Exhibit (k)(iv)
▇▇▇▇▇ & STEERS ADVANTAGE INCOME REALTY FUND, INC.
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AUCTION AGENCY AGREEMENT
dated as of July__, 2001
Relating to
Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares
Series M and Series W
of
▇▇▇▇▇ & STEERS ADVANTAGE INCOME REALTY FUND, INC.
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BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
as Auction Agent
AUCTION AGENCY AGREEMENT
This Auction Agency Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated as of July __,
2001, is between ▇▇▇▇▇ & STEERS ADVANTAGE INCOME REALTY, INC. (the "Fund") and
Bankers Trust Company, a New York banking corporation.
The Fund proposes to issue 2 series of auction rate cumulative
preferred shares, par value $.001 per share, designated Series M Preferred
Shares, liquidation preference $25,000 per share, and Series W Preferred Shares,
liquidation preference $25,000 per share (collectively, the "Preferred Shares"),
pursuant to the Fund's Articles Supplementary (as defined below).
The Fund desires that Bankers Trust Company perform certain duties as
agent in connection with each Auction (as defined below) of Preferred Shares (in
such capacity, the "Auction Agent"), and as the transfer agent, registrar,
dividend paying agent and redemption agent with respect to the Preferred Shares
(in such capacity, the "Paying Agent"), upon the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, and the Fund hereby appoints Bankers Trust Company as said Auction
Agent and Paying Agent in accordance with those terms and conditions
(hereinafter generally referred to as the "Auction Agent," except in Sections 3
and 4 below).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein, the Fund and the Auction Agent agree as follows:
I. DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
1.1 Terms Defined by Reference to the Articles Supplementary.
Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the respective meanings
specified in the Articles Supplementary.
1.2 Certain Defined Terms.
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings,
unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Agent Member" of any Person shall mean such Person's
agent member of a participant in the Securities Depository that will act on
behalf of a Bidder.
(b) "Auction" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.1
hereof.
(c) "Auction Procedures" shall mean the Auction Procedures
that are set forth in Part II of the Articles Supplementary.
(d) "Authorized Officer" shall mean each Managing Director,
Vice President, Assistant Vice President and Associate of the Auction Agent and
every other officer or employee of the Auction Agent designated as an
"Authorized Officer" for purposes hereof in a written communication from the
Auction Agent to the Fund.
(e) "Articles Supplementary" shall mean the Articles
Supplementary for Preferred Shares of the Fund dated July __, 2001 specifying
the powers, preferences and rights of the Preferred Shares.
(f) "Broker-Dealer Agreement" shall mean each agreement
between the Auction Agent and a broker-dealer substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A.
(g) "Closing" shall mean the date the Fund consummates the
transactions for the issuance and sale of the Preferred Shares.
(h) "Fund Officer" shall mean the Chairman, the President,
each Vice President (whether or not designated by a number or word or words
added before or after the title "Vice President"), the Secretary, the Treasurer,
each Assistant Secretary and each Assistant Treasurer of the Fund and every
other officer or employee of the Fund designated as a "Fund Officer" for
purposes hereof in a notice from the Fund to the Auction Agent.
(i) "Holder" shall be a holder of record of one or more
Preferred Shares, listed as such in the share register maintained by the Paying
Agent pursuant to Section 4.6 hereof.
(j) "Interest Equivalent" means a yield on a 360-day basis of
a discount basis security which is equal to the yield on an equivalent
interest-bearing security.
1.3 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context or use indicates another or different meaning or
intent, the following rules shall apply to the construction of this Agreement:
(a) Words importing the singular number shall include the
plural number and vice versa.
(b) The captions and headings herein are solely for
convenience of reference and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement nor
shall they affect its meaning, construction or effect.
(c) The words "hereof," "herein," "hereto," and other words of
similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole.
(d) All references herein to a particular time of day shall be
to New York City time.
II. THE AUCTION.
2.1 Purpose; Incorporation by Reference of Auction Procedures.
(a) The Articles Supplementary provides that the Applicable
Rate on shares of a series of Preferred Shares, as the case may be, for each
Dividend Period therefor after the initial Dividend Period shall be the rate per
annum that a commercial bank, trust company or
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other financial institution appointed by the Fund advises results from the
implementation of the Auction Procedures. The Board of Directors of the Fund has
adopted a resolution appointing Bankers Trust Company as Auction Agent for
purposes of the Auction Procedures. The Auction Agent hereby accepts such
appointment and agrees that, on each Auction Date, it shall follow the
procedures set forth in this Section 2 and the Auction Procedures for the
purpose of determining the Applicable Rate for the Preferred Shares for the next
Dividend Period. Each periodic operation of such procedures is hereinafter
referred to as an "Auction."
(b) All of the provisions contained in the Auction Procedures
are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be
a part hereof to the same extent as if such provisions were set forth fully
herein.
2.2 Preparation for Each Auction; Maintenance of Registry of
Existing Holders.
(a) As of the date hereof, the Fund shall provide the Auction
Agent with a list of the Broker-Dealers previously approved by the Auction Agent
and shall cause to be delivered to the Auction Agent for execution by the
Auction Agent a Broker-Dealer Agreement signed by each such Broker-Dealer. The
Auction Agent shall keep such list current and accurate and shall indicate
thereon, or on a separate list, the identity of each Existing Holder, if any,
whose most recent Order was submitted by a Broker-Dealer on such list and
resulted in such Existing Holder continuing to hold or purchase Preferred
Shares. Not later than five Business Days prior to any Auction Date for which
any change in such list of Broker-Dealers is to be effective, the Fund shall
notify the Auction Agent in writing of such change and, if any such change is
the addition of a Broker-Dealer to such list, the Fund shall cause to be
delivered to the Auction Agent for execution by the Auction Agent a
Broker-Dealer Agreement signed by such Broker-Dealer. The Auction Agent shall
have entered into a Broker-Dealer Agreement with each Broker-Dealer prior to the
participation of any such Broker-Dealer in any Auction.
(b) In the event that the Auction Date for any Auction shall
be changed after the Auction Agent shall have given the notice, the Auction
Agent, by such means as the Auction Agent deems practicable, shall give notice
of such change to the Broker-Dealers not later than the earlier of 9:15 a.m. on
the new Auction Date or 9:15 a.m. on the old Auction Date.
(c) The provisions contained in Section 4 of Part I of the
Articles Supplementary concerning Special Dividend Periods and the notification
of a Special Dividend Period will be followed by the Fund and, to the extent
applicable, the Auction Agent, and the provisions contained therein are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a
part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions were set forth
fully herein.
(d) (i) On each Auction Date, the Auction Agent shall
determine the initial dividend rate and the Maximum Rate. If the initial
dividend rate is not quoted on an interest basis but is quoted on a discount
basis, the Auction Agent shall convert the quoted rate to an Interest
Equivalent; or, if the rate obtained by the Auction Agent is not quoted on an
interest or discount basis, the Auction Agent shall convert the quoted rate to
an interest rate after consultation with the Fund as to the method of such
conversion. Not later than 9:30 a.m. on each
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Auction Date, the Auction Agent shall notify the Fund and the Broker-Dealers of
the initial dividend rate so determined and of the Maximum Rate.
(ii) If the initial dividend rate is the applicable "AA"
Financial Composite Commercial Paper Rate and such rate is to be based on rates
supplied by Commercial Paper Dealers and one or more of the Commercial Paper
Dealers shall not provide a quotation for the determination of the applicable
"AA" Financial Composite Commercial Paper Rate, the Auction Agent immediately
shall notify the Fund so that the Fund can determine whether to select a
substitute Commercial Paper Dealer or substitute Commercial Paper Dealers to
provide the quotation or quotations not being supplied by any Commercial Paper
Dealer or Commercial Paper Dealers. The Fund promptly shall advise the Auction
Agent of any such selection. If the Fund does not select any such substitute
Commercial Paper Dealer or substitute Commercial Paper Dealers, then the rates
shall be supplied by the remaining Commercial Paper Dealer or Commercial Paper
Dealers.
(e) (i) The Auction Agent shall maintain a current registry of
the Existing Holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of each individual
Auction. The Fund shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide or cause
to be provided to the Auction Agent within ten Business Days following the date
of the Closing a list of the initial Existing Holders of Preferred Shares, and
the Broker-Dealer of each such Existing Holder through which such Existing
Holder purchased such shares. The Auction Agent may rely upon, as evidence of
the identities of the Existing Holders, such list, the results of each Auction
and notices from any Existing Holder, the Agent Member of any Existing Holder or
the Broker-Dealer of any Existing Holder with respect to such Existing Holder's
transfer of any Preferred Shares to another Person.
(ii) In the event of any partial redemption of Preferred
Shares, upon notice by the Fund to the Auction Agent of such partial redemption,
the Auction Agent promptly shall request the Securities Depository to notify the
Auction Agent of the identities of the Agent Members (and the respective numbers
of shares) from the accounts of which shares have been called for redemption and
the person or department at such Agent Member to contact regarding such
redemption. At least two Business Days prior to the Auction preceding the date
of redemption, the Auction Agent shall request each Agent Member so identified
to disclose to the Auction Agent (upon selection by such Agent Member of the
Existing Holders whose shares are to be redeemed) the number of Preferred Shares
of each such Existing Holder, if any, to be redeemed by the Fund, provided that
the Auction Agent has been furnished with the name and telephone number of a
person or department at such Agent Member from which it is to request such
information. In the absence of receiving any such information with respect to an
Existing Holder, from such Existing Holder's Agent Member or otherwise, the
Auction Agent may continue to treat such Existing Holder as having ownership of
the number of Preferred Shares shown in the Auction Agent's registry of Existing
Holders.
(iii) The Auction Agent shall register a transfer of the
ownership of Preferred Shares from an Existing Holder to another Existing
Holder, or to another Person if permitted by the Fund, only if (A) such transfer
is made pursuant to an Auction or (B) if such transfer is made other than
pursuant to an Auction, the Auction Agent has been notified of such transfer in
writing, in a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the Broker-Dealer
Agreement, by such Existing Holder or by the Agent Member of such Existing
Holder. The
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Auction Agent is not required to accept any notice of transfer delivered for an
Auction unless it is received by the Auction Agent by 12:00 noon of the Dividend
Payment Date. The Auction Agent shall rescind a transfer made on the registry of
the Existing Holders of any Preferred Shares if the Auction Agent has been
notified in writing, in a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit C to the
Broker-Dealer Agreement, by the Agent Member or the Broker-Dealer of any Person
that (i) purchased any Preferred Shares and the seller failed to deliver such
shares or (ii) sold any Preferred Shares and the purchaser failed to make
payment to such Person upon delivery to the purchaser of such shares.
(f) The Auction Agent may request that the Broker Dealers, as
set forth in Section 3.2(b) of the Broker-Dealer Agreements, provide the Auction
Agent with a list of their respective customers that such Broker-Dealers believe
are Beneficial Owners of Preferred Shares. The Auction Agent shall keep
confidential any such information and shall not disclose any such information so
provided to any Person other than the relevant Broker-Dealer and the Fund,
provided that the Auction Agent reserves the right to disclose any such
information if it is advised by its counsel that its failure to do so would be
unlawful.
2.3 Auction Schedule.
The Auction Agent shall normally conduct Auctions every Monday and
Wednesday in accordance with the schedule set forth below. Such schedule may be
changed by the Auction Agent with the consent of the Fund, which consent shall
not be withheld unreasonably. The Auction Agent shall give notice of any such
change to each Broker-Dealer. Such notice shall be received prior to the first
Auction Date on which any such change shall be effective.
Time Event
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By 9:30 a.m. Auction Agent shall advise the Fund and the
Broker-Dealers of the initial dividend rate and the
Maximum Rate as set forth in Section 2.2(d)(i) hereof.
9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Auction Agent shall assemble information
communicated to it by Broker-Dealers as provided in
Section 3(a) of Part II of the Articles Supplementary.
Submission deadline is 1:00 p.m.
Not earlier than 1:30 p.m. Auction Agent shall make determinations pursuant to
Section 4(a) of Part II of the Articles Supplementary.
By approximately 3:00 p.m. Auction Agent shall advise the Fund of the results of
the Auction as provided in Section 4(b) of Part II of the
Articles Supplementary.
Submitted Bid Orders and Submitted Sell Orders will
be accepted and rejected in whole or in part and
Preferred Shares will be allocated as provided in
Section 5 of Part II of the Articles Supplementary.
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Auction Agent shall give notice of the Auction results
as set forth in Section 2.4 hereof.
2.4 Notice of Auction Results.
On each Auction Date, the Auction Agent shall notify Broker-Dealers of
the results of the Auction held on such date by telephone or through the Auction
Agent's Auction Processing System.
2.5 Broker-Dealers.
(a) Not later than 12:00 noon on each Auction Date, the Fund
shall pay to the Auction Agent in Federal Funds or similar same-day funds an
amount in cash equal to (i) in the case of any Auction Date immediately
preceding a seven-day Dividend Period, the product of (A) a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of days in such Dividend Period (calculated by
counting the first day of such Dividend Period but excluding the last day
thereof) and the denominator of which is 360, times (B) 1/4 of 1%, times (C)
$25,000 times (D) the sum of the aggregate number of outstanding Preferred
Shares for which the Auction is conducted and (ii) in the case of any Special
Dividend Period, the amount determined by mutual consent of the Fund and the
Broker-Dealers pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Broker-Dealer Agreements. The
Auction Agent shall apply such moneys as set forth in Section 3.5 of the
Broker-Dealer Agreements and shall thereafter remit to the Fund any remaining
funds paid to the Auction Agent pursuant to this Section 2.5(a).
(b) The Fund shall not designate any Person to act as a
Broker-Dealer, or permit an Existing Holder or a Potential Beneficial Owner to
participate in Auctions through any Person other than a Broker-Dealer, without
the prior written approval of the Auction Agent, which approval shall not be
withheld unreasonably. The Fund may designate an Affiliate or ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ to act as a Broker-Dealer.
(c) The Auction Agent shall terminate any Broker-Dealer
Agreement as set forth therein if so directed by the Fund.
(d) Subject to Section 2.5(b) hereof, the Auction Agent from
time to time shall enter into such Broker-Dealer Agreements as the Fund shall
request.
(e) The Auction Agent shall maintain a list of Broker-Dealers.
2.6 Ownership of Preferred Shares and Submission of Bids by the
Fund and Its Affiliates.
Neither the Fund nor any Affiliate of the Fund may submit any Sell
Order or Bid, directly or indirectly, in any Auction, except that an Affiliate
of the Fund that is a Broker-Dealer may submit a Sell Order or Bid on behalf of
a Beneficial Owner or a Potential Beneficial Owner. The Fund shall notify the
Auction Agent if the Fund or, to the best of the Fund's knowledge, any Affiliate
of the Fund becomes a Beneficial Owner of any Preferred Shares. Any Preferred
Shares redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired (i) by the Fund shall not be
reissued, except in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended ("Securities Act")
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or (ii) by its Affiliates shall not be transferred (other than to the Fund). The
Auction Agent shall have no duty or liability with respect to enforcement of
this Section 2.6.
2.7 Access to and Maintenance of Auction Records.
The Auction Agent shall afford to the Fund, its agents, independent
public accountants and counsel, access at reasonable times during normal
business hours to review and make extracts or copies (at the Fund's sole cost
and expense) of all books, records, documents and other information concerning
the conduct and results of Auctions, provided that any such agent, accountant or
counsel shall furnish the Auction Agent with a letter from the Fund requesting
that the Auction Agent afford such person access. The Auction Agent shall
maintain records relating to any Auction for a period of at least two years
after such Auction (unless requested by the Fund to maintain such records for
such longer period not in excess of four years, then for such longer period),
and such records, in reasonable detail, shall accurately and fairly reflect the
actions taken by the Auction Agent hereunder. The Fund agrees to keep
confidential any information regarding the customers of any Broker-Dealer
received from the Auction Agent in connection with this Agreement or any
Auction, and shall not disclose such information or permit the disclosure of
such information without the prior written consent of the applicable
Broker-Dealer to anyone except such agent, accountant or counsel engaged to
audit or review the results of Auctions as permitted by this Section 2.7. The
Fund reserves the right to disclose any such information if it is advised by its
counsel that its failure to do so would (i) be unlawful or (ii) expose it to
liability, unless the Broker-Dealer shall have offered indemnification
satisfactory to the Fund. Any such agent, accountant or counsel, before having
access to such information, shall agree to keep such information confidential
and not to disclose such information or permit disclosure of such information
without the prior written consent of the applicable Broker-Dealer, provided that
such agent, accountant or counsel may reserve the right to disclose any such
information if it is advised by its counsel that its failure to do so would (i)
be unlawful or (ii) expose it to liability, unless the Broker-Dealer shall have
offered indemnification satisfactory to such agent, accountant or counsel.
III. THE AUCTION AGENT AS PAYING AGENT.
3.1 The Paying Agent.
The Board of Directors of the Fund has adopted a resolution appointing
Bankers Trust Company as Auction Agent and Paying Agent. The Paying Agent hereby
accepts such appointment and agrees to act in accordance with its standard
procedures and the provisions of the Articles Supplementary which are specified
herein with respect to the Preferred Shares and as set forth in this Section 3.
3.2 The Fund's Notices to the Paying Agent.
Whenever any Preferred Shares are to be redeemed, the Fund promptly
shall deliver to the Paying Agent a Notice of Redemption, which will be mailed
by the Paying Agent to each Holder at least five Business Days prior to the date
such Notice of Redemption is required to be mailed pursuant to the Articles
Supplementary. The Paying Agent shall have no responsibility to confirm or
verify the accuracy of any such Notice.
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3.3 The Fund to Provide Funds for Dividends and Redemptions.
(a) Not later than 12:00 noon on each Dividend Payment Date,
the Fund shall deposit with the Paying Agent an aggregate amount of Federal
Funds or similar same-day funds equal to the declared dividends to be paid to
Holders on such Dividend Payment Date, and shall give the Paying Agent
irrevocable instructions to apply such funds to the payment of such dividends on
such Dividend Payment Date.
(b) If the Fund shall give a Notice of Redemption, then by
noon of the date fixed for redemption, the Fund shall deposit in trust with the
Paying Agent an aggregate amount of Federal Funds or similar same-day funds
sufficient to redeem such Preferred Shares called for redemption and shall give
the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption
price to the Holders of Preferred Shares called for redemption upon surrender of
the certificate or certificates therefor.
3.4 Disbursing Dividends and Redemption Price.
After receipt of the Federal Funds or similar same-day funds and
instructions from the Fund described in Section 3.3 above, the Paying Agent
shall pay to the Holders (or former Holders) entitled thereto (i) on each
corresponding Dividend Payment Date, dividends on the Preferred Shares, and (ii)
on any date fixed for redemption, the redemption price of any shares of
Preferred Shares called for redemption. The amount of dividends for any Dividend
Period to be paid by the Paying Agent to Holders will be determined by the Fund
as set forth in Section 2 of Part I of the Articles Supplementary. The
redemption price to be paid by the Paying Agent to the Holders of any shares of
Preferred Shares called for redemption will be determined as set forth in
Section 3 of Part I of the Articles Supplementary. The Paying Agent shall have
no duty to determine the redemption price and may rely on the amount thereof set
forth in a Notice of Redemption.
IV. THE PAYING AGENT AS TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR.
4.1 Original Issue of Share Certificates.
On the Date of Original Issue for any Preferred Share, one certificate
for each series of Preferred Shares shall be issued by the Fund and registered
in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the Securities Depository, and
countersigned by the Paying Agent.
4.2 Registration of Transfer or Exchange of Shares.
Except as provided in this Section 4.2, the shares of each series of
Preferred Shares shall be registered solely in the name of the Securities
Depository or its nominee. If the Securities Depository shall give notice of its
intention to resign as such, and if the Fund shall not have selected a
substitute Securities Depository acceptable to the Paying Agent prior to such
resignation, then upon such resignation of the shares of each Series, at the
Fund's request, may be registered for transfer or exchange, and new certificates
thereupon shall be issued in the name of the designated transferee or
transferees, upon surrender of the old certificate in form deemed by the Paying
Agent to be properly endorsed for transfer with (a) all necessary endorsers'
signatures guaranteed in such manner and form and by such guarantor as the
Paying Agent may reasonably
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require, (b) such assurances as the Paying Agent shall deem necessary or
appropriate to evidence the genuineness and effectiveness of each necessary
endorsement and (c) satisfactory evidence of compliance with all applicable laws
relating to the collection of taxes in connection with any registration of
transfer or exchange or funds necessary for the payment of such taxes. If the
certificate or certificates for Preferred Shares are not held by the Securities
Depository or its nominee, payments upon transfer of shares in an Auction shall
be made in Federal Funds or similar same-day funds to the Auction Agent against
delivery of certificates therefor.
4.3 Removal of Legend.
Any request for removal of a legend indicating a restriction on
transfer from a certificate evidencing Preferred Shares shall be accompanied by
an opinion of counsel stating that such legend may be removed and such shares
may be transferred free of the restriction described in such legend, said
opinion to be delivered under cover of a letter from a Fund Officer authorizing
the Paying Agent to remove the legend on the basis of said opinion.
4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Shares Certificates.
The Paying Agent shall issue and register replacement certificates for
certificates represented to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the
fulfillment of such requirements as shall be deemed appropriate by the Fund and
by the Paying Agent, subject at all times to provisions of law, the Articles
Supplementary governing such matters and resolutions adopted by the Fund with
respect to lost, stolen or destroyed securities. The Paying Agent may issue new
certificates in exchange for and upon the cancellation of mutilated
certificates. Any request by the Fund to the Paying Agent to issue a replacement
or new certificate pursuant to this Section 4.4 shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Fund to the Paying Agent that such issuance
will comply with provisions of applicable law and the Articles Supplementary and
resolutions of the Fund.
4.5 Disposition of Canceled Certificates; Record Retention.
The Paying Agent shall retain stock certificates which have been
canceled in transfer or in exchange and accompanying documentation in accordance
with applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") for at least two calendar years from the date of such
cancellation. The Paying Agent, upon written request by the Fund, shall afford
to the Fund, its agents and counsel access at reasonable times during normal
business hours to review and make extracts or copies (at the Fund's sole cost
and expense) of such certificates and accompanying documentation. Upon request
by the Fund at any time after the expiration of this two-year period, the Paying
Agent shall deliver to the Fund the canceled certificates and accompanying
documentation. The Fund, at its expense, shall retain such records for a minimum
additional period of at least four calendar years from the date of delivery of
the records to the Fund and shall make such records available during this period
at any time, or from time to time, for reasonable periodic, special, or other
examinations by representatives of the Commission. The Fund also shall undertake
to furnish to the Commission, upon demand, either at its principal office or at
any regional office, complete, correct and current hard copies of any and all
such records. Thereafter, such records shall not be destroyed by
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the Fund without the approval of the Paying Agent, which approval shall not be
withheld unreasonably, but will be safely stored for possible future reference.
4.6 Stock Register.
The Paying Agent shall maintain the stock register, which shall contain
a list of the Holders, the number of shares held by each Holder and the address
of each Holder. The Paying Agent shall record in the stock register any change
of address of a Holder upon notice by such Holder. In case of any written
request or demand for the inspection of the share register or any other books of
the Fund in the possession of the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent will notify the
Fund and secure instructions as to permitting or refusing such inspection. The
Paying Agent reserves the right, however, to exhibit the stock register or other
records to any person in case it is advised by its counsel that its failure to
do so would (i) be unlawful or (ii) expose it to liability, unless the Fund
shall have offered indemnification satisfactory to the Paying Agent.
4.7 Return of Funds.
Any funds deposited with the Paying Agent by the Fund for any reason
under this Agreement, including for the payment of dividends or the redemption
of Preferred Shares, that remain with the Paying Agent after 12 months shall be
repaid to the Fund upon written request by the Fund.
V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
5.1 Representations and Warranties of the Fund.
The Fund represents and warrants to the Auction Agent that:
(i) the Fund is duly organized and is validly existing as
a corporation under the laws of the State of Maryland, and has full power to
execute and deliver this Agreement and to authorize, create and issue the
Preferred Shares;
(ii) the Fund is registered with the Commission under the
1940 Act as a closed-end, non-diversified, management investment company;
(iii) this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Fund and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Fund, enforceable against the Fund in accordance with its
terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
equitable principles;
(iv) the form of the certificates evidencing the Preferred
Shares comply with all applicable laws of the State of Maryland;
(v) the Preferred Shares have been duly and validly
authorized by the Fund and, upon completion of the initial sale of the Preferred
Shares and receipt of payment therefor, will be validly issued by the Fund,
fully paid and nonassessable;
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(vi) at the time of the offering of the Preferred Shares,
the shares offered will be registered under the Securities Act and no further
action by or before any governmental body or authority of the United States or
of any state thereof is required in connection with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement or will be required in connection with the issuance of shares
of the Preferred Shares, except such action as required by applicable state
securities laws;
(vii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
issuance and delivery of the Preferred Shares do not and will not conflict with,
violate, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, the Articles of Incorporation any order or decree of
any court or public authority having jurisdiction over the Fund, or any
mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement or undertaking to which the Fund is a
party or by which it is bound; and
(viii) no taxes are payable upon or in respect of the
execution of this Agreement or will be payable upon or in respect of the
issuance of the Preferred Shares.
5.2 Representations and Warranties of the Auction Agent.
The Auction Agent represents and warrants to the Fund that:
(i) the Auction Agent is duly organized and is validly
existing as a banking corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
of New York and has the corporate power to enter into and perform its
obligations under this Agreement; and
(ii) this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Auction Agent and constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Auction Agent, enforceable against the Auction Agent
in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors'
rights and to general equitable principles.
VI. THE AUCTION AGENT.
6.1 Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) The Auction Agent is acting solely as agent for the Fund
hereunder and owes no fiduciary duties to any Person except as provided by this
Agreement.
(b) The Auction Agent undertakes to perform such duties and
only such duties as are set forth specifically in this Agreement, and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Auction
Agent.
(c) In the absence of bad faith or negligence on its part, the
Auction Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by
it or for any error of judgment made by it in the performance of its duties
under this Agreement.
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6.2 Rights of the Auction Agent.
(a) The Auction Agent may rely upon, and shall be protected in
acting or refraining from acting upon, any communication authorized hereby and
any written instruction, notice, request, direction, consent, report,
certificate, share certificate or other instrument, paper or document reasonably
believed by it to be genuine. The Auction Agent shall not be liable for acting
upon any telephone communication authorized hereby which the Auction Agent
reasonably believes in good faith to have been given by the Fund or by a
Broker-Dealer. The Auction Agent may record telephone communications with the
Fund or with the Broker-Dealers or with both.
(b) The Auction Agent may consult with counsel of its choice,
and the written advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization
and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
hereunder in good faith and in reasonable reliance thereon.
(c) The Auction Agent shall not be required to advance, expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur or become exposed to financial
liability in the performance of its duties hereunder. The Auction Agent shall be
under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as
otherwise agreed in writing with the Fund.
(d) The Auction Agent may perform its duties and exercise its
rights hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys.
6.3 Compensation, Expenses and Indemnification.
(a) The Fund shall pay to the Auction Agent from time to time
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it under this Agreement and
under the Broker-Dealer Agreements as shall be set forth in a separate writing
signed by the Fund and the Auction Agent, subject to adjustments if the
Preferred Shares no longer are held of record by the Securities Depository or
its nominee or if there shall be such other change as shall increase or decrease
materially the Auction Agent's obligations hereunder or under the Broker-Dealer
Agreements.
(b) The Fund shall reimburse the Auction Agent upon its
request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made
by the Auction Agent in accordance with any provision of this Agreement and of
the Broker-Dealer Agreements (including the reasonable compensation, expenses
and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any expense, disbursement
or advance attributable to its negligence or bad faith.
(c) The Fund shall indemnify the Auction Agent for, and hold
it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence
or bad faith on the part of the Auction Agent arising out of or in connection
with its agency under this Agreement and under the Broker-Dealer Agreements,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of
liability in connection with its exercise or performance of any of its duties
hereunder and thereunder, except such as may result from its negligence or bad
faith.
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VII. MISCELLANEOUS.
7.1 Term of Agreement.
(a) The term of this Agreement is unlimited unless it shall be
terminated as provided in this Section 7.1. The Fund may terminate this
Agreement at any time by so notifying the Auction Agent, provided that, if any
Preferred Shares remain outstanding, the Fund shall have entered into an
agreement with a successor auction agent. The Auction Agent may terminate this
Agreement upon prior notice to the Fund on the date specified in such notice,
which date shall be no earlier than 60 days after delivery of such notice. If
the Auction Agent terminates this Agreement while any Preferred Shares remains
outstanding, the Fund shall use its best efforts to enter into an agreement with
a successor auction agent containing substantially the same terms and conditions
as this Agreement.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.1(b), the
respective rights and duties of the Fund and the Auction Agent under this
Agreement shall cease upon termination of this Agreement. The Fund's
representations, warranties, covenants and obligations to the Auction Agent
under Sections 5.1 and 6.3 hereof shall survive the termination hereof. Upon
termination of this Agreement, the Auction Agent shall (i) resign as Auction
Agent under the Broker-Dealer Agreements, (ii) at the Fund's request, deliver
promptly to the Fund copies of all books and records maintained by it in
connection with its duties hereunder, and (iii) at the request of the Fund,
transfer promptly to the Fund or to any successor auction agent any funds
deposited by the Fund with the Auction Agent (whether in its capacity as Auction
Agent or as Paying Agent) pursuant to this Agreement which have not been
distributed previously by the Auction Agent in accordance with this Agreement.
7.2 Communications.
Except for (i) communications authorized to be made by telephone
pursuant to this Agreement or the Auction Procedures and (ii) communications in
connection with Auctions (other than those expressly required to be in writing),
all notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be
in writing (including telecopy or similar writing) and shall be given to such
party at its address or telecopier number set forth below:
If to the Fund, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Steers Advantage Income Realty Fund, Inc.
addressed to: Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: 212-832-3232
Telephone No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to the Auction Agent, Bankers Trust Company
addressed to: Corporate Trust and Agency Group
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Auction Rate Securities
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Telecopier No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇]
or such other address or telecopier number as such party hereafter may specify
for such purpose by notice to the other party. Each such notice, request or
communication shall be effective when delivered at the address specified herein.
Communications shall be given on behalf of the Fund by a Fund Officer and on
behalf of the Auction Agent by an Authorized Officer.
7.3 Entire Agreement.
This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties
relating to the subject matter hereof, and there are no other representations,
endorsements, promises, agreements or understandings, oral, written or implied,
between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, except for agreements
relating to the compensation of the Auction Agent.
7.4 Benefits.
Nothing herein, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other
than the Fund, the Auction Agent and their respective successors and assigns,
any benefit of any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim hereunder.
7.5 Amendment; Waiver.
(a) This Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be
modified, amended, rescinded, canceled or waived, in whole or in part, except by
a written instrument signed by a duly authorized representative of the party to
be charged. The Fund shall notify the Auction Agent of any change in the
Articles Supplementary prior to the effective date of any such change. If any
such change in the Articles Supplementary materially increases the Auction
Agent's obligations hereunder, the Fund shall obtain the written consent of the
Auction Agent prior to the effective date of such change.
(b) Failure of either party hereto to exercise any right or
remedy hereunder in the event of a breach hereof by the other party shall not
constitute a waiver of any such right or remedy with respect to any subsequent
breach.
7.6 Successors And Assigns.
This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be
enforceable by, the respective successors and permitted assigns of each of the
Fund and the Auction Agent. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party
hereto absent the prior written consent of the other party, which consent shall
not be withheld unreasonably.
7.7 Severability.
If any clause, provision or section hereof shall be ruled invalid or
unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity or
unenforceability of such clause, provision or section shall not affect any of
the remaining clauses, provisions or sections hereof.
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7.8 Execution in Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which
shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.
7.9 Governing Law.
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.
[Signature pages follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as of
the date first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇ & STEERS ADVANTAGE
INCOME REALTY FUND, INC.
By:
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Name:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
By:
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Name:
Title:
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