1,226,995 Shares of Common Stock Par Value $0.001 Per Share of TORTOISE ENERGY CAPITAL CORPORATION PLACEMENT AGENCY AGREEMENT January 5, 2010

Exhibit h.9

1,226,995 Shares of Common Stock
Par Value $0.001 Per Share

of

TORTOISE ENERGY CAPITAL CORPORATION

PLACEMENT AGENCY AGREEMENT

January 5, 2010

▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Incorporated
As Placement Agent

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇^▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Tortoise Energy Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “FUND”), proposes to sell shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Fund (the “SHARES”), directly to certain investors (the “INVESTORS”). The Fund and Tortoise Capital Advisors, LLC (the “ADVISER”) desire to engage ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Incorporated as the placement agent (the “PLACEMENT AGENT”) in connection with such issuance and sale. The Shares are more fully described in the Registration Statement (as hereinafter defined).

     The Fund has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “COMMISSION”) a registration statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-149315 and 811-21725) which became effective on May 8, 2009, covering the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 ACT”), and a notification on Form N-8A of registration 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 supplement in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A (“RULE 430A”) and paragraph (c) and/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, including any statement of additional information incorporated therein by reference, is herein called a “PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS.” Such registration statement, including a 462(d) post-effective amendment or other amendment thereto, the exhibits and schedules thereto at the time it became effective and including the Rule 430A Information and any statement of additional information incorporated

therein by reference, is herein called the “REGISTRATION STATEMENT.” The final prospectus in the form first furnished to the Placement Agent for use in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Investors, 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, 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 are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case maybe.

     The Fund hereby confirms that the Placement Agent, in connection with its duties in such capacity, is authorized to distribute or cause to be distributed the Prospectus in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

     Section 1. Representations and Warranties.

     (a) Representations and Warranties by the Fund and the Adviser. The Fund and the Adviser represent and warrant to the Placement Agent as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agree with the Placement Agent, as follows:

          (i) Compliance With Registration Requirements. Each of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(d) post-effective amendment has become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the 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 Adviser, 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(d) post-effective amendment and any other post-effective amendment thereto relating to the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Investors (filed before the Closing Time) became effective and at the Closing Time, as hereinafter defined, the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(d) post-effective amendment, the notification on Form N-8A and all 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, any Preliminary Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time, the Prospectus, Preliminary 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

made, not misleading. The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the Placement Agent for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus.

     As of the date hereof, the Statutory Prospectus (as defined below) and the information included on Schedule A 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, “Statutory Prospectus” as of any time means the prospectus relating to the Shares 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 the Prospectus delivered to the Placement Agent for use in connection with the issuance and sale of Shares to the Investors was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

     At the time of filing the Registration Statement or any 462(d) post-effective amendments thereto relating to the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Investors and at the date hereof, the Fund was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.

          (ii) Incorporation of Documents by Reference. The documents incorporated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Statutory Prospectus, 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 rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and 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.

          (iii) Independent Accountants. The accountants who certified the statement of assets and liabilities included in the Registration Statement have confirmed to the Fund their status as independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the Rules and Regulations and the Fund and the Adviser have no reason to believe that they are not independent public accountants.

          (iv) Financial Statements. The statement of assets and liabilities included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the

related notes, presents fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in all material respects the financial position of the Fund at the date indicated and has been prepared in conformity with GAAP. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement.

          (v) Expense Summary. The information set forth in the Prospectus in the fee table contained in the section of the Prospectus entitled “Summary of Company Expenses” has been prepared in all material respects in accordance with the requirements of Form N-2, and interpretations thereunder, and to the extent estimated or projected, such estimates or projections are reasonably believed to be attainable and reasonably based.

          (vi) 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 of the Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (other than as a result of changes in market conditions generally) (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.

          (vii) 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.

          (viii) No Subsidiaries. The Fund has no subsidiaries.

          (ix) Investment Company Status. The Fund is duly registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act as a nondiversified, closed-end management investment company, and no order of suspension or revocation of such registration has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or, to the Fund’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission.

          (x) Officers and Directors. No person is serving or acting as an officer, director or investment adviser 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, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to the Fund’s knowledge after due inquiry, 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 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of the Placement Agent.

          (xi) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Fund is as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as of the date thereof under the captions “The Company” and “Description of Securities.” All issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “COMMON SHARES”), and all issued and outstanding Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares of the Fund (the “PREFERRED SHARES”) 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 limitation, federal and state securities laws). None of the outstanding Common Shares or Preferred Shares of the Fund was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.

          (xii) Authorization and Description of Shares. The Shares to be purchased by the Investors from the Fund have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Investors pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Fund pursuant to one or more Purchase Agreements (as defined herein) against payment of the consideration set forth therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Shares conform to all statements relating thereto contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms in all material respects to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same; and the issuance and sale of the Shares is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.

          (xiii) 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 material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, 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 and any Purchase Agreements (collectively, the “OFFERING AGREEMENTS”) and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Offering Agreements and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Investors and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Fund with its obligations thereunder 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 or the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Custody Agreement, the Stock Transfer Agency Agreement, the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement and the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement referred to in the Registration Statement (as used herein, individually the “Investment Advisory Agreement,” the “Custody Agreement,” the “Stock Transfer Agency Agreement,” the “Fund Administration Servicing Agreement,” and the “Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement,” respectively and collectively the “FUND AGREEMENTS”) (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 (except for such violations that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect). 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.

          (xiv) 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 Adviser, threatened, against or affecting the Fund, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement (other than as disclosed therein), or which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which could 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 and any Purchase Agreements or the performance by the Fund of its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The aggregate of all 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.

          (xv) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or the documents incorporated by reference therein) 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.

          (xvi) Possession of Intellectual Property; Fund Name. The Fund owns or possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate licenses, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by the Fund, and the Fund has not received any notice or is not otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Fund therein.

          (xvii) 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 and under any Purchase Agreement, in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Investors or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any Purchase Agreement, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 ACT”), or under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or state securities laws.

          (xviii) 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. The Fund has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses.

          (xix) [Intentionally Omitted].

          (xx) Subchapter M. The Fund has not made and will not make an election under Section 851(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “CODE”) (or any successor provisions thereto), to be treated as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes.

          (xxi) Distribution of Offering Materials. The Fund has not distributed and, prior to the later of (A) the Closing Time and (B) completion of the distribution of the Shares, will not distribute any offering material to the public in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.

          (xxii) Accounting Controls and Disclosure 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, FINRA 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. The Fund has developed and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) that are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in the reports that it files or submits under the 1940 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Commission, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in the reports that it files or submits under the 1940 Act is accumulated and communicated to the Fund’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

          (xxiii) Absence of Undisclosed Payments. Neither the Fund nor, to the Fund’s Knowledge, 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 and which payment has not been so disclosed.

          (xxiv) Material Agreements; Enforceability. The Offering Agreements and the Fund Agreements have each been duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of the Fund and executed and delivered by the Fund, as of the dates noted therein, and each complies with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act in all material respects. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto with respect to this Agreement, the Offering Agreements and the Fund Agreements, each Offering Agreement and each Fund 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) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and except as rights to indemnification or contribution thereunder may be limited by federal or state laws.

          (xxv) 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.

          (xxvi) NYSE Listing. The Fund’s common stock has been duly authorized for listing on the NYSE and the Fund’s registration statement on Form 8-A under the 1934 Act has become effective.

          (xxvii) Payment of Taxes. All United States federal income tax returns of the Fund required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments that are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The United States federal income tax returns of the Fund through the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008 have been settled and no assessment in connection therewith has been made against the Fund. The Fund has filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Fund, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Fund in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or reassessments for additional tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. All material taxes which the Fund is required by law to withhold or to collect for payment have been duly withheld and collected and have been paid to the appropriate governmental authority or agency or have been accrued, reserved against and entered on the books of the Fund.

          (xxviii) Insurance. The Fund carries on or is entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as are generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business, and all such insurance is in full force and effect. The Fund has no reason to

believe that it will not be able to (A) renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

          (xxix) Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Fund believes to be reliable and accurate, and the Fund has obtained written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

     (b) Representations and Warranties by the Adviser. The Adviser represents and warrants to the Placement Agent as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(b) hereof as follows:

          (i) Good Standing of the Adviser. The Adviser has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign entity to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of such Adviser, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (an “ADVISER MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT”).

          (ii) Investment Adviser Status. The Adviser 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, the 1940 Act, or the rules and regulations under such acts, from acting under the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Fund as contemplated by the Prospectus.

          (iii) Description of Adviser. The description of the Adviser in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement thereto) 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 Adviser has the financial resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as contemplated in the General Disclosure Package, Prospectus, the Investment Advisory Agreement and in the Offering Agreements.

          (v) Authorization of Offering Agreements; Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. This Agreement and the Investment Advisory Agreement have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser, and (assuming the due authorization,

execution and delivery of each other party thereto) each such Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Adviser, 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) or an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and except as rights to indemnification or contribution thereunder may be limited by federal or state laws; and neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Purchase Agreement or the Investment Advisory Agreement nor the performance by the Adviser 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, (i) any agreement or instrument to which the Adviser is a party or by which it is bound, (ii) the limited liability company operating agreement and other organizational documents of the Adviser, or (iii) to the Adviser’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 Adviser or its properties or operations other than any conflict, breach or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority or agency is required for the consummation by the Adviser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any Purchase Agreement or the Investment Advisory Agreement, except as have been obtained or will be obtained prior to the Closing Time 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, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has not occurred any event which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Adviser to perform its respective obligations under this Agreement and the Investment Advisory 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 Adviser, threatened against or affecting the Adviser or any “affiliated person” of the Adviser (as such term is defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) or any partners, directors, officers or employees of the foregoing, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which could reasonably be expected to result in Adviser Material Adverse Effect or, materially and adversely affect the ability of the Adviser to function as an investment adviser with respect to the Fund or perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Investment Advisory Agreement, or which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

          (viii) Absence of Violation or Default. The Adviser is not in violation of its limited liability company operating agreement or other organizational documents or in default under any agreement, indenture or instrument, except for such violations or defaults that have not and could not result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect.

     (c) Officer’s Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Fund or the Adviser delivered to the Placement Agent or to counsel for the Placement Agent shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Fund or the Adviser, as the case may be, to the Placement Agent as to the matters covered thereby.

     Section 2. Agreement to Act as Placement Agent, Delivery and Payment.

     (a) Engagement of Placement Agent. The Placement Agent agrees to act as the Fund’s exclusive placement agent, on a reasonable efforts basis, in connection with the issuance and sale by the Fund of the Shares to the Investors. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that the Placement Agent’s engagement hereunder is not an agreement by the Placement Agent or any of its affiliates to underwrite or purchase any securities or otherwise provide any financing. As compensation for their services hereunder, the Fund agrees to pay at the Closing Time (as defined below) to the Placement Agent by wire transfer of immediately available funds an amount equal to 1.0% of the proceeds received by the Fund from the sale of the Shares.

     (b) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of the Shares shall be made at a closing (the “Closing”) at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) to take place no later than the third or fourth business day after the determination of the sales price of the Shares (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the “CLOSING TIME”). All actions taken at the Closing shall be deemed to have occurred simultaneously.

     (c) Payment for the Shares. Payment of the purchase price for the Shares shall be made by the Investors by wire transfer in immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Fund, upon delivery of the Shares through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, to the Investors, and shall be registered in such name or names and shall be in such denominations, as the Investors may request at least one business day before the Closing Time.

     (d) Purchase Agreements. The several purchases of the Shares by the Investors shall be evidenced by the execution of one or more purchase agreements each substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “PURCHASE AGREEMENT”).

     (e) No other Sales of Common Shares. Prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which this Agreement is terminated and (ii) the Closing Time, the Fund shall not, without the prior consent of the Placement Agent, solicit or accept offers to purchase Common Shares (other than pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants to purchase Common Shares that are outstanding at the date hereof) otherwise than through the Placement Agent.

     Section 3. Covenants.

     (a) The Fund and Adviser covenant with the Placement Agent 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 or Rule 430C, as applicable, and will notify the Placement Agent as soon as practicable, and confirm the notice in writing, (1) 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, (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 Shares 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 issuance and sale of the Shares to the investors. The Fund will promptly effect any necessary post-effective amendment and the filings required 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 and Exchange Act Documents. The Fund will give the Placement Agent notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement relating to the offering, issuance or sale of Shares (including any filing under Rule 462(d)) 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, and will furnish the Placement Agent 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 documents to which the Placement Agent or counsel for the Placement Agent shall reasonably object. The Fund has given the Placement Agent notice of any filings made pursuant to the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act (the “1934 ACT REGULATIONS”) within 48 hours prior to the date hereof; the Fund will give the Placement Agent notice of its intention to make any such filing from the date hereof to the Closing Time and will furnish the Placement Agent with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, or as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Placement Agent or counsel for the Placement Agent shall object; provided, however that this covenant shall not apply to any post-effective amendment required by Rule 8b-16 of the 1940 Act which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Agreement or (y) the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed.

          (iii) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Fund has furnished or will deliver to the Placement Agent and counsel for the Placement Agent, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto relating to the offering, issuance or sale of Shares (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Placement Agent, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment relating to the offering, issuance or sale of Shares (except any post-effective amendment required

by Rule 8b-16 of the 1940 Act which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Agreement or (y) the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed) thereto (without exhibits). The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, relating to the offering, issuance or sale of Shares to the Investors, furnished to the Placement Agent 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 the Placement Agent, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as the Placement Agent reasonably requested, and the Fund hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Fund will furnish to the Placement Agent, without charge, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as the Placement Agent may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Placement Agent 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 Shares, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Placement Agent 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 Placement Agent such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Placement Agent may reasonably request.

          (vi) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Fund will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Placement Agent, to qualify the Shares for issuance and sale to the Investors under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United States as the Placement Agent may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to the extent that the Shares are “covered securities” that are exempt from state regulation of securities offerings pursuant to Section 18 of the 1933 Act; and provided, further, 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 securities 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.

          (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 Placement Agent 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 Shares in the manner specified in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

          (ix) Listing. The Fund will use its best efforts to effect the listing of the Shares on the NYSE, subject to notice of issuance.

          (x) [Intentionally Omitted].

          (xi) 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.

          (xii) No Manipulation of Market for Shares. Except for the authorization of actions permitted to be taken by the Placement Agent as contemplated herein, in the General Disclosure Package or in the Prospectus, 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 Shares in violation of federal or state securities laws, and (b) until the Closing Time (i) except for Share repurchases permitted in accordance with applicable laws and issuances of Shares or purchases of Shares in the open market pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan, sell, bid for or purchase the Shares or pay any person any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Shares or (ii) pay or agree to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Fund.

          (xiii) [Intentionally Omitted].

          (xiv) Sales Materials. The Fund represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Placement Agent, it will not use any sales or marketing materials in connection with any issuance or sale of any Shares.

     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 Placement Agent of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares to the Investors, including, without limitation, any Purchase Agreements, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Shares to the Investors, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon

the sale, issuance or delivery of the Shares to the Investors, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Fund’s counsel, accountants and other advisers, (v) the printing and delivery to the Placement Agent of copies of each preliminary prospectus and of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Placement Agent to investors, (vi) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares, (vii) the fees and disbursements of the Placement Agent’s counsel (not to exceed $25,000), and the fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with any state “blue sky” laws (and filing fees in connection therewith), (viii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares on the NYSE and (ix) the fees and expenses (including, without limitation, any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Shares to the investors caused by a breach of the representation contained in the third paragraph of Section l(a)(i) hereof.

     (b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Placement Agent in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a)(i) hereof, the Fund or the Adviser shall reimburse, or arrange for an affiliate to reimburse, the Placement Agent for all of the Placement Agent’s out of pocket expenses, including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Placement Agent. If this Agreement is terminated for any reason other than by the Placement Agent in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a)(i) hereof, the Fund or the Adviser shall reimburse, or arrange for an affiliate to reimburse, the Placement Agent for all of the Placement Agent’s out of pocket expenses, including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Placement Agent up to a maximum reimbursement of $25,000.

     Section 5. Conditions of the Placement Agent’s Obligations.

The obligations of the Placement Agent hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Fund and the Adviser contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Fund or the Adviser delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Fund and the Adviser 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(d) 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, to the Fund’s knowledge, 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 Placement Agent. 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) Opinions of Counsel.

          (i) Opinion of Counsel for the Fund and the Adviser. At the Closing Time, the Placement Agent shall have received the favorable opinions, dated as of Closing Time, from Husch ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Fund and the Adviser, which opinions shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Placement Agent. As to matters of Maryland law, Husch ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, may rely on the opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP.

          (ii) Opinion of Counsel for the Placement Agent. At the Closing Time, the Placement Agent shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Placement Agent, which opinion shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Placement Agent.

     (c) Officers’ Certificates. At the 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 affairs or business prospects of the Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Placement Agent 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 Adviser, 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) the Fund or the Adviser, as applicable, has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be-performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv) 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, to the knowledge of the Fund or the Adviser, contemplated by the Commission.

     (d) Accountant’s Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Placement Agent shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Placement Agent, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to the Placement Agent with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

     (e) Bring-Down Comfort Letter. At the Closing Time, the Placement Agent shall have received from E&Y a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter famished pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three (3) business days prior to Closing Time.

     (f) Approval of Listing. At Closing Time, the Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance.

     (g) Maintenance of Rating. Since the execution of this Agreement, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Fund’s securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

     (h) Additional Documents. At the Closing Time counsel for the Placement Agent shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Investors 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 Adviser in connection with the organization and registration of the Fund under the 1940 Act and the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Investors as contemplated herein and under any Purchase Agreements, shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Placement Agent and counsel for the Placement Agent.

     (i) 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 Placement Agent 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 12 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

     Section 6. Indemnification.

     (a) Indemnification of the Placement Agent. The Fund and the Adviser agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless the Placement Agent and each person, if any, who controls the Placement Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, and any director, officer, employee or affiliate thereof 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) relating to the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares, 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 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 the Placement Agent), 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 Adviser by the Placement Agent 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).

     (b) Indemnification of Fund, Adviser, Directors and Officers. The Placement Agent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the Adviser, 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 Adviser 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 Adviser by the Placement Agent 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) [Intentionally Omitted].

     (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 the Placement Agent, 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 Adviser. 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.

     (f) Limitations on Indemnification. Any indemnification by the Fund shall be subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act and 1940 Act Release 11330.

     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 Adviser on the one hand and the Placement Agent on the other hand from the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Investors pursuant to this Agreement and any Purchase 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 Adviser on the one hand and of the Placement Agent 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 Adviser on the one hand and the Placement Agent on the other hand in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Investors pursuant to this Agreement and any Purchase Agreements shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Fund and the total placement agent fees received by the Placement Agent (whether from the Fund or otherwise), in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Shares as set forth on such cover.

     The relative fault of the Fund and the Adviser on the one hand and the Placement Agent 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 Adviser or by the Placement Agent and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

     The Fund, the Adviser and the Placement Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation 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, the Placement Agent shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of placement agent fees actually received by the Placement Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) 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 the Placement Agent 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 Placement Agent, and each director of the Fund and each director of the Adviser, respectively, each officer of the Fund who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the Adviser, 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 Adviser, respectively.

     Any contribution by the Fund shall be subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act and 1940 Act Release 11330.

     Section 8. Representations and Warranties To Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Fund or the Adviser submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Placement Agent or a controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser, and shall survive delivery of the Shares to the Placement Agent.

     Section 9. Termination of Agreement.

     (a) Termination; General. The Placement Agent 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 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 Adviser, 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 material outbreak of hostilities or material 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 Placement Agent, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares, or (iii) if trading in the Common Shares 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 in the NASDAQ Global 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, FINRA 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 Kansas authorities.

     (b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 9, 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 12 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

     Section 10. 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 Placement Agent shall be directed to ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Incorporated at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, attention of Syndicate Department and notices to the Fund or the Adviser shall be directed, as appropriate, to the office of the Adviser, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, attention of Management Committee.

     Section 11. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that (a) the issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreements, including the determination of the price per share of the Shares and any related discounts and commissions and placement agent fees, will be an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Fund, on the one hand, and the Investors, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Investors contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction the Placement Agent is not a fiduciary of the Fund nor the agent or fiduciary of any of the stockholders, creditors or employees of the Fund or any other party, (c) the Placement Agent has not assumed nor will it assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Fund with respect to the issuance and sale of Shares to the Investors contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Placement Agent has advised or is currently advising the Fund on other matters) and the Placement Agent has no obligation to the Fund with respect to the issuance and sale of Shares to the Investors contemplated hereby except for any obligations which are expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Placement Agent and its affiliates maybe engaged in abroad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Fund, and (e) the Placement Agent has not provided legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the issuance and sale of Shares to the Investors as contemplated hereby and under any Purchase Agreements and the Fund has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

     Section 12. Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Placement Agent, the Fund, the Adviser 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 Placement Agent, the Fund, the Adviser and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, 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 Placement Agent, the Fund, the Adviser and their respective partners and successors, and said controlling persons and officers, directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No investor shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely by reason of its purchase of Shares from the Fund.

     Section 13. 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 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME.

     Section 14. Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

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 Placement Agent, the Fund and the Adviser in accordance with its terms.

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:

▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

By:
Name:
Title

SCHEDULE A

Price Per Share = $22.70