It is our pleasure to invite you to the Annual Meeting (“Meeting”) of Shareholders of Dividend and Income Fund (the “Fund”) to be held at the office of Robert Kimball, CPA, at
311 Main St, Walpole, NH 03608, on June 10, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. ET, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. Formal notice of the Meeting appears on the next pages and is followed by the Proxy Statement for the Meeting.
As part of our precautions regarding the coronavirus or COVID-19, we are planning for the possibility that the Meeting may be held at a physical location or virtually solely by
means of remote communication or via a live webcast or that we may allow for virtual attendance. If we take this step, we will publicly announce the decision in a press release that will also be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
definitive additional soliciting material, and we will post the announcement and additional information on our website at www.DividendandIncomeFund.com as soon as practicable before the Meeting. We recommend that you monitor this website for updated
information, and please check this website in advance of the Meeting to confirm the status of the Meeting before planning to attend in person.
Thomas B. Winmill
Security Ownership of Management
The following table sets forth information describing the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee and/or Nominee in the Fund and in all investment
companies in the aggregate within the Fund Complex overseen and/or to be overseen by each Trustee and/or Board Nominee as of the Record Date.
Name of Trustee or Nominee
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Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund
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Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Investment Companies Overseen by the Trustee/Nominee in the Fund Complex
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Independent Trustees/Board Nominee:
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Roger Atkinson
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$10,001 - $50,000
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$10,001 - $50,000
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Jon Tomasson
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$0
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$0
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Peter K. Werner
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$0
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$10,001 - $50,000
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Interested Trustee:
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Thomas B. Winmill
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Over $100,000
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Over $100,000
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As of April 30, 2020, no Independent Trustee or Independent Trustee Nominee owned beneficially, or of record, any securities in the Investment Manager or in any person controlled by, under common
control with, or controlling the Investment Manager.
The following table sets forth ownership of the Fund’s equity securities by the Fund’s Trustees, the Board Nominee, and named executive officers, as well as the number of equity securities
beneficially owned by all of the Trustees, Board Nominee, and named executive officers as a group. Amounts owned reflect ownership as of the Record Date.
Name of Beneficial Owner
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Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
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Percent of Outstanding Equity Securities
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Roger Atkinson
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2,000
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*
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Thomas O’Malley
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0
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0%
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Jon Tomasson
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0
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0%
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Peter K. Werner
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0
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0%
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Thomas B. Winmill
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1,163,928(1)
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9.35%
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Trustees, Board Nominee, and Named Executive Officers as a Group (5 persons)
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1,165,928
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9.37%
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* Less than one percent.
(1) See the TBW Ownership Disclosure (as defined herein).
Current Board Leadership Structure and Oversight Responsibilities
The Board is responsible for the oversight of the Fund’s operations. The Board is currently composed of four members, three of whom are Independent Trustees. As described below, the Board has established five
standing
committees, Audit, Nominating, Executive, Governance, and Continuing Trustees, and may establish ad hoc committees or working groups from time to time, to assist the Board in fulfilling
its oversight responsibilities. The inclusion of all Independent Trustees as members of the Audit, Governance, and Nominating Committees allows all such Trustees to participate in the full range of the Board’s oversight duties, including oversight of
risk management processes discussed below.
The Trustees have designated Mr. Thomas Winmill to serve as the Chairman of the Board (the “Chairman”). Mr. Winmill has been active in investment management for over 20 years as
a portfolio manager, chief executive officer, general counsel, chief legal officer, compliance officer, and in other capacities. The Chairman presides at each Board meeting, establishes the agenda for Board meetings, and acts as the primary liaison
between the Independent Trustees and Fund management. The Chairman of the Board is an “interested person” of the Fund (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act). The Independent Trustees have not appointed a lead Independent Trustee. The Independent
Trustees believe that the utilization of an interested person as Chairman provides an efficient structure for them to coordinate with Fund management in carrying out their responsibilities. The Independent Trustees also regularly meet among
themselves and the Chairman plays an important role in communicating with them in identifying matters of special interest to be addressed by Fund management and the Board. The Chairman may also perform such other functions as may be requested by the
Trustees from time to time. Designation as Chairman does not impose on such Trustee any duties or standards greater than or different from other Trustees. The Trustees believe that the Board’s leadership structure, taking into account, among other
things, its committee structure, which permits certain areas of responsibility to be allocated to the Independent Trustees, is appropriate given the characteristics and circumstances of the Fund.
Risk Oversight
The operation of an investment company generally involves a variety of risks including, among others, investment, compliance, operational and valuation risks. As part of its
oversight of the Fund, the Board oversees risk management through various regular Board and committee activities. As part of its regular oversight of the Fund, the Board, directly and/or through its committees, reviews reports from, among others, the
Fund’s management, including the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Investment Manager, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm (“IRPAF”), outside legal counsel, and others, as appropriate, regarding risks faced by the Fund and the
risk management programs of the Investment Manager and certain service providers. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. The conduct of the Fund’s day-to-day risk management functions are
generally delegated to the Investment Manager and other service providers to the Fund. The Investment Manager and other service providers have their own, independent interest in risk management, and their policies and methods of risk management will
depend on their functions and business models. Although the risk management programs of the Investment Manager and the service providers are designed to be effective, there is no guarantee that they will anticipate or mitigate all risks. Not all
risks that may affect the Fund can be identified, eliminated, or mitigated and some risks may not be anticipated or may be beyond the control of the Board or the Investment Manager, its affiliates, or other service providers. The Board may, at any
time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.
Qualification of Board of Trustees
Each Trustee’s background and, except with respect to Mr. Atkinson, his oversight and service as a member of the boards of the other investment companies in the Fund Complex was
evaluated in determining whether he should serve as a Trustee of the Fund. With respect to the specific experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills that led to the conclusion that each person should serve as a Trustee of the Fund, each
Trustee’s relevant knowledge, experience, expertise, and independence was considered and evaluated. Mr. Werner has experience with financial, accounting, regulatory, investment, and board operational matters as well as monitoring investment advisers
and other fund service providers through his former position as Vice President in the Fixed Income Departments of Lehman Brothers and First Boston and as a result of his service as an
Independent Director and Trustee for more than 15 years of the other investment companies in the Fund Complex. Mr. Tomasson has experience with financial, accounting,
regulatory, investment, and board operational matters through his current position as Chief Executive Officer of Vinland Capital Investments, LLC and Chief Investment Officer of NRE Capital Partners LLC, his former positions as a principal with
Cardinal Capital Partners, a Vice President at Citigroup in the Global Real Estate Equity and Structured Finance group, part of the Real Estate Investment Bank, and a director of a public company, and as a result of his service as an Independent Director and Trustee of the other investment companies in the Fund Complex. Mr. Atkinson has experience with financial, accounting, regulatory, investment, and
board operational matters through his current position as a manager at CellMark, Inc., a global forest products trading company, where he directs trading activity, acquisitions, and risk management, and various former positions, including serving as
the sole member of Fort Vancouver Paper LLC, an international trading company. Thomas Winmill has experience with financial, accounting, regulatory, investment, and board operational matters as well as monitoring investment advisers and other fund
service providers as a result of his service as an officer and interested Director and Trustee for more than 20 years of the other investment companies in the Fund Complex.
The Board believes that the significance of each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills is an individual matter (meaning that experience important for one
Trustee may not have the same value for another) and that these factors are best evaluated at the Board level, with no single Trustee, or particular factor, being indicative of Board effectiveness. The Board considers the complementary individual
skills and experience of the individual Trustees in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the Fund.
References to the qualifications, attributes and skills of Trustees are presented pursuant to disclosure requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out the Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not
impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.
Board Committees and Board of Trustees’ Meetings
Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of all of the Independent Trustees. The purpose of the Audit Committee is to
meet with the Fund’s IRPAF to review its financial reporting, external audit matters, and fees charged by the IRPAF and to evaluate the independence of the IRPAF. The Audit Committee is also responsible for recommending the selection, retention, or
termination of the IRPAF and to review any other relevant matter to seek to provide integrity and accuracy in the Fund’s financial reporting. The Audit Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. A current copy of the
Fund’s Audit Committee Charter is available on the Fund’s website at www.DividendandIncomeFund.com.
Nominating Committee. The Board also has a Nominating Committee, comprised of all the Independent Trustees. The primary purposes and
responsibilities of the Nominating Committee are (i) to identify individuals qualified to become members of the Board in the event that a position is vacated or created, (ii) to consider all candidates proposed to become members of the Board, subject
to the procedures and policies set forth in the Nominating Committee Charter, the Fund’s Declaration of Trust, as amended, and Bylaws (the Fund’s Declaration of Trust and Bylaws are referred to as the “Governing Documents”) or resolutions of the
Board, (iii) to select and nominate, or recommend for nomination by the Board, candidates for election as Trustees and (iv) to set any necessary standards or qualifications for service on the Board. The Nominating Committee met one time during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. A current copy of the Board’s Nominating Committee Charter is available on the Fund’s website at www.DividendandIncomeFund.com.
Governance Committee. The Board recently established a Governance Committee, comprised of all the Independent Trustees, in April 2020.
The primary purpose of the Governance Committee is to assist the Board in serving its oversight role on behalf of the interests of the Fund and all of its shareholders in respect to the Governing Documents of the Fund. A current copy of the Fund’s
Governance Committee Charter is available on the Fund’s website at www.DividendandIncomeFund.com.
During 2020, the Independent Trustees met on several occasions to discuss the Fund’s governance profile. On February 24, 2020, the Independent Trustees met with special counsel
and requested that special counsel and management conduct a review of the Governing Documents as compared to market practice (“Governance Review”). The Board and/or a committee thereof, including the Independent Trustees, discussed the results of the
Governance Review at meetings held on March 23, 2020, April 9, 2020 and April 30, 2020. In addition, on April 9, 2020, the Board established the Governance Committee and delegated to the Governance Committee the responsibility of further analyzing
the results of the Governance Review and to recommend to the Board any appropriate changes to the Governing Documents. On April 30, 2020, the Governance Committee recommended to the Board that the Board consider amending the definition of “Continuing
Trustees” in the Fund’s Declaration of Trust to include a fourth category of individuals who would qualify as a “Continuing Trustee” and amending the voting standard for a contested
Trustee election as set forth in the Fund’s Bylaws, both of which were approved by the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, at a subsequent meeting of the Board on
that date. Current copies of the Governing Documents are available on the Fund’s website at www.DividendandIncomeFund.com.
Executive Committee. The Board has an Executive Committee which was established in February 2011, comprised of Thomas Winmill, and which
may meet from time to time, the function of which is to exercise the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board to the extent permitted by law to be delegated and not delegated by the Board to any other committee. The Executive Committee did
not meet during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
Committee of Continuing Trustees. The Fund has a Committee of Continuing Trustees which was established in June 2011, which may meet from
time to time, to take such actions as are required by the Governing Documents of the Fund. The Committee of Continuing Trustees is comprised of Messrs. Atkinson, Werner, Tomasson, and Winmill. The Committee of Continuing Trustees did not meet during
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
The Fund has no compensation committee of the Board.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the current Board held four regularly scheduled meetings. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, each of the Trustees currently
in office attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and of all Committees of the Board held during the period in which he served. The Fund does not have a formal policy regarding attendance by Trustees at annual meetings of
shareholders but encourages such attendance. On June 6, 2019, the Fund held an annual meeting of shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, which was attended by all of the Trustees.
Information Regarding the Fund’s Process for Identifying and Nominating Trustee Candidates
In identifying potential nominees for the Board, the Nominating Committee may consider candidates recommended by one or more of the following sources: (i) the Fund’s current
Trustees, (ii) the Fund’s officers, (iii) the Investment Manager, (iv) the Fund’s shareholders and (v) any other source the Nominating Committee deems to be appropriate. The Nominating Committee will not consider self-nominated candidates. The
Nominating Committee may, but is not required to, retain a third party search firm at the Fund’s expense to identify potential candidates. The Nominating Committee believes the Board may benefit from diversity of background, experience, and views
among its members, and may consider this a factor in evaluating the composition of the Board, but has not adopted any specific policy in this regard.
Pursuant to the Fund’s Governing Documents, to qualify as a nominee for a Trusteeship or election as a Trustee, an individual, at the time of nomination or election as the case
may be, (i)(A) shall be a resident United States citizen and have substantial expertise, experience or relationships relevant to the business of the Fund, (B) shall have a master’s degree in economics, finance, business administration or accounting,
a graduate professional degree in law from an accredited university or college in the United States or the equivalent degree from an equivalent institution of higher learning in another country, or a certification as a public accountant in the United
States, or be deemed an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (or other applicable law); (C) shall not serve as a trustee or officer of another closed end investment company unless such company
is sponsored or managed by the Fund’s Investment Manager or by an affiliate of the Investment Manager; and (D) shall not serve or have served within the past 3 years as a trustee of any closed end investment company which, while such individual was
serving as a trustee or within one year after the end of such service, ceased to be a closed end investment company registered under the 1940 Act, unless such individual was initially nominated for election as a trustee by the board of trustees of
such closed end investment company, or (ii) shall be a current Trustee of the Fund. In addition, to qualify as a nominee for a Trusteeship or election as a Trustee, (i) an incumbent nominee shall not have violated any provision of the Conflicts of
Interest and Corporate Opportunities Policy (the “Policy”), adopted by the Board on May 8, 2012, as subsequently amended or modified, and (ii) an individual who is not an incumbent Trustee shall not have a relationship, hold any position or office or
otherwise engage in, or have engaged in, any activity that would result in a violation of the Policy if the individual were elected as a Trustee. In addition, to qualify as a nominee for a Trusteeship or election as a Trustee at the time of
nomination or election as the case may be, a person shall not, if elected as a Trustee, cause the Fund to be in violation of, or not in compliance with, applicable law, regulation or
regulatory interpretation, or the Declaration of Trust, or any general policy adopted by the Board regarding either retirement age or the percentage of interested persons and
non-interested persons to comprise the Board.
The Nominating Committee of the Board, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether an individual satisfies the foregoing qualifications. Any individual not so nominated by
the Nominating Committee of the Board shall be deemed not to satisfy the foregoing qualifications, unless the Nominating Committee adopts a resolution setting forth the affirmative determination that such individual satisfied the foregoing
qualifications. Any individual who does not satisfy the qualifications set forth herein, unless waived by the Committee, shall not be eligible for nomination or election as a Trustee and the selection and nomination, or recommendation for nomination
by the Board, of candidates for election by the Committee shall be deemed to be its determination such qualifications are satisfied or waived for such candidate.
The Nominating Committee will also consider and evaluate nominee candidates properly submitted by shareholders on the basis of the same criteria used to consider and evaluate
candidates recommended by other sources. Nominee candidates proposed by shareholders will be considered properly submitted for consideration by the Nominating Committee only if the qualifications and procedures set forth in Appendix A of the
Nominating Committee Charter, as it may be amended from time to time by the Nominating Committee or the Board, are met and followed (recommendations not properly submitted will not be considered by the Nominating Committee).
A candidate for nomination as a Trustee submitted by a shareholder will not be deemed to be properly submitted to the Nominating Committee for its consideration unless the
following qualifications have been met and procedures followed:
(1)
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A shareholder or group of shareholders (referred to in either case as a “Nominating Shareholder”) that, individually or as a group, has beneficially owned at least 4.5% of the Fund’s
shares of beneficial interest for at least two years prior to the date the Nominating Shareholder submits a candidate for nomination as a Trustee may submit one candidate to the Nominating Committee for consideration at an annual meeting of
shareholders.
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(2)
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The Nominating Shareholder must submit any such recommendation (a “Shareholder Recommendation”) in writing to the Fund, to the attention of the Secretary, at the address of the principal
executive offices of the Fund.
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(3)
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The Shareholder Recommendation must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Fund not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days before the first
anniversary date of the Fund’s proxy statement released to shareholders in connection with the most recent shareholders meeting at which Trustees were considered for election.
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(4)
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The Shareholder Recommendation must include: (i) a statement in writing setting forth (A) the name, date of birth, business address, and residence address of the person recommended by the
Nominating Shareholder (the “candidate”); (B) any position or business relationship of the candidate, currently or within the preceding five years, with the Nominating Shareholder or an Associated Person of the Nominating Shareholder (as
defined herein); (C) the class or series and number of all shares of the Fund owned of record or beneficially by the candidate, as reported to such Nominating Shareholder by the candidate; (D) any other information regarding the candidate
that is required to be disclosed about a nominee in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for election of Trustees pursuant to Section 20 of the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder; (E) whether the Nominating Shareholder believes that the candidate is or will be an “interested person” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) and, if believed not to be an “interested person,”
information regarding the candidate that will be sufficient for the Fund to make such determination; and (F) information as to the candidate’s knowledge of the investment company industry, experience as a trustee or senior officer of public
companies, trusteeships on the boards of other registered investment companies and educational background; (ii) the written and signed consent of the candidate to be named as a nominee and to serve as a Trustee if elected; (iii) the written
and signed agreement of the candidate to complete a trustees’ and officers’ questionnaire if elected; (iv) the Nominating Shareholder’s consent to be named as such by the Fund; (v) the class or series and number of all shares of the Fund
owned beneficially and of record by the Nominating Shareholder and any Associated Person of the Nominating Shareholder and the dates on which such shares were acquired, specifying the number of shares owned beneficially but not of record by
each, and stating the names of each as they appear on the Fund’s record books and the names of any nominee holders for each; and (vi) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the Nominating Shareholder, the candidate
and/or any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made by the Nominating Shareholder. “Associated Person of the Nominating Shareholder” as used in this paragraph 4 means any person
required to be identified pursuant to clause (vi) and any other person controlling, controlled by or under common control with, directly or indirectly, (a) the Nominating Shareholder or (b) any person required to be identified pursuant to
clause (vi).
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(5)
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The Nominating Committee may require the Nominating Shareholder to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require or deem necessary to verify any information furnished
pursuant to paragraph 4 above or to determine the qualifications and eligibility of the candidate proposed by the Nominating Shareholder to serve on the Board. If the Nominating Shareholder fails to provide such other information in writing
within seven days of receipt of written request from the Nominating Committee, the recommendation of such candidate as a nominee will be deemed not properly submitted for consideration, and will not be considered, by the Nominating
Committee.
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A detailed description of the criteria used by the Nominating Committee as well as information required to be provided by shareholders submitting candidates for consideration by
the Nominating Committee are included in the Nominating Committee Charter. The Nominating Committee Charter, as amended, was approved by the Board on December 13, 2018.
Report of the Audit Committee
Tait, Weller & Baker LLP (“TWB”), 1818 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, was the IRPAF for the Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December
31, 2019 and is the IRPAF for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. Representatives of TWB are not expected to attend the Meeting.
The Board has adopted and approved a formal written charter for the Audit Committee, which sets forth the Audit Committee’s responsibilities. As required by the Audit Committee
Charter, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from TWB required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding TWB’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning
independence and has discussed with TWB its independence with respect to the Fund. The Fund has been advised by TWB that neither the firm nor any of its partners had a direct financial or material indirect financial interest in the Fund as of
February 20, 2020.
The Fund’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 were audited by TWB. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Fund’s audited financial
statements with Fund management and TWB, and discussed with TWB the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC. Based on the foregoing review and discussions, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Board (and the Board approved) that the Fund’s audited financial statements be included in the Fund’s annual report for the Fund’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Peter K. Werner, Chairman of the Audit Committee
Roger Atkinson
Jon Tomasson
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by TWB for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements or for services that are normally provided in
connection with statutory and regulatory filings or
engagements were $33,000 and $33,500 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
Audit-Related Fees
The aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services rendered by TWB that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Fund’s financial statements and
not reported under Audit Fees above for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019 were $2,000 and $2,000, respectively.
Tax Fees
The aggregate fees billed for tax-related services, including tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning rendered by TWB to the Fund were $5,250 and $5,250 for the fiscal years
ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
All Other Fees
The aggregate fees billed for services provided by TWB to the Fund, other than the services reported above, were $4,000 and $0 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and
December 31, 2019, respectively. All other fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by TWB other than audit, audit-related, and tax services.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee shall consider for pre-approval any audit and non-audit services proposed to be provided by TWB to the Fund, and any
non-audit services proposed to be provided by TWB to the Fund’s Investment Manager, if the engagement relates directly to the Fund’s operations or financial reporting. In those situations when it is not convenient to obtain full Audit Committee
approval, the Chairman of the Audit Committee is delegated the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit, audit-related, tax, and all other services so long as all such pre-approved decisions are reviewed with the full Audit Committee at its next
scheduled meeting. Such pre-approval of non-audit services proposed to be provided by the auditors to the Fund is not necessary, however, under the following circumstances: (1) all such services do not aggregate to more than 5% of total revenues paid
by the Fund to the auditors in the fiscal year in which services are provided, (2) such services were not recognized as non-audit services at the time of the engagement, and (3) such services are brought to the attention of the Audit Committee, and
approved by the Audit Committee, prior to the completion of the audit. No audit, audit-related, tax, or other services provided by TWB were approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X for the fiscal years ended December
31, 2018 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
Aggregate Non-Audit Fees
The aggregate non-audit fees billed by TWB for services rendered to the Fund, and rendered to the Investment Manager, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the
Investment Manager that provides ongoing services to the Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019 were $60,750 and $57,250, respectively. The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of non-audit services that
were rendered by TWB to the Investment Manager, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Manager that provides ongoing services to the Fund that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of
Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining TWB’s independence.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Bylaws provide that the only matters that may be acted on at the Meeting are those stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, except as required by applicable law. Accordingly, other
than such matters, no other business may properly come before the Meeting. If any such matters requiring a vote of shareholders should arise, the persons named as proxies will vote on such procedural matters in accordance with their discretion.
No cell phone or recording device of any kind will be permitted at the Meeting, except as the chairman of the meeting may authorize. The Fund will not accept custody of any such device from any
Meeting attendee.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act in combination require the Fund’s Trustees, officers, Investment Manager, affiliates of the Investment
Manager, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Fund’s outstanding securities (“Reporting Persons”), to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with 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 on the Fund’s review of Forms 3 and 4 and amendments thereto furnished to the Fund during its most recent fiscal year and Forms 5 and amendments thereto furnished to the Fund with
respect to its most recent fiscal year, the Fund believes that the Reporting Persons complied with the filing requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
No Dissenters’ Rights
Shareholders have no rights under applicable law or the Governing Documents to exercise dissenters’ rights of appraisal with respect to any of the matters to be voted upon at the
Meeting.
Submission Deadlines for Shareholder Proposals
The Fund’s Bylaws provide that a shareholder of record may nominate a candidate for election as a Trustee at an annual meeting of shareholders or propose business for
consideration at such meeting, provided generally that written notice be delivered to the Secretary of the Fund, at the principal executive offices, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of
the notice for the preceding year’s annual shareholders meeting at which Trustees were considered for election; provided, however, that in the event that either the date of the mailing of the notice for the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by
more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the mailing of the notice of the preceding year’s annual meeting or there was no annual meeting in the preceding year, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier
than the 120th day prior to the date of the mailing of the notice of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of the mailing of the notice for such annual meeting or the tenth day
following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Accordingly, pursuant to such Bylaws and Rule 14a-5(e)(2) of the Exchange Act, a record shareholder nomination or proposal intended to be considered at the 2021
annual meeting of shareholders (but not included in the Fund’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act) must be received by the Secretary of the Fund no earlier than January 15, 2021 and no later than February 14, 2021.
Additionally, no shareholder may give a notice to the Secretary of the Fund described in Article II, Section 12(a)(2) or Section 12(b) of the Fund’s Bylaws (governing advance notice of shareholder nominations for trustee and other shareholder
proposals for annual and special meetings of shareholders) unless such shareholder holds a certificate or certificates, as the case may be, for all shares owned by such shareholder, and a copy of each such certificate shall accompany such
shareholder’s notice to the Secretary in order for such notice to be effective. If you wish to have your proposal considered for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy statement for the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders, we must receive it on or before
January 15, 2021, pursuant to Rule 14a-8(e)(2) of the Exchange Act.
The foregoing description of the procedures for a Fund shareholder properly to make a nomination for election to the Board or to propose other
business for the Fund is only a summary and is not complete. The submission by a shareholder of a proposal for inclusion in the proxy statement or presentation at the Meeting does not guarantee that it will be included or presented.
Shareholder proposals are subject to certain requirements under the federal securities laws and Delaware law and must be submitted in accordance with the Fund’s Governing Documents, the Nominating Committee Charter and Appendix A thereto, the Policy,
and other applicable laws and/or documents. Copies of the Fund’s Governing Documents, including the provisions which concern the requirements for shareholder nominations and proposals, and the provisions which concern the eligibility of a shareholder
to make a nomination or proposal of other business, are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund will also furnish, without charge, a copy of its Governing Documents to a shareholder upon request, which may be
requested by writing to the Fund’s Secretary, Russell Kamerman, at 11 Hanover Square, 12th Floor, New York, New
York 10005. Any shareholder of the Company considering making a nomination or other proposal should carefully review and comply with the applicable provisions of the Fund’s
Governing Documents.
Proposals should be mailed to the Fund, to the attention of the Fund’s Secretary, Russell Kamerman, 11 Hanover Square, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10005.
Shareholder Communications with the Board of Trustees
The Board has adopted a process for shareholders to send communications to the Board. To communicate with the Board or an individual Trustee, a shareholder must send a written
communication to the Fund’s principal office at the address listed in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders accompanying this Proxy Statement, addressed to the Board or the individual Trustee. Such communications must be signed by the
shareholder and identify the number of shares held by the shareholder. All shareholder communications received in accordance with this process will be forwarded to the Board or the individual Trustee. Any shareholder proposal submitted pursuant to
Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, must continue to meet all the requirements of Rule 14a-8.
Expense of Proxy Solicitation
In connection with the Meeting, the Fund received a purported notice from a shareholder seeking to present two shareholder proposals at the Meeting (the “Proponent”), including a
nomination of an individual to the Board and a proposal of other business seeking interpretative guidance form the Fund’s principal regulator. As discussed above, the Fund’s Bylaws set out in detail the requirements for providing proper notice to the
Fund of such matters. The Fund and its Board, including the Independent Trustees, carefully reviewed and considered the Proponent’s purported notice. After careful consideration and with the advice of counsel, the Board, including the Independent
Trustees, determined that the purported notice did not meet the requirements of the Fund’s Bylaws and was therefore deficient. The Fund subsequently informed the Proponent that the purported notice was deficient and that the Fund and the Board intend
to rule the proposals out of order at the Meeting. The Proponent nevertheless informed the Fund that it may solicit proxies in favor of these invalid proposals. On April 27, 2020, Bulldog Investors LLC (“Bulldog”), an affiliate of the Proponent,
filed a preliminary proxy statement indicating its intent to support the Proponent’s invalid nomination and setting forth two proposals of other business, one with respect to a tender offer and the other with respect to the Fund’s investment
management agreement with the Investment Manager. With respect to Bulldog’s proposals of other business, Bulldog never even attempted to comply with the Fund’s Bylaws, showing a clear disregard for state law and corporate governance. Accordingly, the
Board determined that such proposals of other business are also invalid. As a result, votes for all three invalid proposals will not be counted at the meeting. You may receive solicitation materials from Bulldog, the Proponent and/or their
representatives, including proxy statements and proxy cards, which will be in green or a different color other than white. The Board unanimously opposes all three proposals. The Board urges you not to sign or return or vote on any green or other
color proxy cards sent to you by any other person or entity, including Bulldog or the Proponent.
Although the Fund has advised the Proponent and Bulldog that their proposals are invalid, they nevertheless have indicated that they may solicit proxies in support of the invalid
proposals. Accordingly, the Fund may be forced to incur additional costs in connection with its solicitation of proxies. The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Fund. The Fund estimates that the total expenditures relating to the Fund’s
proxy solicitation (other than salaries and wages of officers and employees of the Fund and the Investment Manager) will be approximately $300,000, of which approximately $130,000 has been incurred as of the date hereof. Certain officers of the Fund
and certain officers and employees of the Investment Manager or its affiliates (none of whom will receive additional compensation therefore), may solicit proxies personally or by telephone or electronic communication. Brokerage houses, banks and
other fiduciaries may be requested to forward proxy solicitation material to their principals to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies, and will be reimbursed by the Fund for such out-of-pocket expenses. The Fund has retained Georgeson
LLC (“Georgeson”), 1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10104, as its proxy solicitor and will pay a project management fee as well as fees charged on a per call basis and certain other expenses. Additionally, the Fund will indemnify
and hold harmless Georgeson against any third party claims, except in the case of Georgeson’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Georgeson has advised the Fund that approximately 35 of its employees will be involved in the solicitation of
proxies by Georgeson on behalf of the Fund. Management of the Fund estimates that the amount payable to Georgeson will include fees of approximately $25,000 and reimbursable expenses of approximately $35,000.
The Fund intends to exercise its discretionary authority with respect to any matter not properly presented at the Meeting, including the two matters of other business proposed to
be presented by Bulldog. If the Proponent’s nomination is deemed to be properly presented at the Meeting for a vote, the nominee must receive the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to be
voted at the Meeting. Moreover, if the Proponent’s and Bulldog’s proposals of other business are deemed to be properly presented at the Meeting for a vote, each proposal must receive the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the
outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to be voted at the Meeting.
Discretionary Authority
Although no business may come before the Meeting other than that specified in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders except as required by applicable law, shares
represented by executed and unrevoked proxies will confer discretionary authority to vote on matters which the Fund did not have notice of a reasonable time prior to mailing this Proxy Statement to shareholders. If the Proponent and/or Bulldog
attempts to present proposals at the meeting, the chairman of the Meeting intends to rule those proposals out of order. However, if such proposals and any other matters are deemed to be properly presented at the Meeting for a vote, the proxies will
be voted by the persons named in the enclosed WHITE proxy card or voting instruction form upon such matters in accordance with their judgment of the best interests of the Fund.
Additional Information about the Solicitation
Appendix A to this Proxy Statement sets forth certain information relating to the Fund’s Trustees, executive officers and certain other persons who may be
deemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies.
Investment Manager
The address of Bexil Advisers is 11 Hanover Square, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10005. The Investment Manager provides investment advisory and administrative services to the Fund. The
Investment Manager is responsible for the management of the Fund’s portfolio and provides the necessary personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services necessary to the operation of the Fund.
Any Purchases or Sales of Securities of the Investment Manager, its Parents, or Subsidiaries
Since the beginning of the most recently completed fiscal year, no Trustee or Board Nominee has made any purchases or sales of securities of the Investment Manager or its
parents, or subsidiaries of either, except as follows: in accordance with the Notice of Grant of Incentive Stock Option Award dated as of August 6, 2014 to Mr. Thomas Winmill, effective August 6, 2019, he elected to exercise the right to purchase
12,000 shares of Bexil at the price of $7.92 per share. Transactions involving securities in an amount not exceeding one percent of the outstanding securities of the Investment Manager or its parents, or subsidiaries of either, may be omitted. There
is no arrangement or understanding with respect to the composition of the Board or of the Investment Manager, or with respect to the selection of appointment of any person to any office with either such company.
Attendance at the Meeting
All shareholders who choose to attend the Meeting in person will need to present a valid government-issued photo identification (e.g., a driver’s license, state identification card or passport) at
the door to be admitted to the Meeting. Additionally, if you hold your shares in a brokerage account or in the name of a bank or other holder of record and you plan to attend the Meeting, you will also need to obtain and present a copy of your
brokerage account statement (which you can obtain from your broker) reflecting your ownership of the Fund’s shares as of the Record Date and/or a legal proxy.
Due to concerns about the coronavirus or COVID-19, we are planning for the possibility that the Meeting may be held at a physical location or virtually solely by means of remote communication or via
a live webcast or that we may allow for virtual attendance. If we take this step, we will publicly announce the decision in a press release that will also be filed with the SEC as definitive additional soliciting material, and we will post the
announcement and
additional information on our website at www.DividendandIncomeFund.com as soon as practicable before the Meeting. We recommend that you monitor this website for updated information, and please check
this website in advance of the Meeting to confirm the status of the Meeting before planning to attend in person.
Please retain the control number included on your notice, on your WHITE proxy card, or in the voting instructions that accompanied
your proxy materials as you will need this number should we determine to convert to a virtual-only meeting or allow for virtual attendance and you elect to participate. We also encourage all shareholders to continue to review guidance from public
health authorities as the time for the Meeting approaches.
Householding
One document (i.e., an annual or semi-annual report, or set of proxy soliciting materials) may be delivered to multiple shareholders at the same address unless you request otherwise. You may request
that we deliver separate copies, a single copy (if multiple copies are received at the same address), and/or additional copies of these documents by calling toll free 800-561-2871 or writing to the Fund at 11 Hanover Square, 12th Floor,
New York, New York 10005.
May 11, 2020
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM,
AND MAIL IT IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE.
Appendix A
INFORMATION CONCERNING PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION
Under applicable SEC rules and regulations, the Trustees, the Board Nominee, and certain executive officers of the Fund may be deemed to be “participants” with respect to the Fund’s solicitation of proxies in
connection with the Meeting. The following sets forth certain information about the persons who may be deemed to be “participants.”
Trustees and Board Nominee
The following sets forth the names of the Trustees who may be deemed to be “participants” in the solicitation. The principal occupations of the Trustees are set forth under “Election of Trustee
(Proposal 1)” in this Proxy Statement. Each Trustee has a business address c/o Dividend and Income Fund, 11 Hanover Square, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10005, except as noted below.
Roger Atkinson
Jon Tomasson
Peter K. Werner
Thomas B. Winmill, P.O. Box 4, Walpole, NH 03608
Executive Officers
The following sets forth the names of the Fund’s executive officers who may be deemed “participants.” The principal occupations of the named executive officers are set forth under “Election of
Trustee (Proposal 1)” in this Proxy Statement. Each executive officer has a business address c/o Dividend and Income Fund, 11 Hanover Square, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10005.
Russell Kamerman
Heidi Keating
Donald Klimoski II
Thomas O’Malley
Mark C. Winmill
Information Regarding Ownership of the Fund’s Securities by Participants
The ownership of the Fund’s securities by the Trustees, the Board Nominee, and certain executive officers of the Fund that may be deemed to be “participants” is set forth in this Proxy Statement on
pages 2 and 12.
Information Regarding Transactions in the Fund Securities by Participants
None of the persons listed above under “Trustees and Board Nominees” or “Executive Officers” have engaged in any transactions deemed to be purchases and sales of the Fund’s securities during the
past two years, except as follows:(1)
Date of Purchase
|
Name
|
Amount Purchased or Sold
|
08/27/2018
|
Roger A. Atkinson
|
750 Purchased
|
03/27/2019
|
Roger A. Atkinson
|
1,250 Purchased
|
07/01/2019
|
Thomas B. Winmill
|
238.035 Purchased
|
03/13/2020
|
Roger A. Atkinson
|
1,000 Purchased
|
(1)
|
Additionally, participants may from time to time participate in the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan (“DRIP”), which is available to all shareholders, for the purpose of allowing them to reinvest dividend payments in additional shares
of the Fund.
|
Miscellaneous Information Concerning Participants
Except as described in this Appendix A or elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, no participant nor any of their respective
associates or affiliates (together, the “Participant Affiliates”) is either a party to any transaction or series of transactions since the beginning of the Fund’s last fiscal
year, or has knowledge of any current proposed transaction or series of proposed transactions, (i) to which the Fund or any of its subsidiaries was or is to be a participant, (ii) in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and (iii) in which any
participant or Participant Affiliate had, or will have, a direct or indirect material interest, except for participation in the Fund’s DRIP as follows:
Date of Purchase
|
Name
|
Amount
|
01/15/2019
|
Bexil Advisers
|
$87,000
|
01/15/2019
|
Bexil Securities
|
$129,393.60
|
04/01/2019
|
Bexil Advisers
|
$88,868.96
|
04/01/2019
|
Bexil Securities
|
$132,173.27
|
07/05/2019
|
Bexil Advisers
|
$90,453.08
|
10/03/2019
|
Bexil Advisers
|
$92,035.81
|
01/02/2020
|
Bexil Advisers
|
$93,583.93
|
04/01/2020
|
Bexil Advisers
|
$118,753.68
|
Furthermore, except as described in this Appendix A or this Proxy Statement, (a) no participant or Participant Affiliate, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns any securities of the Fund or any
securities of any subsidiary of the Fund, and (b) no participant or Participant Affiliate owns any securities of the Fund of record but not beneficially.
Except as described in this Appendix A or elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, no participant or Participant Affiliate has entered into any agreement or understanding with any person with respect to
any future employment by the Fund or any of its affiliates or any future transactions to which the Fund or any of their affiliates will or may be a party.
Except as described in this Appendix A or elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, there are no contracts, arrangements or understandings by any participant or Participant Affiliate since the beginning of the Fund’s last
fiscal year with any person with respect to any securities of the Fund, including, but not limited to, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profit, division of losses or profits, or the
giving or withholding of proxies. Except as described in this Appendix A or this Proxy Statement, and excluding any trustee or executive officer of the Fund acting solely in that capacity, no person who is a party to an arrangement or understanding
pursuant to which a nominee for election as a trustee is proposed to be elected has any substantial interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting.