BLACKROCK MUNIASSETS FUND, INC. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2004

Jul 26, 2004

DEF 14A 1 e18371_def14a.htm DEF 14A

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2004

SCHEDULE 14A RULE 14a-101

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )

Filed by the Registrant |X] Check the appropriate box: Filed by a party other than the Registrant |_|

| || | Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
| --- | --- |
| |X| | Definitive
Proxy Statement |
| || | Definitive
Additional Materials |
| || | Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12 |
| || | Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |

CORPORATE HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. CORPORATE HIGH YIELD FUND III, INC. MUNIASSETS FUND, INC.

P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(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)(1) 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: |

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CORPORATE HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. CORPORATE HIGH YIELD FUND III, INC. MUNIASSETS FUND, INC. P.O. Box 9011 Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011

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NOTICE OF 2004 ANNUAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

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TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 25, 2004

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T O THE S TOCKHOLDERS OF C ORPORATE H IGH Y IELD F UND , I NC . C ORPORATE H IGH Y IELD F UND III, I NC . M UNI A SSETS F UND , I NC .:

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (each, a “Meeting” and, collectively, the “Meetings”) of each of the above-listed investment companies (each a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”) will be held at the offices of Fund Asset Management, L.P. (“FAM”), 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536, on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 at the time specified for each Fund in Exhibit A to the Combined Proxy Statement for the following purposes:

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(1) To elect a Board of Directors of each Fund to serve for the ensuing year or for the specified term, as applicable, and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal; and

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(2) To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meetings or any adjournment thereof.

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Each Fund’s Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on June 25, 2004 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the applicable Fund’s Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

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You are cordially invited to attend the Meeting for any Fund in which you own shares. Stockholders who do not expect to attend a Meeting in person are requested to complete, date and sign the enclosed form of proxy and return it promptly in the envelope provided for this purpose. If you have been provided with the opportunity on your proxy card or voting instruction form to provide voting instructions via telephone or the Internet, please take advantage of these prompt and efficient voting options. The enclosed proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of each Fund.

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If you have any questions regarding the enclosed proxy material or need assistance in voting your shares, please contact our proxy solicitor, Georgeson Shareholder, at 1-800-645-4519.

| By Order
of the Boards of Directors |
| --- |
| P HILLIP S. G ILLESPIE Secretary of Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc,. Corporate High Yield Fund III, Inc. and MuniAssets Fund, Inc. |

Plainsboro, New Jersey Dated: July 27, 2004

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COMBINED PROXY STATEMENT

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CORPORATE HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. CORPORATE HIGH YIELD FUND III, INC. MUNIASSETS FUND, INC. P.O. Box 9011 Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011

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2004 ANNUAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

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AUGUST 25, 2004

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The Funds will be referred to throughout this Combined Proxy Statement as listed below.

Fund
Corporate
High Yield Fund, Inc.	CHY
Corporate
High Yield Fund III, Inc.	CHY
III
MuniAssets
Fund, Inc.	MuniAssets

INTRODUCTION

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This Combined Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Boards of Directors of the above-listed funds (each a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”), to be voted at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of each Fund (each, a “Meeting” and, collectively, the “Meetings”), to be held at the offices of Fund Asset Management, L.P. (“FAM”), 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536, on Wednesday, August 25, 2004, at the time specified in Exhibit A hereto. The approximate mailing date of this Combined Proxy Statement is July 28, 2004.

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All properly executed proxies received prior to a Meeting will be voted at that Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked thereon or otherwise as provided therein. Unless instructions to the contrary are marked, proxies will be voted for the election of the Director nominees of the applicable Fund. Any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the exercise thereof by giving written notice to the Secretary of the applicable Fund at that Fund’s address indicated above or by voting in person at the Meeting.

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The Board of Directors of each Fund has fixed the close of business on June 25, 2004 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the applicable Fund’s Meeting and at any adjournment thereof. Stockholders on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote for each share held, with no shares having cumulative voting rights. As of the Record Date, each Fund had

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outstanding the number of shares indicated in Exhibit A. To the knowledge of each Fund, as of the Record Date, no person is the beneficial owner of five percent or more of that Fund’s outstanding shares. This Combined Proxy Statement is being provided to the stockholders of each Fund.

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The Board of Directors of each Fund knows of no business other than the election of Directors that will be presented for consideration at its Meeting. If any other matter is properly presented, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote in accordance with their best judgment.

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ITEM 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

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At the Meetings of CHY and CHY III, the Directors will be elected to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders for such Fund and until their successors are elected and qualified. The nominees are James H. Bodurtha, Terry K. Glenn, Joe Grills, Herbert I. London, André F. Perold, Roberta Cooper Ramo, Robert S. Salomon, Jr. and Stephen B. Swensrud (collectively, the “Director Nominees”).

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The Board of MuniAssets is divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III, with each class serving for a three-year term. At the Meeting, three Class I Directors of MuniAssets are to be elected. The Class I Director Nominees, Messrs. Bodurtha, Grills and Salomon, will be elected to serve until the expiration of the term of the Class I Director Nominees and until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal as described below.

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It is intended that all properly executed proxies will be voted (unless such authority has been withheld in the proxy or revoked as described herein) as set forth below:

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For MuniAssets:

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All properly executed proxies will be voted “FOR” the three (3) Class I Director Nominees, James H. Bodurtha, Joe Grills and Robert S. Salomon, Jr., to serve until the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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For CHY and CHY III:

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All properly executed proxies will be voted “FOR” the eight (8) Director Nominees listed below to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified.

| Nominees
to be Elected by Stockholders of CHY and CHY III | |
| --- | --- |
| James
H. Bodurtha | André
F. Perold |
| Terry
K. Glenn | Roberta
Cooper Ramo |
| Joe
Grills | Robert
S. Salomon, Jr. |
| Herbert
I. London | Stephen
B. Swensrud |

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The Board of Directors of each Fund knows of no reason why the Director Nominees will be unable to serve, but in the event of any such unavailability, the proxies received will be voted for such substitute nominee or nominees as that Fund’s Board of Directors may recommend.

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Certain information concerning the Director Nominees is set forth below. Additional information concerning the Director Nominees is set forth in Exhibit B to this Combined Proxy Statement.

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Biographical Information

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Certain biographical and other information relating to the Director Nominee who is an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), of each Fund, is set forth below:

| Name,
Address+ and Age | Position(s) Held with Each Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of MLIM/FAM- Advised Funds++ and Portfolios Overseen | Public Directorships |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Terry K. Glenn (63) | President and
Director | President
and Director** of each Fund since 1999 | President
of the MLIM/FAM-advised funds since 1999; Chairman (Americas Region) of
MLIM from 2000 to 2002; Executive Vice President of FAM and MLIM (which
terms as used herein include their corporate predecessors) from 1983 to
2002; President of FAM Distributors, Inc. (“FAMD”) from 1986 to
2002, and Director thereof from 1991 to 2002; Executive Vice President and
Director of Princeton Services, Inc. (“Princeton Services”) from
1993 to 2002; President of Princeton Administrators, L.P. (“Princeton
Administrators”) from 1988 to 2002; Director of Financial Data Services,
Inc. from 1985 to 2002. | 125 registered
investment companies consisting of 160 portfolios | None |

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† P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011.

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†† The complex of funds advised by FAM and its affiliate, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (“MLIM”), (“MLIM/FAM-Advised Funds”).

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• Mr. Glenn is an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act, of each Fund based on his current and former positions with MLIM, FAM, FAMD, Princeton Services and Princeton Administrators, and/or his ownership of securities issued by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (“ML&Co.”).

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** Elected by and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of the applicable Fund.

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*** As a Director, Mr. Glenn serves until his successor is elected and qualified, until December 31 of the year in which he turns 72, or until his death, resignation, or removal as provided in each Fund’s by-laws, charter or by statute.

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Certain biographical and other information relating to the Director Nominees who are not “interested persons,” as defined in the Investment Company Act, of any Fund (“non-interested Directors”) is set forth below. Each Director Nominee is a member of each Fund’s Audit Committee and Nominating Committee.

| Name,
Address and Age | Position(s) Held with Each Fund | Term
of Office* and Length of Time Served | Principal
Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number
of MLIM/FAM- Advised Funds and Portfolios Overseen | Public Directorships |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| James H. Bodurtha (60) | Director | Director of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | Director,
The China Business Group, Inc. since 1996 and Executive Vice President thereof
from 1996 to 2003; Chairman of the Board, Berkshire Holding Corporation
since 1980; Partner, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey from 1980 to 1993. | 38 registered
investment companies consisting of 55 portfolios | None |
| Joe
Grills (69) | Director | Director
of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | Member
of the Committee of Investment of Employee Benefit Assets of the Association
of Financial Professionals (“CIEBA”) since 1986; Member of CIEBA’s
Executive Committee since 1988 and its Chairman from 1991 to 1992; Assistant
Treasurer of International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM”)
and Chief Investment Officer of IBM Retirement Funds from 1986 to 1993;
Member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the State of New York Common
Retirement Fund since 1989; Member of the Investment Advisory Committee
of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute from 1997 to 2000; Director, Duke
University Management Company from 1992 to 2004, Vice Chairman thereof from
1998 to 2004 and Director Emeritus thereof since 2004; Director, LaSalle
Street Fund from 1995 to 2001; Director, Kimco Realty Corporation since
1997; Member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the Virginia Retirement
System since 1998 and Vice Chairman thereof since 2002; Director, Montpelier
Foundation since 1998 and its Vice Chairman since 2000; Member of the Investment
Committee of the Woodberry Forest School since 2000; Member of the Investment
Committee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation since 2000. | 38 registered investment companies consisting of 55 portfolios | Kimco Realty Corporation |

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| Name,
Address and Age | Position(s) Held with Each Fund | Term
of Office* and Length of Time Served | Principal
Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number
of MLIM/FAM- Advised Funds and Portfolios Overseen | Public Directorships |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Herbert I. London (65) | Director | Director
of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | John
M. Olin Professor of Humanities, New York University since 1993 and Professor
thereof since 1980; President, Hudson Institute since 1997 and Trustee thereof
since 1980; Dean, Gallatin Division of New York University from 1976 to
1993; Distinguished Fellow, Herman Kahn Chair, Hudson Institute from 1984
to 1985; Director, Damon Corp. from 1991 to 1995; Overseer, Center for Naval
Analyses from 1983 to 1993; Director, Level Playing Field (education) from
2000 to 2003. | 38
registered investment companies consisting of 55 portfolios | None |
| André
F. Perold (52) | Director | Director
of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | Harvard
Business School: George Gund Professor of Finance and Banking since 2000;
Senior Associate Dean, Director of Faculty Recruiting since 2001; Finance
Area Chair from 1996 to 2001; Sylvan C. Coleman Professor of Financial Management
from 1993 to 2000; Director, Genbel Securities Limited and Gensec Bank from
1999 to 2003; Director, Stockback, Inc. from 2000 to 2002; Director, Sanlam
Limited from 2001 to 2003; Trustee, Commonfund from 1989 to 2001; Director,
Sanlam Investment Management from 1999 to 2001; Director, Bulldogresearch.com
from 2000 to 2001; Director, Quantec Limited from 1991 to 1999; Director
and Chairman of the Board of UNX, Inc. since 2003. | 38 registered investment companies consisting of 55 portfolios | None |
| Roberta
Cooper Ramo (61) | Director | Director
of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | Shareholder of Modrall, Sperling, Roehl, Harris & Sisk, P.A. since 1993;
President, American Bar Association from 1995 to 1996 and Member of the
Board of Governors thereof from 1994 to 1997; Shareholder of Poole, Kelly
& Ramo, Attorneys at Law, P.C. from 1977 to 1993; Director, Coopers,
Inc. since 1999; Director of ECMC Group (service provider to students, schools
and lenders) since 2001; Director, United New Mexico Bank (now Wells Fargo)
from 1983 to 1988; Director, First National Bank of New Mexico (now Wells
Fargo) from 1975 to 1976. | 38 registered investment companies consisting of 55 portfolios | None |

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| Name,
Address and Age | Position(s) Held with Each Fund | Term
of Office* and Length of Time Served | Principal
Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number
of MLIM/FAM- Advised Funds and Portfolios Overseen | Public Directorships |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Robert S. Salomon, Jr. (67) | Director | Director of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | Principal of STI Management (investment adviser) since 1994; Chairman and
CEO of Salomon Brothers Asset Management from 1992 to 1995; Chairman of
Salomon Brothers equity mutual funds from 1992 to 1995; regular columnist
with Forbes Magazine from 1992 to 2002; Director of Stock Research and U.S.
Equity Strategist at Salomon Brothers Inc. from 1975 to 1991; Trustee, Commonfund
from 1980 to 2001. | 38
registered investment companies consisting of 55 portfolios | None |
| Stephen B. Swensrud (71) | Director | Director
of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | Chairman
of Fernwood Advisors (investment adviser) since 1996; Principal of Fernwood
Associates (financial consultant) since 1975; Chairman of RPP Corporation
(manufacturing) since 1978; Director, International Mobile Communications,
Inc. (telecommunications) since 1998. | 39
registered investment companies consisting of 56 portfolios | None |

---

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• The address of each non-interested Director is P.O. Box 9095, Princeton, NJ 08543-9095.

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** Each Director serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified, until December 31 of the year in which he or she turns 72, or until his or her death, resignation or removal as provided in each Fund’s respective by-laws, charter or by statute.

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Committees of the Boards of Directors

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Each Fund maintains two standing board committees, the Audit Committee and the Nominating Committee, each consisting of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act and who are “independent” as defined in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Currently, Ms. Ramo and Messrs. Bodurtha, Grills, London, Perold, Salomon and Swensrud are members of each Fund’s Audit Committee and Nominating Committee.

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Audit Committees

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The principal responsibilities of each Audit Committee are the appointment, compensation and oversight of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, including the resolution of disagreements regarding financial reporting between Fund management and such independent registered public accounting firm.

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Each Fund has adopted a written Charter for the Audit Committee, which is attached as Exhibit D to this Combined Proxy Statement. Each Fund’s Audit Committee also has received written disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, as may be modified or supplemented, from

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Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”), independent registered public accounting firm for each of the Funds. Each Audit Committee has discussed with D&T such firm’s independence with respect to the Fund and certain matters required to be discussed by Statements on Auditing Standards No. 61. Each Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm is compatible with maintaining the independence of those accountants.

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Each Audit Committee also reviews and discusses the audit of the Fund’s financial statements with Fund management and the independent registered public accounting firm. If any material concerns arise during the course of the audit and the preparation of the audited financial statements mailed to stockholders and included in the Fund’s Annual Report to Stockholders, the Audit Committee would be notified by Fund management or the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committees received no such notifications for any of the Funds. Following each Audit Committee’s review and discussion regarding the audit of the Fund’s financial statements with Fund management and the independent registered public accounting firm, each Audit Committee recommended to the Directors that the Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2004 be included in each Fund’s Annual Report to Stockholders.

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Nominating Committees

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The principal responsibilities of each Nominating Committee are to identify individuals qualified to serve as non-interested Directors of the Fund and to recommend its nominees for consideration by the full Board. While each Nominating Committee is solely responsible for the selection and nomination of the Fund’s non-interested Directors, the Nominating Committee may consider nominations for the office of Director made by Fund stockholders as it deems appropriate. Stockholders who wish to recommend a nominee should send nominations to the applicable Fund’s Secretary and include biographical information and set forth the qualifications of the proposed nominee. The Nominating Committee evaluates nominees from whatever source using the same standard. Each Fund adopted a Charter of the Nominating Committee on February 18, 2004, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit E.

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In identifying and evaluating a potential nominee to serve as an independent Director of a Fund, the Nominating Committee will consider, among other factors, (i) the person’s business and professional experience, education, character and integrity; (ii) whether the individual is an “interested person” as defined in the Investment Company Act and whether the person is otherwise qualified to serve as a Director under applicable laws and regulations; (iii) the nature of any business, charitable, financial or family relationships that might impair the individual’s independence; (iv) whether the individual is financially literate pursuant to the listing standards of the NYSE; (v) whether the person serves on boards of, or is otherwise affiliated with, competing financial service organizations or their related investment company complexes; (vi) the person’s willingness to serve and ability to commit the time necessary to perform the duties of a Fund Director; and (vii) whether the selection and nomination of the person is consistent with the Fund’s retirement policy.

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Committee and Board of Directors Meetings

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During each Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, each of the Directors then in office attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors of that Fund held during the fiscal year and, if a member, the total number of meetings of the Audit Committee held during that period. Each Fund’s Nominating Committee is newly formed and did not meet during any Fund’s last fiscal year. See Exhibit A for further information about Committee and Board meetings.

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Stockholder Communications

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Stockholders may send written communications to a Fund’s Board of Directors or to an individual Director by mailing such correspondence to the Secretary of the applicable Fund (addressed to 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536). Such communications must be signed by the stockholder and identify the class and number of shares held by the stockholder. Properly submitted stockholder communications will, as appropriate, be forwarded to the entire Board or to the individual Director. Any stockholder proposal submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), must continue to meet all the requirements of Rule 14a-8. See “Additional Information - Stockholder Proposals” herein.

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Director Attendance at Stockholder Meetings

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The Funds have no formal policy regarding Director attendance at stockholder meetings. None of the Funds’ Directors attended the 2003 Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

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Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

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Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the officers and Directors of each Fund and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Fund’s equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the NYSE. Officers, Directors and greater than ten percent stockholders of each Fund are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Fund with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 they file.

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Based solely on each Fund’s review of the copies of such forms, and amendments thereto, furnished to it during or with respect to its most recent fiscal year, and written representations from certain reporting persons that they were not required to file Form 5 with respect to the most recent fiscal year, each Fund believes that all of its officers, Directors, greater than ten percent beneficial owners and other persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act due to the requirements of Section 30 of the Investment Company Act ( i.e., any advisory board member, investment adviser or affiliated person of the Fund’s investment adviser) have complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year.

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Compensation of Directors

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FAM, the Investment Adviser of each Fund, pays all compensation to all officers and Directors of each Fund who are affiliated with ML & Co. or its subsidiaries. Each Fund pays each non-interested Director an annual retainer of $125,000 for his or her services to MLIM/FAM-advised funds, including the Funds. The portion of the annual retainer allocated to each MLIM/FAM-advised fund is determined quarterly based on the relative net assets of each such fund. In addition, each non-interested Director receives a fee per in-person Board meeting attended and per in-person Audit Committee meeting attended. The annual per meeting fees paid to each non-interested Director aggregate $100,000 for all MLIM/FAM-advised funds for which that Director serves and are allocated equally among those funds. Each Co-Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual retainer in the amount of $25,000, which is paid quarterly and allocated to each MLIM/FAM-advised fund for which such Co-Chairman provides services based on the relative net assets of the fund.

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8

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Information relating to the aggregate fees and expenses paid by each Fund to its non-interested Directors during each Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year is set forth in Exhibit A.

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Officers of the Funds

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Information relating to the officers of each Fund is set forth in Exhibit C. Officers of the Funds are elected and appointed by the Board of Directors and hold office until they resign, are removed or are otherwise disqualified to serve.

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Stock Ownership

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Set forth in Exhibit B to the Combined Proxy Statement is the following information for each Director Nominee: (i) the number of shares of each Fund owned; (ii) the aggregate dollar range such stock ownership represents; and (iii) the aggregate dollar range of securities owned in all MLIM/FAM-advised funds for which the Director Nominee currently serves as a Director.

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As of June 30, 2004, no non-interested Director Nominee or his or her immediate family members, owned beneficially or of record any securities of ML & Co. As of June 30, 2004, the Directors and officers of each Fund as a group owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the Fund’s outstanding shares. At such date, all of the officers of each Fund owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of common stock of ML & Co.

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The Board of Directors of each Fund recommends that the stockholders vote “FOR” the election of the Director Nominees.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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Expenses and Methods of Proxy Solicitation; Vote Required

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The expenses of preparation, printing and mailing of the enclosed forms of proxy, the accompanying Notice and this Combined Proxy Statement will be borne by the Funds in proportion to its relative net assets. The Funds will reimburse banks, brokers and others for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy solicitation material to the beneficial owners of shares of the Funds.

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For CHY III, one-third of the Fund’s shares entitled to vote at the Meeting, present in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum; for each of CHY and MuniAssets, a majority of the Fund’s shares entitled to vote at the Meeting, present in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum.

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In order to obtain the necessary quorum at each Meeting, supplementary solicitation may be made by mail, telephone, telegraph or personal interview by officers of each Fund. If, by the time scheduled for a Meeting, a quorum of stockholders is not present or if a quorum is present but sufficient votes to allow action on the proposal are not received from the stockholders, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies from stockholders. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Fund present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the time of the Meeting to be adjourned. The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of any such adjournment if they believe the adjournment and additional proxy solicitation are reasonable and in the best interests of the Fund’s stockholders. Each Fund has retained Georgeson Shareholder, 17 State Street, New York, New York 10004, to assist in the solicitation of proxies at a cost of approximately $3,500 for each Fund, plus out-of-pocket expenses estimated to be $500 for each Fund.

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All shares represented by properly executed proxies, unless such proxies have previously been revoked, will be voted at each Meeting in accordance with the directions on the proxies; if no direction is indicated, the shares will be voted “FOR” the Director Nominees. Assuming a quorum is present at each Meeting, the election of Directors, at each Meeting, will require the affirmative vote of a plurality of votes cast by stockholders at that Meeting. “Plurality of the votes” means the candidate must receive more votes than any other candidate for the same position, but not necessarily a majority of the votes cast.

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Broker Non-Votes and Abstentions

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Broker-dealer firms, including Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”), holding shares of each Fund in “street name” for the benefit of their customers and clients, will request the instructions of such customers and clients on how to vote their shares on the election of Directors (Item 1) before the Meeting. The Funds understand that, under the rules of the NYSE, such broker-dealer firms may, without instructions from their customers and clients, grant authority to the proxies designated to vote on the election of Directors (Item 1) if no instructions have been received prior to the date specified in the broker-dealer firm’s request for voting instructions. Proxies that are returned to a Fund but that are marked “abstain” or on which a broker-dealer has declined to vote on any proposal (“broker non-votes”) will be counted as present for the purposes of determining a quorum. MLPF&S has advised each Fund that if it votes shares held in its name for which no instructions are received, except as limited by agreement or applicable law, it will do so in the same proportion as the votes received from beneficial owners of those shares for which instructions

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10

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have been received, whether or not held in nominee name. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast. Therefore, abstentions and broker non-votes will not have an effect on the vote on Item 1 for any Fund.

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Other Matters

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Management knows of no other matters to be presented at the Meetings. However, if other matters are presented for a vote at the Meeting or any adjournments thereof, the proxy holders will vote the shares represented by properly executed proxies according to their judgment on those matters.

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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Fees

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The SEC’s auditor independence rules require the Audit Committee of each Fund to pre-approve (a) all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm directly to the Fund and (b) those permissible non-audit services provided by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund’s Investment Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Investment Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund (the “Affiliated Service Providers”), if the services relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund.

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The first two tables below set forth for each Fund, for its two most recent fiscal years the fees billed by its independent registered public accounting firm for (a) all audit and non-audit services provided directly to the Fund and (b) those non-audit services provided to the Fund’s Affiliated Service Providers that relate directly to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting, and, therefore, require Audit Committee pre-approval. Services under the caption:

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• Audit Fees are for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements included in the Fund’s reports to stockholders and in connection with statutory and regulatory filing or engagements;

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• Audit-Related Fees include assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit of financial statements not included in Audit Fees;

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• Tax Fees include tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning; and

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• All Other Fees are for other products and services provided.

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Each Fund also is required to disclose the total non-audit fees paid to its independent registered public accounting firm, for services rendered to the Fund and its Affiliated Service Providers regardless of whether those fees were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

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The fiscal year end for each Fund is May 31.

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Fees for audit and non-audit services provided directly to the Fund:

| Fund | Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | Audit
Fees — 2004 | 2003 | Audit-Related Fees ($) — 2004 | | 2003 | | Tax Fees
($) — 2004 | 2003 | All Other
Fees — 2004 | 2003 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CHY | D&T | 35,000 | 45,925 | 7,500 | ** | 7,500 | ** | 5,200 | 4,800 | 0 | 0 |
| CHY III | D&T | 35,000 | 35,000 | 7,500 | ** | 7,500 | ** | 5,200 | 4,800 | 0 | 0 |
| MuniAssets | D&T | 26,000 | 25,000 | 0 | | 0 | | 5,610 | 4,800 | 0 | 0 |

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• Primarily related to tax compliance services associated with reviewing the Fund’s tax returns.

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** Agreed upon procedures associated with monthly seller report.

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11

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Fees for non-audit services provided to the Fund’s Affiliated Service Providers for which pre-approval by the Audit Committee was required:

| | | Audit-Related
Fees ($) | | Tax
Fees ($) | | All
Other Fees ($) | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | | | | | | |
| Fund | | 2004* | 2003 | 2004 | 2003 | 2004 ** | 2003 |
| CHY | D&T | 485,500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56,140 | 0 |
| CHY
III | D&T | 485,500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56,140 | 0 |
| MuniAssets | D&T | 485,500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56,140 | 0 |

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• Primarily related to examinations of internal controls and investment management performance returns at Affiliated Service Providers.

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** Primarily associated with project management of non-financial service systems implementations.

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Aggregate non-audit fees for services provided to the Fund and its Affiliated Service Providers, regardless of whether pre-approval was required.

| | | Aggregate
Non-Audit Fees ($) | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | | |
| Fund | | 2004 | 2003 |
| CHY | D&T | 16,593,786† | 17,634,906† |
| CHY
III | D&T | 16,593,786† | 17,634,906† |
| MuniAssets | D&T | 16,586,696† | 17,627,406† |

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† Primarily associated with project management of non-financial service systems implementations, advisory and management consulting services, and examinations of internal controls and investment management performance returns for Affiliated Service Providers. Fees are also related to the performance of agreed upon tax compliance services associated with reviewing the Fund’s tax returns.

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The Audit Committee of each Fund has reviewed the non-audit services provided by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund’s Affiliated Service Providers that were not subject to the Committee’s pre-approval and has determined that the provision of such services is compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence.

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Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures . The Audit Committee of each Fund has adopted policies and procedures with regard to the pre-approval of services. Audit, audit-related and tax compliance services provided to a Fund on an annual basis require specific pre-approval by the Fund’s Audit Committee. As noted above, the Audit Committee also must approve non-audit services provided to a Fund and those non-audit services provided to the Fund’s Affiliated Service Providers that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. Certain of these non-audit services that the Audit Committee believes are (a) consistent with the SEC’s auditor independence rules and (b) routine and recurring services that will not impair the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm may be approved by the Audit Committee without consideration on a specific case-by-case basis (“general pre-approval”). However, such services will only be deemed pre-approved provided that any individual project does not exceed $5,000 attributable to the Fund or $50,000 for the project as a whole. Any proposed services exceeding the pre-approved cost levels will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee, as will any other services not subject to general pre-approval ( e.g. unanticipated but permissible services). The Audit Committee is informed of each service approved subject to general pre-approval at the next regularly scheduled in-person board meeting.

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12

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Non-audit services provided to a Fund’s Affiliated Service Providers that have a direct impact on the operations or financial reporting of the Fund must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee of ML & Co. in addition to pre-approval by the Audit Committee.

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The independent registered public accounting firm annually will provide the Audit Committees with a detailed analysis of all fees paid by ML & Co. and its affiliates.

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Other . Representatives of D&T are expected to be present at the Meetings and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and to respond to questions from stockholders.

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Address of Investment Adviser

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The principal office of FAM is located at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536.

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Annual Report Delivery

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Each Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report for the Fund’s last fiscal year to any stockholder upon request. Such requests should be directed to the applicable Fund, P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011, Attention: Fund Secretary, or to 1-800-637-3863.

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Stockholder Proposals

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If a stockholder of any Fund intends to present a proposal at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of such Fund, each of which is anticipated to be held in August 2005, and desires to have the proposal included in the Fund’s proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting, the stockholder must deliver the proposal to the offices of the appropriate Fund by March 30, 2005. The persons named as proxies in the proxy materials for 2005 Annual Meetings of Stockholders for each of the Funds may exercise discretionary authority with respect to any stockholder proposal presented at such meeting if written notice of such proposal has not been received by the Fund by June 14, 2005. Written proposals and notices should be sent to the Secretary of the respective Fund, 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536.

By Order of the Boards of Directors P HILLIP S. G ILLESPIE Secretary of Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc. Corporate High Yield Fund III, Inc. MuniAssets Fund, Inc.

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Dated: July 27, 2004

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13

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Defined terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the same meanings attributed thereto in the Combined Proxy Statement to which these Exhibits are attached.

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Exhibit A

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INFORMATION PERTAINING TO EACH FUND

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General Information Pertaining to the Funds

| Fund | Fiscal
Year End | Meeting
Time | State
of Organization | Shares
Outstanding as of the Record Date |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CHY | 5/31 | 10:45
a.m. | MD | 34,380,747 |
| CHY
III | 5/31 | 11:00
a.m. | MD | 37,219,239 |
| MuniAssets | 5/31 | 11:15
a.m. | MD | 20,399,713 |

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Board and Audit Committee Meetings

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Set forth in the table below is information regarding Board and Audit Committee meetings held, current annual and per meeting fees paid to each non-interested Director and the aggregate fees and expenses paid by each Fund to the non-interested Directors during each Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.

Fund	Board — Board Number of Meetings Held*	Annual Fee ($)	Per Meeting Fee ($)**	Audit Committee — Audit Committee Number of Meetings Held*	Annual Fee ($)***	Per Meeting Fee ($)**	Aggregate Fees and Expenses ($)
CHY	12	$154	$218	5	$154	$218	36,919
CHY III	12	$165	$218	5	$165	$218	44,599
MuniAssets	13	$131	$218	5	$131	$218	32,587

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• Includes telephonic meetings.

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** The fee is payable for each meeting attended in person. A fee is not paid for telephonic meetings.

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*** Does not include the additional fee paid to the Co-Chairmen of the Audit Committee.

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A-1

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(This page intentionally left blank)

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Exhibit B

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INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES

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Year in Which Each Director Nominee of Each Fund Became a Director

	Bodurtha	Glenn	Grills	London	Perold	Ramo	Salomon	Swensrud
CHY	2002	1999	1994	2002	2002	2002	1996	1993
CHY III	2002	1999	1998	2002	2002	2002	1998	1998
MuniAssets	2002	1999	1994	2002	2002	2002	1996	1993

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Ownership of Shares by Director Nominees as of the Record Date

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Information relating to the share ownership, if any, by the Director Nominees as of the Record Date is set forth in the chart below.

| Director
Nominee | Fund | Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity in Each Fund | Aggregate
Dollar Range of Securities in all MLIM/FAM-Advised Funds Overseen by each Director Nominee |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Interested
Director: | | | |
| Terry
K. Glenn | CHY | $10,001
- $50,000 | Over
$100,000 |
| | MuniAssets | Over
$100,000 | Over
$100,000 |
| Non-Interested
Directors: | | | |
| James
H. Bodurtha | CHY | $1
- $10,000 | Over
$100,000 |
| Joe
Grills | None | None | Over
$100,000 |
| Herbert
I. London | None | None | Over
$100,000 |
| André
F. Perold | None | None | None |
| Roberta
Cooper Ramo | None | None | $50,001
- $100,000 |
| Robert
S. Salomon, Jr | None | None | Over
$100,000 |
| Stephen
B. Swensrud | None | None | None |

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Compensation of Non-Interested Directors

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Set forth in the table below is information regarding compensation paid by each Fund to the non-interested Directors during each Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.

| | Compensation
from Fund ($) — Bodurtha | Grills* | London | Perold | Ramo | Salomon | Swensrud |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CHY | $1,535 | $1,535 | $1,275 | $1,275 | $1,275 | $1,275 | $1,275 |
| CHY III | $2,311 | $2,311 | $2,033 | $2,033 | $2,033 | $2,033 | $2,033 |
| MuniAssets | $2,320 | $2,320 | $2,094 | $2,094 | $2,094 | $2,094 | $2,094 |

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• No pension or retirement benefits are accrued as part of Fund expenses.

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** Co-Chairman of the Audit Committee.

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B-1

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Set forth in the table below is information regarding the aggregate compensation paid by MLIM/FAM-advised funds to non-interested Directors for the year ended December 31, 2003.

| Non-Interested
Director | Aggregate
Compensation Paid to Non-Interested Directors by MLIM/FAM-Advised Funds |
| --- | --- |
| James
H. Bodurtha | $183,219 |
| Joe Grills | $182,219 |
| Herbert
I. London | $163,219 |
| André
F. Perold | $162,219 |
| Roberta
Cooper Ramo | $163,219 |
| Robert
S. Salomon, Jr | $163,219 |
| Stephen
B. Swensrud | $168,219 |

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• Co-Chairman of the Audit Committee.

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B-2

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Exhibit C

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INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE OFFICERS

| Name,
Address and Age of Officer | Position(s)
Held and Length of Time Served* — CHY | CHY
III | MuniAssets | Principal
Occupation During Past Five Years |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Terry K. Glenn
(63) | President and Director
since 1999† | President and Director
since 1999† | President and Director
since 1999† | President and Chairman
of the MLIM/FAM-advised funds since 1999; Chairman of MLIM (Americas
Region) from 2000 to 2002; Executive Vice President of MLIM and FAM
from 1983 to 2000; President of FAMD from 1986 to 2002 and Director
thereof from 1991 to 2002; Executive Vice President and Director of
Princeton Services from 1993 to 2002; President of Princeton Administrators,
from 1988 to 2002; Director of Financial Data Services, Inc. from 1985
to 2002. |
| Kenneth A. Jacob
(53) | N/A | N/A | Senior Vice President
since 1993 | First Vice President
of MLIM since 1997; Vice President of MLIM from 1984 to 1997; Vice President
of FAM since 1984. |
| Elizabeth M. Phillips
(54) | Vice President
since 1993 | Vice President
since 1998 | N/A | Director of MLIM
since 2000; Vice President of MLIM from 1990 to 2000. |
| Donald C. Burke
(43) | Vice President
since 1993 and Treasurer since 1999 | Vice President
since 1998 and Treasurer since 1999 | Vice President
since 1993 and Treasurer since 1999 | First Vice President
of FAM and MLIM since 1997 and the Treasurer thereof since 1999; Senior
Vice President and Treasurer of Princeton Services since 1999; Vice
President of FAMD since 1999; Vice President of FAM and MLIM from 1990
to 1997; Director of Taxation of MLIM since 1990. |
| Theodore R. Jaeckel,
Jr. (44) | N/A | N/A | Vice President
since 1997 | Director (Tax-Exempt
Fund Management) of FAM and MLIM since 1997 and Vice President thereof
from 1991 to 1997. |
| John M. Loffredo
(40) | N/A | N/A | Senior Vice President
since 2003 | Managing Director
of MLIM since 2000; First Vice President of MLIM from 1997 to 2000;
Vice President of MLIM from 1991 to 1997; Portfolio Manager of FAM and
MLIM since 1997. |
| B. Daniel Evans
(50) | Vice President
since 2002 | Vice President
since 2002 | N/A | Managing Director
of MLIM since 2004; Director of MLIM from 2000 to 2004; Vice President
of MLIM from 1995 to 2000. |

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C-1

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| Name,
Address and Age of Officer | Position(s)
Held and Length of Time Served* — CHY | CHY
III | MuniAssets | Principal
Occupation During Past Five Years |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Phillip S. Gillespie
(40) | Secretary since
2004 | Secretary since
2004 | Secretary since
2004 | First Vice President
of MLIM since 2001; Director of MLIM from 2000 to 2001; Vice President
of MLIM from 1999 to 2000; Attorney associated with MLIM since 1998;
Assistant General Counsel, Chancellor LGT Asset Management Inc. from
1997 to 1998; Senior Counsel and Attorney in the Division of Investment
Management and the Office of General Counsel at the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission from 1993 to 1997. |

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• The address of each officer listed above is P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011.

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** Elected by and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of each Fund.

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† Mr. Glenn was elected President of each Fund in 1999. Prior to that he served as Executive Vice President of each Fund.

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C-2

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Exhibit D

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Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors/Trustees for Exchange Listed Funds

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Although the Audit Committee of an investment company also serves as a Nominating Committee, the following charter pertains only to each Audit Committee’s duties as an Audit Committee. The Board of Directors/Trustees of each investment company listed on Appendix A hereto has adopted the following Audit Committee Charter.

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I. Composition of the Audit Committee

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The Audit Committee shall be composed of at least three Directors/Trustees:

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(a) each of whom shall not be an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”);

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(b) each of whom shall not accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the Fund (other than fees for serving on the Board of Directors/Trustees or any committee thereof);

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(c) each of whom shall be financially literate at the time of his or her appointment to the Audit Committee, as such qualification is interpreted by the Board of Directors/Trustees in its business judgment, or shall become financially literate within a reasonable period of time after his or her appointment to the Audit Committee;

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(d) each of whom shall otherwise satisfy the applicable independence requirements for any stock exchange or market quotation system on which Fund shares are or become listed or quoted; and

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(e) at least one of whom shall have accounting or related financial management expertise as the Board of Directors/Trustees interprets such qualification in its business judgment.

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The Board of Directors/Trustees shall determine annually (i) whether at least one of the members of the Audit Committee is an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR, and (ii) whether simultaneous service on more than three public company audit committees by a member of the Audit Committee would not impair the ability of such member to serve on the Audit Committee.

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II. Purposes of the Audit Committee

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The Audit Committee, in its capacity as a committee of the Board of Directors/Trustees, shall be responsible for:

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(a) overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Fund and the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting;

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(b) overseeing the integrity of the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audit thereof;

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(c) overseeing, or, as appropriate, assisting Board oversight of, the Fund’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting, internal control over financial reporting, and independent audits; and

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(d) the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the Fund’s independent accountants, including the resolution of disagreements regarding financial reporting between Fund management and such independent accountants.

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The Audit Committee shall report regularly to the Board of Directors/Trustees with respect to the matters described in this Audit Committee Charter and shall make such recommendations to the Board of Directors/Trustees relating thereto as the Audit Committee deems necessary or appropriate. The Fund’s independent accountants shall report directly to the Audit Committee.

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III. Responsibilities and Duties of the Audit Committee

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The policies and procedures of the Audit Committee shall remain flexible to facilitate its ability to react to changing conditions and to generally discharge its functions. The following listed responsibilities describe areas of attention in broad terms.

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To carry out its purposes, the Audit Committee shall have the following responsibilities and duties:

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(a) upon submission of an application form by the Fund’s independent accountants to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, to request copies of: (i) such application form; (ii) any material amendments to such application form; and (iii) the written findings of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in connection with that Board’s inspection of the Fund’s independent accountants;

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(b) to (i) select an accounting firm to (1) serve as the Fund’s independent accountants, (2) audit the Fund’s financial statements on an annual basis, and (3) provide an opinion on an annual basis with respect to the Fund’s financial statements, and (ii) recommend that the members of the Board of Directors/Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, ratify such selection;

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(c) to approve, prior to appointment, the engagement of the Fund’s independent accountants to provide other audit services to the Fund or non-audit services to the Fund, the Fund’s investment adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser (“adviser affiliate”) that provides ongoing services to the Fund, if the engagement by the adviser affiliate relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund;

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(d) to develop policies and procedures for pre-approval of the engagement of the Fund’s independent accountants to provide any of the audit or non-audit services described in Section III(c) above;

(e) to consider whether: (i) the provision of each non-audit service to the Fund by the Fund’s independent accountants is compatible with maintaining the independence of such independent accountants and (ii) the provision of each non-audit service to the Fund’s investment adviser or any adviser affiliate that provides ongoing services to the Fund is compatible with maintaining the independence of such independent accountants;

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(f) to ensure that the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm submit on a periodic basis to the Audit Committee a formal written statement delineating all relationships between such independent accountants and the Fund, consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, to actively engage in a dialogue with, and receive and consider specific representations from, the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may affect the objectivity and independence of such independent accountants and, if deemed appropriate by the Audit Committee, to recommend that the Board of Directors/Trustees take appropriate action in response to the report of such independent accountants to satisfy itself of the independence of such independent accountants;

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(g) to receive and consider specific representations from the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to audit partner rotation and conflicts of interest as described in Section 10A(l) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”);

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(h) to review the arrangements for annual and special audits and the scope of such audits with the Fund’s independent accountants;

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(i) to review and discuss the Fund’s audited financial statements and, to the extent required by applicable law or regulations, the Fund’s semi-annual financial statements with Fund management and the Fund’s independent accountants;

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(j) to review and approve the fees proposed to be charged to the Fund by the Fund’s independent accountants for each audit and non-audit service;

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(k) to discuss with the Fund’s independent accountants those matters required by Statement of Accounting Standards Nos. 61 and 90 relating to the Fund’s financial statements, including, without limitation, any adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent accountants, or any other results of any audit;

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(l) to cause to be prepared and to review and submit any report, including any recommendation of the Audit Committee, required under rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission to be included in any proxy statement used by the Fund;

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(m) to review legal and regulatory matters presented by counsel and the Fund’s independent accountants that may have a material impact on the Fund’s financial statements;

(n) to establish and administer policies and procedures relating to: (i) the hiring by the Fund, its investment adviser, or any administrator that is an adviser affiliate of employees or former employees of the Fund’s independent accountants; and (ii) the resolution of any disagreements between Fund management and the Fund’s independent accountants regarding accounting and/or financial reporting policies and procedures;

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(o) to consider information and comments from the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, procedures and internal control over financial reporting (including the Fund’s critical accounting policies and practices) and management’s responses to any such comments;

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(p) to consider information and comments from the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to, and meet with such independent accountants to discuss any matters of concern relating to, the Fund’s financial statements, including any adjustments to such statements recommended by such independent accountants, and to review the independent accountants’ opinion on the Fund’s financial statements;

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(q) at least annually, to obtain and review a report by the Fund’s independent accountants describing: (i) such independent accountants internal quality-control procedures; (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of such independent accountants, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by such firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (iii) all relationships between the Fund’s independent accountants and the Fund, the investment adviser and adviser affiliates (to assess the independence of the Fund’s independent accountants);

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(r) to receive and consider reports from the Fund’s independent accountants regarding: (i) all critical accounting policies and practices to be used; (ii) all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with Fund management, ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent accountants; and (iii) other material written communications between the independent accountants and Fund management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences;

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(s) to receive reports from the Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, regarding: (i) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of the Fund’s internal controls that could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data and the identification for the Fund’s independent accountants of any material weaknesses in internal controls; (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves Fund management or other employees or employees of the investment adviser who have a significant role in the Fund’s internal controls; and (iii) whether or not there were significant changes in the Fund’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the Fund’s internal controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses;

(t) to establish procedures for: (i) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by the Fund regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters; and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission of concerns by employees of the Fund’s investment adviser, manager, administrator, principal underwriter, or any other provider of accounting related services for the Fund regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters;

(u) to address reports received from attorneys in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s investment adviser relating to the possible violation of federal or state law or fiduciary duty;

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(v) to address reports received from the Fund’s independent accountants relating to the possible violation of federal or state law and to investigate or initiate an investigation of reports of improprieties or suspected improprieties in connection with the Fund’s accounting or financial reporting;

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(w) to discuss with Fund management and the Fund’s independent accountants policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management;

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(x) to assist the Fund, if necessary, in preparing any written affirmation or written certification required to be filed with any stock exchange or market quotation system on which Fund shares are or become listed or quoted;

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(y) to review and reassess the adequacy of this Audit Committee Charter on an annual basis and recommend any changes to the Board of Directors/Trustees and to evaluate the performance of the Audit Committee on an annual basis; and

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(z) to perform such other functions and to have such other powers consistent with this Audit Committee Charter, the Fund’s Articles of Incorporation or Declaration of Trust, as amended and supplemented, the Fund’s By-laws, as amended, and applicable law, as the Audit Committee or the Board of Directors/Trustees deems necessary or appropriate.

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The Audit Committee may delegate any portion of its authority, including the authority to grant preapprovals of audit related services and permitted non-audit services, to a subcommittee of one or more members of the Audit Committee pursuant to preapproval policies and procedures established by the Audit Committee; provided, however, that the Audit Committee may not delegate preapproval of the audit required by the 1934 Act. Any decision of such subcommittee of the Audit Committee to grant preapprovals shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

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The function of the Audit Committee is oversight; it is the responsibility of Fund management to maintain appropriate systems for accounting and internal control over financial reporting, and the responsibility of the Fund’s independent accountants to plan and carry out a proper audit. Specifically, Fund management is responsible for: (1) the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Fund’s financial statements; (2) the maintenance of appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and policies; and (3) the maintenance of internal control over financial reporting and other procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and related laws and regulations. The Fund’s independent accountants are responsible for planning and carrying out an audit consistent with applicable legal and professional standards and the terms of their engagement letter. Nothing in this Audit Committee Charter shall be construed to reduce the responsibilities or liabilities of the Fund’s service providers, including the Fund’s independent accountants.

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Although the Audit Committee is expected to review appropriately the matters that come before it, such review of a Fund’s financial statements by the Audit Committee is not an audit, nor does the Committee’s review substitute for the responsibilities of the Fund’s management for preparing, or the Fund’s independent accountants for auditing, the financial statements. Members of the Audit Committee are not full-time employees of the Fund and, in serving on the Audit Committee, are not, and do not hold themselves out to be, acting as accountants or auditors. As such, it is not the duty or responsibility of the Audit Committee or its members to conduct “field work” or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures.

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In discharging their duties, the members of the Audit Committee are entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, if prepared or presented by: (1) one or more officers of the Fund whom the Directors/Trustees reasonably believe to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; (2) legal counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to matters the Directors/Trustees reasonably believe are within the person’s professional or expert competence; or (3) a Board committee of which the Directors/Trustees are not members.

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IV. Meetings

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The Audit Committee shall meet regularly with the Fund’s independent accountants (outside the presence of Fund management) and Fund management and at least once annually with the representatives of Fund management responsible for the financial and accounting operations of the Fund. The Audit Committee shall hold special meetings at such times as the Audit Committee believes appropriate. Members of the Audit Committee may participate in a meeting of the Audit Committee by means of conference call or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in such meeting can hear each other.

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V. Assistance from Fund Management; Authority to Engage Advisers; Funding

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The appropriate officers of the Fund shall provide or arrange to provide such information, data and services as the Audit Committee may request. The Audit Committee shall have the power and authority to take all action it believes necessary or appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including the power and authority to retain independent counsel and other advisers. The Fund shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee as a committee of the Board of Directors/Trustees, for payment of: (i) compensation to the Fund’s independent accountants or any other accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attest services for the Fund, (ii) compensation to any advisers employed by the Audit Committee under this Section V, and (iii) ordinary administrative expenses of the Audit Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its responsibilities.

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Dated: November 21, 2003

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APPENDIX A

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Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc.

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Corporate High Yield Fund III, Inc.

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MuniAssets Fund, Inc.

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Exhibit E

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CHARTER OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

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Organization

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The Nominating Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors/Trustees for the registered investment companies (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) listed on Exhibit A attached hereto shall be composed solely of Directors/Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and who are “independent” as defined in the New York Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange (each, an “Exchange”) listing standards (if applicable) (“Independent Directors”). The Board of Directors/Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) shall appoint the members of the Committee (which may or may not be all of the Independent Directors) and shall designate the Chairman of the Committee. The Committee shall have authority to retain outside counsel and other advisors the Committee deems appropriate and shall have the sole authority to approve the compensation and other terms of their retention.

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Responsibilities

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The Committee shall identify individuals qualified to serve as Independent Directors of the Fund and shall recommend its nominees for consideration by the full Board.

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Identification and Evaluation of Potential Nominees

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In identifying and evaluating a person as a potential nominee to serve as an Independent Director of the Fund, the Committee should consider among other factors it may deem relevant:

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• the contribution which the person can make to the Board, with consideration being given to the person’s business and professional experience, education and such other factors as the Committee may consider relevant;

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• the character and integrity of the person;

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• whether or not the person is an “interested person” as defined in the 1940 Act and whether the person is otherwise qualified under applicable laws and regulations to serve as a Director or Independent Director of the Fund;

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• whether or not the person has any relationships that might impair his or her independence, such as any business, charitable, financial or family relationships with Fund management, the investment adviser or manager of the Fund, Fund service providers or their affiliates;

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• whether or not the person is financially literate pursuant to the applicable Exchange’s audit committee membership standards;

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• whether or not the person serves on boards of, or is otherwise affiliated with, competing financial service organizations or their related investment company complexes;

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• whether or not the person is willing to serve, and willing and able to commit the time necessary for the performance of the duties of a Director of the Fund;

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• whether or not the selection and nomination of the person would be consistent with the requirements of the Fund’s retirement policy.

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While the Committee is solely responsible for the selection and nomination of the Fund’s Independent Directors, the Committee may consider nominations for the office of Director made by Fund stockholders as it deems appropriate. Stockholders who wish to recommend a nominee should send nominations to the Secretary of the Fund which include biographical information and set forth the qualifications of the proposed nominee. The Secretary of the Fund will forward all nominations received to the Committee.

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Quorum

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A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the members of the Committee present at any meeting at which there is quorum shall be the act of the Committee.

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Nomination of Directors

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After a determination by the Committee that a person should be nominated as an Independent Director of the Fund, the Committee shall present its recommendation to the full Board for its consideration and, where appropriate, to the Independent Directors.

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Meetings

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The Committee may meet either on its own or in conjunction with meetings of the Board. Meetings of the Committee may be held in person, video conference or by conference telephone. The Committee may take action by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting.

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Adopted: February 18, 2004

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CORPORATE HIGH YIELD FUND, INC. P.O. Box 9011 Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011

PROXY

This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors

The undersigned hereby appoints Terry K. Glenn, Donald C. Burke and Phillip S. Gillespie as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse hereof, all of the shares of Common Stock of Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) held of record by the undersigned on June 25, 2004 at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Fund to be held on August 25, 2004 or any adjournment thereof.

This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR Proposal 1.

By signing and dating the reverse side of this card, you authorize the proxies to vote Proposal 1 as marked, or if not marked, to vote “FOR” Proposal 1, and to use their discretion to vote for any other matter as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If you do not intend to personally attend the meeting, please complete and return this card at once in the enclosed envelope.

(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)

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Please mark boxes |X| or |•| in blue or black ink.

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1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below) || WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below ||

(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through the nominee’s name in the list below.) James H. Bodurtha, Terry K. Glenn, Joe Grills, Herbert I. London, André F. Perold, Roberta Cooper Ramo, Robert S. Salomon, Jr. and Stephen B. Swensrud

1. In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

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| Please
sign exactly as name appears hereon. When stock is held by joint tenants,
both should sign. When signing as attorney or as executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation,
please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer.
If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
| --- |
| Dated:_______
, 2004 |
| X _______ Signature |
| X _________ Signature, if held jointly |

Sign, Date and Return the Proxy Card Promptly Using the Enclosed Envelope.

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CORPORATE HIGH YIELD FUND III, INC. P.O. Box 9011 Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011

PROXY

This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors

The undersigned hereby appoints Terry K. Glenn, Donald C. Burke and Phillip S. Gillespie as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse hereof, all of the shares of Common Stock of Corporate High Yield III, Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) held of record by the undersigned on June 25, 2004 at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Fund to be held on August 25, 2004 or any adjournment thereof.

This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR Proposal 1.

By signing and dating the reverse side of this card, you authorize the proxies to vote Proposal 1 as marked, or if not marked, to vote “FOR” Proposal 1, and to use their discretion to vote for any other matter as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If you do not intend to personally attend the meeting, please complete and return this card at once in the enclosed envelope.

(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)

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Please mark boxes |X| or |•| in blue or black ink.

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1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below) || WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below ||

(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through the nominee’s name in the list below.) James H. Bodurtha, Terry K. Glenn, Joe Grills, Herbert I. London, André F. Perold, Roberta Cooper Ramo, Robert S. Salomon, Jr. and Stephen B. Swensrud

1. In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

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| Please
sign exactly as name appears hereon. When stock is held by joint tenants,
both should sign. When signing as attorney or as executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation,
please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer.
If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
| --- |
| Dated:_______
, 2004 |
| X _______ Signature |
| X _________ Signature, if held jointly |

Sign, Date and Return the Proxy Card Promptly Using the Enclosed Envelope.

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MUNIASSETS FUND, INC. P.O. Box 9011 Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011

PROXY

This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors

The undersigned hereby appoints Terry K. Glenn, Donald C. Burke and Phillip S. Gillespie as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse hereof, all of the shares of Common Stock of MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) held of record by the undersigned on June 25, 2004 at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Fund to be held on August 25, 2004 or any adjournment thereof.

This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR Proposal 1.

By signing and dating the reverse side of this card, you authorize the proxies to vote Proposal 1 as marked, or if not marked, to vote “FOR” Proposal 1, and to use their discretion to vote for any other matter as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If you do not intend to personally attend the meeting, please complete and return this card at once in the enclosed envelope.

(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)

*********** MARKER PAGE="sheet: 2; page: 2"

Please mark boxes |X| or |•| in blue or black ink.

MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="8K 3 col" FSL="Workstation"

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below) || WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below ||

(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through the nominee’s name in the list below.) Class I Director Nominees to serve until the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: James H. Bodurtha, Joe Grills and Robert S. Salomon, Jr.

1. In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush 20" FSL="Workstation"

| Please
sign exactly as name appears hereon. When stock is held by joint tenants,
both should sign. When signing as attorney or as executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation,
please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer.
If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
| --- |
| Dated:_______
, 2004 |
| X _______ Signature |
| X _________ Signature, if held jointly |

Sign, Date and Return the Proxy Card Promptly Using the Enclosed Envelope.