SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement.
[ ] Confidential, for use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)).
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement.
[X] Definitive Additional Materials.
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec. 240.14a-12.
Pioneer Bond Fund Pioneer Real Estate Shares
Pioneer Emerging Markets Fund Pioneer Research Fund
Pioneer Equity Income Fund Pioneer Select Growth Fund
Pioneer Equity Opportunity Fund Pioneer Select Value Fund
Pioneer Europe Select Equity Fund Pioneer Series Trust I
Pioneer Fund Pioneer Series Trust II
Pioneer Fundamental Growth Fund Pioneer Series Trust III
Pioneer High Yield Fund Pioneer Series Trust IV
Pioneer Ibbotson Allocation Series Pioneer Series Trust V
Pioneer Independence Fund Pioneer Series Trust VI
Pioneer International Equity Fund Pioneer Series Trust VII
Pioneer International Value Fund Pioneer Short Term Income Fund
Pioneer Mid Cap Growth Fund Pioneer Small Cap Value Fund
Pioneer Mid Cap Value Fund Pioneer Strategic Income Fund
Pioneer Money Market Trust Pioneer Tax Free Income Fund
Pioneer Protected Principal Trust Pioneer Value Fund
(Name of Registrant(s) as Specified in its Charter)
N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(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):
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
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fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
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4) Date Filed:
2-1
[PIONEER LOGOS]
IMPORTANT: PLEASE VOTE YOUR SHARES TODAY
Your vote is extremely important.
Dear Shareholder,
I am writing to remind you about the joint special meeting of shareholders to be
held on May 13, 2008, for all Pioneer open-end mutual funds. Shareholders of
each fund are being asked to approve a number of proposals recently adopted by
each Pioneer Fund's Board of Trustees. The Trustees believe that these proposals
outlined below will, among other things, streamline the operations of each fund.
We are seeking your approval of these proposals through the joint proxy
statement, which is available to you on the Internet at
https://www.proxy-direct.com/pioneer. If you would rather receive a printed
version of the proxy statement, you may request one via the Internet, or by
calling 1-866-884-2702 and entering the control number and security code from
your enclosed proxy card(s).
> To vote by TouchTone telephone, call 1-866-241-6192.
> To vote by Internet, go to www.proxy-direct.com/pioneer.
You will need your control number and security code from your proxy card(s)
to vote by Internet or TouchTone telephone.
> To vote by mail, sign and date the proxy card(s) and return it/them in the
enclosed postage-paid reply envelope.
The proxy statement contains detailed information about each proposal being
considered. Your fund's Board of Trustees has reviewed each proposal. In the
Trustees' opinion, the proposals are in the best interests of fund shareholders
and they recommend that you vote FOR each proposal. Please take a moment to read
the materials available on the Internet before casting your vote. We ask that
you cast your vote regarding the following proposals:
Proposal 1: Elect Trustees. You are being asked to elect Trustees for each fund.
Each of the nominees, except one, currently serves as a Trustee for some or all
of the Pioneer Funds.
Proposal 2A: Approve an amendment to the Declaration of Trust. Shareholders of
Pioneer Funds that currently are organized as Delaware statutory trusts are
being asked to approve an amendment to the Declaration of Trust for the funds.
The Declaration is designed to grant the Board broader authority than it
possesses currently to further amend the Declaration of Trust without
shareholder approval.
Proposal 2B: Approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. Shareholders of
two Pioneer Funds that are now organized as Massachusetts business trusts are
being asked to approve the reorganization of those funds as Delaware statutory
trusts.
Proposals 3-A to 3-R: Revise Fundamental Investment Policies relating to:
3-A Borrowing
3-B Underwriting
3-C Lending
3-D Senior Securities
3-E Real Estate
3-F Commodities
3-G Concentration
3-H Diversification
3-I Convert Investment Objective(s) from Fundamental to Non-Fundamental
3-J Illiquid Securities
3-K Purchasing Securities on Margin
3-L Short Sales
3-M Purchasing Securities on Margin and Making Short Sales
3-N Investments in Other Investment Companies
3-O Pledging or Guaranteeing Assets
3-P Investments Made for the Purpose of Exercising Control or Management of
Issuers
3-Q Investments in Affiliates
3-R Investments in Convertible Debt Securities Rated Below Investment Grade
In Items 3A through 3R above, you are being asked to approve changes to the
"fundamental" investment policies of your fund(s).
All mutual funds are required by law to have "fundamental" policies, that is,
policies governing certain investment practices that may be changed only with
the approval of fund shareholders. Many of the funds have fundamental policies
that are not required by law or are more restrictive than the law requires, and
the policies vary, sometimes considerably, from fund to fund. At the meeting,
shareholders will be asked to approve revised fundamental policies, eliminate
other investment objectives that cannot be changed without shareholder approval,
or to approve the reclassification of those investment objectives as
"non-fundamental". These changes are intended to simplify compliance monitoring
and provide additional flexibility for the funds.
Proposal 4: Approve an Amended and Restated Management Agreement with Pioneer
Investment Management. You are being asked to approve an amended and restated
management agreement between your fund(s) and its manager, Pioneer Investment
Management, Inc. There will be no decrease in services or increase in management
fees as a result of the new management agreement.
Proposal 5: Approve a Policy Allowing the Appointment of Unaffiliated
Sub-Advisers and Amendments to Sub-Advisory Agreements Without Shareholder
Approval. Shareholders of certain funds are being asked to approve a policy that
would permit Pioneer--subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees-- to
appoint unaffiliated sub-advisers to manage the funds, enter into sub-advisory
agreements and amend existing sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated
sub-advisers, in each case without shareholder approval. The sub-adviser
approval policy will not be used with respect to any agreement with a
sub-adviser that is affiliated with Pioneer.
As a shareholder, you have the opportunity to voice your opinion and I encourage
you to do so. By voting your shares, you not only express to Pioneer how you
feel about the matters under consideration, you also help eliminate the need for
subsequent mailings or phone calls designed to acquire sufficient votes to hold
the meeting. Even if you own a relatively small number of shares, I urge you to
take a moment and vote those shares today.
Remember you may vote by telephone, Internet or by mail.
NOTE: If you vote by phone or Internet, please do not return your proxy card(s).
Again, I encourage you to vote your shares as quickly as possible and I thank
you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter. If you have any
questions about this proxy solicitation or any of the proposals, please call
1-866-526-4104.
Sincerely,
Daniel Kingsbury,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.
Securities offered through Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc., 60 State Street,
Boston, MA. 02109.
Underwriter of Pioneer mutual funds, Member SIPC
(C)2008 Pioneer Investments. o pioneerinvestments.com 21826-00-0408
[PIONEER LOGOS]
IMPORTANT: PLEASE VOTE YOUR SHARES TODAY
Your vote is extremely important, no matter how many shares you own.
Dear Shareholder,
I am writing to remind you about the joint special meeting of shareholders to be
held on May 13, 2008, for all Pioneer open-end mutual funds. Shareholders of
each fund are being asked to approve a number of proposals recently adopted by
each Pioneer Fund's Board of Trustees. The Trustees believe that these proposals
outlined below will, among other things, streamline the operations of each fund.
We are seeking your approval of these proposals through the joint proxy
statement, which is available to you on the Internet at
https://www.proxy-direct.com/pioneer or enclosed. You will need to enter the
control number and security code from your enclosed proxy card(s) to vote.
> To vote by TouchTone telephone, call 1-866-241-6192.
> To vote by Internet, log into www.proxy-direct.com/pioneer.
You will need your control number and security code to vote by Internet or
TouchTone telephone.
> To vote by mail, sign and date the proxy card(s) and return it/them in the
enclosed postage-paid reply envelope.
The proxy statement contains detailed information about each proposal being
considered. Your fund's Board of Trustees has reviewed each proposal. In the
Trustees' opinion, the proposals are in the best interests of fund shareholders
and they recommend that you vote FOR each proposal. Please take a moment to read
the materials available on the Internet before casting your vote. We ask that
you cast your vote regarding the following proposals:
Proposal 1: Elect Trustees. You are being asked to elect Trustees for each fund.
Each of the nominees, except one, currently serves as a Trustee for some or all
of the Pioneer Funds.
Proposal 2A: Approve an amendment to the Declaration of Trust. Shareholders of
Pioneer Funds that currently are organized as Delaware statutory trusts are
being asked to approve an amendment to the Declaration of Trust for the funds.
The Declaration is designed to grant the Board broader authority than it
possesses currently to further amend the Declaration of Trust without
shareholder approval.
Proposal 2B: Approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. Shareholders of
two Pioneer Funds that are now organized as Massachusetts business trusts are
being asked to approve the reorganization of those funds as Delaware statutory
trusts.
Proposals 3-A to 3-R: Revise Fundamental Investment Policies relating to:
3-A Borrowing
3-B Underwriting
3-C Lending
3-D Senior Securities
3-E Real Estate
3-F Commodities
3-G Concentration
3-H Diversification
3-I Convert Investment Objective(s) from Fundamental to Non-Fundamental
3-J Illiquid Securities
3-K Purchasing Securities on Margin
3-L Short Sales
3-M Purchasing Securities on Margin and Making Short Sales
3-N Investments in Other Investment Companies
3-O Pledging or Guaranteeing Assets
3-P Investments Made for the Purpose of Exercising Control or Management of
Issuers
3-Q Investments in Affiliates
3-R Investments in Convertible Debt Securities Rated Below Investment Grade
In Items 3A through 3R above, you are being asked to approve changes to the
"fundamental" investment policies of your fund(s).
All mutual funds are required by law to have "fundamental" policies, that is,
policies governing certain investment practices that may be changed only with
the approval of fund shareholders. Many of the funds have fundamental policies
that are not required by law or are more restrictive than the law requires, and
the policies vary, sometimes considerably, from fund to fund. At the meeting,
shareholders will be asked to approve revised fundamental policies, eliminate
other investment objectives that cannot be changed without shareholder approval,
or to approve the reclassification of those investment objectives as
"non-fundamental". These changes are intended to simplify compliance monitoring
and provide additional flexibility for the funds.
Proposal 4: Approve an Amended and Restated Management Agreement with Pioneer
Investment Management. You are being asked to approve an amended and restated
management agreement between your fund(s) and its manager, Pioneer Investment
Management, Inc. There will be no decrease in services or increase in management
fees as a result of the new management agreement.
Proposal 5: Approve a Policy Allowing the Appointment of Unaffiliated
Sub-Advisers and Amendments to Sub-Advisory Agreements Without Shareholder
Approval. Shareholders of certain funds are being asked to approve a policy that
would permit Pioneer--subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees-- to
appoint unaffiliated sub-advisers to manage the funds, enter into sub-advisory
agreements and amend existing sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated
sub-advisers, in each case without shareholder approval. The sub-adviser
approval policy will not be used with respect to any agreement with a
sub-adviser that is affiliated with Pioneer.
As a shareholder, you have the opportunity to voice your opinion and I encourage
you to do so. By voting your shares, you not only express to Pioneer how you
feel about the matters under consideration, you also help eliminate the need for
subsequent mailings or phone calls designed to acquire sufficient votes to hold
the meeting. Even if you own a relatively small number of shares, I urge you to
take a moment and vote those shares today.
Remember you may vote by telephone, Internet or by mail.
NOTE: If you vote by phone or Internet, please do not return your proxy card(s).
Again, I encourage you to vote your shares as quickly as possible and I thank
you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter. If you have any
questions about this proxy solicitation or any of the proposals, please call:
Deutschland 0800-182 50 85
Osterreich 0800-29 76 57
Schweiz 0800-5540 91
TouchTone voting: 1-866-241-6192
Sincerely,
Daniel Kingsbury,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.
Securities offered through Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc., 60 State Street,
Boston, MA. 02109.
Underwriter of Pioneer mutual funds, Member SIPC
(C)2008 Pioneer Investments. o pioneerinvestments.com 21826-00-0408