Policy Statement | General Proxy Voting Guidelines | Administration of Policy | Appendix
A | Appendix B
I. POLICY STATEMENT
Introduction
Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s (“MSIM”) policy and
procedures for voting proxies (“Policy”) with respect to securities
held in the accounts of clients applies to those MSIM entities that
provide discretionary investment management services and for which
an MSIM entity has authority to vote proxies. This Policy is
reviewed and updated as necessary to address new and evolving proxy voting issues and standards.
The MSIM entities covered by this Policy currently include the
following: Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc., Morgan Stanley
AIP GP LP, Morgan Stanley Investment
Management Inc., Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited,
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company, Morgan Stanley Asset &
Investment Trust Management Co., Limited, Morgan Stanley Investment
Management Private Limited, Van Kampen Asset Management, and Van Kampen Advisors Inc. (each an “MSIM Affiliate” and collectively
referred to as the “MSIM Affiliates” or as “we” below).
Each MSIM Affiliate will use its best efforts to vote proxies as
part of its authority to manage, acquire and dispose of account
assets. With respect to the MSIM registered
management investment companies (Van Kampen, Institutional and
Advisor Funds--collectively referred to herein as the “MSIM Funds”),
each MSIM Affiliate will vote
proxies under this Policy pursuant to authority granted under its
applicable investment advisory agreement or, in the absence of such
authority, as authorized by the Board of
Directors/Trustees of the MSIM Funds. An MSIM Affiliate will not
vote proxies if the “named fiduciary” for an ERISA account has
reserved the authority for itself, or in the case of an account not
governed by ERISA, the investment management or investment advisory
agreement does not authorize the MSIM Affiliate to vote proxies.
MSIM
Affiliates will vote proxies in a prudent and diligent manner and in
the best interests of clients, including beneficiaries of and
participants in a client’s benefit plan(s) for which the MSIM
Affiliates manage assets, consistent with the objective of
maximizing long-term investment returns (“Client Proxy Standard”).
In certain situations, a client or its fiduciary may provide an MSIM
Affiliate with a proxy voting policy. In these situations, the MSIM
Affiliate will comply with the client’s policy.
Proxy Research Services
RiskMetrics Group ISS Governance Services (“ISS”) and
Glass Lewis (together with other proxy research providers as we may
retain from time to time, the “Research Providers”) are independent
advisers that specialize in providing a variety of fiduciary-level
proxy-related services to institutional investment managers, plan
sponsors, custodians, consultants, and other institutional investors.
The services provided include in-depth research, global issuer analysis,
and voting recommendations. While we may review and utilize the recommendations of the Research Providers in making proxy voting
decisions, we are in no way obligated to follow such recommendations. In
addition to research, ISS provides vote execution, reporting, and
recordkeeping.
Voting Proxies for Certain Non-U.S. Companies
Voting proxies of companies located in some jurisdictions, particularly
emerging markets, may involve several problems that can restrict or
prevent the ability to vote such proxies or entail significant costs.
These problems include, but are not limited to: (i) proxy statements and
ballots being written in
a language other than English; (ii) untimely and/or inadequate notice of
shareholder meetings; (iii) restrictions on the ability of holders
outside the issuer’s jurisdiction of organization to exercise votes;
(iv) requirements to vote proxies in person; (v) the imposition of
restrictions on the sale of the securities for a period of time in
proximity to the shareholder meeting; and (vi) requirements to provide
local agents with power of
attorney to facilitate our voting instructions. As a result, we vote
clients’ non-U.S. proxies on a best efforts basis only, after weighing
the costs and benefits of voting such proxies, consistent with the
Client Proxy Standard. ISS has been retained to provide assistance in
connection with voting non U.S. proxies.
II. GENERAL PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
To promote consistency in voting proxies on behalf of its clients,
we follow this Policy (subject to any exception set forth herein),
including the guidelines set forth below. These guidelines address a
broad range of issues, and provide general voting parameters on
proposals that arise most frequently. However, details of specific
proposals vary, and
those details affect particular voting decisions, as do factors specific to a given company. Pursuant to the procedures set forth
herein, we may vote in a manner that is not in accordance with the
following general guidelines, provided the vote is approved by the
Proxy Review Committee (see Section III for description) and is
consistent with the Client Proxy Standard. Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP
will follow the procedures as described in Appendix
A.
We endeavor to integrate governance and proxy voting policy with
investment goals and to follow the Client Proxy Standard for each
client. At times, this may result in split
votes, for example when different clients have varying economic
interests in the outcome of a particular voting matter (such as a
case in which varied ownership interests in two companies involved
in a merger result in different stakes in the outcome). We also may
split votes at times based on differing views of portfolio managers,
but such a split vote
must be approved by the Proxy Review Committee.
We may abstain on matters for which disclosure is inadequate.
A. Routine Matters
We generally support routine management proposals. The
following are examples of routine management proposals:
-
Approval of financial statements and auditor
reports.
-
General updating/corrective amendments to the charter, articles of
association or bylaws.
-
Most proposals related to the conduct of the annual meeting, with
the following exceptions. We generally oppose proposals that
relate to “the transaction of such other business which may come
before the meeting,” and open-ended requests for adjournment. However, where management specifically states the reason for
requesting an adjournment and the requested adjournment would
facilitate passage of a proposal that would otherwise be supported
under this Policy (i.e. an uncontested corporate transaction), the
adjournment request will be supported.
B.
Board of Directors
-
Election of
Directors: In the absence of a proxy contest, we generally
support the board’s nominees for director except as follows:
-
We consider withholding support from or voting against
interested directors if the company’s board does not meet market standards for director independence, or if otherwise we believe
board independence is
insufficient. We refer to prevalent market standards as
promulgated by a stock exchange or other authority within a
given market (e.g., New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq rules for
most U.S. companies, and The Combined Code on Corporate
Governance in the United Kingdom). Thus, for an NYSE company
with no controlling shareholder, we would expect
that at a minimum a majority of directors should be independent
as defined by NYSE. Where we view market standards as
inadequate, we may withhold votes based on stronger independence
standards. Market standards notwithstanding, we generally do not
view long board tenure alone as a basis to classify a director
as non-independent, although lack of
board turnover and fresh perspective can be a negative factor in
voting on directors.
-
At a company with a shareholder or group that controls the
company by virtue of a majority economic interest in the
company, we have a reduced expectation for board independence, although we believe the presence of independent directors can be
helpful,
particularly in staffing the audit committee, and at times we
may withhold support from or vote against a nominee on the view
the board or its committees are not sufficiently independent.
-
We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee
if he or she is affiliated with a major shareholder that has
representation on a board disproportionate to its economic
interest.
-
Depending on market standards, we consider withholding support
from or voting against a nominee who is interested and who is
standing for election as a member of the company’s compensation,
nominating or audit committee.
-
We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee
if we believe a direct conflict exists between the interests of
the nominee and the public shareholders, including failure to
meet fiduciary standards of care and/or loyalty. We may oppose
directors where we conclude that actions of directors are unlawful, unethical or negligent. We consider opposing
individual board members or an entire slate if we believe the
board is entrenched and/or dealing inadequately with performance problems, and/or acting with insufficient independence between
the board and
management.
-
We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee
standing for election if the board has not taken action to
implement
generally accepted governance practices for which there is a
“bright line” test. For example, in the context of the U.S.
market, failure to eliminate a dead hand or slow hand poison
pills would be seen as a basis for opposing one or more
incumbent nominees.
-
In markets that encourage designated audit committee financial
experts, we consider voting against members of an audit
committee if no members are designated as such.
-
We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee
who has failed to attend at least 75% of board meetings within a given year without a reasonable excuse.
-
We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee
who serves on the board of directors of more than six companies (excluding investment companies). We also consider voting
against a director who otherwise appears to have too many commitments to serve adequately on the board of the company.
-
Board independence: We generally support U.S. shareholder
proposals requiring that a certain percentage (up to 66 ⅔%) of the
company’s board members be independent directors, and promoting
all independent audit, compensation and
nominating/governance committees.
-
Board diversity: We consider on a case-by-case basis
shareholder proposals urging diversity of board membership with
respect to social, religious or ethnic
group.
-
Majority voting: We generally support proposals requesting or requiring majority voting policies in election of
directors, so long as there is a carve-out for plurality voting in
the case of contested elections.
-
Proxy access: We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals to provide procedures for inclusion of
shareholder nominees in company proxy
statements.
-
Proposals to elect all directors annually: We generally support proposals to elect all directors annually at
public companies (to “declassify” the Board of Directors) where
such action is supported by the board, and otherwise consider the
issue on a case-by-case basis based in part on overall takeover defenses at a company.
-
Cumulative voting: We generally support proposals to
eliminate cumulative voting in the U.S. market context.
(Cumulative voting provides that shareholders
may concentrate their votes for one or a handful of candidates, a
system that can enable a minority bloc to place representation on
a board). U.S. proposals to
establish cumulative voting in the election of directors generally
will not be supported.
-
Separation of Chairman and CEO positions: We vote on
shareholder proposals to separate the Chairman and CEO positions
and/or to appoint a non-executive Chairman based in part on
prevailing practice in particular markets, since the context for such a practice varies. In many non-U.S. markets, we view
separation of the roles as a market standard practice, and support
division of the roles in that context.
-
Director retirement age: Proposals recommending set
director retirement ages or director term limits are voted on a
case-by-case basis.
-
Proposals to limit directors' liability and/or broaden
indemnification of directors: Generally, we will support
such proposals provided that the officers and directors are
eligible for indemnification and liability protection if they have
acted in good faith on company business and were found innocent of
any civil or criminal charges for duties performed on behalf of
the company.
C. Corporate
transactions and proxy fights
We examine proposals relating to mergers, acquisitions and other
special corporate transactions (i.e., takeovers, spin offs, sales of
assets, reorganizations, restructurings and recapitalizations) on a
case-by-case basis. However, proposals for mergers or other
significant transactions that are friendly and approved by the
Research Providers generally will be supported and in those
instances will not need to be reviewed by the Proxy Review
Committee, where there is no portfolio manager objection and where there is no material conflict of interest. We also analyze proxy
contests on a case-by-case basis.
D. Changes in legal
and capital structure
-
We
generally support the following:
-
Management and shareholder proposals aimed at eliminating
unequal voting rights, assuming fair economic treatment of
classes of shares we
hold.
-
Management proposals to increase the authorization of existing
classes of common stock (or securities convertible into common stock) if: (i) a clear business purpose is stated that we can
support and the number of shares
requested is reasonable in relation to the purpose for which
authorization is requested; and/or (ii) the authorization does
not exceed 100% of shares currently authorized and at least 30%
of the total new authorization will be
outstanding.
-
Management proposals to create a new class of preferred stock or
for issuances of preferred stock up to 50% of issued capital,
unless we have concerns about use of the authority for anti-takeover purposes.
-
Management proposals to authorize share repurchase plans, except
in some cases in which we believe there are insufficient protections against use of an authorization for anti-takeover
purposes.
-
Management proposals to reduce the number of authorized shares
of common or preferred stock, or to eliminate classes of
preferred stock.
-
Management proposals to effect stock splits.
-
Management proposals to effect reverse stock splits if
management proportionately reduces the authorized share amount
set forth in the
corporate charter. Reverse stock splits that do not adjust
proportionately to the authorized share amount generally will be
approved if the resulting increase in authorized shares
coincides with the proxy guidelines set forth above for common
stock increases.
-
Management proposals for higher dividend payouts.
-
We
generally oppose the following (notwithstanding management
support):
-
Proposals to add classes of stock that would substantially
dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders.
-
Proposals to increase the authorized or issued number of shares
of existing classes of stock that are unreasonably dilutive,
particularly if there are no preemptive rights for existing shareholders.
-
Proposals that authorize share issuance at a discount to market
rates, except where authority for such issuance is de minimis,
or if there is a special situation that we believe justifies
such authorization (as may be the case, for example, at a
company under severe stress and risk of bankruptcy).
-
Proposals relating to changes in capitalization by 100% or more.
We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals to
increase dividend payout ratios, in light of market practice and
perceived market weaknesses, as well as individual company payout
history and current circumstances. For example, currently we
perceive low payouts to shareholders as a concern at some Japanese
companies, but may deem a
low payout ratio as appropriate for a growth company making good use
of its cash, notwithstanding the broader market concern.
E.
Takeover Defenses and Shareholder Rights
-
Shareholder rights plans: We generally support proposals to require shareholder approval or ratification of
shareholder rights plans (poison pills). In voting on rights plans
or similar takeover defenses, we consider on a case-by-case basis
whether the company has demonstrated a need for the defense in the
context of promoting long-term share value; whether provisions of
the defense are in line with generally accepted governance
principles; and the specific context if the proposal is made in
the midst of a takeover bid or contest for control.
-
Supermajority voting requirements: We generally oppose
requirements for supermajority votes to amend the charter or
bylaws, unless the provisions protect minority shareholders where
there is a large shareholder. In line with this view, in the
absence of a large shareholder we support reasonable shareholder proposals to limit such supermajority voting requirements.
-
Shareholder rights to call meetings: We consider proposals to enhance shareholder rights to call meetings on a
case-by-case basis.
-
Reincorporation: We consider management and shareholder proposals to reincorporate to a different jurisdiction
on a case-by-case basis. We oppose such
proposals if we believe the main purpose is to take advantage of
laws or judicial precedents that reduce shareholder rights.
-
Anti-greenmail provisions: Proposals relating to the
adoption of anti-greenmail provisions will be supported, provided
that the proposal: (i) defines greenmail; (ii) prohibits buyback
offers to large block holders (holders of at least 1% of the
outstanding shares and in certain cases, a greater amount, as determined by the Proxy Review Committee) not made to all
shareholders or not approved by disinterested shareholders; and
(iii) contains no anti takeover measures or other provisions
restricting the rights of shareholders.
-
Bundled Proposals: We may consider opposing or abstaining on proposals if disparate issues are “bundled” and
presented for a single vote.
-
Auditors:
We generally support management proposals for selection or
ratification of independent auditors. However, we may consider
opposing such proposals with reference to incumbent audit firms if the company has suffered from serious accounting irregularities
and we believe rotation of the audit firm is appropriate, or if
fees paid to the auditor for non audit-related services are
excessive. Generally, to determine if non-audit fees are
excessive, a 50% test will be applied (i.e., non-audit-related
fees should be less than 50% of the total fees paid to the
auditor). We generally vote against proposals to indemnify auditors.
G.
Executive and Director Remuneration
-
We
generally support the following proposals:
-
Proposals for employee equity compensation plans and other
employee ownership plans, provided that our research does not
indicate that approval of the plan would be against shareholder
interest. Such approval may be against shareholder interest if
it authorizes excessive dilution and shareholder cost, particularly in the context of high usage (“run rate”) of equity
compensation in the recent past; or if there are objectionable
plan design and provisions.
-
Proposals relating to fees to outside directors, provided the
amounts are not excessive relative to other companies in the
country or industry, and provided that the structure is
appropriate within the market context. While stock-based compensation to outside directors is positive if moderate and
appropriately structured, we are wary of significant stock
option awards or other performance-based awards for outside directors, as well as provisions that could result in
significant forfeiture of value on a director’s
decision to resign from a board (such forfeiture can undercut
director independence).
-
Proposals for employee stock purchase plans that permit
discounts up to 15%, but only for grants that are part of a
broad-based employee plan, including all non-executive
employees.
-
Proposals for the establishment of employee retirement and
severance plans, provided that our research does not indicate
that approval of the plan would be against shareholder interest.
-
Shareholder proposals requiring shareholder approval of all
severance agreements will not be supported, but proposals that
require shareholder approval for agreements in excess of three
times the annual compensation (salary and bonus) generally will be supported. We generally oppose shareholder proposals that would
establish arbitrary caps on pay. We consider on a case-by-case
basis shareholder proposals that seek to limit Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs), but support such proposals
where we consider SERPs to be excessive.
-
Shareholder proposals advocating stronger and/or particular
pay-for-performance models will be evaluated on a case-by-case
basis, with consideration of the merits of the individual proposal
within the context of the particular company and its labor markets, and the company’s current and past practices. While we
generally support emphasis on long-term components of senior
executive pay and strong linkage of pay to performance, we
consider
whether a proposal may be overly prescriptive, and the impact of
the proposal, if implemented as written, on recruitment and
retention.
-
We consider shareholder proposals for U.K.-style advisory votes on
pay on a case-by-case basis.
-
We generally support proposals advocating reasonable senior
executive and director stock ownership guidelines and holding
requirements for shares gained in option exercises.
-
Management proposals effectively to re-price stock options are
considered on a case-by-case basis. Considerations include the
company’s reasons and
justifications for a re-pricing, the company’s competitive
position, whether senior executives and outside directors are
excluded, potential cost to shareholders, whether the re-pricing
or share exchange is on a value-for-value basis, and whether
vesting requirements are extended.
H. Social, Political and
Environmental Issues
We consider proposals relating to social, political and environmental issues on a case-by-case basis to determine whether
they will have a financial impact on shareholder value. However, we
generally vote against proposals requesting reports that are
duplicative, related to matters not material to the business, or
that would impose unnecessary or excessive costs. We may abstain
from voting on proposals that do not have a readily determinable
financial impact on shareholder value. We generally oppose proposals requiring adherence to workplace standards that are not required or
customary in market(s) to which the proposals relate.
I. Fund of Funds
Certain Funds advised by an MSIM Affiliate invest only in other MSIM
Funds. If an underlying fund has a shareholder meeting, in order to
avoid any potential conflict of interest, such proposals will be
voted in the same proportion as the
votes of the other shareholders of the underlying fund, unless otherwise determined by the Proxy Review Committee.
III. ADMINISTRATION OF POLICY
The MSIM Proxy Review Committee (the “Committee”) has overall
responsibility for creating and implementing the Policy, working
with an MSIM staff group (the “Corporate Governance Team”). The
Committee, which is appointed by MSIM’s Chief Investment Officer of
Global Equities (“CIO”), consists of senior investment professionals
who represent the different investment disciplines and geographic locations of the firm. Because proxy voting is an investment responsibility and impacts shareholder value, and because of their
knowledge of companies and markets, portfolio managers and other
members of investment staff play a key role in proxy voting,
although the Committee has final authority over proxy votes.
The Committee Chairperson is the head of the Corporate Governance
Team, and is responsible for identifying issues that require
Committee deliberation or ratification. The Corporate Governance
Team, working with advice of investment teams and the Committee, is
responsible for voting on routine items and on matters that can be
addressed in line with these Policy guidelines. The Corporate Governance Team has responsibility for voting case-by-case where
guidelines and precedent provide adequate guidance, and to refer
other case-by-case decisions to the Proxy Review Committee.
The Committee will periodically review and have the authority to
amend, as necessary, the Policy and establish and direct voting
positions consistent with the Client Proxy
Standard.
A. Committee
Procedures
The Committee will meet at least monthly to (among other matters)
address any outstanding issues relating to the Policy or its
implementation. The Corporate Governance Team will timely
communicate to ISS MSIM’s Policy (and any amendments and/or any
additional guidelines or procedures the Committee may adopt).
The Committee will meet on an ad hoc basis to (among other matters):
(1) authorize “split voting” (i.e., allowing certain shares of the
same issuer that are the subject of the same proxy solicitation and
held by one or more MSIM portfolios to be voted differently than
other shares) and/or “override voting” (i.e., voting all MSIM
portfolio shares in a manner contrary to the Policy); (2) review and
approve upcoming votes, as appropriate, for matters for which
specific direction has been provided in this Policy; and (3)
determine how to vote matters for which specific direction has not
been provided in this Policy.
Members of the Committee may take into account Research Providers’
recommendations and research as well as any other relevant
information they may request or receive, including portfolio manager
and/or analyst research, as applicable. Generally, proxies related
to securities held in accounts that are managed pursuant to
quantitative, index or
index-like strategies ("Index Strategies") will be voted in the same
manner as those held in actively managed accounts, unless economic
interests of the accounts differ. Because
accounts managed using Index Strategies are passively managed
accounts, research from portfolio managers and/or analysts related
to securities held in these accounts may not be available. If the
affected securities are held only in accounts that are managed
pursuant to Index Strategies, and the proxy relates to a matter that
is not described in this Policy, the Committee will consider all
available information from the Research Providers, and to the extent
that the holdings are significant, from the portfolio managers
and/or
analysts.
B. Material Conflicts of Interest
In addition to the procedures discussed above, if the Committee
determines that an issue raises a material conflict of interest, the
Committee will request a special committee to
review, and recommend a course of action with respect to, the conflict(s) in question (“Special Committee”).
The Special Committee shall be comprised of the Chairperson of the
Proxy Review Committee, the Chief Compliance Officer or his/her
designee, a senior portfolio manager (if practicable, one who is a
member of the Proxy Review Committee) designated by the Proxy Review Committee, and MSIM’s relevant Chief Investment Officer or his/her
designee, and any other persons deemed necessary by the Chairperson.
The Special Committee may request the assistance of MSIM’s General
Counsel or his/her designee who will have sole discretion to cast a
vote. In addition to the research provided by Research Providers,
the Special Committee may request analysis from MSIM Affiliate
investment professionals and outside sources to the extent it deems
appropriate.
C. Identification of
Material Conflicts of Interest
A potential material conflict of interest could exist in the following situations, among others:
-
The issuer soliciting the vote is a client of MSIM or an affiliate
of MSIM and the vote is on a material matter affecting the issuer.
-
The proxy relates to Morgan Stanley common stock or any other
security issuedby Morgan Stanley or its affiliates except if echo
voting is used, as with MSIM
Funds, as described herein.
-
Morgan Stanley has a material pecuniary interest in the matter
submitted for avote (e.g., acting as a financial advisor to a
party to a merger or acquisition for
which Morgan Stanley will be paid a success fee if completed).
If the Chairperson of the Committee determines that an issue raises
a potential material conflict of interest, depending on the facts
and circumstances, the Chairperson will address the issue as
follows:
-
If the matter relates to a topic that is discussed in this Policy,
the proposal will be voted as per the Policy.
-
If the matter is not discussed in this Policy or the Policy
indicates that the issue is to be decided case- by-case, the
proposal will be voted in a manner consistent with the Research
Providers, provided that all the Research Providers have the same recommendation, no portfolio manager objects to that vote, and the
vote is consistent with MSIM’s Client Proxy Standard.
-
If the Research Providers’ recommendations differ, the Chairperson
will refer the matter to the Committee to vote on the proposal. If
the Committee determines
that an issue raises a material conflict of interest, the Committee will request a Special Committee to review and recommend
a course of action, as described above. Notwithstanding the above,
the Chairperson of the Committee may request a Special Committee
to review a matter at any time as he/she deems necessary to
resolve a conflict.
D. Proxy Voting
Reporting
The Committee and the
Special Committee, or their designee(s), will document in writing
all of their decisions and actions, which documentation will be
maintained by the
Committee and the Special Committee, or their designee(s), for a
period of at least 6 years. To the extent these decisions relate to
a security held by an MSIM Fund, the Committee and Special
Committee, or their designee(s), will report their decisions to each
applicable Board of Trustees/Directors of those Funds at each
Board’s next regularly scheduled Board meeting. The report will
contain information concerning
decisions made by the Committee and Special Committee during the
most recently ended calendar quarter immediately preceding the Board
meeting.
The Corporate
Governance Team will timely communicate to applicable portfolio
managers and to ISS, decisions of the Committee and Special
Committee so that, among other things, ISS will vote proxies
consistent with their decisions.
MSIM will promptly
provide a copy of this Policy to any client requesting it. MSIM will
also, upon client request, promptly provide a report indicating how
each proxy was voted with respect to securities held in that
client’s account.
MSIM’s Legal
Department is responsible for filing an annual Form N-PX on behalf
of each MSIM Fund for which such filing is required, indicating how
all proxies were voted with respect to such Fund’s holdings.

Appendix A
The following procedures apply to accounts managed by Morgan Stanley
AIP GP LP (“AIP”).
Generally, AIP will follow the guidelines set forth in Section II of
MSIM’s Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures. To the extent that such
guidelines do not provide specific direction, or AIP determines that
consistent with the Client Proxy Standard, the guidelines should not
be followed, the Proxy Review Committee has delegated the voting
authority to vote securities held by accounts managed by AIP to the
Liquid Markets investment team and the Private Markets investment team of AIP. A summary of decisions made by the investment teams
will be made available to the Proxy Review
Committee for its information at the next scheduled meeting of the
Proxy Review Committee.
In certain cases, AIP may determine to abstain from determining (or
recommending) how a proxy should be voted (and therefore abstain
from voting such proxy or recommending how such proxy should be
voted), such as where the expected cost of giving due consideration
to the proxy does not justify the potential benefits to the affected account(s) that might result from adopting or rejecting (as the case
may be) the measure in question.
Waiver of Voting Rights
For regulatory reasons, AIP may either 1)
invest in a class of securities of an underlying fund (the “Fund”)
that does not provide for voting rights; or 2) waive 100% of its
voting rights with respect to the following:
- Any rights with respect to the removal or replacement of a
director, general partner, managing member or other person acting
in a similar capacity for or on
behalf of the Fund (each individually a “Designated Person,” and
collectively, the “Designated Persons”), which may include, but
are not limited to, voting on the
election or removal of a Designated Person in the event of such
Designated Person’s death, disability, insolvency, bankruptcy,
incapacity, or other event
requiring a vote of interest holders of the Fund to remove or
replace a Designated Person; and
- Any rights in connection with a determination to renew,
dissolve, liquidate, or otherwise terminate or continue the Fund,
which may include, but are not limited to, voting on the renewal,
dissolution, liquidation, termination or continuance of the Fund upon the occurrence of an event described in the Fund’s
organizational documents; provided, however, that, if the
Fund’s organizational documents require the consent of the Fund’s
general partner or manager, as the case may be, for any such
termination or continuation of the Fund to be effective, then AIP may exercise its voting rights with respect to such matter.

Appendix B
The following procedures apply to the portion of the
Van Kampen Dynamic Credit Opportunities Fund (“VK Fund”) sub advised
by Avenue Europe International Management, L.P. (“Avenue”). (The
portion of the VK Fund managed solely by Van Kampen Asset Management
will continue to be subject to MSIM’s Policy.)
-
Generally: With respect to Avenue’s
portion of the VK Fund, the Board of Trustees of the VK Fund will retain sole authority and responsibility for proxy voting. The
Adviser’s involvement in the voting process of Avenue’s portion of
the VK Fund is a purely administrative function, and serves to
execute and deliver the proxy voting decisions made by the VK Fund
Board in connection with the Avenue portion of the VK Fund, which
may, from time to time, include related administrative tasks such
as receiving proxies, following up on missing proxies, and collecting data related to proxies. As such, the Adviser shall not
be deemed to have voting power or shared voting power with Avenue
with respect to Avenue’s portion of the Fund.
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Voting Guidelines: All proxies, with
respect to Avenue’s portion of the VK Fund, will be considered by
the VK Fund Board or such subcommittee as the
VK Fund Board may designate from time to time for determination
and voting approval. The VK Board or its subcommittee will timely
communicate to MSIM’s Corporate Governance Group its proxy voting decisions, so that among other things the votes will be effected
consistent with the VK Board’s authority.
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Administration: The VK Board or its
subcommittee will meet on an adhoc basis as may be required from time to time to review proxies that require its review and
determination. The VK Board or its subcommittee will document in
writing all of its decisions and actions which will be maintained
by the VK Fund, or its designee(s), for a period of at least 6 years. If a subcommittee is designated, a summary of decisions
made by such subcommittee will be made
available to the full VK Board for its information at its next
scheduled respective meetings.