As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2010

Securities Act File No. 333-164974

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22391

 

 

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form N-2

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

x REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

x Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2

 

¨ Post-Effective Amendment No.

and

 

x REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

 

x Amendment No. 2

 

 

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund

Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Declaration of Trust

333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606

Address of Principal Executive Offices (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code)

(800) 257-8787

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code

Kevin J. McCarthy

Vice President and Secretary

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Name and Address (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code) of Agent for Service.

 

 

Copies of Communications to:

Stacy H. Winick   Eric F. Fess   Leonard B. Mackey, Jr.
K&L Gates LLP   Chapman and Cutler LLP   Clifford Chance US LLP
1601 K Street, N.W.   111 W. Monroe   31 West 52nd Street
Washington, DC 20006   Chicago, IL 60603   New York, NY 10019

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:

As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

 

If any of the securities being registered on this form are offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box.   ¨

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

¨   when declared effective pursuant to section 8(c)

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Title of Securities
Being Registered
   Amount
Being
Registered
  

Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price

Per Unit

   Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(1)
   

Amount of
Registration

Fee

 

Common Shares, $0.01 par value

   1,000 Shares    $ 20.00    $ 20,000 (1)     $ 1.43 (2)  

 

 

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(2) Previously paid.

The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that the Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission

is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus dated March 29, 2010

 

PROSPECTUS         LOGO

                 Shares

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund

Common Shares

$20.00 per Share

 


Investment Objectives.     The Nuveen Build America Bond Fund (the “Fund”) is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide current income through investments in taxable municipal securities. As a secondary objective, the Fund will seek to enhance portfolio value and total return. The Fund cannot assure you that it will achieve its investment objectives.

 

Fund Strategies.     The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of taxable municipal securities known as “Build America Bonds” (or “BABs”), as described further in this prospectus. The Fund believes there could be an opportunity to capitalize on the developing market for BABs by investing in taxable municipal issues at attractive market yields relative to the yields on equivalently rated corporate bonds. Nuveen Asset Management (“NAM”), the Fund’s investment adviser, will use its credit research driven investment process to assemble a diversified portfolio. In addition, the Fund will use an integrated leverage and hedging strategy that, in NAM’s judgment, has the potential to enhance income and risk-adjusted total return over time. The Fund’s overall goal is to outperform over time the Barclays Capital Build America Bond Index (“BABs Index”), an unleveraged index representing the BABs market, while maintaining a comparable overall level of interest rate risk.

 

No Prior History.     Because the Fund is newly organized, its common shares have no history of public trading. Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. This risk may be greater for investors who expect to sell their shares in a relatively short period after completion of the public offering.

 

(continued on following page)

 

It is anticipated that the Fund’s common shares will be approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to notice of issuance. The trading or “ticker” symbol is “NBB.”

 

Investing in the Fund’s common shares involves certain risks. See “ Risks ” beginning on page 41 of this prospectus. Certain of these risks are summarized in “Prospectus Summary—Special Risk Considerations” beginning on page 15 of this prospectus.


     Per Share

    

Total(3)


Public offering price

   $20.00      $

Sales load(1)

   $.90      $

Proceeds to the Fund(2)

   $19.10      $
  (1) NAM (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay from its own assets additional compensation to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a structuring fee to each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Raymond James Associates, Inc., and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a marketing and structuring fee to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, and may also pay certain qualifying underwriters a structuring fee, a sales incentive fee or additional compensation in connection with the offering. See “Underwriting.”
  (2) Total expenses of issuance and distribution (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) are estimated to be $     per share ($            ). After payment of such expenses, proceeds to the Fund will be $19.10 per share. The Fund has agreed to pay the underwriters $            or $            if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option in full ($.00667) as a partial reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with the offering. Nuveen Asset Management has agreed to (i) reimburse all organization expenses of the Fund and (ii) pay the amount by which the Fund’s offering costs (other than sales load, but inclusive of such $.00667 per common share reimbursement) exceed $.04 per common share.
  (3) The Fund has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to              additional common shares at the public offering price less the sales load within 45 days from the date of this prospectus to cover over-allotments, if any. If such option is exercised in full, the Public offering price, Sales load and Proceeds to the Fund will be $            , $             and $            , respectively. See “Underwriting.”

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the common shares to purchasers on or about                 , 2010.

 


 

BofA Merrill Lynch  

Citi

    Morgan Stanley   Wells Fargo Securities

 

Nuveen Investments, LLC   Raymond James  

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

 

 

J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC   Janney Montgomery Scott   Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

 

Maxim Group LLC   Oppenheimer & Co.   RBC Capital Markets   Stifel Nicolaus

 


 

The date of this prospectus is                 , 2010.


Build America Bonds.     BABs are taxable municipal securities that include bonds issued by state and local governments to finance capital projects such as public schools, roads, transportation infrastructure, bridges, ports and public buildings, among others, pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Act”). As described more fully herein, the Act authorizes state and local governments to sell new BABs issues without limitation through December 31, 2010. Unlike investments in most other municipal securities, interest received on BABs is subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state income tax. See “The Fund’s Investments.”

 

Currently, bonds issued after December 31, 2010 will not qualify as BABs unless the relevant provisions of the Act are extended. The Obama administration and Congress are considering a variety of proposals to extend or modify the BABs program, including changes that would make it permanent, reduce the amount of the subsidy, and allow proceeds to be used for certain private, non-municipal activities or for refinancing capital expenditures. It cannot be predicted whether these proposals or other changes in the BABs program will be enacted, nor can it be predicted whether such proposals or changes, if enacted, will have a positive or negative effect on the Fund. See “The Fund’s Investments.”

 

Portfolio Contents .    Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets (as defined in this prospectus) in BABs. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities other than BABs, including taxable municipal securities that do not qualify for federal support, tax-exempt municipal securities, U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies. See “The Fund’s Investments.” At least 80% of Managed Assets will be invested in securities that at the time of investment are investment grade quality. A security is considered investment grade quality if it is rated within the four highest letter grades (BBB or Baa or better) by at least one of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) that rate such security (even if it is rated lower by another), or if it is unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities that at the time of investment are rated below investment grade quality or that are unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. Securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominately speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “junk” bonds. See “Build America Bonds” on page 6 for, among other things, a discussion of anticipated changes in certain ratings methodologies.

 

Contingent Term Provision .    Under its Declaration of Trust, the Fund has no limitation on its term of existence. To accommodate the possibility that the BABs program will not be extended, if, for any twenty-four month period ending on or prior to December 31, 2014, there are no new issuances of Build America Bonds or other taxable municipal securities with interest payments subsidized by the U.S. Government through direct pay subsidies, as a fundamental policy, the Fund will terminate on or around June 30, 2020 (“Contingent Term Provision”). Such issuances may cease if the current legislation authorizing the U.S. government subsidy for the issuances is not extended beyond December 31, 2010, and no similar legislation is enacted. If the Fund terminates, the Fund will distribute all of its net assets to shareholders of record as of the date of termination. The Fund’s investment objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return to investors who purchase common shares in this offering the amount of their initial investment on the termination date, and such initial investors and any investors who purchase common shares after the completion of the offering may receive more or less than their original investment upon termination. See “The Fund’s Investments.”

 

Integrated Leverage and Hedging Strategy . The Fund anticipates using an integrated leverage and hedging strategy to seek to enhance its potential current income and longer-term risk-adjusted total return, while seeking to maintain a level of interest rate risk comparable to that of the BABs Index. The Fund expects to use leverage instruments that will have a funding cost based on short- to intermediate-term market interest rates. Because such interest rates are expected to be generally lower than the yields on the long-term bonds in which the Fund invests, NAM believes that the use of leverage will generally increase common share net income.

 

The use of leverage involves increased risk, including increased variability of the Fund’s net income, distributions and/or net asset value in relation to market changes. In particular, leverage increases interest rate

 


risk, which is the risk that the prices of portfolio securities will fall (or rise) if market interest rates for those securities rise (or fall). The Fund’s hedging strategy seeks to reduce this increased interest rate risk by systematically reducing the leverage-adjusted portfolio duration (duration is a measure of the sensitivity of bond prices to changes in interest rates) to a level comparable to the duration of the BABs Index. This hedging strategy is not expected to reduce other types of risk, such as credit risk, which are also increased by the Fund’s use of leverage.

 

The Fund’s use of derivatives such as bond futures or interest rate swaps in hedging interest rate risk will generate costs that will effectively reduce the Fund’s net asset value. These capital costs may be offset over time by capital appreciation of the Fund’s portfolio. The potential to achieve such capital appreciation will depend largely on NAM’s investment capabilities in executing the Fund’s investment strategy as well as the performance of BABs relative to the securities underlying the Fund’s hedging instruments. If and to the extent that such capital appreciation does not occur or is less than these hedging costs, however, the Fund’s total returns can be expected to be less than the Fund’s net earnings (and, over time, distributions).

 

The Fund may employ the following leverage instruments: (a) borrowings, including loans from certain financial institutions (“bank credit facility”), and/or the issuance of debt securities including fixed and floating rate notes or liquidity supported variable rate demand obligations (collectively, “Debt”); (b) portfolio investments that have the economic effect of leverage, including but not limited to investments in inverse floating rate securities; and (c) the issuance of preferred shares (“Preferred Shares), although the Fund has no current intention to issue Preferred Shares. Based on current market conditions, the Fund intends to implement its leveraging strategy principally by using (a) Debt and (b) investments in inverse floating rate securities. Initially after the closing of this offering, the Fund intends to establish a bank credit facility. If current market conditions persist, the combined economic effect of the total leverage used by the Fund (“effective leverage”) is expected to be in the range of 25% and 27% of its Managed Assets upon completion of the invest-up period. The Fund intends to limit its total effective leverage to 33% of Managed Assets. The Fund’s integrated leverage and hedging strategy may not work as planned or achieve its goals.

 

You should read this prospectus, which contains important information about the Fund, before deciding whether to invest and retain it for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information, dated                     , 2010, as it may be supplemented, containing additional information about the Fund, has been filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this prospectus. You may request a free copy of the Statement of Additional Information, the table of contents of which is on page 69 of this prospectus, annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, when available, and other information about the Fund, and make shareholder inquiries by calling (800) 257-8787 or by writing to the Fund, or from the Fund’s website (http://www.nuveen.com). The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this prospectus. You also may obtain a copy of the Statement of Additional Information (and other information regarding the Fund) from the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov).

 

The Fund’s common shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Prospectus Summary

   5

Summary of Fund Expenses

   25

The Fund

   26

Use of Proceeds

   26

The Fund’s Investments

   26

Leverage

   38

Risks

   41

How the Fund Manages Risk

   52

Management of the Fund

   53

Net Asset Value

   55

Distributions

   56

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

   57

Description of Shares

   58

Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws

   61

Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund

   62

Tax Matters

   63

Underwriting

   65

Custodian and Transfer Agent

   68

Legal Opinions and Experts

   68

Table of Contents for the Statement of Additional Information

   69

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The Fund has not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. The Fund is not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.

 

4


PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This is only a summary. You should review the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information prior to making an investment in the Fund, especially the information set forth under the heading “Risks.”

 

The Fund

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund (the “Fund”) is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company.

 

The Offering

The Fund is offering              common shares of beneficial interest at $20.00 per share through a group of underwriters (the “Underwriters”) led by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citi”), Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (“Morgan Stanley”), Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“Wells Fargo”), Nuveen Investments, LLC (“Nuveen”), Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (“Raymond James”) and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (“Ameriprise”). Certain Underwriters participating in this offering or their affiliates, including Merrill Lynch (which is a remote affiliate of NAM and the Fund), Citi and Wells Fargo, have an ownership interest in Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen Investments”), the parent company of Nuveen Asset Management (“NAM”), the Fund’s investment adviser. See “Management of the Fund—Investment Adviser.” The common shares of beneficial interest are called “Common Shares” in this prospectus. You must purchase at least 100 Common Shares in this offering. The Fund has given the Underwriters an option to purchase up to              additional Common Shares to cover orders in excess of              Common Shares. See “Underwriting.” NAM has agreed to (i) reimburse all organization expenses of the Fund and (ii) pay all offering costs of the Fund (other than sales load, but inclusive of the partial reimbursement of expenses) that exceed $.04 per Common Share.

 

Who May Want to Invest

You should consider your investment goals, time horizons and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not appropriate for all investors and is not intended to be a complete investment program. The Fund is designed as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund may be an appropriate investment for you if you are seeking:

 

   

A new opportunity to invest in a predominately investment grade portfolio of taxable municipal securities;

 

   

Potential for current income and the potential for additional total return;

 

   

Regular monthly dividends that are automatically reinvested, or may be received in cash;

 

   

Potential for daily liquidity afforded by listing on the New York Stock Exchange;

 

   

Portfolio diversification potential from exposure to municipal securities, whose issuers have historically demonstrated a lower default rate than issuers of equivalently rated corporate bonds; and

 

5


   

Professional selection and active management by NAM.

 

  However, keep in mind that you will need to assume the risks associated with an investment in the Fund. See “Risks.”

 

Investment Objectives

The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide current income through investments in taxable municipal securities. As a secondary objective, the Fund will seek to enhance portfolio value and total return. The Fund’s investment objectives and certain investment policies specifically identified as such are considered fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund cannot assure you that it will achieve its investment objectives. See “The Fund’s Investments” and “Risks.”

 

Fund Strategies

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of taxable municipal securities known as “Build America Bonds” (or “BABs”), as discussed further in this prospectus. The Fund believes there could be an opportunity to capitalize on the developing market for BABs by investing in taxable municipal issues at attractive market yields relative to the yields on equivalently rated corporate bonds. NAM, the Fund’s investment adviser, will use its credit research driven investment process to assemble a diversified portfolio. In addition, the Fund will use an integrated leverage and hedging strategy that, in NAM’s judgment, has the potential to enhance income and risk-adjusted total return over time. The Fund’s overall goal is to outperform over time the Barclays Capital Build America Bond Index (“BABs Index”), an unleveraged index representing the BABs market, while maintaining a comparable overall level of interest rate risk.

 

Build America Bonds

BABs are taxable municipal securities that include bonds issued by state and local governments to finance capital projects such as public schools, roads, transportation infrastructure, bridges, ports and public buildings, among others, pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Act”).

 

Enacted in February 2009, the Act was intended in part to assist state and local governments in financing capital projects at lower net borrowing costs through direct subsidies designed to stimulate state and local infrastructure projects, create jobs and encourage non-traditional municipal security investors. Unlike investments in most other municipal securities, interest received on BABs is subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state income tax. BAB issuers may elect either (i) to receive payments from the U.S. Treasury equal to a specified percentage of their interest payments (“direct pay”) or (ii) to cause investors in the bonds to receive federal tax credits (“tax credit”).

 

Most issuers of direct pay BABs currently receive a subsidy from the U.S. Treasury equal to 35% of the interest paid on the bonds, which allows such issuers to issue bonds that pay interest rates that are

 

6


expected to be competitive with the rates typically paid by private bond issuers in the taxable fixed income market. Bonds issued after December 31, 2010 currently will not qualify as BABs unless the relevant provisions of the Act are extended or similar legislation is enacted that provides for municipal issuers to elect to issue taxable municipal securities and receive from the U.S. Treasury direct pay federal subsidies to offset a portion of the interest costs incurred over the full term of such taxable municipal securities. Currently under the Act, BABs cannot be used to finance private, non-municipal activities, and can only be used to fund capital expenditures. The proceeds of BAB issuances are used for public benefit and generally support facilities that meet such essential needs as water, electricity, transportation, and education. Moreover, many BABs are general obligation bonds, which are backed by the full faith and taxing power of the state and local governments issuing them.

 

The Obama administration and Congress are considering a variety of proposals to extend or modify the BABs program, including changes that would make it permanent, reduce the amount of the subsidy, and allow proceeds to be used for certain private, non-municipal activities or for refinancing capital expenditures. It cannot be predicted whether these proposals or other changes in the BABs program will be enacted, nor can it be predicted whether such proposals or changes, if enacted, will have a positive or negative effect on the Fund. If, for any twenty-four month period ending on or prior to December 31, 2014, there are no new issuances of Build America Bonds or other taxable municipal securities with interest payments subsidized by the U.S. Government through direct pay subsidies, as a fundamental policy, the Fund will terminate on or around June 30, 2020. See “Contingent Term Provision” on pages 30-31 for additional information.

 

NAM believes that BABs presently offer a more compelling yield opportunity than equivalently rated corporate bonds. Municipal issuers, of which BABs issuers are a major subset, have historically lower default rates than issuers of equivalently rated corporate bonds. Past default rates are not predictive of future default rates.

 

In response to the market’s desire for ratings comparability, Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) has announced that it plans to recalibrate in April 2010 its long-term U.S. municipal ratings to its global ratings scale. According to Moody’s, the recalibration is intended to provide comparability of ratings across the Moody’s-rated universe and does not reflect an improvement in credit quality or a change in Moody’s credit opinion for rated issuers of municipal securities. Moody’s has announced that the recalibration will be implemented in stages and is expected to occur over a four week period. NAM does not believe that the Moody’s recalibration will have an adverse impact on the Fund.

 

 

7


Based on current market conditions, the Fund anticipates investing in direct pay BABs and not in tax credit BABs. However, the Fund has no policy with respect to direct pay or tax credit BABs and may invest in either type of BAB at any time. Under the terms of the Act, issuers of direct pay BABs are entitled to receive reimbursement from the U.S. Treasury currently equal to 35% (or 45% in the case of Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds, a new type of taxable governmental bond similar to BABs) of the interest paid on the bonds, which continues for the life of the bond. Issuance of BABs commenced in April 2009 and bonds issued after December 31, 2010 (referred to as the “sunset”) will not qualify as BABs unless the relevant provisions of the Act are extended. As currently enacted, the Act contains no budgetary limit on issuances through the program through the sunset. However, BABs issuances currently are limited to public purpose or essential purpose bonds. As currently enacted, the Act does not permit refunding issuances, private activity bond issuances, or deficit fund issuances.

 

According to a February 2010 report issued by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”), 749 BABs issues came to market in 2009 totaling approximately $64 billion. Between April 15, 2009 and December 31, 2009, BABs issuance accounted for 20% of long-term securities issued in the municipal market, such that taxable municipal securities issuance (including BABs) represented 26% of the overall municipal market. Municipal market research analysts expect such BABs issuance trends to continue throughout 2010, when the BABs program is currently scheduled to sunset. For example, J.P. Morgan municipal market research analysts currently project BABs issuance of approximately $110 billion in 2010. By December 31, 2010, they expect the BAB total market size to be approximately $172 billion. See “Risks—Build America Bonds Risk.”

 

Investment Policies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in BABs. This investment policy may be changed with 60 days’ notice to shareholders. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities other than BABs, including taxable municipal securities that do not qualify for federal support, municipal securities the interest income from which is exempt from regular federal income tax (sometimes referred to as “tax-exempt municipal securities”), U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities. The Fund may purchase BABs (including for purposes of the 80% test) and other municipal securities (taxable or tax-exempt) in the form of bonds, notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable; with payment forms that include fixed-coupon, variable rate, zero coupon, capital appreciation bonds, floating rate securities, inverse floating rate securities and other derivative instruments that replicate investment exposure to BABs or other municipal securities. Such BABs and other municipal securities may be acquired through investments in pooled vehicles, partnerships or other investment companies. The Fund may

 

8


 

also purchase BABs and other municipal securities representing a wide range of sectors and purposes.

 

The Fund anticipates that, upon full investment of the net proceeds of this offering, the average credit quality of its investments will be A+. In addition, the Fund anticipates using leverage to seek to enhance current income and total returns. See “Leverage.”

 

  Under normal circumstances:

 

   

The Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in securities that at the time of investment are investment grade quality. A security is considered investment grade quality if it is rated within the four highest letter grades (BBB or Baa or better) by at least one of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) that rate such security (even if it is rated lower by another), or if it is unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM.

 

   

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities that at the time of investment are rated below investment grade or are unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. Securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominately speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds”. See “Risks—Credit and Below Investment Grade Risk.”

 

   

The Fund will generally invest in securities with intermediate- or long-term maturities. The Fund anticipates having a weighted average maturity of 15 to 35 years. The weighted average maturity of securities held by the Fund may be shortened or lengthened, depending on market conditions and on an assessment by the Fund’s portfolio manager of which segments of the market offer the most favorable relative investment values and opportunities for income and total return.

 

   

The Fund will not invest more than 25% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities in any one industry or in any one state of origin.

 

   

The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities that, at the time of investment, are illiquid ( i.e. , securities that are not readily marketable). See “Risks—Illiquid Securities Risk.”

 

   

The Fund also may invest up to 20% of its total assets in certain derivative instruments to enhance returns. Such derivatives include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts, or similar instruments. This limit will apply to the investment exposure created by those derivative instruments. Inverse floating rate securities are not regarded as derivatives for this purpose. NAM may also use derivative instruments to hedge

 

9


 

some of the risk of the Fund’s investments in municipal securities. These types of strategies may generate taxable income. See “The Fund’s Investments—Derivatives.”

 

See “The Fund’s Investments—Investment Objectives and Policies.”

 

  During temporary defensive periods or in order to keep the Fund’s cash fully invested, including during the period when the net proceeds of the offering of Common Shares are first being invested, the Fund may deviate from its investment policies and objectives. During such periods, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its Managed Assets in short-term investments, including high quality, short-term securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable. There can be no assurance that such strategies will be successful. For a more complete discussion of the Fund’s portfolio composition, see “The Fund’s Investments.”

 

“Managed Assets” means the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (other than Fund liabilities incurred for the express purpose of creating effective leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of effective leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles), such as, but not limited to, the portion of assets in special purpose trusts of which the Fund owns the inverse floater certificates that has been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate certificates. See “The Fund’s Investments—Portfolio Composition and Other Information—Municipal Securities—Inverse Floating Rate Securities” and “—Floating Rate Securities.”

 

Contingent Term Provision

Under its Declaration of Trust, the Fund has no limitation on its term of existence. To accommodate the possibility that the BABs program will not be extended, if for any twenty-four month period ending on or prior to December 31, 2014, there are no new issuances of BABs or other taxable municipal securities with interest payments subsidized by the U.S. Government through direct pay subsidies, as a fundamental policy, the Fund will terminate on or around June 30, 2020 (the “Contingent Term Provision”). Such issuances may cease if the current legislation authorizing the U.S. government subsidy for the issuances is not extended beyond December 31, 2010, and no similar legislation is enacted. Currently there are several proposals either to make such legislation permanent or to extend it beyond its scheduled sunset date. If, because there are no such new issuances, the Fund is to terminate on June 30, 2020, the Fund’s Board of Trustees may extend the term of the Fund for up to six months after that date if deemed to be in the best interests of shareholders, but otherwise may not extend the term of the Fund without shareholder approval. Furthermore, the Fund can be terminated at any time by action of the Trustees, or by action of the shareholders, which could occur prior to June 30, 2020. If the Fund terminates, the Fund will distribute all of its net assets to shareholders of record as of the date of termination. The Fund’s investment

 

10


 

objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return to investors who purchase common shares in this offering the amount of their initial investment on the termination date, and such initial investors and any investors who purchase common shares after the completion of the offering may receive more or less than their original investment upon termination.

 

Leverage

Integrated Leverage and Hedging Strategy . The Fund anticipates using an integrated leverage and hedging strategy to seek to enhance its potential current income and longer-term risk-adjusted total return, while seeking to maintain a level of interest rate risk comparable to that of the BABs Index. The Fund expects to use leverage instruments that will have a funding cost based on short- to intermediate-term market interest rates. Because such interest rates are expected to be generally lower than the yields on the long-term bonds in which the Fund invests, NAM believes that the use of leverage will generally increase Common Share net income.

 

The use of leverage involves increased risk, including increased variability of the Fund’s net income, distributions and/or net asset value in relation to market changes. In particular, leverage increases interest rate risk, which is the risk that the prices of portfolio securities will fall (or rise) if market interest rates for those securities rise (or fall). The Fund’s hedging strategy seeks to reduce this increased interest rate risk by systematically reducing the leverage-adjusted portfolio duration (duration is a measure of the sensitivity of bond prices to changes in interest rates) to a level comparable to the duration of the BABs Index. This hedging strategy is not expected to reduce other types of risk, such as credit risk, which are also increased by the Fund’s use of leverage. The Fund’s leverage and hedging techniques are referred to as integrated because the Fund’s use of hedging strategies is expected to be directly calibrated to any increased interest rate risk, relative to the Fund’s benchmark, due to the use of leverage.

 

The Fund’s use of derivatives such as bond futures or interest rate swaps in hedging interest rate risk will generate costs that will effectively reduce the Fund’s net asset value. These capital costs may be offset over time by capital appreciation of the Fund’s portfolio. The potential to achieve such capital appreciation will depend largely on NAM’s investment capabilities in executing the Fund’s investment strategy as well as the performance of BABs relative to the securities underlying the Fund’s hedging instruments. If and to the extent that such capital appreciation does not occur or is less than these hedging costs, however, the Fund’s total returns can be expected to be less than the Fund’s net earnings (and, over time, distributions).

 

The Fund may employ the following leverage instruments: (a) borrowings, including loans from certain financial institutions (“bank credit facility”), and/or the issuance of debt securities including fixed and floating rate notes or liquidity supported variable rate demand obligations (collectively, “Debt”); (b) portfolio investments that have the economic effect of leverage, including but not limited to

 

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investments in inverse floating rate securities; and (c) the issuance of preferred shares (“Preferred Shares), although the Fund has no current intention to issue Preferred Shares. Based on current market conditions, the Fund intends to implement its leveraging strategy principally by using (a) Debt and (b) investments in inverse floating rate securities. Initially after the closing of this offering, the Fund intends to establish a bank credit facility. If current market conditions persist, the combined economic effect of the total leverage used by the Fund (“effective leverage”) is expected to be in the range of 25% and 27% of its Managed Assets upon completion of the invest-up period. The Fund intends to limit its total effective leverage to 33% of Managed Assets. The Fund’s integrated leverage and hedging strategy may not work as planned or achieve its goals.

 

The Fund pays NAM a management fee based on a percentage of Managed Assets. Managed Assets include the proceeds realized and managed from the Fund’s use of leverage as set forth in the Fund’s investment management agreement. NAM will base its decision whether and how much to leverage the Fund based on its assessment of whether such use of leverage will advance the Fund’s investment objectives over the longer term. NAM will be responsible for using leverage to pursue the Fund’s investment objectives. However, the fact that a decision to increase the Fund’s leverage will have the effect, all other things being equal, of increasing Managed Assets and therefore NAM’s management fee means that NAM may have an incentive to increase the Fund’s use of leverage. NAM will seek to manage that incentive by only increasing the Fund’s use of leverage when it determines that such increase is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, and by periodically reviewing the Fund’s performance and use of leverage with the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

 

  The use of leverage creates special risks for holders of Common Shares (“Common Shareholders”). See “Leverage” and “Risks—Leverage Risk.” See also “Risks—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk.”

 

Distributions

Commencing with the first distribution, the Fund will seek to pay monthly distributions to Common Shareholders at a level rate (stated in terms of a fixed cents per Common Share dividend rate) based on the Fund’s projected performance. The Fund’s ability to maintain a level Common Share dividend rate will depend on a number of factors. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of dividends on the Common Shares and the Fund’s distribution policy could change. Over time, the Fund will distribute all of its net investment income. In addition, the Fund intends to distribute, at least annually, the net capital gain and taxable ordinary income, if any, to Common Shareholders. The Fund expects to declare its initial Common Share distribution approximately 30 to 45 days, and to pay that distribution approximately 60 to 90 days, from the completion of this offering, depending on market conditions.

 

 

As explained more fully below in “Tax Matters,” at least annually, the Fund may elect to retain rather than distribute all or a portion of any net

 

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capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) otherwise allocable to Common Shareholders and pay U.S. federal income tax on the retained gain. As provided under federal tax law, Common Shareholders of record as of the end of the Fund’s taxable year will include their attributable share of the retained gain in their income for the year as a long-term capital gain, and will be entitled to an income tax credit or refund for the tax deemed paid on their behalf by the Fund. The Fund may treat the cash value of tax credit and refund amounts in connection with retained capital gains as a substitute for equivalent cash distributions. See “Distributions” and “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

 

  The Fund reserves the right to change its distribution policy and the basis for establishing the rate of its monthly distributions at any time and may do so without prior notice to Common Shareholders.

 

Automatic Reinvestment

Distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan unless a Common Shareholder elects to receive cash. See “Distributions,” “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” and “Tax Matters.”

 

Investment Adviser

NAM will be the Fund’s investment adviser, responsible for investing the Fund’s Managed Assets. NAM, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments. Founded in 1898, Nuveen Investments and its affiliates had approximately $145 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2009, of which approximately $69 billion was in municipal securities. According to Morningstar Fundamental Data, Nuveen is the leading sponsor of closed-end funds as measured by the number of funds (123) and the amount of fund assets under management (approximately $46 billion) as of December 31, 2009.

 

  On November 13, 2007, Nuveen Investments was acquired by an investor group led by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC, a private equity firm based in Chicago, Illinois (the “MDP Acquisition”). The investor group led by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC included affiliates of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., which was subsequently acquired by Bank of America Corporation (“Bank of America”), Wells Fargo and Citi. As a result of the MDP Acquisition, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. currently owns a 32% non-voting equity stake in Nuveen Investments, owns a $30 million position in a $250 million revolving loan facility of Nuveen Investments and holds two of ten seats on the board of directors of Nuveen Investments. Wells Fargo and Citi also own an interest in Nuveen Investments. Because these arrangements may give rise to certain conflicts of interest involving NAM and Bank of America (including Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.), NAM has adopted polices and procedures intended to address these potential conflicts. For additional information regarding the MDP Acquisition, see “Management of the Fund—Nuveen Investments.”

 

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  The Fund is dependent upon the services and resources provided by its investment adviser, NAM, and therefore the investment adviser’s parent, Nuveen Investments. Nuveen Investments significantly increased its level of debt in connection with the MDP Acquisition. As of September 30, 2009, Nuveen Investments had outstanding approximately $4.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of indebtedness, with approximately $531.8 million of available cash on hand. Nuveen Investments believes that monies generated from operations and cash on hand will be adequate to fund debt service requirements, capital expenditures and working capital requirements for the foreseeable future; however, Nuveen Investments’ ability to continue to fund these items, to service its debt and to maintain compliance with covenants in its debt agreements may be affected by general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, legal and regulatory factors and by its ability to refinance or repay outstanding indebtedness with scheduled maturities beginning in 2013. The risks, uncertainties and other factors related to Nuveen Investments’ business, the effects of which may cause its assets under management, earnings, revenues, and/or profit margins to decline, are described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are publicly available.

 

  The Fund will pay NAM an annual management fee, payable monthly, in a maximum amount equal to .65% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets (as defined below). This maximum fee is equal to the sum of a “fund-level fee” and a “complex-level fee.” The fund-level fee is a maximum of .45% of the Fund’s average total daily Managed Assets, with lower fees for assets that exceed $125 million. The complex-level fee is a maximum of .2000% of the Fund’s daily Managed Assets based on the daily managed assets of all Nuveen-branded closed-end and open-end registered investment companies organized in the United States (collectively, the “Nuveen Funds”) (as “managed assets” is defined in each Nuveen Fund’s investment management agreement with NAM, which generally includes assets attributable to any preferred shares that may be outstanding and any borrowings), with lower fee levels for complex-level assets that exceed $55 billion.

 

Based on complex-level assets of approximately $67.3 billion as of December 31, 2009, the complex-level fee would be .1887% of Managed Assets and the total fee to NAM would be .6387% of Managed Assets (assuming Managed Assets of $125 million). For more information on fees and expenses, including fees attributable to Common Shares, see “Management of the Fund.”

 

Nuveen Investments, LLC, a registered broker-dealer affiliate of NAM that is involved in the offering of the Fund’s Common Shares, has received notice of certain charges that may be brought against it by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) in connection with

 

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the marketing of preferred shares of other closed-end funds managed by NAM. See “Underwriting.”

 

Listing

It is anticipated that the Common Shares will be approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to notice of issuance. See “Description of Shares—Common Shares.” The trading or “ticker” symbol of the Common Shares is “NBB.”

 

Custodian and Transfer Agent

State Street Bank and Trust Company will serve as the Fund’s custodian and transfer agent. See “Custodian and Transfer Agent.”

 

Special Risk

Considerations

Investment in the Fund involves special risk considerations, which are summarized below. The Fund is designed as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program. The Fund’s performance and the value of its investments will vary in response to changes in interest rates, inflation, the financial condition of a municipal security’s issuer, perceptions of the issuer, ratings on a municipal security and other market factors. See “Risks” for a more complete discussion of the special risk considerations of an investment in the Fund.

 

  No Prior History.     The Fund is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company with no history of operations.

 

  Investment and Market Risk.     An investment in the Fund’s Common Shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest. Your investment in Common Shares represents an indirect investment in the municipal securities owned by the Fund, which generally trade in the over-the-counter markets. Your Common Shares at any point in time may be worth less than your original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions. In addition, if the current national economic downturn deteriorates into a prolonged recession, the ability of municipalities to collect revenue and service their obligations could be materially and adversely affected. See “Risks—Investment and Market Risk.”

 

 

Market Discount from Net Asset Value and Expected Reductions in Net Asset Value .    Shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund frequently trade at prices lower than their net asset value, which creates a risk of loss for investors when they sell shares purchased in the initial public offering. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s net asset value could decrease as a result of investment activities. Shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund have during some periods traded at prices higher than net asset value and have during other periods traded at prices lower than net asset value. Proceeds from the sale of Common Shares in this offering will be reduced by 4.5% (the amount of the sales

 

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load as a percentage of the offering price), making the Fund’s net asset value per Common Share equal to $19.10, before deducting offering expenses. Net asset value of the Fund and net asset value per Common Share are then further reduced by the amount of offering expenses paid by the Fund (estimated to be up to an additional $.04 per Common Share). The Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and you should not view the Fund as a vehicle for short- term trading purposes. See “Risks—Market Discount from Net Asset Value and Expected Reductions in Net Asset Value.”

 

Build America Bonds Risk.     The BABs market is smaller and less diverse than the broader municipal securities market. In addition, because BABs are a new form of municipal financing and because bonds issued after December 31, 2010 currently will not qualify as BABs unless the relevant provisions of the Act are extended, it is impossible to predict the extent to which a market for such bonds will develop, meaning that BABs may experience less liquidity than other types of municipal securities. If the ability to issue BABs is not extended beyond December 31, 2010, the number of BABs available in the market will be limited and there can be no assurance that BABs will be actively traded. Reduced liquidity may negatively affect the value of the BABs.

 

Because issuers of direct pay BABs held in the Fund’s portfolio receive reimbursement from the U.S. Treasury with respect to interest payment on bonds, there is a risk that those municipal issuers will not receive timely payment from the U.S. Treasury and may remain obligated to pay the full interest due on direct pay BABs held by the Fund. Furthermore, it is possible that a municipal issuer may fail to comply with the requirements to receive the direct pay subsidy or that a future Congress may terminate the subsidy altogether.

 

Because the BABs program is new, certain aspects of the BABs program may be subject to additional Federal or state level guidance or subsequent legislation. For example, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or U.S. Treasury could impose restrictions or limitations on the payments received. Aspects of the BABs program for which the IRS and the U.S. Treasury have solicited public comment include, but have not been limited to, methods for making direct payments to issuers, the tax procedural framework for such payments, and compliance safeguards. It is not known what additional procedures will be implemented with respect to direct pay BABs, if any, nor is it known what effect such possible procedures would have on the BABs market. Legislation extending the relevant provisions of the Act may also modify the characteristics of BABs issued after December 31, 2010, including the amount of subsidy paid to issuers.

 

The Fund intends to invest primarily in BABs and therefore the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than the value of a more broadly diversified portfolio and may fluctuate substantially over short periods

 

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of time. Because BABs currently do not include certain industries or types of municipal bonds (i.e., tobacco bonds or private activity bonds), there may be less diversification than with a broader pool of municipal securities.

 

General Municipal Securities Market Risk.     The amount of public information available about the municipal securities in the Fund’s portfolio is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and the Fund’s investment performance may therefore be more dependent on NAM’s analytical abilities. The secondary market for municipal securities, particularly the below investment grade municipal securities in which the Fund may invest, also tends to be less developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell its municipal securities at attractive prices. See “Risks—General Municipal Securities Market Risk,” “Risks—Special Risks Related to Certain Municipal Securities” and “Risks—Build America Bonds Risk.”

 

  Current Economic Conditions — Credit Crisis Liquidity and Volatility Risk .    The markets for credit instruments have experienced periods of extreme illiquidity and volatility since the latter half of 2007. General market uncertainty and consequent repricing risk have led to market imbalances of sellers and buyers, which in turn have resulted in significant valuation uncertainties in a variety of debt securities, including municipal securities. These conditions resulted, and in many cases continue to result in, greater volatility, less liquidity, widening credit spreads and a lack of price transparency, with many debt securities remaining illiquid and of uncertain value. Such market conditions may make valuation of some of the Fund’s municipal securities uncertain and/or result in sudden and significant valuation increases or declines in its holdings. In addition, illiquidity and volatility in the credit markets may directly and adversely affect the setting of dividend rates on the Common Shares.

 

  In response to the recent national economic downturn, governmental cost burdens may be reallocated among federal, state and local governments. Also, as a result of the downturn, many state and local governments have experienced significant reductions in revenues and consequently difficulties meeting ongoing expenses. As a result, certain of these state and local governments may have difficulty paying principal or interest on their outstanding debt and may experience ratings downgrades of their debt. In addition, laws enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. In addition to actions taken at the federal level, municipalities might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws, thereby affecting the repayment of their outstanding debt.

 

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  Credit and Below Investment Grade Risk.     Credit risk is the risk that one or more securities in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in price, or the issuer thereof will fail to pay interest or principal when due, because the issuer experiences a decline in its financial status. Credit risk is increased when a portfolio security is downgraded or the perceived creditworthiness of the issuer deteriorates. The Fund may invest up to 20% (measured at the time of investment) of its Managed Assets in securities that are rated below investment grade or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. If a security satisfies the rating requirements described above at the time of investment and is subsequently downgraded below that rating, the Fund will not be required to dispose of the security. If a downgrade occurs, NAM will consider what action, including the sale of the security, is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominately speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal when due, and are more susceptible to default or decline in market value due to adverse economic and business developments than investment grade securities. Also, to the extent that the rating assigned to a security in the Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by any NRSRO, the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely affected. The market values for securities of below investment grade quality tend to be volatile, and these securities are less liquid than investment grade securities. For these reasons, an investment in the Fund, compared with a portfolio consisting solely of investment grade securities, may experience the following:

 

   

increased price sensitivity resulting from a deteriorating economic environment and changing interest rates;

 

   

greater risk of loss due to default or declining credit quality;

 

   

adverse issuer specific events that are more likely to render the issuer unable to make interest and/or principal payments; and

 

   

the possibility that a negative perception of the below investment grade market develops, resulting in the price and liquidity of below investment grade securities becoming depressed, and this negative perception could last for a significant period of time.

 

  See “Risks—Market Discount From Net Asset Value and Expected Reductions in Net Asset Value,” “Risks—Credit and Below Investment Grade Risk” and “Risks—Build America Bonds Risk.”

 

Leverage Risk .    The Fund anticipates using leverage to seek to enhance current income and total returns. If current market conditions persist, the Fund’s total effective leverage is expected to be in the range of 25% to 27% of its Managed Assets upon completion of the invest-up period. The use of leverage creates special risks for Common Shareholders, including potential interest rate risks and the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of, and distributions on, the Common Shares. Based on current market

 

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conditions, the Fund intends to implement its leveraging strategy by, among other things, establishing a bank credit facility. The Fund expects that the lender in the bank credit facility may require additional asset coverage and portfolio composition provisions as well as restrictions on the Fund’s investment practices. In addition, the Fund may issue debt securities including fixed and floating rate notes or commercial paper. The issuance of such senior securities may limit the Fund’s ability to pay dividends to Common Shareholders in accordance with the requirements of Section 18 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). If the Fund seeks an investment grade rating from a NRSRO for any commercial paper or notes, asset coverage or portfolio composition provisions in addition to and more stringent than those required by the 1940 Act or the Fund’s policies may be imposed in connection with the issuance of such a rating. The Fund will pay (and Common Shareholders will bear) any costs and expenses relating to the Funds’ use of leverage, which will result in a reduction in the net asset value of the Common Shares. The Fund may, based on its assessment of market conditions, increase or decrease its level of total effective leverage. Such changes may impact net investment income and the valuation of the Fund’s Common Shares in the secondary market. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s leverage strategy will be successful. Furthermore, the amount of fees paid to NAM for investment advisory services will be higher if the Fund uses leverage because the fees will be calculated based on the Fund’s Managed Assets—this may create an incentive for NAM to leverage the Fund. See “Risks—Leverage Risk” and “Risks—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk.”

 

  Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk.     The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities. Typically, inverse floating rate securities represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust (sometimes called a “tender option bond trust”) formed by a third party sponsor for the purpose of holding municipal bonds. See “The Fund’s Investments—Portfolio Composition and Other Information—Municipal Securities—Inverse Floating Rate Securities.” In general, income on inverse floating rate securities will decrease when interest rates increase and increase when interest rates decrease. Investments in inverse floating rate securities may subject the Fund to the risks of reduced or eliminated interest payments and losses of principal. In addition, inverse floating rate securities may increase or decrease in value at a greater rate than the underlying interest rate, which effectively leverages the Fund’s investment. As a result, the market value of such securities generally will be more volatile than that of fixed rate securities.

 

The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities, issued by special purpose trusts that have recourse to the Fund. In NAM’s discretion, the Fund may enter into a separate shortfall and forbearance agreement with the third party sponsor of a special purpose trust. The Fund may enter into such recourse agreements (i) when the liquidity provider to the special purpose trust requires such an agreement because

 

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the level of leverage in the special purpose trust exceeds the level that the liquidity provider is willing to support absent such an agreement; and/or (ii) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the special purpose trust in the event that the municipal obligation held in the trust has declined in value. Such an agreement would require the Fund to reimburse the third party sponsor of the trust, upon termination of the trust issuing the inverse floating rate security, the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount due to the holders of floating rate interests. In such instances, the Fund may be at risk of loss that exceeds its original investment in the inverse floating rate securities.

 

  The Fund’s investments in inverse floating rate securities issued by special purpose trusts that have recourse to the Fund may be highly leveraged. The structure and degree to which the Fund’s inverse floating rate securities are highly leveraged will vary based upon a number of factors, including the size of the trust itself and the terms of the underlying municipal security. An inverse floating rate security generally is considered highly leveraged if the principal amount of the short-term floating rate interests issued by the related special purpose trust is in excess of three times the principal amount of the inverse floating rate securities owned by the trust (the ratio of the principal amount of such short-term floating rate interests to the principal amount of the inverse floating rate securities is referred to as the “gearing”). In the event of a significant decline in the value of an underlying security, the Fund may suffer losses in excess of the amount of its investment (up to an amount equal to the value of the municipal securities underlying the inverse floating rate securities) as a result of liquidating the special purpose trust or other collateral required to maintain the Fund’s anticipated effective leverage ratio.

 

  The Fund’s investments in inverse floating rate securities will create effective leverage, which will create an opportunity for increased Common Share net income and returns, but will also create the possibility that Common Share long-term returns will be diminished if the cost of leverage exceeds the return on the inverse floating rate securities purchased by the Fund.

 

 

Inverse floating rate securities have varying degrees of liquidity based upon the liquidity of the underlying securities deposited in a special purpose trust. The market price of inverse floating rate securities is more volatile than the underlying securities due to leverage. The leverage attributable to such inverse floating rate securities may be “called away” on relatively short notice and therefore may be less permanent than more traditional forms of leverage. In certain circumstances, the likelihood of an increase in the volatility of net asset value and market price of the Common Shares may be greater for a fund (like the Fund) that relies primarily on inverse floating rate securities to achieve a desired effective leverage ratio. The Fund may be required to sell its inverse floating rate securities at less than favorable

 

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prices, or liquidate other Fund portfolio holdings in certain circumstances, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

If the Fund has a need for cash and the securities in a special purpose trust are not actively trading due to adverse market conditions;

 

   

If special purpose trust sponsors (as a collective group or individually) experience financial hardship and consequently seek to terminate their respective outstanding special purpose trusts; and

 

   

If the value of an underlying security declines significantly (to a level below the notional value of the floating rate securities issued by the trust) and if additional collateral has not been posted by the Fund.

 

The Fund may invest in taxable inverse floating rate securities, issued by special purpose trusts formed with taxable municipal securities. The market for such taxable inverse floating rate securities is relatively new and undeveloped. Initially, there may be a limited number of counterparties, which may increase the credit risks, counterparty risk and liquidity risk of investing in taxable inverse floating rate securities. See “Risks—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk.”

 

  Interest Rate Risk.     Generally, when market interest rates rise, bond prices fall, and vice versa. Interest rate risk is the risk that the securities in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in value because of increases in market interest rates. As interest rates decline, issuers of municipal securities may prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower-yielding securities and potentially reducing the Fund’s income. As interest rates increase, slower than expected principal payments may extend the average life of securities, potentially locking in a below-market interest rate and reducing the Fund’s value. In typical market interest rate environments, the prices of longer-term municipal securities generally fluctuate more than prices of shorter-term municipal securities as interest rates change. Because the Fund intends to invest primarily in longer-term securities, the Fund’s net asset value and market price per Common Share may fluctuate more in response to changes in market interest rates than if the Fund invested primarily in shorter-term securities. These risks may be greater because certain interest rates are near historically low levels. Because the values of lower-rated and comparable unrated debt securities are affected both by credit risk and interest rate risk, the price movements of such lower grade securities are not typically highly correlated to the fluctuations of the prices of investment grade quality securities in response to changes in interest rates. The Fund’s investments in inverse floating rate securities, as described herein under “Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk,” will tend to increase Common Share interest rate risk. See “Risks—Interest Rate Risk.”

 

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Contingent Term Provision Risk.     In the event the Fund terminates pursuant to the Contingent Term Provision, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities when it otherwise would not, including at times when interest rate or market conditions are not favorable, which may cause the Fund to lose money on its investments. Further, the process of liquidating the Fund’s Managed Assets could result in a reduction in the Fund’s net investment income and monthly dividend distributions in the last year of the Fund’s operations. In the event the Fund terminates pursuant to the Contingent Term Provision, the Fund’s investment objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return to investors who purchase Common Shares in this offering their initial investment on the anticipated termination date, and such initial investors and any investors who purchase Common Shares after the completion of the offering may receive more or less than their original investment upon termination.

 

Derivatives Risk, Including the Risk of Swaps.     The Fund’s use of derivatives involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the investments underlying the derivatives. If the Fund invests in a derivative instrument, it could lose more than the principal amount invested. Whether the Fund’s use of derivatives is successful will depend on, among other things, if NAM correctly forecasts market values, interest rates and other applicable factors. If NAM incorrectly forecasts these and other factors, the investment performance of the Fund will be unfavorably affected. In addition, the derivatives market is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the derivatives market could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to successfully use derivative instruments.

 

The Fund may enter into debt-related derivatives instruments including credit default swap contracts and interest rate swaps. Like most derivative instruments, the use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In addition, the use of swaps requires an understanding by NAM of not only of the referenced asset, rate or index, but also of the swap itself. See “Risks—Derivatives Risk, Including the Risk of Swaps,” “Risks—Counterparty Risk,” “Risks—Hedging Risk,” and “Portfolio Composition—Hedging Strategies and Other Uses of Derivatives” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Counterparty Risk.     Changes in the credit quality of the companies that serve as the Fund’s counterparties with respect to derivatives, insured municipal securities or other transactions supported by another party’s credit may affect the value of those instruments. Certain entities that have served as counterparties in the markets for these transactions have recently incurred significant losses and financial hardships including bankruptcy as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower quality credit investments that have experienced recent defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a result, such

 

22


 

hardships have reduced these entities’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such transactions. By using derivatives or other transactions, the Fund assumes the risk that its counterparties could experience similar financial hardships. In the event of insolvency of a counterparty, the Fund may sustain losses or be unable to liquidate a derivatives position. See “Risks—Counterparty Risk.”

 

Hedging Risk.     The Fund’s use of derivatives or other transactions to reduce risks involves costs and will be subject to NAM’s ability to predict correctly changes in the relationships of such hedge instruments to the Fund’s portfolio holdings or other factors. No assurance can be given that NAM’s judgment in this respect will be correct. In addition, no assurance can be given that the Fund will enter into hedging or other transactions at times or under circumstances in which it may be advisable to do so. See “Risks—Hedging Risk.”

 

Reinvestment Risk.     Reinvestment risk is the risk that income from the Fund’s portfolio will decline if and when the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called municipal securities at market interest rates that are below the portfolio’s current earnings rate. A decline in income could affect the Common Share’s market price or your overall returns. See “Risks—Reinvestment Risk.”

 

Inflation Risk.     Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Common Shares and distributions can decline. See “Risks—Inflation Risk.”

 

U.S. Government-Sponsored Agencies Risk.     While certain U.S. Government-sponsored agencies, such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), may be chartered or sponsored by acts of Congress, their securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, and therefore may lose value. On September 7, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), a new independent regulatory agency, placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship, a statutory process designed to stabilize a troubled institution with the objective of returning the entity to normal business operations. In addition, a July, 2009 congressional report issued by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform noted that the FNMA and FHLMC’s role in the financial crisis “was significant and has received too little attention.”

 

Reliance on Investment Adviser.     The Fund is dependent upon services and resources provided by its investment adviser, NAM, and therefore NAM’s parent, Nuveen Investments. Nuveen Investments has a substantial amount of indebtedness. Nuveen Investments, through its own business or the financial support of its affiliates, may not be able to

 

23


generate sufficient cash flow from operations or ensure that future borrowings will be available in an amount sufficient to enable it to pay its indebtedness with scheduled maturities beginning in 2013 or to fund its other liquidity needs. Nuveen Investments’ failure to satisfy the terms of its indebtedness, including covenants therein, may generally have an adverse effect on the financial condition of Nuveen Investments. For additional information on NAM and Nuveen Investments, including the financial condition of Nuveen Investments, see “Management of the Fund—Additional Information Related to the Investment Adviser and Nuveen Investments.” See also “Risks—Reliance on Investment Adviser.”

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions.     The Fund’s Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”) and the Fund’s By-laws (the “By-laws”) include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or convert the Fund to open-end status. These provisions could have the effect of depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares at a premium over the then current market price of the Common Shares. See “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws—Anti-Takeover Provisions” and “Risks—Anti-Takeover Provisions.”

 

Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk .    The aftermath of the war with Iraq, instability in the Middle East and terrorist attacks in the United States and around the world may have a substantial impact on the U.S. and world economies and securities markets. The nature, scope and duration of the occupation of Iraq cannot be predicted with any certainty. Terrorist attacks closed some of the U.S. securities markets in 2001, and similar events cannot be ruled out in the future. The war and occupation, terrorism and related geopolitical risks have led, and may in the future lead to, increased short term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. These risks may adversely affect individual issuers and securities markets, interest rates, secondary trading, ratings, investor psychology, credit risk, inflation and other factors relating to the Fund’s Common Shares. High-yield securities tend to be more volatile than higher rated securities so that these events and any actions resulting from them may have a greater impact on the prices and volatility of high yield securities than on higher rated securities.

 

Additional Risks .    For additional risks relating to investments in the Fund, including “Insurance Risk,” “Tax Risk,” “Other Investment Companies Risk,” “Industry Risk,” “Special Risks Related to Certain Municipal Securities,” “Deflation Risk,” “Illiquid Securities Risk” and “Certain Affiliations” please see “Risks” beginning on page 41 of this Prospectus.

 

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SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES

 

The purpose of the table below is to help you understand all fees and expenses that you, as a Common Shareholder, would bear directly or indirectly. The expenses shown in the table are based on estimated amounts for the Fund’s first year of operations and assume that the Fund issues approximately 10,000,000 Common Shares. The Fund’s actual expenses may vary from the estimated expenses shown in the table, and may increase as a percentage of net assets attributable to Common Shares if the Fund issues less than 10,000,000 Common Shares. See “Management of the Fund” and “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

 

Shareholder Transaction Expenses

      

Sales Load Paid by You (as a percentage of offering price)

   4.50

Offering Expenses Borne by the Fund (as a percentage of offering price) (1)

   .20

Dividend Reinvestment Plan Fees

   0 (2)  
     Percentage of
Net Assets
Attributable to
Common Shares (3)


 

Annual Expenses

      

Management Fees :

      

Fund-Level Fees (4)

   .62

Complex-Level Fees (4)

   .27

Other Expenses (5)(6)

   .14

Interest Payments on Borrowings (7)

   .46
    

Total Annual Expenses

   1.49
    

 

The following example illustrates the expenses (including (i) the sales load of $45 and (ii) estimated offering expenses of this offering of $2) that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in Common Shares, assuming (1) total annual expenses of 1.49% and (2) a 5% annual return: (6)

 

1 Year

  3 Years

  5 Years

  10 Years

$61   $92   $124   $217

 

The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be higher or lower.


 

(1)

Nuveen has agreed to (i) reimburse all organization expenses of the Fund and (ii) pay offering costs of the Fund (other than sales load but inclusive of the partial reimbursement of expenses) that exceed $.04 per Common Share. Based on an estimated offering size of $200,000,000 (approximately 10,000,000 Common Shares), the Fund would pay a maximum of $400,000 of offering costs and NAM would pay all offering costs in excess of $400,000, which are currently estimated to be $510,000.

 

(2)

You will be charged a $2.50 service charge and pay brokerage charges if you direct State Street Bank and Trust Company, as agent for the Common Shareholders (the “Plan Agent”), to sell your Common Shares held in a dividend reinvestment account.

 

(3)

Assumes effective leverage of 37% of the Fund’s net assets attributable to Common Shares (27% of the Fund’s Managed Assets).

 

(4)

At the highest fee breakpoint. See “Management of the Fund—Investment Management Agreement.”

 

(5)

Estimated expenses based on the current fiscal year. Expenses attributable to the Fund’s investments, if any, in other investment companies, including closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds, are currently estimated not to exceed .01%. See “The Fund’s Investments—Other Investment Companies.”

 

25


(6)

Other Expenses do not include any interest attributable to inverse floating rate securities created by selling a fixed-rate bond to a broker-dealer for deposit into the special purpose trust and receiving in turn the residual interest in the trust (“self-deposited inverse floating rate securities”). The Fund does not currently expect to create self-deposited inverse floating rate securities. However, to the extent the Fund creates self-deposited inverse floating rate securities, the Fund would recognize interest expense because accounting rules require the Fund to treat interest paid by such trusts as having been paid (indirectly) by the Fund. Because the Fund would also recognize a corresponding amount of additional interest earned (also indirectly), the Fund’s net asset value per share, net investment income, and total return would not be affected by this accounting treatment.

 

(7)

Assumes effective leverage through the use of bank borrowings at an annual interest rate of 1.25%.

 

(8)

The example assumes that the estimated Total Annual Expenses set forth in the Annual Expenses table are accurate and do not include any interest attributable to self-deposited inverse floating rate securities and that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.

 

THE FUND

 

The Fund is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on December 4, 2009, pursuant to the Declaration, which is governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As a newly organized entity, the Fund has no operating history. The Fund’s principal office is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and its telephone number is (800) 257-8787.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The net proceeds of the offering of Common Shares will be approximately $             ($             if the Underwriters exercise the overallotment option in full) after payment of the estimated offering costs. NAM has agreed to (i) reimburse all organization expenses of the Fund and (ii) pay all offering costs (other than sales load, but inclusive of the partial reimbursement of expenses) that exceed $.04 per Common Share. The Fund will invest the net proceeds of the offering in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as stated below. It is presently anticipated that the Fund will be able to invest substantially all of the net proceeds in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies within approximately three to four months after the completion of the offering. During the initial invest-up period, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its Managed Assets in short-term investments, including high quality, short-term securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable.

 

THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS

 

Investment Objectives and Policies

 

Investment Objectives. The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide current income through investments in taxable municipal securities. As a secondary objective, the Fund will seek to enhance portfolio value and total return. The Fund’s investment objectives and certain investment policies specifically identified as such are considered fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund cannot assure you that it will achieve its investment objectives.

 

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Fund Strategies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of BABs. The Fund believes there could be an opportunity to capitalize on the developing market for BABs by investing in taxable municipal issues at attractive market yields relative to the yields on equivalently rated corporate bonds. NAM, the Fund’s investment adviser, will use its credit research driven investment process to assemble a diversified portfolio. In addition, the Fund will use an integrated leverage and hedging strategy that, in NAM’s judgment, has the potential to enhance income and risk-adjusted total return over time. The Fund’s overall goal is to outperform over time the BABs Index, an unleveraged index representing the BABs market, while maintaining a comparable overall level of interest rate risk.

 

Build America Bonds . BABs are bonds issued by state and local governments to finance capital projects such as public schools, roads, transportation infrastructure, bridges, ports and public buildings, among others, pursuant to the Act. Unlike investments in most other municipal securities, interest received on BABs is subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state income tax.

 

Enacted in February 2009, the Act was intended in part to assist state and local governments in financing capital projects at lower net borrowing costs through direct subsidies designed to stimulate state and local infrastructure projects, create jobs and encourage non-traditional municipal security investors. The Act authorizes state and local governments to issue taxable bonds on which, assuming certain specified conditions are satisfied, issuers may either (i) receive payments from the U.S. Treasury equal to a specified percentage of its interest payments (direct pay BABs) or (ii) cause investors in the bonds to receive federal tax credits (tax credit BABs).

 

Based on current market conditions, the Fund anticipates investing in direct pay BABs and not in tax credit BABs. However, the Fund has no policy with respect to direct pay or tax credit BABs and may invest in either type of BABs at any time. Under the terms of the Act, issuers of direct pay BABs are entitled to receive reimbursement from the U.S. Treasury currently equal to 35% (or 45% in the case of Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds) of the interest paid on the bonds, which allows such issuers to issue bonds that pay interest rates that are expected to be competitive with the rates typically paid by private bond issuers in the taxable fixed income market. Issuance of BABs commenced in April 2009 and bonds issued after December 31, 2010 (referred to as the “sunset”) currently will not qualify as BABs unless the relevant provisions of the Act are extended. As currently enacted, the Act contains no budgetary limit on issuances through the BABs program through the sunset. Currently under the Act, BABs cannot be used to finance private, non-municipal activities, and can only be used to fund capital expenditures. The proceeds of BAB issuances are used for public benefit, and generally support facilities that meet such essential needs as water, electricity, transportation, and education. Moreover, many BABs are general obligation bonds, which are backed by the full faith and taxing power of the state and local governments issuing them.

 

The Obama administration and Congress are considering a variety of proposals to extend or modify the BABs program, including changes that would make it permanent, reduce the amount of the subsidy, and allow proceeds to be used for certain private, non-municipal activities or for refinancing capital expenditures. It cannot be predicted whether these proposals or other changes in the BABs program will be enacted, nor can it be predicted whether such proposals or changes, if enacted, will have a positive or negative effect on the Fund. If, for any twenty-four month period ending on or prior to December 31, 2014, there are no new issuances of Build America Bonds or other taxable municipal securities with interest payments subsidized by the U.S. Government through direct pay subsidies, as a fundamental policy, the Fund will terminate on or around June 30, 2020. See “—Contingent Term Provision” below for additional information.

 

According to a February 2010 report issued by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”), 749 BABs issues came to market in 2009 totaling approximately $64 billion. Between April 15, 2009 and December 31, 2009, BABs issuance accounted for 20% of long-term securities issued in the municipal market, such that taxable municipal securities issuance (including BABs) represented 26% of the overall municipal market. Municipal market research analysts expect such BABs issuance trends to continue throughout 2010, when the BABs program is currently scheduled to sunset. For example, J.P. Morgan municipal market research analysts

 

27


currently project BABs issuance of approximately $110 billion in 2010. By December 31, 2010, they expect the BAB total market size to be approximately $172 billion.

 

On March 18, 2010, the State of Florida announced that it temporarily suspended the new issuance of BABs as a result of its uncertainty relating to a general offset rule in the Internal Revenue Code (the “IRS Offset Rule”), which allows for the possibility that subsidy payments received by issuers of BABs may be subject to offset against amounts owed by them to the federal government. At this time, Florida’s action pertains only to certain issuance by the state and does not govern the potential issuance of BABs by any local municipality or other public agencies, commissions or authorities within the State of Florida. However, if other BAB issuers were to suspend the new issuance of BABs due to the IRS Offset Rule, as Florida has done, this could then have a negative impact on the developing BABs market. The possibility of such offsets has been recognized since the inception of the BABs program. The IRS has broad regulatory authority to develop special rules to adapt or tailor the procedural framework implementing the BABs program, but it has not issued any guidance with respect to the operation of the offset rule. NAM believes the IRS Offset Rule is understood by potential BAB issuers. NAM does not believe that the State of Florida’s announcement will have an adverse impact on the future of BAB issuance in general or on the Fund.

 

NAM believes that BABs presently offer a more compelling yield opportunity than equivalently rated corporate bonds. Municipal issuers, of which BABs issuers are a major subset, have historically lower default rates than issuers of equivalently rated corporate bonds. Past default rates are not predictive of future default rates. According to the February 2010 report issued by Moody’s, the average ten year historical cumulative default rate for investment grade municipal debt is .06%, compared to 2.50% for all investment grade corporate issuers.

 

In response to the market’s desire for ratings comparability, Moody’s has announced that it plans to recalibrate in April 2010 its long-term U.S. municipal ratings to its global ratings scale. According to Moody’s, the recalibration is intended to provide comparability of ratings across the Moody’s-rated universe and does not reflect an improvement in credit quality or a change in Moody’s credit opinion for rated issuers of municipal securities. Moody’s has announced that the recalibration will be implemented in stages and is expected to occur over a four week period. NAM does not believe that the Moody’s recalibration will have an adverse impact on the Fund.

 

Investment Policies. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in BABs. This investment policy may be changed with 60 days’ notice to shareholders. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities other than BABs, including other taxable municipal securities, tax-exempt municipal securities, U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities. The Fund may purchase BABs (including for purposes of the 80% test) or other municipal securities (taxable or tax-exempt) in the form of bonds, notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable; with payment forms that include fixed-coupon, variable rate, zero coupon, capital appreciation bonds, floating rate securities, inverse floating rate securities and other derivative instruments that replicate investment exposure to BABs or other municipal securities. Such BABs and other municipal securities may be acquired through investments in pooled vehicles, partnerships or other investment companies. The Fund may also purchase BABs and other municipal securities representing a wide range of sectors and purposes.

 

Integrated Leverage and Hedging Strategy . The Fund anticipates using an integrated leverage and hedging strategy to seek to enhance its potential current income and longer-term risk-adjusted total return, while seeking to maintain a level of interest rate risk comparable to that of the BABs Index. The Fund expects to use leverage instruments that will have a funding cost based on short- to intermediate-term market interest rates. Because such interest rates are expected to be generally lower than the yields on the long-term bonds in which the Fund invests, NAM believes that the use of leverage will generally increase Common Share net income.

 

The use of leverage involves increased risk, including increased variability of the Fund’s net income, distributions and/or net asset value in relation to market changes. In particular, leverage increases interest rate risk, which is the risk that the prices of portfolio securities will fall (or rise) if market interest rates for those securities rise (or fall). The Fund’s hedging strategy seeks to reduce this increased interest rate risk by systematically reducing the leverage-adjusted portfolio duration (duration is a measure of the sensitivity of bond prices to changes in interest rates) to a level comparable to the duration of the BABs Index. This hedging strategy is not expected to reduce other types of risk, such as credit risk, which are also increased by the Fund’s use of leverage. The Fund’s leverage and

 

28


hedging techniques are referred to as integrated because the Fund’s use of hedging strategies is expected to be directly calibrated to any increased interest rate risk, relative to the Fund’s benchmark, due to the use of leverage.

 

The Fund’s use of derivatives such as bond futures or interest rate swaps in hedging interest rate risk will generate costs that will effectively reduce the Fund’s net asset value. These capital costs may be offset over time by capital appreciation of the Fund’s portfolio. The potential to achieve such capital appreciation will depend largely on NAM’s investment capabilities in executing the Fund’s investment strategy as well as the performance of BABs relative to the securities underlying the Fund’s hedging instruments. If and to the extent that such capital appreciation does not occur or is less than these hedging costs, however, the Fund’s total returns can be expected to be less than the Fund’s net earnings (and, over time, distributions).

 

The Fund may employ the following leverage instruments: (a) Debt; (b) portfolio investments that have the economic effect of leverage, including but not limited to investments in inverse floating rate securities; and (c) the issuance of Preferred Shares, although the Fund has no current intention to issue Preferred Shares. Based on current market conditions, the Fund intends to implement its leveraging strategy principally by using (a) Debt and (b) investments in inverse floating rate securities. Initially after the closing of this offering, the Fund intends to establish a bank credit facility. If current market conditions persist, the Fund’s effective leverage is expected to be in the range of 25% and 27% of its Managed Assets upon completion of the invest-up period. The Fund intends to limit its total effective leverage to 33% of Managed Assets. The Fund’s integrated leverage and hedging strategy may not work as planned or achieve its goals.

 

The use of leverage creates special risks for Common Shareholders. See “Leverage” and “Risks—Leverage Risk.” See also “Risks—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk.”

 

Other Policies . Under normal circumstances:

 

   

The Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in securities that at the time of investment are investment grade quality. A security is considered investment grade quality if it is rated within the four highest letter grades (BBB or Baa or better) by at least one of the NRSROs that rate such security (even if it is rated lower by another), or if it is unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM.

 

   

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities that at the time of investment are rated below investment grade or are unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. Securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominately speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as junk bonds. See “Risks—Credit and Below Investment Grade Risk.”

 

   

The Fund will generally invest in securities with intermediate- or long-term maturities. The Fund anticipates having a weighted average maturity of 15 to 35 years. The weighted average maturity of securities held by the Fund may be shortened or lengthened, depending on market conditions and on an assessment by the Fund’s portfolio manager of which segments of the market offer the most favorable relative investment values and opportunities for income and total return. BABs issuers typically offer ten year call protection. Additionally, most BABs issuers include an extraordinary call in the event the BABs program is terminated.

 

   

The Fund will not invest more than 25% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities in any one industry or in any one state of origin.

 

   

The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities that, at the time of investment, are illiquid ( i.e., securities that are not readily marketable). Inverse floating rate securities or the residual interest certificates of tender option bond trusts are not considered illiquid securities. See “Risks—Illiquid Securities Risk.”

 

   

The Fund also may invest up to 20% of its total assets in certain derivative instruments to enhance returns. Such derivatives include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts, or similar instruments. This limit will apply to the investment exposure created by those derivative instruments. Inverse floating rate securities are not regarded as derivatives for this purpose. NAM may also use derivative instruments to hedge some of the risk of the Fund’s investments in municipal securities. These types of strategies may generate taxable income. See “The Fund’s Investments—Derivatives.”

 

29


The credit quality policies noted above apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event that an NRSRO downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, NAM may consider such factors as NAM’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other NRSROs. A general description of the ratings of Standard & Poor’s Corporation Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”), Moody’s and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) of municipal securities is set forth in Appendix A to the Statement of Additional Information.

 

The Fund may purchase municipal securities that are additionally secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit quality of companies that provide such credit enhancements will affect the value of those securities. Although the insurance feature is designed to reduce certain financial risks, the premiums for insurance and the higher market price paid for insured obligations may reduce the Fund’s income. The Fund may use any insurer, regardless of its rating. A municipal security typically will be deemed to have the rating of its insurer. However, in the event an insurer has a credit rating below the rating of an underlying municipal security or is perceived by the market to have such a lower rating, the municipal security rating would be the more relevant rating and the value of the municipal security would more closely, if not entirely, reflect such rating. As a result, the value of insurance associated with a municipal security may decline and the insurance may not add any value. The insurance feature normally provides that it guarantees the full payment of principal and interest when due of an insured obligation, but does not guarantee the market value of the insured obligation or the net asset value of the Common Shares represented by such insured obligation. As of December 1, 2009, there are no longer any bond insurers rated AAA by all of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch and at least one NRSRO has placed each insurer on “negative credit watch,” “credit watch evolving,” “credit outlook developing,” or “rating withdrawn,” which may presage one or more rating reductions for any insurer in the future. See “Risks—Insurance Risk.”

 

During temporary defensive periods or in order to keep the Fund’s cash fully invested, including during the period when the net proceeds of the offering of Common Shares are first being invested, the Fund may deviate from its investment policies and objectives. During such periods, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its Managed Assets in short-term investments, including high quality, short-term securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable. There can be no assurance that such strategies will be successful. For more information, see “Tax Matters” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

The Fund’s investment objectives and certain investment policies specifically identified as such are considered fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval. See “Investment Restrictions” in the Statement of Additional Information. All of the Fund’s other investment policies are not considered to be fundamental by the Fund and can be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without a vote of the Common Shareholders. The Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in BABs cannot be changed without 60 days’ advance notice to shareholders.

 

The Fund cannot change its investment objectives or fundamental policies without the approval of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” Common Shares. When used with respect to particular shares of the Fund, a “majority of the outstanding” shares means (i) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the shares are present or represented by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the shares, whichever is less.

 

Contingent Term Provision

 

Under its Declaration of Trust, the Fund has no limitation on its term of existence. To accommodate the possibility that the BABs program will not be extended, if for any twenty-four month period ending on or prior to December 31, 2014, there are no new issuances of BABs or other taxable municipal securities with interest payments subsidized by the U.S. Government through direct pay subsidies, as a fundamental policy, the Fund

 

30


will terminate on or around June 30, 2020 (previously defined as the “Contingent Term Provision”). Such issuances may cease if the current legislation authorizing the U.S. government subsidy for the issuances is not extended beyond December 31, 2010, and no similar legislation is enacted. Currently there are several proposals either to make such legislation permanent or to extend it beyond its scheduled sunset date. If, because there are no such new issuances, the Fund is to terminate on June 30, 2020, the Fund’s Board of Trustees may extend the term of the Fund for up to six months after that date if deemed to be in the best interests of shareholders, but otherwise may not extend the term of the Fund without shareholder approval. Furthermore, the Fund can be terminated at any time by action of the Trustees, or by action of the shareholders, which could occur prior to June 30, 2020. If the Fund terminates, the Fund will distribute all of its net assets to shareholders of record as of the date of termination. The Fund’s investment objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return to investors who purchase common shares in this offering the amount of their initial investment on the termination date, and such initial investors and any investors who purchase common shares after the completion of the offering may receive more or less than their original investment upon termination.

 

NAM Investment Philosophy and Process

 

NAM is the Fund’s investment adviser, responsible for investing the Fund’s Managed Assets. NAM, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments. Founded in 1898, Nuveen Investments and its affiliates had approximately $145 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2009, of which approximately $69 billion was in municipal securities. See “Management of the Fund.”

 

Investment Philosophy.     NAM believes the Act and the developing market for BABs represents a new opportunity to invest in taxable municipal securities. NAM believes the structural characteristics of the developing taxable municipal securities market create attractive opportunities to enhance the diversification of the investment portfolios of investors. NAM believes that these unique characteristics also present unique risks that may be managed to realize the benefits of the asset class. NAM considers the following factors:

 

Income and Total Return Potential.     The primary source of total return from taxable municipal securities comes from the taxable interest income derived therefrom. NAM believes that, at acceptable levels of credit risk and maturity principal risk, the taxable municipal securities market offers the potential for higher income and risk adjusted total returns when compared with other taxable fixed income markets, such as investment grade corporate securities.

 

Managing Multi-Faceted Risks.     Risk in the taxable municipal securities market is derived from multiple sources, including credit risk at the issuer and sector levels, structural risks such as call risk, yield curve risk, and basis risk in relation to benchmark issues of U.S. Treasury securities. NAM believes that managing these risks at both the individual security and Fund portfolio level is an important element of realizing the income and total return potential of the asset class.

 

Opportunities to Identify Underrated and Undervalued Municipal Securities .    Within the state and national taxable municipal securities markets, including BABs, there are issuers with an array of financing purposes, security terms, offering structures and credit quality. NAM believes that the taxable municipal market, including BABs, offers opportunities to identify individual issuers in securities that may be underrated and undervalued relative to the general market.

 

Market Imbalance.     NAM believes that the taxable municipal securities market may offer pricing and other anomalies resulting from imbalances between supply and demand that can be identified and capitalized on through trading strategies.

 

31


Investment Process.     NAM employs a bottom-up, research-driven investment strategy that seeks to identify underrated and undervalued municipal securities and sectors, to potentially outperform portfolio benchmarks over time. The primary elements of NAM’s investment process are:

 

   

Credit Analysis and Surveillance.     NAM focuses on bottom-up, fundamental analysis of municipal securities issuers. Analysts screen each sector for issuers that meet the fundamental tests of creditworthiness and favor those securities with demonstrable growth potential, solid coverage of debt service and a priority lien on hard assets, dedicated revenue streams or tax resources. As part of NAM’s overall risk management process, analysts actively monitor the credit quality of portfolio holdings.

 

   

Sector Analysis.     Organized by sector, analysts continually assess the key issues and trends affecting each sector in order to maintain a sector outlook. Evaluating such factors as historical default rates and average credit spreads within each sector, analysts provide top-down analysis that supports decisions to overweight or underweight a given sector in a portfolio.

 

   

Managing Risk.     NAM seeks to manage portfolio risks, including, principally, exposure to individual credits and sectors and exposure to calls, and to manage a portfolio’s interest rate sensitivity within tolerance bands relative to the relevant benchmark.

 

   

Sell Discipline.     NAM generally sells securities when it (i) determines a security has become overvalued or over-rated, (ii) identifies credit deterioration, or (iii) modifies a portfolio strategy, such as sector allocation.

 

Portfolio Composition and Other Information

 

The Fund’s portfolio will be composed principally of the following investments. More detailed information about the Fund’s portfolio investments are contained in the Statement of Additional Information under “Portfolio Composition.”

 

Municipal Securities

 

The Fund may invest in taxable municipal securities (including BABs) and tax-exempt municipal securities, including municipal bonds and notes, other securities issued to finance and refinance public projects, and other related securities and derivative instruments creating exposure to municipal bonds, notes and securities that provide for the payment of interest income that is exempt from regular federal income tax. Municipal securities are often issued by state and local governmental entities to finance or refinance public projects such as roads, schools, and water supply systems. Municipal securities may also be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned transportation, electric utility or pollution control projects. Municipal securities may be issued on a long term basis to provide permanent financing. The repayment of such debt may be secured generally by a pledge of the full faith and credit taxing power of the issuer, a limited or special tax, or any other revenue source, including project revenues, which may include tolls, fees and other user charges, lease payments and mortgage payments. Municipal securities may also be issued to finance projects on a short-term interim basis, anticipating repayment with the proceeds of the later issuance of long-term debt. The Fund may purchase municipal securities in the form of bonds, notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable; with payment forms including fixed coupon, variable rate or zero coupon, including capital appreciation bonds, floating rate securities, and inverse floating rate securities; or may be acquired through investments in pooled vehicles, partnerships or other investment companies. Inverse floating rate securities are securities that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing short-term tax-exempt interest rates and represent a leveraged investment in an underlying municipal security, which could have the economic effect of leverage.

 

Municipal securities are either general obligation or revenue bonds and typically are issued to finance public projects (such as roads or public buildings), to pay general operating expenses or to refinance outstanding debt. General obligation bonds are backed by the full faith and credit, or taxing authority, of the issuer and may be repaid from any revenue source; revenue bonds may be repaid only from the revenues of a specific facility or

 

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source. The Fund also may purchase municipal securities that represent lease obligations, municipal notes, pre-refunded municipal bonds, private activity bonds, floating rate securities and other related securities and may purchase derivative instruments that create exposure to municipal bonds, notes and securities.

 

The yields on municipal securities depend on a variety of factors, including prevailing interest rates and the condition of the general money market and the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. A municipal security’s market value generally will depend upon its form, maturity, call features, and interest rate, as well as the credit quality of the issuer, all such factors examined in the context of the municipal securities market and interest rate levels and trends. The market value of municipal securities will vary with changes in interest rate levels and as a result of changing evaluations of the ability of their issuers to meet interest and principal payments.

 

BABs offer an alternative form of financing for state and local government entities whose primary means for accessing the capital markets traditionally has been through issuance of tax-exempt municipal securities. BABs are taxable municipal obligations issued pursuant to the Act or other legislation providing for the issuance of taxable municipal securities on which the issuer receives federal support. Enacted in February 2009 with the intent to assist state and local governments in financing capital projects at lower borrowing costs, the Act authorizes state and local governments to issue taxable bonds on which, assuming certain specified conditions are satisfied, issuers may either (i) receive payments from the U.S. Treasury equal to a specified percentage of their interest payments (in the case of direct pay BABs) or (ii) cause investors in the bonds to receive federal tax credits (in the case of tax credit BABs). Unlike most other municipal obligations, interest received on BABs is subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state income tax. Under the terms of the Act, issuers of direct pay BABs are entitled to receive payments from the U.S. Treasury currently equal to 35% (or 45% in the case of Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds) of the interest paid on the bonds. Holders of tax credit BABs receive a federal tax credit currently equal to 35% of the coupon interest received. The Fund does not expect to receive (or pass through to Common Shareholders) tax credits as a result of its investments. The federal interest subsidy or tax credit continues for the life of the bonds.

 

Issuance of BABs commenced in April 2009 and bonds issued after December 31, 2010 will not qualify as BABs unless the relevant provisions of the Act are extended.

 

Municipal Leases and Certificates of Participation.     The Fund also may purchase municipal securities that represent lease obligations and certificates of participation in such leases. These carry special risks because the issuer of the securities may not be obligated to appropriate money annually to make payments under the lease. A municipal lease is an obligation in the form of a lease or installment purchase that is issued by a state or local government to acquire equipment and facilities. Income from such obligations generally is exempt from state and local taxes in the state of issuance. Leases and installment purchase or conditional sale contracts (which normally provide for title to the leased asset to pass eventually to the governmental issuer) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in many leases or contracts of “non-appropriation” clauses that relieve the governmental issuer of any obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. In addition, such leases or contracts may be subject to the temporary abatement of payments in the event the issuer is prevented from maintaining occupancy of the leased premises or utilizing the leased equipment or facilities. Although the obligations may be secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition of the property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might prove difficult, time consuming and costly, and result in a delay in recovering, or the failure to recover fully, the Fund’s original investment. To the extent that the Fund invests in unrated municipal leases or participates in such leases, the credit quality rating and risk of cancellation of such unrated leases will be monitored on an ongoing basis. In order to reduce this risk, the Fund will only purchase municipal securities representing lease obligations where NAM believes the issuer has a strong incentive to continue making appropriations until maturity.

 

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A certificate of participation represents an undivided interest in an unmanaged pool of municipal leases, an installment purchase agreement or other instruments. The certificates are typically issued by a municipal agency, a trust or other entity that has received an assignment of the payments to be made by the state or political subdivision under such leases or installment purchase agreements. Such certificates provide the Fund with the right to a pro rata undivided interest in the underlying municipal securities. In addition, such participations generally provide the Fund with the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days’ notice, of all or any part of the Fund’s participation interest in the underlying municipal securities, plus accrued interest.

 

Municipal Notes.     The Fund also may purchase municipal securities in the form of notes that generally are used to provide for short-term capital needs, in anticipation of an issuer’s receipt of other revenues or financing, and typically have maturities of up to three years. Such instruments may include tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes and construction loan notes. Tax anticipation notes are issued to finance the working capital needs of governments. Generally, they are issued in anticipation of various tax revenues, such as income, sales, property, use and business taxes, and are payable from these specific future taxes. Revenue anticipation notes are issued in expectation of receipt of other kinds of revenue, such as federal revenues available under federal revenue sharing programs. Bond anticipation notes are issued to provide interim financing until long-term bond financing can be arranged. In most cases, the long-term bonds then provide the funds needed for repayment of the bond anticipation notes. Tax and revenue anticipation notes combine the funding sources of both tax anticipation notes and revenue anticipation notes. Construction loan notes are sold to provide construction financing. Mortgage notes insured by the Federal Housing Authority secure these notes; however, the proceeds from the insurance may be less than the economic equivalent of the payment of principal and interest on the mortgage note if there has been a default. The anticipated revenues from taxes, grants or bond financing generally secure the obligations of an issuer of municipal notes. An investment in such instruments, however, presents a risk that the anticipated revenues will not be received or that such revenues will be insufficient to satisfy the issuer’s payment obligations under the notes or that refinancing will be otherwise unavailable.

 

Pre-Refunded Municipal Securities.     The principal of, and interest on, pre-refunded municipal securities are no longer paid from the original revenue source for the securities. Instead, the source of such payments is typically an escrow fund consisting of U.S. government securities. The assets in the escrow fund are derived from the proceeds of refunding bonds issued by the same issuer as the pre-refunded municipal securities. Issuers of municipal securities use this advance refunding technique to obtain more favorable terms with respect to securities that are not yet subject to call or redemption by the issuer. For example, advance refunding enables an issuer to refinance debt at lower market interest rates, restructure debt to improve cash flow or eliminate restrictive covenants in the indenture or other governing instrument for the pre-refunded municipal securities. However, except for a change in the revenue source from which principal and interest payments are made, the pre-refunded municipal securities remain outstanding on their original terms until they mature or are redeemed by the issuer.

 

Private Activity Bonds.     Private activity bonds, formerly referred to as industrial development bonds, are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to provide privately operated housing facilities, airport, mass transit or port facilities, sewage disposal, solid waste disposal or hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities and certain local facilities for water supply, gas or electricity. Other types of private activity bonds, the proceeds of which are used for the construction, equipment, repair or improvement of privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, may constitute municipal securities, although the current federal tax laws place substantial limitations on the size of such issues.

 

Inverse Floating Rate Securities.     Inverse floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as “inverse floaters”) are securities whose interest rates bear an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security or the value of an index. Generally, inverse floating rate securities represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust formed by a third party sponsor for the purpose of holding municipal bonds. The special purpose trust typically sells two classes of beneficial interests or securities: floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as short-term floaters or tender option bonds) and inverse floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as inverse floaters or residual interest securities). Both classes of beneficial interests are represented by certificates. The

 

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short-term floating rate securities have first priority on the cash flow from the municipal bonds held by the special purpose trust. Typically, a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution, grants the floating rate security holders the option, at periodic intervals, to tender their securities to the institution and receive the face value thereof. As consideration for providing the option, the financial institution receives periodic fees. The holder of the short-term floater effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term rate. However, the institution granting the tender option will not be obligated to accept tendered short-term floaters in the event of certain defaults or a significant downgrade in the credit rating assigned to the bond issuer. For its inverse floating rate investment, the Fund receives the residual cash flow from the special purpose trust. Because the holder of the short-term floater is generally assured liquidity at the face value of the security, the Fund as the holder of the inverse floater assumes the interest rate cash flow risk and the market value risk associated with the municipal security deposited into the special purpose trust. The volatility of the interest cash flow and the residual market value will vary with the degree to which the trust is leveraged. This is expressed in the ratio of the total face value of the short-term floaters in relation to the value of the residual inverse floaters that are issued by the special purpose trust. The Fund expects to make investments in inverse floaters, with leverage ratios that may vary at inception between one and three times. In addition, all voting rights and decisions to be made with respect to any other rights relating to the municipal bonds held in the special purpose trust are passed through to the Fund, as the holder of the residual inverse floating rate securities.

 

Because increases in the interest rate on the short-term floaters reduce the residual interest paid on inverse floaters, and because fluctuations in the value of the municipal bond deposited in the special purpose trust affect the value of the inverse floater only, and not the value of the short-term floater issued by the trust, inverse floaters’ value is generally more volatile than that of fixed rate bonds. The market price of inverse floating rate securities is generally more volatile than the underlying securities due to the leveraging effect of this ownership structure. These securities generally will underperform the market of fixed rate bonds in a rising interest rate environment ( i.e. , when bond values are falling), but tend to outperform the market of fixed rate bonds when interest rates decline or remain relatively stable. Although volatile, inverse floaters typically offer the potential for yields exceeding the yields available on fixed rate bonds with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity. Inverse floaters have varying degrees of liquidity based upon the liquidity of the underlying securities deposited in a special purpose trust.

 

The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities, issued by special purpose trusts that have recourse to the Fund. In NAM’s discretion, the Fund may enter into a separate shortfall and forbearance agreement with the third party sponsor of a special purpose trust. The Fund may enter into such recourse agreements (i) when the liquidity provider to the special purpose trust requires such an agreement because the level of leverage in the trust exceeds the level that the liquidity provider is willing support absent such an agreement; and/or (ii) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the trust in the event that the municipal obligation held in the trust has declined in value. Such an agreement would require the Fund to reimburse the third party sponsor of such inverse floater, upon termination of the trust issuing the inverse floater, the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount due to the holders of floating rate interests. Such agreements may expose the Fund to a risk of loss that exceeds its investment in the inverse floating rate securities. Absent a shortfall and forbearance agreement, the Fund would not be required to make such a reimbursement. If the Fund chooses not to enter into such an agreement, the special purpose trust could be liquidated and the Fund could incur a loss. See also “Portfolio Composition—Segregation of Assets” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

The Fund may invest in both inverse floating rate securities and floating rate securities (as discussed below) issued by the same special purpose trust.

 

The Fund will segregate or earmark liquid assets with its custodian in accordance with the 1940 Act to cover its obligations with respect to its investments in special purpose trusts.

 

Investments in inverse floating rate securities create effective leverage. The use of leverage creates special risks for Common Shareholders. See “Leverage” and “Risks—Leverage Risk” and “—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk.”

 

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Floating Rate Securities.     The Fund may also invest in floating rate securities, as described above, issued by special purpose trusts. Floating rate securities may take the form of short-term floating rate securities or the option period may be substantially longer. Generally, the interest rate earned will be based upon the market rates for municipal securities with maturities or remarketing provisions that are comparable in duration to the periodic interval of the tender option, which may vary from weekly, to monthly, to extended periods of one year or multiple years. Since the option feature has a shorter term than the final maturity or first call date of the underlying bond deposited in the trust, the Fund as the holder of the floating rate security relies upon the terms of the agreement with the financial institution furnishing the option as well as the credit strength of that institution. As further assurance of liquidity, the terms of the trust provide for a liquidation of the municipal security deposited in the trust and the application of the proceeds to pay off the floating rate security. The trusts that are organized to issue both short-term floating rate securities and inverse floaters generally include liquidation triggers to protect the investor in the floating rate security.

 

Special Taxing Districts.     Special taxing districts are organized to plan and finance infrastructure developments to induce residential, commercial and industrial growth and redevelopment. The bond financing methods such as tax increment finance, tax assessment, special services district and Mello-Roos bonds (a type of municipal bond established by the Community Facilities District Act of 1982), are generally payable solely from taxes or other revenues attributable to the specific projects financed by the bonds without recourse to the credit or taxing power of related or overlapping municipalities. They often are exposed to real estate development-related risks and can have more taxpayer concentration risk than general tax-supported bonds, such as general obligation bonds.

 

Further, the fees, special taxes, or tax allocations and other revenues that are established to secure such financings are generally limited as to the rate or amount that may be levied or assessed and are not subject to increase pursuant to rate covenants or municipal or corporate guarantees. The bonds could default if development failed to progress as anticipated or if larger taxpayers failed to pay the assessments, fees and taxes as provided in the financing plans of the districts.

 

When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions

 

The Fund may buy and sell municipal securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, making payment or taking delivery at a later date, normally within 15 to 45 days of the trade date. This type of transaction may involve an element of risk because no interest accrues on the securities prior to settlement and, because securities are subject to market fluctuations, the value of the securities at time of delivery may be less (or more) than cost. A separate account of the Fund will be established with its custodian consisting of cash, cash equivalents, or liquid securities having a market value at all times at least equal to the amount of the commitment.

 

Zero Coupon Bonds

 

A zero coupon bond is a bond that does not pay interest either for the entire life of the obligation or for an initial period after the issuance of the obligation. When held to its maturity, its return comes from the difference between the purchase price and its maturity value. A zero coupon bond is normally issued and traded at a deep discount from face value. Zero coupon bonds allow an issuer to avoid or delay the need to generate cash to meet current interest payments and, as a result, may involve greater credit risk than bonds that pay interest currently or in cash. The market prices of zero coupon bonds are affected to a greater extent by changes in prevailing levels of interest rates and thereby tend to be more volatile in price than securities that pay interest periodically. In addition, the Fund would be required to distribute the income on any of these instruments as it accrues, even though the Fund will not receive all of the income on a current basis or in cash. Thus, the Fund may have to sell other investments, including when it may not be advisable to do so, to make income distributions to its Common Shareholders.

 

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Derivatives

 

The Fund may invest in certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objectives. Such instruments may include financial futures contracts, swap contracts, options on financial futures, options on swap contracts or other derivative instruments whose prices, in NAM’s opinion, correlate with the prices of the Fund’s investments. In particular, the Fund may use credit default swaps and interest rate swaps. Credit default swaps may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation. If the Fund is a seller of a contract, the Fund would be required to pay the par (or other agreed upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporate issuer, with respect to such debt obligations. In return, the Fund would receive from the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Fund would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. As the seller, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. If the Fund is a buyer of a contract, the Fund would have the right to deliver a referenced debt obligation and receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of such debt obligation from the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event (such as a credit downgrade) by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporation, with respect to its debt obligations. In return, the Fund would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the counterparty would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligations to the Fund. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with a counterparty of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. The Fund will usually enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis; that is, the two payment streams will be netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.

 

NAM may use derivative instruments to seek to enhance return, to hedge some of the risk of the Fund’s investments in municipal securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset.

 

There is no assurance that these derivative strategies will be available at any time or that NAM will determine to use them for the Fund or, if used, that the strategies will be successful.

 

Other Investment Companies

 

The Fund may invest up to 10% of its Managed Assets in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including exchange-traded funds, often referred to as “ETFs”) that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund may invest in investment companies that are advised by NAM or its affiliates to the extent permitted by applicable law and/or pursuant to exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a stockholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies.

 

NAM will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits of an investment in an investment company relative to available municipal security investments. In addition, because the securities of other investment companies may be leveraged and subject to leverage risk, the Fund may indirectly be subject to those risks. See “Risks—Other Investment Companies Risk.”

 

Initial Portfolio Composition

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in securities that at the time of investment are investment grade quality. The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities that at the time of investment are rated lower than investment grade or that are unrated by

 

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any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. If current market conditions persist, the Fund expects that approximately 92.5% of the Managed Assets in its initial portfolio will consist of investment grade quality municipal securities at the time of investment. As such, the Fund expects that its Managed Assets in its initial portfolio will be invested as follows: 7.5% in Aaa/AAA, 35% in Aa/AA, 45% in A, 5% in BBB/Baa, and 7.5% in BB/Ba. The Fund anticipates that, upon the full investment of the net proceeds of this offering, the average credit quality of its investments will be A+. The Fund will generally invest in securities with intermediate- or long-term maturities. The Fund anticipates having a weighted average maturity of 15 to 35 years. The Fund will generally select obligations which may not be redeemed at the option of the issuer for approximately ten years from the date of purchase by the Fund. Current market conditions may change and the Fund may not be able to invest its initial portfolio as planned.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund may engage in portfolio trading when considered appropriate, but short-term trading will not be used as the primary means of achieving the Fund’s investment objectives. Although the Fund cannot accurately predict its annual portfolio turnover rate, it is generally not expected to exceed 25% under normal circumstances. However, there are no limits on the Fund’s rate of portfolio turnover, and investments may be sold without regard to length of time held when, in NAM’s opinion, investment considerations warrant such action. A higher portfolio turnover rate would result in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund. Although these commissions and expenses are not reflected in the Fund’s “Total Annual Expenses” on page 25 of this prospectus, they will be reflected in the Fund’s total return. In addition, high portfolio turnover may result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by the Fund which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. See “Tax Matters.”

 

LEVERAGE

 

Integrated Leverage and Hedging Strategy . The Fund anticipates using an integrated leverage and hedging strategy to seek to enhance its potential current income and longer-term risk-adjusted total return, while seeking to maintain a level of interest rate risk comparable to that of the BABs Index. The Fund expects to use leverage instruments that will have a funding cost based on short- to intermediate-term market interest rates. Because such interest rates are expected to be generally lower than the yields on the long-term bonds in which the Fund invests, NAM believes that the use of leverage will generally increase Common Share net income.

 

The use of leverage involves increased risk, including increased variability of the Fund’s net income, distributions and/or net asset value in relation to market changes. In particular, leverage increases interest rate risk, which is the risk that the prices of portfolio securities will fall (or rise) if market interest rates for those securities rise (or fall). The Fund’s hedging strategy seeks to reduce this increased interest rate risk by systematically reducing the leverage-adjusted portfolio duration (duration is a measure of the sensitivity of bond prices to changes in interest rates) to a level comparable to the duration of the BABs Index. This hedging strategy is not expected to reduce other types of risks, such as credit risk, which are also increased by the Fund’s use of leverage.

 

The Fund’s use of derivatives such as bond futures or interest rate swaps in hedging interest rate risk will generate costs that will effectively reduce the Fund’s net asset value. These capital costs may be offset over time by capital appreciation of the Fund’s portfolio. The potential to achieve such capital appreciation will depend largely on NAM’s investment capabilities in executing the Fund’s investment strategy as well as the performance of BABs relative to the securities underlying the Fund’s hedging instruments. If and to the extent that such capital appreciation does not occur or is less than these hedging costs, however, the Fund’s total returns can be expected to be less than the Fund’s net earnings (and, over time, distributions).

 

The Fund may employ the following leverage instruments: (a) Debt; (b) portfolio investments that have the economic effect of leverage, including but not limited to investments in inverse floating rate securities; and (c)

 

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the issuance of Preferred Shares, although the Fund has no current intention to issue Preferred Shares. Based on current market conditions, the Fund intends to implement its leveraging strategy principally by using (a) Debt and (b) investments in inverse floating rate securities. Initially after the closing of this offering, the Fund intends to establish a bank credit facility. If current market conditions persist, the Fund’s effective leverage is expected to be in the range of 25% and 27% of its Managed Assets upon completion of the invest-up period. The Fund intends to limit its total effective leverage to 33% of Managed Assets. The Fund’s integrated leverage and hedging strategy may not work as planned or achieve its goals. See also “Risks—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk.”

 

Senior Securities. The Fund intends to apply for ratings from a NRSRO (most likely S&P, Moody’s and/or Fitch) for any commercial paper or notes it may issue. The Fund presently anticipates that any commercial paper or notes that it intends to issue initially would be given ratings of at least AA/Aa (or the equivalent short-term ratings) by such NRSROs as S&P (“AA”), Moody’s (“Aa”) or Fitch (“AA”).

 

Debt will have seniority over the Common Shares. The use of Debt will leverage the Common Shares.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund generally is not permitted to borrow pursuant to a credit facility or issue commercial paper or notes unless immediately after the borrowing or commercial paper or note issuance the value of the Fund’s total assets less liabilities other than the principal amount represented by borrowings, commercial paper or notes is at least 300% of such principal amount. In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Fund’s total assets, less liabilities other than the principal amount represented by borrowings, commercial paper or notes is at least 300% of such principal amount. If the Fund borrows, the Fund intends, to the extent possible, to prepay all or a portion of the principal amount of any outstanding borrowings, commercial paper or notes to the extent necessary in order to maintain the required asset coverage. Failure to maintain certain asset coverage requirements could result in an event of default and entitle the debt holders to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees.

 

Assuming the utilization of leverage through Debt in the amount currently anticipated to represent approximately 27% of the Fund’s Managed Assets at an annual funding rate of 1.35% payable on such leverage, the income generated by the Fund’s portfolio (net of non-leverage expenses) must exceed .37% in order to cover such interest rates and other expenses specifically related to Debt. Of course, these numbers are merely estimates, used for illustration. Actual interest rates may vary frequently and may be significantly higher or lower than the rate estimated above.

 

The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by a lender, if the Fund establishes a bank credit facility or by guidelines of one or more NRSROs that may issue ratings for commercial paper or notes. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act or the Fund’s policies. It is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines will impede NAM from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. In addition to other considerations, to the extent that the Fund believes that the covenants and guidelines required by the lenders or NRSROs would impede its ability to meet its investment objective, or if the Fund is unable to obtain the rating on Debt (expected to be at least AA/Aa or the equivalent short-term ratings), the Fund will not incur Debt.

 

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The following table is furnished in response to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is designed to illustrate the effect of leverage on Common Share total return, assuming investment portfolio total returns (comprised of income and changes in the value of investments held in the Fund’s portfolio net of expenses) of -10%, -5%, 0%, 5% and 10%. These assumed investment portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not necessarily indicative of the investment portfolio returns expected to be experienced by the Fund. The table further reflects the use of Debt representing 27% of the Fund’s Managed Assets, and the Fund’s currently projected annual borrowing interest rate or borrowing interest rate set by an interest rate transaction of 1.35%. See “Risks—Leverage Risk.”

 

Assumed Portfolio Total Return (Net of Expenses)

     (10.00 )%    (5.00 )%    0.00   5.00   10.00

Common Share Total Return

     (14.20 )%    (7.35 )%    (0.50 )%    6.35   13.20

 

Common Share total return is comprised of two elements—the Common Share dividends paid by the Fund (the amount of which is largely determined by the net investment income of the Fund after paying interest on Debt) and gains or losses on the value of the securities the Fund owns. As required by the Securities and Exchange Commission rules, the table assumes that the Fund is more likely to suffer capital losses than to enjoy capital appreciation. For example, to assume a total return of 0%, the Fund must assume that the tax-advantaged dividends and other income it receives on its portfolio investments will be entirely offset by losses in the value of these portfolio securities.

 

The Fund pays NAM a management fee based on a percentage of Managed Assets. Managed Assets include the proceeds realized and managed from the Fund’s use of leverage as set forth in the Fund’s investment management agreement. NAM will base its decision whether and how much to leverage the Fund based on its assessment of whether such use of leverage will advance the Fund’s investment objectives. NAM will be responsible for using leverage to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives. However, the fact that a decision to increase the Fund’s leverage will have the effect of increasing Managed Assets and therefore NAM’s management fee means that NAM may have an incentive to increase the Fund’s use of leverage. NAM will seek to manage that incentive by only increasing the Fund’s use of leverage when it determines that such increase is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, and by periodically reviewing the Fund’s performance and use of leverage with the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

 

The use of leverage creates special risks for Common Shareholders. See “Risks—Leverage Risk” and “—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk.”

 

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RISKS

 

The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company designed primarily as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program and, due to the uncertainty inherent in all investments, there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. The Fund’s performance and the value of its investments will vary in response to changes in interest rates, inflation, the financial condition of a municipal security’s issuer, perceptions of the issuer, ratings on a municipal security and other market factors. Your Common Shares at any point in time may be worth less than your original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions.

 

No Prior History

 

The Fund is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company and has no operating history.

 

Investment and Market Risk

 

An investment in the Fund’s Common Shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest. Your investment in Common Shares represents an indirect investment in the municipal securities owned by the Fund, which generally trade in the over-the-counter markets. Your Common Shares at any point in time may be worth less than your original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions. In addition, if the current national economic downturn deteriorates into a prolonged recession, the ability of municipalities to collect revenue and service their obligations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Market Discount from Net Asset Value and Expected Reductions in Net Asset Value

 

Shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund frequently trade at prices lower than their net asset value, which creates a risk of loss for investors when they sell shares purchased in the initial public offering. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s net asset value could decrease as a result of investment activities. Shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund have during some periods traded at prices higher than net asset value and have during other periods traded at prices lower than net asset value. Proceeds from the sale of Common Shares in this offering will be reduced by 4.5% (the amount of the sales load as a percentage of the offering price), making the Fund’s net asset value per Common Share equal to $19.10, before deducting offering expenses. The net asset value of the Fund and the net asset value per Common Share are then further reduced by the amount of offering expenses paid by the Fund (estimated to be up to an additional $.04 per Common Share). Whether investors will realize gains or losses upon the sale of the Common Shares will depend not upon the Fund’s net asset value but entirely upon whether the market price of the Common Shares at the time of sale is above or below the investor’s purchase price for the Common Shares. Because the market price of the Common Shares will be determined by factors such as relative supply of and demand for the Common Shares in the market, general market and economic conditions, and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot predict whether the Common Shares will trade at, below or above net asset value or at, below or above the initial public offering price. The Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and you should not view the Fund as a vehicle for short-term trading purposes.

 

Build America Bonds Risk

 

The BABs market is smaller and less diverse than the broader municipal securities market. In addition, because BABs are a new form of municipal financing and because bonds issued after December 31, 2010 currently will not qualify as BABs unless the relevant provisions of the Act are extended, it is difficult to predict the extent to which a market for such bonds will develop, meaning that BABs may experience greater illiquidity than other types of municipal securities. If the ability to issue BABs is not extended beyond December 31, 2010,

 

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the number of BABs available in the market will be limited and there can be no assurance that BABs will be actively traded. In addition, illiquidity may negatively affect the value of the bonds.

 

Because issuers of direct pay BABs held in the Fund’s portfolio receive reimbursement from the U.S. Treasury with respect to interest payment on bonds, there is a risk that those municipal issuers will not receive timely payment from the U.S. Treasury and may remain obligated to pay the full interest due on direct pay BABs held by the Fund. Furthermore, it is possible that a municipal issuer may fail to comply with the requirements to receive the direct pay subsidy or that a future Congress may terminate the subsidy altogether.

 

Because the BABs program is new, certain aspects of the program may be subject to additional Federal or state level guidance or subsequent legislation. For example, the IRS or U.S. Treasury could impose restrictions or limitations on the payments received. Aspects of the BABs program for which the IRS and the U.S. Treasury have solicited public comment include, but have not been limited to, methods for making direct payments to issuers, the tax procedural framework for such payments, and compliance safeguards. It is not known what additional procedures will be implemented with respect to direct pay BABs, if any, nor is it known what effect such possible procedures would have on the BABs market.

 

The Fund intends to invest primarily in BABs and therefore the Fund’s net asset value of the Fund may be more volatile than the value of a more broadly diversified portfolio and may fluctuate substantially over short periods of time. Because BABs currently do not include certain industries or types of municipal bonds (i.e., tobacco bonds or private activity bonds), there may be less diversification than with a broader pool of municipal securities.

 

General Municipal Securities Market Risk

 

Investing in the municipal securities market involves certain risks. The municipal market is one in which dealer firms make markets in bonds on a principal basis using their proprietary capital, and during the recent market turmoil these firms’ capital was severely constrained. As a result, some firms were unwilling to commit their capital to purchase and to serve as a dealer for municipal bonds. The amount of public information available about the municipal securities in the Fund’s portfolio is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and the Fund’s investment performance may therefore be more dependent on NAM’s analytical abilities. The secondary market for municipal securities, particularly the below investment grade bonds in which the Fund may invest, also tends to be less developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell its municipal securities at attractive prices or at prices approximating those at which the Fund currently values them. Municipal securities may contain redemption provisions, which may allow the securities to be called or redeemed prior to their stated maturity, potentially resulting in the distribution of principal and a reduction in subsequent interest distributions.

 

Current Economic Conditions—Credit Crisis Liquidity and Volatility Risk

 

The ability of municipal issuers to make timely payments of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic downturns and as governmental cost burdens are reallocated among federal, state and local governments. The taxing power of any governmental entity may be limited by provisions of state constitutions or laws and an entity’s credit will depend on many factors, including the entity’s tax base, the extent to which the entity relies on federal or state aid, and other factors which are beyond the entity’s control. In addition, laws enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Issuers of municipal securities might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, the Fund could experience delays in collecting principal and interest and the Fund may not, in all circumstances, be able to collect all principal and interest to which it is entitled. To enforce its rights in the event of a default in the payment of interest or repayment of principal, or both, the Fund may take possession of and manage the assets securing the issuer’s obligations on such securities, which may increase the Fund’s operating expenses.

 

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Revenue bonds issued by state or local agencies to finance the development of low-income, multi-family housing involve special risks in addition to those associated with municipal securities generally, including that the underlying properties may not generate sufficient income to pay expenses and interest costs. These bonds are generally non-recourse against the property owner, may be junior to the rights of others with an interest in the properties, may pay interest that changes based in part on the financial performance of the property, may be prepayable without penalty and may be used to finance the construction of housing developments which, until completed and rented, do not generate income to pay interest. Additionally, unusually high rates of default on the underlying mortgage loans may reduce revenues available for the payment of principal or interest on such mortgage revenue bonds.

 

The markets for credit instruments have experienced periods of extreme illiquidity and volatility since the latter half of 2007. General market uncertainty and consequent repricing risk have led to market imbalances of sellers and buyers, which in turn have resulted in significant valuation uncertainties in a variety of debt securities, including municipal securities. These conditions have resulted, and in many cases continue to result in, greater volatility, less liquidity, widening credit spreads and a lack of price transparency, with many debt securities remaining illiquid and of uncertain value. Such market conditions may make valuation of some of the Fund’s municipal securities uncertain and/or result in sudden and significant valuation increases or declines in its holdings. A significant decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio would likely result in a significant decline in the value of your investment in Common Shares. In addition, illiquidity and volatility in the credit markets may directly and adversely affect the setting of dividend rates on the Common Shares. This volatility may also impact the liquidity of inverse floating rate securities in the Fund’s portfolio. See “Risks—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk.”

 

In response to the recent national economic downturn, governmental cost burdens may be reallocated among federal, state and local governments. Also, as a result of the downturn, many state and local governments have experienced significant reductions in revenues and consequently difficulties meeting ongoing expenses. As a result, certain of these state and local governments may have difficulty paying principal or interest on their outstanding debt and may experience ratings downgrades of their debt. In addition, laws enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. In addition to actions taken at the federal level, municipalities might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws, thereby affecting the repayment of their outstanding debt.

 

Credit and Below Investment Grade Risk

 

Credit risk is the risk that one or more securities in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in price, or the issuer thereof will fail to pay interest or principal when due, because the issuer experiences a decline in its financial status. Credit risk is increased when a portfolio security is downgraded or the perceived creditworthiness of the issuer deteriorates. In general, lower-rated securities carry a greater degree of risk that the issuer will lose its ability to make interest and principal payments, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s net asset value or dividends. Ratings may not accurately reflect the actual credit risk associated with a security. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities that are rated below investment grade at the time of investment or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. If a security satisfies the rating requirements described above at the time of investment and is subsequently downgraded below that rating, the Fund will not be required to dispose of the security. If a downgrade occurs, NAM will consider what action, including the sale of the security, is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Securities of below investment grade quality, commonly referred to as “junk” bonds, are regarded as having predominately speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal when due, and are more susceptible to default or decline in market value due to adverse economic and business developments than investment grade municipal securities. Also, to the extent that the rating assigned to a security in the Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by any NRSRO, the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely affected. The market values for securities of below investment grade quality tend to be volatile, and these

 

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securities are less liquid than investment grade securities, potentially making them difficult to value. Issuers of below investment grade securities are more vulnerable to financial setbacks and recession than more creditworthy issuers, which may impair their ability to make interest and principal payments. It is likely that the current economic recession may severely disrupt the market for such securities and have an adverse impact on the value of such securities. In addition, it is likely that continued economic deterioration may adversely affect the ability of such issuers to repay principal and pay interest on these securities and increase the incidence of default for such securities. For these reasons, an investment in the Fund, compared with a portfolio consisting solely of investment grade securities, may experience the following:

 

   

increased price sensitivity resulting from a deteriorating economic environment and changing interest rates;

 

   

greater risk of loss due to default or declining credit quality;

 

   

adverse issuer specific events that are more likely to render the issuer unable to make interest and/or principal payments; and

 

   

the possibility that a negative perception of the below investment grade market develops, resulting in the price and liquidity of below investment grade securities becoming depressed, and this negative perception could last for a significant period of time.

 

Adverse changes in economic conditions are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of a below investment grade issuer to make principal payments and interest payments compared to an investment grade issuer. The principal amount of below investment grade securities outstanding has proliferated in the past decade as an increasing number of issuers have used below investment grade securities for financing. The current economic downturn may severely affect the ability of highly leveraged issuers to service their debt obligations or to repay their obligations upon maturity. As the national economy experiences the current economic downturn, resulting in decreased tax and other revenue streams of issuers, or in the event interest rates rise sharply, increasing the interest cost on variable rate instruments and negatively impacting economic activity, the number of defaults by below investment grade issuers is likely to increase. Similarly, down-turns in profitability in specific industries could adversely affect private activity bonds. The market values of lower quality debt securities tend to reflect individual developments of the issuer to a greater extent than do higher quality securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Factors having an adverse impact on the market value of lower quality securities may have an adverse impact on the Fund’s net asset value and the market value of its Common Shares. In addition, the Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. In certain circumstances, the Fund may be required to foreclose on an issuer’s assets and take possession of its property or operations. In such circumstances, the Fund would incur additional costs in disposing of such assets and potential liabilities from operating any business acquired.

 

The secondary market for below investment grade securities may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated securities, a factor that may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to dispose of a particular security. There are fewer dealers in the market for below investment grade securities than the market for investment grade securities. The prices quoted by different dealers for below investment grade securities may vary significantly, and the spread between the bid and ask price is generally much larger for below investment grade securities than for higher quality instruments. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for below investment grade securities could contract further, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer, and these instruments may become illiquid. As a result, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower rated or unrated securities, under these circumstances, may be less than the prices used in calculating the Fund’s net asset value.

 

Issuers of below investment grade securities may be highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. Therefore, the risk associated with acquiring the securities of such issuers

 

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generally is greater than is the case with higher rated securities. For example, during an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of below investment grade securities may experience financial stress. During such periods, such issuers may not have sufficient revenues to meet their interest payment obligations. The issuer’s ability to service its debt obligations also may be adversely affected by specific developments, the issuer’s inability to meet specific projected forecasts or the unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss from default by the issuer is significantly greater for the holders of below investment grade securities because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors of the issuer. Prices and yields of below investment grade securities will fluctuate over time and, during periods of economic uncertainty, volatility of below investment grade securities may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value. In addition, investments in below investment grade zero coupon bonds rather than income-bearing below investment grade securities, may be more speculative and may be subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest rates.

 

Leverage Risk

 

The Fund may employ the following leveraging instruments: (a) Debt; (b) portfolio investments that have the economic effect of leverage, including but not limited to investments in inverse floating rate securities; and (c) the issuance of Preferred Shares, though the Fund has no current intention to issue Preferred Shares. The use of leverage creates special risks for Common Shareholders, including potential interest rate risks and the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of, and distributions on, the Common Shares. Based on current market conditions, the Fund intends to implement its leveraging strategy by, among other things, establishing a bank credit facility. The Fund expects that the lender in the bank credit facility may require additional asset coverage and portfolio composition provisions as well as restrictions on the Fund’s investment practices. In addition, the Fund may issue debt securities including fixed and floating rate notes or commercial paper. The issuance of such senior securities may limit the Fund’s ability to pay dividends to Common Shareholders in accordance with the requirements of Section 18 of the 1940 Act. If the Fund seeks an investment grade rating from a NRSRO for any commercial paper or notes, asset coverage or portfolio composition provisions in addition to and more stringent than those required by the 1940 Act or the Fund’s policies may be imposed in connection with the issuance of such a rating. The Fund will pay (and Common Shareholders will bear) any costs and expenses relating to the Funds’ use of leverage, which will result in a reduction in the net asset value of the Common Shares. The Fund may, based on its assessment of market conditions, change total effective leverage. Such changes may impact net investment income and the valuation of the Fund’s Common Shares in the secondary market. To the extent that the Fund is required or elects to prepay any Debt, the Fund may need to liquidate investments to fund such prepayments. Liquidations at times of adverse economic conditions may result in capital loss and reduce returns to Common Shareholders. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s leverage strategy will be successful. Furthermore, the amount of fees paid to NAM for investment advisory services will be higher if the Fund uses leverage because the fees will be calculated based on the Fund’s Managed Assets—this may create an incentive for NAM to leverage the Fund. See also, “Risks—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk.”

 

Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk

 

The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities. Typically, inverse floating rate securities represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust (sometimes called a “tender option bond trust”) formed by a third party sponsor for the purpose of holding municipal bonds. See “The Fund’s Investments—Portfolio Composition and Other Information—Municipal Securities—Inverse Floating Rate Securities.” In general, income on inverse floating rate securities will decrease when interest rates increase and increase when interest rates decrease. Investments in inverse floating rate securities may subject the Fund to the risks of reduced or eliminated interest payments and losses of principal.

 

The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities issued by special purpose trusts that have recourse to the Fund. In NAM’s discretion, the Fund may enter into a separate shortfall and forbearance agreement with the third party sponsor of a special purpose trust. The Fund may enter into such recourse agreements (i) when the liquidity provider to the special purpose trust requires such an agreement because the level of leverage in the trust

 

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exceeds the level that the liquidity provider is willing to support absent such an agreement; and/or (ii) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the trust in the event that the municipal obligation held in the trust has declined in value. Such an agreement would require the Fund to reimburse the third party sponsor of the trust, upon termination of the trust issuing the inverse floating rate security, the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount due to the holders of floating rate interests. In such instances, the Fund may be at risk of loss that exceeds its original investment in the inverse floating rate securities.

 

Inverse floating rate securities may increase or decrease in value at a greater rate than the underlying interest rate, which effectively leverages the Fund’s investment. As a result, the market value of such securities generally will be more volatile than that of fixed rate securities.

 

The Fund’s investments in inverse floating rate securities issued by special purpose trusts that have recourse to the Fund may be highly leveraged. The structure and degree to which the Fund’s inverse floating rate securities are highly leveraged will vary based upon a number of factors, including the size of the trust itself and the terms of the underlying municipal security. An inverse floating rate security generally is considered highly leveraged if the principal amount of the short-term floating rate interests issued by the related special purpose trust is in excess of three times the principal amount of the inverse floating rate securities owned by the trust. In the event of a significant decline in the value of an underlying security, the Fund may suffer losses in excess of the amount of its investment (up to an amount equal to the value of the municipal securities underlying the inverse floating rate securities) as a result of liquidating the special purpose trust or other collateral required to maintain the Fund’s anticipated effective leverage ratio.

 

The Fund’s investments in inverse floating rate securities will create effective leverage. Any effective leverage achieved through the Fund’s investment in inverse floating rate securities will create an opportunity for increased Common Share net income and returns, but will also create the possibility that Common Share long-term returns will be diminished if the cost of leverage exceeds the return on the inverse floating rate securities purchased by the Fund. See “Risks—Leverage Risk.”

 

The amount of fees paid to NAM for investment advisory services will be higher if the Fund uses leverage because the fees will be calculated based on the Fund’s Managed Assets—this may create an incentive for NAM to leverage the Fund. Managed Assets means the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (other than liabilities incurred for the express purpose of creating effective leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of effective leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles), such as, but not limited to, the portion of assets in special purpose trusts of which the Fund owns the inverse floater certificates that has been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate certificates.

 

There is no assurance that the Fund’s strategy of investing in inverse floating rate securities will be successful.

 

Inverse floating rate securities have varying degrees of liquidity based, among other things, upon the liquidity of the underlying securities deposited in a special purpose trust. The market price of inverse floating rate securities is more volatile than the underlying securities due to leverage. The leverage attributable to such inverse floating rate securities may be “called away” on relatively short notice and therefore may be less permanent than more traditional forms of leverage. In certain circumstances, the likelihood of an increase in the volatility of net asset value and market price of the Common Shares may be greater for a fund (like the Fund) that relies primarily on inverse floating rate securities to achieve a desired effective leverage ratio. The Fund may be required to sell its inverse floating rate securities at less than favorable prices, or liquidate other Fund portfolio holdings in certain circumstances, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

If the Fund has a need for cash and the securities in a special purpose trust are not actively trading due to adverse market conditions;

 

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If special purpose trust sponsors (as a collective group or individually) experience financial hardship and consequently seek to terminate their respective outstanding trusts; and

 

   

If the value of an underlying security declines significantly (to a level below the notional value of the floating rate securities issued by the trust) and if additional collateral has not been posted by the Fund.

 

The Fund may invest in taxable inverse floating rate securities, issued by special purpose trusts formed with taxable municipal securities. The market for such taxable inverse floating rate securities is relatively new and undeveloped. Initially, there may be a limited number of counterparties, which may increase the credit risks, counterparty risk and liquidity risk of investing in taxable inverse floating rate securities.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Generally, when market interest rates rise, bond prices fall, and vice versa. Interest rate risk is the risk that the debt securities in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in value because of increases in market interest rates. As interest rates decline, issuers of municipal securities may prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower-yielding securities and potentially reducing the Fund’s income. As interest rates increase, slower than expected principal payments may extend the average life of securities, potentially locking in a below-market interest rate and reducing the Fund’s value. In typical market interest rate environments, the prices of longer-term debt securities generally fluctuate more than the prices of shorter-term debt securities as interest rates change. These risks may be greater because certain interest rates are near historically low levels. Because the Fund intends to invest primarily in longer-term municipal securities, the Common Share net asset value and market price per Common Share may fluctuate more in response to changes in market interest rates than if the Fund invested primarily in shorter-term municipal securities. The Fund’s investments in floating rate securities, as described in this prospectus under “Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk,” will tend to increase Common Share interest rate risk. To the extent the Fund invests in debt securities that may be prepaid at the option of the obligor, the sensitivity of such securities to changes in interest rates may increase (to the detriment of the Fund) when interest rates rise. Moreover, because rates on certain floating rate debt securities in which the Fund may invest typically reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund may utilize certain strategies, including taking positions in futures or interest rate swaps, for the purpose of reducing the interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities and decreasing the Fund’s exposure to interest rate risk. The Fund is not required to hedge its exposure to interest rate risk and may choose not to do so. In addition, there is no assurance that any attempts by the Fund to reduce interest rate risk will be successful.

 

Contingent Term Provision Risk

 

In the event the Fund terminates pursuant to the Contingent Term Provision, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities when it otherwise would not, including at times when interest rate or market conditions are not favorable, which may cause the Fund to lose money on its investments. Further, the process of liquidating the Fund’s Managed Assets could result in a reduction in the Fund’s net investment income and monthly dividend distributions in the last year of the Fund’s operations. In addition, in the event the Fund terminates pursuant to the Contingent Term Provision, the Fund’s investment objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return to investors who purchase Common Shares in this offering their initial investment on the anticipated termination date, and such initial investors and any investors who purchase Common Shares after the completion of the offering may receive more or less than their original investment upon termination.

 

Derivatives Risk, Including the Risk of Swaps

 

The Fund’s use of derivatives involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the investments underlying the derivatives. If the Fund invests in a derivative instrument, it could lose more than the principal amount invested. Whether the Fund’s use of derivatives is

 

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successful will depend on, among other things, if NAM correctly forecasts market values, interest rates and other applicable factors. If NAM incorrectly forecasts these and other factors, the investment performance of the Fund will be unfavorably affected. In addition, the derivatives market is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the derivatives market could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to successfully use derivative instruments.

 

The Fund is subject to the credit risk that its counterparty (whether a clearing corporation in the case of exchange traded instruments or another third party in the case of over-the-counter instruments) may be unable to meet its obligations. In addition, there is a risk of loss by the Fund of margin deposits in the event of the bankruptcy of the dealer with whom the Fund has an open position in an option or futures or forward contract. Derivative instruments traded in foreign markets may offer less liquidity and greater credit risk than comparable instruments traded in domestic markets. The ability of the Fund to close out its positions may also be affected by exchange imposed daily trading limits on options and futures contracts. If the Fund is unable to close out a position, it will be unable to realize its profit or limit its losses until such time as the option becomes exercisable or expires or the futures or forward contract terminates, as the case may be. The inability to close out options, futures and forward positions could also have an adverse impact on the Fund’s ability to use derivative instruments as a hedging strategy.

 

The Fund may enter into debt-related derivatives instruments including credit default swap contracts and interest rate swaps. Like most derivative instruments, the use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In addition, the use of swaps requires an understanding by NAM of not only of the referenced asset, rate or index, but also of the swap itself. Because they are two-party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid, increasing the Fund’s interest rate risk. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements. See also, “—Counterparty Risk” and “—Hedging Risk” and “Portfolio Composition—Hedging Strategies and Other Uses of Derivatives” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Counterparty Risk

 

Changes in the credit quality of the companies that serve as the Fund’s counterparties with respect to derivatives, insured municipal securities or other transactions supported by another party’s credit may affect the value of those instruments. Certain entities that have served as counterparties in the markets for these transactions have recently incurred significant losses and financial hardships including bankruptcy as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower quality credit investments that have experienced recent defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a result, such hardships have reduced these entities’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such transactions. By using derivatives or other transactions, the Fund assumes the risk that its counterparties could experience similar financial hardships. In the event of insolvency of a counterparty, the Fund may sustain losses or be unable to liquidate a derivatives position.

 

Hedging Risk

 

The Fund’s use of derivatives or other transactions to reduce risk involves costs and will be subject to NAM’s ability to predict correctly changes in the relationships of such hedge instruments to the Fund’s portfolio holdings or other factors. No assurance can be given that NAM’s judgment in this respect will be correct. In addition, no assurance can be given that the Fund will enter into hedging or other transactions at times or under circumstances in which it may be advisable to do so.

 

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Reinvestment Risk

 

Reinvestment risk is the risk that income from the Fund’s portfolio will decline if and when the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called bonds at market interest rates that are below the portfolio’s current earnings rate. A decline in income could affect the Common Shares’ market price or your overall returns.

 

Inflation Risk

 

Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the dividends paid to Common Shareholders can decline.

 

U.S. Government-Sponsored Agencies Risk

 

While certain U.S. Government-sponsored agencies, such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), may be chartered or sponsored by acts of Congress, their securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, and therefore may lose value. On September 7, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), a new independent regulatory agency, placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship, a statutory process designed to stabilize a troubled institution with the objective of returning the entity to normal business operations. A July, 2009 congressional report issued by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform noted that the FNMA and FHLMC’s role in the financial crisis “was significant and has received too little attention.” In addition, the U.S. Treasury has been purchasing mortgage-backed securities issued by FNMA and FHLMC in the open market to create market liquidity and, in part, to stabilize their market values. The U.S. Treasury has also entered into a new secured lending credit facility with both of those corporations to provide liquidity if needed, and a Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, which will ensure that each corporation maintains a positive net worth.

 

Reliance on Investment Adviser

 

The Fund is dependent upon services and resources provided by its investment adviser, NAM, and therefore the investment adviser’s parent, Nuveen Investments. Nuveen Investments has a substantial amount of indebtedness. Nuveen Investments, through its own business or the financial support of its affiliates, may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or ensure that future borrowings will be available in an amount sufficient to enable it to pay its indebtedness with scheduled maturities beginning in 2013 or to fund its other liquidity needs. Nuveen Investments’ failure to satisfy the terms of its indebtedness, including covenants therein, may generally have an adverse effect on the financial condition of Nuveen Investments. For additional information on NAM and Nuveen Investments, including the financial condition of Nuveen Investments, see “Management of the Fund—Additional Information Related to the Investment Adviser and Nuveen Investments.”

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions

 

The Declaration and By-laws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or convert the Fund to open-end status. These provisions could have the effect of depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares at a premium over the then current market price of the Common Shares. See “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws.”

 

Insurance Risk

 

The Fund may purchase municipal securities that are secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit quality of the companies that provide such credit enhancements will affect the value of those securities. Many significant providers of insurance for municipal securities have recently incurred significant losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower credit quality investments that

 

49


have experienced recent defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a result, such losses have reduced the insurers’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such insurance if they are called upon to do so in the future. As of February 25, 2010, there are no longer any bond insurers rated AAA by all of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch and at least one rating agency has placed all insurers except Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Company on “negative credit watch,” “credit watch evolving,” “credit outlook developing,” or “rating withdrawn.” These events may presage one or more rating reductions for any other insurer in the future. While an insured municipal security will typically be deemed to have the rating of its insurer, if the insurer of a municipal security suffers a downgrade in its credit rating or the market discounts the value of the insurance provided by the insurer, the rating of the underlying municipal security will be more relevant and the value of the municipal security would more closely, if not entirely, reflect such rating. In such a case, the value of insurance associated with a municipal security would decline and the insurance may not add any value. As concern has increased about the balance sheets of insurers, prices on insured bonds—especially those bonds issued by weaker underlying credits—declined. Most insured bonds are currently being valued according to their fundamentals as if they were uninsured. The insurance feature of a municipal security normally provides that it guarantees the full payment of principal and interest when due through the life of an insured obligation, but does not guarantee the market value of the insured obligation or the net asset value of the Common Shares represented by such insured obligation.

 

Tax Risk

 

To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to regulated investment companies, among other things, the Fund must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from certain prescribed sources. If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions would be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.

 

Other Investment Companies Risk

 

The Fund may invest up to 10% of its Managed Assets in the securities of other investment companies. Such securities may be leveraged. As a result, the Fund may be indirectly exposed to leverage through an investment in such securities. Utilization of leverage is a speculative investment technique and involves certain risks. An investment in securities of other investment companies that are leveraged may expose the Fund to higher volatility in the market value of such securities and the possibility that the Fund’s long-term returns on such securities (and, indirectly, the long-term returns of the Common Shares) will be diminished.

 

Industry Risk

 

The Fund may invest up to 25% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities in any one industry or in any one state of origin. In addition, subject to the concentration limits of the Fund’s investment policies and guidelines, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its Managed Assets in certain sectors of the municipal securities market, such as hospitals and other health care facilities, charter schools and other private educational facilities, special taxing districts and start-up utility districts, and private activity bonds including industrial development bonds on behalf of transportation companies such as airline companies, whose credit quality and performance may be more susceptible to economic, business, political, regulatory and other developments than other sectors of municipal issuers. If the Fund invests a significant portion of its Managed Assets in the sectors noted above, the Fund’s performance may be subject to additional risk and variability. To the extent that the Fund focuses its Managed Assets in the hospital and healthcare facilities sector, for example, the Fund will be subject to risks associated with such sector, including adverse government regulation and reduction in reimbursement rates, as well as government approval of products and services and intense competition. Securities issued with respect to special taxing districts will be subject to various risks, including real-estate development related risks and taxpayer concentration risk. Further, the fees, special taxes or tax allocations and other revenues

 

50


established to secure the obligations of securities issued with respect to special taxing districts are generally limited as to the rate or amount that may be levied or assessed and are not subject to increase pursuant to rate covenants or municipal or corporate guarantees. Charter schools and other private educational facilities are subject to various risks, including the reversal of legislation authorizing or funding charter schools, the failure to renew or secure a charter, the failure of a funding entity to appropriate necessary funds and competition from alternatives such as voucher programs. Issuers of municipal utility securities can be significantly affected by government regulation, financing difficulties, supply and demand of services or fuel and natural resource conservation. The transportation sector, including airports, airlines, ports and other transportation facilities, can be significantly affected by changes in the economy, fuel prices, maintenance, labor relations, insurance costs and government regulation.

 

Special Risks Related to Certain Municipal Securities

 

The Fund may invest in municipal leases and certificates of participation in such leases. Municipal leases and certificates of participation involve special risks not normally associated with general obligations or revenue bonds. Leases and installment purchase or conditional sale contracts (which normally provide for title to the leased asset to pass eventually to the governmental issuer) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in many leases or contracts of “non-appropriation” clauses that relieve the governmental issuer of any obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. In addition, such leases or contracts may be subject to the temporary abatement of payments in the event the governmental issuer is prevented from maintaining occupancy of the leased premises or utilizing the leased equipment. Although the obligations may be secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition of the property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might prove difficult, time consuming and costly, and may result in a delay in recovering or the failure to fully recover the Fund’s original investment. In the event of non-appropriation, the issuer would be in default and taking ownership of the assets may be a remedy available to the Fund, although the Fund does not anticipate that such a remedy would normally be pursued. To the extent that the Fund invests in unrated municipal leases or participates in such leases, the credit quality rating and risk of cancellation of such unrated leases will be monitored on an ongoing basis. Certificates of participation, which represent interests in unmanaged pools of municipal leases or installment contracts, involve the same risks as the underlying municipal leases. In addition, the Fund may be dependent upon the municipal authority issuing the certificates of participation to exercise remedies with respect to the underlying securities. Certificates of participation also entail a risk of default or bankruptcy, both of the issuer of the municipal lease and also the municipal agency issuing the certificate of participation.

 

Deflation Risk

 

Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time, which may have an adverse effect on the market valuation of companies, their assets and revenues. In addition, deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Illiquid Securities Risk

 

The market for municipal securities is generally smaller than other markets, resulting in heightened liquidity risk. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities and other instruments that, at the time of investment, are illiquid. Illiquid securities are securities that are not readily marketable and may include some restricted securities, which are securities that may not be resold to the public without an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), if they are unregistered, may be sold only in a privately negotiated transaction or pursuant to an exemption from registration. Illiquid securities involve

 

51


the risk that the securities will not be able to be sold at the time desired by the Fund or at prices approximating the value at which the Fund is carrying the securities on its books. Inverse floating rate securities or the residual interest certificates of tender option bond trusts are not considered illiquid securities.

 

Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk

 

The aftermath of the war with Iraq, instability in the Middle East and terrorist attacks in the United States and around the world may have a substantial impact on the U.S. and world economies and securities markets. The nature, scope and duration of the occupation of Iraq cannot be predicted with any certainty. Terrorist attacks closed some of the U.S. securities markets in 2001, and similar events cannot be ruled out in the future. The war and occupation, terrorism and related geopolitical risks have led, and may in the future lead to, increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. These risks may adversely affect individual issuers and securities markets, interest rates, secondary trading, ratings, investor psychology, credit risk, inflation and other factors relating to the Fund’s Common Shares. High-yield securities tend to be more volatile than higher rated securities so that these events and any actions resulting from them may have a greater impact on the prices and volatility of high yield securities than on higher rated securities.

 

Certain Affiliations

 

Certain broker-dealers may be considered to be affiliated persons of the Fund, NAM and/or Nuveen. Absent an exemption from the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory relief, the Fund generally is precluded from effecting certain principal transactions with affiliated brokers, and its ability to purchase securities being underwritten by an affiliated broker or a syndicate including an affiliated broker, or to utilize affiliated brokers for agency transactions, is subject to restrictions. This could limit the Fund’s ability to engage in securities transactions and take advantage of market opportunities. In addition, unless and until the underwriting syndicate is broken in connection with the initial public offering of the Common Shares, the Fund will be precluded from effecting principal transactions with brokers who are members of the syndicate. See also “Management of the Fund—Investment Adviser ” and “—Nuveen Investments.”

 

HOW THE FUND MANAGES RISK

 

Investment Limitations

 

The Fund has adopted certain investment limitations designed to limit investment risk and maintain portfolio diversification. See “Investment Objectives and Policies” in the Statement of Additional Information for information about these limitations and a complete list of the Fund’s fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies.

 

Quality of Investments

 

Under normal circumstances the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in securities that at the time of investment are investment grade quality. A security is considered investment grade quality if it is rated within the four highest letter grades (BBB or Baa or better) by at least one of the NRSROs that rate such security (even if it is rated lower by another), or if it is unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM.

 

Derivative Instruments

 

As discussed above, the Fund may use derivatives in its integrated leverage and hedging strategy and may utilize derivatives to hedge the risk of investment in municipal securities. Such instruments include financial

 

52


futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts, or other derivative instruments. NAM may use derivative instruments to seek to enhance return, to hedge some of the risk of the Fund’s investments in municipal securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

Trustees and Officers

 

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the Fund’s management, including supervision of the duties performed by NAM. The names and business addresses of the Fund’s trustees and officers and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are set forth under “Management of the Fund” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Investment Adviser

 

NAM, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments. Founded in 1898, Nuveen Investments and its affiliates had approximately $145 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2009, of which approximately $69 billion was in municipal securities. According to Morningstar Fundamental Data, Nuveen Investments is the leading sponsor of closed-end funds as measured by the number of funds (123) and the amount of fund assets under management (approximately $46 billion) as of December 31, 2009. At such time as the Fund receives an exemptive order permitting it to do so, or as otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder, the Fund may, without obtaining approval of the Common Shareholders, retain an unaffiliated subadviser to perform some or all of the portfolio management functions on the Fund’s behalf. NAM also serves as sub-advisor to the Build America Investment Grade Bond Fund, an investment fund established under the laws of the Province of Ontario and managed by Connor, Clark & Lunn Capital Markets Inc.

 

NAM will be responsible for investing the Fund’s Managed Assets. NAM also is responsible for managing the Fund’s business affairs and providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services. Daniel Close and John Miller will serve as the Fund’s portfolio managers.

 

Daniel J. Close, CFA, is a Vice President of Nuveen Investments. He has direct responsibility for managing approximately $4 billion of municipal securities in 22 municipal funds. He joined Nuveen Investments in 2000 as a member of Nuveen’s product management and development team. He then served as a research analyst for Nuveen’s municipal investing team, covering corporate-backed, energy, transportation and utility credits. He received his BS in Business from Miami University and his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Mr. Close has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Mr. Close also serves as a portfolio manager to the Build America Investment Grade Bond Fund.

 

John V. Miller, CFA, is Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of NAM. He supervises Nuveen Investments’ municipal fixed-income investment activities. He also has direct responsibility for managing high-yield municipal funds and certain institutional accounts. He joined Nuveen Investments in 1996 as a municipal credit analyst and moved into portfolio management in 2000. Mr. Miller became a managing director and head of NAM’s portfolio managers in 2006, and he became NAM’s Chief Investment Officer in 2007. Mr. Miller earned his BA in economics and political science from Duke University, an MA in economics from Northwestern University, and an MBA with honors in finance from the University of Chicago. Mr. Miller also serves as a portfolio manager to the Build America Investment Grade Bond Fund.

 

Additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by them and other information is provided in the Statement of Additional Information. The Statement of Additional Information is available free of charge by calling (800) 257-8787 or by visiting Nuveen’s website at www.nuveen.com.

 

 

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Nuveen Investments

 

On November 13, 2007, Nuveen Investments was acquired by an investor group led by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC, a private equity firm based in Chicago, Illinois (previously defined as the “MDP Acquisition”). The investor group led by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC included affiliates of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., which has since been acquired by Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citi. As a result of the MDP Acquisition, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. currently owns a 32% non-voting equity stake in Nuveen Investments, owns a $30 million position in a $250 million revolving loan facility of Nuveen Investments and holds two of ten seats on the board of directors of Nuveen Investments. Wells Fargo and Citi also have an ownership interest in Nuveen Investments. Because these arrangements may give rise to certain conflicts of interest involving NAM and Bank of America (including Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.), NAM has adopted polices and procedures intended to address these potential conflicts.

 

Additional Information Related to the Investment Adviser and Nuveen Investments

 

The Fund is dependent upon the services and resources provided by its investment adviser, NAM and therefore the investment adviser’s parent, Nuveen Investments. Nuveen Investments significantly increased its level of debt in connection with the MDP Acquisition. As of September 30, 2009, Nuveen Investments had outstanding approximately $4.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of indebtedness, with approximately $531.8 million of available cash on hand. Nuveen Investments believes that monies generated from operations and cash on hand will be adequate to fund debt service requirements, capital expenditures and working capital requirements for the foreseeable future; however, Nuveen Investments’ ability to continue to fund these items, to service its debt and to maintain compliance with covenants in its debt agreements may be affected by general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, legal and regulatory factors and by its ability to refinance or repay outstanding indebtedness with scheduled maturities beginning in 2013. The risks, uncertainties and other factors related to Nuveen Investments’ business, the effects of which may cause its assets under management, earnings, revenues, and/or profit margins to decline, are described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are publicly available.

 

Investment Management Agreement

 

Pursuant to an investment management agreement between NAM and the Fund, the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee for the services and facilities provided by NAM, payable on a monthly basis, based on the sum of a fund-level fee and a complex-level fee, as described below, according to the following schedule.

 

Fund-Level Fee.     The fund-level fee shall be applied according to the following schedule:

 

Fund-Level Average Daily Managed Assets(1)


   Fund-Level Fee Rate

 

Up to $125 million

   .4500

$125 million to $250 million

   .4375

$250 million to $500 million

   .4250

$500 million to $1 billion

   .4125

$1 billion to $2 billion

   .4000

$2 billion and over

   .3875

 

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Complex-Level Fee.      The effective rates of the complex-level fee at various specified complex-wide asset levels are as indicated in the following table:

 

Complex-Level Asset Breakpoint Level(1)


   Effective
Rate at
Breakpoint
Level


 

$55 billion

   .2000

$56 billion

   .1996

$57 billion

   .1989

$60 billion

   .1961

$63 billion

   .1931

$66 billion

   .1900

$71 billion

   .1851

$76 billion

   .1806

$80 billion

   .1773

$91 billion

   .1691

$125 billion

   .1599

$200 billion

   .1505

$250 billion

   .1469

$300 billion

   .1445

(1) Breakpoints apply up to the dollar amounts listed above. For this Fund, “Managed Assets” means the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (other than Fund liabilities incurred for the express purpose of creating effective leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of effective leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles), such as, but not limited to, the portion of assets in special purpose trusts of which the Fund owns the inverse floater certificates that has been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate certificates. The complex-level fee is based on the aggregate daily managed assets (as “managed assets” is defined in each Nuveen Fund’s investment management agreement with NAM, which generally includes assets attributable to any preferred shares that may be outstanding and any borrowings (including the issuance of commercial paper or notes)) of the Nuveen Funds. The complex-level fee was based on approximately $67.3 billion as of December 31, 2009.

 

In addition to NAM’s management fee, the Fund pays all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its trustees (other than those affiliated with NAM), custodian, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent registered accounting firm, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, listing fees and taxes, if any. All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before payment distributions to shareholders.

 

The basis for the Board of Trustee’s initial approval of the Fund’s investment management agreement will be provided in the Fund’s initial shareholder report. The basis for subsequent continuations of the Fund’s investment management agreement will be provided in annual or semi-annual reports to shareholders for the periods during which such continuations occur.

 

NET ASSET VALUE

 

The Fund will determine the net asset value of its shares daily, as of the close of regular session trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. New York time). Net asset value is computed by dividing the value of all assets of the Fund (including accrued interest and dividends), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses and dividends declared but unpaid), by the total number of shares outstanding.

 

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In determining net asset value, expenses are accrued and applied daily and securities and other assets for which market quotations are available are valued at market value. The prices of municipal bonds are provided by a pricing service approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. When market price quotes are not readily available (which is usually the case for municipal securities), the pricing service, or, in the absence of a pricing service for a particular security, the Fund’s Board of Trustees, or its designee, may establish fair market value using a wide variety of market data including yields or prices of municipal bonds of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating, market quotes or indications of value from securities dealers, evaluations of anticipated cash flows or collateral, general market conditions and other information and analysis, including the obligor’s credit characteristics considered relevant by the pricing service or the Board of Trustees’ designee. Exchange-listed securities are generally valued at the last sales price on the securities exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Securities traded on a securities exchange for which there are no transactions on a given day or securities not listed on a securities exchange are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Securities reported on NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. Temporary investments in securities that have variable rate and demand features qualifying them as short-term investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

 

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Commencing with the first distribution, the Fund will pay monthly distributions to Common Shareholders. Distributions will be reinvested in additional Common Shares under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan unless a Common Shareholder elects to receive cash.

 

The Fund will seek to pay monthly distributions at a level rate (stated in terms of a fixed cents per Common Share dividend rate) based on the Fund’s projected performance. The Fund’s ability to maintain a level Common Share dividend rate will depend on a number of factors. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of dividends on the Common Shares and the Fund’s distribution policy could change. Over time, the Fund will distribute all of its net investment income. In addition, the Fund intends to distribute, at least annually, the net capital gain and taxable ordinary income, if any, to Common Shareholders. The Fund expects to declare its initial Common Share distribution approximately 30 to 45 days, and to pay that distribution approximately 60 to 90 days, from the completion of this offering, depending on market conditions.

 

To permit the Fund to maintain a more stable monthly distribution, the Fund may initially distribute less than the entire amount of net investment income earned in a particular period. Any such undistributed net investment income would be available to supplement future distributions. As a result, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular monthly period may be more or less than the amount of net investment income actually earned by the Fund during the period.

 

Undistributed net investment income will be included in the Fund’s net asset value and, correspondingly, distributions from undistributed net investment income will be deducted from the Fund’s net asset value.

 

As explained more fully below in “Tax Matters,” at least annually, the Fund may elect to retain rather than distribute all or a portion of any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) otherwise applicable to Common Shareholders and pay U.S. federal income tax on the retained gain. As provided under federal tax law, Common Shareholders of record as of the end of the Fund’s taxable year will include their attributable share of the retained net capital gain in their income for the year as a long-term capital gain (regardless of their holding period in the Common Shares), and will be entitled to an income tax credit or refund for the tax deemed paid on their behalf by the Fund. The Fund may treat the cash value of tax credit and refund amounts in connection with retained capital gains as a substitute for equivalent cash distributions. In addition, the Fund may make total distributions during a given calendar year in an amount that exceeds the Fund’s net investment income and net realized long-term capital gains for that calendar year, in which case the excess would be treated by Common Shareholders as return of capital for tax purposes.

 

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The Fund reserves the right to change its distribution policy and the basis for establishing the rate of its monthly distributions at any time and may do so without prior notice to Common Shareholders.

 

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

 

If your Common Shares are registered directly with the Fund or if you hold your Common Shares with a brokerage firm that participates in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), your distributions, including any capital gain distributions, will automatically be reinvested in additional Common Shares under the Plan unless you request otherwise. If you elect not to participate in the Plan, or are not eligible to participate because your brokerage firm does not participate in the Plan, you will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to you or your brokerage firm by State Street Bank and Trust Company, as dividend paying agent. The tax consequences of a distribution are the same regardless of whether such distribution is reinvested or received in cash. See “Tax Matters.”

 

Under the Plan, the number of Common Shares you will receive will be determined as follows:

 

(1) If the Common Shares are trading at or above net asset value at the time of valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at a price equal to the greater of (i) net asset value per Common Share on that date or (ii) 95% of the market price on that date.

 

(2) If Common Shares are trading below net asset value at the time of valuation, the Plan Agent will receive the dividend or distribution in cash and will purchase Common Shares in the open market, on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts. It is possible that the market price for the Common Shares may increase before the Plan Agent has completed its purchases. Therefore, the average purchase price per share paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the market price at the time of valuation, resulting in the purchase of fewer shares than if the dividend or distribution had been paid in Common Shares issued by the Fund. The Plan Agent will use all dividends and distributions received in cash to purchase Common Shares in the open market within 30 days of the valuation date. Interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash payments. The Plan provides that if Common Shares start trading at or above net asset value before the Plan Agent has completed its purchases, the Plan Agent may cease purchasing Common Shares in the open market, and may invest the uninvested portion in new shares at a price equal to the greater of (i) net asset value per Common Share determined on the last business day immediately prior to the purchase date or (ii) 95% of the market price on that date.

 

You may withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Plan Agent. If you withdraw or the Plan is terminated, you will receive whole shares in your account under the Plan and you will receive a cash payment for any fraction of a share in your account. If you wish, the Plan Agent will sell your shares and send you the proceeds, minus brokerage commissions and a $2.50 service fee.

 

The Plan Agent maintains all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and gives written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information you may need for tax records. Common Shares in your account will be held by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form. Any proxy you receive will include all Common Shares you have received under the Plan.

 

There is no brokerage charge for reinvestment of your dividends or distributions in Common Shares. However, all participants will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open market purchases.

 

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Automatically reinvesting dividends and distributions does not mean that you do not have to pay income taxes due upon receiving dividends and distributions.

 

As noted above, if you hold your Common Shares with a brokerage firm that does not participate in the Plan, you will not be able to participate in the Plan and any dividend reinvestment may be effected on different terms than those described above. Consult your financial advisor for more information.

 

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan if in the judgment of the Board of Trustees the change is warranted. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. Additional information about the Plan may be obtained from State Street Bank and Trust Company, Attn: Computershare Nuveen Investments, P.O. Box 43071, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3071, (800) 257-8787.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

Common Shares

 

The Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Common Shares being offered have a par value of $.01 per share and have equal rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation of the Fund. The Common Shares being offered will, when issued, be fully paid and, subject to matters discussed under “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws,” non-assessable, and will have no preemptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting. If the Fund issues preferred shares, the Common Shareholders will not be entitled to receive any cash distributions from the Fund unless all accrued dividends on preferred shares have been paid, and unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to preferred shares would be at least 200% after giving effect to the distributions. See “—Preferred Shares” below.

 

It is anticipated that the Common Shares will be approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to notice of issuance. The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders so long as the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing. The Fund will not issue share certificates.

 

Proceeds from the sale of Common Shares in this offering will be reduced by 4.5% (the amount of the sales load as a percentage of the offering price), making the Fund’s net asset value per Common Share equal to $19.10, before deducting offering expenses. Net asset value of the Fund and the net asset value per Common Share are then further reduced by the amount of offering expenses paid by the Fund (estimated to be an additional .20% as a percentage of the offering price). NAM has agreed to (i) reimburse all organization expenses of the Fund and (ii) pay all offering costs of the Fund (other than sales load, but inclusive of the partial reimbursement of expenses) that exceed $.04 per Common Share. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not continuously offer shares and do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a Common Shareholder determines to buy additional Common Shares or sell shares already held, the Common Shareholder may conveniently do so by trading on the exchange through a broker or otherwise. Shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade on an exchange at prices lower than net asset value. Shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund have, during some periods, traded at prices higher than net asset value and, during other periods, have traded at prices lower than net asset value. Because the market value of the Common Shares may be influenced by such factors as dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), dividend stability, net asset value, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions, and other factors beyond the Fund’s control, the Fund cannot guarantee you that Common Shares will trade at a price equal to or higher than net asset value in the future. The Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and investors in the Common Shares

 

58


should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes. See “Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund” below and in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Debt

 

The Declaration authorizes the Fund, without approval of the Common Shareholders, to borrow money. In this connection, the Fund may issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness (including bank borrowings or commercial paper) and may secure any such Debt by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the Fund’s assets. In connection with such borrowing, the Fund may be required to maintain minimum average balances with the lender or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit. Any such requirements will increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate. Under the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Fund, immediately after any such Debt, must have an “asset coverage” of at least 300%. With respect to any such Debt, asset coverage means the ratio which the value of the total assets of the Fund, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), bears to the aggregate amount of such borrowing represented by senior securities issued by the Fund. Certain types of Debt may result in the Fund being subject to certain restrictions imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies which may issue ratings for commercial paper or notes issued by the Fund. Such restrictions may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act.

 

The rights of lenders to the Fund to receive interest on and repayment of principal of any such Debt will be senior to those of the Common Shareholders, and the terms of any such Debt may contain provisions which limit certain activities of the Fund, including the payment of dividends to Common Shareholders in certain circumstances. Further, the 1940 Act does (in certain circumstances) grant to the lenders to the Fund certain voting rights in the event of default in the payment of interest on or repayment of principal. In the event that such provisions would impair the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under the Code, the Fund, subject to its ability to liquidate its relatively illiquid portfolio, intends to repay the Debt. Any Debt will likely be ranked senior or equal to all other existing and future Debt of the Fund. The Fund also may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary emergency purposes. See “Investment Restrictions” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Preferred Shares

 

The Fund has no current intention to issue Preferred Shares. However, the Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of preferred shares in one or more classes or series, with rights as determined by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, by action of the Board of Trustees without the approval of the Common Shareholders. The terms of any Preferred Shares that may be issued by the Fund may be the same as, or different from, the terms described below, subject to applicable law and the Declaration.

 

Limited Issuance of Preferred Shares.     Under the 1940 Act, the Fund could issue Preferred Shares with an aggregate liquidation value of up to one-half of the value of the Fund’s total net assets, measured immediately after issuance of the preferred shares. “Liquidation value” means the original purchase price of the shares being liquidated plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless the liquidation value of the Preferred Shares is less than one-half of the value of the Fund’s total net assets (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution) immediately after the distribution.

 

Distribution Preference.     Any Preferred Shares would have complete priority over the Common Shares as to distribution of assets.

 

Liquidation Preference.     In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, holders of preferred shares would be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends

 

59


thereon, whether or not earned or declared) before any distribution of assets is made to Common Shareholders. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, holders of Preferred Shares will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Fund. A consolidation or merger of the Fund with or into any Massachusetts business trust or corporation or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Fund shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund.

 

Voting Rights.     In connection with any issuance of Preferred Shares, the Fund must comply with Section 18(i) of the 1940 Act, which requires, among other things, that Preferred Shares be voting shares and have equal voting rights with Common Shares. Except as otherwise indicated in the Statement of Additional Information and except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of Preferred Shares would vote together with Common Shareholders as a single class.

 

In connection with the election of the Fund’s trustees, holders of Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees, and the remaining trustees would be elected by Common Shareholders and holders of Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class. In addition, if at any time dividends on the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares would be unpaid in an amount equal to two full years’ dividends thereon, the holders of all outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect a majority of the Fund’s trustees until all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart for payment.

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares of any class or series, as the case may be, voting as a separate class, would be required to, among other things, (1) take certain actions that would affect the preferences, rights, or powers of such class or series or (2) authorize or issue any class or series ranking prior to the preferred shares. Except as may otherwise be required by law, (1) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Fund’s Preferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, would be required to approve any conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company and (2) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding preferred shares, voting as a separate class, would be required to approve any plan of reorganization (as such term is used in the 1940 Act) adversely affecting such shares; provided however, that such separate class vote would be a majority vote if the action in question has previously been approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration or the By-laws. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares, voting as a separate class, would be required to approve any action not described in the preceding sentence requiring a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act including, among other things, changes in a Fund’s investment objectives or changes in the investment restrictions described as fundamental policies under “Investment Restrictions” in the Statement of Additional Information. The class or series vote of holders of preferred shares described above would in each case be in addition to any separate vote of the requisite percentage of Common Shares and preferred shares necessary to authorize the action in question.

 

The foregoing voting provisions would not apply with respect to the Fund’s Preferred Shares if, at or prior to the time when a vote was required, such shares would have been (1) redeemed or (2) called for redemption and sufficient funds would have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

 

Redemption, Purchase and Sale of Preferred Shares.     The terms of the Preferred Shares may provide that they are redeemable by the Fund at certain times, in whole or in part, at the original purchase price per share plus accumulated dividends, that the Fund may tender for or purchase preferred shares and that the Fund may subsequently resell any shares so tendered for or purchased. Any redemption or purchase of Preferred Shares by the Fund would reduce the leverage applicable to Common Shares, while any resale of such shares by the Fund would increase such leverage.

 

For more information on Preferred Shares, see “Description of Shares—Preferred Shares” in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

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CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST AND BY-LAWS

 

Shareholder and Trustee Liability.     Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the Fund’s obligations. However, the Declaration contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for the Fund’s debts or obligations and requires that notice of such limited liability be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the trustees. The Declaration further provides for indemnification out of the Fund’s assets and property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the Fund’s obligations. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations. The Fund believes that the likelihood of such circumstances is remote.

 

The Declaration provides that the Fund‘s obligations are not binding upon the Fund’s trustees individually, but only upon the Fund’s assets and property, and that the trustees shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. Nothing in the Declaration, however, protects a trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions.     The Declaration and By-laws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status. The By-laws require the Board of Trustees be divided into three classes with staggered terms. See “Management of the Fund” in the Statement of Additional Information. This provision of the By-laws could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board of Trustees. If preferred shares are issued, holders of preferred shares, voting as a separate class, will be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees. In addition, the Declaration requires a vote by holders of at least two-thirds of the Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares, voting together as a single class, except as described below, to authorize (1) a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, (2) a merger or consolidation of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, with any corporation, association, trust or other organization or a reorganization of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, (3) a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets (other than in the regular course of the Fund’s investment activities), (4) in certain circumstances, a termination of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund or (5) a removal of trustees by shareholders, and then only for cause, unless, with respect to (1) through (4), such transaction has already been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration or the By-laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund’s Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class, would be required; provided, however, that where only a particular class or series is affected (or, in the case of removing a trustee, when the trustee has been elected by only one class), only the required vote by the applicable class or series will be required. Approval of shareholders would not be required, however, for any transaction, whether deemed a merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise whereby the Fund issues shares in connection with the acquisition of assets (including those subject to liabilities) from any other investment company or similar entity. In the case of the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company, or in the case of any of the foregoing transactions constituting a plan of reorganization that adversely affects the holders of any outstanding preferred shares, the action in question also would require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the preferred shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, or, if such action has been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration or the By-laws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the preferred shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class. None of the foregoing provisions may be amended except by the vote of at least two-thirds of the Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares, voting together as a single class. The votes required to approve the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company or to approve transactions constituting a plan of reorganization that adversely affects the holders of any outstanding preferred shares are higher than those required by the 1940 Act. The Board of Trustees believes that the provisions of the Declaration relating to such higher votes are in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

 

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The provisions of the Declaration and By-laws described above could have the effect of depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares at a premium over the then current market price of the Common Shares by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund in a tender offer or similar transaction. The overall effect of these provisions is to render more difficult the accomplishment of a merger or the assumption of control by a third party. They provide, however, the advantage of potentially requiring persons seeking control of the Fund to negotiate with its management regarding the price to be paid and facilitating the continuity of the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. The Fund’s Board of Trustees has considered the foregoing anti-takeover provisions and concluded that they are in the best interests of the Fund and its Common Shareholders.

 

Preemptive Rights .    The Declaration provides that Common Shareholders shall have no right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any shares or securities of the Fund, other than such right, if any, as the Fund’s Board of Trustees in its discretion may determine. As of the date of this prospectus, no preemptive rights have been granted by the Board of Trustees.

 

Reference should be made to the Declaration and By-laws on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the full text of these provisions.

 

REPURCHASE OF FUND SHARES; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND

 

The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its shareholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the Common Shares will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), net asset value, dividend stability, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. Because shares of closed-end investment companies frequently may trade at prices lower than net asset value, the Fund’s Board of Trustees has currently determined that, at least annually, it will consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material discount from net asset value in respect of Common Shares, which may include the repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares at net asset value, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. The Fund cannot assure you that its Board of Trustees will decide to take any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce market discount.

 

If the Fund converted to an open-end investment company, the Common Shares would no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere. In contrast to a closed-end investment company, shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain circumstances as authorized by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder) at their net asset value, less any redemption charge that is in effect at the time of redemption. See “Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund” in the Statement of Additional Information for a discussion of the voting requirements applicable to the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company.

 

Before deciding whether to take any action if the Common Shares trade below net asset value, the Board of Trustees would consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Fund or its shareholders, and market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund’s shares should trade at a discount, the Board of Trustees may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders, no action should be taken. See “Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund” in the Statement of Additional Information for a further discussion of possible action to reduce or eliminate such discount to net asset value.

 

62


TAX MATTERS

 

The following discussion of U.S. federal income tax matters is based on the advice of K&L Gates LLP, special counsel to the Fund.

 

The discussions below and certain disclosure in the Statement of Additional Information provide general tax information related to an investment in the Common Shares. Because tax laws are complex and often change, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax consequences of an investment in the Fund. The following tax discussion assumes that you are a U.S. shareholder and that you hold the Common Shares as a capital asset (generally, property held for investment).

 

The Fund intends to elect to be treated and to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In order to qualify as a RIC, the Fund must satisfy certain requirements regarding the sources of its income, the diversification of its assets and the distribution of its income. As a RIC, the Fund is not expected to be subject to federal income tax. The Fund primarily invests in municipal securities whose income is subject to federal income tax. Thus, substantially all of the Fund’s dividends paid to you should be treated as taxable dividends. In addition to ordinary dividends, the Fund also may distribute to its shareholders amounts that are treated as long-term capital gain. Dividend distributions may be subject to state and local taxation, depending on a shareholder’s situation. Taxable distributions are taxable whether or not such distributions are reinvested in the Fund. Capital gain distributions are generally taxable at rates applicable to long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder has held its shares. Long-term capital gains are currently taxable at a maximum rate of 15%. Absent further legislation, the maximum 15% rate on long-term capital gains will increase to 20% for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010. The Fund does not expect that any part of its distributions to shareholders from its investments will qualify for the dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders or as “qualified dividend income” available to noncorporate shareholders.

 

If the Fund invests in tax credit BABs or certain other bonds generating tax credits, it may make an election to pass through the credits to its shareholders. If such an election is made, the Fund will be required to (i) include in gross income for the tax year, as interest, an amount equal to the amount that the Fund would have included in gross income relating to the credits if the election had not been made and (ii) increase the amount of its dividends paid deduction for the tax year by the amount of the income. In addition, each shareholder of the Fund (a) will be required to include in gross income an amount equal to the shareholder’s proportionate share of the interest income attributable to the credits and (b) will be permitted to take its proportionate share of the credits against its taxes. If the Fund makes this election, it will inform shareholders concerning their allocable share of tax credits as part of its annual reporting to shareholders. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors concerning their ability to use such allocated tax credits.

 

As a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax in any taxable year provided that it meets certain distribution requirements. As described in “Distributions” above, the Fund may retain for investment some (or all) of its net capital gain. If the Fund retains any net capital gain or investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject to federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount; (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (iii) will be entitled to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence.

 

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Dividends declared by the Fund in October, November or December and paid during the following January may be treated as having been received by shareholders in the year the distributions were declared.

 

Each shareholder will receive an annual statement summarizing the shareholder’s dividend and capital gains distributions.

 

The redemption, sale or exchange of Common Shares normally will result in capital gain or loss to Common Shareholders who hold their shares as capital assets. Generally a shareholder’s gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gains of corporations at the same rates applicable to ordinary income. For non-corporate taxpayers, however, long-term capital gains are currently taxed at a maximum rate of 15%, while short-term capital gains and other ordinary income are currently taxed at ordinary income rates. As noted above, absent further legislation, the 15% maximum rate applicable to long-term capital gains will increase to 20% for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010. If a shareholder sells or otherwise disposes of Common Shares before holding them for six months, any loss on the sale or disposition will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received by the Common Shareholder. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund will be disallowed to the extent those shares of the Fund are replaced by other substantially identical shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the original shares. In that event, the basis of the replacement shares of the Fund will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

As with all investment companies, the Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at the current rate of 28% of all taxable distributions payable to a shareholder if the shareholder fails to provide the Fund with his or her correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or if the shareholder has been notified by the IRS that he or she is subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax; rather, it is a way in which the IRS ensures it will collect taxes otherwise due. Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.

 

The Fund may invest in other securities the federal income tax treatment of which is uncertain or subject to recharacterization by the IRS. To the extent the tax treatment of such securities or their income differs from the tax treatment expected by the Fund, it could affect the timing or character of income recognized by the Fund, requiring the Fund to purchase or sell securities, or otherwise change its portfolio, in order to comply with the tax rules applicable to RICs under the Code.

 

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UNDERWRITING

 

Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated                 , 2010, each Underwriter named below, for which Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Nuveen Investments, LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., are acting as representatives, has severally agreed to purchase, and the Fund has agreed to sell to such underwriter, the number of Common Shares set forth opposite the name of such underwriter.

 

Underwriter

   Number of
Common Shares

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

    

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

    

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

    

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

    

Nuveen Investments, LLC

    
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.     

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

    

J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC

    

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

    

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

    

Maxim Group LLC

    

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

    

RBC Capital Markets Corporation

    

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

    
    

Total

    
    

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the Common Shares included in this offering are subject to approval of certain legal matters by counsel and to certain other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the Common Shares sold under the underwriting agreement if any of the Common Shares are purchased. In the underwriting agreement, the Fund and NAM have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act, or to contribute payments the underwriters may be required to make for any of those liabilities.

 

Commissions and Discounts

 

The underwriters propose to initially offer some of the Common Shares directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and some of the Common Shares to certain dealers at the public offering price less a concession not in excess of $     per share. The sales load investors in the Fund will pay of $.90 per share is equal to 4.5% of the initial offering price. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of $     per share on sales to other dealers. After the initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and discount may be changed. Investors must pay for any Common Shares purchased on or before                     , 2010.

 

The following table shows the public offering price, sales load, estimated offering expenses and proceeds, after expenses, to the Fund. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their overallotment option.

 

     Per Share

   Without Option

  

With Option


Public offering price

   $20.00    $    $

Sales load

   $.90    $    $

Proceeds to Fund

   $19.10    $    $

 

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The expenses of the offering are estimated at $                 and are payable by the Fund. The Fund has agreed to pay the underwriters $.00667 per Common Share for each Common Share purchased by the underwriters as a partial reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with this offering. The amount paid by the Fund of the partial reimbursement to the underwriters will not exceed .03335% of the total price of the Common Shares sold in this offering. Offering expenses paid by the Fund may include reimbursement to NAM or its affiliates for expenses incurred in connection with the offering. NAM has agreed to pay all organizational expenses and offering costs of the Fund (other than sales load, but inclusive of the $.00667 per Common Share reimbursement) that exceed $.04 per Common Share.

 

Overallotment Option

 

The Fund has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to                  additional Common Shares at the public offering price, less the sales load, within 45 days from the date of this prospectus solely to cover any overallotments. If the underwriters exercise this option, each will be obligated, subject to conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter’s initial amount reflected in the preceding table.

 

Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

 

Until the distribution of the Common Shares is complete, Securities and Exchange Commission rules may limit underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing our Common Shares. However, the representatives may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of our Common Shares, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price.

 

If the underwriters create a short position in our Common Shares in connection with the offering ( i.e. , if they sell more Common Shares than are listed on the cover of this prospectus), the representatives may reduce that short position by purchasing Common Shares in the open market. The representatives may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of the overallotment option described above. The Underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers in respect of Common Shares sold in this offering for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such Common Shares are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. Purchases of our Common Shares to stabilize its price or to reduce a short position may cause the price of our Common Shares to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases.

 

Neither the Fund nor any of the underwriters makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our Common Shares. In addition, neither the Fund nor any of the underwriters makes any representation that the representatives will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

 

The Fund has agreed not to offer or sell any additional Common Shares for a period of 180 days after the date of the underwriting agreement without the prior written consent of the underwriters, except for the sale of the Common Shares to the underwriters pursuant to the underwriting agreement.

 

The Fund anticipates that the underwriters may from time to time act as brokers or dealers in executing the Fund’s portfolio transactions after they have ceased to be underwriters, and may also act as placement agent for issuers whose securities the Fund purchases in direct placement transactions. The underwriters are active underwriters of, and dealers in, securities and act as market makers in a number of such securities, and therefore can be expected to engage in portfolio transactions with the Fund.

 

The Common Shares will be sold to ensure that the New York Stock Exchange distribution standards ( i.e. , round lots, public shares and aggregate market value) will be met.

 

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In connection with an inquiry by FINRA into the activities of Nuveen Investments, LLC, a registered broker-dealer affiliate of NAM that is involved in the offering of the Fund’s Common Shares, in marketing and distributing preferred shares of other closed-end funds managed by NAM, FINRA staff members have notified Nuveen Investments, LLC that they have made a preliminary determination to recommend that disciplinary action be brought against Nuveen Investments, LLC. The potential charges recommended by the FINRA staff in such action would allege that certain closed-end fund preferred share marketing materials provided by Nuveen Investments, LLC were false and misleading from 2006 to 2008, and also would allege failures by Nuveen Investments, LLC relating to its supervisory system with respect to the marketing of such preferred shares. The FINRA staff has provided Nuveen Investments, LLC an opportunity to make a written submission to FINRA to aid FINRA’s consideration of whether to revise and/or go forward with the staff’s preliminary determination to recommend disciplinary action. Nuveen Investments, LLC has made such a submission responding to the potential allegations and asserting its defenses. Nuveen Investments, LLC anticipates continuing to discuss these matters with the FINRA staff.

 

Other Relationships

 

NAM (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay from its own assets to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated additional compensation for advice relating to the design and organization of the Fund as well as for services related to the sale and distribution of the Common Shares in an amount equal to 1.00% of the total price to the public of the Common Shares sold in this offering. The total amount of these additional compensation payments to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated will not exceed 1.00% of the total price to the public of the Common Shares sold in this offering.

 

NAM (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay to Citigroup Global Markets Inc., from its own assets, a structuring fee for advice relating to the structure, design and organization of the Fund and the distribution of its Common Shares in the amount of $                . The structuring fee paid to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. will not exceed         % of the total price of the Common Shares sold in this offering.

 

NAM (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, from its own assets, a marketing and structuring fee for advice relating to the structure, design and organization of, and marketing assistance with respect to, the Fund and the distribution of its Common Shares in the amount of $                . The marketing and structuring fee paid to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated will not exceed         % of the total price of the Common Shares sold in this offering.

 

NAM (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay to Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, from its own assets, a structuring fee for advice relating to the structure, design and organization of the Fund and the distribution of its Common Shares in the amount of $                . The structuring fee paid to Wells Fargo Securities, LLC will not exceed         % of the total price of the Common Shares sold in this offering.

 

NAM (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay to Raymond James & Associates, Inc., from its own assets, a structuring fee for advice relating to the structure, design and organization of the Fund and the distribution of its Common Shares in the amount of $                . The structuring fee paid to Raymond James & Associates, Inc. will not exceed         % of the total price of the Common Shares sold in this offering.

 

NAM (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay to Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., from its own assets, a structuring fee for advice relating to the structure, design and organization of the Fund and the distribution of its Common Shares in the amount of $                . The structuring fee paid to Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. will not exceed         % of the total price of the Common Shares sold in this offering.

 

NAM (and not the Fund) may also pay certain qualifying underwriters a sales incentive or structuring fee in connection with this offering. The total amounts of these payments paid to any qualifying underwriter, including those named above, will not exceed 1.5% of the total price of the Common Shares sold by that underwriter in this offering.

 

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In addition, the sum total of all compensation to the Underwriters in connection with this offering of Common Shares will not exceed in the aggregate 9.0% of the total price to the public of the Common Shares sold in this offering.

 

Certain of the underwriters also have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with affiliates of the Fund, including the parent company of NAM, Nuveen Investments.

 

The Fund anticipates that Merrill Lynch and other underwriters may from time to time act as brokers in connection with the execution of its portfolio transactions, and after they have ceased to be underwriters, the Fund anticipates that underwriters other than Merrill Lynch may from time to time act as dealers in connection with the execution of portfolio transactions. As a result of the acquisition of Nuveen Investments by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC, Merrill Lynch is a remote affiliate of NAM (and the Fund), and Wells Fargo and Citi also have an ownership interest in Nuveen Investments. See “Management of the Fund—Nuveen Investments.”

 

The principal business address of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036. The principal place of business of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. is 338 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013. The principal place of business of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated is 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036. The principal business address of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is 375 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10152. The principal business address of Nuveen Investments, LLC is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The principal business address of Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716. The principal business address of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. is 707 2nd Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402.

 

CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

 

The custodian of the Fund’s assets is State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. The Custodian performs custodial, fund accounting and portfolio accounting services. The Fund’s transfer, shareholder services and dividend paying agent is also State Street, 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021. State Street has subcontracted the transfer agency servicing of the Fund to Computershare, Inc.

 

LEGAL OPINIONS AND EXPERTS

 

Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Shares will be passed upon for the Fund by K&L Gates LLP, Washington, D.C., and for the Underwriters by Clifford Chance US LLP, New York, New York. K&L Gates LLP and Clifford Chance US LLP may rely as to certain matters of Massachusetts law on the opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, provides auditing services to the Fund.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

     Page

Investment Objectives and Policies

   3

Investment Restrictions

   6

Portfolio Composition

   8

Management of the Fund

   23

Investment Adviser

   42

Portfolio Managers

   42

Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage

   45

Description of Shares

   46

Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund

   48

Tax Matters

   49

Experts

   52

Custodian and Transfer Agent

   52

Additional Information

   52

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   53

Financial Statements

   54

Appendix A—Ratings of Investments

   A-1

Appendix B—Taxable Equivalent Yield Table

   B-1

 

69




 

Until                 , 2010 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade the Common Shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 

             Shares

 

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund

 

Common Shares

 

$20.00 per Share

 


PROSPECTUS


 

BofA Merrill Lynch

Citi

Morgan Stanley

Wells Fargo Securities

Nuveen Investments, LLC

Raymond James

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC

Janney Montgomery Scott

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

Maxim Group LLC

Oppenheimer & Co.

RBC Capital Markets

Stifel Nicolaus

 

                , 2010

 



 

LPR-NBB-0410D


SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 29, 2010

The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer and sale is not permitted.

NUVEEN BUILD AMERICA BOND FUND

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund (the “Fund”) is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end management investment company. Upon its formation, the Fund was named “Nuveen Build America Bond Term Fund”; however, the Fund’s name was changed on March 16, 2010, to “Nuveen Build America Bond Fund” pursuant to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, filed as an exhibit hereto.

This Statement of Additional Information relating to common shares of the Fund (“Common Shares”) does not constitute a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectus relating thereto dated                     , 2010 (the “Prospectus”). This Statement of Additional Information does not include all information that a prospective investor should consider before purchasing Common Shares. Investors should obtain and read the Fund’s Prospectus prior to purchasing such shares. A copy of the Fund’s Prospectus, annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders when available, and other information about the Fund may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 257-8787, by writing to the Fund or from the Fund’s website (http://www.nuveen.com). The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of the Fund’s Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information. You may also obtain a copy of the Fund’s Prospectus on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Statement of Additional Information have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

 

1


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Investment Objectives and Policies

   3

Investment Restrictions

   6

Portfolio Composition

   8

Management of the Fund

   23

Investment Adviser

   42

Portfolio Managers

   42

Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage

   45

Description of Shares

   46

Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund

   48

Tax Matters

   49

Experts

   52

Custodian and Transfer Agent

   52

Additional Information

   52

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   53

Financial Statements

   54

Appendix A—Ratings of Investments

   A-1

This Statement of Additional Information is dated                     , 2010.

 

2


INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide current income through investments in taxable municipal securities. As a secondary objective, the Fund will seek to enhance portfolio value and total return. The Fund intends to invest primarily in taxable municipal securities known as “Build America Bonds” (or “BABs”, as described further in the Prospectus). The Fund cannot assure you that it will achieve its investment objectives.

BABs are bonds issued by state and local governments to finance capital projects such as public schools, roads, transportation infrastructure, bridges, ports and public buildings, among others, pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Act”). BABs pay interest at rates that are competitive with rates typically paid by private bond issuers in the taxable fixed-income market. Unlike investments in most other municipal securities, interest received on BABs is subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state income tax. BAB issuers may elect either (i) to receive payments from the U.S. Treasury equal to a specified percentage of their interest payments (“direct pay”) or (ii) to cause investors in the bonds to receive federal tax credits (“tax credit”). Based on current market conditions, the Fund anticipates investing in direct pay BABs and not in tax credit BABs. However, the Fund has no policy with respect to direct pay or tax credit BABs and may invest in either type of BAB at any time. Currently, most issuers of direct pay BABs receive a subsidy from the U.S. Treasury equal to 35% of the interest paid on the bonds, which allows such issuers to issue bonds that pay interest rates that are expected to be competitive with the rates typically paid by private bond issuers in the taxable fixed income market. Bonds issued after December 31, 2010 currently will not qualify as BABs unless the relevant provisions of the Act are extended. Currently under the Act, BABs cannot be used to support private, non-municipal activities, and can only be used to fund capital expenditures. As a result, most BAB issuers have to produce tangible assets that are designed to provide a public benefit. BABs generally support facilities that meet such essential needs as water, electricity, transportation, and education. Moreover, many BABs are general obligation bonds, which are backed by the full faith and taxing power of the state and local governments issuing them.

The Obama administration and Congress are considering a variety of proposals to extend or modify the BABs program, including changes that would make it permanent, reduce the amount of the subsidy, and allow proceeds to be used for certain private, non-municipal activities or for refinancing capital expenditures. It cannot be predicted whether these proposals or other changes in the BABs program will be enacted, nor can it be predicted whether such proposals or changes, if enacted, will have a positive or negative effect on the Fund. If, for any twenty-four month period ending on or prior to December 31, 2014, there are no new issuances of Build America Bonds or other taxable municipal securities with interest payments subsidized by the U.S. Government through direct pay subsidies, the Fund will terminate on or around June 30, 2020 (defined in the Prospectus as the “Contingent Term Provision”). For additional information, see “—Contingent Term Provision” on pages 30-31 in the Prospectus.

NAM believes that BABs presently offer a more compelling yield opportunity than equivalently rated corporate bonds. Municipal issuers, of which BABs issuers are a major subset, have historically lower default rates than issuers of equivalently rated corporate bonds. Past default rates are not predictive of future default rates. According to the February 2010 report issued by Moody’s, the average ten year historical cumulative default rate for investment grade municipal debt is 0.06%, compared to 2.50% for all investment grade corporate issuers.

In response to the market’s desire for ratings comparability, Moody’s has announced that it plans to recalibrate in April 2010 its long-term U.S. municipal ratings to its global ratings scale. According to Moody’s, the recalibration is intended to provide comparability of ratings across the Moody’s-rated universe and does not reflect an improvement in credit quality or a change in Moody’s credit opinion for rated issuers of municipal securities. Moody’s has announced that the recalibration will be implemented in stages and is expected to occur over a four week period. NAM does not believe that the Moody’s recalibration will have an adverse impact on the Fund.

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in BABs. This investment policy may be changed with 60 days’ notice to shareholders. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities other than BABs, including taxable municipal securities that do not qualify for

 

3


federal support, municipal securities the interest income from which is exempt from regular federal income tax (sometimes referred to as “tax-exempt municipal securities”), U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities. The Fund may purchase BABs (including for purposes of the 80% test) and other municipal securities (taxable or tax-exempt) in the form of bonds, notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable; with payment forms that include fixed-coupon, variable rate, zero coupon, capital appreciation bonds, floating rate securities, inverse floating rate securities and other derivative instruments that replicate investment exposure to BABs or other municipal securities. Such BABs and other municipal securities may be acquired through investments in pooled vehicles, partnerships or other investment companies. The Fund may also purchase BABs and other municipal securities representing a wide range of sectors and purposes.

At least 80% of Managed Assets will be invested in securities that at the time of investment are investment grade quality. A security is considered investment grade quality if it is rated within the four highest letter grades (BBB or Baa or better) by at least one of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) that rate such security (even if it is rated lower by another), or if it is unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities that at the time of investment are rated below investment grade quality or that are unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. Securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominately speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “junk” bonds.

As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of BABs. The Fund believes there could be an opportunity to capitalize on the developing market for BABs by investing in taxable municipal issues at attractive market yields relative to the yields on equivalently rated corporate bonds. NAM, the Fund’s investment adviser, will use its credit research driven investment process to assemble a diversified portfolio. In addition, the Fund will use an integrated leverage and hedging strategy that, in NAM’s judgment, has the potential to enhance income and risk-adjusted total return over time. The Fund’s overall goal is to outperform over time the BABs Index, an unleveraged index representing the BABs market, while maintaining a comparable overall level of interest rate risk.

The BABs Index is a subset of the Barclays Capital Taxable Municipal Bond Index, and is compiled by Barclays Capital. The Index consists of all Build America Bonds—Direct Pay Subsidy bonds that satisfy the rules of the Barclays Capital Taxable Municipal Index. The Barclays Capital Taxable Municipal Bond Index represents securities that are taxable, dollar-denominated, and issued by a U.S. state or territory, and (i) have at least one year to final maturity regardless of call features; (ii) at least $250 million par amount outstanding; (iii) are rated investment-grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two of the following ratings agencies: Moody’s Investor Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s Corporation and Fitch Ratings, Inc. Information about index constituents, statistics, market structure and performance can be found at Barclays Capital Live. Barclays Capital Live is a subscription-only, web-based client portal. Due to the developing nature of the BABs market, however, information about the index may become more widely available in the future.

The Fund may invest in taxable municipal securities (such as BABs) and tax-exempt municipal securities, including municipal bonds and notes, other securities issued to finance and refinance public projects, and other related securities and derivative instruments creating exposure to municipal bonds, notes and securities that provide for the payment of interest income that is exempt from regular federal income tax. Municipal securities are often issued by state and local governmental entities to finance or refinance public projects, such as roads, schools, and water supply systems. Municipal securities also may be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned transportation, electric utility or pollution control projects. Municipal securities may be issued on a long-term basis to provide long-term financing. The repayment of such debt may be secured generally by a pledge of the full faith and credit taxing power of the issuer, a limited or special tax, or any other revenue source, including project revenues, which may include tolls, fees and other user charges, lease payments, and mortgage payments. Municipal securities also may be issued to finance projects on a short-term interim basis, anticipating repayment with the proceeds of the later issuance of long-term debt. The Fund may purchase municipal securities (taxable or tax-exempt) in the form of bonds, notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable; with payment forms that

 

4


include fixed coupon, variable rate or zero coupon, including capital appreciation bonds, floating rate securities, and inverse floating rate securities. The Fund may also invest in pooled vehicles, partnerships, or other investment companies that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund may purchase BABs and other securities in a variety of forms, security provisions and structures, with fixed and floating rates, and which represent a wide range of sectors and purposes. The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments to replicate the investment exposure of taxable municipal securities or to manage its interest rate risk.

Integrated Leverage and Hedging Strategy . The Fund anticipates using an integrated leverage and hedging strategy to seek to enhance its potential current income and longer-term risk-adjusted total return, while seeking to maintain a level of interest rate risk comparable to that of the BABs Index. The Fund expects to use leverage instruments that will have a funding cost based on short- to intermediate-term market interest rates. Because such interest rates are expected to be generally lower than the yields on the long-term bonds in which the Fund invests, NAM believes that the use of leverage will generally increase Common Share net income.

The use of leverage involves increased risk, including increased variability of the Fund’s net income, distributions and/or net asset value in relation to market changes. In particular, leverage increases interest rate risk, which is the risk that the prices of portfolio securities will fall (or rise) if market interest rates for those securities rise (or fall). The Fund’s hedging strategy seeks to reduce this increased interest rate risk by systematically reducing the leverage- adjusted portfolio duration (duration is a measure of the sensitivity of bond prices to changes in interest rates) to a level comparable to the duration of the BABs Index. This hedging strategy is not expected to reduce other types of risk, such as credit risk, which are also increased by the Fund’s use of leverage.

The Fund’s use of derivatives such as bond futures or interest rate swaps in hedging interest rate risk will generate costs that will effectively reduce the Fund’s net asset value. These capital costs may be offset over time by capital appreciation of the Fund’s portfolio. The potential to achieve such capital appreciation will depend largely on NAM’s investment capabilities in executing the Fund’s investment strategy as well as the performance of BABs relative to the securities underlying the Fund’s hedging instruments. If and to the extent that such capital appreciation does not occur or is less than these hedging costs, however, the Fund’s total returns can be expected to be less than the Fund’s net earnings (and, over time, distributions).

The Fund may employ the following leverage instruments: (a) Debt; (b) portfolio investments that have the economic effect of leverage, including but not limited to investments in inverse floating rate securities; and (c) the issuance of Preferred Shares, although the Fund has no current intention to issue Preferred Shares. Based on current market conditions, the Fund intends to implement its leveraging strategy principally by using (a) Debt and (b) investments in inverse floating rate securities. Initially after the closing of this offering, the Fund intends to establish a bank credit facility. If current market conditions persist, the Fund’s effective leverage is expected to be in the range of 25% and 27% of its Managed Assets upon completion of the invest-up period. The Fund intends to limit its total effective leverage to 33% of Managed Assets. The Fund’s integrated leverage and hedging strategy may not work as planned or achieve its goals.

The use of leverage creates special risks for Common Shareholders. See “Leverage.” Also see “Risks—Leverage Risk” and “—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk” in the Prospectus.

Under normal circumstances:

 

   

The Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in securities that at the time of investment are investment grade quality. A security is considered investment grade quality if it is rated within the four highest letter grades (BBB or Baa or better) by at least one of the NRSROs that rate such security (even if it is rated lower by another), or if it is unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM.

 

   

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities rated below investment grade or are unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. Securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominately speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as junk bonds. See “Risks—Credit and Below Investment Grade Risk” in the Prospectus.

 

5


   

The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its Managed Assets in securities that, at the time of investment, are illiquid ( i.e., securities that are not readily marketable). Inverse floating rate securities or the residual interest certificates of tender option bond trusts are not considered illiquid securities. See “Risks—Illiquid Securities Risk” in the Prospectus.

 

   

The Fund will generally invest in securities with intermediate- or long-term maturities. The Fund anticipates having a weighted average maturity of 15 to 35 years. The weighted average maturity of securities held by the Fund may be shortened or lengthened, depending on market conditions and on an assessment by the Fund’s portfolio manager of which segments of the securities market offer the most favorable relative investment values and opportunities for income and total return.

 

   

The Fund will not invest more than 25% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities in any one industry or in any one state of origin.

 

   

The Fund also may invest up to 20% of its total assets in certain derivative instruments to enhance returns. Such derivatives include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts, or similar instruments. This limit will apply to the investment exposure created by those derivative instruments. Inverse floating rate securities are not regarded as derivatives for this purpose. NAM may also use derivative instruments to hedge some of the risk of the Fund’s investments in municipal securities. These types of strategies may generate taxable income. See “The Fund’s Investments—Derivatives.”

The credit quality policies noted above apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event that a rating agency downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, NAM may consider such factors as NAM’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. A general description of the ratings of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch of municipal securities is set forth in Appendix A to this Statement of Additional Information.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

Except as described below, the Fund, as a fundamental policy, may not, without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Shares:

(1) Issue senior securities, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), except as permitted by the 1940 Act;

(2) Borrow money, except as permitted by the 1940 Act and exemptive orders granted under the 1940 Act;

(3) Act as underwriter of another issuer’s securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities;

(4) Invest more than 25% of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry, provided, however, that such limitation shall not apply to municipal securities other than those municipal securities backed only by the assets and revenues of non-governmental users; 1

(5) Purchase or sell real estate, but this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in municipal securities secured by real estate or interests therein or foreclosing upon and selling such real estate;

(6) Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures contracts or derivative instruments or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities);

 

 

1 For purposes of this restriction, governments and their political subdivisions are not members of any industry.

 

2 Section 21 of the 1940 Act makes it unlawful for a registered investment company, like the Fund, to lend money or other property if (i) the investment company’s policies set forth in its registration statement do not permit such a loan or (ii) the borrower controls or is under common control with the investment company.

 

6


(7) Make loans, except as permitted by the 1940 Act and exemptive orders granted under the 1940 Act; 2 and

(8) With respect to 75% of the value of the Fund’s total assets, purchase any securities (other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or by its agencies or instrumentalities), if as a result more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would then be invested in securities of a single issuer or if as a result the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any single issuer.

For the purpose of applying the limitation set forth in subparagraph (8) above, a governmental issuer shall be deemed the single issuer of a security when its assets and revenues are separate from other governmental entities and its securities are backed only by its assets and revenues. Similarly, in the case of a non-governmental issuer, if the security is backed only by the assets and revenues of the non-governmental issuer, then such non-governmental issuer would be deemed to be the single issuer. Where a security is also backed by the enforceable obligation of a superior or unrelated governmental or other entity (other than a bond insurer), it shall also be included in the computation of securities owned that are issued by such governmental or other entity. Where a security is guaranteed by a governmental entity or some other facility, such as a bank guarantee or letter of credit, such a guarantee or letter of credit would be considered a separate security and would be treated as an issue of such government, other entity or bank. When a municipal security is insured by bond insurance, it shall not be considered a security that is issued or guaranteed by the insurer; instead, the issuer of such municipal security will be determined in accordance with the principles set forth above. The foregoing restrictions do not limit the percentage of the Fund’s assets that may be invested in municipal securities insured by any given insurer.

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest only up to 10% of its total assets in the aggregate in shares of other investment companies and only up to 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, provided the investment does not represent more than 3% of the voting stock of the acquired investment company at the time such shares are purchased. As a stockholder in any investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and will remain subject to payment of the Fund’s management, advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Holders of Common Shares of the Fund (“Common Shareholders”) would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may be leveraged and therefore may be subject to the same leverage risks described herein.

In addition to the foregoing fundamental investment policies, the Fund is also subject to the following non-fundamental restrictions and policies, which may be changed by the Board of Trustees. The Fund may not:

(1) sell securities short, unless the Fund owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold at no added cost, and provided that transactions in options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, or other derivative instruments are not deemed to constitute selling securities short;

(2) purchase securities of open-end or closed-end investment companies except in compliance with the 1940 Act or any exemptive relief obtained thereunder; and

(3) purchase securities of companies for the purpose of exercising control, except that the Fund may invest up to 5% of its net assets in tax-exempt or taxable fixed-income securities or equity securities for the purpose of acquiring control of an issuer whose municipal securities (a) the Fund already owns and (b) have deteriorated or are expected shortly to deteriorate significantly in credit quality, provided NAM determines that such investment should enable the Fund to better maximize the value of its existing investment in such issuer.

The restrictions and other limitations set forth above will apply only at the time of purchase of securities and will not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of an acquisition of securities.

The Fund may issue senior securities, including Preferred Shares and Debt. If it does so, the Fund may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by either guidelines of one or more NRSROs that may issue ratings for senior securities issued by the Fund or, if the Fund borrows from a lender, by the lender. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act. If these restrictions were to apply, it is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines would impede NAM from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies.

 

7


PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

In addition to and supplementing the Prospectus section, “The Fund’s Investments—Portfolio Composition and Other Information,” the Fund’s portfolio will be composed principally of the investments described below.

BUILD AMERICA BONDS

BABs are bonds issued by state and local governments to finance capital projects such as public schools, roads, transportation infrastructure, bridges, ports and public buildings, among others, pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Unlike investments in most other municipal securities, interest received on BABs is subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state income tax. Currently, most issuers of direct pay BABs receive a subsidy from the U.S. Treasury equal to 35% of the interest paid on the bonds, which allows such issuers to issue bonds that pay interest rates that are expected to be competitive with the rates typically paid by private bond issuers in the taxable fixed income market. Currently, bonds issued after December 31, 2010 will not qualify as BABs unless the relevant provisions of the Act are extended.

Enacted in February 2009, the Act was intended in part to assist state and local governments in financing capital projects at lower net borrowing costs through direct subsidies designed to stimulate state and local infrastructure projects, create jobs and encourage non-traditional municipal security investors. The Act authorizes state and local governments to issue taxable bonds on which, assuming certain specified conditions are satisfied, issuers may either (i) receive payments from the U.S. Treasury equal to a specified percentage of their interest payments (in the case of direct pay BABs) or (ii) cause investors in the bonds to receive federal tax credits (in the case of tax credit BABs).

Based on current market conditions, the Fund anticipates investing in direct pay BABs and not in tax credit BABs. However, the Fund has no policy with respect to direct pay or tax credit BABs and may invest in tax credit BABs at any time. Under the terms of the Act, issuers of direct pay BABs are entitled to receive reimbursement from the U.S. Treasury currently equal to 35% (or 45% in the case of Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds, a new type of governmental bond similar to BABs) of the interest paid on the bonds, which shall continue for the life of the bond. Currently under the Act, BABs cannot be used to support private, non-municipal activities, and can only be used to fund capital expenditures. As a result, most BAB issuers have to produce tangible assets that are designed to provide a public benefit. BABs generally support facilities that meet such essential needs as water, electricity, transportation, and education. Moreover, many BABs are general obligation bonds, which are backed by the full faith and taxing power of the state and local governments issuing them.

According to a February 2010 report issued by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”), 749 BABs issues came to market in 2009 totaling approximately $64 billion. Between April 15, 2009 and December 31, 2009, BABs issuance accounted for 20% of long-term securities issued in the municipal market, such that taxable municipal securities issuance (including BABs) represented 26% of the overall municipal market. Municipal market research analysts expect such BABs issuance trends to continue throughout 2010, when the BABs program is currently scheduled to sunset. For example, J.P. Morgan municipal market research analysts currently project BABs issuance of approximately $110 billion in 2010. By December 31, 2010, they expect the total BAB market size to be approximately $172 billion.

On March 18, 2010, the State of Florida announced that it temporarily suspended the new issuance of BABs as a result of its uncertainty relating to a general offset rule in the Internal Revenue Code (the “IRS Offset Rule”), which allows for the possibility that subsidy payments received by issuers of BABs may be subject to offset against amounts owed by them to the federal government. At this time, Florida’s action pertains only to certain issuance by the state and does not govern the potential issuance of BABs by any local municipality or other public agencies, commissions or authorities within the State of Florida. However, if other BAB issuers were to suspend the new issuance of BABs due to the IRS Offset Rule, as Florida has done, this could then have a negative impact on the developing BABs market. The possibility of such offsets has been recognized since the inception of the BABs program. The IRS has broad regulatory authority to develop special rules to adapt or tailor the procedural framework implementing the BABs program, but it has not issued any guidance with respect to the operation of the offset rule. NAM believes the IRS Offset Rule is understood by potential BAB issuers. NAM

 

8


does not believe that the State of Florida’s announcement will have an adverse impact on the future of BAB issuance in general or on the Fund.

Because the BABs program is new, certain aspects of the BABs program may be subject to additional Federal or state level guidance or subsequent legislation. For example, the IRS or U.S. Treasury could impose restrictions or limitations on the payments received. Aspects of the BABs program for which the IRS and the U.S. Treasury have solicited public comment include, but have not been limited to, methods for making direct payments to issuers, the tax procedural framework for such payments, and compliance safeguards. It is not known what additional procedures will be implemented with respect to direct pay BABs, if any, nor is it known what effect such possible procedures would have on the BABs market. See “Risks—Build America Bonds Risk” in the Prospectus.

MUNICIPAL SECURITIES

Municipal securities are either general obligation or revenue bonds and typically are issued to finance public projects (such as roads or public buildings), to pay general operating expenses or to refinance outstanding debt.

Municipal securities may also be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned industrial development and pollution control projects. General obligation bonds are backed by the full faith and credit, or taxing authority, of the issuer and may be repaid from any revenue source; revenue bonds may be repaid only from the revenues of a specific facility or source. The Fund may also purchase municipal securities that represent lease obligations, municipal notes, pre-refunded municipal bonds, private activity bonds, floating rate securities and other forms of municipal bonds and securities.

Municipal securities of below investment grade quality (Ba/BB or below) are commonly referred to as junk bonds. Issuers of securities rated Ba/BB or B are regarded as having current capacity to make principal and interest payments but are subject to business, financial or economic conditions which could adversely affect such payment capacity. Municipal securities rated Baa or BBB or above are considered investment grade securities; municipal securities rated Baa are considered medium grade obligations that lack outstanding investment characteristics and have speculative characteristics, while municipal securities rated BBB are regarded as having adequate capacity to pay principal and interest. Municipal securities rated Aaa or AAA in which the Fund may invest may have been so rated on the basis of the existence of insurance guaranteeing the timely payment, when due, of all principal and interest. Municipal securities rated below investment grade quality are obligations of issuers that are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal according to the terms of the obligation and, therefore, carry greater investment risk, including the possibility of issuer default and bankruptcy and increased market price volatility. Municipal securities rated below investment grade tend to be less marketable than higher-quality securities because the market for them is less broad. The market for municipal securities unrated by any NRSRO is even narrower. During periods of thin trading in these markets, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly and the Fund may have greater difficulty selling its portfolio securities. The Fund will be more dependent on NAM’s research and analysis when investing in these unrated municipal securities.

A general description of Moody’s, S&P’s and Fitch’s ratings of municipal securities is set forth in Appendix A hereto. The ratings of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch represent their opinions as to the quality of the municipal securities they rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, municipal securities with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while obligations of the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield.

The Fund will generally invest in securities with intermediate- or long-term maturities. The Fund anticipates having a weighted average maturity of 15 to 35 years. The weighted average maturity of securities held by the Fund may be shortened or lengthened, depending on market conditions and on an assessment by the Fund’s portfolio manager of which segments of the municipal securities market offer the most favorable relative investment values and opportunities for income and total return. During temporary defensive periods (e.g., times

 

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when, in NAM’s opinion, temporary imbalances of supply and demand or other temporary dislocations in the municipal securities market adversely affect the price at which long-term or intermediate-term municipal securities are available), and in order to keep the Fund’s cash fully invested, including the period during which the net proceeds of the offering of Common Shares are first being invested, the Fund may invest any percentage of its Managed Assets in short-term investments, including high quality, short-term securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable.

The foregoing policies as to ratings of portfolio investments will apply only at the time of the purchase of a security, and the Fund will not be required to dispose of a security in the event that a rating agency downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue.

Obligations of issuers of municipal securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. In addition, the obligations of such issuers may become subject to the laws enacted in the future by Congress, state legislatures or referenda extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon municipalities to levy taxes. There is also the possibility that, as a result of legislation or other conditions, the power or ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal of, and interest on, its municipal securities may be materially affected.

The Fund may invest up to 25% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities in any one industry or in any one state of origin. In addition, subject to the concentration limits of the Fund’s investment policies and guidelines, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its Managed Assets in certain sectors of the municipal securities market, such as hospitals and other health care facilities, charter schools and other private educational facilities, special taxing districts and start-up utility districts and private activity bonds including industrial development bonds on behalf of transportation companies such as airline companies, whose credit quality and performance may be more susceptible to economic, business, political, regulatory and other developments than other sectors of municipal issuers. If the Fund invests a significant portion of its Managed Assets in the sectors noted above, the Fund’s performance may be subject to additional risk and variability. To the extent that the Fund invests its Managed Assets in the hospital and healthcare facilities sector, for example, the Fund will be subject to risks associated with such sector, including adverse government regulation and reduction in reimbursement rates, as well as government approval of products and services and intense competition. Securities issued with respect to special taxing districts will be subject to various risks, including real-estate development related risks and taxpayer concentration risk. Further, the fees, special taxes or tax allocations and other revenues established to secure the obligations of securities issued with respect to special taxing districts are generally limited as to the rate or amount that may be levied or assessed and are not subject to increase pursuant to rate covenants or municipal or corporate guarantees. Charter schools and other private educational facilities will be subject to various risks, including the reversal of legislation authorizing or funding charter schools, the failure to renew or secure a charter, the failure of a funding entity to appropriate necessary funds and competition from alternatives such as voucher programs. Issuers of municipal utility securities can be significantly affected by government regulation, financing difficulties, supply and demand of services or fuel and natural resource conservation. The transportation sector, including airports, airlines, ports and other transportation facilities, can be significantly affected by changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor relations, insurance costs and government regulation.

Municipal Leases and Certificates of Participation. Also included within the general category of municipal securities described in the Fund’s Prospectus are municipal leases, certificates of participation in such lease obligations or installment purchase contract obligations (hereinafter collectively called “Municipal Lease Obligations”) of municipal authorities or entities. Although a Municipal Lease Obligation does not constitute a general obligation of the municipality for which the municipality’s taxing power is pledged, a Municipal Lease Obligation is ordinarily backed by the municipality’s covenant to budget for, appropriate and make the payments due under the Municipal Lease Obligation. However, certain Municipal Lease Obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses, which provide that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or installment

 

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purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. In the case of a “non-appropriation” lease, the Fund’s ability to recover under the lease in the event of non-appropriation or default will be limited solely to the repossession of the leased property, without recourse to the general credit of the lessee, and disposition or releasing of the property might prove difficult. To the extent that the Fund invests in unrated municipal leases or participates in such leases, the credit quality rating and risk of cancellation of such unrated leases will be monitored on an ongoing basis. In order to reduce this risk, the Fund will only purchase Municipal Lease Obligations where NAM believes the issuer has a strong incentive to continue making appropriations until maturity.

Zero Coupon Securities. The Fund’s investments in debt securities may be in the form of a zero coupon bond. Zero coupon bonds are debt obligations that do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest for the entire life of the obligation. When held to its maturity, its return comes from the difference between the purchase price and its maturity value. These instruments are typically issued and traded at a deep discount from their face amounts. The amount of the discount varies depending on such factors as the time remaining until maturity of the securities, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of zero coupon bonds generally are more volatile than the market prices of debt instruments that pay interest currently and in cash and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than do other types of securities having similar maturities and credit quality. In order to satisfy a requirement for qualification to be taxed as a “regulated investment company” under the Code (as defined under “Tax Matters”), an investment company, such as the Fund, must distribute each year at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (as described under “Tax Matters”), including the original issue discount accrued on zero coupon bonds. Because the Fund will not on a current basis receive cash payments from the issuer of these securities in respect of any accrued original issue discount, in some years the Fund may have to distribute cash obtained from selling other portfolio holdings of the Fund in order to avoid unfavorable tax consequences. In some circumstances, such sales might be necessary in order to satisfy cash distribution requirements to its Common Shareholders even though investment considerations might otherwise make it undesirable for the Fund to sell securities at such time. Under many market conditions, investments in zero coupon bonds may be illiquid, making it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them or determine their current value.

HEDGING STRATEGIES AND OTHER USES OF DERIVATIVES

The Fund expects to engage in hedging transactions, and otherwise use various types of derivative instruments, described below, to manage or reduce interest rate risk, to effectively gain particular market exposures, to seek to enhance returns, and to reduce transaction costs, among other reasons.

“Hedging” is a term used for various methods of seeking to preserve portfolio capital value by offsetting price changes in one investment through making another investment whose price should tend to move in the opposite direction.

A “derivative” is a financial contract whose value is based on (or “derived” from) a traditional security (such as a stock or a bond), an asset (such as a commodity like gold), or a market index (such as the S&P National Bond Fund Index). Some forms of derivatives may trade on exchanges, while non-standardized derivatives, which tend to be more specialized and complex, trade in “over-the-counter” or a one-on-one basis. It may be desirable and possible in various market environments to partially hedge the portfolio against fluctuations in market value due to market interest rate or credit quality fluctuations, or instead to gain a desired investment exposure, by entering into various types of derivative transactions, including financial futures and index futures as well as related put and call options on such instruments, structured notes, or interest rate swaps on taxable or tax-exempt securities or indexes (which may be “forward-starting”), credit default swaps, and options on interest rate swaps, among others.

These hedging transactions present certain risks. In particular, the imperfect correlation between price movements in the futures contract and price movements in the securities being hedged creates the possibility that

 

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losses on the hedge by the Fund may be greater than gains in the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances. As a result, in volatile markets, the Fund may not be able to close out the transaction without incurring losses substantially greater than the initial deposit. Losses due to hedging transactions will reduce the Fund’s net asset value which in turn could reduce yield. Net gains, if any, from hedging and other portfolio transactions will be distributed as taxable distributions to shareholders. The Fund will not make any investment (whether an initial premium or deposit or a subsequent deposit) other than as necessary to close a prior investment if, immediately after such investment, the sum of the amount of its premiums and deposits would exceed 15% of the Fund’s Managed Assets. The Fund will invest in these instruments only in markets believed by NAM to be active and sufficiently liquid.

Both parties entering into a financial futures contract are required to post an initial deposit, typically equal to from 1% to 5% of the total contract price. Typically, option holders enter into offsetting closing transactions to enable settlement in cash rather than take delivery of the position in the future of the underlying security. Interest rate swap and credit default swap transactions are typically entered on a net basis, meaning that the two payment streams are netted out with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Fund will only sell covered futures contracts, which means that the Fund segregates assets equal to the amount of the obligations.

Bond Futures and Forward Contracts. Bond futures contracts are agreements in which one party agrees to deliver to the other an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific bond at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of securities is made. Forward contracts are agreements to purchase or sell a specified security or currency at a specified future date (or within a specified time period) and price set at the time of the contract. Forward contracts are usually entered into with banks, foreign exchange dealers or broker-dealers and are usually for less than one year, but may be renewed. Forward contracts are generally purchased or sold in over-the-counter (“OTC”) transactions.

Under regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) currently in effect, which may change from time to time, with respect to futures contracts purchased by the Fund, the Fund will set aside in a segregated account liquid securities with a value at least equal to the value of instruments underlying such futures contracts less the amount of initial margin on deposit for such contracts. The current view of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission is that the Fund’s long and short positions in futures contracts must be collateralized with cash or certain liquid assets held in a segregated account or “covered” in order to counter the impact of any potential leveraging.

Parties to a futures contract must make “initial margin” deposits to secure performance of the contract. There are also requirements to make “variation margin” deposits from time to time as the value of the futures contract fluctuates.

Options on Currency Futures Contracts. Currency futures contracts are standardized agreements between two parties to buy and sell a specific amount of a currency at a set price on a future date. While similar to currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts are traded on commodities exchanges and are standardized as to contract size and delivery date. An option on a currency futures contract gives the holder of the option the right to buy or sell a position in a currency futures contract, at a set price and on or before a specified expiration date. Trading options on international (non-U.S.) currency futures contracts is relatively new. The ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market.

The Fund and NAM have claimed, respectively, an exclusion from registration as a commodity pool operator and as a commodity trading advisor under the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”) and, therefore, neither the Fund, NAM, nor their officers and directors, are subject to the registration requirements of the CEA or regulation as a commodity pool operator or a commodity trading adviser under the CEA. The Fund reserves the right to engage in transactions involving futures and options thereon to the extent allowed by CFTC

 

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regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with the Fund’s policies. In addition, certain provisions of the Code (as defined under “Tax Matters”) may limit the extent to which the Fund may enter into futures contracts or engage in options transactions. See “Tax Matters.”

Index Futures. An index future is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash-rather than any security-equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the index value at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index future was originally written. Thus, an index future is similar to traditional financial futures except that settlement is made in cash. The Fund may invest in index futures or similar contracts if available in a form, with market liquidity and settlement and payment features, acceptable to the Fund.

Index Options. The Fund may also purchase put or call options on U.S. government or bond index futures and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. Options on index futures are similar to options on debt instruments except that an option on an index future gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in an index contract rather than an underlying security at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance of the writer’s futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the index futures contract, at exercise, is less than the exercise price of the option on the index future.

Bond index futures and options transactions would be subject to risks similar to transactions in financial futures and options thereon as described above.

In addition to the general risks associated with hedging strategies and the use of derivatives set forth above, there are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts and futures options as hedging techniques.

Futures contracts on U.S. government securities historically have reacted to an increase or decrease in interest rates in a manner similar to that in which the underlying U.S. government securities reacted. To the extent, however, that the Fund enters into such futures contracts, the value of such futures will not vary in direct proportion to the value of the Fund’s holdings of municipal securities. Thus, the anticipated spread between the price of the futures contract and the hedged security may be distorted due to differences in the nature of the markets. The spread also may be distorted by differences in initial and variation margin requirements, the liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.

Futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of the current trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may work to prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions and subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses.

Interest Rate Transactions and Total Return Swaps. The Fund may enter into various interest rate transactions, such as interest rate swaps and the purchase or sale of interest rate caps and floors, as well as total return swaps and other debt related derivative instruments. The Fund may enter into these transactions in order to seek to manage or reduce the Fund’s interest rate risk, to seek to increase its return, to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, or to seek to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date.

 

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Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with a counterparty of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. In a total return swap, the Fund exchanges with another party their respective commitments to pay or receive the total return of an underlying asset and a floating local short-term interest rate.

The Fund may use an interest rate cap, which would require it to pay a premium to the cap counterparty and would entitle it, to the extent that a specified variable rate index exceeds a predetermined fixed rate, to receive from the counterparty payment of the difference based on the notional amount. The Fund would use interest rate swaps or caps to, among other reasons, reduce or eliminate the risk that an increase in short-term interest rates could have on Common Share net earnings as a result of leverage.

The Fund will usually enter into swaps or caps on a net basis; that is, the two payment streams will be netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Fund intends to maintain in a segregated account with its custodian cash or liquid securities having a value at least equal to the Fund’s net payment obligations under any swap transaction, marked-to-market daily. If the interest rate swap transaction is entered into on other than a net basis, the full amount of the Fund’s obligations will be accrued on a daily basis, and the full amount of the Fund’s obligations will be segregated by the Fund.

The use of swaps and caps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions, including the risk that the counterparty may be unable to fulfill the transaction. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. If NAM is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest rates and other applicable factors, the investment performance of the Fund will be unfavorably affected. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the Fund’s use of interest rate swaps or caps could enhance or harm the overall performance on the Common Shares. To the extent there is a decline in interest rates, the value of the interest rate swap or cap could decline, and could result in a decline in the net asset value of the Common Shares. In addition, if short-term interest rates are lower than the Fund’s fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap will reduce Common Share net earnings. If, on the other hand, short-term interest rates are higher than the fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap will enhance Common Share net earnings. Buying interest rate caps could enhance the performance of the Common Shares by providing a maximum leverage expense. Buying interest rate caps could also decrease the net earnings of the Common Shares in the event that the premium paid by the Fund to the counterparty exceeds the additional amount the Fund would have been required to pay had it not entered into the cap agreement.

Swaps and caps do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swaps is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund would not be able to use the anticipated net receipts under the swap or cap to offset payments. Depending on whether the Fund would be entitled to receive net payments from the counterparty on the swap or cap, such a default could negatively impact the performance of the Common Shares. In addition, because they are two-party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swaps and caps may be considered to be illiquid. It is possible that developments in the swaps and caps markets, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

Although this will not guarantee that the counterparty does not default, the Fund will not enter into a swap or cap transaction with any counter-party that NAM believes does not have the financial resources to honor its obligation under the swap or cap transaction. Further, NAM will continually monitor the financial stability of a counterparty to a swap or cap transaction in an effort to proactively protect the Fund’s investments.

In addition, at the time the swap or cap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund would not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement would not be

 

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as favorable as on the expiring transaction. If this occurs, it could have a negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s Common Shares.

Structured Notes. The Fund may utilize structured notes and similar instruments for investment purposes and also for hedging purposes. Structured notes are privately negotiated debt obligations where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a benchmark asset, market or interest rate (an “embedded index”), such as selected securities, an index of securities or specified interest rates, or the differential performance of two assets or markets. The terms of such structured instruments normally provide that their principal and/or interest payments are to be adjusted upwards or downwards (but not ordinarily below zero) to reflect changes in the embedded index while the structured instruments are outstanding. As a result, the interest and/or principal payments that may be made on a structured product may vary widely, depending upon a variety of factors, including the volatility of the embedded index and the effect of changes in the embedded index on principal and/or interest payments. The rate of return on structured notes may be determined by applying a multiplier to the performance or differential performance of the referenced index or indices or other assets. Application of a multiplier involves leverage that will serve to magnify the potential for gain and the risk of loss.

Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements (the purchase of a security coupled with an agreement to resell that security at a higher price) with respect to its permitted investments. The Fund’s repurchase agreements will provide that the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will always be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest earned on the agreement, and will be marked-to-market daily. The agreed-upon repurchase price determines the yield during the Fund’s holding period.

Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans collateralized by the underlying security that is the subject of the repurchase contract. The Fund will only enter into repurchase agreements with registered securities dealers or domestic banks that, in NAM’s opinion, present minimal credit risk. The risk to the Fund is limited to the ability of the issuer to pay the agreed-upon repurchase price on the delivery date; however, although the value of the underlying collateral at the time the transaction is entered into always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price, if the value of the collateral declines there is a risk of loss of both principal and interest. In the event of default, the collateral may be sold but the Fund might incur a loss if the value of the collateral declines, and might incur disposition costs or experience delays in connection with liquidating the collateral. In addition, if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization upon the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited. NAM will monitor the value of the collateral at the time the transaction is entered into and at all times subsequent during the term of the repurchase agreement in an effort to determine that such value always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price. In the event the value of the collateral declines below the repurchase price, NAM will demand additional collateral from the issuer to increase the value of the collateral to at least that of the repurchase price, including interest.

SEGREGATION OF ASSETS

As a closed-end investment company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Fund is subject to the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and various interpretive positions of the Securities and Exchange Commission and its staff. In accordance with these laws, rules and positions, the Fund must “set aside” (often referred to as “asset segregation”) liquid assets, or engage in other Securities and Exchange Commission or staff-approved measures, to “cover” open positions with respect to certain kinds of derivatives instruments. In the case of forward currency contracts that are not contractually required to cash settle, for example, the Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to such contracts’ full notional value while the positions are open. With respect to forward currency contracts that are contractually required to cash settle, however, the Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations ( i.e. , the Fund’s daily net liability) under the contracts, if any, rather than such contracts’ full notional value. The Fund reserves the right to modify its asset segregation policies in the future to comply with any changes in the positions from time to time articulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff regarding asset segregation.

 

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The Fund generally will use its assets to cover its obligations as required by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and applicable positions of the Securities and Exchange Commission and its staff. As a result of their segregation, such assets may not be used for other operational purposes. NAM will monitor the Fund’s use of derivatives and will take action as necessary for the purpose of complying with the asset segregation policy stated above. Such actions may include the sale of the Fund’s portfolio investments.

The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities issued by special purpose trusts. With respect to such investments, the Fund will segregate assets in an amount equal to at least 100% of the face amount of the floating rate securities issued by such trust.

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

Short-Term Taxable Fixed Income Securities. For temporary defensive purposes or to keep cash on hand fully invested, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its Managed Assets in cash equivalents and short-term taxable fixed-income securities. Short-term taxable fixed income investments are defined to include, without limitation, the following:

(1) U.S. government securities, including bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest that are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. government agency securities include securities issued by (a) the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, and the Government National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; (b) the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (c) the Federal National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and (d) the Student Loan Marketing Association, whose securities are supported only by its credit. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it always will do so since it is not so obligated by law. The U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities. Consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate.

(2) Certificates of Deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or a savings and loan association. Such certificates are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return, and are normally negotiable. The issuer of a certificate of deposit agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the certificate on the date specified thereon. Under current Federal Deposit Insurance Company regulations, the maximum insurance payable as to any one certificate of deposit is $250,000; therefore, certificates of deposit purchased by the Fund may not be fully insured.

(3) Repurchase agreements, which involve purchases of debt securities. At the time the Fund purchases securities pursuant to a repurchase agreement, it simultaneously agrees to resell and redeliver such securities to the seller, who also simultaneously agrees to buy back the securities at a fixed price and time. This assures a predetermined yield for the Fund during its holding period, since the resale price is always greater than the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market rate. Such actions afford an opportunity for the Fund to invest temporarily available cash. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements only with respect to obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; certificates of deposit; or bankers’ acceptances in which the Fund may invest. Repurchase agreements may be considered loans to the seller, collateralized by the underlying securities. The risk to the Fund is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the repurchase date; in the event of default, the repurchase agreement provides that the Fund is entitled to sell the underlying collateral. If the value of the collateral declines after the agreement is entered into, and if the seller defaults under a repurchase agreement when the value of the underlying collateral is less than the repurchase price, the Fund could incur a loss of both principal and interest. The investment adviser monitors the value of the collateral at the time the action is entered into and at all times

 

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during the term of the repurchase agreement. The investment adviser does so in an effort to determine that the value of the collateral always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to be paid to the Fund. If the seller were to be subject to a federal bankruptcy proceeding, the ability of the Fund to liquidate the collateral could be delayed or impaired because of certain provisions of the bankruptcy laws.

(4) Commercial paper, which consists of short-term unsecured promissory notes, including variable rate master demand notes issued by corporations to finance their current operations. Master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and a corporation. There is no secondary market for such notes. However, they are redeemable by the Fund at any time. NAM will consider the financial condition of the corporation (e.g., earning power, cash flow, and other liquidity measures) and will continuously monitor the corporation’s ability to meet all of its financial obligations, because the Fund’s liquidity might be impaired if the corporation were unable to pay principal and interest on demand. Investments in commercial paper will be limited to commercial paper rated in the highest categories by a major rating agency and which mature within one year of the date of purchase or carry a variable or floating rate of interest.

(5) Taxable municipal securities, which may consist of short-term bonds or other short-term securities issued by a municipal issuer for which interest or other investment return is included in gross income for federal income tax purposes. A municipal security may be issued on a taxable basis because the intended use of proceeds does not meet federal tax law requirements for the exclusion from gross income (e.g. private activity bonds that are not qualified bonds) or because certain other federal tax law requirements are not met (e.g., insufficient volume cap).

Short-Term Tax-Exempt Municipal Securities. Short-term tax-exempt municipal securities are securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax and mature within three years or less from the date of issuance. Short-term tax-exempt municipal income securities are defined to include, without limitation, the following:

Bond Anticipation Notes (“BANs”) are usually general obligations of state and local governmental issuers which are sold to obtain interim financing for projects that will eventually be funded through the sale of long-term debt obligations or bonds. The ability of an issuer to meet its obligations on its BANs is primarily dependent on the issuer’s access to the long-term municipal bond market and the likelihood that the proceeds of such bond sales will be used to pay the principal and interest on the BANs.

Tax Anticipation Notes (“TANs”) are issued by state and local governments to finance the current operations of such governments. Repayment is generally to be derived from specific future tax revenues. TANs are usually general obligations of the issuer. A weakness in an issuer’s capacity to raise taxes due to, among other things, a decline in its tax base or a rise in delinquencies, could adversely affect the issuer’s ability to meet its obligations on outstanding TANs.

Revenue Anticipation Notes (“RANs”) are issued by governments or governmental bodies with the expectation that future revenues from a designated source will be used to repay the notes. In general, they also constitute general obligations of the issuer. A decline in the receipt of projected revenues, such as anticipated revenues from another level of government, could adversely affect an issuer’s ability to meet its obligations on outstanding RANs. In addition, the possibility that the revenues would, when received, be used to meet other obligations could affect the ability of the issuer to pay the principal and interest on RANs.

Construction Loan Notes are issued to provide construction financing for specific projects. Frequently, these notes are redeemed with funds obtained from the Federal Housing Administration.

Bank Notes are notes issued by local government bodies and agencies, such as those described above to commercial banks as evidence of borrowings. The purposes for which the notes are issued are varied but they are frequently issued to meet short-term working capital or capital-project needs. These notes may have risks similar to the risks associated with TANs and RANs.

 

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Tax-Exempt Commercial Paper (“Municipal Paper”) represent very short-term unsecured, negotiable promissory notes issued by states, municipalities and their agencies. Payment of principal and interest on issues of municipal paper may be made from various sources, to the extent the funds are available therefrom. Maturities of municipal paper generally will be shorter than the maturities of TANs, BANs or RANs. There is a limited secondary market for issues of Municipal Paper.

Certain municipal securities may carry variable or floating rates of interest whereby the rate of interest is not fixed but varies with changes in specified market rates or indices, such as a bank prime rate or a tax-exempt money market index.

While the various types of notes described above as a group represent the major portion of the short-term tax-exempt note market, other types of notes are available in the marketplace and the Fund may invest in such other types of notes to the extent permitted under its investment objectives, policies and limitations. Such notes may be issued for different purposes and may be secured differently from those mentioned above.

ILLIQUID SECURITIES

The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities and other instruments that, at the time of investment, are illiquid ( i.e. , securities that are not readily marketable). For this purpose, illiquid securities may include, but are not limited to, restricted securities (securities the disposition of which is restricted under the federal securities laws), securities that may only be resold pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, that are deemed to be illiquid, and certain repurchase agreements. Inverse floating rate securities or the residual interest certificates of tender option bond trusts are not considered illiquid securities. The Board of Trustees or its delegate has the ultimate authority to determine which securities are liquid or illiquid. The Board of Trustees has delegated to NAM the day-to-day determination of the illiquidity of any security held by the Fund, although it has retained oversight and ultimate responsibility for such determinations. No definitive liquidity criteria are used. The Board of Trustees has directed NAM when making liquidity determinations to look for such factors as (i) the nature of the market for a security (including the institutional private resale market; the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; the amount of time normally needed to dispose of the security; and the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer), (ii) the terms of certain securities or other instruments allowing for the disposition to a third party or the issuer thereof (e.g., certain repurchase obligations and demand instruments), and (iii) other relevant factors. The assets used to cover OTC derivatives used by the Fund will be considered illiquid until the OTC derivatives are sold to qualified dealers who agree that the Fund may repurchase them at a maximum price to be calculated by a formula set forth in an agreement. The “cover” for an OTC derivative subject to this procedure would be considered illiquid only to the extent that the maximum repurchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the derivative.

Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act. Where registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than that which prevailed when it decided to sell. Illiquid securities will be priced at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees or its delegatee. If, through the appreciation of illiquid securities or the depreciation of liquid securities, the Fund should be in a position where more than 50% of the value of its Managed Assets is invested in illiquid securities, including restricted securities that are not readily marketable, the Fund will take such steps as are deemed advisable by NAM, if any, to protect liquidity.

 

18


INVERSE FLOATING RATE SECURITIES AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES

Inverse Floating Rate Securities. Inverse floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as “inverse floaters”) are securities whose interest rates bear an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security or the value of an index. Generally, inverse floating rate securities represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust formed by a third party sponsor for the purpose of holding municipal bonds. The special purpose trust typically sells two classes of beneficial interests or securities: floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as short-term floaters or tender option bonds) and inverse floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as inverse floaters or residual interest securities). Both classes of beneficial interests are represented by certificates. The short-term floating rate securities have first priority on the cash flow from the municipal bonds held by the special purpose trust. Typically, a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution, grants the floating rate security holders the option, at periodic intervals, to tender their securities to the institution and receive the face value thereof. As consideration for providing the option, the financial institution receives periodic fees. The holder of the short-term floater effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term rate. However, the institution granting the tender option will not be obligated to accept tendered short-term floaters in the event of certain defaults or a significant downgrade in the credit rating assigned to the bond issuer. For its inverse floating rate investment, the Fund receives the residual cash flow from the special purpose trust. Because the holder of the short-term floater is generally assured liquidity at the face value of the security, the Fund as the holder of the inverse floater assumes the interest rate cash flow risk and the market value risk associated with the municipal security deposited into the special purpose trust. The volatility of the interest cash flow and the residual market value will vary with the degree to which the trust is leveraged. This is expressed in the ratio of the total face value of the short-term floaters in relation to the value of the residual inverse floaters that are issued by the special purpose trust. The Fund expects to make investments in inverse floaters, with leverage ratios that may vary at inception between one and three times. In addition, all voting rights and decisions to be made with respect to any other rights relating to the municipal bonds held in the special purpose trust are passed through to the Fund, as the holder of the residual inverse floating rate securities.

Because increases in the interest rate on the short-term floaters reduce the residual interest paid on inverse floaters, and because fluctuations in the value of the municipal bond deposited in the special purpose trust affect the value of the inverse floater only, and not the value of the short-term floater issued by the trust, inverse floaters’ value is generally more volatile than that of fixed rate bonds. The market price of inverse floating rate securities is generally more volatile than the underlying securities due to the leveraging effect of this ownership structure. These securities generally will underperform the market of fixed rate bonds in a rising interest rate environment (i.e., when bond values are falling), but tend to outperform the market of fixed rate bonds when interest rates decline or remain relatively stable. Although volatile, inverse floaters typically offer the potential for yields exceeding the yields available on fixed rate bonds with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity. Inverse floaters have varying degrees of liquidity based upon, among other things, the liquidity of the underlying securities deposited in a special purpose trust.

The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities, issued by special purpose trusts that have recourse to the Fund. In NAM’s discretion, the Fund may enter into a separate shortfall and forbearance agreement with the third party sponsor of a special purpose trust. The Fund may enter into such recourse agreements (i) when the liquidity provider to the special purpose trust requires such an agreement because the level of leverage in the trust exceeds the level that the liquidity provider is willing to support absent such an agreement; and/or (ii) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the trust in the event that the municipal obligation held in the trust has declined in value. Such an agreement would require the Fund to reimburse the third party sponsor of such inverse floater, upon termination of the trust issuing the inverse floater, the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount due to the holders of floating rate interests. Such agreements may expose the Fund to a risk of loss that exceeds its original investment in the inverse floating rate securities. The Fund will segregate or earmark liquid assets with its custodian in accordance with the 1940 Act to cover its obligations with respect to its investments in special purpose trusts. Absent a shortfall and forbearance agreement, the Fund would not be required to make such a reimbursement. If the Fund chooses not to enter into

 

19


such an agreement, the special purpose trust could be liquidated and the Fund could incur a loss. See also “Portfolio Composition—Segregation of Assets” in this Statement of Additional Information.

The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities, issued by special purpose trusts formed with taxable municipal securities. The market for such taxable inverse floating rate securities is relatively new and undeveloped. Initially, there may be a limited number of counterparties, which may increase the credit risks of investing in taxable inverse floating rate securities.

The Fund may invest in both inverse floating rate securities and floating rate securities (as discussed below) issued by the same special purpose trust.

Investments in inverse floating rate securities have the economic effect of leverage. The use of leverage creates special risks for Common Shareholders. See “Leverage,” “Risks—Leverage Risk” and “—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk” in the Prospectus.

Floating Rate Securities. The Fund may also invest in floating rate securities, as described above, issued by special purpose trusts. Floating rate securities may take the form of short-term floating rate securities or the option period may be substantially longer. Generally, the interest rate earned will be based upon the market rates for municipal securities with maturities or remarketing provisions that are comparable in duration to the periodic interval of the tender option, which may vary from weekly, to monthly, to extended periods of one year or multiple years. Since the option feature has a shorter term than the final maturity or first call date of the underlying bond deposited in the trust, the Fund as the holder of the floating rate security relies upon the terms of the agreement with the financial institution furnishing the option as well as the credit strength of that institution. As further assurance of liquidity, the terms of the trust provide for a liquidation of the municipal security deposited in the trust and the application of the proceeds to pay off the floating rate security. The trusts that are organized to issue both short-term floating rate securities and inverse floaters generally include liquidation triggers to protect the investor in the floating rate security.

AUCTION RATE SECURITIES

Municipal securities also include auction rate municipal securities and auction rate preferred securities issued by closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal securities (collectively, “auction rate securities”). In certain recent market environments, auction failures have been widespread, which may adversely affect the liquidity and price of auction rate securities. Provided that the auction mechanism is successful, auction rate securities usually permit the holder to sell the securities in an auction at par value at specified intervals. The dividend is reset by “Dutch” auction in which bids are made by broker-dealers and other institutions for a certain amount of securities at a specified minimum yield. The dividend rate set by the auction is the lowest interest or dividend rate that covers all securities offered for sale. While this process is designed to permit auction rate securities to be traded at par value, there is a risk that an auction will fail due to insufficient demand for the securities. Moreover, between auctions, there may be no secondary market for these securities, and sales conducted on a secondary market may not be on terms favorable to the seller. Thus, with respect to liquidity and price stability, auction rate securities may differ substantially from cash equivalents, notwithstanding the frequency of auctions and the credit quality of the security. The Fund’s investments in auction rate securities of closed-end funds are subject to the limitations prescribed by the 1940 Act. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management and other fees paid by such closed-end funds in addition to the advisory fees payable directly by the Fund.

WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS

The Fund may buy and sell municipal securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, making payment or taking delivery at a later date, normally within 15 to 45 days of the trade date. On such transactions, the payment obligation and the interest rate are fixed at the time the purchaser enters into the commitment.

 

20


Beginning on the date the Fund enters into a commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, the Fund is required under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to maintain in a separate account liquid assets, consisting of cash, cash equivalents or liquid securities having a market value at all times of at least equal to the amount of any delayed payment commitment. Income generated by any such assets which provide taxable income for federal income tax purposes is includable in the taxable income of the Fund and, to the extent distributed, will be taxable distributions to shareholders. The Fund may enter into contracts to purchase securities on a forward basis ( i.e. , where settlement will occur more than 60 days from the date of the transaction) only to the extent that the Fund specifically collateralizes such obligations with a security that is expected to be called or mature within 60 days before or after the settlement date of the forward transaction. The commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward basis may involve an element of risk because no interest accrues on the bonds prior to settlement and at the time of delivery the market value may be less than their cost.

INITIAL PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in securities that at the time of investment are investment grade quality. The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities that at the time of investment are rated lower than investment grade or that are unrated by any NRSRO but judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. If current market conditions persist, the Fund expects that approximately 92.5% of the Managed Assets in its initial portfolio will consist of investment grade quality municipal securities at the time of investment. As such, the Fund expects that its Managed Assets in its initial portfolio will be invested as follows: 7.5% in Aaa/AAA, 35% in Aa/AA, 45% in A, 5% in BBB/Baa, and 7.5% in BB/Ba. The Fund anticipates that, upon the full investment of the net proceeds of this offering, the average credit quality of its investments will be A+. The Fund will generally invest in securities with intermediate- or long-term maturities. The Fund anticipates having a weighted average maturity of 15 to 35 years. The Fund will generally select obligations which may not be redeemed at the option of the issuer for approximately 10 years from the date of purchase by the Fund. Current market conditions may change and the Fund may not be able to invest its initial portfolio as planned.

DEFENSIVE POSITION; INVEST-UP PERIOD

During temporary defensive periods (e.g., times when, in NAM’s opinion, temporary imbalances of supply and demand or other temporary dislocations in the municipal securities market adversely affect the price at which long-term or intermediate-term municipal securities are available) or in order to keep the Fund’s cash fully invested, including the period during which the net proceeds of the offering of Common Shares are first being invested, the Fund may deviate from its investment policies and objectives. During such periods, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its Managed Assets in short-term investments, including high quality, short-term securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable. Tax-exempt short-term investments include various obligations issued by state and local governmental issuers, such as tax-exempt notes (bond anticipation notes, tax anticipation notes and revenue anticipation notes or other such municipal securities maturing in three years or less from the date of issuance) and municipal commercial paper. Taxable short-term investments of the Fund may include certificates of deposit issued by U.S. banks with assets of at least $1 billion, or commercial paper or corporate notes, bonds or debentures with a remaining maturity of one year or less, or repurchase agreements. See “Portfolio Composition—Hedging Strategies and Other Uses of Derivatives” in this Statement of Additional Information. For a more complete discussion of the Fund’s portfolio composition, see “The Fund’s Investments” in the Prospectus.

OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES

The Fund may invest up to 10% of its Managed Assets in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including ETFs) that invest primarily in municipal securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund generally expects that it may invest in other investment companies either during

 

21


periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash, such as the period shortly after the Fund receives the proceeds of the offering of its Common Shares, or during periods when there is a shortage of attractive municipal securities available in the market. The Fund may invest in investment companies that are advised by NAM or its affiliates to the extent permitted by applicable law and/or pursuant to exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies.

NAM will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits of an investment in the investment company relative to available municipal security instruments. In addition, because the securities of other investment companies may be leveraged and subject to leverage risk, the Fund may indirectly be subject to risks related to leverage. Market value of leveraged shares will tend to fluctuate more than the market value of unleveraged shares.

PORTFOLIO TRADING AND TURNOVER RATE

Portfolio trading may be undertaken to accomplish the Fund’s investment objectives. In addition, a security may be sold and another of comparable quality purchased at approximately the same time to take advantage of what NAM believes to be a temporary price disparity between the two securities. Temporary price disparities between two comparable securities may result from supply and demand imbalances where, for example, a temporary oversupply of certain securities may cause a temporarily low price for such securities, as compared with other securities of like quality and characteristics. The Fund may also engage to a limited extent in short-term trading consistent with its investment objectives. Securities may be sold in anticipation of a market decline (a rise in interest rates) or purchased in anticipation of a market rise (a decline in interest rates) and later sold, but the Fund will not engage in trading solely to recognize a gain.

The Fund may engage in portfolio trading when considered appropriate, but short-term trading will not be used as the primary means of achieving the Fund’s investment objectives. Although the Fund cannot accurately predict its annual portfolio turnover rate, it is generally not expected to exceed 25% under normal circumstances. However, there are no limits on the Fund’s rate of portfolio turnover, and investments may be sold without regard to length of time held when, in NAM’s opinion, investment considerations warrant such action. A higher portfolio turnover rate would result in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund. Although these commissions and expenses are not reflected in the Fund’s “Total Annual Expenses” on page 25 of the Fund’s Prospectus, they will be reflected in the Fund’s total return.

 

22


MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

The management of the Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed for the Fund under the investment management agreement with NAM (“the management agreement”), is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees of the Fund. The number of trustees of the Fund is nine, one of whom is an “interested person” (as the term “interested person” is defined in the 1940 Act) and eight of whom are not interested persons (referred to herein as “independent trustees”). None of the independent trustees has ever been a trustee, director or employee of, or consultant to, Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen Investments”), NAM or their affiliates. The Board of Trustees is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, the Class I trustees serving until the 2013 annual meeting, the Class II trustees serving until the 2011 annual meeting and the Class III trustees serving until the 2012 annual meeting, in each case until their respective successors are elected and qualified, as described below. Currently, William C. Hunter, Judith M. Stockdale and Carole E. Stone are slated in Class I, John P. Amboian, David J. Kundert and Terence J. Toth are slated in Class II and Robert P. Bremner, Jack B. Evans, and William J. Schneider are slated in Class III. The officers of the Fund serve annual terms and are elected on an annual basis. The names, business addresses and birthdates of the trustees and officers of the Fund, their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years, the number of portfolios each oversees and other directorships they hold are set forth below. The trustees of the Fund are directors or trustees, as the case may be, of 75 Nuveen-sponsored open-end funds (the “Nuveen Mutual Funds”) and 124 Nuveen-sponsored closed-end funds (collectively with the Nuveen Mutual Funds, the “Nuveen Funds”).

 

Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Nuveen Funds

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
   Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee

Independent Trustees:

     

Robert P. Bremner*

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL60606

(8/22/40)

   Chairman of
the Board
and Trustee
   Term—Class III
Length of service—

Since 1996

   Private Investor and Management Consultant; Treasurer and Director, Humanities Council, Washington, D.C.    199    N/A

 

23


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Nuveen Funds

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
   Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee

Jack B. Evans

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(10/22/48)

   Trustee    Term—Class III
Length of service—

Since 1999

   President, The Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation (since 1996); Director and Chairman, United Fire Group, a publicly held company; President Pro Tem of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System; Director, Gazette Companies; Life Trustee of Coe College and the Iowa College Foundation; formerly, Director, Alliant Energy; formerly, Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; formerly, President and Chief Operating Officer, SCI Financial Group, Inc., (a regional financial services firm).    199    See
Principal
Occupation
description

 

24


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Nuveen Funds

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
   Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee

William C. Hunter

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(3/6/48)

   Trustee    Term—Class I
Length of service—

Since 2004

   Dean, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa (since 2006); Director (since 2004) of Xerox Corporation; Director (since 2005) of Beta Gamma Sigma International Society; formerly, Director, SS&C Technologies, Inc. (May 2005-October 2005); formerly, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance, School of Business at the University of Connecticut (2003-2006); formerly, Director (1997-2007), Credit Research Center at Georgetown University; previously, Senior Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (1995-2003).    199    See
Principal
Occupation
description

 

25


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Nuveen Funds

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
   Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee

David J. Kundert*

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(10/28/42)

   Trustee    Term—Class II
Length of service—
Since 2005
   Director, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company; retired (since 2004) as Chairman, JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management, President and CEO, Banc One Investment Advisors Corporation, and President, One Group Mutual Funds; prior thereto, Executive Vice President, Bank One Corporation and Chairman and CEO, Banc One Investment Management Group; member of the Board of Regents, Luther College; member of the Wisconsin Bar Association; member of Board of Directors, Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens; member of Board of Directors and member of Investment Committee, Greater Milwaukee Foundation.    199    See
Principal
Occupation
description

William J. Schneider*

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(9/24/44)

   Trustee    Term—Class III
Length of service—
Since 1996
   Chairman of Miller-Valentine Partners Ltd., a real estate investment company; formerly, Senior Partner and Chief Operating Officer (retired) of Miller-Valentine Group; member, University of Dayton Business School Advisory Council; member, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Association; formerly, Director, Dayton Development Coalition; formerly, member, Business Advisory Council, Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank.    199    See
Principal
Occupation
description

 

26


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Nuveen Funds

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
   Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee

Judith M. Stockdale

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(12/29/47)

   Trustee    Term—Class I
Length of service—
Since 1997
   Executive Director, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (since 1994); prior thereto, Executive Director, Great Lakes Protection Fund (1990-1994).    199    N/A

Carole E. Stone*

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(6/28/47)

   Trustee    Term—Class I
Length of service—
Since 2007
   Director, C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated (since 2009); Director, Chicago Board Options Exchange (since 2006); Commissioner, New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform (since 2005); formerly, Chair, New York Racing Association Oversight Board (2005-2007).    199    See
Principal
Occupation
description

 

27


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Nuveen Funds

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
   Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee

Terence J. Toth*

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(9/29/59)

   Trustee    Term—Class II
Length of service—
Since 2008
   Director, Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. (since 2008); Managing Partner, Promus Capital (since 2008); formerly, CEO and President, Northern Trust Global Investments (2004-2007); Executive Vice President, Quantitative Management & Securities Lending (2000-2004); prior thereto, various positions with Northern Trust Company (since 1994); member: Goodman Theatre Board (since 2004) Chicago Fellowship Board (since 2005), University of Illinois Leadership Council Board (since 2007) and Catalyst Schools of Chicago Board (since 2008); formerly, member: Northern Trust Mutual Funds Board (2005-2007), Northern Trust Global Investments Board (2004-2007); Northern Trust Japan Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Securities Inc. Board (2003-2007) and Northern Trust Hong Kong Board (1997-2004).    199    N/A

 

28


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Nuveen Funds

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
   Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee

Interested Trustee:

        

John P. Amboian**

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(6/14/61)

   Trustee    Term—Class II
Length of service—
Since 2008
   Chief Executive Officer (since 2007), Director (since 1999) and Chairman (since 2007) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer (since 2007) of Nuveen Asset Management and Nuveen Investments Advisors, Inc.; President (since 2005) of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC.    199    See
Principal
Occupation
description

 

* Also serves as a trustee of the Nuveen Diversified Commodity Fund, a Nuveen-sponsored commodity pool that has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC for a proposed initial public offering. The S-1 has not been declared effective, and the commodity pool has not commenced operations.
** Mr. Amboian is an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of his positions with Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen Investments”) and certain of its subsidiaries.

 

29


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Nuveen Funds

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

  

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Officer

Officers of the Fund:

     

Gifford R. Zimmerman

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(9/9/56)

   Chief
Administrative
Officer
   Term—Until

July 2010—

Length of
Service—
Since 1988

   Managing Director (since 2002), Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen Investments, LLC; Managing Director (since 2002) and Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Asset Management; Managing Director (since 2004) and Assistant Secretary (since 1994) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc. (since 2002); Vice President and Assistant Secretary of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC (since 2002); Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Symphony Asset Management LLC (since 2003); Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC and Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC (since 2006), and Nuveen HydePark Group, LLC and Nuveen Investment Solutions, Inc. (since 2007); Managing Director (since 2005) of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC; Chartered Financial Analyst.    199

Williams Adams IV

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(6/9/55)

   Vice President    Term—Until
July 2010—
Length of
Service—Since
2007
   Executive Vice President, U.S. Structured Products of Nuveen Investments, LLC, (since 1999), prior thereto, Managing Director of Structured Investments; Executive Vice President (since 2005) of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC.    124

 

30


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of Office and
Length of
Time Served with
Nuveen Funds

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

  

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Officer

Mark J.P. Anson*

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(6/10/59)

   Vice President    Term—Until July
2010—Length of
Service—Since
2009
   President and Executive Director of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (since 2007); President of Nuveen Investments Institutional Services Group LLC (since 2007); previously, Chief Executive Officer of British Telecom Pension Scheme (2006-2007); Chief Investment Officer of Calpers (1999-2006); PhD, Chartered Financial Analyst, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor.    199

Cedric H. Antosiewicz

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1/11/62)

   Vice President    Term—Until July
2010—Length of
Service—Since
2007
   Managing Director, (since 2004), previously, Vice President (1993-2004) of Nuveen Investments LLC.    124

Nizida Arriaga

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(6/1/68)

   Vice President    Term—Until July
2010—Length of
Service—Since
2009
   Senior Vice President of Nuveen Investments, LLC (since 2010); formerly, Vice President (2007-2010); previously, Portfolio Manager, Allstate Investments, LLC (1996-2006); Chartered Financial Analyst.    199

Michael T. Atkinson

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(2/3/66)

   Vice President    Term—Until July
2010—Length of
Service—Since
2002
   Vice President of Nuveen Investments, LLC (since 2002); Vice President of Nuveen Asset Management (since 2005).    199

Margo L. Cook

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(4/11/64)

   Vice President    Term—Until July
2010—Length of
Service—Since
2009
   Executive Vice President (since 2008) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; previously, Head of Institutional Asset Management (2007-2008) of Bear Stearns Asset Management; Head of Institutional Asset Mgt (1986-2007) of Bank of NY Mellon; Chartered Financial Analyst.    199

Lorna C. Ferguson

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(10/24/45)

   Vice President    Term—Until July
2010—Length of
Service—Since
1998
   Managing Director (since 2004) of Nuveen Investments LLC; Managing Director (since 2005) of Nuveen Asset Management.    199

 

* Nuveen Investments, Inc. has announced that Mr. Anson will be leaving the company in early April 2010.

 

31


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Nuveen Funds

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

  

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Officer

Stephen D. Foy

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(5/31/54)

   Vice President
and Controller
   Term—Until
July 2010—

Length of
Service—
Since 1993

   Vice President (since 1993) and Funds Controller (since 1998) of Nuveen Investments, LLC; Vice President (since 2005) of Nuveen Asset Management; Certified Public Accountant.    199

Scott S. Grace

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(8/20/70)

   Vice President
and Treasurer
   Term—Until
July 2010—
Length of
Service—
Since 2009
   Managing Director, Corporate Finance & Development, Treasurer (since 2009) of Nuveen Investments, LLC; Managing Director and Treasurer of Nuveen Asset Management (since 2009); formerly, Treasurer (2006-2009), Senior Vice President (2008-2009), previously, Vice President (2006-2008) of Janus Capital Group, Inc.; formerly, Senior Associate in Morgan Stanley’s Global Financial Services Group (2000-2003); Chartered Accountant.    199

William T. Huffman

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(5/7/69)

   Vice President    Term—Until
July 2010—

Length of
Service—Since
2009

   Chief Operating Officer, Municipal Fixed Income (since 2008) of Nuveen Asset Management; previously, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (2002-2007) of Northern Trust Global Advisors, Inc. and Chief Executive Officer (2007) of Northern Trust Global Investments Limited; CPA.    135

Walter M. Kelly

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(2/24/70)

   Chief
Compliance
Officer and
Vice President
   Term—Until
July 2010—

Length of

Service—
Since 2003

   Senior Vice President (since 2008), formerly, Vice President (2006-2008); formerly, Assistant Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (2003-2006) of Nuveen Investments, LLC; Senior Vice President (since 2008), formerly, Vice President (2006-2008) and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Asset Management; previously, Assistant Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Nuveen Funds
(2003-2006).
   199

David J. Lamb

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(3/22/63)

   Vice President    Term—Until

July 2010—
Length of

Service—
Since 2000

   Senior Vice President (since 2009), formerly, Vice President (2000-2009) of Nuveen Investments, LLC; Vice President of Nuveen Asset Management (since 2005); Certified Public Accountant.    199

 

32


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Nuveen Funds

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

  

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Officer

Tina M. Lazar

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(8/27/61)

   Vice President    Term—Until

July 2010—
Length of

Service—
Since 2002

   Senior Vice President (since 2009), formerly, Vice President (1999-2009) of Nuveen Investments, LLC; Vice President of Nuveen Asset Management (since 2005).    199

Larry W. Martin

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(7/27/51)

   Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary
   Term—Until

July 2010—

Length of
Service—
Since 1988

   Senior Vice President (since 2010), Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of Nuveen Investments, LLC; Vice President (since 2005) and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Vice President (since 2005) and Assistant Secretary (since 1997) of Nuveen Asset Management; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc. (since 2002), NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC (since 2002), Symphony Asset Management LLC (since 2003), Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC and Santa Barbara Asset Management LLC (since 2006) and of Nuveen HydePark Group, LLC and Nuveen Investment Solutions, Inc. (since 2007).    199

Kevin J. McCarthy

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(3/26/66)

   Vice President
and Secretary
   Term—Until

July 2010—

Length of
Service—
Since 2007

   Managing Director (since 2008), formerly, Vice President (2007-2008) of Nuveen Investments, LLC; Managing Director (since 2008), formerly, Vice President (2007-2008) and Assistant Secretary (since 2007) Nuveen Investment Advisers Inc., Nuveen Investment Institutional Services Group LLC, NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC, NWQ Holdings, LLC, Symphony Asset Management LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC, Nuveen HydePark Group, LLC and Nuveen Investment Solutions, Inc.; prior thereto, Partner, Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP (1997-2007).    199

 

33


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

 

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Nuveen Funds

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Officer

John V. Miller

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(4/10/67)

  Vice
President
  Term—Until

July 2010—

Length of
Service—
Since 2007

  Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director (since 2007), formerly, Vice President (2002-2007) of Nuveen Asset Management; Managing Director (since 2007), formerly, Vice President (2002-2007) of Nuveen Investments, LLC; Chartered Financial Analyst.   135

Gregory Mino

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1/4/71)

  Vice
President
  Term—Until
July 2010—

Length of
Service—
Since 2009

  Senior Vice President (since 2010), Nuveen Investments, LLC, formerly, Vice President (2008-2010); previously, Director (2004-2007) and Executive Director (2007-2008) of UBS Global Asset Management; previously, Vice President (2000-2003) and Director (2003-2004) of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers; Chartered Financial Analyst.   199

Christopher M. Rohrbacher

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(8/1/71)

  Vice
President
and
Assistant
Secretary
  Term—Until

July 2010—

Length of
Service—
Since 2008

  Vice President, Nuveen Investments, LLC (since 2008); Vice President and Assistant Secretary, Nuveen Asset Management (since 2008); prior thereto, Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP (2002-2008).   199

James F. Ruane

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(7/3/62)

  Vice
President
and
Assistant
Secretary
  Term—Until

July 2010—

Length of
Service—
Since 2007

  Vice President, Nuveen Investments, LLC (since 2007); prior thereto, Partner, Deloitte & Touche USA LLP (2005-2007), formerly, senior tax manager (2002-2005); Certified Public Accountant.   199

Mark L. Winget

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(12/21/68)

  Vice
President
and
Assistant
Secretary
  Term—Until

July 2010—

Length of
Service—
Since 2008

  Vice President, Nuveen Investments, LLC (since 2008); Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Asset Management (since 2008); prior thereto, Counsel, Vedder Price P.C. (1997-2007).   199

Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight

The Board of Directors or the Board of Trustees (as the case may be, each is referred to hereafter as the “Board” and the directors or trustees of the Nuveen Funds, as applicable, are each referred to herein as “Trustees”) oversees the operations and management of the Nuveen Funds, including the duties performed for the Funds by the investment advisor. The Board has adopted a unitary board structure. A unitary board consists of one group of directors who serve on the board of every fund in the complex. In adopting a unitary board structure, the Trustees seek to provide effective governance through establishing a board, the overall composition of which, will, as a body, possess the appropriate skills, independence and experience to oversee the Funds’ business. With this overall framework in mind, when the Board, through its Nominating and Governance Committee discussed below, seeks nominees for the Board, the Trustees consider, not only the candidate’s particular background, skills and experience, among other things, but also whether such background, skills and

 

34


experience enhance the Board’s diversity and at the same time complement the Board given its current composition and the mix of skills and experiences of the incumbent Trustees.

The Board believes the unitary board structure enhances good and effective governance, particularly given the nature of the structure of the investment company complex. Funds in the same complex generally are served by the same service providers and personnel and are governed by the same regulatory scheme which raises common issues that must be addressed by the directors across the fund complex (such as compliance, valuation, liquidity, brokerage, trade allocation or risk management). The Board believes it is more efficient to have a single board review and oversee common policies and procedures which increases the Board’s knowledge and expertise with respect to the many aspects of fund operations that are complex-wide in nature. The unitary structure also enhances the Board’s influence and oversight over the investment advisor and other service providers.

In an effort to enhance the independence of the Board, the Board also has a Chairman that is an independent Trustee. The Board recognizes that a chairman can perform an important role in setting the agenda for the Board, establishing the boardroom culture, establishing a point person on behalf of the Board for fund management, and reinforcing the Board’s focus on the long-term interests of shareholders. The Board recognizes that a chairman may be able to better perform these functions without any conflicts of interests arising from a position with fund management. Accordingly, the Trustees have elected Robert P. Bremner as the independent Chairman of the Board. Specific responsibilities of the Chairman include: (i) presiding at all meetings of the Board and of the shareholders; (ii) seeing that all orders and resolutions of the Trustees are carried into effect; and (iii) maintaining records of and, whenever necessary, certifying all proceedings of the Trustees and the shareholders.

Although the Board has direct responsibility over various matters (such as advisory contracts, underwriting contracts and Fund performance), the Board also exercises certain of its oversight responsibilities through several committees that it has established and which report back to the full Board. The Board believes that a committee structure is an effective means to permit Trustees to focus on particular operations or issues affecting the Funds, including risk oversight. More specifically, with respect to risk oversight, the Board has delegated matters relating to valuation and compliance to certain committees (as summarized below) as well as certain aspects of investment risk. In addition, the Board believes that the periodic rotation of Trustees among the different committees allows the Trustees to gain additional and different perspectives of a Fund’s operations. The Board has established five standing committees: the Executive Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Audit Committee, the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Board may also from time to time create ad hoc committees to focus on particular issues as the need arises. The membership and functions of the standing committees are summarized below.

The Executive Committee, which meets between regular meetings of the Board, is authorized to exercise all of the powers of the Board. Robert P. Bremner, Chair, Judith M. Stockdale and John P. Amboian serve as the current members of the Executive Committee of the Board.

The Dividend Committee is authorized to declare distributions on each Fund’s shares including, but not limited to, regular and special dividends, capital gains and ordinary income distributions. The members of the Dividend Committee are Jack B. Evans, Chair, Judith M. Stockdale and Terence J. Toth.

The Audit Committee assists the Board in the oversight and monitoring of the accounting and reporting policies, processes and practices of the Funds, and the audits of the financial statements of the Funds; the quality and integrity of the financial statements of the Funds; the Funds’ compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to the Funds’ financial statements; the independent auditors’ qualifications, performance and independence; and the pricing procedures of the Funds and the internal valuation group of Nuveen. It is the responsibility of the Audit Committee to select, evaluate and replace any independent auditors (subject only to Board and, if applicable, shareholder ratification) and to determine their compensation. The Audit Committee is

 

35


also responsible for, among other things, overseeing the valuation of securities comprising the Funds’ portfolios. Subject to the Board’s general supervision of such actions, the Audit Committee addresses any valuation issues, oversees the Funds’ pricing procedures and actions taken by Nuveen’s internal valuation group which provides regular reports to the committee, reviews any issues relating to the valuation of the Funds’ securities brought to its attention and considers the risks to the Funds in assessing the possible resolutions to these matters. The Audit Committee may also consider any financial risk exposures for the Funds in conjunction with performing its functions.

To fulfill its oversight duties, the Audit Committee receives annual and semi-annual reports and has regular meetings with the external auditors for the Funds and the internal audit group at Nuveen Investments. The Audit Committee also may review in a general manner the processes the Board or other Board committees have in place with respect to risk assessment and risk management as well as compliance with legal and regulatory matters relating to the Funds’ financial statements. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. Members of the Audit Committee shall be independent (as set forth in the charter) and free of any relationship that, in the opinion of the Trustees, would interfere with their exercise of independent judgment as an Audit Committee member. The members of the Audit Committee are Robert P. Bremner, Jack B. Evans, David J. Kundert, Chair, William J. Schneider and Terence J. Toth, each of whom is an independent Trustee of the Funds.

The Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee (the “Compliance Committee”) is responsible for the oversight of compliance issues, risk management and other regulatory matters affecting the Funds that are not otherwise the jurisdiction of the other committees. The Board has adopted and periodically reviews policies and procedures designed to address the Funds’ compliance and risk matters. As part of its duties, the Compliance Committee reviews the policies and procedures relating to compliance matters and recommends modifications thereto as necessary or appropriate to the full Board; develops new policies and procedures as new regulatory matters affecting the Funds arise from time to time; evaluates or considers any comments or reports from examinations from regulatory authorities and responses thereto; and performs any special reviews, investigations or other oversight responsibilities relating to risk management, compliance and/or regulatory matters as requested by the Board.

In addition, the Compliance Committee is responsible for risk oversight, including, but not limited to, the oversight of risks related to investments and operations. Such risks include, among other things, exposures to particular issuers, market sectors, or types of securities; risks related to product structure elements, such as leverage; and techniques that may be used to address those risks, such as hedging and swaps. In assessing issues brought to the committee’s attention or in reviewing a particular policy, procedure, investment technique or strategy, the Compliance Committee evaluates the risks to the Funds in adopting a particular approach or resolution compared to the anticipated benefits to the Funds and their shareholders. In fulfilling its obligations, the Compliance Committee meets on a quarterly basis, and at least once a year in person. The Compliance Committee receives written and oral reports from the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and meets privately with the CCO at each of its quarterly meetings. The CCO also provides an annual report to the full Board regarding the operations of the Funds’ and other service providers’ compliance programs as well as any recommendations for modifications thereto. The Compliance Committee also receives reports from the investment services group of Nuveen regarding various investment risks. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the full Board also participates in discussions with management regarding certain matters relating to investment risk, such as the use of leverage and hedging. The investment services group therefore also reports to the full Board at its quarterly meetings regarding, among other things, Fund performance and the various drivers of such performance. Accordingly, the Board directly and/or in conjunction with the Compliance Committee oversees matters relating to investment risks. Matters not addressed at the committee level are addressed directly by the full Board. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board of Trustees. The members of the Compliance Committee are William C. Hunter, William J. Schneider, Chair, Judith M. Stockdale and Carole E. Stone.

 

36


The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for seeking, identifying and recommending to the Board qualified candidates for election or appointment to the Board. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee oversees matters of corporate governance, including the evaluation of Board performance and processes, the assignment and rotation of committee members, and the establishment of corporate governance guidelines and procedures, to the extent necessary or desirable, and matters related thereto. Although the unitary and committee structure has been developed over the years and the Nominating and Governance Committee believes the structure has provided efficient and effective governance, the committee recognizes that as demands on the Board evolve over time (such as through an increase in the number of funds overseen or an increase in the complexity of the issues raised), the committee must continue to evaluate the Board and committee structures and their processes and modify the foregoing as may be necessary or appropriate to continue to provide effective governance. Accordingly, the Nominating and Governance Committee has a separate meeting each year to, among other things, review the Board and committee structures, their performance and functions, and recommend any modifications thereto or alternative structures or processes that would enhance the Board’s governance over the Funds’ business.

In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee, among other things, makes recommendations concerning the continuing education of Trustees; monitors performance of legal counsel and other service providers; establishes and monitors a process by which security holders are be able to communicate in writing with members of the Board; and periodically reviews and makes recommendations about any appropriate changes to Trustee compensation. In the event of a vacancy on the Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee receives suggestions from various sources as to suitable candidates. Suggestions should be sent in writing to Lorna Ferguson, Manager of Fund Board Relations, Nuveen Investments, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606. The Nominating and Governance Committee sets appropriate standards and requirements for nominations for new Trustees and reserves the right to interview any and all candidates and to make the final selection of any new Trustees. In considering a candidate’s qualifications, each candidate must meet certain basic requirements, including relevant skills and experience, time availability (including the time requirements for due diligence site visits to internal and external sub-advisors and service providers) and, if qualifying as an Independent Trustee candidate, independence from the Advisor, sub-advisors, underwriters or other service providers, including any affiliates of these entities. These skill and experience requirements may vary depending on the current composition of the Board, since the goal is to ensure an appropriate range of skills, diversity and experience, in the aggregate. Accordingly, the particular factors considered and weight given to these factors will depend on the composition of the Board and the skills and backgrounds of the incumbent Trustees at the time of consideration of the nominees. All candidates, however, must meet high expectations of personal integrity, independence, governance experience and professional competence. All candidates must be willing to be critical within the Board and with management and yet maintain a collegial and collaborative manner toward other Board members. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. This committee is composed of the independent Trustees of the Funds. Accordingly, the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Robert P. Bremner, Chair, Jack B. Evans, William C. Hunter, David J. Kundert, William J. Schneider, Judith M. Stockdale, Carole E. Stone and Terence J. Toth.

Board Diversification and Trustee Qualifications . Listed below for each current Board member are the experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion, as of the date of this document, that each current Trustee should serve as a Trustee of the Funds.

John P. Amboian

Mr. Amboian, an interested Trustee of the Funds, joined Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen”) in June 1995 and became Chief Executive Officer in July 2007 and Chairman in November 2007. Prior to this, since 1999, he served as President with responsibility for the firm’s product, marketing, sales, operations and administrative activities. Mr. Amboian initially served Nuveen as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Nuveen, Mr. Amboian held key management positions with two consumer product firms affiliated with

 

37


the Phillip Morris Companies. He served as Senior Vice President of Finance, Strategy and Systems at Miller Brewing Company. Mr. Amboian began his career in corporate and international finance at Kraft Foods, Inc., where he eventually served as Treasurer. He received a Bachelor’s degree in economics and a Masters of Business Administration (“MBA”) from the University of Chicago. Mr. Amboian serves on the Board of Directors of Nuveen and is a Board Member or Trustee of the Investment Company Institute Board of Governors, Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, Children’s Memorial Hospital and Foundation, the Council on the Graduate School of Business (University of Chicago), and the North Shore Country Day School Foundation. He is also a member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and the Economic Club of Chicago.

Robert P. Bremner

Mr. Bremner, the Funds’ Independent Chairman, is a private investor and management consultant in Washington, D.C. His biography of William McChesney Martin, Jr., a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, was published by Yale University Press in November 2004. From 1994 to 1997, he was a Senior Vice President at Samuels International Associates, an international consulting firm specializing in governmental policies, where he served in a part-time capacity. Previously, Mr. Bremner was a partner in the LBK Investors Partnership and was chairman and majority stockholder with ITC Investors Inc., both private investment firms. He currently serves on the Board and as Treasurer of the Humanities Council of Washington D.C. From 1984 to 1996, Mr. Bremner was an independent Trustee of the Flagship Funds, a group of municipal open-end funds. He began his career at the World Bank in Washington D.C. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Yale University and received his MBA from Harvard University.

Jack B. Evans

President of the Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation, since 1996, Mr. Evans was formerly President and Chief Operating Officer of the SCI Financial Group, Inc., a regional financial services firm headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Formerly, he was a member of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago as well as a Director of Alliant Energy. Mr. Evans is Chairman of the Board of United Fire Group, sits on the Board of the Gazette Companies, is President Pro Tem of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System, is a Life Trustee of Coe College and is a member of the Advisory Council of the Department of Finance in the Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Coe College and an MBA from the University of Iowa.

William C. Hunter

Mr. Hunter was appointed Dean of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa effective July 1, 2006. He had been Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance at the University of Connecticut School of Business since June 2003. From 1995 to 2003, he was the Senior Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. While there he served as the Bank’s Chief Economist and was an Associate Economist on the Federal Reserve System’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). In addition to serving as a Vice President in charge of financial markets and basic research at the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta, he held faculty positions at Emory University, Atlanta University, the University of Georgia and Northwestern University. A past Director of the Credit Research Center at Georgetown University and past President of the Financial Management Association International, he has consulted with numerous foreign central banks and official agencies in Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Central America and South America. From 1990 to 1995, he was a U.S. Treasury Advisor to Central and Eastern Europe. He has been a Director of the Xerox Corporation since 2004. He is President-Elect of Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc., the International Business Honor Society.

David J. Kundert

Mr. Kundert retired in 2004 as Chairman of JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management, and as President and CEO of Banc One Investment Advisors Corporation, and as President of One Group Mutual Funds. Prior to the merger between Bank One Corporation and JPMorgan Chase and Co., he was Executive Vice President, Bank

 

38


One Corporation and, since 1995, the Chairman and CEO, Banc One Investment Management Group. From 1988 to 1992, he was President and CEO of Bank One Wisconsin Trust Company. Currently, Mr. Kundert is a Director of the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. He started his career as an attorney for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Mr. Kundert has served on the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute and he is currently a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association. He is on the Board of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and chairs its Investment Committee. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College, and his Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University.

William J. Schneider

Mr. Schneider is currently Chairman, formerly Senior Partner and Chief Operating Officer (retired, December 2004) of Miller-Valentine Partners Ltd., a real estate investment company. He is a Director and Past Chair of the Dayton Development Coalition. He was formerly a member of the Community Advisory Board of the National City Bank in Dayton as well as a former member of the Business Advisory Council of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank. Mr. Schneider is a member of the Business Advisory Council for the University of Dayton College of Business. Mr. Schneider was an independent Trustee of the Flagship Funds, a group of municipal open-end funds. He also served as Chair of the Miami Valley Hospital and as Chair of the Finance Committee of its parent holding company. Mr. Schneider has a Bachelor of Science in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Dayton.

Judith M. Stockdale

Ms. Stockdale is currently Executive Director of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, a private foundation working in land conservation and artistic vitality in the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Her previous positions include Executive Director of the Great Lakes Protection Fund, Executive Director of Openlands, and Senior Staff Associate at the Chicago Community Trust. She has served on the Boards of the Land Trust Alliance, the National Zoological Park, the Governor’s Science Advisory Council (Illinois), the Nancy Ryerson Ranney Leadership Grants Program, Friends of Ryerson Woods and the Donors Forum. Ms. Stockdale, a native of the United Kingdom, has a Bachelor of Science degree in geography from the University of Durham (UK) and a Master of Forest Science degree from Yale University.

Carole E. Stone

Ms. Stone retired from the New York State Division of the Budget in 2004, having served as its Director for nearly five years and as Deputy Director from 1995 through 1999. Ms. Stone is currently on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, CBOE Holdings, Inc. and C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated and is a Commissioner on the New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform. She has also served as the Chair of the New York Racing Association Oversight Board, as Chair of the Public Authorities Control Board and as a member of the Boards of Directors of several New York State public authorities. Ms. Stone has a Bachelor of Arts from Skidmore College in Business Administration.

Terence J. Toth

Mr. Toth is a Director, Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. (since 2008) and a Managing Partner, Promus Capital (since 2008). From 2004 to 2007, he was Chief Executive Officer and President of Northern Trust Global Investments, and Executive Vice President of Quantitative Management & Securities Lending from 2000 to 2004. He also formerly served on the Board of the Northern Trust Mutual Funds. He joined Northern Trust in 1994 after serving as Managing Director and Head of Global Securities Lending at Bankers Trust (1986 to 1994) and Head of Government Trading and Cash Collateral Investment at Northern Trust from 1982 to 1986. He currently serves on the Boards of the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Fellowship, and University of Illinois Leadership Council, and was Chairman of the Board of Catalyst Schools of Chicago. Mr. Toth graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, and received his MBA from New York University. In 2005, he graduated from the CEO Perspectives Program at Northwestern University.

 

39


INDEPENDENT CHAIRMAN

The trustees have elected Robert P. Bremner as the independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Specific responsibilities of the Chairman include (a) presiding at all meetings of the Board of Trustees and of the shareholders; (b) seeing that all orders and resolutions of the trustees are carried into effect; and (c) maintaining records of and, whenever necessary, certifying all proceedings of the trustees and the shareholders.

Class I trustees will serve until the annual meeting of shareholders in 2010; Class II trustees will serve until the annual meeting of shareholders in 2011; and Class III trustees will serve until the annual meeting of shareholders in 2012. As each trustee’s term expires, shareholders will be asked to elect trustees and such trustees shall be elected for a term expiring at the time of the third succeeding annual meeting subsequent to their election or thereafter in each case when their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. These provisions could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board of Trustees. See “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws” in the Prospectus.

SHARE OWNERSHIP

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each trustee as of December 31, 2009:

 

Name of Trustee

   Dollar Range
of Equity
Securities in
the Fund
   Aggregate Dollar Range
of Equity Securities in
All Registered
Investment Companies
Overseen by Trustee in
Family of Investment
Companies

John M. Amboian

   None    Over $100,000

Robert P. Bremner

   None    Over $100,000

Jack B. Evans

   None    Over $100,000

William C. Hunter

   None    Over $100,000

David J. Kundert

   None    Over $100,000

William S. Schneider

   None    Over $100,000

Judith M. Stockdale

   None    Over $100,000

Carole E. Stone

   None    Over $100,000

Terence J. Toth

   None    Over $100,000

No trustee who is not an interested person of the Fund or his immediate family member owns beneficially or of record, any security of NAM, Nuveen or any person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with NAM or Nuveen.

 

40


COMPENSATION

The following table sets forth estimated compensation to be paid by the Fund projected during the Fund’s first full fiscal year after commencement of operation. The Fund does not have a retirement or pension plan. The officers and trustees affiliated with Nuveen serve without any compensation from the Fund. The Fund has a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) that permits any trustee who is not an “interested person” of the Fund to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of his or her compensation as a trustee. The deferred compensation of a participating trustee is credited to a book reserve account of the Fund when the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the trustee. The value of the trustee’s deferral account at any time is equal to the value that the account would have had if contributions to the account had been invested and reinvested in shares of one or more of the eligible Nuveen funds. At the time for commencing distributions from a trustee’s deferral account, the trustee may elect to receive distributions in a lump sum or over a period of five years. The Fund will not be liable for any other fund’s obligations to make distributions under the Plan.

 

       Aggregate
Compensation from  Fund(1)
   Amount of Total
Compensation
That Has
Been Deferred(2)
   Total Compensation from
Fund and Fund Complex (3)

Robert P. Bremner

   $ 926    —      $ 265,996

Jack B. Evans

     765    —        239,830

William C. Hunter

     658    —        194,333

David J. Kundert

     757    —        252,913

William J. Schneider

     773    —        258,133

Judith M. Stockdale

     697    —        219,480

Carole E. Stone

     658    —        186,750

Terence J. Toth

     743    —        247,289

 

(1) Based on the estimated compensation to be earned by the independent trustees for the period ending March 31, 2011, representing the Fund’s first full fiscal year, for services to the Fund.
(2) Pursuant to a deferred compensation agreement with certain of the Nuveen Funds, deferred amounts are treated as though an equivalent dollar amount has been invested in shares of one or more eligible Nuveen funds. Total deferred fees for the Funds (including the return from the assumed investment in the eligible Nuveen Funds) payable are stated above.
(3) Based on the compensation paid (including any amounts deferred) for the calendar year ended December 31, 2009 for services to the Nuveen open-end and closed-end funds. Because the funds in the Fund Complex have different fiscal year ends, the amounts shown in this column are presented on a calendar year basis.

Independent trustees receive a $100,000 annual retainer plus (a) a fee of $3,250 per day for attendance in person or by telephone at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees; (b) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person where such in-person attendance is required and $1,500 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person where in-person attendance is not required at a special, non-regularly scheduled board meeting; (c) a fee of $2,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at an Audit Committee meeting; (d) a fee of $2,000 per meeting for attendance in person at a Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee meeting where in-person attendance is required and $1,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone where in-person attendance is not required; (e) a fee of $1,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone for a meeting of the Dividend Committee; and (f) a fee of $500 per meeting for attendance in person at all other committee meetings ($1,000 for shareholder meetings) on a day on which no regularly scheduled board meeting is held in which in-person attendance is required and $250 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such committee meetings (excluding shareholder meetings) where in-person attendance is not required and $100 per meeting when the Executive Committee acts as pricing committee for IPOs, plus, in each case, expenses incurred in attending such meetings. In addition to the payments described above, the independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees receives $50,000, the chairpersons of the

 

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Audit Committee, the Dividend Committee and the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee receive $7,500 and the chairperson of the Nominating and Governance Committee receives $5,000 as additional retainers. Independent trustees also receive a fee of $2,500 per day for site visits to entities that provide services to the Nuveen Funds on days on which no regularly scheduled board meeting is held. When ad hoc committees are organized, the Nominating and Governance Committee will at the time of formation determine compensation to be paid to the members of such committee; however, in general, such fees will be $1,000 per meeting for attendance in person at any ad hoc committee meeting where in-person attendance is required and $500 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required. The annual retainer, fees and expenses are allocated among the Nuveen Funds on the basis of relative net asset sizes, although fund management may, in its discretion, establish a minimum amount to be allocated to each fund.

The Fund has no employees. Its officers are compensated by Nuveen Investments or its affiliates.

INVESTMENT ADVISER

NAM, the Fund’s investment adviser, will be responsible for determining the Fund’s overall investment strategy and its implementation. NAM also is responsible for managing the Fund’s business affairs and providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services to the Fund. For additional information regarding the management services performed by NAM, including biographies of each of the Fund’s portfolio managers and further information about the investment management agreement between the Fund and NAM, see “Management of the Fund” in the Prospectus.

NAM, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments. Founded in 1898, Nuveen Investments and its affiliates had approximately $145 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2009 of which approximately $69 billion was in municipal securities. According to Morningstar Fundamental Data, Nuveen Investments is the leading sponsor of closed-end exchange-traded funds as measured by number of funds (123) and the amount of fund assets under management (approximately $46 billion) as of December 31, 2009.

Nuveen Investments provides high quality investment services designed to help secure the long-term goals of institutions and high net worth investors as well as the consultants and financial advisors who serve them. Nuveen Investments markets its growing range of specialized investment solutions under the high-quality brands of HydePark, NWQ, Nuveen, Santa Barbara, Symphony, Tradewinds and Winslow Capital.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

Unless otherwise indicated, the information below is provided as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information.

Portfolio Management Team . Daniel J. Close and John Miller are the Fund’s portfolio managers at NAM and have primary responsibility for the day-to-day implementation of the Fund’s investment strategy.

In addition to serving as a portfolio manager to the Fund, Mr. Close is also primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the following accounts. Information is provided as of March 1, 2010 unless otherwise indicated:

 

Type of Account Managed

   Number of Accounts    Assets*

Registered Investment Company

   22    $ 4.0 billion

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   0    $ 0

Other Accounts

   6    $ 50.2 million

 

* None of the assets in these accounts are subject to an advisory fee based on performance.

 

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In addition to serving as a portfolio manager to the Fund, Mr. Miller is also primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the following accounts. Information is provided as of March 1, 2010 unless otherwise indicated.

 

Type of Account Managed

   Number of Accounts    Assets*

Registered Investment Company

   3    $ 4.9 billion

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   1    $ 99.0 million

Other Accounts

   9    $ 1.5 million

 

* None of the assets in these accounts are subject to an advisory fee based on performance.

Compensation . The Fund’s portfolio manager’s compensation consists of three basic elements—base salary, cash bonus and long-term incentive compensation. The compensation strategy is to annually compare overall compensation to the market in order to create a compensation structure that is competitive and consistent with similar financial services companies. As discussed below, several factors are considered in determining each portfolio manager’s total compensation. In any year these factors may include, among others, the effectiveness of the investment strategies recommended by the portfolio manager’s investment team, the investment performance of the accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the overall performance of Nuveen Investments (the parent company of NAM). Although investment performance is a factor in determining the portfolio manager’s compensation, it is not necessarily a decisive factor. The portfolio manager’s performance is evaluated in part by comparing manager’s performance against a specified investment benchmark.

Base Salary. The Fund’s portfolio manager is paid a base salary that is set at a level determined by NAM in accordance with its overall compensation strategy discussed above. NAM is not under any current contractual obligation to increase a portfolio manager’s base salary.

Cash Bonus . The Fund’s portfolio manager is also eligible to receive an annual cash bonus. The level of this bonus is based upon evaluations and determinations made by each portfolio manager’s supervisors, along with reviews submitted by his peers. These reviews and evaluations often take into account a number of factors, including the effectiveness of the investment strategies recommended to NAM’s investment team, the performance of the accounts for which he serves as portfolio manager relative to any benchmarks established for those accounts, his effectiveness in communicating investment performance to stockholders and their representatives, and his contribution to NAM’s investment process and to the execution of investment strategies. The cash bonus component is also impacted by the overall performance of Nuveen Investments in achieving its business objectives.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation . In connection with the acquisition of Nuveen Investments, by a group of investors lead by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC in November 2007, certain employees, including portfolio managers, received profit interests in Nuveen Investments. These profit interests entitle the holders to participate in the appreciation in the value of Nuveen Investments beyond the issue date and vest over five to seven years, or earlier in the case of a liquidity event. In addition, in July 2009, Nuveen Investments created and funded a trust, as part of a newly-established incentive program, which purchased shares of certain Nuveen Mutual Funds and awarded such shares, subject to vesting, to certain employees, including portfolio managers.

Material Conflicts of Interest . Each portfolio manager’s simultaneous management of the Fund and the other accounts noted above may present actual or apparent conflicts of interest with respect to the allocation and aggregation of securities orders placed on behalf of the Fund and the other account. NAM; however, believes that such potential conflicts are mitigated by the fact that NAM has adopted several policies that address potential conflicts of interest, including best execution and trade allocation policies that are designed to ensure (1) that portfolio management is seeking the best price for portfolio securities under the circumstances, (2) fair and equitable allocation of investment opportunities among accounts over time and (3) compliance with applicable

 

43


regulatory requirements. All accounts are to be treated in a non-preferential manner, such that allocations are not based upon account performance, fee structure or preference of the portfolio manager. In addition, NAM has adopted a Code of Conduct that sets forth policies regarding conflicts of interest.

Beneficial Ownership of Securities. As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, Mr. Close and Mr. Miller do not beneficially own any Common Shares issued by the Fund.

Unless earlier terminated as described below, the Fund’s management agreement with NAM will remain in effect until August 1, 2011. The management agreement continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuation is approved at least annually by (1) the Board of Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (2) a majority of the trustees who are not interested persons of any party to the management agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The management agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by either the Fund or NAM upon 60 days’ written notice, and is automatically terminated in the event of its assignment as defined in the 1940 Act.

The Fund, NAM, Nuveen and other related entities have adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that essentially prohibit certain of their personnel, including the Fund’s portfolio managers, from engaging in personal investments that compete or interfere with, or attempt to take advantage of a client’s, including the Fund’s, anticipated or actual portfolio transactions, and are designed to assure that the interests of clients, including Fund shareholders, are placed before the interests of personnel in connection with personal investment transactions. Text-only versions of the codes of ethics of the Fund, NAM and Nuveen can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR Database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s internet web site at www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy those documents by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 202-942-8090. In addition, copies of those codes of ethics may be obtained, after mailing the appropriate duplicating fee, by writing to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549 or by e-mail request at publicinfo@sec.gov.

On rare occasions the Fund may acquire, directly or through a special purpose vehicle, equity securities of certain issuers whose securities the Fund already owns when such securities have deteriorated or are expected shortly to deteriorate significantly in credit quality. The purpose of acquiring equity securities generally will be to acquire control of the issuer and to seek to prevent the credit deterioration or facilitate the liquidation or other workout of the distressed issuer’s credit problem. In the course of exercising control of a distressed issuer, NAM may pursue the Fund’s interests in a variety of ways, which may entail negotiating and executing consents, agreements and other arrangements, and otherwise influencing the management of the issuer. NAM does not consider such activities proxy voting for purposes of Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), but nevertheless provides reports to the Fund’s Board of Trustees on its control activities on a quarterly basis.

In the rare event that an issuer were to issue a proxy or that the Fund were to receive a proxy issued by a cash management security, NAM would either engage an independent third party to determine how the proxy should be voted or vote the proxy with the consent, or based on the instructions, of the Fund’s Board of Trustees or its representative. A member of NAM’s legal department would oversee the administration of the voting and ensure that records maintained in accordance with Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-PX, provided to the Fund’s Board of Trustees and made available to shareholders as required by applicable rules.

In the event of a conflict of interest that might arise when voting proxies for the Fund, NAM will defer to the recommendation of an independent third party engaged to determine how the proxy should be voted, or, alternatively, members of NAM’s legal and compliance departments, in consultation with the Board of Trustees, will examine the conflict of interest and seek to resolve such conflict in the best interest of the Fund. If a member

 

44


of NAM’s legal or compliance department or the Board of Trustees has a personal conflict of interest, that member will refrain from participating in the consultation.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 will be available without charge by calling (800) 257-8787 or by accessing the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, NAM is responsible for decisions to purchase and sell securities for the Fund, the negotiation of the prices to be paid and the allocation of transactions among various dealer firms. Transactions on stock exchanges involve the payment by the Fund of brokerage commissions. There generally is no stated commission in the case of securities traded in the OTC market but the price paid by the Fund usually includes an undisclosed dealer commission or mark-up. Transactions in the OTC market can also be placed with broker-dealers who act as agents and charge brokerage commissions for effecting OTC transactions. The Fund may place its OTC transactions either directly with principal market makers, or with broker-dealers if that is consistent with NAM’s obligation to obtain best qualitative execution. In certain instances, the Fund may make purchases of underwritten issues at prices that include underwriting fees.

Portfolio securities may be purchased directly from an underwriter or in the OTC market from the principal dealers in such securities, unless it appears that a better price or execution may be obtained through other means. Portfolio securities will not be purchased from Nuveen or its affiliates or affiliates of NAM except in compliance with the 1940 Act.

It is NAM’s policy to seek the best execution under the circumstances of each trade. NAM will evaluate price as the primary consideration, with the financial condition, reputation and responsiveness of the dealer considered secondary in determining best execution. Given the best execution obtainable, it will be NAM’s practice to select dealers that, in addition, furnish research information (primarily credit analyses of issuers and general economic reports) and statistical and other services to NAM. It is not possible to place a dollar value on information and statistical and other services received from dealers. Since it is only supplementary to NAM’s own research efforts, the receipt of research information is not expected to reduce significantly NAM’s expenses. While NAM will be primarily responsible for the placement of the business of the Fund, NAM’s policies and practices in this regard must be consistent with the foregoing and will, at all times, be subject to review by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.

NAM may manage other investment accounts and investment companies for other clients that may invest in the same types of securities as the Fund and that may have investment objectives similar to those of the Fund. NAM seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell assets or securities by the Fund and another advisory account. If an aggregated order cannot be filled completely, allocations will generally be made on a pro rata basis. An order may not be allocated on a pro rata basis where, for example (i) consideration is given to portfolio managers who have been instrumental in developing or negotiating a particular investment; (ii) consideration is given to an account with specialized investment policies that coincide with the particulars of a specific investment; (iii) pro rata allocation would result in odd-lot or de minimis amounts being allocated to a portfolio or other client; or (iv) where NAM reasonably determines that departure from a pro rata allocation is advisable. There may also be instances where the Fund will not participate at all in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. While these allocation procedures could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Board of Trustees that the benefits available from NAM’s management outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from NAM’s larger management activities and its need to allocate securities.

 

45


DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

COMMON SHARES

For a description of the Fund’s Common Shares, see “Description of Shares—Common Shares” in the Prospectus.

PREFERRED SHARES

The Fund has no current intention to issue Preferred Shares. However, the Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Preferred Shares in one or more classes or series, with rights as determined by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, by action of the Board of Trustees without the approval of the Common Shareholders. The terms of any Preferred Shares that may be issued by the Fund may be the same as, or different from, the terms described below, subject to applicable law and the Declaration.

Issuance of Preferred Shares. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund could issue Preferred Shares with an aggregate liquidation value of up to one-half of the value of the Fund’s total net assets, measured immediately after issuance of the Preferred Shares. “Liquidation value” means the original purchase price of the shares being liquidated plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless the liquidation value of the Preferred Shares is less than one-half of the value of the Fund’s total net assets (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution) immediately after the distribution.

Distribution Preference. Any Preferred Shares would have complete priority over the Common Shares as to distribution of assets.

Liquidation Preference. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, holders of Preferred Shares would be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) before any distribution of assets is made to Common Shareholders. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, holders of Preferred Shares will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Fund. A consolidation or merger of the Fund with or into any Massachusetts business trust or corporation or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Fund shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund.

Voting Rights. In connection with any issuance of Preferred Shares, the Fund must comply with Section 18(i) of the 1940 Act, which requires, among other things, that Preferred Shares be voting shares and have equal voting rights with Common Shares. Except as otherwise indicated in this Statement of Additional Information and except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of Preferred Shares would vote together with Common Shareholders as a single class.

In connection with the election of the Fund’s trustees, holders of Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees, and the remaining trustees would be elected by Common Shareholders and holders of Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class. In addition, if at any time dividends on the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares would be unpaid in an amount equal to two full years’ dividends thereon, the holders of all outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect a majority of the Fund’s trustees until all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart for payment.

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares of any class or series, as the case may be, voting as a separate class, would be required to, among other things, (1) take certain actions that would affect the preferences, rights, or powers of such class or series or (2) authorize or issue any

 

46


class or series ranking prior to the Preferred Shares. Except as may otherwise be required by law, (1) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Fund’s Preferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, would be required to approve any conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company and (2) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be required to approve any plan of reorganization (as such term is used in the 1940 Act) adversely affecting such shares; provided however, that such separate class vote would be a majority vote if the action in question has previously been approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration or the By-laws. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be required to approve any action not described in the preceding sentence requiring a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act including, among other things, changes in a Fund’s investment objectives or changes in the investment restrictions described as fundamental policies under “Investment Restrictions” in this Statement of Additional Information. The class or series vote of holders of Preferred Shares described above would in each case be in addition to any separate vote of the requisite percentage of Common Shares and Preferred Shares necessary to authorize the action in question.

The foregoing voting provisions would not apply with respect to the Fund’s Preferred Shares if, at or prior to the time when a vote was required, such shares would have been (1) redeemed or (2) called for redemption and sufficient funds would have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

Redemption, Purchase and Sale of Preferred Shares. The terms of the Preferred Shares may provide that they are redeemable by the Fund at certain times, in whole or in part, at the original purchase price per share plus accumulated dividends, that the Fund may tender for or purchase Preferred Shares and that the Fund may subsequently resell any shares so tendered for or purchased. Any redemption or purchase of Preferred Shares by the Fund would reduce the leverage applicable to Common Shares, while any resale of such shares by the Fund would increase such leverage.

In the event of any future issuance of Preferred Shares, the Fund likely would apply for ratings from an NRSRO. In such event, as long as Preferred Shares are outstanding, the composition of the Fund’s portfolio would reflect guidelines established by such NRSRO. Based on previous guidelines established by such NRSROs for the securities of other issuers, the Fund anticipates that the guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act. However, at this time, no assurance can be given as to the nature or extent of the guidelines that may be imposed in connection with obtaining a rating of any Preferred Shares.

BORROWINGS

The Declaration authorizes the Fund, without prior approval of the Common Shareholders, to borrow money. The Fund may issue Debt (as such term is defined in the Fund’s Prospectus) and may secure any such Debt by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the Fund’s assets. In connection with such Debt, the Fund may be required to maintain minimum average balances with the lender or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit. Any such requirements would increase the cost of any such Debt over the stated interest rate. Under the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Fund, immediately after any Debt, must have an asset coverage of at least 300%. With respect to any such Debt, asset coverage means the ratio that the value of the total assets of the Fund, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), bears to the aggregate amount of such Debt represented by senior securities issued by the Fund. Certain types of Debt may result in the Fund being subject to covenants in credit agreements relating to asset coverages or portfolio composition or otherwise. In addition, the Fund may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings on commercial paper or notes issued by the Fund. Such restrictions may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act.

 

47


The rights of lenders to the Fund to receive interest on and repayment of principal of any such Debt would be senior to those of the Common Shareholders, and the terms of any such Debt may contain provisions that limit certain activities of the Fund, including the payment of dividends to Common Shareholders in certain circumstances. Further, the 1940 Act would (in certain circumstances) grant to the lenders to the Fund certain voting rights in the event of default in the payment of interest on or repayment of principal. In the event that such provisions would impair the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under the Code (as defined under “Tax Matters”), the Fund would repay the Debt. Any Debt will likely be ranked senior or equal to all other existing and future Debt of the Fund. In addition to Debt, the Fund also may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary emergency purposes.

REPURCHASE OF FUND SHARES; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND

The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its shareholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the Fund’s Common Shares will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), net asset value, dividend stability, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. Because shares of a closed-end investment company may frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value, the Fund’s Board of Trustees has currently determined that, at least annually, it will consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material discount from net asset value in respect of Common Shares, which may include the repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares at net asset value, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. There can be no assurance, however, that the Board of Trustees will decide to take any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers, if undertaken, will reduce market discount.

The staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission currently requires that any tender offer made by a closed-end investment company for its shares must be at a price equal to the net asset value of such shares on the close of business on the last day of the tender offer. Any service fees incurred in connection with any tender offer made by the Fund will be borne by the Fund and will not reduce the stated consideration to be paid to tendering shareholders.

Subject to its investment limitations, the Fund may borrow to finance the repurchase of shares or to make a tender offer. Interest on any Debt to finance share repurchase transactions or the accumulation of cash by the Fund in anticipation of share repurchases or tenders will reduce the Fund’s net income. Any share repurchase, tender offer or borrowing that might be approved by the Board of Trustees would have to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Although the decision to take action in response to a discount from net asset value will be made by the Board of Trustees at the time it considers such issue, it is the Board’s present policy, which may be changed by the Board, not to authorize repurchases of Common Shares or a tender offer for such shares if (1) such transactions, if consummated, would (a) result in the delisting of the Common Shares from the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere, or (b) impair the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under the Code (which would make the Fund a taxable entity, causing the Fund’s income to be taxed at the corporate level in addition to the taxation of shareholders who receive dividends from the Fund) or as a registered closed-end investment company under the 1940 Act; (2) the Fund would not be able to liquidate portfolio securities in an orderly manner and consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies in order to repurchase shares; or (3) there is, in the Board’s judgment, any (a) material legal action or proceeding instituted or threatened challenging such transactions or otherwise materially adversely affecting the Fund, (b) general suspension of or limitation on prices for trading securities on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere, (c) declaration of a banking moratorium by Federal or state authorities or any suspension of payment by United States or state banks in which the Fund invests, (d) material limitation affecting the Fund or the issuers of its portfolio securities by Federal or state authorities on the extension of credit by lending institutions or on the exchange of

 

48


non-U.S. currency, (e) commencement of war, armed hostilities or other international or national calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States, or (f) other event or condition that would have a material adverse effect (including any adverse tax effect) on the Fund or Common Shareholders if shares were repurchased. The Board of Trustees of the Fund may in the future modify these conditions in light of experience.

Conversion to an open-end company would require the approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Fund’s Common Shares outstanding at the time. See “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws” in the Prospectus for a discussion of voting requirements applicable to conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. If the Fund converted to an open-end investment company, the Fund’s Common Shares would no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere. In contrast to a closed-end investment company, shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares on any business day (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act or rules thereunder) at their net asset value, less such redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of redemption. In order to avoid maintaining large cash positions or liquidating favorable investments to meet redemptions, open-end investment companies typically engage in a continuous offering of their shares. Open-end investment companies are thus subject to periodic asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management. The Board of Trustees of the Fund may at any time propose conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company depending upon their judgment as to the advisability of such action in light of circumstances then prevailing.

The repurchase by the Fund of its shares at prices below net asset value will result in an increase in the net asset value of those shares that remain outstanding. However, there can be no assurance that share repurchases or tenders at or below net asset value will result in the Fund’s shares trading at a price equal to their net asset value. Nevertheless, the fact that the Fund’s shares may be the subject of repurchase or tender offers at net asset value from time to time, or that the Fund may be converted to an open-end investment company, may reduce any spread between market price and net asset value that might otherwise exist.

In addition, a purchase by the Fund of its Common Shares will decrease the Fund’s total assets, which would likely have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio.

Before deciding whether to take any action if the Fund’s Common Shares trade below net asset value, the Board of Trustees would consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Fund or Common Shareholders, and market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund’s shares should trade at a discount, the Board of Trustees may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and Common Shareholders, no action should be taken.

TAX MATTERS

The following discussion of U.S. federal tax matters is based on the advice of K&L Gates LLP, special counsel to the Fund.

The following is intended to be a general summary of certain federal income tax consequences of investing, holding and disposing of Common Shares of the Fund. It is not intended to be a complete discussion of all such federal income tax consequences, nor does it purport to deal with all categories of investors (including Common Shareholders with large positions in the Fund). Investors are advised to consult with their own tax advisors before investing in the Fund.

The Fund intends to elect to be treated, and to qualify each year, as a regulated investment company, under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

To qualify for the favorable federal income tax treatment generally accorded to regulated investment companies, the Fund must, among other things, (a) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income

 

49


from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or non-U.S. currencies, or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships,” as defined in the Code; (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities, with such other securities of any one issuer limited for the purposes of this calculation to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of a single issuer, or two or more issuers that the Fund controls and are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships; and (c) distribute each year an amount equal to or greater than the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, but without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and 90% of its net tax-exempt interest.

As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally will not be subject to federal income tax on its investment company taxable income and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, that it distributes to shareholders. The Fund may retain for investment its net capital gain. However, if the Fund retains any net capital gain or any investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject to federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. The Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders, at least annually, substantially all of its investment company taxable income and the net capital gain not otherwise retained by the Fund.

If the Fund invests in certain bonds that generate federal tax credits, it may make an election to pass through the credits to its shareholders. If such an election is made, the Fund will be required to (i) include in gross income for the tax year, as interest, an amount equal to the amount that the Fund would have included in gross income relating to the credits if the election had not been made and (ii) increase the amount of its dividends paid deduction for the tax year by the amount of the income. In addition, each shareholder of the Fund (a) will be required to include in gross income an amount equal to the shareholder’s proportionate share of the interest income attributable to the credits and (b) will be permitted to take its proportionate share of the credits against its taxes. If the Fund makes this election, it will inform shareholders concerning their allocable share of tax credits as part of its annual reporting to shareholders.

Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax. To prevent imposition of the excise tax, the Fund must distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of its ordinary taxable income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (2) 98% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the one-year period ending October 31 of the calendar year, and (3) any ordinary taxable income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during those years and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax. To prevent application of the excise tax, the Fund intends to make its distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement.

If the Fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment company or failed to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement in any taxable year, the Fund would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation on its

 

50


taxable income (even if such income were distributed to its shareholders) and distributions to shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. Additionally, all distributions out of earnings and profits would be taxed to shareholders as ordinary dividend income. Such distributions generally would be eligible (i) to be treated as “qualified dividend income,” as discussed below in the case of noncorporate shareholders and (ii) for the dividends received deduction under Section 243 of the Code (the “Dividends Received Deduction”) in the case of corporate shareholders.

The Fund’s investment in zero coupon bonds will cause it to realize income prior to the receipt of cash payments with respect to these bonds. Such income will be accrued daily by the Fund and, in order to avoid a tax payable by the Fund, the Fund may be required to liquidate securities that it might otherwise continue to hold in order to generate cash so that the Fund may make required distributions to its shareholders.

Distributions to shareholders of net investment income received by the Fund and of net short-term capital gains realized by the Fund, if any, will be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions by the Fund of net capital gain ( i.e. , the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, are taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of time the shareholder has owned the shares with respect to which such distributions are made. Distributions, if any, in excess of the Fund’s earnings and profits will first reduce the adjusted tax basis of a shareholder’s shares and, after that basis has been reduced to zero, will constitute capital gain to the shareholder (assuming the shares are held as a capital asset). For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011, “qualified dividend income” received by noncorporate shareholders is taxed at rates equivalent to long-term capital gain tax rates, which reach a maximum of 15%. Qualified dividend income generally includes dividends from domestic corporations and dividends from non-U.S. corporations that meet certain specified criteria. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2011, qualified dividend income will no longer be taxed at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains, and the maximum individual tax rate on long-term capital gains will increase to 20%, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise. As long as the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company under the Code, it is not expected that any part of its distributions to shareholders from its investments will qualify for the Dividends Received Deduction available to corporate shareholders or as qualified dividend income in the case of noncorporate shareholders.

The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) indicates that the Fund is required to designate distributions paid with respect to its Common Shares and its Preferred Shares as consisting of a portion of each type of income distributed by the Fund. The portion of each type of income deemed received by the holders of each class of shares will be equal to the portion of total Fund dividends received by such class. Thus, the Fund will designate dividends paid as capital gain dividends or ordinary income dividends in a manner that allocates such dividends between the holders of the Common Shares and the Preferred Shares in proportion to the total dividends paid to each such class during or with respect to the taxable year, or otherwise as required by applicable law.

Although dividends generally will be treated as distributed when paid, dividends declared in October, November or December, payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in one of those months and paid during the following January, will be treated as having been distributed by the Fund (and received by the shareholders) on December 31 of the year declared.

Certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may defer the use of certain deductions or losses of the Fund, affect the holding period of securities held by the Fund and alter the character of the gains or losses realized by the Fund. These provisions may also require the Fund to recognize income or gain without receiving cash with which to make distributions in the amounts necessary to satisfy the requirements for maintaining regulated investment company status and for avoiding income and excise taxes. The Fund will monitor its transactions and may make certain tax elections in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company.

The redemption, sale or exchange of Common Shares normally will result in capital gain or loss to Common Shareholders who hold their shares as capital assets. Generally, a shareholder’s gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. Present law taxes both long-term and

 

51


short-term capital gains of corporations at the same rates applicable to ordinary income. For non-corporate taxpayers, however, long-term capital gains are currently taxed at a maximum rate of 15%, while short-term capital gains and other ordinary income are currently taxes at ordinary income rates. Absent further legislation, the 15% maximum rate applicable to long-term capital gains will increase to 20% for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010. If a shareholder sells or otherwise disposes of Common Shares before holding them for six months, any loss on the sale or disposition will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received by the Common Shareholder. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund will be disallowed to the extent those shares of the Fund are replaced by other substantially identical shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the original shares. In that event, the basis of the replacement shares of the Fund will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

The Fund may be required to withhold federal income tax from all taxable distributions and redemption proceeds payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. The backup withholding percentage is 28% for amounts paid through 2010, after which time the rate will increase to 31% absent legislative change. Corporate shareholders and certain other shareholders specified in the Code generally are exempt from such backup withholding. This withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s federal income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.

EXPERTS

The Financial Statements of the Fund as of March 17, 2010 appearing in this Statement of Additional Information have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance on their report given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. Ernst & Young LLP provides auditing services to the Fund. The principal business address of Ernst & Young LLP is 233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 1700 Chicago, IL 60606.

CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

The custodian of the assets of the Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. The custodian performs custodial, fund accounting and portfolio accounting services. The Fund’s transfer, shareholder services and dividend paying agent is also State Street Bank and Trust Company, 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A Registration Statement on Form N-2, including amendments thereto, relating to the shares of the Fund offered hereby, has been filed by the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. The Fund’s Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, including any exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Fund and the shares offered hereby, reference is made to the Fund’s Registration Statement. Statements contained in the Fund’s Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. Copies of the Registration Statement may be inspected without charge at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s principal office in Washington, D.C., and copies of all or any part thereof may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission upon the payment of certain fees prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

52


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Trustees and Shareholder

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Nuveen Build America Bond Fund (the “Fund”) as of March 17, 2010, and the related statement of operations for the period from December 4, 2009 (date of organization) through March 17, 2010. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Nuveen Build America Bond Fund at March 17, 2010, and the results of its operations for the period from December 4, 2009 (date of organization) through March 17, 2010, in conformity with US generally accepted accounting principles.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Chicago, Illinois

March 18, 2010

 

53


NUVEEN BUILD AMERICA BOND FUND

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

March 17, 2010

 

Assets:

  

Cash

   $ 100,275

Offering costs

     400,000

Receivable from Adviser

     11,000
      

Total assets

     511,275
      

Liabilities:

  

Accrued offering costs

     400,000

Payable for organization expenses

     11,000
      

Total liabilities

     411,000
      

Net assets

   $ 100,275
      

Shares outstanding

     5,250
      

Net asset value per share outstanding ($100,275 divided by 5,250 shares outstanding)

   $ 19.10
      

Net assets consist of:

  

Shares, $.01 par value; unlimited number of shares authorized, 5,250 shares outstanding

   $ 53

Paid-in surplus

     100,222
      

Net assets

   $ 100,275
      

 

54


NUVEEN BUILD AMERICA BOND FUND

Statement of Operations

Period from December 4, 2009 (date of organization) through March 17, 2010

 

Investment income

   $  
        

Expenses:

  

Organization expenses

     11,000   

Expense reimbursement

     (11,000
        

Total expenses

       
        

Net investment income

   $   
        

(1) The Fund

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on December 4, 2009. The Fund has been inactive since that date except for matters relating to its organization and registration as a diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the sale of 5,250 shares to Nuveen Asset Management, the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen”).

The Fund seeks to provide current income and secondarily to enhance portfolio value and total return. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of taxable municipal securities known as “Build America Bonds” (or “BABs”).

If, for any twenty-four month period ending on or prior to December 31, 2014, there are no new issuances of Build America Bonds or other taxable municipal securities with interest payments subsidized by the U.S. Government through direct pay subsidies, the Fund will terminate on or around June 30, 2020.

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its Officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications to other parties. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

(3) Organization Expenses and Offering Costs

The Adviser has agreed to (i) reimburse all organization expenses of the Fund (approximately $11,000) and (ii) pay all offering costs (other than sales load) that exceed $.04 per share. Based on an estimated offering size of $200,000,000 (approximately 10,000,000 shares), the Fund would pay a maximum of $400,000 of offering costs and the Adviser would pay all offering costs in excess of $400,000, which is currently estimated to be $510,000 The Fund’s share of offering costs will be recorded as a reduction of the proceeds from the sale of the shares upon commencement of Fund operations.

 

55


(4) Investment Management Agreement

Pursuant to an investment management agreement between the Adviser and the Fund, the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee for the services and facilities provided by the Adviser, payable on a monthly basis, based on the sum of a fund-level fee and a complex-level fee, as described below.

Fund-Level Fee: The annual fund-level fee, payable monthly, shall be applied according to the following schedule:

 

Fund-Level Average Daily Managed Assets

   Fund-Level Fee Rate  

First $125 million

   0.4500

Next $125 million

   0.4375   

Next $250 million

   0.4250   

Next $500 million

   0.4125   

Next $1 billion

   0.4000   

$2 billion and over

   0.3875   

Complex-Level Fee: The annual complex-level fee, payable monthly, shall be applied according to the schedule below.

 

Complex-Level Asset

Breakpoint Level(1)

   Effective Rate at
Breakpoint Level
 

$55 billion

   0.2000

$56 billion

   0.1996   

$57 billion

   0.1989   

$60 billion

   0.1961   

$63 billion

   0.1931   

$66 billion

   0.1900   

$71 billion

   0.1851   

$76 billion

   0.1806   

$80 billion

   0.1773   

$91 billion

   0.1691   

$125 billion

   0.1599   

$200 billion

   0.1505   

$250 billion

   0.1469   

$300 billion

   0.1445   

 

(1) For this Fund, “Managed Assets” means the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (other than Fund liabilities incurred for the express purpose of creating effective leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of effective leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for the purposes of generally accepted accounting principles), such as, but not limited to, the portion of assets in tender option bond trusts of which the Fund owns the residual interest certificates that has been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate certificates. The complex-level fee is based on the aggregate daily managed assets (as “managed assets” is defined in each Nuveen Fund’s investment management agreement with the Adviser, which generally includes assets attributable to any preferred shares that may be outstanding and any borrowings (including the issuance of commercial paper or notes)) of the Nuveen Funds. As of December 31, 2009, the complex-level fee was .1887%.

The management fee compensates the Adviser for overall investment advisory and administrative services and general office facilities. The Fund pays no compensation directly to those of its Trustees who are affiliated with the Adviser or to its officers, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the Fund from the Adviser or its affiliates.

 

56


(5) Income Taxes

The Fund intends to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income to shareholders. In any year when the Fund realizes net capital gains, the Fund may choose to distribute all or a portion of its net capital gains to shareholders, or alternatively, to retain all or a portion of its net capital gains and pay Federal corporate income taxes on such retained gains.

 

57


APPENDIX A

Ratings of Investments

Standard & Poor’s Corporation—A brief description of the applicable Standard & Poor’s Corporation Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (“Standard & Poor’s” or “S&P”), rating symbols and their meanings (as published by S&P) follows:

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a current opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The issue credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a financial obligation, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor.

Issue credit ratings are based on current information furnished by the obligors or obtained by Standard & Poor’s from other sources it considers reliable. Standard & Poor’s does not perform an audit in connection with any credit rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. Credit ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or based on other circumstances.

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days—including commercial paper.

Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

LONG-TERM ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS

Issue credit ratings are based in varying degrees, on the following considerations:

1. Likelihood of payment—capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

2. Nature of and provisions of the obligation; and

3. Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

The issue ratings definitions are expressed in terms of default risk. As such, they pertain to senior obligations of an entity. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentration applies when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.) Accordingly, in the case of junior debt, the rating may not conform exactly with the category definition.

AAA

An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

A-1


AA

An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only in small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A

An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB

An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

BB, B, CCC, CC, and C

Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB

An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B

An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC

An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC

An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C

A Subordinated debt or preferred stock obligation rated ‘C’ is CURRENTLY HIGHLY VULNERABLE to nonpayment. The ‘C’ rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or similar action has been taken, but payments on this obligation are being continued. A ‘C’ also will be assigned to a preferred stock issue in arreas on dividends or sinking fund payments, but that is currently paying.

 

A-2


D

An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Plus (+) or minus (-). The ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

r

This symbol is attached to the ratings of instruments with significant noncredit risks. It highlights risks to principal or volatility of expected returns which are not addressed in the credit rating.

N.R.

This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

A-1

A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2

A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

A-3

A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B

A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

C

A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

D

A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

 

A-3


Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.—A brief description of the applicable Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody’s) follows:

Municipal Bonds

Aaa

Bonds that are rated ‘Aaa’ are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt edged.” Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.

Aa

Bonds that are rated ‘Aa’ are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the ‘Aaa’ group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in ‘Aaa’ securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present that make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in ‘Aaa’ securities.

A

Bonds that are rated ‘A’ possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present that suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

Baa

Bonds that are rated ‘Baa’ are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e. , they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.

Ba

Bonds that are rated ‘Ba’ are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.

B

Bonds that are rated ‘B’ generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.

Caa

Bonds that are rated ‘Caa’ are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.

Ca

Bonds that are rated ‘Ca’ represent obligations that are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

 

A-4


C

Bonds that are rated ‘C’ are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.

#(hatchmark): Represents issues that are secured by escrowed funds held in cash, held in trust, invested and reinvested in direct, non-callable, non-prepayable United States government obligations or non-callable, non-prepayable obligations unconditionally guaranteed by the U.S. government, Resolution Funding Corporation debt obligations.

Con. (...): Bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of some act or the fulfillment of some condition are rated conditionally. These are bonds secured by (a) earnings of projects under construction, (b) earnings of projects unseasoned in operation experience, (c) rentals that begin when facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which some other limiting condition attaches. The parenthetical rating denotes probable credit stature upon completion of construction or elimination of the basis of the condition.

(P) : When applied to forward delivery bonds, indicates the rating is provisional pending delivery of the bonds. The rating may be revised prior to delivery if changes occur in the legal documents or the underlying credit quality of the bonds.

Note: Moody’s applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the issue ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

Short-Term Loans

MIG 1/VMIG 1

This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

MIG 2/VMIG 2

This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

MIG 3/VMIG 3

This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

SG

This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

Commercial Paper

Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:

 

   

Leading market positions in well-established industries.

 

   

High rates of return on funds employed.

 

   

Conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection.

 

A-5


   

Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation.

 

   

Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to variation than is the case for Prime-2 securities. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market composition may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and the requirement for relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.

Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

Fitch Ratings, Inc.—A brief description of the applicable Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) ratings symbols and meanings (as published by Fitch) follows:

Long-Term Credit Ratings

Investment Grade

AAA

Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA

Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A

High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB

Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment-grade category.

Speculative Grade

BB

Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.

 

A-6


B

Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

CCC, CC, C

High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments. A ‘CC’ rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable. ‘C’ ratings signal imminent default.

DDD, DD, and D Default

The ratings of obligations in this category are based on their prospects for achieving partial or full recovery in a reorganization or liquidation of the obligor. While expected recovery values are highly speculative and cannot be estimated with any precision, the following serve as general guidelines. ‘DDD’ obligations have the highest potential for recovery, around 90%-100% of outstanding amounts and accrued interest. ‘DD’ indicates potential recoveries in the range of 50%-90%, and ‘D’ the lowest recovery potential, i.e. , below 50%. Entities rated in this category have defaulted on some or all of their obligations. Entities rated ‘DDD’ have the highest prospect for resumption of performance or continued operation with or without a formal reorganization process. Entities rated ‘DD’ and ‘D’ are generally undergoing a formal reorganization or liquidation process; those rated ‘DD’ are likely to satisfy a higher portion of their outstanding obligations, while entities rated ‘D’ have a poor prospect for repaying all obligations.

Short-Term Credit Ratings

A short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 12 months for most obligations, or up to three years for U.S. public finance securities, and thus places greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner.

F1

Highest credit quality. Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

F2

Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.

F3

Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade. B Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

B

Speculative Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

C

High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

 

A-7


D

Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.

Notes to Long-term and Short-term ratings:

“+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ Long-term rating category, to categories below ‘CCC’, or to Short-term ratings other than ‘F1’.

‘NR’ indicates that Fitch Ratings does not rate the issuer or issue in question.

‘Withdrawn’: A rating is withdrawn when Fitch Ratings deems the amount of information available to be inadequate for rating purposes, or when an obligation matures, is called, or refinanced.

Rating Watch: Ratings are placed on Rating Watch to notify investors that there is a reasonable probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such change. These are designated as “Positive”, indicating a potential upgrade, “Negative”, for a potential downgrade, or “Evolving”, if ratings may be raised, lowered or maintained. Rating Watch is typically resolved over a relatively short period.

A Rating Outlook indicates the direction a rating is likely to move over a one to two year period. Outlooks may be positive, stable, or negative. A positive or negative Rating Outlook does not imply a rating change is inevitable. Similarly, ratings for which outlooks are ‘stable’ could be downgraded before an outlook moves to positive or negative if circumstances warrant such an action. Occasionally, Fitch Ratings may be unable to identify the fundamental trend. In these cases, the Rating Outlook may be described as evolving.

 

A-8


Nuveen Build America Bond Fund

Common Shares

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

                , 2010


PART C—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 25: Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

  1. Financial Statements:

 

       Registrant has not conducted any business as of the date of this filing, other than in connection with its organization. Financial statements indicating that the Registrant has met the net worth requirements of Section 14(a) of the 1940 Act will be filed with a Pre-effective Amendment to the Registration Statement.

 

  2. Exhibits:

 

  a.1 Declaration of Trust dated December 4, 2009. (1)

 

  a.2 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated March 16, 2010.

 

  b. By-laws of Registrant. (1)

 

  c. None.

 

  d. None.

 

  e. Terms and Conditions of the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

 

  g. Investment Management Agreement.

 

  h.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement.

 

  h.2 Form of Dealer Letter Agreement.

 

  h.3 Form of Nuveen Master Selected Dealer Agreement.

 

  h.4 Form of Merrill Lynch Standard Dealer Agreement.

 

  h.5 Form of Merrill Lynch Master Agreement Among Underwriters.

 

  i. Nuveen Open-End and Closed-End Funds Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Directors and Trustees.

 

  j.1 Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated February 25, 2005 (the “Custodian Agreement”).

 

  j.2 Appendix A to Custodian Agreement dated                                         . *

 

  k.1 Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated October 7, 2002 (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”).

 

  k.2 Schedule A to the Transfer Agency Agreement dated                                         . *

 

  l.1 Opinion and Consent of K&L Gates LLP.

 

  l.2 Opinion and Consent of Bingham McCutchen LLP.

 

  m. Not Applicable.

 

  n. Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

 

  o. None.

 

  p. Subscription Agreement of Nuveen Asset Management dated March 17, 2010.

 

  q. None.

 

  r. Code of Ethics of Nuveen Investments.

 

  s. Powers of Attorney.

 

* To be filed by amendment.
(1) Filed on February 18, 2010 with Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-164974) and incorporated by reference herein.


Item 26: Marketing Arrangements

See Sections 2, 4 and 10 of the Form of Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit h.1 to this Registration Statement.

See Paragraph e of the Form of Dealer Letter Agreement filed as Exhibit h.2 to this Registration Statement.

See Sections 2 and 3 of the Form of Nuveen Master Selected Dealer Agreement filed as Exhibit h.3 to this Registration Statement.

See the Introductory Paragraph and Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 of the Form of Merrill Lynch Standard Dealer Agreement filed as Exhibit h.4 to this Registration Statement.

See the Introductory Paragraph and Sections 2 through 9 and 14 of the Form of Merrill Lynch Master Agreement Among Underwriters filed as Exhibit h.5 to this Registration Statement.

 

Item 27: Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

Securities and Exchange Commission fees

   $ 1.43   

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fees

     503.00   

Promotion

       

Printing and engraving expenses

       

Legal Fees

       

Underwriters reimbursement

       

Exchange listing fees

       

Audit

       

Miscellaneous expenses

       
        

Total

   $   
        

 

* To be provided by amendment.

 

Item 28: Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant

Not applicable.

 

Item 29: Number of Holders of Securities

At March 22, 2010:

 

Title of Class

   Number of
Record Holders

Common Shares, $0.01 par value

   1

 

Item 30: Indemnification

Section 4 of Article XII of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust provides as follows:

Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section 4, every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, including persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees or agents of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or

 

2


otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him in settlement thereof.

No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:

(a) against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of a final adjudication by the court or other body before which the proceeding was brought that he engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office;

(b) with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been finally adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust; or

(c) in the event of a settlement or other disposition not involving a final adjudication (as provided in paragraph (a) or (b)) and resulting in a payment by a Covered Person, unless there has been either a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition or a reasonable determination, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that he did not engage in such conduct:

(i) by a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter); or

(ii) by written opinion of independent legal counsel.

The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel other than Covered Persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under this Section 4 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 4, provided that either:

(a) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other appropriate security or the Trust shall be insured against losses arising out of any such advances; or

(b) a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) or independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based upon a review of the readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the recipient ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

As used in this Section 4, a “Disinterested Trustee” is one (x) who is not an Interested Person of the Trust (including anyone, as such Disinterested Trustee, who has been exempted from being an Interested Person by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), and (y) against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending.

As used in this Section 4, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include without limitation, attorneys’ fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.

 

3


The trustees and officers of the Registrant are covered by Investment Adviser and Mutual Fund Professional and Directors and Officers Liability policies in the aggregate amount of $50,000,000 against liability and expenses of claims of wrongful acts arising out of their position with the Registrant and other Nuveen funds, except for matters that involve willful acts, bad faith, gross negligence and willful disregard of duty (i.e., where the insured did not act in good faith for a purpose he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the Registrant or where he or she had reasonable cause to believe this conduct was unlawful). The policy has a $2,500,000 deductible for operational failures (after the deductible is satisfied, the insurer would cover 80% of any operational failure claims and the Fund would be liable for 20% of any such claims) and $2,500,000 deductible for all other claims, with $0 deductible for individual insureds.

Section      of the Form of Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit h.1 to this Registration Statement provides for each of the parties thereto, including the Registrant and the underwriters, to indemnify the others, their trustees, directors, certain of their officers, trustees, directors and persons who control them against certain liabilities in connection with the offering described herein, including liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

Item 31: Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

Nuveen Asset Management (“NAM”) serves as investment adviser to separately managed accounts, closed-end management investment companies and to the following open-end management type investment companies: Nuveen Multistate Trust I, Nuveen Multistate Trust II, Nuveen Multistate Trust III, Nuveen Multistate Trust IV, Nuveen Municipal Trust, Nuveen Investment Trust, Nuveen Investment Trust II, Nuveen Investment Trust III, Nuveen Investment Trust V and Nuveen Managed Accounts Portfolios Trust.

NAM has no other clients or business at the present time. For a description of any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which any director or officer of the investment adviser who serves as officer or trustee of the Registrant has engaged during the last two years for his or her account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, see the descriptions under “Management of the Fund” in Part B of this Registration Statement. Such information for the remaining executive officers of NAM appears below:

 

Name and Position with NAM

  

Other Business Profession, Vocation or Employment During Past Two Fiscal Year

Stuart J. Cohen, Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel    Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of Nuveen Investments, LLC; Managing Director and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc., and Nuveen Investments Advisers, Inc.; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC, NWQ Holdings, LLC, Nuveen Investments Institutional Services Group LLC, NWQ Investment Management Company LLC, Nuveen HydePark Group, LLC, Nuveen Investment Solutions, Inc. and Symphony Asset Management, LLC.

 

4


Name and Position with NAM

  

Other Business Profession, Vocation or Employment During Past Two Fiscal Year

Sherri A. Hlavacek, Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer    Managing Director, Corporate Controller and Treasurer of Nuveen Investments, Inc., and Nuveen Investments, LLC; Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer of Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc.; Vice President and Corporate Controller of Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc.; Vice President of Nuveen HydePark Group, LLC and Nuveen Investment Solutions, Inc. Services Group LLC; Certified Public Accountant
Mary E. Keefe, Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer    Managing Director (since 2004) and Director of Compliance of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer of Nuveen Investments, LLC, Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc., Nuveen Investments Institutional Services Group LLC, Symphony Asset Management LLC and Santa Barbara Asset Management LLC; Chief Compliance Officer of Nuveen HydePark Group, LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of NWQ Holdings, LLC.
John L. MacCarthy, Executive Vice President, Director and Secretary    Executive Vice President (since 2008), formerly, Senior Vice President (2006-2008) and Secretary and General Counsel (since 2006) of Nuveen Investments, Inc., Nuveen Investments, LLC and Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc.; Executive Vice President (since 2008), formerly, Senior Vice President (2006-2008) and Secretary (since 2006) of Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc., NWQ Holdings, LLC and Nuveen Investments Institutional Services Group LLC, NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC, Symphony Asset Management, LLC, Nuveen HydePark Group, LLC, Nuveen Investment Solutions, Inc. and Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC.

The principal business address of Nuveen Investments, Inc. and its affiliates is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

 

Item 32: Location of Accounts and Records

NAM, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, maintains the Declaration of Trust, By-laws, minutes of Trustees’ and shareholders’ meetings and contracts of the Registrant and all advisory material of the investment adviser.

State Street Bank and Trust Company, 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021, maintains all general and subsidiary ledgers, journals, trial balances, records of all portfolio purchases and sales, and all other required records not maintained by NAM.

 

Item 33: Management Services

Not applicable.

 

Item 34: Undertakings

1. Registrant undertakes to suspend the offering of its shares until it amends its prospectus if: (1) subsequent to the effective date of its Registration Statement, the net asset value declines more than 10 percent from its net asset value as of the effective date of the Registration Statement; or (2) the net asset value increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the prospectus.

2. Not applicable.

 

5


3. Not applicable.

4. Not applicable.

5. The Registrant undertakes that:

a. For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.

b. For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

6. The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any Statement of Additional Information.

 

6


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in this City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 29th day of March, 2010.

 

NUVEEN BUILD AMERICA BOND FUND

 

/s/ Kevin J. McCarthy

Kevin J. McCarthy, Vice President and Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

  

Date

/s/ Stephen D. Foy

 

Stephen D. Foy

   Vice President and Controller (principal financial and accounting officer)    March 29, 2010

/s/ Gifford R. Zimmerman

 

Gifford R. Zimmerman

   Chief Administrative Officer (principal executive officer)    March 29, 2010
Robert P. Bremner*    Chairman of the Board and Trustee   
John P. Amboian*    Trustee   
Jack B. Evans*    Trustee   
William C. Hunter*    Trustee   
David J. Kundert*    Trustee   
Judith M. Stockdale*    Trustee   
Carole E. Stone*    Trustee   
William J. Schneider*    Trustee   
Terence J. Toth*    Trustee   

 

By:   /s/ Kevin J. McCarthy
  Kevin J. McCarthy
  Attorney-In-Fact
 

March 29, 2010

 

* The original powers of attorney authorizing Kevin J. McCarthy, Larry Martin, Gifford R. Zimmerman and Eric Fess, among others, to execute this Registration Statement, and Amendments thereto, for the trustees of the Registrant on whose behalf this Registration Statement is filed, have been executed and are filed herewith as an Exhibit.


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

a.1 Declaration of Trust dated December 4, 2009. (1)

 

a.2 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated March 16, 2010.

 

b. By-laws of Registrant. (1)

 

c. None.

 

d. None.

 

e. Terms and Conditions of the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

 

g. Investment Management Agreement.

 

h.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement.

 

h.2 Form of Dealer Letter Agreement.

 

h.3 Form of Nuveen Master Selected Dealer Agreement.

 

h.4 Form of Merrill Lynch Standard Dealer Agreement.

 

h.5 Form of Merrill Lynch Master Agreement Among Underwriters.

 

i. Nuveen Open-End and Closed-End Funds Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Directors and Trustees.

 

j.1 Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated February 25, 2005 (the “Custodian Agreement”).

 

j.2 Appendix A to Custodian Agreement dated                                         . *

 

k.1 Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated October 7, 2002 (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”).

 

k.2 Schedule A to the Transfer Agency Agreement dated                                         . *

 

l.1 Opinion and Consent of K&L Gates LLP.

 

l.2 Opinion and Consent of Bingham McCutchen LLP.

 

m. Not Applicable.

 

n. Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

 

o. None.

 

p. Subscription Agreement of Nuveen Asset Management dated March 17, 2010.

 

q. None.

 

r. Code of Ethics of Nuveen Investments.

 

s. Powers of Attorney.

 

* To be filed by amendment.
(1) Filed on February 18, 2010 with Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-164974) and incorporated by reference herein.

AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST

OF

NUVEEN BUILD AMERICA BOND FUND

(formerly known as Nuveen Build America Bond Term Fund)

This Declaration of Trust establishing the Nuveen Build America Bond Term Fund , made on the 4th day of December, 2009 by the initial Trustee, is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as of this 16th day of March, 2010 by the Trustees hereunder in order to change the name of the Trust from Nuveen Build America Bond Term Fund to Nuveen Build America Bond Fund.

WHEREAS , the Trustee desires to establish a trust fund for the purposes of carrying on the business of a management investment company; and

WHEREAS , in furtherance of such purposes, the Trustee and any successor Trustees elected in accordance with Article V hereof are acquiring and may hereafter acquire assets and properties which they will hold and manage as trustees of a Massachusetts business trust with transferable shares in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;

NOW, THEREFORE , the Trustees and any successor Trustees elected in accordance with Article V hereof hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities and other assets and properties, which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder, IN TRUST, that they will manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the pro rata benefit of the holders from time to time of shares of beneficial interest in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.

ARTICLE I

NAME AND DEFINITIONS

Section 1. Name . This Trust shall be known as the “Nuveen Build America Bond Fund,” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determined.

Section 2. Definitions . Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:

(a) The “Trust” refers to the Massachusetts voluntary association established by this Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 182;


(b) “Trustee” or “Trustees” refers to each signatory to this Declaration of Trust so long as such signatory shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other individuals who at the time in question have been duly elected or appointed and qualified in accordance with Article V hereof and are then in office;

(c) “Shares” mean the shares of beneficial interest described in Article IV hereof and include fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares;

(d) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Shares;

(e) The “1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (and any successor statute) and the Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;

(f) The terms “Affiliated Person”, “Assignment”, “Commission”, “Interested Person”, “Principal Underwriter” and “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act;

(g) “Declaration of Trust” or “Declaration” shall mean this Declaration of Trust as amended or restated from time to time; and

(h) “By-Laws” shall mean the By-laws of the Trust as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE II

NATURE AND PURPOSE OF TRUST

The Trust is a voluntary association (commonly known as a business trust) of the type referred to in Chapter 182 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Trust is not intended to be, shall not be deemed to be, and shall not be treated as, a general or a limited partnership, joint venture, corporation or joint stock company, nor shall the Trustees or Shareholders or any of them for any purpose be deemed to be, or be treated in any way whatsoever as though they were, liable or responsible hereunder as partners or joint venturers. The purpose of the Trust is to engage in, operate and carry on the business of a closed-end management investment company and to do any and all acts or things as are necessary, convenient, appropriate incidental or customary in connection therewith, including, without limitation, the following:

to hold, invest, and reinvest its funds, and in connection therewith to hold part of all of its funds in cash, and to purchase or


otherwise sell, assign, negotiate, transfer, exchange or otherwise dispose of or turn to account or realize upon securities and other negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, obligations and evidences of indebtedness created or issued by any person, firms, associations, corporations, syndicates, combinations, and other negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, obligation and evidences of indebtedness; and to exercise, as owner or holder of any securities or other instruments, all rights, powers, and privileges in respect thereof; and to do any and all acts and things for the preservation, protection and improvement of any and all such securities or other instruments, and, in general, to conduct the business of a closed-end investment company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act; and

To engage in any lawful act or activity for which business trusts may be organized under Massachusetts law.

The Trust set forth in this instrument shall be deemed made in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a business trust, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust. No provision of this Declaration shall be effective to require a waiver of compliance with any provision of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the 1940 Act, or of any valid rule, regulation or order of the Commission thereunder.

The enumeration herewith of the objects and purposes of the Trust shall be construed as powers as well as objects and purposes and shall not be deemed to exclude by inference any powers, objects or purposes which the Trust may lawfully pursue or exercise.

ARTICLE III

REGISTERED AGENT; PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS

The name of the registered agent of the Trust is CT Corporation System at 101 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts. The principal place of business of the Trust is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The Trustees may, without the approval of Shareholders, change the registered agent of the Trust and the principal place of business of the Trust.

 


ARTICLE IV

BENEFICIAL INTEREST

Section 1. Shares of Beneficial Interest . The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into such transferable Shares of beneficial interest, of such classes or series, and of such designations and par values (if any), and with such rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions as shall be determined by the Trustees in their sole discretion, without Shareholder approval, from time to time. The number of Shares is unlimited and each Share shall be fully paid and nonassessable. There shall be no cumulative voting. Subject to any provision in a Statement (as defined in Section 2 below) to the contrary, the Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole discretion and without obtaining any prior authorization or vote of the Shareholders of the Trust or of the Shareholders of any series or class of Shares, to create and establish (and to change in any manner) Shares or any series or classes thereof with such preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges as the Trustees may from time to time determine; to divide or combine the Shares or the Shares of any series or classes thereof into a greater or lesser number including, without limitation, such a division or combination accomplished by means of a stock split or a reverse stock split, without thereby changing their proportionate beneficial interest in the Trust; to classify or reclassify any issued Shares into one or more series or classes of Shares; to abolish any one or more series or classes of Shares; and to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable. The Shares shall initially be divided into one class, a class of an unlimited number of common Shares, $0.01 par value (the “Common Shares”) having the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions described below. The Trust may also, from time to time, issue a class of an unlimited number of preferred Shares, $0.01 par value (the “Preferred Shares”), having the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions described below.

(a) Common Shares.

(i) Subject to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Shares, if any, in the event of the termination of the Trust the holders of the Common Shares shall be entitled to receive pro rata the net distributable assets of the Trust.

(ii) The holders of the Common Shares shall not, as such holders, have any right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any Common Shares or securities of the Trust which it may hereafter issue or sell, other than such right, if any, as the Trustees in their discretion may determine.


(iii) Subject to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Shares, if any, dividends or other distributions, when, as and if declared by the Trustees, shall be shared equally by the holders of Common Shares on a share for share basis. The Trustees may direct that any dividends or other distributions or any portion thereof as declared and distributed shall be paid in cash to the holder, or, alternatively, may direct that any such dividends be reinvested in full and fractional Shares of the Trust if such holder elects to have them reinvested.

(iv) The Trustees may hold as treasury shares (of the same or some other series), reissue for such consideration and on such terms as they may determine, or cancel any Common Shares of any series reacquired by the Trust at their discretion from time to time. Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust.

(v) Common Shares may be issued from time to time, without the vote of the Shareholders (or, if the Trustees in their sole discretion deem advisable, with a vote of Shareholders), either for cash or for such other consideration (which may be in any one or more instances a certain specified consideration or certain specified considerations) and on such terms as the Trustees, from time to time, may deem advisable, and the Trust may in such manner acquire other assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with the assumption of liabilities).

(vi) The Trust may issue Common Shares in fractional denominations to the same extent as its whole Shares, and Shares in fractional denominations shall be Common Shares having proportionately to the respective fractions represented thereby all the rights of whole Shares, including, without limitation, the right to vote, the right to receive dividends and distributions and the right to participate upon termination of the Trust, but excluding the right to receive a certificate representing fractional Shares.

(b) Preferred Shares. If the Trust issues Preferred Shares, such Shares shall be issued from time to time in one or more classes or series with such distinctive serial designations and (i) may have such voting powers, full or limited; (ii) may be subject to redemption at such time or times and at such price or prices; (iii) may be entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or noncumulative) at such rate or rates, on such conditions, and


at such times, and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes of Shares; (iv) may have such rights upon the termination of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Trust; (v) may be made convertible into, or exchangeable for, Shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of Shares of the Trust, at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments; and (vi) shall have such other relative, participating, optional or other special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, all as shall hereafter be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such Preferred Shares from time to time adopted by the Trustees (or a Committee thereof) in accordance with Section 2 of this Article IV. Any of such matters may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside this Declaration of Trust, or outside the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such Preferred Shares.

Section 2. Establishment of Class or Series of Shares . The establishment and designation of any class or series of Shares, including any Preferred Shares issued hereunder, shall be effective upon the adoption of a resolution by a majority of the then Trustees (or a Committee thereof) setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of the Shares of such class or series as set forth in a written statement either executed by the President or a Vice President of the Trust, or executed by a majority of the Trustees then in office (the “Statement”). At any time that there are no Shares outstanding of any particular class or series previously established and designated, the Trustees (or a Committee thereof) may by a majority vote abolish that class or series and the establishment and designation thereof. Notwithstanding any provision of this Declaration of Trust to the contrary, no such Statement establishing and designating any class or series of Shares shall constitute an amendment to or a part of this Declaration of Trust.

Section 3. Ownership Of Shares . The ownership and transfer of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or its transfer or similar agent. No certificates certifying the ownership of Preferred Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, transfer of Shares and similar matters. The record books of the Trust, as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent of the Trust, shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares and as to the number of Shares held from time to time by each Shareholder.


Section 4. No Preemptive Rights, Etc . The holders of Shares of any class or series shall not, as such holders, have any right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any Shares or securities of the Trust which it may hereafter issue or sell, other than such right, if any, as the Trustees in their discretion may determine. The holders of Shares of any class or series shall have no appraisal rights with respect to their Shares and, except as otherwise determined by resolution of the Trustees in their sole discretion, shall have no exchange or conversion rights with respect to their Shares.

Section 5. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability . Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this instrument. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and to have become a party thereto. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but only to the rights of said decedent under this Trust. Ownership of property shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust Property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting. Neither the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind any Shareholder personally or to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay by way of subscription for any Shares or otherwise.

ARTICLE V

THE TRUSTEES

Section 1. Management of the Trust . The business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have all powers necessary and desirable to carry out that responsibility.

Section 2. Qualification and Number . Each Trustee shall be a natural person. A Trustee need not be a shareholder, a citizen of the United States, or a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. By the vote or consent of the initial Trustee, or by a majority vote or consent of the Trustees as may subsequently then be in office, the Trustees may fix the number of Trustees at a number not less than two (2) nor more than fifteen (15) and may fill the vacancies created by any such increase in the number of Trustees. Except as determined from time to time by resolution of the Trustees, no decrease in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term, but the number of Trustees may be decreased in conjunction with the removal of a Trustee pursuant to Section 4 of Article V.


Section 3. Term and Election . Each Trustee shall hold office until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Trustee or of a successor to such Trustee, and until his successor is elected and qualified, and any Trustee who is appointed by the Trustees in the interim to fill a vacancy as provided hereunder shall have the same remaining term as that of his predecessor, if any, or such term as the Trustees may determine. Any vacancy resulting from a newly created Trusteeship or the death, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of a Trustee may be filled by the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the Trustees then in office.

Section 4. Resignation and Removal . Any Trustee may resign his trust or retire as a Trustee (without need for prior or subsequent accounting except in the event of removal) by an instrument in writing signed by him and delivered or mailed to the Chairman, if any, the President or the Secretary and such resignation or retirement shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the instrument. Any Trustee may be removed from office only for “Cause” (as hereinafter defined) and only (i) by action of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the outstanding Shares of the class or classes of Shares that elected such Trustee, or (ii) by written instrument, signed by at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the remaining Trustees, specifying the date when such removal shall become effective. “Cause” shall require willful misconduct, dishonesty, fraud or a felony conviction.

Section 5. Vacancies . The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity, of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided herein, or the number of Trustees as fixed is reduced, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees, and during the period during which any such vacancy shall occur, only the Trustees then in office shall be counted for the purposes of the existence of a quorum or any action to be taken by such Trustees.

Section 6. Ownership of Assets of the Trust . The assets of the Trust shall be held separate and apart from any assets now or hereafter held in any capacity other than as Trustee hereunder by the Trustees or any successor Trustees. All of the assets of the Trust shall at all times be considered as automatically vested in the Trustees as shall be from time to time in office. Upon the resignation, retirement, removal, incapacity or death of a Trustee,


such Trustee shall automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust property, and the right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective without the execution or delivery of any conveyancing or other instruments. No Shareholder shall be deemed to have a severable ownership in any individual asset of the Trust or any right of partition or possession thereof.

Section 7. Voting Requirements . In addition to the voting requirements imposed by law or by any other provision of this Declaration of Trust, the provisions set forth in this Article V may not be amended, altered or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision inconsistent with this Article V be adopted, unless such action is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the outstanding Common Shares, provided however that if there are then Preferred Shares outstanding, then such vote shall be by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the outstanding Common Shares and outstanding Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class. In the event the holders of Common Shares or the holders of Preferred Shares, as the case may be, are required by law or by any other provision of this Declaration of Trust to approve such an action by a class vote of such holders, such action must be approved by the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of such holders or such lower percentage as may be required by law or by any other provision of this Declaration of Trust.

ARTICLE VI

POWERS OF TRUSTEES

Section 1. Powers . The Trustees in all instances shall have full, absolute and exclusive power, control and authority over the Trust assets and the business and affairs of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole and absolute owners thereof in their own right. The Trustees shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all contracts and instruments that they may consider necessary or appropriate in connection with the management of the Trust. The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid powers. In construing the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, there shall be a presumption in favor of the grant of power and authority to the Trustees. Subject to any applicable limitation in this Declaration or any Statement relating to the issuance of Preferred Shares, the Trustees shall have power and authority:

(a) To invest and reinvest in, to buy or otherwise acquire, to hold, for investment or otherwise, to sell or otherwise dispose of, to lend or to pledge, to trade in or deal in securities or interests of all kinds, however evidenced, or obligations of all kinds, however evidenced, or rights, warrants, or contracts to acquire such securities, interests, or obligations, of any private or public company, corporation, association, general or limited partnership, trust or other enterprise or organization, foreign or domestic, or issued or guaranteed by any national or state government, foreign or domestic, or their agencies, instrumentalities or subdivisions (including but not limited to, bonds, debentures, bills, time notes and all other evidences of indebtedness); negotiable or non-negotiable instruments; any and all options and futures contracts; derivatives or structured securities; government securities and money market instruments (including but not limited to, bank certificates of deposit, finance paper, commercial paper, bankers acceptances, and all kinds of repurchase agreements) and, without limitation, all kinds and types of financial instruments;


(b) To adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the conduct of the business of the Trust and to amend and repeal them to the extent that they do not reserve that right to the Shareholders;

(c) To elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate;

(d) To employ one or more banks or trust companies as custodian of any assets of the Trust subject to any conditions set forth in this Declaration of Trust or in the By-Laws;

(e) To retain one or more transfer agents and shareholder servicing agents;

(f) To provide for the distribution of interests of the Trust either through a principal underwriter in the manner hereinafter provided for or by the Trust itself or both;

(g) To set record dates for any purposes;

(h) To delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officers of the Trust and to any investment adviser, investment subadviser, transfer agent, custodian or underwriter or other independent contractor of agent;

(i) Subject to Article IX, Section 1 hereof, to merge, or consolidate the Trust with any other corporation, association, trust or other organization; or to sell, convey, transfer, or lease all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust;


(j) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;

(k) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;

(l) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form; or either in their or the Trust’s name or in the name of a custodian or a nominee or nominees;

(m) To authorize the issuance from time to time of one or more classes or series of Shares, and to issue, sell, repurchase, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer and otherwise deal in Shares and in any options, warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or any other interests in the Trust other than Shares;

(n) To set apart, from time to time, out of any funds of the Trust a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose, and to abolish any such reserve;

(o) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, any security or property of which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase, or sale of property by such corporation or issuer, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;

(p) To compromise, arbitrate, or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy including, but not limited to, claims for taxes;

(q) To make distributions of income and of capital gains to shareholders;

(r) To borrow money; to issue notes, paper or other evidences of indebtedness; to pay interest or other fees in connection with any borrowing or indebtedness; and to pledge, mortgage, or hypothecate the assets of the Trust;

(s) To lend money or other assets of the Trust;


(t) To establish, from time to time, a minimum total investment for shareholders, and to require the redemption of the Shares of any shareholders whose investment is less than such minimum upon such terms as shall be established by the Trustees;

(u) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;

(v) To purchase and pay for out of Trust property such insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Trust, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers or managers, principal underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person as Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser or manager, principal underwriter, or independent contractor, whether or not any such action may be determined to constitute negligence, and whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability; and

(w) To pay pensions for faithful service, as deemed appropriate by the Trustees, and to adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust.

Any determination made by or pursuant to the direction of the Trustees in good faith and consistent with the provisions of this Declaration of Trust shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Trust and every holder at any time of Shares, including, but not limited to the following matters: the amount of the assets, obligations, liabilities and expenses of the Trust; the amount of the net income of the Trust from dividends, capital gains, interest or other sources for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends or distributions; the


amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges were created shall have been paid or discharged); the market value, or any quoted price to be applied in determining the market value, of any security or any other asset owned or held by the Trust; the fair value of any security for which quoted prices are not readily available, or of any other asset owned or held by the Trust; the number of Shares of the Trust issued or issuable; the net asset value per Share; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and depositing of securities and other assets by the Trust; any question as to whether any transaction constitutes a purchase of securities on margin, a short sale of securities, a borrowing, or an underwriting of the sale of, or participation in any underwriting or selling group in connection with the public distribution of, any securities, and any matter relating to the issue, sale, redemption, repurchase, and/or other acquisition or disposition of Shares of the Trust. No provision of this Declaration of Trust shall be effective to protect or purport to protect any Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or to its security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

Section 2. Manner of Acting, By-Laws . The By-Laws shall make provision from time to time for the manner in which the Trustees may take action, including, without limitation, at meetings within or without Massachusetts, including meetings held by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment, or by written consents, the quorum and notice, if any, that shall be required for any meeting or other action, and the delegation of some or all of the power and authority of the Trustees to any one or more committees which they may appoint from their own number, and terminate, from time to time.

ARTICLE VII

EXPENSES OF THE TRUST

The Trustees shall have the power to reimburse themselves from the Trust property for their expenses and disbursements, to pay reasonable compensation to themselves from the Trust property, and to incur and pay out of the Trust property any other expenses which in the opinion of the Trustees are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of this Declaration of Trust, or to exercise any of the powers of the Trustees hereunder.


ARTICLE VIII

INVESTMENT ADVISER, PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS AND

TRANSFER AGENT

Section 1. Investment Adviser . The Trust may enter into a written contract with one or more persons (which term shall include any firm corporation, trust or association), hereinafter referred to as the “Investment Adviser”, to act as investment adviser to the Trust and as such to perform such functions as the Trustees may deem reasonable and proper, including, without limitation, investment advisory, management, research, valuation of assets, clerical and administrative functions. Any such contract shall be subject to the approval of those persons required by the 1940 Act to approve such contract, and shall be terminable at any time upon not more than 60 days’ notice by resolution of the Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares.

Subject to the provisions of Section 4 of this Article VIII, any such contract may be made with any firm or corporation in which any Trustee of the Trust may be interested. The compensation of the Investment Adviser may be based upon a percentage of the net proceeds of the initial public offering of the Shares after payment of underwriting discounts and organization and offering costs, a percentage of the income or gross realized or unrealized gain of the Trust, or a combination thereof, or otherwise, as may be provided in such contract.

Upon the termination of any contract with Nuveen Asset Management or any corporation affiliated with Nuveen Investments, Inc. acting as investment adviser or manager, the Trustees are hereby authorized to promptly change the name of the Trust to a name which does not include “Nuveen” or any approximation or abbreviation thereof.

The Trustees may, subject to applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, including those relating to shareholder approval, authorize the investment adviser to employ one or more sub-advisers from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the investment adviser, and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the investment adviser and sub-adviser.

Section 2. Principal Underwriter . The Trust may enter into a written contract or contracts with an underwriter or underwriters or distributor or distributors whereby the Trust may either agree to sell Shares to the other party or parties to the contract or appoint such other party or parties its sales agent or agents for such Shares. Any such contract may provide that the Trust shall pay such other party or parties such amounts as the Trustees


may in their discretion deem reasonable and proper, and may also provide that such other party or parties may enter into selected dealer agreements with registered securities dealers to further the purpose of the distribution of the Shares. Subject to the provisions of Section 4 of this Article VIII, any such contract may be made with any firm or corporation, including, without limitation, the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Advisor, or any firm or corporation in which any Trustee of the Trust or the Investment Adviser may be interested.

Section 3. Transfer Agent . The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more transfer agency and shareholder service contract(s,) whereby the other party shall undertake, to furnish the Trustees with transfer agency and shareholder services. The contract shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions of this Declaration or Trust or of the By-Laws. Such services may be provided by one or more entities.

Section 4. Parties To Contract . Any contract of the character described in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VIII or in Article X hereof may be entered into with any corporation, firm, partnership, trust or association, including, without limitation, the investment adviser, any investment sub-adviser or an affiliate of the investment adviser or investment sub-adviser, although one or more of the Trustees or officers of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, or otherwise interested in such contract and no such contract shall be invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the existence of any such relationship, nor shall any person holding such relationship be liable merely by reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by reason of said contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract when entered into was not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article VIII, Article X, or the By-Laws. The same person (including a firm, corporation, partnership, trust or association) may be the other party to contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 1, 2 and 3 above or Article X, and any individual may be financially interested or otherwise affiliated with persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts mentioned in this Section 4.

ARTICLE IX

SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS

Section 1. Voting Powers . The Shareholders shall have power to vote only: (a) for the election or removal of Trustees as provided in Article V, (b) with respect to any investment advisory or management contract as provided in Article VIII, Sections 1 and 5, (c) with respect to any termination of the


Trust or any series or class thereof to the extent and as provided in Article XIII, Section 1, (d) with respect to any amendment of this Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in Article XIII, Section 4, (e) with respect to a merger or consolidation of the Trust or any series or class thereof with any corporation, association, trust or other organization or a reorganization of the Trust or class or series thereof, or a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust or any series thereof (other than in the regular course of the Trust’s investment activities) to the extent and as provided in this Article IX, Section 1, (f) to the same extent as the shareholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the shareholders, provided, however that a shareholder of a particular class or series shall not be entitled to bring any derivative or class action on behalf of any other class or series of the Trust, and (g) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by law, the 1940 Act, this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws of the Trust, any Statement relating to the issuance of classes or series of shares, or any registration of the Trust with the Commission or any State, or otherwise as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable.

The affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the outstanding Common Shares shall be required to approve, adopt or authorize (i) a conversion of the Trust from a closed-end investment company to an open-end investment company, (ii) a merger or consolidation of the Trust or a series or class of the Trust with any corporation, association, Trust or other organization or a reorganization of the Trust or a series of class of the Trust, (iii) a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust (other than in the regular course of the Trust’s investment activities), or (iv) a termination of the Trust or a class or a series of the Trust (other than a termination by the Trustees as provided for in Section 1 of Article XIII hereof), unless in each and every case such action has previously been approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of Trustees fixed in accordance with this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Common Shares shall be required, provided however, that if there are then Preferred Shares outstanding, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the outstanding Common Shares and outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a single class, shall be required unless in each and every case such action has previously been approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of Trustees fixed in accordance with this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Common Shares and Preferred Shares, voting as


a single class, shall be required; provided further, that where only a particular class or series is effected, only the required vote by the applicable class or series shall be required, and provided further that except as may otherwise be required by law, if there are then Preferred Shares outstanding, in the case of the conversion of the Trust from a closed-end investment company to an open-end investment company, or in the case of any of the foregoing transactions constituting a plan or reorganization (as such term is used in the 1940 Act) which adversely affects the Preferred Shares within the meaning of Section 18(a)(2)(D) of the 1940 Act, approval, adoption or authorization of the action in question will also require the affirmative vote of the holders of sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the Preferred Shares voting as a separate class; provided, however, that such separate class vote shall be a majority vote if the action in question has previously been approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of Trustees fixed in accordance with this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as requiring approval of Shareholders for any transaction, whether deemed a merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise whereby the Trust issues Shares in connection with the acquisition of assets (including those subject to liabilities) from any other investment company or similar entity).

In addition to the voting requirements imposed by law or by any other provision of this Declaration of Trust, the provisions set forth in this Article IX may not be amended, altered or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision inconsistent with this Article IX be adopted, unless such action is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders or at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the outstanding Common Shares, or if there are then outstanding Preferred Shares, by the affirmative vote of the holders or at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the outstanding Common Shares, and outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a single class. In the event the holders of Common Shares or the holders of Preferred Shares, as the case may be, are required by law to approve such an action by a class vote of such holders, such action must be approved by the, holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of (such holders or such lower percentage as may be required by law. Any series of a class which is adversely affected in a manner different from other series of the same class shall together with any other series of the same class adversely affected in the same manner, be treated as a separate class under this Section 1.

Section 2. Meetings . Meetings of the Shareholders may be called and held from time to time for the purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the vote or authority of the Shareholders as herein provided or upon any other matter deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or desirable. Meetings of the Shareholders shall be held at such place within the United States as shall be fixed by the Trustees, and stated in the notice of the


meeting. Meetings of the Shareholders may be called by the Trustees and shall be called by the Trustees upon the written request of Shareholders owning at least one-tenth of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote. Shareholders shall be entitled to at least ten days’ written notice of any meeting, except where the meeting is an adjourned meeting and the date, time and place of the meeting were announced at the time of the adjournment.

Section 3. Quorum and Action . (a) The Trustees shall set in the By-Laws the quorum required for the transaction of business by the Shareholders at a meeting, which quorum shall in no event be less than thirty percent (30%) of the Shares entitled to vote at such meeting. If a quorum is present when a duly called or held meeting is convened, the Shareholders present may continue to transact business until adjournment, even though the withdrawal of a number of Shareholders originally present leaves less than the proportion or number otherwise required for a quorum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, when holders of Preferred Shares are entitled to elect any of the Trustees by class vote of such holders, the holders of 33  1 / 3 % of such Shares entitled to vote at a meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of such an election.

(b) The Shareholders shall take action by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority, except in the case of the election of Trustees which shall only require a plurality, of the Shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at a meeting of Shareholders at which a quorum is present, except as may be otherwise required by, any provision of this Declaration of Trust, any resolution of the Trustees which authorizes the issuance of Preferred Shares, or the By-Laws.

Section 4. Voting . Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote, except that Shares held in the treasury of the Trust shall not be voted. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees or on any other matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required or permitted by law, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws of the Trust to be taken by Shareholders.

Section 5. Action by Written Consent in Lieu of Meeting of Shareholders . Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Shareholders may be taken without a meeting by written action signed by all of the Shareholders entitled to vote on that action. The written action is effective when it has been signed by all of those Shareholders, unless a different effective time is provided in the written action.


ARTICLE X

CUSTODIAN

All securities and cash of the Trust shall be held by one or more custodians and subcustodians, each meeting the requirements for a custodian contained in the 1940 Act, or shall otherwise be held in accordance with the 1940 Act. The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the custodian, and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the custodian and such sub-custodians, and approved by the Trustees, provided that in every case such sub-custodian shall meet the requirements for a custodian contained in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and in any applicable state Securities or blue sky laws.

ARTICLE XI

DISTRIBUTIONS

The Trustees may in their sole discretion from time to time declare and pay such dividends and distributions to shareholders as they may deem necessary or desirable, after providing for actual and accrued expenses and liabilities (including such reserves as the Trustees may establish) determined in accordance with this Declaration of Trust and good accounting practices.

ARTICLE XII

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

Section 1. Limitation of Liability . No personal liability for any debt or obligation of the Trust shall attach to any Trustee of the Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, a Trustee shall not be responsible for or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, investment adviser, sub-adviser, principal underwriter or custodian of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible or liable for the act or omission of any other Trustee. Nothing contained herein shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which such Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross, negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate, Share or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been executed or done only in or with respect to their or his capacity as Trustees or Trustee and neither such Trustees or Trustee nor the Shareholders shall be personally liable thereon.


Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or by any officers or officer shall give notice that this Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, shall recite that the same was executed or made by or on behalf of the Trust by them as Trustees or Trustee or as officers or officer and not individually and that the obligations of such instrument are not binding upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust, and may contain such further recitals as they or he may deem appropriate, but the omission thereof shall not operate to bind any Trustees or Trustee or officers or officer or Shareholders or Shareholder individually.

All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust shall look only to the assets of the Trust for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust’s officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor.

Section 2. Trustees’ Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety . The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. A Trustee shall be liable only for his own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and for nothing else, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust and their duties as Trustees hereunder, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice. In discharging their duties, the Trustees, when acting in good faith, shall be entitled to rely upon the books of account of the Trust and upon written reports made to the Trustees by any officer appointed by them, any independent public accountant and (with respect to the subject matter of the contract involved) any officer, partner or responsible employee of any other party to any contract entered into hereunder. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.

Section 3. Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees . No person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order.


Section 4. Indemnification . Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section 4, every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, including persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees or agents of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him in settlement thereof.

No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:

(a) against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of a final adjudication by the court or other body before which the proceeding was brought that he engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office;

(b) with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been finally adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust; or

(c) in the event of a settlement or other disposition not involving a final adjudication (as provided in paragraph (a) or (b)) and resulting in a payment by a Covered Person, unless there has been either a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition or a reasonable determination, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that he did not engage in such conduct:

(i) by a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter); or

(ii) by written opinion of independent legal counsel.

The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a


person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel other than Covered Persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under this Section 4 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 4, provided that either:

(a) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other appropriate security or the Trust shall be insured against losses arising out of any such advances; or

(b) a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) or independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based upon a review of the readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the recipient ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

As used in this Section 4, a “Disinterested Trustee” is one (x) who is not an Interested Person of the Trust (including anyone, as such Disinterested Trustee, who has been exempted from being an Interested Person by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), and (y) against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending.

As used in this Section 4, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include without limitation, attorneys’ fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.

Section 5. Shareholders . No personal liability for any debt or obligation of the Trust shall attach to any Shareholder or former Shareholder of the Trust. In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder of the Trust shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder and not because of his acts or omissions, or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of


the assets of the Trust to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability; provided, however, there shall be no liability or obligation of the Trust arising hereunder to reimburse any Shareholder for taxes paid by reason of such Shareholder’s ownership of any Share or for losses suffered by reason of any changes in value of any Trust assets. The Trust shall, upon request by the Shareholder or former Shareholder, assume the defense of any claim made against the Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1. Termination of Trust . (a) Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue, without limitation of time. Except as may be set forth in any Statement relating to the issuance of Preferred Shares, the Trust, or any class or series thereof may be terminated at any time by the Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders without a vote of the shareholders of the Trust, or the class or series as the case may be, or by the affirmative vote of the shareholders entitled to vote at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the outstanding Common Shares, in the case of the termination of the Trust, or by the effected class or series as the case may be in the event of the termination of a class or series, unless such action has previously been approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of Trustees fixed in accordance with this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Common Shares or the applicable class or series as the case may be, shall be required, provided however that if there are then outstanding Preferred Shares, such vote with respect to the termination of the Trust shall be by the affirmative vote of the shareholders entitled to vote at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 / 3 %) of the outstanding Common Shares and Preferred Shares, voting as a single class, unless such action has previously been approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of Trustees fixed in accordance with this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Common Shares and Preferred Shares voting as a single class shall be required.

Upon termination of the Trust or any series or class thereof, after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities, whether due or accrued or anticipated, as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall, in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate, reduce the remaining assets of the Trust or the applicable series or class to distributable form in cash or other securities, or


any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the holders of Preferred Shares, if any, in the manner set forth by resolution of the Trustees, and to the holders of Common Shares held by such holders on the date of termination in the event of a termination of the Trust, or to Shareholders of the applicable series or class, as the case may be.

Section 2. Filing of Copies, References, Headings . The original or a copy of this instrument, each amendment hereto and any Statement authorized by Article III, Section 2 hereof shall be kept in the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. A copy of this Declaration and of each amendment and Statement shall be filed by the Trustees with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as any other governmental office where such filing may from time to time be required, provided, however, that the failure to so file will not invalidate this Declaration or an properly authorized amendment or Statement. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer or Trustee of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments have been made or Statements authorized and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder, and with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer or Trustee of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any such amendments or Statements. In this instrument or in any such amendment, references to this instrument, and all expressions like “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as a whole and as amended or affected by any such amendment. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only, and in case of any conflict, the text of this instrument, rather than the headings, shall control. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.


Section 3. Trustees May Resolve Ambiguities . The Trustees may construe any of the provisions of this Declaration insofar as the same may appear to be ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions hereof, and any such construction hereof by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive as to the meaning to be given to such provisions.

Section 4. Amendments . Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Declaration of Trust, this Declaration of Trust may be amended at any time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees with the consent of shareholders holding more than fifty percent (50%) of Shares entitled to vote. In addition, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary contained in this Declaration of Trust, the Trustees may amend this Declaration of Trust without the vote or consent of shareholders (i) at any time if the Trustees deem it necessary in order for the Trust or any series or class thereby to meet the requirements of applicable Federal or State laws or regulations, or the requirements of the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, (ii) change the name of the Trust or to supply any omission, cure any ambiguity or cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision contained herein, or (iii) for any reason at any time before a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the initial public offering of Shares has become effective.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the Trustees of the Trust, have executed this instrument as of this 16 th day of March 2010.

 

/s/ John P. Amboian

    

/s/ Robert P. Bremner

John P. Amboian      Robert P. Bremner

as Trustee

    

as Trustee

333 West Wacker Drive      333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606      Chicago, Illinois 60606

/s/ Jack B. Evans

    

/s/ William C. Hunter

Jack B. Evans,      William C. Hunter,

as Trustee

    

as Trustee

333 West Wacker Drive      333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606      Chicago, Illinois 60606

/s/ David J. Kundert

    

/s/ William J. Schneider

David J. Kundert      William J. Schneider,

as Trustee

    

as Trustee

333 West Wacker Drive      333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606      Chicago, Illinois 60606

/s/ Judith M. Stockdale

    

/s/ Carole E. Stone

Judith M. Stockdale,      Carole E. Stone,

as Trustee

    

as Trustee

333 West Wacker Drive      333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606      Chicago, Illinois 60606

/s/ Terence J. Toth

    

Terence J. Toth,
as Trustee

    
333 West Wacker Drive     

Exhibit e

NUVEEN TAXABLE EXCHANGE-TRADED CLOSED-END FUNDS

(Opt-Out w/ Discount-Premium Feature)

Terms and Conditions of the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan

This Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“Plan”) for the Nuveen Equity-Based Exchange-Traded Closed-End Funds set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto (each, a “Fund”) provides for reinvestment of Fund distributions to shareholders, consisting of income dividends, returns of capital and capital gain distributions paid by the Fund, on behalf of all common shareholders that have not opted out of participation in the Plan, by providing express written and duly executed notice to the Fund or by telephone notice satisfying such reasonable requirements as State Street and the Fund may agree, that they elect not to participate in the Plan (“Participants”), by State Street Bank and Trust (“State Street”), the Plan Agent, in accordance with the following terms:

1. State Street will act as Agent for Participants and will open an account for each Participant under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan in the same name as the Participant’s shares are registered, and will, for each Participant, automatically reinvest each Fund distribution to shareholders as of the first record date for a distribution to shareholders following the date on which the Participant becomes a shareholder of record. In the case of shareholders who hold shares for others who are the beneficial owners, State Street will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of shares certified from time to time by the record shareholder as representing the total amount registered in the record shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who are Participants. In the case of shareholders that elect not to participate in the Plan but rather elect to receive all distributions of income dividends, returns of capital and/or capital gains in cash, such shareholders must send written mailing instructions to the Agent, as dividend paying agent, at the Agent’s mailing address as detailed in the Fund’s prospectus.

2. Whenever the Fund declares a distribution payable in shares or cash at the option of the shareholders, each Participant shall take such distribution entirely in shares and State Street shall automatically receive such shares, including fractions, for the Participant’s account, except in circumstances described in Paragraph 3 below. Except in such circumstances, the number of additional shares to be credited to each Participant’s account shall be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the distribution payable on the Participant’s shares by the greater of net asset value or 95% of current market price per share on the payable date for such distribution.

3. Should the net asset value per Fund share exceed the market price per share on the day for which trades will settle on the payment date for such distribution (the “Valuation Date”), for a distribution payable in shares or in cash at the option of the shareholder, or should the Fund declare a distribution payable only in cash, each Participant shall take such distribution in cash and State Street shall apply the amount of such distribution to the purchase on the open market of shares of the Fund for the Participant’s account. Such Plan purchases shall be made as early as the Valuation Date, under the supervision of the investment adviser. If the shares start trading at or above net


asset value before the Plan Agent has completed its purchases, the Plan Agent may cease purchasing shares in the open market, and may invest the uninvested portion in new shares at a price equal to the greater of net asset value per Common Share on the last purchase date or 95% of the market price on that date. State Street shall complete such Plan purchases or share issuance no more than 30 days after the Valuation Date, except where temporary curtailment or suspension of purchases and issuance is necessary to comply with applicable provisions of federal securities law.

4. For the purpose of this Plan, the market price of the Fund’s shares on a particular date shall be the last sale price on the Exchange where it is traded on that date, or if there is no sale on such Exchange on that date, then the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations for such shares on such Exchange on such date.

5. Open-market purchases provided for above may be made on any securities exchange where the Fund’s shares are traded, in the over-the-counter market or in negotiated transactions and may be on such terms as to price, delivery and otherwise as State Street shall determine. Participants’ funds held uninvested by State Street will not bear interest, and it is understood that, in any event, State Street shall have no liability in connection with any inability to purchase shares within 30 days after the Valuation Date as herein provided, or with the timing of any purchase affected. State Street shall have no responsibility as to the value of the Fund’s shares acquired for Participants’ accounts. State Street may commingle all Participants’ amounts to be used for open-market purchase of Fund shares and the price per share allocable to each Participant in connection with such purchases shall be the average price (including brokerage commissions and other related costs) of all Fund shares purchased by State Street as Agent.

6. State Street may hold each Participant’s shares acquired pursuant to this Plan, together with the shares of other Participants, in non-certificated form in State Street’s name or that of its nominee. State Street will forward to each Participant any proxy solicitation material and will vote any shares so held only in accordance with proxies returned to the Fund.

7. State Street will confirm to each Participant each acquisition made for the Participant’s account as soon as practicable but not later than 60 days after the date thereof. State Street will deliver to any Participant upon request, without charge, a certificate or certificates for his full shares. Although a Participant may from time to time have an undivided fractional interest (computed to three decimal places) in a share of the Fund, and distributions on fractional shares will be credited to the Participant’s account, no certificates for a fractional share will be issued. In the event of termination of a Participant’s account under the Plan, State Street will adjust for any such undivided fractional interest at the market value of the Fund’s shares at the time of termination.

8. Any stock dividends or split shares distributed by the Fund on full and fractional shares held by State Street for a Participant will be credited to the Participant’s account. In the event that the Fund makes available to its shareholders rights to purchase additional shares or other securities, the shares held for each Participant under the Plan will be added to other shares held by the Participant in calculating the number of rights to be issued to that Participant.

 

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9. State Street’s service fee for handling reinvestment of distributions pursuant hereto will be paid by the Fund. Participants will be charged their pro rata shares of brokerage commissions on all open market purchase.

10. Each Participant may terminate his account under the Plan by notifying State Street of his intent so to do, such notice to be provided either in writing duly executed by the Participant or by telephone in accordance with such reasonable requirements as State Street and the Fund may agree. Such termination will be effective immediately if notice is received by State Street not less than ten days prior to any distribution record date for the next succeeding distribution; otherwise such termination will be effective shortly after the investment of such distribution with respect to all subsequent distributions. The Plan may be terminated by the Fund or State Street upon at least 90 days prior notice. Upon any termination, State Street will cause a certificate or certificates for the full shares held for each Participant under the Plan and cash adjustment for any fraction to be delivered to the Participant without charge. If any Participant elects in advance of such termination to have State Street sell part or all of his shares, State Street is authorized to deduct from the proceeds a $2.50 fee plus the brokerage commissions incurred for the transaction.

11. These terms and conditions may be amended or supplemented by State Street or the Fund at any time or times but, except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the rules or policies of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority, only by mailing to each Participant appropriate written notice at least 90 days prior to the effective date thereof. The amendment or supplement shall be deemed to be accepted by each Participant unless, prior to the effective date thereof, State Street receives notice of the termination of such Participant’s account under the Plan in accordance with the terms hereof. Any such amendment may include an appointment by State Street in its place and stead of a successor Agent under these terms and conditions. Upon any such appointment of any Agent for the purpose of receiving distributions, the Fund will be authorized to pay to such successor Agent, for each Participant’s account, all dividends and distributions payable on shares of the Fund held in the Participant’s name or under the Plan for retention or application by such successor Agent as provided in these terms and conditions.

12. The automatic reinvestment of distributions to shareholders does not relieve Participants of an federal, state or local taxes which may be payable (or required to be withheld on distributions to shareholders). Participants will receive tax information annually for their personal records and to help them prepare their federal income tax return. For further information as to tax consequences of participation in the Plan, Participants should consult with their own tax advisors.

13. State Street shall at all times act in good faith and agree to use its best efforts within reasonable limits to insure the accuracy of all services performed under this Agreement and to comply with applicable law, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless such error is caused by its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct or that of its employees.

14. These terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

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Exhibit A

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Floating Rate Fund

Nuveen Equity Premium Advantage Fund

Nuveen Equity Premium and Growth Fund

Nuveen Global Government Enhanced Income Fund

Nuveen Global Value Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund

Nuveen Multi-Currency Short-Term Government Income Fund

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Dividend Growth Fund

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT made this 17th day of March, 2010, by and between Nuveen Build America Bond Fund, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), and NUVEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT, a Delaware corporation (the “Adviser”).

W   I   T   N   E   S   S   E   T   H

In consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter contained, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:

1.    The Fund hereby employs the Adviser to act as the investment adviser for, and to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies and limitations, and to administer the Fund’s affairs to the extent requested by and subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Fund for the period and upon the terms herein set forth. The investment of the Fund’s assets shall be subject to the Fund’s policies, restrictions and limitations with respect to securities investments as set forth in the Fund’s then current registration statement under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and all applicable laws and the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the management of registered closed-end, diversified management investment companies.

The Adviser accepts such employment and agrees during such period to render such services, to furnish office facilities and equipment and clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services (other than such services, if any, provided by the Fund’s transfer agent) for the Fund, to permit any of its officers or employees to serve without compensation as trustees or officers of the Fund if elected to such positions, and to assume the obligations herein set forth for the compensation herein provided. The Adviser shall, for all purposes herein provided, be deemed to be an independent contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, shall have no authority to act for nor represent the Fund in any way, nor otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.

2.    For the services and facilities described in Section 1, the Fund will pay to the Adviser, at the end of each calendar month, an investment management fee equal to the sum of a Fund-Level Fee and a Complex-Level Fee.

A.    The Fund Level Fee shall be computed by applying the following annual rate to the average total daily net assets of the Fund:

 

Average Total Daily Managed Assets (1)

   Rate

For the first $125 million

   .4500%

For the next $125 million

   .4375%

For the next $250 million

   .4250%

For the next $500 million

   .4125%

For the next $1 billion

   .4000%

For net assets of $2 billion and over

   .3875%

(1) “Managed Assets” means the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (other than Fund liabilities incurred for the express purpose of creating financial leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of financial leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles), such as, but not limited to, the portion of assets in tender option bond trusts of which the Fund owns the residual interest certificates that have been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate certificates.


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B.    The Complex-Level Fee shall be calculated by reference to the “managed assets” of the Eligible Funds, as defined below (“managed assets” is defined in each Eligible Fund’s management agreement which generally includes assets attributable to any preferred shares that may be outstanding and any borrowings (including the issuance of commercial paper or notes) for the purposes of financial leverage) (“Complex-Level Assets”), pursuant to the following annual fee schedule:

 

Complex-Level

Asset

Breakpoint

Level

($ million)

          Effective
Rate at
Breakpoint
Level (%)
  55,000       0.2000
  56,000       0.1996
  57,000       0.1989
  60,000       0.1961
  63,000       0.1931
  66,000       0.1900
  71,000       0.1851
  76,000       0.1806
  80,000       0.1773
  91,000       0.1691
125,000       0.1599
200,000       0.1505
250,000       0.1469
300,000       0.1445

C.    “Eligible Funds”, for purposes of this Agreement, shall mean all Nuveen-branded closed-end and open-end registered investment companies organized in the United States. Any open-end or closed-end funds that subsequently become part of the Nuveen complex because either (a) Nuveen Investments, Inc. or its affiliates acquire the investment adviser to such funds (or the adviser’s parent), or (b) Nuveen Investments, Inc. or its affiliates acquire the fund’s adviser’s rights under the management agreement for such fund, will be evaluated by both Nuveen management and the Nuveen Funds’ Board, on a case-by- case basis, as to whether or not these acquired funds would be included in the Nuveen complex of Eligible Funds and, if so, whether there would be a basis for any adjustments to the complex-level breakpoints.

D.    For the month and year in which this Agreement becomes effective, or terminates, there shall be an appropriate proration on the basis of the number of days that the Agreement shall have been in effect during the month and year, respectively. The services of the Adviser to the Fund under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free to render similar services or other services to others so long as its services hereunder are not impaired thereby.


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3.    The Adviser shall arrange for officers or employees of the Adviser to serve, without compensation from the Fund, as trustees, officers or agents of the Fund, if duly elected or appointed to such positions, and subject to their individual consent and to any limitations imposed by law.

4.    Subject to applicable statutes and regulations, it is understood that officers, trustees, or agents of the Fund are, or may be, interested in the Adviser as officers, directors, agents, shareholders or otherwise, and that the officers, directors, shareholders and agents of the Adviser may be interested in the Fund otherwise than as trustees, officers or agents.

5.    The Adviser shall not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of the purchase, sale or retention of any security, whether or not such purchase, sale or retention shall have been based upon the investigation and research made by any other individual, firm or corporation, if such recommendation shall have been selected with due care and in good faith, except loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its obligations and duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.

6.    The Adviser currently manages other investment accounts and funds, including those with investment objectives similar to the Fund, and reserves the right to manage other such accounts and funds in the future. Securities considered as investments for the Fund may also be appropriate for other investment accounts and funds that may be managed by the Adviser. Subject to applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser will attempt to allocate equitably portfolio transactions among the portfolios of its other investment accounts and funds purchasing securities whenever decisions are made to purchase or sell securities by the Fund and one or more of such other accounts or funds simultaneously. In making such allocations, the main factors to be considered by the Adviser will be the respective investment objectives of the Fund and such other accounts and funds, the relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment by the Fund and such other accounts and funds, the size of investment commitments generally held by the Fund and such accounts and funds, and the opinions of the persons responsible for recommending investments to the Fund and such other accounts and funds.

7.    This Agreement shall continue in effect until August 1, 2011, unless and until terminated by either party as hereinafter provided, and shall continue in force from year to year thereafter, but only as long as such continuance is specifically approved, at least annually, in the manner required by the Investment Company Act of 1940.

This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment, and may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty by the Fund or by the Adviser upon no less than sixty (60) days’ written notice to the other party. The Fund may effect termination by action of the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, accompanied by appropriate notice.


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This Agreement may be terminated, at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, in the event that it shall have been established by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Adviser, or any officer or director of the Adviser, has taken any action which results in a breach of the covenants of the Adviser set forth herein.

Termination of this Agreement shall not affect the right of the Adviser to receive payments on any unpaid balance of the compensation, described in Section 2, earned prior to such termination.

8.    If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder shall not be thereby affected.

9.    Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at such address as such other party may designate for receipt of such notice.

10.    The Fund’s Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This Agreement is executed on behalf of the Fund by the Fund’s officers as officers and not individually and the obligations imposed upon the Fund by this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Fund’s Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.


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11.    This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with applicable federal law and (except as to Section 10 hereof which shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Massachusetts) the laws of the State of Illinois.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and the Adviser have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year above written.

 

NUVEEN BUILD AMERICA BOND FUND
by:   / S /    M ARK L. W INGET        
  Vice President

 

 

Attest:   / S /    V IRGINIA O’N EAL        
  Assistant Secretary

 

 

NUVEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT
by:   / S /    G IFFORD R. Z IMMERMAN        
  Managing Director

 

 

Attest:   / S /    C HRIS R OHRBACHER        
  Assistant Secretary

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund

(a Massachusetts business trust)

[ ] Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

(Par Value $0.01 per Share)

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

April [ ], 2010

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

Nuveen Investments, LLC

[Additional Underwriters]

c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”) and its investment adviser, Nuveen Asset Management, a Delaware corporation (the “Investment Adviser” or “Nuveen”), confirm their agreement with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), Nuveen Investments, LLC and [Additional Underwriters] and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Merrill Lynch, Nuveen Investments, LLC and [Additional Underwriters] are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “Representatives”), with respect to the issue and sale by the Fund and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective number of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, of the Fund (“Common Shares”) set forth in said Schedule A , and with respect to the grant by the Fund to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of [ ] additional Common Shares for the sole purpose of covering overallotments, if any. The aforesaid [ ] Common Shares (the “Initial Securities”) to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the [ ] Common Shares subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the “Option Securities”) are hereinafter called, collectively, the “Securities.”

The Fund understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

The Fund has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form N-2 (No. 333-160963 and No. 811-22323) covering the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses, and a notification on Form N-8A of registration of the Fund as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act (the “Rules and Regulations”). Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Fund will prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A (“Rule 430A”) of the Rules and Regulations and paragraph (c) or (h) of Rule 497 (“Rule 497”) of the Rules and Regulations. The information


included in any such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is referred to as “Rule 430A Information.” Each prospectus used before such registration statement became effective, and any prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, including in each case any statement of additional information incorporated therein by reference, is herein called a “preliminary prospectus.” Such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto and schedules thereto at the time it became effective and including the Rule 430A Information is herein called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations is herein referred to as the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and after such filing the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The final prospectus in the form first filed under paragraph (c) or (h) of Rule 497 and furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the statement of additional information incorporated therein by reference, is herein called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”).

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.

(a) Representations and Warranties by the Fund and the Investment Adviser . The Fund and the Investment Adviser jointly and severally represent and warrant to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time referred to in Section 1(a)(i) hereof, as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agree with each Underwriter, as follows:

(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements . Each of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act, or order of suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act, and no proceedings for any such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Fund or the Investment 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(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became effective and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the notification on Form N-8A and any amendments and supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, at the time of the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), 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.

 

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As of the Applicable Time (as defined below), any Rule 482 Statement (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, if any, the Statutory Prospectus (as defined below) and the information included on Schedule C hereto, all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:

“Applicable Time” means [ ] P.M. (Eastern time) on [ ], 2010 or such other time as agreed to by the Fund and Merrill Lynch.

“Rule 482 Statement” means a document prepared in accordance with the provisions of Rule 482 of the 1933 Act, a copy of which shall be attached as Schedule D hereto.

“Statutory Prospectus” as of any time means the prospectus relating to the Securities 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 effective Registration Statement or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Rules and Regulations and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

If a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is required in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities, the Fund has complied or will comply with the requirements of Rule 111 under the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations relating to the payment of filing fees thereof.

(ii) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm . The independent registered public accounting firm who certified the statement of assets and liabilities included in the Registration Statement is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations.

(iii) 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 the financial position of the Fund at the date indicated; said statement has been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”).

(iv) Expense Summary . The information set forth in the Prospectus in the Fee Table has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Form N-2 and to the extent estimated or projected, such estimates or projections are reasonably believed to be attainable and reasonably based.

(v) 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 (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there

 

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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 shares.

(vi) Good Standing of the Fund . The Fund has been organized and is validly existing as a business trust in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has 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 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 to so qualify does not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Fund.

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

(viii) Investment Company Status . The Fund is duly registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act as a closed-end, diversified management investment company, and no order of suspension or revocation of such registration has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission. The Fund is, and at all times through the completion of the transactions contemplated hereby, will be, in compliance with the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act.

(ix) Officers and Trustees . No person is serving or acting as an officer, trustee 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 and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to either of them), no trustee of the Fund is (A) an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or (B) an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any Underwriter.

(x) Capitalization . The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are as set forth in the Prospectus. All issued and outstanding common shares of beneficial interest of the Fund have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable (except as described in the Registration Statement) 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 of beneficial interest of the Fund were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.

(xi) Authorization and Description of Securities . The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Fund have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Fund pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable (except as described in the Registration Statement). The Common Shares conform to all statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same, to the extent such rights are set forth; except as described in the Prospectus, no holder of the Securities will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder; and the issuance of the Securities is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.

(xii) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts . The Fund is not (i) in violation of its declaration of trust or by-laws, each as amended from time to time, or (ii) in default in the

 

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performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any 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 (together with the declaration of trust and by-laws, the “Agreements and Instruments”), except, with respect to (ii) only, for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement dated as of April [ ], 2010, between the Fund and the Investment Adviser (the “Investment Management Agreement”), the Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement dated as of February 25, 2005, and effective as of [ ], 2010, between the Fund and State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Custodian Agreement”) and the Shareholder Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated as of October 7, 2002, and effective as of [ ], 2010, between the Fund and State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”) and any other material agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Fund with its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Fund pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the declaration of trust or by-laws of the Fund, each as amended from time to time, or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Fund or any of its assets, properties or operations. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Fund.

(xiii) 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, threatened, against or affecting the Fund, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package (other than as disclosed therein), or which might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (including the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the Fund of its obligations hereunder). 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, the Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xiv) Accuracy of Exhibits . There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits thereto by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act or by the Rules and Regulations which have not been so described and filed as required.

(xv) Possession of Intellectual Property . The Fund owns or possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual

 

5


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, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xvi) Absence of Further Requirements . No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Fund of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”), state securities laws, or the filing requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

(xvii) 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; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect; and the Fund has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xviii) Advertisements . Any advertising, sales literature or other promotional material (including “prospectus wrappers,” “broker kits,” “road show slides,” “road show scripts” and “electronic road show presentations”) authorized in writing by or prepared by the Fund or the Investment Adviser and used in connection with the public offering of the Securities (collectively, “sales material”) does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. All sales material complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations and the rules and interpretations of FINRA.

(xix) Insurance . The Fund is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which it is engaged and which the Fund deems adequate; all policies of insurance insuring the Fund or its business, assets, employees, officers and trustees, including the Fund’s trustees and officers errors and omissions insurance policy and its fidelity bond required by Rule 17g-1 of the Rules and Regulations, are in full force and effect; the Fund is in compliance with the terms of such policy and fidelity bond in all material respects; and there are no claims by the Fund under any such policy or fidelity bond as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; the Fund has not been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and the Fund has no reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage and fidelity bond as and when such coverage and fidelity bond expires or to obtain similar coverage and fidelity bond from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Fund, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

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(xx) Material Lending or Other Relationship . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, the Fund (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of Merrill Lynch and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of Merrill Lynch.

(xxi) Subchapter M . The Fund intends to direct the investment of the proceeds of the offering described in the Registration Statement in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Subchapter M of the Code” and the “Code,” respectively), and intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.

(xxii) Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 . There is and has been no failure on the part of the Fund or any of the Fund’s trustees or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) applicable to them.

(xxiii) Rule 38a-1 . The Fund has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws (as that term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act) by the Fund, including policies and procedures that provide oversight of compliance by the Investment Adviser, administrator and transfer agent of the Fund.

(xxiv) Distribution of Offering Materials . The Fund has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of (A) the Closing Time and (B) completion of the distribution of the Common Shares, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Common Shares other than the Registration Statement, a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the sales materials.

(xxv) Accounting Controls . The Fund maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Code; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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.

(xxvi) Disclosure Controls and Procedures . The Fund will maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 under the 1940 Act); such disclosure controls and procedures will be effective as required by the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations.

(xxvii) Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Fund are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and the money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Fund with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Fund, threatened.

 

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(xxviii) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 . Neither the Fund nor, to the knowledge of the Fund, any trustee, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Fund is aware of or has taken any action in connection with the Fund, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (“FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA, and the Fund, and to the knowledge of the Fund, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(xxix) OFAC . Neither the Fund nor, to the knowledge of the Fund, any trustee, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Fund is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Fund will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(xxx) Absence of Undisclosed Payments . Neither the Fund nor any employee or agent of the Fund has made any payment of funds of the Fund or received or retained any funds, which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Prospectus.

(xxxi) Material Agreements . This Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement, the Custodian Agreement and the Transfer Agency Agreement have each been duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of the Fund, executed and delivered by the Fund, as of the dates noted therein and each complies with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, each such 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, whether statutory or decisional, 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.

(xxxii) Registration Rights . There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities of the Fund registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Fund under the 1933 Act.

(xxxiii) NYSE Listing . The Securities have been duly authorized for listing, upon notice of issuance, on the NYSE and the Fund’s registration statement on Form 8-A under the 1934 Act has become effective.

(b) Representations and Warranties by the Investment Adviser . The Investment Adviser represents and warrants to each Underwriter, and in the case of paragraph (iii) also represents to the Fund, as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time, as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 2(b) hereof as follows:

(i) Good Standing of the Investment Adviser . The Investment Adviser has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation 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 Prospectus and 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, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect.

 

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

(iii) Description of the Investment Adviser . The description of the Investment Adviser in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement to either of them) complied and comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Advisers Act Rules and Regulations and is true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(iv) Capitalization . The Investment Adviser has the financial resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as contemplated in the Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, this Agreement and under the Investment Management Agreement and [any fee agreements].

(v) Authorization of Agreements; Absence of Defaults and Conflicts . This Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement and [any fee agreements] have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Investment Adviser, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, such Agreements constitute valid and binding obligations of the Investment Adviser, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except as affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws, whether statutory or decisional, relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and 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 and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state law; and neither the execution and delivery of any of this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement any [any fee agreements] nor the performance by the Investment 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, any agreement or instrument to which the Investment Adviser is a party or by which it is bound, the organizational documents of the Investment Adviser, or by any law, order, decree, rule or regulation applicable to it of any jurisdiction, court, federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, stock exchange or securities association having jurisdiction over the Investment Adviser or its properties or operations; and no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority or agency is required for the consummation by the Investment Adviser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement or [any fee agreements], except as have been obtained or may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act, NYSE or state securities laws.

(vi) No Material Adverse Change . Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package, except as otherwise stated therein, there has not occurred any event which would reasonably be expected

 

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to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Investment Adviser to perform its obligations under any of this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement and [any fee agreements].

(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 threatened against or affecting the Investment Adviser or any parent or subsidiary of the Investment Adviser or any partners, directors, officers or employees of the foregoing, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which might reasonably be expected to result in any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Investment Adviser, to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of the Investment Adviser or to materially impair or adversely affect the ability of the Investment Adviser to function as an investment adviser or perform its obligations under the Investment Management Agreement and [any fee agreements] , or which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package.

(viii) Absence of Violation or Default . The Investment Adviser is not in violation of its organizational documents or in default under any agreement, indenture or instrument, where such violation or default would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Investment Adviser to perform its obligations under the Investment Management Agreement or [any fee agreements].

(ix) Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Investment Adviser and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable Money Laundering Laws and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Investment Adviser or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Investment Adviser, threatened.

(x) Internal Controls . The Investment Adviser maintains a system of internal controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions effectuated by it under the Investment Management Agreement are executed in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization; and (ii) access to the Fund’s assets is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization.

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

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.

(a) Initial Securities . On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Fund agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Fund, at the price per share set forth in Schedule B , the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.

(b) Option Securities . In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Fund hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional [ ] Common Shares in the aggregate at the price per share set forth in Schedule B , less an amount per share equal to any dividends

 

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or distributions declared by the Fund and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. The option hereby granted will expire 45 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time only for the purpose of covering overallotments which may be made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial Securities upon written notice by the Representatives to the Fund setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by the Representatives, but shall not be earlier than the second day after the date on which the option is being exercised nor later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time, as hereinafter defined. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject in each case to such adjustments as Merrill Lynch in its discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of a fractional number of Option Securities plus any additional number of Option Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.

(c) Payment . Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates, if any, for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Clifford Chance US LLP, 31 West 52 nd Street, New York, New York 10019, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Fund, at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Fund (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Time”).

In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates, if any, for, such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Fund, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representatives to the Fund.

Payment shall be made to the Fund by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Fund, against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates, if any, for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. Merrill Lynch, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

(d) Denominations; Registration . Certificates for the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be. The certificates, if any, for the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, will be made available for examination and packaging by the Representatives in the City of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the business day prior to the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.

 

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SECTION 3. Covenants.

The Fund and the Investment Adviser, jointly and severally, covenant with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests . The Fund, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A and will notify the Representatives immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein or for additional information, (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 Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Fund becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Fund will promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 497 and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 497 was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Fund will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order, or order of suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act, and, if any such stop order or order of suspension or revocation of registration is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(b) Filing of Amendments . The Fund will give the Representatives notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)) or any amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective or to the Prospectus, and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

(c) Delivery of Registration Statements . The Fund has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel to the Underwriters, without charge, a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein) and a signed copy of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(d) Delivery of Prospectuses . The Fund has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Fund hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Fund will furnish to each Underwriter, 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 such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

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(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws . If at any time when the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Fund, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the Rules and Regulations, the Fund will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3(b), such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Fund will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. If at any time following issuance of a Rule 482 Statement, there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Rule 482 Statement included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Fund will promptly notify Merrill Lynch and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Rule 482 Statement to eliminate or correct such conflict.

(f) Blue Sky Qualifications . The Fund will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United States as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect for a period of not less than one year from the later of the effective date of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Fund shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign entity 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. In each jurisdiction in which the Securities have been so qualified, the Fund will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification in effect for a period of not less than one year from the effective date of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.

(g) Rule 158 . The Fund will make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement, if applicable, for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

(h) Use of Proceeds . The Fund will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities substantially in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(i) Listing . The Fund will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Securities to be duly authorized for listing by the NYSE, prior to the date the Securities are issued.

(j) Restriction on Sale of Securities . During a period of 180 days from the date of the Prospectus, the Fund will not, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, (A) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option, rights or warrant to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of Common Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (B) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Shares, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (1) the Securities to be sold hereunder or (2) Common Shares issued or, for avoidance of doubt, purchased in the open market pursuant to any dividend reinvestment plan.

 

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(k) 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.

(l) Subchapter M . The Fund will use its best efforts to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code.

(m) Sarbanes-Oxley Act . The Fund will comply in all material respects with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Fund’s trustees and officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with such laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(n) No Manipulation of Market for Securities . 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 Securities in violation of federal or state securities laws, and (b) except for share repurchases permitted in accordance with applicable laws and purchases of Securities in the open market pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan, until the Closing Date, or the Date of Delivery, if any, (i) sell, bid for or purchase the Securities or pay any person any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Securities or (ii) pay or agree to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Fund.

(o) Rule 462(b) Registration Statement . If the Fund elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Fund shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Fund shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the 1933 Act.

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.

(a) Expenses . The Fund will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, any Agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates, if any, for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Fund’s counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm, (v) the qualification of the Securities, if required, under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, the Rule 482 Statement, if any, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities,

 

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(ix) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (x) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on the NYSE and (xi) the printing of any sales material. Also, the Fund shall pay, no later than 45 days after the date of this Agreement, the Underwriters $0.005 per Common Share purchased by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement as partial reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with the offering; provided, however, that such partial reimbursement payable by the Fund shall not exceed 0.03335% of the aggregate price to the public (as set forth in the Prospectus) of the Initial Securities and any Option Securities that may be sold to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Agreement. The Investment Adviser has agreed to pay (i) all of the Fund’s organizational costs, and (ii) offering expenses of the Fund (other than sales load but inclusive of the $0.005 per Common Share reimbursement) in excess of $0.03 per Common Share.

(b) Termination of Agreement . If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a) hereof, the Fund and the Investment Adviser, jointly and severally, agree that they shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations.

The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Fund and the Investment Adviser contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Fund or the Investment Adviser delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Fund and the Investment 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(b) Registration Statement, has become effective or will have become effective by 5:30 P.M., Eastern time on the date hereof, 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 knowledge of counsel to the Underwriters and counsel to the Fund, threatened by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with or waived to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Underwriters. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 497 (or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A or a certificate must have been filed in accordance with Rule 497(j)).

(b) Opinions of Counsel for Fund and the Investment Adviser . At Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinions, dated as of Closing Time, of K&L Gates LLP, counsel for the Fund, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A and of Gifford R. Zimmerman, Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel for Nuveen, or another senior attorney of Nuveen, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 , each together with signed or reproduced copies of such letters for each of the other Underwriters or in such other forms and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Underwriters.

In rendering its opinion, K&L Gates LLP may limit such opinion to matters involving the application of laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the State of Illinois, the State of California, and the United States. To the extent K&L Gates LLP deems proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to matters involving the application of laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, upon the opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP, or other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to the Representatives; provided that (x) such reliance is expressly authorized by the opinion so relied upon and a copy of each such opinion is delivered to the Representatives and is, in form and substance, satisfactory to them and their counsel and (y) K&L Gates LLP states in their opinion that they believe that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying thereon.

 

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In rendering his opinion, Gifford R. Zimmerman or another senior attorney for Nuveen, may limit his opinion to matters involving the application of the laws of the State of Illinois, the Delaware General Corporation Law and the laws of the United States and may rely upon an opinion or opinions, each dated the Closing Date, of other counsel retained by the Investment Adviser as to laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States, the State of Illinois and the Delaware General Corporation Law, provided that (x) each such local counsel is acceptable to the Representatives, (y) such reliance is expressly authorized by each opinion so relied upon and a copy of each such opinion is delivered to the Representatives and is, in form and substance, satisfactorily to them and their counsel and (z) counsel shall state in his opinion that he believes that he and the Underwriters are justified in relying thereon.

(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters . At Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A-2 , dated as of Closing Time, of Clifford Chance US LLP, counsel for the Underwriters. In giving such opinion such counsel may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States, upon the opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representatives. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the Fund and certificates of public officials.

(d) Officers’ Certificates . At Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Fund and of the treasurer, chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Fund and of the President or a Vice President or Managing Director of the Investment 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, as applicable, are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (iii) each of the Fund and the Investment Adviser, respectively, has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to Closing Time, (iv) with respect to the certificate by an officer or Managing Director of the Investment Adviser only, there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Investment Adviser, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and (v) with respect to the Fund only, 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 such officer, are contemplated by the Commission.

(e) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Comfort Letter . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type customarily included in an independent registered public accounting firm’s “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter . At Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to Closing Time.

 

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

(h) No Objection . FINRA has confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

(i) Execution of Fee Agreements. At Closing Time, Merrill Lynch shall have received the [any fee agreements], each dated as of the Closing Date, as executed by the Investment Adviser.

(j) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities . In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Fund contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Fund hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representatives shall have received:

(i) Officers’ Certificates . Certificates, dated such Date of Delivery, of a duly authorized officer of the Fund and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Fund and of the President or a Vice President or Managing Director of the Investment Adviser confirming that the information contained in the certificate delivered by each of them at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(ii) Opinions of Counsel for the Fund and the Investment Adviser . The favorable opinions of counsel for the Fund, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, and the Investment Adviser, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 hereto, each dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof.

(iii) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters . The favorable opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof.

(iv) Bring-down Comfort Letter . A letter from Ernst & Young LLP, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof, except that the “specified date” in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than five days prior to such Date of Delivery.

(k) Additional Documents . At Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Fund and the Investment Adviser in connection with the organization and registration of the Fund under the 1940 Act and the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.

(l) Termination of Agreement . If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities, on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of

 

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the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Fund at any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, 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 Underwriters . The Fund and the Investment Adviser, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus, any Rule 482 Statement 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 Merrill Lynch), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided , however , that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund or the Investment Adviser by any Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or any preliminary prospectus, any Rule 482 Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

(b) Indemnification of the Fund, the Investment Adviser, Trustees, Directors and Officers . Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the Investment Adviser, their respective trustees, directors and shareholders, each of the Fund’s officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the Investment 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, any Rule 482 Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund or the Investment Adviser by such Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use therein.

 

18


(c) Indemnification for Marketing Materials . In addition to the foregoing indemnification, the Fund and the Investment Adviser also, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 6(a), as limited by the proviso set forth therein, with respect to any sales material.

(d) Actions against Parties; Notification . Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by Merrill Lynch, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Fund and the Investment 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) (through, if applicable, the provisions of Section 6(b)) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 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.

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, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, 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 or the Investment Adviser on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation

 

19


provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Fund and the Investment Adviser on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Fund and the Investment Adviser on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Fund and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters (whether from the Fund or otherwise), in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

The relative fault of the Fund and the Investment Adviser on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Fund or the Investment Adviser or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each trustee and shareholder of the Fund and each director of the Investment Adviser, respectively, each officer of the Fund who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the Investment 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 Investment Adviser, respectively. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery.

All representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Fund or the Investment Adviser submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Fund or the Investment Adviser, and shall survive delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters.

 

20


SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.

(a) Termination; General . The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Fund, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund or the Investment 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 outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, 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 NYSE or on 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 New York authorities.

(b) Liabilities . If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8 and 12 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters.

If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Fund to sell the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Fund to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case

 

21


may be, either the Representatives or the Fund shall have the right to postpone Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

SECTION 11. Notices.

All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representatives, c/o Merrill Lynch & Co., One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, attention of Equity Capital Markets; and notices to the Fund or Nuveen shall be directed to Nuveen Asset Management, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: Alan G. Berkshire.

SECTION 12. Parties.

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each of the Underwriters, the Fund, the Investment 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 Underwriters, the Fund, the Investment Adviser and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers, trustees, shareholders 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 Underwriters, the Fund, the Investment Adviser and their respective partners and successors, and said controlling persons and officers, trustees, shareholders and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 13. NO ADVISORY OR FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP.

The Fund acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Fund, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (ii) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Fund or its shareholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Fund with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Fund on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Fund with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Fund, and (v) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Fund has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME.

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SAID STATE. UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPLICITLY PROVIDED, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

 

22


SECTION 15. Disclaimer of Liability of Trustees and Beneficiaries.

A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice hereby is given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Fund by an officer or trustee of the Fund in his or her capacity as an officer or trustee of the Fund and not individually and that the obligations under or arising out of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and properties of the Fund.

SECTION 16. Effect of Headings.

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

[ Signatures on Following Pages ]

 

23


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters, the Fund and the Investment Adviser in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
NUVEEN BUILD AMERICA BOND FUND
By:  

 

  Name: Kevin J. McCarthy
  Title: Vice President
NUVEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT
By:  

 

  Name: Gifford R. Zimmerman
  Title: Managing Director

 

24


CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,

as of the date first above written:

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
NUVEEN INVESTMENTS, LLC
[Additional Underwriters]
By:   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory
For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

 

25


SCHEDULE A

 

     Number of
Common Shares

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

   [ ]

Nuveen Investments, LLC

   [ ]

[Additional Underwriters]

  
    

Total

   [ ]
    

 

Sch A-1


SCHEDULE B

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund

[ ] Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

(Par Value $0.01 per Share)

1. The initial public offering price per share for the Securities, determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be $20.00.

2. The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $[ ], being an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $[ ] per share; provided that the purchase price per share for any Option Securities purchased upon the exercise of the overallotment option described in Section 2(b) shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Fund and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.

 

Sch B-1


SCHEDULE C

Oral information, if any, included as part of the General Disclosure Package

(1) The number of shares offered by the Fund (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option) is [ ] and the initial public offering price of those shares is $20.00 per share.

 

Sch C-1


SCHEDULE D

Rule 482 Statement

[Client Brochure]

 

Sch D-1


Exhibit A

FORM OF OPINION OF FUND’S COUNSEL

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 5(b)

 

A-1


Exhibit A-1

FORM OF OPINION OF INVESTMENT ADVISER’S COUNSEL

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 5(b)

 

A-2


Exhibit A-2

FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE UNDERWRITERS

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 5(c)

 

A-3

Exhibit h.2

 

Nuveen Investments

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

 

                          , 2009

 

_______________________

_______________________

 

Dear Mr.                              :

 

Reference is made to Fund (the “Fund”). The Fund currently is making an initial public offering of its common shares of beneficial interest (the “Shares”) through several underwriters. Such offering is referred to herein as the “Offering.” You are acting as lead manager and representative (the “Representative”) of the underwriters of the Offering, and we are participating as a manager and underwriter of the Offering.

 

We are requesting that we be able to offer certain broker-dealers the opportunity to participate as selling dealers in the Offering. This letter is to confirm our agreement with you as to the terms and conditions on which we may transact business (collectively, the “Nuveen Selected Dealers” and, individually, a “Nuveen Selected Dealer”):

 

a. Each Nuveen Selected Dealer to whom we offer to sell, or sell, Shares shall have entered into a master selected dealer agreement (“Selected Dealer Agreement”) with Nuveen, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A;

 

b. Before offering to sell, or selling, Shares to a Nuveen Selected Dealer, Nuveen will carry out such independent investigations as it deems necessary to determine that such dealer satisfies the criteria set forth in Section 6 of the Selected Dealer Agreement;

 

c. We will act under and enforce each Selected Dealer Agreement only with your consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) or upon your instruction;

 

d. We shall not allow any Nuveen Selected Dealer purchasing Shares in an Offering a selling concession that is in an amount in excess of the maximum selling concession set by you for selected dealers for the Offering; and

 

e. We agree upon instruction from you, subject to the other terms of the Offering, to pay for and purchase all Shares that we reserve in the Offering, whether such Shares are reserved by us for our own account or for the account of

one or more Nuveen Selected Dealers, and we agree to make all purchases of Shares in accordance with Master Agreement among Underwriters between the Representatives and Nuveen and the underwriting agreement for the Offering of such Shares.

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding regarding the matters described herein, please so indicate by signing a copy of this letter where indicated below and returning a signed copy of this letter to us. For your convenience, a duplicate copy of this letter has been included.

 

NUVEEN INVESTMENTS

By:

   
   

Name: Kevin J. McCarthy

Title: Vice President


Acknowledged and agreed to as of this      day of                      2009 on behalf of themselves and, in respect of the Offering, the other underwriters of the Offering.

 

By:

 

 
By    
    Name:
    Title:

Exhibit h.3

NUVEEN EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS

 

 

MASTER SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT

[DATED]

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with public offerings of securities (“Securities”) of registered investment companies sponsored by Nuveen Investments (“Nuveen”) which are underwritten by a group of underwriters (“Underwriters”) which are represented by Nuveen alone or in conjunction with other firms (the “Representatives”), you (a “Dealer”) may be offered from time to time the opportunity to purchase a portion of such securities, as a principal, at a discount from the public offering price representing a selling concession or reallowance granted as consideration for services rendered in the distribution of such securities, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

1. General. (a) This Agreement sets forth the general terms, conditions and representations applicable to any such purchase. These general terms, conditions and representations may be modified, amended or supplemented in connection with an offering of Securities by telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or other written form (electronic or otherwise) of communication of Nuveen or other Representative of the Underwriters of such offering (any communication in any such form being herein referred to as a “written communication”) to you in connection with such offering. This Agreement shall become effective with respect to your participation in an offering of Securities upon your acceptance of any reservation of any such Securities, as a Dealer. Such acceptance shall constitute your acceptance of this Agreement as modified, amended or supplemented by any such written communication.

(b) As used herein, the term “Agreement” shall mean this Agreement and, after receipt by you of written notice thereof, any amendment or supplement hereto, plus any additional or supplementary terms, conditions and representations contained in the prospectus relating to the offering of Securities or any other written communication to you from Nuveen or any other Representative of the Underwriters of any offering of securities. This Agreement shall constitute a binding agreement between you and Nuveen, individually, and, in respect of a public offering of Securities, Nuveen and the other Representatives of the Underwriters of such offering on whose behalf Nuveen is acting.


(c) This Agreement supersedes any prior understanding you have with Nuveen with respect to the subject matter hereof.

2. Sales to Selected Dealers. For any specific offering, we will advise you by telegram of the method and terms of offering, the time of the release of the Securities for sale to the public, the initial offering price, the selling concession, the portion of the selling concession allowable to certain dealers (the “reallowance”), the time at which subscription books will be opened, the amount, if any, of Securities reserved for purchase by Dealers and the period of reservation. Subscription books may be closed by us at any time in our discretion without notice, and the right is reserved to reject any subscription in whole or in part. Notification of allotments against the rejections of subscriptions will be made as promptly as practicable. In purchasing Securities, you must rely only on the prospectus, and on no other statements whatsoever, written or oral.

3. Offering Provisions. Upon receipt of the telegram or letter referred to in Section 2 hereof, promptly on the date set forth in such telegram for release of the Securities for sale to the public, you will reoffer the Securities purchased by you hereunder, subject to receipt and acceptance of the Securities by the Underwriters, and upon the other terms, conditions and representations set forth herein and in the prospectus relating to such Securities. Securities purchased hereunder are to be offered to the public at the initial public offering price set forth in the prospectus, except that if a reallowance is in effect, a reallowance from the public offering price not in excess of such reallowance may be allowed by you but only to dealers who are actually engaged in the investment banking or securities business, who execute the written agreement prescribed by Rule 2740(c) of the Rules of Conduct of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) and who are members in good standing of the NASD or are foreign dealers, not eligible for membership in the NASD, who, in each case, represent to you that they will promptly reoffer such Securities to the public at the initial public offering price set forth in the prospectus and will abide by the conditions with respect to foreign brokers and dealers set forth in the first paragraph of Section 6 hereof.

If prior to the completion of a distribution of the Securities in an offering, directly or indirectly in connection with their activities under this agreement, Nuveen or an Underwriter of the offering purchases on the open market any Securities purchased by you under this Agreement as part of the offering, you agree to pay Nuveen or the lead Representative of the Underwriters of the offering on demand an amount equal to the concession with respect to the Securities, plus, as applicable, transfer taxes, broker’s commission, or dealer’s markups, if any, paid in connection with such transactions. Alternatively, Nuveen or the Representatives of the Underwriters of the offering may withhold payment for a period of time of, or determine not to pay, all or any part of the concession with respect to the Securities so received. You will advise Nuveen or any other Representative from time to time at our request, of the number of Securities purchased by you hereunder remaining unsold and you agree to sell to us, at our request, for the account of one or more of the Underwriters, such number of such unsold Securities as we may designate, at the initial offering price less an amount to be determined by us, not in excess of the full concession.


4. Delivery and Payment. Payment for and delivery of Securities purchased by you hereunder will be made through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company, if you are a member, or, if you are not a member, settlement may be made through a correspondent who is a member pursuant to instructions which you will send to us prior to such specified date. At the discretion of Nuveen or a Representative of the Underwriters of the offering, we may require you to pay the full public offering price for any offering of Securities. If you are called upon to pay the full public offering price for the Securities purchased by you the concession will be paid to you, less any amounts charged to your account pursuant to Section 3 above, after termination of this Agreement.

5. Termination. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until terminated by either party by five days’ written notice to the other; provided, that if this Agreement has become effective with respect to any offering of Securities, this Agreement may not be terminated by you with respect to such offering. It shall remain in full force and effect as to such offering. Notwithstanding any distribution and settlement of accounts, you shall be liable for the proper proportion of any transfer tax or other liability which may be asserted against the Representatives or any of the Underwriters or Dealers based upon the claim that the Dealers, or any of them, constitute a partnership, an association, an unincorporated business or other separate entity.

6. Position of Selected Dealers and Underwriters. You represent that you are actually engaged in the investment banking or securities business and are a member in good standing of the NASD or that you are a foreign dealer, not eligible for membership in the NASD, which agrees not to offer or sell any Securities in, or to persons who are nationals or residents of, the United States of America. In making sales of Securities, if you are such a member, you agree to comply with all applicable rules of the NASD, including, without limitation, IM 2110-1 (the NASD’s Interpretation with Respect to Free-Riding and Withholding) and Rules 2740 and 2750 of the NASD’s Rules of Conduct, or, if you are a foreign dealer, you agree to comply with such Interpretation and Rules 2730, 2740 and 2750 of such Rules of Conduct as though you were such a member, and with Rule 2420 as that Rule applies to a non-member broker or dealer in a foreign country. You also confirm that you have complied and will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of Rule 15c2-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended including Rule 15c2-8(b) which requires all participating dealers to distribute a copy of the preliminary prospectus relating to the offering of Securities to each person to whom they expect to confirm a sale of the Securities not less than 48 hours prior to the time they expect to mail such confirmation. You are not authorized to give any information or make any representations with respect to an offering of Securities other than those contained in the prospectus for the offering, or to act as agent for the issuer, any Underwriter, Representative or Nuveen.

Neither Nuveen, individually or as Representative of the Underwriters, nor any of the Representatives or Underwriters shall be under any liability to you, except for obligations expressly assumed in this Agreement and any liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. No obligations on the part of Nuveen will be implied or inferred herefrom. All communications to Nuveen relating to the subject matter of this Agreement should be addressed to Nuveen Investments, 333 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606 (Attention: Debbie Taylor), and any notices to you shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or telegraphed to you at such address as you shall indicate on the last page of this Agreement.


7. Blue Sky Matters. Neither Nuveen, individually or as a Representative of the Underwriters, nor any of the Representatives or Underwriters will have any responsibility with respect to the right of any Dealer to sell Securities in any jurisdiction, notwithstanding any information we may furnish in that connection.

8. Indemnification. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Nuveen and each Representative and Underwriter of an offering of Securities and each person, if any, who controls Nuveen or any such Representative or Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, joint or several (including reasonable costs of investigation) (any of the foregoing being hereinafter referred to individually as a “Loss” and collectively, as “Losses”) suffered or incurred by any such indemnified person arising out of or in connection with such offering for or on account of or arising from or in connection with (i) any violation by you of any law, rule or regulation (including any rule of any self-regulatory organization) or (ii) any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement. The foregoing indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liability which you may otherwise have.

9. Procedures Relating to Indemnification. (a) An indemnified person under Section 8 of this Agreement (the “Indemnified Party”) shall give written notice to you of any Loss in respect of which you have a duty to indemnify such Indemnified Party under Section 8 of this Agreement (a “Claim”), specifying in reasonable detail the nature of the Loss for which indemnification is sought, except that any delay or failure so to notify you shall only relieve you of your obligations hereunder to the extent, if at all, that you are actually prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure.

(b) If a Claim results from any action, suit or proceeding brought or asserted against an Indemnified Party, you shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in such action, suit or proceeding and participate in such defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party unless (i) you have agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) you have failed within a reasonable time to assume the defense and employ counsel or (iii) the named parties to any such action, suit or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and you and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by its counsel that representation of such Indemnified Party and you by the same counsel would be inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct (whether or not such representation by the same counsel has been proposed) due to actual or potential differing


interests between you and the Indemnified Party (in which case you shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding on behalf of such Indemnified Party). It is understood, however, that you shall, in connection with any one action, suit or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions, suits or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of only one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for all such Indemnified Parties not having actual or potential differing interests with you or among themselves, which firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives of the offering and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed promptly as they are incurred. You shall not be liable for any settlement of any such action, suit or proceeding effected without your written consent, but if settled with such written consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, suit or proceeding, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnified Party from and against any loss, liability, damage or expense by reason by such settlement or judgment.

(c) With respect to any Claim not within Paragraph (b) of Section 9 hereof, you shall have 20 days from receipt of notice from the Indemnified Party of such Claim within which to respond thereto. If you do not respond within such twenty-day period, you shall be deemed to have accepted responsibility to make payment and shall have no further right to contest the validity of such Claim. If you notify the Indemnified Party within such twenty-day period that you reject such Claim in whole or in part, the Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to the Indemnified Party under applicable law.

10. Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the undersigned contained in this Agreement, including, without limitation, the indemnity agreements contained in Sections 8 and 9 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Representative or Underwriter or any person controlling any Representative or Underwriter, or their directors or officers, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor and (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

11. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York or the laws of such other state as indicated in a written communication to you by Nuveen with respect to any particular securities offering.

Please confirm your agreement to the foregoing by signing in the space provided below and returning to us the enclosed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

      NUVEEN INVESTMENTS
      By:   

 

Confirmed as of                      .          Managing Director
                                 [Date]         

 

        


By:  

 

Title:
Address:

 

 

 

LOGO   

Merrill Lynch & Co.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

Merrill Lynch World Headquarters

4 World Financial Center

New York, N.Y. 10800

   FORM OF STANDARD DEALER AGREEMENT

Dear Sirs:

In connection with public offerings of securities underwritten by us, or by a group of underwriters (the “Underwriters”) represented by us, you may be offered the opportunity to purchase a portion of such securities, as principal, at a discount from the offering price representing a selling concession or reallowance granted as consideration for services rendered by you in the sale of such securities. We request that you agree to the following terms and provisions, and make the following representations, which, together with any additional terms and provisions set forth in any wire or letter sent to you in connection with a particular offering, will govern all such purchases of securities and the reoffering thereof by you.

Your subscription to, or purchase of, such securities will constitute your reaffirmation of this Agreement.

1. When we are acting as representative (the “Representative”) of the Underwriters in offering securities to you, it should be understood that all offers are made subject to prior sale of the subject securities, when, as and if such securities are delivered to and accepted by the Underwriters and subject to the approval of legal matters by their counsel. In such cases, any order from you for securities will be strictly subject to confirmation and we reserve the right in our uncontrolled discretion to reject any order in whole or in part. Upon release by us, you may reoffer such securities at the offering price fixed by us. With our consent, you may allow a discount, not in excess of the reallowance fixed by us, in selling such securities to other dealers, provided that in doing so you comply with the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”). Upon our request, you will advise us of the identity of any dealer to whom you allow such a discount and any Underwriter or dealer from whom you receive such a discount. After the securities are released for sale to the public, we may vary the offering price and other setting terms.

2. You represent that you are a dealer actually engaged in the investment banking or securities business and that you are either (i) a member in good standing of the NASD or (ii) a dealer with its principal place of business located outside the United States, its territories or possessions and not registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (a “non-member foreign dealer”) or (iii) a bank not eligible for membership in the NASD. If you are a non-member foreign dealer, you agree to make no sales of securities within the United States, its territories or its possessions or to persons who are nationals thereof or residents therein. Non-member foreign dealers and banks agree, in making any sales, to comply with the NASD’s interpretation with respect to free-riding and withholding. In accepting a selling concession where we are acting as Representative of the Underwriters, in accepting a reallowance from us whether or not we are acting as such Representative, and in allowing a discount to any other person, you agree to comply with the provisions of Rule 2740 of the Conduct Rules of the NASD, and, in addition, if you are a non-member foreign dealer or bank, you agree to comply, as though you were a member of the NASD, with the provisions of Rules 2730 and 2750 of such Conduct Rules and to comply with Rule 2420 thereof as that Rule applies to a non-member foreign dealer or bank. You represent that you are fully familiar with the above provisions of the Conduct Rules of the NASD.

3. If the securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), in offering and selling such securities, you are not authorized to give any information or make any representation not contained in the prospectus relating thereto. You confirm that you are familiar with the rules and policies of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the distribution of preliminary and final prospectuses, and you agree that you will comply therewith in any offering covered by this Agreement. If we are acting as Representative of the Underwriters, we will make available to you, to the extent made available to us by the issuer of the securities, such number of copies of the prospectus or offering documents, for securities not registered under the 1933 Act, as you may reasonably request.


4. If we are acting as Representative of the Underwriters of securities of an issuer that is not required to file reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”), you agree that you will not sell any of the securities to any account over which you have discretionary authority.

5. Payment for securities purchased by you is to be made at our office, One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10006 (or at such other place as we may advise), at the offering price less the concession allowed to you, on such date as we may advise, by certified or official bank check in New York Clearing House funds (or such other funds as we may advise), payable to our order, against delivery of the securities to be purchased by you. We shall have authority to make appropriate arrangements for payment for and/or delivery through the facility of The Depository Trust Company or any such other depository or similar facility for the securities.

6. In the event that, prior to the completion of the distribution of securities covered by this Agreement, we purchase in the open market or otherwise any securities delivered to you, if we are acting as Representative of the Underwriters, you agree to repay to us for the accounts of the Underwriters the amount of the concession allowed to you plus brokerage commissions and any transfer taxes paid in connection with such purchase.

7. At any time prior to the completion of the distribution of securities covered by this Agreement you will, upon our request as Representative of the Underwriters, report to us the amount of securities purchased by you which then remains unsold and will, upon our request, sell to us for the account of one or more of the Underwriters such amount of such unsold securities as we may designate, at the offering price less an amount to be determined by us not in excess of the concession allowed to you.

8. If we are acting as Representative of the Underwriters, upon application to us, we will inform you of the states and other jurisdictions of the United States in which it is believed that the securities being offered are qualified for sale under, or are exempt from the requirements of, their respective securities laws, but we assume no responsibility with respect to your right to sell securities in any jurisdiction. We shall have authority to file with the Department of State of the State of New York a Further State Notice with respect to the securities, if necessary.

9. You agree that in connection with any offering of securities covered by this Agreement you will comply with the applicable provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, the applicable rules and regulations of the NASD, and the applicable rules of any securities exchange having jurisdiction over the offering.

10. We shall have full authority to take such action as we may deem advisable in respect of all matters pertaining to any offering covered by this Agreement. We shall be under no liability to you except for our lack of good faith and for obligations assumed by us in this Agreement, except that you do not waive any rights that you may have under the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

11. Any notice from us shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of written telecommunications to you at the above address or at such other address as you shall specify to us in writing.

12. With respect to any offering of securities covered by this Agreement, the price restrictions contained in Paragraph 1 hereof and the provisions of Paragraphs 6 and 7 hereof shall terminate as to such offering at the close of business on the 45th day after the securities are released for sale or, as to any or all such provisions, at such earlier time as we may advise. All other provisions of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect with respect to such offering.

13. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

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Please confirm your agreement hereto by signing the enclosed duplicate copy hereof in the place provided below and returning such signed duplicate copy to us at World Headquarters, 4 World Financial Center, New York, N.Y. 10080, Attention : Syndicate Operations. Upon receipt thereof, this instrument and such signed duplicate copy will evidence the agreement between us.

 

Very truly yours,

M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER & S MITH I NCORPORATED

By:

 
   
  Name: Mario Patella

 

Confirmed and accepted as of
the        day of                    , 20        
 

Name of Dealer

 

Authorized Officer or Partner

(if not Officer or Partner, attach copy of
Instrument of Authorization)

 

3

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED

MASTER AGREEMENT AMONG UNDERWRITERS

REGISTERED SEC OFFERINGS

(INCLUDING MULTIPLE SYNDICATE OFFERINGS)

AND

EXEMPT OFFERINGS

(OTHER THAN OFFERINGS OF MUNICIPAL SECURITIES)

October 5, 2009


This Master Agreement Among Underwriters (this “ Master AAU”), dated as of October 5, 2009, is by and between Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“ Merrill Lynch” or “ we ”) and the party named on the signature page hereof (an “ Underwriter ,” as defined in Section 1.1 hereof, or “ you ”). From time to time we or one or more of our affiliates may invite you (and others) to participate on the terms set forth herein as an underwriter or an initial purchaser, or in a similar capacity, in connection with certain offerings of securities that are managed solely by us or with one or more other co-managers. If we invite you to participate in a specific offering and sale of securities (an “ Offering ”) to which this Master AAU will apply, we will send the information set forth in Section 1.1 hereof to you by one or more wires, telexes, telecopy or electronic data transmissions, or other written communications (each, a “ Wire ,” and collectively, an “ AAU ”), unless you are otherwise deemed to have accepted an AAU with respect to such Offering pursuant to Section 1.2 hereof. Each Wire will indicate that it is a Wire pursuant to this Master AAU. The Wire inviting you to participate in an Offering is referred to herein as an “ Invitation Wire. ” You and we hereby agree that by the terms hereof the provisions of this Master AAU automatically will be incorporated by reference in each AAU, except that any such AAU may also exclude or revise such provisions of this Master AAU in respect of the Offering to which such AAU relates, and may contain such additional provisions as may be specified in any Wire relating to such AAU. You and we further agree as follows:

I. GENERAL

1.1. Terms of AAU; Certain Definitions; Construction. Each AAU will relate to an Offering, and will identify: (i) the securities to be offered in the Offering (the “ Securities ”), their principal terms, the issuer or issuers (each, an “ Issuer ”) and any guarantor (each, a “ Guarantor ”) thereof, and, if different from the Issuer, the seller or sellers (each, a “ Seller ”) of the Securities, (ii) the underwriting agreement, purchase agreement, standby underwriting agreement, distribution agreement, or similar agreement (as identified in such AAU and as amended or supplemented, including a terms agreement or pricing agreement pursuant to any of the foregoing, collectively, the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) providing for the purchase, on a several and not joint basis, of the Securities by the several underwriters, initial purchasers, or others acting in a similar capacity (the “ Underwriters ”) on whose behalf the Manager (as defined below) executes the Underwriting Agreement, and whether such agreement provides for: (x) an option to purchase Additional Securities (as defined below) to cover sales of shares in excess of the number of Firm Securities (as defined below), or (y) an offering in multiple jurisdictions or markets involving two or more syndicates (an “ International Offering ”), each of which will offer and sell Securities subject to such restrictions as may be specified in any Intersyndicate Agreement (as defined below) referred to in such AAU, (iii) the price at which the Securities are to be purchased by the several Underwriters from any Issuer or Seller thereof (the “ Purchase Price”), (iv) the offering terms, including, if applicable, the price or prices at which the Securities initially will be offered by the Underwriters (the “ Offering Price ), any selling concession to dealers (the “ Selling Concession”), reallowance (the “Reallowance”), management fee, global coordinators’ fee, praecipium, or other similar fees, discounts, or commissions (collectively, the “ Fees and Commissions”) with respect to the Securities, and (v) other principal terms of the Offering, which may include, without limitation: (A) the proposed or actual pricing date (“ Pricing Date ) and settlement date (the “ Settlement Date ”), (B) any contractual restrictions on the offer and sale of the Securities pursuant to the


Underwriting Agreement, Intersyndicate Agreement, or otherwise, (C) any co-managers for such Offering (the “ Co-Managers ”), (D) your proposed participation in the Offering, and (E) any trustee, fiscal agent, or similar agent (the “ Trustee ”) for the indenture, trust agreement, fiscal agency agreement, or similar agreement (the “ Indenture ”) under which such Securities will be issued.

Manager ” means Merrill Lynch, except as set forth in Section 9.9 hereof. “ Representative ” means the Manager and any Co-Manager that signs the applicable Underwriting Agreement on behalf of the Underwriters or is identified as a Representative in the applicable Underwriting Agreement. “ Underwriters ” includes the Representative(s), the Manager, and the Co-Managers. “ Firm Securities means the number or amount of Securities that the several Underwriters are initially committed to purchase under the Underwriting Agreement (which may be expressed as a percentage of an aggregate number or amount of Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters, as in the case of a standby Underwriting Agreement). “ Additional Securities means the Securities, if any, that the several Underwriters have an option to purchase under the Underwriting Agreement to cover sales of shares in excess of the number of Firm Securities. The number, amount, or percentage of Firm Securities set forth opposite each Underwriter’s name in the Underwriting Agreement plus any additional Firm Securities which such Underwriter has made a commitment to purchase, irrespective of whether such Underwriter actually purchases or sells such number, amount, or percentage of Securities under the Underwriting Agreement or Article XI hereof, is hereinafter referred to as the “ Original Underwriting Obligation of such Underwriter, and the ratio which such Original Underwriting Obligation bears to the total of all Firm Securities set forth in the Underwriting Agreement (or, in the case of a standby Underwriting Agreement, to 100%) is hereinafter referred to as the “ Underwriting Percentage of such Underwriter. For the avoidance of doubt, each Underwriter acknowledges and agrees that, for all purposes under this Agreement and otherwise (including, to the extent applicable, for purposes of Section 11(e) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “ 1933 Act )), each Underwriter’s Underwriting Percentage of the total number, amount, or percentage of Securities offered and sold in the Offering (including any Additional Securities), and only such number, amount, or percentage, constitutes the securities underwritten by such Underwriter and distributed to investors. 1

References herein to laws, statutory and regulatory sections, rules, regulations, forms, and interpretive materials will be deemed to include any successor provisions.

1.2. Acceptance of AAU. You will have accepted an AAU for an Offering if: (a) we receive your acceptance, prior to the time specified in the Invitation Wire for such Offering, by wire, telex, telecopy or electronic data transmission, or other written communication (any such communication being deemed “ In Writing ) or orally (if promptly confirmed In Writing), in the manner specified in the Invitation Wire, of our invitation to participate in the Offering, or (b) notwithstanding that we did not send you an Invitation Wire or you have not otherwise responded In Writing to any such Wire, you: (i) agree (orally or by a Wire) to be named as an

 

 

1

Meant to clarify mechanics of underwriting for purposes of Section 11(e), and rebut footnote 8 of the WorldCom decision. See In re: Worldcom, Inc. Securities Litigation , U.S. Dist. Ct. (SDNY), slip op. 02 Civ 3288, March 14, 2005 (unpublished).

 

2


Underwriter in the relevant Underwriting Agreement executed by us as Manager, or (ii) receive and retain an economic benefit for participating in the Offering as an Underwriter. Your acceptance of the invitation to participate will cause such AAU to constitute a valid and binding contract between us. Your acceptance of the AAU as provided above or an Invitation Wire will also constitute acceptance by you of the terms of subsequent Wires to you relating to the Offering unless we receive In Writing, within the time and in the manner specified in such subsequent Wire, a notice from you to the effect that you do not accept the terms of such subsequent Wire, in which case you will be deemed to have elected not to participate in the Offering.

1.3. Underwriters’ Questionnaire. Your acceptance of the Invitation Wire for an Offering or your participation in an Offering as an Underwriter will confirm that you have no exceptions to the Underwriters’ Questionnaire attached as Exhibit A hereto (or to any other questions addressed to you in any Wires relating to the Offering previously sent to you), other than exceptions noted by you In Writing in connection with the Offering and received from you by us before the time specified in the Invitation Wire or any subsequent Wire.

II. OFFERING MATERIALS; OFFERING AGREEMENTS

2.1. Registered Offerings. In the case of an Offering that will be registered in whole or in part (a “ Registered Offering ) under the 1933 Act, you acknowledge that the Issuer has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement, including a prospectus relating to the Securities. “ Registration Statement means such registration statement as amended to the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and, in the event that the Issuer files an abbreviated registration statement to register additional Securities pursuant to Rule 462(b) or 462(e) under the 1933 Act, such abbreviated registration statement. “ Prospectus ” means the prospectus, together with the final prospectus supplement, if any, containing the final terms of the Securities and, in the case of a Registered Offering that is an International Offering, “ Prospectus ” means, collectively, each prospectus or offering circular, together with each final prospectus supplement or final offering circular supplement, if any, relating to the Offering, in the respective forms containing the final terms of the Securities. “ Preliminary Prospectus means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Offering or any preliminary prospectus supplement together with a prospectus relating to the Offering and, in the case of a Registered Offering that is an International Offering, “ Preliminary Prospectus means, collectively, each preliminary prospectus or preliminary offering circular relating to the Offering or each preliminary prospectus supplement or preliminary offering circular supplement, together with a prospectus or offering circular, respectively, relating to the Offering. “ Free Writing Prospectus means, in the case of a Registered Offering, a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act. As used herein the terms “ Registration Statement , Prospectus ,” “ Preliminary Prospectus , and “ Free Writing Prospectus will include in each case the material, if any, incorporated by reference therein, and as used herein, the term “ Registration Statement includes information deemed to be part thereof pursuant to, and as of the date and time specified in, Rules 430A, 430B, or 430C under the 1933 Act, while the terms “ Prospectus ” and “ Preliminary Prospectus include information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to the rules and regulations under the 1933 Act, but only as of the actual time that information is first used or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act. The Manager will furnish, make available to you, or make arrangements for you to obtain

 

3


copies (which may, to the extent permitted by law, be in electronic form) of each Prospectus and Preliminary Prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if applicable, but excluding, for this purpose, unless otherwise required pursuant to rules or regulations under the 1933 Act, documents incorporated therein by reference) as soon as practicable after sufficient quantities thereof have been made available by the Issuer.

As used herein, in the case of an Offering that is an offering of asset-backed securities, the term “ ABS Underwriter Derived Information means any analytical or computational materials as described in clause (5) of footnote 271 of Commission Release No. 33-8591, issued July 19, 2005 (Securities Offering Reform) (the “ Securities Offering Reform Release ) .

2.2. Non-Registered Offerings. In the case of an Offering other than a Registered Offering, you acknowledge that no registration statement has been filed with the Commission. “ Offering Circular means the final offering circular or memorandum, if any, or any other final written materials authorized by the Issuer to be used in connection with an Offering that is not a Registered Offering. “ Preliminary Offering Circular means any preliminary offering circular or memorandum, if any, or any other written preliminary materials authorized by the Issuer to be used in connection with such an Offering. As used herein, the terms “ Offering Circular and “ Preliminary Offering Circular include the material, if any, incorporated by reference therein. We will either, as soon as practicable after the later of the date of the Invitation Wire or the date made available to us by the Issuer, furnish to you (or make available for your review) a copy of any Preliminary Offering Circular or any proof or draft of the Offering Circular. In any event, in any Offering involving an Offering Circular, the Manager will furnish, make available to you, or make arrangements for you to obtain, as soon as practicable after sufficient quantities thereof are made available by the Issuer, copies (which may, to the extent permitted by law, be in electronic form) of the Preliminary Offering Circular and Offering Circular, as amended or supplemented, if applicable (but excluding, for this purpose, documents incorporated therein by reference).

2.3. Authority to Execute Underwriting and Intersyndicate Agreements. You authorize the Manager, on your behalf: (a) to determine the form of the Underwriting Agreement and to execute and deliver to the Issuer, Guarantor, or Seller the Underwriting Agreement to purchase: (i) up to the number, amount, or percentage of Firm Securities set forth in the applicable AAU, and (ii) if the Manager elects on behalf of the several Underwriters to exercise any option to purchase Additional Securities, up to the number, amount, or percentage of Additional Securities set forth in the applicable AAU, subject, in each case, to reduction pursuant to Article IV; and (b) to determine the form of any agreement or agreements, including, but not limited to, underwriting agreements, between or among the syndicates participating in the Offering or International Offering, respectively (each, an “ Intersyndicate Agreement”), and to execute and deliver any such Intersyndicate Agreement.

III. MANAGER’S AUTHORITY

3.1. Terms of Offering. You authorize the Manager to act as manager of the Offering of the Securities by the Underwriters (the “ Underwriters Securities ) or by the Issuer or Seller pursuant to delayed delivery contracts (the “ Contract Securities ), if any, contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement. You authorize the Manager: (i) to purchase any or all of the Additional Securities for the accounts of the several Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting

 

4


Agreement, (ii) to agree, on your behalf and on behalf of the Co-Managers, to any addition to, change in, or waiver of any provision of, or the termination of, the Underwriting Agreement or any Intersyndicate Agreement (other than an increase in the Purchase Price or in your Original Underwriting Obligation to purchase Securities, in either case from that contemplated by the applicable AAU), (iii) to add prospective or remove existing Underwriters from the syndicate, (iv) to exercise, in the Manager’s discretion, all of the authority vested in the Manager in the Underwriting Agreement, (v) except as described below in this Section 3.1, to take any other action as may seem advisable to the Manager in respect of the Offering (including, in the case of an Offering of asset-backed securities, the preparation and delivery of ABS Underwriter Derived Information), including actions and communications with the Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ,” formerly known as the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and NASD, Inc., or “ NASD ”), state blue sky or securities commissions, stock exchanges, and other regulatory bodies or organizations. Furthermore, the Manager will have exclusive authority, on your behalf and on behalf of the Co-Managers, to exercise powers and pursue enforcement of the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement and any Intersyndicate Agreement, whether or not actually exercised, except as otherwise specified herein or therein. If, in accordance with the terms of the applicable AAU, the Offering of the Securities is at varying prices based on prevailing market prices, or prices related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices, you authorize the Manager to determine, on your behalf in the Manager’s discretion, any Offering Price and the Fees and Commissions applicable to the Offering from time to time. You authorize the Manager on your behalf to arrange for any currency transactions (including forward and hedging currency transactions) as the Manager may deem necessary to facilitate settlement of the purchase of the Securities, but you do not authorize the Manager on your behalf to engage in any other forward or hedging transactions (including interest rate hedging transactions) in connection with the Offering unless such transactions are specified in an applicable AAU or are otherwise consented to by you. You further authorize the Manager, subject to the provisions of Section 1.2 hereof: (i) to vary the offering terms of the Securities in effect at any time, including, if applicable, the Offering Price, Fees, and Commissions set forth in the applicable AAU, (ii) to determine, on your behalf, the Purchase Price, and (iii) to increase or decrease the number, amount, or percentage of Securities being offered. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.1, the Manager will notify the Underwriters, prior to the signing of the Underwriting Agreement, of any provision in the Underwriting Agreement that could result in an increase in the number, amount, or percentage of Firm Securities set forth opposite each Underwriter’s name in the Underwriting Agreement by more than 25% (or such other percentage as will have been specified in the applicable Invitation Wire or otherwise consented to by you) as a result of the failure or refusal of another Underwriter or Underwriters to perform its or their obligations thereunder. The Manager may, at its discretion, delegate to any Underwriter any and all authority vested in the applicable AAU, including, but not limited to, the powers set forth in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 hereof.

3.2. Offering Date. The Offering is to be made on or about the time the Underwriting Agreement is entered into by the Issuer, Guarantor, or Seller and the Manager as in the Manager’s judgment is advisable, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus or the Offering Circular, as the case may be, and the applicable AAU. You will not sell any Securities prior to the time the Manager releases such Securities for sale to purchasers. The date on which such Securities are released for sale is referred to herein as the “ Offering Date.

 

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3.3. Communications. Any public announcement or advertisement of the Offering will be made by the Manager on behalf of the Underwriters on such date as the Manager may determine. You will not announce or advertise the Offering prior to the date of the Manager’s announcement or advertisement thereof without the Manager’s consent. If the Offering is made in whole or in part in reliance on any applicable exemption from registration under the 1933 Act, you will not engage in any general solicitation, announcement, or advertising in connection with the Offering, and will abide by any other restrictions in the AAU or the Underwriting Agreement in connection therewith relating to any announcement, advertising, or publicity. Any announcement or advertisement you may make of the Offering after such date will be your own responsibility, and at your own expense and risk. In addition to your compliance with restrictions on the Offering pursuant to Sections 10.9, 10.10, 10.11, and 10.12 hereof, you will not, in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities in the Offering, without the consent of the Manager, give, send, or otherwise convey to any prospective purchaser or any purchaser of the Securities or other person not in your employ any written communication (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) other than:

(i) any Preliminary Prospectus, Prospectus, Preliminary Offering Circular, or Offering Circular,

(ii) (A) written confirmations and notices of allocation delivered to your customers in accordance with Rules 172 or 173 under the 1933 Act, and written communications based on the exemption provided by Rule 134 under the 1933 Act, and (B) in the case of Offerings not registered under the 1933 Act, such written communications (1) as would be permitted by Section 3.3(v)(D)(1) below were such Offering registered under the 1933 Act, or (2) that the Manager or Underwriting Agreement may permit; provided, however, that such written communication under this clause (B) would not have otherwise constituted “ Issuer Information as defined below, or would have qualified for the exemption provided by Rule 134 under the 1933 Act, in each case, if such communication had been furnished in the context of a Registered Offering (“ Supplemental Materials ),

(iii) any “issuer free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433(h) under the 1933 Act, an “ Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ), so long as such issuance or use has been permitted or consented to by the Issuer and the Manager,

(iv) information contained in any computational materials, or in the case of an Offering of asset-backed securities, the ABS Underwriter Derived Information, or any other offering materials not constituting a Free Writing Prospectus concerning the Offering, the Issuer, the Guarantor, or the Seller, in each case, prepared by or with the permission of the Manager for use by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering, and, in the case of a Registered Offering, filed (if required) with the Commission or FINRA, as applicable, and

 

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(v) a Free Writing Prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, or used or referred to by, an Underwriter in connection with the Offering, so long as: (A) such Free Writing Prospectus is not required to be filed with the Commission, (B) the proposed use of such Free Writing Prospectus is permitted by the Underwriting Agreement, (C) such Free Writing Prospectus complies with the legending condition of Rule 433 under the 1933 Act, and you comply with the record-keeping condition of Rule 433, and (D) (1) such Free Writing Prospectus contains only information describing the preliminary terms of the Securities and other pricing data 2 that is not “ Issuer Information (as defined in Rule 433(h) under the 1933 Act, including footnote 271 of the Securities Offering Reform Release), or (2) the Issuer has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to file a final term sheet under Rule 433 within the time period necessary to avoid a requirement for any Underwriter to file the Free Writing Prospectus to be used by such Underwriter, and the Free Writing Prospectus used by such Underwriter contains only information describing the terms of the Securities or their offering that is included in such final term sheet of the Issuer and other pricing data that is not Issuer Information (a Free Writing Prospectus meeting the requirements of (A) through (D) above used, or referred to by you, is referred to herein as an “ Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus of yours). Without limiting the foregoing, any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus that you use or refer to will not be distributed by you or on your behalf in a manner reasonably designed to lead to its broad unrestricted dissemination. You will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder in connection with your use of any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus.

Any advertisement or written information published, given, sent, or otherwise conveyed by you in violation of this Section 3.3 is referred to as “ Unauthorized Material.

3.4. Institutional and Retail Sales. You authorize the Manager to sell to institutions and retail purchasers such Securities purchased by you pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement as the Manager will determine. The Selling Concession on any such sales will be credited to the accounts of the Underwriters as the Manager will determine.

3.5. Sales to Dealers. You authorize the Manager to sell to Dealers (as defined below) such Securities purchased by you pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement as the Manager will determine. A “ Dealer ” will be a person who is: (a) a broker or dealer (as defined by FINRA) actually engaged in the investment banking or securities business, and (i) a member in good standing of FINRA, or (ii) a non-U.S. bank, broker, dealer, or other institution not eligible for membership in FINRA that, in the case of either clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii), makes the representations and agreements applicable to such institutions contained in Section 10.5 hereof, or (b) in the case of Offerings of Securities that are exempt securities under Section 3(a)(12) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ 1934 Act ), and such other Securities as from time to time may be sold by a “ bank ” (as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the 1934 Act (a “ Bank ”)), a Bank that is not a member of FINRA and that makes the representations and agreements applicable to such institutions contained in Section 10.5 hereof. If the price for any such sales by the Manager to Dealers exceeds an amount equal to the Offering Price less the Selling Concession set forth in the applicable AAU, the amount of such excess, if any, will be credited to the accounts of the Underwriters as the Manager will determine.

 

 

2

Meant to permit disclosure of non-Issuer related information, such as benchmark Treasury rate, in preliminary term sheets or price talk.

 

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3.6. Direct Sales. The Manager will advise you promptly, on the Offering Date, as to the Securities purchased by you pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement that you will retain for direct sale. At any time prior to the termination of the applicable AAU, any such Securities that are held by the Manager for sale but not sold may, on your request and at the Manager’s discretion, be released to you for direct sale, and Securities so released to you will no longer be deemed held for sale by the Manager. You may allow, and Dealers may reallow, a discount on sales to Dealers in an amount not in excess of the Reallowance set forth in the applicable AAU. You may not purchase Securities from, or sell Securities to, any other Underwriter or Dealer at any discount or concession other than the Reallowance, except with the prior consent of the Manager.

3.7. Release of Unsold Securities. From time to time prior to the termination of the applicable AAU, at the request of the Manager, you will advise the Manager of the number or amount of Securities remaining unsold which were retained by or released to you for direct sale, and of the number or amount of Securities and Other Securities (as defined below) purchased for your account remaining unsold which were delivered to you pursuant to Article V hereof or pursuant to any Intersyndicate Agreement, and, on the request of the Manager, you will release to the Manager any such Securities and Other Securities remaining unsold: (a) for sale by the Manager to institutions, Dealers, or retail purchasers, (b) for sale by the Issuer or Seller pursuant to delayed delivery contracts, or (c) if, in the Manager’s opinion, such Securities or Other Securities are needed to make delivery against sales made pursuant to Article V hereof or any Intersyndicate Agreement.

3.8. International Offerings. In the case of an International Offering, you authorize the Manager: (i) to make representations on your behalf as set forth in any Intersyndicate Agreement, and (ii) to purchase or sell for your account pursuant to the Intersyndicate Agreement: (a) Securities, (b) any other securities of the same class and series, or any securities into which the Securities may be converted or for which the Securities may be exchanged or exercised, and (c) any other securities designated in the applicable AAU or applicable Intersyndicate Agreement (the securities referred to in clauses (b) and (c) above being referred to collectively as the “ Other Securities ) .

IV. DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACTS

4.1. Arrangements for Sales. Arrangements for sales of Contract Securities will be made only through the Manager acting either directly or through Dealers (including Underwriters acting as Dealers), and you authorize the Manager to act on your behalf in making such arrangements. The aggregate number or amount of Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters will be reduced by the respective number or amounts of Contract Securities attributed to such Underwriters as hereinafter provided. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.2 hereof, the aggregate number or amount of Contract Securities will be attributed to the Underwriters as nearly as practicable in proportion to their respective Underwriting Percentages, except that, as determined by the Manager in its discretion: (a) Contract Securities directed and

 

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allocated by a purchaser to specific Underwriters will be attributed to such Underwriters, and (b) Contract Securities for which arrangements have been made for sale through Dealers will be attributed to each Underwriter approximately in the proportion that Securities of such Underwriter held by the Manager for sales to Dealers bear to all Securities so held. The fee with respect to Contract Securities payable to the Manager for the accounts of the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement will be credited to the accounts of the respective Underwriters in proportion to the Contract Securities attributed to such Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.1, less, in the case of each Underwriter, the concession to Dealers on Contract Securities sold through Dealers and attributed to such Underwriter.

4.2. Excess Sales. If the number or amount of Contract Securities attributable to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof would exceed such Underwriter’s Original Underwriting Obligation reduced by the number or amount of Underwriters’ Securities sold by or on behalf of such Underwriter, such excess will not be attributed to such Underwriter, and such Underwriter will be regarded as having acted only as a Dealer with respect to, and will receive only the concession to Dealers on, such excess.

V. PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES

5.1. Facilitation of Distribution. In order to facilitate the distribution and sale of the Securities, you authorize the Manager to buy and sell Securities and any Other Securities, in addition to Securities sold pursuant to Article III hereof, in the open market or otherwise (including, without limitation, pursuant to any Intersyndicate Agreement), for long or short account, on such terms as it may deem advisable, and to over-allot in arranging sales. Such purchases and sales and over-allotments will be made for the accounts of the several Underwriters as nearly as practicable to their respective Underwriting Percentages or, in the case of an International Offering, such purchases and sales will be for such accounts as set forth in the applicable Intersyndicate Agreement. Any Securities or Other Securities which may have been purchased by the Manager for stabilizing purposes in connection with the Offering prior to the acceptance of the applicable AAU will be treated as having been purchased pursuant to this Section 5.1 for the accounts of the several Underwriters or, in the case of an International Offering, for such accounts as are set forth in the applicable Intersyndicate Agreement. Your net commitment pursuant to the foregoing authorization will not exceed at the close of business on any day an amount equal to 20% of your Underwriting Percentage of the aggregate initial Offering Price of the Firm Securities, it being understood that, in calculating such net commitment, the initial Offering Price will be used with respect to the Securities so purchased or sold and, in the case of all Other Securities, will be the purchase price thereof. For purposes of determining your net commitment for short account (i. e. , “naked short”), any short position that can be covered with: (a) Securities that may be purchased upon exercise of any option to purchase Additional Securities then exercisable, (b) in the case of an International Offering, any Securities or Other Securities that the Manager has agreed to purchase for your account pursuant to any applicable Intersyndicate Agreement, and (c) Securities that may be purchased pursuant to a forward sale contract or similar arrangement with the Issuer or any selling security holder in the Offering, will be disregarded. On demand you will take up and pay for any Securities or Other Securities so purchased for your account and any Securities released to you pursuant to Section 3.7 hereof, and will deliver to the Manager against payment any Securities or Other Securities so sold or over-allotted for your account or released to you. The Manager will notify

 

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you if it engages in any stabilization transaction in accordance with Rule 17a-2 under the 1934 Act, and will notify you of the date of termination of stabilization. You will not stabilize or engage in any syndicate covering transaction (as defined in Rule 100 of Regulation M under the 1934 Act (“ Regulation M ”)) in connection with the Offering without the prior consent of the Manager. You will provide to the Manager any reports required of you pursuant to Rule 17a-2 under the 1934 Act not later than the date specified therein.

5.2. Penalty with Respect to Securities Repurchased by the Manager. If pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.1 hereof and prior to the termination of the Manager’s authority to cover any short position incurred under the applicable AAU or such other date as the Manager may specify in a Wire, either: (a) the Manager purchases or contracts to purchase for the account of any Underwriter in the open market or otherwise any Securities which were retained by, or released to, you for direct sale or any Securities sold pursuant to Section 3.4 hereof for which you received a portion of the Selling Concession set forth in the applicable AAU, or any Securities which may have been issued on transfer or in exchange for such Securities, and which Securities were therefore not effectively placed for investment, or (b) if the Manager has advised you by Wire that trading in the Securities will be reported to the Manager pursuant to the “Initial Public Offering Tracking System” of The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) and the Manager determines, based on notices from DTC, that your customers sold a number or amount of Securities during any day that exceeds the number or amount previously notified to you by Wire, then you authorize the Manager either to charge your account with an amount equal to such portion of the Selling Concession set forth in the applicable AAU received by you with respect to such Securities or, in the case of clause (b), such Securities as exceed the number or amount specified in such Wire, or to require you to repurchase such Securities or, in the case of clause (b), such Securities as exceed the number or amount specified in such Wire, at a price equal to the total cost of such purchase, including transfer taxes, accrued interest, dividends, and commissions, if any.

5.3. Compliance with Regulation M. You represent that, at all times since you were invited to participate in the Offering, you have complied with the provisions of Regulation M applicable to the Offering, in each case as interpreted by the Commission and after giving effect to any applicable exemptions. If you have been notified in a Wire that the Underwriters may conduct passive market making in compliance with Rule 103 of Regulation M in connection with the Offering, you represent that, at all times since your receipt of such Wire, you have complied with the provisions of such Rule applicable to such Offering, as interpreted by the Commission and after giving effect to any applicable exemptions. You will comply with any additional provisions of Regulation M if and to the extent set forth in the Invitation Wire or other Wire.

5.4. Standby Underwritings. You authorize the Manager in its discretion, at any time on, or from time to time prior to, the expiration of the conversion right of convertible securities identified in the applicable AAU in the case of securities called for redemption, or the expiration of rights to acquire securities in the case of rights offerings, for which, in either case, standby underwriting arrangements have been made: (i) to purchase convertible securities or rights to acquire Securities for your account, in the open market or otherwise, on such terms as the Manager determines, and to convert convertible securities or exercise rights so purchased; and (ii) to offer and sell the underlying common stock or depositary shares for your account, in the open market or otherwise, for long or short account (for purposes of such commitment, such

 

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common stock or depositary shares being considered the equivalent of convertible securities or rights), on such terms consistent with the terms of the Offering set forth in the Prospectus or Offering Circular as the Manager determines. On demand, you will take up and pay for any securities so purchased for your account or you will deliver to the Manager against payment any securities so sold, as the case may be. During such period, you may offer and sell the underlying common stock or depositary shares, but only at prices set by the Manager from time to time, and any such sales will be subject to the Manager’s right to sell to you the underlying common stock or depositary shares as above provided and to the Manager’s right to reserve your securities purchased, received, or to be received upon conversion. You agree not to otherwise bid for, purchase, or attempt to induce others to purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any convertible securities or rights or underlying common stock or depositary shares, provided, however, that no Underwriter will be prohibited from: (a) selling underlying common stock owned beneficially by such Underwriter on the day the convertible securities were first called for redemption, (b) converting convertible securities owned beneficially by such Underwriter on such date or selling underlying common stock issued upon conversion of convertible securities so owned, (c) exercising rights owned beneficially by such Underwriter on the record date for a rights offering, or selling the underlying common stock or depositary shares issued upon exercise of rights so owned, or (d) purchasing or selling convertible securities or rights or underlying common stock or depositary shares as a broker pursuant to unsolicited orders.

VI. PAYMENT AND SETTLEMENT

You will deliver to the Manager on the date and at the place and time specified in the applicable AAU (or on such later date and at such place and time as may be specified by the Manager in a subsequent Wire) the funds specified in the applicable AAU, payable to the order of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, for: (a) an amount equal to the Offering Price plus (if not included in the Offering Price) accrued interest, amortization of original issue discount or dividends, if any, specified in the Prospectus or Offering Circular, less the applicable Selling Concession in respect of the Firm Securities to be purchased by you, (b) an amount equal to the Offering Price plus (if not included in the Offering Price) accrued interest, amortization of original issue discount or dividends, if any, specified in the Prospectus or Offering Circular, less the applicable Selling Concession in respect of such of the Firm Securities to be purchased by you as will have been retained by or released to you for direct sale as contemplated by Section 3.6 hereof, or (c) the amount set forth or indicated in the applicable AAU, as the Manager will advise. You will make similar payment as the Manager may direct for Additional Securities, if any, to be purchased by you on the date specified by the Manager for such payment. The Manager will make payment to the Issuer or Seller against delivery to the Manager for your account of the Securities to be purchased by you, and the Manager will deliver to you the Securities paid for by you which will have been retained by or released to you for direct sale. If the Manager determines that transactions in the Securities are to be settled through DTC or another clearinghouse facility and payment in the settlement currency is supported by such facility, payment for and delivery of Securities purchased by you will be made through such facilities, if you are a participant, or, if you are not a participant, settlement will be made through your ordinary correspondent who is a participant.

 

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VII. EXPENSES

7.1. Management Fee. You authorize the Manager to charge your account as compensation for the Manager’s and Co-Managers’ services in connection with the Offering, including the purchase from the Issuer or Seller of the Securities, as the case may be, and the management of the Offering, the amount, if any, set forth as the management fee, global coordinators’ fee, praecipium, or other similar fee in the applicable AAU. Such amount will be divided among the Manager and any Co-Managers named in the applicable AAU as they may determine. Each Underwriter acknowledges that such fees are being paid by the Underwriters, and are not a benefit received directly or indirectly from the Issuer of the type referred to in Section 11(e) of the 1933 Act.

7.2. Offering Expenses. You authorize the Manager to charge your account with your Underwriting Percentage of all expenses agreed to be paid by the Underwriters in the Underwriting Agreement and all expenses of a general nature incurred by the Manager and Co-Managers under the applicable AAU in connection with the Offering, including the negotiation and preparation thereof, or in connection with the purchase, carrying, marketing, sale and distribution of any securities under the applicable AAU and any Intersyndicate Agreement, including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses, transfer taxes, costs associated with approval of the Offering by FINRA, and the costs of currency transactions (including forward and hedging currency transactions) or, if permitted pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof, any other forward or hedging transactions (including interest rate swaps) entered into to facilitate settlement of the purchase of Securities permitted hereunder.

VIII. MANAGEMENT OF SECURITIES AND FUNDS

8.1. Advances; Loans; Pledges. You authorize the Manager to advance the Manager’s own funds for your account, charging current interest rates, and to arrange loans for your account for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the applicable AAU and any Intersyndicate Agreement, and in connection therewith, to hold or pledge as security therefor all or any securities which the Manager may be holding for your account under the applicable AAU and any Intersyndicate Agreement, to execute and deliver any notes or other instruments evidencing such advances or loans, and to give all instructions to the lenders with respect to any such loans and the proceeds thereof. The obligations of the Underwriters under loans arranged on their behalf will be several in proportion to their respective Original Underwriting Obligations, and not joint. Any lender is authorized to accept the Manager’s instructions as to the disposition of the proceeds of any such loans. In the event of any such advance or loan, repayment thereof will, in the discretion of the Manager, be effected prior to making any remittance or delivery pursuant to Section 8.2, 8.3, or 9.2 hereof.

8.2. Return of Amount Paid for Securities. Out of payment received by the Manager for Securities sold for your account which have been paid for by you, the Manager will remit to you promptly an amount equal to the price paid by you for such Securities.

8.3. Delivery and Redelivery of Securities for Carrying Purposes. The Manager may deliver to you from time to time prior to the termination of the applicable AAU pursuant to Section 9.1 hereof against payment, for carrying purposes only, any Securities or Other

 

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Securities purchased by you under the applicable AAU or any Intersyndicate Agreement which the Manager is holding for sale for your account but which are not sold and paid for. You will redeliver to the Manager against payment any Securities or Other Securities delivered to you for carrying purposes at such times as the Manager may demand.

IX. TERMINATION; INDEMNIFICATION; CONTRIBUTION; SETTLEMENT

9.1. Termination. Each AAU will terminate at the close of business on the later of: (a) the date on which the Underwriters pay the Issuer or Seller for the Securities, and (b) 45 calendar days after the applicable Offering Date, unless sooner terminated by the Manager. The Manager may at its discretion by notice to you prior to the termination of such AAU alter any of the terms or conditions of the Offering to the extent permitted by Articles III and IV hereof, or terminate or suspend the effectiveness of Article V hereof, or any part thereof. No termination or suspension pursuant to this paragraph will affect the Manager’s authority under Section 3.1 hereof to take actions in respect of the Offering or under Article V hereof to cover any short position incurred under such AAU or in connection with covering any such short position to require you to repurchase Securities as specified in Section 5.2 hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, unless otherwise agreed in a Wire or an Intersyndicate Agreement, the Manager’s authority to purchase Securities or Other Securities, for long account, pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, will terminate or be suspended upon the termination or suspension, as the case may be, of the applicable AAU (or any provision and/or term thereof in respect of trading, price or offering restrictions as set forth in a Wire that is sent by the Manager following the time the Securities are released for sale to purchasers) or Article V or Section 5.1 hereof pursuant to this paragraph.

9.2. Delivery or Sale of Securities; Settlement of Accounts. Upon termination of each AAU, or prior thereto at the Manager’s discretion, the Manager will deliver to you any Securities paid for by you pursuant to Article VI hereof and held by the Manager for sale pursuant to Section 3.4 or 3.5 hereof but not sold and paid for and any Securities or Other Securities that are held by the Manager for your account pursuant to the provisions of Article V hereof or any Intersyndicate Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the termination of such AAU, if the aggregate initial Offering Price of any such Securities and the aggregate purchase price of any Other Securities so held and not sold and paid for does not exceed an amount equal to 20% of the aggregate initial Offering Price of the Securities, the Manager may, in its discretion, sell such Securities and Other Securities for the accounts of the several Underwriters, at such prices, on such terms, at such times, and in such manner as it may determine. Within the period specified by applicable FINRA Rules or, if no period is so specified, as soon as practicable after termination of such AAU, your account will be settled and paid. The Manager may reserve from distribution such amount as the Manager deems advisable to cover possible additional expenses. The determination by the Manager of the amount so to be paid to or by you will be final and conclusive. Any of your funds under the Manager’s control may be held with the Manager’s general funds without accountability for interest.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Master AAU other than Section 10.11 hereof, upon termination of each AAU, or prior thereto at the Manager’s discretion, the Manager may: (i) allocate to the accounts of the Underwriters the expenses described in Section 7.2 hereof and any losses incurred upon the sale of Securities or Other Securities pursuant to the applicable AAU or any Intersyndicate Agreement (including any losses incurred upon the sale of securities

 

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referred to in Section 5.4(ii) hereof), (ii) deliver to the Underwriters any unsold Securities or Other Securities purchased pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof or any Intersyndicate Agreement, and (iii) deliver to the Underwriters any unsold Securities purchased pursuant to the applicable Underwriting Agreement, in each case in the Manager’s discretion. The only limitations on such discretion will be as follows: (a) no Underwriter that is not the Manager or a Co-Manager will bear more than its share of such expenses, losses, or Securities (such share will not exceed such Underwriter’s Underwriting Percentage and will be determined pro rata among all such Underwriters based on their Underwriting Percentages), (b) no such Underwriter will receive Securities that, together with any Securities purchased by such Underwriter pursuant to Article VI (but excluding any Securities that such Underwriter is required to repurchase pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof) exceed such Underwriter’s Original Underwriting Obligation, and (c) no Co-Manager will bear more than its share of such expenses, losses, or Securities (such share to be determined pro rata among the Manager and all Co-Managers based on their Underwriting Percentages). If any Securities or Other Securities returned to you pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) above were not paid for by you pursuant to Article VI hereof, you will pay to the Manager an amount per security equal to the amount set forth in clause (i) of Article VI, in the case of Securities returned to you pursuant to clause (iii) above, or the purchase price of such securities, in the case of Securities or Other Securities returned to you pursuant to clause (ii) above.

9.3. Certain Other Expenses. You will pay your Underwriting Percentage of: (i) all expenses incurred by the Manager in investigating, preparing to defend, and defending against any action, claim, or proceeding which is asserted, threatened, or instituted by any party, including any governmental or regulatory body (each, an “Action”), relating to: (A) the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Offering Circular or Offering Circular (and any amendment or supplement thereto), any Supplemental Materials, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and any ABS Underwriter Derived Information used by any Underwriter other than the Manager, (B) the violation of any applicable restrictions on the offer, sale, resale, or purchase of Securities or Other Securities imposed by U.S. Federal or state laws or non-U.S. laws and the rules and regulations of any regulatory body promulgated thereunder or pursuant to the terms of the applicable AAU, the Underwriting Agreement, or any Intersyndicate Agreement, and (C) any claim that the Underwriters constitute a partnership, an association, or an unincorporated business or other separate entity, and (ii) any Losses (as defined in Section 9.4 hereof) incurred by the Manager in respect of any such Action, whether such Loss will be the result of a judgment or arbitrator’s determination or as a result of any settlement agreed to by the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you will not be required to pay your Underwriting Percentage of any such expense or liability: (1) to the extent that such expense or liability was caused by the Manager’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; (2) as to which, and to the extent, the Manager actually receives (a) indemnity pursuant to Section 9.4 hereof, (b) contribution pursuant to Section 9.5 hereof, (c) indemnity or contribution pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, or (d) damages from an Underwriter for breach of its representations, warranties, agreements, or covenants contained in the applicable AAU; or (3) of the Manager (other than fees of Syndicate Counsel) that relates to a settlement entered into by the Manager on a basis that results in a settlement of such Action against it and fewer than all the Underwriters. None of the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.3 will relieve any defaulting or breaching Underwriter from liability for its defaults or breach.

 

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Failure of any party to give notice under Section 9.10 hereof will not relieve any Underwriter of an obligation to pay expenses pursuant to the provisions of this Section 9.3.

9.4. Indemnification. Notwithstanding any settlement or the termination of the applicable AAU, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless each other Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act (each, an “ Indemnified Party ), to the extent and upon the terms which you agree to indemnify and hold harmless any of the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Seller, any person controlling the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Seller, its directors, and, in the case of a Registered Offering, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and, in the case of an Offering other than a Registered Offering, its officers, in each case as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. You further agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses not reimbursed pursuant to Section 9.3 hereof (collectively, “ Losses ”) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the breach or violation by you of the terms of Section 3.3 hereof, including any and all Losses under Section 5 of the 1933 Act, and any litigation, investigation, and proceeding (collectively, “ Litigation ”) relating to any of the foregoing. You will also reimburse each such Indemnified Party upon demand for all expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, as they are incurred, in connection with investigating, preparing for, or defending any of the foregoing. You will indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against any and all Losses related to, arising out of, or in connection with, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus or Supplemental Material of yours or Unauthorized Material used by you, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and any Litigation relating to any of the foregoing, and to reimburse each such Indemnified Party upon demand for all expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, as they are incurred, in connection with investigating, preparing for, or defending any of the foregoing. In addition, you will indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against any and all Losses related to, arising out of, or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any ABS Underwriter Derived Information used by you, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and any Litigation relating to any of the foregoing, and to reimburse each such Indemnified Party upon demand for all expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, as they are incurred, in connection with investigating, preparing for, or defending any of the foregoing; provided, however, that any Losses, joint or several, paid or incurred by any Underwriter, arising out of or based upon any ABS Underwriter Derived Information which was used only by such Underwriter, or in connection with the preparation of which an Underwriter is found to have acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, will be paid solely by such Underwriter.

Each Underwriter will further indemnify and hold harmless any investment banking firm identified in a Wire as the qualified independent underwriter as defined in NASD Conduct Rule 2720 or any FINRA successor rule thereto (in such capacity, a “ QIU ”) for an Offering and each person, if any, who controls such QIU within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, from and against any and all Losses related to, arising out of,

 

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or in connection with such investment banking firm’s activities as QIU for the Offering. Each Underwriter will reimburse such QIU for all expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, as they are incurred, in connection with investigating, preparing for, and defending any Action related to, arising out of, or in connection with such QIU’s activities as a QIU for the Offering. Each Underwriter will be responsible for its Underwriting Percentage of any amount due to such QIU on account of the foregoing indemnity and reimbursement. Such QIU will have no additional liability to any Underwriter or otherwise as a result of its serving as QIU in connection with the Offering. To the extent the indemnification provided to a QIU under this Section 9.4 is unavailable to such QIU or is insufficient in respect of any Losses related thereto, whether as a matter of law or public policy or as a result of the default of any Underwriter in performing its obligations under this Section 9.4, each other Underwriter will contribute to the amount paid or payable by such QIU as a result of such Losses related thereto in proportion to its Underwriting Percentage.

9.5. Contribution. Notwithstanding any settlement or the termination of the applicable AAU, you will pay upon request of the Manager, as contribution, your Underwriting Percentage of any Losses, joint or several, paid or incurred by any Underwriter to any person other than an Underwriter, arising out of or in connection with the breach or violation of the terms of Section 3.3 hereof, including any and all Losses under Section 5 of the 1933 Act, and any Litigation relating to the foregoing. Further, you will pay upon request of the Manager, your Underwriting Percentage of any Losses, joint or several, paid or incurred by any Underwriter to any person other than an Underwriter, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Offering Circular or Offering Circular (and any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Supplemental Materials, any other materials prepared or used by an Underwriter in accordance with Section 3.3 hereof, or any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus of yours or Unauthorized Material used by you, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (other than an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company In Writing by the Underwriter on whose behalf the request for contribution is being made expressly for use therein), or any act or omission to act or any alleged act or omission to act by the Manager or, if applicable, a Representative, as the Manager or a Representative, in connection with any transaction contemplated by this Agreement or undertaken in preparing for the purchase, sale, and delivery of the Securities (provided, that you will not be required to pay in any such case to the extent that any such Loss resulted from the Manager’s or such Representative’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), and your Underwriting Percentage of any legal or other expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, as they are incurred, reasonably incurred by the Underwriter (with the approval of the Manager) on whose behalf the request for contribution is being made in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss or any action in respect thereof; provided, however, that no request will be made on behalf of any Underwriter guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) from any Underwriter who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act); provided, further, that any Losses, joint or several,

 

16


paid or incurred by any Underwriter, arising out of or based upon such Underwriter’s Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus that does not breach Section 3.3 hereof, will be paid by only the Underwriters that used such Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus (the “ Contributing Underwriters”), and the amount to be paid by each Contributing Underwriter will be determined pro rata among the Contributing Underwriters based on their Underwriting Percentages. None of the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.5 will relieve any defaulting or breaching Underwriter from liability for its defaults or breach.

In addition, you will pay your Underwriting Percentage of any Losses, joint or several, paid or incurred by any Underwriter to any person other than an Underwriter, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any ABS Underwriter Derived Information, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (other than an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company In Writing by the Underwriter on whose behalf the request for contribution is being made expressly for use therein) and your Underwriting Percentage of any expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel, as they are incurred, reasonably incurred by the Underwriter (with the approval of the Manager) on whose behalf the request for contribution is being made in connection with investigating, preparing for, or defending any such Loss or any action in respect thereof; provided, however, that any Losses, joint or several, paid or incurred by any Underwriter, arising out of or based upon any ABS Underwriter Derived Information which was used only by such Underwriter, or in connection with the preparation of which the Underwriter is found to have acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, will be paid solely by the Underwriter.

9.6. Separate Counsel. If any Action is asserted or commenced pursuant to which the indemnity provided in Section 9.4 hereof or the right of contribution provided in Section 9.5 hereof may apply, the Manager may take such action in connection therewith as it deems necessary or desirable, including retention of counsel for the Underwriters (“ Syndicate Counsel ”), and in its discretion separate counsel for any particular Underwriter or group of Underwriters, and the fees and disbursements of any counsel so retained will be allocated among the several Underwriters as determined by the Manager. Any such Syndicate Counsel retained by the Manager will be counsel to the Underwriters as a group and, in the event that: (a) the Manager settles any Action on a basis that results in the settlement of such Action against it and fewer than all the Underwriters, or (b)(i) a conflict develops between the Manager and the other Underwriters, or (ii) differing defenses are available to the other Underwriters and not available to the Manager, and as a result of either (b)(i) or (b)(ii) such Syndicate Counsel concludes that it is unable to continue to represent the Manager and the other Underwriters, then in each such case, after notification to the Manager and the other Underwriters, Syndicate Counsel will remain counsel to the other Underwriters and will withdraw as counsel to the Manager. The Manager hereby consents to such arrangement and undertakes to take steps to: (i) ensure that any engagement letters with Syndicate Counsel are consistent with such arrangement; (ii) issue a notice to all other Underwriters promptly following receipt of any advice (whether oral or written) from Syndicate Counsel regarding its inability to represent the Manager and the other Underwriters jointly; and (iii) facilitate Syndicate Counsel’s continued representation of the

 

17


other Underwriters. Any Underwriter may elect to retain at its own expense its own counsel and, on advice of such counsel, may settle or consent to the settlement of any such Action, but only in compliance with Section 9.7 hereof, and in each case, only after notification to every other Underwriter. The Manager may settle or consent to the settlement of any such Action, but only in compliance with Section 9.7 hereof.

9.7. Settlement of Actions. Neither the Manager nor any other Underwriter party to this Master AAU may settle or agree to settle any Action related to or arising out of the Offering, nor may any other Underwriter settle or agree to settle any such Action without the consent of the Manager, nor may any other Underwriter seek the Manager’s consent to any such settlement agreement, nor may the Manager consent to any such settlement agreement, unless: (A) the Manager, together with such other Underwriters as constitute a majority in aggregate interest based on the Underwriting Percentage of the Underwriters as a whole (including the Manager’s interest), approve the settlement of such Action, in which case the Manager is authorized to settle for all Underwriters, provided, however, that the settlement agreement results in the settlement of the Action against all Underwriters raised by the plaintiffs party thereto; or (B) (i) such settlement agreement expressly provides that the non-settling Underwriters will be given a judgment credit (or credit in settlement) with respect to all such Actions for which the non-settling Underwriters may be found liable (or will pay in subsequent settlement), in an amount that is the greatest of: (x) the dollar amount paid in such initial settlement to settle such Actions, (y) the proportionate share of the settling Underwriter’s fault in respect of common damages arising in connection with such Actions as proven at trial, if applicable, or (z) the amount by which the settling Underwriter would have been required to make contribution had it not settled, under Sections 9.5 and 11.2 hereof in respect of the final non-appealable judgment (or settlement) subsequently entered into by the non-settling Underwriters (such greatest amount of either (x), (y), or (z), the “ Judgment Credit ”); 3 (ii) such settlement agreement expressly provides that in the event that the applicable court does not approve the Judgment Credit as part of the settlement, the settlement agreement will automatically terminate; and (iii) the final judgment entered with respect to the settlement agreement contains the Judgment Credit.

9.8. Survival. Except as set forth in the last sentence of Section 9.1, your agreements contained in Article V and Sections 3.1, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, and 11.2 hereof will remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any termination of an AAU and: (a) any termination of the Underwriting Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Seller, its directors or officers, or any person controlling the Issuer, the Guarantor or the Seller, and (c) acceptance of any payment for any Securities.

 

 

3

Seeks to ensure that there is no harm to non-settling Underwriter due to settlement. For example, assume that plaintiffs have suffered $1,000 in damage in a case in which the Underwriters are 50% at fault and other defendants, all of whom are insolvent, are 50% at fault. Further assume that there were two Underwriters, each which underwrote 50% of the offering, and they were equally at fault. If neither Underwriter settles, then each would be required to pay $500 to satisfy the $1,000 verdict for which they are jointly and severally liable (or, if one paid $1,000, Section 9.5 would obligate the other to contribute $500 towards such payment). If the first Underwriter settles for $100, then the second Underwriter will obtain a judgment credit of $500, being equal to the greater of: (a) settlement amount ($100), (b) the first Underwriter’s fault ($250), and (c) the amount which the settling Underwriters would have been required to contribute under the contribution provisions ($500). This formula ensures that the second Underwriter is not harmed by the settlement. By contrast, the judgment credit applied in WorldCom ignored clause (c), resulting in a credit of only $250 and leading the non-settling Underwriter to pay $750, or $250 more than had the first Underwriter not settled.

 

18


9.9. Replacement of Manager. If at any time after any Action is brought the Manager settles the Action on a basis that results in the settlement of such Action against it and fewer than all the Underwriters (whether or not such settlement complies with Section 9.7 hereof), the Manager will, at such time, for purposes of Sections 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, and 9.7 hereof, cease to be the Manager. The non-settling Underwriters will, by vote of holders of a majority of the Underwriting Percentage of such non-settling Underwriters, select a new Manager, which will become the new “ Manager ” for all purposes of Sections 9.3, 9.4., 9.5, 9.6, and 9.7 hereof as well as this section; provided that the non-settling Underwriter(s) with the largest Underwriting Percentage will act as Manager until such vote occurs and a new Manager is selected. 4

Notwithstanding such a settlement, the Manager and the other settling Underwriters will remain obligated to the non-settling Underwriters to assist and cooperate fully, in good faith, and at their own expense, in the defense of any Actions, including, without limitation, by providing, upon reasonable request of any non-settling Underwriter, and without the necessity of court process, access to or copies of all relevant records, and reasonable access to all witnesses under control of the Manager or the other settling Underwriters, for the purpose of interviews, depositions, and testimony at trial, subject in each case to the applicable legal and procedural obligations of such Manager and such other settling Underwriter.

In addition, if at any time, the Manager is unwilling or unable for any reason to assume or discharge its duties as Manager under the applicable AAU, whether resulting from its insolvency (voluntary or involuntary), resignation or otherwise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the remaining Underwriters will, by vote of holders of a majority of the Underwriting Percentage of such Underwriters, be entitled to select a new Manager, which will become the new Manager for all purposes under this Agreement. 5

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Manager replaced pursuant to this Section 9.9 shall continue to benefit from and be subject to all other terms and conditions of this Agreement applicable to an Underwriter.

9.10. Notice. When the Manager receives notice of the assertion of any Action to which the provisions of Sections 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, or 9.7 hereof would apply, it will give prompt notice thereof to each Underwriter, and whenever an Underwriter receives notice of the assertion of any claim or commencement of any Action to which the provisions of Sections 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, or 9.7 hereof would apply, such Underwriter will give prompt notice thereof to the Manager. The Manager also will furnish each Underwriter with periodic reports, at such times as it deems appropriate, as to the status of such Action, and the actions taken by it in connection therewith. If the Manager or any other Underwriter engages in any settlement discussion that involves or contemplates settlement on any basis other than settlement of all Actions against all Underwriters on a pro rata basis according to their Underwriting Percentages, the Manager (or other Underwriter engaging in such discussions) will notify all other Underwriters promptly and provide reasonable details about such discussions.

 

 

4

Permits new Manager to replace settling Manager and manage the litigation–related provisions of this Agreement.

5

Permits new Manager to replace insolvent Manager and manage all aspects of this MAAU.

 

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X. REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS OF UNDERWRITERS

10.1. Knowledge of Offering. You acknowledge that it is your responsibility to examine the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or the Offering Circular, as the case may be, any amendment or supplement thereto relating to the Offering, any Preliminary Prospectus or Preliminary Offering Circular, and the material, if any, incorporated by reference therein, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Supplemental Materials, and any ABS Underwriter Derived Information, and you will familiarize yourself with the terms of the Securities, any applicable Indenture, and the other terms of the Offering thereof which are to be reflected in the Prospectus or the Offering Circular, as the case may be, and the applicable AAU and Underwriting Agreement. The Manager is authorized, with the advice of counsel for the Underwriters, to approve on your behalf any amendments or supplements to the documents described in the preceding sentence.

10.2. Accuracy of Underwriters’ Information. You confirm that the information that you have given and are deemed to have given in response to the Underwriters’ Questionnaire attached as Exhibit A hereto (and to any other questions addressed to you in the Invitation Wire or other Wires), which information has been furnished to the Issuer for use in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or Offering Circular, as the case may be, or has otherwise been relied upon in connection with the Offering, is complete and accurate. You will notify the Manager immediately of any development before the termination of the applicable AAU which makes untrue or incomplete any information that you have given or are deemed to have given in response to the Underwriters’ Questionnaire (or such other questions).

10.3. Name; Address. Unless you have promptly notified the Manager In Writing otherwise, your name as it should appear in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Offering Circular and any advertisement, if different, and your address, are as set forth on the signature pages hereof.

10.4. Compliance with Capital Requirements. You represent that your commitment to purchase the Securities will not result in a violation of the financial responsibility requirements of Rule 15c3-1 under the 1934 Act or of any similar provision of any applicable rules of any securities exchange to which you are subject or, if you are a financial institution subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency, or the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, will not place you in violation of any applicable capital requirements or restrictions of such regulator or any other regulator to which you are subject.

10.5. FINRA Requirements. You represent that you are a member in good standing of FINRA, or a non-U.S. bank, broker, dealer, or institution not eligible for membership in FINRA or a Bank. If you are a member of FINRA, you will comply with all applicable rules of FINRA, including, without limitation: (a) the requirements of FINRA Rule 5130, and (b) the requirements of NASD Conduct Rule 2740 or any FINRA successor rule thereto, and you will

 

20


not grant any concessions, discounts, or other allowances which are not permitted by that Rule. If you are a non-U.S. bank, broker, dealer, or institution not eligible for membership in FINRA, you will not make any sales of the Securities in, or to nationals or residents of, the United States, its territories, or its possessions, except to the extent permitted by Rule 15a-6 or any successor rule thereto, and that in making any sales of the Securities you will comply, as though you are a member of FINRA, with the requirements of the following rules (including any FINRA successor rules thereto): (a) FINRA Rule 5130, (b) NASD Conduct Rules 2730, 2740, and 2750, and (c) NASD Conduct Rule 2420, as that Rule applies to a non-member broker/dealer in a non-U.S. country. If you are a Bank, you will not accept any portion of the management fee paid by the Underwriters with respect to any Offering or, in connection with any Offering of Securities that do not constitute “exempted securities” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(12) of the 1934 Act, purchase any Securities at a discount from the offering price from any Underwriter or Dealer or otherwise accept any Fees and Commissions from any Underwriter or Dealer, which in any such case is not permitted under NASD’s Rules of Fair Practice (or any FINRA successor rules thereto), and you will comply with NASD Conduct Rule 2420 (or any FINRA successor rule thereto) as though you were a member.

10.6. Further State Notice. The Manager will file a Further State Notice with the Department of State of New York, if required.

10.7. Compliance with Rule 15c2-8. In the case of a Registered Offering and any other Offering to which the provisions of Rule 15c2-8 under the 1934 Act are made applicable pursuant to the AAU or otherwise, you will comply with such Rule in connection with the Offering. In the case of an Offering other than a Registered Offering, you will comply with applicable Federal and state laws and the applicable rules and regulations of any regulatory body promulgated thereunder governing the use and distribution of offering circulars by underwriters.

10.8. Discretionary Accounts. In the case of a Registered Offering of Securities issued by an Issuer that was not, immediately prior to the filing of the Registration Statement, subject to the requirements of Section 13(d) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act, you will not make sales to any account over which you exercise discretionary authority in connection with such sale, except as otherwise permitted by the applicable AAU for such Offering.

10.9. Offering Restrictions. You will not make any offers or sales of Securities or any Other Securities in jurisdictions outside the United States except under circumstances that will result in compliance with (i) applicable laws, including private placement requirements, in each such jurisdiction and (ii) the restrictions on offers or sales set forth in any AAU or the Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus, Offering Circular, or Preliminary Offering Circular, as the case may be.

It is understood that, except as specified in the Prospectus or Offering Circular or applicable AAU, no action has been taken by the Manager, the Issuer, the Guarantor, or the Seller to permit you to offer Securities in any jurisdiction other than the United States, in the case of a Registered Offering, where action would be required for such purpose.

 

21


10.10. Representations, Warranties, and Agreements. You will make to each other Underwriter participating in an Offering the same representations, warranties, and agreements, if any, made by the Underwriters to the Issuer, the Guarantor, or the Seller in the applicable Underwriting Agreement or any Intersyndicate Agreement, and you authorize the Manager to make such representations, warranties, and agreements to the Issuer, the Guarantor, or the Seller on your behalf.

10.11. Limitation on the Authority of the Manager to Purchase and Sell Securities for the Account of Certain Underwriters. Notwithstanding any provision of this AAU authorizing the Manager to purchase or sell any Securities or Other Securities (including arranging for the sale of Contract Securities) or over-allot in arranging sales of Securities for the accounts of the several Underwriters, the Manager may not, in connection with the Offering of any Securities, make any such purchases, sales, and/or over-allotments for the account of any Underwriter that, not later than its acceptance of the Invitation Wire relating to such Offering, has advised the Manager that, due to its status as, or relationship to, a bank or bank holding company such purchases, sales, and/or over-allotments are prohibited by applicable law. If any Underwriter so advises the Manager, the Manager may allocate any such purchases, sales, and over-allotments (and the related expenses) which otherwise would have been allocated to your account based on your respective Underwriting Percentage to your account based on the ratio of your Original Underwriting Obligation to the Original Underwriting Obligations of all Underwriters other than the advising Underwriter or Underwriters, or in such other manner as the Manager will determine.

10.12. Electronic Distribution. By participating in the Offering or accepting the Invitation Wire, you will be deemed to be representing that either: (a) you are not making an online distribution; or (b) if you are making an on-line distribution, you are following procedures for on-line distributions previously reviewed by members of the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Commission, such members raised no objections to the procedures reviewed, and there have been no material changes to your procedures since that review.

10.13. Agreement Regarding Oral Due Diligence. By participating in an Offering, each Underwriter agrees that it, each of its affiliates participating in an Offering as Underwriter or financial intermediary and each controlling person of it and each such participating affiliate are bound by the Agreement Regarding Oral Due Diligence currently in effect between Merrill Lynch and the accounting firm or firms that participate in oral due diligence in such offering.

XI. DEFAULTING UNDERWRITERS

11.1. Effect of Termination. If the Underwriting Agreement is terminated as permitted by the terms thereof, your obligations hereunder with respect to the Offering of the Securities will immediately terminate except: (a) as set forth in Section 9.8 hereof, (b) that you will remain liable for your Underwriting Percentage (or such other percentage as may be specified pursuant to Section 9.2 hereof) of all expenses, and for any purchases or sales which may have been made for your account pursuant to the provisions of Article V hereof or any Intersyndicate Agreement, and (c) that such termination will not affect any obligations of any defaulting or breaching Underwriter.

 

22


11.2. Sharing of Liability. If any Underwriter defaults in its obligations: (a) pursuant to Section 5.1, 5.2 or 5.4 hereof, (b) to pay amounts charged to its account pursuant to Section 7.1, 7.2, or 8.1 hereof, or (c) pursuant to Section 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, or 11.1 hereof, you will assume your proportionate share (determined on the basis of the respective Underwriting Percentages of the non-defaulting Underwriters) of such obligations, but no such assumption will relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability to the non-defaulting Underwriters, the Issuer, the Guarantor, or the Seller for its default.

11.3. Arrangements for Purchases. The Manager is authorized to arrange for the purchase by others (including the Manager or any other Underwriter) of any Securities not purchased by any defaulting Underwriter in accordance with the terms of the applicable Underwriting Agreement or, if the applicable Underwriting Agreement does not provide arrangements for defaulting Underwriters, in the discretion of the Manager. If such arrangements are made, the respective amounts of Securities to be purchased by the remaining Underwriters and such other person or persons, if any, will be taken as the basis for all rights and obligations hereunder, but this will not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

XII. MISCELLANEOUS

12.1. Obligations Several. Nothing contained in this Master AAU or any AAU constitutes you partners with the Manager or with the other Underwriters, and the obligations of you and each of the other Underwriters are several and not joint. Each Underwriter elects to be excluded from the application of Subchapter K, Chapter 1, Subtitle A, of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Each Underwriter authorizes the Manager, on behalf of such Underwriter, to execute such evidence of such election as may be required by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

12.2. Liability of Manager. The Manager will not be liable to you for any act or omission, except for obligations expressly assumed by the Manager in the applicable AAU.

12.3. Termination of Master AAU. This Master AAU may be terminated by either party hereto upon five business days’ written notice to the other party; provided, however, that with respect to any Offering for which an AAU was sent prior to such notice, this Master AAU as it applies to such Offering will remain in full force and effect and will terminate with respect to such Offering in accordance with Section 9.1 hereof.

12.4. Governing Law. This Master AAU and each AAU will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. You hereby irrevocably: (a) submit to the jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York located in the City of New York or the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of the State of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Master AAU, or any of the agreements or transactions contemplated hereby (each, a “ Proceeding ”), (b) agree that all claims in respect of any Proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any immunity from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process therein, (d) agree not to commence any Proceeding other than in such courts, and (e) waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim that such Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

23


12.5. Amendments. This Master AAU may be amended from time to time by consent of the parties hereto. Your consent will be deemed to have been given to an amendment to this Master AAU, and such amendment will be effective, five business days following written notice to you of such amendment if you do not notify us In Writing prior to the close of business on such fifth business day that you do not consent to such amendment. Upon effectiveness, the provisions of this Master AAU as so amended will apply to each AAU thereafter entered into, except as otherwise specifically provided in any such AAU.

12.6. Notices. Any notice to any Underwriter will be deemed to have been duly given if mailed, sent by wire, telecopy or electronic transmission or other written communication, or delivered in person to such Underwriter at the address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire, or if no address is provided in an Underwriters’ Questionnaire, then at the address set forth in reports filed by such Underwriter with FINRA. Any such notice will take effect upon receipt thereof.

12.7. Severability . In case any provision in this Master AAU is deemed invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

12.8. Counterparts. This Master AAU may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, and all of which taken together constitute one and the same instrument. Transmission by telecopy of an executed counterpart of this Master AAU will constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart.

 

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Please confirm your acceptance of this Master AAU by signing and returning to us the enclosed duplicate copy hereof.

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

  (Authorized Officer)

 

Confirmed and accepted
as of               , 2009

 

(Legal Name of Underwriter)

 

(Address)
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

  (Authorized Officer)
(If person signing is not an officer or a partner, please attach instrument of authorization)

 

25


GUIDE TO DEFINED TERMS

 

Term

  

Section Reference

1933 Act

   1.1

1934 Act

   3.5

AAU

   Foreword            

ABS Underwriter Derived Information

   2.1

Action

   9.3

Additional Securities

   1.1

Bank

   3.5

Co-Managers

   1.1

Commission

   2.1

Contract Securities

   3.1

Contributing Underwriters

   9.5

Dealer

   3.5

DTC

   5.2

Fees and Commissions

   1.1

FINRA

   3.1

Firm Securities

   1.1

Free Writing Prospectus

   2.1

Guarantor

   1.1

In Writing

   1.2

Indemnified Party

   9.4

Indenture

   1.1

International Offering

   1.1

Intersyndicate Agreement

   2.3

Invitation Wire

   Foreword            

Issuer

   1.1

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus

   3.3

Issuer Information

   3.3

Judgment Credit

   9.7

Litigation

   9.4

Losses

   9.4

Manager

   1.1

Master AAU

   Foreword            

Merrill Lynch

   Foreword            

NASD

   3.1

Offering

   Foreword            

Offering Circular

   2.2

Offering Date

   3.2

Offering Price

   1.1

Original Underwriting Obligation

   1.1

Preliminary Offering Circular

   2.2

Preliminary Prospectus

   2.1

Pricing Date

   1.1

Proceeding

   12.4  

 

26


Prospectus

   2.1

Purchase Price

   1.1

QIU

   9.4

Reallowance

   1.1

Registered Offering

   2.1

Registration Statement

   2.1

Regulation M

   5.1

Representative

   1.1

Securities

   1.1

Securities Offering Reform Release

   2.1

Seller

   1.1

Selling Concession

   1.1

Settlement Date

   1.1

Supplemental Materials

   3.3

Syndicate Counsel

   9.6

Trustee

   1.1

Unauthorized Material

   3.3

Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus

   3.3

Underwriters

   1.1

Underwriters’ Securities

   3.1

Underwriting Agreement

   1.1

Underwriting Percentage

   1.1

Wire

   Foreword            

 

27


EXHIBIT A

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED

UNDERWRITERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE

In connection with each Offering governed by the Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Master Agreement Among Underwriters dated October 5, 2009, except as indicated in a timely acceptance of the Invitation Wire pursuant to Section 1.2 of the Master Agreement Among Underwriters (“ Master AAU ”), each Underwriter participating in such Offering severally advises the Issuer that, other than as disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus or Preliminary Offering Circular, as the case may be (capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Master AAU):

(a) neither such Underwriter nor any of its directors, officers, or partners have a material relationship, as “material” is defined in Regulation C under the 1933 Act, with the Issuer, the Guarantor, or the Seller;

(b) if the Registration Statement is on Form S-1, neither such Underwriter nor any “group” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of which such Underwriter is aware is the beneficial (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) owner of more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the Issuer or Guarantor, nor does such Underwriter have any knowledge that more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the Issuer or the Guarantor is held or to be held subject to any voting trust or other similar agreement, nor does such Underwriter have any knowledge that more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the Issuer or the Guarantor is held or to be held subject to any voting trust or other similar agreement;

(c) other than as may be stated in the Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Master Agreement Among Underwriters dated October 5, 2009, the applicable AAU, the Intersyndicate Agreement or dealer agreement, if any, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Offering Circular, such Underwriter does not know and has no reason to believe that there is an intention to over-allot or that the price of any security may be stabilized to facilitate the offering of the Securities;

(d) other than as may be stated in the Prospectus or the Offering Circular, as the case may be, or the Invitation Wire, such Underwriter does not know of any other discounts or commissions to be allowed or paid to the Underwriters or of any other items that would be deemed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”) to constitute underwriting compensation for purposes of FINRA Rule 5110, and such Underwriter does not know of any discounts or commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers, including all cash, securities, contracts, or other consideration to be received by any dealer in connection with the sale of the Securities;

 

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(e) such Underwriter has not prepared any report or memorandum for external use in connection with the Offering;

(f) if the offer and sale of the Securities are to be registered under the 1933 Act pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 or Form F-1, such Underwriter has not within the past 12 months prepared or had prepared for such Underwriter any engineering, management, or similar report or memorandum relating to broad aspects of the business, operations, or products of the Issuer or the Guarantor. The immediately preceding sentence does not apply to reports solely comprised of recommendations to buy, sell, or hold the Issuer’s or the Guarantor’s securities, unless such recommendations have changed within the past six months, or to information already contained in documents filed with the Commission;

(g) in the case of Registered Offerings and Offerings of Securities exempt under Section 3 of the 1933 Act, and if the Securities are not investment grade debt securities or preferred stock, or equity securities for which there exists a “bona fide public market” (as defined in NASD Conduct Rule 2720(f)(3) or any FINRA successor rule thereto) or otherwise exempted under NASD Conduct Rule 2720 (or any FINRA successor rule thereto), such Underwriter does not have a “conflict of interest” with the Issuer or the Guarantor under NASD Conduct Rule 2720 (or any FINRA successor rule thereto). In that regard, such Underwriter specifically confirms that, at the time of such Underwriter’s participation in the subject Offering, (A) such Underwriter is not issuing the Securities in such Offering; (B) neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor controls, is controlled by or is under common control (as the terms “control” and “common control” are defined in NASD Conduct Rule 2720(f)(6) or any FINRA successor rule thereto) with such Underwriter or such Underwriter’s “associated persons” (as defined by FINRA); (C) less than five percent of the net proceeds of the Offering, not including Fees and Commissions, are intended to be: (i) used to reduce or retire the balance of a loan or credit facility extended by such Underwriter, its “affiliates” and its “associated persons” (as such terms are defined by FINRA), in the aggregate; or (ii) otherwise directed to such Underwriter, its affiliates and associated persons, in the aggregate, and (D) as a result of such Offering and any transactions contemplated at the time of such Offering: (i) such Underwriter will not become an affiliate of the Issuer or Guarantor; (ii) such Underwriter will not become publicly owned; and (iii) the Issuer or Guarantor will not become a FINRA member or form a broker-dealer subsidiary. Furthermore, such Underwriter specifically confirms that such Underwriter does not, (a) beneficially own 10% or more of the Issuer’s or Guarantor’s outstanding “common equity,” “preferred equity” or “subordinated debt” (as each such term is defined in NASD Conduct Rule 2720 or any FINRA successor rule thereto), including the right to receive such securities or subordinated debt within 60 days of such Underwriter’s participation in the Offering; (b) in the case of an Issuer or Guarantor which is a partnership, beneficially own a general, limited or special partnership interest in 10% or more of the Issuer’s or Guarantor’s distributable profits or losses, or a right to receive an interest in such distributable profits or losses within 60 days of such Underwriter’s participation in the Offering; or (c) have the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the Issuer or the Guarantor;

 

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(h) other than as may be stated in the Prospectus or the Offering Circular, as the case may be, in the case of Registered Offerings and Offerings of Securities exempt under Section 3 of the 1933 Act, neither such Underwriter nor any of its directors, officers, partners, or “persons associated with” such Underwriter (as defined by FINRA) nor, to such Underwriter’s knowledge, any “related person” (defined by FINRA to include counsel, financial consultants and advisors, finders, members of the selling or distribution group, any FINRA member participating in the offering, and any other persons associated with or related to and members of the immediate family of any of the foregoing) or any other broker-dealer: (A) within the last six months have purchased in private transactions, or intend before, at, or within six months after the commencement of the public offering of the Securities to purchase in private transactions, any securities of the Issuer, the Guarantor, or any Issuer Related Party (as hereinafter defined), (B) within the last 6 months have had any dealings with the Issuer, the Guarantor, any Seller, or any subsidiary or controlling person thereof (other than relating to the proposed Underwriting Agreement) as to which documents or information are required to be filed with FINRA, or (C) during the 6 months immediately preceding the filing of the Registration Statement (or, if there is none, the Offering Circular), have entered into any arrangement which provided or provides for the receipt of any item of value (including, but not limited to, cash payments and expense reimbursements) and/or the transfer of any warrants, options, or other securities from the Issuer, the Guarantor, or any Issuer Related Party to you or any related person;

(i) in the case of Registered Offerings and Offerings of Securities exempt under Section 3 of the 1933 Act, there is no association or affiliation between such Underwriter and; (A) any officer or director of the Issuer, the Guarantor or, any Issuer Related Party, or (B) any securityholder of 5% or more (or, in the case of an initial public offering of equity securities, any securityholder) of any class of securities of the Issuer, the Guarantor, or an Issuer Related Party; it being understood that for purposes of paragraph (i) above and this paragraph (j), the term “Issuer Related Party” includes any Seller, any affiliate of the Issuer, the Guarantor, or a Seller, and the officers or general partners, directors, employees, and securityholders thereof;

(j) in the case of Registered Offerings and Offerings of Securities exempt under Section 3 of the 1933 Act, and if the Securities are not issued by a real estate investment trust, no portion of the net offering proceeds from the sale of the Securities will be paid to such Underwriter or any of its affiliates or “persons associated with” such Underwriter (as defined by FINRA) or members of the immediate family of any such person; and

(k) in the case of Securities which are debt securities whose offer and sale is to be registered under the 1933 Act, such Underwriter is not an affiliate (as defined in Rule 0-2 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939) of the Trustee for the Securities or of its parent, if any. Neither the Trustee nor its parent, if any, nor any of their directors or executive officers is a “director, officer, partner, employee, appointee, or representative” of such Underwriter (as those terms are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or in the relevant instructions to Form T-1). Such Underwriter and its directors, partners, and executive officers, taken as a group, did not on the date specified in the Invitation, and do

 

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not, own beneficially 1% or more of the shares of any class of voting securities of the Trustee or of its parent, if any. If such Underwriter is a corporation, it does not have outstanding and has not assumed or guaranteed any securities issued otherwise than in its present corporate name.

If an Underwriter notes an exception with respect to material of the type referred to in clauses (e) and (f), such underwriter will send three copies of each item of such material, together with a statement as to distribution, identifying classes of recipients and the number of copies distributed to each such class, and, if relevant, the number of equity securities or the face value of debt securities owned by such person, the date such securities were acquired, and the price paid for such securities to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Syndicate Department.

 

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Exhibit i

NUVEEN OPEN-END AND CLOSED-END FUNDS

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES

(As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2009)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SECTION 1 PURPOSE OF PLAN; RESTATEMENT EFFECTIVE DATE    1
1.1   Purpose of Plan    1
1.2   Effective Date    1
1.3   Grandfather Rule for Pre-2005 Accounts    1
SECTION 2 DEFINITION OF TERMS AND CONSTRUCTION    1
2.1   Definitions    1
2.2   Plurals and Gender    3
2.3   Headings    3
2.4   Separate Agreement    4
SECTION 3 DEFERRALS    4
3.1   Deferral Election    4
3.2   Payment Reduction    4
3.3   Effect of Election.    4
3.4   Unforeseeable Emergencies    4
SECTION 4 ACCOUNTS    4
4.1   Crediting of Deferrals.    4
4.2   Valuation of Account.    5
SECTION 5 DISTRIBUTIONS FROM ACCOUNT    7
5.1   Participant’s Payment Election.    7
5.2   Irrevocability    7
5.3   Death Prior to Complete Distribution of Account    8
5.4   Unforeseeable Emergency    8
5.5   Designation of Beneficiary    8
5.6   Domestic Relations Orders    8
5.7   Compliance With Conflicts of Interest Laws    8
SECTION 6 AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION    9
6.1   Amendments    9
6.2   Termination    9
SECTION 7 MISCELLANEOUS    9
7.1   Rights of Creditors.    9
7.2   Agents    9
7.3   Incapacity    9
7.4   Statement of Account    10
7.5   Governing Law    10
7.6   Non-Guarantee of Status    10
7.7   Counsel    10
7.8   Interests Not Transferable    10
7.9   Entire Agreement    10

 

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7.10   Powers of Administrator    10
7.11   Participant Litigation    11
7.12   Successors and Assigns    11
7.13   Severability    11
7.14   Section 409A    11

 

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Exhibit i

NUVEEN OPEN-END AND CLOSED-END FUNDS

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES

(As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2009)

SECTION 1 PURPOSE OF PLAN; RESTATEMENT EFFECTIVE DATE

1.1 Purpose of Plan . The Board of each Participating Fund maintains this Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Directors and Trustees. The purpose of the Plan is to allow the independent directors and trustees of the Participating Funds to defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation they earn for their service to the Participating Funds in lieu of receiving current payments of such compensation, and to treat any deferred amount as though an equivalent dollar amount had been invested in shares of one or more Eligible Funds. Each Board intends that the Plan shall be maintained at all times on an unfunded basis for federal income tax purposes under the Code. The Plan is not covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

1.2 Effective Date . This amendment and restatement of the Plan, which is intended to implement the requirements of Section 409A, is generally effective January 1, 2009.

1.3 Grandfather Rule for Pre-2005 Accounts . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the terms of the Pre-2005 Plan shall apply to the portion (if any) of a Participant’s Account as of December 31, 2004, including credited earnings and losses with respect thereto (the “Grandfathered Account”); provided, however, that with respect to any election change otherwise allowable thereunder, (i) such change may be made only during such annual enrollment periods as the Administrator shall establish, and (ii) if a change in the Participant’s payment election would result in the commencement of payment in a given Plan Year, the change may in no event be made later than the end of the annual enrollment period occurring prior to the first day of such Plan Year. With the exception of this Section 1.3 the provisions of this amended and restated Plan shall not apply to such Grandfathered Account. The Pre-2005 Plan shall be deemed to constitute a separate plan for purposes of Section 409A.

SECTION 2 DEFINITION OF TERMS AND CONSTRUCTION

2.1 Definitions . The following terms as used in this Plan shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Account” shall mean the aggregation of a Participant’s Plan Year Accounts.

(b) “Administrator” shall mean the Boards or such other person or persons as the Boards may from time to time designate, provided that no Participant may serve as Administrator.

(c) “Beneficiary” shall mean such person or persons designated pursuant to Section 5.5 hereof to receive benefits after the death of a Participant.


(d) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors or the Board of Trustees of the respective Participating Funds.

(e) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute.

(f) “Compensation” shall mean the retainer and fees paid to a Participant (prior to reduction for Deferrals made under this Plan) for serving as a member of the Board of any Participating Fund or as a member of any committee or subcommittee of such Board.

(g) “Deferral” shall mean the amount or amounts of a Participant’s Compensation deferred under the provisions of Section 3.

(h) “Deferral Election” shall mean the Participant’s election under Section 3.1 to defer all or a portion of his or her Compensation.

(i) “Designated Fund” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).

(j) “Eligible Fund” means an open-end fund managed by Nuveen and designated by the Boards as a fund that may be chosen by a Participant as a fund in which the Participant’s Account may be deemed to be invested.

(k) “Net Asset Value” shall mean the per share value of an open-end fund, as determined as set forth in such fund’s registration statement under the 1940 Act, governing instruments and otherwise in accordance with law.

(l) “Nuveen” shall mean Nuveen Investments, Inc. and its affiliates.

(m) “Participant” shall mean a member of a Board who is not an “interested person” of a Participating Fund or of Nuveen, as such term is defined under Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”).

(n) “Participating Fund” shall mean an open-end or closed-end fund managed by Nuveen, whether existing at the time of adoption of the Plan or established at a later date, designated by its Board as a fund compensation from which may be deferred by a Participant. Participating Funds shall be listed on Exhibit A to the Plan, which shall be revised from time to time by the Administrator, provided that failure to list a Participating Fund on Exhibit A shall not affect its status as a Participating Fund.

(o) “Payment Election” shall mean an election pursuant to Section 5.1.

(p) “Plan” shall mean this Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Directors and Trustees, as amended from time to time.

(q) “Plan Year” shall mean the 12-month period beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

 

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(r) “Plan Year Account” shall mean the book entry account described in Section 4.1(a).

(s) “Plan Year Subaccount” shall mean, with respect to a Participating Fund, the portion of a Plan Year Account attributable to Compensation deferred from such Participating Fund.

(t) “Pre-2005 Plan” shall mean the Plan as in effect prior to January 1, 2005.

(u) “Section 409A” shall mean Section 409A of the Code, as interpreted by regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder.

(v) “Separation from Service” means a separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A. A Separation from Service with respect to any Participating Fund shall occur on the date as of which there is a complete termination of a Participant’s relationship as a director (or independent contractor or employee) with respect to such Participating Fund, with no reasonable anticipation (as determined in good faith by the Administrator) of the Participant being reappointed to the Board of such Participating Fund.

(w) “Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship of the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant or his or her spouse or dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code), loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty (including the need to rebuild a home following damage to a home not otherwise covered by insurance), or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the Participant’s control. Circumstances that may constitute an Unforeseeable Emergency include the imminent foreclosure of or eviction from the Participant’s primary residence; the need to pay for medical expenses, including nonrefundable deductibles, as well as for the costs of prescription drug medication; and the need to pay for the funeral expenses of a spouse or a dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code). The purchase of a home and the payment of college tuition generally are not Unforeseeable Emergencies. Whether the Participant is faced with an Unforeseeable Emergency permitting an emergency withdrawal shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, based on the relevant facts and circumstances and applying regulations and other guidance under Section 409A.

(x) “Valuation Date” shall mean the last business day of each calendar quarter and any other day upon which Nuveen makes a valuation of the Account.

2.2 Plurals and Gender . Where appearing in this Plan the singular shall include the plural and the masculine shall include the feminine, and vice versa, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning.

2.3 Headings . The headings and subheadings in this Plan are inserted for convenience of reference only and are to be ignored in any construction of the provisions hereof.

 

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2.4 Separate Agreement . This Plan shall be construed as a separate agreement between each Participant and each of the Participating Funds.

SECTION 3 DEFERRALS

3.1 Deferral Election . A Participant may elect to defer all or a specified percentage of the Compensation earned in a Plan Year by such Participant for serving as a member of the Board of any Participating Fund or as a member of any committee or subcommittee thereof. Reimbursement of expenses of attending meetings of the Board, committees of the Board or subcommittees of such committees may not be deferred. Such election shall be made by executing before the first day of such Plan Year such election notice as the Administrator may prescribe; provided, however, that upon first becoming eligible to participate in the Plan by reason of appointment to a Board, a Participant may file a Deferral Election not later than 30 days after the effective date of such appointment, which election shall apply to Compensation earned in the portion of the Plan Year commencing the day after such election is filed and ending on the last day of such Plan Year.

3.2 Payment Reduction . While a Deferral Election is in effect, deferrals described in Section 3.1 shall be withheld, based upon the percentage elected, from each payment of Compensation to which the Participant would otherwise have been entitled but for his Deferral Election.

3.3 Effect of Election . A Deferral Election pursuant to Section 3.1 shall apply only to the Plan Year for which it is made and shall be irrevocable except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 3.4.

3.4 Unforeseeable Emergencies . In the event of a Participant’s Unforeseeable Emergency on account of which the Participant receives a withdrawal pursuant to Section 5.4, the Participant’s Deferral Election shall be canceled.

SECTION 4 ACCOUNTS

4.1 Crediting of Deferrals .

(a) The Administrator shall establish a book entry account (“Plan Year Account”) consisting of one or more Plan Year Subaccounts, to which will be credited an amount equal to the Participant’s Deferrals of Compensation from each respective Participating Fund under this Plan with respect to such Plan Year. The requirement to maintain separate Plan Year Subaccounts shall be deemed satisfied if the Administrator maintains (i) separate Plan Year Accounts and (ii) adequate records to enable the portions of each Plan Year Account attributable to the respective Plan Year Subaccounts to be calculated at any time.

(b) Any Compensation from a Participating Fund for a Plan Year earned by a Participant which he has elected to defer pursuant to the Plan will be credited to the corresponding Plan Year Subaccount on the date such Compensation otherwise would have been payable to such Participant.

 

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(c) The obligations to pay the amounts in a Participant’s Plan Year Subaccounts associated with a Participating Fund shall be the sole obligation of that Participating Fund.

(d) Plan Year Subaccounts shall be debited to reflect any distributions from such subaccounts. Such debits shall be allocated to the Plan Year Subaccount as of the date such distributions are made.

4.2 Valuation of Account .

(a) Each Board shall from time to time designate one or more open-end funds managed by Nuveen as Eligible Funds. A Participant, on his Deferral Election form, shall have the right to select from the then-current list of Eligible Funds one or more funds in which his Account shall be deemed invested as set forth in this Section 4.2 (“Designated Funds”). A Participant shall designate whether his election pursuant to this Section 4.2(a), or change in election pursuant to Section 4.2(b), is to apply to his entire Account or to one or more Plan Year Accounts as specified in the election. A Participant may designate an Eligible Fund even if he is not a member of the Board of that Eligible Fund. Except as provided below, amounts credited to a Participant’s Account shall be treated as though such amounts had been invested and reinvested in shares of the Participant’s Designated Funds, initially calculated as follows:

(i) the product of

(A) the amount of such Deferrals and

(B) the percentage of such Deferrals to be deemed invested in that Designated Fund, divided by

(ii) the Designated Fund’s Net Asset Value per share as of the date such amount is so credited.

(b) As of the last day of each calendar year, by written election delivered to the Administrator not less than 15 days prior to the end of such year, each Participant may direct that the Designated Funds in which his or her Account is deemed invested be changed. Any election to change such investment direction shall indicate the dollar amount or percentage of the balance in such Account (determined based on the then current Net Asset Value of each Designated Fund in which the Account is deemed invested immediately prior to giving effect to such investment change) to be invested in each such Designated Fund. The number of shares of each Designated Fund to be deemed held in the Participant’s Account following such investment change shall be calculated as follows:

(i) the product of

(A) the balance in such Account and

(B) the percentage of such balance to be deemed invested in that Designated Fund divided by

 

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(ii) the Designated Fund’s Net Asset Value per share as of the last day of such calendar year.

(c) If a Designated Fund shall pay a stock dividend on, or split, combine, reclassify or substitute other securities by merger, consolidation or otherwise for its outstanding shares, the Participant’s Account shall be adjusted as though shares of such Designated Fund were actually held by the Account in order to preserve rights substantially proportionate to the rights deemed held immediately prior to such event.

(d) On each payment date of dividends or capital gains distributions declared on shares of any Designated Fund in which a Participant’s Account is deemed invested, the Account will be credited with book adjustments representing all dividends or capital gains distributions which would have been realized had such account been invested in shares of such Designated Fund and such dividend or capital gains distribution had been received and reinvested.

(e) The value of a Plan Year Subaccount on any Valuation Date shall be the sum of (i) the number of shares of each Designated Fund deemed to be held in the Plan Year Subaccount as provided by the preceding paragraphs, multiplied by (ii) the Net Asset Value per share of such Designated Fund on the Valuation Date.

(f) On each date upon which a distribution of less than the entire balance is to be charged to a Participant’s Plan Year Subaccount, the amount of such distribution shall, unless the Participant otherwise specifies in accordance with rules established by the Administrator, be allocated among all of the Designated Funds in which the Plan Year Subaccount is deemed to be invested in proportion to the aggregate value of the number of deemed shares of each such Designated Fund, and the number of deemed shares of each such Designated Fund shall then be reduced by the portion of the distribution allocated to such Designated Fund divided by the Net Asset Value per share of such Designated Fund on the date on which the distribution is charged.

(g) Unless and until each Board otherwise determines, the Eligible Funds shall include only one or more open-end funds managed by Nuveen. Open-end funds that cease to be managed by Nuveen shall automatically cease to be Eligible Funds, unless one of the Boards otherwise determines with respect to Participants that are members of such Board. The Boards may at any time remove any open-end fund from the list of Eligible Funds, or may add any open-end fund (whether or not managed by Nuveen), for Participants who are members of that Board. If an Eligible Fund is removed from the list of Eligible Funds for any reason then no further deferrals shall be deemed invested in such fund and, unless the Board otherwise determines, the Administrator shall give each Participant whose Account is deemed to be invested in such Eligible Fund a reasonable period to submit a new designation, and any Participant who fails to submit a new designation shall be subject to the provisions of the last sentence of Section 3.2(h) below.

(h) As of each Valuation Date, income, gain and loss equivalents (determined as if the Account were invested in the manner set forth under Section 4.2(a) above)

 

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attributable to the period following the next preceding Valuation Date shall be credited to and/or deducted from the Participant’s Plan Year Subaccounts. Except as provided below, the Participant’s Plan Year Subaccounts shall receive a return in accordance with his investment designations, provided such designations conform to the provisions of this Section. If:

(i) the Participant does not furnish the Administrator with a written designation,

(ii) the written designation from the Participant is unclear, or

(iii) less than all of the Participant’s Account is covered by such written designation,

then the Participant’s Account shall receive no return until such time as the Participant shall provide the Administrator with instructions.

SECTION 5 DISTRIBUTIONS FROM ACCOUNT

5.1 Participant’s Payment Election .

(a) Simultaneously with the filing of a Deferral Election for a Plan Year pursuant to Section 3.1, a Participant shall elect on such form as the Administrator may prescribe the time and manner in which the corresponding Plan Year Account shall be distributed. Such election shall specify (i) whether each Plan Year Subaccount within the Plan Year Account is to be paid in a lump sum, in 20 substantially equal quarterly installments, or in five substantially equal annual installments, and (ii) the date on which such lump-sum payment is to be made and/or such installments are to commence. For purposes of clause (ii) of the preceding sentence a Participant may specify either (i) the time of the Participant’s Separation from Service, (ii) a specific date (irrespective of whether such date is before or after the Participant’s Separation from Service), or (iii) the earlier of the Participant’s Separation from Service or a specific date. In the event of a Participant’s Separation from Service from some but not all of the Participating Funds to which the Participant’s Plan Year Account is attributable, to the extent a Participant’s Payment Election relates to his or her Separation from Service it shall affect only the Plan Year Subaccounts attributable to the Participating Funds from which the Participant has incurred a Separation from Service.

(b) A Participant’s Payment Election shall apply only to the Plan Year Account for which it is made.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5, the balance in a Participant’s Plan Year Account shall be paid in accordance with the Participant’s valid Payment Election made for such Plan Year Account pursuant to this Section 5.

5.2 Irrevocability . Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5, a Participant’s Payment Election shall be irrevocable.

 

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5.3 Death Prior to Complete Distribution of Account . If a Participant dies prior to the commencement of the distribution of the amounts credited to his Account, the balance of such Account shall be distributed to his Beneficiary in a lump sum as soon as practicable after the Participant’s death. If a Participant dies after the commencement of such distributions, but prior to the complete distribution of his Account, the balance of the amounts credited to his Account shall be distributed to his Beneficiary over the remaining period during which such amounts were otherwise distributable to the Participant under Section 5.1 hereof.

5.4 Unforeseeable Emergency . In the event of a Participant’s Unforeseeable Emergency, such Participant may request an emergency withdrawal from his or her Account. Any such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrator, which approval shall not be granted to the extent that such need may be relieved (i) through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or (ii) by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship). A Participant may withdraw all or a portion of his or her Account due to an Unforeseeable Emergency; provided, however, that the withdrawal shall not exceed the amount reasonably needed to satisfy the need created by the Unforeseeable Emergency.

5.5 Designation of Beneficiary . For the purposes of Section 5.3 hereof, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall be the person or persons so designated by the Participant in a written instrument submitted to the Administrator. Subject to rules established by the Administrator, a Participant may designate multiple or alternative Beneficiaries, and may change his Beneficiary at any time without the consent of any prior Beneficiary; provided that no change of a Beneficiary shall be effective unless and until actually received, in proper form, by the Administrator during the Participant’s life. The Administrator’s determination of the person eligible to receive the Account of a deceased Participant, if made in good faith, shall be final and binding on all parties. If a Participant fails to properly designate a Beneficiary or if his Beneficiary predeceases him, his Beneficiary shall be his estate.

5.6 Domestic Relations Orders . If any judgment, decree or order (including approval of a property settlement agreement) which (i) relates to the provision of child support, alimony payments, or marital property rights to a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a Participant, and (ii) is made pursuant to a state or foreign domestic relations law (including a community property law) directs assignment of a portion of a Participant’s Account to a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a Participant, such amount may be paid in a lump-sum cash payment at the request of the person to whom assignment is directed to be made as soon as administratively possible after the Administrator’s receipt of the signed order, as long as the order (or a written direction to the Administrator of how to interpret the order, signed by the Participant and the person to whom the order directs assignment) clearly specifies the amount of the Account assigned and the timing of payment to the person to whom the assignment is made.

5.7 Compliance With Conflicts of Interest Laws . Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, payment of a Participant’s Account shall be accelerated to the extent (and only to the extent) reasonably necessary to avoid the violation of an applicable Federal, state, or local conflicts of interest law.

 

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SECTION 6 AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

6.1 Amendments . The Boards reserve the right to amend, in whole or in part, and in any manner, any or all of the provisions of this Plan by action of the Boards, except that no amendment shall reduce the balance in any Participant’s Account, or (unless necessary to comply with the 1940 Act or other applicable law) significantly delay the time at which such balance is payable without the consent of the Participant affected.

6.2 Termination . Each Board may terminate this Plan at any time by action of the Board. If one Board elects to terminate the Plan with respect to the Participants who are members of such Board, the Plan shall remain in effect with respect to Participants who are members of one or more other Boards. Upon termination, payment of each Participant’s then current Account value shall be made in such manner as the Administrator shall determine consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

SECTION 7 MISCELLANEOUS

7.1 Rights of Creditors .

(a) This Plan is unfunded. With respect to the payment of amounts credited to a Participant’s Account, the Participant and his Beneficiaries have the status of unsecured creditors of the Participating Fund to which such Account relates. The Plan shall not be construed as conferring on a Participant any right, title, interest, or claim in or to any specific asset, reserve, account, or property or any kind possessed by the Participating Funds. To the extent that a Participant or any other person acquires a right to receive payments from the Participating Funds, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor.

(b) This Plan is executed on behalf of each Participating Fund by an officer of that Participating Fund as such and not individually. Any obligation of a Participating Fund hereunder shall be an unsecured obligation of that Participating Fund and not of any other person.

7.2 Agents . Each Participating Fund may employ agents and provide for such clerical, legal, actuarial, accounting, advisory or other services as it deems necessary to perform its duties under this Plan. Each Participating Fund shall bear the cost of such services and all other expenses it incurs in connection with the administration of this Plan.

7.3 Incapacity . If the Administrator shall receive evidence satisfactory to it that a Participant or any Beneficiary entitled to receive any benefit under the Plan is, at the time when such benefit becomes payable, a minor, or is physically or mentally incompetent to receive such benefit and to give a valid release therefor, and that another person or an institution is then maintaining or has custody of the Participant or Beneficiary and that no guardian, committee or other representative of the estate of the Participant or Beneficiary shall have been duly appointed, a Participating Fund may make payment of such benefit otherwise payable to the Participant or Beneficiary to such other person or institution, including a custodian under a Uniform Transfers to Minors Act or corresponding legislation (who shall be an adult, a guardian of the minor or a trust company), and the release of such other person or institution shall be a valid and complete discharge for the payment of such benefit.

 

9


7.4 Statement of Account . The Administrator will furnish each Participant with a statement setting forth the value of such Participant’s Plan Year Accounts as of the end of each calendar year and all credits to and payments from such Plan Year Accounts during such year. Such statements will be furnished no later than 60 days after the end of each calendar year.

7.5 Governing Law . This Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois.

7.6 Non-Guarantee of Status . Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed as a contract or guarantee of the right of a Participant to be, or remain as, a director or a trustee of a fund, or to receive any, or any particular rate of, Compensation.

7.7 Counsel . Each Board may consult with legal counsel with respect to the meaning or construction of this Plan, its obligations or duties hereunder or with respect to any action or proceeding or any question of law, and it shall be fully protected with respect to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith pursuant to the advice of legal counsel.

7.8 Interests Not Transferable . A Participant’s and Beneficiaries’ interests in the Account may not be anticipated, sold, encumbered, pledged, mortgaged, charged, transferred, alienated, assigned nor become subject to execution, garnishment or attachment and any attempt to do so by any person shall be deemed null and void; no Participating Fund shall recognize the rights of any party under this Plan except those of the Participant or his Beneficiary; provided that this Section 7.8 shall not preclude a Participating Fund from offsetting any amount payable to a Participant hereunder by any amount owed by such Participant to that Participating Fund or to Nuveen.

7.9 Entire Agreement . This Plan contains the entire understanding between each Participating Fund and the Participants with respect to the payment of non-qualified deferred compensation by a Participating Fund to the Participants.

7.10 Powers of Administrator . In addition to other powers specifically set forth herein, the Administrator shall have all power and authority necessary or convenient for the administration of this Plan, including without limitation the authority to:

(a) construe and interpret the Plan, and resolve any inconsistency or ambiguity with respect to any of its terms;

(b) decide all questions of eligibility and determine the amount, manner and time of payment of any benefits hereunder;

(c) prescribe rules and procedures to be followed by Participants or Beneficiaries in making any election or taking any action provided for herein, which rules and procedures may alter any provision of the Plan that is administrative or ministerial in nature without the necessity for an amendment;

(d) allocate Accounts among the Eligible Funds;

 

10


(e) maintain all the necessary records for the administration of the Plan;

(f) delegate any of it duties or powers under the Plan to any other person acting under its supervision; and

(g) do all other acts which the Administrator deems necessary or proper to accomplish and implement its responsibilities under the Plan.

Any rule or procedure adopted by the Administrator, or any decision, ruling or determination made by the Administrator, in good faith shall be final, binding and conclusive on all Participating Funds, Participants, Beneficiaries and all persons claiming through them. The authority of the Administrator may be exercised by such person as the Chief Executive Officer of the Administrator may designate or, in the absence of a specific designation, by those officers and employees of the Administrator whose normal duties include payment of compensation to independent directors and trustees.

7.11 Participant Litigation . In any action or proceeding regarding the Participants or their Beneficiaries or any other persons having or claiming to have an interest in this Plan shall not be necessary parties and shall not be entitled to any notice or process. Any final judgment which is not appealed or appealable and may be entered in any such action or proceeding shall be binding and conclusive on the parties hereto and all persons having or claiming to have any interest in this Plan. To the extent permitted by law, if a legal action is begun against either Board, any Participating Fund, the Administrator, or any of their respective officers, directors, trustees, employees or agents (an “indemnified party”), by or on behalf of any person and such action results adversely to such person or if a legal action arises because of conflicting claims to a Participant’s or other person’s benefits, the costs to the indemnified party of defending the action will be charged to the amounts, if any, which were involved in the action or were payable to the Participant or other person concerned. To the extent permitted by applicable law, acceptance of participation in this Plan shall constitute a release of each of the indemnified parties from any and all liability and obligation not involving willful misconduct or gross neglect.

7.12 Successors and Assigns . This Plan shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the Participating Funds and their successors and assigns and to the Participants and their heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives.

7.13 Severability . In the event any one or more provisions of this Plan are held to be invalid or unenforceable, such illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof and such other provisions shall remain in full force and effect unaffected by such invalidity or unenforceability.

7.14 Section 409A . This Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A, and shall be administered and interpreted in accordance with such intent. If the Boards (or the Administrator, to the extent the Boards delegate such authority to the Administrator) determine that any provision of the Plan is or might be inconsistent with the requirements of Section 409A, they shall attempt in good faith to make such changes to the Plan as may be necessary or appropriate to avoiding a Participant’s becoming subject to adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Participating Fund listed on Appendix A has caused this amended and restated Plan to be executed by one of its duly authorized officers, this      day of          , 2008.

 

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

 

Witness

 

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EXHIBIT A

NUVEEN OPEN-END AND CLOSED-END FUNDS

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR INDEPENDENT

DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES

Participating funds 1 : Funds from which director compensation can be deferred 2 : AUM ³ $270MM 3 : funds do not lose Participating status from a subsequent loss of assets 4 : list updated each quarter, with new funds that have surpassed the $270MM threshold

Current List of Participating Funds

Nuveen All-American Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Conservative Allocation Fund

Nuveen Moderate Allocation Fund

Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund

Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2

Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3

Nuveen California Insured Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen California Investment Quality Municipal Fund

Nuveen California Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen California Municipal Value Fund

Nuveen California Performance Plus Municipal Fund

Nuveen California Quality Income Municipal Fund

Nuveen California Select Quality Municipal Fund

Nuveen Connecticut Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund

Nuveen Diversified Dividend and Income Fund

Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund

Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2

Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3

Nuveen Equity Premium Advantage Fund

Nuveen Equity Premium and Growth Fund

Nuveen Equity Premium Income Fund

Nuveen Equity Premium Opportunity Fund

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Opportunity Fund

Nuveen Florida Investment Quality Municipal Fund

Nuveen Florida Preference Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Florida Quality Income Municipal Fund

Nuveen Global Value Opportunities Fund

Nuveen High Yield Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Insured California Dividend Advantage Fund

Nuveen Insured California Premium Income Fund 2

Nuveen Insured California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio

Nuveen Insured Dividend Advantage Fund

Nuveen Insured Florida Premium Income Municipal Fund

Nuveen Insured Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Insured Municipal Opportunity Fund

Nuveen Insured New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio

Nuveen Insured Premium Income Municipal Fund 2

Nuveen Insured Quality Municipal Fund

Nuveen Insured Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund

Nuveen Intermediate Duration Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Investment Quality Municipal Fund

Nuveen Kentucky Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Large-Cap Value Fund

Nuveen Limited Term Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Michigan Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Michigan Quality Income Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Missouri Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Multi-Currency Short-Term Government Income Fund

Nuveen Municipal Advantage Fund, Inc.

Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund

Nuveen Municipal Market Opportunity Fund

Nuveen Municipal Value Fund

 

Exhibit A - Page 1


Nuveen New Jersey Investment Quality Municipal Fund

Nuveen New Jersey Premium Income Municipal Fund

Nuveen New York Insured Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen New York Investment Quality Municipal Fund

Nuveen New York Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund 2

Nuveen New York Performance Plus Municipal Fund

Nuveen New York Quality Income Municipal Fund

Nuveen New York Select Quality Municipal Fund

Nuveen North Carolina Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen NWQ Multi-Cap Value Fund

Nuveen Ohio Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Pennsylvania Investment Quality Municipal Fund

Nuveen Pennsylvania Premium Income Fund 2

Nuveen Performance Plus Municipal Fund

Nuveen Preferred and Convertible Income Fund

Nuveen Preferred and Convertible Income Fund 2

Nuveen Premier Insured Municipal Income Fund

Nuveen Premier Municipal Income Fund

Nuveen Premium Income Municipal Fund 2

Nuveen Premium Income Municipal Fund 4

Nuveen Premium Income Municipal Fund

Nuveen Quality Income Municipal Fund

Nuveen Quality Preferred Income

Nuveen Quality Preferred Income 2

Nuveen Quality Preferred Income 3

Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund

Nuveen Rittenhouse Growth Fund

Nuveen Select Quality Municipal Fund

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 2

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 3

Nuveen Senior Income Fund

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Dividend Growth Fund

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Floating Rate Fund

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund

Nuveen Tradewinds Global All-Cap Fund

Nuveen Tradewinds International Value Fund

Nuveen Tradewinds Value Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Virginia Municipal Bond Fund

 

Exhibit A - Page 2

Exhibit j.1

A MENDED AND R ESTATED M ASTER C USTODIAN A GREEMENT

This Agreement between those N UVEEN I NVESTMENT C OMPANIES (each such investment company and each investment company made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 19 herein, be referred to as a “Fund” and collectively as the Funds” ) listed on Appendix A hereto (hereinafter “Appendix A” as it may be amended from time to time), which may be Massachusetts business trusts or have such other form of organization as may be indicated, and S TATE S TREET B ANK and T RUST C OMPANY , a Massachusetts trust company (the Custodian” ).

W ITNESSETH :

W HEREAS , the Funds and the Custodian have entered into a Master Custodian Agreement, dated as of April 19, 2002 (as amended and in effect, the “Master Custodian Agreement”);

W HEREAS , the Funds and the Custodian desire to replace such existing Master Custodian Agreement with this Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement;

W HEREAS , the Funds are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and each Fund has appointed the Bank to act as its Custodian;

W HEREAS , the Funds may be authorized to issue shares in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets; and

W HEREAS , each Fund so authorized intends that this Agreement be applicable to each of its series set forth on Appendix A (each such series together with all other series subsequently established by the Fund and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 20 herein, be referred to as a “Portfolio” and collectively as the “Portfolios” ).

N OW T HEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

S ECTION  1. E MPLOYMENT OF C USTODIAN AND P ROPERTY TO BE H ELD BY I T

Each Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of the assets of the Portfolios of the Fund, including securities which the Fund, on behalf of the applicable Portfolio desires to be held in places within the United States (“ domestic securities ”) and securities it desires to be held outside the United States (“ foreign securities ”). Each Fund, on behalf of its Portfolio(s), agrees to deliver to the Custodian all securities, cash, or other assets of such Portfolios, and all payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by it with respect to all securities owned by it from time to time, and the cash consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares of beneficial interest of each Fund representing interests in its Portfolios (“ Shares ”) as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of a Portfolio held or received by the Fund and not delivered to the Custodian.


Upon receipt of “ Proper Instructions ” (as such term is defined in Section 6 hereof), the Custodian shall on behalf of the applicable Portfolio from time to time employ one or more sub-custodians located in the United States, but only in accordance with an applicable vote by the Board of Directors or the Board of Trustees of the applicable Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio (as appropriate, and in each case, the “ Board ”). The Custodian may employ as sub-custodian for each Fund’s foreign securities on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, the foreign banking institutions and foreign securities depositories designated in Schedules A and B hereto, but only in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4. The Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability to the Fund on account of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to the Custodian.

 

S ECTION  2. D UTIES OF THE C USTODIAN WITH R ESPECT TO P ROPERTY OF THE F UND H ELD B Y THE C USTODIAN IN THE U NITED S TATES

S ECTION  2.1 H OLDING S ECURITIES . The Custodian shall hold and physically segregate for the account of each Portfolio all non-cash property, to be held by it in the United States, including all domestic securities owned by such Portfolio other than securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.8 in a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a “ U.S. Securities System ”).

S ECTION  2.2 D ELIVERY OF S ECURITIES . The Custodian shall release and deliver domestic securities owned by a Portfolio held by the Custodian or in a U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian only upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

 

  1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio and receipt of payment therefor;

 

  2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement related to such securities entered into by a Portfolio;

 

  3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 hereof;

 

  4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for securities of a Portfolio;

 

  5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;


  6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Portfolio or into the name of any nominee or nominees of the Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.6 or into the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1; or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

  7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio, to the broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for examination in accordance with “street delivery” custom; provided that in any such case, the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

  8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

  9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

  10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the Portfolio, but only against receipt of adequate collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, which may be in the form of cash or obligations issued by the United States government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except that in connection with any loans for which collateral is to be credited to the Custodian’s account in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the Portfolio prior to the receipt of such collateral;

 

  11) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the Fund on behalf of one or more Portfolios to a third party lending agent, or the lending agent’s custodian, in accordance with Proper Instructions (which may not provide for receipt by the Custodian of collateral therefor) agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian on behalf of a Portfolio;

 

  12) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by a Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, but only against receipt of amounts borrowed;

 

  13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among a Fund on behalf of a Portfolio, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”) and a member of The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“ NASD ”), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Portfolio of the Fund;


  14) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among a Fund on behalf of a Portfolio, the Custodian, and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“ CFTC ”) and/or any contract market, or any similar organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Portfolio of the Fund;

 

  15) Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent for the Fund (the “ Transfer Agent ”) for delivery to such Transfer Agent or to the holders of Shares in connection with distributions in kind, as may be described from time to time in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund related to the Portfolio (the “ Prospectus ”), in satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption;

 

  16) For delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio; and

 

  17) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio specifying the securities of the Portfolio to be delivered and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

S ECTION  2.3 R EGISTRATION OF S ECURITIES . Domestic securities held by the Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the Portfolio or in the name of any nominee of the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively to a Portfolio, unless a Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee to be used in common with other registered investment companies having the same investment advisor as the Portfolio, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or in the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Portfolio under the terms of this Agreement shall be in “street name” or other good delivery form. If, however, the Fund directs the Custodian to maintain securities in “street name”, the Custodian shall utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on such securities and to notify the Fund on a best efforts basis only of relevant corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers.

S ECTION  2.4 B ANK A CCOUNTS . The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of each Portfolio of each Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the Portfolio, other than cash maintained by the Portfolio in a bank account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ 1940 Act ”). Monies held by the Custodian for a Portfolio may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in the banking department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust companies as it may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable; provided , however, that


every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act as a custodian under the 1940 Act and that each such bank or trust company and the monies to be deposited with each such bank or trust company shall on behalf of each applicable Portfolio be approved by vote of a majority of the Board. Such monies shall be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.

S ECTION  2.5 C OLLECTION OF I NCOME . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to registered domestic securities held hereunder to which each Portfolio shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business, and shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent thereof and shall credit such income, as collected, to such Portfolio’s custodian account. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring presentation as and when they become due and shall collect interest when due on securities held hereunder. Income due each Portfolio on securities loaned pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 (10) shall be the responsibility of the Fund. The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection therewith, other than to provide the Fund with such information or data as may be necessary to assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian of the income to which the Portfolio is properly entitled.

S ECTION  2.6 P AYMENT OF F UND M ONIES . Upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of a Portfolio in the following cases only:

 

  1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts for the account of the Portfolio but only (a) against the delivery of such securities or evidence of title to such options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts to the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm or trust company doing business in the United States or abroad which is qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian and has been designated by the Custodian as its agent for this purpose) registered in the name of the Portfolio or in the name of a nominee of the Custodian referred to in Section 2.3 hereof or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of repurchase agreements entered into between the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio and the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of NASD, (i) against delivery of the securities either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank with such securities or (ii) against delivery of the receipt evidencing purchase by the Portfolio of securities owned by the Custodian along with written evidence of the agreement by the Custodian to repurchase such securities from the Portfolio; or (d) for transfer to a time deposit account of the Fund in any bank, whether domestic or foreign; such transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to Proper Instructions from the Fund as defined herein;


  2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of securities owned by the Portfolio as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof;

 

  3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued as set forth in Section 6 hereof;

 

  4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Portfolio, including but not limited to the following payments for the account of the Portfolio: interest, taxes, management, accounting, transfer agent and legal fees, and operating expenses of the Fund whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;

 

  5) For the payment of any dividends on Shares declared pursuant to the governing documents of the Fund;

 

  6) For payment of the amount of dividends received with respect to securities sold short;

 

  7) For payment of initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio;

 

  8) For delivery to one or more co-custodians (each, a “ Repo Custodian ”) appointed by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio and communicated to the Custodian by Proper Instructions, including Schedule D (as may be amended from time to time) attached to this Agreement, duly executed by two authorized officers of the Fund, for the purpose of engaging in repurchase agreement transactions, which delivery may be made without contemporaneous receipt by the Custodian of assets in exchange therefor, and upon which delivery to such Repo Custodian in accordance with Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio, the Custodian shall have no further responsibility or obligation to the Fund as a custodian for the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio with respect to the assets so delivered (each such delivery, a “ Free Trade ”), provided that, in preparing reports of monies received or paid out of the Portfolio or of assets comprising the Portfolio, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon information received from time to time from the Repo Custodian and shall not be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of such information included in the Custodian’s reports until such assets are received by the Custodian ; and

 

  9) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the amount of such payment and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

S ECTION  2.7 A PPOINTMENT OF A GENTS . The Custodian may at any time or times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust company which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as the Custodian may from time to time direct; provided , however, that the appointment of any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder.


S ECTION  2.8 D EPOSIT OF F UND A SSETS IN U.S. S ECURITIES S YSTEMS . The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in a U.S. Securities System in compliance with the conditions of Rule 17f-4 of the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time.

S ECTION  2.9 S EGREGATED A CCOUNT . The Custodian shall upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of each applicable Portfolio establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of each such Portfolio, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the NASD (or any futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the CFTC or any registered contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Portfolio, (ii) for purposes of segregating U.S. cash, U.S. Government securities, or other U.S. securities in connection with swaps or other transactions by a Portfolio related to an ISDA Master Agreement; (iii) for purposes of segregating U.S. cash or U.S. Government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written by the Portfolio or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Portfolio, (iv) for the purposes of compliance by the Portfolio with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”), or interpretative opinion of the staff of the SEC, relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies, and (v) for any other purpose upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio.

S ECTION  2.10 O WNERSHIP C ERTIFICATES FOR T AX P URPOSES . The Custodian shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to domestic securities of each Portfolio held by it and in connection with transfers of securities.

S ECTION  2.11 P ROXIES . The Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered holder of such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in the name of the Portfolio or a nominee of the Portfolio, all proxies, without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver to the Portfolio such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such securities.

S ECTION  2.12 C OMMUNICATIONS R ELATING TO F UND S ECURITIES . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the applicable Fund all written information (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the Portfolio) received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities being held for the Portfolio. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Portfolio all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. If the Portfolio desires to take action with respect to any tender offer, exchange offer or any other similar transaction, the Portfolio shall notify the Custodian at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take such action.


S ECTION  3. P ROVISIONS R ELATING TO R ULES 17 F -5 AND 17 F -7

S ECTION  3.1. D EFINITIONS . As used throughout this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:

“Country Risk” means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to, such country’s political environment, economic and financial infrastructure (including any Eligible Securities Depository operating in the country), prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices, and laws and regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in custody in that country.

“Eligible Foreign Custodian” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule 17f-5, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate action of the SEC, or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act) meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does not include any Eligible Securities Depository.

“Eligible Securities Depository” has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of Rule 17f-7.

“Foreign Assets” means any of the Portfolios’ investments (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Portfolios’ transactions in such investments.

“Foreign Custody Manager” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule 17f-5.

“Rule 17f-5” means Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

“Rule 17f-7” means Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

S ECTION  3.2. T HE C USTODIAN AS F OREIGN C USTODY M ANAGER .

3.2.1 D ELEGATION TO THE C USTODIAN AS F OREIGN C USTODY M ANAGER . The Fund, by resolution adopted by its Board, hereby delegates to the Custodian, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set forth in this Section 3.2 with respect to Foreign Assets of the Portfolios held outside the United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to the Portfolios.

3.2.2 C OUNTRIES C OVERED . The Foreign Custody Manager shall be responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country listed on Schedule A to this Agreement, which list of countries may be amended from time to time by the Fund with the agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the assets of the Portfolios, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to time in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager will provide amended versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereof.


Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions to open an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolios, of the applicable account opening requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by the Board, on behalf of the Portfolios, responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this Agreement by the Fund shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction to open an account, or to place or maintain Foreign Assets, in each country listed on Schedule A in which the Custodian has previously placed or currently maintains Foreign Assets pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. Following the receipt of Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account of a Portfolio with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board on behalf of the Portfolios to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager for that country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the Custodian shall immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios with respect to that country.

The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing) after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have no further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund with respect to the country as to which the Custodian’s acceptance of delegation is withdrawn.

3.2.3 S COPE OF D ELEGATED R ESPONSIBILITIES :

(a) S ELECTION OF E LIGIBLE F OREIGN C USTODIANS . Subject to the provisions of this Section 3.2, the Foreign Custody Manager may place and maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as amended from time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as Foreign Custody Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian, the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign Assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that Eligible Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).

(b) C ONTRACTS W ITH E LIGIBLE F OREIGN C USTODIANS . The Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the contract governing the foreign custody arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).

(c) M ONITORING . In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a system to monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) the contract


governing the custody arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines that the custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it has selected are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall notify the Board in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.

3.2.4 G UIDELINES FOR THE E XERCISE OF D ELEGATED A UTHORITY . For purposes of this Section 3.2, the Board shall be deemed to have considered and determined to accept such Country Risk as is incurred by placing and maintaining the Foreign Assets in each country for which the Custodian is serving as Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios.

3.2.5 R EPORTING R EQUIREMENTS . The Foreign Custody Manager shall report the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign Custodian and the placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign Custodian by providing to the Board an amended Schedule A at the end of the calendar quarter in which an amendment to such Schedule has occurred. The Foreign Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of any other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Fund described in this Section 3.2 after the occurrence of the material change.

3.2.6 S TANDARD OF C ARE AS F OREIGN C USTODY M ANAGER OF A P ORTFOLIO . In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign Custody Manager agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.

3.2.7 R EPRESENTATIONS WITH R ESPECT TO R ULE 17 F -5 . The Foreign Custody Manager represents to the Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Fund represents to the Custodian that the Board has determined that it is reasonable for the Board to rely on the Custodian to perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Agreement to the Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios.

3.2.8 E FFECTIVE D ATE AND T ERMINATION OF THE C USTODIAN AS F OREIGN C USTODY M ANAGER . The Board’s delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall remain in effect until terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating party. Termination will become effective thirty (30) days after receipt by the non-terminating party of such notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof shall govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios with respect to designated countries.

S ECTION  3.3 E LIGIBLE S ECURITIES D EPOSITORIES .

3.3.1 A NALYSIS AND M ONITORING . The Custodian shall (a) provide the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor) with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Eligible Securities Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b) monitor such risks on a continuing basis, and promptly notify the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor) of any material change in such risks, in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.


3.3.2 S TANDARD OF C ARE . The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section 3.3.1.

 

S ECTION  4. D UTIES OF THE C USTODIAN WITH R ESPECT TO P ROPERTY OF THE P ORTFOLIOS H ELD O UTSIDE THE U NITED S TATES

S ECTION  4.1 D EFINITIONS . As used throughout this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:

“Foreign Securities System” means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on Schedule B hereto.

“Foreign Sub-Custodian” means a foreign banking institution serving as an Eligible Foreign Custodian.

S ECTION  4.2. H OLDING S ECURITIES . The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Portfolios the foreign securities held by each Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign securities for all of its customers, including the Portfolios, with any Foreign Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for the benefit of its customers, provided however, that (i) the records of the Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Portfolios which are maintained in such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the Portfolios and (ii), to the extent permitted and customary in the market in which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall require that securities so held by the Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such Foreign Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.

S ECTION  4.3. F OREIGN S ECURITIES S YSTEMS . Foreign securities shall be maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country through arrangements implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as applicable, in such country.

S ECTION  4.4. T RANSACTIONS IN F OREIGN C USTODY A CCOUNT .

4.4.1. D ELIVERY OF F OREIGN S ECURITIES . The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Portfolios held by the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

 

  (i) upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Portfolio in accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the country where such foreign securities are held or traded, including, without limitation: (A) delivery against expectation of receiving later payment; or (B) in the case of a sale effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of the Foreign Securities System;


  (ii) in connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign securities;

 

  (iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for foreign securities of the Portfolios;

 

  (iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;

 

  (v) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian) or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units;

 

  (vi) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that in any such case the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

  (vii) for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;

 

  (viii) in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities;

 

  (ix) for delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the Portfolios requiring a pledge of assets by the Portfolios;

 

  (x) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts, including delivery as original margin and variation margin;

 

  (xi) in connection with the lending of foreign securities; and

 

  (xii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the foreign securities to be delivered and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.


4.4.2. P AYMENT OF P ORTFOLIO M ONIES . Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of the applicable Portfolio in the following cases only:

 

  (i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Portfolio, unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A) delivering money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in the case of a purchase effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of such Foreign Securities System;

 

  (ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of foreign securities of the Portfolio;

 

  (iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Portfolio, including but not limited to the following payments: interest, taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees under this Agreement, legal fees, accounting fees, and other operating expenses;

 

  (iv) for the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign exchange contracts for the Portfolio, including transactions executed with or through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;

 

  (v) for delivery to one or more co-custodians (each, a “ Repo Custodian ”) appointed by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio and communicated to the Custodian by Proper Instructions, including Schedule D (as may be amended from time to time) attached to this Agreement, duly executed by two authorized officers of the Fund, for the purpose of engaging in repurchase agreement transactions, which delivery may be made without contemporaneous receipt by the Custodian of assets in exchange therefor, and upon which delivery to such Repo Custodian in accordance with Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio, the Custodian shall have no further responsibility or obligation to the Fund as a custodian for the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio with respect to the assets so delivered (each such delivery, a “ Free Trade ”), provided that, in preparing reports of monies received or paid out of the Portfolio or of assets comprising the Portfolio, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon information received from time to time from the Repo Custodian and shall not be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of such information included in the Custodian’s reports until such assets are received by the Custodian;

 

  (vi) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts, including delivery as original margin and variation margin;

 

  (vii) for payment of part or all of the dividends received with respect to securities sold short;

 

  (viii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign securities; and

 

  (ix) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the amount of such payment and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.


4.4.3. M ARKET C ONDITIONS . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received for the account of the Portfolio and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the account of the Portfolio may be effected in accordance with the customary established securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the country or market in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.

The Custodian shall provide to the Board the information with respect to custody and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times set forth on such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided that no such revision shall result in the Board being provided with substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.

S ECTION  4.5. R EGISTRATION OF F OREIGN S ECURITIES . The foreign securities maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the applicable Portfolio or in the name of the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the foregoing, and the Fund on behalf of such Portfolio agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any liability as a holder of record of such foreign securities. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of a Portfolio under the terms of this Agreement unless the form of such securities and the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.

S ECTION  4.6 B ANK A CCOUNTS . The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Portfolio cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies) deposited with the Custodian. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or market practice does not facilitate the maintenance of, cash on the books of the Custodian, a bank account or bank accounts shall be opened and maintained outside the United States on behalf of a Portfolio with a Foreign Sub-Custodian. All accounts referred to in this Section shall be subject only to draft or order by the Custodian (or, if applicable, such Foreign Sub-Custodian) acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash received by or from or for the account of the Portfolio. Cash maintained on the books of the Custodian (including its branches, subsidiaries and affiliates), regardless of currency denomination, is maintained in bank accounts established under, and subject to the laws of, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

S ECTION  4.7. C OLLECTION OF I NCOME . The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Portfolio shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Portfolio. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Fund and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.

S ECTION  4.8 S HAREHOLDER R IGHTS . With respect to the foreign securities held pursuant to this Section 4, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country where such securities are issued. The Fund acknowledges that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of the Fund to exercise shareholder rights.


S ECTION  4.9. C OMMUNICATIONS R ELATING TO F OREIGN S ECURITIES . The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information with respect to materials received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Portfolios (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from issuers of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is sought or from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with foreign securities or other property of the Portfolios at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is in actual possession of such foreign securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or power.

S ECTION  4.10. L IABILITY OF F OREIGN S UB -C USTODIANS . Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent possible, require the Foreign Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties, and to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s performance of such obligations. At the Fund’s election, the Portfolios shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.

S ECTION  4.11 T AX L AW . The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on a Fund, the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of the applicable Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on the Fund with respect to the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. The sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to assist the Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which the Fund has provided such information.

S ECTION  4.12. L IABILITY OF C USTODIAN . The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in the Agreement and, regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a Foreign Securities System, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or terrorism, or any other loss where the Sub-Custodian has otherwise acted with reasonable care.


S ECTION  5. L OAN S ERVICING P ROVISIONS

S ECTION  5.1 G ENERAL . The following provisions shall apply with respect to investments, property or assets in the nature of loans, or interests or participations in loans, including without limitation interests in syndicated bank loans and bank loan participations, whether in the U.S. or outside the U.S. (collectively, “ Loans ”) entered into by the Fund on behalf of one or more of its Portfolios (referred to in this Section 5 as the “Fund”).

S ECTION  5.2 S AFEKEEPING . Instruments, certificates, agreements and/or other documents which the Custodian may receive with respect to Loans, if any (collectively “ Financing Documents ”), from time to time, shall be held by the Custodian at its offices in Boston, Massachusetts.

S ECTION  5.3 D UTIES OF THE C USTODIAN . The Custodian shall accept such Financing Documents, if any, with respect to Loans as may be delivered to it from time to time by the Fund. The Custodian shall be under no obligation to examine the contents or determine the sufficiency of any such Financing Documents or to provide any certification with respect thereto, whether received by the Custodian as original documents, photocopies, by facsimile or otherwise. Without limiting the foregoing, the Custodian is under no duty to examine any such Financing Documents to determine whether necessary steps have been taken or requirements met with respect to the assignment or transfer of the related Loan or applicable interest or participation in such Loan. The Custodian shall be entitled to assume the genuineness, sufficiency and completeness of any Financing Documents received, and the genuineness and due authority of any signature appearing on such documents. Notwithstanding any term of this Agreement to the contrary, with respect to any Loans, (i) the Custodian shall be under no obligation to determine, and shall have no liability for, the sufficiency of, or to require delivery of, any instrument, document or agreement constituting, evidencing or representing such Loan, other than to receive such Financing Documents, if any, as may be delivered or caused to be delivered to it by the Fund (or its investment manager acting on its behalf), (ii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, delivery of any such Loan (including without limitation, for purposes of Section 2.6 above) may be made to the Custodian by, and may be represented solely by, delivery to the Custodian of a facsimile or photocopy of an assignment agreement (an “ Assignment Agreement ”) or a confirmation or certification from the Fund (or the investment manager) to the effect that it has acquired such Loan and/or has received or will receive, and will deliver to the Custodian, appropriate Financing Documents constituting, evidencing or representing such Loan (such confirmation or certification, together with any Assignment Agreement, collectively, an “ Assignment Agreement or Confirmation ”), in any case without delivery of any promissory note, participation certificate or similar instrument (collectively, an “ Instrument ”), (iii) if an original Instrument shall be or shall become available with respect to any such Loan, it shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) to make or cause delivery thereof to the Custodian, and the Custodian shall be under no obligation at any time or times to determine whether any such original Instrument has been issued or made available with respect to such Loan, and shall not be under any obligation to compel compliance by the Fund to make or cause delivery of such Instrument to the Custodian, and (iv) any reference to Financing Documents appearing in this Section 5 shall be deemed to include, without limitation, any such Instrument and/or Assignment Agreement or Confirmation.


If payments with respect to a Loan (“ Loan Payment ”) are not received by the Custodian on the date on which they are due, as reflected in the Payment Schedule (as such term is defined in Section 5.4 below) of the Loan (“ Payment Date ”), or in the case of interest payments, not received either on a scheduled interest payable date, as reported to the Custodian by the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) for the Loan (the “ Interest Payable Date ”), or in the amount of their accrued interest payable, the Custodian shall promptly, but in no event later than one business day after the Payment Date or the Interest Payable Date, give telephonic notice to the party obligated under the Financing Documents to make such Loan Payment (the “ Obligor ”) of its failure to make timely payment, and (2) if such payment is not received within three business days of its due date, shall notify the Fund (or the investment manager on its behalf) of such Obligor’s failure to make the Loan Payment. The Custodian shall have no responsibility with respect to the collection of Loan Payments which are past due, other than the duty to notify the Obligor and the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) as provided herein.

The Custodian shall have no responsibilities or duties whatsoever under this Agreement, with respect to Loans or the Financing Documents, except for such responsibilities as are expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall have no obligation to preserve any rights against prior parties or to exercise any right or perform any obligation in connection with the Loans or any Financing Documents (including, without limitation, no obligation to take any action in respect of or upon receipt of any consent solicitation, notice of default or similar notice received from any bank agent or Obligor, except that the Custodian shall undertake reasonable efforts to forward any such notice to the Fund or the investment manager acting on its behalf). In case any question arises as to its duties hereunder, the Custodian may request instructions from the Fund and shall be entitled at all times to refrain from taking any action unless it has received Proper Instructions from the Fund or the investment manager and the Custodian shall in all events have no liability, risk or cost for any action taken, with respect to a Loan, pursuant to and in compliance with the Proper Instructions of such parties.

The Custodian shall be only responsible and accountable for Loan Payments actually received by it and identified as for the account of the Fund; any and all credits and payments credited to the Fund, with respect to Loans, shall be conditional upon clearance and actual receipt by the Custodian of final payment thereon.

The Custodian shall promptly, upon the Fund’s request, release to the Fund’s investment manager or to any party as the Fund or the Fund’s investment manager may specify, any Financing Documents being held on behalf of the Fund. Without limiting the foregoing, the Custodian shall not be deemed to have or be charged with knowledge of the sale of any Loan, unless and except to the extent it shall have received written notice and instruction from the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) with respect thereto, and except to the extent it shall have received the sale proceeds thereof.

In no event shall the Custodian be under any obligation or liability to make any advance of its own funds with respect to any Loan.

S ECTION  5.4 R ESPONSIBILITY OF THE F UND . With respect to each Loan held by the Custodian hereunder in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Fund shall (a) cause the Financing Documents evidencing such Loan to be delivered to the Custodian; (b) include with such


Financing Documents an amortization schedule of payments (the “ Payment Schedule ”) identifying the amount and due dates of scheduled principal payments, the Interest Payable Date(s) and related payment amount information, and such other information with respect to the related Loan and Financing Documents as the Custodian reasonably may require in order to perform its services hereunder (collectively, “ Loan Information ”), in such form and format as the Custodian reasonably may require; (c) take, or cause the investment manager to take, all actions necessary to acquire good title to such Loan (or the participation in such Loan, as the case may be), as and to the extent intended to be acquired; and (d) cause the Custodian to be named as its nominee for payment purposes under the Financing Documents or otherwise provide for the direct payment of the Payments to the Custodian. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the Loan Information provided to it by the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) without any obligation on the part of the Custodian independently to verify, investigate, recalculate, update or otherwise confirm the accuracy or completeness thereof; and the Custodian shall have no liability for any delay or failure on the part of the Fund in providing necessary Loan Information to the Custodian, or for any inaccuracy therein or incompleteness thereof. With respect to each such Loan, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely on any information and notices it may receive from time to time from the related bank agent, Obligor or similar party with respect to the related Loan, and shall be entitled to update its records on the basis of such information or notices received, without any obligation on its part independently to verify, investigate or recalculate such information.

S ECTION  5.5 I NSTRUCTIONS ; A UTHORITY TO A CT . The certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund’s Board of Directors, identifying certain individuals to be officers of the Fund or employees of the Fund’s investment manager authorized to sign any such instructions, may be received and accepted as conclusive evidence of the incumbency and authority of such to act and may be considered by the Custodian to be in full force and effect until it receives written notice to the contrary from the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Fund’s Board. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to ensure that any investment by the Fund with respect to Loans has been authorized.

S ECTION  5.6 A TTACHMENT . In case any portion of the Loans or the Financing Documents shall be attached or levied upon pursuant to an order of court, or the delivery or disbursement thereof shall be stayed or enjoined by an order of court, or any other order, judgment or decrees shall be made or entered by any court affecting the property of the Fund or any act of the Custodian relating thereto, the Custodian is hereby expressly authorized in its sole discretion to obey and comply with all orders, judgments or decrees so entered or issued, without the necessity of inquire whether such court had jurisdiction, and, in case the Custodian obeys or complied with any such order, judgment or decree, it shall not be liable to anyone by reason of such compliance.

 

S ECTION  6. P AYMENTS FOR S ALES OR R EPURCHASES OR R EDEMPTIONS OF S HARES

The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the Shares or from the Transfer Agent and deposit into the account of the appropriate Portfolio such payments as are received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to time by the applicable Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to such Fund on behalf of each such Portfolio and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of such Portfolio.


From such funds as may be available for the purpose, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available for payment to holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request for redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent to wire funds to or through a commercial bank designated by the redeeming shareholders. In connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn on the Custodian by a holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished by the Fund to the holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in accordance with such procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the Custodian.

 

S ECTION  7. P ROPER I NSTRUCTIONS

Proper Instructions, which may also be standing instructions, as used throughout this Agreement, shall mean instructions received by the Custodian from the Fund, the Fund’s investment manager, or a person or entity duly authorized by either of them. Such instructions may be in writing signed by the authorized person or persons or may be in a tested communication or in a communication utilizing access codes effected between electro-mechanical or electronic devices or may be by such other means and utilizing such intermediary systems and utilities as may be agreed to from time to time by the Custodian and the person or entity giving such instructions, provided that the Fund has followed any security procedures agreed to from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian, including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by the Fund in the Funds Transfer Addendum to this Agreement. Oral instructions will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect to the transaction involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing. For purposes of this Section, Proper Instructions shall include instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any multi-party agreement which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section 2.9 of this Agreement. The Fund or the Fund’s investment manager shall cause its duly authorized officer to certify to the Custodian in writing the names and specimen signatures of persons authorized to give Proper Instructions. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the identity and authority of such persons until it receives notice from the Fund to the contrary.

 

S ECTION  8. A CTIONS P ERMITTED WITHOUT E XPRESS A UTHORITY

The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the applicable Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio:

 

  1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement, provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio;

 

  2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive form;

 

  3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Portfolio, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and


  4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with the securities and property of the Portfolio except as otherwise directed by the Board.

 

S ECTION  9. E VIDENCE OF A UTHORITY

The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the applicable Fund. The Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution of the Board, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund (“ Certified Resolution ”), as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with such resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action by the Board as described in such resolution, and such resolution may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.

 

S ECTION  10. D UTIES OF C USTODIAN WITH R ESPECT TO THE B OOKS OF A CCOUNT AND C ALCULATION OF N ET A SSET V ALUE AND N ET I NCOME

The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the entity or entities appointed by the Board to keep the books of account of each Portfolio and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the outstanding Shares or, if directed in writing to do so by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such net asset value per Share. If so directed, the Custodian shall also calculate daily the net income of the Portfolio as described in the Prospectus and shall advise the Fund and the Transfer Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income and, if instructed in writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall advise the Transfer Agent periodically of the division of such net income among its various components. The calculations of the net asset value per Share and the daily income of each Portfolio shall be made at the time or times described from time to time in the Prospectus.

The Custodian shall, upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, prepare and furnish to such Fund total return performance information, including such information on an after-tax basis, calculated in accordance with applicable U.S. securities laws and regulations.

 

S ECTION  11. R ECORDS

The Custodian shall create and maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the 1940 Act, with particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder. All such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund and employees and agents of the SEC. The Custodian shall, at the Fund’s request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by each Portfolio and held by the Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such tabulations.


S ECTION  12. O PINION OF F UND S I NDEPENDENT A CCOUNTANT

The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the applicable Fund, on behalf of each applicable Portfolio, may from time to time request, to obtain from year to year favorable opinions from the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund’s Form N-1A, Form N2, and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with respect to any other requirements thereof.

 

S ECTION  13. R EPORTS TO F UND BY I NDEPENDENT P UBLIC A CCOUNTANTS

The Custodian shall provide the applicable Fund, on behalf of each of the Portfolios, at such times as the Fund may reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including securities deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities System or a Foreign Securities System, relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement; such reports, shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required by the Fund to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.

 

S ECTION  14. C OMPENSATION OF C USTODIAN

The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between each Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and the Custodian.

 

S ECTION  15. R ESPONSIBILITY OF C USTODIAN

So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties, including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to any Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, including, without limitation, acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction. It shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for a Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be without liability to any Fund or Portfolio for any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by anything which is part of Country Risk (as defined in Section 3 hereof), including without limitation nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war, revolution, riots or terrorism.


Except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct or the negligence or willful misconduct of a sub-custodian or agent, the Custodian shall be without liability to any Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by; (i) events or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities System or any agent or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, the interruption, suspension or restriction of trading on or the closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, work stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by the Fund or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor in their instructions to the Custodian provided such instructions have been in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a securities system (including both U.S. Securities Systems and Foreign Securities Systems); (iv) any delay or failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other commercially prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian’s sub-custodian or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made in connection with securities sold; (v) any delay or failure of any company, corporation, or other body in charge of registering or transferring securities in the name of the Custodian, the Fund, the Custodian’s sub-custodians, nominees or agents or any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to transfer such securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and rights and other accretions or benefits; (vi) delays or inability to perform its duties due to any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular security or Securities System; and (vii) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent jurisdiction.

The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (as defined in Section 4 hereof) to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement.

If a Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requires the Custodian to take any action with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or which action may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to the Fund or the Portfolio being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, such Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to it.

If a Fund requires the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents, to advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited to securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement) or in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its nominee’s own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, any property at any time held for the account of the applicable Portfolio shall be security therefor and should the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such Portfolio’s assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.

In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, special or consequential damages.


S ECTION  16. E FFECTIVE P ERIOD , T ERMINATION AND A MENDMENT

This Agreement shall become effective for any particular Fund on the date indicated on Appendix A, shall continue in full force and effect until terminated as hereinafter provided, may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto and may be terminated by either party by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed, postage prepaid to the other party, such termination to take effect not sooner than sixty (60) days after the date of such delivery or mailing; provided , however, that no Fund shall not amend or terminate this Agreement in contravention of any applicable federal or state regulations, or any provision of such Fund’s Declaration of Trust, Articles of Incorporation or other governing documents, as applicable, and further provided, that each Fund may at any time by action of its Board (i) substitute another bank or trust company for the Custodian by giving notice as described above to the Custodian, or (ii) immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller of the Currency or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.

Upon termination of the Agreement with respect to any particular Portfolio, the Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio shall pay to the Custodian such compensation as may be due as of the date of such termination and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements.

 

S ECTION  17. S UCCESSOR C USTODIAN

If a successor custodian for one or more Funds or Portfolios shall be appointed by the applicable Board, the Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, all securities of each applicable Portfolio then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the securities of each such Portfolio held in a Securities System.

If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in like manner, upon receipt of a Certified Resolution, deliver at the office of the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in accordance with such resolution.

In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or Certified Resolution shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a “bank” as defined in the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, or New York, New York, of its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian hereunder and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and all other property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of each applicable Portfolio, and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the securities of each such Portfolio held in any Securities System. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.

In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof with respect to any Portfolio owing to the failure of the applicable Fund to procure the Certified Resolution to appoint a successor custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.


S ECTION  18. I NTERPRETIVE AND A DDITIONAL P ROVISIONS

In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and each Fund on behalf of the Portfolios may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by both parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the Fund’s Declaration of Trust, Articles of Incorporation or other governing documents, as applicable. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.


S ECTION  19. A DDITIONAL F UNDS

In the event that any entity in addition to those Funds listed on Appendix A attached hereto desires to have the Custodian render services as custodian under the terms hereof and if the Custodian wishes to provide such services, then the parties will execute a revised Exhibit A. Upon execution thereof, such entity shall become a Fund hereunder and be bound by all terms, conditions and provisions hereof.

 

S ECTION  20. A DDITIONAL P ORTFOLIOS

In the event that any Fund establishes one or more series of Shares in addition to the Portfolios listed on Appendix A attached hereto with respect to which it desires to have the Custodian render services as custodian under the terms hereof and if the Custodian wishes to provide such services, then the parties will execute a revised Exhibit A. Upon execution thereof, such entity shall become a Portfolio hereunder.

 

S ECTION  21. M ASSACHUSETTS L AW TO A PPLY

This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

S ECTION  22. P RIOR A GREEMENTS

This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all prior Agreements between each Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios and the Custodian relating to the custody of each Portfolio’s assets.

 

S ECTION  23. N OTICES .

Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth herein during normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail or by telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or such other addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time.

 

To any Fund:   

N UVEEN

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Attention: Stephen Foy, Vice President

Telephone: (312) 917-7956

Facsimile: (312) 917-7725


To the Custodian:   

S TATE S TREET B ANK AND T RUST C OMPANY

One Federal Street BO2/2

Boston, Massachusetts 02101

Attention: Louis D. Abruzzi, Jr.

Telephone: 617-662-0300

Facsimile: 617- 662-0291

Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have been served in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five business days after posting, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after dispatch and, in the case of telex, immediately on dispatch and if delivered outside normal business hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after delivery when normal business hours commence and in the case of cable, telex or telecopy on the business day after the receipt thereof. Evidence that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence of posting.

 

S ECTION  24. R EPRODUCTION OF D OCUMENTS

This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

 

S ECTION  25. R EMOTE A CCESS S ERVICES A DDENDUM

The Custodian and each Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access Services Addendum attached hereto.

 

S ECTION  26. S HAREHOLDER C OMMUNICATIONS E LECTION

SEC Rule 14b-2 requires banks which hold securities for the account of customers to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names, addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of this information. In order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs the Fund to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Fund’s name, address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund owns. If the Fund tells the Custodian “no”, the Custodian will not provide this information to requesting companies. If the Fund tells the Custodian “yes” or does not check either “yes” or “no” below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund. For the Fund’s protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using the Fund’s name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of the alternatives below.

 

YES   ¨    The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.
NO   x    The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.


S ECTION  27. L IMITATION OF L IABILITY

To the extent that a Fund’s Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this Agreement is executed on behalf of such Fund by the Fund’s officers as officers and not individually. The obligations imposed upon the applicable Fund by this Agreement are not binding upon any of such Fund’s Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed effective as of February 25, 2005.

 

E ACH OF THE N UVEEN F UNDS LISTED ON A PPENDIX A:     F UND SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO B Y :
By:   /s/ Stephen Foy     By:   /s/ Jessica R. Droeger
Name:    Stephen Foy     Name:    Jessica R. Droeger
Title:   Vice President     Title:   Secretary
S TATE S TREET B ANK AND T RUST C OMPANY     S IGNATURE ATTESTED TO B Y :
By:   /s/ Joseph L. Hooley     By:   /s/ Jean S. Carr
Name:    Joseph L. Hooley     Name:    Jean S. Carr
Title:   Executive Vice President     Title:   Counsel

Exhibit k.1

Transfer Agency and Service Agreement

Among

Each of the Nuveen Closed End Investment Companies

Listed on Exhibit A Hereto

and

State Street Bank and Trust Company


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
1.    Appointment of Agent    1
2.    Standard Services    2
3.    Dividend Disbursing Services    3
4.    Shareholder Internet Services    4
5.    Fees and Expenses    5
6.    Representations and Warranties of the Transfer Agent    6
7.    Representations and Warranties of Fund    7
8.    Data Access and Proprietary Information    7
9.    Indemnification    9
10.    Consequential Damages    11
11.    Responsibilities of the Transfer Agent    11
12.    Confidentiality    12
13.    Covenants of the Fund and the Transfer Agent    12
14.    Termination of Agreement    13
15.    Assignment and Third Party Beneficiaries    14
16.    Subcontractors    14
17.    Miscellaneous    15
18.    Limitation of Liability    17


AGREEMENT made as of the 7th day of October, 2002, by and among each of the Nuveen closed-end investment companies listed on Exhibit A hereto, which may be amended from time to time, each being either a Minnesota corporation or a Massachusetts business trust as indicated on Exhibit A (each a “Fund” or the “Fund”), and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company, having a principal office and place of business at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (the “Transfer Agent”).

WHEREAS , the Fund desires to appoint the Transfer Agent as sole transfer agent, registrar, administrator of dividend reinvestment plans, option plans, and direct stock purchase plans, and as dividend disbursing agent and processor of all payments received or made by Fund under this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Transfer Agent desires to accept such appointments and perform the services related to such appointments;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors or Board of Trustees, as the case may be, of each Fund has approved appointment of the Transfer Agent.

NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Appointment of Agent.

 

  1.1 Appointments . The Fund hereby appoints the Transfer Agent to act as sole transfer agent and registrar for all Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof and as administrator of plans and appoints the Transfer Agent as dividend disbursing agent and processor of all payments received or made by or on behalf of the Fund under this Agreement, and the Transfer Agent accepts the appointments. Fund shall provide Transfer Agent with certified copies of resolutions appointing the Transfer Agent as transfer agent.

 

  1.2 Documents . In connection with the appointing of Transfer Agent as the transfer agent and registrar for each Fund, the Fund will provide or has previously provided each of the following documents to the Transfer Agent:

 

  (a) Copies (in paper, electronic or other agreed upon format) of Registration Statements and amendments thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for initial public offerings;

 

  (b) Specimens of all forms of outstanding stock certificates, in forms approved by the Board of Directors of the Fund, with a certificate of the Secretary of the Fund as to such approval; and

 

  (c) Specimens of the Signatures of the officers of the Fund authorized to sign stock certificates and individuals authorized to sign written instructions and requests.


  1.3 Records . Transfer Agent may adopt as part of its records all lists of holders, records of Fund’s shares, books, documents and records which have been employed by any former agent of Fund for the maintenance of the ledgers for the Fund’s shares, provided such ledger is certified by an officer of Fund or the prior transfer agent to be true, authentic and complete.

 

  1.4 Shares . Fund shall, if applicable, inform Transfer Agent as to (i) the existence or termination of any restrictions on the transfer of Shares and in the application to or removal from any certificate of stock of any legend restricting the transfer of such Shares or the substitution for such certificate of a certificate without such legend, (ii) any authorized but unissued Shares reserved for specific purposes, (iii) any outstanding Shares which are exchangeable for Shares and the basis for exchange, (iv) reserved Shares subject to option and the details of such reservation and (v) special instructions regarding dividends and information of foreign holders.

 

  1.5 Fund’s Agent . Transfer Agent represents that it is engaged in an independent business and will perform its obligations under this Agreement as an agent of Fund.

 

2. Standard Services.

 

  2.1 Transfer Agent Services . The Transfer Agent will perform the following services:

In accordance with the procedures established from time to time by agreement between the Fund and the Transfer Agent, the Transfer Agent shall:

 

  (a) issue and record the appropriate number of Shares as authorized and hold such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder account;

 

  (b) effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof upon receipt of appropriate documentation;

 

  (c) act as agent for Shareholders pursuant to dividend reinvestment plans, and other investment programs as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of the agreements relating thereto to which the Transfer Agent is or will be a party;

 

  (d) issue replacement certificates for those certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon receipt by the Transfer Agent of an open penalty surety bond satisfactory to it and holding it and the Fund harmless, absent notice to the Fund and the Transfer Agent that such certificates have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser. The Transfer Agent, at its option, may issue replacement certificates in place of mutilated stock certificates upon presentation thereof without such indemnity. Further, the Transfer Agent may at its sole option accept indemnification from the Fund to issue replacement certificates for those certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed in lieu of an open penalty bond;

 

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  (e) prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions declared by the Fund, provided good funds for said dividends or distributions are received by the Transfer Agent prior to the scheduled payable date for said dividends or distributions;

 

  (f) issue replacement checks and place stop orders on original checks based on shareholder’s representation that a check was not received or was lost. Such stop orders and replacements will be deemed to have been made at the request of the Fund, and the Fund shall be responsible for all losses or claims resulting from such replacement; and

 

  (g) Receive all payments made to the Fund or the Transfer Agent under any dividend reinvestment plan, direct stock purchase plan, and plans and make all payments required to be made under such plans, including all payments required to be made to the Fund.

 

  2.3 Customary Services . The Transfer Agent shall perform all the customary services of a transfer agent, agent of dividend reinvestment plan, cash purchase plan and other investment programs and of a dividend disbursing agent and a processor of payments as described above consistent with those requirements in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

 

  2.4 Unclaimed Property and Lost Shareholders . The Transfer Agent shall report unclaimed property to each state in compliance with state law and shall comply with Section 17Ad-17 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), for lost Shareholders. If the Fund is not in compliance with applicable state laws, there will be no charge for the first two years for this service for such Fund, other than a charge for due diligence notices (reflected on Schedule 5.1) provided that after the first two years, the Transfer Agent will charge such Fund its then standard fee plus any out-of-pocket expenses.

 

  2.5 Certificates . The Fund shall deliver to Transfer Agent an appropriate supply of stock certificates, which certificates shall provide a signature panel for use by an officer of or authorized signor for Transfer Agent to sign as transfer agent and registrar, and which shall state that such certificates are only valid after being countersigned and registered.

 

3. Dividend Disbursing Services .

 

  3.1 Declaration of Dividends . Upon receipt of a written notice from an officer of the Fund declaring the payment of a dividend, the Transfer Agent shall disburse such dividend payments provided that in advance of such payment, the Fund furnishes the Transfer Agent with sufficient funds. The payment of such funds to the Transfer Agent for the purpose of being available for the payment of dividend checks from time to time is not intended by the Fund to confer any rights in such funds on the Fund’s Shareholders whether in trust or in contract or otherwise.

 

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  3.2 Stop Payments . The Fund hereby authorizes the Transfer Agent to stop payment of checks issued in payment of dividends, but not presented for payment, when the payees thereof allege either that they have not received the checks or that such checks have been mislaid, lost, stolen, destroyed or, through no fault of theirs, are otherwise beyond their control and cannot be produced by them for presentation and collection, and the Transfer Agent shall issue and deliver duplicate checks in replacement thereof, and the Fund shall indemnify Transfer Agent against any loss or damage resulting from reissuance of the checks.

 

  3.3 Tax Withholding . The Transfer Agent is hereby authorized to deduct from all dividends declared by the Fund and disbursed by the Transfer Agent, as dividend disbursing agent, the tax required to be withheld pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442 and 3406 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or by any Federal or State statutes subsequently enacted, and to make the necessary return and payment of such tax in connection therewith.

 

  3.4 Optional Services. To the extent that the Fund elects to engage the Transfer Agent to provide the services listed below the Fund shall engage the Transfer Agent to provide such services upon terms and fees to be agreed upon by the parties:

 

  (a) Corporate actions (including inter alia, odd lot buy backs, exchanges, mergers, redemptions, subscriptions, capital reorganization, coordination of post-merger services and special meetings).

 

4. Shareholder Internet Services .

 

  4.1 Shareholder Internet Services. The Transfer Agent shall provide internet access to the Fund’s shareholders through a designated web site (“Shareholder Internet Services”), which will be accessed by the Fund’s shareholders via a link on the Fund’s web site. The Shareholder Internet Services will be provided pursuant to established procedures and will allow shareholders to view their account information and perform certain on-line transaction request capabilities. The Shareholder Internet Services shall be provided at no additional charge, other than the transaction fees currently being charged for the different transactions as described on the Fee Schedule. The Transfer Agent reserves the right to charge a fee for this service in the future.

 

  4.2 Scope of Obligations. Transfer Agent shall at all times use reasonable care in performing Shareholder Internet Services under this Agreement. With respect to any claims for losses, damages, costs or expenses which may arise directly or indirectly from security procedures which Transfer Agent has implemented or omitted, Transfer Agent shall be presumed to have used reasonable care if it has followed, in all material respects, its security procedures then in effect. Transfer Agent’s security procedures for shareholder Internet access reflect current industry standards and Transfer Agent shall modify such security procedures from time to time to reflect changes in industry standards. Transfer Agent also may, but shall not be required to, modify such security procedures to the extent it believes, in good faith, that such modifications will enhance the security of Shareholder Internet Services. All data and information transmissions accessed via Shareholder Internet Services are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to satisfy regulatory requirements or comply with any laws, rules, requirements or standards of any federal, state or local governmental authority, agency or industry regulatory body, including the securities industry, which compliance is the sole responsibility of the Fund.

 

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  4.3 No Other Warranties. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY STATED IN SECTION 4.2 OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE SHAREHOLDER INTERNET SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS-IS,” ON AN “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, AND TRANSFER AGENT HEREBY SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING SUCH SERVICES PROVIDED BY TRANSFER AGENT HEREUNDER, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR COURSE OF PERFORMANCE.

 

5. Fees and Expenses

 

  5.1 Fee Schedule. For the performance by the Transfer Agent pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund agrees to pay the Transfer Agent an annual maintenance fee for each Shareholder account as set forth in the attached fee schedule (“Schedule 5.1”). Such fees and out-of-pocket expenses and advances identified under Section 5.2 below may be changed from time to time subject to mutual written agreement between the Fund and the Transfer Agent.

 

  5.2 Out-of-Pocket Expenses. In addition to the fee paid under Section 5.1 above, the Fund agrees to reimburse the Transfer Agent for out-of-pocket expenses, including but not limited to postage, confirmation statements, investor statements, audio response, telephone calls, records retention/storage, customized programming /enhancements, federal wire fees, transcripts, microfilm, microfiche, disaster recovery, hardware at the Fund’s facility, telecommunications /network configuration, forms, sales taxes, exchange and broker fees, or advances incurred by the Transfer Agent for the items set out in Schedule 5.1 attached hereto. Out-of-pocket expenses may include the costs to Transfer Agent of certain administrative expenses so long as such expenses are described in reasonable detail on the applicable invoice. In addition, any other expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent at the request or with the consent of the Fund, will be reimbursed by the Fund.

 

  5.3 Postage. Postage for mailing of dividends, proxies, Fund reports and other mailings to all shareholder accounts shall be advanced to the Transfer Agent by the Fund at least seven (7) days prior to the mailing date of such materials.

 

  5.4

Invoices. The Fund agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within thirty (30) days following the receipt of the respective invoice, except for any fees or expenses that are subject to good faith dispute. In the event of such a dispute, the Fund may only withhold that portion of the fee or expense subject to the good faith dispute. The Fund shall notify the Transfer Agent in writing within twenty-one (21) calendar days following the receipt of each invoice if the Fund is disputing any amounts in good faith. If the Fund does not provide such

 

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notice of dispute within the required time, the invoice will be deemed accepted by the Fund. The Fund shall settle such disputed amounts within five (5) days of the day on which the parties agree on the amount to be paid by payment of the agreed amount. If no agreement is reached, then such disputed amounts shall be settled as may be required by law or legal process.

 

  5.5 Cost of Living Adjustment. For each year following the Initial Term, unless the parties shall otherwise agree and provided that the service mix and volumes remain consistent as previously provided in the Initial Term, the total fee for all services shall equal the fee that would be charged for the same services based on a fee rate (as reflected in a fee rate schedule) increased by the percentage increase for the twelve-month period of such previous calendar year of the CPI-W (defined below) or, in the event that publication of such index is terminated, any successor or substitute index, appropriately adjusted, acceptable to both parties. As used herein, “CPI-W” shall mean the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (Area: Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT; Base Period: 1982-84=100), as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 

  5.6 Late Payments. If any undisputed amount in an invoice of the Transfer Agent (for fees or reimbursable expenses) is not paid when due, the Fund shall pay the Transfer Agent interest thereon (from the due date to the date of payment) at a per annum rate equal to one percent (1.0%) plus the Prime Rate (that is, the base rate on corporate loans posted by large domestic banks) published by The Wall Street Journal (or, in the event such rate is not so published, a reasonably equivalent published rate selected by the Fund) on the first day of publication during the month when such amount was due. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, such interest rate shall be no greater than permitted under applicable provisions of Massachusetts law.

 

  5.7 Bank Accounts. The Fund acknowledges that the bank demand deposit accounts (“DDAs”) maintained by the Transfer Agent in connection with the Services will be in its name and that the Transfer Agent may receive investment earnings in connection with the investment of funds, at the Transfer Agent’s risk and for its benefit, held in those accounts from time to time.

 

6. Representations and Warranties of the Transfer Agent

The Transfer Agent represents and warrants to the Fund that:

 

  6.1 It is a trust company duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

  6.2 It is duly qualified to carry on its business in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

  6.3 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Charter and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.

 

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  6.4 All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.

 

  6.5 It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement.

 

7. Representations and Warranties of Fund

Each Fund represents and warrants to the Transfer Agent that:

 

  7.1 It is a business trust or corporation (as indicated on Exhibit A) duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of organization.

 

  7.2 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its organizational documents to enter into and perform this Agreement.

 

  7.3 All corporate proceedings required by said organizational documents have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.

 

  7.4 It is a closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

  7.5 A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended is currently effective and will remain effective, and appropriate state securities law filings have been made and will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of the Fund being offered for sale.

 

8. Data Access and Proprietary Information

 

  8.1 The Fund acknowledges that the databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, and documentation manuals furnished to the Fund by the Transfer Agent as part of the Fund’s ability to access certain Fund-related data (“Fund Data”) maintained by the Transfer Agent on databases under the control and ownership of the Transfer Agent or other third party (“Data Access Services”) constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other proprietary information (collectively, “Proprietary Information”) of substantial value to the Transfer Agent or other third party. In no event shall Proprietary Information be deemed Fund Data. The Fund agrees to treat all Proprietary Information as proprietary to the Transfer Agent and further agrees that it shall not divulge any Proprietary Information to any person or organization except as may be provided hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, the Fund agrees for itself and its employees and agents to:

 

  (a) Use such programs and databases (i) solely on computers of the Fund or its management company, or (ii) solely from equipment at the location agreed to between the Fund and the Transfer Agent and (iii) solely in accordance with the Transfer Agent’s applicable user documentation;

 

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  (b) Refrain from copying or duplicating in any way (other than in the normal course of performing processing on computers of the Fund or its management company), the Proprietary Information;

 

  (c) Refrain from obtaining unauthorized access to any portion of the Proprietary Information, and if such access is inadvertently obtained, to inform in a timely manner of such fact and dispose of such information in accordance with the Transfer Agent’s instructions;

 

  (d) Refrain from causing or allowing information transmitted from the Transfer Agent’s computer to computers of the Fund or its management company to be retransmitted to any other computer terminal or other device except as expressly permitted by the Transfer Agent (such permission not to be unreasonably withheld);

 

  (e) Allow the Fund to have access only to those authorized transactions as agreed to between the Fund and the Transfer Agent; and

 

  (f) Honor all reasonable written requests made by the Transfer Agent to protect at the Transfer Agent’s expense the rights of the Transfer Agent in Proprietary Information at common law, under federal copyright law and under other federal or state law.

 

  8.2 Proprietary Information shall not include all or any portion of any of the foregoing items that: (i) are or become publicly available without breach of this Agreement; (ii) are released for general disclosure by a written release by the Transfer Agent; or (iii) are already in the possession of the receiving party at the time of receipt without obligation of confidentiality or breach of this Agreement.

 

  8.3 The Fund acknowledges that its obligation to protect the Transfer Agent’s Proprietary Information is essential to the business interest of the Transfer Agent and that the disclosure of such Proprietary Information in breach of this Agreement would cause the Transfer Agent immediate, substantial and irreparable harm, the value of which would be extremely difficult to determine. Accordingly, the parties agree that, in addition to any other remedies that may be available in law, equity, or otherwise for the disclosure or use of the Proprietary Information in breach of this Agreement, the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to seek and obtain a temporary restraining order, injunctive relief, or other equitable relief against the continuance of such breach.

 

  8.4

If the Fund notifies the Transfer Agent that any of the Data Access Services do not operate in material compliance with the most recently issued user documentation for such services, the Transfer Agent shall use its best efforts to correct such failure in a timely manner. Organizations from which the Transfer Agent may obtain certain data included in the Data Access Services are solely responsible for the contents of such data and the Fund agrees to make no claim against the Transfer Agent arising out of the contents of such third-party data, including, but not limited to, the accuracy thereof. DATA ACCESS SERVICES AND ALL COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND SOFTWARE SPECIFICATIONS USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ARE PROVIDED ON AN AS IS, AS

 

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AVAILABLE BASIS. THE TRANSFER AGENT EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES EXCEPT THOSE EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

 

  8.5 If the transactions available to the Fund include the ability to originate electronic instructions to the Transfer Agent in order to (i) effect the transfer or movement of cash or Shares or (ii) transmit Shareholder information or other information, then in such event the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to rely on the validity and authenticity of such instruction without undertaking any further inquiry as long as such instruction is undertaken in conformity with security procedures established by the Transfer Agent from time to time.

 

  8.6 Each party shall take reasonable efforts to advise its employees of their obligations pursuant to this Section 8 . The obligations of this Section shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

9. Indemnification.

 

  9.1 The Transfer Agent shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall indemnify and hold the Transfer Agent harmless from and against, any and all losses, claims, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees and expenses, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to:

 

  (a) All actions of the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors required to be taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided such actions are taken in good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct;

 

  (b) The Fund’s lack of good faith, negligence or willful misconduct or the breach of any representation or warranty of the Fund hereunder;

 

  (c) The reasonable reliance or use by the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors of information, records and documents data, stock certificates or services, which are received by the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable input, facsimile, CRT data entry, electronic instructions or other similar means authorized by the Fund, and which have been prepared, maintained or performed by the Fund or any other person or firm on behalf of the Fund including but not limited to any broker-dealer, TPA or previous transfer agent;

 

  (d) The reasonable reliance or use by the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors of any paper or document reasonably believed to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person or persons including Shareholders or electronic instruction from Shareholders submitted through electronic means pursuant to the security procedures for such electronic communication established by the Transfer Agent;

 

  (e) The reasonable reliance on, or the carrying out by the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors of any instructions or requests of the Fund’s representatives;

 

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  (f) The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any federal or state securities laws requiring that such Shares be registered or in violation of any stop order or other determination or ruling by any federal or state agency with respect to the offer or sale of such Shares;

 

  (g) The negotiation and processing of any checks including without limitation for deposit into the Fund’s DDA maintained by the Transfer Agent in accordance with the procedures mutually agreed upon by the parties;

 

  (h) Any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any former agent of the Fund and arising from Transfer Agent’s reliance on the certified list of holders; and

 

  (i) The negotiation, presentment, delivery or transfer of Shares through the Direct Registration System Profile System.

 

  9.2 Instructions . At any time the Transfer Agent may apply to any officer of the Fund for instruction, and may consult with legal counsel for the Transfer Agent or the Fund with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Transfer Agent under this Agreement, and Transfer Agent and its agents and subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in reliance upon such instructions or upon the advice or opinion of such counsel. The Transfer Agent, its agents and subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified in acting upon any paper or document reasonably believed to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person or persons, or upon any instruction, information, data, records or documents provided the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors by telephone, in person, machine readable input, telex, CRT data entry or similar means authorized by the Fund, and shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Fund. The Transfer Agent, its agents and subcontractors shall also be protected and indemnified in recognizing stock certificates which are reasonably believed to bear the proper manual or facsimile signatures of officers of the Fund, and the proper countersignature of any former transfer agent or former registrar, or of a co-transfer agent or co-registrar.

 

  9.3. Standard of Care. The Transfer Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agrees to use its best efforts within reasonable limits to ensure the accuracy of all services performed under this Agreement, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors, including encoding and payment processing errors, unless said errors are caused by its negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees or agents.

 

  9.4.

Notice. In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Section shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which the Fund may be required to indemnify the Transfer Agent, the Transfer Agent shall promptly notify the Fund of such assertion, and shall keep the Fund advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The Fund shall have the option to participate with the Transfer Agent in the defense of such claim or to defend

 

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against said claim in its own name or the name of the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Fund may be required to indemnify it except with the Fund’s prior written consent.

 

10. Consequential Damages.

NO PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF ANTICIPATED PROFITS, OCCASIONED BY A BREACH OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT EVEN IF APPRISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

 

11. Responsibilities of the Transfer Agent.

The Transfer Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Fund, by its acceptance hereof, shall be bound:

 

  11.1 Whenever in the performance of its duties hereunder the Transfer Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by an officer of the Fund and delivered to the Transfer Agent. Such certificate shall be full authorization to the recipient for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

 

  11.2 The Fund agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Transfer Agent for the carrying out, or performing by the Transfer Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

  11.3 Transfer Agent, any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Transfer Agent may buy, sell or deal in the securities of the Fund or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Fund may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Fund or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not appointed as agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Transfer Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Fund or for any other legal entity.

 

  11.4 No provision of this Agreement shall require the Transfer Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if it shall believe in good faith that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

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12. Confidentiality

 

  12.1 The Transfer Agent and the Fund agree that they will not, at any time during the term of this Agreement or after its termination, reveal, divulge, or make known to any person, firm, corporation or other business organization, any Fund customer lists, trade secrets, cost figures and projections, profit figures and projections, or any other secret or confidential information whatsoever, whether of the Transfer Agent or of the Fund, used or gained by the Transfer Agent or the Fund during performance under this Agreement. The Fund and the Transfer Agent further covenant and agree to retain all such knowledge and information acquired during and after the term of this Agreement respecting such lists, trade secrets, or any secret or confidential information whatsoever in trust for the sole benefit of the Transfer Agent or the Fund and their successors and assigns. In the event of breach of the foregoing by either party, the remedies provided by Section 8.3 shall be available to the party whose confidential information is disclosed. The above prohibition of disclosure shall not apply to the extent that the Transfer Agent must disclose such data to its sub-contractor or the Fund’s agent for purposes of providing services under this Agreement.

 

  12.2 In the event that any requests or demands are made for the inspection of the Shareholder records of the Fund, other than request for records of Shareholders pursuant to standard subpoenas from state or federal government authorities (i.e., divorce and criminal actions), the Transfer Agent will endeavor to notify the Fund and to secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such inspection. The Transfer Agent expressly reserves the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder records to any person whenever it is advised by counsel that it may be held liable for the failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such person or if required by law or court order.

 

13. Covenants of the Fund and the Transfer Agent

 

  13.1 Documentation. The Fund shall promptly furnish to the Transfer Agent the following:

 

  (a) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees or the Board of Directors of the Fund authorizing the appointment of the Transfer Agent and the execution and delivery of this Agreement; and

 

  (b) A copy (in paper, electronic or other agreed upon format) of the organizational documents of the Fund and all amendments thereto.

 

  13.2 Facilities. The Transfer Agent hereby agrees to establish and maintain facilities and procedures reasonably acceptable to the Fund for safekeeping of stock certificates, check forms and facsimile signature imprinting devices, if any; and for the preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such certificates, forms and devices.

 

  13.3 Records . The Transfer Agent shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable. The Transfer Agent agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by it relating to the services performed hereunder are the property of the Fund and will be preserved, maintained and made available in accordance with the requirements of law, and will be surrendered promptly to the Fund on and in accordance with its request.

 

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  13.4 Non-Solicitation of Transfer Agent Employees . The Fund shall not attempt to hire or assist with the hiring of an employee of the Transfer Agent or of its affiliated companies or encourage any employee to terminate their relationship with the Transfer Agent or its affiliated companies.

 

14. Termination of Agreement

 

  14.1 Term . The initial term of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”) shall be three (3) years from the date first stated above unless terminated pursuant to the provisions of this Section 14 . Unless a terminating party gives written notice to the other party one hundred and twenty (120) days before the expiration of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, this Agreement will renew automatically from year to year (each such year-to-year renewal term a “Renewal Term”). One hundred and twenty (120) days before the expiration of the Initial Term or a Renewal Term the parties to this Agreement will agree upon a Fee Schedule for the upcoming Renewal Term. Otherwise, the fees shall be increased pursuant to Section 5.5 of this Agreement.

 

  14.2 Early Termination . Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, should the Fund desire to move any of its services provided by the Transfer Agent hereunder to a successor service provider prior to the expiration of the then current Initial or Renewal Term, or without the required notice, the Transfer Agent shall make a good faith effort to facilitate the conversion on such prior date; however, there can be no guarantee or assurance that the Transfer Agent will be able to facilitate a conversion of services on such prior date. In connection with the foregoing, should this Agreement be terminated by the Fund for any reason other than a material breach of the Agreement by the Transfer Agent and the services be converted to a successor service provider, or if the Fund is liquidated or its assets merged or purchased or the like with or by another entity which does not utilize the services of the Transfer Agent, the fees payable to the Transfer Agent shall be calculated as if the services had been performed by the Transfer Agent until the expiration of the then current Initial or Renewal Term and calculated at the asset and/or Shareholder account levels, as the case may be, on the date notice of termination was given to the Transfer Agent. In addition to the forgoing, in the event that the Fund terminates this Agreement during the Initial Term, other than due to a material breach of the Agreement by the Transfer Agent, then the Fund will reimburse the Transfer Agent in an amount equal to the cost of conversion and implementation, which will be subject to a pro rata reduction over the Initial Term. The payment of all fees to the Transfer Agent as set forth herein shall be accelerated to the business day immediately prior to the conversion or termination of services or such later date or dates as may be mutually agreed by the parties.

 

  14.3 Expiration of Term . During the Initial Term or Renewal Term, whichever currently is in effect, should either party exercise its right to terminate, all out-of-pocket expenses or costs associated with the movement of records and material will be borne by the Fund. Additionally, the Transfer Agent reserves the right to charge for any other reasonable expenses associated with such termination.

 

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  14.4 Confidential Information . Upon termination of this Agreement, each party shall return to the other party all copies of confidential or proprietary materials or information received from such other party hereunder, other than materials or information required to be retained by such party under applicable laws or regulations.

 

  14.5 Unpaid Invoices . The Transfer Agent may terminate this Agreement immediately upon an unpaid invoice payable by the Fund to the Transfer Agent being outstanding for more than ninety (90) days, except with respect to any amount subject to a good faith dispute within the meaning of Section 5.4 of this Agreement.

 

  14.6 Bankruptcy . Either party hereto may terminate this Agreement by notice to the other party, effective at any time specified therein, in the event that (a) the other party ceases to carry on its business or (b) an action is commenced by or against the other party under Title 11 of the United States Code or a receiver, conservator or similar officer is appointed for the other party and such suit, conservatorship or receivership is not discharged within sixty (60) days.

 

15. Assignment and Third Party Beneficiaries

 

  15.1 Except as provided in Section 16.1 below, neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party without the written consent of the other party. Any attempt to do so in violation of this Section shall be void. Unless specifically stated to the contrary in any written consent to an assignment, no assignment will release or discharge the assignor from any duty or responsibility under this Agreement.

 

  15.2 Except as explicitly stated elsewhere in this Agreement, nothing under this Agreement shall be construed to give any rights or benefits in this Agreement to anyone other than the Transfer Agent and the Fund, and the duties and responsibilities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Transfer Agent and the Fund. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

  15.3 This Agreement does not constitute an agreement for a partnership or joint venture between the Transfer Agent and the Fund. Other than as provided in Section 16.1 , neither party shall make any commitments with third parties that are binding on the other party without the other party’s prior written consent.

 

16. Subcontractors

 

  16.1

The Transfer Agent may, without further consent on the part of the Fund, subcontract for the performance hereof with (i) Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (“Boston Financial”) which is duly registered as a transfer agent pursuant to Section 17A(c)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act

 

14


 

of 1934, as amended, (ii) a Boston Financial subsidiary duly registered as a transfer agent or (iii) a Boston Financial affiliate duly registered as a transfer agent; provided however, that the Transfer Agent shall be as fully responsible to the Fund for the acts and omissions of such subcontractor as it is for its own acts and omissions.

 

  16.2 Nothing herein shall impose any duty upon the Transfer Agent in connection with or make the Transfer Agent liable for the actions or omissions to act of unaffiliated third parties such as by way of example and not limitation, Airborne Services, Federal Express, United Parcel Service, the U.S. Mails, the NSCC and telecommunication companies, provided, if the Transfer Agent selected such company, the Transfer Agent shall have exercised due care in selecting the same.

 

17. Miscellaneous

 

  17.1 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written amendment executed by the parties hereto and, to the extent required, authorized or approved by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Fund.

 

  17.2 Massachusetts Law to Apply. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

  17.3 Force Majeure . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, neither party shall be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God, acts of war or terrorism, shortage of supply, breakdowns or malfunctions, interruptions or malfunction of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor difficulties or civil unrest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of such an occurrence, each party agrees to make a good faith effort to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

  17.4 Survival . All provisions regarding indemnification, warranty, liability, and limits thereon, and confidentiality and/or protections of proprietary rights and trade secrets shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

  17.5 Severability . If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provision, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

 

  17.6 Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this agreement by or for the benefit of the Fund or the Transfer Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.

 

  17.7 Priorities Clause . In the event of any conflict, discrepancy or ambiguity between the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and any Schedules or attachments hereto, the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement shall take precedence.

 

15


  17.8 Waiver. No waiver by either party or any breach or default of any of the covenants or conditions herein contained and performed by the other party shall be construed as a waiver of any succeeding breach of the same or of any other covenant or condition.

 

  17.9 Merger of Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof whether oral or written.

 

  17.10  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

  17.11  Reproduction of Documents . This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

 

  17.12  Notices. Any notice or communication by the Transfer Agent or the Fund to the other is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, telex, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other’s address:

 

  (a) If to the Transfer Agent, to:

State Street Bank and Trust Company

c/o Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.

2 Heritage Drive, 4 th Floor

North Quincy, Massachusetts 02171

Attention: Legal Department

Facsimile: (617) 483-2490

 

16


  (b) If to the Fund, to:

Nuveen Funds

c/o Nuveen Investments

333 W. Wacker Drive

Suite 3300

Chicago, IL 60606

Attn: General Counsel

Facsimile: (312) 917-7952

The Transfer Agent and the Fund may, by notice to the other, designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

Section 18. Limitation of Liability

For each Fund that is a business trust, the Fund’s Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This Agreement is executed on behalf of each such Fund by the Fund’s officers as officers and not individually. The obligations imposed upon each such Fund by this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Fund’s Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

17


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.

 

FUND
BY:   /s/ Tina M. Lazar

as an Authorized Officer on behalf of each

of the Funds indicated on Exhibit A

 

ATTEST:
/s/ Sheri Snowdon

 

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
BY:   /s/ Joseph L. Hooley
 

 

ATTEST:
/s/ Joanne M. Henthorn

 

18

Exhibit l.1

[K&L GATES LLP LETTERHEAD]

 

 

March 29, 2010

 

 

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Nuveen Build America Bond Fund

We have acted as counsel for Nuveen Build America Bond Fund (the “Fund”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of certain of its common shares of beneficial interest (the “Shares”) in registration statement no. 333-164974 on form N-2 as it is proposed to be amended by pre-effective amendment no. 2 (as proposed to be amended, the “Registration Statement”).

In this connection, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate and other records, certificates and other papers as we deemed it necessary to examine for the purpose of this opinion, including the Fund’s agreement and declaration of trust and by-laws, actions of the board of trustees of the Fund authorizing the issuance of shares of the Fund and the Registration Statement.

We assume that, upon sale of the Shares, the Fund will receive the authorized consideration therefor, which will at least equal the net asset value of the Shares.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that when the Shares are issued and sold after the Registration Statement has been declared effective and the authorized consideration therefor is received by the Fund, they will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable by the Fund, except that, as set forth in the Registration Statement, shareholders of the Fund may under certain circumstances be held personally liable for obligations of the Fund.

In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have relied upon the opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP expressed in their letter to us dated March 29, 2010.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under section 7 of the Act.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ K&L Gates LLP
K&L Gates LLP

 

 

March 29, 2010

K&L Gates LLP

Three First National Plaza

Suite 3100

Chicago, Illinois 60602

 

RE: Nuveen Build America Bond Fund

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special Massachusetts counsel to Nuveen Build America Bond Fund, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), in connection with the Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 as such Registration Statement is proposed to be amended by Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about March 29, 2010 (as proposed to be amended, the “Registration Statement”), with respect to certain of its Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value of $.01 per share (the “Shares”). You have requested that we deliver this opinion to you, as special counsel to the Fund, for use by you in connection with your opinion to the Fund with respect to the Shares.

In connection with the furnishing of this opinion, we have examined the following documents:

(a) a certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as to the existence of the Fund;

(b) copies, as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on March 19, 2010, of the Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of March 16, 2010 (the “Declaration”);

(c) a certificate of the Assistant Secretary of the Fund, certifying as to, and attaching copies of, the Fund’s Declaration, By-Laws, and the resolutions of the Board of Trustees at a meeting held on February 26-28, 2010 (the “Resolutions”); and

(d) a printer’s proof dated March 29, 2010 of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2.

In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the conformity to the originals of all of the documents reviewed by


K&L Gates LLP

March 29, 2010

Page 2

us as copies, the authenticity and completeness of all original documents reviewed by us in original or copy form and the legal competence of each individual executing any document. We have assumed that the Registration Statement, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, will be in substantially the form of the printer’s proof referred to in paragraph (d) above. We note that the Resolutions attached to the certificate referenced in paragraph (c) above are in draft form and we have assumed that such Resolutions, when finalized and approved by the Trustees, will be in substantially the form reviewed by us. We have further assumed that the Fund’s Declaration and the Resolutions will not have been amended, modified or withdrawn with respect to matters relating to the Shares and will be in full force and effect on the date of issuance of such Shares.

This opinion is based entirely on our review of the documents listed above and such investigation of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. We have made no other review or investigation of any kind whatsoever, and we have assumed, without independent inquiry, the accuracy of the information set forth in such documents. As to our opinion below relating to the legal existence of the Fund, our opinion relies entirely upon and is limited by the certificate referenced in paragraph (a) above.

This opinion is limited solely to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as applied by courts located in such Commonwealth, except that we express no opinion as to any Massachusetts securities law. No opinion is given herein as to the choice of law or internal substantive rules of law which any tribunal may apply. In addition, to the extent that the Fund’s Declaration or By-Laws refer to, incorporate or require compliance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any other law or regulation applicable to the Fund, except for the internal substantive laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as aforesaid, we have assumed compliance by the Fund with such Act and such other laws and regulations.

We understand that all of the foregoing assumptions and limitations are acceptable to you.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, please be advised that it is our opinion that:


K&L Gates LLP

March 29, 2010

Page 3

1. The Fund is legally existing under the Fund’s Declaration of Trust and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a voluntary association with transferable shares of beneficial interest commonly referred to as a “Massachusetts business trust.”

2. The Shares, when issued and sold in accordance with the Fund’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable, except that, as indicated in the Registration Statement, shareholders of the Fund may under certain circumstances be held personally liable for its obligations.

This opinion is given as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update this opinion to reflect any changes in law or any other facts or circumstances which may hereafter come to our attention. We hereby consent to your reliance on this opinion in connection with your opinion to the Fund with respect to the Shares, to the reference to our name in the Registration Statement under the heading “Legal Opinions” and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Bingham McCutchen LLP

BINGHAM McCUTCHEN LLP

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions “Legal Opinions and Experts” and “Experts” and to the use of our report dated March 18, 2010, in the Registration Statement (Form N-2) and related Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of Nuveen Build America Bond Fund filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (Registration No. 333-164974).

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Chicago, Illinois

March 23, 2010

NUVEEN BUILD AMERICA BOND FUND

Subscription Agreement

This Agreement made this March 17, 2010 by and between Nuveen Build America Bond Fund, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), and Nuveen Asset Management (the “Subscriber”);

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Fund has been formed for the purposes of carrying on business as a closed-end non-diversified management investment company; and

WHEREAS, the Subscriber has been selected by the Fund’s Board of Trustees to serve as investment adviser to the Fund; and

WHEREAS, the Subscriber wishes to subscribe for and purchase, and the Fund wishes to sell to the Subscriber, 5,250 common shares for a purchase price of $19.10 per share;

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

1. The Subscriber subscribes for and agrees to purchase from the Fund 5,250 common shares for a purchase price of $19.10 per share. Subscriber agrees to make payment for these shares at such time as demand for payment may be made by an officer of the Fund.

2. The Fund agrees to issue and sell said shares to Subscriber promptly upon its receipt of the purchase price.

3. To induce the Fund to accept its subscription and issue the shares subscribed for, the Subscriber represents that it is informed as follows:

(a) That the shares being subscribed for have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”);

(b) That the shares will be sold by the Fund in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act;

(c) That the Fund’s reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is predicated in part on the representations and agreements contained in this Subscription Agreement;


(d) That when issued, the shares will be “restricted securities” as defined in paragraph (a)(3) of Rule 144 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”) and cannot be sold or transferred by Subscriber unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act or unless an exemption from such registration is available;

(e) That there do not appear to be any exemptions from the registration provisions of the Securities Act available to the Subscriber for resale of the shares. In the future, certain exemptions may possibly become available, including an exemption for limited sales in accordance with the conditions of Rule 144.

The Subscriber understands that a primary purpose of the information acknowledged in subparagraphs (a) through (e) above is to put it on notice as to restrictions on the transferability of the shares.

4. To further induce the Fund to accept its subscription and issue the shares subscribed for, the Subscriber:

(a) Represents and warrants that the shares subscribed for are being and will be acquired for investment for its own account and not on behalf of any other person or persons and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any public distribution thereof; and

(b) Agrees that any certificates representing the shares subscribed for may bear a legend substantially in the following form:

The shares represented by this certificate have been acquired for investment and have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or any other federal or state securities law. These shares may not be offered for sale, sold or otherwise transferred unless registered under said securities laws or unless some exemption from registration is available.

5. This Subscription Agreement and all of its provisions shall be binding upon the legal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

2


6. The Fund’s Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This Agreement is executed on behalf of the Fund by the Fund’s officers as officers and not individually and the obligations imposed upon the Fund by this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Fund’s Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Subscription Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto as of the day and date first above written.

 

NUVEEN BUILD AMERICA BOND FUND
By:  

/s/ Kevin J. McCarthy

  Kevin J. McCarthy
  Vice President and Secretary
NUVEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT
By:  

/s/ Stuart J. Cohen

  Stuart J. Cohen
  Managing Director

Exhibit r.1

NUVEEN INVESTMENTS

(Including Certain Subsidiaries of

Nuveen Investments, Inc.)

NUVEEN DEFINED PORTFOLIOS

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

NUVEEN OPEN-END FUNDS

CODE OF ETHICS

AND

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

February 1, 2005

As Amended through May 29, 2008


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page No.

I.

   Introduction    1

II.

   General Principles    2

III.

   Standards of Business Conduct    2
  

A.     Fiduciary Standards

   2
  

B.     Compliance with Laws and Company Policies

   2
  

C.     Conflicts of Interest

   3
  

D.     Gifts and Entertainment

   3
  

E.     Outside Directorships and Business Activities

   4
  

F.      Protection of Confidential Information

   4
  

G.     Payments to Government Officials and Political Contributions

   5

IV.

   Insider Trading    5
  

A.     Insider Trading

   5
  

B.     Insider Status

   5
  

C.     Material Nonpublic Information

   6
  

D.     Identifying Inside Information

   6
  

E.     Reporting Suspected Inside Information

   6

V.

   Personal Securities Transactions    7
  

A.     Trading Restrictions for All Employees/Access Person

   7
  

1.      Initial Public Offerings

   7
  

2.      Limited Offerings

   7
  

3.      Other Securities

   7
  

4.      Securities Being Purchased or Sold In Client Accounts

   8
  

B.     Additional Trading Restrictions for Investment Persons

   8
  

1.      Securities Eligible for Purchase or Sale By Client

   8
  

2.      Securities Traded Within Seven Days Before A Client Transaction

   8
  

C.     Other Trading Restrictions

   8
  

1.      Transactions in Certain Closed-End Funds and Certain Pooled Vehicles

   8
  

2.      Non-Interested Directors of the Nuveen Funds

   9


          Page No.
  

3.      Frequent Trading in Shares of Certain Open-End Funds

   9
  

4.      Excessive or Abusive Trading

   9
  

D.     PTA System and Employee/Access Person Trade Monitoring

   10
  

1.      PTA

   10
  

2.      Employee/Access Person Accounts

   10
  

3.      Accounts That May be Maintained at Non-PTA Compatible Broker-Dealers

   11
  

E.     Reporting Requirements

   11
  

1.      General Reporting Requirements

   11
  

2.      Initial Holdings Report

   12
  

3.      Annual Holdings Report

   12
  

4.      Quarterly Transaction Reports

   12
  

5.      Transaction Reports of Non-Interested Nuveen Fund Directors

   12
  

6.      Reporting Holdings and Transactions in Certain Open-End Funds

   13
  

7.      Brokerage Statements

   13
  

8.      Form of Holdings and Transaction Reports

   13
  

F.      Exceptions to Reporting Requirements

   13
  

G.     Procedures

   14
  

1.      Notification of Status as Investment Person

   14
  

2.      Maintenance of Access Person Master List

   14
  

3.      Procedure for Requesting Prior Written Approval

   14
  

4.      Monitoring of Personal Securities Transactions

   15
  

5.      Pre-Clearance Through PTA

   15
  

6.      Section 16 Officers

   15

VI.

   Administration and Enforcement    15
  

A.     Approval of Code

   15
  

B.     Reporting to the Nuveen Fund Board

   15
  

C.     Duty to Report Violations

   16
  

D.     Sanctions for Violation of the Code

   16
  

E.     Form ADV Disclosure

   17
  

F.      Interpretation of the Code and the Granting of Waivers

   17

VII.

   Recordkeeping    17

VIII.

   Definitions    18


          Page No.

Schedule I:

   Nuveen Subsidiaries Adopting this Code    22

Schedule II:

   Designated Compliance or Legal Officers    23

Schedule III:

   Open-End Funds Advised or Subadvised by a Nuveen Subsidiary    24

Schedule IV

   PTA Compatible Broker-Dealers    26


I. INTRODUCTION

This Code of Ethics (“Code”) is adopted by the subsidiaries of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen”) identified on Schedule I hereto, as may be amended from time to time (each a “Nuveen Subsidiary” and, together with Nuveen’s other subsidiaries, “Nuveen Investments”) in recognition of their fiduciary obligations to clients and in accordance with Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Among other things, these rules require a registered investment adviser to establish, maintain and enforce a written code of ethics that includes:

 

   

Standards of business conduct designed to reflect the adviser’s fiduciary obligations as well as those of its employees (including persons who provide investment advice on behalf of the adviser and who are subject to the adviser’s supervision and control)

 

   

Provisions requiring employees/access persons to comply with applicable federal securities laws;

 

   

Provisions designed to detect and prevent improper personal trading;

 

   

Provisions requiring access persons to make periodic reports of their personal securities transactions and holdings and requiring the adviser to review such reports;

 

   

Provisions requiring employees/access persons to report any violations under the code of ethics promptly to the chief compliance officer or other designated persons; and

 

   

Provisions requiring the adviser to provide to each of its employees/access persons a copy of the code of ethics and any amendments and requiring employees/access persons to provide a written acknowledgment of receipt.

Additionally, this Code is adopted by the Nuveen Defined Portfolios and, with respect to the provisions addressing non-interested directors (as defined in Section VIII below), by the Nuveen Open-End Funds and Closed End-Funds, pursuant to Rule 17j-1.

This Code designates all Nuveen Investments’ employees “access persons” (as defined in Section VIII below).

Each Nuveen Subsidiary, through its compliance officers, legal officers and/or other personnel designated on Schedule II hereto (“Designated Compliance or Legal Officers”) shall be responsible for the day-to-day administration of this Code with respect to those employees/access persons under the direct supervision and control of such Nuveen Subsidiary.

 

1


II. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

This Code is designed to promote the following general principles:

 

   

Nuveen Investments and its employees/access persons have a duty at all times to place the interests of clients first;

 

   

Employees/access persons must conduct their personal securities transactions in a manner that avoids any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of their positions of trust and responsibility;

 

   

Employees/access persons may not use knowledge about pending or currently considered securities transactions for clients to profit personally;

 

   

Information concerning the identity of security holdings and financial circumstances of clients is confidential; and

 

   

Independence in the investment decision-making process is paramount.

III. STANDARDS OF BUSINESS CONDUCT

A. Fiduciary Standards

Nuveen Investments strives at all times to conduct its investment advisory business in strict accordance with its fiduciary obligations. It is Nuveen Investments’ policy to protect the interest of each of its clients and to place the client’s interest first and foremost. Nuveen Investments’ fiduciary responsibilities include the duty of care, loyalty, honesty, and good faith. It is therefore imperative that employees/access persons provide full and fair disclosure of all relevant facts concerning any potential or actual conflict of interest, make investment decisions and recommendations that are suitable for clients, and seek best execution for client transactions in accordance with each Nuveen Subsidiary’s best execution policies and procedures.

B. Compliance with Laws and Company Policies

Nuveen Investments operates in a highly regulated business environment, and has adopted many policies and procedures applicable to the conduct of its employees/access persons, including the Nuveen Investments, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Employees/access persons must respect and comply with all laws, rules and regulations which are applicable to Nuveen Investments in the conduct of its business. Without limiting the foregoing, it is especially important that employees/access persons comply with applicable federal securities laws, which prohibit, among other things, the following:

 

   

Employing any device, scheme or artifice to defraud a client;

 

2


   

Making any untrue statement of a material fact to a client or omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make statements made to a client, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;

 

   

Engaging in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon a client;

 

   

Engaging in any manipulative practice with respect to a client; and

 

   

Engaging in any manipulative practice with respect to securities, including price manipulation.

C. Conflicts of Interest

Compliance with Nuveen Investments’ fiduciary obligations can be achieved by avoiding conflicts of interest and by fully disclosing all material facts concerning any conflict that does arise with respect to a client.

Conflicts of interest may arise, for example, when an employee or access person favors the interests of one client over another (e.g., a larger account over a smaller account, an account compensated by performance fees over an account not so compensated, or an account of a close friend or relative) without a legitimate reason for doing so. Employees/access persons are prohibited from engaging in inappropriate favoritism among clients that would constitute a breach of fiduciary duty.

Conflicts may arise when an employee or access person has a material interest in or relationship with the issuer of a security that he or she is recommending or purchasing for a client. Conflicts may also arise when an employee or access person uses knowledge about pending or currently considered securities transactions for clients to profit personally. Restrictions on personal securities transactions are addressed in detail in Section V below.

Conflicts of interest may not always be clear-cut. Any employee or access person of a Nuveen Subsidiary who becomes aware of a conflict of interest or potential conflict involving a client account should bring it to the attention of one of the Subsidiary’s Designated Compliance or Legal Officers.

D. Gifts and Entertainment

Employees/access persons are restricted from accepting gifts from any person or entity that does business with or on behalf of Nuveen Investments or any client account. For this purpose, “gift” has the same meaning as in Rule 2830 of the National Association of Securities Dealers Conduct Rules. Gifts received by an employee from any one person or entity may not have an aggregate market value of more than $100 per year. Employees/access persons may not accept gifts in an amount that exceeds $100 per year

 

3


from any person or entity that does business with or proposes to do business with Nuveen Investments. Employees/access persons are also subject to the restrictions in Rule 2830 with respect to accepting and providing non-cash compensation in the way of entertainment, including meals, golfing and tickets to cultural and sporting events. Employees/access persons are similarly restricted from giving gifts others. Employees/access persons may not give gifts in an amount that exceeds $100 per year to any person or entity that does business with or proposes to do business with Nuveen Investments. For more information, refer to Nuveen Investments’ Cash and Non-Cash Compensation Procedures.

E. Outside Directorships and Business Activities

Employees/access persons may not serve on the board of directors of any publicly traded company or engage in outside business activities without prior written approval from the General Counsel of Nuveen Investments or his or her designee. 1 Employees/access persons must also obtain prior written approval before serving as a member of the finance or investment committee of any not-for-profit organization or performing other investment-related services for such organization. Employees/access persons are required to report all outside business activities on a periodic basis. If it appears that any such activity conflicts with, or may reasonably be anticipated to conflict with, the interests of Nuveen Investments or its clients, the employee or access person may be required to discontinue the activity.

F. Protection of Confidential Information

Each employee/access person of a Nuveen Subsidiary must preserve the confidentiality of non-public information learned in the course of his or her employment, including nonpublic information about Nuveen Investments’ securities recommendations and client securities holdings and transactions. Employees/access persons may not misuse such information or disclose such information, whether within or outside Nuveen Investments, except to authorized persons who need to know the information for business purposes. Employees/access persons must comply with all laws, rules and regulations concerning the protection of client information including, without limitation, Regulation S-P. Please refer to Nuveen’s Consumer Information Security Policy for more information.

 

 

1

Employees/access persons who receive authorization to serve as board members of publicly traded companies must be isolated through information barriers from those persons making investment decisions concerning securities issued by the entities involved.

 

4


G. Payments to Government Officials and Political Contributions

No payment can be made directly or indirectly to any employee, official or representative of any governmental agency or any party or candidate for the purposes of influencing any act or decision on behalf of Nuveen Investments. Employees/access persons are free to participate as individuals in political activities, but are prohibited from engaging in such activities as a representative of Nuveen Investments and from using the name or credibility of Nuveen Investments in connection with political activities. Nuveen Investments will not reimburse any employee or access person for any political contributions or similar expenses.

IV. INSIDER TRADING

Nuveen Investments has adopted Policies and Procedures Designed to Detect and Prevent Insider Trading and to Preserve Confidential Information. These policies and procedures prohibit employees/access persons from trading, either personally or on behalf of others, on the basis of material nonpublic information in violation of the law. This conduct is frequently referred to as “insider trading.” Nuveen Investments’ policies and procedures to prevent insider trading apply to every employee/access person and extend to activities within and outside such individual’s duties at Nuveen Investments.

A. Insider Trading

The term “insider trading” is not defined in the federal securities laws, but generally is used to refer to the use of material nonpublic information to trade in securities (whether or not one is an “insider”) or to communications of material nonpublic information to others. While the law concerning insider trading is not static, it is generally understood that the law prohibits:

 

   

Trading by an insider while in possession of material nonpublic information;

 

   

Trading by a non-insider while in possession of material nonpublic information where the information either was disclosed to the non-insider in violation of an insider’s duty to keep it confidential or was misappropriated; and

 

   

Communicating material nonpublic information to others.

B. Insider Status

The concept of an “insider” is broad. It includes officers and employees of a company or other entity such as a municipality. In addition, a person can be a “temporary insider” if he or she enters into a special confidential relationship in the conduct of a company’s affairs and as a result is given access to information solely for the company’s purposes. A temporary insider can include, among others, a company’s attorneys, accountants, consultants, bank lending officers, investment advisers and the employees of such organizations.

 

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C. Material Nonpublic Information

Trading on inside information is not a basis for liability unless the information is material. “Material information” generally is defined as information for which there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making his or her investment decisions, or information that is reasonably certain to have a substantial effect on the price of a company’s securities. Information that officers and employees should consider material includes, but is not limited to: dividend changes, earnings estimates, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidation problems, and extraordinary management developments. Information is nonpublic until it has been effectively communicated to the marketplace. One must be able to point to some fact to show that the information is generally public. For example, information found in a report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or appearing in Dow Jones, Reuters Economic Services, The Wall Street Journal or other publications of general circulation would be considered public.

D. Identifying Inside Information .

Before trading for yourself or others in the securities of a company about which you may have potential inside information, ask yourself the following questions:

 

   

Is the information material? Is this information that an investor would consider important in making his or her investment decisions? Is this information that would substantially affect the market price of the securities if generally disclosed?

 

   

Is the information nonpublic? To whom has this information been provided? Has the information been effectively communicated to the marketplace?

E. Reporting Suspected Inside Information .

If, after consideration of the above, you believe that the information is material and nonpublic, or if you have questions as to whether the information is material and nonpublic, you should take the following steps:

 

   

Report the matter immediately to a Designated Compliance or Legal Officer;

 

   

Do not purchase or sell the securities on behalf of yourself or others; and

 

   

Do not communicate the information inside or outside of Nuveen Investments, other than to a Designated Compliance or Legal Officer.

 

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After a Designated Compliance or Legal Officer has reviewed the issue, you will be instructed to continue the prohibitions against trading and communication, or you will be allowed to trade and communicate the information.

Questions regarding Nuveen Investments’ policies and procedures to prevent insider trading should be referred to a Designated Compliance or Legal Officer.

V. PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

Set forth below are the restrictions on personal trading applicable to employees/access persons, including “investment persons” (as defined in Section VIII below), of each Nuveen Subsidiary. A Nuveen Subsidiary may implement more restrictive requirements for employees under its direct supervision and control by adopting supplemental procedures under this Section V. Also included are certain restrictions that apply to the non-interested directors of the Nuveen Funds.

A. Trading Restrictions for All Employees/Access Persons

1. Initial Public Offerings . No employee/access person of any Nuveen Subsidiary may purchase, directly or indirectly for any account in which he or she has beneficial ownership, any security in an “initial public offering” (as defined in Section VIII below). This requirement also does apply to transactions in an “initial public offering” in an account over which an employee/access person has granted full discretionary authority to a third party.

2. Limited Offerings . No employee/access person of any Nuveen Subsidiary may purchase, directly or indirectly for any account in which he or she has beneficial ownership, or outside such an account, any security in a “limited offering” (as defined in Section VIII below) without prior written approval as specified in subsection G below. 2

3. Other Securities. No employee/access person of a Nuveen Subsidiary may purchase or sell, directly or indirectly for any account in which he or she has beneficial ownership, any security without first pre-clearing such transaction through PTA (as defined in Section VIII below) as specified in subsection G below.

 

 

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A decision to grant approval will take into account, among other factors, whether the investment opportunity would be consistent with the strategies and objectives of a client account and whether the opportunity is being offered to the access person by virtue of his or her position with Nuveen Investments.

 

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4. Securities Being Purchased or Sold in Client Accounts . No employee/access person of any Nuveen Subsidiary may purchase or sell, directly or indirectly for any account in which he or she has beneficial ownership, any security that to his or her actual knowledge is being purchased or sold, or is actively being considered for purchase or sale, by a client of Nuveen Investments. This restriction, however, does not apply when the purchase or sale by the client account is a “maintenance trade” or an “unsupervised trade” (as defined in Section VIII below).

B. Additional Trading Restrictions for Investment Persons

1. Securities Eligible for Purchase or Sale by Client Accounts . Except with prior written approval, no investment person of a Nuveen Subsidiary may purchase or sell, directly or indirectly for any account in which he or she has beneficial ownership, any security eligible for purchase or sale by a client account for which such investment person has responsibility. 3

2. Securities Traded Within Seven Days Before or After a Client Transaction . In the event that a client account purchases or sells a security within 7 days preceding or following the purchase, or purchases or sells a security within 7 days preceding or following the sale, of the same security by an investment person who has responsibility for the client account, the investment person may be required to dispose of the security and/or disgorge any profits associated with his or her transaction. Such disposal and/or disgorgement may be required notwithstanding any prior written approval granted pursuant to paragraph B.1 above, unless the purchase or sale by the client account is a maintenance trade or unsupervised trade.

C. Other Trading Restrictions

1. Transactions in Shares of Certain Closed-End Funds and Similar Pooled Vehicles . No employee of a Nuveen Subsidiary either (a) working in the Chicago office or (b) working in Nuveen’s Closed-End Funds and Structured Products Group (or any successor group) may purchase or sell, directly or indirectly for any account in which he or she has beneficial ownership, any common or preferred shares of a Nuveen Closed-End Fund (as defined in Section VIII below) or other closed-end fund advised or sub-advised by a Nuveen Subsidiary without prior written approval as specified in

 

 

3

Written approval may be withheld unless it is determined that the transaction is unlikely to present an opportunity for abuse and there has been no trade (other than a maintenance trade or unsupervised trade) in the same security during the 7 preceding days by a client account for which the investment person has some responsibility.

 

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Subsection G below. This pre-clearance requirement will also apply to common and preferred shares of any other exchange-listed investment product sponsored by Nuveen that is not a closed-end fund, such as the Nuveen Commodities Income and Growth Fund, and such product will be regarded as a Closed-End Fund for purposes of this Section V.C. and all related sections. In addition, no employee, officer or director of any Nuveen Subsidiary who is subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by reason of his or her position with a Nuveen Closed-End Fund or other closed-end fund advised or sub-advised by a Nuveen Subsidiary may purchase or sell, directly or indirectly for any account in which he or she has beneficial ownership, any common shares of such fund without prior written approval as specified in Subsection G below. These restrictions do apply to any such transactions in accounts over which an employee/access person has granted full discretionary authority to a third party.

2. Non-Interested Directors of the Nuveen Funds . A non-interested director of a Nuveen Fund is deemed an “access person” of the Fund under Rule 17j-1. Accordingly, in connection with his or her purchase or sale of a security held or to be acquired by the Fund, such non-interested director may not: engage in any act or practice that operates as a fraud or deceit upon the Fund; make any material misstatement or omission to the Fund; or engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the Fund. Under this Code, a non-interested director of a Nuveen Fund:

 

   

May not purchase or sell common or preferred shares of a Nuveen Closed-End Fund without prior written approval;

 

   

May purchase or sell other securities which are eligible for purchase or sale by a Nuveen Fund, including securities in an initial public offering or limited offering, without prior written approval unless such non-interested director has actual knowledge that the securities are being purchased or sold, or are actively being considered for purchase or sale, by the Nuveen Fund.

3. Frequent Trading in Shares of Certain Open-End Funds . Employees/access persons of each Nuveen Subsidiary must adhere to the restrictions on frequent trading set forth in the registration statement of any Nuveen Open-End Fund (as defined in Section VIII below) and any other open-end fund advised or sub-advised by a Nuveen Subsidiary.

4. Excessive or Abusive Trading . Excessive personal trading (as measured in terms of frequency, complexity of trading programs, numbers of trades or other measures) and other personal trading patterns that involve opportunities for abuse are inconsistent with fiduciary principles and this Code. Accordingly, if the trading by an employee or access person in any account, including but not limited to a 401(k) plan, appears to be excessive or otherwise abusive, the Designated Compliance or Legal Officers of the applicable Nuveen Subsidiary may place additional restrictions on such trading.

 

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D. PTA System and Employee/Access Person Trade Monitoring

1. PTA . PTA is Nuveen’s pre-clearance monitoring system for employee/access person transactions. All personal transactions for such individuals must be pre-cleared through PTA. This means that all transactions must be input into PTA for approval before any such transactions are executed. All of the information required by PTA must be supplied in connection with the transaction. Employees/access persons will receive training for PTA. Transactions effected pursuant to an “automatic investment plan” (as defined in Section VIII below) must only be submitted for pre-clearance one time, prior to the first transaction under the automatic investment plan. The following trades are not required to be submitted to PTA for pre-clearance:

 

  a. Purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuers, and sales of such rights so acquired;

 

  b. Acquisitions of securities through stock dividends, dividend reinvestments, stock splits, reverse stock splits, mergers, consolidations, spin-offs, and other similar corporate reorganizations or distributions generally applicable to all holders of the same class of securities; and

 

  c. Transactions that are non-volitional on the part of the access person, including transactions in managed accounts in which the employee/access person has no investment discretion and the call by a third party of an option on securities owned by the access person. Such transactions are, however, subject to other restrictions including those contained in Sections V.A.1 and V.C.1.

2. Employee/Access persons Accounts . Employees/access persons must maintain all brokerage accounts at a PTA compatible broker-dealer. This includes all brokerage accounts for the employee/access person’s family members living in their home, the brokerage accounts of any domestic partner and any other brokerage account over which the employee/access person has discretionary authority. The PTA compatible broker-dealers are listed on Schedule IV and may be updated from time to time by the Compliance Department. Certain accounts itemized in section D.3 below are excluded from this requirement. Accounts that enable the employee/access person to engage in any transaction not specifically listed in Section D.3 below cannot be excluded and must be maintained at a PTA compatible broker-dealer.

 

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3. Accounts That May be Maintained at Non-PTA Compatible Broker-Dealers . Employees/access persons may maintain accounts at broker-dealers that are not listed on Schedule IV when the account in question only allows for transactions in any or all of the following categories:

 

  a.

Transactions in securities over which a person has no direct or indirect influence or control; 4

 

  b. Transactions in securities issued by the U.S. Government, bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high-quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements;

 

  c. Transactions in shares of registered open-end investment companies, including open-end exchange-traded funds known as “ETFs” (other than the restrictions on frequent trading in shares of Nuveen Open-End Funds and other open-end funds advised or sub-advised by a Nuveen Subsidiary);

 

  d. Transactions in ETFs that are comparable to open-end ETFs but are formed as unit investment trusts; and

 

  e. Transactions in shares of unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more registered open-end investment companies.

A Designated Compliance or Legal Officers may grant other exceptions on a limited case-by-case basis. The person seeking such exemption must make a request to the Designated Compliance or Legal Officers and must receive prior written approval in writing before the exemption becomes effective. (See Section G below for approval process.)

E. Reporting Requirements

1. General Reporting Requirements. Nuveen Investments will deliver a copy of this Code, and amendments to this Code, to each employee/access person of a Nuveen Subsidiary. Shortly after receipt of a copy of this Code or any amendment, the recipient shall be required to acknowledge that he or she:

 

   

Has received a copy of the Code;

 

   

Has read and understands the Code;

 

   

Agrees that he or she is legally bound by the Code; and

 

   

Will comply with all requirements of the Code.

 

 

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This would include securities transactions in accounts over which a person has granted full discretionary authority to another party that does not have beneficial ownership in the securities, such as a separately managed account for which a third party has full and exclusive discretion, provided that the Designated Compliance or Legal Officers receive written notice of such grant of authority. Note that such grant of discretionary authority must be restricted as to JNC securities. Employees/access persons may not grant discretion to another party for purchases or sales of JNC securities which always require prior approval by legal as specified in Subsection G below.

 

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2. Initial Holdings Report . Each access person of a Nuveen Subsidiary must submit through PTA a report of all holdings in securities within 10 days of becoming an access person. The report must include the following information current as of a date not more than 45 days prior to the date of becoming an access person:

 

   

Title, type, exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares and principal amount of each security;

 

   

Name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the access person maintains an account; and

 

   

Date on which the report is submitted.

3. Annual Holdings Report . Access persons must submit through PTA a report of all security holdings within 45 days after the end of each calendar year. The report must include the following information current as of the last day of the calendar year:

 

   

Title, type, exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares and principal amount of each security;

 

   

Name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the access person maintains an account; and

 

   

Date on which the report is submitted.

4. Quarterly Transaction Reports . Access persons must submit through PTA transaction reports no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter covering all transactions in securities during the quarter. The report must include:

 

   

Date of transaction, title, exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), number of shares and principal amount of each security involved;

 

   

Nature of the transaction (e.g., purchase, sale or any other acquisition or disposition);

 

   

Price at which the transaction was effected;

 

   

Name of broker, dealer, or bank through which the transaction was effected;

 

   

Name of broker, dealer or bank with whom any new account was established and the date such account was established; and

 

   

Date on which the report is submitted.

5. Transaction Reports of Non-Interested Nuveen Fund Directors . Non-interested directors of a Nuveen Fund must report a personal securities transaction only if such director, at the time of that transaction, knew that during the 15-day period immediately preceding or subsequent to the date of the transaction by the director, such security was purchased or sold by the Fund or was being considered for purchase or sale by the Fund. Non-interested directors must report securities transactions meeting these requirements within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter.

 

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6. Reporting Holdings and Transactions in Certain Open-End Funds . Unless one of the exceptions set forth in Section G below applies, holdings and transactions in shares of Nuveen Open-End Funds, and shares of any other open-end fund for which a Nuveen Subsidiary serves as an adviser or sub-adviser, must be included in the initial and annual holdings reports and quarterly transaction reports required by this Section E. See Schedule III for a list of such funds. However, employees/access persons need not take any action to report holdings or transactions in shares of Nuveen Open-End Funds through the Nuveen Investments 401(k)/Profit Sharing Plan because such information is being directly provided by the plan administrator to the Designated Compliance or Legal Officers.

7. Brokerage Statements . Each employee/access must provide the Designated Legal and Compliance Officers with a list of their brokerage accounts (or other accounts that hold securities). This requirement also includes accounts held directly with any Nuveen Open-End Fund or other open-end fund advised or sub-advised by a Nuveen Subsidiary, unless one of the exceptions in Section F below applies. With respect to transactions in the Nuveen Investments 401(k)/Profit Sharing Plan, this requirement is deemed satisfied by virtue of the reports being sent by the plan administrator directly to the Legal and Compliance Department.

8. Form of Holdings and Transaction Reports . An employee/access person’s holdings and transaction reports required by this Section E shall be in the form required to be reported in PTA, or such other form approved by the Designated Compliance or Legal Officers.

F. Exceptions to Reporting Requirements

The following holdings and/or transactions are not required to be included in the reports described in Section E above:

 

  1.

Holdings and transactions in securities over which a person has no direct or indirect influence or control;

 

  2. Transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan, including transactions in Nuveen Investments’ 401(k)/Profit Sharing Plan and any dividend reinvestment plan, unless such transactions override or deviate from the pre-set schedule or allocations of such automatic investment plan;

 

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  3. Holdings and transactions in securities issued by the U.S. Government, bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high-quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements;

 

  4. Holdings and transactions in shares of registered open-end investment companies that are not advised or sub-advised by a Nuveen Subsidiary and are not exchange-traded open-end funds (ETFs); and

 

  5. Holdings and transactions in shares of unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds that are not advised or sub-advised by a Nuveen Subsidiary.

G. Procedures

1. Notification of Status as Investment Person . Nuveen Investments will notify each person who is considered to be an investment person under this Code.

2. Maintenance of Access Person Master List . Each Nuveen Subsidiary will maintain and update an access person master list containing the names of its access persons and investment persons who are subject to this Code. It will also maintain a list of all open-end funds for which any Nuveen Subsidiary serves as an adviser or sub-adviser.

3. Procedure for Requesting Prior Written Approval . A request for prior written approval required by Sections A(1), A(3) and C(1) above must be made in writing to a Designated Compliance or Legal Officer of the applicable Nuveen Subsidiary. Such requests must include the following information:

 

   

Title, ticker symbol or CUSIP number;

 

   

Type of security (bond, stock, note, etc.);

 

   

Maximum expected dollar amount or number of shares of proposed transaction;

 

   

Nature of the transaction (purchase or sale); and

 

   

Broker’s name and account number; and

 

   

Any other information, representations or certifications that a Designated Compliance or Legal Officer may reasonably request.

The person granting approval of a transaction will create an e-mail or other written record setting forth the terms of the approval and will copy the other employees/access persons who need to know such information.

The person making the request will have one business day to execute an approved transaction at market or to place or cancel a limit order. Failure to execute the approved transaction within one business day will require the person to re-submit their pre-clearance request as described above. The automatic execution of an order does not require an additional approval.

 

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4. Monitoring of Personal Securities Transactions . Designated Compliance or Legal Officers will review personal securities transactions and holdings reports periodically, either on a trade-by-trade basis or through various sampling techniques.

5. Pre-Clearance Through PTA . Employees/access persons are required to use PTA Connect, the electronic monitoring system adopted by Nuveen Investments to pre-clear personal securities transactions in accordance with Section V (D) above. All employees/access persons will be given computer based training on the procedures to be used within the PTA Connect system.

6. Section 16 Officers Additional Reporting . Section 16 Officers (as defined in Section VIII, below) are also required to report to the Legal Department in Chicago via email the details of any transaction requiring Section 16 filings immediately upon the completion of the transaction. Section 16 Officers are also required to verify the information in all Section 16 filings with the Legal Department and confirm that the Section 16 filing was made within the required regulatory timeframe.

VI. ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

A. Approval of Code

This Code has been approved by each Nuveen Subsidiary identified on Schedule I hereto, the principal underwriter or depositor of the Nuveen Defined Portfolios, the board of directors of the Nuveen Open-End and Closed-End Funds, and the board of directors or trustees of other funds for which a Nuveen Subsidiary serves as an adviser or sub-adviser. Material amendments must also be approved by such fund boards (or principal underwriter or depositor in the case of a unit investment trust) within six months of the amendment.

B. Reporting to the Nuveen Fund Board

Nuveen Investments or the applicable Nuveen Subsidiary must provide an annual written report to the board of directors of any Nuveen Fund or other fund (other than a unit investment trust) for which a Nuveen Subsidiary serves as an adviser or sub-adviser. The report must:

 

   

Describe any issues arising under the Code or procedures thereunder since the last report, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the Code or procedures thereunder and sanctions imposed in response to such violations; and

 

   

Certify that procedures have been adopted that are reasonably necessary to prevent access persons from violating the Code.

 

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C. Duty to Report Violations

Employees/access persons must report violations of the Code promptly to a Designated Compliance or Legal Officer of the applicable Nuveen Subsidiary, who in turn must report all such violations to such Subsidiary’s Chief Compliance Officer. Such reports will be treated confidentially to the extent permitted by law and investigated promptly.

D. Sanctions for Violation of the Code

Employees/access persons may be subject to sanctions for violations of the specific provisions or general principles of the Code. Violations by such persons will be reviewed and sanctions determined by the General Counsel of Nuveen Investments, the Director of Compliance and the Chief Compliance Officer of the applicable Nuveen Subsidiary, or their designee(s). Sanctions which may be imposed include:

 

   

Formal warning;

 

   

Restriction of trading privileges;

 

   

Disgorgement of trading profits;

 

   

Fines; and/or

 

   

Suspension or termination of employment.

The factors which that may be considered when determining the appropriate sanctions include, but are not limited to:

 

   

Harm to a client’s interest;

 

   

Extent of unjust enrichment;

 

   

Frequency of occurrence;

 

   

Degree to which there is personal benefit from unique knowledge obtained through a person’s position with a Nuveen Subsidiary or its clients.

 

   

Degree of perception of a conflict of interest;

 

   

Evidence of fraud, violation of law, or reckless disregard of a regulatory requirement; and/or

 

   

Level of accurate, honest and timely cooperation from the person subject to the Code.

Material violations by non-interested directors of a Nuveen Fund may be reviewed and sanctions determined by the other non-interested directors of such Fund or a committee thereof.

 

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E. Form ADV Disclosure

Each Nuveen Subsidiary that is an investment adviser must include on Schedule F of Part II of its Form ADV a description of the Code and a statement that such Nuveen Subsidiary will provide a copy of the Code to any client or prospective client upon request.

F. Interpretation of the Code and the Granting of Waivers

Questions concerning the interpretation or applicability of the provisions of this Code, and the granting of waivers or exceptions hereunder, may be determined and made by the General Counsel of Nuveen Investments, the Director of Compliance, the Chief Compliance Officer of the applicable Nuveen Subsidiary, or their designees.

VII. RECORDKEEPING

Nuveen Investments will maintain the following records in a readily accessible place in accordance with Rule 17j-1(f) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rule 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

   

A copy of each Code that has been in effect at any time during the past five years;

 

   

A record of any violation of the Code and any action taken as a result of such violation for five years from the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred;

 

   

A record of all written acknowledgements of receipt of the Code and amendments for each person who is currently, or within the past five years was, an access person;

 

   

Holdings and transactions reports made pursuant to the Code, including any brokerage confirmation and account statements made in lieu of these reports;

 

   

A list of the names of persons who are currently, or within the past five years were, access persons;

 

   

A record of any decision and supporting reasons for approving the acquisition of securities by access persons in initial public offerings or limited offerings for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which approval was granted;

 

   

Any decisions that grant employees/access persons a waiver from or exception to the Code;

 

   

A record of persons responsible for reviewing access persons’ reports currently or during the last five years; and

 

   

A copy of reports provided to a fund’s board of directors regarding the Code.

 

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VIII. DEFINITIONS

A. Access Person

Effective November, 2006, all Nuveen Investments employees will be considered “access persons”. This standard is more restrictive than Rule 204A-1(e)(1) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 17j-1(a)(2) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

B. Automatic Investment Plan

“Automatic investment plan” means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An automatic investment plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan.

C. Beneficial Ownership

“Beneficial ownership” means having or sharing a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a security through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise. The term “pecuniary interest” means the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in the subject securities. See Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The pecuniary interest standard looks beyond the record owner of securities. As a result, the definition of beneficial ownership is very broad and encompasses many situations that might not ordinarily be thought to confer a “pecuniary interest” in, or “ownership” of, securities, including the following:

 

   

Family Holdings . As a general rule, you are regarded as the beneficial owner of securities not only in your name but held in the name of members of your immediate family, including: your spouse or domestic partner; your child or other relative who shares your home or, although not living in your home, is economically dependent upon you; or any other person if you obtain from such securities benefits substantially similar to those of ownership.

 

   

Partnership and Corporate Holdings . A general partner of a general or limited partnership will generally be deemed to beneficially own securities held by the partnership, so long as the partner has direct or indirect influence or control over the management and affairs of the partnership. A limited partner will generally not be deemed to beneficially own securities held by a limited partnership, provided he or she does not own a controlling voting interest in the partnership. If a corporation is your “alter ego” or “personal holding company,” the corporation’s holdings of securities will be attributable to you.

 

   

Investment Clubs . You are deemed to beneficially own securities held by an investment club of which you or a member of your immediate family (as defined above) is a member. Membership in investment clubs must be pre-approved by a Designated Compliance or Legal Officer.

 

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Trusts . You are deemed to beneficially own securities held in trust if any of the following is true: you are a trustee and either you or members of your immediate family (as defined above) have a monetary interest in the trust, whether as to principal or income; you have a vested beneficial interest in the trust; or you are settlor of the trust and you have the power to revoke the trust without obtaining the consent of all the beneficiaries. See Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

   

Financial Power of Attorney . You are deemed to beneficially own securities held in any account over which you have financial power of attorney.

D. Control

“Control” of a company means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with such company, and a control relationship exists when a company controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, another company. Any person who owns beneficially, either directly or through one or more controlled companies, more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting securities of a company shall be presumed to control such company. Any person who does not so own more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting securities of any company shall be presumed not to control such company. A natural person shall be presumed not to be a controlled person.

E. Fund

“Fund” means an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

F. Initial Public Offering

“Initial public offering” means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

G. Investment Person

“Investment person” means an access person of a Nuveen Subsidiary who (i) in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes or participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities for a client account or (ii) is a natural person in a control relationship with a Nuveen Subsidiary and obtains information concerning recommendations made to a client account. Investment persons of a Nuveen Subsidiary include portfolios managers, portfolio assistants, securities analysts and traders employed by such Nuveen Subsidiary, or any other persons designated as such on the Nuveen Subsidiary’s master access person list.

 

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H. Limited Offering

“Limited offering” means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) or pursuant to Rules 504, 505 or 506 under such Act. Limited offerings are also known as “private placements.”

I. Maintenance Trade

“Maintenance trade” means a regular, day-to-day transaction in a security currently in a Nuveen Subsidiary’s model portfolio (or an alternative for such security) made for a new client account or pursuant to the deposit or withdrawal of money from an existing client account or a trade that is directed by a client account. A maintenance trade also includes the sale of existing securities from a new client account for the purpose of acquiring securities currently in a Nuveen Subsidiary’s model portfolio (or an alternative for such securities). A maintenance trade relates solely to rebalancing an existing client account or investing a new client account in a passive manner to track a model portfolio and is deemed not to involve the exercise of investment discretion.

J. Non-Interested Director

“Non-interested director” means a director who is not an “interested director” of a fund and who is not employed by, or has a material business relationship or professional relationship with, the fund or the fund’s investment adviser or underwriter. See Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1040.

K. Nuveen Fund

“Nuveen Fund” means any fund for which a Nuveen Subsidiary serves as the investment adviser and for which Nuveen Investments, LLC serves as a principal underwriter or as a member of the underwriting syndicate. A Nuveen Fund is any Nuveen Defined Portfolio, Nuveen Closed-End Fund or Nuveen Open-End Fund.

L. Purchase or Sale of a Security

“Purchase or sale of a security” includes, among other things, the purchasing or writing of an option and the acquisition or disposition of any instrument whose value is derived from the value of another security.

 

20


M. PTA

PTA is Nuveen’s automated employee personal trading pre-clearance system. All employees/access persons must pre-clear applicable all transactions through PTA as described herein. All employees/access persons will be required to successfully complete training on the utilization of PTA.

N. Section 16 Officer

“Section 16 Officer” means every person who is directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of more than 10 percent of any class of any equity security (other than an exempted security) which is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act of 1934 or who is an officer or director of the issuer of such security. See Section 16 of the Exchange Act of 1934. The Nuveen Fund Board approves the list of Section 16 Officers for the Nuveen Funds on an annual basis. This list is maintained in the Legal Department in Chicago and includes portfolio managers, traders and other employees responsible for making policy related decisions.

O. Security

“Security” means any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option or privilege on any security (including a certificate of deposit) or on any group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call, straddle, option or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a security, or any certificate of interest or participation ink temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing. Without limiting the foregoing, a security also includes any instrument whose value is derived from the value of another security.

P. Unsupervised Trade

“Unsupervised trade” is the purchase or sale of a security for which no Nuveen Subsidiary has investment discretion.

 

21


SCHEDULE I

Nuveen Subsidiaries Adopting this Code

Nuveen Asset Management

Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc.

Nuveen HydePark Group, LLC

Nuveen Investments Institutional Services Group LLC

NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC

Richards & Tierney, Inc.

Rittenhouse Asset Management, Inc.

Santa Barbara Asset Management

Symphony Asset Management LLC

Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC

Nuveen Investments LLC

Nuveen Investments Canada Co.

Any other Nuveen subsidiary that may from time to time notify its

employees/access persons that it has adopted this Code of Ethics

 

22


SCHEDULE II

Designated Compliance or Legal Officers

 

For pre-clearance of trades in common or preferred shares of Nuveen Closed-End Funds, employees/access persons in Chicago and Section 16 officers of the Funds should contact one of the following persons:
Giff Zimmerman    Kevin McCarthy

For pre-clearance of all other trades, employees/access persons should utilize PTA. If directed by PTA to contact Compliance, contact one of the individuals identified below, depending on which Nuveen Subsidiary you are affiliated with:

 

If you are affiliated with any of the following :    You should contact one of the following persons:
Nuveen Asset Management, Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc., Nuveen HydePark Group, LLC, Nuveen Investments Institutional Services Group LLC, NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, Richards & Tierney, Inc., Rittenhouse Asset Management, Inc., Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC, or Nuveen Investments LLC    Ginny Johnson, Christina Legue, Cathie Reese, Walter Kelly, or Mary Keefe
If you are affiliated with:    You should contact one of the following persons:

Symphony Asset Management LLC

 

 

Santa Barbara Asset Management

  

Martin Fawzy, Neil Rudolph, or Mary Keefe

 

Carol Olson or Mary Keefe

If you are a Section 16 Officer:    You should contact the following persons:
Report the details of each Section 16 transaction via email to:    Joe Visaya, Ginny Johnson and Christina Legue

 

23


Funds Advised or Subadvised by a Nuveen Subsidiary

Nuveen Municipal Trust

Nuveen Intermediate Duration Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Insured Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen All-American Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Limited Term Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen High Yield Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Multistate Trust I

Nuveen Arizona Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Colorado Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Florida Preferred Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Maryland Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen New Mexico Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Pennsylvania Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Virginia Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Multistate Trust II

Nuveen California Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen California High Yield Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen California Insured Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Connecticut Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Massachusetts Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Massachusetts Insured Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen New York Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen New York Insured Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Multistate Trust III

Nuveen Georgia Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Louisiana Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Northern Carolina Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Multistate Trust IV

Nuveen Kansas Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Kentucky Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Michigan Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Missouri Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Ohio Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Wisconsin Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Investment Trust

Nuveen Balanced Stock and Bond Fund

Nuveen Balanced Municipal and Stock Fund

Nuveen Large-Cap Value Fund

Nuveen NWQ Global Value Fund

Nuveen NWQ Large-Cap Value Fund

Nuveen NWQ Multi-Cap Value Fund

Nuveen NWQ Small Cap Value Fund

Nuveen NWQ Small/Mid-Cap Value Fund

Nuveen Tradewinds Value Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Tradewinds Global Resources Fund

Nuveen Investment Trust II

Nuveen Tradewinds Global All-Cap Fund

Nuveen Tradewinds International Value Fund

Nuveen Rittenhouse Growth Fund

Nuveen Santa Barbara Growth Fund

Nuveen Santa Barbara Growth Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Santa Barbara Dividend Growth Fund

Nuveen Symphony All-Cap Core Fund

Nuveen Symphony Mid-Cap Core Fund

Nuveen Symphony Small-Mid Cap Core Fund

Nuveen Symphony Large-Cap Value Fund

Nuveen Investment Trust III

Nuveen Core Bond Fund

Nuveen High Yield Bond Fund

Nuveen Short Duration Bond Fund

Nuveen Investment Trust V

Nuveen Preferred Securities Fund

Nuveen Diversified Dividend and Income Fund

Nuveen Tax Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund

Nuveen Tax Advantaged Dividend Growth Fund

Nuveen Global Value Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Multi-Strategy Income and Growth Fund

Nuveen Multi-Strategy Income and Growth Fund 2

Nuveen NWQ LCVFund – UK

Nuveen Tradewinds International Value Fund – UK

Nuveen Tradewinds Global All Cap Fund – UK

Nuveen Tradewinds Global Equities Fund

Symphony-Nuveen International Equity Fund ADR

 

24


Other Funds

Activa International Fund

AssetMark Tax-Exempt Fixed Income Fund

ING International Value Choice Fund

ING Value Opportunities Choice Fund

ING Small Cap Value Choice Fund

ING Global Value Choice Fund

HSBC Investor Value Fund

HSBC MM US Value Equity Pooled Fund

HSBC US Large Cap Irish Fund

Integra – NWQ US Large Cap Value Fund

MD Management Pooled Equity Fund

MGI US Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

ML Global Selects-North American Large Cap Growth Portfolio I

MLIG Roszel/NWQ Small Cap Value Portfolio

MLIG Roszel/Rittenhouse Large Cap Growth Portfolio

MTB Large Cap Value Fund I

MTB Large Cap Value Fund II

New Covenant Growth Fund

Northern Trust Multi-Manager International Equity Fund

NTGA Inc.-Multi-Manager International Equity Fund

Oyster USA Opportunities Fund

Principal Investors Tax-Exempt Bond Fund

Renaissance Canadian Core Value Fund

Russell II World Equity Fund

Russell II Alpha Fund

Russell World Equity Fund II

Talvest Global Equity Fund

Wilshire Small Company Value Fund

9/30/08

 

25


Schedule IV

PTA Compatible Broker-Dealers

 

1. UBS
2. Morgan Stanley
3. Merrill Lynch
4. E*Trade
5. TD Waterhouse
6. Fidelity
7. Ameritrade
8. Schwab
9. A.G. Edwards
10. Citigroup/Smith Barney
11. Ameriprise
12. Wachovia

 

26

Exhibit s

N UVEEN B UILD A MERICA B OND T ERM F UND

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a trustee of the above-referenced organization, hereby constitutes and appoints KEVIN J. McCARTHY, LARRY W. MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, GIFFORD R. ZIMMERMAN, MARK L. WINGET and ERIC F. FESS, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone) his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him on his behalf and in Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of l933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, including any amendment or amendments thereto, with all exhibits, and any and all other documents required to be filed with any regulatory authority, federal or state, relating to the registration thereof, or the issuance of shares thereof, without limitation, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the above-referenced organization has hereunto set his hand this 4th day of December, 2009.

 

   

/s/ John P. Amboian

    John P. Amboian

 

STATE OF  ILLINOIS    )      
   )    SS   
COUNTY OF  COOK    )      

On this 4th day of December, 2009, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, the person named above who is known to me to be the person whose name and signature is affixed to the foregoing Power of Attorney and who acknowledged the same to be his voluntary act and deed for the intent and purposes therein set forth.

 

“OFFICIAL SEAL”    
Olivia Rubio    

/s/ Olivia Rubio

Notary Public, State of Illinois     Notary Public
My Commission Expires: 5/8/13    


N UVEEN B UILD A MERICA B OND T ERM F UND

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a trustee of the above-referenced organization, hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN P. AMBOIAN, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, LARRY W. MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, GIFFORD R. ZIMMERMAN, MARK L. WINGET and ERIC F. FESS, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone) his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him on his behalf and in Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, including any amendment or amendments thereto, with all exhibits, and any and all other documents required to be filed with any regulatory authority, federal or state, relating to the registration thereof, or the issuance of shares thereof, without limitation, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the above-referenced organization has hereunto set his hand this 26th day of February 2010.

/s/ Terence J. Toth

Terence J. Toth

 

STATE OF ILLINOIS

   )    
   )SS

COUNTY OF COOK

   )    

On this 26th day of February 2010, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, the person named above who is known to me to be the person whose name and signature is affixed to the foregoing Power of Attorney and who acknowledged the same to be his voluntary act and deed for the intent and purposes therein set forth.

 

“OFFICIAL SEAL”

  

Virginia L. Corcoran

   /s/Virginia L. Corcoran

Notary Public, State of Illinois

   Notary Public

My Commission Expires: 11/16/2013

  


N UVEEN B UILD A MERICA B OND T ERM F UND

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a trustee of the above-referenced organization, hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN P. AMBOIAN, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, LARRY W. MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, GIFFORD R. ZIMMERMAN, MARK L. WINGET and ERIC F. FESS, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone) his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him on his behalf and in Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, including any amendment or amendments thereto, with all exhibits, and any and all other documents required to be filed with any regulatory authority, federal or state, relating to the registration thereof, or the issuance of shares thereof, without limitation, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the above-referenced organization has hereunto set his hand this 26th day of February 2010.

/s/ Jack B. Evans

Jack B. Evans

 

STATE OF ILLINOIS

   )    
   )SS

COUNTY OF COOK

   )    

On this 26th day of February 2010, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, the person named above who is known to me to be the person whose name and signature is affixed to the foregoing Power of Attorney and who acknowledged the same to be his voluntary act and deed for the intent and purposes therein set forth.

 

“OFFICIAL SEAL”

  

Virginia L. Corcoran

   /s/Virginia L. Corcoran

Notary Public, State of Illinois

   Notary Public

My Commission Expires: 11/16/2013

  


N UVEEN B UILD A MERICA B OND T ERM F UND

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a trustee of the above-referenced organization, hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN P. AMBOIAN, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, LARRY W. MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, GIFFORD R. ZIMMERMAN, MARK L. WINGET and ERIC F. FESS, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone) his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him on his behalf and in Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, including any amendment or amendments thereto, with all exhibits, and any and all other documents required to be filed with any regulatory authority, federal or state, relating to the registration thereof, or the issuance of shares thereof, without limitation, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the above-referenced organization has hereunto set his hand this 26th day of February 2010.

 

      /s/ William J. Schneider
    William J. Schneider

 

STATE OF  ILLINOIS

   )   
   )SS   

COUNTY OF  COOK

   )   

On this 26th day of February 2010, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, the person named above who is known to me to be the person whose name and signature is affixed to the foregoing Power of Attorney and who acknowledged the same to be his voluntary act and deed for the intent and purposes therein set forth.

 

“OFFICIAL SEAL”    
Virginia L. Corcoran     /s/ Virginia L. Corcoran

Notary Public, State of Illinois

My Commission Expires: 11/16/2013

    Notary Public


N UVEEN B UILD A MERICA B OND T ERM F UND

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a trustee of the above-referenced organization, hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN P. AMBOIAN, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, LARRY W. MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, GIFFORD R. ZIMMERMAN, MARK L. WINGET and ERIC F. FESS, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone) her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for her on her behalf and in Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, including any amendment or amendments thereto, with all exhibits, and any and all other documents required to be filed with any regulatory authority, federal or state, relating to the registration thereof, or the issuance of shares thereof, without limitation, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the above-referenced organization has hereunto set her hand this 26th day of February 2010.

 

      /s/ Judith M. Stockdale
    Judith M. Stockdale

 

STATE OF  ILLINOIS

   )   
   )SS   

COUNTY OF  COOK

   )   

On this 26th day of February 2010, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, the person named above who is known to me to be the person whose name and signature is affixed to the foregoing Power of Attorney and who acknowledged the same to be her voluntary act and deed for the intent and purposes therein set forth.

 

“OFFICIAL SEAL”    
Virginia L. Corcoran     /s/ Virginia L. Corcoran

Notary Public, State of Illinois

My Commission Expires: 11/16/2013

    Notary Public


N UVEEN B UILD A MERICA B OND T ERM F UND

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a trustee of the above-referenced organization, hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN P. AMBOIAN, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, LARRY W. MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, GIFFORD R. ZIMMERMAN, MARK L. WINGET and ERIC F. FESS, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone) his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him on his behalf and in Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, including any amendment or amendments thereto, with all exhibits, and any and all other documents required to be filed with any regulatory authority, federal or state, relating to the registration thereof, or the issuance of shares thereof, without limitation, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the above-referenced organization has hereunto set his hand this 26th day of February 2010.

/s/ Robert P. Bremner

Robert P. Bremner

 

STATE OF ILLINOIS

   )    
   )SS

COUNTY OF COOK

   )    

On this _ 26th day of February 2010, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, the person named above who is known to me to be the person whose name and signature is affixed to the foregoing Power of Attorney and who acknowledged the same to be his voluntary act and deed for the intent and purposes therein set forth.

 

“OFFICIAL SEAL”

 

Virginia L. Corcoran

  /s/Virginia L. Corcoran

Notary Public, State of Illinois

  Notary Public

My Commission Expires: 11/16/2013

 


N UVEEN B UILD A MERICA B OND T ERM F UND

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a trustee of the above-referenced organization, hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN P. AMBOIAN, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, LARRY W. MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, GIFFORD R. ZIMMERMAN, MARK L. WINGET and ERIC F. FESS, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone) his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him on his behalf and in Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, including any amendment or amendments thereto, with all exhibits, and any and all other documents required to be filed with any regulatory authority, federal or state, relating to the registration thereof, or the issuance of shares thereof, without limitation, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the above-referenced organization has hereunto set his hand this 26th day of February 2010.

/s/ William C. Hunter

William C. Hunter

STATE OF ILLINOIS

   )    
   )SS

COUNTY OF COOK

   )    

On this 26th day of February 2010, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, the person named above who is known to me to be the person whose name and signature is affixed to the foregoing Power of Attorney and who acknowledged the same to be his voluntary act and deed for the intent and purposes therein set forth.

 

“OFFICIAL SEAL”

 

Virginia L. Corcoran

  /s/Virginia L. Corcoran

Notary Public, State of Illinois

  Notary Public

My Commission Expires: 11/16/2013

 


N UVEEN B UILD A MERICA B OND T ERM F UND

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a trustee of the above-referenced organization, hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN P. AMBOIAN, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, LARRY W. MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, GIFFORD R. ZIMMERMAN, MARK L. WINGET and ERIC F. FESS, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone) his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for him on his behalf and in Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, including any amendment or amendments thereto, with all exhibits, and any and all other documents required to be filed with any regulatory authority, federal or state, relating to the registration thereof, or the issuance of shares thereof, without limitation, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the above-referenced organization has hereunto set his hand this 26th day of February 2010.

/s/ David J. Kundert

David J. Kundert

 

STATE OF ILLINOIS

   )    
   )SS

COUNTY OF COOK

   )    

On this 26th day of February 2010, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, the person named above who is known to me to be the person whose name and signature is affixed to the foregoing Power of Attorney and who acknowledged the same to be his voluntary act and deed for the intent and purposes therein set forth.

 

“OFFICIAL SEAL”

  

Virginia L. Corcoran

   /s/ Virginia L. Corcoran

Notary Public, State of Illinois

   Notary Public

My Commission Expires: 11/16/2013

  


N UVEEN B UILD A MERICA B OND T ERM F UND

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a trustee of the above-referenced organization, hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN P. AMBOIAN, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, LARRY W. MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, GIFFORD R. ZIMMERMAN, MARK L. WINGET and ERIC F. FESS, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone) her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, for her on her behalf and in Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, including any amendment or amendments thereto, with all exhibits, and any and all other documents required to be filed with any regulatory authority, federal or state, relating to the registration thereof, or the issuance of shares thereof, without limitation, granting unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the above-referenced organization has hereunto set her hand this 26th day of February 2010.

/s/   Carole E. Stone

Carole E. Stone

 

STATE OF ILLINOIS

   )    
   )SS

COUNTY OF COOK

   )    

On this 26th day of February 2010, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, the person named above who is known to me to be the person whose name and signature is affixed to the foregoing Power of Attorney and who acknowledged the same to be her voluntary act and deed for the intent and purposes therein set forth.

 

“OFFICIAL SEAL”

  

Virginia L. Corcoran

   /s/  Virginia L. Corcoran

Notary Public, State of Illinois

   Notary Public

My Commission Expires: 11/16/2013