an interest in real estate in the event of a default. The proposed modification to the Fund's policy on real estate-related investments permits the sale of real estate when ownership of real estate results from permissible investments and clarifies that the Fund may invest in real estate-related securities and real estate-backed securities or instruments. 16
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PROPOSAL 3.D. AMENDMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL POLICY REGARDING INVESTMENTS IN COMMODITIES We are proposing to adopt a revised policy regarding investments in commodities that would read as follows: The Fund may not purchase or sell commodities regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission under the Commodity Exchange Act or commodity contracts except for futures contracts and options on futures contracts. Discussion: The Fund's current fundamental policy on commodities does not permit investments in commodities. The proposed changes to the Fund's policy makes it clear that the Fund may use derivatives such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts. The Adviser discussed with the Board that it has no present intention to use such instruments. However, futures contracts and options on futures contracts are widely accepted as modern portfolio management tools and are regularly used by many investment companies and other institutional investors. The revised policy will give the Fund the flexibility to use these investment techniques. PROPOSAL 3.E. AMENDMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL POLICY ON MAKING LOANS We are proposing to adopt a revised policy on making loans that would read as follows: The Fund may not make loans except through (i) the purchase of debt obligations in accordance with its investment objectives and policies; (ii) the lending of portfolio securities; (iii) the use of repurchase agreements; or (iv) the making of loans to affiliated funds as permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder (as such statutes, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time), or by guidance regarding, and interpretations of, or exemptive orders under, the 1940 Act. Discussion: The Fund's current policy prohibits the Fund from making loans except that it may invest in debt obligations. The revised policy would give the Fund the flexibility to engage in lending transactions to the full extent permitted by the 1940 Act. The Adviser discussed with the Directors that it has no present intention of lending portfolio securities or changing the Fund's lending transactions. In the future, should the SEC staff modify the requirements governing loans by funds such as the Fund, the Fund would automatically be able to conform to those new requirements without the need to solicit stockholder approval. 17
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PROPOSAL 3.F. ELIMINATION OF FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES NOT REQUIRED BY LAW As noted above, the Fund has adopted a number of fundamental policies that are not required under the 1940 Act. Some of these can be traced back to federal or state securities law requirements that were in effect when the Fund was organized in 1988. These restrictions have subsequently been made less restrictive or are no longer applicable to the Fund. For example, the National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996 ("NSMIA") preempted state regulation of fund offerings, so any state requirements no longer apply. As a result, many of the current restrictions unnecessarily limit the investment strategies available to the Adviser in managing the Fund's assets. Other of the non-required fundamental policies are inconsistent with the Fund's proposed expanded investment focus. For example, the Fund has a fundamental policy requiring it to invest at least 65% of its total assets in Spanish equity securities. The Fund also operates under non-required fundamental policies restricting the percentages that the Fund can invest in fixed-income securities, non-Spanish equity securities, unlisted securities and the securities of a single issuer. We believe these policies are either inconsistent with the Fund's proposed expanded investment focus or unnecessarily restrictive in light of the operation of various laws and rules of the SEC governing the operations of investment companies like the Fund. Elimination of these fundamental policies would enable the Fund to take advantage of the maximum flexibility, currently or in the future, provided under the 1940 Act and the regulations and interpretations thereunder, the tax laws and under Maryland law. Elimination of these non-required fundamental policies would give the Fund the flexibility to pursue its proposed expanded investment focus, as described above, and to take advantage of certain investment techniques such as options transactions and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) in managing the Fund. We are requesting that the stockholders approve the elimination of the following non-required fundamental policies: . Requirement to invest at least 65% of total assets in Spanish equity securities . Prohibition on investing more than 35% of total assets in Spanish and certain other fixed-income securities . Prohibition on investing more than 10% of total assets in non-Spanish equity securities . Prohibition on investing more than 15% of total assets in a single issuer (measured at time of investment) 18
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. Prohibition on investing more than 25% of total assets in unlisted and non-readily marketable Spanish securities . Prohibitions on pledging, hypothecating, mortgaging or otherwise encumbering assets . Prohibitions on short sales or maintaining short positions . Prohibition on investments for the purposes of exercising control . Prohibitions on investments in oil, gas, mineral leases, etc. . Prohibition on purchasing more than 10% of an issuer's voting securities . Prohibition on purchases of securities on margin . Prohibition on options transactions . Prohibitions on investments in American Depositary Receipts and European Depositary Receipts The Board unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote FOR Proposals 3.A. through 3.F. Approval of each of the Proposals set forth above (Proposals 3.A. through 3.F.) requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a "majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act, which means the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the voting securities of the Fund present or represented by proxy, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. 19
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PROXY VOTING AND STOCKHOLDER MEETING All properly executed and timely received proxies will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked thereon or as otherwise provided therein. Accordingly, unless instructions to the contrary are marked, proxies solicited on behalf of the Board will be voted for the Election of Directors (Proposal One), the Modification and Reclassification of Investment Objective (Proposal Two), and the Amendment or Elimination of Certain Fundamental Investment Policies (Proposal Three). Those stockholders who hold shares directly and not through a broker or nominee (that is, a stockholder of record) may authorize their proxies to cast their votes by completing a Proxy Card and returning it by mail in the enclosed postage-paid envelope as well as by telephoning toll free 1-800-652-8683. Owners of shares held through a broker or nominee (who is the stockholder of record for those shares) should follow directions provided to the stockholder by the broker or nominee to submit voting instructions. Instructions to be followed by a stockholder of record to submit a proxy via telephone, including use of the Control Number on the stockholder's Proxy Card, are designed to verify stockholder identities, to allow stockholders to give voting instructions and to confirm that stockholder instructions have been recorded properly. Stockholders who authorize proxies by telephone should not also return a Proxy Card. A stockholder of record may revoke that stockholder's proxy at any time prior to exercise thereof by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Fund at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105, by authorizing a later-dated proxy (either by signing and mailing another Proxy Card or by telephone, as indicated above), or by personally attending and voting at the Meeting. Properly executed proxies may be returned with instructions to abstain from voting or to withhold authority to vote (an "abstention") or represent a broker "non-vote" (which is a proxy from a broker or nominee indicating that the broker or nominee has not received instructions from the beneficial owner or other person entitled to vote shares on a particular matter with respect to which the broker or nominee does not have the discretionary power to vote). The approval of Proposal One requires for each Director an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast. The approval of Proposals Two and Three requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a "majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund means the vote of the holders of the lesser of: (i) 67% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund present at the Meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. 20
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Abstentions and broker non-votes will be considered present for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum for the transaction of business but will have the effect of a vote against the Proposals. If any proposal, other than the Proposals, to be voted on by the stockholders of the Fund properly comes before the Meeting, the shares represented by proxies will be voted on all such proposals in the discretion of the person or persons voting the proxies. The Fund has not received notice, and is not otherwise aware, of any other matter to be presented at the Meeting. A quorum for the Meeting will consist of the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the total outstanding shares of the Fund. In the event that a quorum is not present at the Meeting or, even if a quorum is so present, in the event that sufficient votes in favor of the position recommended by the Board on the Proposals are not timely received, the Chairman of the Board may authorize or the persons named as proxies may propose and vote for one or more adjournments of the Meeting, with no other notice than announcement at the Meeting, in order to permit further solicitation of proxies. Shares represented by proxies indicating a vote contrary to the position recommended by the Board on any proposal as to which the Meeting is proposed to be adjourned will be voted against adjournment of the Meeting. The Fund has engaged Georgeson Inc., 199 Water Street, 26/th/ Floor, New York, New York 10038, to assist in soliciting proxies for the Meeting. The Fund will pay Georgeson Inc. a fee of approximately $24,000 for its services, plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. OTHER INFORMATION Officers of the Fund Certain information concerning the Fund's officers is set forth below. The Fund's officers are elected annually by the Board until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. [Enlarge/Download Table] Position(s) (Month and Year Principal Occupation During Name, Address and Age First Elected) Past 5 Years --------------------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- Robert M. Keith, * President and Chief Executive See biography above. 49 Officer (2/09) Robert Alster, *** Senior Vice President (11/06) Senior Vice President of the 48 Adviser,** with which he has been associated since prior to 2004. Liliana C. Dearth, * Senior Vice President (6/07) Senior Vice President of the 39 Adviser,** with which she has been associated since prior to 2004. 21
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[Enlarge/Download Table] Position(s) (Month and Year Principal Occupation During Name, Address and Age First Elected) Past 5 Years --------------------- ------------------------------- --------------------------------- Philip L. Kirstein, * Senior Vice President and Senior Vice President and 64 Independent Compliance Officer Independent Compliance (10/04) Officer of the AllianceBernstein Funds, with which he has been associated since October 2004. Prior thereto, he was Of Counsel to Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, LLP from October 2003 to October 2004, and General Counsel of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. since prior to 2004. Phyllis J. Clarke, # Controller (11/08) Vice President of 48 AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. ("ABIS"),** with which she has been associated since prior to 2004. Joseph J. Mantineo, # Treasurer and Chief Financial Senior Vice President of 50 Officer (7/06) ABIS,** with which he has been associated since prior to 2004. Emilie D. Wrapp, * Secretary (11/05) Senior Vice President, Assistant 53 General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of ABI,** with which she has been associated since prior to 2004. -------- * 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105. ** An affiliate of the Fund. ***AllianceBernstein Limited, 50 Berkeley Street, London WIJ 3HA England. # AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc., 135 W 50/th/ Street, New York, New York 10020. Stock Ownership The outstanding voting shares of the Fund as of the Record Date consisted of 8,905,699 shares of common stock of the Fund. As of the Record Date, the Directors and officers of the Fund as a group owned less than 1% of the Fund's common stock. During the Fund's most recently completed fiscal year, the Fund's Directors as a group did not engage in the purchase or sale of securities of the Adviser or of any of its parents or subsidiaries in an amount exceeding 1% of the relevant class of securities. 22
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Managed Distribution Policy As previously announced, on July 30, 2009 the Board approved suspension of the Fund's managed distribution policy, effective after the distribution in the third quarter of 2009, under which the Fund made quarterly payments to stockholders amounting to at least 10% of the Fund's total net assets each year. The Board approved the suspension primarily because of its concern that the policy may result in returns of capital to stockholders due to insufficient net investment income and net realized gains available to pay the distributions. Returns of capital would decrease the Fund's assets and lead to increases in the Fund's expense ratio. In reviewing the managed distribution policy, the Board also considered, among other things: the history of the policy and the composition of payouts thereunder in recent times; the view of several investment bankers that it is prudent for closed-end funds, especially funds of relatively modest size such as the Fund, to avoid returns of capital; the recent severe decline in the equity values including Spanish equities; the potential impact on the Fund's share price of elimination of the policy; the fact that managed distribution policies are popular with certain stockholders; the Fund's trading price history and the Fund's distribution history; and the Adviser's advice that the policy, if not suspended, could result in the Fund returning capital to stockholders in respect of 2009. Audit Committee Report The following Audit Committee Report was adopted by the Audit Committee of the Fund. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a written charter, a copy of which may be found on the Adviser's website http://www.alliancebernstein.com (click on US Investors & Financial Advisors/Investment Products/Mutual Funds/Closed-End). The purposes of the Audit Committee are to (1) assist the Board in its oversight of (i) the integrity of the Fund's financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (ii) the Fund's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; (iii) the independent registered public accounting firm's independence, qualifications and performance; and (iv) the Fund's compliance with applicable laws by receiving reports from counsel who believe they have credible evidence of a material violation of law by the Fund or by someone owing a fiduciary or other duty to the Fund; and (2) to prepare this report. As set forth in the Audit Committee Charter, management of the Fund is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Fund's financial statements, the Fund's accounting and financial reporting principles and internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing the Fund's financial statements and expressing an opinion as to their conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. 23
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In the performance of its oversight function, the Audit Committee has considered and discussed the audited financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund. The Audit Committee has also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, as currently in effect. The Audit Committee has also considered whether the provision of any non-audit services not pre-approved by the Audit Committee provided by the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm to the Adviser and to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund is compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm's independence. Finally, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, as currently in effect, and has discussed the independent registered public accounting firm's independence with such firm. The members of the Fund's Audit Committee are not full-time employees of the Fund and are not performing the functions of auditors or accountants. As such, it is not the duty or responsibility of the Audit Committee or its members to conduct "field work" or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures or to set auditor independence standards. Members of the Audit Committee necessarily rely on the information provided to them by management and the independent registered public accounting firm. Accordingly, the Audit Committee's considerations and discussions referred to above do not assure that the audit of the Fund's financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or that the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm is in fact "independent." Based upon the reports and discussions described in this report, and subject to the limitations on the role and responsibilities of the Audit Committee referred to above and in the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of the Fund that the audited financial statements of the Fund be included in the Fund's annual report to stockholders for the most recent fiscal period. Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Fund's Board William H. Foulk, Jr. Daniel de Fernando Garcia Luis Abril Perez Antonio Eraso Inmaculada de Habsburgo-Lorena Baldomero Falcones Jaquotot Approval of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm by the Board The Audit Committee of the Fund is responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the Board of the Fund approved the 24
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independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act on the date specified below. At a Meeting of the Board on November 13, 2008, the Board approved by the vote, cast in person, of a majority of the Directors who are not "interested persons" of the Fund, KPMG LLP ("KPMG"), an independent registered public accounting firm, to audit the Fund's accounts for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2009. KPMG has audited the Fund's accounts since November 16, 2006 and has represented that it does not have any direct financial interest or any material indirect financial interest in the Fund. Representatives of KPMG are expected to attend the Meeting, to have the opportunity to make a statement and to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders. Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm's Fees The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed by the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund's last two fiscal years for professional services rendered for: (i) the audit of the Fund's annual financial statements included in the Fund's annual reports to stockholders; (ii) assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Fund's financial statements and are not reported under (i), which include advice and education on accounting and auditing issues and quarterly press release reviews; (iii) tax compliance, tax advice and tax return preparation; and (iv) aggregate non-audit services provided to the Fund, the Fund's Adviser and entities that control, are controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund ("Service Affiliates"), which include conducting an annual internal control report pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standards No. 70. No other services were provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund during this period. [Download Table] All Fees for Non-Audit Services Provided to the Fund, the Adviser and Audit Fees Audit Related Fees Tax Fees Service Affiliates ---------- ------------------ -------- ------------------------ 2007 $41,000 $0 $7,000 $346,407 2008 $42,700 $0 $9,950 $388,300 Beginning with audit and non-audit service contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the Fund's Audit Committee policies and procedures require the pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services provided to the Fund by the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. The Fund's Audit Committee policies and procedures also require pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services provided to the Adviser and Service Affiliates to the extent that these services are directly related to the operations or financial reporting of the Fund. Accordingly, all of the amounts in the table for Audit Fees, Audit Related Fees and Tax Fees for 2008 are for services pre-approved by the Fund's Audit Committee. The amounts 25
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of the Fees for Non-Audit Services provided to the Fund, the Adviser and Service Affiliates in the table for the Fund that were subject to pre-approval by the Audit Committee for 2008 were $9,950 (2.56%) (comprising $9,950 (100%) of tax fees). The Audit Committee of the Fund has considered whether the provision of any non-audit services not pre-approved by the Audit Committee provided by the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm to the Adviser and Service Affiliates is compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm's independence. INFORMATION AS TO THE FUND'S INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ADMINISTRATOR The Fund's investment adviser and administrator is AllianceBernstein L.P., with principal offices at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105. OTHER MATTERS Management of the Fund does not know of any matters properly to be presented at the Meeting other than those mentioned in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters properly come before the Meeting, the shares represented by proxies will be voted with respect thereto in the discretion of the person or persons voting the proxies. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities Based on the most recent publicly available data as of September 21, 2009, Banco Bilbao-Vizcaya, S.A., with an address of Plaza de le Castella, 81, Planta 24, Azca Tower, Madrid, Spain, beneficially owned an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares, or approximately 17%, of the outstanding common stock of the Fund. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS FOR THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS Proposals of stockholders intended to be presented at the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Fund ("2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders") must be received by the Fund by May 25, 2010 for inclusion in the Fund's proxy statement and proxy card relating to that meeting. The submission by a stockholder of a proposal for inclusion in the proxy statement does not guarantee that it will be included. In addition, stockholder proposals are subject to certain requirements under the federal securities laws and the Maryland General Corporation Law and must be 26
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submitted in accordance with the Fund's Bylaws. To be presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a stockholder proposal that is not otherwise includable in the proxy statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be delivered by a stockholder of record to the Fund no sooner than April 25, 2010 and not later than May 25, 2010. It is likely that the next annual meeting will be held earlier in 2010, in which case, a stockholder proposal would need to be delivered not earlier than 150 days and not later than 120 days prior to the meeting or the tenth day following the day the meeting is publicly announced. The persons named as proxies for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will, with respect to the proxies in effect at the meeting, have discretionary authority to vote on any matter presented by a stockholder for action at that meeting unless the Fund receives notice of the matter no sooner than April 25, 2010 and not later than May 25, 2010 or as otherwise provided in the preceding paragraph. If the Fund receives such timely notice, these persons will not have this authority except as provided in the applicable rules of the SEC. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS The Fund will furnish each person to whom this Proxy Statement is delivered with a copy of the Fund's latest annual report to stockholders and its subsequent semi-annual report to stockholders, if any, upon request and without charge. To request a copy, please call AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. at (800) 227-4618 or write to Maria Brison at AllianceBernstein L.P., 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105. By Order of the Board of Directors Robert M. Keith President September 22, 2009 New York, New York 27
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[Download Table] TABLE OF CONTENTS Page -------------------------------- ---- Introduction.................... 1 Proposal One: Election of Directors...................... 2 Proposal Two: Modification and Reclassification of Investment Objective...................... 11 Proposal Three: Amendment or Elimination of Certain Fundamental Investment Policies....................... 14 Proxy Voting and Stockholder Meeting........................ 20 Other Information............... 21 Information as to the Fund's Investment Adviser and Administrator.................. 26 Other Matters................... 26 Submission of Proposals for the Next Annual Meeting of Stockholders................... 26 The Spain Fund, Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [LOGO] ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND PROXY STATEMENT September 22, 2009
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[PROXY CARD (VERSION SENT TO BROKERS ONLY)] PROXY - THE SPAIN FUND, INC. PROXY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON November 9, 2009 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION The undersigned stockholder of The Spain Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation, hereby appoints Carol H. Rappa and Stephen J. Laffey, or either of them, as proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution in each of them, to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at 3:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on November 9, 2009 at the offices of the Corporation, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105, and any postponement or adjournment thereof, to cast on behalf of the undersigned all votes that the undersigned is entitled to cast at the Annual Meeting and otherwise to represent the undersigned with all powers possessed by the undersigned if personally present at such Annual Meeting. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and accompanying Proxy Statement and revokes any proxy previously given with respect to the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors knows of no reason why any of the nominees for the Board of Directors would be unable to serve, but in the event any nominee is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the proxies received indicating a vote in favor of such nominee will be voted for a substitute nominee as the Board of Directors may recommend. IF THIS PROXY IS PROPERLY EXECUTED, THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST AS INSTRUCTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF. IF THIS PROXY IS PROPERLY EXECUTED BUT NO INSTRUCTION IS GIVEN, THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST "FOR" THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES REFERRED TO IN PROPOSAL ONE AS DIRECTORS, "FOR" THE PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND RECLASSIFICATION OF THE FUND'S PROPOSED INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AS NON-FUNDAMENTAL (PROPOSAL TWO), "FOR" THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO, OR ELIMINATION OF, CERTAIN OF THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS (PROPOSAL THREE), AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDER(S) ON ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT THEREOF. Please refer to the proxy statement for a discussion of the Proposals. PLEASE VOTE, DATE, AND SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY; YOU MAY USE THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
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Annual Meeting Proxy Card A Proposals The Board of Directors urges you to vote FOR all nominees listed and FOR Proposals 2 and 3. 1. Election of Directors - Class Two Nominees (terms expire 2012) 01 - Robert M. Keith 02 - William H. Foulk, Jr. 03 - Antonio Eraso /_/ Mark here to vote FOR all nominees /_/ Mark here to WITHHOLD vote from all nominees /_/ For all EXCEPT - To withhold a vote for one or more nominees, mark the box to the left and the corresponding numbered box(es) to the right. /_/ 01 /_/ 02 /_/ 03 2. Modification and Reclassification of Investment Objective. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 3. Amendment or Elimination of Certain Fundamental Investment Policies: 3A. Senior Securities and Borrowing. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 3B. Concentrating Investments in a Particular Industry or Group of Industries. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 3C. Investments in Real Estate. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 3D. Investments in Commodities. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 3E. Making Loans. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 3F. Elimination of Non-Required Fundamental Policies. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 4. To vote and otherwise represent the undersigned on any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof, in the discretion of the proxy holder(s). B Authorized Signatures - This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. - Date and Sign Below. Please sign exactly as name(s) appear hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title. Signature 1 - Please keep signature within the box [______________________________] Signature 2 - Please keep signature within the box [______________________________] Date (mm/dd/yyyy) [______________________________]
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[PROXY CARD (VERSION SENT TO NON-BROKERS ONLY)] PROXY - THE SPAIN FUND, INC. PROXY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON November 9, 2009 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION The undersigned stockholder of The Spain Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation, hereby appoints Carol H. Rappa and Stephen J. Laffey, or either of them, as proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution in each of them, to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at 3:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on November 9, 2009 at the offices of the Corporation, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105, and any postponement or adjournment thereof, to cast on behalf of the undersigned all votes that the undersigned is entitled to cast at the Annual Meeting and otherwise to represent the undersigned with all powers possessed by the undersigned if personally present at such Annual Meeting. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and accompanying Proxy Statement and revokes any proxy previously given with respect to the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors knows of no reason why any of the nominees for the Board of Directors would be unable to serve, but in the event any nominee is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the proxies received indicating a vote in favor of such nominee will be voted for a substitute nominee as the Board of Directors may recommend. IF THIS PROXY IS PROPERLY EXECUTED, THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST AS INSTRUCTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF. IF THIS PROXY IS PROPERLY EXECUTED BUT NO INSTRUCTION IS GIVEN, THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST "FOR" THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES REFERRED TO IN PROPOSAL ONE AS DIRECTORS, "FOR" THE PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND RECLASSIFICATION OF THE FUND'S PROPOSED INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AS NON-FUNDAMENTAL (PROPOSAL TWO), "FOR" THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO, OR ELIMINATION OF, CERTAIN OF THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS (PROPOSAL THREE), AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDER(S) ON ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT THEREOF. Please refer to the proxy statement for a discussion of the Proposals. PLEASE VOTE, DATE, AND SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY; YOU MAY USE THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
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Annual Meeting Proxy Card A Proposals The Board of Directors urges you to vote FOR all nominees listed and FOR Proposals 2 and 3. 1. Election of Directors - Class Two Nominees (terms expire 2012) 01 - Robert M. Keith 02 - William H. Foulk, Jr. 03 - Antonio Eraso /_/ Mark here to vote FOR all nominees /_/ Mark here to WITHHOLD vote from all nominees /_/ For all EXCEPT - To withhold a vote for one or more nominees, mark the box to the left and the corresponding numbered box(es) to the right. /_/ 01 /_/ 02 /_/ 03 2. Modification and Reclassification of Investment Objective. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 3. Amendment or Elimination of Certain Fundamental Investment Policies: 3A. Senior Securities and Borrowing. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 3B. Concentrating Investments in a Particular Industry or Group of Industries. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 3C. Investments in Real Estate. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 3D. Investments in Commodities. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 3E. Making Loans. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 3F. Elimination of Non-Required Fundamental Policies. /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN 4. To vote and otherwise represent the undersigned on any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof, in the discretion of the proxy holder(s). B Non-Voting Items Change of Address - Please print new address below __________________________________________________ C Authorized Signatures - This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. - Date and Sign below. Please sign exactly as name(s) appear hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title. Signature 1 - Please keep signature within the box [__________________________________] Signature 2 - Please keep signature within the box [__________________________________] Date (mm/dd/yyyy) [__________________________________]

Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

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5/25/103435
4/25/1035
11/30/0933N-CSR,  NSAR-B
For Period End:11/9/09239PRE 14A
Filed on / Effective on:9/22/09236
9/21/09434
8/31/0916N-PX,  N-Q
7/30/091031
12/31/0816
11/30/0816N-CSR,  NSAR-B
11/13/08333
11/16/06333
5/6/0333
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