The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-PX

ANNUAL REPORT OF PROXY VOTING RECORD OF

REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number 811-05128

The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

1270 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 400 New York, NY 10020

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Rudolf Millisits, COO

Hottinger Capital Corp.

1270 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 400

New York, NY 10020

 

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 212-332-2760

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010

Form N-PX is to be used by a registered management investment company, other than a small business investment company registered on Form N-5 (§§ 239.24 and 274.5 of this chapter), to file reports with the Commission, not later than August 31 of each year, containing the registrant’s proxy voting record for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30, pursuant to section 30 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and rule 30b1-4 thereunder (17 CFR 270.30b1-4). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-PX in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-PX, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-PX unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

 

 

 

PROXY VOTING RECORD

FOR PERIOD JULY 1, 2009 TO JUNE 30, 2010

 

Ticker

  

ISIN

  

HOLDINGS

  

Date of
AGM
2009

  

Agenda

  

Proposed
by the
issuer (I)

or the
shareholder
(S)

  

Whether
the fund
cast its
vote on
the
matter

  

How
did
the
Fund
vote

  

Whether
the fund
cast its
vote for
or
against
Board

    BANKS            

CSGN

   CH0012138530   Credit Suisse Group   4/30/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Annual Report, parent company’s 2009 financial statements and Group’s 2009 consolidated financial statements and Group’s 2009 consolidated financial statements       YES  
        1.1 Presentation of the Annual Report, the parent company’s 2009 financial statements, the Group’s 2009 consolidated financial statements and the 2009 remuneration report       YES  
        1.2 Consultative vote on the 2009 remuneration report       YES  
        1.3 Approval of the Annual Report, the parent company’s 2009 financial statements and the Group’s 2009 consolidated financial statements       YES  
        2. Discharge of the acts of the Members of the Board of Directors and Executive Board       YES  
        3. Appropriation of retained earnings       YES  
        4. Amendment of the Articles of Association in line with the new Swiss Federal Intermediated Securities Act       YES  
        5. Elections       YES  
        5.1 Elections to the Board of Directors       YES  
        5.2 Election of the independent Auditors       YES  
        5.3 Election of the special Auditors       YES  
    BIOTECHNOLOGY            

ADXN

   CH0029850754   Addex Pharmaceuticals   4/29/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Approval of the Annual Report, the Annual Financial Statements and the Consolidated Financial Statements for the business year 2009       YES  
        2. Appropriation of the results       YES  
        3. Discharge to the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Management       YES  
        4. Elections to the Board of Directors       YES  
        5. Election of the Auditors       YES  
        6. Amendments to the Articles       NO  
            6.1 Creation and issue of 891 bons de jouissnace       YES  
                - adoption of a new Article 3a of the Articles of Association;        
                - amendment to the title of Section II of the Articles of Association;        
                - renumbering of the current Article 3a and Article 3b of the Articles of Association; and        
                - amendment to Article 25 of the Articles of Association        
            6.2 Amendment to the provision on conditional share capital (Article 3c of the Articles of Association)       YES  
            6.3 Adoption of the French text of the Articles of Association as the official version thereof (Article 29 of the Articles of Association       YES  
        7. Miscellaneous       YES  

    CHEMICALS            

SYNN

   CH0011037469   Syngenta AG   4/20/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Accept Financial Statements and statutory reports, including remuneration report       YES  
        2. Approve discharge of Board and senior management       YES  
        3. Approve allocation of income and dividends of CHF 6.00 per share       YES  
        4.1 Approve creation of CHF 945.999 pool of capital without preemptive rights       YES  
        4.2 Amend Articles       YES  
        5.0 Re-elect Directors       YES  
        6.0 Ratify Ernst Young AG as Auditors       YES  
    FOOD AND BEVERAGES            

LISN

   CH0010570759   Lindt Spruengli AG   4/22/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Authorization of the Annual Report, Annual Financial Statements of Chocolate Factory Lindt and Spruengli AG and Consolidated Annual Financial Statements 2009.       YES  
        2. Discharge of The Supervisory Board       YES  
        3. Appropriation of Net Profit of Chocolate Factory Lint and Spruegli AG.       YES  
        4. Elections       YES  
        4.1. Supervisory Board       YES  
        4.2 Independent Financial Auditor       YES  
        5. Amendments to the Statute       YES  
        5.1 Increase of the conditional nonvoting share capital to maximum 150000 bearer-participation certificates up to at most FR. 6769270 in total and relevant statutory amendments       YES  

NESN

   CH0038863350   Nestle SA   4/15/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Annual Report 2009       YES  
        1.1 Annual Report, financial statements of Nestle S.A. and consolidated financial statements of the Nestle Group for 2009; reports of the statutory Auditors       YES  
        1.2 Advisory vote on the Compensation Report 2009       YES  
        2. Release of the Board of Directors and of the Management       YES  
        3. Appropriation of profits resulting from the balance sheet of Nestle S.A.       YES  
        4. Elections       YES  
        4.1 Re-elections to the Board of Directors       YES  
        4.2 Elections to the Board of Directors       YES  
        4.3 Re-election of the statutory Auditors       YES  
        5. Capital reduction       YES  
        6. Other Amendments in the Articles of Association       YES  
    FINANCIAL SERVICES            

BAER

   CH0029758650   Julius Baer   6/30/2009     I   YES     FOR
        1. Conversion of legal reserves into free reserves       YES  
        2. Change of corporate purpose (amendment of Articles of Incorporation)       YES  
        3. Separation of Private Banking and Asset Management businesses       YES  
            3.1 Distribution of special dividend       YES  
            3.2 Change of name (amendment of Articles of Incorporation)       YES  
            3.3 New elections to the Board of Directors       YES  
        4. Termination of Share Buyback Programme 2008-2010 resolved in the year 2008       YES  

MOBN

   CH0011108872   Mobimo Holding AG   5/5/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Annual Report, Annual financial statements, consolidated financial statement of the group Mobimo Holding AG for 2009, report of the independent financial Auditor       YES  
        2. Appropriation of net profit of Mobimo Holding AG       YES  
        3. Discharge of the members of the administrative Board and management Board       YES  
        4. Increasing and extension of approved capital and increasing of conditional capital       ABSTAIN  
        5. Redemption of face value for the shareholders (capital decrease).       YES  
        6. Elections to the administrative Board       YES  
        7. Election of the independent financial Auditor       YES  

SPSN

   CH0009038389   Swiss Prime Site AG   4/21/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Authorization of the Annual Report, the Annual Financial Statements for Swiss Prime Site AG and the Consolidated Annual Financial Statements 2009 as well as the acceptance of the report of the Auditor       YES  
        2. Discharge of the responsible bodies for the financial year 2009       YES  
        3. Resolution on appropriation of net profit       YES  
        4. Elections       YES  
        4.1 Re-election to Supervisory Board       YES  
        4.2 Independent Financial Auditor       YES  
        5. Share Capital decrease       YES  
        6. Amendment to the statute due to the Swiss Intermediary-Held Securities Act       YES  

UBSN

   CH0024899483   UBS AG   4/14/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Annual Report, group and parent bank accounts for financial year 2009 reports of the statutory Auditors       YES  
        1.1 Approval of Annual Report and group and parent bank accounts       YES  
        1.2 Advisory vote on the compensation report 2009       YES  
        2. Appropriation of results       YES  
        3. Discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and the group executive Board       YES  
        3.1 Discharge for the financial year 2009       YES  
        3.2 Discharge for the financial year 2008       YES  
        3.3 Discharge for the financial year 2007       YES  
        4. Adaption of Articles of Association to new Swiss intermediary - held securities act approval of amendments of article 4 para. 2 and article 6 of the Articles of Association       YES  
        5. Elections       YES  
        5.1 Re-elections of members of the Board of Directors       YES  
        5.2 Election of a candidate for the Board of Directors       YES  
        5.3 Re-election of the Auditors, Ernst Young LTD., Basel       YES  
        6. Creation of conditional capital approval of Article 4A para. 4 of the Articles of Association       YES  

ZURN

   CH0011075394   Zurich Financial Services AG   3/30/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Reporting on financial year 2009       YES  
        1.1 Authorization of the Annual report and Annual financial statements for the company and group 2009       YES  
        1.2 Consultative ballot on the remunerative system pursuant to the report on honoraria and compensation       YES  
        2. Appropriation of the net profit 2009 of Zurich Financial Services AG       YES  
        3. Discharge of the members of the supervisory Board and company management.       YES  
        4. Capital decrease and authorization of the statutory amendments       YES  
        5. Creation of an additional authorized share capital and authorization of the statutory amendments       YES  
        6. Creation of an additional conditional share capital and authorization of the statutory amendments       YES  
        7. Further statutory amendments       YES  
        8. Elections and re-elections       YES  
        8.1 Supervisory Board       YES  
        8.2 Re-election of the independent financial Auditor       YES  

PSPN

   CH0018294154   PSP Swiss Property   3/30/2010     I   NO    
        1. Approval of the annual activity report, the financial statements and the consolidated financial statements 2009        
        2. Appropriation of retained earnings        
        3. Discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Board        
        4. Proposal of the reduction of share capital        
        5. Proposed amendment to the Articles of Association        
        6. Re-election of the Board of Directors        
        7. Re-election of the Auditors        

SGSN

   CH0002497458   SGS SA   3/22/2010     I   NO    
        1. Annual Report, accounts of SGS SA and the SGS Group: reports of the Auditors        
        2. 2009 Remuneration report        
        3. Release of the Board of Directors and of the Management        
        4. Decision on the appropriation of profits resulting from the balance sheet of SGS SA        
        5. Election to the Board of Directors        
        6. Election of Auditors        
    CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS            

BEAN

   CH0001503199   Belimo Holdings   3/29/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Authorisation of the company report with the Annual financial statements, Annual Report and consolidated Annual financial statements for 2009.       YES  
        2. Resolution on appropriation of net profit       YES  
        3. Discharge of the Supervisory Board       YES  
        4. Amendments to the statute       YES  
        5. Elections to the Supervisory Board       YES  
        6. Election of the independent financial Auditor       YES  

FORN

   CH0003541510   Forbo   4/23/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Annual Report, Annual Accounts and Group Accounts for the Financial Year 2009 and receipt of the reports of the Statutory Auditor       YES  
        2. Discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and the members of the Executive Board       YES  
        3. Appropriation of Balance Sheet Profit       YES  

HOLN

   CH0012214059   Holcim Ltd   5/6/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Annual Report; Annual consolidated financial statements of the Group and Annual financial statements of Holcim Ltd; Auditor’s reports       YES  
        1.1 Approval of the Annual Report, Annual consolidated financial statements of the Group and Annual financial statements of Holcim Ltd.       YES  
        1.2 Advisory vote on remuneration report       YES  
        2. Discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and the persons entrusted with management       YES  
        3. Appropriation of retained earnings; determination of the dividend and the time of payment       YES  
        4. Elections       YES  
        4.1 Re-election of members of the Board of Directors       YES  
        4.2 Election to the Board of Directors       YES  
        4.3 Election of the Auditors       YES  
        5. Amendment of Article 4 of the Articles of Incorporation       YES  

SIK

   CH0000587979   Sika AG   4/20/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Authorization of the Annual Report, Annual Financial Statements and Consolidated Annual Financial Statements 2009       YES  
        2. Appropriation of net profit of Sika AG       YES  
        3. Discharge of the Supervisory Board       YES  
        4. Amendments to the stature       YES  
        5. Elections       YES  
        5.1 Election to validate membership to the Supervisory Board       YES  
        5.2 Election to the Supervisory Board       YES  
    INDUSTRIAL GOODS & SERVICES            

SUN

   CH0038388911   Sulzer Ltd   8/18/2009     I   YES     FOR
        1. Election of two new Board members       YES  
       

The Board of Directors proposes to elect:

        
       

Jurgen Dormann for a 3-year term and

        
       

Dr. Klaus Sturany for a 2-year term

        
       

as new Board members.

        
        2. De-elections       NO  
        Everest Beteilgungs GMBH in Liquidation proposes to de-elect:        
        Louis R. Hughes and Thor Hakstad.        

ABBN

   CH0012221716   ABB Ltd   4/26/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Reporting for fiscal 2009, Annual Report and consolidated financial statements, Auditors reports       YES  
        2.1 Approval of the Annual Report, the consolidated financial statements, and the Annual financial statements for 2009       YES  
        2.2 Consultative vote on the 2009 remuneration report       YES  
        3. Discharge of the Board of Directors and the persons entrusted with management       YES  
        4. Appropriation of available earnings and release of legal reserves       YES  
        5. Capital reduction through cancellation of shares       YES  
        6. Capital reduction through nominal value repayment       YES  
        7. Amendment to the Articles of incorporation related to the capital reduction       YES  
        8. General amendments to the Articles of incorporation       YES  
        8.1 Amendment to article 8       YES  
        8.2 Deletion of Articles 32 and 33       YES  
        9.1 Re-elections to the Board of Directors       YES  
        10. Election of the Auditors - Ernst Young AG be elected as the auditors for fiscal 2010       YES  
    INSURANCE            

RUKN

   CH0012332372   Swiss Reinsurance   4/7/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Annual Report, Annual and consolidated financial statements for the 2009 financial year       YES  
        1.1 Consultative vote on the compensation report       YES  
        1.2 Approval of the Annual Report, Annual and consolidated financial statements for the 2009 financial year       YES  
        2. Allocation of disposable profit       YES  
        3. Discharge of the members of the Board of Directors       YES  
        4. Creation of conditional capital for employee participation       YES  
        5. Other amendments of the Articles of Association       YES  
        5.1 Form of the shares       YES  
        5.2 Special Auditor       YES  
        6. Elections       YES  
        6.1 Board of Directors       YES  
        6.2 Re-election of the Auditor       YES  
        6.3 Election of Special Auditor       YES  

ADEN

   CH0012138605   Adecco   5/11/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Annual Report 2009       YES  
        1.1 Approval of the Annual Report 2009       YES  
        1.2 Advisory vote on the Remuneration Report 2009 including the principles of the compensation model for 2010       YES  
        2. Appropriation of retained earnings       YES  
        3. Granting of discharge to the members of the Board of Directors       YES  
        4. Election of the Board of Directors       YES  
        5. Re-election of the Auditors        

IFCN

   CH0011029946   Inficon Holding   5/10/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Approval of Annual Report, Annual Financial Statements of INFICON Holding AG and Consolidated Financial Statements of INFICON Group for the 2009 fiscal year       YES  
        2. Discharge of the Members of the Board of Directors       YES  
        3. Allocation of the Available Earnings of INFICON Holding AG       YES  
        4. Election and Re-Elections to the Board of Directors for a period of one year       YES  
        5. Appointment of Auditors       YES  

KNIN

   CH0025238863   Kuehne & Nagel International AG   5/18/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Approval of the Annual Report, Annual financial statement and the consolidated financial statement for business year 2009       YES  
        2. Resolution on the distribution of the balance sheet profit       YES  
        3. Resolution on the discharge of the administrative Board and the management Board       YES  
        4. Elections to the administrative Board       YES  
        5. Appointment of the Auditor       YES  
        6. Approved capital       YES  

SWTQ

   CH0010754924   Schweiter Technologies AG   5/12/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Annual Report 2009       YES  
        2. Authorization of the Annual Report, the Annual financial statements 2009 and the consolidated Annual financial statements 2009 as well as notice of the reports of the independent financial Auditor.       YES  
        3. Discharge of the Supervisory Board       YES  
        4. Appropriation of net profit       YES  
        5. Renewal of the authorized capital       YES  

RUKN

   CH0012332372   Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd   4/7/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Annual Report, Annual and Consolidated Financial Statements for the 2009 Financial Year       YES  
        2. Allocation of disposable profit       YES  
        3. Discharge of the members of the Board of Directors       YES  
        4. Creation of conditional capital for employee participation       YES  
        5. Other amendments of the Articles of Association       YES  
        6. Elections       YES  
        6.1 Board of Directors       YES  
        6.2 Re-election of the Auditor       YES  
        6.3 Election of special Auditor       YES  
    PERSONAL AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS            

UHR

   CH0012255151   Swatch Group   5/12/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. 2009 Annual Report       YES  
        2. Discharge of the Board of Directors       YES  
        3. Resolution for the Appropriation of the Net Income       YES  
        4. Election to the Board of Directors       YES  
        5. Nomination of the Statutory Auditors       YES  
        6. Adaptation of article 8 paragraph 4 of the Statutes       YES  

    PHARMACEUTICALS            

NOVN

   CH0012005267   Novartis   2/26/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Approval of the Annual Report, the Financial Statements of Novartis AG and the Group Consolidated Financial Statements for the Business Year 2009       YES  
        2. Discharge from Liability of the Members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee       YES  
        3. Appropriation of Available Earnings of Novartis AG as per Balance Sheet and Declaration of Dividend       YES  
        4. Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation       YES  
        4.1 Implementation of the Book Entry Securities Act       YES  
        4.2 Introduction of a Consultative Vote on the Compensation System       YES  
        5. Re-elections to the Board of Directors       YES  
        6. Appointment of the Auditor       YES  
    RETAIL            

DUFN

   CH0023405456   Dufry   5/11/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Approval of the Annual Report, the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the Annual Financial Statements for 2009       YES  
        2. Appropriation of Available Earnings       YES  
        3. Discharge of the Board of Directors and the Persons entrusted with Management       YES  
        4. Amendment to the Article 13 para. 1 of the Articles of Incorporation       YES  
        5. Re-Elections and Elections to the Board of Directors       YES  
        6. Election of the Auditors Ernst & Young Ltd       YES  

GALN

   CH0015536466   Galenica AG   5/6/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Annual Report, Annual Financial Statement 2009 of Galencia Ltd. And Financial Statements of the Galenica Group for 2009; Reports of the Auditors       YES  
        2. Compensation report       YES  
        3. Discharge of the Board of Directors and the Corporate Executive Committee       YES  
        4. Allocation of Available Earnings for 2009       YES  
        5. Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation       YES  
        6. Elections       YES  
        6.1 Re-election to the Board of Directors       YES  
        6.2 Election of New Members to the Board of Directors       YES  
        6.3 Auditors       YES  
    TECHNOLOGY            

EGL

   CH0003288229   Elektrizitaets Gesellschaft Laufenburg   1/28/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Annual Report, Group Annual Financial Statements and Annual Financial Statements 2008/09.       YES  
        2. Discharge of the members of the Supervisory Board.       YES  
        3. Appropriation of net profit.       YES  
        4. Elections       YES  
        4.1 By-elections to the Supervisory Board       YES  
        4.2 Independent Financial Auditor       YES  

KUD

   CH0012268360   Kudelski   5/4/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Reporting for fiscal 2009, Annual Report and consolidated financial statements, Auditors reports       YES  
        2. Compensation report       YES  
        3. Discharge of the Board of Directors and the Administration Board       YES  
        4. Election to the Administration Board       YES  
        5. Election of the Auditor       YES  
        6. Amendment to the Article 7       YES  
        7. Other modification to statues       YES  

TEMN

   CH0012453913   Temenos   6/4/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Accept Financial statements and statutory reports, including remuneration report       YES  
        2. Approve allocation of income and omission of dividends       YES  
        3. Approve discharge of Board and senior management       YES  
        4. Approve creation of CHF 129.2 million pool of capital without pre-emptive rights       NO  
        5. Amend conditional capital       YES  
        6. Re-election of Directors       YES  
        7. Ratify Price Waterhouse Coopers as Auditors       YES  
    UTILITY SUPPLIERS            

HREN

   CH0025607331   Romande Energie Holding SA   5/21/2010     I   YES     FOR
        1. Report from the Board of management and accounts 2009       YES  
        2. Discharge of Board of management       YES  
        3. Decision on net employment earnings       ABSTAIN  
        4. Amendment of the Articles of Association and related decisions       ABSTAIN  
        4.1 Adoption of the federal law on intermediate shards which came into force on 01 Jan 2010       YES  
        4.2 renewal of the capital until 21 May 2012       ABSTAIN  
        4.3 inputs in kind       ABSTAIN  
        4.4 Adoption of the terminology of Articles 9, 15 and 23       ABSTAIN  
        5. Statutory appointments       ABSTAIN  

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(Registrant)  

The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc.

  
By (Signature and Title)*  

/S/    RUDOLF MILLISITS         

  
 

Rudolf Millisits,

Chief Executive Officer

  

Date August 24, 2010

 

* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.