SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)
(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-12
RMK STRATEGIC INCOME FUND, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(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:
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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[ ] 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:
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2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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3) Filing Party:
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4) Date Filed:
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RMK ADVANTAGE INCOME FUND, INC.
RMK HIGH INCOME FUND, INC.
RMK STRATEGIC INCOME FUND, INC.
May 23, 2005
Dear Stockholder:
The enclosed proxy materials relate to the Joint Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of RMK Advantage Income Fund, Inc., RMK High Income Fund, Inc., and
RMK Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds")
to be held on July 15, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. Central Time. The proxy materials seek
your approval of the proposal to elect three Class II Directors of your Fund.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE
NOMINEES. The attached proxy materials provide more information regarding the
nominees.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Voting your shares early will permit the Funds to
avoid costly follow-up mail and telephone solicitation. After reviewing the
attached materials, please complete, sign and date your proxy card and mail it
in the enclosed return envelope promptly. Please refer to the enclosed proxy
card for alternative forms of voting or you may vote in person.
Sincerely,
/s/ Carter E. Anthony
Carter E. Anthony
President
RMK ADVANTAGE INCOME FUND, INC.
RMK HIGH INCOME FUND, INC.
RMK STRATEGIC INCOME FUND, INC.
Fifty North Front Street
Memphis, Tennessee 38103
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
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Dear Stockholders:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
"Meeting") of each of RMK Advantage Income Fund, Inc., RMK High Income Fund,
Inc., and RMK Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the
"Funds") will be held on July 15, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. Central Time, at Fifty
North Front Street, 21st Floor, Memphis, Tennessee 38103 for the following
purposes:
(1) To elect three Class II Directors to serve until the annual meeting of
stockholders in 2008, or until their successors are elected and
qualified; and
(2) To consider and act upon any other business as may properly come
before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Funds' Boards of Directors have fixed the close of business on April
29, 2005 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Charles D. Maxwell
Charles D. Maxwell
Secretary
Memphis, Tennessee
Dated: May 23, 2005
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN.
PLEASE RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD PROMPTLY.
STOCKHOLDERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON. ANY STOCKHOLDER
WHO DOES NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING IS URGED TO INDICATE VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY, DATE AND SIGN IT, AND RETURN IT IN THE
ENVELOPE PROVIDED, WHICH NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. PLEASE
REFER TO THE ENCLOSED PROXY FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF VOTING.
TO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO THE FUND OF FURTHER SOLICITATION, WE ASK
YOUR COOPERATION IN MAILING YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY, NO MATTER HOW LARGE OR SMALL
YOUR HOLDINGS MAY BE.
RMK ADVANTAGE INCOME FUND, INC.
RMK HIGH INCOME FUND, INC.
RMK STRATEGIC INCOME FUND, INC.
Fifty North Front Street
Memphis, Tennessee 38103
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PROXY STATEMENT
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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
July 15, 2005
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is furnished to stockholders in connection with the
solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors ("Board") of each of
RMK Advantage Income Fund, Inc. ("Advantage Income Fund"), RMK High Income Fund,
Inc. ("High Income Fund") and RMK Strategic Income Fund, Inc. ("Strategic Income
Fund") (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") to be voted at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of the Funds (the "Meeting") to be held on July 15, 2005
at 11:00 a.m. Central Time at Fifty North Front Street, 21st Floor, Memphis,
Tennessee 38103, or any adjournment thereof. The approximate mailing date of
this Proxy Statement is May 26, 2005. As discussed more fully below,
stockholders of the Funds are being asked to vote on a proposal to elect three
Class II Directors of their Fund(s). The Boards know of no business other than
the election of the Directors that will be presented for consideration at the
Meeting. If any other matter is properly presented, it is the intention of the
persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote in accordance with their best
judgment.
The close of business on April 29, 2005 has been fixed as the record date
(the "Record Date") for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to
vote at the Meeting. Stockholders as of the Record Date will be entitled to one
vote for each share held, with no shares having cumulative voting rights. As of
the Record Date, Advantage Income Fund had 28,214,378.136 outstanding shares,
High Income Fund had 20,950,074.921 outstanding shares and Strategic Income Fund
had 25,393,310.163 outstanding shares. To the knowledge of the Funds, as of the
Record Date, no person is the beneficial owner of five percent or more of any of
the Fund's outstanding shares. Directors and officers of each Fund as a group
own an aggregate of less than one percent of the Fund's outstanding shares.
The presence, in person or by proxy, of stockholders entitled to cast
one-third of all the votes entitled to be cast at the Meeting, shall constitute
a quorum and must be present for the transaction of business at the Meeting.
Each outstanding full share of each Fund is entitled to one vote, and each
outstanding fractional share thereof is entitled to a proportionate fractional
share of one vote. If a quorum is not present at the Meeting, 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 those shares represented at the Meeting in person or by proxy.
The persons named as proxies will vote those proxies that they are entitled to
vote FOR any proposal in favor of such an adjournment and will vote those
proxies required to be voted AGAINST a proposal against such adjournment.
All shares represented by properly executed proxies, unless such proxies
previously have been revoked, will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with
the directions indicated in the proxies; if no direction is indicated, the
shares will be voted FOR the election of the Directors. Assuming a quorum is
present at the Meeting, the election of Directors will require the affirmative
vote of stockholders. Each Director who receives a plurality of the votes cast
at the Meeting will be elected. "Plurality of the votes" means the candidate
must receive more votes than any other candidate for the same position, but not
necessarily a majority of the votes cast.
Broker non-votes are shares held in "street name" for which a broker
indicates that it has not received instructions from the beneficial owners or
other persons entitled to vote and for which the broker does not have
discretionary voting authority. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted
as shares present for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present but
will not be voted FOR or AGAINST any adjournment or proposal. Accordingly,
abstentions and broker non-votes effectively will be a vote AGAINST adjournment.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted, however, as votes cast for
purposes of determining whether sufficient votes have been received to approve a
proposal.
The cost of the proxy solicitation will be borne by the Funds. The
principal solicitation will be by mail, but proxies also may be solicited by
telephone by representatives of Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. ("Morgan
Keegan."), the Funds' administrator, none of whom will receive any compensation
from the Funds for these activities. If votes are recorded by telephone, Morgan
Keegan will use procedures designed to authenticate stockholders' identities, to
allow stockholders to authorize the voting of their shares in accordance with
their instructions and to confirm that a stockholder's instructions have been
properly recorded.
You may revoke your proxy at any time before the Meeting by providing
another proxy or by letter or telegram revoking the initial proxy. To be
effective, your revocation must be received by the Fund prior to the Meeting and
must include your name and account number. If you attend the Meeting in person,
you may vote by ballot, thereby canceling any proxy you provided previously.
Proxies voted by alternative forms may be revoked in the same manner that
proxies by mail may be revoked.
PROPOSAL
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Each Fund Board is divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II
and Class III, with the members of each class serving for a term of three years.
The classification of the Directors is designed to promote the continuity and
stability of the Funds' management and policies. Because of this classification,
elections of Directors at least two stockholder meetings, instead of one, are
required to effect a change in a majority of the Directors.
The current Class II Directors, Allen B. Morgan, Jr., W. Randall Pittman
and Mary S. Stone, each have terms expiring in 2005. Each of the Class II
Directors has expressed his or her willingness to serve another term as Director
of the Funds if nominated by the Funds' Boards and each has consented to be
named in this Proxy Statement and to serve as Directors if elected.
The Funds' Independent Directors reviewed the qualifications, experience
and background of each incumbent Director. Based upon this review, the Funds'
Independent Directors Committees determined that nominating the incumbents would
be in the best interests of the Funds' stockholders. The Boards believes that
the incumbents are well suited for service on the Boards due to their
familiarity with the Funds as a result of their current service as Directors and
their knowledge of the investment company industry.
At a meeting on January 24, 2005, the Boards received the recommendation of
the Independent Directors Committees. After discussion and consideration of,
among other things, the backgrounds of the incumbents, the Boards voted to
nominate Allen B. Morgan, Jr., W. Randall Pittman and Mary S. Stone
(collectively, the "Director Nominees") for election as Class II Directors with
a term expiring in 2008.
The Boards know of no reason why the Director Nominees will become
unavailable for election as Director, but if that should occur before the
Meeting, the proxies received will be voted for such other nominees as the
Boards may recommend. None of the Directors are related to another.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS' DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Certain information concerning the Funds' Directors and Officers is set
forth below. Unless otherwise noted, each of the Directors and Officers has
engaged in the principal occupation listed in the following table for five years
or more. An asterisk (*) indicates Directors and Officers who are "interested
persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act")) of the Funds by virtue of their positions with Morgan Asset
Management, Inc. ("MAM"), the Fund's adviser, Morgan Keegan and/or Regions
Financial Corporation, the publicly held parent of MAM, and its other
subsidiaries.
2
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS' DIRECTORS
CLASS II--DIRECTOR NOMINEES
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NUMBER OF
POSITION(S) PORTFOLIOS IN
HELD WITH FUND FUND COMPLEX
NAME, ADDRESS(1), AND LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING OVERSEEN BY
AGE TIME SERVED(2) PAST FIVE YEARS DIRECTOR(3)
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INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
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W. Randall Pittman, Director of Mr. Pittman has been Chief Financial Officer of
Age 51 Advantage Income Emageon Inc. (healthcare information systems) since 23
Fund, 2002. From 1999 to 2002, he was Chief Financial
Since 2004 Officer of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(biotechnology). From 1998 to 1999, he was Chief
Director of High Financial Officer of ScandiPharm, Inc.
Income Fund, (pharmaceuticals). From 1995 to 1998, he served as
Since 2003 Senior Vice President--Finance of CaremarkRx
(pharmacy benefit management). From 1983 to 1995, he
Director of held various positions with AmSouth Bancorporation
Strategic Income (bank holding company), including Executive Vice
Fund, President and Controller. He is a Certified Public
Since 2004 Accountant, and was with the accounting firm of
Ernst & Young, LLP from 1976 to 1983. He also serves
as a Director of Regions Morgan Keegan Select Funds
and Morgan Keegan Select Fund, Inc.
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3
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NUMBER OF
POSITION(S) PORTFOLIOS IN
HELD WITH FUND FUND COMPLEX
NAME, ADDRESS(1), AND LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING OVERSEEN BY
AGE TIME SERVED(2) PAST FIVE YEARS DIRECTOR(3)
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Mary S. Stone, Director of Ms. Stone has held the Hugh Culverhouse Endowed
Age 54 Advantage Income Chair of Accountancy at the University of Alabama, 23
Fund, Culverhouse School of Accountancy since 1981. She is
Since 2004 also a member of Financial Accounting Standards
Advisory Council, AICPA, Accounting Standards
Director of High Executive Committee and AACSB International
Income Fund, Accounting Accreditation Committee. She also serves
Since 2003 as a Director of Regions Morgan Keegan Select Funds
and Morgan Keegan Select Fund, Inc.
Director of
Strategic Income
Fund,
Since 2004
Allen B. Morgan, Jr.*, Director of Mr. Morgan has served as a Director and
Age 62 Advantage Income Vice-Chairman of Regions Financial Corporation since 23
Fund, 2001 and 2003, respectively. He has also served as a
Since 2004 Director of Morgan Asset Management, Inc. since
1993. He also has been Chairman of Morgan Keegan &
Director of High Company, Inc. since 1969 and Executive Managing
Income Fund, Director of Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. since
Since 2003 1969. He also serves as Chairman of Regions Morgan
Keegan Select Funds and Morgan Keegan Select Fund,
Director of Inc.
Strategic Income
Fund,
Since 2004
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4
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NUMBER OF
POSITION(S) PORTFOLIOS IN
HELD WITH FUND FUND COMPLEX
NAME, ADDRESS(1), AND LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING OVERSEEN BY
AGE TIME SERVED(2) PAST FIVE YEARS DIRECTOR(3)
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CLASS I
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
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William Jefferies Director of Mr. Mann has been Chairman and President of Mann
Mann, Advantage Income Investments, Inc. (real estate investments/private 23
Age 72 Fund, investing) since 1985. He also serves as Director of
Since 2004 Regions Morgan Keegan Select Funds and Morgan Keegan
Select Fund, Inc.
Director of High
Income Fund,
Since 2003
Director of
Strategic Income
Fund,
Since 2004
James Stillman R. Director of Mr. McFadden has been Chief Manager of McFadden
McFadden, Advantage Income Communications, LLC (commercial printing) since 2002 23
Age 47(4) Fund, and President and Director of 1703, Inc. (restaurant
Since 2004 management) since 1998. He also has served as a
Director for several private companies since 1997.
Director of High He also serves as a Director of Regions Morgan
Income Fund, Keegan Select Funds and Morgan Keegan Select Fund,
Since 2003 Inc.
Director of
Strategic Income
Fund,
Since 2004
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5
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NUMBER OF
POSITION(S) PORTFOLIOS IN
HELD WITH FUND FUND COMPLEX
NAME, ADDRESS(1), AND LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING OVERSEEN BY
AGE TIME SERVED(2) PAST FIVE YEARS DIRECTOR(3)
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J. Kenneth Alderman*, Director of Mr. Alderman has been President of Regions Morgan
Age 52 Strategic Income Keegan Trust Company and Chief Executive Officer of 23
Fund, Since 2003 Morgan Asset Management, Inc. since 2002. He has
been Executive Vice President of Regions Financial
Director of High Corporation since 2000. He served Regions as Senior
Income Fund, Since Vice President and Capital Management Group Director
2004 and investment adviser to the Regions Financial
Corporation proprietary fund family from 1995 to
Director of 2000. He is a Certified Public Accountant and
Advantage Income Chartered Financial Analyst. He also serves as a
Fund, Since 2004 Director of Regions Morgan Keegan Select Funds and
Morgan Keegan Select Fund, Inc.
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CLASS III
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
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Archie W. Willis III, Director of Mr. Willis has been President of Community Capital
Age 47 Advantage Income (financial advisory and real estate development 23
Fund, Since 2004 consulting) since 1999 and Vice President of
Community Realty Company (real estate brokerage)
Director of since 1999. He was a First Vice President of Morgan
Strategic Income Keegan & Company, Inc. from 1991 to 1999. He also
Fund, Since 2004 has served as a Director of Memphis Telecom, LLC
since 2001. He also serves as a Director of Regions
Morgan Keegan Select Funds and Morgan Keegan Select
Fund, Inc.
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(1) The address of each Director is c/o the Funds, Fifty North Front Street, 21st Floor, Memphis, Tennessee 38103.
(2) The Boards are divided as equally as possible into three classes of Directors designated Class I, Class II, and Class
III. The terms of office of Class II, Class III and Class I Directors shall expire at the annual meetings of
stockholders held in 2005, 2006, and 2007, respectively, and at each third annual meeting of stockholders thereafter.
Each Director serves until the expiration of his or her term and until his or her successor is elected and qualified,
or until his or her death or resignation, or removal as provided in the Funds' by-laws or charter or by statute.
(3) Each of the Directors oversees the other registered investment companies in the Regions Morgan Keegan fund complex
including those of each of the Funds.
(4) McFadden Communications, LLC ("McFadden Communications"), a company of which Mr. McFadden is a majority owner,
commenced a commercial banking relationship with Union Planters Bank in August 2003 pursuant to which Union Planters
Bank extended to the company, in the ordinary course of business, a secured loan and line of credit. This relationship
continued with Regions Bank subsequent to the June 30, 2004 merger of Union Planters Corporation and Regions Financial
Corporation. Since July 1, 2004, the largest aggregate amount of debt outstanding on the line of credit and loan was
approximately $1.9 million. As of December 31, 2004, the approximate aggregate amount of debt outstanding also was
$1.9 million, a portion of which was borrowed at Prime Rate and the other portion of which was borrowed at 6.35%.
Prior to July 1, 2004, McFadden Communications also performed printing services for Union Planters Corporation and one
or more of its subsidiaries on a job-by-job basis competing with other printing companies. Since July 1, 2004, the
company has performed similar services on the same basis for Regions Financial Corporation and one or more of its
subsidiaries (collectively, "Regions"). As of December 31, 2004, total billings from services provided to Regions
amounted to approximately $86,000, representing less than 2% of the company's revenue over that same period of time.
6
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS' OFFICERS
POSITION(S) HELD
WITH FUND
NAME, ADDRESS, AND LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING
AGE(1) TIME SERVED(2) PAST FIVE YEARS
Carter E. President of From 2002 to present, Mr. Anthony has
Anthony*, Advantage Income served as President and Chief Investment
Age 60 Fund, Officer of Morgan Asset Management Inc.
Since 2004 From 2000-2002, he served as Executive
Vice President and Director of Capital
President of High Management Group, Regions Financial
Income Fund, Corporation. From 1989 to 2000, Mr.
Since 2003 Anthony was Vice President - Trust
Investments, National Bank of Commerce.
President of
Strategic Income
Fund,
Since 2004
7
POSITION(S) HELD
WITH FUND
NAME, ADDRESS, AND LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING
AGE(1) TIME SERVED(2) PAST FIVE YEARS
Thomas R. Vice President of Mr. Gamble has been an executive at
Gamble*, Advantage Income Regions Financial Corporation since
Age 62 Fund, 1981. He was a Corporate IRA Manager
Since 2004 from 2000 to 2001 and a Senior Vice
President & Manager of Employee Benefits
Vice President of at the Birmingham Trust Department of
High Income Fund, Regions Bank from 1981 to 2000.
Since 2003
Vice President of
Strategic Income
Fund,
Since 2004
Joseph C. Treasurer of Mr. Weller has been Executive Vice
Weller*, Advantage Income President and Chief Financial Officer of
Age 66 Fund, Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. since
Since 2004 1969, Treasurer and Secretary of Morgan
Keegan & Company, Inc. since 1969 and
Treasurer of High Executive Managing Director of Morgan
Income Fund, Keegan & Company, Inc. since 1969. He
Since 2003 also has served as a Director of Morgan
Asset Management, Inc. since 1993.
Treasurer of
Strategic Income
Fund,
Since 2004
8
POSITION(S) HELD
WITH FUND
NAME, ADDRESS, AND LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING
AGE(1) TIME SERVED(2) PAST FIVE YEARS
Charles D. Secretary and Mr. Maxwell has been a Managing Director
Maxwell*, Assistant Treasurer of Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. since
Age 51 of Advantage Income 1998 and Assistant Treasurer and
Fund, Assistant Secretary of Morgan Keegan &
Since 2004 Company, Inc. since 1994. He has been
Secretary and Treasurer of Morgan Asset
Secretary and Management, Inc. since 1993. He was
Assistant Treasurer Senior Vice President of Morgan Keegan &
of High Income Fund, Company, Inc. from 1995 to 1997. Mr.
Since 2003 Maxwell was also with Ernst & Young
(accountants) from 1976 to 1986 and
Secretary and served as a senior manager from 1984 to
Assistant Treasurer 1986.
of Strategic Income
Fund,
Since 2004
J. Thompson Assistant Secretary Mr. Weller has been a Managing Director
Weller*, of Advantage Income and Controller of Morgan Keegan &
Age 40 Fund, Company, Inc. since October 2001. He was
Since 2004 Senior Vice President and Controller of
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. from
Assistant Secretary October 1998 to October 2001, Controller
of High Income Fund, and First Vice President from February
Since 2003 1997 to October 1998, Controller and
Vice President from 1995 to February
Assistant Secretary 1997 and Assistant Controller from 1992
of Strategic Income to 1995.
Fund,
Since 2004
9
POSITION(S) HELD
WITH FUND
NAME, ADDRESS, AND LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING
AGE(1) TIME SERVED(2) PAST FIVE YEARS
David M. George*, Chief Compliance Mr. George has been the Chief Compliance
Age 52 Officer of Officer of Morgan Asset Management, Inc.
Advantage Income and a Senior Vice President of Morgan
Fund, High Income Keegan & Company, Inc. since August
Fund and Strategic 2004. He was an Assistant Director of
Income Fund, Since Compliance and Senior Vice President of
2004 Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. from April
2002 to August 2004. He was a Branch
Manager and First Vice President of
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. from April
2001 to April 2002. He was a Branch
Administrative Officer of the Private
Client Group and First Vice President of
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. from July
1999 to April 2001. He was a Compliance
Administrator and Vice President of
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. from
August 1995 to July 1999.
(1) Joseph C. Weller is the father of J. Thompson Weller. The address of
Messrs. George, Maxwell, Weller and Weller is Fifty North Front Street,
21st Floor, Memphis, Tennessee 38103. The address of Messrs. Anthony and
Gamble is 417 North 20th Street, 15th Floor, Birmingham, Alabama 35203.
(2) Officers of the Funds are elected and appointed by the Boards and hold
office until they resign, are removed or are otherwise disqualified to
serve.
COMPENSATION OF THE FUND DIRECTORS
Directors of the Funds who are "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Funds receive no salary or fees from the Funds. Directors of the
Funds who are not "interested persons" receive an annual retainer of $4,000 and
a fee of $1,000 per quarterly meeting with reimbursement for related expenses
for each meeting of the Board attended from each Fund. Each chairperson of the
Independent Directors Committee and Audit Committee receives annual compensation
of $500 from each Fund. An additional $1,500 is paid to the Directors who are
not "interested persons" for attending special meetings in person, and an
additional $500 is paid for attending special meetings by telephone. No Director
is entitled to receive pension or retirement benefits from the Funds.
The table below sets forth the compensation paid to the Directors by the
Funds for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005. For the calendar year ended
December 31, 2004, the Directors received the compensation set forth in the last
column of the table below for serving as directors of all the registered
investment companies in the Regions Morgan Keegan fund complex.
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TOTAL
COMPENSATION
FROM EACH FUND
PENSION OR AND THE FUND
AGGREGATE RETIREMENT ESTIMATED COMPLEX PAID TO
COMPENSATION FROM BENEFITS ANNUAL THE DIRECTOR FOR
EACH FUND FOR THE FISCAL ACCRUED AS BENEFITS THE CALENDAR YEAR
NAME AND POSITION PERIOD ENDED PART OF FUND UPON ENDED
WITH FUNDS MARCH 31, 2005 EXPENSES RETIREMENT DECEMBER 31, 2004
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
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William Jefferies Mann $5,750 Advantage None None $ 39,125
$9,125 High
$9,125 Strategic
James Stillman R. McFadden $5,500 Advantage None None $ 36,500
$8,375 High
$8,375 Strategic
W. Randall Pittman $5,500 Advantage None None $ 35,500
$8,125 High
$8,125 Strategic
Mary S. Stone $5,500 Advantage None None $ 35,500
$8,125 High
$8,125 Strategic
Archie W. Willis III $5,500 Advantage None None $ 35,500
$8,125 High
$8,125 Strategic
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10
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TOTAL
COMPENSATION
FROM EACH FUND
PENSION OR AND THE FUND
AGGREGATE RETIREMENT ESTIMATED COMPLEX PAID TO
COMPENSATION FROM BENEFITS ANNUAL THE DIRECTOR FOR
EACH FUND FOR THE FISCAL ACCRUED AS BENEFITS THE CALENDAR YEAR
NAME AND POSITION PERIOD ENDED PART OF FUND UPON ENDED
WITH FUNDS MARCH 31, 2005 EXPENSES RETIREMENT DECEMBER 31, 2004
DIRECTORS WHO ARE "INTERESTED PERSONS"
J. Kenneth Alderman None None None None
Allen B. Morgan, Jr. None None None None
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DIRECTORS' OWNERSHIP OF FUND SECURITIES
The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities
beneficially owned by each Director in the Funds and in all registered
investment companies in the Regions Morgan Keegan fund complex as of May 17,
2005.
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AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF
SECURITIES IN INVESTMENT
AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF OVERSEEN BY DIRECTOR IN
NAME OF DIRECTOR SECURITIES IN EACH FUND FUND COMPLEX
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
William Jefferies Mann Advantage--None $10,001-$50,000
High--None
Strategic--None
James Stillman R. McFadden Advantage--None $10,001-$50,000
High--Less than $10,000
Strategic--Less than $10,000
W. Randall Pittman Advantage--Less than $10,000 $10,001-$50,000
High--Less than $10,000
Strategic--Less than $10,000
Mary S. Stone Advantage--Less than $10,000 $10,001-$50,000
High--Less than $10,000
Strategic--Less than $10,000
Archie W. Willis III Advantage--None $10,001-$50,000
High--None
Strategic--None
DIRECTORS WHO ARE "INTERESTED PERSONS"
J. Kenneth Alderman Advantage--None Over $100,000
High--None
Strategic--Less than $10,000
Allen B. Morgan, Jr. Advantage--$10,001- $50,000 Over $100,000
High--Over $100,000
Strategic--$10,001- $50,000
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BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Boards of High Income Fund and Strategic Income Fund met five times and
the Board of Advantage Income Fund met three times during the Funds' fiscal year
or period ended March 31, 2005, and each Director attended every meeting of the
Boards and of any committees of which he or she was a member during that year.
The Boards have an Audit Committee, Independent Directors Committee and a
Qualified Legal Compliance Committee. Each of the Committees consists of those
Directors who are not "interested persons" of the Funds, as defined in the 1940
Act, and who are "independent" as defined in the listing standards of the New
York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (the "Independent Directors").
AUDIT COMMITTEES
Each Fund has an Audit Committee that consists entirely of Independent
Directors of the Fund, all of whom are independent and financially literate, as
defined in Section 303A of the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.
The members of each Audit Committee are Messrs. Mann, McFadden, Pittman and
Willis and Ms. Stone. The Board has determined in accordance with Section 303A
that Messrs. McFadden and Pittman and Ms. Stone possess accounting or related
financial management expertise and qualify as "audit committee financial
experts." The function of the Audit Committees is to select independent
accountants to conduct the annual audit of the Funds' financial statements,
review with the independent accountants the outline, scope and results of this
11
annual audit, and review the performance and approval all fees charged by the
independent accountants for audit, audit-related and other professional
services. In addition, the Audit Committees meet with the independent
accountants and representatives of management to review accounting activities
and areas of financial reporting and control.
Each Fund has adopted a written charter for its Audit Committee, the form
of which is attached as Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement. The Funds' Audit
Committees have received written disclosures and the letter required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC
("PwC"), independent registered public accountants for the Funds. The Audit
Committees have discussed with PwC its independence with respect to the Funds
and certain matters required to be discussed by Statements on Auditing Standards
No. 61. The Audit Committees have considered whether the provision of non-audit
services by PwC is compatible with maintaining the independence of PwC.
The Audit Committees also review and discuss the audit of each Fund's
financial statements with Fund management and with PwC. If any material concerns
arise during the course of the audit and preparation of the audited financial
statements mailed to stockholders and included in the Funds' Annual Report to
Stockholders, the Audit Committee would be notified by Fund management or by
PwC. The Audit Committees received no such notifications for the Funds.
The Audit Committees met once during the Funds' fiscal year or period ended
March 31, 2005. Subsequent to the Funds' fiscal year or period ended March 31,
2005, the Committees' met on May 23, 2005 and the Committee members reviewed the
Funds' audited financial statements. Attached as Exhibit B is a copy of the
Funds' Audit Committee Report with respect to the Funds' audited financial
statements. Following the Audit Committees' review and discussion regarding the
audit of the Funds' financial statements with fund management and with PwC, the
Audit Committees recommended to the Directors that the Funds' audited financial
statements for the 2005 fiscal period be included in the Funds' Annual Report to
Stockholders.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS COMMITTEES
The Independent Directors Committees consist of all of the Independent
Directors. The Independent Directors Committees must determine at least annually
whether the Funds' advisory and other arrangements should be approved for
continuance for the following year. The Independent Directors Committees also
are responsible for evaluating and recommending the selection and nomination of
candidates for Independent Director, assessing whether Directors should be added
or removed from the Boards and recommending to the Boards policies concerning
Independent Director compensation, investment in the Funds, and Fund resources.
The Independent Directors Committees met twice during the Funds' fiscal year or
period ended March 31, 2005.
NOMINEE QUALIFICATIONS. While there is no formal list of qualifications,
the Independent Director Committees consider, among other things, whether
prospective nominees have distinguished records in their primary careers, high
integrity, and substantive knowledge in areas important to the Boards'
operations, such as background or education in finance, auditing, or, the
workings of the securities markets. For candidates to serve as Independent
Directors, independence from the Funds' investment adviser, its affiliates and
other principal service providers is critical, as is an independent and
questioning mindset. The Committees also consider whether the prospective
candidates' workloads would allow them to attend the vast majority of Board
meetings, be available for service on Board committees, and devote the
additional time and effort necessary to remain apprised of Board matters and the
rapidly changing regulatory environment in which the Funds operate.
IDENTIFICATION OF NOMINEES. The Independent Directors Committees consider
prospective candidates from stockholders and any source they deem appropriate.
Each Committee will consider nominees recommended by stockholders if such
proposed nominations are submitted in writing to the attention of Charles D.
Maxwell (addressed c/o the applicable Fund, Fifty North Front Street, 21st
Floor, Memphis, Tennessee 38103). Mr. Maxwell will forward properly submitted
nominations to Mr. Mann, Chairman of each Fund's Independent Directors
Committee. The Committees initially evaluate prospective candidates on the basis
of their resumes, considered in light of the criteria discussed above. Those
prospective candidates that appear likely to be able to fill a significant need
of the Boards would be contacted by a Committee member by telephone to discuss
the position; if there appeared to be sufficient interest, an in-person meeting
with one or more Committee members would be arranged. If the Committees, based
on the results of these contacts, believed they had identified a viable
candidate, they would address the matter to all of the Independent Directors for
their consideration. Any request by management to meet with the prospective
candidate would be given appropriate consideration. The Funds have not paid a
fee to third parties to assist in finding nominees.
QUALIFIED LEGAL COMPLIANCE COMMITTEES
In addition, each Fund has a Qualified Legal Compliance Committee ("QLCC")
that consists of all of the Independent Directors. The QLCCs receive, review and
take appropriate action with respect to any report made or referred to the QLCCs
12
by an attorney of evidence of a material violation of applicable U.S. federal or
state securities law, material breach of fiduciary duty under U.S. federal or
state law or a similar material violation by the Funds or by an officer,
director, employee or agent of the Funds. The QLCCs did not meet during the
fiscal year or period ended March 31, 2005.
THE BOARDS RECOMMEND THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE
CLASS II DIRECTOR NOMINEES.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the officers and Directors of
the Funds and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the
Funds' equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership
on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the
NYSE. Officers, Directors and greater than ten percent stockholders of the Funds
are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Funds with copies of all Forms 3,
4 and 5 they file.
Based solely on the Funds' review of the copies of such forms, and
amendments thereto, furnished to them during or with respect to their most
recent fiscal year or period, and written representations from certain reporting
persons that they were not required to file Form 5 with respect to the most
recent fiscal year or period, the Funds believe that all of their officers,
Directors, greater than ten percent beneficial owners, and other persons subject
to Section 16 of the Exchange Act due to the requirements of Section 30, of the
1940 Act (i.e., any advisory board member, investment adviser or affiliated
person of the Funds' investment adviser) have complied with all filing
requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions during the Funds'
most recent fiscal year or period.
DIRECTOR ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS AND
STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
The Funds do not have a policy on Director attendance at the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders. Stockholders may send written communications to the Boards or
to an individual Director by mailing such correspondence to Charles D. Maxwell
(addressed to Fifty North Front Street, 21st Floor, Memphis, Tennessee 38103).
Such communications must be signed by the stockholder and identify the class and
number of shares held by the stockholder. Properly submitted stockholder
communications will, as appropriate, be forwarded to the entire Board or to the
individual Director. Any stockholder proposal submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), must
continue to meet all the requirements of Rule 14a-8. See "Additional
Information--Stockholder Proposals" herein.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS' FEES
The SEC's auditor independence rules require the Audit Committee of the
Fund to pre-approve (a) all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by
the Funds' independent registered public accountants directly to the Funds and
(b) those permissible non-audit services provided by the Funds' independent
registered public accountants to MAM and any entity controlling, controlled by
or under common control with MAM that provides ongoing services to the Funds
(the "Affiliated Service Providers"), if the services relate directly to the
operations and financial reporting of the Funds.
The first table below sets forth for the Funds, for its most recent fiscal
period the fees billed by its independent registered public accountants for all
audit and non-audit services provided directly to the Funds. The Funds'
independent registered public accountants did not provide any non-audit services
to the Funds' Affiliated Service Providers. Services under the caption:
o AUDIT FEES are for the audit of the Funds' annual financial statements
included in the Funds' reports to stockholders and in connection with
statutory and regulatory filing or engagements;
o AUDIT-RELATED FEES include assurance and related services reasonably
related to the performance of the audit of financial statements not
included in AUDIT FEES;
o TAX FEES include tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning; and
o ALL OTHER FEES are for other products and services provided.
The fiscal year end for the Funds is March 31, 2005.
13
FEES FOR AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO EACH FUND:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUDIT FEES AUDIT-RELATED FEES ($) TAX FEES ALL OTHER FEES
2005 2005 2005 2005
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advantage Income Fund $ 33,000 None $ 2,000 None
High Income Fund $ 34,000 None $ 2,000 None
Strategic Income Fund $ 33,000 None $ 2,000 None
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUDIT FEES AUDIT-RELATED FEES ($) TAX FEES ALL OTHER FEES
2004 2004 2004 2004
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advantage Income Fund None None None None
High Income Fund $ 48,600 None None None
Strategic Income Fund $ 42,600 None None None
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEES FOR NON-AUDIT SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE FUNDS' AFFILIATED SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR WHICH PRE-APPROVAL BY FUNDS' COMMITTEE WAS
REQUIRED:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUDIT FEES AUDIT-RELATED FEES ($) TAX FEES ALL OTHER FEES
2005 2005 2005 2005
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
None None None None
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUDIT FEES AUDIT-RELATED FEES ($) TAX FEES ALL OTHER FEES
2004 2004 2004 2004
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
None None None None
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE NON-AUDIT FEES FOR SERVICES PROVIDED TO EACH FUND AND ITS AFFILIATED SERVICE PROVIDERS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER PRE-APPROVAL
WAS REQUIRED.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE NON-AUDIT FEES($)
2005
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
None
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE NON-AUDIT FEES($)
2004
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
None
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRE-APPROVAL OF AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES.
Audit, audit-related and tax compliance services provided to the Funds on
an annual basis require pre-approval by the Funds' Audit Committee. The Audit
Committee pre-approves these services on a case-by-case basis. As noted above,
the Audit Committee also must approve other non-audit services provided to the
Fund and those non-audit services provided to the Funds' Affiliated Service
Providers that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the
Funds. Any individual project that does not exceed $15,000 may be pre-approved
by the chair of the Audit Committee. Any proposed services exceeding that cost
level requires specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.
A representative of PwC is expected to be present at the Meeting and will
have an opportunity to make a statement if he so desires and to respond to
questions from stockholders.
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ADMINISTRATOR
MAM, a subsidiary of MK Holding, Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Regions Financial Corporation, is the investment adviser of the Funds. The
principal office of MAM is located at 417 North 20th Street, 15th Floor,
Birmingham, Alabama 35203. Morgan Keegan, a wholly owned subsidiary of Regions
Financial Corporation, is the administrator of the Funds. The principal office
of Morgan Keegan is located at Fifty North Front Street, 21st Floor, Memphis,
Tennessee 38103.
ANNUAL REPORT DELIVERY
Each Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its annual report for its
most recent fiscal year to any stockholder upon request. Such requests should be
directed to the appropriate Fund at Fifty North Front Street, 21st Floor,
Memphis, Tennessee 38103, Attention: Charles D. Maxwell, or to (800) 564-2188.
14
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
The Funds expect to hold their next Annual Meeting of Stockholders in July
2006. The By-Laws of each Fund requires advance notice be given to the Fund in
the event a stockholder desires to transact any business from the floor at
Fund's Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Proposals of stockholders intended to be
presented at the Meeting must be received by the Fund by March 31, 2006 for
inclusion in the Fund's Proxy Statement and form of Proxy for that Meeting.
Notice of any such business must be in writing and received at the Fund's
principal executive office during the period from February 1, 2006 to March 31,
2006. Written proposals and notices should be sent to Charles D. Maxwell, Fifty
North Front Street, 21st Floor, Memphis, Tennessee 38103.
By Order of the Boards of Directors,
/s/ Charles D. Maxwell
Charles D. Maxwell
Secretary
Dated: May 23, 2005
15
EXHIBIT A
RMK ADVANTAGE INCOME FUND, INC.
RMK HIGH INCOME FUND, INC.
RMK STRATEGIC INCOME FUND, INC.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
I. AUDIT COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP AND QUALIFICATIONS
The Audit Committee of each of RMK Advantage Income Fund, Inc., RMK High
Income Fund, Inc. and RMK Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (each a "Fund") shall
consist of at least three members appointed by the Board of Directors ("Board")
of the Fund upon recommendation by the Fund's Independent Directors Committee.
The Board may replace members of the Audit Committee for any reason.
No member of the Audit Committee shall be an "interested person" of the
Fund, as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Fund Act of
1940 ("1940 Act"), nor shall any member receive any compensation from the Fund
except compensation for service as a member of the Fund's Board or a committee
of the Board.
The Board shall determine annually whether any member of the Audit
Committee is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined in Item 3 of Form
N-CSR. Consistent with Item 3 of Form N-CSR, the designation or identification
of a person as an "audit committee financial expert" does not impose on such
person any duties, obligations, or liabilities that are greater than the duties,
obligations, and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the Audit
Committee and the Board in the absence of such designation or identification.
II. PURPOSES OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The purposes of the Audit Committee are:
(a) to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the
Fund and its internal control over financial reporting and, as the
Committee deems appropriate, to inquire into the internal control over
financial reporting of certain third-party service providers;
(b) to oversee the quality and integrity of the Fund's financial
statements and the independent audit thereof;
(c) to oversee, or, as appropriate, assist Board oversight of, the Fund's
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the
Fund's accounting and financial reporting, internal control over
financial reporting and independent audits;
(d) to approve prior to appointment the engagement of the Fund's
independent auditors and, in connection therewith, to review and
evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the
Fund's independent auditors;
(e) to act as a liaison between the Fund's independent auditors and the
full Board; and
(f) to prepare an audit committee report as required by Item 306 of
Regulation S-K to be included in proxy statements relating to the
election of Directors.
The independent auditors for the Fund shall report directly to the Audit
Committee.
III. DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
To carry out its purposes, the Audit Committee shall have the following
duties and powers:
(a) to select and approve in advance the retention of auditors to annually
audit and provide their opinion on the Fund's financial statements; to
oversee the performance of the auditors and, if the Committee deems it
appropriate, to approve the termination of their engagement; to
recommend that those Board members who are not "interested persons"
(as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company
Act) approve such retention or termination; and, in connection with
the foregoing, to review and evaluate matters potentially affecting
the independence and capabilities of the auditors. In evaluating the
auditor's qualifications, performance and independence, the Audit
Committee must, among other things, obtain and review a report by the
auditor, at least annually, describing the following items:
(i) the audit firm's internal quality-control procedures;
A-1
(ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal
quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by
any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional
authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or
more independent audits carried out by the firm, and any steps
taken to deal with any such issues; and
(iii) all relationships between the independent auditor and the Fund,
as well as the Fund's investment adviser or administrator or any
control affiliate thereof that provides ongoing services to the
Fund.
It is a responsibility of the Audit Committee to engage actively in a
dialogue with the auditors with respect to any disclosed relationship
or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the
auditor and to take, or recommend that the full Board take,
appropriate action to oversee the independence of the auditor.
(b) to approve prior to appointment the engagement of the auditor to
provide other audit services to the Fund or to provide non-audit
services to the Fund, its investment adviser, administrator or any
entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with its
investment adviser or administrator ("adviser/administrator
affiliate") that provides ongoing services to the Fund, if the
engagement by the investment adviser, administrator or
adviser/administrator affiliate relates directly to the operations and
financial reporting of the Fund;
(c) to develop, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Audit Committee,
policies and procedures for pre-approval of the engagement of the
Fund's auditors to provide any of the services described in (b) above;
(d) to consider the controls applied by the auditors and any measures
taken by management in an effort to assure that all items requiring
pre-approval by the Audit Committee are identified and referred to the
Committee in a timely fashion;
(e) to consider whether the non-audit services provided by the Fund's
auditor to the Fund's investment adviser, administrator or
adviser/administrator affiliate that provides ongoing services to the
Fund, which services were not pre-approved by the Audit Committee, are
compatible with maintaining the auditor's independence;
(f) to review the arrangements for and scope of the annual audit and any
special audits;
(g) to review and approve the fees proposed to be charged to the Fund by
the auditors for each audit and non-audit service;
(h) to consider information and comments from the auditors with respect to
the Fund's accounting and financial reporting policies, procedures and
internal control over financial reporting (including the Fund's
critical accounting policies and practices), to consider management's
responses to any such comments and, to the extent the Audit Committee
deems necessary or appropriate, to promote improvements in the quality
of the Fund's accounting and financial reporting;
(i) to consider information and comments from the auditors with respect
to, and meet with the auditors to discuss any matters of concern
relating to, the Fund's financial statements, including any
adjustments to such statements recommended by the auditors, to review
the auditors' opinion on the Fund's financial statements, and to
discuss with management and the independent auditor the Fund's annual
audited financial statements and other periodic financial statements,
including the Fund's disclosures under "Management's Discussion of
Fund Performance";
(j) to resolve disagreements between management and the auditors regarding
financial reporting;
(k) to consider any difficulties that may have arisen in the course of the
audit, including any limitations upon the scope of the audit;
(l) to review with the Fund's principal executive officer and/or principal
financial officer in connection with required certifications on Form
N-CSR any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of
internal control over financial reporting or material weaknesses
therein and any reported evidence of fraud involving management or
other employees who have a significant role in the Fund's internal
control over financial reporting;
(m) to establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of
complaints received by the Fund relating to accounting, internal
accounting controls, or auditing matters, and the confidential,
anonymous submission by employees of the Fund, its investment adviser,
administrator or any other provider of accounting related services for
the Fund, of concerns about accounting or auditing matters, and to
address reports from attorneys or auditors of possible violations of
federal or state law or fiduciary duty;
A-2
(n) to discuss generally the Fund's earnings press releases, as well as
any financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts
and rating agencies, e.g., the types of information to be disclosed
and the type of presentation to be made;
(o) to review in a general manner, but not as a committee to assume
responsibility for, the Fund's processes with respect to risk
assessment and risk management;
(p) to set clear policies relating to the hiring by entities within the
Fund's investment company complex[1] of employees or former employees
of the independent auditors;
(q) to investigate or initiate an investigation of reports of
improprieties or suspected improprieties in connection with the Fund's
accounting or financial reporting;
(r) to report its activities to the full Board on a regular basis and to
make such recommendations with respect to the above and other matters
as the Audit Committee may deem necessary or appropriate; and
(s) to perform such other functions and to have such powers as may be
necessary or appropriate in the efficient and lawful discharge of the
powers provided in this Charter.
The Audit Committee shall have the resources and authority from the Fund
that is appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including appropriate
funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of compensation to the
auditors for the purpose of conducting the audit and rendering their audit
report, the authority to retain and compensate special counsel and other experts
or consultants as the Committee deems necessary, and the authority to obtain
specialized training for Audit Committee members.
- ----------
[1] "Investment company complex" includes:
o the fund and its investment adviser or sponsor;
o any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the
investment adviser or sponsor, if the entity (i) is an investment
adviser or sponsor or (ii) is engaged in the business of providing
administrative, custodian, underwriting or transfer agent services to
any investment company, investment adviser or sponsor; and
o any investment company, hedge fund or unregistered fund that has an
investment adviser included in the definition set forth in either of
the two bullet points above.
- ----------
The Audit Committee may delegate any portion of its authority, including
the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services,
to a subcommittee of one or more members. Any decisions of the subcommittee to
grant pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next
regularly scheduled meeting.
IV. ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The function of the Audit Committee is oversight; it is management's
responsibility to maintain appropriate systems for accounting and internal
control over financial reporting, and the auditor's responsibility to plan and
carry out a proper audit. Specifically, Fund management is responsible for: (1)
the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Fund's financial statements;
(2) the maintenance of appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles
and policies; and (3) the maintenance of internal control over financial
reporting and other procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting
standards and related laws and regulations. The independent auditors are
responsible for planning and carrying out an audit consistent with applicable
legal and professional standards and the terms of their engagement letter.
Nothing in this Charter shall be construed to reduce the responsibilities or
liabilities of the Fund's service providers, including the auditors.
Although the Audit Committee is expected to take a detached and questioning
approach to the matters that come before it, the review of a Fund's financial
statements by the Audit Committee is not an audit, nor does the Committee's
review substitute for the responsibilities of the Fund's management for
preparing, or the independent auditors for auditing, the financial statements.
Members of the Audit Committee are not full-time employees of the Fund and, in
serving on this Committee, are not, and do not hold themselves out to be, acting
as accountants or auditors. As such, it is not the duty or responsibility of the
Committee or its members to conduct "field work" or other types of auditing or
accounting reviews or procedures.
In discharging their duties the members of the Audit Committee are entitled
to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial
statements and other financial data, if prepared or presented by: (1) one or
more officers of the Fund whom the Director reasonably believes to be reliable
and competent in the matters presented; (2) legal counsel, public accountants,
A-3
or other persons as to matters the Director reasonably believes are within the
person's professional or expert competence; or (3) a Board committee of which
the Director is not a member.
V. OPERATIONS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
(a) The Audit Committee shall meet on a regular basis and at least [two]
times per year and is empowered to hold special meetings as
circumstances require. The chair or a majority of the members shall be
authorized to call a meeting of the Audit Committee and send notice
thereof. Notice of meetings shall be made to each member by any
reasonable means at least one week in advance of a meeting, except two
days' notice of a meeting shall be sufficient when, in the judgment of
the chair or a majority of the members, more notice is impractical or
special circumstances exist requiring a meeting in less than a week's
time.
(b) The Audit Committee shall ordinarily meet in person; however, members
may attend telephonically, and the Committee may act by written
consent, to the extent permitted by law and by the Fund's By-laws.
(c) The Audit Committee shall have the authority to meet privately and to
admit non-members individually by invitation.
(d) The Audit Committee shall regularly meet, in separate executive
sessions, with representatives of Fund management, internal auditors
and the Fund's independent auditors. The Committee may also request to
meet with internal legal counsel and compliance personnel of the
Fund's investment adviser or administrator and with other entities
that provide significant accounting or administrative services to the
Fund to discuss matters relating to the Fund's accounting and
compliance as well as other Fund-related matters.
(e) The Audit Committee shall prepare and retain minutes of its meetings
and appropriate documentation of decisions made outside of meetings by
delegated authority.
(f) The Audit Committee may select one of its members to be the chair and
may select a vice chair.
(g) A majority of the members of the Audit Committee shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the
Committee. The action of a majority of the members of the Audit
Committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be
the action of the Committee.
(h) The Board shall adopt and approve this Charter and may amend it on the
Board's own motion. The Audit Committee shall review this Charter at
least annually and recommend to the full Board any changes the
Committee deems appropriate.
(i) The Audit Committee shall evaluate its performance at least annually.
A-4
EXHIBIT B
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
RMK ADVANTAGE INCOME FUND, INC.
RMK HIGH INCOME FUND, INC.
RMK STRATEGIC INCOME FUND, INC.
(COLLECTIVELY, THE "FUNDS")
The Audit Committees of the Board of Directors of the Funds operate
pursuant to the Funds' Charter, which sets forth the role of the Audit Committee
in the Fund's financial reporting process. Pursuant to the Charter, the role of
the Audit Committees is to oversee the Funds' accounting and financial reporting
processes and the quality and objectivity of the Funds' financial statements and
the independent audit of those financial statements. The Committees are
responsible for, among other things, recommending the initial and ongoing
engagement of the auditors and reviewing the scope and results of the Funds'
annual audit with the Funds' independent auditors. Fund management is
responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Funds'
financial statements and for the procedures designed to assure compliance with
accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. The independent
auditors for the Funds are responsible for planning and carrying out proper
audits and reviews.
The Audit Committees met on May 23, 2005 to review the Funds' audited
financial statements for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005. In performing
this oversight function, the Audit Committees reviewed and discussed the audited
financial statements with Fund management and their independent auditors,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC"). The Audit Committees discussed with PwC the
matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, and
received the written disclosures and the letter from PwC required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1. The Audit Committees also discussed
with PwC its independence.
The members of the Audit Committees are not experts in the fields of
auditing or accounting and are not employed by the Funds for accounting,
financial management or internal control purposes. Members of the Audit
Committees rely without independent verification on the information provided and
the representations made to them by management and PwC.
Based upon this review and related discussions, and subject to the
limitation on the role and responsibilities of the Audit Committees set forth
above and in the Charter, the Audit Committees recommended to the Boards of
Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Funds' Annual
Report to Stockholders for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005.
The members of the Audit Committees are listed below. Each has been
determined to be independent pursuant to New York Stock Exchange Rule 303.01.
William Jefferies Mann
James Stillman R. McFadden
W. Randall Pittman
Mary S. Stone
Archie W. Willis III
May 23, 2005
RMK STRATEGIC INCOME FUND, INC.
[X] PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE.
PROPOSALS
- ---------
1. TO ELECT THREE CLASS II DIRECTORS TO SERVE UNTIL THE DIRECTORS
NEXT ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS IN 2008, OR ----------
UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS ARE ELECTED AND QUALIFIED: (MARK "X" FOR ONLY ONE BOX)
[_] FOR ALL NOMINEES
01 - W. RANDALL PITTMAN, 02 - MARY S. STONE, 03 -
ALLEN B. MORGAN, JR. [_] WITHHELD FROM ALL NOMINEES
[_]
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FOR ALL NOMINEES EXCEPTED AS NOTED
ABOVE.
2. TO TRANSACT SUCH OTHER BUISNESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME
BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT ____
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the accompanying Notice of Annual
Meeting and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting to be held on July 15, 2005.
Please sign and date this Proxy and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope.
Please sign this Proxy exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on the books of the
Fund. Joint owners should each sign personally. Trustees and other fiduciaries
should indicate the capacity in which they sign, and where more than one name
appears, a majority must sign. If a corporation, this signature should be that
of an authorized officer who should state his or her title.
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Signature Date
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Signature (Joint Owners) Date
RMK STRATEGIC INCOME FUND, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - JULY 15, 2005
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned holder of shares of Common Stock of RMK Strategic Income Fund,
Inc. (the "Fund"), a Maryland corporation, hereby appoints as proxies Charles D.
Maxwell and J. Thompson Weller, and each of them (with full power of
substitution) to vote for the undersigned all shares of common stock of the
undersigned in the Fund at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on July
15, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. Central Time, at Fifty North Front Street, 21st Floor,
Memphis, Tennessee 38103, and at any and all adjournments thereof, with all the
power the undersigned would have if personally present.
If more than one of the proxies, or their substitutes, are present at the Annual
Meeting or any adjournment thereof, they jointly (or, if only one is present and
voting, then that one) shall have the authority and may exercise all powers
granted hereby. This Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in accordance
with the instructions marked herein by the undersigned. IF NO SPECIFICICATION IS
MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSALS DESCRIBED HEREIN AND IN
THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME
BEFEORE THE MEETING.
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON THE REVERSE SIDE