SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by 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 Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec. 240.14a-12
BOULDER TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.
(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)(4) and
0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transactions 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 identity 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:
<PAGE>
BOULDER TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.
1680 38th Street, Suite 800
Boulder, Colorado 80301
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on April 25, 2000
To the Shareholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), a Maryland corporation, will be
held at the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, 5401 North Scottsdale Road,
Scottsdale, Arizona 85250 at 9:00 a.m. local time, on April 25, 2000, for the
following purposes:
1. To elect one Director of the Fund (PROPOSAL 1).
2. To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
independent accountants for the Fund for the fiscal year
ending November 30, 2000 (PROPOSAL 2).
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before
the Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors of the Fund has fixed the close of business on
February 25, 2000 as the record date for the determination of shareholders of
the Fund entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
LAURA RHODENBAUGH
SECRETARY
March 24, 2000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING ARE
REQUESTED TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. THE PROXY
CARD 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.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
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 involved in
validating your vote if you fail to sign your proxy card properly.
1. Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the
registration on the proxy card.
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, u/t/d 12/28/78 Jane B. Doe
CUSTODIAN OR ESTATE ACCOUNTS
(1) John B. Smith, Cust., John B. Smith
f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA
(2) John B. Smith John B. Smith, Jr., Executor
<PAGE>
BOULDER TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.
1680 38th Street, Suite 800
Boulder, Colorado 80301
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
April 25, 2000
PROXY STATEMENT
This document is a proxy statement ("Proxy Statement") for Boulder
Total Return Fund, Inc. ("BTF" or the "Fund"). This Proxy Statement is furnished
in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Fund's Board of Directors
(the "Board") for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be
held on Tuesday, April 25, 2000, at 9:00 a.m. local time, at the Doubletree
Paradise Valley Resort, 5401 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85250
and at any adjournments thereof (the "Meeting"). A Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and proxy card for the Fund accompany this Proxy Statement. Proxy
solicitations will be made, beginning on or about March 24, 2000, primarily by
mail, but proxy solicitations may also be made by telephone, telegraph or
personal interviews conducted by officers of the Fund and PFPC Inc. ("PFPC"),
the transfer agent and administrator of the Fund. The costs of proxy
solicitation and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of this
Proxy Statement and its enclosures will be paid by the Fund. The 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 THE FUND, INCLUDING AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 1999, HAS BEEN MAILED TO SHAREHOLDERS.
ADDITIONAL COPIES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, WITHOUT CHARGE, BY CALLING
1-800-331-1710.
If the enclosed proxy is properly executed and returned in time to be
voted at the 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
nominee for Director and FOR the other matters listed in the accompanying Notice
of the Annual Meeting 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
Meeting and voting his or her Shares in person or by submitting a letter of
revocation or a later-dated proxy to the Fund at the above address prior to the
date of the Meeting.
In the event that a quorum is not present at the 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 any proposal in favor of such an adjournment and will vote those proxies
required to be voted AGAINST any proposal against any such adjournment. A
shareholder vote may be taken on one or more of the proposals in the Proxy
Statement prior to any such adjournment if sufficient votes have been received
for approval. Under the By-Laws of the 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 the Fund's shares, a quorum of that class of shares
must be present at the Meeting in order for the proposal to be considered.
The 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"). On the record date, February 25, 2000, the following number of Shares
of the Fund were issued and outstanding:
1
<PAGE>
COMMON STOCK MMP(R)
OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING
------------ -----------
9,416,743 775
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
beneficial ownership of the Fund's Shares as of February 25, 2000 by each person
who is known by the Fund to beneficially own 5% or more of the Fund's Common
Stock. To the Fund's knowledge, there are no 5% or greater beneficial owners of
the MMP(R).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENTAGE
NAME OF OWNER* DIRECTLY OWNED (1) BENEFICIALLY OWNED (2) BENEFICIALLY OWNED
------------------ ---------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Badlands Trust Company 12,735 3,945,550 41.90%
(1)(3)
Stewart R. Horejsi Trust
No. 2 (4) 0 3,945,550 41.90%
Ernest Horejsi Trust
No. 1B (1) 2,468,053 2,468,053 26.21%
Lola Brown Trust
No. 1B (1) 1,028,001 1,028,001 10.92%
Evergreen Atlantic, LLC (1) 257,811 257,811 2.74%
Stewart West Indies Trust (1)(2) 78,470 191,907 2.04%
Susan L. Ciciora Trust (1)(2) 54,132 131,475 1.40%
John S. Horejsi Trust (1)(2) 27,075 65,747 0.70%
The Evergreen Trust (1)(2) 19,273 47,632 0.51%
AGGREGATE SHARES OWNED ** 3,945,550 3,945,550 41.90%
</TABLE>
- ----------------------------
* The address of Evergreen Atlantic LLC is 1680 38th Street, Suite 800,
Boulder, Colorado 80301. The address of each other listed owner is 122
South Phillips Avenue, Suite 220, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104.
** Aggregate number and percentage are less than the sum total of amounts
shown for each owner because the same shares may be deemed beneficially
owned by more than one party (see Footnotes 1 through 4).
(1) DIRECT OWNERSHIP. Evergreen Atlantic, LLC ("EALLC"), The Evergreen
Trust (the "Evergreen Trust"), John S. Horejsi Trust ("John Trust"),
Susan L. Ciciora Trust ("Susan Trust"), Stewart West Indies Trust ("SWI
Trust"), the Lola Brown Trust No. 1B (the "Brown Trust"), the Ernest
Horejsi Trust No. 1B (the "EH Trust"), Badlands Trust Company
("Badlands"), the Stewart R. Horejsi Trust No. 2 (the "SRH Trust") and
Stewart R. Horejsi are, as a group, considered to be a "control person"
of the Fund (as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")). EALLC,
the Evergreen Trust, John Trust, Susan Trust, SWI Trust, the Brown
Trust, the EH Trust and Badlands directly own the shares indicated for
2
<PAGE>
such entity in the table above, totaling 3,945,550 (41.90%). However,
these entities and other trusts or companies with interlocking
management and/or common ownership may be deemed to indirectly own
additional Fund shares, which are included in the table above.
(2) INDIRECT OWNERSHIP THROUGH EALLC. Numbers shown in the table include
shares held directly (see Footnote No. 1) and shares that may be deemed
to be beneficially owned indirectly through ownership of EALLC. The
outstanding membership interests in EALLC are owned by the Evergreen
Trust, the Susan Trust, the John Trust and the SWI Trust in the
following percentages - 11%, 30%, 15% and 44%. The Trustees of the
Evergreen Trust are Stephen C. Miller, Larry Dunlap and Badlands.
Badlands is the sole trustee for each of the Susan Trust, the John
Trust and the SWI Trust. Mr. Horejsi is not a beneficiary under any of
the foregoing trusts. Badlands has sole discretion with respect to the
Susan Trust, John Trust and SWI Trust while any action by the Evergreen
Trust requires a majority vote of the trustees. Consequently, both the
trusts and each trustee disclaim beneficial ownership of shares owned
by EALLC. Mr. Stewart Horejsi is the manager of EALLC.
(3) OWNERSHIP BY BADLANDS. The number shown in the table includes shares
held directly by Badlands (see Footnote No. 1) and shares that may be
deemed to be beneficially owned indirectly by Badlands through direct
or indirect ownership by the Brown Trust, the EH Trust, EALLC,
Evergreen Trust, the Susan Trust, the John Trust and the SWI Trust.
Badlands is the sole trustee of the Susan Trust, the John Trust and the
SWI Trust, which together with the Evergreen Trust control EALLC (see
Footnote No. 2), the other two trustees of Evergreen Trust being
Stephen C. Miller and Larry Dunlap. Badlands, together with Larry
Dunlap and Susan Ciciora (Mr. Horejsi's daughter), is one of three
trustees of both the Brown Trust and the EH Trust. Badlands is a trust
company organized under the laws of South Dakota, which is wholly owned
by the SRH Trust, an irrevocable trust organized by Mr. Stewart Horejsi
for the benefit of his children. The directors of Badlands are Larry
Dunlap, Stephen C. Miller, Robert Ciciora, who is the brother of Mr.
Horejsi's son-in-law (John Ciciora), Ann M. Hartmann and Carol
Jorgensen. Badlands and its directors disclaim beneficial ownership of
shares owned directly by the EALLC, the Evergreen Trust, the Susan
Trust, the John Trust, the SWI Trust, Brown Trust and the EH Trust.
(4) INDIRECT OWNERSHIP BY SRH TRUST. The number shown in the table reflects
shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned indirectly through
ownership of Badlands. The trustees of the SRH Trust are Badlands,
Robert Ciciora and Robert Kastner. Both the Trust and its trustees
disclaim beneficial ownership of shares beneficially owned directly or
indirectly by Badlands.
Information as to beneficial ownership in the previous paragraph has
been obtained from a representative of the beneficial owners; all other
information as to beneficial ownership is based on reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") by such beneficial owners.
As of February 25, 2000, Cede & Co., a nominee partnership of
Depository Trust Company, held of record, but not beneficially, 9,190,628 shares
or 97.6% of Common Stock outstanding and 775 shares or 100% of MMP(R)
outstanding of the Fund.
As of February 25, 2000, the executive officers and directors of the
Fund, as a group, owned 3,968,577 Common Shares (this amount includes the
aggregate shares of Common Stock owned by the Horejsi Affiliates set forth
above) and 0 shares of MMP(R) of the Fund, representing 42.14% of Common Shares
and 0% of MMP(R).
In order that your Shares may be represented at the Meeting, you are
requested to vote on the following matters:
3
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The first proposal to be considered at the Meeting is the election of
one (1) Director of the Fund. Only the MMP(R) shareholders are entitled to vote
on the election of this Director. The Board of Directors is divided into three
classes, each class having a term of three years. Each year the term of one
class will expire. Alfred G. Aldridge, Jr., a Class III Director of the Fund, is
being nominated for a three-year term to expire at the Fund's 2003 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
James G. Duff and Stewart R. Horejsi, Class I Directors of the Fund, were
elected on April 28, 1998 for a three-year term to expire at the Fund's 2001
Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and
qualified. Richard I. Barr and Stephen C. Miller, Class II Directors of the
Fund, were elected on April 21, 1999 for a three-year term to expire at the
Fund's 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly
elected and qualified.
The nominee has consented to serve as a Director if elected at the
Meeting. If the 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.
Under the Fund's Articles of Incorporation, Articles Supplementary and
the 1940 Act, holders of the MMP(R), voting as a single class, are entitled to
elect two Directors, and holders of the Common Stock will be entitled to elect
the remaining Directors, subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act and the
Fund's Articles of Incorporation, which permit the holders of the MMP(R), when
dividends are in arrears for two full years, to elect the minimum number of
additional Directors that when combined with the two Directors elected by the
holders of the MMP(R) would give the holders of the MMP(R) a majority of the
Directors. (Dividends are not in arrears.) Messrs. Aldridge and Barr were
previously nominated (and elected) to represent holders of the MMP(R). A quorum
of the MMP(R) shareholders must be present at the Meeting of the Fund in order
for the proposal to elect Mr. Aldridge to be considered and acted upon.
INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Set forth in the following table is the nominee for election to the
Board of Directors and the existing Directors of the Fund, together with certain
other information. No Director or officer owned any shares of MMP(R) on February
25, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE COMMON STOCK
DURING THE BENEFICIALLY OWNED
NAME, ADDRESS AND AGE PAST FIVE YEARS ON FEBRUARY 25, 2000* PERCENT
- --------------------- --------------- --------------------- -------
NOMINEE TO SERVE UNTIL 2003 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
<S> <C> <C> <C>
ALFRED G. ALDRIDGE, JR. Director of the Fund; Sales Manager of 500 Shares **
6831 E. Presidio Road Shamrock Foods Company since 1982;
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Director of the Fiesta Bowl, Tempe, AZ;
Age: 62 former Brigadier General, CA Air
National Guard.
DIRECTORS SERVING UNTIL 2002 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
RICHARD I. BARR Director of the Fund; Manager of 9,500 Shares **
2502 E. Solano Drive Advantage Sales and Marketing, Inc.
Phoenix, AZ 85016 since 1963.
Age: 62
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
STEPHEN C. MILLER*** President of the Fund and Chairman of 3,947,050 Shares+ 41.92%
1680 38th Street, Suite 800 the Board; President and General
Boulder, CO 80301 Counsel, Boulder Investment Advisers,
Age: 47 LLC ("BIA"); Manager, Boulder
Administrative Services, LLC ("BAS");
Vice President, Stewart West Indies
Trading Company, Ltd. (doing business
as Stewart Investment Advisers
("SIA")); President and General
Counsel, Horejsi, Inc. (liquidated in
1999): General Counsel, Brown Welding
Supply, LLC (sold in 1999); Of
Counsel, Krassa, Madsen & Miller, LLC
since 1991.
DIRECTORS SERVING UNTIL 2001 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
JAMES G. DUFF Director of the Fund; Retired since 9,852 Shares **
7544 S. Dunn's Farm Road January, 1997; Prior to January, 1997,
Maple City, MI 49664 Chairman and CEO of USL Capital Inc.
Age: 61 (commercial financing).
STEWART R. HOREJSI*** Director of the Fund; Since April 1994, 3,753,865 Shares++ 38.86%
Bellerive General Manager, Brown Welding Supply,
Queen Street LLC (sold in 1999); President or
St. Peter Barbados Manager, various subsidiaries of
Age: 61 Horejsi, Inc. (liquidated in 1999)
since January, 1992; Investment
Manager, Stewart West Indies Trading
Company, Ltd. (doing business as SIA)
since 1999.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS A GROUP 3,968,577 Shares 42.14%
</TABLE>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This information has been furnished by each Director. "Beneficial
Ownership" is defined under Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act.
** Less than 1%.
*** Designates "interested person" of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act.
Mr. Miller and Mr. Horejsi are "interested persons" because they are
officers and directors of BIA and SIA, the Fund's investment advisers.
Mr. Horejsi is also an "interested person" as a result of the amount of
his beneficial ownership of Fund shares.
+ Mr. Miller directly owns 1500 Shares of the Fund. Mr. Miller is a (i)
trustee of Evergreen Trust and (ii) director and officer of Badlands
Trust Company. By virtue of such relationships, Mr. Miller may be
deemed to share the indirect power to vote and direct the disposition
of the Shares directly and beneficially held by Evergreen Trust and
Badlands Trust Company. Mr. Miller disclaims beneficial ownership of
such Shares.
++ 2,468,053, 257,811 and 1,028,001 Shares of the Fund are held by the EH
Trust, EALLC, and Lola Brown Trust, respectively. Accordingly, Mr.
Horejsi may be deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of such
Shares. Mr. Horejsi disclaims all such beneficial ownership.
Each Director of the Fund who is not a Director, officer or employee of
an investment adviser, or any of their affiliates, receives a fee of $6,000 per
annum plus $2,000 for each in-person meeting, and $1,000 for each telephone
meeting. Each Director of the Fund is reimbursed for travel and out-of-pocket
expenses associated with attending Board and Committee meetings. On March 22,
1999, the Board of Directors voted to change its compensation. The annual fee
paid to each Director was reduced from $9,000 to $6,000; the fee for each
attended in-person meeting was increased from $500 per meeting to $2,000 per
meeting; and the fee for each meeting attended by telephone was increased from
$100 to $1,000. The Board of Directors of the Fund held fifteen meetings (eight
of which were held by telephone conference call) during the fiscal year
5
<PAGE>
ended November 30, 1999. Each Director currently serving in such capacity
attended at least 75% of the meetings of Directors and any Committee of which he
is a member. The aggregate remuneration paid to the Directors of the Fund for
acting as such during the fiscal year ended November 30, 1999 amounted to
$65,574.97.
The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee consisting of Messrs.
Aldridge, Barr and Duff. Messrs. Aldridge, Barr and Duff were appointed to the
Audit Committee on January 15, 1999. The Audit Committee reviews the scope and
results of the Fund's annual audit with the Fund's independent accountants and
recommends the engagement of such accountants. The Audit Committee met twice
during the fiscal year ended November 30, 1999.
The Board of Directors has a Nominating Committee consisting of Messrs.
Aldridge, Barr and Duff which is responsible for considering candidates for
election to the Board of Directors of the Fund in the event a position is
vacated or created. The Nominating Committee would consider recommendations by
shareholders if a vacancy were to exist. Such recommendations should be
forwarded to the Secretary of the Fund. The Nominating Committee of the Fund did
not meet during the fiscal year ended November 30, 1999.
The names of the executive officers of the Fund (other than Mr. Miller
who is described above) are listed in the table below. Each officer was elected
to office by the Board at a meeting held on January 21, 2000. This table also
shows certain additional information. Each officer will hold such office until a
successor has been elected by the Board of Directors of the Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POSITIONS HELD PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS
NAME AND AGE WITH THE FUND DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------ -------------- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Carl D. Johns Chief Financial Officer, Chief Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer,
Age: 37 Accounting Officer, Vice Vice President and Treasurer, Boulder Total Return
President and Treasurer Fund, Inc., since January 15, 1999; Vice President
and Treasurer of BIA and Assistant Manager of BAS,
since April, 1999; Employee of Flaherty & Crumrine
Incorporated prior to December 31, 1998; Assistant
Treasurer of the Fund (f/k/a Preferred Income
Management Fund Incorporated), Preferred Income Fund
Incorporated and Preferred Income Opportunity Fund
Incorporated prior to December 31, 1998.
Laura Rhodenbaugh Secretary Secretary and Treasurer, various subsidiaries of HI
Age: 49 and various other Horejsi affiliates since June,
1986.
</TABLE>
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
compensation of the Fund's Directors for the fiscal year ended November 30,
1999. No persons (other than the "independent" Directors, as set forth below)
currently receive compensation from the Fund for acting as a Director or
officer. Mr. Horejsi's compensation was paid for services as a Director of the
Fund prior to the date that BAS became co-administrator to the Fund. Directors
and executive officers of the Fund do not receive pension or retirement benefits
from the Fund. Directors receive reimbursement for travel and other
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with board meetings.
6
<PAGE>
COMPENSATION TABLE
------------------
NAME OF PERSON AND AGGREGATE COMPENSATION
POSITION WITH THE FUND* FROM THE FUND PAID TO DIRECTORS**
- ---------------------- -------------------------------
ALFRED G. ALDRIDGE, JR. $17,652.17
Director
RICHARD I. BARR $21,148.90
Director
JAMES G. DUFF $22,573.90
Director
STEWART R. HOREJSI $4,200.00
Director
STEPHEN C. MILLER $0
President of the Fund, Chairman
of the Board and Director
- ------------------------------
* Effective January 15, 1999, Donald F. Crumrine, Robert T. Flaherty,
Morgan Gust and Robert F. Wulf resigned as Directors of the Fund. Such
persons had also served as Directors of Preferred Income Fund
Incorporated and Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated (the
"Preferred Funds").
** Reflects information relating to the Fund (and not the other funds in
the former "fund complex"), because the Fund is no longer in the same
fund complex as the Preferred Funds. In addition to the amounts shown
above that were paid to persons currently serving as Directors, the
Fund paid Morgan Gust and Robert F. Wulf $1,450 each for their services
as Directors of the Fund prior to January 15, 1999.
REQUIRED VOTE
Election of the listed nominee for Director of the Fund will require
the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the Meeting in person
or by proxy on Proposal 1.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE NON-INTERESTED DIRECTORS,
RECOMMENDS THAT THE MMP(R) SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 1.
PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PricewaterhouseCoopers"), One
Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, has served as independent
accountants for the Fund since the Fund's commencement of operations, and has
been selected to serve in such capacity for the Fund's fiscal year ending
November 30, 2000 by the Board of Directors of the Fund, and by those Directors
who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund.
PricewaterhouseCoopers has informed the Fund that it has no direct or indirect
financial interest in the Fund. A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers will
not be present at the Meeting but will be available by telephone and will have
an opportunity to make a statement if the representative so desires and will be
available to respond to appropriate questions.
7
<PAGE>
REQUIRED VOTE
Ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers as independent
accountants for the Fund requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the Shares (including all shares of Common Stock and MMP(R))
represented at the Meeting in person or by proxy, voting as a single class.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, INCLUDING ALL OF THE NON-INTERESTED DIRECTORS,
RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 2.
SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
All proposals by shareholders of the Fund that are intended to be
presented at the Fund's next Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2001
must be received by the Fund for consideration for inclusion in the Fund's proxy
statement relating to the meeting no later than November 4, 2000.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
INVESTMENT ADVISERS, ADMINISTRATOR AND CO-ADMINISTRATOR
Boulder Investment Advisers, L.L.C. serves as the investment adviser to
the Fund and its business address is 1680 38th Street, Suite 800, Boulder,
Colorado 80301. Stewart Investment Advisers, Ltd. serves as sub-adviser to the
Fund and its business address is Bellerive, Queen Street, St. Peter, Barbados.
Spectrum Asset Management, Inc. also serves as a sub-adviser to the Fund and its
business address is 4 High Park, Stamford, CT 06905. PFPC Inc. acts as the
transfer agent and administrator to the Fund and is located at 101 Federal
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Boulder Administrative Services, L.L.C.,
serves as co-administrator to the Fund and is located at 1680 38th Street, Suite
800, Boulder Colorado 80301.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act requires the Fund's Directors and
officers, certain persons affiliated with the Fund's investment advisers, and
persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Fund's securities, to
file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC and the New York
Stock Exchange. Directors, officers and greater-than-10% shareholders are
required by SEC regulations to furnish the Fund with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file. Based solely upon the Fund's review of the copies of such forms
it receives and written representations from certain of such persons, the Fund
believes that through the date hereof all such filing requirements applicable to
such persons were complied with, except for a late filing made on behalf of
certain affiliates of Stewart R. Horejsi reflecting transfers of shares solely
among entities with which he is affiliated.
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
on the matter for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Under
Maryland law, abstentions do not constitute a vote "for" or "against" a matter
and will be disregarded in determining the "votes cast" on an issue.
8
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OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING
The Fund does not intend to present any other business at the Meeting,
nor are they 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 MEETING ARE THEREFORE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND
RETURN ALL PROXY CARDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID
ENVELOPE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9
<PAGE>
BOULDER TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned holder of shares of Common Stock of Boulder Total Return Fund,
Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), hereby appoints Stephen C. Miller,
Carl D. Johns, Marc A. Schuman and Michelle A. Whalen, attorneys and proxies for
the undersigned, 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 Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort,
5401 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85250 at 9:00 a.m. local time,
on April 25, 2000, 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 Annual 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.
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
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<PAGE>
Please indicate your vote by an "X" in the appropriate box below.
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
PROPOSAL 2.
PLEASE REFER TO THE PROXY STATEMENT FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSALS.
2. To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent
accountants for the Fund.
FOR ____ AGAINST ____ ABSTAIN ____
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" RATIFICATION
OF THE SELECTION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS FOR
THE FUND.
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: ------------------------
11
<PAGE>
BOULDER TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned holder of shares of Money Market Cumulative Preferred(TM) Stock
("MMP(R)") of Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc., a MaryLand corporation (the
"Fund"), hereby appoints Stephen C. Miller, Carl D. Johns, Marc A. Schuman and
Michelle A. Whalen, attorneys and proxies for the undersigned, with full powers
of substitution and revocation, to represent the undersigned and to vote on
behalf of the undersigned all shares of MMP(R), which the undersigned is
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be held at
the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, 5401 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale,
Arizona 85250 at 9:00 a.m. local time, on April 25, 2000, 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 Annual 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.
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
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<PAGE>
Please indicate your vote by an "X" in the appropriate box below.
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
ELECTION OF NOMINEE AS DIRECTOR AND FOR PROPOSAL 2.
PLEASE REFER TO THE PROXY STATEMENT FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSALS.
1. Election of Director.
NOMINEE: Alfred G. Aldridge, Jr.
FOR ____ WITHHELD ____
2. To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent
accountants for the Fund.
FOR ____ AGAINST ____ ABSTAIN ____
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION
OF THE NOMINEE AND "FOR" RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS
LLP AS INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE FUND.
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: ------------------------
OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING
The Fund does not intend to present any other business at the Meeting,
nor are they 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.
13
