SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by Registrant [ ]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [X]
Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec.
240.14a-12
Van Kampen Senior Income Trust
- -------------------------------------------------------------
- (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
-
- OPPORTUNITY-PARTNERS L.P.
- -------------------------------------------------------------
- (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the
Registrant)
- Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
-
- [X] No fee required.
-
- [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-
6(i)(4)and 0-11.
-
- (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction
applies: _____________________________________________
- (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction
applies: _____________________________________________
-
- (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the
amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined):
- ______________________________________________
-
- (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
______________________________________________
-
- (5) Total fee paid:
- _____________________________________________
-
- [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
-
- [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which
the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the form or
schedule and the date of its filing.
-
- (1) Amount previously paid:
- _____________________________________________
-
- (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
- _____________________________________________
-
- (3) Filing Party:
- ______________________________________________
-
- (4) Date Filed:
- _______ _______________________________________
-
60 Heritage Drive
Pleasantville, NY 10570
(914) 747-5262
September 19, 2002
The Board of Directors
Van Kampen Senior Income Trust
One Parkview Plaza
P.O Box 5555
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181-5555
Dear Sirs:
We have beneficially owned shares of Van Kampen Senior
Income Trust valued at more than $2,000 for more than one year
and we intend to continue our ownership through the date of the
next annual meeting. We are submitting the following proposal
and supporting statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 for inclusion in management's proxy
statement for the next annual meeting of stockholders or any
earlier meeting.
RESOLVED: It is recommended that the Van Kampen Senior Income
Trust (the "Trust") be converted to an interval fund.
Supporting Statement
The Trust's market price has been languishing at a double-digit
discount from its net asset value ("NAV") for a long time. In
fact, the Trust's discount is among the largest of any closed-end
income fund. For example, on September 13, 2002, the market
price of the Trust's shares was $6.63 vs. an NAV of $7.84,
representing a discount of 15.4%. We don't think a shareholder
wishing to sell some of his shares should have to accept a price
that is so much lower than their intrinsic value.
If the Trust were to adopt an interval fund structure, it would
make periodic repurchase (tender) offers at NAV. This would
allow shareholders to sell at least some of their shares at NAV
rather than at a large discount. Furthermore, we believe that if
the Trust had an interval structure, the shares would trade at a
significantly narrower discount than they currently do.
If you would like to see the market value of your shares increase
and the discount reduced, we urge you to vote in favor of this
proposal.
Very truly yours,
Judy and Phillip Goldstein