UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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o Confidential,
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o Definitive
Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Taiwan
Greater China Fund
(Name of
Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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TAIWAN
GREATER CHINA FUND May 5, 2005
c/o Brown
Brothers Harriman
40 Water
Street
Boston,
MA 02109-3661
Telephone:
1-800-343-9567
Dear
Shareholders:
You are
cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”)
of the Taiwan Greater China Fund (the “Trust”, formerly known as The R.O.C.
Taiwan Fund), which will be held at the offices of Bingham McCutchen LLP, 399
Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022-4689 on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 at 9:30
a.m., New York City time. A formal notice and a Proxy Statement regarding the
Meeting, a proxy card for your vote at the Meeting and a postage prepaid
envelope in which to return your proxy are enclosed. Shareholders who plan on
attending the Meeting will be required to provide valid identification in order
to gain admission.
At the
Meeting, Shareholders will:
(i) Elect two
trustees, each to serve for a term expiring on the date of the 2008 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders or the special meeting in lieu thereof;
(ii) Consider
whether to approve the conversion of the Trust from a closed-end investment
company into an open-end investment company; and
(iii) Consider
whether to approve a fundamental policy whereby the Trust would adopt an
interval fund structure with semi-annual repurchases.
The Board
of Trustees recommends that you vote for each of
the nominees for trustee named in the accompanying Proxy Statement, against the
conversion of the Trust from a closed-end investment company into an open-end
investment company, and for the
adoption of an interval fund structure.
Whether
or not you plan to attend the Meeting in person, it is important that your
shares be represented and voted. After reading the enclosed notice and Proxy
Statement, please complete, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card at
your earliest convenience. Your return of the proxy card will not prevent you
from voting in person at the Meeting should you later decide to do
so.
If you
are a beneficial owner holding shares through a broker-dealer, please note that,
under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, broker-dealers may not vote your
shares on the proposal described in paragraph (ii) above without your
instructions. In addition, if you are a beneficial owner holding shares through
a bank or trust company nominee, you may find that such nominee will not vote
your shares in respect of some or all of the matters to be considered at the
Meeting without your instructions. Accordingly, the Board of Trustees of the
Trust urges all beneficial owners of shares who are not also record owners of
such shares to contact the institutions through which their shares are held and
give appropriate instructions, if necessary, to vote their shares. The Trust
will also be pleased to cooperate with any appropriate arrangement pursuant to
which beneficial owners desiring to attend the Meeting may be identified as such
and admitted to the Meeting as Shareholders.
Time will
be provided during the Meeting for discussion, and Shareholders present will
have an opportunity to ask questions about matters of interest to
them.
Respectfully,
/s/ Steven R.
Champion
Steven R.
Champion
President
/s/ David
Laux
David
Laux
Chairman
of the Board of Trustees
Important
matters will be considered, and your vote may be necessary to insure the
presence of a quorum at the Meeting. Accordingly, all shareholders, regardless
of the size of their holdings, are urged to sign and mail the enclosed proxy in
the enclosed envelope, or to give appropriate instructions to persons holdings
shares of record on their behalf, promptly.
TAIWAN
GREATER CHINA FUND
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD JUNE 21, 2005
To the
Shareholders of the Taiwan Greater China Fund:
NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of the
Taiwan Greater China Fund (the “Trust”, formerly known as The R.O.C. Taiwan
Fund) will be held at the offices of Bingham McCutchen LLP, 399 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10022-4689 on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 at 9:30 a.m., New York City
time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect
two Trustees, each to serve for a term expiring on the date of the 2008 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders or the special meeting in lieu thereof.
2. To
consider whether to approve the conversion of the Trust from a closed-end
investment company into an open-end investment company.
3. To
consider whether to approve a fundamental policy whereby the Trust would adopt
an interval fund structure with semi-annual repurchases.
4. To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any
adjournment thereof.
The Board
of Trustees of the Trust has fixed the close of business on Monday, April 18,
2005, as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment thereof.
Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share of beneficial interest of
the Trust held of record on the record date with respect to each matter to be
voted upon at the Meeting.
You are
cordially invited to attend the Meeting. All Shareholders are requested to
complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly, and no
later than June 20, 2005, in the envelope provided for that purpose, which does
not require any postage if mailed in the United States. If you are able to
attend the Meeting, you may, if you wish, revoke the proxy and vote personally
on all matters brought before the Meeting. The enclosed proxy is being solicited
by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
BY ORDER
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Cheryl
Chang, Secretary
May 5,
2005
TAIWAN
GREATER CHINA FUND
PROXY
STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION
This
Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies on
behalf of the Board of Trustees (the “Board of Trustees” or the “Board”, the
trustees of the Board are referred to as the “Trustees”) of the Taiwan Greater
China Fund (the “Trust”, formerly known as The R.O.C. Taiwan Fund) for use at
the Annual Meeting (the “Meeting”) of holders of shares (the “Shareholders”) of
the Trust (the “Shares”) to be held at the offices of Bingham McCutchen LLP, 399
Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022-4689 on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 at 9:30
a.m., New York City time, and at any adjournment thereof.
This
Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy are first being mailed to
Shareholders on or about May 5, 2005. Any Shareholder giving a proxy has the
power to revoke it by mail (addressed to The Altman Group, 60 East 42nd Street,
Suite 405, New York, New York 10165), or in person at the Meeting, by executing
a superseding proxy or by submitting a notice of revocation to the Trust. All
properly executed proxies received by mail on or before the close of business on
June 20, 2005 or delivered personally at the Meeting will be voted as specified
in such proxies or, if no specification is made, for the nominees for election
named and against the conversion of the Trust from a closed-end investment
company into an open-end investment company.
The Board
of Trustees has fixed the close of business on Monday, April 18,
2005, as
the record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment thereof. Shareholders of record
will be entitled to one vote for each Share. No Shares have cumulative voting
rights for the election of the Trustees.
As of the
record date, the Trust had 20,246,218 Shares outstanding. Abstentions and
“non-votes” will be counted as present for all purposes in determining the
existence of a quorum. (A “non-vote” occurs when a nominee (typically, a
broker-dealer) holding Shares for a beneficial owner attends a meeting with
respect to such Shares (in person or by proxy) but does not vote on one or more
proposals because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with
respect to that matter and has not received instructions from the beneficial
owner.)
One third
of the Trust’s outstanding Shares, present in person or represented by proxy at
the Meeting, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the
Meeting. The affirmative vote of a plurality of the Shares present or
represented by proxy and voting on the matter in question at the Meeting is
required to elect the nominees for election as Trustees. An affirmative vote of
a majority of all outstanding Shares is required to approve the conversion of
the Trust from a closed-end investment company into an open-end investment
company. As provided under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment
Company Act”), approval of the fundamental policy adopting the interval fund
structure requires the affirmative vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting
securities” of the Trust, which means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a)
67% or more of the outstanding Shares present or represented at the Meeting, if
holders of more than 50% of the outstanding Shares of the Trust entitled to vote
are present or represented by proxy at the Meeting, or (b) more than 50% of the
outstanding Shares of the Trust entitled to vote.
Abstentions
and “non-votes” will be treated as votes present and not cast at the meeting.
Accordingly, abstentions and “non-votes” will not have the effect of votes in
opposition to the election of a Trustee under Proposal 1. Abstentions and
“non-votes” will however, have the effect of votes in opposition to Proposals 2
and 3.
The Trust
knows of no business that may or will be presented for consideration at the
Meeting, other than that mentioned in Proposals 1, 2 and 3 described herein. If
any matter not referred to above is properly presented, the persons named on the
enclosed proxy will vote in accordance with their discretion. However, any
business that is not on the agenda for the Meeting may be presented for
consideration or action at the Meeting only with the approval of the Board of
Trustees.
The
address of Brown Brothers Harriman, which provides certain administrative
services for the Trust, is 40 Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02196-2047.
BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP OF SHARES
The
following table provides information, as of May 3, 2005, except as noted,
regarding the beneficial ownership of Shares by (i) each person or group known
to the Trust to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Shares
outstanding, (ii) each of the Trust’s Trustees or Trustee nominees, (iii) each
executive officer of the Trust and (iv) all Trustees, Trustee nominees and
executive officers of the Trust as a group. Except as noted, each of the named
owners has sole voting and dispositive power over the Shares
listed.
Name
and Address of
Beneficial
Owner |
Amount
and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent
of Class |
City
of London Investment Group plc (“CLIG”)
City
of London Investment Management Company Limited (“CLIM”)
10
Eastcheap
London
EC3M 1LX
U.K. |
2,675,753(1) |
13.2% |
Sarasin
Investment Fund Ltd.
155
Bishopsgate
London
EC2M 3XY
U.K. |
2,246,769(2) |
11.1% |
Laxey
Partners Limited (“Laxey”)
Mr.
Colin Kingsnorth
Mr.
Andrew Pegge
Stanley
House
7-9
Market Hill, Douglas
Isle
of Man IM1 2BF
U.K. |
2,060,551(3) |
10.2% |
Lazard
Asset Management LLC (“Lazard”)
30
Rockefeller Plaza
New
York, New York 10112
U.S.A. |
1,901,860(4) |
9.4% |
TRUSTEES
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Name
and Address of
Beneficial
Owner |
Amount
and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent
of Class |
Steven
R. Champion
Bank
Tower
Room
1001
205
DunHua North Road
Taipei,
Taiwan, R,O,C. |
13,300 |
* |
David
Laux
2560
N. 23rd
Road
Arlington,
Virginia 22207
U.S.A. |
3,000 |
* |
Frederick
C. Copeland, Jr.
11
Deer Ridge Road
Avon,
Connecticut 06001
U.S.A. |
2,000 |
* |
Robert
P. Parker
101
California Street
Suite
2830
San
Francisco, California 94111
U.S.A. |
1,220 |
* |
Edward
B. Collins
160
Sansome Street, 18th
Floor,
San Francisco,
California
94104
U.S.A. |
1,000 |
* |
All
Trustees, Trustee nominees and executive officers as a
group |
20,520 |
* |
* Less
than 1%
(1) Based
upon information provided by CLIG and CLIM in a Statement on Schedule 13G
jointly filed on January 19, 2005 with respect to ownership as of December 31,
2004. In that statement CLIM reported that it held its 2,603,305 Shares as
investment advisor to certain investment funds. CLIG reported that its ownership
included the 2,603,305 Shares held by CLIM as a result of CLIG’s status as the
parent holding company of CLIM. CLIG and CLIM stated that they held sole voting
power and sole dispositive power over their Shares.
(2)
Based
upon information disclosed on Bloomberg. This information reflects that Sarasin
EmergingSar Fund holds 1,400,427 Shares, Sarasin EmergingSar Asia Fund holds
475,742 Shares and SaraPro Emerging Markets Fund holds 370,600 Shares. The Trust
believes that Sarasin holds voting and shared dispositive power over all such
Shares.
(3) Based
upon information provided by Laxey and Messrs. Kingsnorth and Pegge in a
Statement on Schedule 13D filed on March 1, 2005 with respect to ownership as of
February 18, 2005 and on Form 4 filed on April 27, 2005 with respect to
ownership as of April 7, 2005. In that statement it was reported that Messrs.
Kingsnorth and Pegge control Laxey, and that Laxey and Messrs. Kingsnorth and
Pegge hold shared voting and shared dispositive power over (i) 375,110 Shares by
virtue of Laxey’s discretionary authority over certain accounts managed for
unaffiliated third parties in which such Shares are held, (ii) 1,000 Shares by
virtue of Laxey’s beneficial ownership of such Shares and (iii) 1,684,441 Shares
by virtue of Laxey’s position as investment manager for each of The Value
Catalyst Fund Limited, which holds 373,534 Shares, LP Value Limited, which holds
375,190 Shares, Laxey Universal Value, LP, which holds 345,219 Shares, Laxey
Investors, L.P., which holds 312,868 Shares, and Laxey Investors Limited, which
holds 277,630 Shares.
(4) Based
upon information provided by Lazard in a Statement on Schedule 13G filed on
February 14, 2005 with respect to its ownership as of December 31, 2004,
declaring that it held sole voting and sole dispositive power over its
Shares.
PROPOSAL
1. ELECTION OF TRUSTEES
The two
nominees for election to the Board of Trustees are Mr. Frederick C. Copeland,
Jr. and Mr. Robert P. Parker. At the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Mr.
Frederick C. Copeland, Jr. was elected to replace Mr. Alex Hammond-Chambers. Mr.
Copeland was elected for a term of one year with his term expiring at the
Trust’s 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or the special meeting in lieu
thereof. If reelected, Mr. Copeland will serve for a term expiring on the date
of the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or the special meeting in lieu
thereof. Mr. Parker currently is a Trustee of the Trust and, if reelected, will
serve for a term expiring on the date of the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
or the special meeting in lieu thereof. Each of Mr. Copeland and Mr. Parker were
nominated by the Board of Trustees, at a meeting held in February 2005, upon the
recommendations of the Nominating Committee.
Since the
inception of the Trust in 1989, the Trustees of the Trust have been divided into
three classes, each having a term of three years, with the term of one class
expiring each year. Mr. Cheng-Cheng Tung resigned his position as a member of
the Board, effective December 31, 2004. Mr. Tung’s term was to expire on the
date of the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or the special meeting in lieu
thereof. The Trustees intend to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Tung’s
resignation. The person elected by the Trustees to fill the vacancy will serve a
term that expires on the date of the 2006 Annual Meeting or the special meeting
in lieu thereof.
The
persons named in the accompanying proxy will, in the absence of contrary
instructions, vote all proxies FOR the election of Messrs. Copeland and Parker.
Each nominee has indicated his consent to be named in the accompanying proxy and
that he will serve if elected. If Messrs. Copeland and Parker should be unable
to serve (an event not now anticipated), the proxies will be voted for such
person, if any, as is designated by the Board of Trustees to replace Mr.
Copeland or Mr. Parker, as the case may be.
INFORMATION
CONCERNING NOMINEES
The
following table sets forth certain information concerning Messrs. Copeland and
Parker. Messrs. Copeland and Parker were recommended for reelection as Trustees
of the Trust by their fellow Trustees.
Name
(Age) and
Address |
Position(s)
Held
with the
Trust |
Term
of Office and
Length
of Time
Served |
Principal
Occupation(s)
During
the Past
Five
Years |
Other
Business
Experience,
Other
Positions
with Affiliated
Persons
of the Trust and
Other
Directorships
Held
by Nominee
|
Non-Interested
Nominees |
|
|
|
|
Frederick
C. Copeland, Jr. (63)
11
Deer Ridge Road
Avon,
Connecticut 06001 U.S.A. |
Trustee
|
Trustee
since May 2004 and
until
the 2005 Annual
Meeting
of Shareholders or
the
special meeting in lieu
thereof |
Executive
Director, Chairman of Executive Committee, Far East National Bank, since
2004;
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating
Officer,
Aetna International (insurance),
from
prior to 2000 to 2001;
Executive
Vice President,
Aetna,
Inc. (insurance), from prior to 2000 to 2001 |
Chairman,
President and
Chief
Executive Officer, Fleet
Bank,
N.A.(Connecticut Bank), 1993-1995;
President
and Chief
Executive
Officer, Citibank
Canada
Ltd., 1987-1993;
Taiwan
Country Head,
Citibank,
1983-1987 |
Robert
P. Parker (63)
101
California Street, Suite 2830 San Francisco, California 94111
U.S.A |
Trustee |
Trustee
since 1998 and until
the
2005 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
or the special
meeting
in lieu thereof; and
Chairman
from February 2004 to July 2004 |
Chairman,
Parker Price
Venture
Capital, Inc.
(formerly
known as Allegro
Capital,
Inc.), since prior to
2000 |
Director,
NexFlash
Technologies,
Inc., since 2001; Partner, McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen (law
firm), 1988-97 |
INFORMATION
CONCERNING OTHER TRUSTEES
The
following table sets forth certain information concerning the Trustees of the
Trust (other than Messrs. Copeland, Jr. and Parker).
Name
(Age) and Address |
Position(s)
Held
with the
Trust |
Term
of Office and
Length
of Time
Served |
Principal
Occupation(s)
During
the Past
Five
Years |
Other
Business
Experience,
Other
Positions
with Affiliated
Persons
of the Trust and
Other
Directorships
Held
by Trustee
|
Non-Interested
Trustees |
|
|
|
|
David
N. Laux (77)
2560
N. 23rd
Road
Arlington,
Virginia 22207
U.S.A.
|
Trustee
and
Chairman
of the Board |
Trustee
since 1992 and until
the
2007 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
or the special
meeting
in lieu thereof; and Chairman of the Board since July 2004 |
Chairman,
Great Dads (non-profit), since 2004; Director, International Foundation
(non-profit) since 2000; President, US-Taiwan
Business
Forum,
from
2000 to 2004 |
Director,
US-ROC (Taiwan)
Business
Council, since 1990;
Chairman
and Managing
Director,
American Institute
in
Taiwan, 1987-90; Director
of
Asian Affairs, National
Security
Council, The White
House,
1982-86 |
Edward
B. Collins (62)
160
Sansome Street, 18th
Floor,
San Francisco,
California
94104 U.S.A. |
Trustee |
Trustee
since 2000 and until
the
2006 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
or the special
meeting
in lieu thereof |
Managing
Director, China
Vest
Group (venture
capital
investment), since
prior
to 2000 |
Director,
Mediostream, Inc.(technology company),
since
2000 |
BOARD
AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Board
of Trustees of the Trust held nine meetings and two audit committee meetings
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. Each Trustee attended at least
75% of the total of (i) all meetings of the Board of Trustees and (ii) all
meetings of each committee of the Board on which he served during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2004, except for Mr. Tung, who attended four of the nine
Board meetings held during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
The
Trust’s Board of Trustees has an Executive Committee, which, subject to certain
restrictions, may exercise all powers and authority of the Board between
meetings of the Board. The current members of the Executive Committee are
Messrs. David N. Laux (Chairman), Edward B. Collins and Robert P. Parker, all of
whom are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19)
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company
Act”), and are independent Trustees of the Trust, as defined under the rules of
the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). Mr. Chi-Chu Chen was a member of the
Executive Committee until February 2004. Mr. Alex Hammond-Chambers was a member
of the Executive Committee from February 2004 until April 2004. The Executive
Committee did not hold an Executive Committee Meeting during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2004. The Executive Committee does not have a
charter.
NOMINATING
COMMITTEE
The Board
of Trustees has a Nominating Committee, the current members of which are Messrs.
Robert P. Parker (chair) and David N. Laux. Mr. David N. Laux was the chair of
the Nominating Committee until Mr. Robert P. Parker assumed that role in
February of 2004. The former and current members of the Nominating Committee
were or are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in Section
2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act, and also were or are independent
Trustees of the Trust, as defined under the rules of the NYSE. The Nominating
Committee has a charter, which is available on the Trust’s website at
www.taiwangreaterchinafund.com. The charter provides that the Nominating
Committee will consider recommendations of Trustee nominees submitted by
Shareholders. Any such recommendations should be sent to the Trust’s Nominating
Committee c/o Brown Brothers Harriman, 40 Water Street P.O. Box 962047, Boston,
Massachusetts 02196-2047. The charter also provides that the Nominating
Committee will consider potential candidates who are personally known to members
of the Nominating Committee, persons who are recommended to the Nominating
Committee by other members of the Board and other persons known by Board members
or persons identified by any search firm retained by the Nominating Committee.
In considering whether to recommend that an individual be nominated as a
Trustee, the Nominating Committee will take the following criteria, among
others, into account: (i) the Board’s size and composition; (ii) applicable
listing standards and laws; (iii) an individual’s expertise (especially with
regard to matters relating to Taiwan, mainland China and public and private
investment funds), experience and willingness to serve actively; (iv) whether an
individual will enhance the functioning of the Board and the compatibility of
his or her views concerning the manner in which the Trust should be governed
with the Board’s assessment of the interests of the Trust’s shareholders; and
(v) the number of company boards of directors on which such individual
serves.
During
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the Nominating Committee did not retain
any search firm or pay a fee to any third party to identify Trustee candidates.
The
Nominating Committee did not hold any meetings during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004. On February 22, 2005 the Nominating Committee recommended
that Messrs. Copeland and Parker be nominated to stand for election at the 2005
Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE
The Board
of Trustees has a Compensation Committee, current members of which are Messrs.
Frederick C. Copeland, Jr. (chair), Edward B. Collins and David N. Laux. Mr.
Alex Hammond-Chambers was a member of the Compensation Committee until April
2004. The function of the Compensation Committee is to set and review the
compensation and terms of employment of the Trust’s Chief Executive and Chief
Financial Officer and to oversee the compensation of the Trust’s other
employees. The Compensation Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004. The Compensation Committee met on February 22, 2005. The
former and current members of the Compensation Committee were not or are not
interested persons of the Trust, as defined in the Investment Company Act, and
also were or are independent Trustees of the Trust, as defined in the rules of
the NYSE. The Compensation Committee has a charter, which is attached hereto as
Appendix A.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE AND INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board
of Trustees has an Audit Committee established in accordance with Section
3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”) and Rule 32a-4 of the Investment Company Act. The current members of the
Audit Committee are Messrs. Edward B. Collins (chair), Frederick C. Copeland,
Jr. and Robert P. Parker. Messrs. Pedro-Pablo Kuczynski and David N. Laux were
members of the Audit Committee until February 2004. Mr. Alex Hammond-Chambers
was a member of the Audit Committee until April 2004. The former and current
members of the Audit Committee were not or are not interested persons of the
Trust, as defined in the Investment Company Act, and also were or are
independent Trustees of the Trust, as defined in the rules of the NYSE. The
Audit Committee has a charter, which is attached hereto as Appendix B.
The
responsibilities of the Audit Committee include, among other things, review and
selection of the independent public accountants of the Trust, review of the
Trust’s financial statements prior to their submission to the Board of Trustees
and of other accounting matters of the Trust, and review of the administration
of the Trust’s Codes of Ethics and Whistleblower Policy.
The Audit
Committee held two meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and
also met on February 22, 2005. At those meetings the Audit Committee, among
other things:
(i) approved
the selection of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the Trust’s independent public accountants
for its 2004 and 2005 fiscal years;
(ii) reviewed
the audited financial statements of the Trust for its 2003 and 2004 fiscal years
and discussed those statements with the Trust’s management and
KPMG;
(iii) discussed
with the Trust’s management and KPMG those matters requiring discussion by the
Accounting Standards Board’s Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61 as currently
in effect, including the independence of KPMG;
(iv) received
the written disclosures and the letters from KPMG required by the Independence
Standards Board’s Standard No. 1 as currently in effect;
(v) reviewed
the charter for the Audit Committee;
(vi)
reviewed the status of the Trust’s conversion to internal management;
and
(vii) pre-approved
the payment of fees for permitted non-audit services.
Based
upon the reviews, discussions and consideration described above, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Board of Trustees that the Trust’s audited
financial statements be included in its Annual Report to Shareholders for the
Trust’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
Representatives
of KPMG are expected to be present at the Meeting, will have an opportunity to
make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available during
the Meeting to respond to appropriate questions from Shareholders.
AUDIT
FEES
The
aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by KPMG, the Trust’s
independent auditors, in connection with the annual audit of the Trust’s
financial statements and for services normally provided by KPMG in connection
with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004 were $53,500 and $64,595,
respectively.
Included
in the 2004 annual audit fees are additional audit fees of $7,795 billed for
professional services in connection with the liquidation of The Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Fund rendered by KPMG for fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
NON-AUDIT
FEES
Audit-Related
Fees. The Trust did not pay KPMG any audit-related fees (other than those
disclosed under “Audit Fees” above), and there were no audit-related fees paid
by the Trust to KPMG that were required to be approved by the Trust’s Audit
Committee, in its 2003 and 2004 fiscal years.
Tax Fees.
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by KPMG for the
preparation of the Trust’s federal income and excise tax returns and the
provision of tax advice and planning services for the 2003 and 2004 fiscal years
were $50,000 and $41,600, respectively.
All Other
Fees. The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by KPMG for
services to the Trust other than the services referenced above for the 2003 and
2004 fiscal years were $9,127 and $10,017, respectively. The fees incurred by
the Trust in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 related to the preparation of an
application for distributing fund status in the United Kingdom and research and
preparation of a memorandum of advice concerning the tax implications in the
Republic of China of the Trust’s becoming an internally managed investment
company.
Aggregate
Amount of Non-Audit Fees. The aggregate amount of non-audit fees billed by KPMG
for services rendered to the Trust for its 2003 and 2004 fiscal years were
$59,127 and $51,617, respectively.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE’S PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Audit
Committee approves the engagement of the Trust’s accountants to render audit or
non-audit services before such accountants perform such services.
All
services described under “Audit Fees” and “Non-Audit Fees” above that required
approval were pre-approved by the Audit Committee before KPMG’s engagement to
perform them.
POLICY
ON TRUSTEES’ ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS
The
Trust’s policy with regard to attendance by members of the Board of Trustees at
its Annual Meetings of Shareholders is that all Trustees are expected to attend,
absent extenuating circumstances. Four out of five Trustees attended the 2004
Annual Meeting. Mr. Tung did not attend the 2004 Annual Meeting.
COMMUNICATIONS
WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Shareholders
who wish to communicate with the Board of Trustees with respect to matters
relating to the Trust may address their correspondence to the Board as a whole
or to individual members c/o Brown Brothers Harriman, 40 Water Street P.O. Box
962047, Boston, Massachusetts 02196-2047, ATTN: Investor Service
Counsel.
OFFICERS
OF THE TRUST
The
following table sets forth certain information concerning the officers of the
Trust. Information regarding Mr. Laux, the Chairman of the Board, is set forth
in the Trustee table above. The Chairman and the President (Messrs. Laux and
Champion, respectively) each holds office until his successor is duly elected
and qualified, and all other officers hold office at the discretion of the
Trustees.
Name
(Age) and
Address |
Position(s)
Held
with the
Trust |
Length
of Time
Served |
Principal
Occupation(s)
During
the Past
Five
Years |
Steven
R. Champion (59)
Bank
Tower Room 1001
205
Dun Hua North Road
Taipei,
Taiwan, R.O.C. |
President,
Chief
Executive
Officer
and
Portfolio
Manager;
President from May 1989 to June 1992 |
Since
February 2004 |
Executive
Vice President,
Bank
of Hawaii, 2001-2003;
Chief
Investment Officer,
Aetna
International (Insurance), from
prior
to 2000 to 2001 |
Cheryl
Chang (40)
Bank
Tower Room 1001
205
Dun Hua North Road
Taipei,
Taiwan, R.O.C. |
Secretary,
Treasurer,
Chief Financial
Officer
and Chief Compliance Officer |
Secretary,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer since June 2004; Chief Compliance
Officer since September 2004 |
Senior
Manager, KPMG
(Taipei
Office), from prior to
2000
to 2004; Assurances
and
Advisory Unit of
International
Practice
Group,
KPMG (audit, tax, finance and risk advisory) (Taipei
Office),
2000-2004 |
Dirk
Bennet (58)
Bank
Tower
Room
1001
205
Dun Hua North Road
Taipei,
Taiwan, R.O.C. |
Vice
President and Assistant Secretary |
Assistant
Secretary since prior to 1999; Vice President since February
2004 |
Manager
of Research Department of International Investment Trust Company Limited
(investment advisor) from prior to 2000 to
2004 |
TRUSTEE
COMPENSATION
The
compensation received by each Trustee of the Trust for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004 is set forth below.
Name |
Position |
Total
Compensation from the Trust Paid to Trustees
(1)(2) |
Edward
B. Collins |
Trustee
|
$26,946 |
Frederick
C. Copeland, Jr. |
Trustee |
$16,917 |
Pedro-Pablo
Kuczynski (3) |
Trustee
|
$6,667 |
David
N. Laux |
Trustee
|
$26,667 |
Robert
P. Parker |
Trustee
|
$27,415 |
Cheng-Cheng
Tung (4) |
Trustee
|
$5,667 |
Alex
Hammond-Chambers (5) |
Trustee |
$12,000 |
(1) The
Trustees of the Trust do not receive any pension or retirement benefits from the
Trust and did not receive any such benefits from International Investment Trust
Company Limited, in its previous role as the Trust’s investment adviser, during
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
(2) With
respect to service from January 1, 2004 to August 30, 2004, each Trustee of the
Trust was entitled to receive fees paid by the Trust of $1,000 for each Board of
Trustees’ meeting or committee meeting attended in person, $500 for each Board
of Trustees’ meeting or committee meeting attended by telephone and an annual
Trustee’s fee of $10,000. At its meeting on September 30, 2004 the Board of
Trustees increased the fees paid by the Trust (effective as of September 1,
2004) to $2,000 for each Board of Trustees’ meeting or committee meeting
attended in person, $1,000 for each Board of Trustees’ meeting or committee
meeting attended by telephone and increased the annual retainer from $10,000 to
$12,000 and to $15,000 for the Chairman. At its meeting on February 22, 2005,
the Board of Trustees increased the annual retainer for the Chairman to $20,000.
In addition, the Board of Trustees adopted a policy pursuant to which each of
the Trustees agreed that he would invest in the Shares to the extent necessary
so that on or before December 31, 2005 each Trustee would have beneficial
ownership of the Shares with a value ranging between $10,001 and
$50,000.
(3) Mr.
Kuczynski resigned from the Board of Trustees in February 2004 immediately
following his appointment as the Peruvian Minister of Finance.
(4) Mr. Tung
resigned from the Board of Trustees effective as of December 31,
2004.
(5) Mr.
Hammond-Chambers resigned from the Board of Trustees in April 2004.
REQUIRED
VOTE
The
affirmative vote of a plurality of the Shares present or represented by proxy
and voting on the matter in question at the Meeting is required to elect the
nominees for election as Trustees. In other words, the nominees receiving the
greatest number of votes will be elected. Abstentions and “non-votes” will be
treated as votes present and not cast at the meeting. Abstentions and
“non-votes” will not have the effect of votes in opposition to the election of a
Trustee under this Proposal 1.
The
Board of Trustees unanimously recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the
election of the nominees as Trustees.
PROPOSAL
2. CONVERSION OF THE TRUST FROM A CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANY TO AN OPEN-END
INVESTMENT COMPANY
BACKGROUND
AND SUMMARY
The Trust
is registered as a closed-end investment company under the Investment Company
Act and has operated as a closed-end fund since the reorganization of The Taiwan
(R.O.C.) Fund (which was an open-end fund not registered in the United States)
into the Trust on May 19, 1989. The Trust’s Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) and By-Laws provide that the Board of
Trustees is required to submit to the Shareholders at their next annual meeting
a binding resolution to convert the Trust into an open-end investment company if
the Shares trade on the NYSE at an average discount from their net asset value
(“NAV”) of more than 10% during any twelve-week period beginning after the most
recent such vote (which in the current case occurred at last year’s annual
meeting). For these purposes the average variation of the trading price of the
Shares from their NAV is determined on the basis of such variances for each
trading day (which means each day when the NYSE is open for trading) during the
applicable twelve-week period and then the average of such daily variances is
determined for the applicable 12-week period as of the end of such period. The
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares is required for the
adoption of such a resolution.
By the
terms of the Declaration of Trust, this requirement became effective on June 1,
1992, and since then the Shareholders have voted on such a resolution nine
times; in 1995 and each of the years from 1997 through 2004. In each instance
the Board recommended that Shareholders vote against the resolution to convert
the Trust into an open-end investment company, and such resolution was not
adopted by the Shareholders. In the most recent vote, on July 21, 2004, 37.80%
of the outstanding Shares were voted in favor of the proposal, 29.33% were voted
against, and 32.87% were either not present at the meeting, were not voted or
were abstained from voting on that particular matter (all of which are
considered votes against the proposal).
After
last year’s vote, the Shares, like those of most other closed-end country funds,
continued to trade at a discount. The average discount for the period from the
2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders until the record date for the 2005 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, however, has been smaller than in recent years. During
all but one of the twelve-week periods since the 2004 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders until the record date for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
the Shares traded at an average discount of 10% or less. Only during the
twelve-week period ending on November 26, 2004 did the Shares trade at an
average discount of more than 10%, requiring the Board of Trustees to submit to
the Shareholders the proposal described herein. The average discount ranged from
a high of 10.05% for the twelve-week period ended November 26, 2004 to a low of
7.50% of the twelve-week period ended April 8, 2005.
On May 3,
2005, the Shares’ trading price on the NYSE closed at a discount to NAV per
Share of 8.75%. Conversion of the Trust to an open-end investment company would
eliminate the trading market in the Shares and provide Shareholders with a
continuing opportunity to redeem their Shares from the Trust at their NAV.
However, for the reasons described below, the Board of Trustees recommends, as
it has in the past, that Shareholders vote against this Proposal 2. The proposal
will be adopted, as provided in the Declaration of Trust, only if approved by
holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares.
At its
meeting on February 22, 2005, the Board of Trustees of the Trust considered, as
it has in the past, information concerning the legal, operational and practical
differences between closed-end and open-end investment companies, the Trust’s
performance to date as a closed-end fund, the historical relationship between
the market price of the Shares and their NAV, the possible effects of conversion
on the Trust and alternatives to conversion. At its meeting, the Board of
Trustees resolved to recommend to the Trust’s Shareholders that they vote
against the proposal to convert the Trust to an open-end investment
company.
In making
this recommendation, the Board of Trustees also considered measures taken since
the last vote by Shareholders to convert the Trust to an open-end investment
company and determined that such measures have proved effective in lowering the
discount at which the Shares have traded in relation to their NAV. These
measures (described in further detail below) included a tender offer in
September 2004 for one-third of the Trust’s total outstanding Shares and the
establishment of a share repurchase program. The average daily discount from
July 26, 2004 to May 3, 2005 was 8.95%.
In
addition, the Board of Trustees considered the steps taken in an effort to
improve the Trust’s performance and the effect conversion of the Trust to an
open-end investment company may have on performance. The Board decided in
December 2003 to terminate the Trust’s investment management agreement with
International Investment Trust Company Limited, which had been the Trust’s
manager since inception, and convert the Trust to an internally managed fund.
This conversion was completed in February 2004, and the Trust implemented the
Board’s new strategy of investing primarily in Taiwan Stock Exchange listed
companies which derive or which are expected to derive a substantial portion of
their revenues by exporting to or operating in mainland China. From March 1,
2004 to December 31, 2004, the Trust’s Share price and net asset value (NAV)
outperformed the Taiwan Stock Exchange Index on both a price appreciation basis
and a total return basis. Similarly, the Trust’s Share price and NAV
outperformed the Taiwan China Strategy Index (“TCSI”) on a price appreciation
basis and a total return basis for the same period. The TCSI was developed by
the Trust in cooperation with Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”), and
is calculated by MSCI.
The Board
of Trustees continues to believe that conversion to an open-end investment
company could adversely affect the functioning of the Trust’s investment
operations and its investment performance, as described below under “Effect of
Conversion on the Trust -- Portfolio Management.” The Board also believes that
conversion could expose the Trust to the risk of a substantial reduction in its
size and a corresponding loss of economies of scale and increase in its expenses
as a percentage of NAV, as described below under “Effect of Conversion on the
Trust -- Potential Increase in Expense Ratio and Decrease in Size.”
Since the
inception of the Trust in 1989, the Shares periodically have traded at a premium
(although not in recent years) above NAV. (See below under “Differences Between
Open-end and Closed-end Investment Companies -- Fluctuation of Capital;
Redeemability of Shares; Elimination of Discount and Premium”.) The Shares’
average annual discount/premium (determined by comparing the Shares’ NAV to
their closing price on the NYSE on each trading day pursuant to the Trust’s
by-laws) by year is as follows:
YEAR |
DISCOUNT(-)/
PREMIUM |
1989
(May 12 to December 31) |
2.71% |
1990 |
-9.47% |
1991 |
-3.29% |
1992 |
4.26% |
1993 |
3.45% |
1994 |
0.75% |
1995 |
1.23
% |
1996 |
3.28% |
1997 |
-17.06% |
1998 |
-17.67% |
1999 |
-14.24% |
2000 |
-18.82% |
2001 |
-14.51% |
2002 |
-14.95% |
2003 |
-11.33% |
2004 |
-9.99% |
2005
(January 1 to May 3) |
-8.11% |
The Board
of Trustees believes that eliminating the discount would not justify the
fundamental changes that conversion would entail to the Trust’s portfolio
management and operations, the risk of reduced size and the potential adverse
effect on the Trust’s investment performance. In order to attempt to reduce or
possibly eliminate the discount, the Board continues to seek to increase
awareness about the Trust through Shareholder and market communications and
meetings by management with members of the investment community specializing in
the closed-end funds sector. While these efforts have not eliminated the Shares’
tendency in recent years to trade at a discount to NAV, the Board of Trustees
believes that such efforts have materially lessened the discount as well as had
a favorable effect on Shareholder relations by keeping major Shareholders
informed concerning the Trust’s investment strategies and policies and by
informing the Board of those Shareholders’ views concerning the Trust’s
management, strategies and policies.
In
addition, the Board of Trustees recognizes that discounts as well as premiums
can be a likely result of the closed-end format because of the probability that
the shares of a closed-end fund will trade at a higher or lower price than the
NAV per share. In addition, the Board of Trustees recognizes that discounts (and
possible premiums) are an inherent consequence of the closed-end fund format.
Discounts can vary widely over time, and a market discount can offer an
investment advantage. For example, Shareholders have the opportunity to purchase
additional Shares in the market at the discounted price when the Shares trade
below their NAV. Shareholders who make such purchases could benefit in
circumstances in which the gap between the NAV and the market price of the
Shares narrows or is eliminated after they make their purchases, especially when
the NAV is also increasing as a result of increases in the value of the Trust’s
investments. Correlatively, Shareholders could be disadvantaged if they buy
Shares at a premium or a small discount to NAV and the premium disappears or the
discount widens, particularly if they decide to sell their Shares under such
circumstances. The Shares’ NAV at the end of each week is published in
compilations of such information for all closed-end funds in publications such
as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Barron’s; the daily NAV at
the close of the preceding trading day in Taiwan can be obtained by calling the
Trust at 1-800-343-9567 or by
accessing the Trust’s website at www.taiwangreaterchinafund.com.
The Board
of Trustees also considers from time to time various alternative measures that
could be adopted for the purpose of seeking to reduce the discount to NAV at
which the Shares have traded. On November 1, 2004, the Trust commenced a share
repurchase program that allows for the repurchase of up to 10% of the
outstanding Shares of the Trust. In connection with the share repurchase
program, the Board of Trustees authorized management to repurchase Trust Shares
in one or more block transactions provided that no block exceeded 500,000 Shares
on any day, no more than 1,000,000 Shares in total were repurchased in block
transactions, and that such Share repurchases were made on the New York Stock
Exchange and in compliance with the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under
the Exchange Act. As of February 28, 2005, the Trust had repurchased the maximum
amount of Shares allowed to be purchased in block transactions. The Trust
continues to effect non-block repurchases under its share repurchase
program.
In
addition, in September 2004, the Trust accepted 10,899,658 Shares for payment at
a price of $4.67 per Share in accordance with its tender offer for up to that
number of Shares. Pursuant to the tender offer, the purchase price was equal to
99% of the Trust’s NAV per Share determined as of the conclusion of the tender
offer. The purchased Shares constituted approximately one-third of the Trust’s
previously outstanding Shares. Besides the repurchase program described above,
the Board of Trustees has not recommended or adopted any alternative measures to
reduce the discount to NAV. The Trustees, however, intend to continue to
consider various additional measures that might have a favorable impact on any
discount to NAV at which the Shares may continue to trade.
The Board
of Trustees has also unanimously approved, subject to Shareholder approval, a
proposal for the Trust to adopt an interval fund structure. If approved by the
Shareholders, the Trust would conduct semi-annual repurchase offers for between
5% and 25% of the Trust’s outstanding securities. The Board of Trustees is
asking the Shareholders to consider this proposal in Proposal 3
herein.
If the
proposal to convert the Trust from a closed-end investment company into an
open-end investment company is not approved, the Shares continue to trade at a
discount and the average discount is again greater than 10% during a twelve-week
period and the Shareholders will again have an opportunity to consider
converting the Trust into an open-end investment company at the next
Shareholders meeting. The Board of Trustees may also decide at any time to
present to the Shareholders the question of whether the Trust should be
converted to an open-end investment company; however, under the Declaration of
Trust such a voluntary submission would require the approval of two-thirds of
the outstanding Shares for its adoption. In the meantime, the Shareholders also
have the opportunity to consider adopting a fundamental policy whereby the Trust
would adopt an interval fund structure pursuant to Proposal 3
herein.
As
described below under “Measures to be Adopted if the Trust Becomes
an
Open-end
Fund -- Redemption Fee,” if the Shareholders vote to convert the Trust into an
open-end fund, the Board of Trustees may cause the Trust to impose a fee payable
to the Trust on all redemptions of up to 2.00% of redemption proceeds for a
certain period of time after conversion. In an effort to deter market timing of
Shares after the conversion of the Trust from an open-end investment company,
the Board of Trustees may also decide to impose redemption fees in connection
with transactions within certain periods of time after the purchase of
Shares.
DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN OPEN-END AND CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
1. Fluctuation
of Capital; Redeemability of Shares; Elimination of Discount and
Premium.
Closed-end investment companies generally do not redeem their outstanding shares
or engage in the continuous sale of new securities, and thus operate with a
relatively fixed capitalization. The shares of closed-end investment companies
are normally bought and sold in the securities market at prevailing market
prices, which may be equal to, less than or more than NAV. From May 12, 1989 to
May 3, 2005 the Shares traded on the NYSE at prices ranging from 31.55% below
NAV (on April 27, 1990) to 35.36% above NAV (on December 31, 1993). The Shares
last traded at a premium of 0.79% above NAV on October 2, 1996. On May 3, 2005,
the closing price of a Share on the NYSE was 8.75% below its NAV.
Although
it is now possible, subject to certain restrictions, for both institutions and
individuals outside Taiwan to invest directly in Taiwan stocks, the Board of
Trustees believes that many foreign investors, and particularly foreign
individuals, continue to invest in the Taiwan market through a managed
intermediary like the Trust. In February 2004, the Board revised the Trust’s
investment strategy to provide that the Trust will primarily invest in Taiwan
companies that derive or expect to derive a significant portion of their
revenues from operations in or exports to mainland China, and the Board believes
that substantial expertise is required to select and assess companies with that
profile. However, additional alternatives to the Trust may develop as vehicles
for investment in Taiwan securities by investors outside Taiwan, which could
have the effect of increasing any discount at which the Shares trade in relation
to their NAV.
By
contrast, open-end investment companies in the United States, commonly referred
to as mutual funds, issue redeemable securities with respect to which,
traditionally, no secondary trading market has been permitted to develop.
(Although this has changed in recent years with the establishment of
exchange-traded open-end funds, it remains true that the vast majority of
open-end funds, both in number and total assets, do not offer secondary market
trading in their shares.) Except during periods when the NYSE is closed or
trading thereon is restricted, or when redemptions may otherwise be suspended in
an emergency as permitted by the Investment Company Act, the holders of these
redeemable securities have the right to surrender them to the mutual fund and
obtain in return their proportionate share of the mutual fund’s NAV at the time
of the redemption (less any redemption fee charged by the fund or contingent
deferred sales charge imposed by the fund’s distributor). The Board of Trustees
has not made any decision with respect to whether, upon conversion to an
open-end investment company, the Trust would follow an exchange traded open-end
format or one of a more traditional open-end investment company, which would not
have a secondary trading market.
Most
mutual funds also continuously issue new shares to investors at a price based
upon their shares’ NAV at the time of issuance. Accordingly, an open-end fund
experiences continuing inflows and outflows of cash and may experience net sales
or net redemptions of its shares.
Upon
conversion of the Trust into an open-end investment company, Shareholders who
wished to realize the value of their Shares would be able to do so by redeeming
their Shares at NAV (less the redemption fee, if any, discussed below under
“Measures to be Adopted if the Trust Becomes an Open-end Fund -- Redemption
Fee”), which would rise or fall based upon the performance of the Trust’s
investment portfolio. The trading market for the Shares at a discount from NAV
would be eliminated. Conversion would also eliminate, however, any possibility
that the Shares could trade at a premium over NAV.
Please
note that, if approved by the Shareholders, the interval fund structure
described in Proposal 3 herein would provide Shareholders a semi-annual
opportunity to liquidate a portion (but not necessarily all) of their Shares at
net asset value, less a 2% repurchase fee.
2. Cash
Reserves. Because
closed-end investment companies are not required to meet redemptions, their cash
reserves can be substantial or minimal, depending on the investment manager’s
investment strategy. The managers of many open-end investment companies, on the
other hand, believe it desirable to maintain cash reserves adequate to meet
anticipated redemptions without prematurely liquidating their portfolio
securities. Although many open-end funds operate successfully in this
environment, the maintenance of larger cash reserves required to operate
prudently as an open-end investment company when net redemptions are anticipated
may reduce an open-end investment company’s ability to achieve its investment
objective by limiting its investment flexibility and the scope of its investment
opportunities. In addition, open-end investment companies are subject to a
requirement that no more than 15% of their net assets may be invested in
securities that are not readily marketable or are otherwise considered to be
illiquid. However, the Trust currently does not invest in, nor does it
anticipate investing in, illiquid securities to any material
extent.
3. Raising
Capital.
Closed-end investment companies may not issue new shares at a price below NAV
except in rights offerings to existing Shareholders, in payment of distributions
and in certain other limited circumstances. Accordingly, the ability of
closed-end funds to raise new capital is restricted, particularly at times when
their shares are not trading at a premium to NAV. The shares of open-end
investment companies, on the other hand, are offered by such companies (in most
cases continuously) at NAV, or at NAV plus a sales charge, and the absence of a
secondary trading market generally makes it impossible to acquire such shares in
any other way. The Trust most recently raised additional capital in 1995, when
it obtained net offering proceeds of approximately $64,000,000 upon the
completion of a public offering of additional Shares at a small premium to
NAV.
4. NYSE
Delisting; State and Federal Fees on Sales of Shares. If the
Trust converted to an open-end fund, the Shares would immediately be delisted
from the NYSE. Some investment managers believe that the listing of an
investment company on a U.S. stock exchange, particularly the NYSE, represents a
valuable asset, especially in terms of attracting non-U.S. investors. In
contrast, the interval fund structure described in Proposal 3 herein does not
automatically result in a delisting from the NYSE. Delisting would save the
Trust annual NYSE fees of approximately $26,000; but the absence of a stock
exchange listing, combined with the need to issue new Shares when investors wish
to increase their holdings, would have the effect of requiring the Trust to pay
federal registration fees, except to the extent that the underwriter of such
sales paid some or all of such fees. Any net savings or increased cost to the
Trust because of the different expenses would not, however, be expected to
materially affect the Trust’s expense ratio.
5. Underwriting;
Brokerage Commissions or Sales Charges on Purchases and
Sales.
Open-end investment companies typically seek to sell new shares on a continuous
basis in order to offset redemptions and avoid shrinkage in size. Shares of
“load” open-end investment companies are normally offered and sold through a
principal underwriter, which deducts a sales charge from the purchase price at
the time of purchase or from the redemption proceeds at the time of redemption,
receives a distribution fee from the fund (called a Rule 12b-1 fee), or both, to
compensate it and securities dealers for sales and marketing services (see
“Measures to be Adopted if the Trust Becomes an Open-end Fund -- Underwriting
and Distribution” below). Shares of “no-load” open-end investment companies are
sold at NAV, without a sales charge, with the fund’s investment adviser or an
affiliate normally bearing the cost of sales and marketing from its own
resources. Shares of closed-end investment companies, on the other hand, are
bought and sold in secondary market transactions at prevailing market prices
subject to the brokerage commissions charged by the broker-dealer firms
executing such transactions. Except in the case of shares sold pursuant to a
dividend reinvestment plan, when a closed-end fund sells newly issued shares, it
typically does so in an underwritten public offering in which an underwriting
fee of 5% or more is imposed. Except in the case of a rights offering, such
sales can be made only at or above the shares’ then applicable NAV after the
deduction of such an underwriting fee.
6. Shareholder
Services.
Open-end investment companies typically provide more services to shareholders
and may incur correspondingly higher shareholder servicing expenses. One service
that is generally offered by open-end funds is enabling shareholders to transfer
their investment from one fund into another fund that is part of the same
“family” of open-end funds at little or no cost to the shareholders. The Trust
has engaged in no discussions with any family of funds to become a part of such
family, and there can be no assurance that the Trust would be able to make such
an arrangement if the Shareholders voted to convert the Trust to an open-end
fund. If the requisite majority of the Shareholders approve this Proposal 2, the
Board of Trustees would weigh the cost of any particular service against the
anticipated benefit of such service. The Board of Trustees has no current view
as to which, if any, Shareholder services it would seek to make available to
Shareholders and implement as part of the Trust’s joining a family of funds or
otherwise.
7. Leverage.
Open-end investment companies are prohibited by the Investment Company Act from
issuing “senior securities” representing indebtedness (i.e., bonds, debentures,
notes and other similar securities), other than indebtedness to banks with
respect to which there is asset coverage of at least 300% for all borrowings,
and may not issue preferred stock. Closed-end investment companies, on the other
hand, are permitted to issue senior securities representing indebtedness when
the 300% asset coverage test is met, may issue preferred stock subject to a 200%
asset coverage test and are not limited to borrowings solely from banks. This
greater ability to issue senior securities gives closed-end investment companies
more flexibility in “leveraging” their shareholders’ investments than is
available to open-end investment companies. This difference is not likely to be
of importance with respect to the Trust, however, because the Trust’s
fundamental investment policies (which may be changed only with Shareholder
consent) forbid it to borrow more than 5% of its NAV (a restriction that would
continue to apply if the Trust were an open-end fund) or to issue preferred
stock (even though such issuance is permitted by the Trust’s Declaration of
Trust).
8. Annual
Shareholders Meetings. The
Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust under the terms of the
Declaration of Trust. As a closed-end investment company listed on the NYSE, the
Trust is required by the rules of the NYSE to hold annual meetings of its
Shareholders. This requirement would cease upon a delisting of the Shares from
the NYSE. A provision in the Declaration of Trust provides that, if the Trust
were converted to an open-end investment company, the Declaration of Trust could
be amended to provide that the Trust would no longer be required to hold annual
meetings. However, no vote is being sought on such a proposal at this time. If
the Trust were no longer required to hold annual meetings of Shareholders, it
would still be required by the Investment Company Act to have periodic meetings
to approve certain matters and, under certain circumstances, to elect Trustees.
(See the discussion below under “Measures to be Adopted if the Trust Becomes an
Open-end Fund -- Effect on the Trust’s Declaration of Trust.”) The Trust would
save the cost of annual meetings, which management estimates to be approximately
$50,000 per year; however, these savings would not be expected to materially
affect the Trust’s expense ratio.
9. Reinvestment
of Dividends and Distributions. Like
the plans of many other closed-end funds, the Trust’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan
(the “Plan”) permits Shareholders to elect to reinvest their dividends and
distributions on a different basis than would be the case if the Trust converted
to an open-end investment company. Currently, if the Shares are trading at a
discount, the agent for the Plan will attempt to buy as many of the Shares as
are needed for this purpose on the NYSE or elsewhere. This permits a reinvesting
Shareholder to benefit by purchasing additional Shares at a discount, and this
buying activity may tend to lessen any discount. If Shares are trading at a
premium, reinvesting Shareholders are issued Shares at the higher of NAV and 95%
of the market price. As an open-end investment company, all dividends and
distributions would be reinvested at NAV unless Shareholders elected to receive
their dividends and distributions in cash.
10. Capital
Gains. The
treatment of capital gains required under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the “Code”) may be disadvantageous to non-redeeming shareholders of
an open-end fund. Although the fund’s manager may be able to sell portfolio
securities at a price that does not reflect a taxable gain in order to raise
cash to satisfy redeeming shareholders, a mutual fund that is required to sell
portfolio securities may realize a net capital gain if the fund’s basis in the
portfolio securities sold is less than the sale price obtained. The Code imposes
both an income tax and an excise tax on a regulated investment company’s net
capital gain (regardless of whether the fund is open-end or closed-end) unless
the gain is distributed to all shareholders, including non-redeeming
shareholders. Furthermore, in order to make a capital gain distribution, a fund
may need to sell additional portfolio securities, thereby reducing further its
size and, possibly, creating additional capital gain. While, as noted, taxes on
such gains are also imposed on closed-end funds, a closed-end fund does not face
the possible need to sell appreciated securities in order to raise funds to meet
redemption requests.
EFFECT
OF CONVERSION ON THE TRUST
In
addition to the inherent characteristics of open-end investment companies
described above, the Trust’s conversion to an open-end investment company would
potentially have the consequences described below.
1. Portfolio
Management. As
noted above, a closed-end investment company operates with a relatively fixed
capitalization while the capitalization of an open-end investment company
fluctuates depending upon whether it experiences net sales or net redemptions of
its shares. To the extent that this is true, if the Trust were to convert to an
open-end investment company, the Trust might be faced with a need to invest new
monies near market highs and to sell portfolio securities in a falling market
when it might otherwise wish to invest. Because the Trust is a closed-end fund,
however, the Trust currently is not required to invest new monies or liquidate
portfolio holdings at what may be inopportune times, and can manage its
portfolio with a primary emphasis on long-term considerations.
The Board
of Trustees also believes that the closed-end format is better suited than the
open-end format to the Trust’s investment objective of achieving long-term
capital appreciation through investment primarily in publicly traded equity
securities of Taiwan issuers, particularly in view of the Trust’s primary
strategic focus on companies whose business is becoming increasingly integrated
with the economy of mainland China. The Board of Trustees believes that,
notwithstanding developments in Taiwan that have had the effect of liberalizing
restrictions on investment by foreign investors in the Taiwan securities market,
investor psychology towards Taiwan (and mainland China) remains susceptible of
rapid and extreme swings that would be likely to have a material and
unpredictable impact on inflows and outflows from the Trust if it were to become
an open-end fund. The Board of Trustees believes that the Trust can better
pursue its long-term investment objective without short-term pressures to invest
new monies or liquidate portfolio holdings at times when its investment style
would dictate doing otherwise. Furthermore, the Board of Trustees believes that
a need for the Trust to maintain some level of cash reserves to fund redemptions
on an on-going basis could restrict the Trust’s ability to remain fully invested
in equity securities in circumstances in which its portfolio manager otherwise
thought it advantageous to be so invested.
2. Potential
Increase in Expense Ratio and Decrease in Size.
Conversion to an open-end investment company would raise the possibility of the
Trust suffering substantial redemptions of Shares, particularly in the period
immediately following the conversion, although the potential implementation of a
redemption fee of up to 2.00% for a certain period of time described below under
“Measures to be Adopted if the Trust Becomes an Open-end Fund” might reduce the
number of initial redemptions that would otherwise occur. Unless the Trust’s
principal underwriter, if any, were able to generate sales of new Shares
sufficient to offset these redemptions or the performance of the Trust’s
investments was sufficiently favorable to offset net redemptions, the size of
the Trust would be expected to shrink. (See “Measures to be Adopted if the Trust
Becomes an Open-end Fund -- Underwriting and Distribution.”) Because a majority
of the Trust’s operating expenses are fixed and others decline as a percentage
of the Trust’s NAV as the NAV increases, a decrease in the Trust’s asset size
would likely increase the ratio of its operating expenses to its income and net
assets and, as a result, decrease the Trust’s net income per Share. Such a
decrease in size could result in a decision by the Board of Trustees to
terminate and liquidate the Trust if the amount of the Trust’s assets were
reduced such that it was no longer considered economically feasible for the
Trust to continue to carry on business.
3. Continuous
Public Offering Costs. In
addition, the Trust might be required to engage in a continuous public offering
intended, at a minimum, to offset redemptions. A continuous public offering of
the Shares would require the Trust to maintain current registrations under
federal and state securities laws and regulations, which would involve
additional costs. See “Differences Between Open-end and Closed-end Investment
Companies -- Underwriting; Brokerage Commissions or Sales Charges on Purchases
and Sales” above.
4. Possible
Sales of Portfolio Securities. If the
Trust were to experience substantial redemptions of Shares following its
conversion to an open-end investment company, it would probably not have
sufficient cash reserves to fund such redemptions and therefore could be
required to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times and incur increased
transaction costs in order to raise cash to meet such redemptions. In addition,
the Trust could incur capital gains in connection with such transactions. See
“Differences Between Open-end and Closed-end Investment Companies -- Capital
Gains” above.
5. Conversion
Costs. The
process of converting the Trust to an open-end investment company would involve
legal and other expenses to the Trust, including the preparation of a
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”) (see “Measures to be Adopted if the Trust Becomes an Open-end
Fund -- Timing” below), and the payment of necessary fees with respect to such
registration statement and the sale of Shares in various states. The Board of
Trustees has been advised that these conversion expenses, which would be paid by
the Trust and would result in a one-time increase in the Trust’s current expense
ratio, could be expected to total at least $150,000. Because the Trust is unable
to determine at this time the actual costs that would be involved, it is
possible that the conversion expenses would be substantially
higher.
MEASURES
THAT MAY BE ADOPTED IF THE TRUST BECOMES AN OPEN-END
FUND
If the
Shareholders voted to convert the Trust to an open-end fund, the Board of
Trustees may take the following actions.
1. Redemption
Fee. In
order to reduce the number of redemptions of the Shares immediately following
the conversion of the Trust to an open-end investment company (thereby reducing
any disruption of the Trust’s normal portfolio management) and to offset the
brokerage and other costs of such redemptions, the Board of Trustees may decide
that the Trust should impose a redemption fee for a period of time, to be
retained by the Trust, of up to 2.00% of the redemption proceeds payable by the
Trust on all redemptions. While not required, such a fee would be similar to
fees that have been proposed by other funds considering a conversion from
closed-end to open-end status. In an effort to deter market timing of Shares
after the conversion of the Trust to an open-end investment company, the Board
of Trustees may also decide to impose redemption fees in connection with
transactions within a certain period of time after the purchase of
Shares.
2. Underwriting
and Distribution. If the
Shareholders voted to convert the Trust to an open-end investment company, the
Board would consider whether to select a principal underwriter of the Shares.
The Shares could be offered and sold directly by the Trust itself, and by any
other broker-dealers who enter into selling agreements with the principal
underwriter. The Trust has engaged in no discussions with prospective principal
underwriters, and there can be no assurance regarding whether satisfactory
arrangements with a principal underwriter would be achieved. The Board of
Trustees reserves the right to cause the Trust to enter into an underwriting
agreement with a principal underwriter in such form and subject to such
conditions as the Board of Trustees deems desirable. If a principal underwriter
were selected, there could be no assurance that any such broker-dealer firms
would be able to generate sufficient sales of Shares to offset redemptions,
particularly in the initial months following conversion.
3. Effect
on the Trust’s Declaration of Trust. The
Declaration of Trust provides that, if the Shareholders voted to change the
Trust’s subclassification under the Investment Company Act from a closed-end
investment company to an open-end investment company, provisions in the
Declaration of Trust (set forth in Appendix C to this Proxy Statement) would
become effective that authorize the issuance of redeemable securities at NAV and
provide that the outstanding Shares will be redeemable at the option of the
Shareholders. In addition, the Declaration of Trust provides that if the Trust
becomes an open-end fund and is no longer required by stock exchange rules to
hold annual meetings for the election of Trustees, the Board of Trustees may
submit a proposal, which may be adopted by vote of a majority of the Trust’s
outstanding Shares, that the Trust cease to hold annual meetings of its
Shareholders and that it eliminate its staggered Board of Trustees. These
actions would have the consequence of requiring Shareholders’ meetings to be
held only when required by the Investment Company Act, either for the election
of Trustees (if a majority of the Trustees in office were not elected by the
Shareholders) or to approve specific matters in accordance with the Investment
Company Act’s requirements.
4. Timing. If the
Shareholders voted to convert the Trust to an open-end investment company, a
number of steps would be required to implement such conversion, including the
preparation, filing and effectiveness of a registration statement under the
Securities Act covering the offering of the Shares and the negotiation and
execution of a new or amended agreement with the Trust’s transfer agent. It is
anticipated that such conversion would become effective by approximately
December 31, 2005 and that the discount, if any, at which the Shares trade in
relation to their NAV would be reduced in anticipation of the ability to redeem
Shares at NAV upon the completion of the conversion. The provisions of the
Declaration of Trust set forth in Appendix C would become effective
simultaneously with the effectiveness of the registration statement referred to
above under the Securities Act. If, as noted immediately above in “Effect on the
Trust’s Declaration of Trust,” the Board of Trustees submitted, and Shareholders
approved, a proposal that the Trust no longer hold annual meetings of
Shareholders after becoming an open-end fund, the attendant savings in the cost
of holding such meetings (see “Differences Between Open-end and Closed-end
Investment Companies -- Annual Shareholders Meetings”) would accrue in the years
following such approval.
REQUIRED
VOTE
An
affirmative vote of a majority of all outstanding Shares is required to approve
the conversion of the Trust from a closed-end investment company into an
open-end investment company. Abstentions and “non-votes” will be treated as
votes present and not cast at the meeting. Abstentions and “non-votes” will
however, have the effect of votes in opposition to this Proposal 2.
The
Board of Trustees recommends that shareholders vote “AGAINST” conversion of the
Trust from a closed-end investment company into an open-end investment company.
The persons named in the accompanying proxy will, in the absence of contrary
instructions, vote all proxies “AGAINST” this proposal.
PROPOSAL
3. APPROVAL OF A FUNDAMENTAL POLICY WHEREBY THE TRUST WOULD ADOPT AN INTERVAL
FUND STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTION
The Board
of Trustees recommends that the Trust adopt an “interval fund” structure
pursuant to Rule 23c-3 (“Rule 23c-3”) under the Investment Company Act, which
will provide Shareholders with a semi-annual opportunity to liquidate a portion
of their Shares of the Trust at approximately net asset value (less a 2%
repurchase fee), while maintaining many of the advantages inherent in a
closed-end fund structure.
BACKGROUND
Since the
Trust’s inception, it has operated as a closed-end investment company and has
enjoyed many of the benefits inherent in a closed-end structure. For example,
the Trust has a permanent capital base and is not subject to continuous asset
in-flows and out-flows, which might force the Trust to liquidate its holdings at
inopportune times in order to meet redemption demands. In addition, closed-end
funds do not have any prescribed limitations on holding thinly traded
securities. This has allowed the Trust to establish its investment position
without the prospect of having to liquidate these positions on short notice,
thereby jeopardizing the Trust’s long-term net asset value.
However,
shares of closed-end funds such as the Trust often trade at a discount to their
net asset value. The Board of Trustees has actively sought solutions to narrow
or eliminate the Trust’s discount and it has reviewed and employed a number of
initiatives. In 2004, the Board of Trustees instituted a share repurchase
program, which resulted in the repurchase of over 1,499,700 Shares as of March
31, 2005. Additionally, in September 2004, the Trust repurchased 10,899,658
Shares (approximately one-third of the Shares then outstanding) at a price of
$4.67 per Share (99% of the NAV per Share determined as of the conclusion of the
tender offer) in accordance with a tender offer for up to that number of Shares.
The Board of Trustees believes that these programs have contributed to the
reduction in the Trust’s discount, which has been reduced to 8.75% as of May 3,
2005.
Nevertheless,
the Board of Trustees has concluded that a more ambitious solution is needed to
further reduce the Trust’s discount and provide liquidity to Shareholders. The
Board of Trustees has extensively reviewed possible alternatives for reducing
the Trust’s discount and determined that converting the Trust to an interval
structure is in the best interest of the Trust and its shareholders.
Accordingly, assuming that the Shareholders do not adopt the proposal to convert
to open-end investment status as outlined in Proposal 2, for reasons set forth
below, the Board of Trustees is proposing that the Trust’s Shareholders approve
a fundamental policy whereby the Trust would adopt an interval fund structure.
ADOPTION
OF AN INTERVAL FUND STRUCTURE
Rule
23c-3 provides that closed-end funds, such as the Trust, may make repurchase
offers of their securities at approximately net asset value at periodic
intervals. The periodic repurchase offers are intended to allow a closed-end
fund to provide its investors with a limited ability to resell shares to the
fund at approximately net asset value, a manner of sale that traditionally has
been available only to mutual fund shareholders. Periodic repurchases must be
made pursuant to a fundamental policy approved by shareholders.
If the
adoption of an interval fund structure is approved, the Trust would make
semi-annual repurchase offers. The percentage of outstanding Shares that the
Trust can offer to repurchase in each offer must be established by the Trust’s
Board of Trustees shortly before the commencement of each offer, and must be
between 5% and 25% of the Trust’s then outstanding Shares. If the offer is
oversubscribed, the Trust may, but is not required to, repurchase up to an
additional 2% of shares outstanding.
The Trust
will impose a repurchase fee of 2% of the repurchase proceeds to help defray the
costs associated with the repurchase offers. The Trust will send all
Shareholders a notification containing specified information about the basic
terms of each offer and the procedures for the repurchase at least 21 and no
more than 42 days before each repurchase request deadline. The repurchase
pricing date will be on the last Friday of each of the second and fourth fiscal
quarters and the repurchase request deadline will be 14 days prior to the
pricing date. Payment for any Shares repurchased must be made by seven days
after the repurchase pricing date. The Trust will not be able to suspend or
postpone a repurchase offer except in very limited circumstances set forth in
Rule 23c-3 which are described below.
The Board
of Trustees has determined that if this Proposal 3 is approved, the repurchase
pricing date for the first repurchase offer would be December 30, 2005, with
subsequent repurchase offers to be made semi-annually thereafter. The Board of
Trustees will determine the amount of each repurchase offer shortly before the
commencement of the offer.
FUNDAMENTAL
POLICY
The Board
of Trustees has approved the following fundamental policy (which cannot be
changed without shareholder approval) and is submitting it to Shareholders for
their approval:
(a) The Trust
will make offers to repurchase its Shares at semi-annual intervals pursuant to
Rule 23c-3, as amended from time to time (“Offers”). The Board of Trustees may
place such conditions and limitations on Offers as may be
permitted.
(b) 14 days
prior to the last Friday of each of the Trust’s second and fourth fiscal
quarters, or the next business day if such Friday is not a business day, will be
the deadline (the “Repurchase Request Deadline”) by which the Trust must receive
repurchase requests submitted by shareholders in response to the most recent
Offer.
(c) The date
on which the repurchase price for Shares is to be determined (the “Repurchase
Pricing Date”) shall occur no later than the last Friday of each of the Trust’s
second and fourth fiscal quarters, or the next business day if such day is not a
business day.
(d) Offers
may be suspended or postponed under certain circumstances, as provided for in
Rule 23c-3.
(e) This
policy will not apply at any time after the Shareholders of the Trust have
authorized a conversion of the Trust to an open-end investment
company.
REPURCHASES
IN EXCESS OF THE REPURCHASE OFFER AMOUNT AND PRORATION
The Trust
may, but is not obligated to, purchase up to an additional 2% of the Trust
Shares outstanding on a Repurchase Request Deadline if the acceptances of an
Offer exceed the applicable repurchase offer amount. If the Trust determines not
to repurchase more than the repurchase offer amount, or if the Trust
Shareholders participating in the Offer tender shares in an amount exceeding the
repurchase offer amount plus 2% of the Shares outstanding on the Repurchase
Request Deadline, the Trust will repurchase all the Shares tendered on a pro
rata basis, except that (1) the Trust may accept all Shares tendered by
Shareholders who own fewer than 100 Shares and who tender all of their Shares,
before pro rating Shares tendered by others, and (2) the Trust may accept by lot
Shares tendered by Shareholders who tender all Shares held by them and who, when
tendering their Shares, elect to have either all or none, or at least a minimum
amount or none, accepted, so long as the Trust first accepts all Shares tendered
by Shareholders who do not so elect.
SOURCE
OF FUNDS
The Trust
anticipates using cash on hand and liquidating portfolio securities to purchase
Shares acquired pursuant to the Offers. There is a risk that the Trust’s need to
sell securities to meet repurchase requests may affect the market for the
portfolio securities being sold, which may, in turn, diminish the net asset
value of Shares of the Trust. As a result of liquidating portfolio securities,
the Trust may realize capital gains or losses. In such event, some gains may be
realized on securities held for less than one year, which may generate income
taxable to Shareholders (when distributed to them by the Trust) at ordinary
income rates. Moreover, if a significant number of Shares are repurchased on a
semi-annual basis, the Trust may be unable to maintain a viable asset base to
continue operating efficiently given its limited ability to offer Shares. The
Trust’s reduced net assets would also likely result in a higher expense ratio.
From the time the Trust sends an Offer notification to Shareholders until the
Repurchase Pricing Date, the Trust will be required to maintain liquid assets
(as defined in Rule 23c-3) in an amount equal to at least 100% of the repurchase
offer amount, and portfolio management techniques may be modified
accordingly.
POTENTIAL
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The
following summary of United States federal income tax consequences of a sale of
Shares pursuant to an Offer is based upon currently existing provisions of the
Code, the Treasury Regulations thereunder, administrative rulings and court
decisions, all of which are subject to change, either prospectively or
retrospectively, by legislative, administrative or judicial action. The summary
does not take into account any considerations that may relate to special classes
of taxpayers including, among others, dealers in securities (or other persons
not holding Shares in the Trust as capital assets), non-U.S. investors or
tax-exempt entities. It is not a general summary of United States tax law and
does not include a complete analysis of provisions of the Code that may apply to
the Trust or its Shareholders.
The sale
of Shares pursuant to an Offer would generally be a taxable transaction to the
tendering shareholder for United States federal income tax purposes, either as a
“sale or exchange,” or under certain circumstances, as a “dividend.” Under
Section 302(b) of the Code, a sale of Shares pursuant to an Offer generally will
be treated as a “sale or exchange” if the receipt of cash by the Shareholder:
(a) results in a “complete termination” of the Shareholder’s interest in the
Trust, (b) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the Shareholder,
or (c) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the
Shareholder. In determining whether any of these tests has been met, Shares
actually owned, as well as Shares considered to be owned by the Shareholder by
reason of certain constructive ownership rules set forth in Section 318 of the
Code, generally must be taken into account. If any of these three tests for
“sale or exchange” treatment is met, a Shareholder will recognize gain or loss
equal to the difference between the price paid by the Trust for the Shares
purchased in the Offer and the Shareholder’s adjusted basis in such Shares. If
such Shares are held as a capital asset, the gain or loss will be capital gain
or loss. The maximum tax rate applicable to net capital gains recognized by
individuals and other non-corporate taxpayers is (i) the same as the applicable
ordinary income rate for capital assets held for one year or less, or (ii) 15%
for capital assets held for more than one year.
If none
of the tests set forth in Section 302(b) of the Code is met, amounts received by
a Shareholder who sells Shares pursuant to the Offer will be taxable to the
Shareholder as a distribution to the extent of such Shareholder’s allocable
share of the Trust’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. Depending on
the source of those earnings and profits, and on designations made by the Trust,
such amounts may be treated as capital gain dividends, as distributions of
“qualified dividend income” or as ordinary dividends. Capital gain dividends
will generally be taxable as long-term capital gain. Distributions of qualified
dividend income will generally be taxed at reduced rates for non-corporate
Shareholders. “Qualified dividend income” includes income derived from dividends
from U.S. corporations and from certain foreign corporations if (i) the foreign
corporation is eligible for benefits under an eligible U.S. income tax treaty or
(ii) the stock on which the dividend is paid is readily tradable on an
established U.S. securities market.
To the
extent that amounts received on a sale of Shares pursuant to an Offer exceed the
Shareholder’s allocable share of the Trust’s current and accumulated earnings
and profits, such excess will constitute a non-taxable return of capital (to the
extent of the Shareholder’s adjusted basis in the Shares sold pursuant to the
Offer) and any amounts in excess of the Shareholder’s adjusted basis will
constitute taxable gain. Any remaining adjusted basis in the Shares tendered to
the Trust will be allocated among the remaining Shares (if any) held by such
Shareholder.
In order
to conduct an Offer, the Trust may be required to sell portfolio securities. If,
at the time of sale, the Trust’s portfolio securities have appreciated in value,
the sale would result in realization of gains which would then need to be
distributed to Shareholders. This may result in tax liability for remaining
Shareholders.
SUSPENSION
AND POSTPONEMENT OF OFFERS
The Trust
may suspend or postpone an Offer by vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees
(including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as that
term is defined in the Investment Company Act, of the Trust), but only (1) if
repurchases pursuant to the Offer would impair the Trust’s status as a regulated
investment company under the Code; (2) if repurchases pursuant to the Offer
would cause the Shares to be neither listed on any national securities exchange
nor quoted on any inter-dealer quotation system of a national securities
association; (3) for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange or any
other market in which the securities owned by the Trust are principally traded
is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings, or during which
trading in such market is restricted; (4) for any period during which an
emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Trust of securities owned
by it is not reasonably practicable, or during which it is not reasonably
practicable for the Trust fairly to determine the value of its net assets; or
(5) for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission may by
order permit for the protection of Shareholders of the Trust.
If an
Offer is suspended or postponed, the Trust will provide notice thereof to
Shareholders. If the Trust renews a suspended Offer or reinstitutes a postponed
Offer, the Trust will send a new notification to all Shareholders.
EVALUATION
BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board
of Trustees regularly reviews the Trust’s discount to net asset value as well as
various alternatives designed to reduce the discount. At a special meeting held
on April 24, 2005, the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the board
members who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company
Act) of the Trust determined that it was in the best interest of the Trust and
its Shareholders to convert the Trust to an interval fund and recommended that
the proposal be submitted to Shareholders. As an interval fund, Shareholders
would be assured a semi-annual opportunity to liquidate a portion of their
Shares of the Trust at net asset value (less a 2% repurchase fee).
The Board
of Trustees has determined that repurchase offers at semi-annual intervals
instead of quarterly intervals are in the best interests of the Trust and its
Shareholders. The Board of Trustees believes that repurchase offers at
semi-annual, as opposed to quarterly, intervals will impose fewer administrative
burdens on the Trust and its management and will have a lesser impact on the
ability of the Trust's management to manage the Trust's assets in accordance
with its investment strategies. The Board considered that repurchases will
decrease Trust assets and likely result in an increased expense ratio for the
Trust. The Board also considered that if repurchases decrease the Trust's asset
base significantly, the Trust ultimately may be forced to delist from the New
York Stock Exchange and no longer be viable. The Board has determined that more
frequent repurchase offers may exacerbate this result.
The Board
of Trustees believes that the adoption by the Trust of an interval fund
structure should have a positive effect on reducing the discount from net asset
value at which the Trust’s Shares have historically traded on the New York Stock
Exchange. There can be no assurance, however, that adoption of the policy will
reduce the discount or result in the Trust’s Shares trading at a price that
equals or approximates net asset value. It is also possible that the adoption of
the repurchase policy may result in investors in the market selling some of the
Trust’s holdings in anticipation of the repurchase offer to take advantage of
price weakness that may occur in the stock. This may harm the performance of the
Trust.
REQUIRED
VOTE
As
provided by the Investment Company Act, approval of Proposal 3 requires the
affirmative vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the
Trust, which means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the
outstanding Shares present or represented at the Meeting, if holders of more
than 50% of the outstanding Shares of the Trust entitled to vote are present or
represented by proxy at the Meeting, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding
Shares of the Trust entitled to vote. Abstentions and broker “non-votes” will be
treated as votes present but not cast for purposes of Proposal 3 and will
therefore have the effect of a vote case against Proposal 3.
The
Board of Trustees believes that the adoption by the Trust of an interval fund
structure is in the best interests of shareholders of the Trust. Accordingly,
the Board of Trustees unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote “FOR”
proposal 3. The persons named in the accompanying proxy will, in the absence of
contrary instructions, vote all proxies for this proposal.
MISCELLANEOUS
Proxies
will be solicited by mail and may be solicited in person or by telephone, email
or facsimile by officers or employees of the Trust. The Trust has also retained
The Altman Group to assist in the solicitation of proxies from Shareholders at
an anticipated cost not to exceed $6,000.00 plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket
expenses. The expenses connected with the solicitation of these proxies and with
any further proxies that may be solicited by such officers or employees or by
The Altman Group in person or by telephone, email or facsimile will be borne by
the Trust. The Trust will reimburse banks, brokers and other persons holding
Shares registered in their names or in the names of their nominees for their
expenses incurred in sending proxy material to and obtaining proxies from the
beneficial owners of such Shares.
The
Trust’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2004, including financial
statements, was mailed on or about February 28, 2005 to Shareholders of record
on February 28, 2005. However, a copy of this report will be provided, without
charge, to any Shareholder upon request. Please call 1-800-343-9567 or write to
the Trust c/o Brown Brothers Harriman, 40 Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02196-2047 Attn: Investor Services Counsel, to request the
report.
In the
event that a quorum is not obtained for the transaction of business at the
Meeting by June 21, 2005, the persons named as proxies in the enclosed proxy may
propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation
of proxies in order to obtain such a quorum. Abstention and broker “non-votes”
are counted as present and entitled to vote for the purposes of determining a
quorum. Any adjournment would require the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the Shares voting that are present in person or by proxy at the
session of the Meeting to be adjourned. The persons named as proxies in the
enclosed proxy will vote in favor of such adjournment if a quorum is not
obtained. Abstention and broker “non-votes” are counted as present and entitled
to vote for the purposes of voting in favor of an adjournment if a quorum is not
obtained. The costs of any such additional solicitation and of any adjourned
session will be borne by the Trust.
SECTION
16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act and Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act, as
applied to the Trust, require that the Trust’s officers, Trustees and persons
who beneficially own more than ten percent of the Trust’s Shares (“Reporting
Persons”) file reports of ownership of the Trust’s Shares and changes in such
ownership with the SEC. Based solely upon a review of Forms 3 and 4 and
amendments thereto furnished to the Trust pursuant to Rule 16a-3(e) of the
Exchange Act during fiscal year 2004 and Form 5 and amendments thereto furnished
to the Trust with respect to fiscal year 2004, the Trust believes that the
following Reporting Persons did not make timely filings:
· |
In
February 2004, Steven Champion became Chief Executive Officer and
President of the Trust, which was reported on a late Form 3 in December
2004. In November 2004, Mr. Champion effected several trades pursuant to
which he purchased Shares of the Trust, which were reported on a late Form
4 in December 2004. |
· |
In
June 2004, Cheryl Chang became Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of
the Trust, which was reported on a late Form 3 in November
2004. |
· |
In
May 2004, David Laux purchased Shares of the Trust, which was reported on
a late Form 4 in May 2004. In November 2004, Mr. Laux effected two trades
pursuant to which he purchased Shares of the Trust, which were reported on
a late Form 4 in November 2004. |
· |
In
January 2004, Robert Parker purchased Shares of the Trust, which was
reported on a late Form 4 in January 2004. In November 2004, Mr. Parker
purchased Shares of the Trust, which was reported on a late Form 4 filed
in November 2004. |
· |
In
May 2004, Frederick Copeland purchased Shares of the Trust, which was
reported on a late Form 4 filed in May
2004. |
· |
In
May 2004, Edward Collins purchased Shares of the Trust, which was reported
on a late Form 4 filed in May 2004. |
· |
In
September 2004, Laxey Partners Limited, The Value Catalyst Fund Limited,
Laxey Investors Limited, LP Value Limited, Laxey Investors L.P., Laxey
Universal Value, LP, Colin Kingsworth and Andrew Pegge sold Shares of the
Trust, which was reported on a late joint statement Form 4 filed in
October 2004. |
· |
In
November 2004, Laxey Partners Limited, The Value Catalyst Fund Limited,
Laxey Investors Limited, LP Value Limited, Laxey Investors L.P., Laxey
Universal Value, LP, Colin Kingsworth and Andrew Pegge sold Shares of the
Trust, which was reported on a late joint statement Form 4 filed in April
2005. |
· |
In
March 2005, Laxey Partners Limited, The Value Catalyst Fund Limited, Laxey
Investors Limited, LP Value Limited, Laxey Investors L.P., Laxey Universal
Value, LP, Colin Kingsworth and Andrew Pegge sold Shares of the Trust,
which was reported on a late joint statement Form 4 filed in April
2005. |
· |
City
Of London Investment Group PLC (“CLIG”) filed a Form 4 in May 2004 for the
purchases of Shares by various entities in April 2004. CLIG is the parent
holding company of City of London Investment Management Company Limited
and City of London Quantitative Management Limited, each of which provide
advisory services to such entities. |
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS
Any
proposal by a Shareholder intended to be presented at the 2006 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders must be received by the Trust c/o Brown Brothers Harriman, 40 Water
Street, P.O. Box 962047, Boston, Massachusetts 02196-2047, ATTN: Investor
Services Counsel, not later than January 5, 2006. The Board of Trustees will
consider whether any such proposal should be submitted to a Shareholder vote in
light of applicable rules and interpretations promulgated by the Commission; but
a Shareholder’s timely submission of a proposal will not automatically confer a
right to have that proposal presented for a vote at the Trust’s 2006 Annual
Meeting. Any nomination by a Shareholder of a person to stand for election as a
Trustee at the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received by the Trust
c/o Secretary, Bank Tower, Room 1001, DunHua North Road, Taipei, Taiwan,
Republic of China not later than February 3, 2006.
BY ORDER
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Cheryl
Chang
Secretary
May 5,
2005
APPENDIX
A
CHARTER
OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF TAIWAN GREATER CHINA
FUND
Adopted
July 21, 2004
I. Purpose
The
primary purposes of the Committee are to:
· |
Review
and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of
the Trust’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief
compliance officer and head of research (the “Principal
Officers”); |
· |
Evaluate
the Principal Officers’ performance in light of those goals and objectives
and, in the case of the Principal Officers other than the chief executive
officer, in light of the evaluation of such officers’ performance by the
chief executive officer; |
· |
Either
as a Committee or together with the other independent trustees (as
directed by the Board), determine and approve the Principal Officers’
compensation based on such evaluation; |
· |
Review
compensation decisions made by the Trust’s chief executive officer with
respect to employees of the Trust other than the Principal Officers;
|
· |
Make
recommendations to the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) concerning
incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans, if any, including
with respect to the submission of any such plan for approval by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), if
required; |
· |
Review
and recommend to the Board the appropriate level of compensation for
non-employee trustees, committee chairpersons and committee members;
and |
· |
If
required, produce an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion
in the Trust’s proxy statement. |
II. Composition
At
least two members. The
Committee shall consist of at least two trustees. The Board may designate a
Committee member as the chairperson of the Committee, or, if the Board does not
do so, the Committee members may appoint a Committee member as chairperson by a
majority vote of the Committee members.
Independence. All
Committee members must have been determined by the Board to be independent as
defined in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, as they may be
amended from time to time (the “listing standards”), and not to be “interested
persons” of the Trust as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
“Investment Company Act”). In addition, all Committee members must qualify as
“non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and as “outside directors” within the meaning of Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Appointment. Subject
to the requirements of the listing standards, if any, the Board may appoint and
remove Committee members in accordance with the Trust’s By-laws. Committee
members shall serve for such terms as the Board may fix, and in any case at the
Board’s will whether or not a specific term is fixed.
III. Duties
and responsibilities
Compensation
goals. The
Committee shall review and approve at least annually corporate goals and
objectives relevant to the compensation of the Principal Officers.
Determination
of Principal Officer Compensation. The
Committee shall:
· |
Evaluate
at least annually the performance of the Principal Officers in light of
the Trust’s goals and objectives. |
· |
At
least annually, either as a Committee or together with the other
independent trustees (as directed by the Board), in light of the Trust’s
goals and objectives and the Committee’s performance evaluations,
determine and approve the compensation of the Principal Officers,
including individual elements of salary, bonus, supplemental retirement,
incentive and equity compensation (if
permissible). |
· |
Review,
as the Committee considers appropriate in setting the Principal Officers’
compensation, the Trust’s performance, compensation at comparable
companies, past years’ compensation to the Principal Officers and other
relevant factors. |
· |
Review
and approve all employment agreements, separation and severance
agreements, and other compensatory contracts, arrangements, perquisites
and payments with respect to the Principal
Officers. |
· |
In
any deliberations or voting to determine the compensation of the chief
executive officer, the chief executive officer shall not be present;
however, in any deliberations regarding the compensation of other
Principal Officers, the Committee shall seek the recommendations of the
chief executive officer and may elect to invite the chief executive
officer to be present but not vote. |
Compensation
of employees other than Principal Officers. The
Committee shall review, at least annually, the compensation of the Trust’s
employees who are not Principal Officers, as set by the Trust’s chief executive
officer, and shall report its conclusions with respect to such compensation to
the Board.
Non-employee
trustee compensation. The
Committee shall recommend to the Board compensation programs for non-employee
trustees, committee chairpersons and committee members, consistent with any
requirements of the listing standards applicable to independent directors and
including consideration of cash and equity components, if
permissible.
Equity
plan awards. Subject
to the approval of the SEC, the Committee shall grant stock options, restricted
stock and other discretionary awards under any stock option or other equity
incentive plan adopted by the Trust, and otherwise exercise the authority of the
Board with respect to the administration of any such plans.
Evaluate
and approve stock and incentive plans. The
Committee shall periodically review and make recommendations to the Board
concerning the Trust’s stock and incentive compensation plans, if any. The
Committee shall approve all equity arrangements and plans, and amendments to
these arrangements or plans, that may be exempt from the general requirement of
the listing standards to obtain stockholder approval of equity arrangements,
plans and amendments, or with respect to which approval by the Committee is
otherwise appropriate or required under applicable laws or listing standards,
and shall consult with counsel with respect to any requirement that such plans
be approved by the SEC pursuant to the provisions of the Investment Company
Act.
Committee
report in proxy statement. The
Committee shall timely prepare and approve a Committee report on executive
compensation for inclusion in the Trust’s proxy statement for each annual
meeting of shareholders, if and as required by the SEC, including a discussion
of the Committee’s compensation policies applicable to executive officers and
other information required under SEC rules.
Other
functions. The
Committee may perform any other activities consistent with this charter, the
Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-laws and applicable listing standards, laws
and regulations that either the Committee or the Board considers
appropriate.
Annual
performance review. The
Committee shall evaluate its own performance as a Committee and this charter on
an annual basis.
IV. Meetings,
reports and resources
Meetings. The
Committee shall meet as often as it determines is necessary, but not less than
annually. The Committee may also hold special meetings or act by unanimous
written consent, as the Committee may decide consistent with the Trust’s
By-laws. The Committee may meet in separate executive sessions with other
trustees, the chief executive officer and other Trust employees, agents or
representatives invited by the Committee.
Procedures. The
Committee may establish its own procedures, including the formation and
delegation of authority to subcommittees, in a manner not inconsistent with this
charter, the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-laws, applicable laws or
regulations or the listing standards. The chairperson or a majority of the
Committee members may call meetings of the Committee. A majority of the
Committee members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of Committee
business, and the vote of a majority of the Committee members present at a
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Committee, unless
in either case a greater number is required by this charter, the By-laws or the
listing standards. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, keep written
minutes of its meetings and deliver copies of the minutes to the corporate
secretary for inclusion in the corporate records.
Reports
of proceedings. The
Committee shall report to the Board on the major items covered by the Committee
at each Committee meeting and provide such additional reports to the Board as
the Committee may determine to be appropriate.
Committee
access and information. The
Committee is at all times authorized to have direct, independent and
confidential access to the Trust’s other trustees, management and personnel to
carry out the Committee’s purposes. The Committee is authorized to obtain at the
Trust’s expense compensation surveys, reports on the design and implementation
of compensation programs for the Trust’s trustees, officers and employees, and
such other data and documentation as the Committee may consider appropriate.
Committee
advisers and funding. The
Committee shall have sole authority to retain at the Trust’s expense and
terminate any compensation consulting firm or other advisers to the Committee
and to approve the related fees and other retention terms.
Reliance
on others. In
discharging their duties the members of the Committee are entitled to rely on
information, opinions, reports or statements, including financial statements and
other financial data, if prepared or presented by (i) one or more officers of
the Trust whom the member reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in
the matters presented, (ii) legal counsel or other persons as to matters the
member reasonably believes are within the person’s professional or expert
competence or (iii) a Board committee of which the Committee member is not a
member.
APPENDIX
B
TAIWAN
GREATER CHINA FUND CHARTER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
I.
PURPOSE
The
primary functions of the Audit Committee (referred to below either as the Audit
Committee or simply as the “Committee”) of the Taiwan Greater China Fund (the
“Trust”) are to (i) oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of
the Trust and its internal controls over financial reporting, accounting, legal
compliance and ethical behavior and, as the Committee deems relevant or
appropriate, to inquire into the internal control over financial reporting of
third-party service providers to the Trust, (ii) assist the Trust’s Board of
Trustees (the “Board”) in its oversight of the Trust’s internal
audit
functions,
(iii) oversee the quality and integrity of the Trust’s financial statements, the
independent audit of those statements and other financial information provided
by the Trust to shareholders, (iv) oversee, or, as appropriate, assist oversight
by the Board of, the Trust’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
relating to the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting, internal controls
over financial reporting and independent audits, (v) approve the engagement of
the Trust’s independent auditors and, in connection therewith, review and
evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance thereof, (vi) act as a
liaison between the Trust’s independent auditors and the full Board and (vii)
prepare any reports of the Committee required by applicable securities laws or
stock exchange listing requirements or rules to be included in any proxy
statements, information statements or other documents. Consistent with these
functions, the Committee should encourage continuous improvement of, and should
foster adherence to, the Trust’s policies, procedures and practices at all
levels.
The
independent auditors for the Trust shall report directly to the
Committee.
In
meeting its responsibilities, the Committee is expected to:
Serve as
an independent and objective party to review the Trust’s financial reporting
process and internal control system.
Review
and appraise the audit activities of the Trust’s outside auditors and internal
auditing department.
Provide
an open avenue of communication among the outside auditors, financial and senior
management, the internal auditors and the Board.
Review
such aspects of the Trust’s relationship with affiliated persons of the Trust,
including potential conflicts of interest, as the Committee deems necessary or
desirable.
The
Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its
responsibilities, including appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee,
for payment of compensation to the Trust’s independent auditors for the purpose
of conducting the audit and rendering their audit report, the authority to
retain and compensate special counsel and other experts or consultants as the
Committee deems necessary, and the authority to obtain specialized training for
Committee members, at the expense of the Trust, as appropriate.
The
Committee will primarily fulfill these responsibilities by carrying out the
activities enumerated in Section IV of this Charter.
II.
ORGANIZATION
The Audit
Committee shall be comprised of three or more Trustees as determined by the
Board, each of whom shall be a Trustee who is not an “interested person” of the
Trust (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) and free from any
relationship that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the
exercise of the Trustee’s independence from the management of the Trust. Each
member shall meet the further restrictions set forth on Annex I.
Each
member of the Committee must be financially literate, as that qualification is
interpreted by the Board in its business judgment, or must become financially
literate within a reasonable time after appointment to the Committee. At least
one member of the Committee must have accounting or related financial management
expertise, as such qualification is interpreted by the Board in its business
judgment.
The
members of the Committee shall be elected by the Board at the annual
organizational meeting of the Board, and the members shall serve until their
successors shall be duly elected and qualified. The Chair of the Committee may
be designated by the full Board or, if it does not do so, the members of the
Committee may elect a Chair by vote of a majority of the full Committee
membership.
A
majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at any meeting of the Committee. The action of a
majority of the members of the Committee present at a meeting at which a quorum
is present shall be the action of the Committee.
The
Committee may delegate any portion of its authority, including the authority to
grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services, to a subcommittee
of one or more members. Any decisions of the subcommittee to grant pre-approvals
shall be presented to the full Committee at its next regularly scheduled
meeting.
III.
MEETINGS
The Audit
Committee shall meet at least two times each year, or more frequently as
circumstances require. Either the Chair or a majority of the Committee’s members
shall be authorized to call a meeting of the Committee and send notice thereof.
The Committee shall ordinarily meet in person, provided that members may attend
telephonically and the Committee may act by unanimous written consent. The
Committee shall have authority to meet privately and to admit non-members by
invitation, and may require members of management or others to attend meetings
and to provide pertinent information as necessary. As part of its job to foster
open communication, the Committee shall meet at least two times each year with
management, and at least annually with the Trust’s outside auditors and the
Trust’s internal auditor, in separate executive sessions if deemed appropriate
by the Committee, to discuss any matters that the Committee or any of the
foregoing believe should be discussed. The Committee may also meet with
personnel of entities that provide significant accounting or administrative
services to the Trust to discuss matters relating to the Trust’s accounting and
compliance and such other matters as the Committee may deem relevant. In
addition, if required, the Committee as a whole or its Chair individually shall
meet with management and the Trust’s outside auditors semiannually to review the
Trust’s annual and semi-annual financial statements (consistent with IV.7
below). The Committee shall meet in November or December of each year to review
the Trust’s results of operation as they appear at that time and to determine
whether to recommend the payment of a dividend or distribution in that year in
accordance with the Trust’s declared policies. The Committee shall prepare and
retain minutes of its meetings and appropriate documentation of decisions made
outside of a meeting by delegated authority.
IV.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
To
fulfill its responsibilities and duties, the Audit Committee shall:
1.
Appoint and engage on an annual basis, and have the power to terminate the
engagement of, the Trust’s independent auditors and, in connection therewith,
review and evaluate matters potentially affecting the independence and
capabilities of such auditors. In reviewing and evaluating the auditors’
qualifications, performance and independence, the Committee shall, among other
things, obtain and review a report by the audit firm, at least annually,
describing the following items:
all
relationships between the independent auditors and the Trust, as well as all
relationships between the independent auditors and any service provider to the
Trust that the Committee considers to be material to the Trust’s business; any
material issues raised by the most recent internal quality control review or
peer review of the audit firm or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental
or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or
more independent audits carried out by such firm, and any steps taken to deal
with any such issues; and
the audit
firm’s internal quality control procedures.
2.
Approve prior to appointment the engagement of the Trust’s independent auditors
to provide other audit or non-audit services to the Trust.
3.
Develop, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, policies and
procedures for pre-approval of the engagement of the Trust’s independent
auditors to provide any of the services described in 2 above.
4. Have
the power to consider the controls applied by the Trust’s independent auditors
and any measures taken by management in an effort to assure that all items
requiring pre-approval by the Committee are identified and referred to the
Committee in a timely fashion.
5. Review
the arrangements for and scope of the Trust’s annual audit and any special
audits.
6. Review
and approve the fees proposed to be charged to the Trust by its independent
auditors for each audit and non-audit service.
7. Review
and discuss with financial management and the Trust’s outside auditors all
financial statements and related disclosure documents prior to the filing of
such reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission and, if feasible, prior
to any public announcement of financial results for the periods covered thereby,
including any certification, report, opinion or review rendered by the Trust’s
outside auditors, and resolve any disagreements between management and the
Trust’s independent auditors regarding financial reporting. The Chair of the
Committee may represent the entire Committee for purposes of this review. In
this connection the Committee shall:
Periodically
consult with the Trust’s outside auditors, without management being present if
thought appropriate by the Committee, about the completeness and accuracy of the
Trust’s financial statements, and the critical accounting judgments utilized in
the preparation of those financial statements;
Discuss
with the outside auditors their judgments about the quality and appropriateness,
as opposed to the acceptability, of the Trust’s accounting principles and
financial disclosure practices as applied in its financial
reporting;
Discuss
the Trust’s disclosures with regard to its performance in any such reports;
and
Establish
regular and separate systems of reporting to the Committee by each of
management, the outside auditors and the Trust’s internal auditor regarding any
significant judgments made in management’s preparation of the financial
statements and the view of each as to the appropriateness of those
judgments.
8. Review
the regular internal reports to management prepared by the Trust’s internal
auditor and any provider of administrative services to the Trust and
management’s response to these reports and, in consultation with the Trust’s
outside auditors, the Trust’s internal auditor and any such provider of
services, review the integrity of the Trust’s financial reporting processes,
both internal and external.
9. Review
with the Trust’s chief executive officer and/or chief financial officer in
connection with their certifications on Form N-CSR any significant deficiencies
in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting or
material weaknesses therein and any reported evidence of fraud involving
management or other employees who have a significant role in such
controls.
10.
Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints
received by the Trust relating to accounting, internal accounting controls or
auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the
Trust, any provider of administrative services to the Trust, any principal
underwriter for the Trust or any other provider of accounting related services
for the Trust of concerns about accounting or auditing, and address reports from
auditors of possible violations of federal or state law or any fiduciary
duty.
11.
Discuss generally the Trust’s press releases concerning the results of its
operations, as well as any financial information or guidance provided to
analysts and rating agencies (if any), with regard to, for example, the types of
information to be disclosed and the type of presentation to be
made.
12.
Review in a general matter, but not assume responsibility for, the Trust’s
processes with respect to risk assessment and risk management.
13. Set
clear policies relating to the hiring by the Trust of employees or former
employees of the Trust’s independent auditors.
14.
Investigate or initiate an investigation of reports of improprieties or
suspected improprieties in connection with the Trust’s accounting or financial
reporting.
15.
Review and reassess the adequacy of the Committee’s Charter annually and
recommend to the Board any changes deemed appropriate by the Committee. The
Chair of the Committee may represent the entire Committee for purposes of this
review.
16.
Evaluate the Committee’s own performance at least annually.
17.
Following completion of the annual audit, review, separately if thought
appropriate by the Committee, with each of management, the Trust’s outside
auditors, the Trust’s internal auditor and any provider of administrative
services to the Trust any significant difficulties encountered during the course
of the audit, including any restrictions on the scope of work or access to
required information, and consider and approve, if appropriate, either following
such review or at any other time the Committee may deem appropriate, major
changes to the Trust’s auditing and accounting principles and practices as
suggested by such persons. Thereafter, the Committee shall, as it deems
appropriate, review with such persons the extent to which changes or
improvements in financial or accounting practices, as approved by the Committee,
have been implemented.
18.
Review performance of and fees paid by the Trust to proxy solicitors,
custodians, legal counsel and any provider of administrative
services.
19.
Review legal compliance matters with the Trust’s counsel, including the Trust’s
Code of Ethics and Officers’ Code of Ethics.
20.
Review any legal matter that could have a significant impact on the Trust’s
financial statements with the Trust’s counsel.
21.
Report its activities to the full Board on a regular basis and make such
recommendations with respect to the above and other matters as the Committee may
deem necessary or appropriate.
22.
Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Trust’s By-Laws
and governing law as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or
appropriate.
V.
ROLE
The
function of the Audit Committee is oversight; it is management’s responsibility
to maintain appropriate systems for accounting and internal control over
financial reporting, and the auditor’s responsibility to plan and carry out a
proper audit. Specifically, the Trust’s management is responsible for (i) the
preparation, presentation and integrity of the Trust’s financial statements,
(ii) the maintenance of appropriate accounting and financial reporting
principles and policies and (iii) the maintenance of internal control over
financial reporting and other procedures designed to assure compliance with
accounting standards and related laws and regulations. The independent auditors
are responsible for planning and carrying out an audit consistent with
applicable legal and professional standards and the terms of their engagement
letter. Nothing in this Charter shall be construed to reduce the
responsibilities or liabilities of the Trust’s service providers, including the
auditors.
Although
the Committee is expected to take a detached and questioning approach to the
matters that come before it, the review of the Trust’s financial statements by
the Committee is not an audit, nor does the Committee’s review substitute for
the responsibilities of the Trust’s management for preparing, or the independent
auditors for auditing, the financial statements. Members of the Committee are
not full-time employees of the Trust and in serving on the Committee are not,
and do not hold themselves out to be, acting as accountants or auditors. As
such, it is not the duty or responsibility of the Committee or its members to
conduct “field work” or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or
procedures.
In
discharging their duties the members of the Committee are entitled to rely on
information, opinions, reports or statements, including financial statements and
other financial data, if prepared or presented by (i) one or more officers of
the Trust whom the member reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in
the matters presented, (ii) legal counsel, public accountants or other persons
as to matters the member reasonably believes are within the person’s
professional or expert competence or (iii) a Board committee of which the
Committee member is not a member.
ANNEX
I
Further
restrictions:
(a)
Employees. A Trustee who is an employee (including non-employee executive
officers) of the Trust or any of its affiliates may not serve on the Committee
until three years following the termination of his or her employment. In the
event the employment relationship is with a former parent or predecessor of the
Trust, the Trustee may serve on the Committee after three years following the
termination of the relationship between the Trust and the former parent or
predecessor.
(b)
Business Relationship. A Trustee (i) who is a partner, controlling shareholder
or executive officer of an organization that has a business relationship with
the Trust or (ii) who has a direct business relationship with the Trust (e.g., a
consultant) may serve on the Committee only if the Trust’s Board determines in
its business judgment that the relationship does not interfere with the
Trustee’s exercise of independent judgment. In making a determination regarding
the independence of a Trustee pursuant to this paragraph, the Board should
consider, among other things, the materiality of the relationship to the Trust,
to the Trustee, and, if applicable, to the organization with which the Trustee
is affiliated.
“Business
relationships” can include commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal,
accounting and other relationships. A Trustee can have such a relationship
directly with the Trust, or the Trustee can be a partner, officer or employee of
an organization that has such a relationship. A Trustee may serve on the
Committee without such a determination by the Board after three years following
the termination of, as applicable, either (1) the relationship between the
organization with which the Trustee is affiliated and the Trust, (2) the
relationship between the Trustee and his or her partnership status, shareholder
interest or executive officer position or (3) the direct business relationship
between the Trustee and the Trust.
(c) Cross
Compensation Committee Link. A Trustee who is employed as an executive of
another entity where any executive officer of the Trust serves on that entity’s
compensation committee may not serve on the Committee.
(d)
Immediate Family. A Trustee who is an Immediate Family member of a person who is
an executive officer of the Trust or any of its affiliates may not serve on the
Committee until three years following the termination of that employment
relationship. Paragraph 303.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual defines
“Immediate Family” to include ‘a person’s spouse, parents, children siblings,
mothers-in-law and fathers-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law, brothers- and
sisters-in-law, and anyone (other than employees) who shares such person’s
home.’
APPENDIX
C
ARTICLE X
OF THE TRUST’S DECLARATION OF TRUST REDEMPTIONS
In the
event that the Shareholders of the Trust vote to convert the Trust from a
“Closed-end company” to an “Open-end company”. . . , the following provisions
shall, upon the effectiveness of such conversion, become effective:
SECTION
10.1. REDEMPTIONS. All outstanding Shares may be redeemed at the option of the
holders thereof, upon and subject to the terms and conditions provided in this
Article X. The Trust shall, upon application of any Shareholder or pursuant to
authorization from any Shareholder, redeem or repurchase from such Shareholder
outstanding Shares for an amount per Share determined by the Trustees in
accordance with any applicable laws and regulations; provided that (a) such
amount per Share shall not exceed the cash equivalent of the proportionate
interest of each Share in the assets of the Trust attributable thereto at the
time of the redemption or repurchase and (b) if so authorized by the Trustees,
the Trust may, at any time and from time to time, charge fees for effecting such
redemption or repurchase, at such rates as the Trustees may establish, as and to
the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, and may, at any time and from time to
time, pursuant to the 1940 Act, suspend such right of redemption. The procedures
for and fees, if any, chargeable in connection with the effecting and suspending
redemption of Shares shall be as set forth in the prospectus filed as part of
the Trust’s effective Registration Statement with the Commission from time to
time. Payment will be made in such manner as described in such
prospectus.
SECTION
10.2. REDEMPTIONS OF ACCOUNTS. The Trustees may redeem Shares of any Shareholder
at a redemption price determined in accordance with Section 10.1 if, immediately
following a redemption of Shares for any reason, the aggregate net asset value
of the Shares in such Shareholder’s account is less than an amount determined by
the Trustees. If the Trustees redeem Shares pursuant to this Section 10.2, a
Shareholder will be notified that the value of his account is less than such
amount and be allowed sixty (60) days to make an additional investment before
the redemption is processed.
APPENDIX
1
TAIWAN
GREATER CHINA FUND
This
Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Trustees
Annual
Meeting of Shareholders
June 21,
2005
The
undersigned hereby appoints Steven R. Champion and Dirk Bennett, or each or
either of them, as Proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution
to each of them, to vote all shares of the Taiwan Greater China Fund (the
“Trust”) which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of the Trust (the “Meeting”) to be held at the offices of Bingham
McCutchen LLP, 399 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022-4689 Tuesday, June 21,
2005 at 9:30 a.m., New York time, and at any adjournment thereof, in the manner
indicated on the reverse side and, in their discretion, on any other business
that may properly come before the Meeting or any such adjournment.
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PLEASE
VOTE, DATE AND SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
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Please
sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on the books of the Trust. Joint owners
should each sign personally. Trustees and other fiduciaries should indicate the
capacity in which they sign, and where more than one name appears, a majority
must sign. If a corporation, this signature should be that of an authorized
officer who should state his or her title.
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HAS YOUR
ADDRESS CHANGED? DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
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[x]
Please mark
votes as
in
this
example.
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TAIWAN
GREATER CHINA FUND
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The
following items are proposed by the Trust (in the case of Item 2 pursuant
to
requirements
contained in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-laws):
1 The
election of two Trustees: Mr. Frederick C. Copeland, Jr. to serve for a term
expiring on the date of the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or the special
meeting in lieu thereof; and Mr. Robert P. Parker, to serve for a term expiring
on the date of the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or the special meeting in
lieu thereof.
Nominees:
(01) Frederick C. Copeland, Jr. and (02) Robert P. Parker
For
all Nominees |
Withheld
from all Nominees |
For
all Nominees EXCEPT the Nominee(s) written above
|
|
|
|
2. Conversion
of the Trust from a closed-end investment company into an open-end investment
company.
3. Approval
of fundamental policy whereby the Trust would adopt an interval fund structure
with semi-annual repurchases.
Properly
executed proxies will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned.
If no such directions are given, such proxies will be voted FOR the nominee
referred to in Item 1, FOR the proposition referred to in Item 3 and AGAINST the
proposition referred to in Item 2.
Please
sign and return promptly in the enclosed envelope. No postage is required if
mailed in the United States.
Mark box
at right if you have noted an address change or [ ] comments on the reverse side
of this card.
Please be
sure to sign and date this Proxy.
Signature:_______________
Date:________ Signature:________________ Date:_______