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, except that the following information with respect to beneficial ownership of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock has been reported in Schedule 13G filings.
As of the Record Date, Cede & Co. held approximately 100% of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock of each Fund. (Cede & Co. is the nominee name for The Depository Trust Company, a large clearing house that holds shares in its name for banks, brokers and institutions in order to expedite the sale and transfer of stock.) As of the Record Date, LAM did not beneficially own any shares of Common Stock of LOR or LGI.
To each Fund’s knowledge, all of its Directors and officers 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, 2012. 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, 2012. 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 SEC.
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 auditors 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 auditors for the Fund. At a joint meeting held on March 6, 2013, 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 auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. Deloitte also served as the Funds’ independent auditors for each Fund’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. 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, 2012, 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, were $62,000 for each Fund (plus expenses).
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 Fund’s 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 2011 were $8,703 with respect to each Fund and in 2012 were $7,875 with respect to 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.With respect to each Fund, 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”) were $1,214,012 in 2011 and $783,097 in 2012.
12
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 paragraph (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, 2011 and December 31, 2012 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.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Stockholder Meeting To Be Held on April 26, 2013
The following materials relating to this Combined Proxy Statement are available at http://www.LazardNet.com/lam/us/proxy.shtml:
| | |
| • | this Combined Proxy Statement; |
| • | the accompanying Notice of Joint Annual Meeting; |
| • | information on how to obtain directions to attend the meeting in person; |
| • | proxy cards and any other proxy materials; and |
| • | each Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. |
To reduce expenses, only one copy of this Combined Proxy Statement, and each Annual and Semi-Annual Report, will be mailed to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to revoke this arrangement and receive individual copies of these documents, you may do so at any time by writing to the address or calling the phone number set forth under “Annual Report” below. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies 30 days after receiving your request. |
Annual Report
Each Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 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.
Stockholder Communications
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 communications.
13
Additional Voting Information; Expenses of Proxy Solicitation
The Funds will bear the cost of soliciting proxies on behalf of the Boards. Proxies may be solicited by email, 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.
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 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.
Votes Required; Voting Results
A plurality of the votes cast at a meeting at which a Quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect Directors for each Fund.
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’ 2014 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 25, 2013 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. Under each Fund’s current bylaws, for other stockholder proposals to be presented at the 2014 annual meeting (but not included in the Funds’ proxy statement), a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the relevant Fund at the Fund’s principal office no earlier than October 26, 2013 and no later than 5:00 p.m., local time on November 25, 2013. If the 2014 annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from April 26, 2014, then timely notice must be delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., local time on the later of the 120th 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. All stockholder proposals must include the information required by the relevant Fund’s bylaws.
14
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.
STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO VOTE PROMPTLY.
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| By Order of the Boards of Directors |
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| Nathan A. Paul |
| Secretary |
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New York, New York | |
March 25, 2013 | |
15
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 (the “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; maintenance of appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and policies; and maintenance of 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 reviewed and discussed the December 31, 2012 audited financial statements of the relevant Fund with management and with Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”), each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. 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 judgments 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 Deloitte under the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”). In addition, each Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding Deloitte’s communications with the Committee concerning independence and has discussed with Deloitte its independence.
Each Committee reviewed with Deloitte the arrangements for and scope of the audit and, following the audit, met with Deloitte to discuss matters related to the audits. Based upon the reports and discussions described in this report, and subject to the limitations on the role and responsibilities of the Committees 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, 2012 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Stockholders are reminded, however, that the members of the Committees rely on the information, opinions, reports or statements, including the financial statements and other financial data, provided to them by Deloitte or certain other parties as described in the Charter and that the Committees’ responsibilities are necessarily limited as described in the Charter.
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| Kenneth S. Davidson, Audit Committee Member |
| Nancy A. Eckl, Audit Committee Member |
| Lester Z. Lieberman, Audit Committee Member |
| Leon M. Pollack, Audit Committee Member |
| Richard Reiss, Jr., Audit Committee Member |
| Robert M. Solmson, Audit Committee Member |
February 27, 2013
A-1
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PROXY TABULATOR | |
P.O. BOX 9112 | To vote by Internet |
FARMINGDALE, NY 11735 | |
| 1) Read the Proxy Statement and have the proxy card below at hand. |
| 2) Go to websitewww.proxyvote.com |
| 3) Follow the instructions provided on the website. |
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| To vote by Telephone |
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| 1) Read the Proxy Statement and have the proxy card below at hand. |
| 2) Call1-800-690-6903 |
| 3) Follow the instructions. |
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| To vote by Mail |
| |
| 1) Read the Proxy Statement. |
| 2) Check the appropriate boxes on the proxy card below. |
| 3) Sign and date the proxy card. |
| 4) Return the proxy card in the envelope provided. |
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
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| M56620-P37485 | KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
| THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. | DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
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| If this Proxy is executed but no instruction is given, the votes entitled to be cast by the undersigned will be cast “FOR” each of the nominees for Director. Additionally, the votes entitled to be cast by the undersigned will be cast in the discretion of the proxyholder on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. | | | | |
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| | | | WITHHOLD |
| | | FOR | AUTHORITY |
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| 1a. | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Charles L. Carroll as a Class I Director: | o | o |
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| 1b. | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Leon M. Pollack as a Class I Director: | o | o |
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| 1c. | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Robert M. Solmson as a Class I Director: | o | o |
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| 2. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Joint Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. | | |
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| Note: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. | | |
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| Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | | Signature [Joint Owners] | Date | | |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Joint Annual Meeting:
The Notice of Joint Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Combined Proxy Statement are available at
www.proxyvote.com.
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| LAZARD WORLD DIVIDEND & INCOME FUND, INC. JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - APRIL 26, 2013 COMMON STOCK PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |
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| 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 Joint Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be held at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 58th Floor, Conference Room 58A, New York, New York 10112, on Friday, April 26, 2013, at 3:00 p.m., local time, and any and all adjournments or postponements 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. | |
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| Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting To Be Held on April 26, 2013 | |
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| The following materials relating to this Joint Annual Meeting are available athttp://www.LazardNet.com/lam/us/proxy.shtml: | |
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| • | the Combined Proxy Statement; | |
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| • | the Notice of Joint Annual Meeting; | |
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| • | information on how to obtain directions to attend the meeting in person; | |
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| • | this proxy card and any other proxy materials; and | |
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| • | the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. | |
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| 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 JOINT ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT IS ACKNOWLEDGED. | |
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| PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE, AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE PROVIDED OR VOTE ELECTRONICALLY OR BY TELEPHONE. | |
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PROXY TABULATOR | |
P.O. BOX 9112 | To vote by Internet |
FARMINGDALE, NY 11735 | |
| 1) Read the Proxy Statement and have the proxy card below at hand. |
| 2) Go to websitewww.proxyvote.com |
| 3) Follow the instructions provided on the website. |
| |
| To vote by Telephone |
| |
| 1) Read the Proxy Statement and have the proxy card below at hand. |
| 2) Call1-800-690-6903 |
| 3) Follow the instructions. |
| |
| To vote by Mail |
| |
| 1) Read the Proxy Statement. |
| 2) Check the appropriate boxes on the proxy card below. |
| 3) Sign and date the proxy card. |
| 4) Return the proxy card in the envelope provided. |
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
| | |
| M56622-P37485 | KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
| THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. | DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
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| If this Proxy is executed but no instruction is given, the votes entitled to be cast by the undersigned will be cast “FOR” each of the nominees for Director. Additionally, the votes entitled to be cast by the undersigned will be cast in the discretion of the proxyholder on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. | | | | |
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| | | | WITHHOLD |
| | | FOR | AUTHORITY |
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| 1a. | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Kenneth S. Davidson as a Class II Director: | o | o |
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| 1b. | With respect to the proposal to elect Ms. Nancy A. Eckl as a Class II Director: | o | o |
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| 1c. | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Lester Z. Lieberman as a Class II Director: | o | o |
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| 2. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Joint Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. | | |
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| Note: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. | | |
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| Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | | Signature [Joint Owners] | Date | | |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Joint Annual Meeting:
The Notice of Joint Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Combined Proxy Statement are available at
www.proxyvote.com.
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| LAZARD GLOBAL TOTAL RETURN AND INCOME FUND, INC. JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - APRIL 26, 2013 COMMON STOCK PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |
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| 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 Joint Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be held at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 58th Floor, Conference Room 58A, New York, New York 10112, on Friday, April 26, 2013, at 3:00 p.m., local time, and any and all adjournments or postponements 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. | |
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| Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting To Be Held on April 26, 2013 | |
| | | |
| The following materials relating to this Joint Annual Meeting are available athttp://www.LazardNet.com/lam/us/proxy.shtml: | |
| | | |
| • | the Combined Proxy Statement; | |
| | | |
| • | the Notice of Joint Annual Meeting; | |
| | | |
| • | information on how to obtain directions to attend the meeting in person; | |
| | | |
| • | this proxy card and any other proxy materials; and | |
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| • | the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. | |
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| 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 JOINT ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT IS ACKNOWLEDGED. | |
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| PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE, AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE PROVIDED OR VOTE ELECTRONICALLY OR BY TELEPHONE. | |
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