def14a
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by
the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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þ |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 |
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Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2) |
Chartwell Dividend and Income Fund, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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(1) |
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
(2) |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
(3) |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined): |
(4) |
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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Amount Previously Paid: |
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(2) |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
CHARTWELL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
Wilmington, Delaware
March 22, 2006
To Our Shareholders:
It is our pleasure to invite you to your Funds Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the offices of PFPC Inc.,
103 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, on April 19,
2006, at 8:30 a.m. Formal notice of the Annual Meeting
appears on the next page and is followed by the Proxy Statement.
The only matter upon which you, as a shareholder of the Fund,
are being asked to vote on is the election of two Class I
Directors to serve for a term of three years. The Board of
Directors recommends that you elect to the Board the two current
Directors who are standing for election.
We hope you will be able to attend, but we urge you, in any
event, to complete and return the enclosed proxy card in the
envelope provided. If you do attend, you may vote in person if
you so desire.
The Annual Report of the Chartwell Dividend and Income Fund,
Inc. for the year ended November 30, 2005 has previously
been mailed to shareholders of record. The Annual Report is not
to be considered proxy soliciting material.
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Sincerely, |
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Winthrop S. Jessup
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Chairman |
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
We
consider the vote of each Shareholder important, whatever the
number of shares held. Please sign, date and return your proxy
in the enclosed envelope at your earliest convenience. The
prompt return of your proxy will save expense to your Fund.
CHARTWELL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Wilmington, Delaware
March 22, 2006
To the Shareholders of
Chartwell Dividend and Income Fund, Inc.:
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Chartwell Dividend and
Income Fund, Inc. (the Fund) will be held at PFPC
Inc., 103 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday,
April 19, 2006, at 8:30 a.m., for the following
purposes:
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1. To elect two Directors of the Fund to hold office for a
term of three years and until his successor is duly elected and
qualified. |
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2. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the meeting or adjournments thereof. |
The subjects referred to above are discussed in the Proxy
Statement attached to this Notice. Each Shareholder is invited
to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Holders of record at the
close of business on March 1, 2006 are entitled to receive
notice of and to vote at the Meeting. IF YOU CANNOT BE
PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, WE URGE YOU TO FILL IN, SIGN, AND
PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED,
WHICH IS ADDRESSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE AND NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF
MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL
EXPENSE TO THE FUND OF FURTHER SOLICITATION, WE ASK YOUR
COOPERATION IN COMPLETING AND RETURNING YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY. THE
ENCLOSED PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE FUND.
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Michael P. Malloy
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Secretary |
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF
CHARTWELL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
PROXY STATEMENT
March 22, 2006
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Chartwell
Dividend and Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
Fund), for use at the Funds Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held at PFPC Inc., 103 Bellevue Parkway,
Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday, April 19, 2006, at
8:30 a.m., and at any adjournment thereof (the
Meeting). This Proxy Statement, the accompanying
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and the accompanying
proxy are being mailed to shareholders on or about
March 22, 2006.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on
March 1, 2006 as the record date for the determination of
shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting
and at any postponement or adjournment thereof (the Record
Date). The outstanding voting shares of the Fund as of the
Record Date consisted of 16,731,247 shares of common stock,
each share being entitled to one vote. All properly executed and
timely received proxies will be voted at the Meeting in
accordance with the directions marked thereon or otherwise
provided therein. Accordingly, unless instructions to the
contrary are marked, proxies solicited on behalf of the Board of
Directors will be voted FOR the election of the
nominees for Director (Proposal One). Any shareholder may
revoke his or her proxy at any time prior to the exercise
thereof by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Fund at
400 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, by signing
another proxy of a later date or by personally voting at the
Meeting.
Properly executed proxies may be returned with instructions to
abstain from voting or to withhold authority to vote (an
abstention) or may represent a broker
non-vote (which is a proxy from a broker or nominee
indicating that the broker or nominee has not received
instructions from the beneficial owner or other persons entitled
to vote shares on a particular matter with respect to which the
broker or nominee does not have discretionary power to vote).
The shares represented by abstentions or broker non-votes will
be considered present at the Meeting for purposes of determining
the existence of a quorum for the transaction of business. With
respect to Proposal One, which is a matter to be determined
by a plurality of votes cast on such matter, neither abstentions
nor broker non-votes, not being votes cast, will have any effect
on the outcome of the shareholder vote. If any proposal, other
than Proposal One, properly comes before the Meeting,
shares represented by proxies will be voted on such proposals in
the discretion of the person or persons holding the proxies.
A quorum for the Meeting will consist of the presence in person
or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled
to vote at the Meeting. Whether or not a quorum is present at
the Meeting, if sufficient votes in favor of the position
recommended by the Board of Directors on Proposal One are
not received, the persons named as proxies may, but are under no
obligation to, with no other notice than announcement at the
Meeting, propose and vote for one or more adjournments of the
Meeting for up to 120 days after the Record Date to permit
the further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournment will
require the affirmative vote of a majority of those shares
affected by the adjournment that are represented at the Meeting
in person or by proxy. Shares represented by proxies indicating
a vote contrary to the position recommended by a majority of the
Board of Directors on Proposal One will be voted against
adjournment as to that proposal.
Costs of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Fund. It is
anticipated that banks, brokerage houses, and other custodians
will be requested on behalf of the Fund to forward solicitation
material to their principals to obtain authorizations for the
execution of proxies. In addition to soliciting proxies by use
of the mail, some of the officers of the Fund and persons
affiliated with Chartwell Investment Partners, L.P., the
Funds investment adviser (the Adviser), may,
without remuneration, solicit proxies personally or by telephone
or telefax.
The Fund prepares and mails to its Shareholders financial
reports on a semi-annual basis. The Fund will furnish to
Shareholders upon request, without charge, copies of its Annual
Report to Shareholders, containing audited financial statements
for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2005. Requests for
such Annual Report should be directed to the Fund c/o SEI
Investments Global Funds Services, 1 Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks,
Pennsylvania 19456 or telephone toll-free 1-866-585-6552. The
Annual Report is not to be regarded as proxy soliciting
material.
ELECTION OF DIRECTOR
(Proposal One)
At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to elect two
(2) Directors to the Funds Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors of the Fund, including the Directors who are
not interested persons of the Fund, has nominated
Kenneth F. Herlihy and C. Warren Ormerod to serve as
Class I Directors to hold office until the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders in 2009, or thereafter when their respective
successors are duly elected and qualified. It is the intention
of the persons named in the accompanying proxy card to vote in
favor of election of Messrs. Herlihy and Ormerod.
Pursuant to the Charter and By-Laws of the Fund, the Board of
Directors is divided into three classes, as nearly equal in
number as possible. Each Director serves for three years with
one class being elected each year. Each year the term of office
of one class will expire. The Board of Directors is currently
comprised of five Directors, whose class and term of office are
as follows: Class I: Messrs. Kenneth F. Herlihy and C.
Warren Ormerod term expires in 2006; Class II:
Mr. Bernard P. Schaffer term expires in 2007;
and Class III: Messrs. Winthrop S. Jessup and George
W. Grosz term expires in 2008. All of the current
members of the Board of Directors have previously been elected
by the Funds shareholders.
Two of the Directors, Messrs. Herlihy and Ormerod are
standing for re-election by shareholders to serve as
Class I Directors until the Funds 2009 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders and until their respective successors have been
elected and qualified. Each nominee has indicated his intention
to continue to serve if elected and has consented to being named
in the Proxy Statement. The Board of Directors of the Fund knows
of no reason why the nominees will be unable to serve, but in
the event of any such inability, the proxies received will be
voted for such substituted nominees as the Board of Directors
may recommend.
Directors, including those who are not interested
persons of the Fund as that term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940
Act) (the Independent Directors), shall be
elected by the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of
the Fund cast in person or by proxy and entitled to vote
thereon, provided a quorum is present. In order for any other
persons to be nominated for election to the Board of Directors
at this Meeting, the By-Laws require the proposed nominee to
notify the Fund in writing by the tenth day following the day on
which notice of the Meeting is mailed and to provide such
written information required by the Secretary of the Fund. This
Proxy Statement is expected to be mailed on March 22,
2006 and, if such occurs, any such notice must be received
by the Fund on or before April 1, 2006.
2
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
nominees for election as Class I Directors, and each other
Director of the Fund whose term of office continues beyond the
Meeting:
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Number | |
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of Funds | |
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in Fund | |
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Position(s) | |
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Term of Office | |
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Complex | |
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Principal Occupation(s) |
Name, Age |
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Held With | |
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and Length of | |
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Overseen | |
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During Past Five Years; |
And Address(1) |
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the Fund | |
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Time Served | |
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by Director | |
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Other Directorships |
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Class I Directors
(Current Directors and Nominees for a Term Expiring at the
Annual Meeting to be held in 2009) |
Independent Directors |
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Kenneth F. Herlihy
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Age 77
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Class I Director |
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Term expires 2006; Director since 1998 |
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1 |
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Sculptor, who has worked independently since his retirement from
the mutual fund industry in 1987. |
C. Warren Ormerod
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Age 69
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Class I Director |
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Term expires 2006; Director since 2001 |
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1 |
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Chairman and Managing Director, NorthStar Asset Management
(since 2000); Managing Partner, Stratton Management Company
(1992-2000). |
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Class II Director
(Term Expiring at the Annual Meeting to be held in 2007) |
Interested Director*
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Bernard P. Schaffer
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Age 61
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Class II Director and Vice President |
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Term expires 2007; Director since 1998 |
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1 |
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Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager of Chartwell Investment
Partners, L.P. and Partner of Chartwell G.P., Inc. (since 1997). |
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Class III Directors
(Term Expiring at the Annual Meeting to be held in 2008) |
Independent Director
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George W. Grosz
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Age 68
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Class III Director |
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Current term expires 2008; Director since 2000 |
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1 |
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Consultant (since 1996); President and CEO of Meridian Asset
Management Co (1994-1996); Director, FBR National Trust Company
(since 2001); Director, Guardian Trust Company FSB (a wholly
owned subsidiary of Guardian Life Insurance Company of America)
(since 1999). |
3
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of Funds | |
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in Fund | |
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Position(s) | |
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Term of Office | |
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Complex | |
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Principal Occupation(s) |
Name, Age |
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Held With | |
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and Length of | |
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Overseen | |
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During Past Five Years; |
And Address(1) |
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the Fund | |
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Time Served | |
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by Director | |
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Other Directorships |
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Interested Director*
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Winthrop S. Jessup
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Age 60
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Class III Director, Chairman of the Board and President |
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Current term expires 2008; Director since 1998 |
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1 |
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Limited Partner, Chartwell Investment Partners, L.P. and
Chartwell G.P. Inc. (since 1997); Managing Partner, Chartwell
Investment Partners, L.P. and Chartwell G.P., Inc. (1997 to
2005); Director, Georgia Banking Company (since 1998). |
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* |
These Directors are considered to be interested
persons of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940 because they are partners in the Adviser and are
officers of the Fund. |
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(1) |
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer and
Director of the Fund is c/o Chartwell Investment Partners,
1235 Westlakes Drive, Suite 400, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
19312. |
The following table shows certain information about the officers
of the Fund. Officers of the Fund are elected by the Board of
Directors and, subject to the earlier termination of office,
each officer holds office for the term of one year and until his
or her successor is elected and qualified.
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Name, Address(1) |
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Principal Occupation(s) |
and Age of Officer |
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Position(s) Held with the Fund |
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During Past Five Years |
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Winthrop S. Jessup
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Age 60
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Chairman of the Board,
President and Director
(since 1998) |
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See biography above. |
Bernard P. Schaffer
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Age 61
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Vice President and Director
(since 1998) |
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See biography above. |
Kevin A. Melich
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Age 63
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Vice President (since 1998) |
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Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager of Chartwell Investment
Partners, L.P. and of Chartwell G.P., Inc. (since 1997). |
Timothy J. Riddle
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Age 50
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Vice President (since 1998) |
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Managing Partner of Chartwell Investment Partners L.P. and of
Chartwell G.P., Inc. (since 1997). |
G. Gregory Hagar
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Age 37
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Vice President (since 1998), Treasurer and Chief Compliance
Officer (since 2004) |
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Partner, Chief Financial Officer of Chartwell Investment
Partners, L.P. (since 1997). |
Andrew S. Toburen
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Age 34
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Vice President (since 2003) |
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Fixed Income Portfolio Manager, Chartwell Investment Partners,
L.P. (since 1997). |
4
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Name, Address(1) |
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Principal Occupation(s) |
and Age of Officer |
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Position(s) Held with the Fund |
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During Past Five Years |
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Michael P. Malloy(2)
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Age 46
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Secretary (since 1998) |
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Partner in the law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
(since 1993). |
Maria E. Pollack
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Age 60
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Assistant Secretary (since 1998) |
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Director of Client Administration for Chartwell Investment
Partners L.P. (since 1997). |
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(1) |
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer and
Director of the Fund is c/o Chartwell Investment Partners,
1235 Westlakes Drive, Suite 400, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
19312. |
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(2) |
Mr. Malloys business address is One Logan Square,
18th and Cherry Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. |
The following table provides information concerning the number
and dollar range of equity securities in the Fund owned
beneficially by each Director and nominee for Director as of
January 31, 2006:
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Aggregate Dollar Range |
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of Equity Securities in |
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Number |
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All Funds Overseen by |
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of Shares |
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Dollar Range of |
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Director or Nominee in |
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Beneficially |
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Percent of |
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Equity Securities |
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Family of Investment |
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Owned in |
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Class in |
Name of Director/Nominee |
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in the Fund(1) |
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Companies |
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the Fund |
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the Fund |
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Independent Directors/ Nominees
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George W. Grosz
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over $100,000 |
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over $100,000 |
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10,000 |
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** |
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Kenneth F. Herlihy
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$-0- |
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$-0- |
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-0- |
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-0- |
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C. Warren Ormerod
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$-0- |
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$-0- |
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-0- |
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-0- |
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Interested Directors*
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Winthrop S. Jessup
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$50,001 - $100,000 |
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$50,001 - $100,000 |
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6,569 |
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** |
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Bernard P. Schaffer
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$10,001 - $50,000 |
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$10,001 - $50,000 |
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4,311 |
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** |
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* |
These Directors are considered to be interested
persons of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940 because they are partners in the Adviser and are
officers of the Fund. |
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(1) |
The information concerning the dollar value of equity securities
beneficially owned by each Director is based on statements
furnished to the Fund by each Director. All shares represented
in this table are owned with sole voting and investment power.
None of the Independent Directors or their family members owned
beneficially or of record any securities of the Funds
investment adviser or any person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the
investment adviser. |
To the knowledge of the Funds management, the current
Directors and officers of the Fund owned, as a group, less than
1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund as of the Record Date.
As of this date, no person, to the knowledge of the Funds
management, owned beneficially more than 5% of the voting shares
of the Fund.
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Compensation of Directors |
No officer or Director of the Fund who is also a director,
officer or employee of the investment adviser or its affiliates
received any remuneration from the Fund during 2005. The
Independent Directors taken as a group were either paid or had
accrued Directors fees during the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2005 in the aggregate amount of $24,250. Until
2006, the basis of compensation for the Independent Directors
was a fee of
5
$1,500 for each regular Board meeting attended, $750 for each
special meeting attended, plus $1,000 per year for audit
committee members and an additional fee of $250 per year
for the chairman of the audit committee. Effective
January 18, 2006, the compensation of Directors who are not
also directors, officers or employees of the investment adviser
increased to $2,000 for each regular Board meeting attended and
the additional fee of $250 per year payable to the audit
committee chairman was eliminated. The $750 special meeting fee
and the $1,000 per year audit committee fee have not been
changed. Each Independent Director of the Fund is reimbursed for
reasonable travel and
out-of-pocket expenses
associated with attending Board and committee meetings.
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, of which Michael P. Malloy,
Secretary of the Fund, is a partner, received fees during the
year ended November 30, 2005 for services rendered as the
Funds legal counsel.
The following table provides information concerning the
compensation paid by the Fund to Directors for services rendered
during the Funds fiscal year ended November 30, 2005.
The Fund has no bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement
plans.
COMPENSATION TABLE
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Total | |
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Pension or | |
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Compensation | |
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Retirement | |
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From Fund and | |
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Aggregate | |
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Benefits Accrued | |
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Estimated Annual | |
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Fund Complex | |
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Compensation | |
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As Part of Fund | |
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Benefits Upon | |
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Paid To | |
Name of Person |
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From Fund | |
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Expenses | |
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Retirement | |
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Directors | |
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Independent Directors
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George W. Grosz
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$ |
7,000 |
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$ |
-0- |
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$ |
-0- |
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$ |
7,000 |
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Kenneth F. Herlihy
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$ |
7,250 |
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$ |
-0- |
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$ |
-0- |
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$ |
7,250 |
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C. Warren Ormerod
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$ |
7,000 |
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$ |
-0- |
|
|
$ |
-0- |
|
|
$ |
7,000 |
|
Interested Directors*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Winthrop S. Jessup
|
|
$ |
-0- |
|
|
$ |
-0- |
|
|
$ |
-0- |
|
|
$ |
-0- |
|
Bernard P. Schaffer
|
|
$ |
-0- |
|
|
$ |
-0- |
|
|
$ |
-0- |
|
|
$ |
-0- |
|
|
|
* |
These Directors are considered to be interested
persons of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940 because they are partners in the Adviser and are
officers of the Fund. |
|
|
|
Standing Committees and Board of Directors Meetings |
The Fund has a standing Audit Committee of the Board comprised
of all Directors who are not interested persons of
the Fund, the Funds investment adviser or their affiliates
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the 1940 Act), and who are
independent as defined in the New York Stock
Exchange applicable listing standards. Currently,
Messrs. Herlihy, Grosz and Ormerod serve as members of the
Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for the
selection and engagement of the Funds independent auditors
(subject to ratification by the Funds Independent
Directors), including evaluating such auditors
independence and pre-approving audit and non-audit services, and
meeting with such auditors to consider and review matters
relating to the Funds financial reports and accounting. In
addition, the Audit Committee serves as the Funds
Qualified Legal Compliance Committee. The Audit Committee has a
written Charter. The Audit Committee held two meetings during
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2005.
The Fund also has a standing Nominating Committee of the Board
that acts pursuant to a written charter. The Nominating
Committee is responsible for selecting and nominating for
consideration by the full Board candidates to be considered for
election/appointment as additional Independent Directors of the
Board. The Nominating Committee currently consists of
Messrs. Herlihy, Grosz and Ormerod. None of the members of
the Nominating Committee is an interested person of
the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and each member
of the Nominating Committee is independent as defined under the
listing standards of the
6
New York Stock Exchange. A copy of the Nominating
Committees charter was attached to the Funds 2004
Proxy Statement as Annex B. It is not included on the
Funds website. The Nominating Committee did not meet
during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2005.
Other than as described in its charter, the Nominating Committee
has not adopted a formal process for identifying and evaluating
nominees, including nominees recommended by shareholders. The
Nominating Committee does not have at this time specific,
minimum qualifications for nominees and has not established
formal specific qualities or skills that it regards as necessary
for one or more the Funds Directors to possess (other than
any qualities or skills that may be required by applicable law,
regulation or listing standard). However, in identifying and
evaluating nominees, the Nominating Committee considers factors
it deems relevant, which may include: whether the person is an
interested person as defined under the 1940 Act and
whether the person is otherwise qualified under applicable laws
and regulations to serve on the Funds Board of Directors;
whether the person has any relationships that may impair his or
her independence, such as any business, financial or family
relationships with Fund management, the investment adviser of
the Fund, Fund service providers or their affiliates; whether
the person serves on any boards of, or is otherwise affiliated
with, competing financial service organizations or their related
funds; whether the person is willing to serve and willing and
able to commit the time necessary for the performance of duties
of a director of the Fund; the contribution which the person can
make to the Board and the Fund, with consideration being given
to the persons business acumen, professional experience,
education and such other factors as the Committee may consider
relevant; and the character and integrity of the person.
The Nominating Committee will consider Independent Director
nominees recommended by shareholders should a vacancy among the
Independent Directors arise. Currently, there are no vacancies.
Shareholders who wish to recommend a nominee should send a
written request addressed to the Secretary of the Fund which
includes the shareholders contact information, the
proposed candidates biographical data and qualifications,
and all other information relating to such person that is
required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the
election of directors under Regulation 14A of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. A recommendation must be
accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for
election if nominated by the Board of Directors and to serve if
elected by the Funds shareholders. All shareholder
recommended nominee submissions must be received by the Fund by
the deadline for submission of any shareholder proposals to be
included in the Funds proxy statement for its next annual
meeting. Recommendations for candidates to the Board will be
evaluated in light of whether the number of Board members is
expected to change and whether the Board expects any vacancies
among the Independent Directors. All nominee recommendations
from Fund shareholders will be acknowledged, although there may
be times when the Committee is not actively recruiting new
Independent Directors. In those circumstances, the nominee
recommendation will be kept on file until active recruitment is
under way. In the event that a vacancy arises or a change in
Board membership is determined to be advisable, the Nominating
Committee will, in addition to any shareholder recommendations,
consider candidates identified by other means, including
candidates proposed by members of the Nominating Committee. The
Nominating Committee does not evaluate nominees for Director
differently based on whether the nominee is recommended by a
security holder. While it has not done so in the past, the
Nominating Committee may retain a consultant to assist the
Committee in a search for a qualified candidate.
No nominee recommendations have been received by shareholders.
The Fund has a standing Fair Value Committee whose function is
to monitor the valuation of portfolio securities and other
investments and, as authorized by the Board of Directors, to
make all necessary determinations of fair value for the
portfolio holdings for which market quotations are not readily
available, after consideration of all relevant factors, and
report such determinations to the full Board. The Fair Value
Committee consists of six members: two Directors of the Fund
(Messrs. Jessup and Schaffer); two officers of the Fund
(Messrs. Hagar and Toburen); and two representatives of SEI
Investments Global Funds Services, the Funds administrator
(Jennifer Spratley and Robert Morrow). The Fair Value Committee
held no meetings during the fiscal year ended November 30,
2005.
The Fund has no compensation committee of the Board of Directors.
7
During the Funds last fiscal year, the Board of Directors
held four regularly scheduled meetings. For the fiscal year
ended November 30, 2005, each of the Directors then in
office attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of
the Board of Directors and of all Committees of the Board held
during the period on which he served. The Fund does not have a
formal policy regarding attendance by Directors at annual
meetings of shareholders but encourages such attendance. All of
the Directors then in office attended the Funds 2005
annual meeting of shareholders.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FUND RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE
FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES TO SERVE AS
DIRECTORS OF THE FUND.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE;
INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUNDS
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
|
|
Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
On March 15, 2006, the Funds Audit Committee
selected, and the Funds Independent Directors ratified the
selection of, the firm of Ernst & Young LLP
(Ernst & Young) as the independent
registered public accounting firm to audit the financial
statements of the Fund for the fiscal year ending
November 30, 2006. In reliance on
Rule 32a-4 under
the 1940 Act, the Fund is not seeking shareholder ratification
of the selection of its independent registered public accounting
firm.
On March 2, 2006, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
(PwC) resigned as the Funds independent
registered public accounting firm effective upon the
Boards approval of the new registered public accounting
firm. During the Funds two most recent fiscal years ended
November 30, 2005 and 2004, PwCs reports on the
Funds financial statements contained no adverse opinion or
disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. During the
Funds two most recent fiscal years ended November 30,
2005 and 2004 and the interim period commencing December 1,
2005 and ending March 15, 2006, there were no disagreements
with PwC on any matter of accounting principles or practices,
financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure,
which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of PwC,
would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of
the disagreement in connection with its report on the financial
statements for such years. During the Funds two most
recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period ended
March 15, 2006, there were no events of the kind described
in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of
Regulation S-K
under the Securities Exchange Act of 2004.
During the Funds two most recent fiscal years ended
November 30, 2005 and 2004 and the subsequent interim
period ended March 15, 2006, neither the Fund nor anyone on
its behalf has consulted Ernst & Young on items which
(i) concerned the application of accounting principles to a
specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type
of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Funds
financial statements, or (ii) concerned the subject of a
disagreement (as defined in paragraph (a)(1)(iv) of
Item 304 of
Regulation S-K) or
reportable events (as described in paragraph (a)(1)(v) of
said Item 304).
Representatives of PwC are not expected to be present at the
Meeting. Representatives of Ernst & Young are not
expected to be present at the Meeting, but will be available by
telephone to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders,
if necessary.
|
|
|
Report of the Audit Committee |
The Funds Board of Directors has adopted and approved a
formal written charter for the Audit Committee, which sets forth
the Committees responsibilities. As required by the
charter, the Audit Committee has received the written
disclosures and the letter from PwC required by Independence
Standards Board No. 1 and has discussed with PwC its
independence with respect to the Fund. The Fund has been advised
by PwC that neither the firm nor any of its partners had a
direct financial or material indirect financial interest in the
Fund as of January 18, 2006.
8
The Funds financial statements for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2005 were audited by PwC. The Audit Committee
has reviewed and discussed the Funds audited financial
statements with Fund management and PwC, and discussed certain
matters with PwC addressed by Statements on Auditing Standards
No. 61. Based on the foregoing review and discussions, the
Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the
Board approved) that the Funds audited financial
statements be included in the Funds annual report for the
Funds fiscal year ended November 30, 2005.
|
|
|
Kenneth F. Herlihy, |
|
Chairman of the Audit Committee |
|
George W. Grosz, |
|
Member of the Audit Committee |
|
C. Warren Ormerod, |
|
Member of the Audit Committee |
The aggregate fees paid to PwC for professional services
rendered by PwC for the audit of the Funds annual
financial statements or for services that are normally provided
by PwC in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or
engagements were $47,150 for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2005 and $44,000 for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2004.
The aggregate fees billed by PwC for audit related services
amounted to $20,600 for the fiscal year ended November 30,
2005 and $19,500 for the fiscal year ended November 30,
2004. These fees were for agreed-upon procedures performed on
behalf of the Fund to verify compliance with asset coverage and
maintenance tests with respect to the Funds commercial
paper program.
The aggregate fees paid for tax-related services, including tax
compliance, tax advice and tax return preparation, rendered by
PwC to the Fund were $4,700 for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2005 and $4,400 for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2004.
No fees were billed to the Fund by PwC for any other services
for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2005 and
November 30, 2004.
PwC did not render any audit, audit-related, tax or any other
services to the Funds investment adviser or entities that
control, are controlled by or under common control with the
Adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund for the fiscal
year ended November 30, 2005 or for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2004.
|
|
|
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures |
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Audit Committee has
not adopted pre-approval policies and procedures. As a result,
all services provided by PwC must be directly pre-approved by
the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee pre-approved audit and
non-audit services provided by PwC to the Fund in 2005.
The aggregate non-audit fees for services provided to the Fund,
the Adviser, and any entities that control, are controlled by or
under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing
services to the Fund for the fiscal years ended
November 30, 2005 and 2004 were $25,300 and $23,900,
respectively. In recommending the approval of PwC as the
Funds independent auditors for the fiscal years ended
November 30, 2005 and 2004,
9
the Audit Committee considered whether the services described
above, including all non-audit services rendered to the Fund,
the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser that provides ongoing
services to the Fund, were compatible with maintaining the
independence of PwC.
OTHER BUSINESS
The management of the Fund does not know of any other matters to
be brought before the Meeting. If such matters are properly
brought before the Meeting, proxies not limited to the contrary
will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of the person
or persons acting thereunder. To propose any business for
consideration at this Meeting (other than matters included in
this Proxy Statement), a Shareholder must notify the Fund in
writing by the tenth day following the day on which notice of
the Meeting is mailed and to provide such written information to
the Fund as required by the Secretary of the Fund. This Proxy
Statement is expected to be mailed to Shareholders on
March 22, 2006, and, if such occurs, any such notice must
be received by the Fund on or before April 1, 2006.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
|
|
|
Investment Adviser and Administrator |
Chartwell Investment Partners, L.P. serves as investment adviser
for the Fund and is located at 1235 Westlakes Drive,
Suite 400, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312. SEI Investments
Global Funds Services serves as administrator for the Fund and
is located at 1 Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.
|
|
|
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance |
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
Exchange Act) and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act
in combination require the Funds Directors, officers,
investment adviser, affiliates of the investment adviser, and
persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Funds
outstanding securities (Reporting Persons), to file
reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and the
New York Stock Exchange. Such persons are required by SEC
regulations to furnish the Fund with copies of all such filings.
Based solely on a review of the copies of these reports
furnished to the Fund and representations that no other reports
were required to be filed, the Fund believes that its Reporting
Persons complied with the applicable filing requirements during
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2005.
|
|
|
Shareholder Proposals 2007 Annual Meeting |
A Shareholder who intends to present a proposal which relates to
a proper subject for Shareholder action at the 2007 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, and who wishes such proposal to be
considered for inclusion in the Funds proxy materials for
such meeting, must cause such proposal to be received, in proper
form, at the Funds principal executive offices by
November 22, 2006. Any such proposals, as well as any
questions relating thereto, should be directed to the Fund to
the attention of its Secretary.
|
|
|
Shareholder Communications with the Board of Directors |
Fund shareholders who want to communicate with the Board or any
individual Board member with respect to matters relating to the
Fund should send a written communication addressed to the Board
of Directors or the individual Board member, c/o Chartwell
Investment Partners, L.P., 1235 Westlakes Drive,
Suite 400, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312. The letter should
indicate that you are a Fund shareholder. If the communication
is intended for a specific Board member and so indicates it will
be sent only to that Board member. If a communication does not
indicate a specific Board member it will be sent to the chair of
the
10
nominating committee and outside counsel to the Independent
Directors for further distribution as deemed appropriate by such
persons.
March 22, 2006
SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING
AND WHO WISH TO HAVE THEIR SHARES VOTED ARE REQUESTED TO DATE
AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED
STATES.
11
FORM OF PROXY CARD
CHARTWELL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CHARTWELL DIVIDEND AND INCOME FUND, INC.
(THE FUND) FOR USE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 19, 2006 AT 8:30
A.M. AT THE OFFICES OF PFPC INC., 103 BELLEVUE PARKWAY, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.
The undersigned hereby appoints Timothy Riddle and G. Gregory Hagar, and each of them, with
full power of substitution, as proxies of the undersigned to vote at the above-stated Annual
Meeting, and all adjournments thereof, all shares of common stock held of record by the undersigned
on the record date for the Annual Meeting, upon the following matter, and upon any other matter
which may properly come before the Annual Meeting, at their discretion.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES.
1. |
|
Class I Directors (term expires 2009): |
|
o |
|
To vote FOR All Nominees Listed |
|
|
o |
|
To WITHHOLD Authority To Vote For All Nominees Listed |
|
|
o |
|
For All Except To withhold a vote for a specific nominee,
mark this box with an X and the appropriately numbered box from the list at the right |
01-Kenneth F. Herlihy o
02-C. Warren Ormerod o
In their discretion the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business
as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Every properly signed proxy will be voted in the manner specified hereon and, in the absence
of specification, will be treated as GRANTING authority to vote FOR the election of all nominees in
Proposal 1 and with discretionary authority to vote upon such other business as may properly come
before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the
Notice of Annual Meeting of shareholders of the Fund and the Proxy Statement.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY.
Sign here exactly as name(s) appear(s) hereon
IMPORTANT - Joint owners must EACH sign. When
signing as attorney, trustee, executor,
administrator, guardian, or corporate officer, please
give your FULL title.