The following table summarizes the compensation paid by each Fund and by the Lazard Funds for the calendar year ended December 31, 2006.
To the Funds’ knowledge, no person owned beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of each Fund as of the Record Date other than Cede & Co., which held at the Record Date 100% of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock of each Fund. LAM beneficially owned 6,325 shares of Common Stock of LOR and 6,469 shares of Common Stock of LGI, or .09% and .06% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of LOR and LGI, respectively, as of the Record Date.
To each Fund’s knowledge, all of its officers and Directors complied with all filing requirements under Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, except that a Form 3 was filed late on behalf of Mr. Kawakami. To each Fund’s knowledge, there were no beneficial holders of more than 10% of its Common Stock subject to the filing requirements under the 1934 Act during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. In making this disclosure, each Fund has relied solely on representations of its current Directors and officers and on copies of reports that have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
A plurality of the votes cast at a meeting at which a Quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect Directors for each Fund.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EACH FUND, INCLUDING ALL OF THE
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE
STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” EACH NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR.
Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The 1940 Act requires that each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm be selected by a majority of the Independent Directors of the Fund. One of the purposes of each Fund’s Audit Committee is to recommend to the Fund’s Board the selection, retention or termination of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. At a joint meeting held on February 8, 2007, each Fund’s Audit Committee recommended and each Fund’s Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, approved the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. Deloitte also served as the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm for each Fund’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. A representative of Deloitte will not be present at the Annual Meeting, but will be available by telephone and will have an opportunity to make a statement (if the representative so desires) and to respond to appropriate questions.
After reviewing each Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, each Fund’s Audit Committee recommended to the Fund’s Board that such statements be included in the Fund’s Annual Report to stockholders. A copy of the Audit Committees’ joint report for the Funds is attached as Appendix A to this Combined Proxy Statement.
Audit Fees.The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by Deloitte for the audit of LOR’s and LGI’s annual financial statements, or services that are normally provided by Deloitte in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, in 2005 for LOR and LGI were $43,000 and $45,000, respectively, and in 2006 were $47,500 for each Fund.
Audit-Related Fees.There were no fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years by Deloitte to either LOR or LGI for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audits of either Funds’ financial statements, which are not reported above.
Tax Fees.The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by Deloitte for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (“Tax Services”) in 2005 and 2006 were $6,000 for each Fund. For each Fund, these Tax Services consisted of (i) review or preparation of U.S. federal, state, local and excise tax returns; and (ii) U.S. federal, state and local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments.
All Other Fees.There were no fees billed to the Funds in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by Deloitte, other than the services reported above.
Non-Audit Fees.The aggregate non-audit fees billed by Deloitte for services rendered to each Fund and rendered to LAM or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with LAM that provides ongoing services to the Funds (“Service Affiliates”) in 2005 and 2006 were $160,000 and $115,000, respectively.
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Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures.Each Fund’s Audit Committee pre-approves Deloitte’s engagements for audit and non-audit services to the Fund and, as required, non-audit services to Service Affiliates on a case-by-case basis. Pre-approval considerations include whether the proposed services are compatible with maintaining Deloitte’s independence. There were no services provided by Deloitte to either Fund or Service Affiliates that were approved pursuant to (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X during the last two fiscal years of the Funds.
There were no fees billed by Deloitte to Service Affiliates for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2006 that required pre-approval by the Funds’Audit Committees. The Funds’Audit Committees have considered whether the provision of non-audit services rendered to Service Affiliates that did not require pre-approval by the Audit Committees is compatible with maintaining Deloitte’s independence.
Annual Report
Each Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 to any stockholder upon request. Requests for the Annual Report of a Fund should be made by writing to the Fund at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10112 or by calling 800-823-6300.
Other Matters to Come Before the Meeting
The Directors do not intend to present any other business at the Annual Meeting nor are they aware that any stockholder intends to do so. If, however, any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote thereon in accordance with their judgment.
Stockholders who wish to communicate with Directors should send communications to the relevant Fund, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10112, to the attention of the Secretary. The Secretary is responsible for determining, in consultation with other officers of the Fund and Fund counsel, which stockholder communications will be directed to the Director or Directors indicated in the communication.
Additional Voting Information; Expenses of Proxy Solicitation
The Funds will bear the cost of soliciting proxies on behalf of the Funds’ Boards of Directors. Proxies may be solicited by mail, in person or by telephone, and the Funds may reimburse persons holding Fund shares in their name or those of their nominees for their expenses in sending soliciting materials to their principals. The total expenses of the Annual Meeting, including the solicitation of proxies and the expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of the Combined Proxy Statement, are approximately $55,000.
Authorizations to execute proxies may be obtained by telephonic transmitted instructions in accordance with procedures designed to authenticate the stockholder’s identity. In all cases where a telephonic proxy is solicited, the stockholder will be asked to provide his or her full name, address, social security number or taxpayer identification number and the number of shares owned and to confirm that the stockholder has received the Combined Proxy Statement
11
and proxy card(s) in the mail. Within 72 hours of receiving a stockholder’s telephonic transmitted voting instructions, a confirmation will be sent to the stockholder to ensure that the vote has been taken in accordance with the stockholder’s instructions and to provide a telephone number to call immediately if the stockholder’s instructions are not correctly reflected in the confirmation.
Voting Results
Each Fund will advise its stockholders of the voting results of the matters voted upon at the Annual Meeting in its next Semi-Annual Report to Stockholders.
Stockholder Proposals
Any proposals of stockholders that are intended to be presented at the Funds’2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act must be received at the Funds’ principal executive offices no later than November 27, 2007 and must comply with all other legal requirements in order to be included in the Funds’ Combined Proxy Statement and forms of proxy for that meeting. For other stockholder proposals to be presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the relevant Fund at the Fund’s principal office no earlier than January 27, 2008 and no later than February 26, 2008. If the 2008 Annual Meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from April 26, 2008 then timely notice must be delivered not earlier than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.
NOTICE TO BANKS, BROKER/DEALERS AND VOTING TRUSTEES
AND THEIR NOMINEES
Please advise the Funds whether other persons are the beneficial owners of Fund shares for which proxies are being solicited from you, and, if so, the number of copies of the Combined Proxy Statement and other soliciting material you wish to receive in order to supply copies to the beneficial owners of Fund shares.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY.
STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO VOTE BY MAIL.
| By Order of the Boards of Directors |
| |
| Nathan A. Paul |
| Secretary |
New York, New York
March 26, 2007
12
APPENDIX A
JOINT REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEES
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of each Fund oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the Fund’s financial statements. Each Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter. As set forth in the Charter, management of each Fund is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Fund’s financial statements, the Fund’s accounting and financial and reporting principles and internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.
In the performance of its oversight function, each Committee has considered and discussed the December 31, 2006 audited financial statements of the relevant Fund with management and with Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”), the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee has also discussed with Deloitte the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61,Communication with Audit Committees, as currently in effect. The Committee reviewed with Deloitte, who is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgment as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of each Fund’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under generally accepted auditing standards. Finally, each Committee has reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1,Independence Discussions With Audit Committees, as currently in effect and has discussed with Deloitte the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Each Committee discussed with Deloitte the overall scope and plans for the audit. The Committees met with Deloitte, with and without management present, to discuss the results of its examinations, its evaluations of each Fund’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Fund’s financial reporting.
Based upon the reports and discussions described in this report, and subject to the limitations on the role and responsibilities of the Committee referred to below and in the Charter, each Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements be included in each Fund’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Stockholders are reminded, however, that the Members of each Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting. Members of the Committees rely without independent verification on the information provided to them and on the representations made by management and Deloitte. Accordingly, each Committee’s oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles or appropriate internal control and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Committees’considerations and discussions referred to above do not assure that the audit of each Fund’s financial statements has been carried out in
13
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or that Deloitte is, in fact, “independent.”
Lester Z. Lieberman, Audit Committee Chairman
Kenneth S. Davidson, Audit Committee Member
Nancy A. Eckl, Audit Committee Member
Leon M. Pollack, Audit Committee Member
Richard Reiss, Jr., Audit Committee Member
Robert M. Solmson, Audit Committee Member
February 26, 2007
14
_________________________________________________________
LAZARD WORLD DIVIDEND & INCOME FUND, INC.
_________________________________________________________
Common Stock
Mark box at right if an address or comment has been noted on the reverse side of this card. /__/
CONTROL NUMBER:
Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy. | Date: | |
| | |
Stockholder sign here | | Co-owner sign here |
/X/ PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
1a. | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Leon M Pollack as a Class I Director: |
| |
| For /_/ | | Withhold Authority /_/ |
| | | |
1b. | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Robert M. Solmson as a Class I Director: |
| |
| For /_/ | | Withhold Authority /_/ |
| | | |
1c. | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Charles Carroll as a Class I Director: |
| |
| For /_/ | | Withhold Authority /_/ |
| | | |
1d. | With respect to the proposal to elect Ms. Nancy A. Eckl as a Class II Director: |
| |
| For /_/ | | Withhold Authority /_/ |
| | | |
2. | In their discretion, on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and any |
| adjournment thereof. |
RECORD DATE SHARES: _____________________
LAZARD WORLD DIVIDEND & INCOME FUND, INC.
Annual Meeting of Stockholders – April 26, 2007
Common Stock Proxy Solicited on Behalf of Board of Directors
The undersigned holder of shares of Common Stock of Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), hereby appoints Nathan A. Paul and Brian D. Simon, and each of them, with full power of substitution and revocation, as proxies to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be held at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 58th Floor, New York, New York 10112, on Thursday, April 26, 2007, at 3:00 p.m., and at any and all adjournments thereof, and thereat to vote all shares of Common Stock of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, with all powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, in accordance with the instructions on this proxy.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE FUND'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE PROPOSALS UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED. BY SIGNING THIS
PROXY CARD, RECEIPT OF THE ACCOMPANYING NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND
PROXY STATEMENT IS ACKNOWLEDGED.
PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN ON REVERSE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
Please sign exactly as name or names appear on this proxy. If stock is held jointly, each holder should
sign. If signing as attorney, trustee, executor, administrator, custodian, guardian or corporate officer,
please give full title.
HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED? | | DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? |
| | |
| | |
| | |
_________________________________________________________
LAZARD GLOBAL TOTAL RETURN AND INCOME FUND, INC.
_________________________________________________________
Common Stock
Mark box at right if an address or comment has been noted on the reverse side of this card. /__/
CONTROL NUMBER:
Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy. | Date: | |
| | |
Stockholder sign here | | Co-owner sign here |
/X/ PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
1a. | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Leon M. Pollack as a Class I Director: |
| |
| For /_/ | | Withhold Authority /_/ |
| | | |
1b. | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Kenneth S. Davidson as a Class II Director: |
| |
| For /_/ | | Withhold Authority /_/ |
| | | |
1c. | With respect to the proposal to elect Ms. Nancy A. Eckl as a Class II Director: |
| |
| For /_/ | | Withhold Authority /_/ |
| | | |
1d. | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Lester Z. Lieberman as a Class II Director: |
| |
| For /_/ | | Withhold Authority /_/ |
| | | |
2. | In their discretion, on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment thereof. |
RECORD DATE SHARES: _____________________
LAZARD GLOBAL TOTAL RETURN AND INCOME FUND, INC.
Annual Meeting of Stockholders – April 26, 2007
Common Stock Proxy Solicited on Behalf of Board of Directors
The undersigned holder of shares of Common Stock of Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), hereby appoints Nathan A. Paul and Brian D. Simon, and each of them, with full power of substitution and revocation, as proxies to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be held at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 58th Floor, New York, New York 10112, on Thursday, April 26, 2007, at 3:00 p.m., and at any and all adjournments thereof, and thereat to vote all shares of Common Stock of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, with all powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, in accordance with the instructions on this proxy.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE FUND'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE PROPOSALS UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED. BY SIGNING THIS
PROXY CARD, RECEIPT OF THE ACCOMPANYING NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND
PROXY STATEMENT IS ACKNOWLEDGED.
PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN ON REVERSE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
Please sign exactly as name or names appear on this proxy. If stock is held jointly, each holder should
sign. If signing as attorney, trustee, executor, administrator, custodian, guardian or corporate officer,
please give full title.
HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED? | | DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? |
| | |
| | |
| | |