▇▇▇▇▇ & Steers Select Utility Fund, Inc.
(a Maryland corporation)
Taxable Auction Market Preferred Shares ("AMPS")
3,000 Shares [ ]% AMPS, Series TH7
Liquidation Preference $25,000 per Share
FORM OF PURCHASE AGREEMENT
December [ ], 2005
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
UBS Securities LLC
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
4 World Financial Center
New York, New York 10080
Ladies and Gentlemen:
▇▇▇▇▇ & Steers Select Utility Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
"Fund"), proposes, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, to issue and
sell an aggregate of 3,000 shares of its Taxable Auction Market Preferred
Shares, Series TH7, with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share (the
"AMPS"). The AMPS will be authorized by, and subject to the terms and conditions
of, the Articles of Incorporation of the Fund, as amended through January 8,
2004 (the "Charter"), in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement referred to in the second following paragraph of this Agreement, as
the same may be amended from time to time. The Fund and the Fund's investment
manager, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Steers Capital Management, Inc., a New York corporation ("CSCM"
or the "Investment Manager"), each confirms its agreement with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ &
Co., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated ("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇") and
each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the
"Underwriters", which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as
hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ is acting as
representative (in such capacity, the "Representative"), with respect to the
issue and sale by the Fund and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting
severally and not jointly, of the respective number of AMPS set forth in said
Schedule A.
The Fund understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of the AMPS as soon as the Representative deems advisable after this
Agreement has been executed and delivered.
The Fund has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form N-2 (No. 333-128080 and No.
811-21485) covering the registration of the AMPS under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), including the related preliminary prospectus
or prospectuses, and a notification on Form N-8A of registration (the "1940 Act
Notification") of the Fund as an investment company under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and the rules and regulations of the
Commission under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act (the "Rules and Regulations").
Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Fund will prepare
and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A ("Rule
430A") of the Rules and Regulations and paragraph (c) or (h) of Rule 497 ("Rule
497") of the Rules and Regulations. The information included in any such
prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it
became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at
the time it became
effective pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is referred to as "Rule 430A
Information." Each prospectus used before such registration statement became
effective, and any prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information, that was
used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, including in each case any Statement of Additional Information
incorporated therein by reference, is herein called a "preliminary prospectus."
Such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto and schedules
thereto at the time it became effective and including the Rule 430A Information
is herein called the "Registration Statement." Any registration statement filed
pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations is herein referred to as
the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement," and after such filing the term
"Registration Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
The final prospectus in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in
connection with the offering of the AMPS, including the Statement of Additional
Information incorporated therein by reference, is herein called the
"Prospectus." For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed
with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and
Retrieval system ("▇▇▇▇▇").
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or other
references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus, as the case may be; and all reference in this Agreement to
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of
any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934
Act"), which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Fund and the Investment
Manager. The Fund and the Investment Manager jointly and severally represent and
warrant to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time referred
to in Section 1(a)(i) as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof
and agree with each Underwriter, as follows:
(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements. Each of the
Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act, or order of
suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of
the 1940 Act, and no proceedings for any such purpose have been
instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Fund or the
Investment Manager, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request
on the part of the Commission for additional information has been
complied with.
At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto
became effective and at the Closing Time, the Registration Statement,
the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the notification on Form N-8A
and any amendments and supplements thereto complied and will comply in
all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940
Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or
supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such amendment
or supplement was issued and at the Closing Time, included or will
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
2
made, not misleading (except that this representation and warranty does
not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration
Statements or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Fund by
or on behalf of the Underwriters expressly for use therein).
As of the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Rule 482
Statement (as defined below), if any, issued at or prior to the
Applicable Time, the Statutory Prospectus (as defined below) as of the
Applicable Time and the information included on Schedule C hereto, all
considered together (collectively, the "General Disclosure Package"),
did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:
"Applicable Time" means [ ]:00 [a/p]m (Eastern time) on
December [ ], 2005 or such other time as agreed by the Fund and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇.
"Rule 482 Statement" means a document that contains the number
of AMPS issued, the distribution rate and any other items dependent
upon the distribution rate, prepared in accordance with the provisions
of Rule 482 of the 1933 Act.
"Statutory Prospectus" as of any time means the prospectus
relating to the AMPS that is included in the Registration Statement
immediately prior to that time, including any document incorporated by
reference therein.
Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectus filed as part
of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any
amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act,
complied when so filed in all material respects with the Rules and
Regulations and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus
delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering
was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed
with the Commission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent permitted
by Regulation S-T.
(b) The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, when they
became effective or at the time they were or hereafter are filed with
the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with
the requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations, and,
when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, (a) at
the time the Registration Statement became effective, (b) at the time
the Prospectus was issued and (c) at the Closing Time, did not and will
not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading.
If a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is required in
connection with the offering and sale of the AMPS, the Fund has
complied or will comply with the requirements of Rule 111 under the
1933 Act Regulations relating to the payment of filing fees thereof.
(ii) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The
independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, who has audited and certified or shall audit and certify the
financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement to either of them) is an independent registered public
accounting firm as required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules
and Regulations.
3
(iii) Financial Statements. The financial statements, together
with related schedules and notes, included or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement to either of them), present
fairly the financial position, results of operations and changes in
financial position of the Fund on the basis stated or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus at the respective dates or for the respective
periods to which they apply; such statements and related schedules and
notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods
involved, except as disclosed therein; and the other financial and
statistical information and data included in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement to either of them)
are accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with such
financial statements and the books and records of the Fund.
(iv) No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as
of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the
General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as otherwise
stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs
or business prospects (other than as a result of a change in the
financial markets generally) of the Fund, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business (a "Material Adverse Effect"), (B) there
have been no transactions entered into by the Fund, other than those in
the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the
Fund, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind
declared, paid or made by the Fund on any class of its capital stock.
(v) Good Standing of the Fund. The Fund has been duly
organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the corporate power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform
its obligations under this Agreement; and the Fund is duly qualified as
a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in
each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required,
whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in
good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(vi) No Subsidiaries. The Fund has no subsidiaries.
(vii) Investment Company Status. The Fund is duly registered
with the Commission under the 1940 Act as a closed-end, non-diversified
management investment company, and to the Fund's knowledge, no order of
suspension or revocation of such registration has been issued or
proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission.
(viii) Officers and Directors. No person is serving or acting
as an officer, director or investment manager of the Fund except in
accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Rules and
Regulations and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Advisers Act"), and the rules and regulations of the Commission
promulgated under the Advisers Act (the "Advisers Act Rules and
Regulations"). Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to either of them), no
director of the Fund is an "interested person" (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Fund or an "affiliated person" (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of any Underwriter listed in Schedule A hereto.
(ix) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding
shares of common stock of the Fund is as set forth in the Prospectus as
of the date thereof under the caption "Description of Common Shares."
All issued and outstanding common shares of the Fund have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable,
and have been offered and sold or exchanged by the Fund in compliance
with all applicable laws (including, without
4
limitation, federal and state securities laws); none of the outstanding
shares of common shares of the Fund was issued in violation of the
preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.
(x) Authorization and Description of AMPS. The AMPS to be
purchased by the Underwriters from the Fund have been duly authorized
for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement
and, when issued and delivered by the Fund pursuant to this Agreement
against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly
issued and fully paid and non-assessable. The AMPS conform to all
statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus and such
description conforms to the rights of holders of AMPS set forth in the
Charter and other documents defining the same; no holder of the AMPS
will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder;
and the issuance of the AMPS is not subject to the preemptive or other
similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.
(xi) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. The Fund is not in
violation of its Charter or by-laws, or in default in the performance
or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of , loan or
credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which
it is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the
property or assets of the Fund is subject (collectively, "Agreements
and Instruments") except for such violations or defaults that would not
result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the
Sub-Administration Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement, the
Custodian Agreement, the Transfer Agent and Service Agreement and the
Auction Agency Agreement referred to in the Registration Statement (as
used herein, the "Administration Agreement," the "Sub-Administration
Agreement," the "Management Agreement," the "Custodian Agreement," the
"Transfer Agency Agreement" and the "Auction Agency Agreement,"
respectively) and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
herein and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and
sale of the AMPS and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the AMPS
as described in the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds") and
compliance by the Fund with its obligations hereunder have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not,
whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or
both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment
Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition
of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Fund pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such
conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that
would not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action
result in any violation of the provisions of the Charter or by-laws of
the Fund or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment,
order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or
court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Fund or any of
its assets, properties or operations. As used herein, a "Repayment
Event" means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note,
debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on
such holder's behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption
or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Fund.
(xii) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or
governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to
the knowledge of the Fund or the Investment Manager, threatened,
against or affecting the Fund, which is required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement (other than as disclosed therein), or which
might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or
which might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect
the properties or assets of the Fund or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the
Fund of its obligations hereunder. The aggregate of all
5
pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Fund is a party
or of which any of its property or assets is the subject which are not
described in the Registration Statement, including ordinary routine
litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xiii) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or
documents which are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits thereto by the
1933 Act, the 1940 Act or by the Rules and Regulations which have not
been so described and filed as required.
(xiv) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or
authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration,
qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or
agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Fund of its
obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or
sale of the AMPS hereunder or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been already
obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the
1934 Act, or state securities laws.
(xv) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Fund possesses
such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations
(collectively, "Governmental Licenses") issued by the appropriate
federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies
necessary to operate its properties and to conduct the business as
contemplated in the Prospectus; the Fund is in compliance with the
terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where
the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and
in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such
Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to
be in full force and effect would not have a Material Adverse Effect;
and the Fund has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which,
singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvi) Advertisements. Any advertising, sales literature or
other promotional material (including "prospectus wrappers," "broker
kits," "road show slides" and "road show scripts") authorized in
writing by or prepared by the Fund or the Investment Manager used in
connection with the public offering of the AMPS (collectively, "sales
material") does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Moreover, all
sales material complied and will comply in all material respects with
the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Rules
and Regulations and the rules and interpretations of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD").
(xvii) Subchapter M. The Fund intends to direct the investment
of the proceeds of the offering described in the Registration Statement
in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Subchapter M of the
Code" and the "Code," respectively), and intends to qualify as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.
(xviii) Distribution of Offering Materials. The Fund has not
distributed and, prior to the later to occur of (A) the Closing Time
and (B) completion of the distribution of the AMPS, will not distribute
any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the
AMPS other than the Registration Statement, a preliminary prospectus,
the Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus, the Rule 482 Statement or
other materials, if any, permitted by the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act or
the Rules and Regulations.
6
(xix) Accounting Controls. The Fund maintains a system of
internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with
management's general or specific authorization and with the applicable
requirements of the 1940 Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Code;
(B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles and to maintain accountability for assets and to maintain
compliance with the books and records requirements under the 1940 Act
and the Rules and Regulations; (C) access to assets is permitted only
in accordance with the management's general or specific authorization;
and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken
with respect to any differences.
(xx) Absence of Undisclosed Payments. To the Fund's knowledge,
neither the Fund nor any employee or agent of the Fund has made any
payment of funds of the Fund or received or retained any funds, which
payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be
disclosed in the Prospectus.
(xxi) Material Agreements. This Agreement, the Administration
Agreement, the Sub-Administration Agreement, the Management Agreement,
the Custodian Agreement, the Transfer Agency Agreement and the Auction
Agency Agreement have each been duly authorized by all requisite action
on the part of the Fund, executed and delivered by the Fund, as of the
dates noted therein, and each complies with all applicable provisions
of the 1940 Act. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by
the other parties thereto with respect to the Administration Agreement,
the Sub-Administration Agreement, the Management Agreement, the
Custodian Agreement, the Transfer Agency Agreement and the Auction
Agency Agreement, each of the Administration Agreement, the
Sub-Administration Agreement, the Management Agreement, the Custodian
Agreement, the Transfer Agency Agreement and the Auction Agency
Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Fund,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as affected by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors'
rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
(xxii) Registration Rights. There are no persons with
registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities
registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise
registered by the Fund under the 1933 Act.
(xxiii) NYSE Listing. The Fund's shares of common stock are
duly listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE").
(xxiv) Ratings. The AMPS have been, or prior to the Closing
Date will be, assigned a rating of "Aaa" by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Service,
Inc. ("Moody's") and "AAA" by Standard & Poor's Rating Services
("S&P").
(xxv) Leverage. The Fund has no liability for borrowed money,
including under any reverse repurchase agreement.
(b) Representations and Warranties by the Investment Manager. The
Investment Manager represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date
hereof, as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof as follows:
(i) Good Standing of the Investment Manager. The Investment
Manager has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good
standing as a corporation under the laws of the State of New York with
full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus
and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and
is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which
7
such qualification is required except where the failure so to register
or to qualify does not have a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or other), business, business prospects, properties, net
assets or results of operations of the Investment Manager to perform
its obligations under this Agreement and the Management Agreement.
(ii) Investment Manager Status. The Investment Manager is duly
registered and in good standing with the Commission as an investment
adviser under the Advisers Act, and is not prohibited by the Advisers
Act or the 1940 Act, or the rules and regulations under such acts, from
acting under the Management Agreement for the Fund as contemplated by
the Prospectus.
(iii) Description of Investment Manager. The description of
the Investment Manager in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
(and any amendment or supplement to either of them) complied and comply
in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1940
Act, the Advisers Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Advisers Act
Rules and Regulations and is true and correct and does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(iv) Capitalization. The Investment Manager has the financial
resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services
and obligations as contemplated in the Prospectus, the General
Disclosure Package, this Agreement and under the Management Agreement.
(v) Authorization of Agreements; Absence of Defaults and
Conflicts. This Agreement and the Management Agreement have each been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Investment Manager, and
the Management Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of
the Investment Manager, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except as affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors' rights generally and general equitable principles
(whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Management
Agreement nor the performance by the Investment Manager of its
obligations hereunder or thereunder will conflict with, or result in a
breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute, with or
without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, a default under,
any agreement or instrument to which the Investment Manager is a party
or by which it is bound, the certificate of incorporation, the by-laws
or other organizational documents of the Investment Manager, or to the
Investment Manager's knowledge, by any law, order, decree, rule or
regulation applicable to it of any jurisdiction, court, federal or
state regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental
body, stock exchange or securities association having jurisdiction over
the Investment Manager or its respective properties or operations; and
no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or
governmental authority or agency is required for the consummation by
the Investment Manager of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the Management Agreement, except as have been obtained or
may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act or state
securities laws.
(vi) No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as
of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has not occurred
any event which should reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the ability of the Investment Manager to perform its
obligations under this Agreement and the Management Agreement.
(vii) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or
governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to
the knowledge of the Investment Manager, threatened against or
8
affecting the Investment Manager or any "affiliated person" of the
Investment Manager (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) or any
partners, directors, officers or employees of the foregoing, whether or
not arising in the ordinary course of business, which might reasonably
be expected to result in any material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or earnings, business affairs or business
prospects of the Investment Manager, materially and adversely affect
the properties or assets of the Investment Manager or materially impair
or adversely affect the ability of the Investment Manager to function
as an investment manager or perform its obligations under the
Management Agreement, or which is required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(viii) Absence of Violation or Default. The Investment Manager
is not in violation of its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or
other organizational documents or in default under any agreement,
indenture or instrument except for such violations or defaults that
would not result in a material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or
business prospects of the Investment Manager or the Fund.
(c) Officer's Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of
the Fund or the Investment Manager delivered to the Representative or to counsel
for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Fund
or the Investment Manager, as the case may be, to each Underwriter as to the
matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a) AMPS. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Fund
agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Fund, at the
price per share set forth in Schedule B, the number of AMPS set forth in
Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of
AMPS which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the
provisions of Section 10 hereof.
(b) Commission. The Fund agrees to pay to the Underwriters a commission
set forth in Schedule B as compensation to the Underwriters for their
commitments under this Agreement.
(c) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the AMPS shall be made at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, or at such other
place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Fund, at 10:00 A.M.
(Eastern time) on the business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in
accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than
ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representative
and the Fund (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called
"Closing Time").
Payment shall be made to the Fund by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to a bank account designated by the Fund, against delivery to
the Representative for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of
certificates for the AMPS to be purchased by them. It is understood that each
Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for its account, to accept
delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the AMPS
which it has agreed to purchase. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, individually and not as
representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make
payment of the purchase price for the AMPS to be purchased by any Underwriter
whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time but such payment shall
not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
(d) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the AMPS shall be in
such denominations and registered in such names as the Representative may
request in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Time. The
certificates for the AMPS will be made available for examination and packaging
9
by the Representative in the City of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern
time) on the business day prior to the Closing Time.
SECTION 3. Covenants.
(a) The Fund and the Investment Manager, jointly and severally,
covenant with each Underwriter as follows:
(i) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission
Requests. The Fund, subject to Section 3(a)(ii), will comply with the
requirements of Rule 430A and will notify the Representatives
immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become
effective, or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended
Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments
from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any
amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement
to the Prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein or
for additional information, and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any
preliminary prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of
the AMPS for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation
or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any
examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the
Registration Statement and (v) if the Fund becomes the subject of a
proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the
offering of the AMPS. The Fund will promptly effect the filings
necessary pursuant to Rule 497 and will take such steps as it deems
necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus
transmitted for filing under Rule 497 was received for filing by the
Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file
such prospectus. The Fund will make every reasonable effort to prevent
the issuance of any stop order, or order of suspension or revocation of
registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act, and, if any such
stop order or order of suspension or revocation of registration is
issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(ii) Filing of Amendments. The Fund will give the
Representative notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment
to the Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b))
or any amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus
included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective
or to the Prospectus, will furnish the Representative with copies of
any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed
filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such
document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters
shall object.
(iii) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Fund has
furnished or will deliver to the Representative and counsel for the
Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration
Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including
exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein) and
signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will
also deliver to the Representative, without charge, a conformed copy of
the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of
the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the
Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies
thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the
extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(iv) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Fund has delivered to each
Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary
prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Fund
hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the
1933 Act prior to the date of the Prospectus. The Fund will furnish to
each Underwriter, without charge,
10
during the period when in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter
the Prospectus is required under the 1933 Act to be delivered in
connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer or the 1934 Act,
such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as
such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be
identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with
the Commission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent permitted by
Regulation S-T.
(v) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. If at any time
when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in
connection with sales of the AMPS, any event shall occur or condition
shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters or for the Fund, to amend the Registration
Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the
Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at
the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary,
in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the
Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order
to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the Rules and
Regulations, the Fund will promptly prepare and file with the
Commission, subject to Section 3(a)(ii), such amendment or supplement
as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such
requirements, and the Fund will furnish to the Underwriters such number
of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may
reasonably request. If at any time following issuance of a Rule 482
Statement, if any, there occurred or occurs an event or development as
a result of which such Rule 482 Statement, if any, conflicted or would
conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement
relating to the AMPS or included or would include an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the
Fund will promptly notify the Representative and will promptly amend or
supplement, at its own expense, such Rule 482 Statement, if any, to
eliminate or correct such conflict
(vi) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Fund will use its best
efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the AMPS for
offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states
and other jurisdictions of the United States as the Representative may
designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect for a period of
not less than one year from the later of the effective date of the
Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Fund shall not be obligated to file any
general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign
corporation or as a dealer in AMPS in any jurisdiction in which it is
not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing
business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
In each jurisdiction in which the AMPS have been so qualified, the Fund
will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of
such jurisdiction to continue such qualification in effect for a period
of not less than one year from the effective date of the Registration
Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
(vii) Rule 158. The Fund will timely file such reports
pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally
available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings
statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the
benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the
1933 Act.
(viii) Use of Proceeds. The Fund will use the net proceeds
received by it from the sale of the AMPS in the manner specified in the
Prospectus under "Use of Proceeds."
11
(ix) Reporting Requirements. The Fund, during the period when
the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the
1934 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the
Commission pursuant to the 1940 Act and the 1934 Act within the time
periods required by the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations and the
1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,
respectively.
(x) Subchapter M. The Fund will comply with the requirements
of Subchapter M of the Code to qualify as a regulated investment
company under the Code.
(xi) No Manipulation of Market for AMPS. The Fund will not (a)
take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result
in, or that might reasonably be expected to constitute, the
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Fund
to facilitate the sale or resale of the AMPS, and (b) until the Closing
Date, or the Date of Delivery, if any, (i) sell, bid for or purchase
the AMPS or pay any person any compensation for soliciting purchases of
the AMPS or (ii) pay or agree to pay to any person any compensation for
soliciting another to purchase any other Shares of the Fund.
(xii) Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. If the Fund elects
to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Fund shall file a Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule
462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this
Agreement, and the Fund shall at the time of filing either pay to the
Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or
give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to
Rule 111(b) under the 1933 Act.
(xiii) Accountant's Certificate. The Fund will furnish to the
Underwriters, on the date on which delivery is made to the Rating
Agencies, the Accountant's Certificate (as defined in the Charter)
corresponding to the Certificate of Dividend Coverage and Certificate
of Eligible Asset Coverage (as defined in the Charter) for the first
Valuation Date (as defined in the Charter) following the Closing Time
for which an Accountant's Certificate is delivered to the Rating
Agencies.
(b) Except as provided in this Agreement, the Fund will not sell,
contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any of its preferred shares of
beneficial interest of the same series as the AMPS or any securities convertible
into or exercisable or exchangeable for its preferred shares of beneficial
interest of the same series as the AMPS, or grant any options or warrants to
purchase its preferred shares of beneficial interest of the same series as the
AMPS, for a period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, without the
prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Expenses. The Fund will pay all expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the
preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including
financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this
Agreement, any Agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may be
required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery
of the AMPS, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates
for the AMPS to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes
and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the
AMPS to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Fund's counsel,
accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the AMPS under
securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(a)(vi) hereof,
including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation
of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the printing and
delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, Rule 482
Statement, if any,
12
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated
with electronic delivery of any of the forgoing by the Underwriters to
investors, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of
copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and
expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the AMPS, (ix) the fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the rating of the AMPS and (x) the printing
of any sales material.
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the
Representative in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a)
hereof, the Fund and the Investment Manager, jointly and severally, agree that
they shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses,
including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.
SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.
The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to
the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Fund and the
Investment Manager contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any
officer of the Fund or the Investment Manager delivered pursuant to the
provisions hereof, to the performance by the Fund and the Investment Manager of
their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following
further conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration
Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become
effective and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act, no notice or
order pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act shall have been issued, and no
proceedings with respect to either shall have been initiated or threatened by
the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional
information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of
counsel to the Underwriters. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information
shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 497 (or a
post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and
declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A).
(b) Opinion of Counsel for Fund and the Investment Manager. At Closing
Time, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions, dated as of
Closing Time, of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Fund, and of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq., internal counsel for the Investment Manager, in form
and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed
or reproduced copies of such letters for each of the other Underwriters
substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto and to such further
effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request. Insofar as the
opinions expressed above relate to or are dependant upon matters governed by
Maryland law, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP will be permitted to rely on the
opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP.
(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At Closing Time, the
Representative shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing
Time, of Clifford Chance US LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, together with
signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters
with respect to the matters set forth in clauses (A) (1), (3) through (7),
inclusive and (11) (solely as to the information in the Prospectus under
"Description of AMPS") of Exhibit A hereto. In giving such opinion such counsel
may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the
law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States, upon the
opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representative. Such counsel may also
state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied,
to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the Fund and
certificates of public officials.
(d) Officers' Certificates. At Closing Time, there shall not have been,
since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package, any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business
13
affairs or business prospects of the Fund, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, and the Representative shall have received a
certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Fund and of the chief financial
or chief accounting officer of the Fund and of the President or a Vice President
or Managing Director of the Investment Manager, dated as of Closing Time, to the
effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the
representations and warranties in Sections 1(a) and (b) hereof are true and
correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of
Closing Time, (iii) each of the Fund and the Investment Manager, respectively,
has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, (iv) with respect to the
Investment Manager only, there has been no material adverse change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or
business prospects of the Investment Manager, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business and (v) to the knowledge of such officers, no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or order of
suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940
Act, has been issued and no proceedings for any such purpose have been
instituted or are pending or are contemplated by the Commission.
(e) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm's Comfort Letter. At
the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have
received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter dated such date, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or
reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing
statements and information to the effect that:
(i) They are an independent registered public accounting firm
with respect to the Fund within the meaning of the 1933 Act and 1940
Act, and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder adopted by the
Commission;
(ii) In their opinion, the financial statements of the Fund
audited by them and included in the Registration
Statement comply as to form in all material respects
with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1933
Act and 1940 Act and the related rules and regulations
adopted by the Commission;
(iii) On the basis of procedures (but not an audit in
accordance with the standards of the Public Accounting
Oversight Board (United States)) consisting of:
a. Reading the minutes of meetings of the Board of
Directors of the Fund as set forth in the minute books
through a specified date not more than three business
days prior to the date of delivery of such letter;
b. Performing procedures specified by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review
of interim financial information as described in SAS
100, Interim Financial Information, on the unaudited
financial statements of the Fund included in the
Registration Statement and reading the unaudited interim
financial data for the period from the date of the
latest statement of assets and liabilities included in
the Registration Statement to the date of the latest
available interim financial data; and
c. Making inquiries of certain officials of the Fund who
have responsibility for financial and accounting matters
regarding changes in the capital stock, net assets or
long term liabilities of the Fund as compared with the
amounts shown in the latest balance sheet included in
the Registration Statement or for the period from the
date of the latest income statement included in the
Registration Statement to a specified date not more than
three business days prior to the delivery of such
letter.
14
Nothing has come to their attention as a result of the foregoing
procedures that caused them to believe that:
d. The unaudited interim financial statements, included in the
Registration Statement, do not comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act,
the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations;
e. Any material modifications should be made to the unaudited
interim financial statements, included in the Registration Statement,
for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles;
f. At the date of the latest available interim financial
data and at a specified date not more than three
business days prior to the date of delivery of such
letter, there were any changes in the total assets,
total liabilities, net assets and common shares
outstanding of the Fund as compared with the amounts
shown in the latest balance sheet included in the
Registration Statement.
(iv) The letter shall also state that the information set
forth under the captions "Prospectus Summary - The Fund," "Prospectus
Summary - Asset Maintenance," "Financial Highlights," "The Fund,"
"Capitalization (Unaudited)" and "Description of AMPS - Rating Agency
Guidelines" which is expressed in dollars (or percentages derived from
such dollar amounts) and has been obtained from accounting records
which are subject to controls over financial reporting or which has
been derived directly from such accounting records by analysis or
computation, is in agreement with such records or computations made
therefrom, and such other procedures as the Representative may request
and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are willing to perform and report upon.
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, the Representative
shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter, dated as of
Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter
furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that the specified
date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to
Closing Time.
(g) Rating. The Fund shall have delivered and you shall have received
evidence satisfactory to you that the AMPS are rated 'Aaa' by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ and 'AAA'
by S&P as of the Closing Date, and there shall not have been given any notice of
any intended or potential downgrading, or of any review for a potential
downgrading, in the rating accorded to the AMPS or any other securities issued
by the Fund, by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ or by S&P.
(h) Asset Coverage. As of the Closing Date and assuming the receipt of
the net proceeds from the sale of the AMPS, the 1940 Act Preferred Shares Asset
Coverage and the Preferred Shares Basic Maintenance Amount (each as defined in
the Charter) each will be met.
(i) Additional Documents. At Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery,
counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and
opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the
issuance and sale of the AMPS as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence
the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of
any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Fund
and the Investment Manager in connection with the organization and registration
of the Fund under the 1940 Act and the issuance and sale of the AMPS as herein
contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative
and counsel for the Underwriters.
15
(j) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this
Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this
Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Fund at any
time at or prior to Closing Time, and such termination shall be without
liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and
except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8 and 13 shall survive any such termination and
remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Fund and the Investment
Manager, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule
430A Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in
any preliminary prospectus, the Rule 482 Statement, if any, or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or
alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount
paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or
omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided
that (subject to Section 6(e) below) any such settlement is effected
with the written consent of the Fund; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred
(including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending
against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any
such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such
expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund or the
Investment Manager by any Underwriter through ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ expressly for use in
the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A
Information, or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto); provided, however, that the indemnification contained in
this paragraph (a) with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to
the benefit of any Underwriter (or to the benefit of any person controlling such
Underwriter) on account of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense
arising from the sale of the AMPS by such Underwriter to any person if the Fund
sustains the burden of proof that a copy of the Prospectus has not been
delivered or sent by the Underwriters as required to such person within the time
required by the 1933 Act and the Rules and Regulations, and the untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of a material fact
contained in such preliminary prospectus was corrected in such Prospectus.
16
(b) Indemnification of Fund, Investment Manager, Directors and
Officers. Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund and the Investment Manager, their respective directors, each of the Fund's
officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who
controls the Fund or the Investment Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a)
of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or
omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Fund or the Investment Manager by such Underwriter through ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or
such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto).
(c) Indemnification for Marketing Materials. In addition to the
foregoing indemnification, the Fund and the Investment Manager also, jointly and
severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each
person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 6(a),
as limited by the proviso set forth therein, with respect to any sales material.
(d) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall
give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of
any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought
hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such
indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not
materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above,
counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and, in
the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the
indemnified parties shall be selected by the Fund and the Investment Manager. An
indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such
action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not
(except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the
indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees
and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel)
separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with
any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in
respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this
Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual
or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i)
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does
not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure
to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(e) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time
an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by
Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of
the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being
entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement.
17
SECTION 7. Contribution.
If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any
reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in
respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to
therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount
of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such
indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Fund and the Investment Manager on
the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the
AMPS pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i)
is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also
the relative fault of the Fund and the Investment Manager on the one hand and of
the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Fund and the Investment Manager
on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the
offering of the AMPS pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the
same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the
AMPS pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Fund
and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters (whether from
the Fund or otherwise), in each case as set forth on the cover of the
Prospectus.
The relative fault of the Fund and the Investment Manager on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates
to information supplied by the Fund or the Investment Manager or by the
Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Fund, the Investment Manager and the Underwriters agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section
7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall
be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the AMPS underwritten by it and distributed to the public were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter
has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each director of the Fund and each director of the Investment Manager,
respectively, each officer of the Fund who signed the Registration Statement,
and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the Investment Manager, within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall
have the same rights to contribution as the Fund and the
18
Investment Manager, respectively. The Underwriters' respective obligations to
contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of
Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not
joint.
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive
Delivery.
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Fund or the Investment Manager
submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or
controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Fund or the Investment Manager,
and shall survive delivery of the AMPS to the Underwriters.
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination; General. The Representative may terminate this
Agreement, by notice to the Fund, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i) if
there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus or the
General Disclosure Package, any material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business
prospects of the Fund or the Investment Manager, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse
change in the financial markets in the United States or the international
financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other
calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change
in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in
each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the
Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to market the AMPS or to enforce
contracts for the sale of the AMPS, or (iii) if trading in the shares of common
stock of the Fund has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or
the NYSE, or if trading generally on the American Stock Exchange or the NYSE or
in the Nasdaq National Market has been suspended or materially limited, or
minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for
prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by
order of the Commission, the NASD or any other governmental authority, or a
material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement
or clearance services in the United States, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has
been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.
(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this
Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other
party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections
1, 6, 7, 8 and 13 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and
effect.
SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters.
If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time or a Date
of Delivery to purchase the AMPS which it or they are obligated to purchase
under this Agreement (the "Defaulted AMPS"), the Representative shall have the
right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the
non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not
less than all, of the Defaulted AMPS in such amounts as may be agreed upon and
upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not have
completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:
(a) if the number of Defaulted AMPS does not exceed 10% of the number
of AMPS to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters
shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount
thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations
hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting
Underwriters, or
(b) if the number of Defaulted AMPS exceeds 10% of the number of AMPS
to be purchased on such date, this Agreement shall terminate without liability
on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
19
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination
of this Agreement, either the Representative or the Fund shall have the right to
postpone Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect
any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term "Underwriter" includes any
person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.
SECTION 11. Tax Disclosure.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, from the
commencement of discussions with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby, the Fund and the Investment Manager (and each employee, representative
or other agent of the Fund) may disclose to any and all persons, without
limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure (as such terms are
used in Sections 6011, 6111 and 6112 of the U.S. Code and the Treasury
Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax
analyses) that are provided relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.
SECTION 12. Notices.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard
form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the
Representative, c/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., 4 World Financial Center, New York, New
York 10080, attention of Equity Capital Markets; and notices to the Fund or the
Investment Manager shall be directed, as appropriate, to the office of ▇▇▇▇▇ &
Steers Capital Management, Inc. at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇,
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇.
SECTION 13. Parties.
This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the Underwriters, the Fund, the Investment Manager and their respective partners
and successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the
Underwriters, the Fund, the Investment Manager and their respective successors
and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6
and 7 and their heirs and legal Representative, any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein
contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended
to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Fund, the
Investment Manager and their respective partners and successors, and said
controlling persons and officers, directors and their heirs and legal
Representative, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No
purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by
reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME.
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE
PERFORMED IN SAID STATE. UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPLICITLY PROVIDED, SPECIFIED TIMES
OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
SECTION 15. No Fiduciary Relationship.
The Fund acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public
offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is
an arm's-length commercial transaction between the Fund on the one hand, and the
several Underwriters, on the other hand, (ii) in connection with the offering
contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter
is and has been acting solely as a principal
20
and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Fund, or its stockholders, creditors,
employees or any other party, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an
advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Fund with respect to the
offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of
whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Fund on other
matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Fund with respect to the
offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this
Agreement, (iv) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged
in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those
of the Fund, and (v) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting,
regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and
the Fund has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to
the extent it deemed appropriate.
SECTION 16. Effect of Headings.
The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and
shall not affect the construction hereof.
21
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among
the Underwriters, the Fund and the Investment Manager in accordance with its
terms.
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇▇ & Steers Select Utility Fund, Inc.
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇ & Steers Capital Management, Inc.
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Authorized Signatory
For itself and as Representative of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A
hereto.
22
SCHEDULE A
Name of Underwriter Number of Shares -- Series TH7 AMPS
------------------- -----------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated....................................
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
UBS Securities LLC
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
Total........................................... 3,000
-----
-----
Sch A-1
SCHEDULE B
▇▇▇▇▇ & STEERS SELECT UTILITY FUND, INC.
3,000 Shares [ ]% AMPS, Series TH7
Liquidation Preference $25,000 per share
1. The initial public offering price per share for the AMPS, determined
as provided in said Section 2, shall be $25,000.
2. The purchase price per share for the AMPS to be paid by the several
Underwriters shall be $24,750, such discount from the initial public offering
price representing the commission to be paid to the Underwriters for their
commitment hereunder of $250.
3. The initial dividend rate on the AMPS, Series TH7 shall be [ ]% per
annum.
Sch B-1
SCHEDULE C
Oral Information, if any, included as part of the General Disclosure Package
Sch C-1
Exhibit A
FORM OF OPINION OF FUND'S AND INVESTMENT MANAGER'S
COUNSEL TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 5(b)
With respect to the Fund:
1. The Fund (A) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing and in
good standing as a corporation under the law of the State of Maryland,
with full corporate power and authority to conduct its business as
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter
into and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement, and (B)
is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good
standing in the State of New York (which is the only jurisdiction
identified by management of the Fund to us in which the Fund owns or
leases property or operates or conducts its business);
2. The statements made in the Prospectus under the captions "Description
of Common Shares," "Description of AMPS" and "The Auction," insofar as
they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the Fund's capital
stock, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of the Fund's capital
stock in all material respects;
3. All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Fund have been duly
authorized and validly issued by the Fund, and are fully paid and
nonassessable;
4. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to
you against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the
Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued by the Fund, fully paid and
nonassessable. There are no preemptive rights under federal or New York
law or under the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "MGCL") to
subscribe for or purchase shares of the Fund's capital stock. There are
no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any
restriction upon the issuance, voting or, transfer of, any shares of
the Fund's capital stock pursuant to the Fund's Charter or Bylaws,
except for certain transfer restrictions with respect to the Shares and
with respect to other series of Taxable Auction Market Preferred Shares
("AMPS") and certain restrictions on the future issuance of shares of
capital stock set forth in the articles supplementary establishing the
terms of the Shares (the "Articles Supplementary") and in the articles
supplementary establishing the terms of other series of AMPS;
5. The form of the certificate for the Shares conforms to the requirements
of the MGCL;
6. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities
Act and, to our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement or order pursuant to Section 8(e) of the
1940 Act has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or threatened by the Commission and any required filing of
the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 497 of the Securities Act Rules and
Regulations has been made in accordance with Rule 497;
7. The Purchase Agreement dated as of December [ ], 2005 and each of the
Investment Management Agreement between the Fund and the Investment
Manager dated as of March 25, 2004 (the "Advisory Agreement"), the
Administration Agreement between the Fund and the
A-1
Investment Manager, dated as of March 25, 2004 (the "Administration
Agreement"), the Administration Agreement among various investment
companies advised by the Investment Manager and State Street Bank and
Trust Company, dated as of March 12, 2001 and effective with respect to
the Fund pursuant to a letter agreement dated as of March 25, 2004
(collectively, the "Sub-Administration Agreement"), the Master
Custodian Agreement among various investment companies advised by the
Investment Manager and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated as of
March 9, 2001 and effective with respect to the Fund pursuant to a
letter agreement dated as of March 23, 2004 (the "Custodian
Agreement"), the Stock Transfer Agent Services Agreement among various
investment companies advised by the Investment Manager and Equiserve,
Inc. and EquiServe Trust Company, N.A., dated as of January 27, 2004
and effective with respect to the Fund pursuant to a letter agreement
dated as of May 25, 2004 (the "Transfer Agent Agreement"), and the
Auction Agency Agreement between the Fund and The Bank of New York,
dated as of December [ ], 2005 (the Advisory Agreement, Administration
Agreement, the Sub-Administration Agreement, the Custodian Agreement,
the Transfer Agent Agreement, and the Auction Agency Agreement,
collectively, the "Fund Agreements") have each been duly authorized,
executed, and delivered by the Fund and (B) the Advisory Agreement,
assuming that the Advisory Agreement is the valid and legally binding
obligation of the parties thereto other than the Fund, is a valid and
legally binding agreement of the Fund, enforceable against the Fund in
accordance with its terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, (ii)
general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law) and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair
dealing, and except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by
considerations of public policy;
8. The issue and sale of the Shares by the Fund and the compliance by the
Fund with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement and the Fund
Agreements will not breach or result in a default under or result in
the creation or imposition of any lien, charge, or encumbrance upon any
property or assets of the Fund pursuant to any indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument filed or
incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement,
nor will such action violate the Charter, including the Articles
Supplementary, or Bylaws of the Fund, or any federal or New York
statute or any rule or regulation thereunder or the MGCL or any order
known to us that has been issued pursuant to any federal or New York
statute or the MGCL by any New York or Maryland court or governmental
agency or body having jurisdiction over the Fund or any of its
properties;
9. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing, or
qualification of or with any federal or New York governmental agency or
body or any Maryland governmental agency or body acting pursuant to the
MGCL or, to our knowledge, any federal or New York court or any
Maryland court acting pursuant to the MGCL, is required for the issue
and sale of the Shares by the Fund and the compliance by the Fund with
all of the provisions of the Purchase Agreement and the Fund
Agreements, except for the registration with the Commission under the
1940 Act of the Fund as an investment company which has occurred and
the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and under the
1940 Act pursuant to the Registration Statement which has been filed
and has become effective, and such consents, approvals, authorizations,
registrations, filings or qualifications as have been made or as may be
required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the
purchase and distribution of the Shares by you;
10. To our knowledge, (A) other than as described or contemplated in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus, there are no legal or
governmental proceedings pending or threatened against the Fund, or to
which the Fund or any of its properties is subject, which are required
to be described
A-2
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus and (B) there are no
agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or other instruments which
are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
that are not described or filed as required, as the case may be;
11. The statements made in the Prospectus under the captions "Management of
the Fund" and "The Auction," insofar as they purport to constitute
summaries of contracts and other documents, constitute accurate
summaries of the terms of such contracts and other documents in all
material respects;
12. The statements made in Part C of the Registration Statement under Item
29 (Indemnification), insofar as they purport to constitute summaries
of the MGCL or any federal statutes, rules and regulations thereunder
or contracts and other documents, constitute accurate summaries of the
terms of such statutes, rules and regulations or contracts and other
documents in all material respects;
13. The statements made in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information under the caption "U.S. Federal Taxation," insofar as they
purport to constitute summaries of matters of United States federal tax
law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto,
constitute accurate summaries of the matters described therein in all
material respects;
14. Each of the Fund Agreements complies as to form with all applicable
provisions of the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended (the "Advisers Act"), and the rules and regulations under the
1940 Act and the Advisers Act;
15. The Fund has been duly registered with the Commission under the 1940
Act and the rules and regulations under the 1940 Act (the "1940 Act
Rules and Regulations") as a closed-end, non-diversified management
investment company and, to our knowledge, no order of suspension or
revocation of such registration under the 1940 Act or the 1940 Act
Rules and Regulations has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated
or threatened by the Commission; the provisions of the Charter,
Articles Supplementary and Bylaws do not violate the provisions of the
1940 Act or the 1940 Act Rules and Regulations; and the investment
policies and restrictions described in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus under the captions "Investment Objectives and Policies",
"Risk Factors" and "Investment Restrictions" (in the Prospectus and the
Statement of Additional Information incorporated by reference therein)
comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1940 Act
and the applicable 1940 Act Rules and Regulations; and
16. To our knowledge, except as described in the Prospectus, there are no
outstanding options, warrants or other rights calling for the issuance
of, and we do not know of any commitment, plan or arrangement to issue
(other than in connection with the reinvestment of dividends) any
shares of capital stock of the Fund or any security convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for shares of capital stock of the Fund or
to otherwise register such securities for sale.
Insofar as the opinions expressed herein relate to or are dependent
upon matters governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, we have relied upon
the opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP.
We have not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the statements made or included in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus and take no responsibility therefor, except as and to the extent set
forth in paragraphs 2, 11, 12 and 13 above. In the course of the preparation by
the Fund of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, we participated in
conferences
A-3
with certain officers and employees of the Fund and the Investment Manager, with
representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and with counsel to the Investment
Manager. Based upon our examination of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, our investigations made in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and our participation in the
conferences referred to above, (i) we are of the opinion that the Registration
Statement, as of its effective date, and the Prospectus, as of its date complied
as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and
the 1940 Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, except that in each case we express no opinion with respect to the
financial statements or other financial data contained or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and (ii) we have no
reason to believe that the Registration Statement, at the time the Registration
Statement became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus as of
December [ ], 2005 contained, or as of the date hereof contains, any untrue
statement of a material fact, or as of December [ ], 2005 omitted, or as of the
date hereof omits, to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, except that in each case we express no belief with respect
to the financial statements or other financial data contained or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. In addition, nothing
has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that the documents
included in the General Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. With respect
to statements contained in the General Disclosure Package, any statement
contained in any of the constituent documents shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded to the extent that any information contained in subsequent
constituent documents modifies or replaces such statement.
With respect to the Investment Manager:
1. The Investment Manager (A) has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation under the laws of the State of New York with
full corporate power and authority to conduct its business as described
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and (B) is duly
registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good
standing in the State of New York (which is the only jurisdiction in
which the Investment Manager owns or leases property or operates or
conducts its business).
2. The Investment Manager is duly registered with the Commission as an
investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended (the "Advisers Act"), and is not prohibited by the Advisers
Act, the rules and regulations under the Advisers Act (the "Advisers
Act Rules and Regulations"), the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations
under the 1940 Act from acting under the Advisory Agreement dated as of
January 27, 2004 between the Fund and the Investment Manager (the
"Advisory Agreement"), for the Fund as contemplated by the Prospectus;
and to my knowledge, no order of suspension or revocation of such
registration under the Advisers Act and the Advisers Act Rules and
Regulations has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose are
pending before or threatened by the Commission;
3. Each of the Purchase Agreement and the Advisory Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Investment Manager and, the
Advisory Agreement, assuming that the Advisory Agreement is the valid
and legally binding agreement of the other parties thereto, is a valid
and legally binding agreement of the Investment Manager, enforceable
against the Investment Manager in accordance with its terms subject to
(i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors' rights generally, (ii) by general equitable
principles (whether considered in
A-4
a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) an implied covenant of good
faith and fair dealing, and except as the enforceability thereof may by
limited by considerations of public policy;
4. Neither the execution, delivery or performance of the Purchase
Agreement or the Advisory Agreement by the Investment Manager or
compliance by the Investment Manager with the provisions of the
Purchase Agreement or the Advisory Agreement nor consummation by the
Investment Manager of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
will breach or result in a default under any indenture, mortgage, deed
of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the
Investment Manager is a party or by which its properties are bound
except where breach or default would not reasonably be expected to have
a material adverse effect on the ability of the Investment Manager to
perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement and the Advisory
Agreement, nor will such action violate the charter or by-laws of the
Investment Manager or any federal or New York statute or any rules or
regulations thereunder or order known to me issued pursuant to any
federal or New York statute by any court or governmental agency or body
having jurisdiction over the Investment Manager or any of its
properties;
5. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing or
qualification of or with any federal or New York governmental agency or
body or, to my knowledge, any federal or New York court is required on
the part of the Investment Manager for the execution, delivery and
performance by the Investment Manager of the Purchase Agreement and the
Advisory Agreement, except such consents, approvals, authorizations,
orders, registrations, filings or qualifications as have been obtained
or made prior to the date hereof;
6. To my knowledge, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending
or threatened against the Investment Manager, or to which the
Investment Manager or any of its properties is subject, which are
required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus
that are not described as required or which may reasonably be expected
to involve a prospective material adverse change in the ability of the
Investment Manager to perform its obligations under the Purchase
Agreement and the Advisory Agreement.
I have not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the statements made or included in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus and take no responsibility therefor. In the course of the preparation
by the Fund of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, I participated in
conferences with certain officers and employees of the Fund and the Investment
Manager, with representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and with counsel to
the Fund. Based upon my examination of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, my investigations made in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and my participation in the
conferences referred to above, I have no reason to believe that the Registration
Statement, at the time the Registration Statement became effective, contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading or that the Prospectus contains any untrue statement of material fact
or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, except I express no belief with respect to the financial statements
or other financial data contained or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus. In addition, nothing has come to my
attention that would lead me to believe that the documents included in the
General Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein not misleading. With respect to statements
contained in the General Disclosure Package, any statement contained in any of
the constituent documents shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the
extent that any information contained in subsequent constituent documents
modifies or replaces such statement.
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