As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July , 1995 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 CORPORATE HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) CORPORATE HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement) Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2). [ ] $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(3). [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) 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:(1) (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: [ ] 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: - --------------- (1)Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined. CORPORATE HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. P.O. Box 9011 Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011 NOTICE OF 1995 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS September 8, 1995 To The Stockholders of Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc.: Notice is hereby given that the 1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") of Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") will be held at the offices of Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P. ("MLAM"), 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536, on Friday, September 8, 1995 at 9:15 A.M. for the following purposes: (1) To elect a Board of Directors to serve for the ensuing year; (2) To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as independent auditors of the Fund for its current fiscal year; and (3) To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on July 14, 1995 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. A complete list of the stockholders of the Fund entitled to vote at the Meeting will be available and open to the examination of any stockholder of the Fund for any purpose germane to the Meeting during ordinary business hours from and after August 25, 1995, at the office of the Fund, 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey. You are cordially invited to attend the Meeting. Stockholders who do not expect to attend the Meeting in person are requested to complete, date and sign the enclosed form of proxy and return it promptly in the envelope provided for this purpose. The enclosed proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Fund. By Order of the Board of Directors Michael J. Hennewinkel Secretary Plainsboro, New Jersey Dated: July 26, 1995 PROXY STATEMENT CORPORATE HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. P.O. Box 9011 Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011 1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders September 8, 1995 INTRODUCTION This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), to be voted at the 1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund (the "Meeting"), to be held at the offices of Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P. ("MLAM"), 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536, on Friday, September 8, 1995 at 9:15 A.M. The approximate mailing date of this Proxy Statement is July 28, 1995. All properly executed proxies received prior to the Meeting will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked thereon or otherwise as provided therein. Unless instructions to the contrary are marked, proxies will be voted for the election of the Board of Directors to serve for the ensuing year, and for the ratification of the selection of independent auditors to serve for the Fund's current fiscal year. Any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the exercise thereof by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Fund. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on July 14, 1995 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment thereof. Stockholders on the record date will be entitled to one vote for each share held, with no shares having cumulative voting rights. As of July 14, 1995, the Fund had outstanding 21,515,524 shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share ("Common Stock"). To the knowledge of the Fund, as of July 14, 1995, no person is the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Approval of Items 1 and 2 below will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's stockholders, voting in person or by proxy, at a meeting in which a quorum is present and duly constituted. The Board of Directors of the Fund knows of no business other than that mentioned in Items 1 and 2 of the Notice of Meeting which 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. ITEM 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS At the Meeting, the Board of Directors will be elected to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified. It is intended that all properly executed proxies will be voted (unless such authority has been withheld in the proxy) in favor of the six (6) persons designated as directors to be elected by holders of Common Stock. The Board of Directors of the Fund knows of no reason why any of these nominees will be unable to serve, but in the event of any such unavailability, the proxies received will be voted for such substitute nominee or nominees as the Board of Directors may recommend. 1 Certain information concerning the nominees is set forth as follows: Shares of Common Stock of the Fund Principal Occupations Beneficially During Past Five Years Director Owned at Name and Address of Nominee Age and Public Directorships (1) Since July 14, 1995 - ----------------------------- -- ---------------------------------------- ------ ------------- Joe Grills (1) (2) 60 Member of the Committee of Investment of 1994 --0-- 183 Soundview Lane Employee Benefit Assets of the New Canaan, Connecticut 06840 Financial Executives Institute ("CIEBA") since 1986, member of CIEBA's Executive Committee since 1988 and its Chairman from 1991 to 1992; Assistant Treasurer of International Business Machines Incorporated ("IBM") and Chief Investment Officer of IBM Retirement Funds from 1986 until 1993; Member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the State of New York Common Retirement Fund; Director, Duke Management Company (real estate management). Walter Mintz (1) (2) 66 Special Limited Partner of Cumberland 1993 --0-- 1114 Avenue of the Americas Associates (investment partnership) New York, New York 10036 since 1982. Melvin R. Seiden (1) (2) 64 President of Silbanc Properties, Ltd. 1993 --0-- 780 Third Avenue (real estate, investment and New York, New York 10017 consulting) since 1987; Chairman and President of Seiden & de Cuevas, Inc. (private investment firm) from 1964 to 1987. Stephen B. Swensrud (1) (2) 62 Principal of Fernwood Associates 1993 --0-- 24 Federal Street (financial consultants). Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Harry Woolf (1) (2) (3) 71 Member of the editorial board of 1993 --0-- The Institute for Interdisciplinary Science Reviews; Advanced Study Director, Alex. Brown Mutual Funds, Olden Lane Advanced Technology Laboratories, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 Family Health International and Spacelabs Medical (medical equipment manufacturing and marketing). 2 Arthur Zeikel (1)(4) 63 President and Chief Investment Officer 1993 --0-- P.O. Box 9011 of Fund Asset Management, L.P. ("FAM") Princeton, New Jersey or its predecessor since 1977; 08543-9011 President of MLAM or its predecessor since 1977 and Chief Investment Officer since 1976; President and Director of Princeton Services, Inc. ("Princeton Services") since 1993; Executive Vice President of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ("ML&Co.") since 1990; Executive Vice President of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") since 1990; Senior Vice President of Merrill Lynch from 1986 to 1990; Director of Merrill Lynch Funds Distributor, Inc. ("MLFD"). (1) Each of the nominees is a director, trustee or member of an advisory board of certain other investment companies for which FAM or MLAM acts as investment adviser. See "Merrill Lynch Investment Company Directorships" below. (2) Member of Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. (3) Although if elected Harry Woolf's term will expire in 1996, under the Fund's current retirement policy, it is expected that Mr. Woolf will retire as a Director as of December 31, 1995. (4) Interested person, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), of the Fund. Committees and Board of Directors' Meetings. The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee, which consists of the Directors who are not "interested persons" of the Fund within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. The principal purpose of the Audit Committee is to review the scope of the annual audit conducted by the Fund's independent auditors and the evaluation by such auditors of the accounting procedures followed by the Fund. The non- interested Directors have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with these duties. The Board of Directors does not have a nominating committee. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 1995, the Board of Directors held four meetings and the Audit Committee held four meetings. Each of the Directors then in office attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors. Each member of the Audit Committee then in office attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Audit Committee held during such period. Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), requires the Fund's officers, directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Fund's 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 New York Stock Exchange. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Fund with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 they file. 3 Based solely on the Fund's review of the copies of such forms, and amendments thereto, furnished to it during or with respect to its most recent fiscal year, and written representations from certain reporting persons that they were not required to file Form 5 with respect to the most recent fiscal year, the Fund believes that all of its officers, directors, greater than ten percent beneficial owners and other persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act because of the requirements of Section 30 of the Investment Company Act, i.e., any advisory board member, investment adviser or affiliated person of the Fund's investment adviser, have complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions during the Fund's most recent fiscal year, except that a Form 3 disclosing that Elizabeth Griffin was elected a Senior Vice President of FAM on April 1, 1993 was not filed on a timely basis. A Form 3 was filed on behalf of Ms. Griffin on October 4, 1994. Interested Persons. The Fund considers Mr. Zeikel to be an "interested person" of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act as a result of the position he holds with FAM and its affiliates. Mr. Zeikel is the President of the Fund and the President of FAM and MLAM. Compensation of Directors. FAM, the investment adviser, pays all compensation of all officers of the Fund and all Directors of the Fund who are affiliated with ML&Co. or its subsidiaries. The Fund pays each Director not affiliated with the investment adviser a fee of $5,000 per year plus $250 per regular meeting attended, together with such Director's actual out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at meetings. The Fund also pays each member of its Audit Committee a fee of $1,000 per year plus $500 per meeting attended, together with such Director's out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at such meetings. These fees and expenses aggregated $45,283 for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1995. The following table sets forth for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1995 compensation paid by the Fund to the non-affiliated Directors and, for the calendar year ending December 31, 1994, the aggregate compensation paid by all investment companies advised by FAM and its affiliate, MLAM ("FAM/MLAM Advised Funds"), to the non-affiliated Directors. Pension or Total Retirement Compensation Benefits from Fund and Aggregate Accrued as Part FAM/MLAM Advised Name of Compensation of Fund Funds Paid to Director From Fund Expenses Directors - --------------------- ---------- --------------- ---------------- Joe Grills (1) $9,000 None $190,383 Walter Mintz (1) $9,000 None $157,325 Melvin R. Seiden (1) $9,000 None $157,325 Stephen B. Swensrud (1) $9,000 None $165,325 Harry Woolf (1) $9,000 None $157,325 (1) In addition to the Fund, the Directors serve on the boards of other FAM/MLAM Advised Funds as follows: Mr. Grills (37 funds); Mr. Mintz (37 funds); Mr. Seiden (37 funds); Mr. Swensrud (47 funds); and Mr. Woolf (37 funds). 4 Officers of the Fund. The Board of Directors has elected eight officers of the Fund. The following sets forth information concerning each of these officers: Officer Name and Principal Occupation Office Age Since - -------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- -- ------- Arthur Zeikel President 63 1993 President and Chief Investment Officer of FAM or its predecessor since 1977; President of MLAM or its predecessor since 1977 and Chief Investment Officer since 1976; President and Director of Princeton Services since 1993; Executive Vice President of ML&Co. since 1990; Executive Vice President of Merrill Lynch since 1990; Senior Vice President from 1985 to 1990; Director of MLFD. Terry K. Glenn Executive Vice President 54 1993 Executive Vice President of FAM and MLAM or their predecessors since 1983; Executive Vice President and Director of Princeton Services since 1993; President of MLFD since 1986 and Director since 1991; President of Princeton Administrators, L.P. since 1988. N. John Hewitt Senior Vice President 60 1993 Senior Vice President of FAM and MLAM or their predecessors since 1980. Vincent T. Lathbury, III Vice President 54 1993 Vice President of MLAM or its predecessor since 1982; Portfolio Manager of FAM and MLAM or their predecessors since 1982. Elizabeth Phillips Vice President 45 1993 Vice President of MLAM or its predecessor since 1990; Vice President, Debt Rating Department, Standard & Poor's Corporation from 1985 to 1990. Donald C. Burke Vice President 35 1993 Vice President and Director of Taxation of MLAM or its predecessor since 1990; Employee of Deloitte & Touche from 1982 to 1990. Gerald M. Richard Treasurer 46 1993 Senior Vice President and Treasurer of FAM and MLAM or their predecessors since 1984; Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Princeton Services since 1993; Treasurer of MLFD since 1984 and Vice President since 1981. Michael J. Hennewinkel Secretary 43 1993 Vice President of MLAM or its predecessor since 1985 and attorney associated with FAM and MLAM or their predecessors since 1982. 5 Stock Ownership. At July 14, 1995, the Directors and officers of the Fund as a group (13 persons) owned an aggregate of less than 1/4 of 1% of the Common Stock of the Fund outstanding at such date. At such date, Mr. Zeikel, a Director of the Fund, and the officers of the Fund owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of common stock of ML&Co. All of the Directors of the Fund timely filed the reports required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, relating to transactions in the Fund's shares. ITEM 2. SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS The Board of Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund, has selected the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP ("D&T") to examine the financial statements of the Fund for the current fiscal year. The Fund knows of no direct or indirect financial interest of D&T in the Fund. Such appointment is subject to ratification or rejection by the stockholders of the Fund. Unless a contrary specification is made, the accompanying proxy will be voted in favor of ratifying the selection of such auditors. D&T also acts as independent auditors for several other investment companies for which FAM acts as investment adviser. The fees received by D&T from these other entities are substantially greater, in the aggregate, than the total fees received by it from the Fund. The Board of Directors of the Fund considered the fact that D&T has been retained as the independent auditors for the other entities described above in its evaluation of the independence of D&T with respect to the Fund. Representatives of D&T are expected to be present at the Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and to respond to questions from stockholders. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The expenses of preparation, printing and mailing of the enclosed form of proxy and accompanying Notice and Proxy Statement will be borne by the Fund. The Fund will reimburse banks, brokers and others for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy solicitation material to the beneficial owners of the shares of the Fund. The Fund may also hire proxy solicitors at the expense of the Fund. In order to obtain the necessary quorum at the Meeting (i.e., a majority of the shares of the Fund entitled to vote at the Meeting, present in person or by proxy), supplementary solicitation may be made by mail, telephone, telegraph or personal interview by officers of the Fund. It is anticipated that the cost of such supplementary solicitation, if any, will be nominal. Broker-dealer firms, including Merrill Lynch, holding Fund shares in "street name" for the benefit of their customers and clients will request the instructions of such customers and clients on how to vote their shares on each Item before the Meeting. The Fund understands that, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, such broker-dealer firms may, without instructions from their customers and clients, grant authority to the proxies designated to vote on the election of Directors (Item 1) and ratification of the selection of independent auditors (Item 2) if no instructions have been received prior to the date specified in the broker-dealer firm's request for voting instructions. Accordingly, the Fund will include shares held of record by broker-dealers as to which such authority has been granted in its tabulation of the total number of votes present for purposes of determining whether the necessary quorum of stockholders exists. Proxies which are returned but which are marked "abstain" or on which a broker-dealer has declined to vote on any proposal ("broker non-votes") will be counted as present for the purposes of a quorum. Merrill Lynch has advised that it intends to exercise discretion over shares held in its name 6 for which no instructions are received by voting such shares in the same proportion as it has voted shares for which it has received instructions. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast. Abstentions and broker non-votes, therefore, will have no effect on the vote on Item 1 or Item 2. Address of Investment Adviser The principal office of FAM is located at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536. Annual Report Delivery The Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its annual report for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1995 to any stockholder upon request. Such requests should be directed to Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011, Attention: Michael J. Hennewinkel, Secretary or to 1-800-456-4587 ext. 123. Stockholder Proposals If a stockholder intends to present a proposal at the 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund, which is anticipated to be held in September 1996, and desires to have the proposal included in the Fund's proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting, the stockholder must deliver the proposal to the offices of the Fund by March 28, 1996. By Order of the Board of Directors Michael J. Hennewinkel Secretary Dated: July 26, 1995 7