DTF Tax-Free Income Inc.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.      )

 

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DTF Tax-Free Income Inc.

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

  

 

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SEC 1913 (01-07)


DTF TAX-FREE INCOME INC.

200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500

Chicago, Illinois 60606

(800) 338-8214

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

MAY 7, 2009

The annual meeting of shareholders of DTF Tax-Free Income Fund Inc. will be held at the offices of Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co., 200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois, on Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 8:30 a.m., Central Daylight Time, to:

 

  1. Elect Francis E. Jeffries, Eileen A. Moran and David J. Vitale as directors by the holders of the Fund’s common stock and preferred stock voting together as a single class and Nancy Lampton as director by the holders of the Fund’s preferred stock voting as a separate class.

 

  2. Transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Shareholders of record at the close of business on April 1, 2009 are entitled to vote at the meeting.

For the Board of Directors,

LOGO

T. BROOKS BEITTEL, Secretary

April 8, 2009

SHAREHOLDERS, WE NEED YOUR PROXY VOTE IMMEDIATELY.

YOUR VOTE IS VITAL. THE MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS WILL HAVE TO BE ADJOURNED WITHOUT CONDUCTING ANY BUSINESS IF FEWER THAN A MAJORITY OF THE SHARES ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ARE REPRESENTED. IN THAT EVENT, THE FUND WOULD ADJOURN THE MEETING AND CONTINUE TO SOLICIT VOTES IN AN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A QUORUM. TO AVOID THE EXPENSE OF AND THE POSSIBLE DELAY CREATED BY SUCH A SOLICITATION, PLEASE RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD IMMEDIATELY. YOU AND ALL OTHER SHAREHOLDERS WILL BENEFIT FROM YOUR COOPERATION.


PROXY STATEMENT

The board of directors of DTF Tax-Free Income Inc. (the “Fund”) is soliciting proxies from the shareholders for use at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 7, 2009 and at any adjournment or postponement of that meeting. A proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted, either by voting in person at the meeting or by written notice to the Fund or delivery of a later-dated proxy.

Shareholders of the Fund of record at the close of business on April 1, 2009 are entitled to notice of and to participate in the meeting. The Fund had 8,507,456 shares of common stock and 1,300 shares of preferred stock outstanding on the record date. Each share of common or preferred stock outstanding on the record date entitles the holder thereof to one vote (with no cumulative voting permitted).

This proxy statement is first being mailed on or about April 8, 2009. The Fund will bear the cost of the annual meeting and this proxy solicitation.

The annual report to shareholders of the Fund, which includes financial statements of the Fund as of October 31, 2008, has previously been mailed to shareholders. The Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of such report to shareholders who request it by contacting Princeton Administrators, LLC, the administrator of the Fund, by phone at (800) 543-6217 or by mail at P.O. Box 9095, Princeton, NJ 08543-9095.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting To Be Held on Thursday, May 7, 2009: The proxy statement for the 2009 annual meeting, the forms of proxy cards and the Fund’s annual report for the year ended October 31, 2008 are available at http://www.dpimc.com/DTFproxy. You can obtain directions to the annual meeting by contacting the Fund’s administrator at (800) 543-6217 (toll-free) or at andrea.melia@blackrock.com.

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The board of directors of the Fund is responsible for the overall management and operations of the Fund. Directors are divided into three classes and are elected to serve staggered three-year terms.

The persons named in the enclosed proxies intend to vote in favor of the election of the persons named below (unless otherwise instructed). Each of the nominees has consented to serve as a director, if elected. In case any of the nominees should become unavailable for election for any unforeseen reason, the persons designated in the proxies will have the right to vote for a substitute.

The board of directors of the Fund, including all of the independent directors, unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of the nominees for director named below.

At the meeting, Nancy Lampton, Eileen A. Moran and David J. Vitale are to be considered for election to serve as Class II directors of the Fund until the annual meeting of shareholders in 2012 or until their respective successors are elected and qualified, and Francis E. Jeffries is to be considered for election to serve as a Class III director of the Fund until the annual meeting of shareholders in 2010 or until his successor is elected and qualified.

With respect to the election of Mr. Jeffries, Ms. Moran and Mr. Vitale, a plurality of votes cast at the meeting by the holders of common stock and preferred stock, voting together as a single class, is required for


election. With respect to the election of Ms. Lampton, a plurality of votes cast at the meeting by the holders of preferred stock, voting as a separate class, is required for election. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting, but will not affect the determination of whether a director candidate has received a plurality of votes cast.

Assuming each of the nominees is elected at the meeting, the terms of each class of the board of directors will expire at the annual meetings of shareholders in the years indicated in the table below:

 

 

Class I Directors   Class II Directors   Class III Directors
Geraldine M. McNamara – 2011   Eileen A. Moran – 2012   Philip R. McLoughlin – 2010
Christian H. Poindexter – 2011   Nancy Lampton – 2012   Francis E. Jeffries – 2010
Carl F. Pollard – 2011   David J. Vitale – 2012   Nathan I. Partain – 2010

Biographical Information

Set forth below are the names and certain biographical information about the directors and officers of the Fund. All of the directors are elected by the holders of the Fund’s common stock and preferred stock, voting as a single class, except for Mr. Pollard and Ms. Lampton, who are elected (or nominated to be elected) by the holders of the Fund’s preferred stock, voting as a separate class. Except for Mr. Partain, all of the directors are classified as independent directors because none of them are “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). Mr. Partain is an “interested person” of the Fund by reason of his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fund and President, Chief Investment Officer and an employee of Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. (the “Adviser”). The term “Fund Complex” refers to the Fund and all other investment companies advised by affiliates of the Adviser’s parent company, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (“Virtus”).

 

Name, Address and Age

 

Positions
Held with
Fund

 

Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
In Fund
Complex
Overseen
By Director
 

Other Directorships
Held by the Director

Nominees—Independent Directors

       

Francis E. Jeffries(1)(6)

c/o Duff & Phelps

Investment

Management Co.

200 South Wacker Drive

Suite 500

Chicago, IL 60606

Age: 78

  Director and
Chairman of the Board
  Nominee for a term expiring in 2010; Director since September 1991   Chairman of the Board of the Fund since September 1991; Chairman of the Board of Duff & Phelps Utility and Corporate Bond Trust Inc. (“DUC”) since November 1992 (President of the Fund and DUC, January 2000-February 2004); Chairman of the Board of DNP Select Income Fund Inc. (“DNP”) since May 2005 (Vice   3  

 

2


Name, Address and Age

 

Positions
Held with
Fund

 

Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
In Fund
Complex
Overseen
By Director
 

Other Directorships
Held by the Director

      Chairman, April 2004-May 2005); Chairman of the Board of Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. (“PXP”) November 1995-May 1997; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Duff & Phelps Corporation, June 1993-November 1995 (President and Chief Executive Officer, January 1992-June 1993); Chairman of the Board of Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. 1988-1993    

Nancy Lampton(3)(5)

c/o Duff & Phelps

Investment Management

Co.

200 South Wacker Drive

Suite 500

Chicago, IL 60606

Age: 66

  Director and Vice Chairman of the Board   Nominee for a term expiring in 2012; Director since May 2005   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hardscuffle Inc. (insurance holding company) since January 2000; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, American Life and Accident Insurance Company of Kentucky since 1971   3   Director, Constellation Energy Group, Inc. (public utility holding company); Advisory Board Member, Thorium Power, Inc. (designer of non-proliferative fuel for nuclear energy needs)

Eileen A. Moran(1)(2)(6)

c/o Duff & Phelps

Investment Management

Co.

200 South Wacker Drive

Suite 500

Chicago, IL 60606

Age: 54

  Director   Nominee for a term expiring in 2012; Director since August 1996   Senior Vice President for Strategic Services, PSEG Services Corporation since January 2008; President and Chief Executive Officer, PSEG Resources L.L.C. (investment company) since 1990   3  

 

3


Name, Address and Age

 

Positions
Held with
Fund

 

Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
In Fund
Complex
Overseen
By Director
 

Other Directorships
Held by the Director

David J. Vitale(1)(4)

c/o Duff & Phelps

Investment Management

Co.

200 South Wacker Drive

Suite 500

Chicago, IL 60606

Age: 62

  Director   Nominee for a term expiring in 2012; Director
since May 2005
  Private investor since December 2008; Senior Advisor to the CEO, Chicago Public Schools April 2007-December 2008; Chief Administrative Officer, Chicago Public Schools April 2003-April 2007; President and Chief Executive Officer, Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. March 2001-November 2002; Vice Chairman and Director, Bank One Corporation, 1998-1999; Vice Chairman and Director, First Chicago NBD Corporation, and President, The First National Bank of Chicago, 1995-1998; Vice Chairman, First Chicago Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago, 1993-1998 (Director, 1992-1998; Executive Vice President, 1986-1993)   3   Director, UAL Corporation (airline holding company), ISO New England Inc. (not for profit independent system operator of New England’s electricity supply), Ariel Capital Management, LLC, Ark Investment Corp. and Wheels, Inc. (automobile fleet management)

Continuing Directors—Independent Directors

     

Philip R. McLoughlin

c/o Duff & Phelps

Investment Management

Co.

200 South Wacker Drive

Suite 500

Chicago, IL 60606

Age: 62

  Director   Director since July 1996. Term expires 2010   Partner, CrossPond Partners, LLC (investment management consultant) since 2006; Consultant to PXP, 2002-2004; Chief Executive Officer of PXP, 1995-2002 (Chairman 1997-2002, Director 1995-2002); Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, The Phoenix Companies, Inc. 1989-2002   69   Director, Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (insurance holding company) and The World Trust Fund (investment trust)

 

4


Name, Address and Age

 

Positions
Held with
Fund

 

Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
In Fund
Complex
Overseen
By Director
 

Other Directorships
Held by the Director

Geraldine M. McNamara(3)(4)

c/o Duff & Phelps

Investment Management

Co.

200 South Wacker Drive

Suite 500

Chicago, IL 60606

Age: 57

  Director   Director since April 2003. Term expires 2011   Private investor since July 2006; Managing Director, U.S. Trust Company of New York 1982-July 2006   51  

Christian H. Poindexter (2)(4)

c/o Duff & Phelps

Investment Management

Co.

200 South Wacker Drive

Suite 500

Chicago, IL 60606

Age: 70

  Director  

Director since
May 2008.

Term expires
2011

  Retired Executive Committee Chairman, Constellation Energy Group, Inc. (public utility holding company) since March 2003 (Executive Committee Chairman, July 2002-March 2003; Chairman of the Board, April 1999-July 2002; Chief Executive Officer, April 1999-October 2001; President, April 1999-October 2000) Chairman, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, January 1993-July 2002 (Chief Executive Officer January 1993-July 2000; President, March 1998-October 2000; Director, 1988-2003)   3   Director, The Baltimore Life Insurance Company

Carl F. Pollard(2)(3)(5)

c/o Duff & Phelps

Investment Management

Co.

200 South Wacker Drive

Suite 500

Chicago, IL 60606

Age: 70

  Director   Director since May 2006. Term expires
2011
  Owner, Hermitage Farm L.L.C. (thoroughbred breeding) since January 1995; Chairman, Columbia Healthcare Corporation 1993-1994; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Galen   3   Chairman of the Board and Director, Churchill Downs Incorporated

 

5


Name, Address and Age

 

Positions
Held with
Fund

 

Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
In Fund
Complex
To Be
Overseen
By Director
 

Other Directorships
Held by the Nominee

      Health Care, Inc, March-August 1993, President and Chief Operating Officer, Humana Inc. 1991-1993 (previously Senior Executive Vice President, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer)    

Continuing Director—Interested Director

     

Nathan I. Partain

c/o Duff & Phelps

Investment Management

Co.

200 South Wacker Drive

Suite 500

Chicago, IL 60606

Age: 52

  Director, President and Chief Executive Officer   President and Chief Executive Officer since 2004; Director since May 2007.
Term expires 2010
  President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fund since February 2004; President and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser since April 2005 (Executive Vice President 1997-2005); President and Chief Executive Officer of DNP since February 2001 (Chief Investment Officer since January 1998; Executive Vice President, April 1998-February 2001; Senior Vice President January 1997-April 1998); President and Chief Executive Officer of DUC since February 2004; Director of Utility Research, Duff & Phelps Investment Research Co. 1989-1996 (Director of Equity Research, 1993-1996 and Director of Fixed Income Research, 1993)   3   Director, Otter Tail Corporation (manages diversified operations in the electric, plastics, manufacturing, health services, food ingredient processing and other business operations sectors)

 

6


 

(1)

Member of the executive committee of the Fund’s board of directors, which has authority, with certain exceptions, to exercise the powers of the board of directors between board meetings.

 

(2)

Member of the audit committee of the Fund’s board of directors, which is responsible for supervision of the Fund’s independent auditors, the annual review of the Fund’s investment advisory agreements and any other matters requiring the approval of the directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund pursuant to the 1940 Act.

 

(3)

Member of the nominating and governance committee of the Fund’s board of directors, which is responsible primarily for nominating directors and for monitoring corporate governance matters.

 

(4)

Member of the contracts committee of the Fund’s board of directors, which makes recommendations regarding the Fund’s contractual arrangements for investment management and administrative services, including the terms and conditions of such contracts.

 

(5)

Elected by the holders of the Fund’s preferred stock, voting as a separate class.

 

(6)

Ms. Moran’s current term expires in 2010, but she is resigning from that position and standing for election for a full three-year term at this meeting. Mr. Jeffries is standing for election for a one-year term in order to fill the unexpired portion of Ms. Moran’s current term.

The board of directors met five times during the Fund’s 2008 fiscal year. The audit committee met three times, the nominating and governance committee met twice and the contracts committee and executive committee did not meet. Each director attended at least 75% in the aggregate of the meetings of the board and of the committees on which he or she served (during the period that he or she served).

 

7


Officers of the Fund

The officers of the Fund are elected at the annual meeting of the board of directors of the Fund. The officers receive no compensation from the Fund, but are also officers of the Fund’s investment adviser or its affiliates and receive compensation in such capacities. Information about Nathan I. Partain, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fund, is provided above under the caption “Continuing Director—Interested Director.”

 

Name, Address
and Age

 

Position(s) Held with Fund and

Length of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

T. Brooks Beittel

Duff & Phelps

Investment Management Co.

200 South Wacker Drive

Suite 500

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Age: 58

  Secretary since 2005   Executive Vice President of the Adviser since 2008 (Senior Vice President 1993-2007, Vice President 1987-1993); Secretary and Senior Vice President of DNP since 1995 (Treasurer 1995-2002); Secretary of DUC since May 2005

Timothy M. Heaney

Virtus Investment

Advisers, Inc.

100 Pearl Street

Hartford, CT 06103

Age: 44

  Chief Investment Officer since 2004 (Vice President since 1997; Portfolio Manager 1997-2004)   Senior Vice President of the Adviser since 2004 (Vice President 1997-2004); Senior Managing Director, Fixed Income, Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. (f/k/a Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc.) since 2006 (Managing Director, Fixed Income 1997-2006; Director, Fixed Income Research 1996-1997; Investment Analyst, 1992-1996)

Lisa H. Leonard

Virtus Investment

Advisers, Inc.

100 Pearl Street

Hartford, CT 06103

Age: 45

  Vice President since 2006   Vice President of the Adviser since 2006; Director, Fixed Income Research, Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. (f/k/a Phoenix Investment Counsel, Inc.) since 1998 (Director, Investment Operations 1994-1998, Fixed Income Trader 1987-1993)

Alan M. Meder

Duff & Phelps

Investment Management Co. 200 South Wacker Drive

Suite 500

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Age: 49

  Treasurer since 2000; Principal Financial Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary since 2002   Senior Vice President of the Adviser since 1994; Treasurer of DUC since 2000; Principal Financial Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of DUC since 2002

Joyce B. Riegel

Duff & Phelps

Investment Management Co. 200 South Wacker Drive

Suite 500

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Age: 54

  Chief Compliance Officer since 2003   Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser since 2004 (Vice President and Compliance Officer 2002-2004); Chief Compliance Officer of DUC since 2003 and Chief Compliance Officer of DNP since 2004; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, Stein Roe Investment Counsel LLC 2001-2002

 

8


Ownership of Equity Securities

The following table provides certain information relating to the equity securities beneficially owned by each director as of April 1, 2009, (i) in the Fund and (ii) on an aggregate basis, in the family of investment companies consisting of DTF, DUC and DNP, in each case based on information provided to the Fund, including information furnished by the Fund’s service providers.

 

Name of Director or Nominee

  

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities
in the Fund

  

Aggregate Dollar Range
of Equity Securities in
All Funds Overseen or
to be Overseen by
Director or Nominee in
Family of Investment
Companies

Independent Directors

     

Francis E. Jeffries

   Over $100,000    Over $100,000

Nancy Lampton

   $10,001–$50,000    Over $100,000

Philip R. McLoughlin

   $1–$10,000    $1–$10,000

Geraldine M. McNamara

   $10,001–$50,000    $10,001–$50,000

Eileen A. Moran

   $50,001–$100,000    Over $100,000

Christian H. Poindexter

   $10,001–$50,000    Over $100,000

Carl F. Pollard

   Over $100,000    Over $100,000

David J. Vitale

   None    $10,001–$50,000

Interested Director

     

Nathan I. Partain

   None    $50,001–$100,000

Based on information provided to the Fund, including information furnished by the Fund’s service providers, as of April 1, 2009, none of the independent directors, or their immediate family members, owned any securities of the Adviser or any person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser.

Compensation of Directors

Each director who is an “affiliated person” of the Adviser (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) by reason of being a full-time employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives no compensation from the Fund for acting as a director. Each of the other directors is paid the following amounts for serving as a director: (i) an annual fee of $8,000; (ii) an additional $4,000 to any director who serves as a chairman of a committee of the Fund’s board of directors; (iii) an attendance fee of $1,500 per board meeting; (iv) an attendance fee of $1,500 per committee meeting; and (v) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such directors in connection with each of the foregoing meetings. Mr. Jeffries receives an additional $7,500 annual fee from the Fund for serving as chairman of the board of directors. The Fund does not have a pension or retirement plan applicable to directors or officers of the Fund. The table below summarizes the aggregate compensation paid to the directors with respect to 2008.

 

9


Compensation Table

 

Name of Director

   Aggregate
Compensation
from the
Fund (1)
   Total
Compensation
From Fund
and Fund
Complex
Paid to
Directors(2)

Independent Directors

     

Francis E. Jeffries

   $ 29,155    $ 191,110

Nancy Lampton

     23,000      117,000

Philip R. McLoughlin

     14,765      325,500

Geraldine M. McNamara

     20,765      225,000

Eileen A. Moran

     23,265      90,451

Christian H. Poindexter

     9,687      98,560

Carl F. Pollard

     21,655      119,000

David J. Vitale

     22,593      116,687

Interested Director

     

Nathan I. Partain

     0      0

 

(1)

The amounts shown are for the Fund’s fiscal year ended October 31, 2008.

 

(2)

The amounts shown reflect the total aggregate compensation received by each director from the Fund Complex for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008. The number of portfolios in the Fund Complex overseen by each director is set forth in the biographical information table above.

OTHER BUSINESS

Management is not aware of any other matters that will come before the meeting. If any other business should come before the meeting, however, your proxies, if signed and returned, will give discretionary authority to the persons designated therein to vote according to their best judgment.

OTHER INFORMATION

The Adviser. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. acts as investment adviser for the Fund. The address of the Adviser is 200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The Adviser (together with its predecessor) has been in the investment advisory business for more than 70 years and, as of December 31, 2008, had approximately $5.8 billion in client accounts under discretionary management. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Virtus. Virtus was formerly known as Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd. and was a subsidiary of The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (“Phoenix”) until December 31, 2008, when it was spun-off by Phoenix to its shareholders.

The Administrator. Princeton Administrators, LLC serves as the Fund’s administrator. It is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. Its principal address is 800 Scudders Mill Road, Section 1E, Plainsboro, NJ 08536.

 

10


Shareholders. The following table shows shares of stock of the Fund as to which each director, each nominee for director, and all directors and officers of the Fund as a group, had or shared power over voting or disposition at December 31, 2008, in each case based on information provided to the Fund, including information furnished by the Fund’s service providers. All shares shown are common stock. The directors and executive officers of the Fund owned no shares of the Fund’s preferred stock. Shares are held with sole power over voting and disposition except as noted. The shares of common stock of the Fund held by each of the persons listed below and by all directors and executive officers as a group represented less than 1% of the outstanding common stock of the Fund.

 

     Shares of
common stock

Francis E. Jeffries(1)

   59,640

Nancy Lampton

   1,000

Philip R. McLoughlin

   250

Geraldine M. McNamara

   0

Eileen A. Moran

   4,461

Nathan I. Partain(1)(2)

   4,729

Christian H. Poindexter

   4,086

Carl F. Pollard

   10,000

David J. Vitale

   0

Directors and officers as a group (14 persons)(1)(2)

   85,933

 

(1)

Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Partain disclaim beneficial ownership of 8,000 and 4,729, respectively, of the shares listed. The directors and officers in the aggregate disclaim beneficial ownership of 12,729 of the shares listed as owned by the directors and executive officers as a group.

 

(2)

Mr. Partain and Mr. Poindexter had shared power to vote and/or dispose of 4,729 and 4,086, respectively, of the shares listed. The directors and executive officers had shared power to vote and/or dispose of 10,315, in the aggregate, of the shares listed as owned by the directors and executive officers as a group.

At April 1, 2009, no person was known by the Fund to own beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund (as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”)).

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance. Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act requires the Fund’s officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Fund’s equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Fund with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on a review of the copies of Section 16(a) forms furnished to the Fund, or written representations that no Forms 5 were required, the Fund believes that during the most recent fiscal year all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were complied with, except that two newly appointed directors of the Adviser (Nancy G. Curtiss and J. Steven Neamtz) were late in filing their Form 3 statements with respect to the Fund. All such forms have now been filed.

Report of the Audit Committee. The board of directors of the Fund has adopted a written charter for the audit committees which sets forth the audit committees’ responsibilities. The audit committee charter of the Fund, as revised and restated in November 2003, is available on the Fund’s website at http://www.dpimc.com/funds/DTF and in print to any shareholder who requests it. Each of the members of the audit committee is not an “interested person”

 

11


of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act and is independent as defined in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. In connection with the audit of the audited financial statements for the Fund’s fiscal year ended October 31, 2008, the audit committee: (1) reviewed and discussed the Fund’s 2008 audited financial statements with management, (2) discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T, (3) received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and (4) discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence from the Fund and its management. Based on the foregoing reviews and discussions, the audit committee of the Fund recommended to the board of directors that the Fund’s audited financial statements be included in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for filing with the SEC.

The Audit Committee

Eileen A. Moran, Chairman

Christian H. Poindexter

Carl F. Pollard

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The 1940 Act requires that the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm (the “Independent Auditor”) be selected by the vote, cast in person, of a majority of the members of the board of directors who are not interested persons of the Fund. In addition, the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange vest each audit committee, in its capacity as a committee of the board of directors, with responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the Independent Auditor. In accordance with the foregoing provisions, the firm of Ernst & Young LLP has been selected as Independent Auditor to perform the audit of the financial books and records of the Fund for the Fund’s fiscal year ending October 31, 2009. A representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be present at the meeting of shareholders and will be available to respond to appropriate questions and have an opportunity to make a statement if the representative so desires.

Audit and Non-Audit Fees. The following table sets forth the aggregate audit and non-audit fees billed to the Fund for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the Independent Auditor.

 

     Fiscal year
ended
October 31, 2008
   Fiscal year
ended
October 31, 2007

Audit Fees(1)

   $ 46,000    $ 44,500

Audit-Related Fee(2)(6)

     3,300      5,200

Tax Fees(3)(6)

     4,800      4,600

All Other Fees(4)(6)

     0      0

Aggregate Non-Audit Fees(5)(6)

     8,100      9,800

 

(1)

Audit Fees are fees billed for professional services rendered by the Independent Auditor for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements and for services that are normally provided by the Independent Auditor in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

 

(2)

Audit-Related Fees are fees billed for assurance and related services by the Independent Auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Fund’s financial statements and are not reported under the caption “Audit Fees.” These services included: (i) services related to the performance of periodic

 

12


 

agreed-upon procedures relating to the Fund’s leverage, at a cost of $3,200 in 2007 and $3,300 in 2008; and (ii) in 2007 only, services related to the review of the Fund’s underlying documentation for open tax years in conjunction with FIN 48, at a cost of $2,000.

 

(3)

Tax Fees are fees billed for professional services rendered by the Independent Auditor for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. In both years shown in the table, such services consisted of preparation of the Fund’s annual federal and state income tax returns and excise tax returns.

 

(4)

All Other Fees are fees billed for products and services provided by the Independent Auditor, other than the services reported under the captions “Audit Fees,” “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees.”

 

(5)

Aggregate Non-Audit Fees are fees billed by the Independent Auditor for services rendered to the Fund, the Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund (collectively, the “Covered Entities”). During both years shown in the table, no portion of such fees related to services rendered by the Independent Auditor to the Adviser or any other Covered Entity.

 

(6)

No portion of these fees was approved by the audit committee after the beginning of the engagement pursuant to the waiver of the pre-approval requirement for certain de minimis non-audit services described in Section 10A of the 1934 Act and applicable regulations.

Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services. The audit committee of the board of directors of the Fund, jointly with the audit committees of the boards of directors of DNP and DUC, has adopted a Joint Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy (attached as Exhibit A to this proxy statement) to govern the provision by the Independent Auditor of the following services (collectively, “Covered Services”): (i) all engagements for audit and non-audit services to be provided by the Independent Auditor to the Fund and (ii) all engagements for non-audit services to be provided by the Independent Auditor to the Adviser or any other Covered Entity, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. With respect to non-audit services rendered by the Independent Auditor to the Adviser or any other Covered Entity that were not required to be pre-approved by the audit committees because they do not relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund, the audit committee has nonetheless considered whether the provision of such services is compatible with maintaining the independence of the Independent Auditor.

Nomination of Directors. The board of directors of the Fund has adopted a written charter for the nominating and governance committees which sets forth the committees’ responsibilities. The joint nominating and governance committee charter of the Fund, DNP and DUC, as adopted in February 2009, is available on the Fund’s website at http://www.dpimc.com/funds/DTF and in print to any shareholder who requests it. Each of the members of the Fund’s nominating and governance committee is not an “interested person” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act and is independent as defined in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.

The Fund’s nominating and governance committee will consider director candidates recommended by shareholders. In considering candidates submitted by shareholders, the committee will take into consideration the needs of the board of directors, the qualifications of the candidate and the interests of shareholders. The committee may also take into consideration the number of shares held by the recommending shareholder and the length of time that such shares have been held. In order for a candidate to be considered by the committee, a shareholder must submit the recommendation in writing and must include the following information:

 

   

The name of the shareholder and evidence of the person’s ownership of shares of the applicable Fund, including the number of shares owned and the length of time of ownership;

 

13


   

The name of the candidate, the candidate’s resume or a listing of his or her qualifications to be a director of the Fund and the person’s consent to be named as a director if selected by the committee and nominated by the board of directors; and

 

   

If requested by the committee, a completed and signed director questionnaire.

The shareholder recommendation and information described above must be sent to the Fund’s Corporate Secretary c/o Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co., 200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606 and must be received by the Corporate Secretary not less than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the Fund’s most recent annual meeting of shareholders or, if the meeting date has been changed by more than 30 days, a reasonable amount of time before the meeting.

The Fund’s nominating and governance committee believes that the minimum qualifications for serving as a director of the Fund are that a nominee demonstrate, by significant accomplishment in his or her field, an ability to make a meaningful contribution to the board of directors’ oversight of the business and affairs of the Fund and have an impeccable record and reputation for honest and ethical conduct in both his or her professional and personal activities. In addition, the committee examines a candidate’s specific experiences and skills, time availability in light of other commitments, potential conflicts of interest and independence from management and the Fund. The committee also seeks to have the board of directors represent a diversity of backgrounds and experience.

Shareholder Communications with the Board of Directors. The board of directors has considered the following procedures in order to facilitate communications between the board of directors and the shareholders of the Fund and other interested parties. Shareholders and other interested parties may contact the board of directors or any member of the board of directors by mail. Correspondence should be addressed to the “Board of Directors” or the individual board members with whom you wish to communicate by either name or title. All such correspondence should be sent c/o the Fund at 200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606. All communications received will be opened by the Fund’s officers or legal counsel for the sole purpose of determining whether the contents represent a message to one or more of the directors. The officer or the legal counsel will forward promptly to the addressee any contents that relate to the Fund and that are not in the nature of advertising, promotions of a product or service, or patently offensive material. In the case of communications to the board of directors or any committee or group of members of the board of directors, copies of the communication will be furnished to each director who is a member of the group or committee to which the envelope is addressed.

Director Attendance at Annual Meetings. It is the policy of the Fund that its directors, particularly those subject to election at that meeting, are encouraged to attend annual meetings of shareholders. The 2008 annual meeting of shareholders was attended by all of the members of the board of directors of the Fund who were directors at the time of such meeting.

Shareholder Proposals. Any shareholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy statement and form of proxy for the 2010 annual meeting of shareholders must be received by the Secretary of the Fund no later than December 9, 2009. Under the circumstances described in, and upon compliance with, Rule 14a-4(c) under the 1934 Act, the Fund may solicit proxies in connection with the 2010 annual meeting which confer discretionary authority to vote on any shareholder proposals of which the Secretary of the Fund does not receive notice by February 22, 2010.

 

14


Solicitation of Proxies. Proxies will be solicited by mail. Proxies may be solicited by Fund personnel personally or by telephone, telegraph or mail, but such persons will not be specially compensated for such services. The Fund will inquire of any record holder known to be a broker, dealer, bank or other nominee as to whether other persons are the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons. If so, the Fund will supply additional copies of solicitation materials for forwarding to beneficial owners, and will make reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket costs. In addition, the Fund may hire a proxy solicitor to assist the Fund in the solicitation of proxies at a cost of approximately $1,500.

General. A list of shareholders entitled to be present and vote at the annual meeting will be available at the offices of the Fund, 200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606, for inspection by any shareholder during regular business hours for ten days prior to the date of the meeting.

Failure of a quorum to be present at the annual meeting will necessitate adjournment and will give rise to additional expense.

All shareholders are requested to sign, date and mail proxies promptly in the return envelope provided.

April 8, 2009

 

15


Exhibit A

DNP SELECT INCOME FUND INC.

DTF TAX-FREE INCOME INC.

DUFF & PHELPS UTILITY AND CORPORATE BOND TRUST INC.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES PRE-APPROVAL POLICY

(as adopted on February 17, 2009)

I. Statement of Principles

Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”), the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of each of DNP Select Income Fund Inc., DTF Tax-Free Income Inc. and Duff & Phelps Utility and Corporate Bond Trust Inc. (each a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”)(1) is responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor. As part of this responsibility, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the audit and non-audit services performed by the independent auditor in order to assure that they do not impair the auditor’s independence from the Fund. To implement these provisions of the Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has issued rules specifying the types of services that an independent auditor may not provide to its audit client, as well as the Audit Committee’s administration of the engagement of the independent auditor. Accordingly, the Audit Committee has adopted this Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy (this “Policy”), which sets forth the procedures and the conditions pursuant to which services proposed to be performed by the independent auditor may be pre-approved.

The SEC’s rules establish two different approaches to pre-approving services, which the SEC considers to be equally valid. Proposed services either: may be pre-approved without consideration of specific case-by-case services by the Audit Committee (“general pre-approval”); or require the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee (“specific pre-approval”). The Audit Committee believes that the combination of these two approaches in this Policy will result in an effective and efficient procedure to pre-approve services performed by the independent auditor. As set forth in this Policy, unless a type of service has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee if it is to be provided by the independent auditor. Any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts will also require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.

For both types of pre-approval, the Audit Committee will consider whether such services are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence. The Audit Committee will also consider whether the independent auditor is best positioned to provide the most effective and efficient service, for reasons such as its familiarity with the Fund’s business, people, culture, accounting systems, risk profile and other factors, and whether the service might enhance the Fund’s ability to manage or control risk or improve audit quality. All such factors will be considered as a whole, and no one factor should necessarily be determinative.

 

 

(1)

This Joint Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy has been adopted by the Audit Committee of each Fund. Solely for the sake of clarity and simplicity, this Joint Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy has been drafted as if there is a single Fund, a single Audit Committee and a single Board. The terms “Audit Committee” and “Board” mean the Audit Committee and Board of each Fund, respectively, unless the context otherwise requires. The Audit Committee and the Board of each Fund, however, shall act separately and in the best interests of its respective Fund. Committee will add to or subtract from the list of general pre-approved services from time to time, based on subsequent determinations.

 

16


Under the SEC’s rules, the Audit Committee must pre-approve non-audit services provided not only to the Fund but also to the Fund’s investment adviser and other affiliated entities that provide ongoing services to the Fund if the independent accountant’s services to those affiliated entities have a direct impact on the Fund’s operations or financial reporting.

The Audit Committee is also mindful of the relationship between fees for audit and non-audit services in deciding whether to pre-approve any such services and may determine, for each fiscal year, the appropriate ratio between the total amount of fees for audit, audit-related and tax services (including any audit-related or tax service fees for affiliates that are subject to pre-approval) and the total amount of fees for certain permissible non-audit services classified as “all other” services (including any such services for affiliates that are subject to pre-approval).

The appendices to this Policy describe the audit, audit-related, tax and “all other” services that have the general pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The term of any general pre-approval is 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Audit Committee considers a different period and states otherwise. The Audit Committee will annually review and pre-approve the services that may be provided by the independent auditor without obtaining specific pre-approval from the Audit Committee.

The purpose of this Policy is to set forth the procedures by which the Audit Committee intends to fulfill its responsibilities. It does not delegate the Audit Committee’s responsibilities to pre-approve services performed by the independent auditor to management.

The independent auditor has reviewed this Policy and believes that implementation of this Policy will not adversely affect the auditor’s independence.

II. Delegation

As provided in the Act and the SEC’s rules, the Audit Committee may delegate either type of pre-approval authority to one or more of its members who are not “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The member to whom such authority is delegated must report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. In accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval to its Chairman, Eileen A. Moran, and to any successor Chairman who is not an “interested person.”

III. Audit Services

The annual audit services engagement terms and fees will be subject to the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee. Audit services include the annual financial statement audit and other procedures required to be performed by the independent auditor to be able to form an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements. These other procedures include information systems and procedural reviews and testing performed in order to understand and place reliance on the systems of internal control, and consultations relating to the audit. The Audit Committee will monitor the audit services engagement as necessary, but no less than on a semiannual basis, and will also approve, if necessary, any changes in terms, conditions and fees resulting from changes in audit scope, Fund structure or other items.

In addition to the annual audit services engagement approved by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to other audit services, which are those services that only the independent auditor

 

17


reasonably can provide. Other audit services may include statutory audits and services associated with SEC registration statements (on Forms N-1A, N-2, N-3, N-4, etc.), periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or other documents issued in connection with securities offerings.

The Audit Committee has pre-approved the audit services in Appendix A. All other audit services not listed in Appendix A must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

IV. Audit-Related Services

Audit-related services are assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Fund’s financial statements or that are traditionally performed by the independent auditor. Because the Audit Committee believes that the provision of audit-related services does not impair the independence of the auditor and is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to audit-related services. Audit-related services include, among others, accounting consultations related to accounting, financial reporting or disclosure matters not classified as “audit services”; assistance with understanding and implementing new accounting and financial reporting guidance from rulemaking authorities; agreed-upon or expanded audit procedures related to accounting and/or billing records required to respond to or comply with financial, accounting or regulatory reporting matters; and assistance with internal control reporting requirements under form N-SAR.

The Audit Committee has pre-approved the audit-related services in Appendix B. All other audit-related services not listed in Appendix B must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

V. Tax Services

The Audit Committee believes that the independent auditor can provide tax services to the Fund such as tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice without impairing the auditor’s independence, and the SEC has stated that the independent auditor may provide such services. Hence, the Audit Committee believes it may grant general pre-approval to those tax services that have historically been provided by the auditor, that the Audit Committee has reviewed and believes would not impair the independence of the auditor, and that are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence. The Audit Committee will not permit the retention of the independent auditor in connection with a transaction initially recommended by the independent auditor, the sole business purpose of which may be tax avoidance and the tax treatment of which may not be supported in the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations. The Audit Committee will consult with the Fund’s Administrator or outside counsel to determine that the tax planning and reporting positions are consistent with this Policy.

Pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Audit Committee has pre-approved the tax services in Appendix C. All tax services involving large and complex transactions not listed in Appendix C must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee, including: tax services proposed to be provided by the independent auditor to any executive officer or director of the Fund, in his or her individual capacity, where such services are paid for by the Fund.

VI. All Other Services

The Audit Committee believes, based on the SEC’s rules prohibiting the independent auditor from providing specific non-audit services, that other types of non-audit services are permitted. Accordingly, the Audit Committee believes it may grant general pre-approval to those permissible non-audit services classified as all other services that it believes are routine and recurring services, would not impair the independence of the auditor and are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.

 

18


The Audit Committee has pre-approved the “all other” services in Appendix D. Permissible “all other” services not listed in Appendix D must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

A list of the SEC’s prohibited non-audit services is attached to this Policy as Appendix E. The SEC’s rules and relevant guidance should be consulted to determine the precise definitions of these services and the applicability of exceptions to certain of the prohibitions.

VII. Pre-Approval Fee Levels or Budgeted Amounts

Pre-approval fee levels or budgeted amounts for all services to be provided by the independent auditor will be established annually by the Audit Committee. (Note that separate amounts may be specified for services to the Fund and for services to other affiliated entities that are subject to pre-approval.) Any proposed services exceeding these levels or amounts will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is mindful of the overall relationship of fees for audit and non-audit services in determining whether to pre-approve any such services. For each fiscal year, the Audit Committee may determine the appropriate ratio between the total amount of fees for audit, audit-related and tax services for the Fund (including any audit-related or tax services fees for affiliates that are subject to pre-approval), and the total amount of fees for services classified as “all other” services (including any such services for affiliates that are subject to pre-approval).

VIII. Procedures

All requests or applications for services to be provided by the independent auditor that do not require specific approval by the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Fund’s Administrator and must include a detailed description of the services to be rendered. The Administrator will determine whether such services are included within the list of services that have received the general pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will be informed on a timely basis of any such services rendered by the independent auditor.

Requests or applications to provide services that require specific approval by the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Audit Committee by both the independent auditor and the Fund’s Administrator, and must include a joint statement as to whether, in their view, the request or application is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.

The Audit Committee has designated the Fund’s Administrator to monitor the performance of all services provided by the independent auditor and to determine whether such services are in compliance with this Policy. The Administrator will report to the Audit Committee on a periodic basis on the results of its monitoring. Both the Administrator and any member of management will immediately report to the Chairman of the Audit Committee any breach of this Policy that comes to their attention.

IX. Additional Requirements

The Audit Committee has determined to take additional measures on an annual basis to meet its responsibility to oversee the work of the independent auditor and to assure the auditor’s independence from the Fund, such as reviewing a formal written statement from the independent auditor delineating all relationships between the independent auditor and the Fund, consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (“Independence Discussions with Audit Committees,” as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3600T), and discussing with the independent auditor its methods and procedures for ensuring independence.

 

19


Appendix A

Pre-Approved Audit Services for Fiscal Year 2009

Dated: February 17, 2009

 

     Range of Fees(1)

Service

   DNP     DTF     DUC     Affiliates(2)

1. Services required under generally accepted auditing standards to perform the audit of the annual financial statements of the Fund, including performance of tax qualification tests relating to the Fund’s regulated investment company status and issuance of an internal control letter for the Fund’s Form N-SAR

   (3 )   (3 )   (3 )   N/A

2. Reading of the Fund’s semi-annual financial statements

   (4 )   (4 )   (4 )   N/A

3. Services associated with SEC registration statements, periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or other documents issued in connection with securities offerings (e.g., comfort letters, consents), and assistance in responding to SEC comment letters

   (4 )   (4 )   (4 )   N/A

4. Consultations by the Fund’s management as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions or events and/or the actual or potential impact of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the SEC, FASB, or other regulatory or standard setting bodies (Note: Under SEC rules, some consultations may be “audit-related” services rather than “audit” services)

   (4 )   (4 )   (4 )   N/A

 

(1)

In addition to the fees shown in the table, the Audit Committee has pre-approved the reimbursement of the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the independent accountant in providing the pre-approved services.

 

(2)

These affiliates include the Fund’s investment adviser (excluding sub-advisers) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund. The Fund’s Audit Committee must pre-approve non-audit services provided not only to the Fund but also to the adviser and such other affiliated entities, where such entities provide ongoing services to the Fund and the independent accountant’s services to such entities have a direct impact on the Fund’s operations or financial reporting.

 

(3)

The fee for this pre-approved service is not shown in the table because the 2009 engagement letter has not yet been finalized. The comparable fee for this service for the fiscal year ended in 2008 was $64,000 for DNP, $46,000 for DTF and $48,000 for DUC. When the fee is determined in connection with the finalization and signing of the 2009 engagement letter, such fee will become part of this Pre-Approval Policy.

 

(4)

Fees for services designated with a (4) shall either be included in the fee approved for item 1 of this Appendix A or may be separately charged, provided that the aggregate separate charges for all services designated with a (4) in Appendices A and B may not exceed 10% of the fee approved for item 1 of this Appendix A.

 

20


Appendix B

Pre-Approved Audit-Related Services for Fiscal Year Ending in 2009

Dated: December 15, 2008 (DTF) and February 17, 2009 (DNP and DUC)

 

     Range of Fees(1)

Service

   DUC     DTF     DUC     Affiliates(2)

1. Issuance of annual agreed-upon procedures letters relating to the preferred stock or commercial paper, if any, issued by the Fund

   (3 )   (3 )   (3 )   N/A

2. Agreed-upon or expanded audit procedures related to accounting records required to respond to or comply with financial, accounting or regulatory reporting matters

   (4 )   (4 )   (4 )   N/A

3. Consultations by the Fund’s management as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions or events and/or the actual or potential impact of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the SEC, FASB, or other regulatory or standard-setting bodies (Note: Under SEC rules, some consultations may be “audit” services rather than “audit-related” services)

   (4 )   (4 )   (4 )   N/A

4. General assistance with implementation of the requirements of SEC rules or listing standards promulgated pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

   (4 )   (4 )   (4 )   N/A

 

(1)

In addition to the fees shown in the table, the Audit Committee has pre-approved the reimbursement of the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the independent accountant in providing the pre-approved services.

 

(2)

These affiliates include the Fund’s investment adviser (excluding sub-advisers) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund. The Fund’s Audit Committee must pre-approve non-audit services provided not only to the Fund but also to the adviser and such other affiliated entities, where such entities provide ongoing services to the Fund and the independent accountant’s services to such entities have a direct impact on the Fund’s operations or financial reporting.

 

(3)

The fee for this pre-approved service is not shown in the table because the 2009 engagement letter has not yet been finalized. The comparable fee for this service for the fiscal year ended in 2008 was $6,900 for DNP, $3,300 for DTF and $3,300 for DUC. When the fee is determined in connection with the finalization and signing of the 2009 engagement letter, such fee will become part of this Pre-Approval Policy.

 

(4)

Fees for services designated with a (4) shall either be included in the fee approved for item 1 of Appendix A or may be separately charged, provided that the aggregate separate charges for all services designated with a (4) in Appendices A and B may not exceed 10% of the fee approved for item 1 of Appendix A.

 

21


Appendix C

Pre-Approved Tax Services for Fiscal Year Ending in 2009

Dated: December 15, 2008 (DTF) and February 17, 2009 (DNP and DUC)

 

     Range of Fees(1)

Service

   DNP     DTF     DUC     Affiliates(2)

1. Preparation of federal and state tax returns, including excise tax returns, and review of required distributions to avoid excise tax

   (3 )   (3 )   (3 )   N/A

2. Consultations with the Fund’s management as to the tax treatment of transactions or events

   (4 )   (4 )   (4 )   N/A

3. Tax advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments

   (5 )   (5 )   (5 )   N/A

 

(1)

In addition to the fees shown in the table, the Audit Committee has pre-approved the reimbursement of the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the independent accountant in providing the pre-approved services.

 

(2)

These affiliates include the Fund’s investment adviser (excluding sub-advisers) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund. The Fund’s Audit Committee must pre-approve non-audit services provided not only to the Fund but also to the adviser and such other affiliated entities, where such entities provide ongoing services to the Fund and the independent accountant’s services to such entities have a direct impact on the Fund’s operations or financial reporting.

 

(3)

The fee for this pre-approved service is not shown in the table because the 2009 engagement letter has not yet been finalized. The comparable fee for this service for the fiscal year ended in 2008 was $15,400 for DNP, $4,800 for DTF and $4,800 for DUC. When the fee is determined in connection with the finalization and signing of the 2009 engagement letter, such fee will become part of this Pre-Approval Policy.

 

(4)

The fee for this pre-approved service is not shown in the table because the 2009 engagement letter has not yet been finalized. The comparable fee for this service for the fiscal year ended in 2008 was $3,500 for DNP and $0 for DTF and DUC. When the fee is determined in connection with the finalization and signing of the 2009 engagement letter, such fee will become part of this Pre-Approval Policy.

 

(5)

Fees for services designated with a (5) shall either be included in the fee approved for item 1 of this Appendix C or may be separately charged, provided that the aggregate separate charges for all services designated with a (5) in this Appendix C may not exceed 10% of the fee approved for item 1 of this Appendix C.

 

22


Appendix D

Pre-Approved “All Other” Services for Fiscal Year Ending in 2009

Dated: December 15, 2008 (DTF) and February 17, 2009 (DNP and DUC)

 

     Range of Fees(1)

Service

   DUC    DTF    DUC    Affiliates(2)

None

           

 

(1)

In addition to the fees shown in the table, the Audit Committee has pre-approved the reimbursement of the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the independent accountant in providing the pre-approved services.

 

(2)

These affiliates include the Fund’s investment adviser (excluding sub-advisers) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund. The Fund’s Audit Committee must pre-approve non-audit services provided not only to the Fund but also to the adviser and such other affiliated entities, where such entities provide ongoing services to the Fund and the independent accountant’s services to such entities have a direct impact on the Fund’s operations or financial reporting.

 

23


Appendix E

Prohibited Non-Audit Services

 

   

Bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the audit client

 

   

Financial information systems design and implementation

 

   

Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions or contribution-in-kind reports

 

   

Actuarial services

 

   

Internal audit outsourcing services

 

   

Management functions

 

   

Human resources

 

   

Broker-dealer, investment adviser or investment banking services

 

   

Legal services

 

   

Expert services unrelated to the audit

 

24


DTF TAX-FREE INCOME INC.

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 7, 2009

PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned holder of shares of Common Stock of DTF Tax-Free Income Inc. (the “Fund”), a Maryland corporation, hereby appoints T. Brooks Beittel and Alan M. Meder and each of them, with full power of substitution and revocation, as proxies to represent the undersigned at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held at the offices of Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co., 200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois, on May 7, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. (the “Annual Meeting”) and at any and all adjournments thereof, and thereat to vote all shares of Common Stock of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, with all powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, in accordance with the following instructions.

If more than one of the proxies, or their substitute, 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 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 SPECIFICATION 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 BEFORE THE MEETING.

(Continued and to be signed and dated on the reverse side.)

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF

DTF TAX-FREE INCOME INC.

May 7, 2009

NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL:

The Notice of Meeting, proxy statement and proxy card are available at www.dpimc.com/DTFproxy

Please sign, date and mail

your proxy card in the

envelope provided as soon

as possible.


i Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.i

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE x

 

1. Election of Directors:

      

2.  Upon any and all other business which may come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

  NOMINEES:       

¨   FOR ALL

       NOMINEES

 

¨   WITHHOLD

       AUTHORITY

       FORALL

       NOMINEES

 

¨   FOR ALL

       EXCEPT(See

       instructions below)

 

O Francis E. Jeffries

 

O Eileen A. Moran

 

O David J. Vitale

  

Class III Nominee

 

Class II Nominee

 

Class II Nominee

 

 

 
INSTRUCTIONS:   To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here: •    
         The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting to be held on May 7, 2009.

To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please not that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method.

  ¨  

 

Signature of Shareholder  

 

      Date:  

 

      Signature of Shareholder  

 

      Date:  

 

 

Note:   Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.


YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

UNLESS YOU ARE VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET,

PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD

PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.

 

  Your Proxy Vote is important!
  And now you can Vote your Proxy by using the PHONE or the INTERNET.
  It saves Money! Telephone and Internet voting saves postage costs. These savings can help minimize expenses.
  It saves Time! Telephone and Internet voting is instantaneous – 24 hours a day.
  It’s Easy! Just follow these simple steps:
  1. Read your proxy statement and have it at hand when voting.
  2. Call toll-free 1-866-241-6192 or go to website: https://vote.proxy-direct.com
  3. Follow the recorded or on-screen directions.
  4. Please do not mail your Proxy Card if you vote by phone or by Internet.

Please detach at perforation before mailing.

 

PROXY    DTF TAX-FREE INCOME INC.    PROXY
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 7, 2009
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned holders of shares of Preferred Stock of DTF Tax-Free Income Inc. (the “Fund”), a Maryland corporation, hereby appoints T. Brooks Beittel and Alan M. Meder and each of them, with full power of substitution and revocation, as proxies to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the offices of Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co., 200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois, on May 7, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. (the “Annual Meeting”) and at any and all adjournments thereof, and there at to vote all shares of Preferred Stock of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, with all powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, in accordance with the following instructions.
If more than one of the proxies, or their substitute, are present at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof, they jointly (or, of only one is present and voting, then that one) shall have 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 SPECIFICATION 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 BEFORE THE MEETING.

 

        VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: https://vote.proxy-direct.com
       

 

VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-866-241-6192

               
        Note: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
       

 

        Signature
       

 

       

Signature of joint owner, if any

       

 

       

Date


YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

UNLESS YOU ARE VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET,

PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD

PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.

Please detach at perforation before mailing.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example:  n

 

            FOR
1.   ELECTION OF DIRECTORS       FOR ALL           WITHHOLD ALL           ALL EXCEPT    
  Class II Nominees          
 

01.    Nancy Lampton

 

02.    Eileen A. Moran

 

03.    David J. Vitale

  ¨   ¨   ¨
  Class III Nominee          
 

01.    Francis E. Jeffries

      ¨   ¨   ¨
 

INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual

nominee(s), mark the box “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and write the

nominee’s number on the line provided below.

     
2.  

Upon any and all other business which may come before the Annual

Meeting or any adjournment thereof.