SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [x] Definitive Proxy Statement [ ] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 PACHOLDER HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: -------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: -------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11: -------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: -------------------------------------------------------------------- (5) Total fee paid: -------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: -------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: -------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Filing Party: -------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Date Filed: -------------------------------------------------------------------- PACHOLDER HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. 8044 Montgomery Road, Suite 480 Cincinnati, OH 45236 ------------------------- NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 16, 2000 ------------------------- NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of the shareholders of Pacholder High Yield Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2000, at 11 o'clock a.m., Eastern Time, at Four Points Hotel, 8020 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, for the following purposes: 1. To elect a Board of four Directors to serve until the next annual meeting and until their successors are elected and qualified; 2. To ratify or reject the selection of the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Fund's independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000; and 3. To consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments thereof. James P. Shanahan, Jr. Secretary Shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 11, 2000 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. April 14, 2000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED. YOUR PROMPT RETURN OF THE PROXY WILL HELP ENSURE A QUORUM AT THE MEETING AND AVOID THE EXPENSE TO THE FUND OF FURTHER SOLICITATION. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PACHOLDER HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. 8044 MONTGOMERY ROAD, SUITE 480 CINCINNATI, OH 45236 ---------------------- PROXY STATEMENT ---------------------- ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 16, 2000 This proxy statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Pacholder High Yield Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") for use at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 16, 2000, and at any adjournments thereof. If the enclosed proxy is executed properly and returned in time to be voted at the meeting, the shares represented will be voted according to the instructions contained therein. Executed proxies that are unmarked will be voted for the election of all nominees for director and in favor of all other proposals. A proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by filing with the Secretary of the Fund a written notice of revocation, by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the meeting and voting in person. The Fund's Annual Report, including audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, has been previously mailed to shareholders. This proxy statement and the related proxy card will be first mailed to shareholders on or about April 17, 2000. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 11, 2000 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournments thereof. As of the record date, the Fund had outstanding 9,504,994 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and 3,500,000 shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, comprised of 1,650,000 Series C shares, 800,000 Series D shares, and 1,050,000 Series E shares (collectively, the "Preferred Stock"). Each outstanding share of the Fund's Common and Preferred Stock is entitled to one vote. As of the record date, Cede & Co., nominee for The Depository Trust Company, 55 Water Street, New York, NY 10046, held of record (and not beneficially) 95.3% of the Fund's outstanding Common Stock. According to information available to the Fund, as of the record date, no person owned beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding Common Stock of the Fund, and Principal Life Insurance Company, 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392, owned of record all of the Fund's outstanding Preferred Stock. On the record date, the directors and officers of the Fund as a group owned beneficially 1.1% of the Fund's outstanding Common Stock. The presence in person or by proxy of the holders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting. Broker non-votes, abstentions and withhold-authority votes all count for the purpose of determining a quorum. If a quorum is present at the meeting but sufficient votes in favor of one or more proposals are not received, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting or represented by proxy. The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of such adjournment if they determine that adjournment and additional solicitation is reasonable and in the interests of shareholders of the Fund. PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors has nominated the four persons listed below for election as directors, each to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his successor is elected and qualified. Each of the nominees is currently serving as a director of the Fund and was elected at the annual meeting of shareholders held on November 16, 1999. Each nominee has consented to being named in this proxy statement and has agreed to serve as a director of the Fund if elected; however, should any nominee become unable or unwilling to accept nomination or election, the persons named in the proxy will exercise their voting power in favor of such other person or persons as the Board of Directors of the Fund may recommend. There are no family relationships among the nominees. Under the Fund's charter, the holders of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting as a separate class, are entitled to elect two directors; the holders of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, are entitled to elect two directors; and the holders of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, are entitled to elect the remaining directors of the Fund. The Board of Directors has nominated Messrs. Grant and Morgan for election by holders of the Common Stock and Messrs. Williamson and Woodard for election by the holders of the Preferred Stock. The directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting, provided that a quorum is present. Withhold-authority votes will not be considered votes cast for this purpose. 2 YEAR SHARES FIRST BENEFICIALLY ELECTED PRINCIPAL OWNED AS POSITION WITH AS A OCCUPATION DURING OF NAME AGE THE FUND DIRECTOR PAST FIVE YEARS 3/31/00(1) - ---- --- -------- -------- --------------- ---------- William J. 45 Chairman of 1988 President, 45,945(2) Morgan* the Board, Secretary and Treasurer and Director, Pacholder Director Associates, Inc. Director, ICO, Inc. (oil field services); and Smith-Corona Corporation (office equipment manufacturer). Daniel A. Grant 55 Director 1992 President, Utility 2,259 Management Services (business consulting). John F. 61 Director 1991 Chairman and 5,600 Williamson President, Williamson Associates, Inc. (investment adviser) (since January 1997); and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Asset Allocation Concepts, Inc. (investment adviser) (1995- 1996). Director, ICO, Inc. (oil field services). George D. 53 Director 1995 Closely Held 10,900 Woodard Business Specialist, Henry & Horne, P.L.C. (certified public accountants) (since March 2000 and 1996-1999); Realtor with A.S.K. Realty (August 1999-February 2000); Principal, George D. Woodard, CPA (1995-1996); and Vice President, Rider Kenley & Associates (certified public accountants) (1994-1995). - ----------- * Mr. Morgan is considered an "interested person" of the Fund (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) because of his affiliation with the Fund's investment adviser, which is an affiliate of Pacholder Associates, Inc. (1) Each nominee owns less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock. (2) Includes 14,221 shares owned by a family company of which Mr. Morgan is an officer, director and minority shareholder. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE. 3 Mr. Morgan is a manager of Pacholder & Company, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser (the "Adviser"), and an officer, director and shareholder of Pacholder Associates, Inc., a member of the Adviser and affiliate of the Fund's administrator. Directors and officers of the Fund, who are employed by the Adviser or a corporate affiliate of the Adviser, serve without compensation from the Fund. The Fund pays each director who is not an employee of the Adviser or any corporate affiliate of the Adviser an annual fee of $10,000 plus $1,500 or $1,000 for each meeting of the Board of Directors attended in person or by telephone, respectively, and reimburses directors for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with attending in-person meetings. The following table sets forth the information concerning the compensation paid by the Fund to directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999. TOTAL COMPENSATION NAME OF DIRECTOR FROM THE FUND (1) ---------------- ----------------- William J. Morgan*................ None Daniel A. Grant................... $18,000 John F. Williamson................ $18,000 George D. Woodard................. $18,000 - ---------- (1) The Fund does not offer any pension or retirement plan benefits to its directors. The Fund is not part of a fund complex. * Mr. Morgan is considered an "interested person" of the Fund (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) because of his affiliation with the Fund's investment adviser, which is an affiliate of Pacholder Associates, Inc. The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, which is responsible for conferring with the Fund's independent accountants, reviewing the scope and procedures of the year-end audit, reviewing annual financial statements and recommending the selection of the Fund's independent accountants. In addition, the Audit Committee may address questions arising with respect to the valuation of certain securities in the Fund's portfolio. The members of the Audit Committee are Daniel A. Grant, John F. Williamson and George D. Woodard. The Board of Directors does not have a Nominating Committee. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, the Board of Directors met six times. No director attended fewer than 75% of the board meetings. The Audit Committee held two meetings during 1999 at which all committee members were in attendance. 4 Information regarding the Fund's other officers is set forth below. The address of each is 8044 Montgomery Road, Suite 480, Cincinnati, OH 45236. YEAR SHARES FIRST BENEFICIALLY ELECTED PRINCIPAL OWNED AS POSITION WITH AS AN OCCUPATION DURING OF NAME AGE THE FUND OFFICER PAST FIVE YEARS 3/31/00(1) - ---- --- -------- ------- --------------- ---------- James P. 39 Secretary 1988 Executive Vice 24,000 Shanahan, Jr. President and General Counsel, Pacholder Associates, Inc. Anthony L. 34 President and 1994 Executive Vice 6,422 Longi, Jr. Assistant President, Treasurer Pacholder Associates, Inc. James E. Gibson 35 Senior Vice 1995 Executive Vice 7,846 President President, Pacholder Associates, Inc. Mark H. Prenger 29 Assistant 1995 Senior Vice 1,435 Treasurer President, Pacholder Associates, Inc. - ---------- (1) Each person owns less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock. SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNER REPORTING COMPLIANCE Based on information submitted to the Fund, all directors and officers of the Fund filed on a timely basis with the Securities and Exchange Commission the reports of beneficial ownership of Fund shares required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF THE FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS Shareholders are requested to ratify the selection by the Board of Directors, including all of the directors who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, of the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Fund's independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000. In addition to the normal audit services, Deloitte & Touche LLP provides services in connection with the preparation and review of federal and state tax returns for the Fund. Deloitte & Touche LLP has served as the Fund's independent accountants since 1988 and has advised the Fund that it has no material direct or indirect financial interest in the Fund or its affiliates. The Fund's Audit Committee recommended that Deloitte & Touche LLP be selected as the Fund's independent accountants for the current fiscal year. The employment is conditioned on the right of the Fund to terminate the employment forthwith without any penalty. A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP is not expected to attend the annual meeting of shareholders. Ratification of the selection of the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP requires the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes cast at the meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered votes cast for this purpose. The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP. If the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP is not ratified by shareholders, the firm will not serve as the Fund's 5 independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000, and the Board of Directors will be required to select new independent accountants. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES INVESTMENT ADVISER Pacholder & Company, LLC (the "Adviser") serves as the Fund's investment adviser. The Adviser is an affiliate of Pacholder Associates, Inc., an investment advisory firm. The principal business address of the Adviser is 8044 Montgomery Road, Suite 480, Cincinnati, OH 45236. The Adviser makes and implements investment decisions and supervises all aspects of the Fund's operations. It also provides a continuous investment program for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all securities and investments of the Fund. ADMINISTRATIVE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES Kenwood Administrative Management, Inc. (the "Administrator"), 8044 Montgomery Road, Suite 480, Cincinnati, OH 45236, an affiliate of Pacholder Associates, Inc., serves as administrator of the Fund. The Administrator monitors the Fund's compliance with various regulatory requirements, coordinates and monitors the activities of the Fund's other service providers, handles various public and shareholder relations matters, and assists in the preparation of financial and other reports. Pacholder Associates, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser, is responsible for (i) accounting relating the Fund and its investment transactions, (ii) determining the net asset value per share of the Fund, (iii) maintaining the Fund's books of account, and (iv) monitoring, in conjunction with the Fund's custodian, all corporate actions, including dividends and distributions and stock splits, in respect of securities held in the Fund's portfolio. SOLICITATION OF PROXIES In addition to solicitation by mail, solicitations on behalf of the Board of Directors may be made by personal interview, telegram and telephone. Certain officers and regular agents of the Fund, who will receive no additional compensation for their services, may use their efforts, by telephone or otherwise, to request the return of proxies. The costs of preparing, assembling, mailing and transmitting proxy materials and of soliciting proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors will be borne by the Fund. The Fund will reimburse, upon request, broker-dealers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses of sending proxy soliciting material to beneficial owners. OTHER BUSINESS The management of the Fund knows of no other business that may come before the annual meeting. If any additional matters are properly presented at the meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy, or their substitutes, will vote such proxy in accordance with their best judgment on such matters. 6 SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS If a shareholder wishes to present a proposal for inclusion in the proxy statement for the next annual meeting of shareholders, the proposal must be submitted in writing and received by the Secretary of the Fund within a reasonable time before the Fund begins to print and mail its proxy materials. ANNUAL REPORT The Fund's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 may be obtained without charge by writing to Pacholder High Yield Fund, Inc., 8044 Montgomery Road, Suite 480, Cincinnati, OH 45236, or by calling the Fund toll free at 1-800-637-7549. 7 APPENDIX A PACHOLDER HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned hereby appoints William J. Morgan, Anthony L. Longi, Jr. and James P. Shanahan, Jr., and each of them, as proxies with power of substitution, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote as designated below on this card, all the shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Pacholder High Yield Fund, Inc. which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 16, 2000 and at any adjournments thereof. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is given, this proxy will be voted "FOR" all proposals. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |X| PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE PLEASE BE SURE TO SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY DETACH BELOW AND RETURN USING THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED PACHOLDER HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. 2000 ANNUAL MEETING 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS: 1-WILLIAM J. MORGAN 2-DANIEL A. GRANT /_/ FOR all nominees /_/ WITHHOLD AUTHORITY listed to the left (except to vote for all nominees as specified below). listed to the left (Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee, Box write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right). [---------------------------------] 2. To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Fund's independent /_/ FOR /_/ AGAINST /_/ ABSTAIN accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000. Check appropriate box Indicate changes below: Date _________________ RECORD DATE SHARES Address Change? /_/ Name Change? /_/ Box [---------------------------------] Signature(s) In Box Please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy. An executor, administrator, trustee or guardian should sign as such. If more than one trustee, all should sign. ALL JOINT OWNERS MUST SIGN. If a corporation, please provide the full name of the corporation and the name of the authorized officer signing on its behalf. PACHOLDER HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. SERIES C, SERIES D AND SERIES E CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned hereby appoints William J. Morgan, Anthony L. Longi, Jr. and James P. Shanahan, Jr., and each of them, as proxies with power of substitution, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote as designated below, all the shares of Series C, Series D and Series E Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Pacholder High Yield Fund, Inc. which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 16, 2000 and at any adjournments thereof. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is given, this proxy will be voted "FOR" all proposals. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |X| PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE 1.) Election of Directors. With For All 2.) To ratify the selection of Deloitte For Against Abstain For hold Except & Touche LLP as the Fund's independent |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000. John F. Williamson George D. Woodard Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark the "For All Except" box and strike a line through the nominee's name. Your shares will be voted for the remaining nominee. Signature Page to Proxy with respect to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 16, 2000 of PACHOLDER HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, as holder of Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C, Series D and Series E. By: Principal Capital Management, LLC a Delaware limited liability company, its authorized signatory By: ______________________________ Name: Title: PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, ON BEHALF OF ONE OR MORE SEPARATE ACCOUNTS, as holder of Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C. By: Principal Capital Management, LLC a Delaware limited liability company, its authorized signatory By: ______________________________ Name: Title: Dated: ______________________