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REGULATION X-14. SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

Rule X-14A-1. Definitions.

Unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used in this regulation have the same meanings as in the Act or elsewhere in the General Rules and Regulations thereunder. In addition, the following definitions apply unless the context otherwise requires:

Associate. The term "associate" used to indicate a relationship with any person, means (1) any corporation or organization (other than the issuer or a majority owned subsidiary of the issuer) of which such person is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of 10 percent or more of any class of equity securities, (2) any trust or other estate in which such person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity, and (3) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same home as such person or who is a director or officer of the issuer or any of its parents or subsidiaries.

Issuer. The term "issuer" means the issuer of the securities in respect of which a proxy is solicited.

Last fiscal year. The term "last fiscal year" of the issuer means the last fiscal year of the issuer ending prior to the date of the meeting for which proxies are to be solicited.

Proxy. The term "proxy" includes every proxy, consent or authorization within the meaning of Section 14 (a) of the Act. The consent or authorization may take the form of failure to object or to dissent.

Proxy statement. The term "proxy statement" means the statement required by Rule X-14A-3 (a), whether or not contained in a single document.

Solicitation. The term "solicitation" includes (1) any request for proxy whether or not accompanied by or included in a form of proxy, (2) any request to execute or not to execute, or to revoke, a proxy, or (3) the furnishing of a form of proxy to security holders under circumstances reasonably calculated to result in the procurement of a proxy. The term does not apply, however, to the furnishing of a form of proxy to a security holder upon the unsolicited request of such security holder, the performance by the issuer of acts required by Rule X-14A-7, or the performance by any person of ministerial acts on behalf of a person soliciting a proxy.

Rule X-14A-2. Solicitations to Which Rules Apply.

The rules contained in this regulation apply to every solicitation of a proxy with respect to securities listed and registered on a national securities exchange, except the following:

(a) Any solicitation made otherwise than on behalf of the management of the issuer where the total number of persons solicited is not more than ten.

(b) Any solicitation by a person in respect to securities carried in his name or in the name of his nominee (otherwise than as voting trustee) or held in his custody, if such person

(1) receives no commission or remuneration for such solicitation, directly or indirectly, other than reimbursement of reasonable expenses

(2) furnishes promptly to the person solicited a copy of all soliciting material with respect to the same subject matter or meeting received from all persons who shall furnish copies thereof for such purpose and who shall, if requested, defray the reasonable expenses to be incurred in forwarding such material, and

(3) in addition, does no more than impartially instruct the person solicited to forward a proxy to the person, if any, to whom the person solicited desires to give a proxy, or impartially request from the person solicited instructions as to the authority to be conferred by the proxy and state that a proxy will be given if no instructions are received by a certain date.

(c) Any solicitation by a person in respect of securities of which he is the beneficial owner.

(d) Any solicitation involved in the offer or sale of a certificate of deposit or other security registered under the Securities Act of 1933. (e) Any solicitation with respect to a plan of reorganization under Chapter X of the Bankruptcy Act, as amended, if made after the entry of an order approving such plan pursuant to Section 174 of said Act and after, or concurrently with, the transmittal of information concerning such plan as required by Section 175 of said Act.

(f) Any solicitation which is subject to Rule U-62 under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

(g) Any solicitation through the medium of a newspaper advertisement which informs security holders of a source from which they may obtain copies of a proxy statement, form of proxy and any other soliciting material and does no more than (1) name the issuer, (2) state the reason for the advertisement, and (3) identify the proposal or proposals to be acted upon by security holders.

Rule X-14A-3. Information To Be Furnished Security Holders.

(a) No solicitation subject to this regulation shall be made unless each person solicited is concurrently furnished or has previously been furnished with a written proxy statement containing the information specified in Schedule 14A.

(b) If the solicitation is made on behalf of the management of the issuer and relates to an annual meeting of security holders at which directors are to be elected, each proxy statement furnished pursuant to paragraph (a) shall be accompanied or preceded by an annual report to such security holders containing such financial statements for the last fiscal year as will, in the opinion of the management, adequately reflect the financial position and operations of the issuer. Such annual report, including financial statements, may be in any form deemed suitable by the management. This paragraph shall not apply, however, to solicitations made on behalf of the management before the financial statements are available if solicitation is being made at the time in opposition to the management and if the management's proxy statement includes an undertaking in bold-face type to furnish such annual report to all persons being solicited, at least twenty days before the date of the meeting.

(c) Four copies of each annual report sent to security holders pursuant to this rule shall be mailed to the Commission, solely for its information, not later than the date on which such report is first sent or given to security holders or the date on which preliminary copies of solicitation material are filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule X-14A-6 (a), which ever date is later. The annual report is not deemed to be "soliciting material" or to be "filed" with the Commission or otherwise subject to this regulation or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Act, except to the extent that the issuer specifically requests that it be treated as a part of the proxy soliciting material or incorporates it in the proxy statement by reference.

Rule X-14A-4. Requirements as to Proxy.

(a) The form of proxy (1) shall indicate in bold face type whether or not the proxy is solicited on behalf of the management, (2) shall provide a specifically designated blank space for dating the proxy and (3) shall identify clearly and impartially each matter or group of related matters intended to be acted upon, whether proposed by the management or by security holders. No reference need be made, however, to proposals as to which discretionary authority is conferred pursuant to paragraph (c).

(b) Means shall be provided in the form of proxy whereby the person solicited is afforded an opportunity to specify by ballot a choice

between approval or disapproval of each matter or group of related matters referred to therein as intended to be acted upon, other than elections to office. A proxy may confer discretionary authority with respect to matters as to which a choice is not so specified provided the form of proxy states in bold face type how it is intended to vote the shares represented by the proxy in each such case.

(c) A proxy may confer discretionary authority with respect to other matters which may come before the meeting, provided the persons on whose behalf the solicitation is made are not aware a reasonable time prior to the time the solicitation is made that any such other matters are to be presented for action at the meeting and provided further that a specific statement to that effect is made in the proxy statement or in the form of proxy. A proxy may also confer discretionary authority with respect to any proposal omitted from the proxy statement and form of proxy pursuant to paragraph (c) of Rule X-14A-8.

(d) No proxy shall confer authority (1) to vote for the election of any person to any office for which a bona fide nominee is not named in the proxy statement, or (2) to vote at any annual meeting other than the next annual meeting (or any adjournment thereof) to be held after the date on which the proxy statement and form of proxy are first sent or given to security holders.

(e) The proxy statement or form of proxy shall provide, subject to reasonable specified conditions, that the shares represented by the proxy will be voted and that where the person solicited specifies by means of a ballot provided pursuant to paragraph (b) a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted in accordance with the specifications so made.

Rule X-14A-5. Presentation of Information in Proxy Statement.

(a) The information included in the proxy statement shall be clearly presented and the statements made shall be divided into groups according to subject matter and the various groups of statements shall be preceded by appropriate headings. The order of items and subitems in the schedule need not be followed. Where practicable and appropriate, the information shall be presented in tabular form. All amounts shall be stated in figures. Information required by more than one applicable item need not be repeated. No statement need be made in response to any item or sub-item which is inapplicable.

(6) Any information required to be included in the proxy statement as to terms of securities or other subject matter which from a standpoint of practical necessity must be determined in the future may be stated in terms of present knowledge and intention. To the extent

practicable, the authority to be conferred concerning each such matter shall be confined within limits reasonably related to the need for discretionary authority. Subject to the foregoing, information which is not known to the persons on whose behalf the solicitation is to be made and which it is not reasonably within the power of such persons to ascertain or procure may be omitted, if a brief statement of the circumstances rendering such information unavailable is made.

(c) There may be omitted from the proxy statement any information contained in any other proxy soliciting material which has been furnished to each person solicited in connection with the same meeting or subject matter if a clear reference is made to the particular document containing such information.

(d) All printed proxy statements shall be set in roman type at least as large as 10-point modern type except that to the extent necessary for convenient presentation financial statements and other statistical or tabular matter may be set in roman type at least as large as 8point modern type. All type shall be leaded at least 2 points.

Rule X-14A-6. Material Required To Be Filed.

(a) Three preliminary copies of the proxy statement and form of proxy and any other soliciting material to be furnished to security holders concurrently therewith shall be filed with the Commission at least 10 days prior to the date definitive copies of such material are first sent or given to security holders, or such shorter period prior to that date as the Commission may authorize upon a showing of good cause therefor.

(b) Three preliminary copies of any additional soliciting material, relating to the same meeting or subject matter, furnished to security holders subsequent to the proxy statement shall be filed with the Commission at least 2 days (exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays or holidays) prior to the date copies of such material are first sent or given to security holders, or such shorter period prior to such date as the Commission may authorize upon a showing of good cause therefor.

(c) Four definitive copies of the proxy statement, form of proxy and all other soliciting material, in the form in which such material is furnished to security holders, shall be filed with, or mailed for filing to, the Commission not later than the date such material is first sent or given to any security holders. Three copies of such material shall at the same time be filed with, or mailed for filing to, each national securities exchange upon which any security of the issuer is listed and registered.

(d) If the solicitation is to be made in whole or in part by personal solicitation, three copies of all written instructions or other material

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